Teresa of the Faint Smile, Adventures of a Stringy Bosmer Options

[Acadian]

I simply smiled all the way through this, as the tournament starts really coming to life!

It was priceless how Tadrose snagged Teresa back from the shoe shop with the promise to come back later (together!). Teresa's priorities are in perfect order.

And Pappy marching his troop into the coliseum! Wonderful to see Sinia (the line judge) again and to hear Teresa's account of the muscular shooting style of Lum.

I love seeing the tournament from Teresa's perspective, and I'm so glad she got a calming visit from Raven! Even though it is a 'silly' tournament, I can feel Teresa battling with self-imposed pressure and trying to explain to herself that it's just like practice.

[Grits]

What fun to see the arena through Teresa’s eyes, complete with a tantalizing glimpse of the name Dame Buffy! I thought that growing up in the Imperial City might give Teresa a little edge with the crowd, but I hadn’t considered that all of those eyes would be on her. It was a relief to see Raven. Shoe shopping with Tadrose, another thing to anticipate! Having the FG walk in together shows how much of a real faction they are, even though they will compete individually.

I am so delighted with this tournament that you and Acadian have brought to us, and so appreciative!

[mALX]

"It is not a battle. That is the very mentality that creates the Shadow in the first place. Instead you have to embrace it. The Altmer say you must make a feast for your Daedra. Invite them to come down and sit, stuff them with sweet meats and heap praises upon them, show them how you love them. The point is that you must accept those things that you have tried to repress, and openly acknowledge that they are a part of you. That is the only way that you can regain control over them."

Powerful statement! I love that analogy !!!


Looks like Parwen doesn't have to kiss statues to get lucky...er....

[Lady Syl]

Chapter 4c review

The Altmer did give her a nice sum of coins for the plants she had gathered on her journey. Enough that Teresa began to think that roaming the countryside for alchemical ingredients might turn out to be well worth the effort. Certainly not enough to get rich, but far better than she was doing now.
Doesn’t Teresa know she can make more money if she turns the ingredients into potions first?

Another very well-written chapter, and we see where Teresa of the Faint Smile really begins to emerge. With her new life out of the Imperial City's Waterfront, she dyes her hair--a visible change representing the changes that have and are taking place within her. You are developing her character beautifully.

[SubRosa]

Ceidwad: Thank your catching my apostrophes. It must have been that dastard with the drain marksman scroll that slipped them in there!

Heinrich Oaken-Hull may spend his time at the Fo'c'sle, but his wife spends her time with Enilroth, the blacksmith's apprentice! So I guess that works out fair.


haute ecole rider: The collaboration between Acadian and I only gets more intricate as this chapter goes on. But you might wait to comment on Teresa's attitude until after this next post.


ghastley: Shoes are very important! You cannot wear just any old shoes with any outfit. They have to match up, not only in color but style. Men can get away with owning only two pairs of shoes. Not women!

The scoreboard is something I put a lot of thought into. I am glad it is paying off!


Acadian: I loved writing that part about the shoe store. Not only because it highlights Teresa's girliness, but also because it is a direct homage to Daenlin having to drag Buffy away from the same shoe shop earlier!

Yep, just a silly game, nothing at all to worry about or take too seriously eh Buffy? Like Buffy, Teresa has found that it is easy to say that, but somehow the competition takes on an importance that becomes difficult to ignore...


Grits: You hit the nail right on the head. The tourney grounds are nothing in size or grandeur compared to the Arena in the IC. But there the crowds were a place Teresa could hide within. Here they are all looking at her! I am also glad someone else noted the solidarity showed by the FG. That was exactly what I (and Pappy) intended by having them all go to qualify together, with even the non-archers in tow to provide moral support. They are first and foremost a team.


mALX: While it did not originate from modern Paganism, Facing the Shadow is a very important part of Neo-Pagan practice. Ancondil's explanation, and to a lesser extent the trials Teresa will go through in the future relating to it, are all based on my own experiences facing my Shadow.

Parwen might find that she was not quite so lucky after all, given that the affections of Fathis Aren are easily, and only temporarily given. Then again, she did say she only wanted to ride the stallion, not buy him...


