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((( Well here we are, the last chapter of this saga. To those who have followed it, I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I'm aiming to one day make a novel out of this with extended chapters detailing much more both before, in the middle and towards the end. Though I'm not sure WHEN, keep an eye on my journal at http://www.furaffinity.net/user/kalansphantom/ to find out more. For now, enjoy the last of our tale. Also Happy Birthday to Sekkite!!!!)))

Dawn came to the valley with rich vibrant colors of orange, purple and red. The clouds stretched out overhead in a glorious riot that proclaimed the start of a new day, but it didn't overlook a peaceful world. The bottom of the valley was charred and littered with the dead and dying. War machines were cast to the side and tents pounded into the mud. Survivors picked through the carnage with cries of anguish at finding their loved ones or victory at pulling another living person from the mess to be treated. Baen looked over it all with his eyes haunted. His army was victorious, but the price had been high. He had lost over a fourth of his army or more to this initial attack. Had they come here by themselves they would have been obliterated. Only the dragon's rage and magic had saved them from defeat and given them the edge they needed. Even thinking of the dragon made him aware of the snarling and hisses that came from the area set up to treat the wounded. The vicious sound was accompanied by mental curses thrown wide so anyone with the ability could hear them.

The eye was lost. It startled the old warrior that he felt a deep pang of loss when he had watched them working to salvage what they could. The axe had taken away the gleaming vibrant colors and replaced them with a red ruin. The dragon tolerated the packing of bandages into the wound, though he had let Baen know in no uncertain terms that he could take care of himself. The words were laced with a red haze of pain and exhaustion that made the man realize that for all his power and strength the creature was still living flesh. The last run had been thrilling and frightening all at once. He had straddled the great neck as the beast lunged from the sky and tore through the bulk of the fighters. He remembered the crack of lightning as the wings swept wide and arrowed towards the hills to take out the mages. Never in his life had he flown, he had never experienced the joy of the air around him or the terror.

Despite his pain and worry the remembrance of having been astride the dragon filled him with joy. He had been a dragon rider. That was the word that spread through the camp. Dragon rider. He had struck from above on the beast sent from the gods. If he could only win this war he would never worry about being unseated, not with that accomplishment under his belt. Sithen's disgust and anger at their reactions was plain. Every time he heard the term 'dragonrider' he stifled a snarl and Baen could feel him resisting making an example or two. He knew the truth. The beast wasn't his to command, they held some strange relationship that made him question if it was friendship or simple possessiveness that made the dragon keep him alive. He stared at the littered valley floor and shook his head before walking back to the cursing dragon. Whatever kept Sithen as his ally, it was something to be treasured.

:Blasted pawing monkeys! I said leave off it!: The drake reared his head up and snapped his jaws out roughly in the air towards the woman who had been trying to apply a poultice.

"Storm lord, that will keep out infection." Baen put on a calming tone as he approached and found the dragon twisting his head to stare at him out of one swirling multi-hued eye.

:We have little time to waste on it! Why are your men not gathered? We must strike now while they flee.: The head reared up higher and higher until he had to tilt his head to meet the gaze.

"We have wounded and we are exhausted, great sky warrior, we are only men who-" Baen tried to make his counter carefully worded. Sometimes he was unsure just what would set the creature off into a tangent of anger.

:Then you have admitted defeat.: The dragon snorted and the man was assaulted with the coppery scent of blood. :If you wait here until all are healed they'll have recovered. We strike now while they still run and we stand a chance.:

"We won't wait until they're fully recovered, only until we can get ours to safety." Baen shook his head sharply side to side in denial. Some were only wounded lightly, but a great many would require days if not weeks of care before they could be moved.

:Leave the lightly wounded to care for them. Did you think the war would lack casualties? You men have such few years to your life you must spend them wisely. Did you think one battle would be what ended the war? There is no time to rest and recover, I will not allow the enemy to lick his wounds so that I might do the same. The war waits for us. Can you not hear it's trumpeting to come and meet it?: The drake lumbered up onto all fours and shook out his wings. The scales were scarred and marred where arrows had struck. He lifted his head to the east as if straining to hear some distant note. His single eye swirled faster and despite himself Baen felt his own heart beat starting to pick up speed. :I fly to the Capital this day, I will reclaim what is mine. What will you do, little man?:

Baen was given no chance to listen as the dragon launched himself up into the sky. If the wounds on his body bothered him he didn't give a hint to it. The wide spread of the wings lifted up and came down steadily as he gained air. He stared out at the smoking valley and rolled the dragon's words through his mind. They could wait for the men to recover more, but what would they gain? He rubbed his soot covered face before barking out orders to those closest to him to start gathering up the men. The dragon was right, the Emperor had fled and if they kept him on the run there was a chance at still catching him off guard and being able to enter the city before they lost any more soldiers. The sun rose higher chasing away the merry colors as the Braan army started to gather wearily together. One battle did not decide a war.

++++

Lashane slept fitfully as night closed around her. The small stall wasn't anything that could provide her comfort and the cold eggs at her stomach almost chilled her to the bone. She wouldn't leave them, not for comforts sake. She rested her head against the tip of her tail as she tightened herself a bit more firmly and tried to fall into a deeper sleep. Her worries hounded her like snapping dogs at her heels. Rogeth had forced her to confront the uncomfortable realization that she was no longer entirely human in her mind. If she had been she would have simply shoved the eggs over and taken her freedom, but she couldn't. The connection she felt with them went far deeper then she had words for. It was unlike any feeling she had ever felt, though she suspected if she had ever carried a child she might know it. It was well past midnight when her mind finally flew free and her body was allowed to sleep. Her spirit, however, travelled far from her body driven on by her questions and her need for answers.

It came as a shock when she found herself opening her eyes and suddenly lurching forward as she briefly saw a foggy shore and the rush of waves. The moment she had parted her eye lids the dizziness had overcome her. She stared over her broad grey muzzle, yet she also stared out to see the tip of her human nose. She heard everything with an echo that made her grit her teeth slightly to try and filter the noise out as best she could. She turned her head towards the sound of another body and hesitantly opened one eye to find herself staring at herself who was staring at herself. For a single moment she saw a dragon with one eye carefully parted open staring at her and her eerily familiar human body in a similar pose staring back. She snapped her eyes shut again and simply crouched in the sand as she felt both bodies in her confused mind. Two sets of sensations, two sets of lungs, two sets of ears. She felt as if she were about to go mad or pass out.

:It's so much easier to understand your problems when you see them, isn't it?: The mind voice drawled out in a familiar manner and she opened her eyes to see a strangely distorted form from two opposing angles before narrowing her lids and trying to focus on him. Rogeth's voice was unmistakable.

"What is this place?" :What is this place?: Her words came from her mouth and her mind so that she had to concentrate to filter them out.

:Tut tut, don't talk. My, how confusing for you! This is a place where people seek knowledge. Your troubled mind thought to find the answer here, or perhaps your spirit would be more apt.: Rogeth sounded almost cheerful even if his words did echo oddly. :You can't hide things here, not completely. You see your problem entirely don't you?:

"Problem?" :Problem?: She found herself able to concentrate a bit more so that she didn't feel as dizzy.

:You keep asserting that you are human and Lashane. If that were true, why, you'd be standing here as a human.: Rogeth's voice was rich with merriment. :Well you are here as a human I suppose, but not just as a human. You see, you're as much dragon now as you are human. It doesn't work, does it?:

:"It works just fine for me!": She snapped back and this time the words rolled together so that they didn't echo. That was better at least.

:No it doesn't. You can't lie here, not really. You're crippled. The dragon is riddled through with your human self like a carcass is riddled with maggots. You eat away at her life. The same can be said of her invading you.: There was a sound in the sand and she felt more then saw something massive sprawling out on the sand nearby. What did the spirit look like?

:"So I get rid of the dragon/human": She froze as the words she spoke had been dragon, yet she had heard herself echo the word human. Something cold unfurled in her stomach. Could she disagree with herself?

:Hmm pretty to think so isn't it?: Rogeth heaved a sigh. :You are unique. In all of creation there has never been a dragon created like you. By your very existence you allow paths and possibilities unfurl that have never been before. You have seen yourself that you are no longer entirely human, haven't you? You've experienced the dragon inside you before seeing the reality here, haven't you?:

:"Yes, I have.": She shifted her eyes to watch Rogeth and for the first time was able to see the form that swirled and seemed ghostly in the fog. It was as if he weren't quite there. The view between two sets of eyes was dizzying, but she forced herself to take in the form.

It was like no creature she had ever seen in her life. His body was long, far longer than anything she had ever seen. It was coiled up like a serpent's form, but she could see heavy paws resting on one coil and another set towards the end. A pair of long white frosted wings rested against his back where they were fringed with something that mimicked feathers towards the ends. His head was broad and tapered down to a very slender muzzle that held a mouthful of teeth. It was his eyes that made her freeze though. They were like her own, like Sithen's. They swirled and danced the colors together in flashes of mild silvers and blues as he watched her with his head tilted at a strange angle to take in both her forms. Aside from his wings his body was patterned in sea-blues and earthy browns and yellows. The effect was startling and dramatic. He was like a dragon, but not like anything she had ever experienced.

:I've walked a hard long path to get here. It's a dance, you know.: The beast spread his jaws and she watched an incredibly long forked tongue flicker in the air. :If I step out of it too far I risk destroying the steady movements that lead to the conclusion. You are like a dancer that refuses to follow the tune, you twist to music that is not there and have created ripples in time and fate that I didn't predict. Now now, don't bristle so, it's not a bad thing! I've quite enjoyed the merry chaos you've created, but now is the time we put things in order once again. You see yourself that you are torn between two minds that work together, yet separately. You can't exist this way, not in a human or in a dragons form.

:If I could turn you into a human the dragon would still exist. She is as much a part of you as you are of her. In either form you would be incomplete, unhappy, and..well...a danger to yourself. You can't control the dragon's anger and instincts, the dragon can't control your petty concerns and shallow ideas. Humans, my dear, are a shallow race. They think only of themselves and only about how they can make the world suit them. There's no shame in this, it's simply how the gods made you. A dragon has great emotions and instincts that you see as animalistic, they are vain and prideful creatures, but that is simply how they were created. So the two sides of you war together trying to assert control over a single body.: Rogeth rested his chin on one ghostly coil while his spinning eyes watched her.

