Don't Go

"Don't Go" is a BOTGD 2 Act 1 thread written on June 8, 2019.
==Summary==
Kettil goes to see that Iona and Aria are leaving Haligan, but manages to hold them up a bit longer by teaching them how to ride dragons.
==Full Text==
Aria/Iona: Aria swung her legs, feet not quite reaching the water. She and her sister sat by the docks, waiting for the next ship to take them back to the mainland.
“Do we really have leave now?” Aria whined a little. Iona patted her head affectionately, “Yeah. Sorry sis… We have to find Aunty and update her on Milae. And the fastest way to do that is find Grandpa.”
“But I wanna play with Katryn!”
The older girl smiled gently, “I know. We’ll come back next time.” She ruffled her sister’s hair before letting her gaze drift over the waves. It was nice on this island. The surroundings, the company… Yrus was peaceful, but it bored Iona. Haligan was exciting; she fed dragons within the first day and conversed with a blood soaked goat man within the week.
“Yeah… We’ll come back.”
Kettil: Kettil swallowed as he watched the two sitting on the docks. He had been working up the nerve to go over there for the last ten minutes or so and now his legs finally decided to move, despite his better judgement. “So, you guys are leaving?” He asked from a few feet away as the sea wind blew back his hoodie.
Aria/Iona: Both turned to look at him, a little surprised. Iona nodded.
“Yeah! Gotta go to Central!” Aria’s voice rang out above the muted roar of the waves.
Kettil: “Right… You guys are still looking for someone huh?” His foot began to tap faster than humanly possible. “Wouldn’t it be better to stay… Here though? Where it’s safer? I mean, not that I doubt your abilities or anything Iona but… With all that’s going on… I’d just hate to see you get hurt. You guys, both of you that is.”
Aria/Iona: “Yeah! Gotta find him by the lake.” Aria answered, distracted. She laid flat on her stomach to try and reach the sea with her tiny arm, to no avail.
Iona stood and came up to him, standing a few inches taller with her ears, “Thank you for your concern, Kettil. But we’ll be fine.”
Kettil: He swallows again, his foot still tapping rapidly as he ran his thumb over his knuckles. “I know I just…” He bit his lip for a moment. “You guys are my friends now, and I’m just worried that something will happen to you guys and I’ll never even know… I care about you guys.”
Aria/Iona: “We’re your friends?” Her eyebrows raised a little, the back of her ears feeling a little warm. Friends were not plentiful on Yrus. Sure, people were friendly and peaceful, but there was no one else to connect with. There was a reason why Iona and Aria were so close; they only had each other and their family.
Kettil: “Of course you guys are!” He said finally looking up from the planks of wood that made up the pier. “You guys spent the week with me and my family, you’re definitely my friends. I really like yoooouu guys being around.” He said quickly catching himself.
Aria/Iona: Iona toyed with the edge of her weapon, wondering quickly if she’d misheard what he said but immediately dismissing it, “That’s… That’s so nice, Kettil.” she looked at him happily, “You’re my-our friend, too.”
“Whose friend?” Aria popped out of nowhere, as usual.
Kettil: Kettil grinned as he bent down at his knees so he was on Aria’s level. “Your friend.” He said, a wide smile on his face as he held his hand out for a high five.
Aria/Iona: Aria gasped violently, responding to his high five with both hands. She rested them on his palms, gawking up to Iona at this discovery, “More friends! Sis!”
Kettil hear Iona laugh out loud for the first time, clear and melodic. She crouched down to their level and joined her hand on theirs, grinning, “Yes. More friends.”
Kettil: Kettil smiled as he enjoyed the moment, his heartbeat increasing as he heard her laugh for the first time and felt her hands against his own. He quickly stood and coughed. “Are you um… Are you sure you have to go? Is there… Something I can do to change your mind?”
Aria/Iona: Iona stood with him and shrugged apologetically, “Yes, unfortunately. We need to contact my Aunt as quickly as possible.”
Kettil: He took a deep breath and sighed. “Well… Like I said when I first met you guys, I can’t stop you.” He bites his lip debating on whether or not he should do what he wants to do. After a moment he quickly wraps his arms around her in a hug. “Be safe.” He said before releasing her and bending down to offer Aria a hug as well.
Aria/Iona: Aria ran into his arms to give him a full bear hug, “Sis! You made our friend sad! Sis?”
