Adonis (Part 4)

I rushed out of the barrier and ran as fast as I could through the forest. Being a dragon I could run incredibly fast in human form, but flying as a dragon is much faster. As soon as I made it to a clearing large enough, I changed. The 3 day journey it took us would now probably take me only a day, the perks of being a dragon.
I traveled forever only thinking of getting the medicine, and wondering if she was okay. She didn't deserve this. Her brother and her father were both dead, and now she was on the verge of death as well. I really wanted to rip the heads off those two dragons. I was going to make a special effort from now on. No one will ever hurt Nairi again.
I kept flying. Though I knew I was going really fast, it seemed I was taking way too long. I willed myself to speed up.
After what seemed like an eternity, I saw the gates of the camp. I landed and changed back into a human. I raced toward the infirmary. I burst through the door making Kaymele, Anakis, Natia, and Nithron jump three feet in the air. "A-Adonis your back." Anakis muttered.
"Yes, I am. And I brought the herbs. Here,” I threw the bag to her. “Make the medicine." She stumbled to catch it but immediately set to work making the remedy. "How has she been?" I asked, sitting down next to her.
"As good as someone who has that bad of an infection can be," Kaymele said. "She has been sleeping on and off, she hasn't talked, and she won't drink. I don't know why though."
I frowned. "That’s strange.” I looked at her. She was sweating terribly. I picked up a wet rag and was about to wipe her face with it when she rocketed away. "What-"
"See, she doesn't even want it to touch her." Kaymele said frowning.
I looked at Nairi. She looked about the same but then I saw it. "Hey, Nairi, can you tell me the name of your brother?" She looked at me like she didn't know what I was talking about. Heat started to rise in my chest. "Kaymele, has anything happened - anything at all - after we left?"
"Well, just one thing. Some guys came and tried to kidnap Nairi but they failed."
I got up and hit the wall. "Dang it! This isn't Nairi. She won't drink water, won't even let it touch her. She is a Ceridwen. Water would help her not hurt her. Those kidnappers, whoever they are, succeeded."
"Adonis," Kaymele sounded worried, "Nairi is right there. How could they have succeeded?"
"Ask her to talk," I snapped. "It won't sound like Nairi. She probably can't answer any questions about her past either. Try to force her to drink some water. I bet it will do something." I turned and glared at Nairi's imposter.
Kaymele got up and poured some water, careful not to let it touch her. "Nairi, can you drink just a little of this." She shook her head fiercely. "If it really is you, forgive me." She forced the water down her throat and Nairi screamed. But it was high pitched and almost inaudible. I covered my ears as the Nairi imposter evaporated.
"Well, has my point been proven?"
Everyone looked at me with stunned eyes. "So where have they taken Nairi then?" Nithron said thoughtfully.
"Most likely the castle," Kaymele said sharply.
I nodded. "And if she's hurt they’re all dead." I was mad. Really mad. I wanted to hit something desperately but knowing I would break something, I held back.
"And if she isn't treated soon sh-she could die," Anakis mumbled.
"Okay, I'm going to go get her." I started for the door but felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Adonis, we are all worried, but don't be rash. It would be suicide to take on that army alone without a plan."
"Your point?" I said sarcastically.
He sighed, "My point, Adonis, is-" He was cut off by the sound of wolves…No not wolves...death hounds. I ran outside the gates and saw a pack of death hounds surrounding two figures. One was a man who had obviously made some archers very angry, and there, laying on the ground beside him was...NAIRI.

Andromeda (part 3)

She stared into the flames before her, a soft kindling anger stirring deep inside her dark soul.
The elvish girl had escaped, and now the Ceridwen was frozen deep in the dungeon prison.
She slammed her fist into the armchair and began pacing, her dark gown trailing behind her.
It would take weeks to thaw the ice, and that would be concentrating on just one of the souls. She needed the others as well.
She halted her frusterated pacing, and trailed her fingers in the orange flames in the large fireplace.
It was time to take action.
If the people of Revelin wanted a battle, they'd give them one. She and Felix would give them a battle they never forgot. Their children's children would suffer from the effects.
She walked to the window, and stared towards the west, the land beyond the sea, the land of her home.
She was the last of her kind.....she was alone.
Of course, she had Felix, but it was a lonely prospect to be the last of your own race.
She was deep in her own thoughts, her flaming memories of the scuffle that drove the mages to leave their land.
She didn't notice Felix enter the room until his arms had slipped around her waist.
"Thinking much, my dear?"
She nodded, and the images of flames and death fled her mind.
He did that to her....the warm peace that settled over her when he was near. Until she thought about losing him...then she panicked.
Turning around in his arms, she touched his graying hair.
"Thinking about that Ice block down below....and how to regain our footing"
"Hm" he nodded, and kissed her "we are slipping, aren't we?"
"Yes" Andromeda leaned her head against his shoulder, and felt her lover rock her gently. "I worry I won't be able to accomplish this task in time. And somewhere out there, your brother's heir still lives. For some reason, something tells me his descendant will be a threat to us"
Felix stroked her dark hair, and breathed in her soft rose scent. "Don't worry, my heart. Don't worry. You will, and I hope I still have many years before I need your potion"
Andromeda tightened her grip on him, rare tears threatening in her eyes to spill, "but don't you see? You need it before...before...."
"Before I am at death?" His voice was soft in her ear, and she nodded quickly, and a hot tear slid down her cheek that evaporated before it reached her chin.
"Shhh....Shh, my love" he led her back to the couch, and crouched in front of her. She couldn't help but notice it was getting harder on his bones to sit that way, and so she bid him sit beside her instead.
"You don't need to fear, Andromeda. I don't plan on dying anytime soon"
She entwined her fingers with his. "If death waited on our permission to come about, no one would die"
He had the gall to chuckle, "True...very true my dear"
"Oh Felix..." She layed her head in his lap, and felt his fingers run through her dark locks. "I was so alone until I found you. I had no idea what it truly meant to love and be loved. You are the only thing I have, I cannot lose you"
He kissed his fingers, and brought them to stroke her cheek. "Tell me about your past, Andromeda My Heart"
Her eyes closed, and the memories played back so crystalline and painful.
"We used to be as many as the Elves in Voronwë. We tried to keep to ourselves, as humans didn't trust us, and we didn't trust them either. Situations for us grew worse when a Ruler from the Water mages took the throne. He turned the already tense feelings between the Fire Mages and everyone else into full blown hatred. A house burned down, it was our fault. A child was burned due to his Mother's incompetence in watching him, and it was our fault" she frowned deeply. "But it reached a peek when a fight broke out between Fire Mage youths and a mix of humans and Earth Mages. Everyone but a Human who had fled where killed. And you can imagine who was blamed. We were persecuted, and while we fought back, there were too many against us. The land was in a state of havoc and we were forced out bit by bit.
We tried settling elsewhere, but each place met us with a clash of arms, and slowly our numbers weakened.
Finally I was the last one left. I watched all of my kind fall. And I wandered for so long, until I came here, and found you" She took his hand in her own, and squeezed it softly. "I found the first human to ever accept and love me. And when I felt your love, my hatred fades away. When you hold me, I feel at peace" she sat up, and cupped his face in her hands, their warmth from the fire within her soul accenting her touch. "I will never let you go Felix. I will do whatever it takes to make you whole and happy".

