A Dragon's Tale Ch. 17

"Are you sure?" Ethan asked raising his eyebrow.

"It's just..." Hailey looked towards the tunnel where the portal was. "I've been gone so long. What if he moved on?"

"Jason?" Alana asked

Hailey nodded. "It's been, what; nearly four years? Maybe more? What if I've been gone too long and..." Her face fell.

Alana didn't know what to say because it was entirely possible. Many of Hailey's friends might've moved on, or gotten married and moved away, or any number of other things.

"Hailey, I don't know what you'll find when you get home, but we will be with you no matter what you find." Alana said.

"Really?"

The wood elf nodded. "Absolutely."

"Why are you being so nice?" Hailey said wiping an errant tear that haddd started down her cheek despite her efforts to keep it contained. "After what I did in Arcanum, after all the danger I put you in, why are you even tolerating me at all?"

Ethan opened his mouth to reply, but Rachel beat him to the punch.

"I sometimes wonder how they can be so nice to me too." The redhead replied. "I actually tried to kill both of them several times and they still tolerate me."

Alana couldn't help but wink and add. "Sometimes, we even like you."

Everyone laughed.

Anthiel gave her a piercing look. Her cheeks grew warm and she laid her head back down on Ethan's shoulder to hide.

"Trying to kill a crewmember of the Argo is almost a rite of passage around here." Ethan added. "The only one who hasn't is Taloni. Even Alana and Rachel nearly killed each other before she joined us."

"When we rescued Beth." Alana nodded remembering. "I can't wait until she's back; I miss her."

"Me too." Ethan said.

Moments later, the wood elf felt a slight "Tap, tap." On her shoulder, which she took to mean that Beth missed them too.

They sat around the fire and chatted for another half hour before Ethan looked up into the sky which was fast approaching night.

"We should turn in early; we have a big day tomorrow."

Alana nodded and got up. "I'll go teach Taloni how to shield her mind and tell her she's staying here while we're on earth." She volunteered.

He nodded.

The Fey girl had finally tired of being chased around the ship and was sitting with all six of the children in a semi-circle around her as she told them some scary story or another.

It was wonderful to see.

The Fey teen was a natural with children, keeping them endlessly entertained and enthralled for most of the evening. She had initially resisted, but Alana could tell she was truly enjoying herself. The wood elf knew she would be a wonderful mother to Ethan's children and couldn't wait to see it happen.

As she walked up to the bow of the ship where they were, Taloni glanced up. Alana put her hands together near her shoulder and mimed laying her head on them like a pillow before indicating the kids.

The Fey teen nodded, the turned back to the kids. "And then, they opened the door to discover the scariest monster of them all." She said in a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned forward. The kids leaned forward as one with riveted looks on their face.

"What monster?" A little boy of about seven asked.

Taloni smiled, then said. "Bedtime."

They all groaned.

"Please will you finish the story tomorrow Talanoni?" One of the girls asked.

"Taloni." Alana gently corrected with a smile. "And we'll see."

"Come on; everyone get up." Marge ordered. Alana hadn't noticed her come up behind her.

There was a collective groan from the kids and all but one got up. "But, I'm not tired." He said with bleary eyes.

"Then you can be 'not tired' in bed." Alana said, giving the same response her adoptive father had always given her.

The kid mumbled something and then followed Sally and Marge below decks to where Anthiel had strung up several additional hammocks to accommodate their visitors.

"Are you okay? About earlier?" Alana asked the Fey teen once they were alone at the bow of the ship.

Taloni's face fell slightly, but she nodded. "I'll be okay. I've just never seen anyone like that before, much less felt it, and I just..." She shivered. "I'll be okay though, I promise."

"I can teach you to shield your mind so it's not so overwhelming." She offered.

"Thank you." She looked around at the rapidly clearing deck. "I suppose I should go to bed too; big day tomorrow."

"Well, sort of. You were keeping the children entertained so you missed the briefing." Alana replied, then explained what they had decided and why.

Taloni looked simultaneously relieved and very sad.

"What's wrong?" Alana asked.

"It's just, I'm a little nervous to be around master right now, but I don't want him to go anywhere without me." She shook her head. "I don't make any sense."

"Join the club." The wood elf replied. "I get it; I really do. You forget, I've been around Ethan for a while now and his dragon side can be brutal. Ethan isn't, but the dragon part of him... Yeah it sometimes is."

