The next day, I headed to work as usual, however, as I arrived guards were already there with my boss. "here she is" he proudly spoke. The guard that I had originally handcuffed me was there, I panicked thinking I was under arrest again. "It's okay" the guard reassured. "You have been invited to the palace" he spoke. I frowned inwardly. "Now?" I asked.
The guard nodded his head. I was thinking it was Lily or someone messing around, "Can't it wait, I have work?" I inquired.
My boss gleamed, "No, don't worry about work, the King has invited you himself", I don't think I had ever seen his boss like this. As the King had summoned me, that meant I had to go straight away. I entered the cart that they had waiting for me and was on my way to the Castle.
Once at the castle, I was led down large halls with beautiful architecture, old paintings, and statues, before arriving at some large doors, I had assumed this was almost like an office for the King as I was led in.
They had me wait there whilst we waited for the King to arrive, I sat very still as he came in with his guards. The whole elven council was there also which meant this was serious. Trailing behind them was Princess Lily, she knew what I was here about.
They sat opposite me and the guards stood at the back of the room, Lily was very quiet whereas the King was poles apart from how he had been before. Tea was served to us by their servers. "Good morning, I invited you here today because it has become apparent by my guards, the people of this kingdom, and also my insistent daughter, that you saved her life and therefore are far more deserving of the chance to train to accompany my daughter on her expeditions.
Taking out a gnoll is no easy feat and I am forever grateful for what you have done for us", I looked over at Lily as he said this but she refused to meet my eye, I was no warrior, I enjoyed a quiet life away from all of this and couldn't understand what I had done to deserve this.
I thought about my response before replying, "I can assure you, I am no guard or warrior, it was a lucky shot with that knife". I was hoping to kindly let him down and show that I was not fit for this, most others would jump at the chance, but I was quite happy with my lot. "I disagree, I think you are the perfect person for it, you are used to exploring by yourself, and that in itself is brave and noble". He looked at the council to allow them to give their input.
One of the elders rose, "we are in strange times, change is coming, I agree with his majesty, yes you are a low elf and it will not go down well for some, but on the other hand, your background shows your curiosity and interest in nature and plants which is very valuable" he spoke wisely.
Another elf stood up after him, "I disagree about this your majesty, it is true there will be an uproar by some, she is, after all, a lowly elf, there are plenty of others who would be suited for this role and she simply does not fit into this lifestyle, it is wrong", he was not wrong but he was not right either.
A few more elves from the council spoke, some agreeing and some not, the King decided to hold a vote. "All those in favor of this, raise your hand" He held his hand up first, a lot of the elves held their hand up, but it was a tight vote. I had hung my head after some of the elves had started disagreeing, yes I did not want this but it was humiliating to hear them call me a low elf over and over again. "There it is settled, 12 votes to 9, my daughter will train you herself, and once your training is complete, we will know whether you are ready or not". After this, he stood up to leave.
The princess looked just as shocked as I was. "But father, the head guard can train her" she insisted, for some reason not wanting to train me. Her father held his hand out in a stop motion, "It is settled, you will train her, maybe then you will have someone who can keep up with your dangerous outings". Lily was not happy but what she hated the most was how they had talked about Gabi as though she wasn't there, they had now planned Gabi's life out for her with no other choice. It was fine when they did that with Lily's life she was born into it and had no choice but not Gabi.
Lily stayed behind after he and the council left, I held my head in my hands not believing that I had just lost my job and would now be working with the Princess, the one elf I had been trying to stay far away from. "you don't know what you have done" Lily spoke venomously.
I could not believe her, "do you think I wish to sit there and be told I am a low elf over and over again, to have my life taken from me because of your misdoings", I turned away from her. Lily suddenly felt sorry for me but she was also taking the situation out on me. "I apologise, I know you did not wish for this, even though some would die to be in your position" she muttered the last part, I just ignored her which annoyed her. Lily felt the rejection loud and clear. "Is cleaning rooms that much better than this and all you stand to gain from it?" she questioned me, she placed her hands on my shoulders and turned me around.
I had been hanging my head, but I raised it to meet her eyes, she could see the disdain I had on my face and my wet eyes. "I suggest you do not try to speak about that which you do not understand." That silenced the Princess for once, she looked deep in thought, I had hoped my words struck her deeply but I doubted that very much. Nonetheless, it meant she had more respect for me as I stood up to her.
