Chapter 3: Linwood Forest

The prince was still shocked at my riding skills. We went on a trail ride. I could tell Noble was happy without his bridle. We elves hate to see a horse jerked and pulled by the bit in their mouth. We use sound, and verbal communication. He finally decided to challenge me, to a race up the mountain. I laughed. We started at the edge of the mountain. This was called, Boris.

"Why's it called Boris?" I asked, before we made our way up.

"It was named after my father, King Boris." The prince said.

I looked beside the mountain, and for the first time, in one year, the sun decided to rise. I smiled. "Wow." I mouthed; the clouds gave way to the bright rays. Then something else made me smile, and jump off Noble.

My wolf came into sight. The prince also saw him; he grabbed his bow and arrow off the saddle bag. And aimed it to my wolf my companion, my only friend. I jumped off Noble's back, and grabbed the arrow as the prince shot it in the air. I landed with a graceful somersault. I looked at him, shocked that he would shoot a wolf. I quickly ran over to my wolf, and raped my arms around him. I stood, taking a deep breath. I taped my hand on my leg, telling my wolf to stay close. I walked back over to the stunned prince. He got off his horse, and walked to me.

"How do you do that?" the prince asked.

"You have to watch how they entr'acte with their own kind. And I've already gained his trust, from the time I bandaged his side, to when you threw the spear at me." I said, almost raising my voice, remembering the last night.

The prince shrugged, he got back on Aida, grabbed the reins, glancing at me.
I swung myself on Noble, glancing at the prince. We exchanged nods. And we were off, galloping up the mountain, I held on with my legs, gripping Noble One's ribcage. The mountain wasn't that rocky, it was a smooth ride, a pleasant one. Until we came to the top, where I found, the truth.

Ugne sniffed the air, she smelled humans. No, a human. But what was the other smell. She got up from her nest, the smell was getting stronger. Ugne then saw them.
I gasped, Noble reared up, and I slipped off his back, Noble neighed in fear, he then ran off. Back to his stable. I crawled backwards, and then stopped when I realized I was at the edge.I almost fell off.
Ugne hurried over to catch me from falling. Apparently, dragons and elves were friends, Ugne knew I was an elf from the moment she saw me. She glanced over at the prince, who also lost his horse. He quickly stood up, dusting the dirt off his back. He ran over to me, as soon as he saw me fall off the cliff. I screamed, catching the ledge, with my feet dangling off the side. My hood came off my head, blood dripped from my hands to my head. Then I lost my grip.

Ugne jumped off the cliff, she flapped her wings, which made me fall down faster. She swerved around me, and caught me by her huge forelegs. My eyes were closed, I couldn't bear to see the dragon about eat to me. But she didn't, Ugne landed back on top the mountain, her wings made dust tornadoes. She placed me next to the prince, I uncovered my eyes. To see the prince and the dragon, staring at me.

"Have you never seen a dragon?" The prince asked.

I shook my head. "No"

Ugne became confused. "Really, you have never seen a dragon?" She lay down.

"You can talk?!" I screamed,

Ugne didn't answer; she still had a confused look on her face. "Why have you never seen, or heard of dragons? Elves and dragons are friends, we've always been." Ugne asked.

I stood, now I was confused. "I was never told that, I never knew that, they always taught me that dragons didn't exist." I said.

"Who are they?" Ugne asked.

"My masters, tutors, and the elves I lived with." I said.

Ugne grew even more confused, but now she was angry. "Elves don't have slaves, or servants, if they said they were elves, they lied to you!" Ugne said.

"I knew it!" I said, raising my voice. "They told me they were elves, but I never believed them, though I didn't show it." I whistled for my wolf. He came out from behind a large boulder that surrounded Ugne's nest. "This is my only friend, my Dire Wolf." I said, kneeling down, to pet his neck. He started to lick my hands clean of crimson blood. I tore off a piece of my cloak, and wrapped it around each hand.

