Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 53

      "I did not expect another person," I said awkwardly, "If you give me just a moment I will dress."

     "This is Cara," Rose said. "She is my teacher in the healing ways."

     "It will be easier to examine you without your clothes then we will allow you to dress after," Cara said smiling at me. Reluctantly I laid back down on the bed as Rose pulled the covers down to my hips. Cara pushed my hands away from my stomach and gently pushed down on my abdomen as she slowly plodded across my abdomen I felt of twinge of discomfort like I'd swallowed a rock and she was pushing on it. Then she smiled at me and let me tug the covers up to my chin.

     "Let me talk with him a moment and she can get dressed while I do that," Cara said with a grandmotherly smile at me. Rose smiled at Cara and me and then threw me a set of tunic and breeches. I quickly pulled them on and tried not to worry too much. Surely that lump she found wasn't some sort of wasting disease, I thought trying to keep the sudden panic at bay. Cara returned a little while later with Evergreen and Pine in tow. I quit my pacing and sat down as she commanded me and Evergreen.

     "You are not poisoned," Cara said. I sighed in relief. "You are with child." I felt my jaw drop and suddenly couldn't breathe. I found Rose pushing my head between my knees and commanding me to breathe. When I finally got control of myself I turned my chaotic emotions on a grinning Evergreen. I could feel my shame and anger burning in me and lunged at him knocking us both to the ground.

     "You arrogant ass," I screeched wrapping my hands around his neck and beginning to squeeze. Evergreen's eyes grew round with worry as he tried to pry my hands from his neck without success. Pine pulled me off Evergreen. Evergreen scrambled to his feet as Pine lost his grip on me and I flew at Evergreen again. "I am going to kill you, you bastard!" He blocked the blows I threw at him with a bewildered look upon his face. Again Pine managed to pry me from Evergreen with the help of another guard. "Let me go!" I screamed thrashing against the guards iron grip.

     "Let me explain," Evergreen said walking towards me with hand out to show he meant no harm. I pulled against the guards still hoping I could kill him. Rose stepped between me and Evergreen and looked me in the eyes.

    "Calm down Adriana," she said carefully. I stilled and focused on her. "This is not good for the baby." I took a deep breath and blew it out relaxing against the two men's grip and trying to calm myself down.

     "You are right," I conceded, "killing Evergreen won't undo what has already been done." Rose nodded and the men reluctantly let go of my arms but stayed very close. My head began to spin and I staggered into Rose who quickly guided me to the bed and had me laying down before I could protest.

     "Shh," Rose said as I opened my mouth. "It will pass, just breathe." I did as I was told and closed my eyes to keep the spinning room from making me more sick.

     "Leave us," Evergreen said quietly from somewhere nearby.

     "Brother she..."

     "I am your King first, now go," Evergreen said. I heard all of them leaving me here with him. Now what was going to happen, I thought. I'd never heard Evergreen use such a tone of voice before. I waited and waited until finally I reluctantly opened my eyes to find him staring down at me. "Now I will talk and you will listen," he said standing next to the bed. "I understand your anger at me, but it was the only way I could be sure that my people would accept you as their queen. You now carry the heir to the throne and therefore we must be wed. It is a Draconian law. Many an unhappy union have been because of this law. I saw it as a way to solve a problem. Of course I hadn't anticipated your reaction to this and I am sorry for that. I want to do what is best for us, but I seem to keep messing up. The thought of you not being next to me is very distressing for me." He looked at me expectantly and waited with a look of worry and pride on his face.

     "I am sorry for attempting to kill you," I said carefully not to betray my feelings. "I will not attempt such a thing again. I need to rest though."

     "Of course," he said smiling down at me. I closed my eyes and waited until Evergreen finally left. I waited and waited until I was sure all of them had left. I got up and pulled on my armor and weapons. I snuck down the stairs and into the courtyard. I heard a bellow and knew Evergreen had discovered my absence. I whistled loudly and smiled as my horse galloped from the stables. I quickly mounted my horse and turned it towards home. "Lead me back to my people," I whispered in its ear. We shot off like a rocket and I clung to her neck as she charged through the land like a spirit of the forest. I heard the roar behind us and knew he was chasing me down. Fear, an emotion very unfamiliar to me gripped me as I galloped through the land. I felt the shadow pass over us and looked up to see Evergreen the dragon circling back towards us. "Oh this might have been a bad idea," I mumbled as the horse tried to outrun a dragon. I watched as Evergreen turned and headed straight towards us. Then he opened his huge jaws and fire shot out. My horse skidded to a stop and reared up launching me into the air. I had a moment of panic for the child I carried until a huge, green, scaled hand closed around me. I expected him to stay on this course leading back to his castle instead he turned around once more and landed near my now terrified horse. Gently he set me on the ground and in an instant was standing next to me with a fierce scowl on his face.

     "I was returning home to inform my family of the upcoming nuptials," I lied. "And of course of the child I carry." He gave me a dark, look changed forms again, picked me up carefully, and took flight again. I tried not to panic as he had effectively cut me off from all my defenses. We landed in the center of the village a day later to the amazement of my people and my utter horror. While I tried not to fall flat on my face he reverted to his human form, grabbed my arm and marched us up to where my aunt and uncle waited for us. I smiled weakly at my family and then had to look away as shame colored my cheeks.