1st Day of Àttäðr (August) in the Year 7740 A.C.

There was a knock before an irritatingly familiar male voice said, "I am sorry to disturb you, pömnuria drött, but the queen has bid me to fetch you once more."

Leafë groaned as she said the phrase to open the door. "Didn't you tell her I was coming?"

"She says you have spent enough time dawdling as it is, and the Shur'tugalar are already waiting."

"What?" she nearly-shrieked, throwing her larger bags at the älfr as she hastily began cramming the last of her scrolls and books into her rucksack. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

His voice was muffled from behind her numerous belongings as she ran out the door. "Apologies, my highness."

"I sometimes seriously wonder why Mother think I'd be safer if you tagged along, Glenwing."

Glenwing Valtharos smiled from behind the stack he carried, knowing Leafë would hear it in his voice as he said, "You always seem to be wondering that, my highness."

"And will you ever stop with the 'pömnuria drött' bit?" she complained, and he could almost see the pucker forming between her brow. "I don't need to be constantly reminded that I'm a dröttningu."

"I use it to remind myself."

Her footsteps paused, and Leafë huffed out, "Was that remark supposed to be sly?"

"Of course not, my highness."

Gritting her teeth, she hurried off once more, knowing that the stupid elf was probably grinning away. Even though it ate at her to bring him along, the arrangement was probably the only reason Islanzadí was allowing her to study at the Arcanae Reliquary in the first place. Leafë darted through the Hall, nodding to those she passed, who smiled back wistfully: they would miss the sight of their princess scampering about.

She and Glenwing finally reached the entrance of Tialdarí Hall, where the forms of two dragons stood waiting. Glaedr was easily recognized, and it took her but a moment to identify the larger green dragon that stood beside him as Ohen the Strong. "Sorry we're late."

"What kept you?" the king's consort asked, striding forward in a magnificent blue lámarae dress and silver girdle.

Feeling remarkably underdressed in her brown leather breeches and green tunic by comparison, Leafë raised her rucksack so that all could hear the rustle of paper, making her mother sigh.

However, the older älfa-kona laughed in delight as she too stepped forward dressed in a simple cloth gown as grey as her hair. "One can never bring too much knowledge."

"Very true, Dellanir Dröttine," Glenwing said as he carried the bags to where the dragons' saddles rested.

Dellanir watched with some amusement as her granddaughter scowled at his back before facing her. "You came to see me off?"

"Of course," she replied so she could see the sparkle fill those wide green eyes. "I won't be seeing you for quite some time, after all."

"It'll only be until summer comes." Leafë rearranged her sack so she could give the former queen a tight hug and whisper into her ear, "But I'll miss you everyday of it."

"You won't have to, so long as you have this." Dellanir pulled away to hand her a beautiful wrought iron mirror decorated with delois fëonar. "You remember the scrying spell I taught you?"

"As well as you remembered my favorite kind of flower," she replied with a large grin, hugging the other once more. "Thank you, Grandmother."

The älfa-kona smiled back until an irritatingly familiar voice said, "Are you ready to depart, Leafë Dröttningu?"

"Almost, Oromis-elda." Struggling not to smile at how Dellanir's mood quickly flipped at the mere sound of the Rider's voice, Leafë turned to say her farewells to her mother.

Islanzadí beat her to it as she lifted a hand to touch the bright hair. "I wish your father could be hear to see you off."

"Me, too." The king had departed for Doru Araeba several weeks prior to plead with Vrael, on Queen Qûnvirna's behalf, for the Riders not to interfere in the most recent clan war between the dvergar. The dwarf queen was convinced that if they did so, her rule would come to a short end if she did not see fit to strike back, and Qûnvirna had no wish to engage in war with the dragons yet again. However, her position was too precarious for her to leave Farthen Dûr or to invite the leader of the Riders there, making Evandar the only viable go-between. And while Leafë knew her father was needed of the utmost importance, she could not help but feel that she needed him, too.

"He would be so proud of you," his consort was telling her now, lips raised in that nostalgic smile that told the girl she was seeing Evandar in her daughter. "As proud as I am. I know you will do excellent under the tutelage of Ruby Shur'tugal. She is very wise, and you can learn much from her. Just be sure to never forget - "

"That I'm a dröttningu, and my actions reflect on the entire royal family," Leafë finished with a fond roll of her eyes. "I don't think I could forget after all the times you've drilled it into me."

"Yet why have I found myself repeating it so often?"

"Mother."

"Alright, alright," Islanzadí sighed, holding her close for a single moment before stepping back. "I won't keep you any longer. Eka dunei ono, Leafë. Be safe, and mind Glenwing."

"I love you, too," she said, ignoring the last comment as she hurried over to where Oromis was just finished latching the saddle onto Glaedr's back. He took her rucksack from her hand as she greeted the golden dragon with, I am honored that you chose to fly me to the Reliquary, Brunkuldr.

We have flown together many times before, little one, he responded in his deep voice, snicking his outer eyelid shut in a wink. Why would this time be any different?

Laughing, Leafë took his Rider's offered hand and mounted Glaedr, glancing over to see Glenwing was already seated behind his uncle Arva. The älfr pushed back his inky black hair and caught sight of her stare, one bright blue fluttering in a imitation of the dragon's wink. Flushing slightly, she lifted her chin and resolutely looked away to wave goodbye to her family as the dragons prepared to take off.

Dellanir and Islanzadí raised their hands in return as Glaedr opened his wings with a snap and beat down as he sprang upwards, allowing them to lift him up higher and higher. The two älfa-koneya felt the same pang as they watched girl cling to Oromis's waist as they rose above Du Weldenvarden's canopy. The king's consort called to Glenwing before Ohen took off, "Take care of my daughter!"

He heard and nodded once before the green dragon followed the first into the air. Arva had heard as well and teasingly asked his nephew, "Does Islanzadí really believes she needs to remind you to take care of onr princess?"

"She is just concerned for her daughter," Glenwing replied coolly, glad that he sat behind the other, who could not see the way his cheeks reddened. "And Leafë is our princess."

"Of course," his uncle said in a knowing tone that put him on edge.

Ignoring it, he looked past the smirking Rider at the silver-haired elf who was the topic of their discussion, lips twitching as he watched her stretch out her arms as if to hug the entire sky itself. Her unfettered giggles reached his ear, reminded him of the laughingthrush. Glenwing caught himself before he began whistling the tune aloud, fearing that she would hear him and stop laughing herself. He just relaxed into the saddle and closed his eyes, as content to listen to his princess as he was listening to birdsong.

For the joyous sound of beautiful creatures could not help but make one feel joyous as well.

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A/N: You guys probably recognize Glenwing as Arya's other companion, and it is not a coincidence that he is Leafë's guardian right now. He's a very young elf himself, having just turned nineteen, but he wasn't born in Ellesméra like "our" princess, which is one reason why they aren't very close. And yes, I made his uncle Arva, the first wielder of Támerlein. His dragon is Ohen the Strong who, for those who don't remember, is the sire of Emere and Toparien. That too is not a coincidence. ;)

I know a lot of you guys may be wondering about LeafëxGlenwing, thinking perhaps that it's impossible since we all probably know who she marries by the end of this; however, their first meeting is more than a century away. But don't worry that I'm gonna spring any unknown half-siblings on you guys, cause I won't! The triplets are the only three children Leafë ever has. And finally got an update out on time - hopefully I can turn this single incident into a streak. xD