Fencing Lesson

[Aylen Hawkins]

A boy stood absolutely still in the center of the dueling hall. He had the look of intense concentration on his face. Suddenly, without warning, he brandished a wooden cudgel at an imaginary opponent. “En guarde!” he yelled, and began swinging wildly in an attempt to crush his make-believe adversary. “Take that! Touché and whatnot!” He shouted random phrases of what he thought were fencing terms. “And that should teach you, thou recreant knight!” he threw in for good measure. Apparently, he had emerged victorious from the fray. He stuck his “sword” into its scabbard gallantly, then overbalanced and fell. “Ouch,” he muttered from the floor. “Gotta practice that one.”

[Forgoil Halifirien]

Faint clapping sounded through the room as another boy entered the dueling hall. Over the boy's left shoulder was a bulky bag filled with all kinds of equipment that would be needed for the lesson. This would be the second person that he would instruct and he felt good that he was passing on skills to eager pupils.

However, his latest pupil had quite the imagination, but Forgoil didn't mind; he too had a large imagination. Setting the bag down on the floor, Forgoil walked over to Aylen and offered him a hand, saying "Having fun, Aylen? Well, enjoy yourself by all means, but know this; dueling against imaginary opponents and practice dummies is one thing. Fighting against some who's out for your blood; that's completely different. They probably won't be chivalrous too, seeing how you talked to your 'friend'."

[-a r e l l a-]

A girlish giggle came from th doors to the dueling hall. Stood there was a 5foot tall blond female, her long locks of hair falling over her shoulders and framing her face neatly. Her royal blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

Stepping into th room she introduced herself to the boys: "I'm Arella. Mind if I join you?"

She'd been bored, putting off writing a letter that she needed to send by owl later, so Arella decided to explore the school and had stumbled across this place. Arella had found it amusing watching the first one battle against himself, and wanted some fun.

"Accio" she chanted, summoning a fencing sword, and making her school robes transform into a white fencing suit.

Jumping into a fighting stance, and waving her sword about madly she smiled and said "On guard!"

[Aylen Hawkins]

"Oh. Hullo, Forgoil," Aylen said sheepishly. "I was excited, so I came early. Guess I got a bit carried away." He allowed himself to be helped up and grinned. He tapped the cudgel on the floor as he mulled over what the Hufflepuff said. "Hey, if my enemy's out for my blood, the feeling's probably mutual. I'll watch out for any tricks he might pull. So, what's in the bag?"

Before Forgoil had a chance to answer, a blonde girl entered the Dueling Hall. She immediately switched into her fencing gear. "Hi, my name's Aylen. I'm just learning, you see," he introduced himself.

[-a r e l l a-]

Arella smiled, lowered her sword, and reached out a hand to shake Aylen's in a greeting.

"Oooo...what are you learning for? Mind if I tag onto your session? I've always wanted to fence but never got the chance..."

She gave a sweet smile, and her eyes sparkled. This look never usually failed to get her what she wanted: she only hoped it'd work on the red head...

[Forgoil Halifirien]

As a girl entered into the dueling hall, Forgoil laughed at all the excitement that was in the hall that day. It seemed that he would teach quite a few students before the day was up. He had already taught Lars Claybourne the basics, and now it seemed he would be teaching Aylen and Arella, the girl who had just entered.

"No, I don't mind at all if you join us, Arella; it would actually be better if you joined us, so that the two of you would be able to practice with each. And as to whats in the bag; necessary equipment and swords for today's practice." Forgoil handed Aylen the a set of fencing clothing, and a practice sword...the first test had begun.

"Since Arella is already suited up; we shall see if you can get on the fencing gear without me telling you how. The suit consists of a jacket, pants, a glove for whatever hand you write with, and the mask, which I prefer to call helmet. Think you can handle this, Aylen?"

[-a r e l l a-]

"Thanks sooo much" Arella said, she was so greatful that she had to resist the urge to hug this random stranger who was now her teacher!

Arella giggled as Forgoil set Aylen on his first task: she knew how difficult it could be suiting up in the uniform, and was therefore extrememly happy that she had conjured herself into hers...

