Disclaimer: I do not own True Blood!

A/N – Rosalie's birthday is around middle September-time, (trust me; this info is important for the plot).

On with chapter twenty-six! ~

Oh shit.

Not much else could describe the gravity of our situation – me and my newly-discovered Uncle, standing in the middle of a pack of circling, snarling werewolves. In a forest clearing late at night, with only our magic and our glowing robes to protect us. And I felt like a three-year old, by the way he was clutching my hand. I almost felt like snatching my hand back, but I was deathly afraid those monsters would rip my head off if I did.

We were going to die. I knew it. I just wished I could have seen Sookie again. And Jason. And…as much as it irked me to say it – Godric. Oh, and Aaron, Rory, Amber, Alex, Audrey, even my ditzy school friends! Heck, I'd be annoyed to miss Luke's party! And all because I decided to run away from home. Well, folks. This was it. The great Rosalie Stackhouse was going down, by a bunch of supernatural wolves, no less. Goodbye, cruel world.

Would you stop being so melodramatic!

I froze. Had I just heard a voice in my head? No. No, of course not. It was just my panic – it was making me hear things.

Oh, darling, you can hear me alright.

"What the fuck?!" I screeched out. The wolves stopped their dangerous circling, and stared at me with what I thought was surprised looks.

Now look what you've done! Just keep quiet, sweetheart. We can fix this.

My jaw dropped open. My gaze immediately swept over to the smirking elf beside me, who was holding my hand. Dark eyes met dark eyes, and his smirk grew. Are you communicating with me telepathically? I asked in my jumbled head.

We sure are. Just another nifty power of us elves. It sure does come in handy in situations like these, sweets, Uncle Adorellan grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.

Oh god. What kind of uncle did I have?

I think you keep forgetting that I can hear your thoughts, darling, he said in a sigh. I groaned outwardly, and the werewolves studied us curiously, as if wondering what on earth we were exchanging if we spoke no words.

Uncle El, what are we going to do? I asked firmly, fearfully.

Aww, I just love it when you say Uncle El!

UNCLE!

Sorry, sorry, Adorellan sighed, I could probably wipe these bastards out with a snap of my finger, you know. They're weaklings.

Well, what are you waiting for?! I hissed. Send 'em flying!

What would you learn in that? Why don't you try taking them out yourself? He suggested. I shot him an incredulous look.

"You must be joking!" I whispered furiously, un-telepathically. The werewolves by now were beyond confused. And apparently, they didn't like it when they didn't know what was going on. Suddenly, the furry animals around me shifted, and in the blink of an eye, I was surrounded by a dozen naked men.

Oh, Christ.

Uncle El hissed loudly, and immediately covered my eyes with his pale hand, blocking out the nudity. "Do you mind!" He roared. "Shift back, you incompetent beasts! I won't let my niece be surrounded by such naked filth!"

"Shut up, old man," A gruff voice demanded. "Uncover the girl's eyes."

What? Was this guy serious? "Pal, I don't wanna see you stark naked. Shift back, and I'll look," I compromised.

"No, we need to speak to you," Gruff Voice spat angrily. "And who the fuck do you think you are, old man? Nobody calls us incompetent." I heard a chorus of agreements around me. Something told me Gruff Voice was the leader of this pack.

"At least put some bloody clothes on!" Uncle yelled.

"Haven't got any," Another, less gruff voice grunted. Uncle El sighed raggedly, and I felt him remove his hand from mine. Suddenly, I heard him click his fingers. I wasn't sure what he'd just done, but I felt him take my hand again a second later.

Can you remove your hand from my face now?

"Oh, yeah, sorry sweetheart," Uncle El chuckled. He removed his hand from my eyes, and I was met with the sight of clothed men. It was slightly distracting how they were all bare-chested, having only clothed their bottom half's…

Seriously. Would you stop ogling their chests? The Alpha is speaking to you.

I snapped to attention. I clutched my Uncle's hand tighter when Gruff Voice – the Alpha, (I assumed that was a leader of sorts) – shot me an annoyed look. "I have no idea how you got us clothes like that, but as I was saying," Gruff Voice sighed. "You –"

"What's your name?" I asked him, cutting him off midsentence. Gruff Voice glared at me, gritting his teeth.

"You are infuriating, girl," He snarled. I held my hands up, bringing up my Uncle's hand as I did so. From my mind's eye, I could see Uncle El fighting back laughter.

"I just need to know your name," I insisted.

