Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

The Son Of Fire.

‘Watch it, little boy!’ a thick voice grumbled at Rhineas from the throng of peasants gathered around.

Rhineas gazed up at the big man, he’d collided into his bulbous stomach and the impact of the crash threw him on the ground.

‘You are Velina’s fatherless son, aren’t you?’ the big man’s chuckle made his belly jiggle.

Rhineas stared at the man’s face he was smiling behind his thick beard, creases scattered at the corner of his eyes.

‘What is the big haste you little prick?’ the man’s scornful grin pushed Rhineas on the edge.

‘I want to see the big bird ’ Rhineas answered timidly.

‘Oh, what an imbecility to think you could get into the city gates.’ The man sympathized Rhineas.

‘No.’ Rhineas said, ‘the bird is coming I heard it’s roar.’ He pointed up at the sky.

The man cranes his neck to gaze upward. Rhineas took the moment as an opportunity and crawl between the huge man’s legs.

Rhineas stood amidst the abuzz of the village under the shimmering sun glancing up, his face soaking the tender warmth of lucent rays. It was then he saw something, his ears pricked at occasional rumble in the sky that shook the branches of every tree even with it’s roots buried deep in the ground.

Rhineas, at the time when he was his younger-self lived alone with his mother Velina, who owned an orchard at foothills of the mountain Hetra. The proud mountain ridged above the Daleus sea of the great ocean of Anlectus. The sea encompassed the south of Varheim where the village of Talle rested before the city of Halem. Talle was a territory of the southern kingdom but after the great war when prince Edgard inherited the throne of his father – king Atis – it was isolated from the city. The rampart walls, and gates were erected before the village, making it the outskirts of the kingdom of Halem.

The city gates were highly guarded by the Knights of Halem and their city rangers who were feared as the biggest infantry in all of the Varheim continent, which was divided in to six Kingdoms; the western Kingdoms were Riverwood and Greenvale, eastern kingdoms were Stoneland and Blackport. While the northern Kingdoms were united as Bustia the most prosperous after Halem. The southern kingdom: Halem – also the first kingdom – was the richest and dreaded for the largest military power of Varheim.

Halem acquired it’s great riches from the tribute paid by all the kingdoms for using the port of Talle for trading across. The west of the village was where the fleet was built, merchants transported finest wine and spices across the Daleus Sea from Kingdom of Grehol, a prosperous Kingdom ruled by biggest Dynasty of the world, The Greryls. King Iavan Greryl is the third of their generation to sit on the throne. Grehol's prosperity came from the wisdom of the Divines, which was well preserved since the first dynast of Greryls. He fled from the Halem, when thunderous wrath Gods effaced magic from this world. Heister Greryl was spared by The Gods under two conditions; first he shall forfeit the right to pass this wisdom further and second he shall not revoke the mysterious forces. He kept his truce with the Gods and turned a dead desert into a lively green and refreshing continent. He planted the orchids of fragranced flowers to make perfumes for Kings and lords. He Cultivated orchards of sweetest fruits for making the finest wine and herbs of all tastes for making spices out of them. He traded Perfumes, wine and spices with Varheim through the fleet of Halem and united the tribes to employ them and expand their agriculture.

East of the village was Hetra mountains partitioning the village from the sprawling Stegardian forests where the Gods caged splendid creatures of their kingdom, and on the other end of the forest is where the abode of God lies.

It was a bright and sober afternoon. The streets were heaving with villagers, horsemen and group of peasants who were transporting their grains to the city markets in the carriages of bullocks. This village was not like the usual villages in the kingdom, it was bustled with business and very much alive with life along with the occasional scenes of patrolling guards on their rounds in the market as it was just outside the city gates.

Rhineas jostled through the swarming crowd in the narrow streets. He was awestruck by the picture of a Dragon soaring high in the sky and saturated by the feeling of joy rushing through him. He'd spread his arms and run around his hut flapping them imitating a Dragon in flight, it’s outstretched majestic wings casting a dark shadow beneath them.

He was overwhelmed by it's hugeness. ‘No bird is that big.’ He wondered. He ran with blistering paces to his mother. She was occupied loading her grains onto a carriage of a merchant who would sell it in the market. Rhineas tugged at her mud-daubed tweed gown. ‘What is it my child.’ She asked looking at his round chubby cheeks adorned by the little curls of his red hair.

