The next day Elara woke up to the sounds of fireworks. Really? They are still going? A glance out of her window confirmed it, the party celebrating the dragons defeat was still raging outside.
She remembered that as of today she was now in her three month holiday, wasting no time she headed over to the ornate wardrobe in the corner of her room to pack. Elara stared at herself in the large mirror on the wall for a second. Her messy black hair spilled down to just brush her shoulders and vivid blue eyes accentuated her fine featured face. She certainly didn't look like what people would imagine a level 94 Royal Guard to be. She was about 5 foot 8 and her body was slim but fit, perfectly toned with light muscles. She was definitely pretty and in her first months in the capital had had many suitors including merchants, minor nobles and fellow knights(albeit lower levelled). However there weren't as many these days considering how she had shown absolutely no interest in any of them. After-all if she couldn't get the thrill she desired from fighting a 50ft tall dragon what hope did a man have.
Elara opened the wardrobe and grabbed out a plain rucksack. This would do now she just had to pick out some clothes for her time off. She pushed aside suits of armour, expensive gowns and dresses. Before grabbing a simple dress made of soft grey wool, a few fairs of britches and thin white blouses. They disappeared into the sack and Elara tossed in some underclothes after them. Her hand reached for her sword belt out of habit but instead she selected a simple piece of string to tie her britches and one little dagger barely as long as a finger, they joined the rest of the clothes in the sack. Finally she selected a thin pale blue dress to put on and a riding cloak to put over the top.
Once she was ready Elara headed out of her room, it felt good leaving without a weapon and the rough texture of the slightly threadbare dress rubbed against her skin, not a pleasant sensation but an enjoyable feeling of freedom from the fine clothes she was used too. She planned on departing as soon as possible but there was one person she wanted to say goodbye to first.
Elara found the princess in the citadel gardens surrounded by nursemaids and servants. Princess Amelia Amery Hollast the 2nd was running in circles chasing her dog Sir Melford(Yes she had asked her father to knight her dog), her little legs were moving at full speed but Sir Melford easily bounded ahead of her. Elara grinned at the stricken expressions of the nursemaids as they very politely recommended the princess should "please sit down this instant before you injure yourself". Even for a 9 year old the princess was very spirited and excitable, Elara pitied her nursemaids and servants who looked like they were all in the middle of a collective heart attack.
"Princess, please, the hem of your dress—" "You'll scuff your shoes—" "Your father the king..."
"Hey there, Millie," Elara called.
The princess skidded to a halt so fast she nearly toppled over. Her face lit up like sunrise. "ELLLLA!!!"
Millie collided with her legs with enough force to nearly knock the breath out of her—impressive, considering the girl weighed about as much as a moderately enthusiastic goose.
Elara grinned and hugged the little girl back. She opened her mouth "Millie I..." But couldn't beat the princess who was already babbling words at a pace Elara may have struggled to comprehend if - if her perception skill hadn't already been mentally cataloguing every single word.
"Ellie! Ellie! Did you really punch the dragon so hard its soul ran away?"
Elara blinked. "...um what?"
"That's what the bards said!" Millie announced proudly. "And that you danced on its head while it breathed fire and then stabbed it with a tree!"The nursemaids nodded awkwardly, clearly having heard this retelling several times.Elara pinched the little girls cheek. "Millie, sweetheart… I did not stab anything with a tree. And the soul thing...I don't think it works like that"Millie gasped as if betrayed. "So did used a mountain instead?" Elara didn't even have time to respond before the little princess was off again. Millie picked up a nearby stick, held it with regal seriousness, and tapped Elara's shoulder."I dub thee—""Oh no.""Sir Ellie the Super Brave! Again!""That's… the third time this week," Elara noted.Millie nodded with grave importance on her little face. "I have to keep refilling it or you'll run out of knighthood"Elara decided she didn't have the heart to explain that wasn't how titles worked and just smiled.
"Thanks Millie"
One of the nursemaids finally stepped forward, looking as if she hadn't slept in forty years. "Your Highness, please—Lady Elara is trying to say goodbye."Millie instantly deflated, shoulders slumping.
"But I don't want you to go" Millie huffed crossing her arms and glaring at Elara.
The nursemaid interjected again "Now now your highness, Lady Elara works hard defending the realm and she deserves to take some time off to relax"
All eyes were on the little princess waiting for her to object again but surprisingly she declared.
"Ok then"
Elara was a bit taken aback, that was easier than expected. "I'll see you when I get back..." Elara probed still surprised at the Millie's compliance. But the little girl wasn't paying attention she had seized Sir Melford by the collar and turned back to Elara before declaring.
"I'm coming too! When do we leave? Do I have time to pack Sir Melford's bowl?"
Elara stifled a laugh as the nursemaids and servants collectively tried to stifle their squawks. Seven grown women blanched. One fainted.
Elara froze. "…Coming where?"
"On your adventure! Daddy says I need more fresh air."
Elara tried very hard not to picture the king's face if she marched off with the princess in tow.
"Millie, I'm not going on an adventure. I'm going on a… very boring walk. You'd hate it."Millie narrowed her eyes in deep suspicion. "Is it knight-boring or adult-boring?""…Adult-boring."Millie shuddered. "Ew."Crisis averted.
Elara continued talking before the princess could get distracted again.
Crouching down so they were eye to eye Elara whispered "I'll come back before your birthday. And I'll teach you that knife-throwing trick you keep begging about."Millie gasped. "The dangerous one?""The safe version," Elara corrected firmly.Millie considered this, then nodded with great dignity. "Acceptable."
Then she hugged Elara again, tight as a vice.
Once she had finished saying her goodbyes to the princess Elara was finally free to head for the stable, and than at last the open road leading away from the capitol.