World Outside Time: 4 days later

[heartandfire.livejournal.com]

Jubee lay on the grassy courtyard, bathing in the sunlight and feeling happy and content for the first time in a long while.

She was stretched out, laying in the yellow dress with her notebook, torn a little and battered, but fine other than a bloodstain on the cover, laying open in front of her. She'd purposefully ignored the pages before these ones, concentrating on the better times as she described the castle and the grounds, Sir James, Anmut, and everything that had happened so far.

On the ground next to her Steve was curled up, asleep as usual, and behind her Sir James and Anmut sat, also enjoying the day.

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[random_xtras]

"Here, lass. Let me show ye how t' do this." Sir James closed one eye and looked along the length of the arrow shaft, then picked up a tip and turned to look at her.

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She turned, and grinned.

"OK," she said, slowly getting up, trying to encourage the quick healing her bones seemed to be attempting before she went over to him. "Can we go shooting later? Pretty please?"

[random_xtras]

"Accourse." He grinned at her and handed her the pretty pink and silver flint tip, then guided her down to sit next to him. "But not today, perhaps. Yer still not up ta it."

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"Ok," she said, getting comfortable and grinning. "Wow, these arrow heads are neat. What're they made of?"

[random_xtras]

"Flint." He picked up another and rubbed it between his fingers, then held it to his nose to smell the faint sweet scent of it. "I've never seen the like anywhere, but tis flint all the same." He turned to look at Anmut as she stirred, then turned back to Jubilee as he saw that the winged woman was still asleep. "Mind the edges now, lass, they're sharp."

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She smiled and sucked her fingertip, which had a small bead of blood on it.

"Got it, Wolvie," she grinned. "Now what?"

[random_xtras]

He shook his head at her, then handed her the arrow shaft and picked up another, showing her how to sight down then length of it and wondering if she'd notice the slight bow in it that would make it useless.

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She looked down, then frowned puzzedly. "Wolvie, I think this one's crooked. Would it go sideways if you shot it stright?"

[random_xtras]

He laughed out loud, the sound causing Anmut to lift her head and blink toward them.

"Aye, Lass, it is. Good job!" He handed her another shaft. "How's this one?"

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"Um..." she blinked and concentrated. "Straight?"

[random_xtras]

"Good." He showed her how to fit the flint into the notch at the end of the shaft, holding it in place with a dab of tree gum. "Make sure tis straight, now."

Anmut rolled onto her stomach and watched them languidly, ears twitching slightly.

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Jubee followed his instructions, looking down the shaft again to make sure it looked right and straight.

"Like this?" she said, looking at him for approval.

[random_xtras]

He took it and sighted along it, then nodded. "Fine work. Have ye done this before?"

[heartandfire.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head no and grins.

"Not arrows. But after I broke my fourth naginata my Wolvie made me start replacing the blades myself, and he wouldn't let me use them unless the blades were perfect."

[random_xtras]

He grinned and handed her a spool of fine gut thread. "Alright now. Watch as I bind this one." He picked up another spool and set to work.

[heartandfire.livejournal.com]

She nodded and watched, and then carefully copied him exactly.

"Is this right?" she asked.

[random_xtras]

"Yup. Now lets see if we kin get these done before that blasted broom comes to tell us it's time ta eat."

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"Yes sir!" Jubilee giggled, finishing and picking up another arrowhead before she started to look for shafts.

((A few hours later))

"I think I'm done," Jubilee carefully set the last arrow on top of the pile, grinning at her stack and looking over at Sir James, laughing as she saw his much larger, far neater pile. "I can't wait until I learn how to use them!"

[random_xtras]

He laughed, eyes sparkling. "They want fletching first, Joy. And I think we'd best wait to do that." Reaching out, he took one of her hands and showed her how nicked and worn her fingertips looked.

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"Aw, but this is good for me, I was careful," she pouted, sitting firmly on her other hand which was, but far, much more cut and beaten. "Can we do it tonight? Or tomorrow?"

[random_xtras]

"Mayhap the morrow." He lifted his head and sniffed, then glanced at Anmut to make sure she was alright before turning back to Jubilee. "An' when yer stronger I'll take ye out t' one 'o the jungles 'n we kin hunt."

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"Really?" she said, looking up at him, her eyes sparkling. "That would be so cool! Can we go after a bear? Or a jungle cat? Or something else big and stinky?"

[random_xtras]

"Ah, no, there are none 'o those here. 'N I don't care fer killin' things that ain't worth eatin'. But there's plenty 'o beasties ta chase." He stood and gathered the unfleched arrows all together.

[heartandfire.livejournal.com]

"Beasties?" Jubes bit back the laugh, and instead got up to follow him. "Careful! It took me hours to make those!"

As they walked up she was one step behind him, looking around. "What about a wild boar? We could make bacon, have a big family breakfast or something. or make jerky and have a picnic, or have a big ham for dinner one night! Or we gout have hotdogs... but I don't think I'd be able to watch them being made. Or we could do all of it, maybe?"

[random_xtras]

He led her to the stone shed in the corner of the courtyard, shaking his head. "Nay, lass, the only things from Earth are the turkeys. Everything else seems t'be native tae this place 'n they're all winged beasts the like 'o which I'd never seen before comin' here. Though most're good on the table."