Lady Syl: Teresa has not quite realized just how much money she can make brewing her own potions. But she will eventually get there! You called it on Teresa dyeing her hair. It is an outward sign of the inner changes going on. She is not the same person she was at the beginning of the tale, and will continue to grow and change throughout the entire piece.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode Teresa marched to the tournament grounds with the rest of the FG to qualify. There she was amazed by the strength shown by Lum gro-Baroth as he took the first shots of the guild. Next, Teresa takes her own turn on the firing line, and officially gets her nickname.


Chapter 34.11 - The Tournament Of Archers

"Look, there's Daenlin," Tadrose nudged Teresa, and pointed to a Bosmer sitting in the stands. She could not make out his features very well in the distance, except to see that he had brown hair that was tousled around his head, as if blown that way by the wind. He wore simple leather trousers and a buckskin vest, and looked every inch the woodsman. Sitting beside him was another Bosmer, only she had long hair that was the color of corn silk. She too wore a hunter's garb of buckskin boots and greaves with a brown flax blouse, and leaned close to Daenlin.

"Who is that beside him?" Teresa asked, "his daughter?"

"In a manner of speaking," Tadrose smiled. "That is Dame Buffy, Knight of the White Stallion of Leyawiin. Everyone in Bravil knows her, because she grew up here. Nilawen took care of her after her parents died, and Daenlin has always been her teacher- oh look, Kurz is shooting."

Tadrose turned back from the pair of elves to watch the Orisimer begin his first round of shots. Teresa was not that interested, and glanced back to the scoreboard. Dame Buffy - she saw once more - had a score of eighty six. She must be some archer, Teresa thought as she looked back to the pair of wood elves, they both must be.

She wondered what it was like to have a teacher, a real teacher? Methredhel had taught her to shoot, after her father had shown her how. But while Methredhel was an able archer, she was never a champion either. She had always spent more time practicing picking locks and pockets, and less with the bow. In fact, Teresa had surpassed the other Bosmer's skills years ago.

On the other hand, Tadrose had said that Dame Buffy's parents had died. That was something she could relate to. She wondered when it had happened? Was it when Buffy was just an infant? Or had the other Bosmer had the chance to know her parents before their deaths? Teresa wondered what was worse - never knowing your mother and father at all, or having them, only to lose them?

Teresa sighed, and looked back to Kurz just in time to see him miss the target completely. His round was finished a moment later, and Teresa saw that she was next in line. Butterflies took flight in her stomach as she stepped up to the judge, and she licked her suddenly dry lips. The Redguard stared at her, and Teresa realized that she was waiting for her to introduce herself.

"Teresa," she forced out of her recalcitrant lips.

"Well Teresa, let's just take a moment and let them get your name up," the Redguard said. "Remember, your first flight is untimed, and your second timed, then the third at long range and untimed. Wait for my signal before you start each one."

Teresa nodded, and drew forth an arrow from the bag at her hip. Staring down at the shaft, she found no signs of warping. It would fly straight and true. As much so as she could shoot it.

"Now shooting for the Bravil Fighters Guild: Teresa of the Faint Smile!"

Teresa blinked at the sound of the announcer's voice. What had he said? She turned to look back at the scoreboard, and saw the same 'of the Faint Smile' added to her name there as well. Glancing back, she saw the assembled fighters were cheering for her. Except for Vincent Galien. The Breton swordsman had a wide grin on his face instead.

Teresa remembered when Pappy had told her about the tournament three days before. "So I had Vincent sign you up this morning."

"Teresa?" the voice of the Redguard came from behind the Bosmer. "You can start now."

The forester was tempted to shoot the Breton prankster instead. Now all of Bravil was going to know her by that stupid name! Her fingers curled into a fist around the arrow she held, and she turned to stare at the target down the field.

It was not very far, only fifty yards away. She smiled faintly as she imagined Vincent's face in the center of it. Drawing the string half-way back to her cheek, she sighted in on where her guild mate's nose would have been. She let out half of her breath, and then felt the feathers of her arrow tickling the soft flesh of her cheek.

She loosed, and a moment later the arrow sprouted from the ring that bordered the center of the target.

Screenshot

"Nine!" Sinia accompanied her shout by holding up the same amount of fingers on her hands. A cheer rose from the ranks of the fighters behind Teresa, along with a smattering of applause from the crowd.

