Guess who you're all gonna see a bit more of this chapter…

Elestra was walking through a forest. She walked into a clearing and saw the sun reflecting off the surface of a pond in the center. Padding over in her slippers, she sat on the edge and looked into her reflection. However, hers wasn't the only reflection in the pond. There was another looking over her shoulder: his face was a blur, but there was a golden glow about him. He reached out to gently shake her shoulders and whispered into her ear "Wake up.'

With a start, Elestra shot up from her pillows, almost ramming her head into her mother's, who was leaning over her worriedly. Only Mel's reflexes saved her nose. After a moment of shock, she laughed and said, "And I thought you would need some magical shielding while you were asleep… It seems you could do well without it."

Elestra laughed a little too. Catching something off in her mother's voice killed her laughter, though. "What happened? Why do I need magical protection?"

Instantly, Mel was serious. Reaching her hand out to put over her daughter's and said concerned, "How much do you remember about your ride two days ago with Andrew?"

Thinking back to the ride (It has been two whole days?), Elestra said slowly, "We were riding in the forest… I heard some music," She sank into bliss, "It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard… Andrew wanted to take me away from it, " her voice turned hard, "I didn't want to leave. I wanted to go into the forest and see where it was coming from. I wanted to be with the music forever…"

"Not surprising. That spell was very powerful. I felt it from the castle," came a calm voice from the doorway. Flauvic walked in despite the protestant sputtering that came from Mel. Elestra watched him quietly not quite knowing what to say. He drew a chair to the opposite side of Elestra's bed so he wouldn't have to sit next to Mel, who was glowering darkly at him. Flauvic continued, "I'm surprised your mother didn't hear it, being the great mage I hear she's turned out to be," he paused, allowing his meaning to sink in, then continued, "However, I may be able to be of assistance, seeing as I already know who is behind this, but you don't want to know. I also think I will wait to tell you until I have solid evidence. Maybe then you will believe that I am not here plotting to overthrow the kingdom." He looked pointedly at Mel, who glared back at him.

He picked up Elestra's hand and kissed it lightly. She felt something in her hand when he laid it back on the bed, but she said nothing. She nodded a goodbye to him. Her mother couldn't help but blurt out, "Well, who is it if it isn't you? Who else would be powerful enough to cast that big of a spell and not alert me of it?"

Flauvic paused in the doorway. Without turning around, he said, "Somebody who you know... and trust too much." He left them to ponder his words. However, Elestra was thinking more about his tone than his words. She thought Flauvic spoke sadly, almost regretfully.

Shaking her head, she turned her attention to her mother who was saying, "I'm going to leave you now. Make sure you get plenty of rest. I don't want you falling ill and missing your ball this weekend." With a forced smile, she left Elestra to think in peace.

As soon as her mother was out of sight, Elestra looked at what Flauvic had slipped into her hand. It was a piece of paper intricately folded, perfect for subtly transferring from hand to hand. Taking care to unfold it so it wouldn't rip, she opened it to reveal elegant handwriting inside.

Elestra,

I hope you take my advice and stay close to either your mother or myself. I recommend myself more than your mother. I am more experienced in magic, even though I was a tree for twenty years. Also, I know who the culprit is, whereas she does not. I know that she will disapprove, but you must stay close to me.

I invite you to ride with me tomorrow afternoon after lunch. Brenna, Galen, and Jenna will accompany us. They look forward to meeting you, seeing as they have not yet gotten the chance to talk to you very much at all. We will meet at the stables.

--Flauvic Merindar

Elestra didn't know what to make of his note. Should she accept his protection? Should she even go riding with them? With these questions plaguing her mind, Elestra fell back on her pillows and lost herself in a dreamless sleep.

--&&--

It was still dark outside of her window when Elestra woke up. She took up her perch by the window and stared out into the stars. Faintly, she heard some motions behind her. Turning around, she encountered somebody dressed all in black with a black mask hiding his face, staring at her from the chair at her dressing table. He (for she assumed the person was a man) got up and moved to the window where she was sitting. Elestra flinched, but she was glued to her seat, and it was not from fear.

He stood across from her and was about to pull something out of his belt when she felt a wind blow through the room. Her door opened and shut once and somebody else was in the room. This man did not wear a mask. His golden eyes threatened to melt the Masked Man with his fury. Flauvic muttered a few words and the Masked Man walked out the room with a stiff gait. The door slammed shut behind him.

Once the sound of his footsteps died away, Flauvic turned back to Elestra and said, "I can not let you out of my sight for a minute, can I?" He sighed. "I'm afraid I will have to stay in your room tonight." He made an almost lazy gesture with his hand. As it moved, Elestra felt herself able to move as well.

Elestra blushed and whispered heatedly, "You'll do no such thing!" There was a hint of a smile in Flauvic's eyes, but it was gone in an instant as he said, "I'm still going to have to keep a close watch on you, whether you like it or not." His eyes scanned the room, searching for a place where anybody else could be hiding, or where he could hide during the night.

She was bewildered. Then, gathering her thoughts, she realized that he might have just saved her life. "Thank you," she said quietly, hardly believing what she was saying. Flauvic's eyebrows rose in surprise, but returned to their normal position in an instant.

"Think nothing of it. I'm going to be guarding you personally over the next few days until I am sure that you are out of danger. I can not have my visit spoiled because you are found dead by your maid in the morning." Elestra's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Flauvic noticed and said, "That is exactly why. Everybody will immediately turn to me demanding an explanation of why I killed their princess." He paced the room dramatically.

Then Flauvic stopped and stared at the corner of the room that was opposite the door. With a few small hand movements and a couple words that Elestra could not hear, a small rose grew in the corner. In the blink of an eye, it vanished. "What was that?" Elestra inquired.

Pretending not to hear her because of a yawn, Flauvic said "Good night, princess." He bent over and kissed her hand. He stopped before he walked out the door. "You read the note I gave you about the ride?" She nodded. "Good. The invitation is not optional. You are coming either way. Instead of meeting us at the stable, I am going to escort you there personally. Maybe we can get a few hours of sword practice in earlier, or after. I need to brush up on it."

With that, he walked out the door, leaving Elestra surprised in the middle of the room. She walked back to her bed and lay down, wondering what had just happened. Had she just been told that she would be spending the whole day with Flauvic tomorrow? She fell asleep wondering why there were butterflies in her stomach.

REVIEW PLEASE!!! Sorry this one took a while…