drake
The crowd was loud as they came to join us on the field, many clapping me on the shoulder admiring the power the elders had given me. Only half hearing them I searched the wave of people to find Sarri, but was instantly drawn away as Lilly entered my vision. As she approached I smiled "so you have reached the sanctuary. Is it everything you had hoped for?" She smiled "it's more, I hadn't realized the power that you possess. They say that the elders blessed you, is it true?" I laughed "I wouldn't put it like that but yes the elders granted me their power so that I may help release this world of Alicia's terror." Her eyes widened "I would be honored if they did the same for me. However I know that they would not." I placed my hands on her shoulders "you might be surprised." Letting go I looked around again for Sarri until my eyes found her not far away seemingly in a heated discussion with Deagan. Sadness entered my heart turning back to Lilly I realized that she too looked towards Sarri. Facing me again she smiled sadly "you love her don't you?" I did not answer "I do not mean to pry I only sensed it. I think that is one of my powers, to sense the truth of everyone's soul." She looked to Sarri again "she is beautiful, I can see why you love her." She turned back to met my eyes, I sighed "it does not matter. Whatever is between us must remain unknown," Lilly shook her head. "I am sorry Drake," I looked to where Sarri stood. She had started to walk away with Deagan however just before they disappeared she turned around. Our eyes locked as I saw the sadness in them, just as suddenly she turned away to smile at Deagan. Not being able to control my emotions I turned to Lilly "excuse me Lilly but I have to go. I will have someone give you a room to stay in." I started to walk away but she pulled me back "thank you, for everything." I inclined my head then made my way through the crowd to find Lucas. It wasn't long before I found him talking with Coran and Adryin "Ah just the man we were talking about. You were great out there, those elders sure know how to make someone powerful." "Yes THAT they can do," I answered sarcastically. From the corner of my eye I saw Coran briefly look away, it was this that told me that he knew what had happened between Sarri and me. This made me even more eager to get away. "Lucas there is a girl named Lilly I want you to find her a room to stay in." Lucas seemed surprised but answered "of course. She will be treated like any other serving in her highnesses army, I give you my word." I nodded "I thank you." I started to leave however I did not get far before Coran caught up with me. "Drake wait," stopping I waited as he navigated the crowd. Once he had reached me he asked "may I speck with you?" I sighed "I know what this is about and quite frankly I'm not in the mo-" "would you just let me talk before you hide yourself from those that only want to help." I stared at him not moving, finally I sighed "fine let us go somewhere more private." Coran nodded as he led me away from the crowd, I expected him to stop once we were far enough away but he kept going. He walked until we were before the resting place of the elders. Together we climbed to the top of the wall. Once there I spun on him "why are we here!?" Coran looked me in the eyes "I brought you here because you need to know something. This place is Sarri's favorite place, not because of the view of the stars, not even because it was our secret. She loves this place because of what it represents, look." He indicated the vast land that surrounded us. It stretched for leagues on all sides, Coran come to stand beside me. "Our father used to bring her here all the time it is here that he told her that this is all going to be hers, hers to rule in it's entirety. This is just one of the beauties that Dralic has to offer, this place reminds her of that and of our father." I turned from the land to Coran "why are you telling me this?" He sighed "I'm telling you this because I believe it is the reason she brought you here. What the two of you have is real, it's magical. I know she wanted to share it with you because of that, because she wanted you to understand that being a good ruler is everything to her no matter how much she tries to deny it. To follow in our fathers footsteps is what she hopes to achieve." I sighed "I know this Coran you need not lecture me on it. Why do you think I do not pursue her? Why do you think I'm trying to forget about what happened? Why do you think I'm trying to forget about her and what I feel for her?" "Drake that is not what I'm saying I…." I looked into his eyes so intently that I could not turn away "what Coran?" Finally after what seemed like ages he answered "I know I am doing an injustice by saying this but I say what I think Sarri deserves." He paused trying to work up the courage for what he was trying to say. "You and Sarri have a connection unlike any I have ever seen. You were destined to be together, I know that under the circumstances it seems impossible but if you fight for what you want I know it will work out." I shook my head Coran had never been known for his romanticism, it made me think that being with Adryin caused him to think more about it. However none of this changed the fact that Sarri and I could never