{{There you go peeps. This is why I end up having a hard time hating my own villains. XD }}

Xander {Part 6}

When he had heard of the purity shield surrounding Voronwë he had assumed it was invisible, or even just a metaphor. But as they stood in front of it, he was rather surprised.
It looked like the blue orb which had protected him against the shadow soldiers and the dragon, but larger, much larger. It hummed softly, like a soft beat of a hummingbird's wings.
"Incredible"
Bly nodded, and slipped her hand into his, and she reached for Adonis' as well. "Can you feel it? Inside? Just being this close to it is peaceful"
Xander closed his eyes, and nodded, "yes...it's comforting"
Adonis sighed, "ok. Yay. Purity shield. Big deal. Can we PLEASE keep going?"
Bly smiled at him, "of course" she stepped forward, and stood inches from the barrier, Xander and Adonis exchanged confused looks, and Bly stepped forward. The shield allowed her through, flowing like water around her.
She turned, and said something, but they couldn't hear any noise, so she beckoned to them. "It's our turn" Xander had barely said the words when Adonis stepped forward, and passed through it.
They were both watching him, Bly smiling and Adonis tapping his foot.
'What if I can't get through, what if I'm held back? Bly will probably cease talking to me. Is anyone truly pure, though? If I fail, I might as well go live in a cave. It's-' his thoughts were interrupted by Bly, she had come back to his side, and she smiled and held his hand.
"Xander, stop doubting yourself" her voice was soft and gentle, "no one is truly pure and good, Xander. We've all done bad things in our life, some more than others. To Yahweh, all wrong is equal, but what you have done doesn't matter. Your heart does" she gently laid her hand on his cheek. "Forget your past for a moment, Xander. Forget all of what you have done. Can you look into your heart, and tell me, and yourself, that there is no malicious thoughts in your soul? Do you plan on harming those inside this barrier? Can you say your heart is deformed by darkness?"
He put his hand against hers, "no, I have none of that"
She smiled and nodded, "you love Yahweh, or Great Lord, or whatever the races call him, his name matters not. Do you not?"
Xander nodded, "yes"
"Than, that is what matters" she quickly kisses his cheek, and took his hand, walking back towards the barrier with him.
'She just....Bly just....'
Despite the excitement of her quick kiss and entering the Purity shield, he couldn't miss seeing Adonis pretend to gag from inside.
As he stepped through it, he felt a peace like no other, it was almost comparable to a Mother's embrace when you are a child. But a thousand times more so.
And then he was through, and Adonis was already running ahead, "ok, come on you two sweet hearts, I can't sit around all day listening to mushy stuff"
Bly blushed and looked down bashfully. "I...I knew you could do it, Xander"
He took her hand, and raised it to his lips, "but not without you"
Which, not surprisingly, did very little to rid her face of the furious blush.
Adonis' frustrated moan brought them back, "Seriously, come on!"
They continued on through the wooded land, and it wasn't long before Xander noticed Bly was getting jumpy. She was constantly glancing behind them, and would halt at every noise she heard or thought she heard.
"Bly? Are you alright?" He fell in step behind her, putting his hand over his sword's sheath just in case.
She nodded, "yes, I'm fine. I'm just waiting to be ambushed"
"Ambushed?!?!" Adonis' shout surely alerted anyone within hearing range, and both Bly and Xander shushed him.
Speaking softly, Xander asked, "ambushed? Aren't we safe in the shield?"
Bly nodded, and glanced over her shoulder "oh yes. We're perfectly safe. It's not an enemy who will ambush us, but the scouts"
"Scouts?"
She nodded, "yes. They guard these woods. I once made a dare, though a very stupid dare, that I could get into Voronwë without them knowing. I haven't yet. To make it worse, Thalion, my brother, is head of the Scouts...it's his personal endeavor to catch me each and every time I come home"
Xander had to keep from gawking. Bly? Making a dare? It seemed rather out of character for her.
At that precise moment, three arrows whizz we through the air, and landed at Bly's feet.
"And you won't, though, I know you'll keep trying" an Elf with close cropped dark hair and dressed in a mottled assortment of greens and browns seemed to materialize on Xander's right, nearly causing him to fall down in surprise.
"Thalion! You missed my feet by two inches!" Bly's words were a reprimand, but she laughed, and practically bowled her brother over in a hug.
Adonis and Xander were left to stand awkwardly as the siblings hugged and exchanged excited jabber in Elvish.
"What did you do with Tenzin, sister?"
Thalion switched to the common language, and looked around at their small group.
Bly's eyes lowered, "that is a tale I only desire to speak of once, so can it wait until I speak to the council, Brother?"
Thalion nodded, "of course, of course. Though, I have another question...."
The elf strode to stand in front of Xander, and he realized just how tall the elf was. He towered above him by a good couple of inches.
"This man, human, I see...his aurora colors...Bly, tell me you see this"
Xander looked between the two, and Bly moved to stand beside her brother. "Yes...interesting. Very interesting..." Her eyes traveled back to the sword he carried, and she suddenly smiled. "Oh, it's nothing, I'm sure. If something was wrong I'm sure I would have sensed it before now" but he saw something behind her smile, and his suspicions didn't die away.
Bly's brother turned toward Adonis, "Dragon, I see, though....you have a human mother"
Adonis' scowled and crossed his arms, "how would you know I have a human mother? Maybe my father is the human"
Thalion shook his head, smiling, "You haven't spent much time at Drago Montagna either, Or you would understand why a female dragon mating with a human male is unlikely"
Adonis' scowl grew, "Awfully interesting. You speak as if you know more about my race than I do"
Thalion shrugged, "I spent 200 years with them, learning their customs, often the hard way. Dragons are nothing like elves, but are a intriguing race all the same. Their bravery and loyalty is rivaled only by our dwarfish friends" the tall elf frowned slightly, "but I lost what I was trying to say. Allow me to return to it. She Dragons are just as strong and powerful as their male counterparts. In comparison, humans are weak. It's natural for a woman to desire protection by her spouse. However, should a dragoness fall in love and be coupled with a man, she would be his protection. And she would easily out strength him. Does my point come across clear, Adonis Magnus Born?"
It all made sense to Xander, and he had to refrain from laughing at Adonis' expression.
"M-my name? How did you...?"
Bly stepped forward now. "Oh, that's simple. I told him your name"
Adonis nodded, "but I didn't tell anyone who my Father was"
Thalion laughed, "I spent 200 years among your kind. I might have become good friends with a particular dragon Ruler who you greatly resemble"
Adonis was speechless for what seemed was truly the first time, and Xander didn't know whether that was a good thing, or bad.
"Come" Thalion put one arm around Xander and Adonis' shoulder as if they had been friends all their lives, and gestured down the path they had been walking. "Ahead of you, oh honoured guests, is, in our opinion, the greatest and most beautiful city to dwell upon this land we call home"

