Disclaimer: The Justice League on cartoon networks is a good show…
Chapter Seven: Points of Authority
Giggling. The first noise heard in the small hours of the morning. Elorelei kept her eyes tightly shut; this was not a good sign. The giggling subsided and became gentle talking and Elorelei rolled over, falling back into sleep. When she finally awoke she saw a small piece of parchment on her bed. There was very large, loopy writing on it, and she sat up to read it.
Your Royal Highness of The East, Elorelei Whitecloud, we present to you your schedule while you remain with us at The Castle. Please note, your majesty, that all time after the required classes will be devoted to signing up for electives. As a future queen, we recommend cloth design, advanced cloth making, and social skills. Your required classes are as follows:
Eight 'o clock: Breakfast
Nine 'o clock: Ceramics- Martius Brownthatch
Ten fifteen: Cooking- Elidella Highbird
Eleven thirty: Elven History- Mirana Graceheart
Twelve thirty: Luncheon
One fifteen:
Two thirty:
Three forty-five:
Five 'o clock: Dinner
Please fill in the other classes as your schedule is formed, highness. Thank you.
"Social skills?" asked Elorelei aloud, thinking there was no one around. "What are those?"
"You'd do good to learn some." said a high-and-mighty sounding voice.
"Oh, isn't this wonderful?" Elorelei rolled her eyes towards the heavens, as it was her favorite pasttime, not at all in the mood. She turned around to find three elves, their hair long and the color of fresh straw, blue or grey eyes each one had. "And a pleasant good morning to you to, as well." She spoke to the tallest of the them. Her hair was longest, being almost down to her waist, and her eyes held a clear gleam of spite. Elorelei hardly noticed, she was used to being envied for her royal blood. She never let those people bother her, she knew who she was.
"I am Niqueran. You probably saw my name on the door. There's a reason it's the first name there, in case you-"
Elorelei shoved through her many trunks, looking for her tunics, barely acknowledging what's-her-face. "Yeah, that's nice. Can we save the 'I'm-so-much-better-than-you-even-if-you-are-a-princess' chitty chat for later?" She pulled out a semi-comfortable tunic, not caring about dress codes.
Niqueran was not to be brushed aside that easily. "I think not, you'll want to pay attention. I think you'll find that everyone in this room answers to me and-"
Elorelei snorted. "It is painstakingly obvious, Niqueran was it? That I don't care at all WHAT you think, assuming that you actually think. I don't answer to anyone, much less an imbecile such as yourself, and I don't give anyone more attention than they are worth. So far, your attention is worth nothing but it a disgusting waste of my time."
Niqueran twitched slightly, then covered it with a forced smile. "Verbal abuse is nothing. Lucky for you fighting is unladylike."
The Princess openly laughed at her. "I'm sure that's why you don't do it," She sneered and gathered up her schedule, weapons, and notebooks. "Have a nice day, and do remember: I have no problem with fighting if you ever have a death wish."
The door to the dressing room clicked shut and the other two elves, forgotten in the corner, began to giggle. Niqueran rounded on them. "Funny, is it?"
Junita, Niqueran's unfortunate twin sister, choked down her last laugh. "I suppose you've finally met your match, Niqi. It's really very funny."
Fawneya (called Fawny), was the peaceful one. She withheld her laughter and tried to get the rest of them ready. "We have classes too, you know."
Niqueran barely heard her. Elorelei came form the dressing room, wearing her tunic and walked right out the room without a backward glance.
"Let's play, then," Muttered the spiteful girl, and she went to prepare for the day.
*~*~*~*
Elorelei was not looking forward to her breakfast. A large hall full of noisy elves, talking about stuff she didn't care to hear. Stealing some fruit from the kitchen, she crept outside, hoping no one would see. She was almost homefree when-
"Just WHERE do you think you're going?"
But she knew the voice too well to be surprised. "Outside, Jayik. Emphasis on ik. Stop stalking me," said Elorelei, climbing up a nearby tree just to put more distance between her and the Castle.
"What's in the bag?"
"Inquisitive today, aren't we?"
Jayik smiled. "It's the first day, aren't you nervous?" He got a shrug in response. "Not even a little?"
"What do I have to be nervous about? I've studied in all the weapons for the weaponry class, I know how to fight, and my archery is very good for my age. There's nothing to be nervous over." She noticed Jayik's twitch when she mentioned her archery.
"About that archery," He began.
"You won't talk me out of it, Jay. I'm taking archery if I have to bring down the whole of the Valley."
Jayik's eyes settled on her bag. Following them, Elorelei pulled out her bow. She realized the elf had never had a very good look at it, which was a shame, for it was a magnificent bow. Inhaling, she recited everything her grandfather had told her about the weapon. "The bow is made of a mystical oak from deep in the forests of the South, rarely grown anymore. The string from the tail hair of the descendant of the unicorn that was the servant of King Haloc. My grandfather used this bow when he fought in the battle of Tiramourge. It was passed onto me after I was born."
Jayik's jaw was nearly brushing the ground. He looked for something to say but words seemed to have failed him. "That... that bow is legendary... you... you just... just carry it?"
Elorelei grinned. "Of course not. I'm not stupid. This is only my practice bow." Jayik visibly slumped. "The real bow is locked away, a few spells and enchantments on it."
"You're a horrible immortal, Elorelei, you know that?"
"Oh, stop it, you're making me blush." Which was really ridiculous, because she hadn't blushed in one hundred years.