be together. I shook my head again "you know not what you speck of. Sarri has made her choice nothing I can do will change what she wants and what she wants is Deagan. Do I love her? Yes, will I ever get past it? Only time will tell. For gods sake Coran she is princess, though I'd like to think that she loves me back I have yet to hear it from her mouth with her own voice. No Coran it is better this way, this I know." I saw the shock in Coran's eyes "you can not believe that? Sarri loves you, you know she does. She does not have to say it for you to know, you said it yourself you can sense that she does." My anger boiled "it does not matter she has chosen another!" "Because she feels she must, she does it to protect you." I waved a hand "enough Coran, enough. No matter what she feels for me or I her it does not change the fact that we can not be together. She is too loyal to turn her back on Deagan and I will not force her. There's no point in arguing Coran you can not change matters with but a few words. The world rarely works the way we want." Coran stared in sadness "so you will retreat further into yourself?" I did not answer "very well Drake do what you think you must, but heed my words you will never be happy if you turn your back on what you know was meant to be." Without another word he turned and left down the wall and out of sight. I sat as sadness entered my very soul, I knew it had to be this way but why would the elders let this happen. They determined us to be together, knowing that this would happen. I sat and I did not move as I recalled all the time I had spent with Sarri. I remembered all the looks, the feelings, I recalled everything and I could not move.
It was perhaps two hours later that I heard her move through the trees, after not being able to move for what seemed like weeks I sprung to my feet. Edging closer I watched her every move, I watched as the tears silently fell unhindered down her cheeks. I longed to wipe them away but I seemed unable to approach. I listened as she spoke to the dragon elders and as I listened I heard her talk of what the elders had told her of our destiny. However it was not as clear as my own is this why she did not contest her betrothal to Deagan even after those that had tried before and failed? She thought that he was the one in her destiny. I continued to listen as she opened her heart to the elders about the struggle she was caught in, I listen as she pleaded with them to help her. I listened as she called them liars, I longed to go to her, to save her from the hurt, but before I could even decide whether to go to her or not, Karsha emerged from the trees. As they talked Sarri's tone changed, she started to deny the feelings. I listened as Karsha mentioned Sarri's dreams, I suddenly realized that now Sarri was out of Alicia's influence the dreams had returned. Suddenly I was pulled from my thoughts as Sarri screamed "I CAN NOT LOVE HIM!" My heart sank, Karsha spoke softly to her then left. It did not hurt that she said what she did it was merely that she was ignoring her true self to save from the hurt. Hearing the pain in her words hurt me just as much as it did her. Slowly I descended the wall, it wasn't until I touched the ground that she turned to face me. Her eyes widened in shock as tears flowed freely down her face. "Have you been there the whole time?" I looked to the ground not being able to hold her gaze. I heard her sigh "I'm sorry you had to hear that Drake I-" "I understand why you said it. I know how much it hurts, you can not doubt it." "I do not-" "I know you don't, I only say it because I can not stop myself from thinking about you. We cannot be happy apart yet we can not be together…" I paused. Looking into her eyes so full of warring emotions, like my own I knew. Not being able to stop myself I whispered "Sarri please say it." I did not need to explain for the look in her eyes told me that she knew. "Drake please do not make this any harder than it has to be." I slowly reached out and touched her face "it is already too hard." She moaned at my touch "Drake," she whispered like one caught in a dream. "Please…" I lent closer my lips only inches from hers. However before I could even touch her she turned her face to the side "who was that girl you were talking too?" Surprised by her question it took me a while to realize who she spoke about. Then I remembered Lilly "her name is Lilly, I found her in Kalicsatina. Quan took her in after both her parents had been killed. She wanted her chance to find revenge so I took her under my wing." Still Sarri did not look at me "is she human then if she comes from Kalicsatina." "I only said I found her in Kalicsatina I did not say she came from there. Her home town is Crystalansio she is a white dragon," I watched as her eyes snapped back to met mine. "But I thought you were the only white dragon in all of Dralic?" "I am or I was," I sighed "why does this even matter?" I snapped growing irritated, again she looked away. "You like her don't you?" I shook my head shocked by her words and the timing in which they had come. "Sarri I would never hurt you, Lilly is merely a girl. You are a woman she is only here to learn what she can and to fight against Alicia." She stepped away suddenly angry "she is not much younger then