"I don't see why that is important!" Gruff Voice growled. I sighed, and put my hands down to my sides again.

"Well, I keep referring to you as another name. I need to know your name," I urged. Another man, who looked to be in his early twenties, raised an eyebrow.

"And what name have you been calling my Alpha, exactly?" He asked. The other pack members leaned in, seemingly curious to hear my answer. Even Gruff Voice looked curious, although he tried to hide it.

I cleared my throat. Of course, Uncle El, reading my mind – already knew what I was going to say. He was trying desperately to hold back his laughs. I shook my head, and spoke. "Gruff Voice," I answered.

Silence. Then a slight snicker. "Gruff Voice?" Somebody sniggered. Gruff Voice snapped his head over to him.

"Shut up!" He snarled, and the guy shut up instantly. He turned back to me, his eyes blazing. "Don't call me that. My name is Tony."

I grinned, nodding. "Okay, Tony," I said cheerfully. "Now that I know the name of my speaker, I need to know what it is you want."

Tony sent me a dark smile. He took a couple steps toward me. Uncle El didn't like this one bit, and flashed in front of me, his robes swishing as he did so. He held his palms out, and I knew with a flick of his wrist, he could end every single one of these monsters.

Yet Tony had the audacity to laugh.

"Take a step closer to my niece and I will end you," Adorellan warned darkly. "Where we come from, we are very protective of our family. So I warn you now, young werewolf. Step. Back."

Tony spread his hands, barking out another laugh. "Oh? And what are you going to do, old man?" He chuckled. "Slap me?" The men circling us laughed at the comment. "I mean, I know that you're not human. That much is obvious, but your hand ain't gonna do much to stop us."

I could feel the magic tension around my Uncle build, and I knew an onslaught was coming. I grabbed his bicep quickly, and brought his outstretched palm away from the Alpha, by guiding his arm. What are you doing, niece? Uncle El asked, not turning round. We cannot let them stand there and make a mockery of our ways.

I know, Uncle El, but we should at least hear what they want, I reasoned. Uncle Adorellan sighed, and stepped away so he was by my side, not in front of me.

Alright. But if that beast tries to touch you, I'll kill him.

I rolled my eyes. So overprotective.

"That's better," Tony chuckled. Uncle let out a low, angry hum which only I could hear. Tony took another step towards me, and Uncle El tensed considerably. "Now, for what we want. You."

I looked at him oddly. "What?" I asked, surprised. "You want…me?"

Tony shrugged. "Not us, exactly – our Boss's second in command," He explained. "Kid says he knows you. Says you belong to him, or some shit."

"Who is this second in command? And who is your boss? Why are you following him? What's in it for you?" Tony chuckled at my firing round of questions. He waggled a finger at me.

"Now, now, princess…well, that is what I think you are, judging by your fashion choice," He chortled jokingly, eyeing my robes. I crossed my arms, unamused. "Now, all you have to do it come quietly, and there'll be no fighting."

"Like hell I will let you take her!" Uncle El hissed.

Tony smirked, raising a challenging eyebrow. "Our Boss is three thousand years old. He could end you with a flick of his wrist, old man."

Is their boss a vampire, or something?

Uncle El shook his head, smiling menacingly. "I hate to break it you, but I am two thousand years older than your 'boss'. If he thinks he has any chance of taking my niece, he has another thing coming."

Tony's eyes widened. I mentally rolled my eyes, watching him count up the thousands. He obviously wasn't the most mathematical of werewolves. "…Y-you're five thousand years old?"

"Close," Uncle replied mockingly, "I'm four-thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight years old. Unfortunately, my brother is a year older than me."

"Yeah right!" One of the men shouted in disbelief. "That's impossible. Nobody's that old! Not even vampires!"

"Enough!" Uncle El's voice boomed through the clearing, shocking the werewolves into silence. "I will end all of you! Right now!" I watched in horror as he raised his hands. I could see a swirling, white light in the middle of each of his palms.

"Uncle!" I yelled. "No!"

Before I could register what I was doing, I had wrapped my arms around his waist. In a flash of purple light, we had disappeared.

We reappeared in a streak of purple light, just outside the mansion I'd so fervently tried to escape from. Uncle Adorellan whistled in amazement.

"Now that was excellent," He commented. I raised an eyebrow, giving him a stern look.

"You almost tried to kill all of those wolves!" I exclaimed, flinging my hands up in exasperation. "How is that excellent?!" Uncle rolled his dark eyes.