*~*~*~*
Elorelei walked into her History class with a smirk on her face. Her first two classes had been very successful in the way that Elorelei escaped them without a punishment. Considering some of the comments that had slipped from her mouth, that was a great feat. She found a comfortable seat near the door, (first row, second back) and pulled out her history book, waiting for her latest victim, er, teacher. Legolas stumbled into the classroom, his arms ached from his first class, weight training. He quickly found a seat near the front of the class, making sure he had everything, he had been waiting for this class all day. Elorelei made small sounds next to him, something like witholding a laugh. Sometimes, she faltered and giggled but soon she drew it in again. Legolas glared at her, but he was not the only one. Most of the boys in the class had their books out and were focusing on the door with rapt attention. The more Elorelei laughed, the more of them glared. The other girls in the class remained confused.
The door finally opened. "Hello, class," said a melodious voice. A beautiful elf woman had entered. Her hair was tied back in the old fashion, and she had reddish blonde hair. Elorelei could've sworn she heard all the boys sigh, dreamily. It was the same elf from the party.
Mirana Graceheart.
"Today we will begin with first rule of King Yuilar the Third... blah... blah... blah..." Mirana was not the most animated teacher but every male elf was watching her with the very fabric of their being. Not that they heard a single word she said.
Elorelei nodded off somewhere around the first law made in the land that had something to do with rivers. She was dozing lazily, dreaming about being outside, doing whatever she wanted, whenever she wished. Suddenly, she heard a loud coughing sound in the middle of her perfect dream. She lazily lifted her eyes open.
"Ahem, Princess Elorelei, do you want to sleep, or do you want to learn about the First War Movement?" Mirana was hovering near Elorelei's desk, staring down at her, but still speaking in the same pleasant voice.
Elorelei, though she was not very tall, did not like being stared down at. "I want to sleep, just like everyone else who's asleep." She waved at the boys looking dreamily at the sky and other girls who's heads were buried in their arms. Some were even snoring, but Ms. Graceheart seemed intent on Elorelei. The dark-haired princess huffed, seeing she was not to be rid of the teacher that easily. "Honestly, I couldn't really care less about the First War Movement where King Yuilar's brother, Jiriha, seized Yuilar's Western lands and claimed them for his own and Yuilar returned by forming two other countries, the South and the North, to overthrow his brother." she snapped. This lesson was child's play. Was this teacher actually naive enough to think a Princess hadn't already been educated in the times of the Early Years?
The annoyed teacher folded her arms and gazed crossly at the smart-mouthed royal. "Just because you are a princess, does not mean you may speak your mind whenever you wish."
"Well, too bad, I have a mind and I will exercise the right to speak it at will." The response came sharply.
"Now, now, it's unladylike to lose your temper." Mirana returned, her kind voice getting angry.
"I am not a lady, thank you. I am a princess and when I lose my temper, I don't try to find it right away." This caused many to rouse from their daydreams and a few to wake up and watch the display.
"You are pushing it, your highness!"
"Now, now, it's unladylike to lose your temper." Elorelei sneered back.
Mirana threw the door open. "Go see the Headmaster, now!"
Elorelei happily skipped from the room. "What a fun time this class will be."
*~*~*~*
"Did you really have to do that to her? On our first day?" Legolas was angry with Elorelei for making 'poor Ms. Graceheart' upset.
"She singled me out first. I defended myself. So excuse me for not weeping like a starving child because I hurt the teacher's feelings. Boohoo." It was the break between the fifth and sixth class time and Elorelei had somewhat of a trying time with Jayik. He'd told her many times she could not take archery, and she had ignored him every single time. She was easily signed up for the weaponry course (there were two other female elves in that class), but practically had to scream her way into the survival skills course, which was mainly outdoors.
She walked with Legolas to the archery field but sat away from him while they awaited the teacher. As usual, she leaned against a tree trunk and began to think. A few other elves began laughing at her, but Legolas strongly advised them against that. Finally, the teacher arrived, Jayik at his side. He was a tall, lean looking elf. His arms did not show the look of strength that Jayik's did, but they were immense, to say the least. His hair was long and bright gold, like mostly everyone else's. Elorelei's dark hair stood out almost everywhere she went, so the teacher's eye immediately fell upon her.
"You are," the teacher hesitated, made unsure by her use of a tunic and not a dress. "You have a message for me, young one?"
Jayik snorted, but Elorelei smiled. "Indeed, I do." Her grin grew broader as she saw the large elf's look of relief. "May I have your name, sir?"
"Of course, young one, I am Professor Rilar Curtail. What is your message?" asked Rilar.
"My message is "You now have a female student." And judging by that look on your face, you have not had one before." Elorelei pulled out her bow and her quiver to show her sincerity.
Rilar swallowed and looked at Jayik, receiveing only a shrug. "I think I will not have one now," Legolas noticed the teacher's voice was very dry. "This is not a class where you learn to shoot," Impressively, he whipped out an arrow, fitted it, and shot it straight into a bullseye on a near target. "In this class, you learn how to mark and hit."
The other boys broke out into a applause and there came a faint laugh. Jayik turned away, but Legolas watched. Though, he searched for a place to hide in case Elorelei chose to play dirty.
She did not, but stood there, waiting for it all to die down. One elf even dared to call out, "Go off to your sewing, Princess!"
Now, all was quiet, waiting for her reaction. "If that is the case," she began, drawing an arrow and set it against the string. "If that is the case..." She leased her arrow and smirked. There were loud sounds of splitting wood. Rilar swallowed. She had split his arrow directly down the middle. "Then perhaps I should be teaching your class." The elf that had called out stepped back from her, but she fired an arrow and pinned him to the trunk of a tree, much like she had done to Legolas once. "YOU, boy, will learn to hold your tongue unless you wish to find it pierced by my arrow... or my dagger, if I am particularly vengeful."
Jayik burst into fits of laughter and Legolas was giving everyone an I-told-you-so sort of look. Rilar felt his heart sink. He was teaching a female, whether he wanted to or not.