I woke up feeling a bit exhausted, the familiar lethargy settling into my bones after a night of intense magic training. It was a pleasant exhaustion, one that signified progress, but it still weighed heavily on me. Casting spells and utilizing my essence was becoming easier, I’d admit, but the power drain was something I hadn’t quite acclimated to. Théoden often told me it would come in time—that I just needed more practice.
As I stretched against the sheets of my bed, the soft fabric enveloped me like a gentle embrace, and I felt a beam of sunlight dancing across my skin, warming me from the outside in. The warmth was comforting, but the aching in my body left me reluctant to leave the cocoon of my blankets.
You must… we need to train more today, Théoden urged through our bond, his voice steady and insistent. I knew he wanted to do some one-on-one combat training despite my weariness.
Please… I pleaded softly, wishing for just a little more time to rest in bed, to savor the tranquility before the day began in earnest.
Mhm… why? he questioned, his tone teasingly curious.
Because I am tired… I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
So you need the bedrest? I could almost hear the chuckle in his voice as he gently teased me for putting him on bedrest just the day before.
I almost hated admitting defeat, as if it somehow made me weak. Uh… no, I finally replied, feigning a sense of determination.
Good. Meet me in ten then for training, Théoden said, and I felt the telepathic link drop, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
With a groan, I stumbled out of bed, my muscles protesting at the movement. I shuffled slowly toward my wardrobe, pulling on some comfortable clothing that felt soft against my skin. After a quick glance in the mirror, I made my way to the kitchen for a light breakfast, hoping to gather enough energy for what lay ahead.
Not the arena… Meet me at the beach, came Théoden's unexpected directive as I stepped into the kitchen.
The beach? I found myself intrigued by his choice of location. Why there instead of the familiar arena?
Training in the elements… he explained, and it suddenly made sense. We had just been practicing indoors, and not all fights would take place in enclosed spaces.
It took me a few minutes to reach the beach, the sound of waves crashing against the shore growing louder with each step. When I finally spotted Théoden waiting for me, a playful grin spread across his face. “About time…”
I crossed my arms and glared at him, feigning annoyance. “I told you I was sore.”
“Fair point… We will do light training then,” he replied, stepping closer and placing a hand on my shoulder. A wave of magical essence seeped through my body from his touch, invigorating me and making the lingering fatigue fade just a little.
As we began our rounds of combat, I felt the rhythm of our movements sync. The warm sun beat down on us, its rays glistening off the water and creating a picturesque backdrop. After about ten rounds, Théoden called a halt, recognizing the signs of fatigue etched across my face.
“You are improving quite nicely,” he said, offering me a healing boost that made my muscles feel light and refreshed.
“Thanks…” I breathed, resting my head against his shoulder, grateful for the comfort he provided.
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“I mean it. You managed to land half those hits on me when in the beginning you couldn’t even touch me,” he added, pride lacing his words.
A smile crept onto my face, warmth blooming in my chest. I was just glad that the training was working, that I was growing stronger with each session.
“All you needed was time, my love,” Théoden said softly, leaning in to give me a gentle kiss on the cheek. “We should get going.”
I groaned, reluctant to leave the warmth of his shoulder, but I knew he was right. The sun was already high in the sky, and we didn’t want to risk being caught lingering too long. “Fine…”
Théoden stood up first and offered me his hand, helping me to my feet. “Thanks,” I breathed, feeling the lingering warmth of his touch as we began to leave the beach.
“I have to go to my office to start the day,” he said as we stepped back into the shadows of the castle, the sun's warmth replaced by the cool stone of the castle walls.
I nodded, “I should get going to my office as well. I gotta start rewriting the revivification law.”
“My advice: check your father’s logs. I’m sure he has copies of the original law that was in place before the Council changed it. I only suggest that because I always felt the first law was fine as it was.”
“Hmm…” I considered his words. “I’ll go through the archives to see what I can find before starting the law from scratch.”
“That sounds like a plan. If you need me…” he trailed off, and I could feel his unspoken promise to be there if I called.
“I know…” I replied with a smile, and we parted ways.
The walk back to the castle was surprisingly pleasant. Despite my muscles still protesting from our training, the warmth of the sun felt rejuvenating against my skin. A gentle breeze wafted through the streets, carrying with it the enticing smells of freshly baked goods wafting from nearby bakeries and the earthy aroma of newly harvested crops.
As I walked, I noticed that many citizens were beginning to venture out of their homes to start their day. The streets buzzed with chatter, the sounds of laughter and gossip filling the air.
“Did you hear?” one elven citizen murmured as I passed by.
“Hear what?” a human next to them asked, curiosity piqued.
“Things are not going too well with the royals…” The man who started the rumor whispered. He kept looking around as if he was rather nervous to say what he wanted to say.
Their conversation trailed off as soon as they caught sight of me, their eyes widening in recognition. This was something I had grown accustomed to, but it still bothered me that their whispers could so easily transform into hushed tones. Keeping my head high, I walked past them, determined to show that the rumor mill of the day did not affect me.
Once I stepped through the castle gates, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. The familiar walls of my home wrapped around me like a protective cocoon, and I felt grateful that the rumor mill had quieted as I entered.
“Alright… the archives. I know my father has boxes in his office. I’ll start there,” I said to myself, focusing on the task ahead. I ascended the stairs and entered my office space, heading to the right side of the room where the stacks of boxes were stored.
The room felt stuffy as I hadn’t really ventured into this part of the office yet. Before I took a step further, I flicked on the magical lights, illuminating the space and revealing the cobwebs that hung along the corners and the layer of dust that had accumulated over the years.
“No one must have been in here since he passed…” I muttered, a twinge of sadness creeping into my voice as I began to slowly walk around the room, taking it all in. I had opened a few boxes in the past but those was already in his office.
Stacks of boxes loomed over me, each labeled by year, containing countless paperwork and various archives. As I scanned the boxes, I noticed they were arranged chronologically, from the last few years of his reign to the beginning of his rule.
The year the law was created was around the beginning of his reign. Start there, I reminded myself, feeling a sense of purpose.
You know, you know a lot about this… I thought, half-amused at how he seemed to know everything yet nothing at the same time.
Working alongside your father had its privileges, he replied, a note of wisdom in his tone.
I rolled my eyes, conceding the point.
And if you paid attention to his teachings, you would know this too. He taught you more than you realize, he added, a gentle nudge toward humility.
Yeah, yeah… I muttered, moving to a stack of boxes coated in dust and grime. I pulled the top box off the five-tire stack, feeling a sense of anticipation.
“Well… I suppose this is a good start,” I said aloud to no one in particular. The date on the box was for the year 400, marking the beginning of my father’s reign. As I opened it, I knew I was delving into the past, into the legacy he had left behind, and I felt a mixture of reverence and determination surge within me.