Ok Here we are this is the big weekend. It is the end of the life as a Student and the beining of life as a Fully Fleged Guardian. This chapter was so big that I decided to make it a 3 parter. The first instalment is the shortest, but it is still very signifigant. I hope you like it. I will post part 2 tomorrow.

Chapter: 11 Ceremonies

PROMICED

I stood in front of the mirror dressed in the Guardian uniform that Dimitri had given me for Victor's trial. It was a little tight but for the most part it still fit well enough. I pinned my hair up in a French twist. I knew that the few other female novices would have cut their hair in some kind of cute bob. I liked my hair; it came down to my waist and was full, dark and shiny. I had once lamented to Dimitri that I would miss my hair but he simply told me just pin it up. He loved my hair too. The few times he had let his guard down he would touch my hair.

"Rose, you are so stunning." Adrian came up from behind me and held me in his arms. I leaned me head so that it rested against his shoulder.

"I miss him; he should be here to shake my hand."

"I know that you miss him. I sometimes hear you talk to him. It's ok to miss him. You loved him and you are carrying part of him with you; here and here." He laid one hand on my visible bump and one over my heart. He held me for a few more minutes before walking me do the Guardian building

The large room that had been used for conferences and planning after the attack on the school had been filled with chairs for the parents. Most of the novices only had a mother and maybe a sibling there. I stood up at the front of the room with my fellow classmates. Each of us was dressed in a black pant suit and dress shoes. Along the wall behind us were our teachers. There were three funny looking chairs set in front of us. The chairs were made so that you sit and lean forward and rest your forehead against a pad. There was also arm rests that allowed the occupant to squeeze something. I recognized them from when I had received my Molnija marks before. The ceremony was somewhat somber. As each student was called he or she would sit in a chair and lean forward. Their family would stand silently as the wavy line was tattooed on his or her neck. Any accomplishments that he or she had made were read out and then the name of the person they were to be assigned to was called out.

When Eddie Castel was called his mother and two younger siblings stood. There was pride as well as fear and sadness in his mother's face. I was focused on his mother's face and did not listen to his accomplishments but my head snapped up when I heard that he was to be assigned to Lissa. I looked over at Albert, this couldn't be happening. I was supposed to be her guardian. My own feelings were intensified by Lissa's. Alberta gave me a calm look and a hand gesture. I closed my mouth and counted in my head till I heard my name.

I sat in the chair. I wrapped my arms around the rest. The promise mark tingled in a way that the Molnija had not. I wondered if there was some magic charmed into the ink, like the ink in Sydney's tattoo.

"Rose Hathaway is distinguished among her peers. She has received two Molnija marks for killing Strigoi previous to the attack on our school. She has received a Zvezda (star) mark for fighting fearlessly alongside experienced guardians during the attack. It was through her unique abilities that we learned where the Strigoi had fled after the attack. It is because of her that we were able to rescue so many captives. When her mentor and friend had been taken she left the safety of school to find him. During her time in Russia she was responsible for the death of five more Strigoi. Princess Verilsa Dragomir will be lucky to have her as a guardian."

I looked up at Lissa. I could see the smile on her face and relief though our bond. My family stood for me; Adrian, my future husband, my mother and father, Lissa, Sidney and all of Dimitri's family. Dimitri's family thought of me as a daughter in law. It was as if I was Dimitri's widow. The fact that I was marrying another man did not change this.

After the promise ceremony my parents invited all my "family" as well as Eddie and his family to a party in one of the school's conference rooms. They insisted that Lissa and I walk in first. There was a big banner that read. Congratulations Rose and Lissa They were giving us a graduation party. I could feel that Lissa was feeling a little less lonely. This made me happy. I was glad that they were including her. She was more than a sister to me. Every one gave a card or gift to each of us. My parents gave us identical bracelets. Each had a dragon, a rose, a dove and a circle made of silver and gold intertwined.

I am all a flutter. Please Please let me know what you think of this chapter. I really hope you all love it.

Comon Press the green button PLEEEEEEEEEEEEESE LOL