Roses and Thorns ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 1.
Chapter 9 ~ First day in the guard

It had been nearly half an year since Ivelle left London. She didn't have bad dreams since she had been there except that one with the burning house. She was nerveous at first, and the first few months were very strange, but she became part and parcel of the elvish society. She acquired the ettiquette and she become better and better in her training. Her favourite weapon was the sword.

She was walking in the curtyard. Elves were rushing to the palace or went to the city with orders from the king. Everyone was very excited. Only one week was left until the day of the annual Summer Bal, and this year the elves hosted the other kingdoms. And Ivelle was invited too. Cirillo asked her to accompany him. She spent a week with learning every single dance that existed. She felt ready. But first she had to find a dress.

"Muriel." she noticed the elf.

"Ivelle. What can I do for you?"

"I need a dress, for the bal."

"Oh, I one step ahead you. The dresmakers are already working on it."

"Great, thank you." Muriel bowed and left.

She went to the ward to meet Pádraig. The man was already in his training clothes and was waiting for her with a bow.

"Not again! " Said Ivelle. " You know how much I hate the bow. "

"I know. " He smiled "That's why we are using it. Go change your clothes. "

"Okay"

She stepped in the Females' Room. It was a small room in a wooden house. There was a few bed, a table with chairs, and a wardrobe in the room. A few elf women was chatting in the corner. She opened the wardrobe and took out her training clothes. It was a long sleeved white linen shirt, a brown leather jerkin, brown linen pants and leather shoes. She said hello to the other elves and left the room. As she stepped out Pádraig handed her the bow and a quiver with arrows. She put the quiver on her back.

" So don't forget. Never loose focus. "

"Okay."

She aimed at the target and shot. Her arrow hit it on the blank. She shot another one and another, until her quiver became half empty. She went closer and examined the target. Most of the arrows hit it on the blank.

"Great job." said Pádraig with a smile "You're starting to shoot like a real elf."

"Thanks." she smiled back.

"Now. Let's move on." he threw her a sword.

They drew out their swords and waited. Ivelle attacked, but Pádraig easily parried. The clashing of the sword could be heard. They spinned and turned, jumped and stepped they moved in a perfect circle, until Pádraig sent her to grass with a well-directed sword-stroke. Now she was laying on the ground glaring at him. Her back hurt. Pádraig helped her up.

"I take back what I've said. You are possibly the worst apprentice I've ever trained." laughed the man.

"Thank you, for the encouragement. " she rolled her eyes and lifted her sword. "Let's get back to work."

"That's the spirit!" the man drew out his sword "Ready?"

"Ready like hell."

They clashed again, but this time Ivelle won. She was really proud of herself. She had never beaten him before.

"You went easy on me." she said suspiciously.

"No, I didn't. I know that you'd hate it." he got up "You passed the test."

"What test?"

"You can be part of the elven army. If you'd still like to. "

" Yes. " she smiled "Thank you. "

" You'll report for duty, tomorrow at 6 in the morning. I'll introduce you to your commander. Don't be late. "

" I won't. "

" Now go and have a rest. "

" Okay. Thanks. " she gave him a quick hug and went back to her room. She was exhausted, but happy. Very happy.

A few hours later someone knocked on her door.

" Come in! " The door opened and a familiar elf stepped in.

" Niran! What brings you here? I didn't call you."

"I brought you your new uniform."

"Thank you. Just put it down somewhere."

"Lady Lícia the dressmaker asks you to go and try your dress on."

"Okay, sure. Could you take me to her? I've never been to the dressmaker's before."

"Sure. Follow me."

They left the room and went through the corridors. Ivelle tried to memorise the way, so she'll be able to find her way back to her room. They arrived to a small oaken door. Niran knocked and a young blonde elf-girl opened the door.

"Hi, Gaia. Lady Ivelle is here for the fit-on."

"Come in." she let them in "Mother's fixing the queen's dress, but she'll be back in any minute. Until then, I'll help you get into your dress." Ivelle nodded.

" Then, I'll leave you two alone. Lady Ivelle, lady Gaia." he bowed and left.

" Please, follow me." Gaia led her to another room. It was smaller and less bright, because of the smaller windows and the thicker curtains.

In the middle of the room stood a green tulle dress on a dress stand. Gaia helped her get into it, than led her back to the other room. She turned her towards a huge mirror. The dress was beautiful. It was A-lined with a V-neck and was decorated with bowknots, ruffles and flowers.

"Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful." she admired the dress. Gaia started to fit the dress.

"Do you want to be a dressmaker like your mother?"

"I wanted to be." she sighted "But... I have magic. More than a usual elf, so I'll move to Lorlea in a few month."

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's great. I'll just miss my family."

She wanted to say something, but the door opened and a blonde elf woman stepped in, followed by a dog-like creature. It was like a small white dog with horns.

"It's a white cadejo. They protect people." she must had noticed that Ivelle was examining the dog. Ivelle nodded. "Ah, the dress. Looks amazing on you." smiled the woman.

After the fit-on she mnaged to get back to her room. she was excited both about the bal and about her first day at the guard. The afternoon passed quickly. She met Hagan, went to the library (like every other day).

She woke up early the next morning and went to the ward, where Pádraig and Prince Hagan had already been waiting for her. She felt very confident in her new uniform. She wore green linen pants and dress, a leather corset, a corset cover bodice, leather arm gauntlets and leather boots. She had also put on her green hooded cape.

"Good morning." Hagan greeted her with a smile. "Ready for your first day?"

"Absolutely." she smiled back. "You're the commander?"

"Yes." he smiled.

Pádraig gave Ivelle her weapons: her sword and her bow. Hagan gave her a dagger too. It was a beautiful silver dagger decorated with complicaetd carvings.

"Sapient non volo bello, sed paratus semper ad pugnam." she read the engraving "The wise never want war, but always ready to fight."

"Your latin is getting better."Hagan smiled then turned to the crowd.

"Attention please." he said loudly enough to everybody hear him. "Today our task is very simple: we are going to patrol the northern border of the city. That's all. No travelling, no horse riding we'll even be home by dinner. So let's not waste time. Let's go. "

He turned around and hit the road. The other guards followed him in pairs. Ivelle went next to an elf-man. She didn't know his name, but she knew him by sight. Nobody talked until they reached the guard house. Hagan assigned her to a team and they set off to their posts.

For a few hours everything was silent. They patroled the edge of the forest, sometimes had a word with each other. Everything was silent and peaceful. When it got dark they started their way back to the meeting-point. Suddenly something moved between the trees and bushes. It was a huge dog-like thing. Twice as big as the largest dog she had ever seen. Its eyes were red like blood and its fur was black. It looked directly into Ivelle's eyes. She froze, but she didn't know why, maybe from fear. The dog circled around her, but didn't lost eye contact. Then it stopped and jumped at her. By the time she realised what was going on she had already laied on her back. The dog's huge front claws were on her chest and it got its claes into her. She screamed for help, but the others were too far. The dog bit her and she felt her warm blood trickling down on her shoulder. She shouted again. And the beast bit her again, now on her neck. She tried to reach her dagger and succeeded. She stabbed it into the beast's neck. It staggered back but tried to attack again. This time Ivelle was faster and reached for her sword. The beast jumped again and Ivelle stabbed it in the chest. It howled in its pain then fell into the ground dead. Ivelle felt dizzy and sick, she turned giddy. She heard footsteps and shouting. The first person she saw was her captain, who was followed by her teammates and Hagan. She couldn't stand any longer. She collapsed and lost consciousness.

"How could it happen?!" she heard a familiar voice. She tried to open her eyes, but failed.

"We don't know. Her captain said that he only lost sight of her for a minute. She must had dropped behind."

"That's unacceptable!" the man was yelling. She recognised him.

"Cirillo..." she said, although she was nearly whispering and her voice was scratchy.

"Ivelle!" he went to her bed "How are you feeling?"

"Well... My head hurts, so does my chest, but I'm okay." she tried to sit up, but fell back. Her neck and shoulder was hurting too.

"Easy, easy." said the other voice. Hagan. "The doctor said you have two broken ribs and brain concussion."

"What was that thing?" she asked.

"A nighthound." said Hagan.

"A what?"

"Erebos created them. They attack during the night, and kill everyone who get in their way. We thought that all of them was dead. Maybe we missed some of them." explained Hagan.

"Or we didn't." said Cirillo.

"What do you mean?" asked Ivelle.

"Nothing." said Hagan quickly "You should rest. And we have to go." he directed his brother towards the door. "Get some rest." They left the room. What did Cirillo mean? Does he think that Erebos is still alive? Or maybe something worse... She felt tired and overwhelmed. It was a hell of a first day.

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