A Dragon Chosen

Shirley

I wake up with a big, blue dragon head laying on my legs. During the night Celeste came into my room and apparently wanted to sleep near me. Or as it turned out, on top of me. When I stir a bit she slowly wakes up. 'Hmm... oh what? I'm so sorry, Shirley. I didn't see I was sleeping on you...'

I roll my eyes. 'Good morning to you to... you know, those legs... I'd like to use them after today as well.'

She lifts her head up. 'As always you got your way with words... now, are you ready to start your new life?'

I nod. 'I will commit myself to it. Something has changed. I understand the dragon now. The leader was there.'

She nods. 'So was I. The leader and I wanted to talk with the dragon last night, but you were there before he arrived. I heard what you both said.'

Something is off here. 'Why didn't you show yourself then? And if you were there... then why didn't you come to comfort me?'

She closes her eyes. 'This was between you and him. I should not have been there at all. However, I still have my doubts about him. Having said that, I have talked with the leader. He won't be killed.'

She did it again. How, I do not know, but she managed to find out my deepest wish and make it possible. I hug her paw. 'Thank you. This means a lot to me. I knew he shouldn't die.'

She seems a bit taken back but doesn't shake me lose. 'I am still concerned about his connection with you. However, that is a concern for a later time. For now... it is time for your lessons.'

Celeste

Shirley, as promised, does fully commit to her training. I see it and so does the Dragon Guard council member. However even I can see she is not a great swordsman. The Guard elder tries every close combat weapon with her, and every time it comes down to the same thing: she has a lot to learn. Her progress in magic is also slow. She dares try new spells more often now, but her ratio of trying new things and actually succeeding in them is still the same. Very bad.

In the week that follows I make an agreement with the Guard elder, that he trains her in the morning and I do in the afternoon. Both of us book little progress with her, however what progress we do make is precious to both of us. Eventually I see the light, and when the Guard Elder shows up again I say what I think. 'We've been going at this all wrong.'

He looks at me as if I'm on fire. 'Then what do we have to change? Bond her to a dragon now and see if she can swing a sword around then?'

I shake my head. 'No. We are training her to become a Dragon Guard. However, before she can become one she needs to have a dragon. Why not prepare her for that, learn her mostly the theory, so that later on she can use the magic I taught her to enhance her currently limited capabilities and make her able to learn the fighting?'

He thinks for a moment. 'She still has to grow natural muscles but otherwise I agree. Her reactions are to slow and she is to sluggish with the sword. She could use some support there and if you are correct, we have been going at this the thickheaded way. I'll prescribe her some exercises to do each morning to grow her muscles and focus on the theory for now. I guess you will teach her some spells to help her use her muscles more effectively?'

I shake my head. 'No. I'll go to the market first and find an Elf to sell me a spell book first, so I can learn the magic. I can't teach her if I can't do the magic myself.'

He smiles softly. 'You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still finding reasons to collect more spell books of increasing rarity. Your collection is already worth a fortune...'

I smile as well. 'What can I say? I'm a dragon. Some dragons hoard gold, I hoard spell books. Well, actually all magical artifacts but mostly books. You never know when a certain spell comes in clutch, you know. My hoarding has saved my scaled behind on several occasions.'

He laughs. 'Maybe you should stop sticking your tail into everyones business and you wouldn't need obscure spells to save you any more...'

I give him a nudge. 'Hey, I only did it once...'

He then walks off towards Shirley while laughing. Finally he and I got along. He used to be a real headache to be around. Now he is at least somewhat relaxed. But I have to be off now, to get a certain spell...

Shirley

After months of training the Guard Elder actually doesn't immediately start with study books or my physical training in the morning. When he enters the study he instead walks to one of the two desks Celeste had placed for us and sits down, mentioning to the other desk. When I sit he speaks softly. 'I owe both you and Celeste an apology. I didn't think you would make a good dragon rider from what I heard originally, and I have proven wrong. We have reached the point we can start talking about the ritual of soul binding.'

I'm confused. 'What do you mean, sir? I'm not ready for combat yet and I feel my studies aren't done either...'

