Fill: Practice Makes Perfect, 6b/?settiaiJanuary 27 2013, 03:06:44 UTC
Thorin eyed him again, studying his posture. Then he began walking around Bilbo once more. After a moment, Bilbo startled somewhat as Thorin leaned forward and carefully repositioned the placement of Bilbo's hands.
His touch was surprisingly gentle.
"How does that feel?" Thorin asked, pulling his hand away.
Bilbo swung his sword slightly, just enough to test the new position of his hands. "Better," he admitted, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice, "as if I have more control."
With Thorin standing behind him, Bilbo couldn't see his face. He felt a light huff of air ruffle his hair, though, a quiet sound that could have almost been a chuckle. Then, a second or two later, he felt a hand on his back.
It took everything in him not to jerk away at the touch.
Thorin lightly pushed him. "You need to straighten up," he said seriously. "Don't bend your legs quite so much."
Bilbo did his best to follow Thorin's advice. For some reason, though, it was hard to focus. Thorin's hand was still resting on his back, a light touch that he could barely feel, yet he couldn't help but find it extremely distracting.
"Better," Thorin said. Bilbo thought that he could almost hear Thorin nodding.
He felt a flash of relief as Thorin's hand moved from his back. Except the next thing he knew, Thorin had moved to his side and was gently straightening his arm out. Bilbo could see Thorin's face now, his attention focused on nothing but Bilbo as he carefully showed him the proper stance and grip he should be using.
"There, that's better," Thorin said finally, more to himself than to Bilbo.
Thorin moved away, unsheathing his own sword as he positioned himself several feet away from Bilbo. He met Bilbo's gaze, and then he smiled. There was no other word for it. It wasn't as bright and unguarded as that of his nephews. In fact, compared to theirs, it barely even counted as one. But it was much more than Bilbo had seen from Thorin since the beginning of their journey months earlier.
"Let's begin," Thorin said.
Bilbo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, uncomfortably aware of the way Thorin's stare was focused entirely on him.
His touch was surprisingly gentle.
"How does that feel?" Thorin asked, pulling his hand away.
Bilbo swung his sword slightly, just enough to test the new position of his hands. "Better," he admitted, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice, "as if I have more control."
With Thorin standing behind him, Bilbo couldn't see his face. He felt a light huff of air ruffle his hair, though, a quiet sound that could have almost been a chuckle. Then, a second or two later, he felt a hand on his back.
It took everything in him not to jerk away at the touch.
Thorin lightly pushed him. "You need to straighten up," he said seriously. "Don't bend your legs quite so much."
Bilbo did his best to follow Thorin's advice. For some reason, though, it was hard to focus. Thorin's hand was still resting on his back, a light touch that he could barely feel, yet he couldn't help but find it extremely distracting.
"Better," Thorin said. Bilbo thought that he could almost hear Thorin nodding.
He felt a flash of relief as Thorin's hand moved from his back. Except the next thing he knew, Thorin had moved to his side and was gently straightening his arm out. Bilbo could see Thorin's face now, his attention focused on nothing but Bilbo as he carefully showed him the proper stance and grip he should be using.
"There, that's better," Thorin said finally, more to himself than to Bilbo.
Thorin moved away, unsheathing his own sword as he positioned himself several feet away from Bilbo. He met Bilbo's gaze, and then he smiled. There was no other word for it. It wasn't as bright and unguarded as that of his nephews. In fact, compared to theirs, it barely even counted as one. But it was much more than Bilbo had seen from Thorin since the beginning of their journey months earlier.
"Let's begin," Thorin said.
Bilbo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, uncomfortably aware of the way Thorin's stare was focused entirely on him.
It was going to be a long training session.
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