Chapter 5 - Legend of the Last Dragon

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The silence between Darius and Amadeus was deafening as the burden of their narrow escape and what they had witnessed had left them utterly deflated on their return journey. Even as they drew closer to home and the wind and snow relented, the weight of their sodden clothes atop their tiring bodies clung stubbornly like the mud that adorned their weary feet.

Amadeus noted the black clouds above which seemed to harbour sinister secrets as they entered the valley just north of the garrison where they where greeted by the all to familiar landmarks of the local topography which guided them back to the world they had left behind.

“How do you think the people will take the news?” Darius finally spoke firmly.

“Which part?” answered Amadeus lazily reflecting the question. “The rope or our winged friend?”

Darius gave a hesitant chuckle and a scratch of his head. “I don't know which is more believable.”

“If they don't believe us they can make the journey themselves. I’ve had enough of this damn north.”

“To get a glimpse of a dragon. I’d wager my grandfather would jump at the chance."

Amadeus was silent for a moment pondering before he spoke again. “Theres one thing I want to know.” he said coming to a stop.

“What is it? Darius asked.

“You have had dreams of dragons before right?”

“I have.”

“So how did it compare to the real thing?”

“Dreams have a strange way of being deceiving but..." Darius stopped mid sentence wishing not to to invite disbelief and perhaps even ridicule.

“If there hasn’t been a dragon sighted in nearly fifty years, Where have they been hiding?”

“That isn’t exactly true…” Darius confessed.

“What do you mean?”

“Whilst I have never seen a dragon. I have seen green and black flames just like that before.”

“Dreams do not count.”

“I am not talking about dreams.”

“How then?”

“It was sixteen years ago during the great migration.”

“The day I was born?”

“Yes the very same. I fell into a ravine and was carried downstream. I must have knocked my head and blacked out but when I came too I was lying in the Elvish Glades. I was surrounded by a ring of fire so intense that again I passed out. Later when my father found me, he had you in his arms and the only evidence of what I had seen was the scorched earth before me.”

“Did your father not have an explanation for what happened?”

“Not really. To this day he is adamant that it was my will of fire that protected me but I don’t remember doing anything nor would I have had the power to conjure up such a torrent of flames. Not even the great Maesters of the past have weilded such power.”

“I always thought the will of fire was merely an expression.”

“As did I.”

“Why have you never told me of this before?”

“If i tell you my reasons. You must swear never to tell Andris.”

“On my life.”

“When my father failed to reach the healing in springs in time he was forced to make a tough decision that saved your life but at the cost of your mothers.”

“My father knows and accepts this. There is nothing more Darmani could have done.”

“That may be true but he could not come home and tell Andris some grandeur story of how the will of fire saved his son whilst his best friend, his blood-brother weeped for his beloved. So to protect him the only way he could he told me never to speak of that moment.”

Amadeus with his mouth slightly agape struggled for his words. "So... so all this time you have known?"

“I have surmised which is far from knowing."

"I guess so."

"So what are you hiding?"

"What?"

Darius chuckled. “I’m not a noisy person, but nor are you one for keeping secrets. I assume it’s from your brother.

“You seen it then. Yes it's from Galiron. He's been promoted again,” Amadeus said with a hint of pride in his voice. “He now sits amongst the grand cardianals over the Knights of Cilbaen or something like that.”

“Impressive." Darius declared. "Isn't that the highest rank one can become under the lordship of Cilbaen?

"It is yes."

"He did always have amibtion. I’m surprised you never followed in his footsteps.”

“That's the thing,” Amadeus responded hesitantly. “In the letter he asked again if I wanted to join and fight under him.”

“What's stopping you? Your talent would be appreciated against the fiends. You would make captain in no time.”

“I've thought about it but my place is here."

A menacing fog had rolled in over the garrison, coming off both the Silver Mountains to the west, and Mount Atholia to the east. The area surrounding the garrison was swarmed with friends, some armed with swords as elves met them in battle outside the north and western gates while other elves did battle within the woodland that surrounded the fences. Archers provided cover from the large wooden towers situated throughout the fort and from the walkway that ran across and around the confines of the structure. It had been sixteen years since they called this place home; its fortifications and woodwork had been replaced over the years and now the integrity of its defense was being tested.