Ugne smiled at the wolf. "You did well" Ugne said, as if she knew my wolf. "Well it seems you need a new 'master' as you call it, to train and teach you in the ways of an elf. Come" She said, turning the side, offering her back for me to ride on.

The prince decided to go back to the palace, hoping Aida was there. He said goodbye, and wished me luck, as he trotted down the mountain.

I reluctantly climbed on her back. And worked my way to her neck to get the best grip. This wasn't too hard, because of her scaly body.

"You might want to cover your ears." Ugne said. At that moment I covered my ears. Then I shut my eyes tightly when she roared.

Ugne jumped, and started her flight; she flew west of the mountain. Ugne flew above the Linwood Forest; it was inhabited by the Elves. She then landed in a ring of trees. This area was surrounded by twenty Coast Redwood trees. Ugne lay down, letting me off her neck. I put my hood back on, not wanting to show my identity until I knew these being were good. I pulled out my necklace from under my cloak. I ran my index finger over it, the charm the hanged from the silver chain, had a golden star, with a ruby in the center of it. I quickly put my necklace back, when a sweet horn sounded. I looked around, to see elves walking in the ring, from everywhere. But two elves stood out from all the rest. One was a woman, the other a man; they wore clothes that shone brightly. But not as bright as their faces, surprisingly, they wore the same necklace that I had, but I didn't say anything. They wore no shoes. But they didn't make foot prints in the grass, or dirt, nor mud or snow. I realized I was truly a pure elf, as I didn't make any foot prints with or without my shoes. As the two walked towards Ugne, the rest of the elves stopped. I looked around; their faces also shone, but not like the two. Men woman and children all looked at me, but looked away when I looked at them. The two talked with Ugne for what felt like hours. Soon, Ugne beckoned me to come over. I walked over, and stood by Ugne. I smiled politely.

"This is Ya'el, the girl I was telling you about." Ugne said.

"Greetings, Ya'el." The man said. "This is my wife, Lady Nalandra, and I am Elwin, Lord of the Linwood Forest, we hope you will learn from the best tutors that live here." He said with a smile.

I smiled. "Thank you my Lord." I said, bowing my head slightly in respect. For I knew that this couple, was very important.

The Lady smiled, joyful to hear that I had such excellent manners. "I am sure you will have peace here while you're taught." Nalandra said. "But first, would take your hood off?" She said.

I grew a little scared, but obeyed her. I took my hood off, letting my hair show, and my eyes shine. The Lord gasped. "The prophecy" he whispered to Nalandra. I didn't react, but stayed where I was until they asked me to follow.

Ugne said goodbye, and took flight, back to her nest. Where she overlooked the palace and forest.

Nalandra and Elwin lead me out of the ring of trees, to a small walkway where the tress gave way for traffic. We walked for about a half hour, and I could see light shining from a large building. It shone even more brightly as I walked towards it.

"Is it just me, or is that building getting brighter by the second?" I asked.

Nalandra and Elwin didn't answer, but smiled. I kept quiet until they wanted to speak.  It wasn't me, the building did get brighter as I walked closer, but I wasn't the only one that got brighter. I looked down at my chest, to see my necklace shine through my cloak, I quickly covered it, but nothing could stop it from shining.

Screams came from behind me, in front of me, all around me! I quickly covered my face again with my hood. Chaos around me, I looked around to see screaming, woman yelling to their children to get inside the houses. Thunder ran through the forest, it became louder, as I turned to see where it was coming from, a black horse and black rider came towards me. His eyes blazed with fire, the horse's eye flamed like lava. He wore black all about him, he wore a silver helmet, and it had no gems inside it, ten spikes stood around the helmet. The rider picked me up, and put me on his horse. I heard Nalandra and Elwin calling my name, my necklace became dimmer, and the building lost its light as I was taken away. I saw some elves killed with axes that the riders had, somehow, they only wanted me. Out of all the elves that lived and died that day, why me?