She drew a second arrow from the bag at her hip and set it to her bow. Again picturing Vincent's face in the middle of the target, she aimed and fired. Another nine. Finally she drew her third arrow, and sent it after the other two.

"Bullseye!" the line judge shouted, holding up all the fingers and thumbs on both her hands.

Teresa breathed deep and slowly exhaled. That was just the first flight, she knew. There were still two more to go. Closing her eyes, she tried to forget Vincent's prank, the amphitheater around her, even the guild members cheering and whistling at her back. There was nothing but her and the target.

She opened her eyes, and saw that Sinia was holding up a small hourglass. Teresa nodded to the Redguard, who turned it over in her hand. The sands within spilled downward, and Teresa reached for her first arrow.

There was nothing but her, the arrow, and the target, Teresa thought as she drew feathers to her cheek and loosed. Nothing but her, the arrow, and the target, she reminded herself as she did it again. Nothing else existed, and her final arrow sang along the thread binding all three together.

"Thirty!" Sinia exclaimed. "Perfect score!"

Teresa stared. She had not been paying attention to anything else while she was shooting. She had just been nocking her arrows and firing, exactly as she had done tens of thousands of times in practice. Tadrose had been right, as she always was. When the time came, the crowd had not mattered. She had known exactly what to do.

The cheers from behind heightened in volume, and Teresa glanced back to see the armorer beaming at her. Her heart felt as if it would fly from her chest. Tadrose could be so achingly beautiful at times, Teresa thought. If only there was some way she could tell the dark elf …

"Alright, time for your last round," Sinia declared. "There's no hurry, this one is not timed."

Teresa turned back to see that the target had been drawn back another fifty yards. She stepped up to the firing line and drew another arrow from her bag. Breathing deeply, she tried to calm her racing heart and pulled the arrow halfway back to her cheek. An extra hundred and fifty feet, she thought, she would have to add height to compensate. Which way was the wind blowing? From the north? She moved her shot a tick to the left. Too high? She lowered it a bit, and her arms began to tremble from the strain now.

Damn it, stop thinking so much! Teresa silently growled. Just shoot!

She loosed, and stared after the arrow as it flew downrange. It buried itself into the outermost ring on the target. A sigh rose from the crowd as they saw the same thing. Teresa screwed her eyes shut, and bit her lip. Cacat! The wood elf shook her head. She could do better than that! She had done better, with people trying to kill her!

Resolving to not lose her focus again, Teresa drew another arrow and stared down at the target. It was no different from practice, she thought as she pulled the string halfway back and sighted again. No different. Just adjust for range, watch that wind, and loose.

This time the arrow plunked in the same ring, only on the other side of the target.

Teresa scowled. She was better than this! She knew she could do better! Her heart galloped like a Quarter Horse, and she wiped the palms of her gloved hands against her hips. Why was she falling apart?

She drew her final arrow, and once more sighted in. She only had to concentrate better. Just take more time, and pay closer attention to the wind, distance, and all the other factors in making the shot. Analyze it all, she told herself, and shoot when she was ready. Not a moment before.

Then her last shot was in the air, and a moment later it sprouted in the target. Again it rose from the outermost ring, only this time at the top.

"Tough break Teresa," Sinia said in a conciliatory tone. "But a seventy six is nothing to sneeze at. You're sure to make the finals with that."

Teresa shook her head, and slunk away from the firing line. She knew that everyone was staring at her. No doubt pointing their fingers and laughing at her failure. She was nothing but a prole, and that was all she would ever be: a nothing.

Yet when she looked up to see the face of Tadrose Helas, it was not ridicule that she saw etched upon the vice-commander's features. Nor was it pity. Rather the Dunmer's eyes glowed with something Teresa imagined might be pride. There was certainly no mistaking the wide grin that crested her lips, nor with the warm embrace that she wrapped Teresa with.

"You did it!" the dark elf cried. The next thing she knew, Tadrose kissed her. It was just a quick peck on the cheek. Not even slightly romantic at all. Yet once more, the wood elf felt her heart threaten to leap from her chest. She was certain that her face had turned redder than her hair as Tadrose let go, and the rest of the fighters crowded in to congratulate her.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 3 2011, 01:09 AM

[haute ecole rider]

I stand my my earlier comment about Teresa's attitude. But I will now add, it's so true how that attitude will change in the heat of competition. I've been in her shoes before. I remember running track in PE in sixth grade. I'm one of those kids who never performed well in athletic endeavors. Yet that day when the teacher fired the blank, I was the first off the starting line and stayed that way through the entire 1000 meter run around the makeshift track in the middle of the grassy field. The feeling I had at the finish line was YAY! So I know what it's like to be dragged into a competition you really don't want to be a part of, and find yourself wanting to just show everybody how good you are.

