A Dragon’s Tale

Alana climbed down the Argo's long rope ladder to the ground, then stepped out of the way so Rachel could get off too. They had climbed down into a clearing in the forest near one of the larger streams in the area. The early morning sun was shining and gave the entire glade a peaceful luminesce. She ran her hands through her chocolate-brown hair and sighed.

"What?" Rachel asked. Her dark red hair gradually faded to blond at the tips, and with the way it caught the early morning sunrise and the breeze, it looked even more like flame than usual.

"You're head's on fire." Alana smiled.

Rachel laughed and struck a sexy pose. "Well, I need to stay hot somehow."

Alana chuckled and Rachel said. "That's the first time I've heard you laugh in days."

"Yeah, it feels good." Alana replied then nodded her head toward the river they'd seen from the Argo. "Come on; let's see if our luck is any better today."

Rachel nodded and they set off into the forest. The wood elf relaxed a little with all the greenery and vegetation. She just felt so much better when she was surrounded by nature and green trees.

"So, what will you do when we find Ethan?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know." Alana said. "Slap him? Hug him? Maybe both?"

It was Rachel's turn to chuckle. "Sounds about right." She seemed to hesitate for a moment, then continued. "So, what about after all this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've been thinking about endgames lately." Rachel said. "Let's say we defeat my father and the black dragon. What's next? I mean, assuming we live through it, there'll be a life on the other side. What do you want your life to be like after this is finished?"

"That's a really good question." The wood elf admitted. If she was honest with herself, she didn't have a clue. "What about you? What's your endgame?"

The redhead sighed. "I'm not sure either."

"Oh?"

"Well, there are things I'd like to do." Rachel said. "I've always loved magic. I've been drawn to it since I was a little girl. What's more, I think I'm good at it. My formal training was cut off pretty early so most of what I know about magic is self-taught."

Alana stopped and looked at her. "Really? I remember dodging a few of your fireballs. You're pretty darn good with those spells of yours."

"Practice." Rachel shrugged. "My father -- Lord Delmar -- wanted me to learn the basics, especially how to heal myself, but I wanted to learn more. The castle mage taught me a lot, starting with how to heal, but when my father found out that I had started learning more combat-oriented magic, he forbade the mage to teach me anymore."

"Why?" Alana asked.

"He said it wasn't proper." Rachel replied. "He wanted me to be a lady and worried that my learning that kind of magic would put me in danger. Ironically, he wasn't wrong. Even more ironically, it was him that put me in danger."

Alana nodded, and they started walking again. "He doesn't sound like his reputation, your father I mean."

"Yeah, I know." Rachel replied. "Growing up was confusing. On one hand, he was usually kind and tender to me, especially when I was younger, but on the other hand, he was ruthless to anyone else. It was almost like growing up with two completely different fathers."

Alana noticed that Rachel was unconsciously feeling the finger on which her will-breaker ring had been worn.

"You think there's a reason for that?" she asked.

"Maybe." Rachel replied evasively. "But if there is, it almost doesn't matter. Any affection he had for me is long gone."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."

They walked for several more minutes in silence. Alana really wanted to say something to help, but didn't know what. She had a really hard time imagining what Rachel was going through. She thought back to her childhood and realized she could count on one hand the number of times her father had lost his temper. He wore a smile most of the time and always called her his little princess.

"You never said what you wanted when this is all over." Rachel said after a few minutes.

Alana thought for a few moments before answering. "I know it sounds cliché, but I want to have a family and raise some children."

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with that." Rachel said with conviction, then added in a cautious tone. "Any ideas about the father?"

"I wish. I don't really want to raise a clutch of dragons you know."

"Yes, well that limits your options, doesn't it?" Rachel replied with a wink. "It's not like there are any non-dragons in the world, who'd be interested in marrying a kind, loving wood elf like yourself." She added with a dose of good-natured sarcasm.

"Thank you." Alana smiled, then added. "I know there are more men, It's just... I wish dragons could father non-dragon children."

"Maybe they can."

"Oh?"

"You know that Lord Delmar is obsessed with dragons, right?" Rachel asked. Alana nodded, so she continued. "Well, I overheard him one time telling someone that dragons can choose the gender of their offspring. They just always choose to make them males."

"But there are no female dragons." Alana said. "Do you think it's possible that female dragons exist?"

"My father didn't think so." Rachel answered. "He was having a very heated argument with a woman on the topic. The woman was very insistent on knowing if a female dragon could exist. Lord Delmar was crystal clear that they couldn't."

As Rachel finished speaking, they reached their destination. It was either a very large stream or a very small river. It was 7 or 8 feet across and looked to be 3 or 4 feet deep at the deepest part. Alana put her questions about dragons out of her mind to focus on the task at hand.

"You ready?" Alana asked indicating the stream.

Rachel nodded, so Alana walked up to the bank of the stream and put her hand into the water. After a few seconds of concentrating, she sent a small pulse of mana through the water. She was careful to keep it very small; it was better to knock twice than appear to be beating down the door.