The honey-blonde haired teen looked toward the captain's cabin with both longing and a little trepidation on her face. Alana felt for her; she really did. Seeing Ethan in action could be terrifying and feeling his emotions in dragon mode was even worse. The Fey girl seemed unsure about sharing a bed with him right now, so Alana did what she knew Ethan would do.

"Do you want to sleep somewhere else tonight?"

The Fey teen hesitated for only a moment before shaking her head. "No. Despite what happened earlier I just don't think I could do that. I don'twant to sleep anywhere but next to him, because..." She got a small smile on her face. "... because it's him, you know?"

"I know exactly what you mean." Alana beamed. "Now, we have a few minutes yet. How about I teach you how to shield your mind?"

"I'd like that, and then we'll see if master wants company in bed."

"Sounds good." Alana smiled; everything would be just fine.

* * *

Ethan realized that he was completely spoiled. His wives hadn't come to bed yet so he was alone in bed and didn't like it. He hadn't been married for a whole week yet and he already missed Alana in bed with him, not to mention Taloni. He looked out the large glass-block window that spanned the entire rear of the captain's cabin. The night sky was now truly dark.

He yawned before remembering that one of his wives might be here. "Beth, are you there?" He asked the room. There was several seconds pause, then:

Tap, tap.

"You're always around when I ask. Do you tend to spend your time around me?"

Tap, tap.

"You saved me a couple times when Kendra attacked and I'm sure that was you who helped Rachel earlier, right?"

Tap, tap.

"Hmm, you're becoming like our guardian angel." He chuckled. No response from Beth though, which made sense as he hadn't asked a yes or no question.

"Looking forward to having a body and talking again?"

Tap, tap. The taps were harder and faster like she was excited.

"Me too. What are you going to do first?"

He felt a gentle tap on his lips and then a gentle tap between his legs.

"Mmm; yes." He mused. "Sounds amazing."

Tap, tap.

"I hope we can bring you back by tomorrow night." He mused aloud. "We just need to find someone to do the transfusion. But if Hailey doesn't know anyone it might take longer."

Tap.

"Yeah, I don't want that either. I might be able to find someone in a hospital? But they would ask a lot of questions... kind of like you." He smiled widely, then added with an impish grin and a wink. "I miss your questions, even if you were annoying with them."

There was a moment's pause, then he felt something invisible poke him in the side.

"Ah!" He jumped and then laughed. "Even when you can't talk and can barely touch you are a delightful woman, you know that?"

No answer.

"You are." He stated matter-of-factly. He was going to say more, but Alana entered the captain's cabin at that moment, closing the door behind her. She took in his rather odd posture and raised her eyebrow.

"Beth." He said, but didn't offer a further explanation in case the sometimes devious wood elf suggested that Beth launch an all-out poking assault on him; a poking assault that he would be defenseless against. He wouldn't put it past her; past either of them.

Alana shrugged and walked over to the bed, grabbing the bottom of her dress to pull it off as she did so. However, she stopped before it had risen past mid-thigh.

"Well don't stop on my account." He winked.

"I'm just thinking Taloni will be in soon." The wood elf frowned slightly. "I'm pretty sure she'd be a little uncomfortable if I were naked. She's really not in the right frame of mind for that right now."

"Fair enough." He sighed as he undressed her with his eyes. "Well, come here anyway."

She smiled and climbed into his arms. He liked having her there; it just felt right. She relaxed into him and he gave her a tight hug which she returned. He ran his hands through her hair, but something felt slightly off about her chocolate brown tresses.

"Sit up and turn around." He said.

"Why?" She asked as she complied.

There was a tiny sliver of her hair on the left side which ended abruptly at about shoulder height, unlike the rest of her hair which fell to mid-back. He looked closer at the ends and a few of them had curled from heat.

"Gonorran." He said. "One of his fireballs hit your hair."

"I know." She turned to look at him. "We were very lucky."

"You aren't kidding." He replied fervently. "I got stabbed, his fireball nearly hit your face, and I think Rachel's shoulder will scar. Maybe not badly, but I think it will."

She nodded. "Yeah."

"I vote we completely avoid necromancers from now on."

"Amen." She said fervently. "I'm sure Rachel would agree too."

