Entwined Fates (Editing)

Chapter Four

"Left!"

 "Down!"

"Faster!" I yelled at Driana, while I raised my bow, and sent the arrow flying at the last target. She followed my orders perfectly, until we reached the end of the training course.

"Well done! Your time is 1 minute and 37 seconds. First try, and you're five seconds away from stealing the title of the fastest."

"Who's the fastest?" Rhys smirked.

"I am. 1 minute, 32 seconds, but I trained for weeks and weeks. This is your first try." I smiled at his praise and slid off Driana before turning my attention to Eli, who was racing through hoops of fire and dodging flying missiles. He blocked another flaming ball with his swords, and urged Alarn to go faster. They zipped across the finish line in a blur of scales and wings.

"1 minute, 43 seconds! Not bad for such a large dragon!" Eli patted Alarn who flew off, with Driana tagging along.

"Well that's it for today. Tomorrow, you'll be going up against a few of our elemental knights. I was thinking we could do water and earth beings first, then fire the day after. But for now, you're free to go." We bowed, and Eli and I hurriedly ran home.

"Time to test our plan."

"If it works, I'll be suitor-free for a while. If it doesn't, then it's back to boring dinners with over-aged men..." I silently prayed for my mother to believe us. I entered through the front door, and changed into a gown. My mother's eyes followed me as I floated down the stairs.

"Arithia, you look very fancy tonight." She looked taken back, seeing me in a gown willingly.

"I'm meeting someone. He should be here soon."

"Really? You're meeting someone without my consent?" she shrieked. I pursed my lips. So I need consent, but you don't? I was biting my tongue to keep my smart comments to myself when a loud knocking could be heard throughout the house.

"That must be him!" I scurried towards the door, and my mother followed me, much to my displeasure. I pulled the heavy, oak door open, to reveal a dashing Eli.

"Hello, Ari." He kissed my cheek lightly.

"Ms. DeFlanne, it's a pleasure to see you." He kissed my mother's hand, and she blushed. Blushed!

"Shall we go?"

"That would be lovely," he replied. I tucked my arm into his, waved goodbye at my mother, and we set off on a walk in the fields. The wind combed through the grass like a mother stroking her daughter's hair. Or at least a mother who loved her daughter for who she was, not for the wealth she could bring.

"Thank god that's over," I groaned, pulling my arm away from Eli. But instead of letting me go, we wrapped his arm around my waist and smiled at me, thankfully not saying anything. I felt a blush coming on, so I ducked my head. We made our way around the edge of our empty land, but it was over far too soon. Eli plucked a small purple wildflower and tucked it behind my ear before I entered our house. Instead of throwing it out, I felt a need to keep it. I placed into a small tin of water, and placed it beside my bed before I climbed, and pulled the sheets over me.

"Ari! Get up!"

"Shut it, Eli." I rolled over in my bed, not wanting to leave my cocoon of warmth.

"Don't make me jump on you, milady." He over exaggerated the last word. When I didn't make a move, he kept true to his promise, and threw his body on top of mine.

"Fine! I'm up!" He grinned, and rolled off the bed, brushing off imaginary dust from his clothing.

"You are a pest." He answered with silence. I cracked an eye open, to find him staring intently at my hand.  I raised it up to get a good look at it, and gasped. The black and gold dragons were even more visible now, the gold ring surrounding them was glimmering, and there was a fire in the back ground. But what struck me the most? They were moving. The flames seemed to be flickering, and the two dragons circled each other, entwining their bodies occasionally.