------------------------------------------------

Thalion was not speaking in jest when he said Voronwë was a beautiful city. It was built around a waterfall that led to the calm Väneesë (Vahn-nee-say) bay. The city's main buildings were located near the waterfall, while homes and shops spread out a bit more. It made Aragathia look like a child's toy set in size.
As he stared in wonder at it all, Xander had no words for the shear size and beauty the city beheld. But while it was a huge city, nature seemed to spring up everywhere. As if the Elvish people built their legendary city amongst the trees and land, not tearing anything down to build their homes and buildings. In fact, a few old, ancient trees had been, what appeared to be carved (though, Bly instructed him that they had not been carved, but sung to. The tree was very much alive) for homes.
"It's beautiful" he had lost count over how many times he had said it, and he really didn't care. He could repeat it for years, and still not get his point across.
Bly giggled, "are you stunned by my hometown, Captain Bolivar?"
"Stunned, Bly, is an acceptable word. As well as "awed" and many others"
Adonis and Thalion had hurried off to gather the needed medicines, and The two, talking animatedly, came back while Bly was still giving Xander a tour of her home.
The elf and dragon's chatter stopped as they approached and Adonis crossed his arms. "I'm heading back" he had a messenger back slung over his shoulder, and the smell of herbs followed him.
Xander nodded, understanding and Bly hugged the half dragon. "Stay safe, and give our best to Nairi. I truly would like to come back immediately for her, but I have so much work to do here"
Adonis nodded, and pulled away from her hug, "yeah, sure" he nodded at Xander, "keep from getting too mushy, ok?"
Both of them didn't exactly how to respond to that, which seemed to be the response Adonis wanted.
He left them standing baffled and bashful.
While they stood there, Xander speechless and Bly a brilliant shade of pink, Thalion spoke.
"That Adonis, he reminds me of Magnus" the Tall Elf watched as Adonis disappeared into the tree cover.
"Though, perhaps a bit more hot tempered. But when one has been through what he has been through, a hot temper is very easily cultured"
Xander tore his eyes from the city to look at Bly's brother. Amazing how little resemblance they bore. Thalion was dark haired and tan, tall, and well built. While his sister Bly was colored like cream and honey. Her blue eyes, petite frame and silky golden hair gave her an almost pixie look.
Thalion coughed, regaining Xander's attention, and put a hand on Xander's shoulder, "You are a decent man, Xander. I'm glad my sister met you" Bly looked as if she might faint from embarrassment, but her brother quickly hugged her. "I'll be heading off with Adonis. I'd like to see for myself the matters of Incantevole, and its not safe to go through Tawarthion alone" he tugged a strand of hair over her shoulder and smiled, "remember, don't let this fellow slip out of your grasp, Bly. I'd like a brother in law like him"
Thalion seemed on the verge of laughter, while Bly had her head ducked, her hair being like a curtain to her blushing face.
"Before I leave, I've been instructed to tell you, Xander Bolivar, the council has set aside time tomorrow to speak with both you and my sister. Until then, though, I suggest you visit the stables on the east side. Two creatures of great interest came into the city, bearing luggage that seems to be yours and Bly's"
"Ah!" Xander had been worried about how long it would take their horses to get here, but he had trusted Ciar and Rudy exclusively. "That must be Ciar and Rudy, our horses. There should be a third horse, Adonis'. Did she make it as well?"
Thalion looked humored but remained silent.
"What?" Xander looked towards Bly as her face lit up. She grabbed his hand and started off at a run towards the stables Thalion had told them of.
"Hurry Xander! I had forgotten all about the effects of the purity shield!" She pulled him along after bidding Thalion farewell, and watching her brother follow after Adonis swiftly. In short time they reached an elaborate building that smelled of fresh straw and horses.
She swung the door open, and light flooded out.
Thirty pairs of equine heads peered out of their stalls at them. For the most part, Xander saw White horses. It must be a Elvish preference. They all seemed to be of extremely good stock. Finally curved necks, glossy hides, bright eyes, and no biting on the stall doors. Unlike Aragathia's horses, where all their Calvary animals had their forelocks cut, the manes and tails of the Elvish horses hung long but free from tangles.