[Aylen Hawkins]

"Well," Aylen commented. "Seems easy enough..." Pretty soon, however, Aylen was entangled in a mess of fencing gear. He had accidentally stepped on the mask and it had gotten stuck on his foot, which me putting on the pants a problem. He did manage to get the jacket on--backwards--and was now attempting to extricate his foot. "Erm...help?" he asked, his gloved hand pulling at the headgear. Perhaps Aylen's pure-blood heritage might also be partially to blame.

[-a r e l l a-]

Arella couldn't help but laugh. In fact, she laughed so hard that a tear began to form in her eye, as she bent over gasping for air as she continued to laugh more and more.

"Aww...th...that's...sooo...cute!" she managed to choke out, wiping her tear.

"Diffindo" she said, smiling, and the seams of the fencing suit split open allowing Aylen to step out of them.

"Maybe you should just conjure them like I did?" she suggested, still trying to hold back giggles.

[Forgoil Halifirien]

"No", replied Forgoil in a strict voice, "Aylen shall learn to put them on without magic; for there will be times magic is unavailable to the user. Being able to put on the clothing with magic is an easy way and you can become dependent on it to a point where it's not healthy. Now, Master Hawkins; you start by putting the pants on first. Next, the jacket which you put on backward, then the mask and glove. Better?"

[Aylen Hawkins]

“Ookay, no magic, huh?” Aylen muttered. “At least I’m allowed to do this, right?” He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the unraveled fencing suit. “Reparo!” The suit rapidly stitched itself back together. Aylen grinned. “At least that didn’t go wrong.” He paid special attention to where he put his feet, and carefully put on the gear in the correct order. “Is this how it’s done?” Aylen asked, his voice a bit muffled by the mask. He picked up the fencing foil with his right hand by gripping its handle in a fist.

[Rezna Lardale]

Rezna pushed the doors open to the dueling hall. To her surprise she saw two people she knew about to start a fencing lesson. Aylen seemed to have some problems getting into his suit. That was no surprise to her by now.

"Hello Forgoil, Aylen. I didn't expect to see you here. But in light of certain events I doubt that the knowledge won't be helpful," she extended her arm to the weapons and gear lying on the floor. Her green eyes then focused on a stanger by the two boys. "Hello. I don't think we've met, I'm Rezna," she bowed to the blond haired girl. "Do you three mind if I watch? It's been a while since I last held a sword in my hand. Remembering some of the moves might help."

[-a r e l l a-]

Forgoil was right: they did need to know how to do things not relying on magic all the time, so Arella would practice putting on the suit when she was alone later, to save herself any embarassment!

"Good job Aylen" she said, with a smile as the red head successfully put on his fencing suit.

Arella looked over to the girl as she walked in; she seemed to know two males, and smiled as she introduced herself. "I'm Arella" she said politely "nice to meet you" she then gently threw her sword over to the girl for her to catch.

"Why not join in? We can have play tournements?"

[Rezna Lardale]

Rezna's had few up automatically and grabbed the sword's handle as it descended towards her. The familiarity of the weight in her hand was almost as if she met a long forgotten friend. Yet a fencing sword was much lighter then what she was used to but similar all the same.

"Thank you, Arella, but I can't possibly join without the permission of the master." She looked around at the boys. Seeing Aylen's trouble with the suit, she figured that it was Forgoil who was here to teach. "Either way, I'm sure you're here to learn, and I'd hate to hinder that."

[Forgoil Halifirien]

"Dear Rezna; you wouldn't be facing anyone who was just learning unless you too were in the same position. So, if you want to Rezna; you get to face the 'Master' of today's festivities....If you deem yourself worthy" said Forgoil as he twirled about to face Rezna.

He whirled about to face his two other pupils; saluting with his sword he went. "Now Aylen and Arella; where would you like to begin? Posture? Footwork? Or swordplay? Whatever you two decide to do; I shall instruct you the best I can."

While waiting of their reply, Forgoil walked over to his fencing bag and put on his own fencing gear, which was pure white for today's training. Putting on his mask and pulling on his glove; he grabbed one of his practice blades. He slowly turned toward the three, and said, "So, where does your training begin?"