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Dare to Love a Dragon

Dragons still live

By GaylePublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 18 min read
1
The Hatch

"There weren’t always dragons in the valley?” The young girl asked the man she was following. Since the path was easy to follow, Freesia had fallen behind instead of leading, Tyson had three time the stride. She was almost elf size and sometimes was not taken seriously. Tyson on the other hand, he was never one to toss a person aside simply because of one’s status or stature, and this child he saw as his own, she would never lead him on with a false claim. She also knew how important finding this egg might be for him.

“I think I know where you saw it, and yes, a very long time ago there were dragons here. Many were killed and the others left and if this is truly a dragon egg then they are back, or at least one is.” Tyson realized in his excitement to see the egg he was making it difficult for Freesia to stay with him. He slowed his pace some, even so they soon reached the meadow and the pond Freesia said was where she had spotted the egg. Though the pond was not large it could easily supply crystal clear fresh water every day for a thirsty dragon, it had a small spring that fed it. They approached slowly. “In the rocks you said? I just don’t understand how a dragon got here and laid an egg and no one spotted it. They are huge creatures.” Tyson said mostly to himself.

The rocks were all smooth, quite large and different colors, it almost looked like they had been piled there by a giant hand or one of the Gods. “Over there” Freesia whispered as though speaking out loud would disturb it. She pointed to the other side of a large white rock. Tyson crawled up over the first rock and sprawled completely out to peer over the edge. The tiny girl appeared beside him and pointed. “See it is blue and then it shimmers, and it is gold, like it can’t decide what color it should be.” The child was right the egg was larger than she was, and it did shimmer from gold to blue and back again. They stared at it for a long while, but it continued to change back and forth.

“It is clearly a dragon egg,” Tyson whispered back still not sure why they were whispering. His heart pounded in his chest; he really hadn’t thought he would ever get a chance to see one let alone raise one. Was this the hand of God giving him a second chance at life? He hoped this was the case, the pain in his hip was dull right now, but memories flooded back in causing his heart to lurch in his chest. He closed his eyes to try staying in control, but the images of the battle bombarded him. His sudden rigidity told Freesia that he was having a spell and she hugged him tight.

The day was overcast, and the grey shadows made the images all that more gruesome. Horses screaming in terror as the non-humans slashed at them. Every soldier they unseated was slain, those claws were more like four daggers at the end of each arm. Tyson had pulled back with his brother behind him. He took aim and his arrows hit true; in the throat the creatures could not overcome the wound. His second in command saw the wisdom of this and ordered all to aim for the throat. Crossbows were most effective, as a last effort those caught in the claws used every last ounce of strength to sever the head or slit the throat. Bodies piled up, both sides fighting in pools of blood, slipping and sliding the horses finally overcame the forward rush.

Tyson saw the face of the one that shot him, eyes with narrow slits gleamed out of green, scale covered faces. The creatures looked as though serpents had spawned offspring from human hosts. How they welded their weapons with the clumsy stumps that seemed to have no form he didn’t know but the arrow struck his right thigh and in full charge he severed the creature’s head and the body writhed like one expected from a dying serpent. The fire in his flesh slowed him but he refused to go for attention until every creature lay in a pool of rancid, yellow blood. The stench was overpowering, and Tyson yielded his leadership to Jayson his second. He learned later his brother had fled.

With all the creatures destroyed the Chiltons were driven back. Tyson spent months in and out of a fever, his body ravaged by the poison the arrow had been dipped in. Freesia shook him and he roused from the nightmare. He smiled and she kissed his cheek. “You was in the darkness again. Maybe if we hatch that dragon the darkness will go away, and you will be free.” Her eyes held hope and he loved her for it.

He looked back down at the egg, its beauty was mesmerizing, and the hope it held for Tyson filled his heart. He inched closer and looked for a way down to it, would legend hold true? Could he bond with the dragonette, or will he have to give it over to Freesia? He understood that males bonded with females and females with males. He had no way of knowing what this one would be.

