The Dragons Guards

[LittleSprite2]

Lilly

Lilly arrived after sevrel days travel to what looked like an ancient city that had been distroyed.. it was now mostly hidden by the forest surrounding it covered in vines trees and various other plant life and years and years of dirt and dust..

Up ahead there also looked to be some sort of temple further down that some had from the looks of the small path cleared been tended by a few people who came here still to worship.. was this the temple of the forest god that her people had talked about?.. it was defanatly the old village that much was sure.

It would be getting dark soon and she would need to find another place to camp.. and began looking for a place just outside of the village not wanting to disturb anything there.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia woke 3 days after Freya left her in the bedroom of the Castle.. a fire had been kept going in the fireplace as her sister had asked and her needs tended to by maids and a healer.

Upon awakining she asked first for water, and then news as to how she arrived at the castle remembering nothing sence telling her sister to run.

She requested a bath and heated the water herself enjoying the feel of the water on her skin.. it was good to feel clean again. redressed in another black genie/belly dancer costume her long red hair rebraided she sought out the king and Queen to thank them for there hospitality.

She didnt know what it was that had Kept Hark at bay but she was greatful for the chance to heal before facing him again, she knew he would not give up easly.. and that it was only a matter of time.

Freya she guessed would have gone in search of there brothers and sisters for aid, and she would return to her home to face Hark rather than have him take his wrath out on these people who had given her aid. She would draw him away from them.

Good King and Queen i wish to thank you for your aid and in grattatude i will leave in the morning and draw my enemies away from you and your people. she said bowing before them in a sign of respect..

 

[swordandsandle]

"I can't beleive it," Hark (The dragon) mumbled. "I still can't beleive that you managed to catch a cold Nuttsy. Now I have to go find that woman all over again."

Over the corse of the last few days, Hark had learned several very important things. One, that you should never leave your pet bird out in the rain, even if they are a semi-magical creature. Two, that dragon claws weren't exactly the most manuverable appendages in the world. And three, that he had to eat so much food in this skin that he'd never become obese.

The last one was the coolest.


Yet, even as he hunched over his campsite, squinting to make out the tiny thrush, he coulden't help but think of that girl, the crazy firy one. She was the once he needed, certainly, but he'd tried every domineering technique he could think of; threts, intimidation, violence, violating personal privacy, even reading through the diary she left behind in her cave (seriously, this girl lived kind of a boring life.) But he had found something that might help him.

The girl was bound to the dragon, he realized, which for all intents a purposes was now him. If she actually swore fealty to him, even in this form, he would have done his job, and he knew just how to make her do that.

" Servent," he cried out with all the dragon voice he could muster, casting it across the four winds. "I have need of you!"

Hay, it might work.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia felt the call ... tho her name was not mentioned specificly there was still the sence that the summons was for her alone. She woke in the night and informed the king and queen that she would leave right away rather than waiting until the morning, her lord called, and she must go.

Celia was given a horse and provisions she traveled over night and reached her home at sunrise the next day.. Her lord could easly be seen as he was extreamly large..

she was wary however and did not approche right away..her golden eyes looked up at him with worry and respect... My lord ??? you were not attacked ?? you have defeated the Magus ??? she asked looking around for any sign of Hark or his pet ..

as she did so she dismounted from her horse and tossed her braid over her sholder still wary but with her trust in her lord she felt safe enough for it was not her own life she worried over .. it was him she thought to protect if the Magus were still here hiding.

 

[swordandsandle]

"That weak human," Hark chuckled, echoing across the range. "Let me just say that his body now chars in the fires of our home. So frail, so... simple." This was the absolute truth, as his body was indeed a chared mess. What he had neglected to mention was that the dragon's spirt was inside at the time.

"I was simply wondering where you had been. Your territory has not been partoled in the last few days, I see. What if that mage had simply been a distraction, to lure you away so a more powerful force could challange me? What would you have done if I was dead right now?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia dropped to her knees her head bowed, no questions asked... forgive me Lord.. i was too week to fight the Magus on my own.. had not Freya inter feared i would have given my life in your service. Even now she gathers our brothers and sisters.. i shall send word that all is well.. she said staying bowed as she waited her masters words.

 

[swordandsandle]

" I am disappointed in you," he glared down at her, a real mixture of menice and annoyance. "Outclassed by a simple human, one who did not even notice ME until his skin was peeling off his bones. I THOUGHT you were trained better then that, but I suppose I was wrong."

He scratched across her shoulder, drawing the faintest hints of blood.

"You do realize what this means, don't you?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia didnt knwo what to say or to think this was the first time she had failed her lord sence he had given her the power of fire, and long life.. How can i redeam myself in your eyes lord ? what must i do ? she asked not knowing what else to do.. he was right she had failed him.. but in truth the Magus had been no mear human... had that been the case he would have already been dead 10 times over..

 

[swordandsandle]

Hmmmm he thought, in a bit of a bind now that he'd gotten into information he coulden't draw from his own encounters. What kind of punishment would a dragon give?

