Mother Dragon
Chapter one: The Mission
"Father are you sure about this?" I sat in my chair in front of my father table as he stood on the other side. Like all knights of the king of Gansa he always wore his armour until he went to bed, or bed with a women. The only thing he didn't wear when he didn't have to was his helmet allowing his long black shaggy hair to flow into a pony tail behind him. My father face was scarred, but not by human hands, no he was scared by a dragon claw. Going down his right side of his face everyone could see the three claw marks that a dragon had given him when he went to slay his first dragon, on the day I was born in fact. True the dragon was only a baby, but the king didn't care, a dragon was a dragon. His skin was almost red on the face because of the mark that would remind everyone of the dragon that attacked when trying to kill it. And since my father survived such an attack, he was dubbed Higher Knight. His armour covered the rest of his body, which was as sliver as the moon in the sky, a black lining was shown along the breastplate and legging but that was all. His right eye was closed so only his left green brown went to me.
"Are you saying your not ready to become a knight?" he almost yelled this. In truth, this was the longest time we spoken to each other...ever. You see, my mother died giving birth to me, and he blamed it on me. So on my birthday we don't celebrate the date of my birth, but the day when my father killed the dragon, and the death of my mother.
"I didn't say that!" I growled at him. "It's just we've never talked like this so I don't know how I can take you for real like this." He glared at me and turned his head, it's been seventeen years and he still have yet to forgive me for something that I couldn't prevent.
"Look," he went on. "I will not have my son nothing but a knight, and the only way you will be like me is to slay a dragon!" I sigh and shook my head as he slammed the table causing me to jump. "Do you hear me?! You are to leave tomorrow and slay a dragon and come back as a hero like I was!" he puffed his chest as he smile boldly. "I remember when I came back, all the women who wanted me as their. I should've because you killed..."
"I didn't kill her!" I slammed my own fist down as my body shook. "Can't you see that? These things happen for a reason, and all you can do is blame me for something I couldn't prevent you...you...AGH!" I threw the chair back as it crashed to the wall while I was standing. "I'll slay the dragon, but not for you! I'm doing this so I can be called a man and leave this god forsaken place you call a home!" he seemed to smile at my rage, which in turn only made me more angry as I turned and took my dagger from the table, clipped it to my hip and stormed out of the house; but not before slamming the door behind me. I muttered to myself as I walked down the dirt road of my hometown of the Gansa Kingdome. Many workers, mostly slaves watched as I stomped my way down the road toward the castle. A lot of the people here thought I was crazy me always going to see the princess, but they didn't know who I was. I didn't like to tell people of who my father was, in truth; I hated him with every fibber of my being. Everyday I was reminded that it was because of my birth that my mother was killed, my father would pray for her only when I was near, making me feel guilty; it never worked as he thought it would.
The castle gates soon came into view as two guards wearing the same suit as my father brought their sword to block my way. I went into my pocket and pulled out a pennant that held the mark of a dragon roaring in the sky, thy looked to each other then nodded removing their blades from my point of view as I made my way toward the main door of the castle. The door opened as soon as I made my way to it, I was greeted by two servants asking if I needed anything. I answered with the shook of my head as I made my way to another door toward the tower. Climbing up who knows how long I came to a smaller door and knocked three times and waited. The door slowly opened as I was greeted with a warm smile.
"Greydor," the princess stood before me wearing a long white dress with the same dragon on the dress just like the pennant I used to show the guards. Her long curly black hair pulled in front of her shoulders, while she gave me a warm smile; showing her dimples. Her skin was as pale as my father, maybe paler seeing how she never left the safety of these walls; her green eyes looking at my blue. "So nice to see you again, come in; come in." I obeyed her but not because she was the princess, but I would've anyway.
"Hey Lenna," I answered using her name. We made a rule long ago that when we were alone that I could use her name and she mine. "How are you today?"
"Oh same old," she answered, "Stuck in this tower while father tries to find my husband." I gave her a sigh and she sigh back, pulling me into a hug as I hugged her back, kissing the brim of her hair. "It's not fair!" she cried still clinging to me. "I love you, but since you're not of high rank; I can't be bounded to you!" I held her as close as I could, putting my chin on her hair as I nodded.
"Lenna...my father is sending me tomorrow to slay a dragon..." she pulled away from me and looked up at me, seeing how I was six feet, and she only five in a half.
