Mate of the Dragon God

Chapter One: No Proposal

Frigid, unpleasant water soaked through Auria's apron as she struggled to lift the heavy bucket from the well. Always on top of chores, she had recognized that the tub in the kitchen was empty, needing the well water which she currently struggled with. Having a large supply of water accessible in the kitchen meant preventing the struggle she was experiencing at the moment. It certainly wouldn't be easy to fetch water while also keeping pork from burning on the stovetop while cooking dinner, keeping the kitchen tub was proactive. She had wished her brother possessed the foresight to fill the tub, especially since he was a touch stronger than she was, but alas, it always ended up as her additional work, work that was never acknowledged as such because it was work she deemed necessary when nobody else seemed to.

Oftentimes, when she was feeling particularly bitter about her efforts she'd imagine what her family would do without her. Though, soon after she would begin her daydreams she'd realize the matters she concerned herself with would probably mean little to them. Her brother would simply fetch the water during cooking, feeling little of the annoyance she felt, maybe minorly burning any food or maybe possessing the physical strength to carry the water back before anything even sizzled. Her mother would leave the cobwebs in the rafters, and think nothing of the spiders that hid in the ceiling since she never looked that way. Her father would not care if the rags became musty bunched up hither and thither rather than hanged and dry.

The things that Auria concerned herself with were either out of sight or out of mind, sometimes both. Maybe it was a sign that she did too little so she found the need to focus on unneeded tasks, and to nurse her ego and sense of belonging she told herself that they were important tasks she wished the whole household kept. After all, her brother was soon to be wed, and yet he was three entire years younger than she. Her mother was a baker and her father was a blacksmith, Auria lived a comfortable life but not one that did not risk starvation in a famine. Her parents pleaded with her to wed, but no suitors proposed and Auria was not one to seek.

Auria was an average girl with unkempt hair. If she put in effort she could become beautiful in her ways, as most women could. However, she found herself uncomfortable and embarrassed at the attention, especially sexual advances from potentially interested parties. She had a way of making herself unappealing, hunching her shoulders, and rounding her posture to conceal her breasts. Her teeth were slightly crooked, and her hair was washed rarely. Despite all these things, when she could stand with confidence, her eyes were shining and beautiful with thick long lashes, and her hair cascaded around her chubby cheeks like a doll.

Her mother urged her to make herself desirable to suitors, and Auria had tried. But, she found better things to do. Fill the tub in the kitchen, sweep the rafters, hang the laundry, and recently she'd been exchanging things she'd foraged in the woods behind her family's home for the religious text she began to collect and read. Books were often reserved for nobility, recording history and stories only for a select few. However, the church had taught the children in the village how to read solely to know the religious texts. Auria found that when she read them they captivated her mind.

Because of this, she was sure she was meant to become a nun. She thought it would be a noble profession, one that would open doors for her while doing good. She was fascinated by the God that her kingdom worshiped, one of fire and flame who carved the lands with heat and gave life to the people who lived in the cold landscape of the Pangorian Empire. Her parents were not pleased with this, however, not as pleased as Auria was.

"You are too pretty a woman to hole yourself in a nunnery," her mother clicked as Auria poured her more tea. She had gathered her parents in the kitchen, hoping the tea would be a suitable drink for the life announcement.

"You'll make no money that way, how will you help the family," her father spat, not even reaching for the tea she had prepared. "And you are a commoner from a common family, when the winter becomes cold you will be one of the last mouths of the nunnery fed." Auria sat solemnly. She could not argue with her father, he was right that the commoner priests and priestesses would not be held to high standards. Her life would likely be harder than it was currently, with less food, less warmth... no family surrounding her. Still, at least she would be useful outside of marriage and helping her mother run the bakery.

Being twenty-two and unwed made Auria nigh a pariah. It was pure selfishness that kept her daydreaming a fanciful life as a nun at the priory, the same that made her unable to exchange flirts with young men who approached her.

"I know that it is not a wise decision..." Auria began. But she had nothing else to say. She dropped her eyes to the floor. She wished that she would stand up for her desire to study more of the religious texts she had become fond of, but it was purely selfish. She needed to think about the family. Rather than make a silly mistake purely for mystical fascinations. She closed her mouth which was slightly ajar, making the decision seem final, the confirmation her parents needed to know that it was only a young woman's hopeful daydreams.

"I'll be off; I have work to do," her father grumbled in a low tone, standing and leaving the drink she made for him untouched. He stormed off without a backward glance at further discussion. Her mother let out a soft sigh.

"It's better to keep your feet planted here in family soil than have your head in the clouds thinking of a God," her mother spoke, patting her hand gently. Her mother took a sip of tea and released another tired sign. "I know Peter's marriage has shaken you, but you are still welcome here, you will never need to go to the Church." Auria sat in her father's abandoned seat, picking up his cup for him and taking a small sip solemnly. "Speaking of the church, the solstice is soon, why don't you try to find a nice young man from a neighboring village?" Her mother likely brought this up because Auria had already avoided the detection of many of the young men in her village. She had garnered a bit of a reputation that she wasn't worth even bedding, needless to say, no one wanted to wed her.

"I don't want to find a young man..." Auria sighed, brushing her finger up and down the cup.

"And why not? Why is it that you won't?" Auria could tell that her mother was becoming frustrated. It was only reasonable, the marriage of a daughter is how the family brought in more wealth. With Peter's marriage, they would only be losing to pay his new wife's dowry. With each year, Auria's dowry grew less and less.

"A man... They make me nervous." Her mother gave her a quizzing look. "I know what they desire of me, I feel like they only mean to use me. It makes me frightened... and to love one, they're a stranger." Her mother sighed once more.

"Again, an act of selfishness... don't you see that having food is more important than-" her mother stopped as she realized her voice was raised to a shout. The frustration was taking hold of her, and she stopped herself to calm her nerves. She grabbed the cup of tea with a tight grip and drank the rest of it without speaking. When she had finished Auria took both cups to clean them. "Come help me in the bakery, work must still be done." Auria nodded, knowing it would be a long day of rumination.