That said, on to this chapter:

Teresa blinked at the sound of the announcer's voice. What had he said? She turned to look back at the scoreboard, and saw the same 'of the Faint Smile' added to her name there as well. Glancing back, she saw the assembled Fighters were cheering for her. Except for Vincent Galien. The Breton swordsman had a wide grin on his face instead.

Ooooh, that Vincent! That good-for-nothing dastard!

The forester was tempted to shoot the Breton prankster instead. Now all of Bravil was going to know her by that stupid name!

Now I need to tell you that Julian is laughing at this. She said she would've shot that Breton one of her famous pilus looks (which I may add is somewhat more painful than an arrow)! She also said that Teresa of the Faint Smile is much better than Julian of Anvil!

Cacat! The wood elf shook her head. She could do better than that! She had done better, with people trying to kill her!

Now, now, a competition isn't survival. And believe me, survival is way better than coming in first at a competition.

Aww, Tadrose! Friends like that (and let's not forget Ancondil) are worth more than all the gold and diamonds in Nirn!

[mALX]

WHEW! I found I was holding my breath on that last round along with Teresa !! This chapter has so many points that thrilled; the description and conjecture about Buffy, Teresa's own endearing nervousness and awkwardness (till she got mad at Vincent) - her picturing of him on the face of the target was hilarious, even knowing she would do it. - her last round where her nerves and tension overcame her and finally the kiss from Tadrose and Teresa's reaction.

You have done a wonderful job with this chapter, I was riveted from beginning to end - and have added it to my top fave Teresa episodes. AWESOME WRITE !!! (as always !!)

[Olen]

Oooh the tournament itself, and it's well written and exciting. The part with her shooting was excellent. She appears to have developed a nickname too, well it was going to happen and there's plenty worse.

The forester was tempted to shoot the Breton prankster instead

I liked this line. Little bits of humour make this piece sparkle aling with the characters.

She wondered what it was like to have a teacher, a real teacher?

She has Pappy (and the others at the guild). Interesting how little she realises this - she seems to learn from everyone but not quite realise it. With archery like that she'll be teaching soon enough.

I notice that her distance archery is worse than her closer work. Something to work on beofer the finals I think (that and staying calm).

And some more developments with Tadrose. Is the dunmer down to shoot or just watching, and will there be shoe shopping?

[ghastley]

It's a good thing Tadrose didn't do that before she took her turn!

She obviously needs a more villainous mental target for the longer distances. Perhaps she'll meet Kurdan?

[Acadian]

What a beautiful and emotional roller coaster!

The first strong emotion was my own, at your beautiful description of the reigning champion and his young protégée. I found it lovely that while Buffy was enviously considering the camaraderie of the Fighters Guild team, Teresa was enviously considering what it would be like to have a master archer as a teacher. How very typical of both our elves!

Then, Red's temper at Vincent sharing Teresa's nickname with several thousand of her closest friends! But that anger helped her to do well in the first flight. Aim for the nose!

The second flight was pure magic, as best illustrated here:
Nothing but her, the arrow, and the target, she reminded herself as she did it again. Nothing else existed, and her final arrow sang along the thread binding all three together.
Magnificent phrasing for a magnificent talent that Teresa does not full understand. I have no doubt that, in time, she will however.

I know she was disappointed in her third flight and even realizes herself that she was thinking too hard. And how quickly does her feelings about her own performance flit from pride to shame. I was so pleased to see the steady smile of pride from Tadrose that Teresa deserved. And a quick kiss to top it off!


Nit: She loosed, and moment later the arrow sprouted in the ring bordering the center of the target.
I think you wanted moments instead of moment (or perhaps a moment?).

[Grits]

A Buffy sighting! How fun!! Vincent, that sly dog! I love Teresa’s reaction, use his face as a target instead of losing her cool.

Nothing else existed, and her final arrow sang along the thread binding all three together.
So beautiful, I had to point it out again.

