Sorry it's a bit late - I've been a tad distracted and had mind block and my internet's been fritz. Blegh. But now I'm back. This is the last but one chapter. Sorry peoples it's almost finished! I'm actually looking forward to the next scene. I get to write a kiss from Dimitri's POV! How awesome can you get! Anyway before I get waaaaay to excited about that I'll put it up in a couple of days but for now here's the next scene.

I was talking to a couple of guardians from the lower campus when Rose arrived with her mother. She still looked kind of awed knowing what was about to happen but mostly she looked sad. Sad for what she'd done and for what she'd seen.

She was only wearing jeans and a plain black t-shirt but, oh, she was the most beautiful person in the world. I hadn't seen much of her since Mason's funeral and seeing her again took my breath away. Two days ago she'd been crushed and crying in my arms today she was almost back to the Rose I had fallen for.

Once Rose had entered the room the ceremony was going to be held in we all filed in after her. All of the campus guardians were here to witness this – my student getting her first molnijas. Everyone would look at her differently now. She was in 'the ranks' as Stan had said earlier. Now people would more or less look upon her as a guardian.

We all formed ranks when Rose sat on the stool that had been placed for her. I was in the second row behind Janine. The whole time I looked at Rose who looked surprised at how much getting tattoos hurt. I remembered my first molnijas and had thought the same thing. To me it was like the final pain of killing a Strigoi and after that I had to move on. After my last molnija I had to move on from losing Ivan too. I hoped this would help Rose in the same way it helped me.

When finally I was able to talk to her I couldn't find the words. For some it was hard to believe that this was the same person who had taken the Dragomir Princess away from the Academy, that Rose was the same irrational, impulsive person she had been when she came back after her illicit escape, and that she was just a seventeen year old kid who hadn't finished her training. For some people this would be a slap in the face but those of us who knew her well – her teachers, the guardians often assigned to watch her class, her mom, me – well it was just confirmation of what we already knew. She would be one of the best guardians in recent history.

She'd make a name of herself and handle it was diligence and pride no matter who she was guarding or where she was and what she was doing. She would stand out from everyone. She'd do things her own way I had no doubt of that and she still had a lot of learning to do especially where her self control was concerned, but she'd be the best guardian out there when she graduated.

As I looked at her she took in everything my eyes were telling her, how proud of her I was and how much I loved her because I loved her more than anything in the world. If I'd lost her that day… If she hadn't been able to recover… Well I don't think I would have ever been the same.

Her eyes brimmed with tears and for the first time in days it didn't kill me inside to see them. They weren't tears of sadness or regret or pain they were… well not happy tears but something similar. I rested my hand on her cheek for a moment, her warmth spreading through me, and then walked away that same pride still filling my heart.

Just a short chapter but did you like it? Just press that review button to let me know.

Richelle Mead invented and therefore owns VA. I love her for it.