The only experence he'd ever had with dragons was the occasional visitor of the planer variety, whom he knew to be widly different from those here. "Yes, I suppose I could let you do that, insted of finding somebody more compitent to trust my powers in. Should I?" he feigned deep thought whale scraping his claws over her face. This was going to be... more amusing then he had suspected

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia closed her eyes still on her knees her head bent before him she didnt move even when his claws scrapped slowly across her face leaving scratches in her skin as they went.. she answered his question.. if that is your wish lord so be it... i would have given my life in your service and it is still yours to take if you so chose.. she said..

again she did not truly wish to die but she would not shrink from her duty nor would she make excuses.. had she not been so badly beaten and near death she would have stayed and continued the fight.. only Freya's arivale had saved her life.. if her Lord chose to see her actions as failure and wished to end her life or take away his gift and give it to another so be it..

Her head was still down she would not look up unless given permission to do so a single tear escaped , not because of the marks left on her face or that they hurt like hell..... but at the thought of what was to come and that she had waisted the chance to have a family with her studies.

I can only ask your forgiveness Lord should you chose to give it..

 

[swordandsandle]

... Hark paused for a moment. He should have been ruthless, should have driven the position of power home, but something just wasen't letting him. His claws hung there in midair, ready to deal a semi-lethal blow, shaking in indesisiveness.

Slapping his own forehead, he reached down and nerviously petted her.This isen't what I was planning. Why can't I just.

"No," he sounded with a bit of solemly sad tone. " I suppose I don't have to kill you. Finding good help these days is just so difficult." He hunched over, beating down his wings. "I am going to need you back home, however. Climb on."

His eyes clearly showing that he was still testing her

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia was suprised by her Lord once more but did not show anything but obediance not wanting to change his mind. as you will .. she stood and gathered her things before climbing upon his massave figure... holding on as he took to the air.

 

[swordandsandle]

Hark had experenced flight before, but neve like this.

When he had been flying, it was in the form of a clumsy imp or bird, forced to constently exert his main appendages to fly. Now, with the only irritation coming from Celia's movement on his back, he was free to glide on the thermal currents, beating his mighty wings only occasionally.

His thoughts fleeted back to Nuttsy for a moment, who'm he'd placed in his tent before he'd left. Still, he wondered what would happen to his faithful comanion if he should be gone too long.

He also had a fleeting thought of doing a spin, dumping Celia into the cold hard earth below. This was promptly ignored, however, as he turned his head slightly to converse with her.

"This Magus you spoke of," he asked, feigning a slight bit of ignorance. " He used no magic on me. Can you be shure that is what he was?" He tipped over to his side a bit, casuing Celia to slid slowly toward the edge of his back and the near mile drop below.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia held on for dear life as her lord flew with her over the land and answered his question.. That is what he called himself when he appeared .. he was looking for you.. his companion a thrush said he was looking to complete a task by domanating the fire spirit or the dragon it guarded i refused to tell him anything... i can be extreamly stubborn my lord..

She felt herself sliding down his back then unable to hold on as he turned.. she felt a moment of panic as she began to fall but refused to scream insted she closed her eyes and held her breath praying she wasnt about to die.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Freya

Freya received a message from Celia that she was healed and that the dragon had delt with the Magus and she was safe with him now.. but Freya wasnt sure if that were true or not..

she would wait and see she had time she would find Dea and then check on Celia again before summoning the others.. it was the best she could do. Something just didnt feel right..

 

[DeaMSmith]

Dea was now up and about but he was still in no shape to do anything as he sat down again and sighed. his body in pain and his heart also in pain as he wonder what to do as he sighed.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Freya

Freya searched for weeks looking for Dea, but with no luck or clues as to where he might be if he had survived the attack by the Magus she decided to return to her lake where she belonged and hope that if Dea lived .. when he was well enough he would come find her..

It felt good to be home again she stripped down and dove into her lake the water clean and pure.. felt ohhhh so wonderful against her skin.. she swam for hours before getting out to dry before gathering her clothing and going into her cave near a water fall that fed her lake not more than a mile or two away from her lake.

She entered her home and sought her bed.. tomorrow she would visit her brother the earth wealders temple and see if he would speak to her.. there was much on her mind.. part of her was torn between thinking Celia had been tricked and trusting her sisters judgement..

 

[DeaMSmith]

It had been about 4 weeks now and Dea was about to go as a Knight came over to him. He told Dea he need to know how to fight but Dea didn't like to fight but he did need to know how to so for a other 3 weeks Dea lean how to fight and made his way to the lake where he meet freya for the first time but it was late and the lake was shining from the moon light as Dea laid down to rest but he fell a sleep,

 

[swordandsandle]

On the Wings of a Dragon

Wow, she really thinks I'm a dragon Hark dove downward, wings withdrawn, to land in what appered to be a fairly safe site. This could work after all.