“What are we looking at?” A strange female voice whispered in his ear. Tyson whirled around and nearly lost his grip on the rock. He scrambled and then slid to the ground next to where he had been perched on the rock. He was staring at a pair of dark leather boots, rather small, and his eyes followed them up to the knees here a dark green pair of tight fitted trousers hugged a very shapely pair of hips, slender waist and a light green vest showed the contours of a nice, very nice pair of breasts. Forcing his gaze higher he saw a beautiful heart shaped face with soft green eyes, long lashes, and perfectly shaped lips, that held a slightly whimsical smile. Her face was framed with dark mahogany locks with red highlights in a loose braid that hung to her waist.

She stood confidently in front of him, one hand hooked on the wide belt she wore. The other hand, her slender fingers were resting on a very intimidating cross bow that hung on that same belt. Either she was very full of herself, or she didn’t know who she was addressing. “I did not mean to startle you.” She said softly, again with a bit of a smile.

Going with the idea that she did not know who he was, because he certainly did not recognize her, Tyson straightened himself up. He was a good head taller than the woman and his broad shoulders made him look larger. “How did you do that?” He blurted out. Her sparkling eyes just blinked at him as though asking what he meant. “I could have sworn you were right next to me when you whispered in my ear.” His deep blue eyes focused on her now, he had a penetrating gaze, and most were intimidated by it.

Still not shrinking away she shrugged, “You mean throw my voice? I don’t know, I have always been able to do it.” Taking him in he now held an air of authority, his strong build and tailored clothes spoke of wealth and status. His tunic held a crest of some kind, though she did not know who’s. Still, she stood confidently before him.

“How did you find us? We didn’t hear you approach.” Tyson looked warily at her now.

“I smelled you of course.” She said without thinking how it sounded.

“I was not aware that I smelled that strong that you could know I was here, before I could see you.” He countered now curious about what she had said. He leaned back and waited for an answer.

“It is something I learned I could do, like the voice thing, I can pick up a person’s essence a good distance away.” She sounded as though she was not sure about his acceptance of that explanation.

“So, I don’t really smell bad, just strong?” He answered and though he himself was amused, he saw she was slightly flustered at that remark.

“No, actually you smell quite delicious, I mean good.” She hesitated now and he grinned at her. She hadn’t meant to say that though it was indeed true.

He decided to let that go. “We were looking for the dragon egg over there and we found it.” Tyson said and then noticed her shift ever so slightly. She tapped one of those slender fingers on the hilt of the crossbow lightly.

“And what will you do with this egg, now that you have found it?” She asked so softly he almost didn’t hear her. The light in her eyes and voice were gone. This intrigued him. She seemed saddened by his announcement, but only because he had been studying her so closely. He didn’t recognize her, and he knew all those in the valley that were noticeable, and she certainly was one he would have noticed.

“Why take it home and see if it hatches,” he said cautiously, still watching her every movement. He smoothed back some wayward locks of jet-black hair, pretending to be nonchalant. He then turned and crawled back up on the rock to look at the egg once more, it remained the same.

Suddenly she was beside him, sitting easily on top of the rock next to his. “It will not hatch, it is infertile.” She said flatly in a tone that made one believe she knew of what she spoke.

“And you know this how?” Tyson asked, probing her authority, even as the hope in his heart died.

“A dragon egg that is fertile will either be blue or gold, blue is male, and gold is female.” She stated as she pulled a small pouch from her larger waist pouch. “This egg has not settled on a color therefore it is not fertile.” She then removed a pinch of something from the pouch and placed it in the palm of her hand, she said something that was a foreign language and blew the dust towards the egg. It dimmed and then lost its color. Tyson stared at it a moment and then at her. “It is best to crack it open and allow the forest creatures to eat it.” She said in a small voice that Tyson realized held a very deep sadness.

“You are a Mage.” Freesia said in awe. Tyson waited for her response. He had thought the same thing and was disappointed as a Mage was associated with dark magic. He never aligned himself with darkness and could not admire this woman as he did when he first looked her over if she was associated with evil or darkness.