"Sweetheart, I meant your magic usage there was excellent," He said. "For a mortal elf, you've already mastered teleportation. In your own style of course – purple lightning. Oh, did I mention? Every elf has different natures. Mine's a bright white colour – the air nature. Did you know your brother has the ice water nature? I'm sure you've seen it, it's a bright blue sort of colour –"

"UNCLE EL!" I screamed, cutting across his words. The ancient elf shot me a sour look.

"Honey, what crawled up your cute little butt? Your old Uncle El was only giving you a little magic lesson," He pointed out, adding, "It may come in useful later. You just never know –"

I clamped my hand over his blabbering mouth, causing him to shoot me traitorous looks. Honestly, this man did not shut up!

I heard that thought, young lady.

"Get outta my head!" I yelled. Uncle El winced, and removed my hand, cautiously. I sent him a dry look. "And I most definitely have not mastered that teleport thingy. That was the first time I've used it. Hell, I don't even know how I did it!" I cried, adding, "I just panicked!"

Uncle El put a comforting hand over my head, and patted the top slowly. I felt obliged to point out that I was most certainly not a dog, but I held my tongue. "Once is enough to become a master," He said simply. I looked at him oddly.

"No, to master something, you need to do it numerous times. And be good at it," I said, crossing my arms. "And even then, you might not master it."

Uncle El sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ah, if only you'd been taught more," He shook his head sadly. My eyelid twitched in annoyance. "…Elves only need to use a spell once, and they master it instantly. It's just how our brains work. It's natural for an elf to exceed in everything. We are designed to be smart."

I shook my head. "That's impossible," I retorted.

"For humans, yes. But not for elves," Uncle argued. "Haven't you ever found, that at your human school, you've always done excellently in every class?"

I paused, thinking over my school grades. I suppose he was right. I didn't mean to be boastful – but I had gotten A's or A +'s for almost every subject at high school. Even at grade school, I'd always been the top of the class. The teachers just couldn't figure out why I was so unusually smart. They'd offered to move me up a year or two, but I'd always declined.

Now that I really thought about it, most things I'd been taught by teachers, I'd found ridiculously easy. I'd grasp to the concept of it, try it out, and instantly understand it. Hell, it'd only taken me minutes to understand how calculus worked! I'd always wondered why my math teacher shot me dirty looks that day…

So it was my elf heritage which made the class nerd. Fabulous.

But did that mean I could teleport easily now? On the day I blew Lorena and Godric away from me – did that mean I'd mastered that, too? Not to mention unlocking the lock on Sookie's door, and conjuring up that purple force-field, on the roof of Hotel Carmilla. Could I do all those things, easy as Gram's pecan pie? If so, how did I go about it? How did I make those things happen again?

"I usually just picture what I want done in my mind, and it works," Uncle El pointed out, reading my thoughts. He waggled a finger in my face. "Elves use their minds to control their magic quite often, actually."

"But they use their emotions too, don't they?" I sighed, remembering when I'd almost lost myself in my anger with Maryann.

Uncle El nodded seriously. "That's the dangerous thing with elf magic. If we let our emotions control our powers, it could become disastrous," He explained. "For example, that scenario that you're thinking right now. The one with that pesky Maenad. You could have destroyed everyone, and the entire town of Bon Temps had you not been stopped. That's how dangerous it is to associate anger with magic."

My eyes widened. "R-really? I could have destroyed Bon Temps?" I gulped. I didn't even know my own strength! I suddenly found myself thanking Godric for stopping me – even if I was mad at him. Aw, stuff it. I couldn't be mad at him. Maybe ticked off, but not mad. I need to sort this argument out with Godric…

"I can't believe you're thinking of your bloodsucking boyfriend. Ugh…" Uncle El muttered.

"Uncle!" I barked. "Stop reading my mind!" Adorellan rolled his eyes, smirking.

"Well, it's not my fault you practically scream out your thoughts," He chortled, and I blushed a deep red. "When you come home before your seventeenth birthday, I'll teach you more about mind development and how to block out others. Actually, that's my subject. I teach Mind Control back home."

"Wait…there's like…an elf school?" I said, shocked.

Uncle El laughed out loud. "Yes. But I wouldn't call it that in front of others," He chuckled. "It's odd. It's like calling your learning place a 'human school' here."

"Oh."

