In the summer, I remember

[rowancrowned]

WHO: Thranduil, Legolas, anyone good with a bow or who enjoys the wine on offer.
WHAT: ROOTY TOOTY POINT N SHOOTY ARCHERY CONTEST
WHEN: 8th of Bloomingtide, midmorning until sunset.
WHERE: Valley
NOTES: log for a friendly wager! 

The eighth of Bloomingtide began as a chilly morning; not quite cold enough to leave frost on the budding flowers and fresh-sprouted plants in the heights of Skyhold, but nearly, nearly.

By the time the sun was been in the sky for a few hours, most of the early-morning chill had burned off, leaving a day that promised to be nearly too-hot for those who would be stuck in full-plate and in direct sunlight. Thranduil wasn’t expecting any to come clanking down to his little fete, but had none the less secured a spot in the shade. Varric had apparently found him while he was still working on organizing—the target launchers are set neatly in line with everything else. Along the clay pigeon launchers were the standard, stock targets, blindfolds—and on a table off to the side was a few bottles of sweet wine beside loaves of brown bread and hard cheeses.

The contest did not pretend to be anything other than what it was; a chance to meet, and mingle, and possibly show off archery skills. The purses wrested next to the wine and cheese and Thranduil himself. He had found a chair to rest in while waiting for the contestants to arrive, dressed plainer than he had so far allowed himself to be seen. On his fingers, four rings glittered—but his confidence in Legolas was so absolute, he doubted he would lose even one before the days was out.

Comments

[serannas]

Despite growing up among hunters, Ellana has never hunted herself, and also has no idea how to hold a bow. So instead, she's come to watch, and settles herself down beside Sam with a smile.

"I wonder if we mages should have a spell flinging contest sometime. What do you think?"

[el_tybs]

He's about mid-chew of a piece of fruit when he notices someone coming to sit with him. Seeing that it's Ellana he smiles slightly, continuing to chew so that he is able to talk.

"That could be interesting. Unless we don't use our staffs it might be a little too easy though don't you think?"

[serannas]

"I suppose you're right. It was just an idea." Leaning back on her hands, she stretches out her legs in front of herself, crossing them at the ankles.

"I'm sure the Inquisition has many who are skilled with a bow. This should be a close competition."

[el_tybs]

"Not a bad idea. Just pointing out we might need a bit more of a challenge then what they're doing for archery. Perhaps a game of speed?"

Leaning back on his hands as well, Sam hums as he watches several people take a few practice shots. "It should be. I'm hoping it stays a friendly one."

[serannas]

"Or most clever use of spells," she offers, before turning her attention back to the archers. "Same. I would hate to see anyone form a grudge over something that should be for fun."

[el_tybs]

"Oh, that would be interesting. I wonder how we'd judge that."

Sam hums slightly in agreement, shrugging just a little bit. "Hope not. A bit of friendly rivalry ain't so bad, just hope that's the most that happens." Hell, if someone holds a grudge it would be better than anything getting physical.

[serannas]

"I hope by now we're past the phase where everyone is suspicious of each other." But that's probably a fool's hope. "I have to admit, a person looks so elegant when they shoot an arrow from a bow. Less so with crossbows, but longbows? They just stand so straight and tall, and it looks like it doesn't even take any effort." Of course, people might say the same of mages, but there is a lot of movement involved to execute a spell to its greatest benefit. And a lot of strength required to fire an arrow.

[el_tybs]

Sam just raises a brow at that, putting another piece of fruit in his mouth instead of answering that. That was a good hope, but he honestly didn't see that happening, no one being suspicious of each other. Groups still questioned others after all.

"It's certainly an art, having to have the eye and arm for such a thing." They made it look simple, but there was no way to just pick it up and get it right away. "Some of the shots that can make are pretty impressive."

[serannas]

"Yes! Have you ever seen one of them do that flip through the air and fire multiple arrows? It's like magic on its own." Ellana is definitely not dexterous enough to be doing backflips, much less with a weapon in her hand.