"You two seem to be getting very close lately." He observed.

She squirmed slightly. "We're notthat close. I mean, we're just friends and all; nothing more."

"That's what I meant." He said confused. "What did you think I meant?"

"Uh..." She started to say, but was interrupted when the door to the captain's cabin opened.

It was Taloni.

She looked a little nervous, more than a little shy, and yet relieved a seeing him too. She bit her lip, stepped through the door then closed it behind her. She took a few slow steps into the small room, which put her beside the bed. She got a tiny flicker of a smile when she saw them snuggling there.

"Hi." Ethan said.

"Hi." The Fey replied with an embarrassed smile. There was definitely awkward tension in the air.

"Can I...?" She gestured to the bed.

He grinned widely. "Absolutely."

He and Alana disentangled themselves to make room for her. The bed was about the dimensions of a king-sized mattress on Earth. There was room for the three of them, but none could exactly spread out. This hadn't been a problem before as both women were always snuggled up against him.

Taloni slid into the bed and lay down close to him, but not quite touching. She laid on her side with her head on the pillow and looked up at him with wide eyes. She had beautiful eyes. They were the prettiest lilac color and she looked so tiny and vulnerable.

He laid down on his side facing her and she looked into his eyes for nearly a minute, as if searching for something.

He gave her a gentle smile. "Are you okay?"

She hesitated, then nodded slowly. "You really scared me earlier."

"I know, I'm sorry."

*May I say something?* Alana asked telepathically.

*Of course.* He replied.

He felt the bed shift slightly as she moved and then felt her head rest tenderly on his shoulder.

"I know the emotions were horrible, but it seems something more than that is bothering you." The wood elf observed. "You still seem nervous now; why?"

Taloni averted her eyes for a moment before looking back at him. When she did, she somehow looked even smaller and more vulnerable. "I..." She started to say, but seemed to lose her nerve.

"Take your time; I'm not going anywhere." He said encouragingly.

She took a few breaths and blinked her stunning lilac eyes as her honey-blonde hair framed her face perfectly. She was a vision of perfection, made even lovelier by the vulnerability on her face.

"Some of the miners at the camp had tempers, and sometimes their wives... well they..." She seemed to falter.

"They paid the price?" Ethan offered.

She nodded.

"Ethan isn't like that." Alana said. "Someone grazed me with an arrow the day we met, and he got so mad that he charged a dozen armed men because of it. When we left Gralden he only lost it when one of the pirates hurt me. When we arrived in Arcanum, he only let the dragon out after someone hurt Beth."

"So, you only lose your temper when you want to protect people?" The Fey asked.

"Not all the time." He admitted. "But often." He glanced back at Alana. "There was that one time in Lord Borden's vault."

"What happened?" Taloni asked wide-eyed.

"I got between him and a lot of gold." The wood elf said. "I got between adragon and a lot of gold, but he didn't lay a finger on me."

"Really?"

"Really." Alana replied, then added. "He just couldn't do it. He even raised his arm like he was going to maul me, but he just couldn't hurt me."

Taloni seemed to relax after hearing that.

Some of the tension drained away and she looked calmer. Her wings fluttered a little as a contented smile crept onto her face. Most of the apprehension had drained from their bond too. She closed her eyes and just smiled for a moment before sighed softly.

"I'm glad." She said after opening her eyes. She looked at the distance between them and then back into his eyes. "May I snuggle with you master?"

"Always." He nodded, feeling much better now that she was. He opened his arms and she rolled into them, spooning so he was the big spoon. He pulled her tighter into his chest and gave her a gentle squeeze.

"I would never let anything bad happen to you." He whispered into her ear.

She made a noise that was some combination of a sigh, a giggle, and a squeal as she wiggled herself closer to him. It seemed like only a minute later that her breathing changed as she slipped off to sleep.

*I'm glad she's feeling better.* Alana thought to him as she kissed his shoulder.

*Me too.* He said. *The only downside is I just have one set of arms, and they're occupied; I can't hold you too.*

Alana peeked up over his shoulder and looked at the sleeping Fey. She reached down and brushed a lock of golden blonde hair out of her face and tucked it behind the sleeping teen's ear. The Fey ten sighed softly as she did so and the wood elf got a look of supreme happiness on her face.