:"So I'm doomed then?": She hissed the words out in her mind as well as human lips. The horrible part was that Rogeth made sense. Horrible sense.

:Not at all, my dear girl!: The laughter came out merrily, :I asked you for a death in exchange for teaching you magic. I fear, I misled you there. What I ask isn't a death, but an ending. It's time for you to release that part of you that's human. My price for my service will be in the dragon devouring you.: The spinning eyes shifted until he was staring at her small naked human form intently as the world beneath Lashane seemed to drop away.

"You want me dead." She spoke the words with her human voice alone and for once felt the slight separation between her and the dragon. No. Her dragon self. "Can I not kill the dragon and then be human?"

:It's complicated.: The beast sighed a little. :You cannot be human again. Face it, admit it, and move on from there. Each time you've given into the dragon's anger and the dragon's instincts you have come that much closer to a dragon yourself. You are too far gone to regain human form and there is nothing left of the human body in the dragons body to call forth. You are losing yourself to what you now are. In a century it would naturally happen. You would fade into the dragon's mind entirely, but we do not have that time. It's not the death as you think of it, simply a devouring of what you are as a human to become firmly rooted within the dragon. A blending of yourself and her until you are no longer torn by your differences. That's not a bad thing at all so you can stop glaring at me as if I'm suggesting you drown yourself in the ocean.:

"Not a bad thing? NOT A BAD THING?!" She heard her weak human voice screech. She felt the dragon's grudging agreement with Rogeth, the weariness of the fight between two halves of the same coin.

:If you had been of one mind would you be in the situation you are now? If you hadn't have lost the battle against the dragon's anger you would have found a way to lie to the Emperor to free yourself into the skies. But her honor made you answer him truthfully that you would not betray Sithen. If the dragon hadn't lost to your shallow worries you never would have been trapped from the mountains or you would have escaped long ago by killing those men on the boat. You are crippled by each other and that chaos was good, but now it's time to end it.: Rogeth stirred and uncoiled himself until his long body was perched on four thick heavy legs while his tail twisted behind him.

:How do we end it?: The voice came from the dragon, and her vision danced dizzily as she tried to focus it. The dragon was her? She was the dragon? Lashane felt herself hovering towards madness.

:Devour her. She is a part of you. Let her memories and experiences mingle together until Lashane is dead. Rise up and take a new name. A name you deserve as what you are.: Rogeth turned his head down to observe her for a long moment. :You mourn after what you used to be. A half bit mage in a struggling Empire. It's time to take what you have and be what you are and could be. A queen of a new age and master of the storms. You once dreamt of a great destiny and now it has found you.:

:"The eggs.": Both of them were of one accord and their words mingled together until they echoed along the ocean shore. :"You will take the eggs if I have you set me free. I can't agree to that.:"

:My dear lady, you never needed me to set you free. You only need to have your mind and spirit whole to do that.: Rogeth's mind voice grew warm with amusement as he stretched his ice tipped wings open wide. :Give me my death, dragon, take your destiny and a name for yourself, but give me the death you owe me!:

The world seemed to hover in a moment where time was meaningless. It didn't exist here. It had never existed. She turned her gaze to look at herself. Human and dragon. Was her spirit so divided that this was what it meant? Did Rogeth lie to her about this? Her past rushed past in like the crashing of the surf. All the humiliations, all the pain and heart break, the violation and fear, it all reached a fever pitch that left her gasping. The dragon reared her head back and the human part of her only had a moment to realize the jaws were parted and came towards her frail human body. She expected pain, she expected terror and to feel her body being shredded. Instead she felt herself melting and spreading out thinner and thinner as the dragon devoured her memories, her sense of self. The world turned white around her as minds and spirits overflowed and mingled.

Dark and light mingled together in a place that she had no name for. Rogeth had spoken well and fairly about why they should unite together, yet he hadn't described how they had been broken. They were parts of pottery that were broken so cleanly that when they were placed back together they sealed almost seamlessly. Parts of her soul clicked and joined with another wilder part of her being. There wasn't the dragon and the human, there was only herself. The struggles and battles she had fought to maintain herself apart from the other had been foolish. Why had she not seen that what magic had started, she had completed? Her human-self had bound and restrained her dragon-self by her human views of right and wrong and her dragon-self had bound her human-self by giving herself fully into the dragon's prideful rage and animal desires. Her human-self felt the dragon had run free without being tempered while the dragon-self felt the human had restrained her will too much.

The world swallowed her down into darkness as she remade herself. It wasn't just her soul, she felt the magic of the earth beneath her pulsing like a great heart. Here were the places that were the same, here were the places that complimented her. She didn't shy away from the parts that disgusted the human portion, she embraced them and the dragon latched onto those parts that she found foolish. The magic washed through her soul in a red hot brush of fire that made her scream out in silent pain. She felt some part of her humanity die as Rogeth desired. She tried for a moment to grasp onto it, but the dragon jerked it away in such a way that she felt a moment of agony as the magic flared around her. There was no place for petty worries or selfish desires here. By the time the agony of the lashing magic reached its peak she gave into the melding of her spirit fully with the beast's. They were one.

++++

Sithen screeched down at the army that made its way along the road beneath him, they moved at a snail's pace that threatened to make him dive down to harry them faster. He could see the Capital and its heavy walls. He smelled all the filth of a large gathering of humanity in his nostrils. He tried in vain to taste his daughter's scent, but there was nothing but the rank stink of filth. He saw that the streets were flooded over with soldiers, but there weren't as many as there had been in the valley. He hadn't believed there would be after the massacre that had happened, but there was always the worry they would have more than he had anticipated. After all, humans bred like rats and there was no knowing how many of their numbers there really were. He brushed his mind with Baen's as the army started to thin out to the weak cover of the woods on either side.

:There are not so many as there were in the valley.: He tipped his wings to one side and tried to adjust to only having one eye. He could see the large war machines on the wall and more importantly he could see the heavy spears loaded in them. That was the reason he had gathered this army. He couldn't stand against dozen of those creations firing up at him and with no other distractions it would only take a handful of moments before they would shoot him from the sky. :They know of my coming. They have spear throwers on the walls for me.:

:You can't overfly the city then?: Baen's voice was tight with worry and Sithen suppressed a rush of annoyance mingled with a strange fondness. The man had no idea of heights and how far he could see, he would have to show the old war leader one day.

:Foolish little spark.: His mind voice was almost fond, :I can go past the clouds, far far above those spears and still see the city. Wait for my word.:

The dragon's wings ached as he strove to rise higher in the sky. A hundred small wounds dotted his scales and between them in the form of bruises and scrapes. Singly they wouldn't have been worth doing more than giving a lick and going about his day, together they left him sore all over. There were only a few clouds today, but that suited him just fine for the height he'd have to reach to be positive that none of the spears let loose could hit him. Once he'd gotten just above a few misty clouds he was able to spread his wings to catch a weak updraft so he could spiral like a hawk in slow lazy circles. They'd never mistake him for a hawk, not with his body type, but it allowed him to concentrate on staring down into the town. He had to tilt his head to one side so that his eye could focus entirely on the streets.

There were soldiers, yes, and there were even large groups of humans that went armed but unarmored; pressed into service by the Emperor. They made a decent enough group as they kept close to the walls while others made barriers in the roads at odd intervals. The barriers would make it difficult for Baen's humans to navigate towards the palace and slow them down, but they weren't insurmountable. He knew a moment of disdain for this human leader. He kept the women hidden and sheltered as if they couldn't fight. Sithen knew the truth of it. Females fought harder and more viciously than males when they were pressed to it. They fought not just for themselves, but for their children, past and future. To hide them away had prevented him from gathering a force that might have been able to win with few losses. He sought for a moment for some sign of his daughter, but the palace and its grounds were quiet and empty to his eyes.

:Their force is near even with our own, perhaps there are more, but not by much.: He snatched Baen's thoughts and felt the man consider his answer.

:Trap?: The word was flung towards him with the distance making the meaning and feelings behind it less then clear, but the drake puzzled it out.

:Only if they're hiding in houses, but I don't think they are. Some build walls across the road and others are at the gates. They're well fortified.: He circled away from the city and started to drop in altitude as he saw the dust kicked up from the Braan army. :If you draw their attention away from me I can break through the walls for you. Those blasted spear throwers need taken down first of all.:

Sithen flew lower until he could make out Baen pointing and caught bare snippets of his voice as he ordered his warriors to range themselves out. His mind was in a turmoil of conflicting emotions. He could draw the attention of the enemy away from the skies, but it would be a price paid in blood. The dragon stifled the urge to snap at him for such thoughts, sacrifices must be made if he wanted to take down this place. He would let himself be shot from the skies if only he was assured his daughter and their clutch would survive past him. His heart pounded faster as he thought of her, he was so very close. He yearned to reach out with his mind to find her, but he needed his wits if he was to free her. He needed to be able to concentrate on getting the armies to close together and have the Braans knock down their weapons, and then he could find her. As he dipped down low he watched as two hundred warriors broke from the army with cross bows aimed at the ready and advanced on the walls. It had begun.

++++

Hylar burst from the Council chambers with two of his advisors running after him out of breath and white with fear. The army had come forward faster than he had thought possible, they were gathering together on the outskirts of the town even now. The moment the soldier sent to give him the news gasped it out he had felt himself flush with rage. The numbers were too high, they should have taken a harder hit going against his army. It was that damned dragon. That beast had laid waste to so many of his soldiers that he latched onto the idea the only way to bring down the army was to bring down the beast. They had modified catapults to fling spears, but the gods only knew if they would fly straight and true. He had only one gambit left and that was in Timat who was no where to be found even after sending him the messenger.

"Where is he?! Where are the Mages?!" His carefully contained outer fade shattered as he snarled the words out. "Stop babbling, just bring him to me!"

"Yes, Imperial Highness." His older adviser gave a bow before taking off leaving behind his relief at being ordered out of his Emperor's presence. The other followed suit.

