A Dragons Mate

4

Dark woods

Maddie stood at the top of the cliff looking down at her cousin,Luke. She smiled and jumped. She did a backflip and was ready to land on the ground. But before she did and gust of wind came and swooped her up and helped her land on the ground safely.

She placed her hands on her hips and gave her cousin a smile. He gave her a sneer and started to climb to show her how its done.

"That's nothing,Mads. I can do it better," he said reaching for a rock. His hand slipped and he started to fall.He closed his eyes and waited for his life to end. And he was so young.He opened his eyes to find a fallen tree and Maddie sitting on it giving him a playful look.

He looked to see what saved him and saw it was a bush. He smiled with a toothy grin and she got up and walked off. He ran after her and walked beside her. She looked at him. He was taller and looked a bit more fit than she was, but she was the real stud.

Every guy wanted her, and every girl wanted to burn her to flames, but she was the dukes daughter. So nobody touched or went near her without her permission. But she was waiting for him. The right one for her. She hasnt found him yet, but she was waiting.

As she jumped off of a small cliff, a little girl with fiery red hair came running to her. Her name was Alice,or Ally as Maddie called her sometimes. She had a smile on her face once she saw her sister figure walking along the path.

"Alice,"Maddie said as she kneeled to hug her friend. She considered Alice a little sister, and Alice didnt mind one bit since she had 3 older brothers. She needed a sister around, and Maddie was perfect.

"Maddie,"She said as she was lifted off her feet."Hi,Luke,"She said over Maddies shoulder. He gave her a smile and waved at her."Maddie,Your mom wants you back to the village, right away,"She said.

Maddie handed Alice over to Luke and ran off towards her home. It was dark a lot, but it was also welcoming at times. She entered the gates of her home and looked all around. Their village was built on a hill. So she had to climb several stairs to reach the top. It was flat and long, but the hill wasnt that tall. As if to hide from others that may fly overhead.

She greeted the dragons as she passed along,waving and smiling. She looked at the kids running along and playing. She wanted little ones of her own one day. Maybe even adopted kids. She was about to step when a little kid was pushed into her and knocked her off her feet.

As she looked over to look at the child, she noticed her father coming out of the homes along the top of the hill. She glanced over to see a little boy,maybe 5 or 6, looking terrified. She sat on the step and looked at him.

"Im sorry,miss Madison,"He said. She knew he meant it for he was just playing, things like this happen. She opened her arms and he ran into them for a hug. "I accept your apology. Now next time be a little more careful please. And call me Maddie,"She said wiping a tear off his face.

He showed her a smile and placed a kiss on her cheek."Yes, Miss Maddie,"he said then left to go play with his friends once more. But not before waving goodbye to her. She waved back and blew him a small kiss. She stood again and walked up to see her father with a huge smile on his face.

Tony walked into the castle. It was made with a tree surrounding it and it was up in a tree , so his people could have more room to build their homes and shops. He looked over to see his wife reading a book at the end of the table.

She took off her reading glasses and glanced at her daughter. Maddie sat across the table from her mother and her father walked and stood behind Ava, his wife. Ava smiled at her husband and looked back at her daughter who was giving her mother a look that said hurry up.

"Ava,dear, you will never guess what Maddie did today,"Tony told his wife.

"What did our little girl do,Tony?"She asked placing her head on her finger.

"She was knocked over by a little boy, and he was so scared that she calmed him down and sent him on his way,"He said looking back across the table.

"Maddie, I am so proud of you. Look at how old you are getting and how proper you are,"Ava said, Standing and bringing her daughter in for a hug. Maddie knew she was getting better at becoming a lady like figure, and she didnt mind it for the younger girls in the village. But she still like being a guy at times, running around, jumping off of stuff, she loved it.

She got it from her mother. Ava loved to do everything with her brothers, she loved to do every little game that they did. It was how she met Tony."Thats great, mom. But why did you call me here?"She asked.

"Maddie, that is no..."Tony started, but his wife cut him off.

"Tony, its ok. I was like that to my mother and father when I was her age. She was just having fun. Maddie, it is about time that you find someone to marry,"Ava said leaning in her chair as she waited for the screams and banter from her daughter. Those same words that she had said when her mother and father had the same talk with her.

But Maddie said nothing. She didnt say a word, she just stood there with her mouth open and she looked at her parents. "But mom, dad, Im still waiting for him. I dont want to get married just yet,"She told her parents, sitting back down in her seat.

She folded her hands on her lap and looked down at them. Ava looked at her husband than stood. She walked over to her daughter.She knelt and looked up to find tears streaming down Maddies face. She placed a hand on her daughters hands and lifted her face so Ava could see the bright yellow and rare eyes.

"Maddie, I know you are still waiting for him. And im not saying that you need to get married now. But you are becoming that age when you have to look after our kind. And you need someone to rule with.And if you cant find him in time..."She stated.

"I understand mom. I just dont know if I ready to get married or rule,"Maddie said looking up to find her father walking towards them.

"You want to know something,dragonfly,"Tony asked her. Dragonfly was her nickname when she was little. Her dad still called her that, but Ava thought it wasnt becoming of a duchess in training. But she still liked it when he called Maddie that.

She nodded her head."Your mother wasnt ready either. She honestly wanted to run off and get married far away so she wouldnt have to rule our people. But she stood up and faced that challenge,"Tony said looking at his wife. She gave him a look and he smiled.

She stood up and looked down at her blossoming daughter. "And I had less time to prepare than you have. I had a few weeks and you have had your whole life,"Her mother said and walked out with Tony following.

Maddie stood from her chair and walked outside to see the people staring and smiling at her. She quickly returned the smiles and ran off towards the border that separated the Dark reins from the Dragonlights. She controlled the border with her eyes, which is why yellow eyes are so rare in dragons. It means power, but nobody knows that except her family. She sat on the rock and looked off to the distance.

From where she sat, there was a visual of the castle. It looked so close but it was really far away. She thought about what her mother said. She was right, she had time, much more than Ava had.

She had to find him soon. Before her parents decide her fate.