*I don't mind, but you own me those big strong arms tomorrow night.* She winked.

He smiled back. *Deal.*

* * *

Kendra could've sworn she'd laid down to sleep only moments ago She thought she was headed for blissful rest or perhaps a few dreams, but now found herself standing in her tiny, canoe sized airship. She frowned.

That was strange; she was sure she had fallen asleep

Shrugging, she decided to go below decks and started down the winding marble staircase leading to the lower deck of her canoe-sized airship. As she stepped off the winding staircase, she glanced to her right into the ballroom. It only made sense to have a ballroom in a tiny airship; it helped to break up the monotony of long journeys.

She slipped into the ballroom, being careful not to bump the door guards. They looked like owls from the neck up and were twisting their heads all around. She watched the rows and rows of women dancing in their long flowing gowns and sighed. It had been too long since she had been dancing.

She sat down on a nearby bench and watched for several minutes, envious of the women who had partners.

She didn't have one.

Many men came up to her, but they always asked the girl sitting next to her to dance. Funny, she never realized there was a girl sitting next to her until a man asked the girl to dance.

Finally, the dragon that she'd been hunting - Ethan - came up to her. He was all smiles and she couldn't help but notice that he looked dashing in his suit. She didn't think dragons wore suits, but apparently this one did. That was one more thing that made him different.

"May I have this dance?" He asked with a toothy grin.

"It would be my pleasure." She agreed and took his scaled-covered hand.

He led her onto the dance floor as everyone arranged themselves in two long lines; ladies on the right, gentlemen on the left. The music started and all the men bowed to their partners while all the women curtsied. That's when Kendra realized she was wearing a flowing ball gown the likes of which she'd never seen before.

As one, the couples started moving. Ethan was quite light on his feet, which was good because her soft shoes would've provided no protection against his claws.

"I didn't know dragons could dance." Kendra observed as they did a do-si-do.

"I didn't know dragon hunters danced with dragons." He counterd with a chuckle, taking her hand and swinging her, then leading her off into a lady's chain.

"I'd rather be dancing than hunting." She said and felt herself genuinely smile for the first time in ages.

"Oh?"

"Absolutely." She said as he swung her again. "Dance was part of our training so we could blend in anywhere. It was the only part of my training that I truly enjoyed."

"Interesting." He replied as all four in their sub-group put their hands in the center, each one grabbing the wrist of the one in front of them to form a right-hand star. They then all walked forward, turning together in a circle.

"Indeed it was." She agreed. The star then reversed directions as everyone switched hands and turned the other way.

"So why did you start dragon hunting?" He asked as they ended the turn facing a new couple, with them having moved up the line a bit.

"I don't remember." She said honestly. "They recruited from an orphanage and I don't remember being asked. I went from always starving and cold, to hot meals and a warm bed after intense training every day. I never complained."

"That does sound like an improvement." He said as they held hands, stepped close together, then apart, and then swung.

"It was." She nodded fervently. Surprisingly, she found his closeness when they sung comforting.

She didn't know why.

They chatted idly for the entire dance. By the end, Kendra was feeling happier than she ever had. Or at least, happier than she ever remembered feeling. As the music wound down, he bowed to her and she curtsied in response.

"Thank you so much for asking me to dance." She said as he led her off the floor.

"It was my pleasure." He said.

"Hi you two." A pleasant voice said. It was the wood elf in the green dress, who had walked up holding a bundle of blankets that could only contain a baby.

"Hi." Kendra greeted her like they were old friends, then leaned in to see the sleeping face of a newborn baby girl carefully swaddled in the blankets.

"Do you want to hold her?" The wood elf asked.

"Oh, I don't... I don't think I should."

"Nonsense; you'll be wonderful with her." The chocolate haired elf replied. She adjusted the baby and carefully handed her over.

Not knowing what else to do, Kendra took the little bundle of joy. The baby was clearly asleep, but had worked one of her arms free of the swaddling and was gently rubbing her nose and mouth in an adorable way.

"Hi there. Hi." Kendra whispered to the baby. "What's her name?" She looked up... but everyone was gone.

She was completely alone in the ballroom.

She looked around, starting to panic. She had no idea how to take care of a baby. None. She looked around frantically but she was truly alone. Holding the baby protectively with one arm, she rushed to the door, opened it and ran through.