They found the Revelin Mare in her own stall, between a huge black stallion and white mare. It looked small, and tired compared to the Elvish horses, but neighed happily when it saw Xander and Bly.
"Rest easy girl. You've earned it" he patted her nose, and looked back over the rows of horses they had passed.
"I don't see Ciar or Rudy. Where are they? Did we get the wrong directions? Did they move them?"
Bly only smiled wider. "If my hunch is correct, than Rudy wouldn't have fit in a normal stall"
"Fit? What do you mean?"
Bly only tugged on his arm, and pulled him through another door.
"We keep the pregnant mares, or newly born goals with their Mother's in here"
The room was lined with five larger stalls, easily fitting two or three full grown horses.
He recognized Rudy's happy neigh, along with Ciar's, but he didn't believe his eyes.
Rudy had two powerful wings tucked at his side, brown and tipped with black feathers that matched his dark mane and tail.
"R-Rudy! My boy!" He was speechless as the Pegasus nosed his jacket, looking for treats.
Bly called his name, and he glanced behind him, where she had slipped into Ciar's stall. A black, pointed horn rose from the Unicorn Mare's forehead, parting her forelock.
He stared in shock between the two horses, or, the Unicorn and Pegasus.
"H-how?" He realized he sounded like a simpleton, and Rudy neighed as if to laugh at him.
Bly smiled wider, and patted Ciar's neck. "Remember, I had told you the Purity shield heals any wound, bodily or emotionally. I had forgotten about Ciar and Rudy, until Thalion spoke of them. Than I remembered. It has returned their horn and wings to our valiant steeds. And, I dare say, they understand every word we speak. Who knows, once Dragons were thought to be just beasts, until they unlocked their human forms" Ciar tossed her head in what seemed a nod, and Xander stroked Rudy's nose. "So, my laddie. You have your wings back" he had no words other than that. He heard Bly unlatching Ciar's door, and the unicorn mare clip clopped behind Xander, where she nudged his shoulder. "And you, your horn..." It rose from her crown like a majestic crown, and all the stories of the magical properties of the Unicorn's horn came back to his mind.
"I suppose, they'll want to stay here, wouldn't they?"
Rudy took that moment to gently bite Xander's shoulder as Ciar pushed him with her nose. And Bly fell into peals of laughter. "I don't think they will hear a word of them staying in Voronwë. Missing all the fun and danger"
Xander rubbed his shoulder and stepped aside as Ciar lifted Rudy's door latch and entered his stall.
"Huh. You could've made your point through without injuring my shoulder, Rudy"
Both of the beasts tossed their heads and neighed.
Intelligence indeed.

Anakis (Part 4)

      "Another one for you, Anakis," called Kaymele from the door of the hut.   She stumbled in, holding the legs of the cook's assistant with Beleg not far behind.
      "I'll do my best.   I'll see if Prid can watch Nairi."   I walked over to the pallet where the assistant lay.   His eyes were closed, and he was moaning in pain.   I took one look at his shoulder and grimaced.
      "Don't tell me.   I can guess well enough."   Kaymele smiled as she walked out.
      I went to fetch all of the dressing for the poor soul's arm.   As I did, Natia walked to his bedside, as Nairi slept.
      "Hush," she told him, "hush.   Soon Anakis will come with the supplies to make you feel all well again, and you can get back to the cooking you so love."
      "Fair maiden," he whispered, as if it pained him to speak, "it is not cooking I love.   I am to be a soldier.   As you can see I am to be a very poor one, since a small cut to the arm pains me so."   He looked straight into her eyes as he said this, but as soon as he finished, he plopped down again in agony.
      "This is not a small cut!" said Natia, raising her voice a little.   "It is an injury, and you could pass for a gladiator the way that you are enduring it!"
      The assistant smiled weakly.   "Thank you, maiden.   I wish that the others may see it so."   Just then, Nairi awoke, Natia left, and I went to apply the dressing.
      "Talk to me through this, sir, so it may not hurt so badly," I instructed, remembering that my old teacher, Principes Sanatore, told us that talking took the mind of the pain.
      "The damsel is very fair, kind lady," he said to me.   "I have never noticed her before.   Pray tell, what is her name?"
      "Her name is Natia.   What is yours, sir?"
      "Percival."    He winced, telling me that the bandage was tight enough.
      "Percival.   I'll be sure to tell her."

