Chapter 47:

RPOV

Today was the day. I had finished my academic exams all last week, although I didn't think I had aced them, I at least thought I had passed. Today would be my practical exam. As a senior Novice I had trained for this moment. Every Novice knew what was going to happen. You would have to complete an obstacle course with a 'Moroi' and you would have to fight 'Strigoi' to get to the other end. The exams were open to the public and I had been watching every year at those that had come before me. But those were normal trials. I had no idea what guardian Croft had planned for me.

I was currently standing in my training gear at the guest apartment Dimitri and I shared with Adrian and I was seriously freaking out.

"Please little Dhampir, I am getting nervous just watching you. Would you stop fidgeting?"

"Sorry"

I sat down and both my boys sat on either side of me. Although my relationship with Adrian wasn't romantic, we had a similar sense of humor and after he saved me he gained a special place in my heart. Sometimes I liked confiding in him, he didn't understand me the way Dimitri did, but there were things I could just easier talk with Adrian about because he would make a filthy comment and make me laugh and make me forget about my troubles. And as much as I loved Dimitri and found his touch comforting I needed distraction right now.

Although Dimitri was very, very good at distracting me we didn't have time for that, so I needed Adrian. As if on cue he spoke.

"Don't worry, I know you will kick ass. I already called ahead to the hospital to clear some beds for those unfortunate enough to have to go against you."

For some reason he glanced over at Dimitri for a second.

"Although now that I think about it. Close contact with you, you straddling my hips when you 'kill' me. I might volunteer."

I laughed. Adrian wouldn't last two seconds with me. But it was just what I needed.

The door flung open and a way to perky Lissa walked in with a slightly exhausted looking Christian behind her.

"Are you ready Rose, I can't wait to see you fight. You know I have never actually seen you fight. Not like this. I am kinda curious. I booked us all good spots in the bleachers. I had to move fast too, had to pull some weight as the princess to get good seats, the best were already taken. But I said as your future charge I deserved a front row seat."

I loved Lissa, but her putting more pressure on me right now was not helping. I know she wanted me as her guardian. I wanted that too, but I would not only have to pass today I would also have to impress Hans and Tatiana enough so they will let me guard their precious princess Dragomir.

Wait, did she say the bleachers were sold out?

"Lissa?" I asked very warily.

"How many people will actually be watching?"

The fact that she was looking up at the ceiling, calculating it in her head, wasn't making me worry less.

"Oh I don't know, how many people can we fit in the guardian's stadium?"

I knew that stadium, I had seen that stadium. That was no small stadium. It kinda put the word stadium to shame. And it was booked?

I started hyperventilating as I realized just how many people would be watching. Of course they were. They all wanted to see the freak show.

Dimitri saw my reaction and pulled me towards him.

"Calm down Roza, you got this. It doesn't matter how many people are there. It is just you and your trial. I don't even know why they make you take it. It is a waste of your time and theirs."

He kissed me and in that moment I forgot I was nervous. He always did that to me.

"Now why don't you take Lissa and go to the arena. I think she is stressing as much as you are and poor Christian has been taking the hits for the last couple of days. I'll see you at the trial."

I nodded. I knew Lissa was excited and nervous. She wanted me to be her guardian even after everything that happened. When I first got turned back the idea of being Lissa's guardian frightened me and angered me. I couldn't forgive myself for the way I thought of her when I was Strigoi but I also couldn't forgive Lissa for taking me for granted, but slowly I realized that I needed to pick up my life again. Part of that was graduating. Dimitri was right, whether I would be Lissa's guardian or someone else's I was meant to be a guardian. It was in my blood, it was in my soul. And slowly the idea of me being Lissa's guardian again was getting exciting again. Going to Lehigh with her, we had spent a good amount of time just the two of us on campuses around the country before Dimitri found us. Thinking back to those times I smiled. Even though we were on the run, it was nice, just the two of us, no princess and novice, just Lissa and Rose. Maybe it could be that way again. Only now I am married. I slightly giggled at the thought. I never would have thought I would be married at eighteen.

I swung my arm around Lissa.

"Come on Lissa, let's get me over there, I don't want to be late and keep all those people waiting."

When we arrived Lissa went and sat down at a box-like structure. Of course the princess would be getting good seats. I saw Adrian and my father already sitting there. I did not however see Dimitri sitting next to Adrian.

I walked into the gallows of the stadium to prepare myself. I was nervous again. No distractions, no nothing. I hoped Dimitri would be here. I would have joked and laughed. He would have reassured me. I played the conversation in my head.

"Don't worry, comrade. I can do this blindfolded. Hell, maybe I actually will. Do you have anything I can use? If you're nice to me, I'll even let you tie it on, and maybe later take it off?" I could perfectly picture the exasperated shake of his head that would earn me.

"Rose, I swear, sometimes it feels like every day with you is my own personal trial."

But I knew he'd smile anyway, and the look of pride and encouragement he'd give me as I headed toward the field would be all I needed to get through the tests. But why wasn't he here?

"Rose?"

I turned my head and I saw my mother standing there.

"Don't stress Rose, You have got this. I believe in you, so does your father."

I turned my head slightly looking out the window.

"He is running a bet on your scores. He thinks you will do great and placed money on a high score. I heard Stan joined him."

She winked. I was more interested in who had bet against me but hé. I wasn't surprised my father had been the bookie for a betting pool. Sounds just like his cup of tea.

"Rose worry less about your fathers… past times and more on the trial ahead. I know you can do this, but you need to focus."

