The Devils' Rose

Chapter 1

Maeleth sighed and held onto a nearby tree for support of her tired legs. In hindsight, running into the woods with no sense of direction or any real idea of where she was going probably wasn't her greatest plan. She ran her fingers through her slightly damp red hair and pressed her back against the tree before allowing herself to slide into a sitting position. "Maybe Nestor was right. This was a bad plan."

"You know you shouldn't out here alone, you are a woman after all." Maeleth immediately jumped to her feet at the sound of the voice and searched desperately for the owner. After a few moments of checking behind trees, she heard a quiet shuffling sound from behind her, followed by a soft thud. Immediately she spun around and came face to face with another of her kind, an elf. He had shoulder length brown hair and green eyes, a common eye color for elves.

"Who are you?" Maeleth muttered while drawing her bow.

"Why don't you tell me who you are first?" the male growled.

Maeleth smirked and drew back her arrow even farther.

"Because, I'm not the one with a deadly weapon pointed at me."

The man chuckled softly and nodded. "I suppose you've got me there. My name is Callan Hakash. Now why don't you tell me who you are and maybe lower the weapon while you're at it?" He chuckled lightly at his comment and smiled. Maeleth narrowed her eyes and ever so slowly lowered her weapon.

"My name is Maeleth, Maeleth Shamil." Almost in moments Callan's eyes widened in shock and worry, and he immediately drew his own sword.

"I'm sorry to say Princess, but your brother gave out specific orders that anyone who saw you was to bring you back to Lochmeadow immediately." With a soft chuckle, Maeleth stepped forward closer to the sword and smirked.

"And if I refuse? How would you explain it to my brother if you were to kill his one and only sister? I'm on a mission, and if you refuse to help me then I will simply find another way." she explained. Callan sighed and ran his hands through his hair in frustration, his ears twitching with irritation.

"What is it exactly that you're doing around a human camp?" he asked. Maeleth chuckled and leaned back against a nearby tree.

"You see, I need training. Sure I can shoot an arrow well, but I need to learn how to properly wield a sword. I've heard that humans know their way around melee combat. Are you aware of where their camp can be found?"

Callan sighed and looked around, his shoulder-length brown hair bouncing on his shoulders as he did so. "You've brought no one with you, is that correct?" A pang hit her heart at the mention of those she left behind, but she nodded either way.

"Yes, I'm alone."

"Follow me." Callan began to lead her through the dense forest, his hand firmly clasped around her wrist.

After awhile of simply walking in as straight of a direction as they could muster while trying to avoid thorn bushes and trees, until they finally reached a large set of gates. Callan went up to it and grasped the key that hung from a piece of twine from around his neck and unlocked the large iron gate. The rusted hinges made a harsh screeching noise as the gate slid open and Callan yet again took a firm hold of Maeleth's wrist. "I shouldn't be allowing this. In fact I shouldn't have even spoken to you. You know that right?" Callan growled.