The slow sound of chanting filled Anurin's ears, and he mentally ran over the spell one last time.
Once this is done, there is no turning back, he realized. The world will be changed, and I will have wrought it…will I be hailed as a hero, or as a fool? Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.
It is necessary, iet fricai, rumbled the deep, yet still feminine voice of his beloved dragon, Miramel. The duty of the Shur'tugal is to preserve peace in Alagaёsia, and this is the only way, other than complete annihilation of the round-ears-short-lives.
A small smile slipped over the Rider's face. Thank you, iet hjarta…yet still, I worry…if this goes wrong-
Enough, small one. It will succeed…and I will always stand by you, no matter what, Miramel interrupted. You will be revered as the greatest hero who ever lived…the other race will worship you.
Aye, perhaps…though I fear that I have already alienated my people.
It was true. Except for a select few, the spellcasters he had gathered all wore identical expressions of stony disapproval.
A soft growl rippled through his mind. They will not dare to lay a hand on either you or the round-ears-heart-bound. Not while I'm around.
Anurin chuckled lightly. I'm sure they would not, my fierce one.
Miramel hummed with pleasure, then gave the mental equivalent of a nudge. Go.
Nodding grimly, Anurin stepped to the center of the clearing, looking around at the gathered elves. He cleared his throat, letting a smile adorn his face.
"Friends," he said, "Today, we have gathered here to add to this great bond that has been formed between us and the noble dragons. We stand at the threshold of great change…and it will be for the good."
Glancing round at his people, he cringed inwardly at their tense, set faces. Miramel sent him waves of comfort, and he gratefully acknowledged it.
"What is this momentous change, you might ask?"
He spread his arms wide, then gestured to an older man…a human. The man-Havard-stood a little apart from the elves. A grizzled grey beard covered his jaw, and his face was lined with age. Havard was the human ambassador, chosen for his peaceful and compromising nature. A smile nearly spilt his face in two, giving him the appearance of a weather-cracked stone.
Anurin nodded his way. "We are going to add the humans to our pact with the dragons."
Dead silence.
"This will be a time of great change to us all, even myself. But with effort and understanding, we will be the stronger for it," he said, forcing a smile to his face. "Peace will reign once more in our fair land, as it has for so many years since the founding of our glorious order."
Well, at least the last statement got a positive reaction from the crowd. Or at least they weren't scowling as much.
"Without further ado…"
Anurin clapped his hands together.
Moving in perfect synchronization, the Caretakers, Iduna and Nёya stepped forwards, white robes glimmering palely in the low light. They moved to the center of the clearing, standing back to back like two slender white birches. As one, they unclasped the ornate brooches at their throats, letting the robes fall to the mossy ground. The dragon tattoo lay dormant over them, its magic still in stasis. Twining arms together, they melded the two sides of the dragon together, forming a glorious, jewel-toned dragon that spread over both of their bodies.
The elves sat, voices hushed.
Then Iduna and Nёya both raised a bare foot, bringing it down with a soft thump upon the ground.
Again.
And again.
The drums began their pounding, sending a thrum that Anurin felt somewhere in his chest.
The harps rang out, sending chords like liquid honey, flowing slowly and majestically under the heartbeat of the drums.
Then the flutes joined in, a wild, fey melody weaving into the solemn music of the harps and drums, giving it life and breath.
The Caretakers began their dance, slowly, regally at first, then gaining more and more speed. Their bodies swayed, rippling in such a way so that it seemed the dragon was moving, not them. Singing a complicated spell, the two signaled the other elves to join.
A wild, mad sound pulsed through the clearing, both of instrument and of voice. Miramel hummed beside him, swaying in rhythm to the pounding beat.
Anurin felt tears glaze his eyes. This was what being a Rider truly was. I'm part of this, he realized, as if for the first time. Then it dawned upon him. Who am I to deny this to the human? Who are we? For the first time, he knew he had made the right decision. Miramel sent vague pride along their link, but was too caught up in the wild magic to say anything more.
Iduna and Nёya moved faster and faster, bodies blurring, except for that dragon.
The spellcaster's voices rose to a fever pitch, as did the music.
A flicker of living fire ran along the length of the dragon, and its maw opened.
Suddenly, it flared its wings, ripping itself from the bodies of the Caretakers.
It hovered over the elves, fire rippling down its spine, jaws open in a fearsome roar. Surveying them, sharp eyes not seeming to miss anything. Then a voice rippled through Anurin's mind. It sounded like a fire would sound, like a beast from a volcano, like the element of the eternal flame.
Why have you called us up, Shur'tugal Ebrithil? it asked, eyes glaring at him balefully.
To renew peace through the land, o great one. I seek to add the humans to the bond forged between our species so long ago, he answered, voice only shaking a little.
The fire-dragon seemed to ponder that. Anurin began to fear that it would never answer, then,
If it will keep the peace and cause the shur'tugalar to prosper, we have no qualms, and will support you.
He nodded. Vel eϊnradhim iet ai Shur'tugal, I will not fail you.
Vague amusement echoed from the fire-dragon's mind. No, you will not.
Unsure of what to make of that, Anurin began his spell, relying on the strength of the many Riders and dragons that had accompanied him. It was a complex spell, made of the same magic thaty had first birthed Alagaёsia from its womb of ice and fire long ages ago. His voice rose feverishly, sweat trickling down his face. He felt Miramel's and the others' exhaustion, but kept chanting.
Then he spoke the final words.
A shudder wracked his frame, and he felt something change in the world, something with the Rider bond. It felt different, somehow…but right.
Smiling wearily, Anurin rose to his full height.
"It is done!" he cried.
A new world had been opened, new possibilities open for exploration. Would this endeavor result in glory or failure?
Only time would tell.
Hey, guys…please drop me a line telling me if I should continue.
-Ghost