His lips touched hers in the briefest of touches as they brushed across hers. Sensations, emotions, raced through her like the heady wine she had earlier in the day, and just as strong, sending her swaying into him for more. Hearing him chuckle at her reaction, she felt his large, warm hands move from her face to her shoulders and pull her into his body. Mira felt her body soften and try to mold itself to her mate and soon to be husband. Laying her head on his broad chest, she whispered in the dark, "I want to see you."
She felt him remove a hand from her back and snap his fingers. Suddenly, flames appeared to dance on his fingertips. Gasping,she took a step back. Tine refused to release her and kept one arm wrapped securely around her waist. Looking up at him, she realized several things at once.
One, he was at least a foot taller than her 5'5 height, Two, his hair was a burnt bronze and his eyes were the deepset, purest emerald green she had ever seen. Three, his features were somehow familiar, but Mira couldn't quite place where she had seen them before. Four, he wasn't quite .....human, causing her to shiver.
Then, in a flash, it hit her! The vision at the ruins. He looked just like a perfect combination of the couple that lived there. The ones that had died in the collapse. Realization hit and showed on her face.
"You!" She said ad she stepped back in Tine's arms to look up at him. "You are a descendant of the couple who died in the final battle." Mira blinked as she started to realize what she was saying. "But....but that was 700 years ago!"
Tine gently pulled Mira's unresisting form back into his arms and wrapped his arms around her form. "Aye, however, I am not at liberty to reveal everything until we are wed. Then I will reveal all to you and the villagers. Although, I strongly suspect your mother is aware of who and what I am.' Tine reached down and gently brushed a few strands of hair that had fallen over one side of her face. Smiling down at her, he realized that once the ceremony was complete and they consummated it, she would stop aging as a human and age as a dragon.
Turning them towards the door, Tine whistled sharply. A signal for Tomias to open the door and allow them to exit the choosing room.
Across the countryside in a run-down inn, two men sat at a table in the dining hall, deep in their cups, the two bowls of once steaming stew on the table in front of them.
One looked at the other and sneered, "This is all your fault. You were told to take it easy, to woo her. Instead you sought to smother her and try control her every action. You were also warned of her heritage and that her mother was once a lorekeeper. Yet, the one time it was important, you couldn't control yourself. You had to run your mouth about that promise that I made to you when you were young. You stupid foolish brat! What did you think would happen. That she fall at your feet and worship you. You had not done anything to cause her to accept you. You have whined and attempted to monopolize her time and company."
The other man, young and very much intolerant of the reprimand that the older one was giving him, replied heatedly. "Word of her choosing has even reached this backwater. Even this hell-hole is aware of how important it is for this match to come about. They are aware that the male she chose is a descendant of the old ruling family. That, in fact, work will begin on a new castle for them to live and rule in. However, old man, some of the fault lies with you. But, I will have Mira. Even if it takes me years.
Tomias opened the door and allowed the couple to exit the choosing room. When they did exist, Mira watched in fascination as the old priest bowed and addressed her chosen as "Your Lordship. Reaching out an old and frail hand for Tine to shake in acknowledgement.
"When will the ceremony take place, my Lord?" He asked.
Tine looked down at Mira and smiled, "I think the coming full moon would be a great time. Don't you, Mira?"
As a lifelong resident Mira was aware of the significance of the coming full moon. It was a time of celebration. The harvest would have been gathered in and a feast would be held and each family, from the youngest to the oldest, the richest to the poorest, gave something for the feast. Some gave meat, some gave vegetables, some gave breads and then some donated wine, mead and ale. The celebration lasted from sunup to well into the night. Along with many newly married couples, and even older couples announcing the upcoming births after the celebrations.
"Yes, I think it's very appropriate for our marriage ceremony to take place the evening of the harvest celebration. Our people look forward to this time of year, and this will give them something more to look forward to. The young lord returning to his home to take up his rule and leadership and then taking his bride. Yes, it is a good idea." Then, a thought hit her. Looking over at the giant that was to be her husband she made a statement completely without irony or ire. "I don't know your name."
Tine laughed and leaned down to kiss her cheek as she turned a brilliant shade of red. "My name is Tine and it is the old language for fire. Come, I will walk you home. I am sure that you parents are anxious to meet me." Tine offered her his hand which she took without hesitation.
As they walked, Tine asked her questions. However, her gift never came up. What did come up was her formative years, her abilities, her education level, her likes and dislikes. Just as she was about to start questioning him, they reached her home. There in the window was a light announcing that her parents were waiting on her. Tine reached in and unlatched the gate and held it open while she walked through and stopped while he re-latched the gate. As the reached her front door, it suddenly swung open and there stood her mother.
Tine bowed to his mates mother in a courtly manner, As he straightened up, he noticed that her eyes were tilted rather sharply at the outer corner and the her hair was a fiery red. Both were dragon traits. He was slightly taken aback. He had hoped that some of his ancestors families were still here, knowing that many mated with the human population with many offspring such as Lady Amethyst.
Giving him a knowing look, she bowed and ushered her daughter into their home as she smiled at Tine while she shut the door.
