| Ellie was still panting when she came to the temple distict. Who was that young knight? She would have bet an arm and leg that it wasn't the first time she'd seen him. The blood in her head was pounding, it had been a long time scince she'd run that hard and fast. She shuddered as she thought about the consequences of a Noble recognising her. She owed Steffan a very big thanks. Soon she came to the banks of the Orlorun river, young children played along the edges, not risking the cold water this time of year. Her run slowed to a fast-paced walk as she approched a secluded clearing near the beining of the lower city. Here, the tumbing river waters were reduced to no more than a rippling pond.She tore off her shoes, plunging her aching feet into the cool sanctuary of the water. She liked this place, it's was the setting for the earliest moment of her concious life. Memories flooded back to her as she gazed into the swirling greenish-brown water. She remembered the water, now so docile, when it wasn't so. She remembered fighting, coughing, choking, to stay alive, while that water tried desperatly to pull her down. She remberbered the intense cold when the river spat here up on the hard bank, and she remembered Kaleb. It was Kaleb who found her, Kaleb who gave her a blanket and food, Kaleb who taught her to survive on the street, Kaleb who introduced her to Marek, and Kaleb who now stood faithfully by her as her second-in-command. There were other, more recent memories too, she saw herself besting the others' for the title of 'Rouge' and finally reaching her dream. The river water, wich had originally seemed soothing, was icy against her skin, and the crisp autumn breeze stabbed at her lungs. Ellie arrived at the dancing dove late that afternoon, even though the sun had barley dipped below the rooftops she could here laughter and festivities inside. Her feet ached, and her mind was racing. The idea of spending the night being joustled by rowdy thieves wasn't really that appealing. Instead, she entered via the back of the inn, letting herself into her chamber via the trap door on her roof. As she droped to the ground she searched the shaddows for anything out of place. The only suspicious thing Ellie noted was a small brown package on her bed. She imediatly rocognised the sloppy scrawl on the wrapping as Marek's. On closer inspection, the note read To Ellie, So you've survived the life for a year? Congradulations, Marek. She stared at the note dumbfounded, Had it relly been a year since she'd been deemed Rouge? How could she have forgotten! She examined the package with trembing fingers. This was the largest gift she'd ever recived, nobody really new when her birthday was, and Midwinters gifts were usually small. Ellie pulled away the paper ot reveal the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen, deep green with burgundy trim.It was cut short, in the fashion that most city girls styled there dresses, though it was made from the soft satins used only by nobles. As she slid tried it on, tears of gratitude filled her eyes. The garment fit pefectly, accentuating her modest curves, and bringing out the green of her eyes. As she stood in front of the mirror, Ellie wondered just how many years it had been since she'd worn a dress. Probably, not once since the day Kaleb foud her on the riverbank...since then, the ability to mauver had been valued above fashion sense. She liked the look of the green and burgudny, there was somehting familiar in those colors, like a lost sense of belonging. As she looked in the mirror, Ellie felt somthing she never expirienced before, she felt pretty. Filled with a new happiness, she scrapped the idea of crawling into bed. Tonight was her night, and she felt like celebrating. |