Ashlee - Chapter 5

Am I in over my head? I couldn't help but think what I had gotten myself into, not that I regretted it or anything but I don't know if I'm even strong enough. I had no doubt that Mark would fit in easily; His ego was made of steal and he always made the right choices, did what he was told and never gave up. I had always thought he would make a great soldier in the army or something. And not only did he have the personality for this kind of thing but the looks too.

I'm not saying I'm ugly or anything, a dancers body and nice smile. But I wasn't beautiful, I was tall with brown-red hair cut just above my shoulders, my eyes were a golden hazel and I had freckles across my nose and cheeks. Just plain, nothing special; But besides all that I knew this was something I had to do, I knew I belonged here, and when I am strong enough I'm going to hunt down the man who killed my mother.

I finished bathing and got dressed. I shouldn't have been surprised by the outfit I was given, but for some reason I expected a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Instead I got a little dress that hung to the middle of my thighs, it fit snugly from my waist up,  then flared out a little at the bottom. At my shoulders were two small straps that hung close to falling off, it came down enough in the front to show some cleavage and did the same for my back.

To my surprise it wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be with out wearing a bra, but it felt like snug silk against my skin so I didn't have to ware one. It was all white except for an orange ribbon that tied around my waist and into a bow in the back. I fumbled around for shoes and found a pair of old boots."Your kidding right? There is no way I'm wearing these." tossing them back into the pile I pulled out my sketchers and slipped them on.

"Miss Roxanne? Are you there?" A young Innocent voice called from somewhere near the village. I hope I hadn't been out here for too long!

"Yes, who is it?" I walked towards the voice and fond it was the little red head from before, smiling and holding out a daisy for me.

"I came to bring you back to the village, I got this for you Miss Roxanne." I reached for the flower and placed it in my ear.

"Thank you Amira. You know I have a cat named Daisy." She took hold of my hand and escorted me back to the village grinning the entire time and chattering about her favorite flower and which house she lived in, what her favorite color, and anything else she could think of, all in one breath. Catching site of her mother Amira ran off leaving me by myself. I finally found my father who stopped what he was doing and gaped at me as I walked over to him.

"My child you look beautiful!" He gestured for me to spin around and gasped as I finished turning to face him again. I couldn't help but blush as he stared at me without looking away.

"Please father your embarrassing me!" He chuckled and embraced me in a bear hug and spun me about.

When he set me down I caught sight of Mark making his way to us. He looked so stunning. His hair had changed from a dark brown to a red that matched Damens feathers. He wore a black shirt that cut off at his shoulders and was cut to expose his chest. His paints were black, along with his boots The only color he wore were red bands around his wrist. He came and stood beside father looking like nothing had happened. Father gave him a quick acknowledging glance, then turned his head again and stared at him, grinning like a little kid and shaking his head.

"Whats wrong with you two, why are you staring at me?" Clueless, totally clueless. I stood there and laughed while he pestered us to tell.

"What happened to your hair?" The smile from his face faded, and he suddenly looked so serious. He looked up trying to see his hair, but it was too short

"What are you talking about?".

"Don't worry it looks good, maybe even batter than before.." I wasn't lying either, he looked good with red hair it just needed to be longer.

"Dad what is she talking about?"

"Its okay son, things like that will happen...." I couldn't help it and laughed out loud, grabbing my stomach unable to breath.

"To the both of you." Okay, that wasn't funny, what the hell did he mean by that?

"Uh uh! The is no way I'm going to walk around with red hair!"

"My hair is red!? Why didn't you guys tell me, why is my hair red?!" We both started shouting at once in a mad panic.

"Shut up the both of you!" It was meant as a threat but he was laughing at our bickering.

"Mark you look fine but if you want it gone then we can get rid of it. And Roxy your hair wont turn red.."

"Thank god!" Mark and I said in unison.

"I'm not finished yet. Roxy your hair wont turn red but It might turn Orange and Mar-"

"What!?" No way was I going to be walking around with orange hair either!

With that Mark let out a loud "Ha!" pointing his finger in my face, I was half tempted to break it.

"I'm still not done yet, can I finish without any interruptions now?" He was getting annoyed and he waited till we had quieted down before continuing.

"Now Mark we can get rid of your red hair but then your eyes would turn red. And Roxy the same goes for you, by tomorrow morning either your hair or your eyes will be orange." We both gaped at him not knowing what to say at first. Then Mark spoke up still concerned about his hair.

"Is there a mirror here?" Father just pointed to a pail of water witch Mark walked up to and inspected himself. He walked back, no longer worried and pointed his finger in my face again.

"I think you would look funny with orange hair." giving a mocking gesture I turned back to our father who had started walking towards the dinning hall. I caught up to him and put my arm around his shoulder.

"Why did Marks hair change?"

