Can he do it? Seriously can he compete successfully in yet another sport, having already medaled in swimming and gymnastics?
Amid cheers and chanting fans ("Rock it Reep!, Rock it Reep! ..."), Reepicheep, with the panache of a swordsman many times his size, has entered the fray once again for honor and country. Although he lacks to power to parry effectively, he uses his speed and agility to great advantage to dodge his opponents' blades, and with amazing soaring leaps he scores "Touché!" before they can guard themselves.
The usurper king Miraz is our next contestant, and it would seem he is at an advantage over some of the others, since Narnian shield-fighting is not permitted. Miraz, being a Telmarine, never learned shield-fighting like most Narnians, which he has encountered when he has met Narnians in the past. But now the playing field has been evened on these grounds, and Miraz's sword-training, along with his greater size and weight (greater than that of most of his opponents) can come into play. Will Miraz now stand a chance against some of the Narnians? I suppose we shall just have to wait and see!
(Can we submit more than one contestant? I had way too many ideas this round...)
Go for it, Hobbit
@Hobbit: Ah, sure, what's the harm? Judging will be happening tonight or tomorrow morning, though!
Edmund enters the ring, but not with his usual twin swords. He's holding his own for now, but can he prove he is just as capable with one sword for the same amount of time?
Orieus the centaur steps up, wielding the mighty broadsword that centaurs favor. Here is a competitor to equal and excel Miraz's height and weight! And he is certainly prepared in case something were to happen to his sword. One of the bystanders, Trumpkin (who would be competing but for an injury sustained to his shoulder), counts least half a dozen spare swords in sheaths strapped to the centaur's broad back and sides, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.
And the awards are as follows:
Gold to Oreius
Silver to Cor (But he looks to be next year's favored contender!)
Bronze to Miraz
King Peter had to withdraw from the tournament following an injury.
Next competition: 100 meter race
Ladies and gentlemen, behold! Chervy the Stag! See the fleetness of his feet: he hardly seems to touch the ground! The Stag who bounded from Mount Pire to Cair Paravel seems to have found his calling as a Narnialympics athlete!
A dryad, her petals born on the wind takes up race in record time.
A talking Leopard lines up for the heat, his tail twitching with anticipation and his powerful muscles tensed for the starting trumpet blast.
Bree, the Talking Horse who has already taken the bronze in the high jump, eats up the track, his thundering hooves seeming never to touch the ground. When asked after the race how he managed to beat all of his previous times by a mile, he replied that he simply imagined himself being chased by a lion, saying that that has always given him the extra drive in the past. But when asked to to elaborate further, he seemed a little embarrassed and politely declined.
And the winners are:
Gold: Bree
Silver: Chervy
Bronze: The Leopard
Your turn to pick an event, Hobbit 🙂
Yay Bree! (well played, Hobbit!)
As Hobbit has not selected an event, I will choose equestrian jumping. (All horses, talking or dumb, must have a rider.)
Our first contender for gold is Prince Cor, representing Archenland. Although it has only been recently he began to ride nontalking horses, he has progressed quickly and has proved many times that he is altogether capable of claiming the gold in this event.
Look at him take that first jump! He is in complete unison with his horse. The second jump shows no difficulty for His Highness either. He sits so well in the saddle! The next combination jump is a little tricky. It comes only three strides around a corner and is immediately followed by another jump. You have to have your pacing just right to get this -- And he clears them both! This, Ladies and Gentlemen is a true master of horsemanship! A year ago we would not have seen such impressive things from him!
Queen Lucy, riding Western rather than English-style for stability, and Hwin have teamed together for the equestrian jumping event. They are kindred spirits, and communicate well even without words. Her highness has an excellent seat, having once sailed over the battlements of the White Witch's castle on the back of none other than Aslan Himself. Hwin has been diligent in preparing for this competition, having worked off inches of excess weight from soft Narnian living by a daily regimen of galloping southward along a stream (that flows into the Great River) into the hills toward Archenland and leaping across boulders near the fords.
Together in trial heats on the course the team has clocked in at impressive times. Bree, and old friend of Hwin and himself a medalist, visited the two encouragement just before the race. And with a wink he gave them both one last parting piece of advice: "Think lion!" was his cryptic remark.
