Are you up to it? (Open)

[Alraer Maerzadí]

Alraer Slowly, and calmly strode towards the sparring ground, the long blue sword strapped to her back glinting in the midday sunshine. The weather could only be descried as wonderful, the sky was clear and blue with only a few wisps of white clouds floating past every so often, and there was a light breeze, keeping the heat from being insufferable. Her long hair fluttered be hing her gracefully as she walked, in a straight line toward the middle of the large grassy plain, before halting and looking around, trying to spot any other being that may be near by.

She enjoyed a good spar every so often, with whom ever was willing really, it often served as a relaxant, calming her down for for whatever reason, and when she was calm she usually just sat around, so this was also a welcome way to get her active. She took the sword out of it's shining sheath on her back and span it around once, slashing the air in front of her, spinning around then slashing it once more. She loved her blade, though she rarely got a chance to use it properly, it had been crafted to meet her exact requirements, and was absolutely perfect.

After that she simply stood, and waited for someone to turn up, she was relatively patient, she could wait for hours if she had to.

[Lindariel]

"Aren't you bored?" A harsh, chiding voice sounded from behind Alraer. "I've been watching you. You've been standing there like an idiot for ages!" Lin Halden, the grumpy elfish healer, was walking up to the Rider. She pointed her staff at Alraer accusingly. "Wasting your day, that's fine!"

Lin didn't need the staff; indeed, she was as fit and strong as any elf. Her back was ramrod straight, and she carried herself with poise. However, Lin had given up on swords a long time ago. She didn't need them: She was as good with her staff and bow as any elf was with their sword.

The blonde elf sent a small glare towards Alraer, her short bobbed hair swinging in the light wind. "Guess I'll be the one you're fighting today, girl." Lin smiled grimly. "How old are you?"

[Alraer Maerzadí]

After a while, a long while she was suddenly made aware of the presence of another, as this other, a female spoke. "Not really, I often sit around and do nothing so standing around doing nothing doe not bother me," she said, only turning her head to look at the new comer. She could feel a sudden push of irritation on her mind as her dragons consciousness became known, to her at least. "I am not really wasting my day, for I don't have anything useful to be doing," she simply stated, now turning her whole body to face the other elf.

Alraer was slightly confused as to why this other elf was being quite hostile, it didn't phase her at all, just confused her. "That strikes me a strange question to ask, at least before knowing some-one's name, however I will dignify your question with an answer, I am 42 years of age.May I be so rude as to ask you the same question?" she spoke her words clearly. She held her sword loosely by her side, not entirely sure where this was going right now, she anticipated a spar...

[Lindariel]

Lin laughed bitterly. "Hoho! So you're a cocky young lass, are you?" She winked at the Rider. "My name is Lindariel Halden. I'm in my late nineties- I can't remember where exactly!" She laughed again. "Only a few years after Eragon was born, if you recall the Rider lore correctly. Which I think I do. I'm rarely wrong on such matters." For a moment, Lin stood where she was. Then she walked the rest of the way up to Alraer.

"Haven't seen me around, then, have you? Don't get yourself hurt much?" Lin's face was grim once again. "I'm a healer by trade, but as good as any with a sword or staff and better than most with a bow. As it so happens, I too seem to have nothing useful to be doing today. So I'll spar with you for the sake of killing time." Lin rolled her eyes mentally at the young Rider in front of her. The girl was too... too... formal. Too formal for Lin's tastes, and too proper to make up for it. Lin always knew very quickly whether or not she would like someone, and she did not think she'd like Alraer much at all.

[Alraer Maerzadí]

Alraer immediately relaxed, if only slightly as the others voice appeared to become less hostile, and she smiled at her comment, allowing melodic laughter to escape her slightly parted lips, it was a sound that she didn't make very often, though she liked to laugh few really ever made her create this glorious sound. "You, must be a great deal wiser than me, and no doubt better at handling a sword, I should like to put this to the test, soon if you would," she said with a slight grin on her face.

"I haven't seen you around before, I don't get out too much, well, get out to see others, I spend my time mostly with my bonded; Azella" she stated "I, have never really been anywhere that would cause me to be hurt, I have only ever acquired a few cuts and bruises, none particularly serious, however, I suppose should I hurt myself now, I am facing the right opponent" she said with a slight grin as she held her sword infront of her, both hands gripping her 'Hand and a half' sword.

[Lindariel]

Lin nodded. "If you don't mind, I'd rather not use a sword. I left those behind me a long time ago." Absently, Lin stretched her staff forward and drew a circle in the dirt on the ground, walking around Alraer to do it. She walked slowly and deliberately, digging the tip of her staff down deep into the ground. "I tend to like a good challenge." She explained while walking. "This is the ring." Lin indicated the circle she was drawing. It was fairly large, so the two wouldn't be crowded at all. "We spar inside." The older elf tapped the center of the circle as she finished. "First one to step out looses. It's simple enough." Nodding, Lin looked at Alraer to see if she understood.

"It's better for close-combat weapons really, but since you're the only one that will be using a sword, I don't think it will be much of a problem." Lin raised an eyebrow at the hand and a half sword that Alraer held, but said nothing. Instead, she stepped into the circle and tapped the end of the staff on the ground impatiently. "You can start."

[Alraer Maerzadí]

"Are, there no rules about bodily contact, I doubt that I will but I don't wish for my blade to harm you, but I suppose you are a healer..." she trailed off slightly before watching her draw out the circle she assumed they would spar in. "Also, would you mind telling me your name, I am but a little curious" she said, she was naturally fairly formal, it was how she was brought up, as she got to know someone, she would relax more and become less formal, and some people disliked her for it, but she didn't really mind.

She swung the sword round once, she rarely used it and was testing her grip. "I am not all that skilled when it comes to fighting, I have had my training yet not much actual experience, so the chances are in your favor," she said with a slight grin, she was not a sore loser, and would take it well if she was beaten, which she most likely would be. She made her first move swiftly a simply, slashing her sword from the left to the right, hoping to make some form of contact with at least her staff...

[Lindariel]

Lin nodded. "My name, again, is Lin Halden, bonded to none." The elf didn't even flinch as Alraer's sword flew in a horizontal strike. Her right hand gripped the staff tightly at the center and thrust the wood up so as to catch Alraer's blade on the top half of it. Lin smiled, and stepped back. "You won't hurt me, girl."

Moving quickly, Lin spun the staff twice in her hands, stepped to the left and swung the stout wooden pole at Alraer's shoulders in a blink of an eye. Then she repeated the move again, spinning the staff twice, stepping to the left, and this time striking lower, towards Alraer's legs. Lin was not one to hold back at the beginning of the fight, but she was compromising a bit of her skill for the showy act. If Alraer got to thinking that Lin was much better than she really was, then Lin would have an even better chance of winning.

Not that she thought she'd lose. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Lin noted that she would have rather challenged this girl in an archery competition than a spar. For Lin, a bow was much more comfortable.

[Alraer Maerzadí]

Alraer, though quick, was not very strong at all, and although she was able to react to Lin's attacks, everyone that struck her blade cause her to lose her balance. Resulting in her only just catching her sword on Lin's staff as she struck for the final time. She huffed slightly, she knew that this spar would most likely end up in the other's favor, she wasn't particularly bothered, but she did not want to seem weak, especially seen as she was a rider.

After quickly regaining her balance she struck again, bringing her sword down wards aiming for the other elf's shoulder, and as soon as she was done with that swift movement she moved straight onto another,, this time slashing up wards, at least hoping to knock her off guard or at least something.