Less than a minute later, a head appeared above the water a few feet from where Alana was crouched. The naiad was extraordinarily beautiful. She had pale skin, red hair that was almost maroon, and very large eyes. Her face didn't look very old at all -- maybe early twenties -- but her eyes made it clear she was a LOT older.

Alana took a deep breath, then launched into what she remembered was the proper way to greet a naiad.

[Esteemed naiad of this beautiful river, you do me honor by granting me an audience.] Alana said with a small bow.

[Not many know the old ways and customs.] The naiad observed in the Fey tongue. [Fewer still observe them. It has been long indeed since a non-Fey has requested an audience with me, much less done so properly. What do you wish?]

[To speak with one of your sisters and request her aid.] Alana replied in the Fey tongue. [Her name is Nalithea.]

The naiad narrowed her eyes at Alana before replying. [Nalithea was all in a tizzy about a fortnight ago about meeting...] The naiad cocked her head to one side. [...could you be her?]

The wood elf nodded.

She briefly considered bluffing her way through this, but this naiad looked much older, wiser, and more clever than Nalithea. [Technically I have no authority despite my family's status. I come to you not as their daughter, but as a fellow woman of magic who is in desperate need of help.]

[Oh?]

Alana smiled. It was always a good thing to make a naiad curious. [Yes, I need Nalithea's assistance. It could be a matter of life and death.]

[What could be so serious?]

[If you will be so kind as to find Nalithea, I would happily explain to you both.]

The Naiad narrowed her eyes. [Are you sure I can't be of assistance?]

Alana pretended to consider while she inwardly smiled. The old Elven proverb 'curiosity killed the Fey' was ringing true as ever. This was going better than she'd hoped.

[Honored naiad, I'm sure your assistance would be extremely helpful, but it's more proper for me to ask Nalithea. I wouldn't dream of insulting you by asking for a favor on our first meeting, whereas I've encountered Nalithea before and she offered her assistance should we meet again. In thanks, I would allow you to hear my request of her.]

[Very well.] The naiad said with a resigned sigh, then disappeared beneath the water without so much as a ripple to mark her departure.

"I take it that went well?" Rachel asked.

Alana shrugged. "We'll see when they return, it shouldn't be long though. Naiads can travel at incredible speed through the water. The royalty among the wood elves employ them to ferry messages for that reason."

"So now we wait." Rachel nodded.

They didn't wait long.

Abut fifteen minutes later, two heads poked above the water. The first was the maroon-haired naiad they had just met, the other shared the same pale skin and large black eyes, but also had black hair. The former looked grumpy while the latter looked eager to please.

Alana smiled at her, then bowed and spoke in the Fey tongue. [Esteemed Nalithea, you honor me by granting my request for an audience so quickly. I will not forget your consideration or kindness.]

Nalithea nodded. [I am honored that you called upon me in your time of need mistress. How may I be of service?]

[I formed a bond with someone who now finds their life in grave danger.] Alana replied, then baited the 'curiosity hook' even further. [But he's not my spouse.]

The two naiads looked extremely confused for a moment, which was part of the plan. In the Fey language, the word for 'bonded' and 'spouse' were the same word, because Fey marriage was formed by two Fey creating a bond. To the Fey, 'bonded' and 'spouse' were the same thing.

[Forgive your servant mistress, but I don't understand.] Nalithea said after a few moments. [How could you form a bond with a man, and yet not be his spouse?]

Alana smiled, purposely making it a: I-know-something-you-don't smile to further peak their interest. [I will explain that if you can find him.]

[Wait,] the other naiad said. [You formed a bond, but didn't marry? How can that be? Has your Nalfigar blood led you astray, or could the great house of Kalon have finally produced a scandal?]

The Naiad looked at Alana pointedly before adding. [Well, another scandal that is.]

Alana raised her eyebrow

[Adorelle!] Nalithea chided. [That's no way to speak to a member of--]

[Peace, young Nalithea,] the other naiad -- Adorelle -- said, then turned to Alana. [Forgive me mistress, I meant no disrespect.]

[You are forgiven, but your breach of discretion will not be forgotten.] Alana said as imperiously as she could manage. [How could I trust someone with so little discretion? I must ask your leave to discuss the matter with Nalithea alone.]

Adorelle glared at the wood elf, but nodded. [I hear and obey my lady.] She disappeared beneath the water, leaving Alana alone with Nalithea.

[Adorelle is out of earshot mistress,] Nalithea said, then added. [But I don't believe you have made a friend of her.]

[I am greatly saddened to hear this and I shall do my best to make amends.] Alana replied in as formal an apology as she could remember how to make. [However, I still do need your assistance, and time is of the essence.]

[Yes mistress, what would you ask of me?]

[I'm trying to find the man with whom I formed a bond.] Alana said. [I know he's around this area somewhere, I just don't know where.]

[You've lost your bonded? Interesting...] Nalithea seemed lost in thought for a moment before continuing. [I will help you find him mistress. I can scour every waterway within a hundred miles before the day is out. What does he look like?]

