The Hunters and the Prey - Chapter Forty-One
Author: Milady Dragpn
It was past middlenight, and Clint was awakened out of a sound sleep by something poking at him.
It wasn't Phil; his lover was wrapped around Clint, his nose against that soft spot behind one of the Elf's pointed ears, his breath warm against the sensitive skin there. His arm was heavy and protective where it lay draped across his stomach; Clint could still smell the faint odor of lemon and cabas root despite the bath he'd taken before bed…which had been late, considering the potion-making marathon that Phil and Daisy has gotten into after things had calmed down. Apparently they'd come up with a plan to discover who was Hydra in the Quorum, and it involved lots of complicated math and a glass jar the size of a small child.
Oh and there was also a small child involved now. Named Crystal. Who'd been kicked out of her folks' home because she was a Void Wizard.
Honestly, Clint had thought his parents had been bad.
Well, his father and brother. His mother simply had been too weak to fight back.
Anyway, he and Phil were going to be talking about that in the morning, when he finally got a chance to meet this kid that Phil was going to adopt, and her dragon.
So, they'd gotten to bed very late, and now he was being poked awake by something, and he didn't want to open his eyes to see what it was.
He did it anyway.
Just in front of his face was Lola's snout, her blue eyes smiling at him. She was looking quite pleased with herself, if Clint was reading her expression correctly.
He wanted to groan aloud, but didn't want to wake Phil, not after the magic he'd been working while mixing that monster potion. Sure, he was powerful and that had barely tapped the reservoir of his magic, but he needed the rest anyway, just from what magic he had used and then staying up past their usual bedtime in order to work that magic.
Gods, Clint was getting old if he was now accepting the fact that he now had a regular bedtime.
Lola made a near-silent coo, tugging again at the hand that he'd unconsciously rested over Phil's. For a single heartbeat, Clint thought she'd gotten a little lost in the near-dark of the room and had grabbed his hand by mistake instead of her Wizard's, but she probably had better night vision than the archer himself did…which was saying something, really.
Her wings mantling, Lola pulled back a little, almost managing to drag Clint out of bed. He bit back a curse, hoping that her antics wouldn't wake up Phil, shaking off her clawed hand as best he could and not get scratched.
"I'm coming," he muttered, carefully maneuvering himself out from under Phil's arm, not wanting to jostle him too much. His lover made a half-strangled moan of disappointment and grabbed for Clint's pillow, snuggling up to it and then falling silent once more.
He never would have guessed that the former Dark One was such a cuddler. It really was nice, especially when Clint got to actually stay in bed and be cuddled.
Lola was looking at him expectantly, so Clint got a move on. There couldn't be anything wrong, or else the dragon would have alerted the Wizard in the family first. No, the Elf got the feeling this was something personal to him, and he had to admit he was really curious about it despite wanting nothing more than to crawl back under the covers.
And so, Clint followed the dragon, who had a very definite destination in mind…one that involved putting his boots on, if the fact that she nosed them over to him was any indication – sneezing once, and no, his feet didn't stink, thank you very much – so he slid them on, including a shirt and trousers because if he was going to be walking around the Keep he wasn't going to flash anyone. After all, there were kids and Melinda May in residence and didn't want to expose himself by accident.
He wasn't too worried about Andrew; he was a man, after all, and had to have been familiar with any kind of horror that being a naked man tiptoeing about could cause the unsuspecting. Andrew also wouldn't beat him up like Melinda would, if he dared offend her sensibilities like that.
Once they were out of the master suite, Lola began making impatient noises and she jumped down the middle of the stairwell, letting her wings coast her down to the ground.
"Cheater," Clint accused softly, and took the stairs down by foot, wishing he had access to Phil's Levitation spell. Maybe he'd ask for some sort of enchanted artifact so he could float down as well, because it would be as close to flying as he would ever get.
The dragon led him through the kitchens and out the rear door. There was a mist across the valley below, making the trees look ghostly in the nearly full moon. Clint shivered a little, glad he'd gotten dressed; it wasn't because of the cold, there was a strange power in the air, as if the world was waiting for something to happen.
There was a path down from the kitchen door, a beaten one that had been formed by countless feet coming and going from the Keep on whatever errands that took the residents out into the valley. As he accompanied Lola down the path, he could make out a small garden off to the side, with what appeared to be herbs growing in it. Another garden was of flowers, but it was wildly overgrown, with a beauty that had Clint wishing he could stop and simply enjoy the colors under the moonlight.
