Forbidden Fantasy Ch. 06

"I knew." He eyes widened. "I told you I had a dream that we would live and the Red would be willing...I just didn't see this part." He laid down and I walked over to stand next to his immense head. "Beloved, you will not lose me to this."

How can you love me? I have lied to you the entire time, keeping from you my true self... I put my finger to his lips.

"I don't care. You and I were made for each other, and by Luna I will not forsake you or leave you for this. Might make lovemaking more difficult." He chuckled, a plume of smoke washing over me. I looked back to hear the drake queen keening a song of grief.

Jon is dead? I nodded.

"He killed Ingalome'stracazillio, but died when...the blood...and acid..." I sobbed and buried my face in Jacob's red scales.

Weep not child, for the warrior is with me. We both looked to see a ghostly figure of moonlight appear. I wiped my tears and gazed at the avatar of my goddess. He was brave and daring, loyal and loving, and he shall be forever by my side. As will Cor'Undum. I smiled through the bitterness. She had her wish, she was with Luna. The choice is now yours, my chosen. Life among the elves or life with your dragon mate.

I knew it was no choice at all and I looked at her. Go back to a world of memories that pained me? To a place where I would never be happy again? "I am with the one I love." Her smiled was soft and radiant, filling the room with light. I closed my eyes as I felt my body tingle. There was a clanging noise and a gasp from Jacob, but I could see nothing.

When it passed the body of the fell wyrm was gone, leaving only his horns. Jon lay as if in slumber beside the drow, their bodies looking whole. Golden Wings was bowing before me...and I was looking down at the whole scene. Down from about a hundred feet up. Jacob?

Wow... was all he said and I turned to be looking him almost in the eyes. He was standing up. My own gaze traveled down and when I looked I screamed, but what came out was the roar of a dragon.

Luna had given me moonlit scales of alabaster...the same color as the ones I had received from the healing. I was a dragon! A stunning moon dragon. Tales and legends spoke of such a creature who was both healer and destroyer. You are my chosen, Kiven'dreluna. You and Jacorro'baramel shall be united in keeping balance in this world. You for the Moon, him for my brother the Sun. Seasons in and out. I was chosen?

But, we will not live forever. Even I knew dragons could be killed and died from old age. Might take a few dozen centuries, but it happened.

You shall not be alone. Others will come. You will be blessed with children.

I must have looked stunned because Jacob was chuckling. Beloved, dragons need no true mate for eggs, just the right circumstances.

You mean I could have a clutch of eggs? The thought of that was silly, but they would be with Jacob...Jacorro'baramel I guess. My Lady, thank you. She nodded and slowly faded away as she caressed the cheeks of our departed.

"Kiven!" came Flora's voice from outside. "If you're by the entrance stand back."

You stand back, said my beloved and he took in a deep breath. The gout of flame was tremendously hot and the rock melted into nothing but puddles of goo. He strode forward and out of the cave, Golden Wings flying on ahead. Gently I lifted the bodies of Jon and Cor'Undum and placed them on my back.

Flora screamed but the Orren stopped her from casting. "You are free now, hatchling."

Far from that, old friend. Far from a hatchling. Jacob looked down at Flora. She stepped back but then stopped.

"Jacob?" The tone was incredulous, so shocked. "I did not see this coming. Where is Kiven?"

I'm right here, I said and came out. The sunlight hurt my new eyes and I squinted. Her eyes went huge as she looked on me. Yeah, I'm that good looking.

"By Luna...what happened?" So I told her. She knew I would not be going back to the forest, but she did not know I would be going with Jacob as a dragon. My words made her smile and cry at the same time. "No one will believe me."

"They will," said the Orren. "So what happens next?" he asked of us.

We take you back to the forest and rid it of anything that lizard sent. Jacob was grinning as he said this. Just like in my dream.

We did fly back, torching goblins in our wake. My breath was like light, but light that can burn. It was a thin beam of energy more accurate that Jacob's but his was far more destructive. My new body seemed to know what to do as I flew, swooping down to kill goblins and wraiths as we winged to the forest. It was deep into the night when I spotted my old home. Flora was astride the Orren as we circled. They landed first to a reception of thousands. I smelled the corpses of even more, many races dead "Flora!" called my father.

"The dragon is dead!" she cried and the crowd cheered. But it quieted as Jacob and I came from above the clouds.

"It's more," yelled a dwarf.

"Stop! They are allies!" Flora's words almost went unheeded until Golden Wings came down to land on her shoulder and roar her own words. The mass fell silent. "The Red has come to aid us in ridding the rest of the woods of the vermin. Already he and his mate have killed countless on their way here."

I heard the confusion. Wasn't the Red the last dragon? "Flora..." my father started but stopped. "Where are Jacob and Jon?" I noticed he said nothing of me.

"Jon slayed the fell wyrm at the cost of his life. Also the drow Cor'undum has gone to the embrace of Luna." There was a unified cry of disbelief. As one they throng moved as we came in for a landing. The devastation of the forest made my heart sore, but it would grow back. The lives lost would not. "Jacob and your son Kiven," mentioning me made my father's face spasm, "have left us. They are gone from this world."

