untitled as of yet

Chapter One1

Her breath came in great rasping gulps. It was if the light fog that flowed across the ground below her were a slow creeping gas, stealing the oxygen. Every shape in the dusk was unfarmiliar, every shadow grotesquely distorted. It was a forest, that was evident, but not one she had ever stood in before. The trees did not seem like trees at all. They were like creatures reaching out to grasp her very life force.2

She could practically smell the energy around her. The small blonde hairs on the back of her neck pricked cautiously. She slowly reached her hand above her head, carefully feeling out the energy that was so powerful in this strange place. She felt the wind shift suddenly and wrap around her, excitement filled her eyes. 3

The snap of a twig and the crunch of leaves made her jump. She ran, dodging tree and root. She dashed left, then right, and ducked behind a rather omnious burk tree before looking back. She held her breath and strained every muscle trying to see. Hoping, a small squrriel leap into view, fearing something far worse. In the distance, a cricket chirped happily. 'How ironic!' She thought.4

Her gaze fell upon him. She clapped her hand over her mouth to discourage the scream from escaping her lips.5

A man? No! An elf ! He stood a good five foot tall or more. He crouched low to the ground. Almost every inch of him covered in a mixture of brown cloth, from this distance, Xele' knew that if she hadn't seen him move, she could have very well have tripped over him. His intent pale face framed by a simple hood. His bright green eyes darted this way and that. He held a small wooden bow, deadly arrow loaded. Silently, she pulled the fine, curved, silver blade that the Armsmaster had given her from her boot.6

Shivering, she sat in silence as she watched this elf. She stared in wonder. Everything she ever feared was incased in this man standing before her. He looked just like a man, all except the ears. She thought she saw them perk as if listening, like a predator hunting its prey. 'He's rather handsome actually.' She thought silently. ' Maybe, thats what he is pertraying to be, maybe he wants me to think his is so amazingly attractive that I will trust him and fall into his charms and then he will... he will... ' Shifting to get a better view, Xele's hand fell upon a rock. A thought came to her. 'If i can just distract him long enough...' She threw the stone over the right shoulder of the elf, barely missing his tensed muscles. 7

Unbelievable! This elf was running the other way! Straight at her! Xele' was too scared to move. He darted left, then right, agile as a feline in the city streets. Then, he was there, beside her, looking her dead in the eyes. Was that expression hatred? or fear? Xele' raised her blade slowly and the elf opened his mouth as if to speak.8

Xele' spasmed and felt the cold stone hit her face. She sat up and looked around the darkness. 'My bed chambers? What? How did I?' She relaxed, somewhat, at the thought of it only being a dream. It was when she tried to rub her eyes that she realized she had something clutched in her right hand.9

A stone.10

Xele' examined the stone as well as she could in the dark. 'I must have picked it up on my way to bed.' She thought even though she didn't believe it herself. It seemed she was even more tired after the dream. "I'll deal with it tomorrow." She whispered to herself. Fearing that someone would come and start asking her questions she couldn't answer if she lit a lantern, she climbed back into bed and tucked the stone away under her pillow. Pulling up the covers she hoped the dream wasn't a reoccuring one.11

"Morning miss." said a short round woman in a curt tone. Xele mumbled and peeked an eye open.12

"Just a little longer Care." She said in a groggy voice.13

"Sorry lady, theres little time left." She said as she pulled back the covers. Xele' huffed and curled up in a ball. "I've taken the liber-ee of gettin yah dressins ret-ee, yah mofer will wont ta speak wif yah firs." She said, holding up one of Xele's more extravagant green gowns.14

"First?" Xele' asked, sitting up and yawning.15

"Tis not my place miss." Caroline answered quickly.16

"Come on now Care, since when have you ever kept anything from me?" She urged. 17

"Since I've learnt what I 'ave, now get yah bum outta bed, yah mofer's waitin, and we all know what 'appens when 'er majesty's left waitin too long." She said grabbing a comb and running it through Xele's long straight tresses.18

"Yes, I lose the use of my bum for the day." Xele' said begrudgingly.19

Xele' stood and stumbled over to the basin and splashed cool water on her face. Caroline grabbed the string of Xele's nightgown and they fell to the floor. As she pulled on the underdress with distaste, she saw Caroline bring out a large wire skirt from behind the large, red, plush, chair in the corner.20

"Oh Care, please no! She pleaded.21

"Yah mofer's wishes deary" Caroline said sympathiticly.22

Xele slid into the dark green dress, legs first. 23

"I feel so silly" She said as she pulled her arms through and grimmiced at the long sleeves. She slipped her fingers through the loops at the end and then lifted the heafty skirt. Caroline only nodded and held the wire frame at Xele's feet so she could step into it. Pulling it up and tying it into place she said.24