[I will need an oath of strict confidence before I tell you; I can entrust this information to no other.] Alana replied. It was a formal request, and a Fey bound by such an oath wouldn't tell another living soul, not unless the king of the wood elves himself nullified the oath.

[I would be happy to give one,] Nalithea replied. [What does he look like?]

Alana smirked at the attempted evasion. [You said you'd be happy to give an oath of strict confidence, but you haven't actually given one.]

Nalithea's face fell slightly. [I was hoping you wouldn't notice that. Very well mistress, I give my oath of strict confidence that I won't tell a single soul of this.]

[Good.] Alana said. [He is a steel gray dragon.]

The naiad's eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock. It took several minutes of deflecting questions and refusing to answer before Nalithea got the hint. When she finally realized she wouldn't get anything out of the wood elf, she set off in search of Ethan.

Mission accomplished.

"I take it that went well?" Rachel asked once the naiad had left.

"Better than I'd hoped." Alana replied. "Now all we have to do is wait."

Alana sat down on the bank and her mind drifted to Ethan again and her earlier conversation with Rachel. What if dragons could have non-dragon children? Dragons could make elves have dragons, which are non-elf children, so why not? Maybe?

"Do you really think a dragon could father a non-dragon child?" Alana finally asked after spending several minutes working up the courage.

"I don't know." Rachel replied. "My father was adamant that female dragons couldn't exist, but he also seemed convinced that dragons could choose the gender of their child. Put the two together logically and..." She held up her hands as if to say the answer spoke for itself.

"I suppose your father would be the man to ask about dragons." Alana said, then added. "Unless you had an actual dragon to ask."

"Maybe not even then." Rachel chuckled. "Ethan is a great guy, but he's pretty clueless about a lot of things; especially magic."

"Now I wish I would've asked Drousin when I had the chance." Alana said.

"He probably would've thought you were propositioning him." Rachel replied. "I can't imagine that ending well."

Alana shook her head and suppressed a shudder. "I can see how that could be taken the wrong way."

"Yeah."

"While we're on the topic, there's something you should probably know." Alana sighed, then told her what Elder Goman had said about one of Lord Delmar's mages -- probably an arch mage -- trying to turn regular people into dragons.

"By Illuminar, was he serious?" Rachel said when Alana had finished.

"Unfortunately, I think he was."

"That's just what we need, but does the magic even exist for that?"

"Elder Goman seemed to think so." Alana replied. "Why?"

"Transfiguration is one of the most complex and difficult of the magical arts. I can't imagine how he would do it. Of course, I'm no expert and certainly not an arch mage, but I've tried transfiguration before and it's devilishly tricky. It takes a lot of magic too, though an arch mage wouldn't be limited that way."

"I wouldn't know." Alana said. "I can enchant anything you want, but I'm pretty useless at spells."

"If it helps you feel any better, I'm terrible at enchanting."

Alana raised her eyebrow.

"It's true." Rachel said. "I've tried a couple times and never could get the hang of it."

"I could help if you want." Alana said. "There isn't much I can't do when it comes to enchanting."

"I appreciate the offer but no thanks." Rachel said. "Honestly, enchanting never interested me anyway. I always preferred spells."

They sat on the bank in companionable silence for a few minutes enjoying the scenery. The sun had risen and was shining in a cloudless blue sky. The birds were singing and there were wildflowers scattered all around the stream. Occasionally they would catch a glimpse of some deer or other wildlife. It was a little slice of heaven on earth.

It made her miss her forest.

"You never said what your endgame was." Alana mused after several minutes. "It sounds like you really like magic, were you planning to do something with that?"

"It's just a hobby." Rachel said, but Alana could tell she wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Rachel, it's perfectly fine if you don't want to say. You're under no obligation to. But please don't say it's nothing when it's something."

"Okay." Rachel replied. "You'll laugh though."

"I promise I won't."

Rachel took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then spoke. "I want to become an arch mage."

"That's brilliant." Alana said with a wide smile. "You should totally do that."

"Really? You don't think it's dumb?" Rachel had pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them as she spoke. She reminded Alana of a little child who was afraid of a scolding.

"Of course it's not dumb." Alana said. "Why would it be?"

Rachel didn't look at her when she responded. "I told someone in the castle when I was growing up. They gossiped about it and everyone teased me for weeks. Nobody thought I could do it."

"Well, I think you can." Alana said. "In fact, I'll do everything in my power to make sure you can. That's one of your dreams Rachel; don't ever give up on your dreams."

"Thank you." Rachel said. She wiped the corner of her eyes and Alana thought she saw something wet. "No one ever believed in me like that before."

Alana scooted over so she could put her arm around Rachel. It was slightly awkward with the height difference, but neither seemed to mind.

"Well, I do." Alana said. "If you work hard enough and long enough, there's no reason you can't become an Arch Mage."

"Thank you." Rachel said. "I needed that."

"Any time." Alana beamed.