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As I woke up in my room, with the sunlight dancing through the open curtains of my window to my still closed lids, my first thought was "what happened?" My name is Sapphire Elenhin. My parents called me such because of my eyes, which are a deep blue that they say that they sparkle in the starlight, but I wouldn't know. I'm six-years-old, until next week.
I was just wondering about the strange dreams I've been having when my mother walks in, holding a breakfast tray. She isn't wearing her usual smile, but instead worry lines that almost make her look as old as she really is, or at least how she would look if she were human.
"Sapphire, we need to talk. I don't know if you remember this; the dragon Kire attacked the palace grounds yesterday while you were celebrating your seventh birthday, before I leave on my mission to the Far Realms.”
While I was trying to remember yesterday, mother continued, “It’s hard for me to say this but... your father is dead.” Upon hearing this I must have been giving my mother a very blank look of shock as she started, with much difficulty, telling me in more detail what had happened. “You had fainted and he and Justin were trying to defend you when Kire scorched him. He managed to save Justin from the blast, but... he didn't make it." At this she broke down in sobs, the tray clattering on the floor. One of the servants came and cleaned up the mess (servants in an Elvish kingdom are volunteers; completely equal to all other elves and treated as such. They serve out of a sense of owing something to the royal family for the protection of the land).
My memory was fuzzy and I couldn't remember the details. I was starting to cry at this awful news when mother came to comfort me; she was also crying. She started whispering to herself, mumbling things that were hard to understand past the sobs and tears.
My parents were so in love and leaving was a difficult choice for my mother, but she had her mission, and father had to take care of the kingdom. I'm not sure what exactly the mission was about, but I heard once something about guardians in danger and imbalances and things like that, but nothing for me to draw any solid conclusions from.
I tried to wipe away my tears as I pulled away from mother's embrace. "So, what's going to happen now mother?"My father's death was a serious upset and many plans would have to be made and changed. "Are you still going to leave on your mission?"
"Yes, sweet child, I must. But your father's cousin Thenidiel and her husband Suiadan will care for the kingdom while I'm gone. As for you, I hate to say this but, you'll have to leave the control of the elven kingdom for a while and go in to the kingdom of humans. I should have sent you when Jade was kidnapped but I felt it was just too soon, you were so young and had still so much to learn before you could leave. But, in light of recent events, and with your current knowledge of the basic humin cultures, you must now leave." Jade was my twin sister. She was kidnapped while we were playing by a brook three years ago, I don't remember much but everyone says the evidence showed that Kire had kidnapped her. We still don't know where she is to this day. I miss her so much. "You will be staying with the wise man, Kraine, for a year to receive special training. Then you will go to a haven to live with the other protectors. They won't know that you are an elf so you'll have to keep your ears hidden under your hair, and don't tell them about what you are or what you're capable of until they are ready or absolutely have to know."
"The other protectors? You mean the ones whose parents were all killed? They got taken to a haven? Will I get the same training as them?" Being six I of course had many questions.
"Yes, Sapphire. I will take you to go as soon as you've packed what you need and have said your good-byes.” She started to leave but turned around suddenly as she reached the door. “Oh! Before I forget, Jana will be going to the temple ahead of you while you are with Kraine. It’s about time she goes for her training as well, and she will keep you good company as one to talk to completely."
My mother's bloodline and Jana's are one of the few remaining humin protector lines left. Protectors don't have much time for a social life and usually die before they can have children, especially those who are humins, who would normally live much much longer than humans.
As she left the room, I got out of my bed for the last time. I put on my slippers as I stood up. I was wearing a short robe and sash with leggings, my fighting clothes; mother must have sent someone to put them on me while I was unconscious. I looked out the window at the kingdom below for the last time in what will probably be many years. It was a small area of the kingdom but very beautiful looking.
I started to pack what I’d need, my clothes, shoes, anything else, I was already wearing my ruby guardian gem around my neck. My guardians are a brood of shrinking dragons; they can change size as need suits them and become anywhere from as large as a horse to as small as a falcon. This attribute can be very helpful at times.
I got up to head over to the stables to see Jana. As I walked in I was greeted with the warm, familiar smell of horses and hay, and by Roherdiron. “Greetings little princess. I assume you are here to wish my daughter safe journeys on her way to the temple? She’s in the back with Silver and Ivory.” Roherdiron is Jana’s father, he’s head of the stables and our archery squad. Oh! and he’s a centaur, same as Jana. Silver and Ivory are our two unicorn foals, we found them just after Jade was kidnapped. Some say it's a sign that she is safe and untainted. Unicorns are known to link with certain elves sometimes, but it's hard to tell to whom they've linked.
I headed to the back of the stables and found Jana speaking to Silver and Ivory. I wanted to sneak up and surprise her, but I realized that was a bad idea since she was in her true form. “Hello, Jana. I’ve come to wish you merry partings on your journey to the temple. I assume you’ll be in your human form the whole way.”
“Sapphire! Yes, sadly I will be in human form, but the others can’t know what we are... at least not yet. Hey, look at this! I taught Ivory how to count. Ivory, how much is two plus four?” Ivory then proceeded to stamp out six counts.
“That’s amazing! I wanted to say that I will miss your companionship while I am away, but we will see each other after a year. I hope the others will accept us to be humans. I must go now to say good bye to Justin.”
“Farewell, Princess Sapphire. May your journeys be safe and swift until we meet again.”
“As yours, Jana,” I said as I left the stables, also saying good-bye to Roherdiron as I passed. I walked down to the brook side, where I knew I’d find Justin after his hunting expedition. Justin is a Noble's son, an only son to be exact. His father is highly respected by my parents and serves as their advisor on matters of great importance, such as my mother's mission.
I found he was already under the willow, staring into the ever-moving water. I crept up behind him quietly. “Boo!” He jumped and turned around to find me laughing hysterically. “You must have been in deep thought if I could scare you so easily today. I came to say good bye before I leave.”
“Hello, my love,” he said, smiling.
Justin and I were betrothed at birth. I know that doesn’t normally work out with humans, but elves are much smarter with matching two together, they follow certain signs that may be present at birth to determine the best mate for the child. Besides, we’re both going to have the same traits when we come of age so there must be something to it.
“I see you're alright after yesterday. I hate to see you go without me, but, as it may be, I am not a protector. I will write to you as often as I can, though according to the priests that won’t be for a while, until you arrive at the haven. Where are you going before the temple? I know you’re going to see Kraine, but that's all my father would tell me.”
“I don’t know. Mother never told me where he is. I guess I’ll have to find out when I get there. What’s wrong? You’ve got the look again.”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about, my sweet,” He was so gushy for a six-year-old. “Just promise me you won’t fall in love with any strange boys you meet on your adventures.” He said this with a laugh.
“I’ll try my best,” I said, feigning helplessness. Then, being serious again, “I wish you well as I travel round the cape of darkness.” That’s a common farewell parting for travellers to say to friends who are staying behind.
“May your journey be safe and swift as I await your return. Good-bye, Sapphire. My love shall, to you, remain true”
 Girl of the Dragons · Thu Jun 17, 2010 @ 01:42am · 0 Comments |
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