He leans back. 'Very simple. I talked with Celeste. She suggested we would be adapting the normal course to your specific needs instead of the other way around. So while you aren't strong with magic or any close combat weapon yet, I have no trouble believing that, if you started looking for your dragon now, that by the time you are ready you will also have your dragon chosen. This doesn't mean you have to go out now and start talking with every dragon you encounter, however. Take your time to find one that truly fits you. After all, after the soul binding, you will live the rest of your life with that dragon, which also is an extended life up to that of the dragons lifespan. This means you will live to become as old as the dragon can become.'

I start thinking. 'And what about... combat training? Am I not missing a lot of expertise there?'

He nods. 'Once you are soul bound to a dragon your magic will be amplified and enhanced. This means you will be a lot stronger in your magic. Celeste had the idea to learn you spells that can increase your speed, agility, strength and reaction time. Basically you rely on your magic where training cannot help you. I don't fully trust it yet which is why I did give you the exercises, but until you are fully trained it should help you.'

I shake my head. 'I'd rather train for it. This feels like a shortcut.'

Late in the night, a month after the announcement I will be working towards the soul bind now, I wake up. I don't need long to notice I'll not fall asleep again now, so I start wandering through the castle. After some time I find myself entering the dungeons. There I end up with the large old dragon. Some of the chains have been removed over time and now all he is bound with is four chains connected to steel bands around his wrists and ankles and one chain to a collar around his neck. He is vast asleep when I enter the room.

Once I'm next to him I put a hand on his neck, beneath the horns. Slowly his breathing speeds up and he lifts his head up. 'Miss Fiery Heart. I thought you would focus on your studies.'

I sit down against his paw. 'I couldn't sleep. I guess I just needed your company.'

He closes his eyes for a moment. 'You have changed somewhat. How I do not know yet.'

I nod. 'I'm working on becoming a Dragon Rider. However I have to choose a dragon to share the rest of my life with now, and I am conflicted. Some dragons I spoke with I like talking with, others I find revolting. However none I find... suitable. I just can't see myself with any of them.'

He puts a paw around me. 'I cannot help you there. I'm what they call a Wild Dragon. My family decided not to join the pact so, as an heir of the wild dragons, I'm not included in the pact. I know not of the magics inner workings or the requirements for the magic to function. All I do know is that the magic was forged by the great dragons of old whom not even I remember the names off. Sadly all who helped forge the magic perished so none know how they did it.'

He seems so wise. 'Can't you come out of the dungeon and help me choose? I can ask the council leader to free you for it. I would take full responsibility for it.'

He shakes his head, which rattles the chains. 'No. I have chosen to stay here willingly. I have done many people harm and I deserve to lose my freedom for it. They are treating me well anyway so I have no reason to complain about it.'

I put a hand on his neck. 'What you did, you did out of love for your child. I'm the only one remaining who can blame you, and I decide not to. Don't make life harder than it already is.'

He nods. 'Still I will remain here, miss Fiery Heart. At least for the foreseeable future. Such is my faith. However, if you so wish, I can offer the council my services in some aspects. As a repayment.'

I shake my head. 'No. There is no need. As my teacher says: the past gets eroded away with time, and as it has shaped me when it was the present, so will the future as it becomes the past. When she said it, it seemed like just another one of her riddles but it makes sense to me now.'

He looks at me with a knowing look. 'Yes. It has a deep meaning. She knows that all is changing and it will always be like that.'

I nod. 'I know that now. I have changed a lot, and in the process, found my respect and forgiveness to you.'

Celeste

When I knock on the door of Shirley in the morning I get no answer. After waiting for a while I open the door. There I notice her bed is a mess but she isn't here. I kinda panic when I see that. Without a second thought I run to the leader. He looks at me sleepily and confused. 'What's the matter...'

I'm hyperventilating now. 'Shirley has disappeared. She isn't in her room'

The leader rubs his eyes for a moment. 'Then we have to find her. Follow her scent...'

I completely didn't think about that. I race back to her room and start following her scent. It goes all over the castle but eventually ends at the dungeon. I look at the leader. 'I really hope I'm wrong with my idea of the situation.'

He looks back. 'Maybe. Do not jump to conclusions though. I have a feeling not everything is as it seems.'

We go in and I follow the scent to the room where the old dragon is held. There I see her. Shirley. She is laying against the dragon, who has a paw around her. I yell. 'Shirley!'

She stirs a bit, just like the dragon. She rubs her eyes and looks over. 'Good morning to you to... I'm all right you know.'

