The dark-haired human drew his red blade with a flourish, eying his opponent calculatingly. Formora was a good swordsman, probably the one of the best in Vroengard, and right now, she was looking him up and down with a rather bored expression. Morzan knew she was good-he had fallen to her blade many a time-but the boredom was entirely unnecessary, he groused to Shiv, who gave the mental equivalent of a yawn and went back to her dreams of a golden dragon.
Formora was looking a bit impatient now, and Morzan knew that if he wanted to fight, then he-
Formora dove for his ankles, amber-gold sword hissing through the air. It was only by jumping back that Morzan missed being knocked over, and he growled under his breath, parrying her next stroke, trying to force her arm aside. Her eyes were emotionless, showing none of the passion Morzan equated with fighting, and he couldn't help but think how bloody unnatural, how...elvish it was. Of course it was elvish; after all, Formora was an elf.
Morzan felt a bit of grim satisfaction as he forced the elf back a couple of steps, and she was forced to duck as Za'roc came at her collarbone. Formora's angled eyes narrowed, and she pushed with her sword against Za'roc, and this time, it was Morzan's turn to step back. He kicked at Formora's ankles, the elf nimbly dancing away, a bit of mocking in her face as she did so. That maddened Morzan; elves usually had that effect in them. Gods, but they were cold, cold and hard. It wasn't natural.
He grabbed at Formora as she darted near him, trying to pin her arms. For a moment, it seemed that he would succeed, but she spun around, and elbowed his jaw...hard. Really hard, in fact. Morzan staggered back, feeling like all the blood in his face was rushing to his aching jaw, the better to give it that lovely violet colour that suited him so well. Formora whacked him across the ribs with the flat of her blade, then kicked his shins. Morzan gasped, then yelped as she kneed him in the back, bringing him to his knees. He scrabbled about in the dust for a moment, then saw stars as she bashed his temple with the pommel of her sword. Before he slipped into darkness, he heard Shiv's furious roar, along with the draconic equivalent of swearing, but gods, his head ached, and sleep sounded so good...
~A Century Or So Later~
Morzan lounged back on Shiv's neck, the blood-red dragoness purring a bit, nuzzling his cheek. He grinned sleepily, rubbing the smooth, small scales just above her nostrils.
Stop, Shiv said, raising her head out of his reach. That tickles, and remember what happens when I sneeze?
Morzan chuckled, patting her chest instead. "How could I forget, you idiot?" he said, but his tone was nothing but loving. His bond mock-snarled, baring straight white teeth.
Bit rich coming from you, love, she snapped, though the tone was nothing but jest. I believe the humans call that hypocrisy.
"Aww, stop with the big words, dearest, you know that they confuse me!" Morzan whined. "For you know, I am but I simple urchin who struck it lucky, and my mind is not as sharp as it could be."
Shiv nodded. How lucky you are, being blessed with such a mighty dragoness such as I, she said, then licked his cheek again. Leave the thinking to me, stone-head.
"The gods have indeed been generous. How could one such as I, a mere worm in the dust, have been blessed with such a wise, beautiful, intelligent, strong, awesome dragon?" Morzan teased, putting effort into making his words sound extravagantly elegant, failing to do so.
Shiv gave a rumbling chuckle. Do not the gods move in ways beyond our ken? she asked.
Morzan shrugged a shoulder, pushing himself to his feet.
Where are you going? Shiv asked, a bit of anxiousness seeping into her tone.
"You know that the king called me into the throne room. I would've stayed back in 'Leona, otherwise," Morzan told her. "Those damned nobles look down from their noses at me."
Stay with me, then, Shiv pleaded. I'll eat whoever mocks you.
Morzan rubbed her nose. "Don't tempt me, 'kay? You know I'd stay her if I could."
Shiv sighed. If you must. She flopped to the ground, sighing again.
"Hey, now," Morzan said. "You know that I'll come back. Why're you so balky at letting me go into 'Baen? You fussed all the way here."
I...I...I fear for you. I love my urchin.
"And I'll stay your urchin."
He'll change you.
Morzan sighed. "We've had this conversation near every day for the past century, and it always ends with you trying to torch me. Shiv, I'm not going to change."
But you will.
"Shiv..." Morzan strode over, and looked his dragon in her eyes. "I'd cup your head in my hands, but I've not been able to do that for years," he said, lamely trying to make her laugh. He smiled a bit awkwardly. "Look at me...look at me, love. There, that's better. Shiv, I'm not going to change. I'm not going to turn on you. I'll never abandon you, never curse you. I. Am. Yours. Look at me, now. Do you trust me?"
The dragoness shuffled her claws feet, then said, in a small voice, Yes.
Morzan grinned. "Good, then I can go without fear of your flames singeing my rear?"
I suppose, Shiv said, smiling weakly and blowing a thin jet of smoke. I just...worry. You're...
But Morzan had already left.
Um...hi. Sorry for the long absence; my life got really crazy. And, you know, effort. I'm a lazy git. And sorry for such a filler-ish chapter...I've several things to tell/ask you all.
Firstly, yes, the Forsworn are alive in this one. And I'm entirely disregarding Du Namar Aurboda (The Banishing of the Names). It just seems so unrealistic and impossible...and I didn't want to have to go through the struggle of writing for someone who can hardly have even pronouns applied to them. So, thoughts?
There's going to be a whole lot of canon-effing, and you guys will either love me or want to eviscerate me, slowly and with a spork.
Secondly, I'm at loss as to where to go with this. I'm seriously considering giving Saphira to Murtagh, and otherwise mixing up the Rider/dragon pairs. May I have your thoughts? I'll be posting a poll on my profile that I'd appreciate you voting on, if it pleases you.