Dragon Tide Chronicles: Dawn Rising

Chapter 47: Open Your Eyes

Chapter 47: Open Your Eyes

I wake up, unsure of what just happened. I then gasp in awe, at the sight I behold. It is a garden, of golden and silver plants, golden animals, mostly deer, with marble brick pathways, and many streams running through it.

Am… am I in heaven?

“Not quite, Danica Crown, Daughter of Elezibeth and Thomas Crown. This is my royal seat of power, the Garden of Light.”

“I-Irintis?!” I choke out, supreme shock in my voice. It was the very voice of the goddess of light herself.

“I did tell you to come to me, did I not?” Her voice seems everywhere, and I can’t manage a reply.

“At least look at me when I’m talking to you, mortal.” My head swings for the source of the voice, and I find it at a throne of absolute grace and beauty, where the goddess herself appeared in humanoid form. She has the traits of many races, elven ears, the stature of a human woman, a wing like that of a gold eagle on her left, with a dragon’s wing on the right, also golden. Her eyes are pure orbs of gold, blazing with divine glory, and light curtains from her as though she is the sun herself. Her long flowing hair is silver, with many golden braids in the waist long hair. The goddess’s facial expression is calm and peaceful, yet commanding.

“You are… magnificent…” I manage, bowing my head uncertainly.

The light from her dims.

“At least look at me when I’m talking to you. I didn’t bring you here for a conversation where you are on your knees averting your eyes every five seconds. You need to learn many things Danica, and you need to know them now.” I swallow hard, and nod, then look up at her, trying to look brave.

“What do you want with me? Why can’t you just leave me be and let me sleep?” She chuckles softly, but doesn’t answer my question. Instead, she walks over to a golden leafed tree, No surprise there, I think to myself, and she plucks a golden fruit from its stem. Which, if I never saw the tree, I would guess gold anyway. She takes a look at me and tosses it to me. I look at her, slightly confused.

“Relax, mortal. You are not in trouble, but I would suggest you humor me. Sit down.” A chair appears, once again, golden. I stare at her.

“Can you not choose something other than gold? Kinda boring, even if gold is your divine color or whatever it’s called.” She smirks, amused, and changes it to a soft green color, which is a huge relief from the blazing and glowing gold colors everywhere.

She sits in a chair, this one silver. It’s a start, I grumble to myself.

“I assume that the Grandfather Dragon’s aspect informed you of the imminent return of Ramok, am I right?” I nod.

“Don’t you gods know everything?” I ask, confused.

“To an extent, yes. Some things are hidden, even to us.” She says, a steely tone issues from her mouth. I decide to get back on track.

“What about Ramok?” I ask, hoping to keep from getting fried into charcoal.

“The spirit elder of the Guardian Temple is wrong about Ramok. There are only a few weeks before his return, and you, Danica, must be the one to quell the Insurrection and unite the dragonlings under one cause, or else the uprising will distract them from their true enemy, the one behind their violence.”

I clench my fists together, and then murmur,

“Why does everyone have to call things ‘destined’ or ‘your fate’? Why must everything be decided for me?”

The goddess says nothing, which only further infuriates me.

“Will you not do something?! They’re your people aren’t they? Aren’t you the patron goddess of the Dragonlings?!” I yell, my anger turning to frustration and then to bitterness.

Then the goddess began to sing.

“So dear child, do you remember those days?

When the nights once were so innocent,

Gentle as the breeze?

Now nights like this,

are feared,

the world shudders her,

darkness now rejected,

and her sister adored.

Oh child, take to heart,

light is light,

and dark is dark,

But neither one is good, and neither are they evil.

Both start between,

choice alone is the key.

Choose now, dear child, your destiny.

Will you take up arms, and fight for what you believe in?

Or will you fight for peace, and for the world?

Oh child, you sound like you have a choice.

Your very birth was preordained,

it was written into the very stars….”

I gasp. “You’re… that woman…”

She smiles softly.

“Yes, I am.”