Two-shots

The death of a great man. (Special)

The war was done. Draven sighed as the maid cleansed his wounds. "Lord Draven, you hide it well from others. But you're growing weak.." Draven snorted almost. "I don't mean weak in that sense, your body is worn... tired if you will." She spoke, to him softly.

Draven grunted. "Being as old as I am, most are worn down. I only hang onto this world, by the hopes I will see her one last time." He'd speak so assured. "Your sister?" She'd ask, as he nodded. "My sister should be allowed to say her goodbyes to me. I will surely not make it through the night. Speak of this to none for now." He'd say in a weakened but stern voice. "Yes, I shall keep quiet." Shed keep her voice soft.

Draven took a deep breath into his lungs. "Will you blow the candles out, allow the moon to shine. It is full and round tonight. It's glow is soft..." he trailed off, mumbling something shortly after.

The maid did as told. as soon as the last candle was out, the glow of the moon filled the room. "Leave me be, as I said, I will not make it through the night." He'd speak so assured again.

The maid nodded, as tears filled her eyes. "It was more than a pleasure to serve you, m'lord. May you Rest In Peace once you reach the heavens." She spoke as she turned and left his room.

It was roughly thirty minutes until the midnight hour. She would come for his soul, surely.

He closed his eyes and thought about their last encounter.

—

Sarah watched her brother as he worked hard on her weapon. She had broken it in the last fight she had, and only trusted his skilled hands to fix her blade. It was silent, aside from the loud clank of metal as he worked.

Draven sighed as he neared completion of her weapon. "There is a war coming my way. The calieses are planning an attack soon. It will be a long, gruesome war." He'd speak, his voice never once shaking.

Sarah perced her lips into a thin line. "And you agree with this war? How much more do you think you can take?" Draven laughed, before flashing her a smile. "Sister, rest assured, I will be fine. My death will be honorable, as I shall win this war. You have my word." Sarah nodded, but even she knew he would die. "On the eleventh full moon, I shall personally come and take your soul."

Draven pulled her into his arms, resting his cheek against the top of her head. She was a good two foot shorter than he. She pressed her ear to his heart, hearing the past victories toll on his body. "Valhalla is where I wish to go. To be a warrior amongst the best, to be remembered as the best." Sarah tried hard to keep the tears out of her eyes, biting her lip to keep them from flowing.

"Rest assured, the eleventh full moon after I win this war. You may come collect my soul." He speak as if he was in control. Sarah nodded.

—

Draven stared at the moon. "The eleventh full moon." He'd speak, almost chuckling. He didn't move as he noticed her presence next to him. "I kept my word, brother. You shall die a hero amongst your people." She sounded cold, distant almost. It had been a five year long battle, and Draven had won the war.

He turned and looked to her. "One last kiss? One from someone so beautiful?" He tried to cheer her up, as he smoothed a tear from her cheek. "I love you, bubba." Shed speak the nickname she had always called him before his announcement of a war. He smiled weakly as she leaned down and pressed her lips into his. A pair of pitch black wings stretched and covered them both like a shield.

His soul was released to the gods of Valhalla to join them. Her wings vanished, as she curled into his chest. Sobbing uncontrollably into his unmoving chest. "Bubba..." she cried softly before screaming "bubba" as loud as she could.

—

Chaos ensued within the castle as maids and servants worked frantically to notify family and allies of Draven's passing. It took roughly a week, but services were held. Draven's body would be laid to rest the way Vikings had before. His ship had roses all along the sides and sails. Awaiting his departure to be laid to complete rest.

Sarah sat up front with his wife, her face cold as stone. The wife was bawling her eyes out, in the typical widowed way. The wolves howled out a tune as if saying goodbye.

As his body was carried out to the undertaker's carriage. Sarah glared at the carriage driver as a warning to take good care of her brother's body. "Of course miss. Not a hair be missing." He'd reply in kind. Sarah rolled her eyes.

Her eyes caught the figure of a dragon, human form of course. His eyes watched the undertaker ride off to the boat that would be lit in flames. He didn't move, Sarah noticed this. She tried to turn away, her attention being taken from everyone whispering.

Everyone made their ways to their carriages to go to the hill side to watch Draven's final destination. When Sarah said her final goodbyes to everyone, she noticed the dragon stayed behind.

Once everyone was gone, and only the two remained. He looked at her. "I assume you are Draven's sister? He gave me explicit orders to protect you..." he trailed off into a pause. "To adopt you as my own." He'd speak, watching her.

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "If you know my brother, then you know he was the one who trained me in combat. I'd say I'm fairly good off on my own." The man grinned at her. "You know, once a dragon has adopted someone into their clan. That someone belongs to their clan. The past clan no longer counts." He'd speak coldly, boiling her blood slightly. "On the day of my bubba's..." she stopped herself, having never called Draven 'bubba' around anyone before. Her throat threatened to take her breath as it had her voice. She swallowed the lump in her throat, glaring at him.

"My brother's funeral is not the place to speak of adopting me." Shed say coldly, trying to assert her will. "I will give you three days, mourn and then join me. I will come to you when the three days is up." He'd speak, turning his back to her and spreading his wings. "I like the title of bubba. instead of Sarius, you'll refer to me as bubba." He winked and disappeared into the air.

Sarah knew the draconic rule of adoption. Especially being an outsider. Surely he wouldn't be cold to her, her brother never had been cold to her.

She stood and watched as a full dragon overtook the skies above. She wondered just how much he knew about that particular title had power. She took a breath in and vanished in a black cloud.