"Domination..." he forced himself to apper deep in thought. "I have met with such mages, even been summoned by them, long before I came upon you and your siblings." he bent over, allowing the most likly rattled Celia to reaqant herself with the ground. "Tell me, little one, what have I ever told you of the Warlock caste?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia was winded and it took her a bit to get to her feet and speak a look of concentration and confusion on her features..

you have told us noting my lord.. our people served you for generations before our village was distroyed.. you rescued those of us who were left and gave us our powers to protect ourselves and you should there be need..

we heard no more from you until now.. and have only faced fools and knights.............. until Hark appeared.. none with any real power came forward, so none of us really know what are limitations are.. i have never had to use so much energy in battle before.

Celia answered puzzled by his question... was he testing her... shouldnt he already know what he had taught them and what he hadnt...

 

[swordandsandle]

Celia was winded and it took her a bit to get to her feet and speak a look of concentration and confusion on her features..

you have told us noting my lord.. our people served you for generations before our village was distroyed.. you rescued those of us who were left and gave us our powers to protect ourselves and you should there be need..

we heard no more from you until now.. and have only faced fools and knights.............. until Hark appeared.. none with any real power came forward, so none of us really know what are limitations are.. i have never had to use so much energy in battle before.

Celia answered puzzled by his question... was he testing her... shouldnt he already know what he had taught them and what he hadnt...

"I thought I had not, they are thankfully rare," Hark nodded, just to show that he had been conferming a point. "That was my error. Sit down," he tapped a nearby tree stump with the tip of his wing. "And I will tell you all I know."

He waited until she set herself down, and then began to calmly, and with a hint of self-distain, speak. "The Warlock Caste in my time was simply six individuals thoughout existance, those who had passed the trechoras training nessicery to bend the beings of other realms to their whim," he spoke slowly and carefully, as if recalling some long ago memory, but in truth making sure he diden't give away too much. "They could take the shape of creatures, creatures I have never seen since. None of them, however, looked as though they had come from this world, I personally do not beleive they can do so. They can be anything they want, and have a mad megalomania. I had hoped you would never meet one," he hung his head. "I was wrong."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia

Celia looked at her lord with suprise.. she had never thought he could be wrong.. but he was admitting it.. My Lord if there are so few of these beings as you say.. then you were not wrong.. had you warned us we might have prepaired for an enemy that might never have shown..

the chances of one of them coming for us were very slim..

i do not fault you, but now i can send word to the others and we can all be prepaired.. train together.. and help each other to build our skills and fighting abilitys..so we can prevent another attack in future..

Celia began planning in her head different stratagies, and going over different strenghts and weakensses each of them had.. we thought seperating would make it harder for our enemies to locate all of us should there be an attack and make it harder for them to find you lord,, but now i begin to think there is more strenght in our numbers..

She looked up at him with trust her loyalty still fully placed with him even tho he could have taken her life.. what would you have me do lord.. if you wish me to renew my oath and swear fealty to you once more i shall do so..

 

[swordandsandle]

Wow, Hark caught himself thinking. This woman really trusts me. Or rather, she trusts who she thinks I am. Maybe I shoulden't...

Then, his brain took control again.

She had just offered him what he needed; a ritual of loyalty. If he could complete it, not only would he gain the power of a full magus, but above and beyhond a simple decree of domination this would bind her to his soul for all eternity.

"Yes yes," he mumbled absentmindedly as he lowered himself down, looking at her face to face. "Perhaps I was a bit too hard on myself. I do beleive your loyality was proved enough, but if it would erase the doupt from your mind, I would be glad to renew our pact."

Lifting her up by the back of the shirt, he swung her back onto his back. "We will go to the volcano, and do such things there."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Celia held on tightly once more hoping she wouldnt slide off again this time as the dragon took of into the sky with her this time returning to her home. When they landed she slid down from his back being careful not to tear his wings in the process.

she moved around so that she was infront of him and drawing.. a small wicked looking dagger from her waist she sliced her arm offering an exchange of blood. while saying the ritual binding words of loyalty..

When the blood exchange was done she then put the dagger away and pulled the sword hilt from behind her back where she had it sheathed she called forth the blue flame from it once more, laying it against her wound to seal it..

Looking up at her lord she smiled and nodded saying.. It is done Lord i am as i always have been yours.. and bowed to him..

 

[swordandsandle]

Something was wrong with this picture.

She was so loyal, so trusting that she had brought harm to herself for the sole purpose of proving these things. It seemed, illogical somehow. At the moment, however, her emotions where the least of his issues. Something strange was welling up within himself as well; rising from the pit of his stomech and into his head. Her movements where so, elegant. Her manner so, feminan. It was as though he had an itch that only she could scratch, and would probebly be a bit uncomfortable doing so.

What had been done would have surfised days, even moments ago, for what he dreamed of. Now that wasen't enough, he needed her and everything she had to offer.

"Yes," he absentmindedly found himself licking at Celia's spilt blood. " This pleases me." he drapped his wing over her, kneeling deeply so he could be close. " My child, always and forever."