He walked from the Council room up to the stairs that would lead him to one of the higher towers. He had designed his palace with an eye to being able to look out over the city and see the surrounding area. It was a quant conceit, but he enjoyed seeing the lands he ruled over at his leisure. Today it had another purpose entirely. He took the stairs two at a time in a run that lacked the dignity of his position and made his hips ache. Two of his guards and two of his military advisors came up after him and he felt a surge of pride that they struggled to keep up. By the time he reached the highest point he stared out over the balcony out of breath and saw as the first volley of arrows rose in the sky from the other side of the wall. From this distance he could only see the mottling against the lighter backdrop, but the moment they hit roof tops he saw flames burst out from it. He balled his fists together and leaned forward. The walls were thick and nearly impenetrable. The canal's had been sealed up using heavy iron gates. There was no way into his city.

"We've got everything in position, correct?" He turned his head to address a man with a scar that seamed his face.

"Yes, Majesty. I will make the final rounds myself. As soon as Timat is located we can lure the beast in." The voice was hoarse and deep. At his nod the man turned and started the long trek down the stairs again.

The second volley of arrows came over before he saw the men along the walls ducking down and preparing to return fire. His mind wasn't on them, they could handle themselves, his mind was on the dragon. He lifted his eyes to scan the blue skies trying to see if a shape were soaring there. The sun made him squint, but the eyes remained clear and bright. Not even a bird fluttered overhead. Perhaps the dragon had been more grievously injured by the axe to his head then he had thought. His lips curled up in a triumphant smile at that idea. It would have been fitting for the beast to strike hard and fast after receiving a death blow. Perhaps it had died in the night when the battle was over or even died by the hand of one of the mages he had left behind. A distraction came with the slow sound of feet on the step behind him. Had his advisor found Timat then? It was about time.

"Imperial Majesty." The voice was smooth and drawling as Timat reached the last step and gave a bow. "You summoned me?"

"You summoned me, fool!" Hylar felt his lips twist slightly in a grimace. "Did you get the eggs from the female?"

"I fear, Most High, I have not." Timat came to his side and stared out over the city. For a moment the man stilled as his eyes flickered back and forth over the starting battle. Did he forget who he spoke to? "When you arrived the army was hard on your heels, we must be patient."

"And why should we, mage?" Hylar's voice took on a hard edge as he faced the indolent form. "The battle is started, if the beast lives we need to lure him in and kill him immediately."

"True, very true. The battle has started." Timat leaned forward avidly. "I've set three of the best mages we have to get them from her. Once they do she'll start to scream and then he'll come. The machine is rigged up here, correct?"

"Yes. I want to see that beast's carcass on the ground and have its head launched at the barbarians in payme-" Hylar started to lay out his own plan when he heard a screeching noise that rang through the city.

It didn't come from the make shift stables that held the female, it came from beyond the walls. Too late he saw the dark shape diving down at not a sharp angle, but a shallow dive that built up speed. The beast came like a hawk, low and fast and from the rapid movements on the wall he could tell that his army hadn't noticed him until too late either. He watched helpless as the creature fanned his wings and crashed against the walls. The lightning that spilled from its jaws could be seen even from here before the thick stone started to crumple inwards. The drake gave another scream before pushing back into the sky and Hylar gritted his teeth until his jaws ached. From his side he could hear the murmur of his guards and felt Timat shift beside his advisor. It didn't sound like an animal's vocalizations to him. The sound reached his ears like a mocking cry. The dragon must die.

"Lewis, send word to the front line they're to keep men at those guns at all times do you hear me? I want them to pay attention to nothing else but the sky." The soldier startled and then gave a slight bow before running down the stairs. It was just a matter of time and patience. Like any other conquest or hunt.

++++

Baen watched as fully half the men he sent forth with fire and arrows were cut down by return fire. It tormented him, but the presence in his mind rumbled approval as the men that manned one of the spear guns was distracted into trying to put out the fires that were rapidly spreading. If the wall could be breeched this early in the battle then they could get to the streets and spread inwards. Maintaining the wall was the only thing the defending army could do to keep superiority when the numbers were more evenly matched. The loss of some lives now could mean victory later. He forced his mind away from the falling men and women and turned his attention to the rest under his command. Their armor was scarred and streaked with soot and blood, but they looked determined and eager to have their own chance at the walls. A thrill through his mind signaled to him what was about to happen.

"On the ready." He barked out and settled his shield against himself and tightened his grip on his sword.

The dragon came in a rush of wind and sound. He didn't come straight down, instead he came from behind them at such a shallow dive. The air whistled around his wings as the shadow whipped past them before charging the wall and the smoking city. The wings spread before there was the sound of crumbling stone and Baen gave the signal to charge. Sithen's massive form clung to the upper portion of the stone edifice before his jaws spread to spill out controlled spurts of lightening. The energy crackled along the edges of the stone as his hind legs and forelegs tore at it. The stone was dust at first and then great chunks of it caved inwards before he spread his wings and kicked off again. The wings churned up the dust from the crumbling walls and battered it back at the enemy before he shrieked out his victory call to the army below.

He led his army to the wall as the dust was still thick in the air. He could see the heavier parts of the stone that had crumbled down had taken some of the enemy with it. Their crimson blood seemed painfully bright against the pale rock as if a child had spilled his paints. The break in the wall wasn't large enough to admit them en masse, but it was large enough that they came in a tidal wave they broke through and found soldiers waiting for them. His heart started to pound faster as his blade hit with another man's. A milder version of the raw joy and anger that had carried him through the last battle ignited inside of him. As he fought forward and the men and women at his side surged to keep him protected he felt his teeth show in a blunt toothed smile. Some part of him would always savor this, with all the heady fury of a dragon on the wing.

The battle was rough and hard. They were forced to fight in the cramped quarters against the wall while the Nyseens were able to press forward with free space at their back. It was battle of the dirtiest sort as shields blocked blows and then were used to rush forward. Baen pulled back to consider the situation before calling out commands to crush his army together and force their shields higher up before pressing onwards. Inch by inch, foot by foot they gained ground enough to open up the space behind them and the breech in the wall. The cobblestone road beneath his feet was slippery and slick with blood by the time the youngest of his warriors were able to break through on either side in small groups. They were young and full of fire, ready to prove themselves on a daring mission. They would be the ones to try and bring down the spear throwers.

:They're through!: He threw the thought out towards the dragon as he called forth to press forward again. The men in front of him had to push one of their dead behind them.

:I come!: The thought held the same red rage and terrible joy that he had tasted before as he heard a bugling roar come from above.

+++++

The dragoness felt herself thrown back into her body with a shock that made her entire form jerk against the ground and her lips part in a great gasp. She sucked the air in roughly so that it flooded her lungs and took keen pleasure in the feel her body responding to her. The pain of her spirit subsided in the after effects of the magic lashing through her. The moment she lifted her head she felt almost giddy at the movement. Everything seemed so clear. The overly full sensation of her mind was gone leaving only a single presence behind. She was a dragon. No. She was a Storm Dragon, greatest of any who had ever spread their wings to the sky. She rolled her neck backwards and flexed her wings as the muscles rippled and rolled beneath her hide. This was her body, this was who she was. She turned her head and felt her spine crack as she stood up and let the eggs rest in the curl of her tail.

:So you awaken from your dreams,: The voice trickled over her mind and she rumbled a low sound in her throat. :You have paid my debt in full.:

:I'm awake.: She conceded as she stretched one wing and then the other. Her debt was paid to the strange creature, but that didn't mean an end to her troubles. She considered the overly large stall with a low rumble in her throat. :I need to be free, my eggs need to be protected.:

:The battle is raging at the city walls, sweet storm lady, Sithen has opened the walls up. From here, my meddling in your life has come to an end. Your freedom comes at your own power...Anara.: The voice whispered back before fading from her mind. Anara. Anara he had called her. Not Lashane, not Charmer. She was neither beast nor human, but a strange mingling of both. Anara, Storm-lady in the old tongue her mind prompted her. Her lips curled up in a momentary smile at the rightness of it. It was a fitting name

Anara studied the wooden place and then blinked her eyes as she simply stared at the wooden walls. Wooden walls! Rage started to build in her chest as she glared down at the chains on the floor that had bound her. These humans had held her bound as if she were an animal. She was no beast! The anger started to build up as she spread her jaws and let out a soft hiss and her tongue arched upwards instinctively towards the roof of her mouth. Her long tongue coiled itself along the rough patch she found there and stroked against it. The electricity danced along her teeth in response. Outside of the wooden shelter she could hear the distant sound of battle and even the shriek of Sithen as he fought. She would show these people who she was, she would teach them to fear her. They had treated her as poorly as a human as they had a beast.

She kept the eggs right against her hind feet as she reared up and screamed out. Her paws slammed against the side of the building and she dug her claws in against the wood until she felt them sinking in between the boards and yanked backwards. Dust rattled from above her as she gave another yank and pushed her head forward to dig her fangs into the wood. Look for the weakest spot in it. No, that wasn't right, she needed to find the strongest. She left off the solid wall and reared her head up and stretched her entire body upright to catch her teeth into the wood beam that held up the ceiling. Her jaws clasped around it as she shifted her steps to put her body over her eggs before throwing her weight downwards and straining her neck. She shrieked out her challenge to her prison as Anara heard the slow creaking and then splintering of the wood. She would have her freedom!

++++

Hylar stiffened as he watched the army pour through the opening of the wall. They spread like a plague along either side as they started to build up a wall of humans to hold back his own army. His frown became a slight smile of victory as his soldiers pressed forward and held them at bay. Not all was lost. One opening could be secured and it wasn't wide enough to admit all of them in an unending wave. As long as they could hold them there they also had the chance to form them backwards. They could be driven step by step back out of that opening and then the wall maintained as a blockade. There were enough stones and boulders that it should hold them out until the troops he had summoned from the south could arrive and drive these barbarians back to their inhospitable shores. His relief was short lived as he spotted something flying low as it had before, the dragon was making a second run.

"Send a message! Tell them to shoot down that damned dragon!" The Emperor barked out towards Timat who was leaned over the edge of the wall with his eyes unfocused. "TIMAT!"

"Your highness?" The eyes refocused as Hylar gave his order again. "I fear I cannot Majesty, there are no Mages to relay the message too."

"Then find a way! You have always maintained you should have been the High Mage, then prove it to me! Send up smoke, cast your voice on the air, prove to me that you are worth it!" Hylar snapped out only to see Timat's eyes widen.

"It would do no good..." His voice was cast off as a shrill shriek erupted from behind them and he turned to stare at the door way as if he could see through stone. It rose again, this time pitched loud enough that it hurt his ears.

