Oriana, Girl of Legend

Chapter Ten

Styl thrashed in her sleep as pain began to engulf her. Her rider needed her and she could not be there for him. He was hurting and he was beginning to feel her imprint and was rejecting it unbeknownst to him. His hatred for dragons and their riders was still strong and it was hurting her, killing her.

Drakon's eyes filled with tears as he watched the one he loved dying before his eyes. He prayed to whatever deity created them that Oriana could reach Tristan in time before the imprint killed both him and Styl.

"It hurts, eem tuklu." Styl cried as she wailed her painful song.

Drakon, in his dragon form, moved to cuddle up to the golden dragon, trying to pull what pain he could from her and to give her strength. He heard her sigh as the pain lifted a little bit where she could endure it.

"Why is he rejecting me?" she asked after a few moments. "Why does he hate us so?"

Drakon laid his head on her neck as she laid her tired head down. "Bryne and Salome hurt him deeply. I think it will take him time to accept any of this. Oriana is on her way to help him."

"Do you think she will be able to convince him?" Styl asked softly as she fought back the tears.

Drakon rubbed his head into Styl's neck, trying to fill his love with some sort of comfort. "I hope so. This would be her first miracle."

Please help him, Oriana and be the woman of legend and miracles. Styl silently pleaded with the woman who literally held her fate in her hands.

Tristan leaned his body against his bedroom wall as he felt like he was going to vomit. He had never felt such pain in his long life and he could not figure out why he was hurting so badly.

"Tristan, are you okay?" Elveena asked, her voice was full of concern and watched as he started to dry heave, his body convulsing under the action and pain.

Tristan fell to his knees and fought against whatever was keeping him from Oriana to reach her, even if only to hear her voice one last time.

Don't you dare! Her alto voice broke through into his mind and he could have cried upon hearing her voice. It had been three days since he last heard from her and it felt like torture to him. Hang in there; I am on my way, almost there.

I don't know if I can hold out.

I don't care what you know, don't give up until I get there. I won't forgive you if you die.

Tristan wanted to smile or laugh at her words, but the pain was horrible and he fell to his side as his aunt fell to her knees next to him, one hand on his shoulder and the other pushing his hair from his pale face that was getting paler each minute.

"Your Majesty?" Ari asked from the doorway. "Is there anything we can do?"

Elveena stood up and faced Ari and his friend Jack. "Move him to the bed and then as soon as Oriana arrives, bring her immediately here."

Ari and Jack moved to lift the prince who cried out in pain as they lifted him and laid him on the bed where Elveena sat beside him and held his hand as if she could give him what strength she had to help him.

"May we ask who this Oriana is?" Jack asked before they left them.

"Our savior." Elveena answered quickly and reverently, her eyes never leaving Tristan's face.

Ari turned to Jack, his eyes wide. "The legend is true. Come, we better hurry so we can be there when they arrive."

Jack nodded and the two ran from the room and down the hall, as Tristan's cries grew louder as he fought against the pain and trying to hold on until Oriana could get to him. But he was feeling it was going to be a battle of wills that he wouldn't be able to win.