"Ah, yes, on the subject of humans…I find them rather…ignorant," He sighed, shaking his head. "I mean, before the Nightwalkers revealed themselves, humans thought that they themselves were the only intelligent humanoid beings to exist. Unbelievable!"

"Hey!" I retorted sharply. "I'm half human, you know. Watch what you say."

Uncle El scoffed. "Hardly. You used to be fully peredhil – half-elf – but the more time you spend around us, the less human you become. You should change over on your birthday, actually. It's also the same with your elf ears. More time you spend with us, the quicker your ears will grow out," He said, smiling in triumph. I felt my heart drop. Less human? I didn't want to be less human!

Uncle waved his hand dismissively, listening to my panicked thoughts. "Calm yourself, my niece. You don't change in appearance – well, apart from your ears, and any blemishes or wrinkles you may have had as a half-breed. Your magic will be even stronger, and you'll be more attuned to your nature," He explained simply. "Ellisar was ecstatic when he became fully elf on his seventeenth. You should have seen him! He was grinning from ear to ear, that boy."

I gulped. "Ellisar never told me he was a full elf," I whispered. "He told me he was half-elf when I last saw him."

"Mmm," Uncle El nodded, not noticing my inner frenzy, "I think the boy wanted to surprise you with the changeover. What a shame. I ruined the surprise." He didn't look sorry though. Uncle Adorellan was grinning like a cat that'd snagged some cream.

"S-so, it's kind of like changing into a vampire…?" I mused aloud, a little shaken by the thought of losing my ties with humanity. Uncle El scowled.

"Pah! Being drained of your very life force and dying is hardly something I'd call change," He scoffed. "I'd call that murder."

"O-oh. Right." Uncle Adorellan swivelled round to stare me in the eye. He frowned for good measure.

"Don't tell me you're still considering on becoming a bloodsucker," He said grimly, "Child. You were born peredhel – half elven – and you will become quanta edhel – full elf. It is how it's worked for millennia. You would disgrace yourself, and quash your inner light, if you were to shroud yourself in such darkness," He finished in disgust.

I wasn't sure what to say. Uncle Adorellan made everything sound so…right. Perhaps it was better, for me to become what I was born to become. But I also felt scared – I wasn't ready to lose my human side. The one piece of me that connected my soul to my deceased mother. It would be gone in just over a month. Could I really let all that go?

Before I could comprehend any further, I was pulled against a chest. Uncle Adorellan wove his arms around me, and held me in a comforting hug, stroking the back of my hair as he did so. "Stop fretting, child," He said softly. "I've told you, you would still be you. It doesn't matter if you're a Nightwalker, or a half-elf, or an elf. You'll still be our little Rosalie. And you'd never lose anything of yourself that resembles your mother. Don't ever say that."

I smiled against his chest, and hugged him back. "Thanks, Uncle," I said quietly. "That means a lot."

"Although," Uncle El muttered, "I would prefer it if you steered clear of…dying." I laughed at the shudder that racked his body.

Suddenly, there was a sharp whooshing sound, and a feral snarl. Uncle El held me tighter against him, and raised a hand in the air above us. I watched in fascination as a white, blinding substance poured out his long, pale fingers, and a sparkling sphere shielded us from the outside world. And it was just in time, too, because something slammed against the dazzling shield.

"What the hell was that?!" I screamed, trying to break free of Uncle El's grasp. He held me tight, though.

Calm down, Rosalie. I suspect it is just your Nightwalker mate, Uncle El explained telepathically.

Then why did you create a shield? Godric would never hurt us.

Uncle El looked skeptical. "Perhaps," He said aloud, "But at the moment, I sense a raw anger from this Godric. He is dangerous when angry, no?"

I shivered fearfully, and squinted my eyes to see through the shining sphere. "Godric," I called out. "Are you okay?"

I jumped a little when a face loomed through the darkness. It was Godric – but he looked terrifying. I could tell he'd been crying, it was obvious, by the red stains painted down his cheeks and the dried in droplets on his shirt. But his eyes were a deep black, and his fangs looked like jagged daggers. He didn't look like my Godric – he looked like something out of a horror movie.

"Godric," I gulped, "What happened to you? Why are you –?"

"Where have you been?" Godric asked, his voice raspy and broken, thick with worry. He plastered his hands up against the force field, and I watched as his dark eyes widened in shock. "And where did you get that dress? Your skin is glowing! And who is that?" He demanded, pointing at an unamused Uncle Adorellan.