"What is that? AH! The eggs!" His heart surged with hope, the dragon would leave off his attack soon enough with his mate letting out that anguished noise.

He turned back to face the battlefield to see the dragon shoot up high into the air. The deeper voice answered the female. It was perfect. It would come in right over the palace and be shot down by the one he had had placed in the court yard. The only question was would he come straight down or would he try another angled stoop like he had on the wall? He privately hoped for an angled stoop, then they would have time to reload if they had too and he might pass other hidden machines throughout the city. He hadn't reigned this long without learning not to put all his eggs in one basket after all. He gestured towards his body guards and the mage as he moved towards the door. He would enjoy this victory personally. He wanted to see the dragon brought down.

"Move!" He snapped at the guards as the unearthly scream came again as well as splintering wood. Timat froze and his eyes widened.

"She's escaping! The dragon is escaping! Get all the chains and rope you can! We need to stop her before she breaks free!" The Mage's voice was ripe with fear as he turned his head blindly to the far wall.

The guards took up the cry as the made their way down the stairs at a break neck speed. They came into the hall before the cries picked up and men started to scramble heading out towards the court yard and stables. Hylar's heart was pounding as he stifled a curse. If she escaped all was lost! He came to a halt outside of the courtyard and saw the fresh timbered stable creaking and rattling before there was a great cracking sound. Part of the support beam pushed outwards before the roof dropped in on itself. The clatter of wood on wood echoed along the stone walls as the sides spilled outwards and he saw a bare flash of wings and a broad tail before it was lost under the collapse. The damned creature had killed itself! It had truly lost all sense of being human if it had been insane enough to bring the stable down around it.

"THE DRAGON! THE DRAGON!" The call came from his left, but it wasn't from men pointing at the stable but above. A dark form was dropping from the sky with the jaws parted as it roared down at them.

"FIRE! FIRE NOW!" He bellowed his command and watched as the creature became larger and larger the closer it dropped.

The machine let loose with a twang loud enough he heard it from the ground and his lips curled up in a smile. The shouts and cries from the men around him were lost as he watched the spears flash through the air at a deadly speed. To his horror the creature twisted itself midair with a sound like a scream as his wings twisted jolting it out of the way. Blood cut through the air as one of the spears caught along a hind leg, but missed the vital organs. The wings spread with a snap and the creature was close enough that he felt the blast of wind being hammered down around him. With a snarl he darted into the interior of the palace. How long would it take to reload the machine? The shadow over the courtyard was growing larger and larger by the moment. How long could they take?! Timat stumbled to his side wide eyed and panting.

"They missed!" He sounded startled as his eyes were flashing white around the edges. "Highness!"

Before he could answer the ground around the stable shuddered before wings spread out and kicked off large bits of lumber. The form bucked and twisted so cascades dropped down on the men that screamed blow her. The beast that forced its way out tossed her head and let out a bugling cry that was answered from above. She bugled out something in answer to the creature that roared above her before lowering her head down towards the ground. She nosed and pushed at something before looking to the skies again. Where were those archers?! Her form rippled in the sunlight like silver, her white crest stood erect along her head. Her eyes were a clear solid green with pupils drowningly deep as she twisted her head around and let out another cry before rearing up on her haunches and spreading her wings wide to hit against the air. The wind whipped along every corner of the court yard as she pulled back like a horse about to jump and then kicked off the ground with a scrape of her claws on the stone. He had lost his prize.

"She's alive!" Timat's cry was hoarse, it almost sounded as if he were crying. That cowardly mage had never been worth his office. After all of this he'd have him mucking pig stys for the rest of his life.

"I know tha-" Hylar started to answer when Timat jolted against him as if being thrown by the battering wind of the dragon's wings.

The moment the man hit against him he felt tearing pain against his side and he moved his hands down to find hard metal and fingers wrapped around the hilt of a blade shoved up and into his lungs. The pain spread outwards as he lifted his head to find himself inches from the pale eyes of the mage he had thought a coward. He opened his lips to form a question, but tasted salty sweet blood welling up from his lung before the blade gave another harsh shove. The hilt bruised in against his side. As he watched the eyes spun and every color of the rainbow engulfed the orbs while the pupils flared open wide. The blood rolled down his lips as Timat's face twisted in a smile that seemed more predator then man. That wasn't right, that wasn't right! The blade pulled out so that he stumbled a few steps away.

"My debt is paid." The voice hissed from between the lips and through his mind as he fell down against the wall. That voice, those eyes. Unbidden a half formed memory of the past rose and as he grasped to hold onto it he felt a wave of giddiness come over him. Hylar, Emperor of the Nyseen Empire, felt his body shudder as his vision ran grey. His last sight was of Timat screaming out to sound the bells to toll retreat, the Emperor was dying. His Empire. His creation. Failed.

++++

Sithen aimed low to come in close to the wall again once Baen let him know that the men sent to take down the machines had set off. He could knock out another chunk of the wall the rest of the army could join with the others. They would swiftly overrun the defenses and take the city. The spear throwers and the men who ran them would be distracted. His eyes swirled in dreams of victory and his body was energized with the thought of battle. His exhaustion and soreness from earlier were lost in that flush of heat. He brought his wings in closer and flexed his forepaws so that his claws curled under. His dive was interrupted by a sudden shriek that rang through the city and right to his soul. The cry was high pitched and familiar in a way that made his heart skip a beat. Without hesitation he drove his wings down and arrowed into the sky.

:THE WALL!: Baen's frantic voice came to his mind, battering at it as he sent images of his men being forced backwards.

:Hold the wall!: He shot back and his mind voice couldn't disguise the joy that flooded from him, his daughter, his mate lived and called out her defiance still. :She lives!: He sent the words with all the fierce joy and hope that was spilling through him.

The city dwindled under him as the cry came again, higher in pitch. There! Right at the center! He narrowed his eye to pick out the pale yellow lumbered building the sound came from before twisting his wings in against his body. He started to drop as he watched the lumbers crack and then start to give way. His throat constricted in panic as he sent out a wave of panicked warning towards his daughter. His mind strained to brush her thoughts, finding only anger and a fierce desire to be free emanating from her instead of true thoughts. The lumbers cracked and the roof fell in when he flattened his wings and dove towards the ground heedless of all else. His mate! His daughter! His mind flew after her own and his heart with it, but all he found were the panicked thoughts of the humans that scattered around. Well they should scatter! He would tear this palace down stone by stone to pay for her blood! He roared out a sound of heart break and rage as he kept his eyes on the largest group of them.

:Spears! To your left!: Rogeth's mind voice came clear as a bell in his mind and the image of the tower flashed in his mind.

He dropped one wing and twisted to the side so that his entire body contorted in midair. His muscled strained and ached as he tried to shift his position despite his speed. A sound of pain broke through his throat as one spear shot past him where his head should have been and the other moved past his haunches. He hadn't been fast enough, he was tired, sore, and had been going too fast to cleanly evade. He felt the pain of it tearing across the scales of his haunches, but it only grazed over his hide and into some of his muscle. His tail lashed down and he spread his wings wide to break his fall. What had been a deadly stoop changed into a less then graceful descent as his rear haunch throbbed and his red-gold eyes spun faster at the humans that screamed below him. None would leave here alive. He wouldn't eat them, they weren't even a fitting meal, he would leave them cast aside as broken play things! He would-

:...Sithen...: The mind voice came in a single word that rolled his rage away. It wasn't an image of himself, it was in the strong clear thoughts of an adult, not a fledgling. His name rang through his soul as he lost the ability to form his own words. He sent a wordless pulse of love, joy and welcome as his wings flared open. The ache of his haunch faded under the pounding of his own heart as he desperately searched the ruins of the building for sight of her.

The lumbers that had made up the barn shifted and twisted as a form pushed out of it. Her wings unfurled and pushed the largest pieces off as he circled overhead and kept his head tilted so his good eye watched her. It was as if the world had stopped time for them alone as he saw the white streak of her mane and long lines of her body. She had grown. In the time she had been gone from him she had gained muscled and height. Some of the unfinished parts of her had filled out, but it was undeniably his daughter. She lived! She LIVED! He threw back his head and let out a triple-noted bugle in his triumph. Her wedge shaped head lifted and he stared at a pair of intense green eyes that peered up at him. Not the swirling colors of his own eyes, but a solid emerald. It did not matter, she was alive, she was his, his daughter, his mate.

The dragonesses bugled up to him in a scream of defiance and welcome as her wings spread to either side of her body. He could see a pair of eggs hiding just at her haunches as she dropped her head down and pushed them beneath heavy timbers to hide them. He drank in every line of her body. Her scales gleamed in the light with every grey and black a storm might bring on the horizon. Her eyes flashed as she reared back up onto her haunches and spread her wings wide before giving a down sweep. He could see humans scattering from either side of her body save for one eerily familiar form who scrambled to the side of the rubble. She didn't glance towards him, her eyes were on him as she leapt into the sky. Her mind flared brightly singing her name to all the world as she rose to meet him. Anara. His daughter. His mate. Bells tolled over the city as she screamed her challenge to him in a voice the skies hadn't heard in centuries.

++++

Anara felt dazed as she felt piles of weight pressed against her back. Her wings were over her body and wrapped over her head so that she was mostly hidden beneath them. The world was dark and her nostrils flooded with dust that she tried to sneeze out the worst of it. It had been a fool hardy move, but it had worked. Her body was bruised, but not broken and she could feel the chill of the eggs against her hind legs whole still. Humans were screaming close by and the swell of their minds hammered against her own. With a force of will she drove the thoughts away and sealed her mind as she considered how the lumbers were laying. A pair of cross beams was resting right over her broad shoulders while her haunches were trapped under a part of the wall that had caved in. A frantic brush of thought skimmed over her mind followed by a rush of black rage. Sithen. He was there. So close his mind teased against her senses.

:...Sithen...: She sent the word outwards until the rage faltered and stopped. What was returned was a rush of love, devotion, joy and welcome that nearly threw her mind out of place. She lived!

