Post by The Smith on Dec 2, 2013 18:29:02 GMT -5
Sansa relentlessly practiced archery every day and night, determined to improve her aim. She would wake at dawn, wash and dress, and go down to the practice grounds as the sun was rising over the Hightower. It was peaceful and cool in the early morning, and she liked the lack of distraction. It was also easier to practice when other people were not watching. Their judgmental stares made her a little self-conscious.
She chose a different bow each time, to accustom her fingers to different strings and bow types. Then she would aim and shoot, aim and shoot, until she had gone through around three quivers of arrows and her arms hurt terribly. She moved the target further back every time she managed to hit bull's eye. Then she got the idea of making the target smaller as well, challenging herself to hit ever more challenging targets.
After eight days of this, it became apparent that her comings and goings at dawn had not gone unnoticed. After a particularly grueling morning practice, Sansa sat sweating on a stone bench, massaging her stone arms, but gazing with satisfaction at the field. She had accurately hit every single target.
"You have a keen eye and a steady arm," came a voice next to her. Sansa looked up with a start, and saw that her second cousin Eustace Kenning was standing beside her bench, smiling. "I'm very impressed. I told a servant to bring you some well-deserved refreshments...ah, there he is."
A servant came down the steps to the yard, carrying a tray. Steam rose from the tray, soothingly warm and inviting in the early morning chill. There was a cup of clean well water, which she drank immediately, as well as a pot of mint tea, oatcakes hot from the oven, and a slice of the onion pie from last night's supper.
"That was exactly what I needed," Sansa said gratefully. They sat on the stone bench, eating oatcakes and drinking mint tea, and talked of archery as the sun rose in the sky and the castle stirred to life.
Result:
- Sansa gains Expert in Archery
She chose a different bow each time, to accustom her fingers to different strings and bow types. Then she would aim and shoot, aim and shoot, until she had gone through around three quivers of arrows and her arms hurt terribly. She moved the target further back every time she managed to hit bull's eye. Then she got the idea of making the target smaller as well, challenging herself to hit ever more challenging targets.
After eight days of this, it became apparent that her comings and goings at dawn had not gone unnoticed. After a particularly grueling morning practice, Sansa sat sweating on a stone bench, massaging her stone arms, but gazing with satisfaction at the field. She had accurately hit every single target.
"You have a keen eye and a steady arm," came a voice next to her. Sansa looked up with a start, and saw that her second cousin Eustace Kenning was standing beside her bench, smiling. "I'm very impressed. I told a servant to bring you some well-deserved refreshments...ah, there he is."
A servant came down the steps to the yard, carrying a tray. Steam rose from the tray, soothingly warm and inviting in the early morning chill. There was a cup of clean well water, which she drank immediately, as well as a pot of mint tea, oatcakes hot from the oven, and a slice of the onion pie from last night's supper.
"That was exactly what I needed," Sansa said gratefully. They sat on the stone bench, eating oatcakes and drinking mint tea, and talked of archery as the sun rose in the sky and the castle stirred to life.
Result:
- Sansa gains Expert in Archery
Hope you all are well and happy.