me! How can you say that she is only a girl?" My own anger also surfaced "you have no reason to be angry Sarri. Have I not proven my love to you? Have I not just said that I can not stay away from you? Why do you persist in seeing the worst in me?" Sarri turned away not answering at first but when she did it was full of pain and torment. "I do it because it is easier, if I find a reason to be angry at you it makes it easier to turn away." My anger gone I stepped close to her again. Gently I turned her to face me, reaching with my hand I lifted her chin so that she looked into my eyes. "Even if you did find something to be angry at me for it would not change things. I would still fight for you, I would still be by your side. There is no way I can stay away from you short of leaving this world for another far away land. For only then will I be able to stay away, but that I will not do. I can not leave knowing that you and those in this world are in danger so long as Alicia and her followers live." One hand on her waist and the other touched her cheek "the reality is that I can not be apart from you. I do not want to live a life without you, to do so would rip the very soul from my body." I wiped the tears away that had started falling down her cheeks. "Sarri we are meant to be together betrothed or not," her lips trembled as she spoke. "Drake we can not, if my mother finds out you will be killed. I could not bare to see that, I would rather be apart then watch you die." I shook my head "I would rather die then be apart." "No! Drake please do not make me do it, if you die as I result of my happiness I would never forgive myself. I would become the monster Alicia made me into please just walk away." I again shook my head "I can not, I have not the strength," I silenced any other words with a kiss. It was like a dream as our passion joined together, neither of us could control what we felt. I pulled her closer so that our bodies were as one. Before I could stop myself as our kiss became more heated, until she abruptly pulled away. "Stop!" She stepped further away "I have to go," she started to walk away but I grabbed her hand before she had gotten more then two steps. "Sarri I love you and I know you love me too, give in to your feelings and just admit that we should be together." She shook her head "no I can not," her tears flowed harder. "I can not love you, I do not love you." "I don't believe that, Sarri please even Karsha said that the only way for you to rid yourself of your nightmares is to be true to yourself. Don't deny our love, don't deny me." Her eyes creased in anger "Karsha may be right but I will have to deal with the nightmares myself." I opened my mouth to talk but she spoke before I could "I will not turn my back on my people Drake." "I am not asking you too-" "yes you are, for me to be with you I would have to turn my back on my birth right to save you from certain death. I can not do it Drake and I will not do it. I will not desert them in their time of need," "Sarri please listen I'm only asking-" "what are you asking Drake? If we are to be together as you say then I would not only be betraying Deagan." She ripped her arm from mine "this can not happen Drake you know it as well as I." Again she started to walk away and again I pulled her back, however this time pressing my lips to hers. She struggled beneath my arms, she could have easily escaped me but without her even realizing her fists relaxed. Her lips responded to mine as her hand slowly ran through my hair as she pulled me down to kiss her harder. Parting I whispered "I will not give up on us Sarri, I will make you admit your love." She said nothing as she took one last look into my eyes and left towards the palace. Long after she disappeared from my sight I still stared, I knew what I had done was grounds for treason but I did not care. Not even the thought of death could keep me from being with her. For too long I have been denying what is between us and even after rescuing her I still denied that we were meant to be. Well no more I will not continue to fight what I know is meant to be. I will make her see even if it takes telling the queen her self I will make her admit her love.
It was dawn as I came into sight of the palace, the night had been long but it was too late to get any sleep in so I planned to just go to my room to change into fresh cloths and to wash up. However I did not get more then two steps into the palace before I was confronted by Deagan. "Well, well, well, been out all night have we? Been with your new friend?" I glared at him but refused to enter into his games. "I have not the time to rally mindless banter backwards and forwards my lord, so if you'd excuse me." I made to move past him but he stepped in my way "oh no Drake it is not that easy to escape me as you will soon find out." I sighed "what is this about my lord for surly I am confused." Deagan smiled "do not play dumb with me Commander." As always he pronounced the word as if it were an insult "imagine my shock to find that after every thing we did to get Sarri back I wake up to find her once again gone-" I cut him off "how has your ability to always loose things you find dear to you any of my business my lord?" Deagan again smiled "well let me finish and it will become clear." I