A/N: Hehe, hey guys! So it's been a little while since I updated. A year at least. Life got in the way, I got a new computer, and work got complicated. But, I'm back with a new chapter, all ready to be read. So, let's continue with our adventure!

Chapter 14: Novellen's Baby

Nine uneventful months after Novellen told us her news, I heard her give a painful roar. I ran to the dragon's clearing and found her lying on her side. I hurried over to her and ran my fingers over her belly. The trees bent nearly in half as Bloodthorn quickly lowered into the clearing. I grinned at him when he landed next to Novellen.

Is she all right, Mistress? He asked. She sounds like she is in pain.

Of course I am in pain, you great buffoon, Novellen replied hotly. You would be too if you were in my position.

I laughed. Bloodthorn, don't you remember me yelling in pain nine months ago when I gave birth to Gawain?

Oh, yes, he said. I do remember that. We could hear you all over and above the castle.

As the rest of the family, humans and dragons alike, arrived in the clearing, I turned my attention back to Novellen.

"You all might be waiting a while," I said out loud. "Dragon labor is a lot longer than human labor."

Nearly three days later, Novellen had given birth to a health female dragon. Considering her parentage, she was as purple as King Arthur's royal robes.

What do you two want to name her? I asked Novellen and Bloodthorn.

Gorthina, Novellen promptly replied.

"Interesting," I commented. I looked at Merlin and saw that his face had drained of all color.

"What?" Steven asked.

"I'll tell you at the house," I replied.

We left the dragons to care for Gorthina and returned to the house. Merlin and I led everyone to the den, where I cast a spell to prevent any outside ears from listening in.

"Okay, for those of you who did not hear, Novellen and Bloodthorn are naming their youngling Gorthina." Kale, Arthur, and my parents gasped. "I know," I continued, "but we can't change their minds."

"What's wrong with the name?" Renee asked.

I took a deep breath and launched into the story. "The first Gorthina was a reclusive dragon who lived outside of Camelot when Kale and I were young. She devoured anything and everything, including people. One year when Arthur was fighting the Saxons, she appeared on the battlefield. Arthur and Merlin thought she would go after the enemy, who were invading her territory. Instead, she went after Arthur and Merlin. Nearly wiped out our entire army. After the Saxons were defeated, Gorthina had to be hunted down and killed. In the years since, there have been other dragons named after her, and every one of them has turned on us."

"You don't think that Novellen and Bloodthorn would raise her like that, do you?"

"It doesn't matter who raises her, Steven," Merlin answered. "She still has her own mind. She could turn on us."

"Even on Rayleen?" Renee inquired.

"Especially on me," I replied. "To the dragons, I am their mistress. I am their ruler, I guess you could say. They'll listen to me, even if they won't listen to Merlin. Bloodthorn was rebellious when he met me. I was twenty and he was nearly a century old. He thought he was smarter."

"What did you do?" Steven asked eagerly.

"He challenged me. If I beat him, he would submit; but if he beat me, he would kill me. The rules were that he couldn't breathe fire, and I couldn't use my sword. Now that I look back, it was kind of like riding a bucking bronco. We ended up in the forest, where I climbed a tree. I waited until he was right underneath me and jumped onto his back. He started to twist and turn, and finally launched into the air. He was the first dragon I ever rode. Not the first one I'd met, but the first one I rode. He and I laugh about it now."

"So what do we do about Gorthina?" Arthur asked.

I looked at Merlin, who gestured for me to answer. "I don't know," I said. "There isn't really anything we can do. Although, if she does act up and her parents can't control her, we might have to send her away from here. If she is really naughty, her parents might just help us banish her. There is only so much disobedience a dragon will take from its youngling."

"Where would she go if she has to leave here?" Kale asked.

"This castle is the only place I know of that is spelled to conceal dragons," I answered. "There is no other safe place for Gorthina to go if she leaves here."