"It happens to everyone who is of blood to this land, within a day of arriving here for the first time either their eyes or their hair change color. Your mothers color was green, the color of her eyes; And lucky me my color was brown like my hair. Haven't you noticed some of the people have strange colored hair and eyes? Most of them where their colors too, just like your orange ribbon." I did notice, but I hadn't thought anything of it, I had a lot more to important questions then why people had blue hair or pink eyes.

"How did you know what your color is? Or, well what mine and Marks was?" Of course everyone who lived here have had their colors since they were born, But I had been given the orange ribbon and Mark wore his red wrist bands so how could they know what colors to give us if we have never been here before?

"Daisy and Damen.."

"What?"

"Damen showed up when your brother was born, and Daisy was there when you were born" That thought hadn't even occurred to me, we have had them since as long as I could remember. That meant my color would be the same as Daisy's fur right? well I guess that would not be so bad, my eyes are already really golden as it is. I still didn't want orange hair though. Mark finally caught up to us and we headed into the dinning hall.

There was so much food! Pies, cakes, and cookies lots of meats and fruits, and even some vegetables. Nothing looked like anything I had ever had before, but it smelled so good. I stopped and took in a deep breath tasting sweets and salts on my tongue. I hadn't eaten all day but until then I hadn't noticed how hungry I was.

There was a long table where everyone had already taken their seats, but they left three spots at one end of the table where we sat. Immediately everyone started grabbing for food and placing it on their plates, but no one ate. After everyone got their food Mr.Lurence stood and held up his glass.

"To an easy passing to the netherworld for our Kind lady" everyone held up their glasses and then drank, I looked at my drink in confusion. It smelled like wine or something, and I was only sixteen.

"It okay you two you can drink it, if you don't like it we can get you some water or juice." My father gave us a sheepish smile and I held my glass to my mouth and took a small sip. It was Delicious! I had never tasted anything so sweet!

"Now we eat and we will save kinder words for later" He sat down and everyone dug in, not wasting a moments time.

Like the wine, the food was like nothing I had ever tasted before but was delicious. The meats were tender and juicy, and the pies and pastries were sweeter than sugar. I had become full long before I stopped eating, but I felt like I was about to explode and I only picked at my food. Everyone had finished, but no one cleared plates, after a few more moments of silence my father stood clearing his throat to catch every ones attention.

"We have an announcement to make, I had only brought my children here to keep them out of danger for the time being. I had planed to stay awhile then take them back home when things cleared up.." Other than a few aw's and sighs, no one spoke and my father continued.

"That's what I had planned to do, but my children have informed me they would like to stay to train and fight along side us." Now everyone jumped out of their seats and cheered. The people who sat next to us patted our backs and hugged us in excitement. After a moment everyone sat down including my father and it was quite again.

No one stood to speak any last thoughts, so I took that as good a time as any to say what I had to say. So I stood, glass in hand and every ones eyes on me. I took a deep breath and began.

"I have only been here for a few hours, but I feel like I am at home here." I paused felling my face flare up. There was no doubt my cheeks were ablaze from my nerves.

"My mother told us stories of the people of Ashlee since I was a little girl, but they were not just stories. I now know the things she told me were what had happened that day when she left our home to come here; And I know she would want all of you to know what she had said about all of you, but since she isn't here..I will say it for her." I heard a few sobs of sadness and grief and felt tears swell up behind my eyes.

"Mrs. Davids she said she hadn't meant anyone like you in all her years, you always knew what to say and could make anyone smile in the worst of situations. Mr. Klint If it weren't for you she never would have be able to be the fighter she had become, you never gave up on her even in her early years.." I continued tell one by one how everyone had helped my mother through out the years. Telling Mrs. and Mr.Huntun that they were horrible at stitching and wielding but they were a gift from heaven in a sticky situation, and how the Robins stuck up for her what ever her situation may be. Sometimes they laughed and other sniffled and brushed away tears, I had Finlay got around to every one and turned to my father.

"And finally she always told of a man who had given her eternal peace and love in a lifetime of war." There was a long pause and I saw tears in my father eyes but he only smiled. We all raised our glasses and I spoke one last time.

"She always use to say 'We are a family, Like the people of Ashlee'."

We were all gathered around a bond fire, clapping and laughing while men and women danced around in circles. Their cheeks were rosy and everyone was happy from so much wine, I felt a little dazed myself but everyone was having a good time. The children sang and played flutes. The music was soft and up to beat, something that caught on right away and you couldn't get out of your head.

We are a fa-mily,The people of Ash-lee.
Under the moon and sun, The war we fight has just begun.
We can not be beat, Our people always defeat.
The people of Ash-lee, We are a fa-mily.

