Tamed

Chapter 26. Tamed

"Are you nervous?" Ethan asked, nudging Nat's shoulder, as he sat beside her in the corridor.

"Why did they have to conduct the final tests in front of so many people? Dragons I can deal with. But people!! ugh!!" She grimaced.

"Come on. You are going to be a recognized dragon keeper once you pass this final test and I know you are going to do great. You are the best Nat!" he cheered, putting an arm around her shoulder.

"I am not Ethan. You didn't even see Aiden and Charlie perform. They aced it."

"That doesn't mean you can't perform better than them" he shrugged, making Nat roll her eyes.

"Charlie could even successfully convince the angry mother dragon to allow him to heal the wounded baby dragon. He escaped without a scratch! can you believe it? He was awesome!"

"Yeah maybe he is. And maybe you also have a thing for Weasley" he smirked.

"What thing? there is no thing" she protested.

"Well there is something" he cocked an eyebrow.

"There isn't anything"

"Nothing? Even the rumors?"

"Everything you heard is a big fat lie"

"Okay. If you say so" he said, still smirking.

"Oh wipe that smirk off your face"

"Next and the final candidate Scott Natalie" An announcement echoed through the stone walls of WICKED. The voice made Natalie jump out of her skin.

"mm. mmy turn? already?" she swallowed the lump which had suddenly formed in her throat.

"I guess it is. All the best Nat" Ethan got to his feet and hugged her.

Natalie was totally blanked out. She slowly made her way into the open Arena where the final test was being conducted. The people in the stands stared down at her. She could feel the eyes of her trainers and Mr. Alecsandri who were seated with some delegates from Draw. Ethan who was with her several moments ago, had already made his way up to the stands and was now waving at her with a huge grin plastered on his face. Several senior dragon keepers sitting in the adjacent stands started whistling and hooting. Her other fellow mates were all seated together, genuinely concerned for her but passing a reassuring smile that everything will be all right.

Natalie gripped her wand tightly, taking deep breaths. The sound of fluttering wings called her attention and she looked up to see a Hebridean Black approaching. It seemed so tiny, flapping it's wings high in the sky, it's horns held high with pride. Natalie blinked her eyes in the blazing sun and the tiny dragon which was growing bigger by second split into three. It was then she realized that it wasn't alone. Two other dragons were closely trailing behind. They were shooting sparkly fire balls, kindling small flames on the ground. Before getting hit by the fire spit by the dragons, Natalie conjured a protective shield around her. The dragons landed in the arena and were now advancing towards her. She looked around. But there was nothing for her to hide under or behind. She was totally exposed to the angry and hungry dragons.

"Rigescunt indutae" Natalie screamed. The Dragon stiffened on the spot. There was a loud uproar from the stands to see her perform this spell so professionally. After all it was not so easy to freeze a dragon's throat.

The rules of the test specifically stated that you can't use the same spell or method twice. Whereas multiple dragon keeping tricks could earn double the points. She summoned a big chain and incarcerated another dragon which was about to burn down the entire arena. And she swished her wand, muttering a spell under her breath. Everyone watched anxiously. The dragon spit fire and before it hit the ground it turned into tiny droplets of water.

She had one more dragon to deal with. The one which was roaring with fury. She stared at the dragon for a second. It almost pounced on her. She closed her eyes for a moment. There was no time left to think. It was finally time to test her power. She quickly threw her head scarf away. And her long raven hair rolled down her shoulders , dancing in the wind. The dragon's roar amplified in the background.

"Rule one - Always approach it from the side" Levitsky's words echoed in her hea.

She moved her legs slowly and approached the dragon from the front. She was only inches away from it.

"Rule Two - Never make direct eye contact with the dragon" Natalie shook her head, as her brain reminded her of the rules she had learnt in class.

"Always Make eye contact with the dragon Ellie. Only that way can the dragon communicate with your soul" Her fathers voice echoed louder in her head. Her eyes shone brightly.

She locked eyes with the dragon which had its head inches away from her. It's hot breath fell on her legs. She didn't budge. she didn't move an inch backwards. She didn't utter a feeble sound. She kept looking into its eyes and saw her image reflecting in it. She didn't dare to blink and lose contact. The dragon wasn't blinking either but standing there crouched to her level. Gently she raised her hand and hesitantly stroked the dragon's rough, blistered skin. the dragon gently closed its eyes at her touch. She patted its forehead.

"Always misunderstood" she whispered. The dragon opened its eyes and moved its head high in the air, flapping its wings, ready to fly. Natalie quickly ran to its side and mounted it.
Loud Gasps echoed throughout the Arena. Everyone sat there wide eyed and dumb struck at the scene that they just saw.

"What just happened?" Levitsky was totally taken aback.

"My mind is blown" Chapman chirped "She did it!" he cheered. Maxwell nodded.

"What is happening?" Charlie's mouth fell. In fact everyone's mouth was hanging open as something unexpected unfolded right in front of their eyes. No one was ready to witness this.

" I know what it is" Ethan said, without taking his eyes off Nat who was proudly sitting on a Hebridean black which sprawled its wings in the air and lifted off into the sky .