"See, Rosalie, this is why I do not like these creatures. Look at him! He looks ready to eat you up for dinner!" Uncle Adorellan hissed.

"Don't be ridiculous, Uncle," I sighed. "Godric would never hurt me."

"I'll be damned if I let you stay here any longer. I refuse to allow my flesh and blood to mingle with such atrocities!" Uncle El barked.

"Uncle!" I gasped out loud. "Godric isn't usually like this! He's usually a kind, gentle soul, who cares about humans and vampires alike! Not to mention, he treats me like a princess!"

"You are a princess," Uncle El muttered.

"Rose," Godric croaked. "My Rose. I am so very sorry. I didn't mean a word of what I said to you earlier! I was just worried, because I couldn't find you anywhere in the mansion. I honestly do not care about titles. All I care about is you now, I swear. I love you. Please don't let him take you away!"

I watched, my heart breaking, as more red tears streamed down his pale cheeks. I wanted to reach out, wrap him up in a hug, and kiss his tears away.

"I will even let you stay in the servant's quarters. As long as you like," He pleaded. "Anything for you. I love you. I love you." He rambled on, trying desperately to claw through the magical shield.

"Godric, I'm not going anywhere," I promised, trying to wriggle out of Adorellan's inhumanly strong grip. "I will never leave you. I forgive you." Godric smiled in relief, and his pitch black eyes melted away into his beautiful bluish-grey ones. His fangs retracted, and he looked as handsome and loving as he always did.

"Rosalie, I do not feel confident about leaving you here," Uncle El sighed raggedly.

"I will fight you, elf!" Godric roared, banging on the shield. "Give me a fair fight for my Rosalie!"

Uncle El raised an amused eyebrow, and chuckled. "Fight me, eh? I like your spirit, son," He chortled. "Even if you are the very creature my kind despise."

"Coward! Come out here and fight!" Godric yelled.

Uncle El shook his head, smiling amusedly. "Little one, I am three thousand years older than you," He chuckled. "Do you really think you can defeat me in battle?"

Godric snarled at my Uncle. "I was born and raised to be a fighter. It's in my blood. I will fight for my Rose until there is nothing left of me!"

Uncle Adorellan let out a deep sigh. He looked down at me. "Niece, you have quite the mate here," He complimented. "Not only does he love you dearly, he would fight for you, 'till the ends of the earth." Suddenly, my Uncle leaned down, and planted a kiss on the crown of my head. Then, he snapped his fingers, and the shield was gone.

"Remember, my child, do not ever lose sight of the truth. It is all fair and just to change paths when need be, but always keep to what feels right. Inside here." He placed his hand over where my heart was, and smiled. He glanced over at Godric, who was waiting impatiently to take me into his arms.

"Oh, and Rosalie – we'll be here to pick you up before your birthday. Believe me, I do not want to come back to this dimension, and find my niece a pile of purple ash, or worse – undead." I chuckled, and shook my head, before standing on my tiptoes and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Then I wriggled out his grasp, and jumped into Godric's willing arms. He embraced me in a death-hug, and kissed me repeatedly over my face. Then he nuzzled his face into my neck, and sighed. "Don't do that again. Don't run off like that."

"And don't you disrespect the hardworking servants, especially Alex, Audrey and Amber!" I scolded, although I felt more than happy to be in his arms. He grinned, and kissed me softly on the lips.

"Wouldn't dream of it. I have learnt my lesson," Godric whispered, happily snuggling into my hair.

Suddenly, I remembered something important. I swivelled round in Godric's grasp. "Uncle! I forgot to return this dress –"

But he had disappeared. The only trace that showed Adorellan Taurë had been there, was a thin pile of purple dust.

"He did not say goodbye? He is your Uncle, is he not?" Godric asked, confused.

I shrugged and laughed. "Let's just say…elf customs are pretty different." Godric 'ahhed', and nodded seriously. He kissed my forehead, and smiled at me lovingly.

"By the way, my love, nice dress."

Did anyone else feel really sad for Godric? I did :3 Poor thing thought his Rosalie would be taken away from him! *Gasp* Don't worry, I'm not that cruel! (Or am I? Hmm…)

P.S. – Correct me if I'm wrong, but I THINK people in America call the first stage of school 'Grade school'. They call it 'Primary school' here. Since this story is based in America, I decided to mention that Rosalie went to Grade school ;p

Elvish-English

peredhil – half-elf

peredhel –half-elven

quanta edhel – full elf