Kaymele (part 9)

    It's been two weeks since Bly, Adonis, and Xander left.  The days have been long, hard, and strange.  Nairi is not allowed to walk around much after she fell out of bed defending herself.  I've been dreaming lately of the past, of Eleniel, of Rinion.  Especially Rinion,  I have many good memories of him, like all the nights we used to walk through the woods under the light of the moon and the ever constant stars, but also memories of terrible things like the day he died.
    The knock on my door causes me to jump and stop writing.  I put the parchment away and place the feather back in the ink well.  Taking a quick survey of the room making sure nothing is out of place, I answer the door.  It's Anakis with a fresh round of ointment to put on Nairi's arm.  She figured out a paste that calms the bumps and slows the goop.
    'I'm just here to apply the next round of Choh,' she says, 'I won't be but a moment.'
    'Ok, she seems to have calmed down since you started using that,' I say.
    She proceeds to apply the white paste onto the wound.  I watch as it dissolves into her skin and the bumps fade, they no sooner leave than reappear gushing with fresh goop.  The cheery spirit and smile on Anakis's face vanishes and her eyebrows knit into a furrow.
    'I just don't understand, it worked last time,' she says frustrated.
    'Do you think it could have formed an immunity to it so quickly?' I ask.
    'Possibly, but I highly doubt it.  She's so small, if the medicine doesn't get here soon it may be too late for her,' she says frowning.
    I sigh and brush the hair off Nairi's brow.  'So young, and yet so brave,' I think, 'what did she do to deserve this?'
    'Don't worry Nairi, the medicine is on it's way,' I say.
    'I'll let you get back to your work while I go see what to do about a new remedy,' she mutters walking towards the door, 'oh, by the way, Nithron wants you to meet him after lunch at the well.'
    I stand motionless as she quietly slips out the door.  It's really odd how Anakis is so quiet around others and is quiet open around myself, Bly, Prid, and Natia.  Then the last message she said replays in my mind "meet Nithron at the well".  I've avoided the well ever since I was pushed in and sealed off.  The very thought makes me shutter.
    I wish Nairi would wake up so I'ld have someone to talk to.  Ever since she fought those men who tried to take her away she's mostly been sleeping, only waking to eat, drink, or relieve herself.  I wish the medicine would hurry and get back here, but of course it'll take at least three more days before they even reach the Elves.  All I can do is pray, be hopeful, and keep her comfortable.
    Returning to my desk I get out my parchment and pulling the feather out of the ink well I prepare to write.  As I read over what I had written the memories return fresh in my mind and I start writing them down.
    'Rinion, when are you going to stop fooling around? I asked giggling, 'we're going to be late.'
    Swinging in the tree top faster than the squirrels, that live along the river, is Rinion, his hands and feet found all the invisible footholds, and grabbing limbs that so many others could never find even if they searched the trees for months.
    'In a minute love, I've almost got your hat,' He said and climbed higher.
    'Forget the hat, we've got to go.  I don't want to be late!' I shouted up to him.
    He descends the tree, but not before he snatched my hat off the top branch and triumphantly brought it down the tree.  He bowed and placed the hat gently atop my head.
    'I crown you Queen Kaymele Ireth Greystone the first, and Lady of the Moon,' he said, 'am I allowed to escort your highness to your palace?'
    I laughed as I took his arm and waved to the invisible audience walking to the horses along the forest road.  Though we were engaged for nearly fifty years, it seemed as if a few months had passed since he preposed.  The wedding itself wasn't for another forty years but we were still very happy in that time.  Walking in the forest and swimming in the river were the things we loved to do together.  
    But then we were very late for dinner with my family.  All day we had been at the port helping the fishermen and the villagers with their daily doings.  Being royal doesn't mean that we couldn't help those who are middle and lower class.  After we untied, and mounted our horses, we rode on.  I know Florentide and her new hatchling Camellia have been missing us since we left, and Eleniel.  Oh, how I missed her dearly while we were gone.
    'Hurry Rinion, we are late and I'm longing to see my family again,' I said galloping ahead.
    'Ok, I'm hurrying,' he said, though I saw him slow down several times and look behind us, as if someone or something were following us.
    Finally we reached the palace, the squires took our horses to the stables and we walked to the dining room.  All the family was there.  Uncle Arthion and Aunt Anira were the first to meet us and took us to our seats.  Uncle Rimedur and Aunt Vanya were seated across from us, and Aunt Santiel sat between them.  My mother, Fauna, and my father, Gremm sat just opposite of her.  Ada and Naneth sat at either end of the table.  Eleniel and Locien were seated beside us.
    A knock on the door forces me to stop writing again, but before I could answer Nithron rushes into the room.  His shirt is torn, food and blood paint his entire body, he has the finest black eye you could imagine, and a gaping cut above his eyebrow.
    'Kaymele I...' he starts.
    'What happened to you?' I interrupt sitting him down.
    'While I was passing by the kitchens I noticed a fight starting, an unstoppable fight.  The cook claims that there's nothing wrong with the meals but the helpers have all seen him put any number of foul and rotting things into the soups and stews.  The argument got heated and the cook being the best knife thrower in our army started throwing them left and right, and Beleg is nowhere to be found.  So I stepped in to try and stop the fight and got a fist in my eye and chest.  Then it all started back up again food and cutlery flying everywhere.  There's really nothing that can be done to calm them,' he says wincing as I sew the cut above his eyebrow closed.
    'Well as soon as you're cleaned up we are going back to the kitchen to sort this matter out,' I say taking his shirt.
    'Alright, but I'm bringing my sword,' he says.
    After he left, I filled Nairi's water cup and put another blanket at the foot of the bed.  I grabbed my shawl and hurried out the door.  The air is getting cooler and more fires are being lit all around camp, but the nearer we come to the kitchens the more we smell burning food, hear all twelve different curses of the dwarfs, the sound of dishes being broken, and the thump of knives sticking into the wooden walls.  We carefully poke our heads around the corner, and I couldn't believe my eyes.  The entire room, floor to ceiling, was covered with rotten vegetables, and knives.
    'There's nothin' wrong with my food!' says the cook.
    He swears as we enter the room.  Armed with four knives, and a pot on his head he looked quite comical if it weren't for the crazed look in his eyes.
    'W-we said we wouldn't tell, honest, but he just won't listen to anything any of us say,' says the assistant cook, 'we just wanted him to stop putting bad meat in at the very least.'
    'I understand,' I say ducking under the overturned table, 'it seems to me that the cook is being unreasonable.  I'll try reasoning with him,' I poke my head up over the table and calmly talk to the cook, 'Cook?  Now calm down, I know you're angry but it's not going to be any better for you if someone gets hurt.'
    The cook grunts and swaggers all around his half of the kitchen.  
    'You tryin' to trick me?' he walks forward, nearly falling into the floor, 'cause if you are, you'll be in trubibble.  Oh, away we go whayyy out yonder.' 
    I could smell the liquor on his breath, he must have been drinking with the Stable Master again.  Nithron places a firm hand on my shoulder and steps up beside me.  His hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
    'This is no trick. You simply have been questioned, and you certainly wouldn't throw another knife knowing there's a lady present.  That's just not the man you are,' he says as calmly as possible.
    'Tell them to take back what they said!' shouts the cook.
    'What on earth did you say to him?!' I ask the assistant cook.
    'I watched him throw a rotten piece of meat into the stew.  It must have been nearly four weeks old.  I asked him to remove it at once before we added any more ingredients.  Why, he flew into a rage, lunged at me and would have choked me to death, if your friend Nithron here hadn't pulled him off me.  That's when we first realized that the cook was drunk.  And the next moment he's grabbed himself a handful of knives and started throwing like a madman,' says the assistant cook.
    'Where's Beleg?' I ask.
    'He went past the well into the forest, but nobody has seen him since,' says Nithron.
    'I think I know where he is.  Don't worry I'll be back with him before you know it.  Just keep the cook busy and don't let him go anywhere,' I say hurrying to the door.
    As soon as I left the room there was the thud of a knife hitting the wall beside the door.  I try not to think of where it might have hit, I needed to focus on finding Beleg so he can put a stop to the cook.  Past the camps, the stables, and the ruins I finally reach the well.  I stop, mesmerized by the gaping hole.  I start thinking about Rinion again and what happened that evening.