The dragon lifts his paw up and moves it away to give Shirley free movement, and in the process I can see the chain is still connected to the rings and taut. She went here herself. This is a disturbing development. She walks over to me. 'Am I late for my lessons again?'

I nod softly. With that she runs away, presumably to my study. That leaves me with the leader and the dragon. The leader starts asking what happened and the dragon answers dutifully and with honesty. He says everything that happened last night. Eventually they both stop. The leader turns to me. 'She has taken a liking to him it seems. She came to him for advice.'

I nod. 'Yes. And he has given that. Though he also said he isn't an option. Tell me, dragon. Do you truly believe that or did you lie to her?

He grumbles. 'I am a wild dragon. My ancestors locked my family out of the bond by not participating. I neither have the magic power nor the knowledge to mess with the magic the elders of that time cast. I could only cause harm to the magic and that is not my goal. No, I cannot be her dragon. Nor should I be. I'm the one who caused her harm so I should not be the one to gain honor like that. My part of her story is coming to an end. It is time for her to get wings and fly away.'

The leader shakes his head. 'No. The magic is finicky yes. She won't just be able to choose any dragon and soul bind with that dragon. The dragon in question has to be one she truly has a connection with. If I heard correctly from the Elder of the Dragon Guard, she doesn't have that with any of them. She does with you.'

The old dragon looks away. 'I'm in here for a reason. To make her a dragon rider to one in a cell would be useless. I'm not leaving this cell without undergoing my punishment.'

The leader speaks softly. 'You know, that would actually be causing harm to her. I know you do not wish to cause harm to her, but that would do it. I urge you to rethink your wish as I have a proposition.'

He slowly looks at the leader. 'And what may that proposition be?'

The leader speaks softly. 'There is a back port into the magic. It was left there for the occasional Wild Dragon straggler who wished to join us, or on the other side, the occasional dragon who has lost the wish to fight for our cause. You can still join us. The offer is this: you vow to, if she wishes it to, become her dragon. In exchange we will give you amnesty. You will be free and pardoned, the attack will be blamed on raiders, and she can finish her training. Do you accept?'

The silence that follows is somewhat awkward. When he does speak it is with a low voice. 'I still believe I'm not worthy of the honor, but I will do it. If I can repay my debt... yes. You get my vow that if she wishes it, I will become her dragon. She deserves at least my support.'

I nod softly. 'Thank you. However hurt her feelings and you got me to worry about and I'm not as forgiving as she is.'

I walk out of the room to let the Leader do what he has to.

Shirley

Later on the day the Leader comes to Celeste her study. Celeste walks out for a moment when that happens. As she comes in she calls my name. 'Shirley.'

I look up from the book I'm trying to learn from. Celeste stands in front of the door but looks at me in earnest. 'So as you know you reached the point where you are to choose a dragon. Now... the leader and I noticed that you have had a lot of interest in a... certain dragon. So we made a certain arrangement...'

As she says that she pushes the door open with her tail. Behind the door he is. He isn't chained in the dungeons any more, instead he was brought upstairs, free of his chains, by the leader. My mouth falls open from this. 'I thought... he was going to be punished. Maybe even killed!'

The dragon speaks softly. 'So did I. For all intents and purposes, I should not be here. However the leader has given me a chance to redeem myself. To redeem myself as, if you wish so, your dragon. I have agreed.'

I run over to him and hug his front leg from happiness. 'I'm so glad you said yes. Yes I want you to be my dragon.'

Both Celeste and the leader standing behind the dragon just look at us in silence. It is the dragon who speaks first. 'In that case it is my honor to be your dragon, miss Fiery Heart. The next time we are alone I shall share my name with you.'

I hug him until my arms burn. 'Even a month ago I would not have thought I would be glad to have you as my dragon. But I am. I respect you, understand you and to be honest have been leaning on you a lot. I cannot see anyone to be a better fit.'

The Leader nods. 'I'll start the preparations for the ritual of binding with the elder of the Guard. When I cannot tell, but we will be working on it.'

Celeste softly speaks to. 'I'll call in some help to prepare him to become a Riders dragon.'

The Leader raises an eyebrow. 'Don't bring to many duties on yourself, mage. People could start to draw conclusions on you that you do not wish them to.'

