The Crimson Dragon
Ten years have passed since Eve and Mir met that strange little elf with the reptilian eyes. Eve is now a woman of sixteen and has grown into an angelic beauty with no equal. She is tall and slender, her long violet hair cascades down her back to the back of her knees and her large ever green eyes still contain their childish innocence.
She sat in the meadow beneath the Woodland Elves' tree kingdom. She picked little flowers with her dainty fingers and wove them together in a crown, humming to herself all the while. Finally finished with her flower crown, she placed it on her head danced around.
"Eve!" called a strong voice. Eve twirled around to see Mir climbing over the hill. He was dressed in hunter's green and carrying a bow over his shoulder, his broadsword swung at his hip. "Mir!" she cried delightedly running towards him. He caught her in an embrace and swung her around in the air. She beamed with happiness, her cheeks blushed rose pink, "Mir, I've missed you so! It feels like it's been a lifetime since you were home." He took her small hands and squeezed them, a charming smile playing on his lips. "It's only been a week."
"There isn't time to dawdle, Mir. We must speak to Lord Mylan." Said Huntress Sian, Mir's mother, as she walked past them. Mir released her and renewed his composure. "Yes mother." He said, following her. Sian stopped and turned her lovely face toward Eve. Huntress Sian was extremely beautiful even though she spent all her time in battle or hunting. Her ice blue hair and even colder blue eyes were quite alluring but her reputation kept men at bay. She had no husband. Mir had been born out of wedlock, and no one, except Sian herself, knew who his father was. The only reason she had not been shunned by the tribe was because of her hunting and warrior skills. "Where is your father?" she asked Eve. "He's visiting with Elder Cain." She replied, in a soft voice. With that both mother and son walked away from her without another word.
That night, Eve tossed and turned in her bed, every night her mind was assaulted by dreams of the red haired Elf child. Tonight however was different, instead of seeing Zere as he was when they had met, she saw him as a man. He was tall and dark and handsome. His hair was a little longer than it had been. It was still as shaggy as ever but it now danced around his shoulder blades. His golden reptile eyes burned strait through her body and made her heart beat in rhythms she never thought possible. He wrapped his strong arms around her and leaned into her. She tried to squirm free but couldn't. He was too strong, impossibly strong. Just as he was about to press his lips to hers, she bolted upright in bed. Her pale skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Why do you haunt me so? Why do you make me dream such things? I'll be married to Mir soon. I shouldn't be thinking about other men. I definitely shouldn't be dreaming about kissing them when I haven't even kissed Mir yet. Eve thought to herself. Muffled voices could be heard from down the hall.
Eve slipped from her bed and tiptoed to the sitting room. Her father was seated in his chair while Sian and Mir stood erect. "My Lord, it makes no sense for the Goblins to retreat when they were the ones winning. That shadow that flew over us, startled them." Said Sian. "What do you think it was?" asked Lord Mylan. "The thing was huge. The only thing it could possibly be is a …is a dragon." She explained. Lord Mylan let out a laugh; "A dragon hasn't been seen in these lands in nearly a century. The stupid humans wiped them all out. You must be mistaken, Sian." He said with amusement in his voice. Huntress Sian's piercing eyes turned even fiercer, "I know what I saw! You sit here on your ass in your precious little kingdom, while I defend it and feed it's people! I've seen these beasts countless times! I know one when I see it!"
Mylan brushed a strand of his dark purple hair away from his handsome face, "But it was a shadow you saw. How long as it been since you saw one in flesh and blood?" His question made Sian go silent. "…Twenty years." She replied under her breath, her lips set in a scowl. Mir stepped forward, "Even if it wasn't a dragon, it was headed in this direction. We ask permission to put the village on alert." Mylan sighed deeply and stood up. His elegant blue and gold robes hung down to his feet. He clasped Mir's shoulder, "Mir in one year, you will marry my daughter and someday you will take my place as Lord of the Woodland Elves. I hope that your mother's paranoia was not passed on to you. It isn't becoming of a leader to have their thoughts carry him away. We can't put the village on alert because of a shadow. It will cause a panic. We need more solid evidence of the dragon's return before taking such drastic actions."
