Finnareth rolled along the bole of a mallorn just in time for something to buzz by her ear. She wasn't told what it was, just that it was small, and round, and she didn't want to get hit. All the bobbing and weaving through forest and foliage would've been simple enough on its own, and it would've been manageable even with a shortbow, but no. Rillin insisted she carry a longbow. Rillin insisted on many things simply to make everything more difficult. Every step was hounded by hidden pursuers, pushing her from target to target with little chance to catch her breath. Every bush threatened to snatch her bow. Every moment taken to rest or to measure her aim was met with a volley of orbs that left a small white circle on impact. If even one connected, it was all over. Fine. If that's how Rillin wanted it, Finnareth would overcome such petty complications. She backed down from no challenge, even if she wasn't fortunate enough to get a full breath between barrages.
She nocked an arrow, leaned around the tree and let it fly. Perfect aim, right into a slit in the visor. That was one less orc, just in time. A puff of white dust exploded against a tree a few feet behind her just as she pulled back behind the tree. Nothing to the left and nothing to the right. The next two targets would require a different angle. Another thud against the tree just above Finnareth's head. So much for nothing on her left. A whole breath would've been too much to ask for anyway. She dodged to a tree on the right, letting loose an arrow into the chest of the second orc. It slid into a small gap between crookedly-set lames. Something whirred past her shoulder. Too close. Breathe. Calm. One more target. Focus. Where was the gap in the armor?
Dashing to another tree let her catch a glimpse of the clearing. Four thuds where she'd just been. Aha! The last target had his sword raised. Shadows hid a small gap under the arm. Too small. No. Deep breath; as deep as she could, at least. In and out. She could do it. Finnareth took one last breath and held it as she stepped out from behind the tree. Don't hurry. There was all the time in the world to level her aim. She exhaled and loosed the arrow just as a small pouch filled with flour left a white circle on her gut. The arrow slid into the gap.
"I win! I beat you!" She pulled on the laces of her jerkin and let it fall to the ground. The first breath after was the best breath she'd had all day. "And this is the last time I wear your armor!"
"Then next time remember your own. Or better, dont assume that because you're not facing a real foe you can afford to show up unprepared. Be grateful I didn't make you run the course in a dress." Rillin stepped out from behind a tree towards the three armored figures in the center of the clearing. She pulled the helm off of one to reveal a sack stuffed and marked to resemble an orc. "Your arrow hit its target, but you were slain in the process. That's a draw."
Finnareth tapped her bow on the ground like a staff. "I hit all three targets in all three clearings, and I avoided your attacks right up until the end. The invasion is thwarted. What happens to me afterward is of no consequence. Therefore, I win."
"And the poor deer at the orcs' feet?" Rillin nodded at another sack shaped like a wounded deer.
"... It's suffering enough."
"It could suffer for much longer."
"I've perfected my archery to protect myself, not so I can slay defenseless animals."
Rillin scowled at her. "You're still such a child. This isn't a game and it very much matters what happens to you; to others if not yourself. And you could be faced with the prospect of putting some poor creature out of its misery. If you can't bring yourself to do it to a decoy, how do you expect to end the suffering of a real deer?"
"I know this isn't a game and I'm not a child anymore. I don't need your lectures."
"I disagree. I think you still have plenty of need for my lectures. But I suppose you're partly right. You're not a child." A grin appeared on Rillin's face. "How many is it this time? Three?"
"Three? Three what? Oh, don't tell me... Mom wouldn't."
The grin widened. "Mom would and she did. What was this one? Some sort of family event? What's his name?"
Finnareth rolled her eyes. "If you must pry—"
"Oh, I must."
"It was Thaladir, and it wasn't a family event, exactly. His friend's cousin wants to celebrate returning from the western marches. Some of his fellow wardens are going. Since you married a marchwarden, Thaladir assumes I know a few."
"Well, you do."
"Not that many."
"Then here's your chance to meet more!"
"I don't know why you think just because you married a soldier that I'm going to marry one. Maybe I'll marry a carpenter, or a furrier or something." She could see Rillin's guffaw forming at the idea of her marrying a furrier. "Anyway, since Mal and Hanna are going, I said I'd consider it."
"Thaladir. Hmm. I think I remember him. Didn't you threaten to shoot an apple off his head? Oh, I'm sorry. That was when you were children, so it must've been ages ago. I bet you don't even recall, it's been so long."
She rolled her eyes again as a groan shot out. "I made no such threat. He disparaged my accuracy, and I offered to prove him wrong. He wisely withdrew his objections."
"And what would you have done if he hadn't 'withdrawn his objections'?"
"I knew he would."
"But if he hadn't?"
She pulled one of the tiny pouches of flour from Rillin's coat pocket. "I never specifically said I would shoot anything off anyone's head and I can't believe my own sister thinks I would. Any assumptions made on how I would prove him wrong were his own, not that it seems to have colored his opinion of me. I could've thrown a pastry to prove my point."
"And blinded him with icing."
Finnareth sighed as she pet the target shaped like a deer. "I can't even tell anymore if you're being absurd simply for the sake of absurdity. And why are we arguing about something I said as a child?"
"Because you should be more careful about such boasts. Menny and I won't always be there to curb your rash decisions."
"If I don't leave soon I'll be late for music practice. Have I proven my mastery or not?"
"I suppose I'm soft too. I should've made the deer part of the test. Fine, you passed."
"Good! See you at supper, and Mom says don't forget you owe her a sack of flour!"
Finnareth waved and disappeared among the silver boles as her sister shook her head.