Celeste nods. 'Being a mage is busy work. Spells don't learn themselves you know...'

He smiles as he leaves. Then Celeste leaves to, so I'm alone with the dragon. He speaks softly. 'My name is Rashter. I guess I do owe you an apology.'

I let go of his paw and nod softly. 'My name is Shirley.'

Rashter nods. 'Shirley I'm sorry I attacked your village and you with it. It was wrong of me.'

I let my hands glide over his scales and feel some of the gashes in them. 'Did you fight back this hard when they captured you?'

He shakes his head. 'No. This is what your sharp sticks did to me. You really hit me hard...'

I shyli move my head away from him. 'You flatter me, Rashter.'

He nods. 'As should you be. You fight impressively. I know dragons who could learn from your fury. If only you had been a dragon, you would have been respected for it.'

I smile softly. Only then do I think about something. 'Why did they release you? What is the deal you made?'

He looks down to me. 'The deal is that I would support you, and if I was chosen by you, I would give up my freedom as a wild dragon and bind myself to you. Though the last part was up for debate if I didn't feel the same.'

I nod. 'So in exchange you got released?'

He nods to. 'It is a good arrangement. As your dragon I get to clear my name and you have the support you need.'

I give him another hug before I let go of him. 'I'm so curious what the future holds for us. What we may have happen to us...'

He looks at me with an intriguing look. 'It isn't us yet. Until the soul binding it is still you and me.'

He is right there. I don't like it but he is. 'It will be soon though. Sooner than you would think.'

He looks out the window. 'I think we should set the first step ourselves. Lets go get a saddle commissioned. They have to take both out measurements for that you know. Otherwise the saddle won't fit you properly and that could hurt you a lot.'

I have some questions. 'Will we get the saddle funded? And if so, do we have to pay for it ourselves first?'

He shakes his head. 'We do get the base saddle funded but past that it is all on our own pockets. I hope you do have deep ones...'

'What is that supposed to mean?'

He rolls his eyes. 'My large size? They charge extra. Extra seating? More costs. Saddlebags? Yep, that is more money. Padding so you can sit in the saddle for more than five minutes at a time? You guessed it. Even the bloody fasteners cost extra and especially the ties to keep you on the saddle during combat training.'

He leads me out of the study, through the many halls to the massive front gate that leads to the city part of the fortress. Like always many market stalls are placed around the streets, with merchants selling stuff from all over the world. Sadly I don't have time to look at it all as Rashter pushes on with quite a tempo, just as a crowd forms around us. For some reason Rashter is quite the spectacle. Could it be his scales are so weirdly colored with red edges and orange centers?

He pushes on until we arrive at a building with a saddle sign hanging from it. The saddle maker looks at Rashter approvingly and then gets out his measuring tools, starting with Rashter. At first he just calls out measurements but then notices no one is writing them down. He curses and walks off to another room, from where a yelling comes before he returns with a teen. The saddle maker then does the measurements over with Rashter. Once he is done he starts taking measurements with me. As he measures my left thigh he finally says something to me. 'One more measurement and I'm done here, miss.'

He pulls the measuring tape around my right thigh and calls another measurement to his assistant. The kid furiously writes it all down and places the writing board down. Then the saddle maker puts all his measuring gear away and motions to the cash register. 'Now what options would you like?'

I go through the book. 'Definitely leg fasteners. Also fasteners on all the straps, seating for a second person and two saddlebags... and also padding.'

He smiles softly. 'Could I also interest you with embroidery and studded straps?'

I shake my head. 'No, this would be it. What do I owe you?'

With a small scrap of paper he writes down some numbers. 'So the base cost is six silver coins, and with all the options it is twenty silver coins.'

I am shocked. 'TWENTY?! You must be making a fortune on these saddles... now the base cost is paid for by the Guard... so I guess I'll be giving you all my money now...

I put all but one silver coin on the bank. The saddle maker greedily scoops it up and puts it in the cash register. 'It will be done in a couple of weeks probably.'

'Thank you.'

Together with Rashter I walk out of the saddle makers workshop. 'There goes my plan to find a place to eat lunch. One silver coin won't even get me a honey bun. Time to go back to the castle...'

Rashter walks ahead, his massive, red, shiny form making a path for us. It is funny how many people look at us when we pass by. He really draws the eyes of everyone around us.