Thread: To Train A Dragon Rider (Distain2003 & darkangel76)

Liana walked solemnly through the castles long corridors. Shed spent the entire day in solitude, not wanting to speak to anyone. Not even her attendants. She had nothing to say after she saw the way her father looked at her when he conceded that she become the next dragon ride for Azur. Hed been more than furious and when he departed, it seemed like he was preparing himself for her funeral and burial more than anything else. It made her shiver, made her stomach hurt. The sky was slowly beginning to darken. Unlike most nights, Liana had no desire to head to her favorite balcony to watch the moon and stars rise overhead in the sky. Her heart felt heavy. She hated that shed upset her father, had knowingly placed him in a difficult position that took him totally off guard. And she was indeed afraid of the task now set before her due to her own actions of placing her name in for drawing at the days lottery. She knew the risks before hand. And though she still felt it had been the right thing to do, there was a part of her that wished shed just bitten her tongue and left things as they were. But now, that was all too late. Liana finally came upon her bedroom. She pushed open the heavy wooden door, which creaked a little as it opened before her. She entered her room and then closed the door behind herself. She took off her gown, followed by a majority of her underthings. Walking over to a table where a large pitcher and basin had been set out for her, Liana picked up the pitcher and poured some of the still steaming water into the basin. She picked up a sponge and dipped in the hot water and then lathered up some soap. Gently, she scrubbed her body clean with the sponge and then rinsed herself off. Once finished washing, she put everything away and slipped into her night dress. Liana then headed toward her bed. She pulled down the blankets and snuggled deeply within them. A dragon rider, she spoke to herself, her voice a mix of fear and anxiousness. Staring at her window, her canopy curtains partially drawn closed, she closed her and drifted off to sleep. Morning came all too soon. No sooner had Liana fallen asleep, it was time once again for her to wake up. She needed to get ready. She was to meet her dragon rider trainer in the courtyard. Liana moved as quickly as she could, dressing herself and fixing her hair. She had specifically requested earlier the day before that she didnt want to be bothered by anyone, that she wanted to be alone as she prepared to meet her trainer. Of course, she knew she wouldnt be dressed properly since all she owned were gowns, and that, more than likely, this would earn her no respect from the one who would be training her. She also knew she had nothing else in her possession that would be of use for the new life she was about to thrust herself into. So, she decided to leave everything behind and start anew. Dressed and ready in the only attired she had, Liana walked through the stone corridors. They felt colder than usual. The warmth from the torches doing nothing to warm her skin. The sky was still fairly dark, though streaks of soft reds and purples began to color the sky. Dawn was approaching. Liana walked out into the courtyard. It was so empty, so silent. She looked up into the sky and in the distance could see the silhouette of a dragon approaching. It was still too dark for her to make out the beast and its rider, though she could tell that this dragon was particularly fierce. A lot like the one shed seen perched on the watch tower during the lottery drawing. Lips trembling, hands shaking, Liana cast her eyes down at the ground and away from the sight of the oncoming dragon and its rider. Her life was about to change forever, just as her father had said it would. Trying to tamp down her fears, she focused on her breathing, waiting for her trainer to finally fetch her and take her away from the only life shed ever known.