“How can there be so many of them? There must be one of those portals nearby.” Andris barked at Damani as he climbed atop one of the towers, sweat rolled down his face and mixed with the blood and muck that had already adorned it. Gasping for air as he reached the top, Damani watched on as yet more goblins appeared from the treeline.

“There must be something at play, ” Damani replied, letting loose several arrows before speaking again. “We won’t be able to keep them at bay much longer. Maybe it’s time to start thinking about pulling back inside the garrison.”

“We can’t just do nothing,” Andris pleaded.

“Look at you,” Damani said, turning to the black haired half-elf. “You’re exhausted. What chance have any of us got if even you are struggling? We have no choice but to wait for reinforcements.”

What reinforcements? Nobody answered the call.” Andris said as he wiped his face with his forearm.

“Nobody saw it,” the Maester replied. his focus now on the smoke that was radiating off the fire  in the middle of the garrison. “We have to hold it until this fog clears. The riders of Cilbaen are but a few hours away. They will be first to answer once they see it.”

“It’s been almost a day now already.”

“I’m well aware of that fact,” the Maester snapped, impatiently launching a few more arrows into the goblins below. “We must hold on my brother. You have been up all night. Go get some rest, I will call for you if anything changes.”

“How could one sleep at a time like this,” Andris replied as he shot back to his feet. “Our boys are still out there. No, I’m going back out. I’ll rest when this is over.”

“Show some patience, Andris.”

The raven haired elf did not listen as he swiftly sprung towards the ladder.

\*\*\*

“We're almost there,” Darius announced as they cut through shrubs and other bushes and now the sight of home was just before them but not any closer than the horde that had swarmed the perimeter.

There came a cheer from the wall as a guard on the watchtower shouted, having noticed the return of the Maesters son. Blowing a horn the northern gates opened outwards.

A dozen warriors with spears rushed out and immediately came to blows with the fiends outside. Clashing with the monsters they formed a half circle at the entrance and began to drive the monsters back. Archers on the parapet above along with those in the watchtowers now all focused on supporting their kin outside. A further ten Elven warriors rushed out in formation this time led by the famed warrior Andris Galati all carrying swords. Among these was Talia who was eager to see her brother Darius and Amadeus safely inside the fort.

“Clear a path for the future Maester,” she barked and quickly a gap appeared that divided the horde as Andris led warriors that broke through the thick wall of monsters, sticking and stabbing at anything and everything with his dual blades.

Goblins lunged in at every opportunity but were easily countered as the Snow-Elves worked in unity to cover one another, taking turns to strike at the fiends of darkness whilst all the time inching through the horde.

It wasn’t long until the fiends too became aware of the arriving pair. Instinctively, the horde turned and Darius could feel their yellow eyes bore down on them. As they approached. Amadeus grabbed and pulled Darius behind him and drew his sword. Shielding an incoming attack from a rushin fiends. A sly claw slashed at Amadeuss side causing him to let out a shriek of pain. Backing up he composed himself and parried another attack.

“Watch out!” Darius shouted as a troll lunged at Amadeus but just as the attack was about to land, the fiend stopped abruptly and fell to the ground as a familiar sword pierced it’s soft underbelly as finally Andris and company reached them.

“Are you alright?” Andris asked, noticing blood spilling down his son’s side.

“I’m fine,” Amadeus replied, lifting his sword from off the floor as he wiped the mud on the goblin’s corpse.

“Very well, you can take it easy from here,” Andris said as the Elves that now surrounded them began slowly returning to the garrison.

“How long has it been like this?” Amadeus asked.

“For over a day now.” Andris announced. “We don’t have the will to fight back anymore. We saved the last of the arrows for this moment,” He added, gesturing to the archers above.

“I still have strength, father,” Amadeus said, hungry for battle.

“I know you do, my son. But honestly, I do not and neither does anybody else here. We just need to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

Darius nodded as they approached the gate, he wanted to blurt out his story but what good would it do he thought as carefully they withdrew back inside the wooden gates as organised as they came out.