Father was sitting cross legged leaning against a log clapping and laughing drunk with wine and happiness; One of the little girls had grabbed Mark and begged him to dance with her, they were holding hands and skipping in circles. I sat on the log next to my father laughing and clapping like everyone else. Kaden was sitting next to me unable to stop smiling; Then he stood and offered me his hand, and gave a little laugh still grinning.


"Would you like to dance Miss?" I accepted with a smile and we joined the others around the fire. He held me in his arms and we skipped in circles around the fire singing along and laughing. The song ended after a couple minuets and they switched to a different beat. Before people started dancing again they all drank from their cups and got into groups around the fire.

"You'll catch on quickly, just follow what everyone else is doing." I looked at him about to ask what he was talking about when everyone else started dancing again, It was kind of like square dancing but different. You danced with you partner for a couple beats then switched to the partner next to you. I looked over and saw Mark was dancing with one of the girls his age; Her eyes were glowing and her cheeks were flushed, all the while she never took her eyes off him. I switched partners until I got to my brother and we laughed and danced without a care.

"So how many girls have you danced with?"

"Just one, her name is Katara." I saw something in his eyes. He never told me the names of the girls he was after, at lest not right away. But I guess things are different here.

"What about the guy who you were dancing with? You seemed to like him." Okay so things were defiantly different. Mark has never been involved with my dating life, not that I had much of one but still, unless I had been seriously hurt and I told him about it. But he has never asked me about it before.

"Who Kaden? Yeah he is nice but I don't know him much." We danced a little longer forgetting the conversation and laughed some more, until we switched partners again.

I had been having so much fun I hadn't noticed how tiered I was until the music stopped. I plopped down next to my father and too a big drink of wine. I letting out an exaggerated 'Ahh!' I held up my glass and looked at it like it was a piece of art.

"I think I can get use to this stuff." My father looked at the glass and then looked back to me before we burst into more fits of laughter.

The music began again and we all danced laughed and drank till the late hours of the night. The music died down until everyone was to tiered and drunk to dance anymore. Most people had gone to bed until it was only a handful of us left. We sat drinking and talking amongst ourselves. Gradually people went off to bed like the others until it was only me, father, Mark, Mr.Lurencs, and Mr.Ginver sitting on the ground in a small circle by the dieing fire. I had found out the they were my fathers closest and loyal friend and therefore everyone stopped using the terms 'Sir' or 'Mr.'.

"Should we start training tomorrow or should we wait?" Mr.Ginver was like a dream, that's the only way I could explain him. His hair was a misty gray, and was longer than mine in the back and was tied into a ponytail, while in the front the hair shaping his hairline was short and hung loosely, slightly obscuring his features. His eyes were like a clear blue night sky and his skin had a soft glow to it. He was slim built and looked young; In his late twenties at the most. He wore almost all black except for wristbands like the ones Mark wore that were gray like his hair. I would have to say he was a magnificent sight, maybe a little mysterious but he was loyal and a good friend of my parents. Just a little mysterious though. My father was rambling on about how we should wait till we were settled in a bit more so we could get use to things around here.

"I want to start as soon as possible." I blurted out; Everyone averted their attention to me and my father laughed.

"You always were an anxious one. Okay tomorrow then, we will start at sunrise." I looked down at my empty glass and traced my finger around the edge.

"I hope I'm cut out for this kind of thing"

"Are you kidding? Your a survivor and a fighter, this is the kind of thing your were born to do." I hadn't meant for anyone to hear me but I was glad my brother believed in me. I just.. didn't want to let anyone down.

"The both of you are going to have to work hard though. Shaun I think you will get along with Roxy so I will leave you in charge of her, and Hunter I will leave you with Mark." Both men nodded and I looked at Mr.Ginver and wondered if he would go easy on me or not because I was the daughter of a very respected man, or that I was a girl, or that I was young.

"I don't want anyone going easy on me." I sounded like a little kid pouting that I was old enough to go down the big slide by myself and didn't need anyone's help. For a second I thought I might have insulted Mr.Ginver, but he only smiled.

"Good cause I wasn't planning on going easy on you, nor will I work you all day and night. But if something is to hard or you have a problem I want you to tell me, don't try to overdo yourself because it wont help you any. Okay?" I only nodded.

Maybe this wasn't going to be as hard after all, these people were one big family and now I was part of that family. I yawned and leaned my head on my fathers shoulder, while everyone continued talking about what was to be done tomorrow. After a while they started talking softer and I was drifting to sleep.

"Poor thing must have danced all her strength away." I felt my fathers hand brush the hair from my eyes and draped his jacket over my shoulders.

"I have to say she is so much like her mother." My father nodded at Mr.Lurences remark and heard Mark let out a sigh in agreement.

"No, I think...I think there is much more to her than just her mother." Mr.Ginver hadn't spoke to me at all except for our agreement for training, but he sounded certain.

"I think your right.." Was the last thing I heard before I drifted into a dreamless sleep.