A Dragon's Bond

Aisling

(Firstly, this chapter is dedicated to shadowfax_riders for the amazing artwork of Eulay. I cannot thank you enough.)

I turned my head and looked behind me, expecting to see some grand King walking up, his personality permeating authority. Yet, there was no one there. Who was this King she was speaking to? I turned my head back to the beautiful woman sitting on the throne in front of me.

Her green eyes piercing into my soul, my heart raced as my eyes took her in, she was incredibly beautiful, like no one I had ever seen. As my eyes met hers she just nodded her head, smiling a big smile to reveal pearl white teeth.

"Oh no", I said as I stood abruptly and took a couple steps backwards, running into Dree's side and stopping my withdrawal.

"I did just call you King. You're not actually King yet of course, but your bloodline and mine had an arranged marriage for the two of us many years ago, that was before you disappeared of course."

Disappeared? Well good thing I have never disappeared. I have pretty much known where I am my entire life. Relief washed through me, she thought I was someone else. I chuckled and rested my back against Dree's stomach, sliding to the floor as little beads of sweat that had formed at my hairline began to cool under the winds breath.

"You gave me quite the scare there lady. I regret to inform you that I am not who you think I am. I am an orphan. I grew up in an entirely different part of the world. Thankfully and most importantly, I have never been lost, so clearly this is some strange misunderstanding... Now if you would allow us safe passage out of here, we will be on our way."

Draioct craned his head around until we were eye level.

"You ARE who she is thinking of but that isn't the best part."

A draconic smile crept itself across his face as anticipation shone in his eyes over the next piece of information.

"You're going to be married..."

I wasn't awake long enough to hear him finish. I passed out for the second time in this strange tree people's Kingdom and along with my consciousness... left my dignity.

*****

I awoke in the same hut as last time, for a moment I was completely okay in lying to myself. This was all a bad dream. I didn't get told I am going to be a King, and I didn't get told I was going to marry that gorgeous girl, and lastly but most important, I did not already embarrass myself in front of her by passing out...twice.

Just then Draioct pushed himself to the forefront of my mind, enjoying his newfound ability to make me pass out.

"Hey there lover boy, when is the marriage?"

He poked his head in my hut through the curtain door, flapping his wings to keep himself level with the opening. It wasn't a dream. Thinking quickly I pushed into his mind and forcefully closed one of his wings, causing him to drop a good thirty feet, smacking his chin on the door frame as he fell, before opening his wing again and steadying. Dragons are such tough creatures, the pain involved would be similar to a human falling into bed at night.

We met eyes and bust into laugher simultaneously, the spark I remembered back into his eyes.

"Alright let's quit goofing around. Fill me in on what is going on. Also to set things straight, I will not be getting married today, or tomorrow, or for a very long time."

I peered over to him as he nodded his head.

"Let's go for a ride so we can talk."

I walked to the balcony and jumped off it onto Dree's back. He smoothly caught me and began flying off into the forest. The leaves atop the trees were so thick that they formed a ceiling of vegetation. This created a truly beautiful seclusion from the sky, it was like a new world. Enough light made it though that the area was well lit, with beams of pure daylight pushing through holes in the roof, creating beautiful pillars of light that looked almost magical in nature. We soared around trees, dodging them this way and that, banking and turning like we were lazily floating down a churning river. I closed my eyes for a moment and felt the cool breeze rustle past, blowing my hair and clothes in random directions and cooling me to the perfect temperature. We rode silently for a minute while Draioct let me regain my composure. I soaked in the peace radiating from this place. For a moment to problems of the world left my shoulders.