‘Mother you have to see a big bird flying in the sky roaring like a lion.’ Rhineas urged.

Velina laughed at her child's juvenility. She picked him up, lifting him from under his armpits and said, ‘that is a Dragon, son.’

‘I want one mother.’ Rhineas demanded stubbornly.

‘No, dear you can’t tame a Dragon. It is the mount of Emone the God of fire.’ She brushed his nose against hers.

‘I will ask Emone to give me one of his Dragons, would he?’ Rhineas looked in his mother’s beautiful blue eyes with hope.

‘You are his child, he will surely listen to you if you promised him to grow up to be a good man.’ She assured.

‘I will become a good man, mother.’ Rhineas promised.

Velina prayed in her heart for her son's hope to remain perpetual. She had always known that Rhineas was destined to do great things that no mortal would be capable of. She looked across the forest at the mountain from where the thick cloud of smoke rose and melded with the sky. She'd to confine Rhineas about his truth he deserved to know, but not now, when he grows up to understand it. She looked in her son’s scarlet jubilant eyes which reminded her of his father, the man who rode a Dragon, a great warrior of Halem, ballads had been wrote depicting his bravery.

The Gods from two Kingdoms; The Kingdom of Moon and The Kingdom of Sun, united together for the peace in the mortal realms. They sent the first blood of Mages and Sorceresses to pass on the wisdom of the Divines to the mortals for the betterment of the realms. When Ulbin the first Mage was driven with an ambition of conquering the world after unveiling the mysterious forces of magic, obsessed with the belief that it would make him the most powerful in the realms of mortals. He made evil with his magic, he made beasts and monster which would bring horrors to immortals itself. He challenged the Gods blinded by his ambitions, his imbecility ravaged the great knowledge of the Divines from the mortal realm. The beasts who were formed with magic including Dragons were purified by the Gods and caged them in the skies, in the depths of oceans and in the heart of forests to keep the mortals preserved.

Edgard fought alongside the Gods against the Medralians, who casted the spells of darkness and brought the reign of evil. Every last of the Mage and Sorceress was brought to justice by the Gods. One of the Dragons was given to Edgard as a reward for his bravery. Velina hoped that one day her son would meet his father, the king of Halem, ward of Emone, first born of Atis, and the successor of Ignysreon – Edgard Ignysreon. Velina held her son high and said ‘Spread your wings my little dragon.’ She circled on her feet and Rhineas’s laughter chimed in blithe.

‘Mother, I am flying.’ Rhineas said.

All of Rhineas's childhood memories were intact in his head, he thought about it frequently.

As the seasons changed and time flew by, Rhineas reached to an age where he could understand his truth. On one such moonlit night by the hearth his mother decided to tell him a secret she was bound to keep till now.

‘Son, the time has come to know about your father.’ Velina announced.

‘Yes, mother. I hope I’ve grown up to be like him.’ Rhineas said. His eyes could not hide how eager he was to know this. Every time Rhineas would say something like this, it made his mother worried, because she didn’t want to lose her only baby, it doesn’t matter how old he gets he will still be her son.

‘It was when the war broke between the Gods and Ulbin along with his Medralians. Ulbin and other first bloods had just begun the terrors of their magic and caused rampant chaos. Edgard was the young prince, all the highborn ladies from Varheim dreamt to be his princess, even the King looked forward to expand his Kingdom and form alliances with other great houses of the Varheim. He was promised to princess Pysenia of Bustia, the only Kingdom of the north who ruled all the other cities in the north. It was known for its diamond mountains. King Jatron Bla’er was the second wealthiest man after King Atis.’ Velina's eyes shone with delight as she recited the story of Edgard.

‘I used to go near the Stegardian forest with my companions to take a bath. We spent whole day there laughing and singing. On such a day Edgard appeared mounted on his white stallion, galloping in the forest. He was as handsome then as he is now. His red hair danced as his horse cantered towards the Uheld river, my companions were flushed red to see the prince approaching.’ Smile stretched widely over Velina’s face sending her back in time, ‘ They hastily got out of the sea as Prince’s horse trotted closer and cloaked their bare bodies with ragged cotton gowns. I stumbled my way out when the Prince’s eyes met mine...’ her cheeks reddened, ‘...his red eyes crinkled firmly, I lost my balance and fell back inside the river.