“So what’s the plan?” Amadeus asked as the large gates closed behind them.

“We just need to hold off a little longer. Help is on its way. All we can do is now hunker down and be ready for when those gates fall.”

“So the red smoke is indeed a call to arms?” Darius asked.

“Yes Darius,” Dalzell said as he approached. He embraced Darius with a hug and extended his greetings to Amadeus. “The situation is dire. We find ourselves in the hands of the King once more. So tell me... what did you two find out?” The elder said, focusing on the two returning elves.

Darius looked around him curiously before answering. “It’s as you said. All of it.”

“I see,” the elder sighed.

“I was hoping for some good news,” Andris murmured sarcastically.

“There is something else,” Amadeus added.

“What?” the elder asked suspiciously.

“We saw a dragon,” Darius was nervous to reply.

“A what!” Andris blurted.

“A dragon?” Dalzell chuckled. “Have you hit your head again?”

“It’s true, well we didn’t exactly see it through the blizzard, but it saved us.”

“What do you mean it saved you?” Damani asked.

Darius and Amadeus explained how they had encountered the fiends whilst in the north and by how only the appearance of the beast in the sky and it’s green and black flames spared them from certain death.

“And you saw these flames too Amadeus,” Damani quizzed.

“Yes,” he nodded.

“Nonsense. It must be the cold messing with their heads.” Andris scoffed. “Everyone knows dragons are extinct.”

“What else could it have been?” Said Darius.

“Perhaps a wyvern. People often mistake them for dragons.”

“Wyverns do not spit fire Andris,” the elder smirked. “And you certainly would not find one of them in the northern reaches.”

“I’m telling you. It was as real as the crumbling earth at the edge of the world, or did we dream that too?"

“They have seen no such things,” Andris continued as he rested his hands on his chin. “When have you boys last eaten?”

“I know what I saw, father,” Said Amadeus with a frustrated pout.

“Darius, you once said when you were younger you saw dragonfire. You sounded convinced back then,” spoke the elder. “

“Back then... everything was blurry, but this time was different.”

“In my lifetime. I’ve only witnessed this same strange behaviour the fiends are showing today but on but one other occasion. It must be connected somehow.”

“So you believe us?” Darius said, relieved.

“I’m inclined to, not all the alami perished when alchemy was sealed, perhaps the same could be said of a dragon, however unlikely as that seems.-”

“Archers to the north.” One of the guards on the tower announced disturbing their conversation.

“Is there no end to them?” Barked Andris.

“It's the Atholians,” The guard shouted again as he looked upon a green flag bearing a star. The fiends halted their press on the garrison’s walls as if commanded as the warriors of this forign province advanced until within firing distance. A runner ran down the line igniting the tips of their arrows as the archers aimed to the sky waiting on command to fire. The command never came. Instead a carriage pulled up carrying two large raven-haired figures.

“Mateusz is here, Saturos too,” the guard above announced, keeping the elves on the ground updated on every move.

“We should have known Mateusz was sewn up in all of this but why are the fiends helping him?” Dalzell asked with harrowing eyes.

“Who knows what his angle is. He’s always been a thorn in our side.” Damani answered.

“What’s our next move? Do we even have one?” Andris asked.

“We have to buy as much time as we can. Son, can I speak to you alone?” Dalzell gestured his son away from any eavesdropping ears.

The two walked away from the group before continuing

“I’ll go meet with him. Maybe we can solve this with words,” Damani was first to say.

“No son, it was I who made us this vulnerable. I should be the one to go.”

“It’s surely a trap.”

“I’m sure it is, but I’m just an old fool. If he kills me, he gains nothing. You need to survive this.”

“I don’t like it,” Damani snarled.

“There’s no other way. Our allies will be riding over those hills at any moment now. They must not arrive to a pile of ash.”

“Father...”

“It’s alright my son. This is our only move. It will buy us some time at least. Listen to me, if what Darius says is true, we cannot ignore what it could mean. Find Nanóok. If he is still among the living, perhaps he may know something.”

Damani nodded and gave his father a final hug, “Open the gates,” he ordered.

“What?” Andris bellowed.