Sian grabbed her son by the arm and led him to the door. She looked back at Mylan with a murderous glare, "You were warned, Mylan. If the dragon attacks, it is you who will have blood on his hands." They left, and Eve slipped back to her bedroom without being noticed. She slept restlessly the rest of the night, her heart heavy with dread.
The next day started out like any other. Eve awoke early and dressed in a pale green gown. Then carefully ran her come through her long violet tresses. She ate a light breakfast of nuts and berries and went out to the meadow. She picked flowers and watched the smaller children play their games. At almost noon, Mir came and bid farewell to her. "Mother and I are going on a short hunting trip." He said. "How long will you be gone this time?" she asked sadly. "Three days at the most. Mother will probably want to make sure the Goblins aren't on the move again." He replied. He kissed her cheek and walked away. He stopped at the top of the hill and waved at her before disappearing into the thick forest.
Bored, Eve laid down in the cool grass and closed her eyes. She was awoken moments later by a strange wind. She opened her eyes to see a large dark shadow against the sun. She scrambled to her feet and cupped her hands over her eyes, so she could see better. It was a dragon!
The dragon flapped its mighty wings and swooped towards her. She ran into the base of the tree palace before the dragon could snatch her up. She huddled inside with other young elves, trembling in fright. She could hear the terrible wind coming off of its wings as it flew over the village. Every few second's screams could be heard. The smell of smoke came to Eve's nostrils and she covered her mouth with the fabric of her sleeve. Finally the sound of the dragon's wings faded away to nothing and the Elves came out of their hiding places.
Half of the village was burned and the shack in which they stored their meat was completely gone but no one was missing. All the Elves had escaped the attack unscathed. That was good, but their confidence in their safety was in shambles. The Elves usually didn't have much to worry about beyond the occasional bride snatching by the Goblins.
"I don't understand. No one has seen a dragon in a hundred years. They're supposed to be extinct." Eve's father raged at the Elder Council meeting shortly after the dragon's attack. Elder Ainsela, a woman of great wisdom in Eve's opinion, spoke up. "Well obviously there is at least one left. What I'd like to know is what specific dragon we are dealing with. Did anyone get a good look at it?" she asked. Eve stepped forward, "I did my lady." She squeaked. Her father gawked at her. "I was in the meadow when he flew over." Ainsela's hazel eyes sparked with interest, "What did it look like child?" Eve thought back to the image of the dragon hovering over her. "His scales were crimson red except for the ones on his throat and belly, those were gold, and he had long black horns." All the elders gasped in horror. "The Crimson Dragon of the West." Breathed Ainsela. "I thought he was just a rumor." Said a green haired elder. "What should we do?" said another. "We could call on Huntress Sian. She's slain dragons before." Suggested a pink haired woman. Mylan glared at her, "No, we will take care of this matter without the help of that slut." One of the younger members of the council, an elf with dark blue hair and brilliant green eyes cleared his throat. "Dragons like shinny things. I've heard that the humans used to give treasure and sacrifice young women to appease dragons."
Lord Mylan grinned, ecstatic at the discovery of a solution. "Have each family donate something of value. We will offer the dragon our greatest treasures and hope that it pleases him."
The dragon returned the following day and all of the adult elves went out to the meadow to present him with their gifts. "Dragon, we the Woodland Elves, have gifts for you. In exchange for peace." Said Lord Mylan. He stepped to the side and elf after elf came forward to lay their most prized possessions before the crimson dragon.
He looked at the various objects, jewelry made from precious stones, books and telescopes. The dragon's golden eyes glared unhappily at the Elves. "I have treasures far greater than these trinkets in my hoard." He growled his voice so thunderous it made the earth tremble. The Elves were taken aback. Dragons shouldn't be able to speak Elf. Lord Mylan began to sweat, "W-what may we give that would please you?" The dragon's scaly lips pulled up in a devilish grin, his teeth jutted in and out of his mouth like the jaws of a bear trap. "There is but one treasure that has eluded me. A beautiful wife to share my treasures with. Give me a virgin girl for my bride and I will leave your village forever. You have until tomorrow, when the sun touches the mountains, to gather up a few girls for my choosing." The red dragon bolted into the air with one flap of his bat-like wings and disappeared into a dark storm cloud.