    'Naneth that has to be the best brunkle pie I've tasted,' I said trying not to indulge myself anymore.
    'I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.  Fauna, could you please pass the edanomel,' said Naneth pouring until her goblet was full.
    Dinner was nearly over, the servants had cleared away nearly all the dishes.  Rinion hadn't let go of my hand since we had arrived.  I wanted so badly to go see Florentide, but I needed his permission before I could leave.
    'Rinion, I would like to go see Florentide and Camellia.  I know they've been missing me and I them,' I said laying my head on his shoulder.
    'Oh, Kaymele of course you can, just let me escort you out,' he said.
    I wondered why he had wanted to escort me.  He knew very well I wasn't going to run off, but I didn't want to seem uncompliant.
    We excused ourselves and went out to find Florentide and Camellia.  Almost as soon as I came out Florentide found me and called Camellia.  Her white body flew swiftly above our heads, the trees swayed under the rushing wind under her wings.  Camellia wasn't far behind as her white and red streaked body flew through the air and landed.  I rushed forward and hugged Florentide her smooth white scales shimmered in the fading light making her twice as radient.  Rinion went back into the house after saying a friendly hello.
    'My, my look at you.  And Camellia you're simply dazzling,' I said to them sitting on my swing.
    'You don't look worse for wear yourself.  You're quite lucky to have such a wonderful mate as Rinion you know,' said Florentide, 'but enough about that, there's a matter I wanted to inform you of before we speak much more.'
    'Yes, we both saw large men, about a hundred or so, tailing you here.  They looked like trouble and were carrying dangerous weapons,' said Camellia.
    'I wonder if they are the same men from the fisherman's village.  I thought Rinion had taken care of those ruffians, they must be after him for closing their port.  They weren't just trading fish and fishing supplies.  They were trading weapons and such to Cave Trolls, and Mountain Goblins,' I said to them.
    I had no sooner said this than crashing and banging started inside the house.  The clanging of swords, and the sounds of my family's powers coming together as one.  Ice, water, and boiling hot water were heard flying everywhere.  People started running outside as I started running inside.  The enemy followed.  The battle continued as I climbed atop Florentide, Rinion climbed aboard Camellia.  We swooped and dove fighting for our lives and our family's lives.  The guards were still coming through the door.
    Until the leader of the pack came and stood out on the terris.  His one eye was a patched, and his beard, which was quite short, was blood splattered.  He jumped down and rushed forward slashing at whatever his sword could hit.  But before anyone could stop him, his sword had gone straight through Aunt Santiel.  I was paralyzed, flying above the sight I saw my mother, far away from her, was also in a state of shock.  Santiel's body fell to the ground with what seemed to be a thunderous crash.  
    Rinion, who had awakened from his shock, half mad, flew Camellia down at the leader so fast and angrily that he didn't see the sword of which the leader had killed Santiel with was raised high.  
    Because Camilla hadn't grown her tough outer scales it sliced right through to her heart, and she fell from the sky and smashed into the trees.  Rinion was pinned under her when they crashed, his back was almost completely torn off.  Florentide and I landed beside them.  
    The last of the savages were either dead or running for their lives.  The leader was lying dead with my Father's sword sticking out of his back.  Florentide tried to move Camilla's body, but for just one dragon she was too heavy.  I held Rinion's head close, his body was now surrounded by a pool of blood.  Everyone was over with Santiel, but at the moment none of that mattered.  
    'Kaymele,' he coughs, 'do you remember what I told you when we were first engaged?'
    'Of course I do, you said there's nothing that could separate us.  And you promised that you would always love me no matter the trile or tribulation,'
    'Yes,' he winces, 'and I don't think I can keep that promise much longer.'
    'Don't talk like that.  Here now you're... you're going to be fine,' I said as my voice choked.
    His breathing became more shallow with every breath.  He lifted his hand and touched my face holding it for as long as he could.  
    'I love you Kaymele,' he said.
    'And I love you,  I will always love you,' I said.
    I bent down and kissed his lips ever so softly, and when I came up again he was dead.  Florentide was over all of us, her daughter died only moments before.  Her head was bowed deeply, but not for long.  She raised up her voice and roared, while I screamed out in anger.  At the leader, at the world, at everything.  
    Still standing at the well I forgot what I had ventured out there for.  Then Beleg comes walking out of the forest.  Suddenly remembering what I needed him for I raced over to him.
    'Beleg!' I shout, he stops and waits for me, 'the cook, he's drunk and furious.  Everyone's hungry and terrified of him.  We need you to stop him, he's throwing knifes everywhere!' 
    'Alright, quickly take me to him,' he says.
    We sprint back to the kitchen, just in time to see the cook throw his last knife into the assistant cook's shoulder.  He cried out in pain, and fell on his knees.  Beleg rushed forward at the cook and pinned him to the floor.  
    'Cook, I'm taking you to the prison cells until we can give you proper punishment,' he says.
    'No, you can't take me!' shouts the cook as he's dragged out.
    'Come, Nithron help me get the assistant to Anakis,' I say grabbing one arm, 'by the way what did you want me at the well for?'
    'Oh, never mind that now I'll talk to you later about it,' he says, 'lets just get this man to Anakis.'

