take aim
“I see room for improvement.”
Sera lowered her bow and turned around with an incredulous look, “I’d say that target begs otherwise.”
“I didn’t say you were doing badly,” said Leliana placatingly, “Just that you’re not doing it properly. Seven out of ten on target is good, ten out of ten is better – no?”
“And I’m about to get a lesson, am I?”
The quirk of Leliana’s lips was an answer in itself, and there was a long moment before Sera jutted her chin and shrugged like it was nothing. She returned to her relaxed stance, raising her bow again easily but she kept an eye on the spymaster, and to her credit she didn’t flinch when a warm hand found itself on the small of her back.
“Don’t hunch over so much. Chest out and shoulders back,” another touch, this time at her elbow, “Lift your arms a little – yes, like that, good. How are you going to shoot if you stand like wet bread?”
“Watch who you’re calling wet bread,” Sera muttered but there was no malcontent in her voice, and Leliana’s laugh was breath on the back of her neck as she lightly pressed against her. With her height advantage, she easily slid her arms around to place her hands on top of Sera’s, re-adjusting her grip.
“Treat your bow as you would a lover,” she said, drawing her hand back steadily, taking the bowstring and Sera’s hand with it, “When you draw, don’t be afraid to push her as far as she can go. Feel the tension; bring her all the way to the brink of breaking point before you release.”
Sera tried to turn to look at Leliana but the body pressed against hers was steadfast. She swallowed thickly, “And what if I do break her, then I’m down a bow in the middle of a fight.”
“You practice. You get to know your bow intimately, to the very last millimeter. Speed is fine and well, but what is speed without power and accuracy?” Leliana carefully let the bow go slack in their shared grip, but her grasp lingered a little longer than necessary, “I shall let you return to your target, Sera. Just remember: treat her as you would a lover.”
And with a half-smile and a half-curtsy, she was gone, leaving a very confused and pink-faced elf in her wake.
“I think I’m going to need more lessons,” she mumbled, notching another arrow.