Lily composed herself, "Let's go and get some clothes for training", I followed her out of the room and through to rooms I doubt most would ever get to see, I had no idea where I was which meant I had to rely on Lily and somewhat trust her.
She took me to a room that I thought was her own private room for training, there were fewer clothes than if they were for guards. "You look a bit smaller than me, so I figured some of the things I have never worn would fit you, if it's not any good, we can go out and buy some". At the mention of her buying things, I decided I would make it fit, I did not want her wasting any money on me, and I was sure I would fail this training. I looked around the room and saw a glass box that held some armor in it, I walked out to have a look at it closely, it was beautiful, gold, and embellished with the kingdom's crest.
Next to it was a bow and two arrows also very similar to the armor. "wow" I breathed. The room was organised to perfection, there were curved elvish daggers, much nicer than my knife which I did not have anymore. "Most of that is for war, I very rarely wear it" Lily explained. I walked back over to where she had picked out a few different outfits as I would be training every day I wouldn't want to be wearing the same outfit. She held them out to me and I took them from her.
She searched down the back of the closet for something, pulling out an old bag, "put them in there" she nodded. She then pulled out a small bag that looked like a purse and held out some gold coins, "That is for this week, you'll need more food for your energy", this was around a month's pay for me. "It's okay, I don't need your money" I tried to refuse her and her outstretched hand. "This isn't a negotiation, it will suit you to follow orders and instructions," she said firmly.
She was not going to enjoy training me, the only instructions I would follow would be from her father since she had gotten me into this mess. Lily was impatient and grabbed my hand putting the coins into it. "I think it's best you go home today and tomorrow we can start" she suggested, she knew it was a shock for me and that I needed some time to accept my predicament.
The King knew what he was doing, he knew that his daughter needed someone who would look out for her but someone more personal, he had seen his daughter with this girl on more than one occasion and had been told by his own guards that had secretly followed Lily, how she danced with this girl in the market, something he and his wife, Lily's mother use to do.
The King himself visioned two futures for his daughter, one where she is sad and lonely and the other hope for a life rich in love. He did not accept that she was a low elf at all, it angered him but he was trying for his daughter. It was just whether or not they would get along or want to kill each other by the end of it.
I returned home and tried on the clothes I had been given by the Princess, making sure they all fit. I decided I wouldn't spend the money, I just wanted to give it back to them, I didn't need that much and it felt wrong to take it.
I had a knock at my door in the evening, at this point I thought it could have been anyone but they let themselves in. There were only two people who would do that. Kira and Avy. "Gabi" they called out my name. "I'm in here" I called back. I started to make tea for them as they sat down in my chairs in what I call my library.
I brought it into them not long after and sat down with them. "How is work?" I asked. "Never mind that, we want to know what happened, all the boss would say is that you were summoned to the castle" Avy replied. I really didn't want to get into it, I knew they would be happy for me and think I'm silly for not jumping at the chance. "What is the princess like?" was the first thing Avy asked when I finished explaining. I huffed, "she's confusing, one minute she is okay, and the next she is the opposite" I answered truthfully. "Is she like what the rumors say?", Kira wanted to know. I nodded my head, we had all heard the same rumours, "Yes, golden hair and eyes, I think the rumours do not do her beauty the justice", most elves rarely saw the Princess, even at the ball Kira and Avy were in the kitchen helping out and had never seen her up close.
They stayed for a while as caught up on everything, explaining how everybody couldn't believe that the Princess would be training a low elf and how they thought it was unfair but that was mostly aristocrats and elves above us. All of the low and working-class elves were happy that one of their own was going somewhere for the better.
The next day I arrived at the castle gates early, letting the guards inform the Princess that I was there, I figured that I would treat this as a job nonetheless and that meant being there on time. "You're early, I figured you would have not turned up", Lily arrived at the gate to collect me herself, insulting me at the same time. "Then you do not know me very well Princess", I could play that game as I sauntered on past her.
Her hair was tied back today and she was wearing a black training outfit, it seemed no matter what she wore she looked effortlessly beautiful, but I was not about to let her know that. I was already dressed in the training outfit that she had given me, so now it was time to head to the training grounds. I acted like I knew where we were going as I walked past, but actually, I had no clue, luckily she caught up with me. "outfit suits you", she commented, I glared at her as she tried to taunt me, and I could feel her eyes raking over me subtly. I was hyper-aware of her.