Mated to the Dragon

Chapter 2

It had been quite a few hours since Fiona had been riding Roscher towards the Mystic Woods for the moon had risen in the eastern sky. It hung in a crescent just like the hunter’s horn who blows it bring back his hunting beasts back by his side. Her dark hair hanging behind her like a shining halo of darkness. When Roscher snorted indignantly reaching the end of the vale Fiona peeled her eyes carefully to look at the distance and muttered to her own good self.

“Bless your heart Woman…The tales doth describe perfectly the way for the quest and they have not made any grievous wrong in describing the woods. Do you see it Roscher?” asked Fiona as Roscher snorted once again.

“Tis alright Roscher..We shall resume our journey once again at dawn, let us grab rest for a couple of hours,” said the Princess as she descended from the back of the stallion and led him towards the closest tree at the edge of the woods. After some time both of the beast and its mistress were fast asleep but Fates would not have it their way. Fiona’s slumber was disturbed by the angry sorts of Roscher and something poking and prodding at her feet. She did not hesitate to kick the thing which was near her feet without even opening her eyes and jumping to her feet.

Only to find herself surrounded by small midget looking creatures on all sides.

“Tis alright boy, I am here,” hollered out Fiona and Roscher calmed down a little. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she found that those midgets were nothing else but elves with skin of bluish hue and pointed ears and red eyes.

“Lookee ere..tis a gal who trespasses the boundaries of our woods,” called out one of them to the others who were surrounding her closely.

“Let me go and I promise that no harm shall befall on your selves,” said Fiona with a hint of warning in her tone as all the elves laughed out in glee and mirth. It seemed that her threats were nothing but a joke to them.

“You are nothing but only a gal with a beautiful beast on our lands. What can you do to us?” asked the elf who was standing before her.

“Do not let your good self-suffer at my hands for you do not know who I am. Just let me be on my merry way and you shall be unharmed,” said Fiona as her eyes darted from one elf to other who were looking at her grinning and showing her their teeth as a mark of aggression.

“She is the Princess of Abaentis, you moronic low-lives,” spoke out a male voice from nearby and all the eyes turned towards the direction to find who the speaker of the words was.

“Show yourself now, you coward,” called out another elf who was standing beside Fiona taking a fighting stance.

“Oh dear!! This ought to be interesting for the midgets cannot see what stands before them Princess. I am Roscher, the Royal Ride of Abaentis and the Golden boots of the Kingdom,” said the stallion as he trotted a few steps forward while Fiona gaped at him with shock and horror.

“Fear not Princess, it is the magical mist of the woods which grants me human tongue to speak my mind. Elves, the hour grows wary as we delay in our quest to save the young Prince from the Brexions,” said Roscher and Fiona along with the elves gasped out in outrage and anger.

“It is the Fae!!! The Brexions have taken my Brother in their midst by placing a traitor inside the palace? Do their treachery knows no bounds?” shouted out Fiona in indignation.

“Our apologies for causing trouble Princess of Abaentis. Your valour is truly worthy of the tales, for you are the one who has ridden out to save her brother from the hands of the most powerful enemy known to all living kind rather than waiting for assistance from others. But for your safe passage through the woods you ought to promise us something in return,” said the elf who had come forward and was now speaking amicably to her.

“So long you do not ask for my life I shall honour you with any word you ask on meself to grant you so, in my limited power,” said Fiona bowing her head a little, her hand never moving away from the hilt of her sword. She did not believe in any of the magical creatures for they could turn upon you at the blink of an eye.

“The Kingdom of Brexion, their atrocities on all the magical creature knows no bounds Fair Princess. We have for long suffered at their hands but we have always risen up against all of it unless from the last year they have started napping our younglings from amongst us to use them as fodder for their magical experiments and create weapons from them. If you would be so kind My Lady to rescue our young ones along with your Brother then we shall be obliged for an eternity. And anything you ask for is yours to take,” said the elf who was probably the leader amongst all of them.

“You have my word, Elf,” said Fiona as tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.

“Thy name is Sopran of Mysseria, Fair Princess of Abaentis,” said the Elf bowing down as Fiona curtsied in return.

“It is an honour to meet you Sopran of Mysseria. And my gratitude for the safe passage through the Mystic Woods but I would require something more to reach my destination and as a mark of faith of your noble device,” said Fiona with her eyes glinting in the soft light of the moon. Roscher snorted once again, this time in glee.

“Anything that is ours is yours Princess. Just speak the word and thou shall receive it as fairly as the gifts fall from the wheel of Fortune,” said Sopran of Mysseria.

“I would need wings for my Royal Ride so as to reach my destination swifter than wind. I would need a Pegasus to aid my quest, kind and benevolent Sopran of Mysseria,” said Fiona, softly but strongly at the same time. She remembered how Pippa had taught her to ask for assistance when offered, for it was not a mark of weakness but humility and respect.

“Thou shall receive your wings Fair Princess. Godspeed,” said the elf with a smile.