It makes perfect sense that Teresa’s third flight didn’t go as well, it’s not the first time she’s thought herself into doubt. Then her reaction took her straight back to the IC street urchin in her mind. How lovely that Tadrose could show her a glimpse of how the rest of them really see her, an accomplished archer who just (probably) qualified for the finals! I love the image you left us with, the stringy wood elf disappearing under a torrent of her celebrating friends.

[King Coin]

13.1

Ha ha! She went to see Vols. She is out of her element in the barracks that's plainly evident.

13.2

For some reason I thought it was funny that Vols called her Red.

Argh, are you trying to smother me woman!

LOL! Probably one of the better ways to go... smothered by breasts

It's kind of cute how they are both learning so much from each other as they finally start talking.

13.3

It's so nice that Teresa and Simplicia finally got to have this talk.

[D.Foxy]

Catching up on all I've missed.

Suggestion, Rosa: if you really want to read not only about boxing in depth, but also want a lesson in beautiful and lyrical prose style, buy and read "Ghosts of Manila" by the former S.I. writer (now deceased) Mark Kram. For sheer power and beauty of writing about boxing no other book I have read in 50 years comes even close.

[SubRosa]

haute ecole rider: Julian of Anvil is not a bad name. I thought it was pretty good. In a few posts, Teresa will have time to ponder some of the other nicknames she could have gotten, and may revise her feelings about being "of the Faint Smile". Until then, there is always payback...


mALX: Isn't it funny how getting angry made Teresa stop being nervous? Maybe she should get mad more often! Then again, that probably would not make the people around her very happy.


Olen: Yep, after all the build up, we finally got there. She does have teachers in people like Pappy and Tadrose. But unfortunately not archery teachers. We will be seeing the difference that makes in this coming post, as well as in future parts of this chapter, and chapters beyond.


ghastley: Kurdan will be in a future chapter...


Acadian: Isn't it just like young girls to not be happy with what they have? I too loved the juxtaposition between Buffy and Teresa. Not to mention the emotional rollercoaster that entire episode was.

That was indeed "a moment" I wanted. Thank you for targeting that for me.


Grits: That was only the first of several Buffy sightings in this chapter. Some might say you can't swing a cat in Bravil without hitting a certain blond bosmer bowgirl...

That line with the Nothing else existed, was another one of the ways I wanted to show the zen archery that is natural to Bosmer. At least when they do not over-think themselves out of it as Teresa later did.


King Coin: That was one of my favorite chapters. Not only were Teresa's escapades in the guard tower funny, but her growing relationship with Vols, and later the catharsis with Simplicia, were very poignant to write.


D.Foxy: If only I had the time to read more books!


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: Teresa took her turn on the firing line, only to find that Vincent had officially entered her into the tournament as "Teresa of the Faint Smile". Her first two flights of arrows were outstanding, especially the rapid fire, in which she simply shot without thinking about what she was doing. But her final, long distance shooting was poor, as she over-analyzed what she was doing, and second-guessed herself into doubt.


Chapter 34.12 - The Tournament Of Archers

Parwen shot next, and Teresa eagerly watched as the other wood elf drew her curious bow from the combination case and quiver at her hip. Again, Teresa noted how small it was. Made of a combination of golden sila wood, darker horn, and finally sinew, it was carved with the likeness of vines and leaves twisting along its length.

That was not all that was remarkable about it. Rather than bearing the "C" shape of a strung Imperial bow, Parwen's curved in and out along its length. First it was bent inward at the handgrip in the center of the stave. Then it curved forward in a quarter circle as it rose from either side of the grip. Finally it bent straight back toward her, then at the very tip curled forward again. Teresa even noted that a second ear had been added to each tip, giving it an ever greater curve forward.

Screenshot

Teresa watched with amazement as Parwen drew back an arrow and sighted in for her first shot. Just as the gro-Baroth's had, she pulled the string back and held it fully extended as she aimed. Yet the wood elf was clearly not as strong as the orcs! Then Teresa noticed something else. The twin ends of her bowstave were drawn back farther than those of a longbow could go. At least not without breaking.

That was not all that was strange about how the Valenwood elf used her bow. Parwen did not hold the string in the three-fingered draw to the cheek that Teresa had learned in the Imperial City. Rather the other elf hooked the silk cord under her thumb and forefinger, and drew the string behind her ear, so that the feathers of her arrow rested underneath her chin.

