Of Spinning Gold and Song

| Ten | The Sister

My vision whipped upwards to see my beloved little sister peeking out at me from behind an enormous pile of gold. Without even thinking, I was on my feet sprinting towards her, and she the same. I stumbled over a few trinkets on the floor but kept moving. Nothing could stop me from reaching Rosie.

Before long and yet after far too long, she was in my arms as I enveloped her in an enormous hug. I never wanted to let go; I would hold on to her forever lest she disappear again. I despised of the dwarf for ruining my life in so many ways, yet I mentally sent a thousand prayers and thanks that he had not lied.

Anyone would have thought I was crazy. Dragons ate maidens; the beast had only taken Rosie instead of eating her because we had frightened it that day in the square. But I had refused to believe what had seemed obvious and I had been rewarded; despite the long hard week that had passed the two of us were reunited.

Something in the back of my mind it registered that this couldn't be good. If Rosie wasn't dead, then that meant the dragon, perhaps just this one or perhaps even all dragons, wanted her for something else. But I shut that out of my thoughts. Augustin was slaying the beast at this very second and then it wouldn't matter a moment longer. Besides, I would never let Rosie out of my sight again. No more trouble for us. I'd had enough for a lifetime in the past seven days.

"Are you okay?" I asked, pulling her away and holding on to her shoulders, still unwilling to let go. I was looking almost directly in her eye; I took after Mam in that I was petite, while Rosie was more average like Pap. Even though she was six years younger that I, she stood barely shorter than my not quite five feet. "I was so scared that you'd be dead. But of course you're not; you're a fighter like me. Oh, did it hurt you? Oh, Rosie."

"Don't freak out," she said by means of reply. "I'm okay. He won't hurt me."

"He? He?" I could hear my voice going shrill but disregarded it. "Are you referring to that beast that kidnapped you as a he?" Rosie had always been kind, too kind. Unwilling to smash even a tiny ant, always wanting to spend time with animals. Everyone in my family--everyone who knew Rosie at all--had cherished her kind heart. It was what made her remarkable in this cruel world. But this--this was just too much.

"Don't be mean. As you can see, I'm perfectly fine. The dragon is my friend. Do you want to come with us?"

It took a moment for her words to register. "Do I what? You're coming home with me right now. You are not going to stay with the dragon. It's a murdering monster! Family is first no matter what."

She frowned for a moment. "You don't understand. But that's okay, I don't fully understand either. I just know that I have to help him. No one else can. He's not a beast. He's just misunderstood. He doesn't want to be a monster."

"Rosie, don't be ridiculous. How could you be communicating with a dragon? You're twelve; you need to stop acting like a child with imaginary friends right now. This could cost your life."

She shook her head vehemently. "That's why I have to stay. People don't understand. It's not your fault."

I opened my mouth but found myself at a loss for words. How could I convey this? She was still so young, still didn't understand. Perhaps that was my fault; perhaps I had sheltered her too much. I didn't know. I just knew I needed to get us both out of there immediately before we both became the brute's brunch.

"Ro," said Bradyn, seeming to materialize from where I had forgotten about him and referring to Rosie by his special nickname for her. Honestly, I was surprised that she let him call her that. I had tried it once and she had very nearly bitten my head off. But she had always adored Bradyn so I prayed she would listen to him right now. "Your sister is right. We just want the best for you."