She shifted her weight slowly so that the wood scraped against her body and she felt it shift. It took her a moment to set her front legs before surging upwards. The cross beams fell back from her shoulders with a loud clatter as dust and broken boards scattered to either side. Her wings flailed upwards forcing them away before half closing against her back and she pushed harder so that the wall that had fell over her haunches toppled to one side. Her eyes flashed as she tossed her head up and took a great gasp of air and then another. She sucked it in swiftly as she watched human's run away from her. She didn't spare them more than a glance before she tilted her head back and saw the broad sweep of wings as the drake circled above her. She bugled out towards him and felt his mind wash over hers sharing his joy as she shifted in the midst of the ruined stable.

:You live.: She swung her head to one side to see Timat standing there with a smile lingering on his lips. No, not Timat, Rogeth.

:I live.: She stated and then paused as her movements disturbed her eggs. She lowered her muzzle to nose against them lightly as a pang of worry passed through her.

:No one shall harm them, storm dancer, my oath upon it.: Rogeth's mind was amused, :Go meet your sire, Anara, it's time to start the world anew.: Rogeth walked towards the stable and it was only then that she saw the blood streaked hand and saw the crumpled form of the Emperor. :The war is over.:

The dragoness blinked her eyes slowly at that before tilting her head back to stare at the spiraling shape of the drake above her. He radiated confidence and the same arrogance she had always known him to possess. She was no fledgling now, he was not her superior. Instincts thrummed through her body until she felt her blood flowing faster. She was female, she was life, she was a queen. If he wished to have her he must prove himself to her. She rattled her wings open wide as she crouched and started to test the spread of them. How dare he assume that she was his! She screamed out her challenge to him, high pitched and piercing as her mind flung her challenge to the world. Let him try to catch her, let him try to conquer her, let him attempt to claim her again. She launched herself up into the sky as the cities bells tolled retreat and surrender. The first stroke of her wings left those human concerns behind as she powered past the circling drake.

++++

Baen watched in disbelief as the dragon aborted his run on the wall. His attempts to be heard were blocked out by a rush of joy and hope that made his lips turn up against their will. He pulled his shield in harder as he blocked the soldier threatening to overrun him. The sound of roars and screams rang in his ears as he fought to keep himself free of the dragon's thoughts. The men around him hesitated in their attack as their eyes flickered to the sky. He roared out an order to press forward and inch by inch they gained on the wall. He could feel the blood running down along his blade until it pooled around his hand. It was tacky and sticky, yet it also remained slippery enough that he struggled to keep his hold upon it. One step, and another, don't think about the future ones, just keep pressing on as those die around you.

"Harder! Push them harder! Our dragon's gone to take down the palace!" He screamed out trying to rally those around him.

He had a moment to see the devices on the upper walls fall to his men and slipped his blade in the break between the shields to strike another person. It was sharp and hard as he watched the young man's eyes bulge in shock before he went down. The young always thought they were immortal, that's what made them such dangerous fighters, yet they fell faster and in more numbers. He opened his lips to give another order when his mind was washed red with rage. It flowed over his thoughts until his vision unfocused under the flare of it. He parted his lips and screamed out wordlessly as he stepped forward in front of his men and broke away from him. His hand made the sword dance in front of him as he forced the enemy back. Back, keep going back, one step, two step, his thoughts pulsed with rage until it tapered off and he found himself standing in a ring of bodies of those wounded and dying both. His men fanned out behind him with their eyes wide and weary as the bells started to ring throughout the city.

They started at the palace and then spread outwards being picked up by towers it seemed. He panted and gripped his sword as he faced the group of terrified civilians in front of him when the impossible happened. At some unseen signal first two and then a dozen and then two dozen threw down their weapons and started to back away. He could hear the rapid fall of feet running and only then did his mind puzzle out the screams from the officers on horse back. Retreat! Retreat! The cries were picked up along the wall and Baen moved his blade in close to his body with his shield as he watched. At a sharp gesture his warriors came to stand in a ring around him ready for treachery when a sound like a scream reached them. Wide wings spread over the sky high above the palace and he blinked slowly realizing it wasn't Sithen.

"Good gods.." One of the men on his left cursed or perhaps prayed.

The dragon was lighter then Sithen, it was fleeter and the mane was a glistening ice white while it..no her form danced on the skies. She called out again and this time she was answered by the baritone rumble of the drake. His thoughts turned away from rage entirely and he felt his eyes widen before he tried to struggle back away from the dragon's emotions. It had been many years since he'd last tasted the rush of emotions that flooded him, but they were far from anger or hurt. He lowered his sword point down and watched as the pair spiraled higher into the air and called to each other as their wings came in dangerously close. The beast sent by his gods had ended the war, somehow he had put an end to it and found his reward. He let out a shuddering breath before forcing himself to recall where he was and turned his head to one side.

"Gather the men, we march to the palace. Our dragon has brought the Empire down, now we make sure we leave no ground for it to resurface in." He flashed his blunt teeth in a smile as somewhere in his mind he roared his lusts for the sleek bodied beauty ahead of him.

++++

Sithen tipped his wings to the side as Anara erupted past him. Her body surged higher as he watched her muscles rippling beneath her scales. She was far smaller than him, but she used it as a weapon to force him to chase after her. She would lack his stamina, but in the first few moments it was speed that counted. Her mocking calls were accompanied by caresses of his mind taunting him to come after her if he dared. He reached into himself and found a reserve of energy he had doubted existed and worked his wings to follow the enticing spill of her tail. The wind that was being snapped down from her wings battered against him as he carried himself higher and higher. He left the human minds behind him as he absorbed himself in the glory of the wind flying past his wings and the lithe form twisting in front of him.

She went past the wisps of the clouds before her wings threw backwards and she doubled back on herself towards him. Her eyes flashed as she extended her forepaws and dove right at his head so that he had to twist to one side. It was a dance so old that he knew the patterns by heart, but time had made him forget the way his blood started to pump through his body. The energy that danced through his mind as he spread a wing open far. She dove beneath it so that it brushed down her back in a caress that made her hiss and snap her jaws back at him. The fire in her eyes taunted him as he twisted his form to follow her down. They sped towards the earth as he held his wings in tight and his jaws spread open to snap at her tail. Her body twisted to one side forcing him to snap his wings open in a slower turn in midair.

The drake let his eye linger on her as she rose higher in the air and prummed his approval at the way her body started to dance in the higher thermals and winds. It was exotic and erotic. He spread his wings wider and circled just beneath her so that his good eye was able to keep her in view. She flirted with the wind so that her paler stomach flashed down at him in a line and the twist of her haunches let him glimpse the finer plates along her hind legs. His mind snagged her own briefly and let his approval roll over it and encompass it. Her neck arched slightly and she let out a call to him before he surged beneath her driving her higher into the air. His broader wings destroyed the cloud beneath him as he let out bass bugles urging her higher into the sky. His eye locked on a point just behind her wings as she fled from him. There. Right there.

++++

Anara had forgotten the sensation of wind sweeping under and over her form. The skies spread out around her like an endless sea and she could explore it all. She let her wings strain to either side of her body as she flirted with the wind and let it caress over her body. She gloried in all that she could from the burning of her muscles as she reached as high as she could to the dizzying spill of air around her as she dove. She taunted Sithen, she teased him with all that she was while he watched her. Where once two eyes had gleamed on his head, only one remained, but it focused on her entirely. She felt a rush of superiority in her slender form and the effortless way she could fall through the air. Who was he that he could claim dominion over her? She was the very air and sky itself! She trumpeted out her challenge as she dropped through the skies and felt him follow before rising up into the air again with him trying to keep up with her.

Every instinct in her body and mind screamed to her to out fly him. She wanted to tear off into the skies and leave him and the humans below. The moment she set her eyes on a course she found herself being driven up by a lunge of the powerful jaws behind her. She snarled her warning before pumping her wings to rise up into the sky. The air grew thinner and colder around her as she rose. She spread her jaws to gasp in great lungfuls of icy cold breath while she went past the wisps of clouds and higher still. His mind pulsed against hers with approval and lust both. The animalistic thoughts hounded her as she got enough breath to scream out her challenge again. She reached as high as she could and felt her wings starting to bead with moisture that was threatening to harden into ice before she had to side slip and fall. Sithen was waiting for her.

For a moment she started to drop to the earth and then his body collided with hers. She snarled and snapped at his neck as she tried to escape him. His wings fouled with her own as he wrapped his hind legs just beneath her wings and his forelegs clutched right above them. Claws dug in against her scales as his head ducked down and snapped up to grip the soft underside of her neck. The powerful teeth clamped down and nearly broke the skin as he clutched her to him. Her legs scrabbled against his scales trying to shove away as she shrieked out and threw her head back. Something hard and slippery drug against her belly scales and ground it's way upwards before pulling back again. The viscous drops of precum marked her body while she writhed and tried to fight free. The drake spread his wings wide and started to spiral as he rocked his hips. She was caught!

++++

Sithen waited for her exhaustion to take its toll as he drove her higher into the clouds. His eye swirled with flickers of red and orange as he watched the wings falter and her head twist around. The moment she did he let himself fall back away from her until she turned and found the strength to surge up and swing his hind legs up to latch onto the spot just behind the wings. Her body was broad enough that his legs wrapped around her and pulled her in close so that he could grip her with his forelegs. As she snarled and shrieked and pulled her closer and forced his wings up over hers in a dominant position. The more she struggled the more he felt himself grow aroused. His heavy slit parted as he pushed his cock outwards and he dropped his head to grip the vulnerable neck. This was what mating should be! The ferocity of the female captured by her mate, challenging him to prove himself worthy.

He rolled his hips slowly and forced more of his heavily barbed cock outwards so that the barbs around the tip stood out. A thick drop of precum formed and rolled down along the underside as he dug his teeth in harder against her neck and gave a short sharp thrust upwards. He felt the underside of his girth grazing right against her vent and scrubbed over it while she hissed and twisted her head. Her attempts to get away were met only with the gripping of his talons as he hooked beneath her scales and stimulated her with his shaft. He teased remorselessly while her body shuddered and he could feel the slickness gathering right along her underside before he pulled back. He twisted his body in midair and forced her up and over him as he pulled back. His tapered tip pushed up and wedged just against her opening as her own weight forced her down on him. Her bugling cry announced the moment her heat swallowed around him as he sank inwards.

