The Onyx Empress - Chapter Ten

Author: Milady Dragon

11 June 5310 (Earth Standard Date)

Yanshan Mountains, China

Badaling Section of the Great Wall

Nathan's family had been fantastic.

Not that he hadn't expected them to be.

Sure, his siblings hadn't teased him once, but he figured it was a combination of not wanting to upset Xia and to give the best impression they could; also, he was entirely certain that his Dads had put their foot down on any sort of ribbing that Nathan just knew would be coming his way. He was grateful for it, really. This whole mating thing was still too new for him to joke about it.

Daisy, though, was the one who seemed bound and determined to befriend Xia.

His sister would be a good influence on his mate. Well, not really an influence…but perhaps she could be someone that Xia would want to be friends with. Daisy was independent and intelligent and kind, with a backbone of pure space-hardened steel, who didn't put up with anyone's shit. She'd be perfect for Xia, as a sister and as a protector.

Although, the Dads' credit accounts might very well take a hit if they ever went shopping together. Daisy could be a terror, but if she had a new 'project' to outfit…yeah, it was a good thing both their Dads had enough money to go around.

After a little while, though, Xia pled tiredness, and the impromptu family gathering broke apart. After a round of hugs and goodbyes, Nathan's Dads and brother and sister were gone, being escorted back to the transmat by Granddad Jack, who seemed pleased by events. Nicole kissed Nathan on the cheek and then followed, to spend a little more time with the family before they headed back to Hubworld.

Lisa immediately checked on Xia, to make certain she hadn't been overwhelmed by the family reunion.

"Not…overwhelmed," she answered faintly. "I…have never felt more love and acceptance, not since my own parents died. They truly love me, although they do not know me."

"That's the Jones clan," Aunt Lisa grinned. "We've got more than enough love to go around, and we're not afraid to share."

A roar sounded, and all three of them looked up as Carys flew overhead. She'd stayed at her watch post throughout the meet and greet. When Aunt Lisa has suggested coming to the mountains in order to get away from the camp, they'd each decided to keep an eye out for anyone encroaching onto Lisa's session with Xia, although Nathan had parked his dragon arse close enough to overhear what was being said. No one seemed to mind; in fact, Xia appeared to appreciate his presence, so he didn't even pretend not to be eavesdropping.

"I think I want to go and sit in my hoard," she went on. "I need…the comfort."

Aunt Lisa nodded. Nathan could understand it. There were times when a dragon just needed their hoard. It was a biological imperative to have one, and it was also one to spend time in it as well. It was the reason Tad had several: the major one being in Ddraig Llyn, in the cellar of the Green Dragon Inn; and the other one on Hubworld, which had become the Archives there. After all, there was a reason the Torchwood Archives had long been nicknamed The Hoard. There were other, minor ones, but they were scattered about in places that his grandparents would likely to live for short periods of time.

"Can you get there alright without flying?" Lisa enquired.

"I can…if Nathan helps me." She gave him a sweet smile, one that had Nathan's heart swelling.

She was inviting him into her hoard.

That…was a very big deal.

Nathan swallowed, hard. "I…I'd be glad to."

Aunt Lisa was glancing between the pair of them. She waggled her finger. "Don't get up to anything. Tad will have your hides if you take this too fast. And don't get me started with what Phillip might do."

He immediately felt his face get hot because of her implication. Xia was blushing as well. "Neither of us is ready for that, Aunt Lisa."

Xia nodded, too embarrassed to speak.

She gave them both a piercing look, and Nathan wondered if she was seeing their future actions. Sometimes she could be downright scary with that prophecy stuff, although it had proved downright useful at times. "Then I'm going to head down to the camp. Come back when you're ready."

Hugging them, Xia first and then Nathan, Aunt Lisa changed into her own dragon form, and took off toward the archaeological site, leaving them alone on the side of the mountain.

"I have to apologise for her," Nathan stammered.

"No, you do not have to do that, Nathan. She, and everyone else, are simply watching out for us." She reached out and took his hand. "Now, come. I would like to show you my hoard."

Letting go – and Nathan missed her touch immediately – Xia was in her dragon form and climbing down the mountain, gracefully slithering over outcrops and boulders with little effort.

Nathan did the same, at home in his dragon skin for perhaps the first time ever. He'd accepted his strange body ever since he'd seen Carys, and Nicole gaining her own dragon form had certainly helped, but knowing that his mate was the same as he was…it was liberating in so many ways. He hadn't even been aware that there had been still some vague discomfort in being a dragon until it was completely gone.

