Chapter 17
Gerald was outside the spire in his dragon form. His gold scales glistened in the sun. He was ready to give Lauren a ride.
"Are you ready to go?" Gerald asked.
"Yes."
"Edmon and Demeatral are all that can go with us. They are royals so they can go. No one else."
Lauren thought to mention the king of the beast as a royal but thought against it, "Okay. So, let's go." Lauren said.
Lauren and Demeatral climbed on Gerald's back and got settled. Edmond shrank and got in Lauren's pocket. Then Gerald took off into the sky.
Lauren had to admit that she loved flying on the back of a dragon. Everything was small dots of life under them. She looked back at the castle and could not see it because of the barrier that reflected the landscape around it. The lands were so beautiful. Looking from where the castle invisibly stood, she saw a mountain range and waterfalls to one side and fields of flowers to the other. The city that surrounded the castle was also invisible as it was protected by the barrier as well. The land was so lush. Lauren knew she was doing what she needed to do to ensure that this realm and her home realm would be safe.
Higher and high they flew. Lauren was enraptured by the clouds and stars. The sky darkened and yet sparkled. "You will enter the Dragon realm soon," Gerald said in her head. "Our realm is not often visited and not easy to find. That is how we stay safe and unmolested by others. Not many of us venture out of the realm."
"Why is that?" Lauren asked.
"You can't wish for things you do not no exist. You will see soon that our realm has a beauty that rivals all the other realms. We don't need to venture into the other realms." Gerald said proudly.
"Then why do you join our group?"
"Because you drew me to you. I know you have been told that dragons mate for life, but our true mates are also only chosen by the Fates. When a true mate is found, a dragon will do whatever it takes to acquire them." With a small giggle, he continued, "I am not new to life and would not force myself on you. I would not just honor the Fates and take you as my mate just because the Fates have drawn me to you."
"Good to know."
"I truly like you. Your spirit to help others, ability to figure things out, and common sense when handling creatures that I know you have no idea about. You have drawn me in not the Fates. You are beautiful and I love your maturity. I will love getting to know you better."
Lauren blushed. She had no idea the dragon was observing her so deeply. She could hear and feel the care he had for her. She wouldn't mind getting to know him. "It would be nice to get to know you as well. I do appreciate that you find me interesting, especially since you have had centuries to choose a mate and more likely had several suitable females that wanted your attention."
"It is true that I have had others try to catch my attention, but I am a picky dragon. No one has caught my attention as you have. I enjoy your company and hope to enjoy it much more." He continued to fly higher and higher. Lauren knew they had to be in what her realm would call space or higher. There was a sheet of clouds ahead of them. It glistened in the sun. Finally, they pierced that sheet, and their next sight was an extremely glorious landscape. Waterfalls poured into the clouds, flowers, and stars mixed to create the fields. The buildings and streets were made of crystal and gold. The trees were weeping willows and flowering trees. Ponds that looked to contain pearls, sapphires, and aquamarines flowed by. Emeralds and Jade created the grass and paths of the fields. "This is my home. I hope that you find it lovely. Maybe it will become another of the realms you wish to protect."
"It's beyond beautiful! I love how it sparkles! Yes, I would want to protect it. I want to protect all the realms. I need to visit the rest of the realms as well, they are all important."
Gerald aimed for the crystal castle in the center of the city and landed. Lauren, Demeatral, and Edmon dismounted. Unexpectedly, Elves, Unicorns, Sprites, and other creatures moved around. Some worked as servants, gardeners, and builders. Others were a part of the court and gentry. "Your realm is the Crystal City! This is where Jon is from!" Lauren stated. "I never would have guessed unless I came to visit your realm. Jon could have come with us as well since he is from here. Why didn't you let him?"
"Jon must remember everything for himself. He behaves like he doesn't want to come to the Dragon realm or like he thinks he is from the Heaven realm. He doesn't know that Crystal city is in the Dragon Realm. When Leventavia brought up taking a mate to keep the Heaven guard from coming to get him, he didn't argue. He is still missing some of his past. I cannot risk that the spell that was put on him as a child would not be reawakened once he is here. The earth witch has been trying to find her way here for years. It was one of the reasons I didn't bring you here right away. She can tag people and by carrying you and our colleagues, I was able to neutralize any tags she might have put on any of you. Her spell on young Jon is another matter. I am thinking of taking his mother down to the castle so she can visit him and see if it sparks his memory, only I don't know if the spell will be triggered."
