Dragon Diary

Entry 25: Delivering Beauty

Hello Diary,
It was another beautiful and quiet day here in Angoleth. There have been too many of these lately if you ask me. It just seems so unnatural after living in fear my entire life before now.

I have been trying to keep my mind occupied with trivial tasks around the Palace but most of the servants don't want any help from me. Luckily Arod is always willing to share his chores with me when I feel like I am a little useless. Today he and I were dusting all the shelves in the library, a quite tedious task with so many books in there.

"You would think that dragons would have developed a better way to clean shelves after all this time." I commented once we had spent several hours and only got half way through the huge room.

Arod laughed and shrugged. "I see it as therapeutic. Besides, If we had fancy devices or spells to clean things then what would us servants have left to do?"

He had a point, though it had me wondering why my father never had it happen just to turn the servants into soldiers. I shrugged and continued dusting a shelf as I held up several books with my other paw and a few others with my tail. I finished that shelf and returned the books to it carefully. Before I continued to the next I sighed and turned to look up at my green friend.

"How is Eira doing? I have not heard from Cand in several days. You must know what is going on. Is everything alright with the baby?" My worrying mind could not wait any longer for some news. Arod could see the concern on my face and sighed.

"The last I checked on them was yesterday. Eira has been in a lot of pain. I think the baby is coming some time today. Cand has not left her side since the complications began and ordered most of us to give them their space." His purple eyes showed concern as well. I saw a shiver rush through him but he didn't mention it.

"Arod, this can wait. I want to go see them. Please, just for a moment. I won't hang around and get in the way, I swear." I begged, tears forming in my eyes. He had to understand that they were my family and I felt like I should be there with them.

"I don't know. Eira is very sensitive right now. She would bite off my..."

"Arod!" I said in a more angry tone. "I need to see my family, now not later!" I demanded sternly. "I am not afraid of the Queen. I will talk to her for a moment and then we can come back here."

Arod shifted nervously but then nodded and turned to lead the way. I followed him with my nose almost touching his tail. I had not seen my adopted mother since the day at the lake. My injuries had made me miss her arrival at the battle.

To my surprise we did not go to the hospital room. Instead, Arod lead me up the grand stairwell to the top floor. The top floor is usually reserved for royalty and guests. Arod stopped in front of the royal chamber door. It was closed and loomed before us.

I knew Cand was now my king but it felt strange to be standing before the door to the one room I had always feared entering. I started to shiver, remembering everything that had transpired the last time I was inside that room. My father had tried to kill me, and I him. I was frozen in place and lost in the memory of my father's terrifying stare.

A painful roar suddenly snapped me back into reality. A moaning wail followed shortly afterwards. My heart skipped at the sound. It was true she was in agonizing pain.

I gulped and held back my fearful tears. Instead of rushing in like a child I stayed where I was so I could evaluate the situation correctly. Using my mind reading powers, I reached out to Eira inside the room. She was not alone. Aside from her mate there were also 2 yellow dragons and 2 green dragons inside the room with her.

"Eira is everything okay? May we come in? Maybe I can help." My mental voice begged her.

"Ruinar? You do not want to see me like this." Was her response. Her voice was faint and seemed distant, probably focusing on something else. Even so I could feel the agony in her words.

"Sir, it is time now."

That had been the stern voice of the golden healer, Cyra. Of course the best healer in Angoleth would be delivering the baby. What worried me was the fact I could hear the nervousness on her voice. I looked at Arod and gave him a nod.

He gently pushed open the door and the two of us slowly entered the room. Inside the room was well lit, much different from what I remembered. The energy in the room was different too. I was not trembling in fear but I was trembling with worry as I smelled the thick stench of blood in the air.

"Is she going to be okay? And the baby?" I asked eagerly to no one in particular. I would've moved closer to the bed but the room was already slightly crowded and I did not want to get in the way of the medics or servants who were scurrying about.

Hearing the sound of my voice Cand lifted his head to look toward us in the doorway. He had fatigue, sadness, and worry all over his face.

"I appreciate your concern, but you should go. I will send for you once the baby is here." Cand said sternly. Then his attention was back on his groaning mate beside him.

Arod tugged at my tail to try and get me to turn back around and leave, but I refused to go. I could not do trivial tasks while Eira's life was hanging in the balance. What kind of dragon would that make me? Luckily no one had their attention on me so no one seemed to notice me lingering.

The room was then suddenly filled with the harsh trill cries of a newborn whelp. Eira shuddered and collapsed back into the bed with exhaustion as the dragon servants cleaned and cared for the baby. Cand nuzzled her lovingly.

It seemed like everything was going fine. The baby was held up in the light by Cyra, who smiled big. "Congrats, it is a girl!" She said happily, then handed the tiny sky blue colored whelp to the king. I think she was the most beautiful dragon I have ever seen. But the mood began to change again. That was when I could sense panic start to set in.

"The baby is perfectly healthy but I can't stop the bleeding." Cyra said fearfully a few moments later. I was not that close to the bed and even I could tell that it was WAY too much blood to be normal. "If it won't stop soon she will die of blood loss." The healer added.

"You must do something, anything!" Cand roared in frustration. "I did not do all of this just to lose my mate during child birth!"

Cyra sighed and shook her head, her eyes full of sorrow. "I have done everything to my ability. There is nothing else to do, short of magic."

I have never seen the king look so helpless and lost. It was not a pretty sight. I suddenly had an idea, but knew they may not like it.

"Where is Kram? He can use his dark magic healing spell." I shouted suddenly. All eyes in the room turned on me and I realized just by their reaction that it was not a option.

"It so happens that after he healed you he said he was not going to use magic any more because I was the king and it is my law. Also it wouldn't make much difference because Kram left yesterday. He said he could not see his sister suffer. I think he would let her die just to spite me."

My heart started pounding in my chest. I knew what I had to do. It was up to me now. I gulped down my anxiety and walked up to the bed. Eira was lying rather limply beside Cand, who was clutching his newborn daughter in one foreleg as he watched me approach.

"Then I have no choice but to do it myself. If I don't then I will live the rest of my life knowing I may have been able to save my Queen's life."

The room fell utterly silent except for the noise of a gurgling newborn whelp. She seemed oblivious to anyone but her father holding her. Before anyone could jump in and stop me I placed one of my tiny paws on Eira's belly.

"Gara Cunar!" I yelled.

The healers and servants took a few steps back as my paw began to give off a white light. I could feel my life energy draining quickly and I held my paw in position for as long as I could. When all my energy had left me I staggered backwards and collapsed on the floor in exhaustion.

Then Arod was at my side dragging me back toward the chamber exit. "Did... Did it work?" I asked tiredly.

"Yeah buddy, the bleeding stopped. She just needs to be resting. Well done." I heard my friend say before my own exhaustion overcame my little body.

(AN: I feel like I should explain that Angoleth dragons are not hatched from eggs. There are actually species of reptiles in real life that have live birth like humans. Rattle snakes are just one example of this. Please vote if you liked this chapter.)