I nodded, I needed to get into my zone.

I heard them announce me and the crowd -and it was quite a crowd- went wild.

I entered the arena and a guardian in plain clothes walked up to me. He was to be my 'Moroi'.

I swear the trial wasn't so much about me fighting the 'Strigoi' but being able to tolerate the whiny 'Moroi'. I know the guardian was acting. I know there are some Moroi that really would act like that in a situation with Strigoi but I hoped to God I wouldn't be assigned one of those. I was more likely to kill my charge than the Strigoi.

I kept my 'Moroi' safe behind me while I engaged the guardians. I was surprised to see I could take them down. I mean it wasn't easy, but I expected it to be harder. Court guardians were usually one of the best. But I suppose they didn't have the royal guard mixed in here, so maybe just the clerks.

I heard cheering from the crowd. I was getting distracted by it. I didn't want to mess up when so many people were watching. I got hit a few times because I was looking around and not at my opponent. But overall I could take them down and keep my Moroi safe.

There were some obstacles that were hard. There was a particular bridge which took me some time to figure out but eventually we got to the other side. I still had a few Strigoi to take down. There were four Strigoi standing before me and one of them was Dimitri.

Now I understood why he had wanted me to walk with Lissa and why he wasn't there at the start. Now, one might think that Dimitri, trying to beat the crap out of his wife, again, was cruel. He was one of the most talented guardians out there and beating him would be hard. But I knew what Dimitri was doing. He had noticed how anxious I was with the crowds. He was here to keep me focused. To showcase my skill because he brought out the best in me. And when we sparred it was only us. I needed to get in the zone if I was going to beat him. I instructed my Moroi to take cover behind a rock so I could still see him.

And I engaged the four Strigoi including my husband.

What felt like seconds later but in reality was probably a few minutes I was on top of Dimitri straddling him and had placed the practice stake over his heart simulating the staking. I was out of breath, so was Dimitri. I looked around and saw three other guardians lying on the ground groaning. I guess Adrian was right. They would need a trip to the hospital.

There was a deafening silence from the crowd and I looked around, actually realizing that there were a few hundred if not thousand people sitting on the edge of their seats. I stood up and dropped the stake. The silence turned into cheering. The crowd had stood up and screamed and clapped. I imagine we gave them quite a show.

I saw Dimitri smirk and look proud. He was slowly getting up and so were the other guardians I had taken down. The trial was over. My Moroi walked up to me and patted me on the back.

"Well I suppose they will have no choice but to pass you with that reaction from the crowd. That was amazing. I have never seen anybody fight like you two did. And what you did at the bridge was genius. Sorry for being such a whiny bastard, but I had a lot of fun."

He smiled at me and I smiled back. I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I didn't think I could take them down so easily. And I didn't realize just how good Dimitri and I were. I mean I knew we were good, but I started to realize that we would have a hard time finding sparring partners with the same kind of skill we had.

Dimitri walked up to me and kissed me tenderly on the head.

"I am proud of you, Roza."

And with his hand still on my shoulder we walked out of the arena to face Hans.

"Why don't you join me in my office Mrs. Hathaway and we will discuss the details."

Damn those guardian masks were a pain. I couldn't read him at all. But I couldn't have failed now could I?

Dimitri walked with us to his office but let go of me at the doorstep.

"You did great."

He kissed me on my forehead and took a seat in the guardian lounge. I saw him greet a couple of guardians he knew as I walked into Hans's office.

"Sit down, Mrs. Hathaway."

I sat down. My hands in my lap. I was fidgeting with my nails. He seemed to notice my nervousness.

"Don't worry Rose, you passed. With flying colors and high scores. I actually had quite a bit of money on you to do well. I am glad my faith in you was rewarded."

I stared at him. One, he said I passed and two, he betted on me. Isn't that insider trading or something. But as I saw my scores I saw there were individual judges and none of them listed his name.

"So as for a charge. I know before you turned you were slated to be Princess Dragomir's guardian. This was partly due to your bond and the fact that she would need a girl close to her age to fit in at a human college. Now it is my understanding that the bond was broken when you were turned, but I still received a request from the princess to allocate you to her. Is this also what you want?"

I thought about it for a moment. I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if I would accept a charge that would take me further away from Dimitri. We had talked about it. Lissa would be going to Lehigh which wasn't that far. And Christian would be staying here so Lissa would come back any chance she got anyway.

"It is."

"Very well. You are aware she already has two assigned guardians?"

I nodded. Eddie and my mother.

"Usually a royal like princess Vasillisa gets two guardians. One experienced and one closer to her age. If you would be her guardian and we would dismiss your mother, which I understand was filling in for you, it would leave the princess with two inexperienced guardians. I have seen guardians Castille's records and I have seen you fight. I know you two are great guardians and can hold your own with Strigoi, but the job is more than that. You and Eddie will be easier to maneuver around at a human campus but I am a bit concerned about you two handling new situations."

"I understand. But when Lissa is at Lehigh there will be a lot less of a traditional relationship and I have been protecting Lissa like that since I was fifteen. When we are here at court we can always ask the more experienced guardians for advice. I have Dimitri and my mother to turn to."

I hoped it was enough. Going to Lehigh with Eddie and Lissa would be amazing.

"You don't mind bumping your mother from a prestigious position of guarding a princess?"

I smirked.

"That is a bonus."

I winked at him. He sighed. People have been doing that a lot lately.

"Very well. I will draft up the paperwork and after your marking ceremony you will receive your final allocation."

He stood up and shook my hand and he went back to work.