Truly Tested

Aragorn swung his sword as he'd done a thousand times during practice with blunted swords against bags of straw and sand, against comrades.

He'd passed their trials; his betters pronounced him ready.

Horns sang out, swords clashed on shield. The ground shook with the tramp of those eager to die.

Today he'd be truly tested.

The shock of bone-snap through leather reverberated up his sword; draw back and swing; easy sliding of steel through flesh, the warm sticky spray; evil eyes piecing his, turning soft as they lose their glow.

Aragorn swung his sword, killing, dying eyes burned his mind.