Dragon Maiden
Disclaimer: I do not own either the people or Dragons of Pern, only my O.C's that I have created for this story are mine.
A/N: I ask that you bear with me in the reading of this story and I know the first chapter will seem odd but hopefully as the story proceeds it will make sense…..Promise!
A clash of the drums was all they heard to warn them that the renegades were there, around the walls the fighters looked out into the misty fog, to see if they could estimate the enemy's number. All that could be seen was the fog thickening and the drizzling rain that made the conditions worse.
Inside the great hall, the women were making ready for the wounded that were bound to come after the battle. In their minds these marauders were no different to those who had attacked before and would be defeated as the others had been but these marauders were to be different to the previous ones as they were about to discover.
A nervous tension were building on the walls surrounding the hold, the enemy had made no attempt to attack even though the drums could be heard banging in the distance.
"Why don't they attack?" one of the younger captains was heard to ask.
Turning, Darius who was Captain of the holds archers said "Don't be eager to die."
The young captain who had made the remark turned in the old man's direction and sneered at the older man, looking him up and down arrogantly.
"What would you know about being eager OLD MAN?"
"More than you do about living."
The young captain glared at Darius and was about to answer him when the voice of a woman was heard behind him.
"How dare you insult one of our greatest fighters?"
Turning the arrogant young man saw one of the archers glaring at him, a young woman who was dressed in the uniform of a scout, a sword hanging from her belt and a quiver of arrows over her shoulder. In her hands she carried a great bow; he didn't know her and had just come in a few days before from his hold where his father was a minor hold that was beholden to Karatchi. He had not seen the young woman who had challenged him and he did not care who she was, it was her lack of deferential attitude towards him as the son of a lord that angered him.
Before he could answer her the captain whom he had just insulted turned to the young woman in question and spoke to her.
"My lady, you should not be here, it is too dangerous."
"Old friend, if you think I am going to be down in the hall with the rest of the ladies while you and your men are up here fighting for this hold and all within its walls then you are greatly mistaken. I was trained to fight and fight I shall."
Undeterred, the young woman turned back to the arrogant young pup that was standing a little to one side of her, muttering under his breath about her respectful attitude towards him. She had seen the look in his eyes when Darius had addressed her after she had challenged the idiot, his muttering continued until she had had enough.
"If you have a problem standing here on the walls with the rest of the fighting men then I suggest that you go and join the rest of the women in the main hall, might be best suited for you."
Ryzgul exploded at her words and the laughter of those men who were standing on the walls close to him.
"HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME MADAM, I AM THE SON OF LORD DRAGUL," he screamed at her.
The young woman turned to him and in a quiet but commanding voice she was heard to say to him.
"How dare you try and be abusive to me or my men, you might be the son of Lord Dragul….a minor lord no less….BUT I am the daughter of Lord Holder Leriss and as such your superior in every way…..as for me challenging you….I dare because you are a COWARD."
The last word she shouted at him and all those within shouting distance herd her including her father, the High Lord Leriss.
Suddenly out of the fog an eerie scream was heard, like an animal being slaughtered.
"Now it begins." Darius was heard to say.
All along the walls, Captains shouted orders to their fighters and all present made ready for the approaching battle…