Alfheim

XXII. The lake

"These are the rules. Kill off your selected opponent or face the consequences. The arena will select who you're target is. If they die by your hand, then your job is done. The team who first finished killing their targets wins. Weapons will be provided. You get one day to train. Training gyms are over there. Two candles lit up inside the arena halls on both sides. May the winners be victorious," the Phoenix said before disappearing into smoke.
"They can't be serious," I said to the group. "It's five agains four."

Then we all ran to our training gyms. Our gym was colored blue. How typical. We walked up to a wall with markings on it. These were instructions on how to kill your opponent...
"Guess they are really serious about this," Grant said with a droplet of sweat streaming of his face.
"We can do this," Timothy said trying to motivate us. "Do it for them."

We all nodded and looked at the markings again.

"I will use the spear," Timothy suggested.
"I will use the knives," Kira then said.
"I will use a sword," Grant said.
Then they all looked at me.

I went over the remaining markings."I will use the bow and arrow."
"Then that's settled. Let's practice!" Timothy said.

Both teams practiced all day long. They tried to combine their weapons with their powers for a more effective kill. Everyone succeeded except Ivy...
"Why isn't this working!" I shouted frustrated. I tried to apply an ice layer on the point of the arrow, so it would become sharper. That's what Grant suggested.
I also tried to move an arrow with the help of water, but I wasn't able to. I even tried to recall the poses of the show Avatar the Last Airbender.
"Just keep focusing on shooting," Timothy kept suggesting.
I didn't wanted to give up, till I accidentally cut myself.
"Ivy, stop," Timothy said while quickly walking over with a towel to clean my wound. "Let's focus on the shooting, okay?"
I nodded.
It quickly became dark. I had practiced so much my hands had blisters on them. Kira had learnt some healing magic and was able to remove them for me.
At night we saw stands with lanterns as lights appearing outside of the arena. It was some kind of night market. Oh
Exhausted we strolled through the night market. There were a variety of food displayed. Some things looked like things from back home like apples and corn. But they also had some strange fruits like a round fruit that looked like a tomato, but was vibrant purple. A viola is what Timothy called it. Apparently Queen Gwendolyn had given us some money. Timothy opened the pouch and divided the money.
"Go walk around and buy something we can share. We'll meet back here at the entrance of the arena. And don't get lost," Timothy said before he walked off with Grant.
"Let's go!" Kira said while she grabbed my arm.
Kira and Ivy bought some fried snacks on a stick and Timothy and Grant came back with some drinks. Outside they lit up a campfire where they gathered around.
"Is everyone ready for tomorrow?"
Kira looked at Ivy while Ivy was lost in thought and kept staring into the campfire.
"Of course we are," Grant then answered.
The girls nodded.

For the night the group had said up two tents. One for the boys and one for the girls. Timothy had used a protection spell, so their tents were only visible for them. That night everyone fell asleep easily except Ivy. She kept twisting and turning.
I couldn't wrap my head around it. How is Gideon still alive? I turned around to the other side. Was I glad about it? Not sure. He did help me. But the first time he betrayed me. I don't know how I feel about this guy. And then just like speaking about the devil, I heard his voice...
"Pssst, Ivy!" I heard him whisper from outside the tent.
I tried to ignore the sound. May be I'm just imagining it. Why would he be here at this hour and how would he have found us?
"Pssst, Ivy are you awake?" Gideon then whispered.
I decided to go outside.
"Now I am, thanks to you," I said while rubbing my eyes.

And there he was, standing in the moonlight. The soft evening wind ruffling through his hair. He was looking at the sky and then looked over at me.

"Hi," he said with a smile.
"Hi," I managed to say. I still can't believe he is still alive. "Are you real?"
"Are those the first words you say to me after that ordeal we survived?" Gideon said with a grin.
"I guess I should thank you," I say while looking away. I feel my ears beginning to burn. Why now? Ok, it was not like I wasn't attracted to him. But who could blame me, he was a handsome elf.
"Are you embarrassed?" he asks me teasingly.

Before I could answer he walked over to me and grabbed my hand. "Come, I need to show you something."

I looked behind at the tents and was thinking about screaming for help. But I didn't. I guess I can say I feel safe around him.

After Gideon took Ivy away, Timothy had woken up. Timothy went to the other tent to check on the girls and noticed Ivy was missing.

Back to Gideon and Ivy.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"Just keep walking, it will be worth it," Gideon said while still holding my hand.

"Okay, I'll follow you," I say. "How long did you plan on holding my hand?" I ask while looking at my hand.
"Oh sorry," Gideon said. Then he let go of my hand. "So here it is." Gideon pushed away the leaves from the large hanging tree in front of us. He revealed a beautiful lake with waterlilies and a lot of fireflies flying above it. There also was a wooden boat floating around near the shore.
"This is beautiful," I said.
"That's why I wanted to show you. I found this place after I had saved you in the cave. My remaining team ended up on the other side of the arena and that's how we found this.
"Commagio!" Gideon then said while gesturing the boat to come. When the boat came in arm's length, he grabbed the boat towards him. "Hop on."
I hopped on the boat and sat down. Then Gideon did the same.
He grabbed the pedals in the boat and started rowing. The fireflies made way for us. I looked at the little creatures flying around. So pretty. I smiled. When the boat was positioned in the middle of the lake, he stopped rowing.
"So you can smile," Gideon said.
"What's that supposed mean?!" I ask insulted.
"It's just that ever since I met you, you never smiled. Not even at the feast. Most elves at the court smile almost everyday. Take Sienna for example. But you seem so different from the rest. So different from the girls I've met before," he said while looking away.

Then there was a silence. He was deep in thought. You could hear the crickets chirping.
I held my breath for a moment. Does he know? Does he know I'm not from this world?

"Could you may be be a peasant?" He then asked. I breathed out. Thank goodness he hasn't found out about my secret yet. I want to keep my secret to myself for now, because I don't know how they all would react. And I don't want to be pursued like some witch.
"Would that matter?" I then ask him.
"I'm not sure," Gideon answers.
"I can assure you I am royalty, but that doesn't mean I'm different from a peasant. I'm still me and I can decide how I want to define myself," I say.
"But as a royal you have to follow the rules of the court, right?" Gideon asks with a smile on his face.
"Rules are meant to be broken, my Lord" I responded with a cocky smile.

"See, that's what I like about you," Gideon confessed.

I blushed. "Ok, stop it Ysabel. You're falling for a fictional character here. He is not really real," I say to myself.
"I'm sure you have many things you like about Sienna," I try to redirect the subject.

"I do, but she still isn't as special as you," Gideon says while looking into my eyes. Gosh, that guy has beautiful eyes.

"Be-..." Just as Gideon was to say something a large spear was shooting in the way of Ivy.

"Duck!" Gideon said just in time. He quickly grabbed the pedals and started rowing back to the shore.
The shooter had apparently left, cause there seemed to be no second attack.
"Are you hurt?" Gideon asked worried.
"I'm fine, thanks," I responded.
"Now quickly go back to bed. We have an important match tomorrow. And whatever happens I will promise you, I will keep my end of the promise," Gideon says with his right hand on his heart.
"Thank you. I will too," I say while I copy Gideon's stance.
"Goodnight," he then say and turns around to walk away.
I ran after him and give him a back hug.
Enemy or not. He did so much for me already. This is the least I can do, right?