Roses on Fire ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 2.
Chapter 19 ~ Dreams

A 12-year-old Ivelle was laying on the green grass. The glade was tranquil: birds were chirping on the trees, butterflies were dancing on the sky, and the summer day’s light felt warm on Ivelle’s skin. She loved spending time there, the glade wasn’t far from her home, and it made her relaxed even on her worst day.

“Ivelle! Ivelle!” came a woman’s voice from somewhere among the trees. Ivelle sighed and looked up searching the forest with her eyes. Unfortunately her mother didn’t let her come here. She had to wait until her mother left the house, although she rarely left her alone.

“I’m here!” she shouted back, and within a few moments her mother appeared behind the trees.

“I told you, that you can’t come here.” She scolded Ivelle while making her way towards her.

“I know.” She sighed and closed her journal.

“It’s dangerous. You can’t know what kind of creatures hide in here. What if something happens to you?”

“Mom!”

“We’re going home.”

“No, Mom.” Protested Ivelle, but her mother grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards their house “Come on, Mom! There’s nothing in here. No horrible creatures. And it’s only noon, wolves don’t come this time of the day.”

“There are more dangerous things than wolves.” said Victoria with rising temper, while Ivelle tried to get loose of her grip.

“Mom, you’re being paranoid-”

“-Enough! I’m your mother, and you do what I say!” she yelled at her daughter.

“You can’t control me forever.” murmured Ivelle while plodding behind her mother.

Ivelle woke up suddenly. She slowly opened her eyes and took a few deep breath. Ever since she spoke to Alkmene, she’d been dreaming of her mother. Her dreams were sometimes nice, sometimes they were real nightmares.

She got up and went to her drawer. She put on her usual leather clothes and quickly washed her face. She made a ponytail and went to the door.

The corridors were empty and silent. The other habitants of the city must had been still asleep. She started her way towards the gardens of the city.

Despite the fact that the city was completely underground, the sorceresses still managed to tend a beautiful garden in its middle. With the help of magic, they created a small, but very realistic sun above it. Ivelle had never seen the gardens during the night.

Now, instead of the sun, there was a full moon floating over the garden and immense fireflies gave light. The whole garden was covered by grass, which looked like it had been made of silver in the moonlight. All of the flowers and plants were perfectly tended; none of them looked overgrown nor neglected. She followed the stone-covered grass towards the only tree of the garden. Undrolia, that’s how Adrastos called it.

The tree’s trunk looked darker than the night sky, and it’s branches were reaching towards the top of the mountain. It’s usual emerald leaves now looked silver. As she reached the tree, she noticed the small flowers blowing at the tree’s feet.

The petals of the flowers looked holographic, looking as if they were lighting too. They looked like small diamonds among the silver grass. Ivelle reached for one, but as her hand got closer, the flower closed its petals and disappeared underground. When she took a few steps backwards it appeared again.

“Sleeping Azollas.” came Adrastos’s voice behind his back “They could only be seen during the night. Legends say that they showed the sorceresses the way here.”

“You woke up early.” stated Ivelle with a small smile.

“I could say the same.” said Adrastos and sat down on a moss-covered stone. Ivelle shrugged and sat next to him.

“I woke up and decided to take a walk. What’s your excuse?” she asked nudging Adrastos slightly.

“I like being the only person awake. Everything’s calmer when everyone else is asleep.” he stated simply “So you knocked on my plans.”

“My apologies,” said Ivelle rolling her eyes.

“Apology accepted.” laughed Adrastos.

The magical moon slowly started descending, and the magical clouds were turning red as Adrastos and Ivelle kept on talking. Slowly the moon disappeared completely and gave its place to the sun.

Ivelle said goodbye to Adrastos and started her way towards the library. When she got there, Alkmene was already ready for their lesson. She stood in front of a circle of crystals and small dark flowers. The crystals were all of different shape, size and colour. Some of them were small and oval, others were large and square. Some were light, others dark.

Alkmene hold a huge old book in her hand. Ivelle approached her slowly and sat inside the circle as usual.

“Did you dream last night?” asked Alkmene not taking off her eyes of the book.

“No. I mean yes, but it was a memory.” she corrected herself quickly. Alkmene nodded quickly.

“I see. Then concentrate on the same dream as yesterday.” she said.

Ivelle closed her eyes and cleared her mind as Alkmene taught her. She tried to recall the dream.

“I’m in the forest.”

“Next to the firepit?” asked Alkmene.

“Yes.”

“Good, go on.”

“I hear footsteps. I’m looking for my dagger, but it’s not there.”

“Because you’re wearing a long dress. A richly decorated one.”

“Yes. I hide behind a bush.”

“Good. Good.”

“Now I recognise Adrastos. But someone grabs me. I screak and they turn towards me. Someone starts dragging me into the forest.” she felt panic overcoming her.

“Don’t lose control Ivelle.” said Alkmene on a calming voice “Concentrate. Who’s that?” she concentrated on the attacker.

“I can’t see them. They’re behind me.”

“Is it a man or a woman?” she concentrated.

“A woman.” she said finally “A bit stout, slightly taller than me. She’s strong.” she tried looking around “A lock of her hair falls on my shoulder. Her hair is black.”

“Very good Ivelle go on.”

“An arrow hits her on the shoulder. Next to my head.”

“Who shot it?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see them, it’s too dark.”

“No problem what happens?”

Ivelle concentrated.

“Cirillo and Áedh jump from a tree. The woman lets me go. Áedh kills her.”

“Have a better look of her. Stay in the moment. How does she look like?”

“She wears an emerald green cape and brown clothes. She has round face and black hair. Her eyes are...red? A bit stout-built as I said before.”

“Impossible.” whispered Alkmene “Anything special?”

“She has a necklace with a half-moon pendant.”

“How old is she?” asked Alkmene faintly.

“I can’t tell. She’s like the elves. Her eyes are old, but her appearance makes her look young. Maybe around her thirties. Her ears are not pointy, so she can’t be one.” Ivelle groaned and lost control at once. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, so her eyes would adjust to the dim light of the library,

“Who was her? Do you know her?” she turned to Alkmene.

“No I don’t.” she said and looked away “You did a good job today.”