Book of Ellagar

Chapter 26 : Mother

Before she could respond, a low growl rumbled through the air, vibrating the ground beneath their feet. The shadows coalesced, forming a massive, dark shape. Ellagar's breath caught in her throat as the figure took form—a large black dragon, her eyes glowing with malevolent intent, emerged from the darkness, ready to pounce.

Ellagar's heart raced as she recognized the dragon. "Verak," she called, her voice trembling. "My Verak!" She yelled to the black dragon spirit. "Let my youngling go, spirit. Go to your rest!" Ellagar tried a spell, and the effect bounced off the dragon. 

The dragon's eyes narrowed, focusing on Ellagar with a burning hatred. "Pawn," she hissed, her voice a chilling blend of Verak's and the ancient dragon's. "You, who worked with Grandmother, you will pay for your betrayal."

Ellagar's mind raced, trying to find a way to protect Ardvek. "Stay close to me," she whispered to him, her voice filled with urgency. "We need to move now."

The dragon charged, her massive form barreling towards them. Ellagar and Ardvek evaded, narrowly avoiding the dragon's claws. The ground shook with the force of her attack, sending debris flying.

"Ardvek, run!" Ellagar shouted, pushing him towards a safer path. She turned to face the dragon, her heart pounding with fear and determination.

The dragon's tail lashed out, sweeping Ellagar aside. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to stand, her eyes locked on the dragon.

"You are mine, Ardvek," the dragon growled, her voice filled with possessive fury. "You belong to me."

Ardvek's eyes widened with fear, but he stood his ground, clutching The Wren tightly in his hand. "I am not yours," he shouted, his voice trembling but defiant. "You may be my egg-mother, but you have no claim. I am my own. I am Ellagar's."

The dragon's eyes blazed with anger. "You have twisted his mind, pawn. I will reclaim my hatchling!" She roared, her voice filled with rage. She lunged towards Ellagar, her massive claws aimed for a killing strike. Ellagar braced herself, knowing she couldn't evade in time.

Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted between them. Thelara's spirit, glowing with the power of the Mother Tree, intervened in a blaze of power. "You will not harm her," Thelara's voice rose, filled with strength and resolve. Thelara became a glowing force, and she deflected the claw. 

The dragon recoiled, momentarily blinded by the light. Ellagar took the opportunity to scramble to her feet, her heart pounding with relief and gratitude.

"Thelara, thank you," Ellagar whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Thelara's voice was surprised and gentle in her mind. "I had no idea I could do that! We are in this together, Ellagar. Always."

But the dragon's fury still raged. She turned her attention to Ardvek, her eyes narrowing with malevolent intent. "You are mine," she repeated, her voice a chilling whisper. "Come to me, my youngling,"

Ellagar stepped forward, her eyes burning with anger. "He is not yours," she shouted, her voice filled with defiance. "He is my youngling, just like Verak. You have no claim over them!"

The dragon's eyes glinted with malice. "You pathetic half-dragon, you think you can protect them?" she mocked. "You, who worked with Grandmother, she who betrayed her own kind? They are mine, Ellagar." The spirit spat out the words. "They are my younglings, and they will be mine forever."

Ellagar's heart burned with fury. "I have been their mother," she retorted, her voice shaking with emotion. "I have protected them, fought for them, loved them, and I will not let you take them from me!"

At Ellagar's words, the dragon clutched a claw to her head, as if something fought her mind. Ellagar heard the dragon's groan as she struggled for control. "No," she called in defiance. "You are mine, Verak. I need this body."

Verak's voice, pained and defiant, echoed through the dragon's mouth. "I am not yours. I am not a puppet. I am my own."

Ellagar's heart wrenched at the sound of Verak's voice. "Verak," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "Stay strong, my youngling."

The dragon regained control, "Enough. Ardvek, come to me hatchling. Let us all be one!"

The dragon's left claw shot out, grabbing Ardvek and lifting him into the air. He struggled, his eyes wide with fear. "Clutch-mother, help!" he cried, his voice filled with desperation. The dragon's claw tightened, and Ellagar could feel the dragon channel.

Ardvek burst into flames. The magical energy was all around him as the black dragon tried to absorb Ardvek into her body. Ardvek screamed in fright. 

Ellagar's heart ached as she watched, helpless. "Ardvek, no!" she shouted, her voice breaking with emotion. She saw the vision from the maze in her mind. Then she saw the flames were not burning Ardvek. The Wren glowed with protective magic. 

Desperation in his eyes, Ardvek looked at glowing Wren in his hand. Then she saw determination in his eyes and his fierce resolve to save his brother. "Verak, I am going to free you!" he shouted, his voice burning steel. With all his strength, he smashed The Wren into the dragon's claw. The crystal shards drove through the dragon's scales, embedding deep into her flesh.

The dragon roared in pain, her grip on Ardvek loosening. Ardvek channeled the energy of the Mother Tree into the dragon's claw, the power surging through him. The dragon's claw began to transform, the dark scales receding and revealing Verak's human hand. The scales fell like black rain, pouring down and ringing like anvils as they hit the ground.

Then Grandmother's voice suddenly echoed, cold and commanding from inside the dragon. "Why do you resist fate, daughter? There is a greater destiny."

The dragon's eyes widened with shock and fury. "No! Get out of my head!" she screamed, her voice a blend of Verak's and the ancient dragon's. "You have no right; you stole my eggs. Your depraved cult murdered me—they tried to control me. Get out of my head! This is all your doing."

The dragon staggered back. She dropped Ardvek, who fell hard to the ground, gasping for breath. The dragon fought for control as once more Verak's voice rang out. "I am not yours," he called. His voice was strengthening. "I will be free."

The dragon reeled, her form flickering between Verak and the black dragon. Energy flared all around her like sheets of lightning. Then everything settled as she regained control. With a final, enraged roar, she turned and fled into the darkness, her massive wings beating the air. "I will find you, Ardvek, and we will finish this youngling!"

Ellagar rushed to Ardvek's side, her heart pounding with relief. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling. She tenderly examined him for wounds or broken bones. 

Ardvek nodded, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. "I... I think so," he said, his voice weak but steady. "We did it, Ellagar. We drove the dragon away."

Ellagar hugged him tightly, her heart filled with gratitude and love. "Yes, we did," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "But we haven't saved Verak yet. And Grandmother still seems to be playing games."

Ardvek's eyes filled with tears as he looked at the shattered remains of The Wren, the two crystal fledglings in his hand. "I'm sorry, Ellagar," he said, his voice choked with guilt. "I lost The Wren. I thought it would save him."

Thelara's voice echoed around them, soothing and reassuring. "The Wren has done its task—the shards inside the dragon will let us free Verak. It has awakened him, and he now fights inside her mind."

Ellagar gently cupped his face, her eyes filled with compassion. "You did what you had to do, Ardvek. You were brave, and you saved us. We have hope now, and we will find a way to save Verak. "

As they stood in the clearing, the echoes of the dragon's roar fading into the night, Ellagar knew that this was far from over. The fate of Verak, and perhaps the entire world, still hung in the balance. With Thelara's spirit guiding her, Ellagar knew she could face whatever challenges lay ahead. They would find the black dragon spirit and end this. 

Ardvek looked up, startled and in wonder, "Ellagar, Verak speaks to me! I know where they are going." Then his expression darkened: "She wants the power of the Mother Tree—she goes to claim it."