indicated for him to continue "now as I was saying I woke in the night to find Sarri my betrothed gone from sight. Well naturally I set out to find her, I look everywhere yet she is no where to be found. Then it occurs to me that she might go to the one place she feels most comfortable and the only place I can think of is the wall of the sanctuary. The very place that Sarri was taken from, so I set out to that spot." Here he paused to stare at me, I revealed nothing, but inside my heart was pounding. Did he see anything? Did he hear what I had said about not giving up? I did not know what Deagan would do if he had, he was too unpredictable which was the main reason why I was always cautious around him. Not saying a word I waited for him to continue, he scrutinized me closely for anything that I might give away. Finally he continued "to cut a long story short I come across Sarri walking away from the very man who stands before me now." Inside I sighed with relief outside I spoke without even a crack in my voice. "Come now Deagan you don't seriously think I planned to met her there?" He remained silent "I was merely patrolling and happened to bump into her. We talked as the friends that we are and she left, that is all ask her if you do not believe me she would not lie. Now if that is all my lord I would like to get out of these befouled clothing into fresh ones before the sun is too high in the sky." Deagan glared, I could see that he was not entirely convinced but he waved a hand away to say the conversation was over. Turning from him I retreated up the stairs to my room. As I washed my face with the bowl of water on the table I couldn't help but think how complicated things in my life had turned out. Changing my cloths I had just started attaching my sword belt when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," a young boy entered the room. "The queen requests your presence in her study Commander Drake," I nodded "I will be there momentarily." The boy nodded then left, I finished buckling my belt and attaching the two new swords to my back. Most dragons fought with four swords it was some what of a tradition. It was only in the last few decades that we started using spears, axes and other such weapons. Finally done I left my room and headed towards the queens study. I knocked on the door and waited, Coran was the one to open the door. Stepping inside I looked around to also found Sarri, Deagan, Adryin and Lucas standing before the queen's desk. "Ah Drake, well now that every one is here let us begin." I glanced briefly at Lucas he supported a very worried expression on his face. "First of all we need to find out exactly what we will be facing. From what Adryin has told me about the numbers she counted while you were in Crystalansio we have much to do. From Adryin's account the numbers we will be facing are far more then we first estimated." The shock was evident in all of us, none of us dared look away from the queen. Standing straighter preparing myself for the worst I asked "How many your majesty?" The queen sighed seeming to age before us "twenty thousand and growing more every day." I heard an intake of breath from Sarri "but that's impossible, no army has ever exceeded more then ten thousand not in all our years." Coran exclaimed, looking to everyone around me I saw fear in their eyes. Turning back to the queen I said "so what?" "Excuse me?" the queen asked "so what? Compared to all in Dralic Alicia's army is minuscule. If we can rally all of Dralic against Alicia her numbers will never amount to anything." Surprising both me and the queen Sarri stepped forward to answer. "It's not as simple as that commander, this war is between humans and dragons of Crystalansio against Alicia and her followers. We can not ask whole villages to abandon their homes for the sake of their capital when she has not even made one move against them. They will dispute that Alicia has not made any move towards them, why should they join this war? Most have already pledged their allegiance with her." I sighed it would be hard to explain my point but I had to try. "I'm not saying it's going to be easy. She did attack Bailnet that will help to motivate them. Those we do manage to convince will surly help then once we have tried those of our kind we can widen the search to those who live on the borders." This time I heard the instant shock in Sarri's voice. "Are you mad? Those on the borders have never interfered in our affairs. We have not even exchanged treaties with them yet, what makes you think they would join us in a war that has nothing to do with them?" "They may and they may not but I think it's worth a try, if Alicia does what she has planned then they stand to suffer too. Therefore if we join now we leave no room to be overwhelmed." It was here that I realized this meeting had suddenly turned from a meeting to a heated argument between Sarri and myself. She glared at me "and who would you send to convince them for who ever does risks death or worse." I smiled "I will go," "ha what makes you think you are qualified to speck on behalf of all Dragons and humans? You can not hope to aspire to such a task," At this moment queen Elaine stood. "That is why you will go with him," all in the room turned to the queen and at once exclaimed "what!" Here Deagan stepped forward "your highness excuse my frankness but Sarri has only just returned to us. Do you mean to send her away so soon after her capture?" The queen rubbed her eyebrows seeming very tired "Commander Drake is right Deagan we need allies and my daughter is also right." Here she paused turning to Sarri she placed her hands on her shoulders. "Please know that I do not willing send you away so soon but as princess of Crystalansio and the rest of Dralic it must be you to face those of the borders." Deagan august by what Queen Elaine was saying stepped forward he spoke with no thought to whom he spoke to. "You can't be serious! You can not think to send her to unknown territory, especially not with the likes of him." He exclaimed indicating me the queen's royal pride rearing forcefully answered "you have forgotten yourself Deagan. It is my right to send my own daughter to wherever I deem fit, she is princess and as such knows the importance of the task I have entrusted her with. As for Commander Drake I trust him with my own life I would certainly trust him with my daughter's and if you ever challenge my judgment again it will not only be your betrothal to my daughter that I extinguish." Deagan stared passed the queen glaring at me then forced his face to soften as he turned back to the queen. "I beg your forgiveness my Queen I had forgotten myself in my own selfishness to want Sarri safe. I did not mean to insult you by my hasty words," Here he paused to again glare at me. "But I would ask that I may accompany them so that my mind may be at ease?" Without hesitation Queen Elaine answered "I think not Deagan. Given your earlier comments towards Commander Drake I feel you would only cause conflict and considering the task they have been set it would not be wise to send one so hot tempered." The Queen turned away to face the others, once her back was turned Deagan stared fiercely at me in silent anger. "As for the rest of you, you will separate your warriors into groups and concentrate on gathering more warriors to fight from within the kingdom." She turned to Deagan who immediately hid his anger "you Deagan will keep your warriors here to protect the sanctuary should any of Alicia's followers penetrate the barriers." She returned to stand behind her desk "I want everyone ready to leave by tomorrow morning. You are dismissed," she waved her hand to conclude the discussion. All of us except Sarri turned towards the door. Beside me Deagan questioned Sarri who merely ushered him out with the rest of us. Outside the room we made our way down the hall. It wasn't until we were well away from the queen's study before the inevitable happened. I was pulled by my shirt and roughly spun around "that's what you planed all along isn't it?" Before I could even answer he grabbed me by the scruff of my shirt. "Anything to get Sarri alone, I should strike you where you stand." At this the others stared in wonder, except Coran he placed his hand on Deagan's arm. "Deagan this is not the time nor the place," he looked to the others. "Don't you all have some preparation to do?" Following Coran's lead they all left towards the front doors of the palace. Once they were out of sight Coran faced Deagan who still had me by my shirt. Before Coran could say a word Deagan glared back at him "this has nothing to do with you Coran-" "It has everything to do with me, Sarri is my sister." While he was distracted I ripped his hands from my shirt. "It was not my intention to get her highness alone I merely voiced what I thought was the best course of action. I did not even say a thing about the princess coming." Deagan shook his head "you are far more crafty then even you know. I am no fool Drake even if Sarri does not see how you feel for her I do." Here he got within inches of my face "I have just one warning. If you even think about touching her I will know and I will kill you with my own hands elders powers or not." With that he turned away and left me with Coran, who stood before me "this could get ugly," I sighed he was right it could get ugly but this was something I could not turn away from, she was something I could not turn away from. Even though I knew this task was what my full attention should be set on I knew it would be my only chance. All that time alone with her would be the perfect opportunity to make her see that we are meant to be together and that together we are meant to do great things for the kingdom of Dralic. However there was one thing that I needed first, turning to Coran I asked "Coran there is something I must ask of you." His eyes scrutinized me as he nodded "what is it Drake?" "I ask for your blessing," I needn't have told him of what I spoke for the look on his face showed me that he knew. A worried look came to his eyes as a hand ran through his hair, then finally he answered "you need not ask Drake my words before already gave you that answer." I smiled, that our friendship meant so much to me was surprising. However I was glad of it, somehow it made me feel warm to know that I had his friendship. I inclined my head "so be it, you were right this is going to get ugly." I went to leave but turned back "I only hope it does not end in my death." Before Coran could reply I turned and left him standing in the hall.