I'm so happy to be able to update these first few chapters quickly to get the feel for the story. You just have to hang on a little while longer to meet some new faces!

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish for it, I do not own Vampire Academy and all rights are Richelle Mead's.

Chapter 4

Most would think that guarding Lissa and being the head of her guardians would be a really difficult and stressful job, but most of them would be wrong. It's only stressful when I have to stand at the back of the room with my hands folded behind my back in my guardian black and white. I have to look like head guardian and listen to everything that goes on in the meetings so that I can help her out with things at home, making decisions and remembering things later on. Lissa and I as well as the rest of her guardians had more of a causal relationship for on duty. Don't get me wrong, we are always on high alert, she is the queen after all but we were able to talk to her as she walked and she would treat us like actual people. Some Moroi thought that their guardians should be more like decorations that were to stay in the background until they were needed. I hate those people.

However, let me tell you, it may sound easy but listening to these stupid people's ideas, I just wanted to stab my stake into my eardrums just so I wouldn't have to hear what they thought were good thoughts.

Lissa of course could hear my thoughts and attempted to hide her laugh in a cough with proceeding on with the conversations. You have a vivid imagination Rose, I doubt you would do that. You would probably just jump in and punch them. She thought so I could hear it.

I smiled enough for her to see, and sent her a couple words back. Glad you know me so well Liss, now pay attention, you are nodding your head to me and that numbskull thinks you are agreeing with him.

She immediately returned her attention to the meeting and began actually listening.

"…and that would be the best way. There are so many damphir women who just "opt out" of guardianship duties and become filthy blood whores. They should be working for us after all it is us that keeps their species going." He even used air quotes to emphasize his meanings. I think his name was Eric Drozdov or something. I didn't really care, I was disgusted with him just by those few words.

Lissa hadn't heard the first part of his idea but she was livid. "Eric Drozdov! I am disgusted with your words and thoughts." She lost it and the blatant drop of his Lordship title was proof enough that she was not happy. "If you think that those women are not right in their decisions to protect their families, think of it this way…" She paused thinking feeling sorry towards me for a minute but continued on a roll. "One of the worlds greatest guardians, Arthur Schoenburg was raised by his mother who most thought of as a blood whore. He turned out to be one of the best, and that was because he had the sense of family he grew up with. That feeling carried on towards his charges. You think that forcing them into this life that takes everything from them at a young age, they would be willing to lose it all to be treated like a slave?"

She had amazing points that I never thought of but I knew she wasn't done. I still didn't know why she told me she was sorry though.

She looked at me again, that ashamed quality back in full force. And I knew the reasoning was about to hit home. "And what about another of the world's best guardians, Guardian Janine Hathaway. She lived with her family till she was 18 and then took all her classes after and look at her now. She got to live some semblance of a life and then chose to come into this profession and she's one of the best. And her daughter is one of the best too."

I felt a shock through my system. I never knew this about my own mother. Sure we had been getting close after the past few years, but she never told me this. To say I was pissed was an understatement. I was livid. I'm sorry Rose, she didn't want that to get out, but it needs to be said. I need proof that this is not something that can happen. And I know you are going to hate me but can we talk about it later? I'm so sorry Rose. I didn't answer her but I gave the smallest of head tilts to know that I would let her explain. If you weren't watching me like Lissa was you wouldn't see it.

I realized that in that moment I thought of one more example that would tip the scales at least for a little while. I knew as soon as the thought popped into my head that I would regret it, but it had to be done for the sake of my race. I walked up to Lissa pretending that the arguments breaking out in front of her were making me nervous for her safety.

"Lissa you have one more example that might tip the scales in your favor." She looked at me like I had two heads. It took only one word to get her to see the genius of my idea and the pain it brought at the same time. "Dimitri." I grimaced as she thought it over and I felt the pain I always did when I thought of him.

"I know that it hurts you and I don't want that. Rose, I don't know what to do." She looked lost, but one look from me telling her 'you can do this and I'll deal with it later' and she built up the courage again.

She cleared her throat like only a Queen would, to command attention and respect. She shot me one more look and I brought my mental blocks as I slid my guardian mask into place. She pursed her lips and started again. "I have one more example. I know that you are all arguing different points but you need to think of everything before any ideas will be decided on. Dimitri Belikov." I flinched back against the wall. "Dimitri is another of the top guardians that this world has ever seen, and he wasn't raised as most of you would have liked him to be raised. He lived at home with his mother and sisters who were all thought to be blood whores and were judged because they wanted to raise their families. His drive to protect those around him like he would his family is what has gotten him where he is today. Because he has felt that feeling of home before; he knows how to use that in his outlook on life." She took a deep breath, and I thought it was done.

Some of the moroi had looks of awe on their faces as they watched her fight so fiercly at what she thought was right. Her natural charisma had them hooked waiting to hear more. She looked at me once more and I could feel a sneaky determination and as soon as I figured out what she was planning I was shaking my head no. But it was too late.