She sighed, “Not really, I have learned many things over the years I spent with my grandfather. He was a healer, but more importantly he was a dragon tender.” Freesia sucked in a breath her eyes sparkled with excitement. Tyson let his breath out slowly, he was not sure she did not have anything to do with a Mage and was curious as to how she knew things, she spoke as though she had studied many years and yet she seemed very young.

“I forgot my manners, my name is Tyson, of the Charlemagne household.” He said and gave Freesia a look that told her not to say anything. He knew she would ask why he was using his mother’s family name and not his father’s. Right now, he knew very little about this girl, this young woman, and until he knew more it was better, she does not know his father’s name, his family name. “I take it you are new around here. How do you know so much about dragons? Ah yes, your grandfather, he lives here?”

She looked up at him now, tucking the small pouch back in the larger belt pouch. “My name is Gabrielle, I am from the Copper Valley, I came to bury my grandfather.” He watched her for a moment, giving her time in respect to her loss, and then she continued. “Yes, I lived here long ago, my grandfather lived on the mountain of glass.” She studied Tyson now. He moved slowly, seeming to favor his right side. “You have an injury?” It was more a statement than a question.

“It comes and goes, an old wound.” He said brushing it off, stretching his right arm over his head even as he masked a wince. Freesia stepped closer as though concerned deeply for him. “You always move around armed as though for battle?” He wanted to divert her attention away from his weakness, and though not one to admit it he was a bit uneasy around a crossbow.

She looked briefly at the crossbow, “It is my most accurate weapon and it also serves to bring in some meat, not that I eat much meat.” She seemed to add that part quickly. He nodded and then found another more suitable rock to sit on. She kept a small distance between them and fought within herself on whether or not to fully trust him. He seemed to be doing the same. “I know of the Charlemagne household, and they had only daughters, are you an illegitimate son?” Freesia snickered because he had been caught and he half smiled and then tried to mask it.

“No, actually no, my mother is married, to my father.” He seemed to have trouble saying what he meant. She raised her eyebrows at him. “I use my mother’s family to divert attention from my father,” again his answer was evasive.

“Are you ashamed of your father?” She asked and now Freesia began to giggle, her golden curls bouncing around her shoulders, he was digging a hole and it was getting deeper by the minute. Gabrielle then looked at Freesia and knew that there was much more story to be told.

“By no means am I ashamed of my father, I just prefer not to divulge his name . . .” He stopped and took a breath as she crossed her arms and studied him. “I do not often leave home unarmed. If a stranger, an armed stranger,” he nodded toward her weapon, “should overcome me, let us say that one could ask a handsome reward to not harm me, my person. Therefore, I am reluctant to give one the information that could be used against me.” He knew his argument was weak.

“I see, well last I checked, the Charlemagne household was the wealthiest next to the king’s household, so one could use that against you also.” That slight smile was back on her perfectly shaped pink lips. Freesia was perched on her own rock thoroughly enjoying the show that Tyson was putting on.

“Well, my father always told me I could be king if I really worked hard enough at it.” Tyson said lightly. He didn’t look at her, but he knew Freesia was again amused by his statement, he heard her stifle another giggle.

“I see,” Gabrielle said also amused now and taking a step closer. “Does the king not have heirs that the throne would be open to one who would earn it?” She seemed eager to hear his answer now, watching as he formed that answer, she noticed his essence again it and gave her a warm feeling.

Smiling lightly Tyson answered truthfully. “Of course, he has heirs, one could easily step up to take over, the other is incapable of making good decisions, so there is always a possibility the capable one could be lost.” He sensed Freesia’s mood change and knew she always became sad when this conversation was breached.

Gabrielle reached out and grabbed his hand to assure him she had no ill intentions, she sank to her knees and sucked in a breath staring up at him. The pain within his body seemed to engulf her, she felt it in every fiber, had she known ahead of time she would have prepared herself. Tears stung her eyes as she held on tighter, he was masking a great deal of pain, it nearly consumed her. “This is not a small illness, it is not one easily dealt with, where were you wounded . . . by whom.” She felt the intensity of the pain he dealt with daily, and it was staggering.