Adonis (Part 3)

"Well, that was an adventure." I said as Bly led the way to the elfin city.
Xander laughed, "Yes an adventure. Did you even see anything curled up in your little ball?"
I glared at him but didn't say anything else. We walked in silence for some time. Xander and Bly would talk to each other but I decided to hang back.
I came on this trip to get Nairi medicine. I reminded myself. I wonder how she is doing. I scolded myself in the beginning for her getting hurt. Even though it was my fault, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. Why do I care so much? I ask myself this question frequently. I never have cared much for anyone or anything. I was beginning to get mad at the world for not telling me why I felt this way.
"Adonis, are you okay." Xander said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah I'm fine. Why? "
"You had this look on your face like you might catch on fire."
"I might." I mumbled.
"What was that?" He said leaning closer.
"Oh nothing." I said smiling "How far are we, Bly?"
"Um, it is still a ways ahead, but we should reach there before nightfall...I hope."
“You hope?”
"Well, um we are a little ways off maybe as fast as a dragon flies we could reach there by nightfall."
I frowned "Did you have to use a dragon as the example of how far off we are?"
She looked at me "Well, sorry I figured since you are half dragon that would be the best way to describe it in a way you would understand!" She looked kind of mad. I hadn't known her all my life or anything but she wasn't one to get mad that easy. Xander must have noticed to because he suddenly had a worried expression on his face.
"Bly, are you okay?"
She put her hand to her head "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired is all."
"Maybe, we should rest a while." Xander said still looking concerned.
"But we won’t make it before night if we rest now." She said persistently.
Xander pushed on "And we won’t make it before nightfall if you pass out halfway there."
She glared at him "I'm fine really."
"No you’re not." He said.
I had had enough. "Will you both just shut up already?! Will it settle both your nerves if I agree to turn into a dragon and carry you guys there."
They both looked at me with shocked looks on their faces. "That would give us time to rest." Bly said "But are you sure you will be able to tra-?"
I cut her off "I said I would do it okay so just sit and rest and we will go when you wake up or whatever." I didn't really want to change into a dragon. It was always annoying. But it was really the only way I saw to shut them up and keep them from wasting time that could spend getting to the elf city. This also meant more time Nairi sat in a bed dyeing.
I walked off away from them, leaned against a tree, and closed my eyes to clear my head. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.
"Mommy, look what I made." I said running up to a woman in a long dress, who was sewing in a rocking chair.
"Let me see." The woman said setting down her sewing to pick up the little two year old me.
"See, Mommy." I held up a drawing to my mother’s face. I pointed to a tall figure on the piece of paper. "See, that’s, Daddy." I pointed to a slightly smaller figure on the paper. "And there you are, Mommy." And last I pointed to a small figure in between the other two. "And there's me." I smiled up at her.
"It is beautiful" She said kissing me on the forehead causing a strand of her black hair to fall in my face and make me sneeze. She laughed. You could tell she was a very happy person by how full her laugh was.
I hopped down out of her lap and ran to the other side of the room. "Mommy, look at how fast I can run."
She smiled "I see, now come here, Adonis, and wash your hands dinner is ready and your dad will be home soon."
"Yes Ma'am." I ran outside and pulled some water out of the well and brought it inside, sloshing it everywhere with every step. "Here, Mommy. I brought the water."
Though the bucket was half way full by the time I got it to her, but she still smiled and said "Good job." I washed my hands in the water and just as I finished the door swung open.
My, Moms, green eyes shot to the door as my dad stepped in. "DADDY!" I yelled and ran to the gold eyed man.
He hefted me up onto his shoulders. "Hey, Adonis, did you take care of your mom while I was gone?" I nodded my head. "Good," He walked over to my mom and started to hand me to her but I grabbed onto his red hair with my hand.
"No, I want daddy to hold me."
He laughed. "I guess a little longer won’t hurt." He put me back on his shoulder just as there was a bang on the door.
The expression on my mom’s face went from happy to terrified. "Mommy, what’s wrong?" I said running to her as my dad put me down.
"Nothing, Adonis." She said picking me up quickly. But I knew something was wrong. I could feel her heart beating fast. "Magnus, who is it." My mom whispered shakily. He looked threw a small hole in the door and his eyes went wide.
He walked over to us. "Cura, I need you to take, Adonis, and run. Now."
My mom nodded and headed for a door around back but before she opened it she peeked out and ran back. "I can't."
He looked back. "Why?"
"There are people there."
"No, how could he know?"
“Mommy what's going on" I asked scared.
"Don't worry, sweetie, it will all be okay." She hugged me tightly and kissed my head.
"What are we going to do?" She looked at my dad frightened.
"Hide Adonis in the closet. I’ll open the door and you run. Run as fast as you can."
"But-"