[el_tybs]

Well casting spells while flipping around would be rather difficult, course now that Ellana says that, that would be something interesting to try out. "A while ago. Can't say I've been with many archers on missions. I wonder how they don't get dizzy."

[serannas]

"You should ask one of them," Ellana replies, finally snagging a piece of Sam's fruit and putting it into her mouth with a wink. Hey, if he leaves it lying out, it's free for the taking, right?

[el_tybs]

"Not while they're shooting," he points out. Course he did have barriers and magic so not like he'd have much issue regardless, but still. At seeing Ellana steal some fruit and even wink at him, Sam's mouth opens slightly and he gasps. "Why I never-" He really didn't care, she was welcome to the fruit, but that didn't mean he couldn't pretend.

"Fruit thief. Ellana I would have never thought you the sort."

[serannas]

"Did I say it should be while they're shooting? Don't put words in my mouth," she teases before giving a shrug. "People must have been having a bad influence on me. You've now seen me at my worst, Sam."

[el_tybs]

"You never said not to," he points out, taking one of the fruit and popping it in his mouth before Ellana 'stole' another. "Yes, I have seen you driven to be a stealer of fruits. My how the mighty have fallen. What next?"

[serannas]

"Don't give me ideas," she says, before taking another piece and pointing it at him. "I could turn all this around, and call you rude for not offering me any. I could be starving."

[el_tybs]

"Isn't it rude to point at people with fruit?" he asks, laughing softly as Ellana brandishes the fruit at him. "I simply did not get the opportunity to offer any as we were discussing things. Course I like strawberries, so of course I'm going to hoard those. And you're hardly starving - there is a full table of food for people to eat from."

[serannas]

"I don't know," she says, giggling before eating her fruit. "We should find an etiquette book and check."

She doesn't take any more, but her hand comes to hover over his strawberries, fingers wriggling like she's going to risk it.

"Strawberries, you say?"

[el_tybs]

"Could always just ask Vivienne couldn't we?" Not that he is actually going to, but the Enchanter would know such a thing wouldn't she?

At the wiggling fingers Sam narrows his eyes playfully, hand coming up to lightly bat away Ellana's. "I should've told you about a different fruit. Now my strawberries are in danger."

[serannas]

"Ohhhh, I'm not sure I want to poke that wasp's nest," she says, giggling when he bats at her hand. It flies back away from his precious strawberries and she settles back in the grass instead.

"Not very tactical of you, Sam. But it's all right. Your secret is safe with me. I may just demand a tribute of one strawberry for my continued silence."

[el_tybs]

"Clearly I was kept for my healing and good looks, not my tactical mind." He playfully sighs when Ellana requests a bribe. "And if I refuse to pay tribute?"

[serannas]

"Just remember I know where you sleep," she replies, eyes narrowed and doing her best to sound intimidating. Creators know if she actually pulls it off as intended.

[el_tybs]

Sam blinks at that. It might be a little, but threatening that rather than ratting him out has him grinning in confusion more than being intimidated. "What are you going to do? Blow me the raspberries?"

[serannas]

Ellana just holds out her hand for a strawberry.

"Why would I tell you? Better to let you come up with scenarios on your own, right?" She wriggles her fingers. Pay up, Sam.

[el_tybs]

Sam purposely just stares and eats a strawberry, considering his options.

He knows Ellana is joking. Or... he hopes he knows that Ellana is joking. Even if she doesn't do anything harmful, she could easily still prank him or something. She was part of Clan Ashara after all.

"Hmmmmm..." He chews thoughtfully, looking at the wiggling fingers then up to Ellana's face before he grabs a strawberry and carefully places it in her hand.

[serannas]

It may be a little thing, but it's good to practice her debate skills. She's been so bad at it that she desperately needs a "win," even if it is just a strawberry that he would have given her anyway. She does take note that he doesn't come up with another argument or stall tactic and files it away in her mind. It's all a part of her studies.

"Your secret is safe with me."