++++

Anara struggled and fought against the hold on her. She tried to pull herself away only to find the drake grinding against her sex. The movements forced the scales open to reveal the sensitive flesh beneath that he started to rub and stroke. Despite herself her body started to shudder in pleasure as the bumps of his knots brushed over her and coaxed her into responding. Her breath came in rasping sounds as the teeth dug in harder and the drake giving a wrenching pull that forced her over in midair. The moment she felt him beneath him and her body starting to fall she let out a bugling cry. His cock tip pushed up and started to spread her walls open. Her tight passage strained wider and wider as he let gravity impale her on his girth. A sudden hot wash of precum erupted inside of her before he drove his hips up in a sudden sharp thrust.

Inch by inch the drake forced her onto him. The spread of his first knot strained her wide before she clamped down behind it only to feel the second pushing into her. She writhed as she heard the air whistling around them as her wetness was forced out around his girth. She barely had time to grasp that when Sithen's jaws shifted on her neck and the hind feet scraped against her sides. He twisted in the air until his wings snapped out and strained to hold their weight as she cried out. The inches shoved into her body until the base knot slammed up against her outer folds and started to force them inwards. Run-on sentence: The very tip of him pushed right up against her cervix and started to push it in as he kept them aloft. The beating of his wings rocked his hips so he pulled backwards flaring the flesh barbs open wide until they teased their way backwards and scraped through her body sending a shudder trailing up her spine.

+++++

Sithen let his wings catch the wind whistling past them. He wasn't going to end their flight so soon, not when he finally had her within his grasp. He snarled softly as he felt her walls clamp down around him and almost suckle as his base shoved up against her outer folds. He timed his thrusts with his beating wings as he drew out and savored the way her slickened passage rippled and shuddered around him. The thrusts inwards sent him driving up against the barrier to her egg chamber and he ground against it. His entire form was wrapped up in the pleasure of her body around and against him. Her struggles and the feel of her front legs pushing and hitting against him only made him thrum out in pleasure before giving a sharper thrust the moment he started to control their drop. His tip started to strain that slender bottle neck open as he forced her form to respond.

His barbs tugged through her passage and sought out the sensitive places that made her wriggle and twist in mid air. Her wings flailed to either side setting them off balance before he drove into her again and strained her cervix open wider. It clung around his cock tip and squeezed tightly before he drew back outwards again. His internal testicles churned as he forced up another hot glob of precum to splatter against the cervix and then force into the passage itself. He clamped his eye shut and dragged his hips backwards again before starting to move in short rough thrusts that battered the base of his shaft against her strained folds. He could feel her slickness drool around him and marring his scales as her scent intoxicated him. It was sweet and musky all at once, so familiar that he reveled in it as he dropped his wings to either side and let his body fall through the air towards the earth. Her form was entrapped by his own as the land grew larger beneath them.

+++++

Anara called out as the tip started to spread her cervix open. The cramping sensation washed away in the pulsing sensation of pleasure that was building inside of her. She scraped her claws against his side as he hammered against it, forcing it open wider and wider with each thrust. It made her writhe and twist until his tail coiled itself up along her own and clenched down forcing it to hold still. His body rippled before his wings snapped down against his back and she was forced to do the same as they started to plummet. Her eyes opened wide to see the male's eye shut closed seemingly lost in the pleasure of her body as he rutted her. His barbs tugged and pulled through her forcing her body into readiness as she arched her back. The tip hammered in harder blows against her tender folds forcing them inwards as it started to push into her body.

Gravity pushed her harder against him until she jerked her neck back nearly tearing his teeth into her neck as she trumpeted out. The base knot squeezed itself inwards forcing her open wider as the fore knot started to drive past her cervix. Her walls spread open wider until there was a moment of pressure that built and built until it started to reach a peak. Her entire body shuddered before it gave way with a popping sensation as the foreknot shoved past her cervix and swelled open wide to lock him inside of her egg chamber. The base knot grew and grew; it spread her wider and wider as her hips jerked back only to feel his hips following the movement pulled by his bulbous shaft. The drake let go of her neck to bugle out a moment before she felt the first thick spray thudding into her egg chamber. She felt each pulse and jerk of the shaft trapped inside of her as her walls clamped down. Her body shuddered before her bugle joined his own tipping her over the edge of orgasm.

++++

So tight. So incredibly tight. Her body was strained around him like a second skin. It hugged around his knots until he drove himself forward in animalistic need to tie with her and make her his again. There was a moment of pain as the tightness almost grew too much. The inner walls strained too wide and then he gave a lunge that drove him entirely inside of her. His knots swelled open wide to lock him in place as she writhed and tried to fight away. His eye spun in triumph as he realized that he had her trapped against him. The clenching of the walls around him made him tense his lower body up before thrusting a final time forward and letting out his bass bugle of triumph as his internal testicles churned and sent up a rush of his virile seed.

It erupted out of him in a wave that hit into her egg chamber directly. His body shuddered slightly while he rolled his hips forward and drew back tugging at the knots and forcing her folds to strain wider around him before lurching forward again. Each movement of her body around him milked him of the thick rich semen. Her egg chamber was flooded until he could feel it straining slightly as he spent himself inside of her. The world loomed closer beneath them while he reveled in the ecstasy of the moment. His mind felt light headed while he gave another harsh thrust forward and then drew back again tugging at his knot. He opened his eye just as the town started to grow too close beneath them and let out a harsh snarl before snapping his wings open again and slowing their fall. Anara squirmed against him and let out a cry as he continued to pulse inside of her.

He set his sights on a tower so high up it might as well have been a mountain before starting to pump his wings to come in closer. His entire body still trembled slightly through the haze of his orgasm as he let go of her throat. The dragoness shifted her head and hissed out as her wings flailed for a moment when she saw how close the ground was. He wrinkled his lips and let out a low snarl before he managed to lower their forms over the floor of the tower and let go of her hips to take the weight as she was dropped onto her back on it. Her form was heaving with rapid breaths as she stared up at him, shaking and trapped by his knots locked inside of her. He thrummed down at her before shifting his weight and putting pressure inside of himself. He would not allow her out from under him until she carried his eggs.

++++

Anara let out a rough sound as she was dropped onto the roof of the tower. It was flat, but not so broad as to easily accommodate the pair of them. She could smell smoke and the faint hint of blood below, but her mind was occupied with the swirling eye that glared down at her. He rolled his hips and she felt his body letting out another hot splatter of cum inside of her before it tapered off. Her breathing came out hoarsely as she clawed against his sides only to feel his weight shove down against her. His mind brushed her own with love only dragons possessed. Love that came with the sting of claws and snap of teeth, love that was made as equally in the spilling of blood as it was in tender moments. It consumed her mind and distracted her from the sensation between her haunches as something heavy and thick started to force her walls open.

The orb strained her wider than the knot did inside of her. Her folds were opening and clamping down in protest while the drake gave a roll of his hips and a snarl in warning before his teeth found her throat again. His breath came hot and quick against her scales as he tensed and she felt the orb sliding past her tight ring and into her passage itself as it traveled along the knot making it seem larger and broader than before. Her walls clenched down and squeezed as her tail tugged against the one holding it. There was no escaping the drake not even if she somehow managed to get the upper hand, not with his knots full inflated and keeping her trapped belly to belly with him. The orb pushed its way upwards almost reaching the medial knot before she felt another pushing against her opening again. The sting started to burn as she let out a rough screech.

The sensation of movement through her passage came in a rush of pain mingled with pleasure as they stroked and passed through her muscles. The trio of knots had stretched her enough that it didn't break her, but neither was it easy as the tip started to leak out something thicker and heavier then cum. The first orb pushed up against her cervix making her thrash again, but the drake snarled against her throat and pinched the scales harder. She could feel the trickle of blood before the egg started to open up her cervix again. It stretched it wider and wider as she kicked her hind legs out and spread her toes in the air. Her jaws gaped open in a soundless scream as her cervix was forced to wrap around it almost to the point of breaking. A low snarl came from her throat followed by a groan as it passed through her cervix and the weight dropped into her womb.

++++

Sithen had almost forgotten the keen pleasure did not just rest in the rush of cum spraying into a female, but in the erotic feel of using another set of orbs entirely. The eggs squeezed out of him and forced the muscles of his cock to open up wide as the internal passage squeezed and forced it into the writhing female. Her walls stretched wider to accept it as he drove his weight against her to pin her in place. She smelled hotly of female and himself, the mix became intoxicating as he started to let out short bursts of clear gel like spray from his tip. It would coat her egg chamber and harden when he withdrew so the egg couldn't be taken out. He could hear the sharp noises that mingled pain and pleasure as her mind hammered against her own with her need to escape.

The emotions of fear, panic and pleasure were just as erotic and intoxicating as the tightness of her body as he forced the second egg to push down and start to enter her body. The first one pushed up against the barrier of her cervix and he let out a muffled noise while clamping his teeth against her scales. He started to push it through when she suddenly threw her weight against him trying to get free and he clenched his jaws harder. He could feel his teeth piercing through the scales until her blood was hot and coppery against his tongue before he forced the orb to spread the cervix open. It moved slowly, scraping along her passage while his hips shuddered and were held tense. The second opening of his tip spread open wide around the soft slippery mottled shell before he gave a sudden thrust that forced it through to drop down into her egg chamber.

The sudden jerk of her body struggled against him as he wrapped himself forcefully around her mind. His love, adoration, and possessiveness claimed her mind as he rumbled his pleasure before starting to edge the second orb up. She was his. She would belong to him for all eternity. His mate, his own. The sensation of starting to fill her body with his eggs, with a new generation of his young made his chest swell. The emotions bled over into her own as she snarled and cursed mentally at him before she started to succumb to her own body's instincts. As he edged the second orb up against her cervix he felt a tentative sensation of desire running through her. He curled his lips up in a pantomime of a smile as blood leaked from under his teeth before the egg started to sink inwards. Anara was his!

++++

Baen had been shocked when his troops had encountered an honor guard of sorts that had greeted them along the path to palace unarmed. The nervous commander had made his request very haltingly as he invited them into the palace where their acting Lord would bespeak terms of truce. The old warrior had felt a stab of amusement at the pale faced man and the way his men glanced upwards constantly. The dragon's circled the city and danced above it causing brief shadows to run over the streets. There was no mistaking their flight for anything but erotic. They flaunted their sexuality with little care to the human's beneath them. The male bellowed out his pleasure time and again while the female screeched the moment they started to plummet towards the earth. It was all the more keenly felt by the old warrior by the fact his mind pulsed with shared pleasure. It made it slightly awkward as they allowed the men to escort them into the palace itself.