He studied her now and realized she felt it, just as much as he did. Though she adamantly insisted she was not a mage, she had revealed to him in a very short time that she had many mystical powers. He was not sure if he wanted to trust her with his problems, with his weakness, and perhaps his life. He still knew nothing about her, and yet when he looked into her eyes, he saw a depth there he could not explain, a passion that gave him peace that she was completely truthful. He looked away and inhaled slowly, often that took the edge off. “I led a charge in the battle of Green Valley Castle in defense of our home. The Chiltons attacked the castle because they had acquired help from a band of Cretins, no one knows what they promised the Cretins or why they helped,” he stared past her now, remembering the gruesome battle, the suffering, his wound . . . But they were too slow for our mounted force. All were killed . . . still, being in the thick of it, I took an arrow to the thigh. It should have been an easy wound to heal, but it seeped into my bones.” His eyes told of the long battle to overcome the wound. Freesia sidled up to him and laid her head on his shoulder, she was clinging tightly to his arm, because she knew what he had gone through. She held his hand and prayed for him to live.

“Cretins use poison on their arrows, it is almost always deadly, and yet you survived.” Gabrielle seemed to know very well of what she spoke. Her compassion had not abated, and she spoke in awe of him. “You have also regained some of your strength, this does not happen often, who was the healer?”

Mesmerized by her concern he didn’t hesitate, “The Healer was Madame Medea from the Crystal Mountain.” Her eyes changed and she withdrew slowly from him, her look was guarded, almost fearful now.

“That is why you wanted the dragon egg, to, to raise it and to drink its blood. She told you that didn’t she?” He watched as Gabrielle paced slowly, hugging herself. Seeming in some other world for a few moments and withdrawing from him completely. Then she turned to him, keeping her distance, he felt the chill seep back into his bones when she let go of his hand. Tyson couldn’t explain why her touch soothed his pain and sent warmth to his bones. Her eyes narrowed, “It won’t work, not like she told you. People started killing dragons and drinking their blood to heal all kinds of aliments, they nearly killed them all before the queen realized what was happening and they moved. It simply does not work that way.” She once more held his gaze and this time her eyes held a very deep sadness, as though he had hurt her personally.

Tyson stood and stepped closer; she stood her ground as she continued to hold his gaze. She wanted to believe him innocent of that kind of cruelty. “I would not have killed a tiny, helpless dragon, I would not, have not ever, entertained the thought of killing a dragon. They are magnificent creatures,” he looked away and swallowed hard. “I was hoping . . .” his voice trailed off, she detected despair there.

“He was hoping there was another way, a way the dragon could help him willingly, I mean after all if it was me, I would give him some of my blood.” Freesia broke into the conversation. “Medea, she said she could do no more and that he only has months,” tears leaked from her eyes as she hugged Tyson, “only months before the poison stops his heart.”

Her eyes softened at Freesia’s words, and she knew that this man could very well be in the last stages. It would take everything she had if she tried to save him. “You seem very attached to this man, how are you related?” Gabrielle turned and faced the child.

“She was orphaned by the first attacks of the Chiltons seven years ago. I found her in her parents’ burned-out home, huddled in a corner, covered in ash and soot crying her little heart out. I took her home and kept her, she is my family.” Tyson said softly as he put his arm around the young girl. Her soft blue eyes looked up into his deep ones. The connection was very real, extremely strong, and very emotional.

“I just don’t want him to die.” Freesia’s eyes were still filled with tears, her small body clung to him.

Gabrielle drew in a long breath, “You may not, there is another way, but it would involve leaving home for a long while. Tyson was instantly intrigued, he locked eyes with Gabrielle and nodded.

“We will go then.” Tyson said without hesitation.

Adventure
1

About the Creator

Gayle

Grammy and just love to write here in sunny Florida.

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