Lord Leonard Weller ran a hand through his mane of chestnut hair and smiled as he gazed out the window of von Karblenecoff castle at the man who was for all intents and purposes, his mother. Lord Conrart Weller – the lion of Lutenberg had given birth to him almost a century before. His Lord Father Lord Yozak Weller Gurrier stood sedately on the shores of the beach watching as Conrart sat atop the back of the large black dragon Temeraire currently frolicking in the water.
For his part Conrart was easily keeping hold of the beautiful bit of jewelry that dangled from around Temeraire's sleek neck. Ignoring the custom made leather saddle that the dragon still wore; proof that Temeraire had likely dived into the water immediately upon finishing his meal. It was going to take some work to get the salt out of the thing. And Leo found himself mildly amused with the notion. His mother had the habit of keeping all of his gear in what his father often jokingly referred to as parade condition.
Conrart had apparently spent quite a bit of his own money when he'd first had the thing commissioned. For a while he'd apparently toyed with the idea of a harness similar to the one Temeraire had worn in his dreams but had soon dismissed it as impractical as the great dragon had no need of a fighting crew. So instead he'd settled for a one man rig, designed to be more of a saddle then a harness.
Temeraire didn't seem to mind, and blue leather looked good against his black hide anyway.
Technically Conrart was supposed to be bathing his dragon, but at the moment they both seemed to be doing more in the way for frolicking then bathing.
It was rather cute to watch. Conrart Weller was a proud man and rarely unbent enough to play in front of anyone but his family. The fact that the man was out there frolicking like a boy in front of the great one and everyone else who might happen upon them was a sight to behold. Leonard couldn't help wondering what his mother had been like before the dragon had come into his life. His father had told him stories of the brave lion of Luttenburg, and had shown him the stuffed dragon toy 'Temmy' that still held a place of honor above his parent's bed.
Grinning to himself in a manner reminiscent of his father, Leonard set out for the shore, he'd always enjoyed helping His mother bathe and wipe down Temeraire. When he was a small child he'd briefly entertained the notion of inheriting the great dragon from his mother. Temeraire had once mentioned that on earth Dragons could often be inherited by the sons and daughters of their original captains. But over the years he'd come to realize that with the differences in lifespan the chances of his inheriting Temeraire where slim as his mother's dragon was not likely to outlive Conrart.
He reached the shore in time to see Conrart lose his grip on the heavy silver necklace the dragon wore and go tumbling end over end down the dragon's back to land with a splash in the water.
He didn't resurface.
After a moment Yozak bolted into the water with Leonard on his heels both concerned for the safety of a member of their family. Even Temeraire seemed alarmed. Then Abruptly Conrart simply popped up out of the water and deftly splashed the dragon in the face with water. He only had a second to gulp in air before he was pushed under by the tip of the dragon's massive tail.
He came up a moment later sputtering though highly amused.
"I think," Temeraire said calmly, "that it is time we got out." That said he lowered his great muzzle, and gently took the back of Conrart's Jacket between his teeth and lifted the man up and out of the water in much the same way a mother cat would pick up a kitten.
Leo glanced at his father both doing their level best to hide their mirth as Temeraire gently set the smaller man into his saddle, and turned to face them. He raised his wings and sank slightly lower in the water preparing to spring free of the ocean's churning waters when he was bathed in a soft blue glow.
"I believe you two have something left to finish." A voice spoke into the empty air before dragon and demon vanished from the lake.
Leo blinked and glanced over at his father. Yozak just sighed, "Looks like the great one is meddling again." He said mildly, and then added "Come Leonard, we should head home Your mother and Temeraire will undoubtedly find us there."
DODWDODWDODW
Only the open air received them, and Temeraire snapped open his wings in silent alarm, jarring the man seated in his saddle badly. Conrart pitched and would have fallen had he not designed the saddle with aerial maneuvers in mind. As it was he had to scramble to lock his carabineers into place.
"Temeraire," the man called in alarm, "where in the great one's name are we?"
"Dover." The dragon replied softly gazing out at the white cliffs that rose against the surf.
To his left a dragon bugled out a challenge and Temeraire pivoted around to face him, his own roar silenced at the sight of a massive red and gold dragon hanging in the air before him.
Temeraire Couldn't help his confusion, before him he could see his old friends rising up on the wing to meet him, but most alarming of all was the pure black dragon that flew with them.
"Temeraire," Conrart called, "What is wrong?"
Temeraire hovered for a moment but how could he explain this to his captain? How could he explain that they were now hovering directly in front of his old formation? How could he explain that the smaller black dragon was himself before the end of the Napoleonic war? How could he explain that this was the start of the last battle he and Laurence had ever flown for Brittan? How could he explain that despite everything they had done They had still tried to give him to another captain? Had still sent Laurence back to Australia? Had only sent him back again because Temeraire had made it clear – he would tear all of Brittan to the ground if they hurt his captain.
How could he explain it to the man who was his captain reborn?
Regardless he had to try.
Once he had explained he waited quietly for Conrart's response. Waited for the anger he was sure would come.
But it never did.
He shivered at the feeling of Conrart patting his neck. "I am with you always." The man said simply. "you are not alone."
That was all the reassurance Temeraire needed, taking in a breath he bugled out a response to his old friends.