"That's great then!" she cried. "You can slay the dragon and become a Higher Knight, just like you're..." she saw me look away as she held the last word in her throat. "I'm sorry...I forgot you don't want to be like him..." I nodded as I went to her window and looked out. "
"It's not only that Lenna," I answered her. "True I want nothing to be like my father. But in truth, I adore the dragons and their kind...in fact...I envy them in a way." I felt her hold my arm and take me to her bed as we sat down.
"What do you mean?" I sighed and looked down.
"Well...why do we fight the dragons Lenna?" she looked like she was going to answer then close her mouth shrugging. "See, don't you see? We fight them for no reason. Then my father...he killed a hatching, a baby Lenna, how are we to know that this dragon was going to attack us?" Lenna watched as I spoke as I stood up and walked around. "I know this will go against what I believe in...but if I want you as my bride...I'll..." I looked outside the window toward the mountains where the dragons might be using as a home. "Kill one..." I felt her arms from behind as she hugged me, I held her hands in mine as she sung a soft song so low it was only a hum. This song was the one her mother use to sing to us both when we were young. Back when father brought me here with him. After the song ended she let me go.
"Tomorrow is your birthday right?" I nodded as she smiled. "Come with me." I watched her for a moment but nodded as I followed after her. "Father, may I speak to you?" Lenna had lent me to her father chambers which surprised me at first; it surprised the king even more that I was with her as I went on my knee to bow.
"Your majesty," I said as I stood back up as he nodded.
"Good to see you again son of Ike!" the corner of my lip twitched when he said my father name. "What brings you two here, together?" I saw his eye tightened a bit as I gulped the lump in my throat.
"Father," Lenna went on. "You do know that Greydor birthday is tomorrow." The king nodded and smiled. "Well, his father is sending him to a dragon in order to become like him; and his going to need a sword and shield am I right?" she turned to me and gave a wink as I nodded.
"Yes your majesty," I answered bowing again. "The princess is right, my father still hold me the guilty party of my mother death, and had yet to give me a sword from my last birthday. I do not to sound ill toward my father; but I think that I am not a son to him." The king gave a heavy sigh as he stood. Like his daughter his skin was pale, brown eyes, black hair and clothing fit for any king and too hard for me to put into words.
"Yes I understand your...handicap. What he put you though are tough for any father and son to share. But I could not do anything about it. And you are here no doubt my daughter to see if maybe I can grab him with these items?"
"If you can father." The king smiled which made me wonder...why he was.
"I thought it was because you didn't wish to see your love fall in battle?" both I and Lenna turned to each other with worry on our faces as the king only laughed. "Do not worry young ones." He waved at us. "I and your mother, may she rest in peace. Knew of your secret life, but you do know that I can not allow you Greydor," she turned to me. "To married my only daughter with a title such as 'knight'?" I nodded my head as Lenna looked down with disappointment in her eyes. "However..." he went on. "I will allow you if you do one of two things." I looked up at him as he sat down. "As you know we are at war with the mindless dragons, if you can kill one and bring back its heart, I will make you Supreme Knight, a rank only the most gifted warriors may hold. And the other, which might be close to impossible; is to befriend a dragon."
"Your majesty?" I answered with confusing.
"Have you heard the story, the made up story mind you," he went on. "About something called, 'A dragon Rider'?" I nodded my head, I loved that story. "Well," he went on. "I want our family to go down in history Greydor; I wish not only my daughter to be bounded by a Supreme Knight as I said, but what is better then that, then a Dragon Rider?" Lenna turned to her father as he smiled. "The search will be held off for your husband Lenna," Lenna face beamed as she smiled as I smiled back. "Now, I know you have come here for two reason Greydor," he turned to me. "One, your father must have made you angry, so for today you may stay here within Lenna room if you so wish and leave tomorrow." I bowed.
"Thank you your greatness." He gave me a slight chuckle as he snapped his fingers. Two women wearing somewhat dirty clothing came in as they bowed.
"Get this young man the Sword and Shield of Gansa, and be quick about it!"
The next morning came to soon for both me and Lenna, she held onto me tight then next morning muttering how much she loved me and how she knew I would be back. I promised her that I would be back, with a dragon to prove that not all dragons are evil. I saw my father watching...more like glaring from beside the king. He had that look that showed he was planning something...something bad. But I pushed these thoughts aside. On my waist I wore the Gansa Sword, a somewhat larger sword almost as thick as my arm and heavy as well. And a gold painted shield with the marking of a dragon on it. With these two items I turned to the mountains and made my way toward them, to start my mission.