Arimore

Elara and Rowan found their horses right where Arimore told them they would be. They mounted them and flew directly to the castle gates. The guards opened the gates and welcomed their Queen home. “I want the guard on the gates double,” the Queen ordered, “The Mardocians are moving in the woods. Rowan, send out patrols at first light and report their position and any noted activity directly to me.”

“As you wish,” Rowan replied.

“When you are settled meet me in the throne room,” Elara turned and walked quietly to her chambers. She closed the door and paced around the room too stunned from the events of the evening to think. She changed her clothes and headed for the throne room to meet Rowan. Once there she continued her pacing.

“My Lady,” Rowan entered the room bowing to his Queen.

“Rowan, you are my most trusted friend,” she began, “Tell me please what do you think about the events that transpired tonight?”

“Permission to speak freely?”

“Yes, granted.”

“The first thing is that you did something very dangerous.”

“Rowan, please.”

“No, you need to stop and think. You are not just a beautiful young woman that decided to ride off alone in the middle of the night. You are the Queen.”

“You think I’m beautiful?”

“Elara,”

“I know. I’m sorry. Go on.”

“That,” he leaned in close and whispered, “dragon could have killed you.”

“My father used to tell me stories about Arimore when I was a child. I knew that he was a friend to our Kingdom. I also knew that I needed to be cautious because dragons are magical creatures.”

“Cautious?” Rowan chided, “you call that cautious?”

“Alright, I was careless. Please can we talk about what’s really important right now.”

“I’m sorry. Have you given any thought to where you might find the egg?”

Elara began pacing again, “I have no idea. How am I supposed to find something hidden by a man I never knew? It’s impossible and yet somehow I must.”

Rowan reached out and stopped her pacing, “You said that your father used to tell you stories. Do you remember them all?”

“I remember the story of when Arimore rescued him from the Mardocians.”

“That’s a start,” Rowan assured, “According to Arimore that is when he gave the eggs to your grandfather. So what do you remember about your grandfather?”

“Again, just stories. This is frustrating.”

“Try and get some rest. Maybe you’ll see things more clearly in the morning.” Rowan excused himself and Elara retired to her chambers.

Sleep eluded Elara at first. She tossed and turned running the events of the evening over and over in her mind. She knew it was real. She had seen, spoken with and actually ridden on Arimore. “Arimore,” she pondered, “You are so much more magnificent than I ever imagined.” She finally drifted off to sleep and found herself back in the meadow talking with the great dragon.

“Find the eggs,” Arimore repeated.

“I don’t know where to even begin looking,” she replied.

“The stories of your childhood reveal more than you think.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“Part of the journey is seeking the right path. You must seek the path. You must want it deep within your heart. If you do, you will find them.”

“I do want to find them, Arimore.”

“Then remember the stories and secrets will be revealed. Remember our journey,” Arimore’s voice faded as she began to wake.

Rap, rap, rap… “Your Majesty?”

“Come,” she ordered, “What is so important that you disturb my rest?”

“Your Majesty, the Mardocians are on the move.”

“Assemble my guard in the throne room.” Elara dressed and headed for the throne room where she was met by Rowan and the guard.

They bowed as she entered the room and took her seat at the head of the table. To her right was Rowan a tall rugged muscular man with blonde hair and piercing green eyes. He gazed at her with love and admiration for he knew her heart like no other. “The Mardocians are moving across the wood. They are only a few miles from the border as we speak,” he pointed at a map of the land laid out on the table, “Here. Ahead of them, here, is a small garrison led by Prince Mason himself. I believe he is seeking an audience with the Queen.”

“Take the guard and meet him. Bring him directly here. I will allow this audience.”

Rowan bowed and led the guard to the courtyard where their horses awaited. They rode out to meet the Prince carrying the flag of Calithorne with pride. As they approached their enemy they slowed and came to a stop on the hillside. Rowan dismounted as did Prince Mason. “Your Majesty,” Rowan bowed his head.

“So Calithorne welcomes me,” the Prince stated with surprise, “The captain and the royal guard, I am impressed.”

“Queen Elara sent us to greet you,” Rowan responded.

“She will grant me an audience?”

“Please, follow us. We have been instructed to take you to her.”

The men once again mounted their horses and the royal guard led the Prince into the gates of the castle. Once in the courtyard the men dismounted and Rowan signaled Mason to follow him. The Prince’s guard began to follow the Prince and Rowan stopped, “Only you.”

“It’s alright,” he signaled for his men to wait with the horses.

Rowan turned to the guard and instructed them to get food and drink for the Prince’s men and water and hay for their horses. He led Prince Mason to the throne room where Queen Elara was seated upon her throne.

“Queen Elara,” Prince Mason bowed, “it is an honor to stand as your guest.”

“Let’s dispense with the pleasantries Mason. Why are you here? What is it that you need from Calithorne?”

“That is what I admire about you, right to the point. Fine. We have a mutual enemy Elara and I beseech you to join with me. Only together can we defeat this scourge that has come upon this land.”

“This must be some enemy for you to seek my help,” she put a tone of surprise in her voice even though she knew of whom he spoke. “You have my attention. Please go on.”

He led her to the table where the map of the Kingdom still lay, “Here, atop Mount Crystos, three nights past my men encountered a strange image in the sky. It was a shade, a reflection of the sky above.”

“Are you saying,”

“I believe they saw the great dragon, my lady.”

“Arimore. Tell me Mason, how much drink had they had?”

“You insult me my lady. If I thought they had imagined this do you think I would have risked coming here?”

“My apologies Mason. You must admit it sounds farfetched. After all these were stories that I’m sure we were both told as children whenever we became a bit too mischievous.” She looked at him and saw a genuine fear in his eyes. Feeling sympathetic she added, “I do admit the thought of those stories being real is a bit unnerving. I will send patrols toward the mountain if you would permit us to cross your border.”

“Granted. Although my men tell me that it will not be the first time you have crossed my borders,” he looked at her suspiciously.

“I assure you,” she stated, “If I or my men crossed the borders into your land it was unintentional.”

Mason nodded but thought, “Unintentional? I think not.”

“Tell me Mason, do you have a plan if we do find this to be true?”

“Elara, honestly, all I know, if it is true we will need each other if any of us are to survive. The stories I was told as a child, I’m sure were not the same as those you were told. The stories my father and grandfather told me were of hellfire and brimstone, suffering and death at the hand of the beast. He flew into our city breathing death. He didn’t care who was in his path, soldier or civilian, man or woman, elder or child he killed them all. When he was through he circled the castle and set a ring of fire around it a mile wide. Please Elara, I beseech you, stand with me against this beast.”

Elara saw something in Mason’s eyes that she had never seen before, fear. “Mason, understand that I truly intend to investigate this claim and I do take it seriously. Although our childhood stories vary greatly there is one important thing that my father always stressed, he said, ‘Elara remember, he is a dragon and dragons are very unpredictable for they are magical creatures.’ Now, you must go so that I may begin my task. I will dispatch a battalion of my finest soldiers to investigate this matter. When they return I will send word of their findings and we will speak again.”

“I pray we need not meet again,” he bowed his head and turned to leave. He paused and turned back to her, “Elara, I know our people have been enemies for generations even though we have lived peacefully side by side for many decades but I truly hope, if nothing else, this may change our hearts and bring us closer.”

“As do I, Mason, as do I.”