We landed, dropping the great horns of Ingalome'stracazillio on the ground and then landing beside them. Jacob carefully lifted the bodies off my back and laid them gently on the ground. It was the last wish of the elf you called Kiven that I see the fallen here for burial. He freed me from my prison and for this I name him forever friend. By his will I shall let this world rest and recover for no less than one hundred years before I take to wing. He stepped back and a few hardy souls braved being near him to gather the bodies.

I stepped forward to a collective gasp. My scales gave off a gentle glow of moonlight. By the will of Luna, Jondal Remoradin, First Sword of the Council and Dragonslayer is to be laid to rest beside the heroes of old. With him shall be buried Cor'Undum Wraithbane of house Min'doraaq. This caused a stir. A drow buried among the greatest heroes? I stomped my foot, making the ground shudder. By my words she will be buried there or by the will of Luna I shall lay waste to you. I was mostly bluffing, I would not harm my people.

Flora's father, whom I was glad to see was alive, stepped forward. "She shall be buried along side our finest. The Dragon of Luna has spoken and so it shall be." No one was willing to say no after that. I inclined my head in thanks and respect.

It took us another week to rout out the last of the monsters sent and by then no one thought we were anything but allies. I stayed to heal those I could, them being brought to me under the moonlight when my power was strongest. It was the last night in the forest that I lay resting for our flight away from this place that my father came to me dressed in his finest clothing. I cracked open an eyes to let him know I knew he was there. "Where will you go from here, Great One?"

I know not. My mate leads and I follow. I will be with him as long as he lives.

My father stepped back one step and then really looked at me. "And...my son...does he know that an old and stubborn elf is often wrong?"

He does. Words said in anger and haste, even ones unsaid, can be forgiven. I looked him in the eye and I saw a tear there.

"And...wherever he is...is he happy?"

He is with his mate. Their lives started anew with the death of Ingalome'stracazillio. They are on a path no one may follow, but I do not doubt he will think of this forest often...and of his stubborn old father whom he loves very much. That tear fell.

Jacob came striding over then, careful to walk softly and quietly as very few were awake now that the brief war was over. Leader, we must leave. Our job here is done, the wyrm-slayers are at rest. He looked to us and I saw the hint of a smile play about his features. Old wounds healing? He asked.

"They are. Mighty Dragon, remember well your words and vows, though I believe I know the mettle and honor you possess." Jacob bowed to him and then flapped once and was up in the air. I stood and stretched, knocking my father over with a smile. "Keep safe, Kiven. And if you find a way back to us from time to time, know you will always be welcome. You have chosen your path, now you must walk it. Go with Luna, Kiven'dreluna. May she guide your steps and may she guide them safely back to us."

And may she guide your steps and heart until we meet again, in this life or the next...Father. I flapped and was gone into the night skies, circling high to catch up to Jacob.

"Stay safe...my son. Keep him well, Jacob."

EPILOGUE

Months passed since the time of the death of Ingalome'stracazillio and no one had heard from or seen the Red and Moon since as they flew overhead. It was as they said, they had gone to rest someplace no one could follow and it seemed as if they would stay there. The world knew there were dragons, more now than before. They had the enemy of all enemies to face should the mood strike the ravenous beasts, the need to keep fast the common bonds of friendship and diplomacy. The ban on the elven woods had been lifted permanently and a new settlement, Kivenwood, was already being built in the patch of forest where he was attacked by the undead. It was a neutral ground for any race to meet and trade and far enough away from the main elven village that few would go there without prior consent.

It was once a full year had passed that Flora awoke to something moving in her home. With a gesture the light flared up and she gasped to see Kiven standing there, his pale skin glowing slightly but covered in a long cloak of black dragon hide. She went to speak but he put his finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow. Without even a thought she donned a robe and followed. Once outside Jacob fell into step beside her, putting his massively muscled arm around her with a smile. They lead her out of the forest glade and along a path she knew very well. One by one her old companions joined her. Golden Wings and the Orren came gliding in and walked beside them and it was then that she knew they were bound for the burial site of their old friends. It had been a year.

The site was simple to most. It was obviously a cemetery, but each tomb was not covered by stones but rather each body was encased in a living tree. To touch a tree was to recall who was nestled in its heart. When they came to the site of their friends, she gasped and covered her mouth. The trees were rent in two, the bodies within were gone. Yet wrapped around the base of the trees were small forms that lifted their heads. With sinuous grace they stood and came forward to rub heads with all of them. One was a wondrous snow white, the other black as jet. Flora could not believe what she was seeing. Silent as they came, the seven walked out of the cemetery and up to the butte above it.

"I don't understand," she said when they passed a marker that said silence was no longer needed.

"Don't you?" Kiven asked. "She said there would be more."

Flora was still confused. "Child, rest assured that your friends are alive and well." The Orren flew off into the night, Golden Wings right behind him after saying her own farewells. She looked at the ones she loved as they returned to dragon form.

"Will you come back to stay? Kiven, Jacob?"

In a few more years, when we have taught them how to live. Perhaps next time there will be young. Kiven smiled at the awestruck look on her face. I am expecting. He nudged her gently.

"Really? Wow. Jacob, you work fast."

A lot of practicing with him. That made her laugh and groan at the same time. We must be going. These two are hungry and don't know what not to eat yet. Farewell, little sister. Jacob flew off, followed by three dragons, Jon and Cor'Undum in tow.

"Goodbye guys."

Who says dreams don't come true?