We made it to the training ground where others were training, they only took notice of the Princess saying hello and ignored me as I entered. I had guessed that news had traveled of the low elf, most did not want me there nor thought I deserved to be. Lily too had noticed how people were treating me and did not like it.
Fortunately, I knew a little more than others realised due to the fact that I had grown up having to protect myself from elves that did not take too kindly to me. Lily came to a halt next to a mat, "okay, we aren't going to start with weapons, it's going to be back to the basics" she explained and if I were to admit it, that makes sense. She started showing me so basic moves and told me this type of combat is almost like dancing, or learning a routine. I had to learn these moves over and over. "You aren't doing it right" she groaned. "I've been doing it for hours", I replied.
Lily huffed and came and stood behind me, grabbing my waist and positioning me the way she wanted me, "your hips need to be rotated like this" she whispered in my ear from behind. This turned my cheeks pink until I remembered I was training with an obnoxious self-entitled elf.
We carried on like this learning more of the basics for the rest of the week, we hardly spoke to each other unless it was to do with the training, she never asked any questions about me nor I about her. I had been meaning to give the money back but had not found the right time yet.
Saturday came around which meant training in the morning, I still hadn't made any friends either there and I was starting to miss Kira and Avy. Lily was getting frustrated at my slow progress, "it's going to take a thousand moons before you will ever be ready" She rolled her eyes.
I kept my face neutral, I had told myself I would not take the bait when she said things like that to me. "Princess" another guard who was training called over to her. He was very tall, handsome, and noble looking. "We are going to the market are you coming?" he asked her. I had assumed she would only go when she had to but clearly, she went more than once a month.
They still did not like me being there and had clearly not invited me so I was surprised when Lily spoke next, "Are you coming Gabi?" she asked me sincerely. "No, it's okay" I looked between her and the guard that invited her who clearly didn't want me to join them. "I'm going to find my friends", I smiled, but something told me she was a bit disappointed I didn't accept her offer. She nodded her head and walked away.
After I left the castle I went off to find Gabi and Kira, they gave me a big hug, it felt like forever since I had seen them, I was so used to seeing them every day. "How's training going?" was the first thing they wanted to know, for them it was very exciting. "It's not good, I suck", I pouted.
We stuck together for once and didn't go off on our own as we looked around. I was still in my training outfit as I had come straight from training, an elf above me who wanted to mess with me came hurtling over towards me. "Let's see how good you are then" A crowd surrounded us not allowing me to leave. "leave her alone" my friends shouted but it was too late. The elf shoved me and hit my shoulder trying to get me to fight back.
Other elves were chanting, I didn't know what to do but protect myself. He came lunging towards me which I was able to dodge, but he swiftly turned around quicker than I was expecting and hit me right in the face. He tried to get me onto the floor but I resisted, we were scrapping, grabbing at each other.
My mistake came in thinking I could get him on the ground, as I tried to trip him up, he punched me in the stomach causing me to let go, he hit me again and again until I fell to the floor, and he pinned me down on the floor and all I could think of was that I was not good enough. "Hard to believe you took down a gnoll, elf scum" he spat.
Someone broke through the crowd and pushed him off, guards grabbed the elf, "It is an offense to attack any guard, let alone my own guard who I am personally training, you are a disgrace to the crown", Princess Lily stood above me, she leaned down and wrapped an arm around my waist pulling me up. That was the moment I could feel how strong she was, "Let's get you home", she said no more and took me straight home. I thought that once we had reached my door she would leave, but she opened my door and walked straight into my house.
She seemed to be trying to peer around my house, I guess she had never seen a low elves house before. I lay down on my chair and pulled my top up to have a look at myself, Lily gasped. "He broke a rib" she exclaimed. "How do you know that?", she had barely seen me to know that which made me question how she knew. "I can heal you", she offered. "Just go away", I muttered more to myself than anyone.
She came closer and crouched down to look at me. "And what is that supposed to mean?", she looked at me quizzically. "Don't pretend like you care", I wanted her to leave. Lily went very quiet and started tending to me, I don't think she knew what to say. "I asked my father to have you trained because I wanted to help you, but I fear I have made things worse for you. It is true, I know nothing about what life is like for you, but I am trying to learn", I didn't think that would be something she would ever be interested in. "Learn? You are just like everyone else". I pulled out the gold coins and handed them over whilst she was healing me. "Take them, I do not need them, I wish for you to leave", I tried to give them back, but again she refused, she was stubborn in that respect.