Iona stood a little stiff from where Kettil had hugged her. She wasn’t expecting that at all and it took her by surprise, “Uh-uhm, yes, ah… I’m sorry, if only there was a way to get the message to her quickly, we wouldn’t have to…” she finished lamely.
Kettil: Kettil stood and shrugged. “I mean, a dragon would probably be fastest but I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who’s never ridden before.”
Aria/Iona: Kettil shouldn’t have suggested it. Both sisters crowded him excitedly, eyes sparkling like gems in the sunlight, “Dragons?”
Kettil: Kettil took a step back almost falling off the pier. “Umm yeah, but you guys have never ridden before and it’s a long journey to… Wherever Akkey is now.”
Aria/Iona: “But you know, right?” Iona asked.
“You could teach us, right?” Aria added.
They trapped him at the edge.
Kettil: Kettil looked between the two and the water behind him... "I mean... I'll give it my best shot." He said with a shrug.
Aria straddled the fence that enclosed the dragons in their stables. She bounced excitedly on it, chanting to herself, “Dragon riding! What would Mommy say!”
Aria/Iona: Iona helped Kettil with preparations, “Thank you for taking the time to do this.” she smiled at him, trying to hide her own exhilaration at the prospect of riding a dragon, and failing.
Kettil: He smiled. Honestly he was against the whole thing, but when he saw how excited the too were getting how could he say no? “Yeah it’s no problem.” He coughed into his sleeve. “Anyways, the most important thing in dragon riding isn’t how to turn or how to sit or anything like that. It’s about trust. If you trust you dragon it’ll trust you. That bond builds itself in a life but for now let’s work on establishing that trust.” He held a fish out to each of them. “This time you’re going to feed this Nadder by hand. Be cautious of its teeth, but also trust that it won’t hurt you.”
Aria/Iona: The girls took seafood from him, and approached the Deadly Nadder carefully. Aria lost her initial fire, recalling very well how she must act around these creatures.
Iona held out her hand with the fish, very slowly, but confidently, keeping a careful watch on the dragon’s sharp fangs protruding from its jaw. Its dragon sniffed her tentatively, keeping its golden eyes on her, before snapping down the food in one gulp. Aria giggled behind her hand, “My turn!” she bounced. She did exactly the same as her sister, and the Nadder ate heartily.
Kettil: Kettil smiled as he watched the bond forming before his eyes. “Alright, that should do for now. Just tell him which way you want to go and trust him to go that way. Just be careful alright guys? And don’t take too long to come visit ok? We’re always a portal away.” He said with a soft smile
Aria/Iona: Aria had already scrambled up on the Nadder’s back, chattering away, “Do you have a name? Aunty had a Deadly Nadder once, her name was Maru. Maybe I’ll call you Aru! Like hers, but then we’d have the same initials!”
Iona turned to Kettil and clasped his hands in hers gratefully, her eyes sparkling, “Thank you, Kettil. You’re a good friend.”
Kettil: Kettil swallowed as he looked down at their hands. ‘Come on just tell her you dunce.’ He thought to himself. “Iona I…” ‘Do it!’ he commanded. “I like you!” He said quickly, eyes tightly closed his foot tapping a mile a minute.
Aria/Iona: Iona blinked and kept smiling at him, hands held together. She cocked her head to the side, a little confused at his demeanor, “I like you, too! You’ve been a good friend to us, and Aria seems to have taken to you as well!”
Kettil: Kettil flushed red as his foot continued to tap rapidly. “N-no I… I like you more than just a friend.” He confessed
Aria/Iona: Iona’s heart skipped a beat. The red flush rose quickly to her face, as she realized exactly what Kettil had meant. Oh…
“Oh.” she hastily dropped his hands and stumbled a few steps back, cheeks burning with the heat of a thousand dragon fires. She stood there awkwardly at a complete loss for words.
Kettil: His heart dropped into his stomach as she backed away from him, silent as the grave. “I-if you don’t feel the same I understand but… I had to tell you. In case I don’t see you again.” He stared down at his tapping foot.
Aria/Iona: “Kettil…” Iona began, but she was interrupted a screech from Aria. She whirled around, the newly christened Aru was flapping her wings, ready for take off.
“Aria!” Iona burst into action, Kettil hot on her heels. The deadly nadder braced itself, then leapt into the air with the younger half breed clinging to her neck. Iona ran with all her might, but missed. They flew high and fast, leaving the older ones on the ground.