“I apologise to intrude you my ladies.” He sang in his enchanted voice and dismounted gracefully…’, Velina looked at Rhineas, his eager eyes delve deeper in hers, his face illuminated in the light from the hearth. Velina drew a deep breath and picked up from where she left, ‘... he stepped closed to me and knelt on the edge of the stream offering his hand. I was bewildered by his gestures, I embraced my arms around me to cover myself. Edgard untied the silk band tied around his waist where his dagger was tugged into the leather scabbard, and tied it around his head blindfolding his eyes. He again held his hand out. I gingerly grabbed his hand and he pulled me up with surprising ease. Blindfolded, he presumed with every step, other girls were giggling under their breath afraid that if the prince would hear them he would sentence them to die.’ Velina laughed softly, ‘When we reached the dry land he took off his intricately embroidered silk mantle with elaborated beads on it, and struggled to wrap around me. That’s when he opened his blindfold and smiled at me politely.’ Velina paused and looked at Rhineas studiously his face blank, she gathered that her son is struggling to absorb the truth about his father.

She continued ‘I froze inside the delicate soft mantle of Edgard, it felt so comfortable to my skin. He bowed his head his hands behind and said. “Allow me my ladies.” He looked deep in my eyes. “I look forward to see you .” He said and drifted off like the wind on his horse, in a moment out of our sight. The girls laughed around me, a couple of them began to envy me. The whole night all I could think was just Edgard and his irresistible scarlet eyes.’ She looked at her son, ‘you have got your father’s eyes and hair.’ She pointed and ruffled his hair.

‘Mother....,’ Rhineas grumbled, ‘..no’ leaning away from her, playfully.

‘The next morning I went to the forest again hoping to see the prince..,’ Velina continued, ‘I had forgotten who I was. I was blinded by those brief moments of a dream...’ her intensity of tone tinted pain, ‘I spotted him riding his horse approaching with the same chivalry. I wore his mantle and was glowing for him. He jumped down his horse and walked solemnly towards me. “I don’t see any of your companions today?” he asked. A brief jealousy tingled in me.

“No..” I replied curtly, “your highness..” I added.

“The woods aren’t decent for a alone lady.” He warned

“Alone...” I squared to look at him, “Am I?” I sunk instantly in remorse after saying it.

“Brave lady.” The prince chuckled.

‘I blushed. I gazed down and tugged a strand of hair behind my ear which dangled on my face. “you look better that way, my lady”. He said.

“You can’t disobey a Prince’s command, can you?” I commented and a spellbound laughter echoed into the depth of the forest. The prince stopped when he saw horror replaced the blithe in my eyes. I whimpered when I saw a giant furry creature with long claws. It had a wolf’s head on it’s burly body. It approached us, sprinting on two legs. In an flash Edgard drew his sword and slashed it in the air, the beast ditched the attack and charged back at us with it’s claws pummelling madly. Edgard shoved me to the other side and dodged the furious beast. It fell on the forest ground upon its face, and rose up more violently snarling. His tongue sticking out, the skin below his long muzzle crawling back baring his long sharp fangs eager to tear me in a moment. The beast pounced on me, Edgard jumped in front of me sticking out his sword. The beast held his swords between its claws while Edgard struggled to free the blade from it’s grip. The beast rapidly moved his other hand slashing through the air trying to tear through Edgard, but he swiftly moved from side to side avoiding the claws, with one hand still around his sword which was stuck between the claws. Edgard’s attempt to ditch every attack didn’t work and the beast's claw slashed through his chest his leather covered tunic was torn apart. Edgard growled in pain he pulled out the dagger tugged at his waist and stabbed it into the beast’s heart. The beast howled in pain and fell on the ground writhing, and eventually turned into ashes. Edgard held his wound to stop it from bleeding as he sunk into the ground drained out of strength. I leaned over him and cried “My Prince.” The prince smiled and asked “Are you hurt my lady?” I nodded and tore a piece of clothe from Prince’s mantle to tie around his wound but it was not wide enough. I untied the band which was fastened around my waist to keep the mantle tight. The mantle came off lose baring my curves, I wrapped the band around Edgard’s wound. I put my hand across the wound to check, thank the flame it was not too shallow. The sun sank behind looming trees, the last light faded and it was already dark I didn’t know what to do. I was still frightened, I struggled with the twigs in my trembling hands to light fire. “Don’t my lady.” Edgard said in a shaky voice. He closed his eyes and chanted some words the fire was lit. “I am the ward of Emone.” He said. The fire flickered, keeping us warm on the rough forest floor. Under the starry night sky Edgard looked at me, I was shy trying to cover my bare skin. He sat up and leaned over me.