"No buts.” he cut her off and took me out of her arms and kissed her on the cheek." I love you, always remember that, no matter what happens. Now go." She nodded her eyes full of tears and ran out the back as my dad set me down in a closet "Now, Adonis, I need you to be as quiet as possible okay?" I nodded and he shut the door.
"Brother, what business do you have here?"
"You know my business ,brother." He sneered.
"What are you talking abo-"
"I know you had a son by a human woman. Where is he!" The man’s voice was full of rage.
"I don't understand. Who told you this?"
"Well, it was a hunch until my men caught this."
I heard the sound of my mom being dragged in
"No!" My father yelled, "Please don't hurt her"
I couldn't contain my fear I had to do something. I jumped out of the closet and ran to my mother who was tied up on the floor. "Mommy." I ran over to her crying.
"Adonis no!" My father shouted. Someone grabbed me and held me tight.
"So this is my half breed nephew." A man who looked like my father said with disgust. "I bet he has no dragon in him...I tell you what, I will spare the boy if he proves he can do something." The smiled evilly.
"He's only two! How can he show power at that age?!"
"Maybe motivation." The man said with a terrible smile. He nodded his head towards my mother, and a man drew a knife to her throat.
"No!" My father screamed.
"Her fate is in your hands boy. Can you save your mother?" The man whispered in my ear.
"I'm trying!" I screamed. And I was. I tried with all my might, but I didn't know what to do.
“Well too bad boy." He nodded his head again and the man holding my mother plunged a dagger into her heart.
"NOOO!" My father screamed and ran to her. "What have you done?!" He yelled rage filling him. But all I saw was my mother, dead on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding her. "Mommy." I mumbled, when the situation finally sank into my brain. I screamed and fire erupted in every direction. The man holding me gasped. "How!"
The fire raged for as long as my scream held. But when I finally stopped so did the fire.
My father looked at me stunned tears in his eyes. "There you have it brother. You gave your word you would spare him if he showed any power. So, how's that for power...you can do what you want with me. But a dragon always keeps his word."
I suddenly bolted upright in a cold sweat. I looked around and realized it was a dream, no not a dream...a memory. I suddenly felt a strong hate towards my uncle, the man I had been trying to please my whole life, had taken my mothers. Not only that, he lied to me. He told me she got away that she was alive somewhere.
Heat filled my body, and I was filled with such rage that I stood up in one swift movement and hit the tree I had been leaning against with all my might, picturing my uncle’s face in its place. This of course got the attention of my companions who came running over.
Xander ran up sword drawn ready to fend off whatever was attacking. "What's going on, what happened?
I allowed the anger to mostly leave me before I talked.
I shrugged, "I got mad and hit the tree."
Bly looked behind me at the tree with wide eyes. "How mad were you? You punched the tree in half."
I looked at the tree that lay splintered on the ground in front of me. "Huh, guess I did. So now that we are all up, let’s get this over with and get to the land of pointy-eared people."
Bly glared at me "We are called Elves. Please don't call us ‘pointy-eared people.’ It is very insulting."
I saw Xander out of the corner of my eye, holding in a laugh. "So, are you going to show us your grand display of turning into a dragon?"
I could tell by the look in his eyes he really wanted to see me do it. I sighed "Alright," I closed my eyes and concentrated. My body started to feel hot and I suddenly felt heavier. I felt my bone structure changing and my skin turning into scales. It isn't the most pleasant experience one can have.
My body finally stopped shifting and I opened my eyes and looked at my companions, they looked shocked. "What," I whispered into their minds seeing as they wouldn't understand the grunts and roars I would make if I tried talking normally "Never seen a dragon transform from human form to dragon form?"
Xander looked at me and said, "Well of course not, but also, I thought you were a red dragon."
Bly nodded in agreement.
I sighed “Oh, that...well you see I’m part human and I guess as a side effect of that I kind of change color with emotion." I hated telling people that, cause then they can pretty much read me like an open book.
"Oh, really?" Xander said mischievously.
"Interesting." Bly said, looking like she was deep in thought.
"Okay, enough wasting time, get on and tell me the way."
"Right." Bly said coming out of her thoughtful look and climbing onto my back.
"So," Xander said as he followed, Bly, onto my back "I'm guessing red is mad cause of the situations we have been in when you were a dragon. So," He flashed a smile "What is pink." He laughed
"Oh, shut up, Xander, if you must know it’s embarrassed. I don't like turning into a dragon at will, because you can see what I'm feeling so therefore I get embarrassed, especially since the color is pink, I mean why couldn't it be grey or something."
Xander laughed at my discomfort.
"Okay, that's it." I took off spiraling straight up into the sky causing, Xander, to nearly fall off “So, which way, Bly?"
"Straight." She pointed straight ahead of us. I flew straight for a minute or two till Bly said "Alright, now left." I turned left and flew on. A few more minutes flying till she said "Okay, now turn right and fly about one hundred meters, then land "
I did what she said and, as soon as they were off my back I transformed back into a human.
I looked at Bly just as the last bit of sunshine faded, "We're here."