Whoever the acting Lord was he was wise. The group of men was small enough it could easily be overrun and they made no attempt to lead them into walled streets or places ambushers might hide out in. He had been more shocked when they had been brought into a court yard with a tumbled broken building walling in one side and saw the 'Lord' for the first time. The man was bloodied and not yet old, but not quite young either. He was perched on a large plank of wood with his feet hanging off the ground and had given a slight smile to the warriors entering as if they were a long anticipated sight. His eyes had flickered back and forth searching Baen's face long enough that the man had shifted his gaze to one side. Only then did he notice well over a dozen men tied off to large pillars and firmly gagged. Instead of commenting, the Lord, Timat, had ordered wine and food be brought to them as well as tables. It was unsettling.

"You'll have to pardon me." He glanced up to find the intense eyes staring at him again, "I can't very well leave my post and they-" He pointed upwards towards the sky. "Won't be back for quite some time."

"We're waiting on them then?" He snorted slightly, "Who are you? Explain yourself to me. Where is Hylar?"

"Quite dead I'm afraid." Timat didn't look upset, "His nobles would have kept the war running until ever soldier here was dead or dying. We may have won, but " He gave an elegant shrug. "that's hardly how I wanted this to end."

"And how do you want it to end? We will suffer no more Emperors with their heel on our throats." He shifted in the chair. Most of his men remained standing seemingly immune to the beating sun or the drying blood on them. He noticed, though, that the soldiers on Timat's side seemed warily relaxed and even nodded at their "lord's" words.

"I want it to end with the end of the Empire. Same as you." Timat tilted his head to one side. "It's time that the countries were given their freedom back. Hylar grew too greedy. He was gifted with charisma and luck both, but at the end he wanted his patch of land more then he cared for his people."

"And how will we bring that about?" Baen leaned forward just as a rush of wings battered at the court yard. His men pulled back without fear, but he watched as the Nyseen soldiers scattered with shouts of panic.

He tilted his head back and watched as the smaller of the pair alighted first. She landed on the ruin of the building carefully as her wings swept back behind her and her hind legs caught some of the wood before dropping down. Her green eyes stared down at him piercingly for a moment before transferring her gaze towards Timat. Sithen himself landed wearily, but with an air of smugness, upon the roof of one of the buildings. His weight made the stone and wood groan while he pulled his wings in against his body. The world was spiced with the sharp musk of the dragons and Baen coughed slightly as he realized it also smelled of another musk. The female padded along the ruined building and nosed some of the boards out of the way ignoring Timat entirely as she settled herself down. Perhaps unintentionally framing the handsome Lord.

"That is what we are going to discuss. If my esteemed friends are ready to?" He tilted his head back and locked eyes with the drake who snorted roughly and gave his head a nod. Baen felt a surge of betrayal. The dragon had been a part of the Empire this entire time? He tensed up and moved his hand down towards his sword.

:Don't be a fool!: Sithen's words were edged with pleasure as well as annoyance. :As if any human could claim me.: Scorn started to replace the pleasure.

"Very well, now you and your people obviously are free of the Empire. I think many of the surrounding countries can be offered a choice to stay a part of this country or return to their roots." Timat leaned back and tilted his head to one side as he looked towards the nobles. "What we need to discuss is the rulership of this country. The Nyseen."

"Burn it to the ground. Let the people here find homes among other countries, but this place should not stand." One of his men announced while the soldiers behind Timat shifted restlessly and narrowed their eyes.

"Are you not it's Lord?" Baen moved a restraining hand on the young warrior lightly.

"Ah, no actually. I simply took charge when the Emperor was so sadly taken from us." Amusement seemed to dance in Timat's eyes. "The nobles, as you see, are trussed and in no state to take the lead. Oh they'd behave for a time, but sooner or later they'd fall back into their old ways."

"Then what do you propose?" Baen kept his tone wary as he stared at the man. There was something about him that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up on end.

"The dragons." He gestured at the pair of beasts who were both reclining indolently in the sun. "They have the power to keep others from trying to form an empire again and-"

:You should ask the dragons.: The voice that flowed past his mind was female and strangely hollow. It lacked the rich tones of the male.

"My pardon," Timat turned and bowed towards the creature. "Lord Sithen, Lady Anara, your only home is in the mountains and there you will pass into legend. They will forget your deeds and only remember you in stories. Eventually even those will be forgotten as you live there. One day you will be hunted again unless you find your place to live along side humanity."

:I doubt they will forget me.: Sithen's lips curled backwards showing his teeth as his tail coiled down along one of the pillars. :I am no human pet. Do you think to ensconce me within the walls of a building while I wear a jeweled collar?:

"No, great lord, I intend nothing of the sort. I intend you to rule the people here." A few of the soldiers paled and Baen felt a fierce rush of satisfaction at their reaction. "You cannot pull yourself away from humanity any longer. You become little more than animals to them. Now you have the chance to make a place for yourself and your young in the future."

The evening started to creep ever closer as Timat translated for the dragons to those who couldn't understand them and worked at hammering out a deal. Baen felt exhausted and ready to drop, but the young Lord seemed as fresh faced as ever as he argued with the dragons and with the humans. The soldiers had broken to voice their protest at 'animals' being set in control of them and that had lead to another set of problems. Many couldn't understand the dragons when they spoke mind to mind, they simply look baffled. Others could. By the time candles were lit they had started to reach an agreement. One of the soldiers that seemed sympathetic to the dragons was pronounced caretaker of the kingdom. The dragons would rule and dictate laws through him while he handled the day to day work of running a kingdom.

Baen himself offered an exchange of 'goodwill' with the Nyseen people. The caretaker's son and daughter would serve as diplomats to his land while he left two of his nephews here. It was a genteel way of exchanging hostages against treachery. The entire time Sithen's acid comments and observations peppered everything while the female simply watched. He didn't get the feeling that she was bored, instead her dark green eyes seemed shadowed as she looked over the nobles and then towards his own group of men. Something about her seemed strange and foreign when compared to the male's brassy personality and sharp comments when he disagreed. It was only when he started to bristle under the request of their own expectations of him that she started to speak again.

:It is fair. Our lair will be a hidden thing as Sithen declares. I see no reason why I cannot hear the complaints of the people.: She tilted her head to one side. :I think that no one will come complaining with trivial matters.:

"A wise comment, storm dancer, no one would wish to find themselves facing a creature with teeth as large as their arms angry at them." Timat inclined his head slightly. "Then do you accept this arrangement?"

:I do.: The female gave her head a slight nod and tilted her head up to where the rainbow eyed male was glaring down at them. Their eyes met and he let out a low rumble and swung his gaze down at the humans. She seemed almost calm, affable, compared to him; it was he that Baen saw the Nyseen men and women freezing awaiting his reply.

:I will agree to these terms.: He spread his wings slightly and lowered his head so a wash of ozone scented breath rushed through the small plaza. :May your gods help you if I ever spy one of you near our home. Your lives will be forfeit.:

"Excellent! Sean, as Caretaker and Overseer of the Nyseen your first duty will be to write up these terms." Timat clapped his hands together in his lap as he stood up. The female behind him had started to hood her eyes as she curled her back to them with her chin resting just between her wings for all the world like a large bird.

"The nobles..." Baen looked to the side as he said it and saw the men hanging limply from their rope bindings. When he looked back he saw Timat looking at them almost fondly.

"They will be going with me. I have use for them in the future," Timat's teeth flashed in the light as his eyes gleamed holding hidden laughter there. There was almost a cheerful malice as he spoke those words. What possible use could he have with them? Above him Sithen let out a low hiss.

:I'm going to sleep now; you will all leave or I will eat you. Any of you. Write up whatever bits of paper you want, but away from here.: The beast uncoiled himself and slid from the top of the building to the plaza itself so everyone including Timat and Baen were sent scrambling. It was a fitting start to the Storm King's rule.

= = = =

Anara laid her head to one side of the pair of eggs as she felt the ache of her own body. It felt bruised and worn. It felt exhausted and torn. Her stomach was heavy with two eggs as well as Sithen's seed and her body felt exhausted. She could hear the rumble of the drake above her as he slept on without a care for his mate's mental state. He had flown her high and well, but she had felt his exhaustion pressing on her mind the moment he had relaxed above her and let his knots shrink again. His mind had flooded her own so thoroughly that she felt every ache, cut and throb of his wounded head. It had been a strangely heady experience as he had flooded her with his memories of the days waiting to come to her aid. He had shown her the army he had led and didn't even turn aside from his own anger and frustrations with its leader. He had bared his soul to her wordlessly as they lay twined and prompted her to do the same.

If his exhaustion hadn't been so great she would have feared he would yank out of her and go to kill the entire Empire as she had haltingly tried to give the same recollections. His consciousness had brushed against her own and the sense of possession over her had only increased. He would tear down the heavens to keep her at his side. When they had parted he had herded her towards the plaza and flown over her protectively to see that she landed. The link hadn't faded, but had grown stronger despite their physical separation while they listened to the humans squabble. His anger at being set up as a King had beat against her until she had tried to exert her own sense of acceptance. They had raged in their own minds in a brief battle, but he had grudgingly allowed her to accept. The drake was willful, arrogant, prideful and swift tempered, yet at the same time she could feel his eyes locked on her fondly the entire time the talk had gone on. As if he wanted to keep each detail of her form locked away.

She had briefly watched the humans and even now stared at the nobles that were tied up. Two of the mages had been involved in her capture, but she kept that thought very very quiet and to herself. She tried to latch onto a sense of kinship with them and tried to recall what it had been to be human as well. She groped after it and tried to recall how she had felt in the days of her capture, but they seemed muddled and fuzzy. Each time she tried to latch onto a thought that she could say came from a completely human view point it slipped away again. Rogeth had said she needed to devour the human in her, but even now she felt the uneasy ground of being unsure of who and what she was. She nosed one of the eggs restlessly before a voice interrupted her.

"This is as fine an example of wallowing in self pity as I've ever seen!" She turned her head to see Rogeth approaching in the darkness. The lights from within the palace illuminated the side of his face as he smiled at her. She wrinkled her lips back in a snarl.

