In The Realm of The Elf

chapter 5

A knock on Lily's door sounded as she turned over and ignored it. It came again, but louder the second time. She groaned and when she started getting out of bed the door flew open.

"Didn't you hear me knocking?" Lare asked fully dressed with hands on her hips. She reminded Lily of a woman version of Peter Pan, which this early in the morning had her laughing. She put a hand over her mouth trying to get herself under control while Lare glared at her. "This is not funny, get dressed we're leaving." She turned and slammed the door after walking out of the door.

"Well good morning to you too." Lily said and started laughing again. She just couldn't get that image of Lare leading around a bunch of lost boys out of her head.

"I'm up and dressed, it's dark out and I'm hungry." Lily said still a bit groggy. Stretching her back out then stumbling to a chair she fell into it.

"We aren't leaving for a couple of hours. I told you not to wake her yet." Frost said getting right up into Lare's face. Lily smiled, yes she had someone looking after her and most likely would need more protection from Lare than any of the other dangers they would encounter.

"Lily come with me for a minute." Treep said through a yawn. "Your shirt is on backwards, dear." She whispered taking her into the kitchen and helping her right it.

"Thanks, so am I going to have the pleasure of getting up this early every morning with that woman around?" Lily asked eyelids half closed and having trouble standing up.

"I hope not, she is a trained warrior and should know how to follow orders. Apparently not today though." Treep said helping Lily into a chair. "Here I'll get you something to drink." Pouring something warm into a cup she passed it to Lily.

"Yummy, lemon and honey tea. That is so good to wake up to." Lily said slowly drinking the tea. She placed her head on the table after a few sips and tried not to go to sleep.

"Lily dear, time to wake up. We're doing to have something to eat before sending you off." Treep said shaking Lily gently.

"I'm not asleep." She said lifting her head to see everyone plus two new men sitting at the table. "Okay maybe I was, sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Lare should be, she wasn't supposed to wake you up." Frost said staring daggers at Lare.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I will follow orders next time or be lost to find my own way back alone." Lare said not sounding to convincing.

"Rememer that Frost is in charge for this trek and Lily is second in command. She does not have warrior experience, but the trek is for her and everyone needs to remember she is to be protected and cared for properly." Foren said looking at all of them one at a time.

"Yes sir." They all sounded.

"Okay enough talking eat so you can get to the Frost Forest before the sun gets too high or you'll never get to the ridge for camp tonight." Treep said passing some of the dishes of food around.

Once finished they gathered their gear and said their good byes and left. Heading in the direction that Frost had brought Lily out of the forest as the weather started turning colder and the wind nippier. Lily was in the middle of the group no one was really worried about getting ambushed or in need of the warriors as they were still in the Elven territory.

"So how big is the Elven territory?" Lily asked pulling her cloak closer to her as they stepped into the snow between the trees.

"Not as large as the land between the Faeries and the Elves." One of the warriors said smiling at Lily.