After taking Elissa through warm up exercises, I show her how the movement can be made faster and used defensively. She is a diligent pupil, so I attempt an attack move, which she parries, but then over balances.

I offer her my hand and at the same time my smile. "Have patience. It will take time and practice before you can be expected to be proficient. Already I am seeing improvements in your reflexes."

"Not fast enough evidently as you just knocked me on my butt! It's just," she pauses and bites her lip, "I don't want to be that helpless again."

We have an unspoken agreement not to discuss that night. I do not wish to dent her confidence, so do not voice my concerns that neither of the two of us may ever be accomplished enough to win against a dark elf. I found to my own cost how fiendishly fast they can be. If not for Zane, my time in Elysium would have come to an end in that alley.

"Shall we call it a morning and break our fast?"

Elissa nods and we go into the tent to change. Since arriving on the Diamond Isle, we have been camping again as every single room is booked out ahead of the Lammas festival. I try not to be nervous at the thought of competing in the games.

It is a fine morning so we sit outside to eat. We are not the only ones reduced to camping and the field is bright with tents all the colours of the rainbow. We however have ample space as no one seems too keen to pitch close to a dragon.

Elissa rests her back against Roth and drinks tea from her dragon cup, which she has nicknamed Roth Jr.

I reflect how things have changed since she came into my life. I used to enjoy my solitude in the mornings, now I enjoy being able to teach her and simply sitting in companionable silence, like we are now. Whereas Zane can be rather overwhelming, Elissa has a calming soul.

She starts to sing the 'dance of the sun and the moon' and I cannot help myself from joining in. She has picked up the elven words and inflections with surprising ease.

Zane comes strolling back, he was out last night, again! He is such an unashamed bedswerver. Elissa jumps up and runs over to him. He picks her up and swings her around.

"I cannot stay long. I have just come to get Roth to go down to the harbour."

"You're off again? I have barely seen you these past few days," she whines.

"I know, little one. Just this one last day and then no more work for us for the next few days." He ruffles her hair before promising, "I will bring you back a gift."

She seems a little deflated to see them fly off, so I offer a distraction. "Would you care for a game of Queen's Conquest?"

"Ok, but I still kind of suck." At my look of complete bemusement, she qualifies, "I am not very good at it."

"As I said earlier, one does not become accomplished without practice."

I get fetch my Queen's Conquest board and set down the wooden figures. My father lovingly carved each one and gave me the set in honour of my hundredth birthday.

I automatically start setting out ebony pieces, placing a dark elven lord and his five soldiers in each of the corners of the board.

Elissa groans. "Why do I always play the light elves?"

"It is easy for a beginner to be the defending White Queen."

"But you have more pieces."

"I have four separate groups of elves to consider," I counter.

Expelling a huff, Elissa places the pale holly wood figurines of the queen and her twelve guards in the centre of the board.

Elissa is definitely making progress, for though I have knocked out several of her guards, she manages to overpower one of my elven lords. Alas he is forfeit.

She grins and excitedly calls out, "'Candidus."

The vanished lord's soldiers turn white and the queen's army is replenished with five new members. I allow her to savour her small victory, but I can see how her bold move has potential to leave her queen vulnerable.

I attack on one front and then when her attention is diverted attack from another. Finally one of my lord's captures her queen. "Do you yield?"

She lays down her queen and my piece grows in size as it is elevated to the Dark King.

I cannot help but laugh at her pouting. I like to win too.

"I'm glad you find me amusing." She tried to appear serious and yet breaks into a grin. "Darish, you should laugh more often."

As I am clearing away, she asks about the origins of the game.

"Nearly a millennium ago there was a Great War between Elysium and Tartarus. The light and dark elves fought on opposing sides. The Dark King was slain and a number of dark elven lords railed against the rule of the White Queen. Now elves live in peace, although there is still animosity between the two factions."

"And what of the wood elves?" she quizzes.

"We are lowly folk, derided by both."

Elissa places her over mine. "Well, they are wrong."

.....

We are preparing dinner when there comes the sound of wings. Elissa springs up and rushes outside to greet Zane and Roth.

The ground shakes and I gather from overhearing their conversation that Elissa is tickling the dragon's tummy! She certainly brings out the softer side of that dragon, well, I suppose out of all of us.

Zane enters the tent, an arm wrap over Elissa's shoulder and recent laughter sparkling in his eyes. He pulls out a package wrapped in brown paper and hands it to her.

"I promised you a gift. You may wish to try it on for size."

She tears open the paper to reveal a pair of tight black leather trousers and a fitted long sleeved leather top. She races behind the hangings to try them on, while Zane grabs a bottle of firewater and sprawls out on one of the low seating areas.

"I love it," she squeals and does a cartwheel across the tent dressed in her new leather outfit. "I feel like cat woman."

"Cat woman?" Zane holds out a hand. "No, do not bother to explain. You must also wear an overdress."

"Yes dad!" Elissa salutes.

"Do you forget that night you were attacked?" he chastises.

Her shoulders sag. "No of course not. I'm sorry."

"Little one, I do not wish to diminish your spirit, but you need to take care. You are an innocent in our realm." He pats the space beside him. "Come let us have a drink. Alas the Lovers' moon is waning and soon we will fall under the Reaper's moon."

Eyes widening, she queries, "Why is it called that?"

"The grain is harvested under the Reaper's moon," Zane explains.

"The new moon is marked by the Lammas festival," I point out. "There will be sporting contests such as running races, wrestling, fencing and chariot races. I for one, will be taking part in the archery competition tomorrow, if you would care to come and watch."

Elissa agrees enthusiastically, while Zane gives a non-committed shrug.

....

I nock the arrow, draw back the bowstring and set my sight down the shaft of the arrow. The bow is like an extension of myself. Adjusting my stance, I draw in a deep breath and release the bowstring. The arrow flies true, hitting the bullseye.

The dwindling group of archers stand around chatting and quenching their thirst, while several men move the targets further back. I sit quietly by myself with my bow resting across my knees. I try not to let my thoughts wander, but stroking the bow, I feel a yearning to return to the woods of both of our origin.

I wonder if Elissa would like to attend the autumn solstice celebration. It is one of the most important festivals to us wood elves. I look over to where she is standing in the front row, for surprise, surprise, Zane has not showed up.

One of my fellow competitors walks towards her. A wry smile curls my lips. I am sure that it is Oren and cannot help thinking that fate has a sense of humour. With my keen ears, I hear him enquire as to her name.

"I'm Elissa. And you are?"

"Please pardon my dreadful lack of manners." Taking her hand, he kisses her knuckles. "My name is Oren and I am honoured to make your acquaintance. I had expected my sister to be here, but alas I find her absent."

"I'm here to support my guardian, but I will cheer for you too, if you like."

"I am convinced that my game will be raised by the support of such a fair maiden."

Elissa smiles pleasantly, but seems oblivious to Oren's attempts at charming her. I school my features and walk over to join my fellow archers who are gathering for the next stage.

..........