"How can she hold it back for so long?" Teresa wondered aloud.

"I believe she has an enchantment to improve her strength," Tadrose offered quietly. "In her gauntlets I would say. Or perhaps a thumb ring. Many archers use such fortifications to improve their aim, as well as to use stronger bows."

"Stronger bows?" The idea of fortifying her strength had never occurred to Teresa. Yet now that Tadrose had said it, it seemed like such an obvious thing. Even as far as she had come, she could see that she still had a great deal to learn about archery. "Is that one stronger? What kind of bow is it?"

"That is a composite bow from Valenwood," the dark elf responded, "and it is indeed more powerful than an Imperial bow. The horn and sinew at the front and back of the stave can bend farther - and store more energy - than a single piece of wood can. The recurve shape only adds to the power, as do the extra siha - or ears - at top and bottom. You have never seen one before?"

Teresa shook her head. It was amazing! She stared as Parwen took shot after shot. Yet she did not even look to see how her guild mate's arrows were hitting. Her attention was locked on the weapon in the other elf's hands. It was not only a work of pure beauty, but she also realized it was small enough to comfortably fire from a kneeling position; or even from sitting in a tree, or on a wagon.

"Where can I get one?"

"Valenwood. Every Bosmer archer there makes their own bows," Tadrose answered, and the wood elf's heart sank. Then it lifted once more as the Dunmer continued. "Daenlin might have one for sale. He makes them, but usually only for special orders."

"How long would it take for him to make me one?" Teresa asked, her mind dancing with visions of such a bow in her hands.

"About a year," Tadrose answered calmly. Teresa coughed, and felt her eyes grow wide.

"A year!" she gasped. "Why so long?"

"It takes time to assemble the pieces and wait for the glue to set," Tadrose explained. "Each part has to be done at a certain time of the year, then you have to wait for the next season. As with the rest of life, the best things come to those who wait. "

"I imagine they are not cheap either," Teresa murmured.

"They usually go for around two hundred septims here in Cyrodiil," Tadrose answered. "Less if you go to Valenwood."

"That's two thousand drakes!" Teresa sputtered. "I could buy a suit of elvish armor for that! Or an ebony sword!"

"You could." Tadrose began to clap, and Teresa looked up to see that Parwen was walking back to the group. Teresa glanced back at the scoreboard, and saw that the older wood elf had shot a seventy two. Four less than she had herself. That meant that so far she had scored higher than any other Fighters Guild member!

She added her voice to the cheers for her guild mate. The entire time though, she was staring at the woman's composite bow. Someday, she vowed, she would have one of her own!

* * *

Teresa finally learned the names of the other guild archers as they lined up to take their turns shooting. Sigvatr from Bruma, Sason from Anvil, Thibault Jastal and Sirollus Mercius from the Imperial City, and finally Llonmus Arethan from Cheydinhal. All carried the Imperial bow as Teresa did. All of them scored less than she, Parwen, and Lum gro-Baroth had. The latter gave Teresa a curious feeling of pride. She had indeed placed the highest of all the guild archers!

She was still trying to conjure up an explanation for how that could be while they all walked from the amphitheater. She looked up to see Parwen, and stepped toward the elf to ask her about her bow. But before she could reach the older archer, Fathis Aren beat her to it. His arms wrapped around the curvy Bosmer, and the next thing Teresa knew they vanished into the sea of kiosks surrounding the arena.

"It appears Parwen is enjoying the tournament." Tadrose's voice sang in Teresa's ear. The wood elf turned to take in the other elf. She had been so busy thinking about the tournament, and then Parwen's bow, that she had not taken the time to really appreciate how lovely the vice-commander was. Dressed in a short Dunmer skirt that exposed her legs from the knee down, she had added an Imperial-style chemise to it with a tight bodice laid over top. The effect was to pinch her waist into a gentle hourglass, accentuate her hips, and lift her small breasts high. The plunging neckline of her chemise left little to the imagination there!

By Dibella, how could a woman be so beautiful? Teresa wondered.

"I envy her," Teresa found herself saying, lifting her gaze to stare into the fiery pools of Tadrose's eyes.