Amadeus, grasped at Darius as he read the situation.

“Let me go,” Darius cried.

“It’s okay Darius,” Dalzell said in an attempt to calm the boy as he gave him a pat on the head and walked slowly, very slowly forward. “Remember Darius, one day, you will be Maester, and you may have to make tough decisions but you must always make the right decision, no matter how tough that path may seem. I have lived a long life, perhaps too long. Maybe I can have one last part to play.”

“There must be another way.”

“There must be another way... My dear boy, the memory I have of my father fades by the day. Only by looking at you do those memories come rushing back. You remind me so much of him.”

Grasping his walking stick, he walked out into the sea of fiends that parted at his presence. They sneered at him growling viciously as he passed but dared not attack.

“Frightened but determined, he slowed his pace further as he proceeded into the unknown with his head held high stepping over felled monsters as his tunic trailed through the mud and blood before he came to a stop just before the Atholian’s.

The older man atop the hill grinned with a sadistic smile as Dalzell struggled his way up the steep bank to where the Atholian King and Prince stood.

“It has been a long time.” Mateusz mocked.

“Not long enough, the elder replied.”

“Why are you here? Isn’t your son in charge now?” Saturos added.

“Same reason your father is here. When is he stepping aside to make you King?

“I plan to be King forever,” Mateusz laughed.

“We are all destined to die.”

“Some sooner than others,” The King sneered. “You see, I have heard of a way that I can not only prolong my life, but extend it for as long as I desire.”

“Well then, you’re a much bigger fool than I thought.” The Elf snapped. “Where did you hear of such nonsense?”

“I’ll admit, It's request at first seemed quite farfetched, but it turns out everything it said, everything it predicted has come true.”

“It?” Dalzell asked intrigued what he meant. “What did this prophet tell you?”

“The details don’t really matter,” Saturos blurted out.

“Blood magic will not make you live forever, Mateusz. You have been tricked. What did this puppeteer ask in return?”

“The head of a dragon.”

“Dragons have been extinct for nearly fifty years. You know that as much as I do.”

“Your grandson will tell you differently. I’ve been told that he encountered the beast on his little journey north.”

“How did you know that?”

“Suddenly my claim doesn’t sound that extraordinary now, does it? As I said, I have seen the future, and I plan to linger in it for quite some time.”

“If somehow what you say is true, what has it got to do with us? Do you see a dragon here?”

“Not yet, but we will,” sniggered Saturos.

“You don’t get it do you?” said Mateusz

“Well, let’s test our theory, '' Mateusz said, gesturing to Saturos as the large man punched the elder in the stomach and then grasped the elder by the neck and began to squeeze the life out of him.

Just as Dalzell began to struggle for breath a huge roar could be heard far in the distance and after a minute the large black and blue beast of legend appeared in the sky and landed atop several Atholian’s archers crushing them as the impact shook the very ground. The other archers all fled but the dragon engulfed them in flames as it flapped its gigantic wings

Saturos released the elder but grabbed him close so the beast would not launch its fiery breath his way as the elder could only stare with awe upon the mythical creature that he had only heard in his own stories.

“You see now Dalzell?” This beast and your line share a connection. I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but it’s as if it can smell your blood and taste your fear. You have had a guardian above you all this time and you never even knew it.”

“No words?” sneered Saturos. “I thought you would have a lot more to say.”

“You’re sacrificing your men, and for what. You have no hope in escaping with your life.”

“Who needs men when you have an army of darkness at your fingertips?” Mateusz laughed. He gestured and another horde appeared from the hilltop to the west. These weren’t goblins, nor were they trolls or ogres or anything else Dalzell had seen before. They did not carry swords, but long staff as they began to cast a dark magic that was expelled into the sky.

Dalzell's eyes met with the dragon's gaze and he willed it to flee and somehow it did as he wished with no words spoken. It burst into the air and flew towards the garrison emptying a fireball down on the horde at the north gates before turning its fury on the strange fiends on the cliff. A stray dark magic plume hit the dragon causing it to howl in real pain as it diverted south and launched another spit atop the goblins at the western gate as the blast eradicated anything in the radius before it fled far and out of sight.