"Rose come here please." A request in front of everyone I couldn't ignore and I shot her an 'I'm going to kill you' look before coming to her side and bowing my head as is customary when approaching the Queen. She turned back towards the crowd and had the most serious expression I have ever seen her wear.

"This right here is my head of security, Royal Guardian Rosemarie Elizabeth Mazur Hathaway." I scowled at the use of my full name while she just smiled. I had a feeling everyone was going to know my personal life and I was not happy about it. Liss please don't do this. I shot to her in my head.

I'm sorry Rose I have to for them to see. Look, most of them that wanted this are on the fence. Your life story could push them over the edge. With that she was done arguing with me and started with the whole talking thing again.

"Many of you think you know her or what she has been through in her life, but I assure you, no one but her close friend have a clue as to what that is. Rose has been with me since kindergarten when she protected me from bullies and mean teachers throughout our years together. She didn't grow up with her family, she was forced into the school system at the age of three by her mother in an attempt to not miss those years of training that Janine missed." I was shocked…and I just stood there looking at all the people that thought I was trash. Some of them changed their ideas when she continued on with the story, giving me different looks as if they were thinking about their kids going through what I have. It was a weird feeling being used as a good example instead of what not to do for once.

"She didn't have that family feeling or knowledge to draw on for her career but she had me. We became close, practically sisters, and she vowed to me in second grade that she would always protect me. I
have never heard of a 7 year old pledge this to anyone before and before I knew it she was accepted into my family by my mother, my father and my brother. She became for all intents and purposes….a Dragomir." I almost broke down she was already making others cry at her powerful words, just leaking a little spirit into it to keep them hooked.

"When my family died, it was just more people she lost but she still had me, so she kept fighting. Six years ago she was kidnapped by Strigoi along with four friends and she fought her way out to save the others, but she had to watch her other best friend get killed and then had to kill his murderers." I let a few tears fall down my cheek at the thought of Mason not being here anymore because I wasn't fast enough, strong enough….just wasn't enough to get him out.

She was determined to make everyone see that being me was not all that it was cracked up to be. "Not even one year after the loss of her friend and the first of her marks, Rose was caught in the midst of the attack of St. Vladimir's school. I know most of you only know that a novice and a moroi worked together to protect their people; but what a lot of you don't know is that it was Rose and King Ozera-Dragomir that worked hand in hand to save what they knew was worth fighting for….their family." Liss had more than half of the room looking at me with awe in their eyes. At first I didn't understand it and then it clicked….. a lot of these royals had their kids in that school and by helping, we saved them.

My hatred for the royal politics and most of the royals in general was a well-known issue with the courts seeing as I was head guardian, but they seemed to look at me in a whole new light. I guess saving their children won me brownie points with them…..not that I particularly cared. There was only one Moroi…okay maybe four that I really cared about…my family. But I would never tell Christian that to his face, Lissa, Mia and my dad on the other hand…they already knew I loved them. But Lissa continued.

"These reasons are why she is today's best guardian. Why she has the most molnija marks and battle marks. It's why she was recognized as the best guardian last year. But none of this would have happened if I hadn't met her in kindergarten all those years ago. One little change and I might not be here where I am today either. One chance that she could have the family that she was denied as a toddler. That chance for someone close to her is what made her who she is today." She took a deep breath and looked at me with pride and love radiating from her. I looked into the crowd and noticed some people wiping stray tears from their eyes.

"I know that some of you think taking damphir women and forcing them into guarding is the answer, but taking them away from their family and a chance to be close to people is what will kill us all off faster. Can you imagine your children going through what Rose has? What we have all gone through to get here? And can you honestly force your kids into that life? Some of you think damphirs are below you but they are what allow us to keep the lives we have now, and denying them family and childhood is not the way." She finished with a sigh and looked at the people, her people, our people. She turned to me and stood up walking to me before hugging me. "I don't care who doesn't like it, this is my sister, and she is the only reason I am still here. She has protected me, her family."

After our hug I watched people start walking out of the meeting hall with tears in their eyes, looking at me and Lissa standing together. It was weird though, they weren't looking at me with disgust or contempt but with respect. I realized that because of the risk Liss took telling my story; we might have just won that battle. Great, one down, twelve to go. But for now I allowed our victory ad I smiled at my best friend. I made contact with my fellow head guardians and they looked like they had a new respect for me with the past that came out today. I'd have to talk to them later. Lastly I looked out to the rest of my people, the guardians that looked up to the head guards and those in charge to protect their little semblance of lives that they had. Every pair of eyes I made contact with had pride, respect and happiness in them. It was then that I realized that I became the guardian my mom and I had always wanted me to become, just with my little angel added into the mix.

I left the meeting hall arm in arm with my queen, my charge, my best friend, and my sister; all the same person of course. I couldn't have been prouder of her, she has come so far. We all have.