"At leas yah don't look as silly as yah feel." She stood and turned Xele' to face the large mirror on the wall. Xele' felt her put a foot in the small of her back to pull tighter lacing up the dress. She tightened the very breath out of her. In a slightly higher voice she said.25

"Well, if I had it my way, this would be banned!" She studied herself in the mirror. Caroline was right, she looked like royalty, just not the same way her mother and sister did. She placed a small silver crown on her head. Its vines and leaves intertwining all the way around. Turning to leave, she remembered the stone. She walked to her bed. She was relieved and somewhat anxious to find it still there. She stashed the stone in the bossom of her dress.26

"Ahem"27

Caroline's voice startled her and she spun around wildly.28

"forgettin somfin?" She asked. Xele' looked about her person and blinked up at her. "Boots dear." She said in exasperation29

"Oh, right! Of course." Xele' laughed. She slid on her high boots and didn't bother lacing them before walking out the door. Unbeknownst to her, Caroline was steady shaking her head at the girl.30

'That was close!' Xele' thought as she felt for the stone making sure that it hadn't gone. As she walked past her sisters room, Xele' peeked in. Still asleep with a piece of cloth tied over her eyes to block out the sun.31

'It must be really early!' She whispered. 'Now what is so important that it can't wait till sun up?' Passing the kitchen on her way to the throne room, she talked one of the apprentice chefs into making her toast and jam. She ate on her way. Her boots clicked on the stone floor. It was so quiet and peaceful in the morning at the castle. No young ones yelling and running through the hallways. No one barking orders at servents. Just the quiet pace of her feet, and the occasional song of a bluebird waking in the morning dew. 32

As she reached the large doors she brushed away the crumbs of the toast. She heard voices.33

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her." said a voice she recognized as the king's. "We will just tell her we are sending her there for the training she has been nagging us about for the past three years." 34

"But what if she finds out? What if she gets suspicious? How do you know she will be safe? We can't lose her now!" Her mother's voice sounded worried and distressed.35

"Your majesty," A third voice boomed. As he spoke, Xele's hair stood on end as if a cold breeze brushed by. "Grenedite is the safest stronghold in the kingdom. The walls of the keep are inpenetrable, nothing comes in unless we want it to." He said enthusiasticly.36

The conversation fell to a whisper as Xele slowly pushed the door open. She commanded herself to keep the look of worry and confusion from her soft features. Her mother sat on the throne. She looked as though she had aged ten years over night. Water stood in her eyes. Xele swallowed the lump in her throat with great effort. Her mothers gold crown was tilted slightly, the large emerald that lay in it dulled, as if a sign of her mood. The king stood to her side, his bulky arms crossed over his chest. Although his eyes were cast to the floor, his presence still demanded respect. The tall lanky man that stood before them turned to face her. His gaze chilled her to the bone. His eyes were cold and dark. It was as if he was looking straight through her clothes. His long dark brown hair resembled roots of a kacadas plant. He wore silver chainmail that jingled slightly as he adjusted his stance. He held a helm down at his side with a crest of a scorpion. 37

"Milady" He said, bowing. 38

Xele wanted to run. To cry. To demand answers. 'What is going on? Who is he? Why am I to be sent away?!' She said nothing, only nodded slightly at this strange man. She took a step towards the King and Queen and bowed slightly.39

"You wanted to see me mother?" She said in a small voice.40

"Xele, you are my firstborn, and as such you have certain privaliges. You are eighteen now, and I..." She said in mock solidity. She glanced at her husband who finished for her. 41

"We have decided that it is to our benefit to let you train in things not expected of princesses. We believe that in order for you to become the princess we want you to be, you have to first get these fanciful dreams out of your head. The only way, it seems, to get them out, is to let you see how life really is. You will be going to another keep for special training." He paused and gripped her mothers shoulder. "You will leave today, all of the nesessities are being packed as we speak. This, " He said gesturing to the strange man. "Is Marksen Hakaar. He will be escorting you to Grenedite keep where you will train in everything from archery to foreign languages. We will be receiving reports of your progress every new moon. When, and only when, we feel you have learned everything you can, we will send for you."42

A long silence almost shattered Xele's nerves. Long had she hoped that this day would come, but under what circumstances? Why was she to be sent away if not truely for training? Was there danger? Who would want to harm a stubborn, abnormal princess? No matter, her adventure had started. Slowly, she nodded. Tears swam in her eyes, of fear or happiness she was not sure. 43

As she turned to leave Marksen's gaze followed her intently. His presence made her feel sick. "We will depart after breakfast ma'am" He said almost hungerly.44

"Then I will meet you in the courtyard." She said and walked out. She heard her mother asking more questions with pain in her voice. Xele didn't care to hear them. She had too much on her mind already. She had to see celeste. 45