Tine watched as the Clutch Elders assembled in the Hall of Ancestors for the Reading of his bloodline. As the Master of Records read his lineage starting with the first of his line and going forward for twenty generations, he felt his chest swell with pride. His line was one of the oldest and strongest of all of the dragon clutches scattered about. Thanks to senseless and fearful hunting in some parts of the world, his kind were fewer and fewer. Most humans were fearful of things that they did not understand or could not control. Realizing the Master of Records was waiting on him, he cleared his throat and asked him to repeat the question. Several of the male elders nudged each other in the ribs and openly laughed thinking he was thinking of his soon-to-be mate. He didn't bother to correct them. They wouldn't believe him anyway."I asked if you are preparing a
Mira lay in bed, curled up on her side in misery. She didn't understand what was wrong with her. She would cry at the slightest inclination. The feelings she had were over whelming her. She felt so lost and alone. She felt abandoned. She knew that Tine would be gone for several day, but had no idea that it would affect her so radically. She was so miserable that she didn't even bother to turn over her pillow that was wet, soaked, from her constant tears. They rolled down her face in a silvery trail, leaving her eyes red and swollen.As she lay there contemplating the depths of her misery, she heard her door open and heard a familiar step. Her father sat down on the side of the bed and took one of her hands in his and raised it to his lips."My darling daughter, it is time for you to
Mira could see the memory of the final battle at the old ruins in the forest. The woman clothed in an odd armor that was black with a gold sheen to it in the sunlight. Her arms were bare to mid-bicep. She had boiled leather sleeve attachments to cover her vulnerable shoulders. On her head sat a helmet of the same black material. Her back was covered the same way. Her legs were covered in leather trews that laced up the sides from knee to hip. Mira was slightly appalled by this showing of skin. But she also guessed it was the only way to get them on. She was standing in the middle of the keep bailey talking to several soldiers, giving orders and directions. No man sneered at her. She wore her authority as easily as she wore her armor. As she directed each group of men, they departed to do her bidding. Some stayed with her, these flanked and surrounded her in the back to guard her vulnerable spots and to fight at her side. Pride shown in the eyes of the men. Mira didn't know if it was
Raptor uttered one word, a name, "Amelia..."Amethyst stopped and looked from Tine and the elder to his uncle. "I'm sorry. I have been told that I look just like her. Amelia was my grandmother"Amethyst watched, along with Tine as Raptor absorbed this information. Watching the blood drain from his face as he mumbled some excuse and left to go back to the inn."What was that all about Tine?" Amethyst asked to anyone in general. "I have my suspicions, I'm afraid, but it is not my story to tell. At least, not until I find out for sure. But, I also suspect Lady Amethyst, that you already have some inkling of the answer yourself. However, I am not going to pry." A that moment, Mira could have happily melted through the floor as her stomach growled loudly. As loudly as Raptor had growled earlier."Heavens, it seems that someone is hungry. We should probably go in to dinner. I believe Tine that you and Mira are especially hungry."Amethyst turned and led the way toward the dining room where
Tine was so busy pacing that he almost missed the moment that Mira came down the stairs. Rushing to her side, he watched as her eyes dilated as their hands touched. He knew in that instance that she knew he was something other than human. He waited with no small amount of trepidation. Mira looked over at the man that she had quickly fallen in love with and smiled her best smile. In that smile Tine saw her love for him as well as her acceptance of whatever he was. Releasing the breath that he had unintentionally been holding, Tine returned her smile and leaned in to kiss her cheek."Here now! None of that!" Mira heard her mother say."Leave them be, dear. I remember when you chose me. We couldn't seem to keep our hands off of each others." Hearing his wife clear her throat loudly, he then tried to recant by saying, "Of c
The battle raged. Smoke obscured the castle as the walls fell from the balls of fire shot through them. It was thick and black and caused all to cough who inhaled it. The fumes noxious and smothering. Sounds of metal clashing as swords clanged against each other and against shields and armor. The sound of men crying out in agony as they were wounded with either metal or fire.Sheiria turned this way and that. Desperately looking for..... There! She could just make out the bulk of his shape. She would know his massive outline anywhere. Just as she reached his side, a sword pierced through her shoulder, almost cleaving her arm from her body. Erwan watched in horror as his love was grievously wounded. Knowing she was dying, he immediately dropped his sword and snatched her up in his arms and ran into the castle and attempting to lock them in the inner most parts of it. He would not let her die in the midst of the battle for their home. They would die together, because his beast could no
700 years laterMira enjoyed her time alone in the forest. It was her quiet time. Her time to decompress. Especially with the festival tomorrow night. Tonight unfortunately was the ball, and she was not looking forward to it.Walking through the forest, she smelled something spicy. Amber, smoke and maybe lavender? It called to her and she could not quite find where it was coming from.She searched for an hour thinking that it was maybe a flowering plant that she had not yet discovered in her walks. While searching for the source of the scent she came across something deep in the forest that she had never seen before. It was stone ruins of what had obviously been a very massive structure. All the remained were a partial wall and an arched doorway. Looking on it in wonder, Mira reached out her hand hesitantly, not sure if she wanted to know it's history.....When her hand made contact with the stone ruins she felt everything. The love the generations of inhabitants of the castle had
Tine watched the people filter in to the main hall of the assembly house. It was the largest building in the village and was used for parties, weddings and other types of gatherings. Tonight was a ball to kick off the festival of The Chosen. Even though his kind had not been in this area in 700 years, the villagers still honored their traditions. It appeared that even the mate pairings were sometimes chosen on this night every year. Although the Clutch have not been present the villagers saw fit to continue the mate pairings, after a fashion. The village elders had paid attention to the young people all year long and had made notes of how certain females acted towards certain males and vise versa. Tomias sought him out where he stood in the shadows and bowed as he came to stand in front of him. "My Lord, she will be here tonight. Her family lives on the large estate on the edge of the forest and are usually some of the last to arrive. However, there is some competition for her hand.