"Don't," the Dunmer smith said, and slid one arm into Teresa's. "She will soon learn what every other woman in Bravil County has: the affections of Fathis Aren are as fleeting as gold in the Arena."

"Yes," Teresa agreed. She reveled in the soft scent of primrose that rose from Tadrose's skin, and the warmth of the dark elf's body against her own. "But at least she's happy right now."

"The grazelands are always greener on the other side of Red Mountain," Tadrose murmured. Then her voice picked up, and she smiled. "I already told Gaius that I am taking the rest of the morning off. Now why don't we go look for that shop with all the shoes?"


Notes: The bow in the screenshot is a Hunnish bow, and the draw using the thumb is the Mongolian Draw.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 5 2011, 10:22 PM

[Captain Hammer]

Finally caught up with this one as well.

It's truly interesting to see how Teresa interacts with her guild and her community. I'm enjoying her side of the Tournament as much as I am that of Buffy, something that surprised me. But I'm also surprisingly glad that I have a chance to read such great material.

One thing:

"I believe she has an enchantment to improve her strength," Tadrose offered quietly. "In her gauntlets I would say. Or perhaps a thumb ring. Many archers use such fortifications to improve their aim, as well as to use stronger bows."

Thank you for inserting this. As well as all of the other realistic elements of combat, but I especially enjoyed Pappy's remarks on the usefulness of plate armor for stopping annoying things like a Frakkin' claymore.

Though I wonder, does Teresa envy Parwen, or does she envy Fathis?

[haute ecole rider]

I really enjoyed reading about Parwen's qualifying trial. The description of her bow is really cool.

Last year over the summer I learned about Korean bows. Like the Hun bows, they're recurved composite bows. But they're unusual looking when unstrung, and when I think about it, I can see the tremendous amount of energy stored in those staves when they're strung up.

Like Cap'n Hammer, I wonder just who Teresa is jealous of?

[Olen]

I suspect soon Teresa will be jealous of no one because she- SHOES!!!

I'd say Tadrose is definatly interested now. The question is will Teresa notice? And what of all the other people moving through Bravil, I suspect Parwen's affections might be just as fleeting. I can't wait to read on.

When you say stronger bows I'm interested - in what way? It's easy enough to construct a longbow with a draw-weight as high as you could want. More than about 200lbs and the person drawing it would have to be such a rediculous shape (and porbably use so many roids) that it becomes unworkable, and that's about what the big ones were. However I can imagine recurves might store more energy at a lower draw weight and be lighter so waste less... More my musing than anything, though I'm loving the details and looking forward to more.

I sense an archery lesson in the future, and probably a visit to Daenlin.

One nit (sort of): Every Bosmer archer there makes their own bows - this seems unlikely. Making a good bow is very very difficult (I've tried a few) so a professional archer would be better off having a bowyer make the bow and getting a superior product. Maybe.

[Acadian]

What a wonderful short bow Parwen is using! Teresa NEEDS one of those. No wonder she is envious of Parwen. However, as Tadrose wisely notes -
"The grazelands are always greener on the other side of Red Mountain," Tadrose murmured. Then her voice picked up, and she smiled. "I already told Gaius that I am taking the rest of the morning off. Now why don't we go look for that shop with all the shoes?"
What a delightfully TESish turn of an old phrase, particularly given Tadrose's homeland. WooHoo! Time for that shoe shopping!

Teresa's mind is swirling now I bet, with thoughts of the tournament, short bows, a beautiful Dunmer and shoes. What a lovely and fun set of priorities!

I am not surprised that Teresa finished first in her guild! She truly does have a wonderful natural talent (as Daenlin noted in BF). She is also dedicated to the bow and understands the need not to spread herself too thinly by trying to master too many things. Some alchemy, a little magic, some dagger blocking and plenty of bow!

[mALX]

I think I may have to agree with Olen here, it seems like Tadrose has all but spelled out her interest - if she cares she would have noticed Teresa's awkwardness and shyness in her presence, so maybe she is smoothing the path for darling Teresa? I hope so !!

I absolutely love this chapter!! Subtle interactions, and at the end ... hope. Awesome Write !!!

[ghastley]

You've thoroughly distracted me with this discussion of bow construction.

I've always thought that Alawen's insistence on your having a proper Elven bow before she'd train you was because a real archer on the development team was making a point about the unrealistic nature of all the others.