“I believe this belongs to me.” He caressed his mantle that I was wearing. I felt his touch under the intricate fabric on my bare skin. I looked up to him from under my eyelashes he lifted my chin up between his thumb and finger and said, “I owe you my life, my lady.” My heart was pounding erratically in my chest, I was breathing heavily. “I am not a lady, prince. I’m just a peasant girl a low born.” I replied..,’ Velina sniffed and swallowed a sob, ‘Edgard put his hand behind my neck caressing my cheek with his thumb and said, “You saved a Prince’s life, you would no longer be poor. You are beautiful.” I could see my face in his eyes gleaming by the flames. Edgard leaned towards me and the next thing I know his lips touching mine. He kissed me tenderly, smoothly his lips felt soft. I let go my hold off the mantle, it fell off on the ground our hearts beating the same way together, erratically, and our breathing matching. We made love on the forest bed under the light of million lamps twinkling above us.’ Velina's eyes brimmed with tears when she concluded the tale of the flame which melt a girl like it melts candlewax.

‘Did he know about me?’ Rhineas asked.

‘I am afraid he did not, my son. That night was the last time I saw him,’ she said, ‘next morning his men came looking for him. They found us together and the prince explained how I saved his life. He left and never returned. The war between the Gods and Ulbin and his first bloods got fierce.’ Velina remembered the long nights and miserable days she’d spent missing him.

‘And he abandoned you...,’ Rhineas yelled, ‘... Just like that.’

‘He was summoned by Emone, his guardian to fight by his side, fire rushed through his veins. I sent him a parchment when you were born but didn’t hear from him..’ Velina sighed disappointedly, ‘so I let it go. He'd given me the dearest gift I could have.’ She kissed her son's forehead.

Rhineas deeply submerged in thoughts followed by the tale his mother revealed. He wondered if his father even have a knowledge of his son's existence?.

‘How could he do this to you...’ Rhineas wondered, ‘...to us.’

‘He had far more important matters at hand, Rhineas.’ Velina held his hand, ‘he is the King, the ward of Emone. He has to go when he is summoned.’ She said.

‘But, mother...’ Rhineas went on, ‘All my life I had been called “fatherless” mocked by people for I’ll never grow up to be a man because I am raised by a woman.’ He looked away from her in despair.

‘Why does it matter?’ she asked, ‘let them say. You have the blood of the greatest warrior in the world, you would grow up to be more man than any of these rats are.’

‘How am I supposed live this way...’ he snapped, ‘now that I know I am the first born of Edgard, the successor of Ignysreon —’

‘Stop there...’ Velina’s acerbic voice broke him, ‘you are my son. You are raised to be a peasant not a prince.’ Velina’s tart tone quietened him for a brief moment.

Rhineas fought his fear of infuriating his mother and gathered some courage to speak again, ‘but, mother —’

‘Don’t you understand...,’ Velina’s with cold glance froze him, ‘go to sleep, you are not speaking of this to anyone. No further discussion.’ She didn’t realise herself yelling till now.

Rhineas grumbled under his breath and stomped off to his bed. Velina closed her eyes and bit her lips to keep her from crying, rather she shed few tears. Velina felt remorse for using harsh tone, she’d never spoken to him this way before. Her fear of losing her only son was getting thicker in her throat. She couldn’t have kept it away from him forever, she wished if she could, but she knew the prophecy and she is merely a mortal she cannot stop it from happening.