:I'm not wallowing.: She glanced up at the sleeping drake, but he barely moved a wing. His side rose in fell in the sleep of the exhausted.

"He won't wake up. A good fight and a good fuck, the recipe for an unconscious drake. Or human for that matter." He waggled his brows at her as she bristled at the crude word. "Don't bristle at me. You're trying to figure out how you can pine after being human again aren't you?"

:I was human...once...: She let her voice trail off before shaking her head roughly. :I'm not sure what I am now.:

"Welcome to the world, Anara! Not a single person or dragon knows who or what they are. It's not knowing that allows one to become great and strive for something better." Rogeth came to lean against her foreleg. "You are Anara. You are the daughter of Sithen and a dragoness. You also possess the unique point of view of understanding humans, something you're going to need if you and your mate will rule these people. He doesn't possess it."

:Why is that so important? Why did you volunteer us to rule the Nyseen?: She voiced her own confusion at what he had done to drown at the strange flush of pleasure at Sithen being referred to as her mate. It made her almost uncomfortable. :You could have had everything, why turn it over to us? Why does it matter that I can think like a human as well as a dragon?"

"When you have hatchlings, I wish you joy in ones exactly like you and your constant 'whys'" The man gave a lopsided smile and shook his head back and forth before peering back at the palace. "It matters because you cannot survive as wild animals. Sithen would drive you back into the mountains to live wild and free. Men would forget and centuries from now they would come to hunt you again. You cannot remain apart. There is a value in mankind as well as dragonkind and it's time that they live together and coexist. You, Anara, will be able to start the process. Temper his anger with wisdom, his aggression with peace and his frustrations with patience and you will both reign long and well. I needed you, you see. Both of you. The world between you both cannot continue the way it has in the past."

:You still haven't answered my first question.: She turned her head to one side as he moved from leaning to give her a merry wink.

"I have no desire for the castle or kingdom. I have more important works that need to be done." She gave a great puff of disbelief. "You see, I'm here to create the world anew. Those nobles and mages' will help me do so, but that is but one stepping stone."

:And do you think you really will?: She tilted her head to one side to regard him for a long moment as he stepped away from her and paused as if considering it. :How can you possibly think you can change the world?:

"I hope I will. I've already set you on a better path. The moment one sets out to do something, they make it that much more likely that it'll happen. With hope and perhaps a few bargains upon the way." He let out a soft chuckle and she watched him stare up until she followed his gaze to the night stars. "Good bye, Anara. Do not dwell after old pain, it will only keep wounds alive and bleeding long after they should have healed. Make of your life what you have now instead of seeking towards the past. You'll be happier for it."

Anara started to answer when there was a pulse of sudden power and magic that rippled over her. She jerked her head up and blinked her eyes as she realized Rogeth's form was gone from next to the pillars and so were the nobles and mages'. She peered into darkened corners trying to see them when she was interrupted by a groan and hiss as Sithen awoke. His one swirling eye peered down at her before he uncoiled from his position on the building and dropped down onto all fours in the plaza. His wings hung against his side with exhaustion as he crushed parts of the wood under his paws as he approached her. His wedge shaped head leaned down over her shoulder and gave a snort and snuffle at the chilled eggs that were tucked in front of her nostrils. She tensed ready to snap him away, but he licked one before moving to step around her.

The massive dragon's form curled around her until she found herself tucked into the curve of his body as if she had always belonged there. So many nights he had curled up to sleep with her like this when she was little, but now she filled out the empty places so that his legs cradled her close. His head dropped down to rest over her shoulders so that his muzzle was nestled into her mane before he let out a deep thrumming purr of pleasure. His thoughts leaked over her own in a wordless pulse of love and possessiveness before sleep drug him down again. His great wing rested over her body trapping the heat against her as she stared out into the darkness. Leave old pain behind and move forward with what was. She felt the warmth and steady presence of the male at her back slowly luring her into giving into her own exhaustion. Was it really so hard? She was a dragon. She was Anara. For better or worse.

===Fifty Years Later===

Sithen listened to the shrieks of young dragons that interrupted his sleep. They were so loud in the mornings. Especially on a morning like this one where they scrambled and set about getting ready for the day ahead. It was spring and the storms were rolling through causing every manner of mischief possible. Tymnah and Sooran at least had finally struck out on their own. The pair was the strangest mingling of creatures ever to be seen. When they had first hatched he had thought them Wyvern's in truth until he had nosed them into standing. Their scales ice white with eyes of piercing blue, but they possessed four legs instead of two. They had grown rapidly and finally had stated that they would be more comfortable to the far North where it was not so hot. He had been saddened to see them leave. The sister and brother were not of his blood truly, but from the time they had cracked their shell he had raised them as his own. All too well he knew what was missing in the world. The pair would soon claim the North as the Wyvern's of old. Though they would possess a better blood line then those before them, he thought arrogantly to himself.

The years had been kind to him. He left the ruling of the Nyseen largely to Anara. She thrived and understood the humans on a level he failed at. Why should he care which bull had studded whose cow? The animals were food, it was all the same to him. Just as ridiculous was the way they bickered and squabbled over land and drew lines over it. Several times he had been prepared to show them exactly what he thought of their 'possession' of the land, but his mate had tempered him into allowing them to have their illusions. Baen had also helped in that regard. As always the thought of the human gave him a stab of affection, sorrow and something like regret. When they had first taken their home here he had gone often to see his mountains and ensure the barbarians were behaving well. In truth he enjoyed the rough weather from the sea and something continued to draw him towards Baen. He verbally berated the human as often as he praised him, but for all of that there had been something there.

The drake hadn't been there when the old warrior died, but he had awoken from his sunning with a sudden stab of sorrow. He had taken to wing leaving his mate behind and driven the barbarian's away from their leader's body as they went to drop him into the ocean. He had nearly sank the ship, but they had eventually gotten what he was saying. They had surrendered the body to him and he had taken it aloft back into the skies again. He had danced in the heart of the storm with his talons clenching the cloth wrapped corpse until his own lightning had turned what had been Baen into ashes that fell over the mountains and sea. It had been a fitting tribute to a human who had served a dragon well and it had pleased him as much as it had distressed the people there. Stupid humans, did they not realize the honor he had given their leader?

:You're thinking again.: The voice was warmer, fuller then it had been before and he turned his eyes to spy Anara resting at the entrance to the cave. The years had started to darken the base of her crest, yet she still looked as lithe and attractive as the day he had flown her above the city.

:Yes. It keeps me from pulling the tails of the little ones.: He stood up with a groan and stretch that flared his wings outwards. The side of his head ached slightly with a coming storm. It had never been fully pain free since he had taken an axe there, but he shrugged the pain away with a yawn that lolled his tongue out.

:I've put them to sleep finally. They were trying their wings out earlier.: His mate stood up and tilted her head to one side and considered him for a long moment before turning and padding her way upwards towards the entrance to the labyrinth of caves.

His mate's eyes had never regained their swirling colors. Perhaps it was the sea dragon's blood in her that kept her eyes such a strange color. He had never puzzled it out, but she herself was a puzzle. At times he would watch her stare into space or down at the city. Her eyes would be shadowed, almost haunted, and not even his mental probes stirred her until she was ready. Yet for her strangeness she had borne him four clutches. Two clutches had flown to name themselves in the midst of a storm and one clutch was nearly ready to fledge. Dragons flew the skies again. They danced in the heart of storms and moved unafraid through the world of man. He watched the tail move out of view and let out a deep rumble in his throat. One clutch soon to fledge, it would be time for another. He heaved himself to his feet and stalked after her. Sithen arched his neck and let out a low thrumming sound of pleasured anticipation as he imagined her fleet body fleeing from him and the inevitable struggling capture. A challenge forever. His daughter, his mate, his own.

++++

Anara lifted her head up as she came to the opening of their lair. It was carved into swirling patterns by her own claws and Sithen's magic. It no longer looked like the home of a beast, but instead something elegant and exotic. She drew in a breath of the mountain air before turning her head away from the sky to peer out at the distant city. She often over flew it and dictated changes that could be made. Sithen's anger and often annoyance were tempered with amusement when she revealed a new project. The great palace had been replaced with a marble square that they could land in without risking their wings. Even the great drake visited there to hear the sound of the bells heralding his arrival. He was met with joy instead of fear. His annoyance with it had faded once the humans learned to tend his scales and oil over them.

She had spent a single year on the wing with her mate in search of Rogeth. The spirit had disappeared as if he had never existed in the first place. She felt a strange kinship with him. He had led her along this path no matter how strange, yet it was as if he had never existed. She heard rumors and light hearted speech, but never once did she manage to find him. Her eyes flicked away from the city as she turned away from those thoughts. Some days she still yearned for another time, but those yearnings were tempered with the life that she led now. The pain of the past remained there as she nurtured her fledglings and taught them all she knew. None of them were exactly like their sire. They had a patience nature and sharp creative mind that the drake lacked. Her own dual nature had been passed down the line and would survive well past her.

:You chide me for thinking.: The voice was warm and amused as she felt warmth brush her side a moment before the larger male settled down on her haunches beside her.

:Mmm, I did.: His breath ran hotly along her neck as he rubbed his nose there and she turned her head to brush her muzzle over the scarred side of his head.

:What are you thinking about so seriously?: His tail coiled itself lightly against her own. Sithen's touch was casual, but his thoughts pulsed with another emotion. The storms would be rolling through soon and the spring air was lush and ripe with hints of fertility.

:Old friends and memories, and how peaceful our territory appears from here.: The scarred head turned to look out over it so that she saw a flash of his good away. She leaned over and ran her tongue over the marred ridge.

:It is ours.: The possessive tone deepened before his wedge shape head swung towards her. His thoughts teased hers with a warmth that made her heart speed up. Her lips quirked up as she stood up with a slow stretch showing off the line of her body.

:Perhaps or perhaps it's time for you to reclaim what is yours again.: She sent her challenge with a mental caress along his mind. She was his. His mind, thoughts and heart so entwined with hers that she could no more be parted from him then she could her own heart. As she spread her wings to the darkening sky and screamed out her challenge she knew she would not have it any other way. Through her journeys and trials and pain, she had found the home and wealth within his rainbow gaze. The wind swept past Anara as she leapt upwards into the skies with her mate a breath behind her.

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