He followed her gladly, allowing himself to daydream a little, wondering what their mating flight might be like someday. However, as much as he might look forward to that, Nathan found himself thinking more along the lines of the life his Dads had, and his Granddad and Grandtad. They were so at ease with each other, sharing the little things, spending time with their mates and simply enjoying their company. Now, to Nathan, that was what a true mating was all about: being with the person you were meant to share your eternity with. While he was certain the mating itself would be nice – he was past the age when he considered such things as gross, even though he liked teasing his Dads when they got too mushy – it was the notion of helping and supporting and standing by the person who meant the most to you in the universe.

He was quickly realising that this person, for him, was Xia.

They might not have known each other for more than a day, but Nathan found himself wanting to spend time with her, to show her the wonders he'd seen. To maybe introduce her to travelling, to seeing the Human Empire in all of its glory and, yes, even its darkness. To do good works beside someone who understood him in ways his parents simply couldn't, and to understand Xia in return.

Perhaps he was being the sappy romantic his Dad would often accuse his other Dad of being. Maybe there was far more Phillip Coulson in him than anyone could guess. But Nathan wanted all of that more than he'd ever wanted anything before in his entire life.

Xia changed back into her human form once they reached the cave, in order to get to the cavern where her hoard was kept. Nathan followed her down into the darkness, letting his dragon vision lead the way down into the bowels of the Earth.

It was comforting, in a way, to be this deep underground. Nathan knew his Grandtad Ianto, with his close connection to the Earth Dragon, felt it more than anyone else in the family, but it was still there. "Do you feel the same way I do at being here?" he murmured.

Xia turned back to regard him, her eyes fully into their dragon aspect. There was a quizzical expression in them. "I know not what you mean."

"It's like…being somewhere holy," he struggled to express it. "Like we're so close to the Earth Dragon that he can actually touch us, only not physically…damnit, I can't put it into words…"

"No, I believe I understand. And yes, it is like a holy place here. I am glad you sense it as well."

She reached out for his hand once more, and Nathan allowed himself to be led, down the precipitous slope that led to the cavern. The very Earth breathed around them, and somehow Nathan felt as if they were being blessed.

Merlin had used his magic to reseal the cavern, to avoid anyone disturbing Xia's hoard. She passed through the barrier easily and, since she was holding Nathan's hand, he was also allowed access. Once they'd set foot fully inside, the magical lights that his cousin had also left behind flared into life, dazzling Nathan for a split second, until he could shift his vision back into the human spectrum.

The treasures within were scattered a bit haphazardly around the cavern, as if whoever had placed them there hadn't known that there should be an order to such things. Xia made a hissing sound at the mess, glaring around her with her hands on her hips. "I suppose I should feel grateful that the Emperor had them include everything within my hoard."

"You can rearrange things to your liking soon enough," Nathan pointed out.

"Perhaps I will wait until I know where I will be staying."

With me, Nathan didn't say out loud. Wherever that was.

"And at least I still have this."

She made a beeline toward the large black pearl that was resting on one of the cushions that had made up the nest. Nathan went with her, intrigued by such a large stone. "That is amazing," he breathed.

Xia reached down for it, and in a blink had transformed back into her dragon form and was settling herself into her nest. "You are welcome to take your own dragon shape if you wish. I believe we will both fit."

Nathan did so, snuggling up next to her, revelling in the sensation of warm scales against his own. He shifted a little, so that he could get a better look at the pearl she was clutching so closely.

She must have sensed his curiosity about it, because she said, "This is my memory pearl. It holds memories of my family."

Nathan's jaw dropped in surprise. Although, he supposed he shouldn't have felt that way. He lived around magic; if it wasn't his twin, then it was cousins, Merlin and Rory, or sister, Daisy, or his Dad or Aunt Lisa. Magic could do many wondrous things. Why not capture memories of people we'd lost?

It wasn't as if the same thing couldn't be done using the technology that Nathan was much more familiar with.

"I…would like to share them with you," Xia offered shyly. "If you would like to see them, that is…"

"I'd love to," Nathan blurted. "Please."

"Rest your hand upon the pearl…just here." She pulled his hand over to where she needed it. "Now…close your eyes."

Nathan did so, relaxing against Xia as if it was something he did all the time.

He had no idea how long he laid there, but eventually images began to form behind his eyelids.

-Two dragons, one red and one blue, in a garden, with a tiny child – Xia – playing around a placid pond.

-The blue dragon, laughing, as the red one performed a trick involving a long piece of silk that waved in the breeze like a banner.

-The child, now in a human form, reading something from a long scroll.

So many memories. And Xia was sharing them with Nathan.

It was quite possibly the best present he'd ever received.

They lay there, watching the happy memories of Xia and her family, until they were interrupted by someone calling their names.

Blinking his eyes open, Nathan turned toward the cavern mouth. Lisa stood there, just outside the new barrier, looking apologetic, the gold of magic in her eyes glittering. "I really am sorry to interrupt, but we need you both down at the camp."