His Apprentice (The Dragon Prince Fanfiction)

Prelude: A Different Life

Centuries before Aaravos' imprisonment

"Master? Where are we going?" I whined, chasing after him.

Aaravos sighed. He'd started to do that a lot recently. Was I becoming annoying because I was a teenager?

He spun around, his dark cloak whipping behind him. "Elluin we're going to Elarion. Like I said this morning?" he said, as if he were trying to jog my memory.

I placed my hand on the strap of my satchel. "You didn't mention anything this morning," I muttered, "you just said it was time to leave." He had become very forgetful recently and almost presumed I had telepathic powers like dragons do-and I am not a dragon.

Aaravos pinched the bridge of his nose. "Right... I'm sorry. I've just been very busy with Ziard's project."

We started walking again. "The 'project' he so desperately needs the Archmage to help him with? Why can't he just do it himself, if he wants the 'project' finished so badly?" I was becoming irritated with this human 'mage'. He visited almost every day and made demands about the project, asking Aaravos to have it done quickly, when he had done all but nothing to aid its completion-whatever it was. And every time he'd visit, he'd eye me disgustedly and insist I leave, even if it was in the middle of a lesson.

He drew in a sharp breath. "Elluin, you need to calm down. Once the project is finished, Ziard will be out of our lives, I promise."

Crossing my arms, I said, "I don't like this, Aaravos. I can see such darkness in him. Whatever this project is, I hope it doesn't bring more harm than good."

"That makes two of us."

I glanced at him. Was that regret in his voice?

"So, what is this project?" It was a question I had been wanting to ask for months.

Aaravos hesitated. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

He glanced at the long object on his back, wrapped in burlap and string. "It's best you don't know."

I looked at the path ahead of us, Elarion was just beyond this hill, I had travelled enough times to the city with Aaravos to know where it was from here.

Aaravos looked up at the hill and reached inside his cloak, pulling out a small bag of coins. "Go to Elarion and find somewhere to eat, I'll catch up with you later."

I followed his gaze. "You're meeting him here?"

"Just take the money, Elluin. I'll see you in Elarion." He placed the coins in my hand and started up the hill.

I frowned and did I was told, tucking away the bag under my cloak.

*-*-*-*

Aaravos' stead galloped ahead of mine as the moon lit our path dark overgrown forest path.

"Master, what's happening?" I called out. He had woken me up in the middle of the night in a panic, saying someone was coming and that they knew everything. He muttered about his regret in making something and making it for 'him'.

He said nothing, just kept moving.

"Aaravos!" I called.

"The Mage Council is hunting me," he shouted above the steads' hooves and the sounding his cloak.

"Why?"

He didn't respond. What had he done?

I reined my mount to a stop. He released a snort of displeasure.