Kettil: Kettil quickly whistled and his Changewing Shadowsteal zipped down from his perch and the Half-Breed climbed into the saddle and pulled Iona up before they zoomed off after the youngling.
Aria/Iona: She gasped a little as the ground feel beneath them at an alarming speed, and grabbed Kettil’s waist for support. Her face was bright red from what had just happened, but they had more pressing matters at hand. She scanned the sky, hoping to spot the dragon. “There!”
Kettil: “I see them!” Kettil yelled as the wind whipped past their heads, the Changewing catching up to the Nadder easily. “Hold on to Shadowsteal and and don’t let go.” He told Iona. “Steal stay right next to them.” The dragon crooned as Kettil began to stand on the dragon’s back and jumped over to the Nadder’s back grappling onto the saddle and scrambling up into seat.
Aria/Iona: “Kettil!” Iona cried, alarmed as he jumped hundreds of feet above the sea. She gave a huge sigh of relief when he landed and adjusted himself on Aru. She held on to Shadowsteal as instructed, “Aria! Are you alright?!”
The 12 year old clung to the nadder’s neck, but called out a shaky yet brave, “Yes! I’m okay!”
Kettil: Kettil quickly wrapped his arms around Aria, pulling her closer to him so she’d be less likely to fall off. “I gotcha little lady.” He said as he started easing the dragon down, urging it to descend.
Aria/Iona: Iona followed suit, gently directing the changewing to fly down. They landed with a soft thud, and Iona practically leapt off the dragon and ran to Aria.
“Are you okay?” she engulfed her little sister in a hug. Aria returned the embrace, shaking just a little, cheeks red from tears, but still grinning.
“Yeah! I’m okay!” she said, conflicting emotions on her face, “It was so scary! But it was really fun! It’s fun flying on Aru!”
Iona expelled a sigh, her heart still pounding from adrenaline, “Oh Aria…”
“Thanks for saving me, Kettil!” she ran up to the Pookan! “I’m sorry, I tried really hard not to spook her. I guess I’m not that good yet…”
Kettil: Kettil smiled as he bent down to her height. “Hey it’s okay. It was was your first time, you can’t expect to be perfect at it, you just need to keep practicing. I’m just glad you’re safe.” He let out a soft laugh, “It was pretty cool flying though, huh?”
Aria/Iona: “Yeah! I love flying! I’m gonna practice real hard and be really good at it!” Aria announced. Iona grinned helplessly, still sitting back on her haunches as she caught her breath.
Kettil: Kettil grinned. “I’m sure you will. And maybe some day you’ll have a dragon all your own like you Aunt Akkey.” He turned to Iona and smiled softly. “Are you doing ok?”
Aria/Iona: She kept her head bowed, she knew her face was tinged pink. His words still echoed fresh in her ears. Iona gave a strangled laugh, “Yeah, I’m alright. Just give me a second…”
Kettil: "Sure take your time." He turned and began to scratch the Nadder's scales in an attempt to calm him down and keep him calm. He urged Aria to do the same.
Aria/Iona: A lot happened in thr past ten minutes. Iona took a deep breath before she stood to join them by the nadder. She stood, quietly, absentmindedly patting Aru while Aria chattered away.
Kettil: Kettil’s eyes keep darting over to Iona, casting sidelong glances at her. After a few minutes he seemed to be calmer now. “Alright, you guys should get going now.” He said and started to help Aria get back up on the dragon.
Aria/Iona: “Uhm… right,” Iona secured her sister safely on her seat, and double checked all their things to make sure they had them. She stood awkwardly before getting on the dragon, trying to think of what she should say.
“Kettil…”
Kettil: He looked up at her and just smiled kindly at her.
Aria/Iona: She thought for another second longer, before placing a hand on his arm, looking into his eyes seriously, “We will be back. Wait for me. Please.”
Iona turned in a flurry, and hopped up on Aru’s back. Before Kettil could say anything, they were airborne, flying among windswept clouds in the sky.
Kettil: His heart beat faster as she said this. He held his composure long enough for them to be a dot in the sky before he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and fell back into Shadowsteal grinning like and idiot as he let out a relieved peel of laughter. "I can wait." He said to himself.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Act I
Category:Events
Category:Kettil Ericson
Category:Aria Lindholm
Category:Iona Lindholm