As she healed me, I felt excruciating pain and almost screamed out. "There all better, I would like to make amends", Lily was trying to make things right when she didn't have to, someone in her position could do anything they liked. I did not respond because I didn't trust her.
She took one last look at my ribs and then at me, "all done" she said faintly. I gulped. "I am going to stay here tonight to make sure you are okay" she insisted. I waved my hand at her, "You don't need to, this place isn't fit for a princess", I was shy as I looked around my place. "On the contrary, I find it to be more homely than any castle", she settled down into the chair next to me and watched me for a moment.
Again, she scanned the room, I was unsure what she might be looking for, or if my life just fascinated and intrigued her. I decided to pay it no mind and fell asleep in the chair.
Lily let me fall into a deep sleep, watching me intently from the chair, she got up to go and find the bedroom as she had decided she would not let me sleep in the chair all night as I looked uncomfortable.
She looked around my room curiously, I didn't own much but what made her smile was the fact that I had dried out the flower she gave me and pressed it into a book next to my bed. She turned the other pages and found there were all sorts of different flowers, she turned back to the page that her flower was on and read what I had put. "Elanor, my favorite flower, given to me by a kind, beautiful and compassionate elf called Lily". It touched the Princess that I had kept it all this time and suddenly she felt bad for the way she had been treating me.
Lily walked back out of my room to wear I was lying, still asleep, she came much closer than she had ever been before, lifting me cautiously as if I could break at any moment. For her, I barely weighed anything so moving me was easy, she gently laid me down on the bed and went and made some tea.
After she made the tea she came back into my room and sat down on the bed next to me and drank it, she did not realise how tired she had been because after she finished it, she fell asleep on the bed next to me. The next day I woke up first, I felt someone next to me as my bed was not especially large. Lily lay there, she looked like a picture of beauty even in her sleep, gold hair draped everywhere, her angelic face, the only thing missing were those golden eyes.
I got up to go and noticed my flower book next to my bed, I closed it immediately not wanting Lily to see it, I then went to make some breakfast, using the last of what I had, this meant I would have to go to the shop to buy food, but I couldn't have the Princess in my house and not offer her something, that would look awful.
I hated that I cared what she thought. Lily stirred as I had been making it and got up to stretch, she noticed that the book next to the bed was now closed and she knew she had not closed it which meant Gabi had which also meant Gabi was embarrassed. "Morning" Lily waved as I was busy with the food, "Morning", I turned around surprised to see her standing there. We were both quite awkward as this was not something we thought would ever happen.
I handed her a plate that had different fruits on it, bread, and some cheese, "If you don't like it, we can go to the shop" I spoke lowly. Lily ran a nervous hand through her hair, "No, it's great, thank you, you did not have to", her voice sounded so eloquent next to mine. I began to eat, "What sort of things do you eat at the Castle?" I asked inquisitively. "I don't live at the Castle, I live down the river a little, so I pretty much eat the same as you.
When I did live with my father, we had eggs, cheese, porridge, or bread for breakfast". I thought about it for a second, it always seemed like she wanted to escape the castle. "If you live down the river, where about? Because I would have heard that you moved in?" This is true because the gossip around here travels fast and I had never heard of the Princess moving in so near to me. "I had a friend buy it under their name, so nobody knew I was there, you can come and see it today if you like, it's only down the road" she insisted. I did not say anything as I just wished to be alone away from her.
Once breakfast was finished, I went and got changed into something more casual and Lily waited for me, she had said she wanted to see out the back of my house, and I could see her from my bedroom window, exploring my back garden.
I quickly caught up with her as I was now ready, "so, to my place? Then we can go to the shop and get you some food, then maybe a walk in the woods?" the last part caused me to be shocked, not only had she asked to walk with me in the woods, I was scared to go back in there after what had happened, I didn't want to get in any trouble. "um, I" I struggled to find my words. "There are no more gnolls and we won't get into trouble, I promise" she reassured me.
Today was a beautiful day too for a walk, the sun was shining and you could hear the birds in the trees singing.