"That is a dilemma. I wonder if I can help him with a spell or something? Thank you for giving me some insight into Jon's situation. I will bring it up to the keeper when we go back and see what can be done."
They entered the castle and were ushered to their rooms. Demeatral and Lauren roomed together and Edmon's room was adjoined. They sat in the living room and waited to be called for the ceremony. "Do either of you know what the ceremony will be like?"
"No. No one does. The last dragon ceremony was in a time way past any of our history. The only dragon that has a ceremony is the King and Gerald is the King. His father and mother didn't even have a ceremony. I think it has to do with finding a true mate as well, not just marrying or joining." Demeatral said.
"You are sometimes too direct in your use of words," Edmon said in a fussy tone.
Lauren laughed. "It's okay. I did ask."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Good day, my Lady. We are here to get you and your colleagues ready for the ceremony." A crew of dressers, make-up artists, and decorators followed a coordinator into the room. "This is going to be the event of the century."
Demeatral and Edmon were regally dressed in a silver royal dress coat and gown. They were also adorned in crowns that matched their stations. Lauren was dressed in gold regalia and crowned in a crown that would have been befitting a queen. "This is too much," Lauren muttered. "I have never worn anything this extravagant. It's way too much."
"Nonsense. You look marvelous." The coordinator said. She continued to pull and tighten the corset of the dress.
"It is beautiful on you." Demeatral agreed.
Lauren relented and wore the dress and crown as they walked toward the ballroom, the coordinator leading the way. As they entered the ballroom, they were dazzled by the decor. Splendor and wondrous sights warmed them. To see the wondrous sky, a clear and blissful blue, was rapturous. She looked ahead of her and saw the Dragon King, the man form of Gerald standing in front of her. He matched her in clothing color and crown. He was so tall and muscular with a bronze skin tone. His golden eyes were on her and she could feel his energy flowing toward her. Edmon started her walking forward. When they reached the Dragon King, he took her hands. They were standing in the center of the ballroom and suddenly a great crystal dragon appeared and danced around them. Lauren realized it was the King's dragon. "How are you here and dancing around us in your dragon form?"
"I am the only one that can separate my two forms and it only happens during this ceremony if my Lady is my true mate," Gerald replied.
"A dragon dances! A true dragon dances! Oh, how lovely!" The audience whispered, Lauren watched the dragon dance around them. Its opalescence and luminary glow mesmerized her. She was entranced and like a moth to a fly, she glided into its path. The dragon lowered his head, and she was seated on his snout. Gerald joined her on the dragon's snout and the dragon continued its dance around the ballroom.
"Join us, brothers and sisters." Gerald began the ceremony. "We will join with my lady, the future keeper. We will join in power and stand as a vigilant guard for she who wants peace and happiness for all. We join with her and pledge our duty to her."
The dragon host repeated, "We join with her and pledge our duty to her." The wind picked up and the light glowed. Stars gathered around them, and the dragon danced around the room even faster. The dragon stood straight up from its tail with Gerald and Lauren using its snout as a ledge. They stood and Gerald finished the ceremony by asking, "Do you, Lauren, choose to join with us and accept our dutiful pledge? Do you promise to continue your aim to strive for peace and happiness as our Keeper of Keys, the tween that stands for us all?"
Lauren looked at him and said, "I do accept your pledge." The stars surrounded Lauren and flowed into her body infusing her with a power she had never imagined. She felt herself changing, taking on the form of an iridescent dragon. She was a dragon! She looked at herself in the mirror of the crystal dragon's eyes. She couldn't believe she was a dragon.
Gerald smiled, astonished, and approached her in his gold and crystal dragon form. "Want to go for a flight?"
Lauren smiled and nodded yes. They shot out of the top of the ballroom and flew into the night. "I guess we will get in trouble for not being able to keep up with Lauren." Demeatral jested.
"No. She is still with one of her guards." Edmon replied and laughed.