Lola wouldn't let him stop, though. She kept checking over her wings to see if he was still with her as she led the way down the mountain, taking the path herself instead of flying. It was quiet, not even the insects were making their usual nightly noises, the wind ruffling the leaves was the only sound he could hear.
Clint had no idea how long he followed behind Lola, her red and filigreed black scales glittering under the moon. He trusted her to get him wherever they were heading toward safely; there was a small part of him that wondered if this was somehow her version of revenge for what had happened to Raina's dragon, but she'd shown no inclination to that sort of thing, and Phil hadn't sensed it either. So, no…it wasn't anything like that.
He really wished he could sense dragons like Wizards did. He'd always loved dragons. Back during his traveling show days, there hadn't been any in the actual show, but when they'd come with their attendant Wizards they'd had to put up warning signs stating that there was an Elf in the show and to make certain they kept their dragons under control, for their own safety. After all, it wouldn't do for one to try to approach him during his act, and the last thing Clint had wanted was for an innocent dragon accidentally flying in front of one of his arrows and getting hurt…or, worse, killed.
But, afterward…he'd always get claimed by at least one dragon who'd find him no matter where he was. And Clint had loved it, had loved how they'd let him love on them in a time when love was something he'd had so little of in his life. It was why he adored them so much now, and why killing one had hurt him so badly.
However, Phil had had a point. Dragons weren't the slaves of their Wizards. They still had free will, despite the link that was forged between them on their first meeting. He'd recalled times when Lola had literally told Phil off when they'd been running missions together, even though none of them could understand her chattering the intent behind the noises had been clear. He hadn't really recalled that until Phil had reminded him.
Raina hadn't forced her dragon to follow her. It had done that of its own free will. Dragons chose their Wizards, after all. It would have known what lurked in her very soul.
It made him feel a little better, but he'd deal with the guilt that was left in his own time.
Lola passed into the mist line, and Clint went with her. The air was clammy against his skin, but at least the layer of cloud wasn't too wide; five steps and he was through, almost as if he'd walked through some sort of magical barrier, although it hadn't tingled like magic did, even with his limited sense of such stuff he would have known.
The path had opened up onto a clearing, the moon shining down into the center of the area. If he'd thought it had been quiet before, there was now a complete hush, and if it wasn't for the faint sound of his boots crushing the grass Clint would have thought he'd been struck deaf.
In the exact center of the clearing was a dragon.
It was the largest dragon Clint had ever seen. It towered over the Elf, red and orange scales shifting like flame, the enormous head resting on muscled forearms as water-grey eyes regarded Clint closely, as if looking into his very soul.
You are the mate of the newest Void Chosen.
Clint started. The voice was female, kind, and was in his head. There was only one place it could be coming from.
"You can speak?" he asked, shocked beyond measure. Dragons couldn't speak, like this, in fully formed words and with someone who wasn't a Wizard. Wizards themselves only received emotion and intent through their bonds with their dragons, feelings which were easily read and understood. This was very different, but it wasn't unpleasant.
He stepped forward, meeting this new dragon's eyes squarely. "If you mean Phil Coulson, I suppose I am."
She looked very pleased. This is good. He will need someone with your strength of heart to stand by him.
"I won't leave him." He didn't add that, when it was time for him to finally pass on, that he had contingency plans so that Phil wouldn't ever be alone.
Our daughter has accepted you as family as well.
Lola chirped an affirmative, sitting tall on her haunches, her wings tucked close to her back.
Wait…daughter?
That would mean…
"You're the Queen of Air and Fire!" he squeaked.
It was common knowledge that every single dragon ever born came from the One Mother, the Queen of Air and Fire. She'd once lived on the island kingdom of Genosha, where she would send her children out into the world to the Wizards that they'd chosen, through portals that would get them there in the blink of an eye.
When Genosha had put itself behind its magical barrier, because someone had foreseen the Wizard War that would destroy the world – and that had actually been stopped by Master John Smith, when he'd cast the spell that had cut magic off from the world – the Queen had fallen into a living sleep, where no more dragons were born except for the Wizards who'd still inhabited Genosha. Even those Wizards had begun to fail, and it had taken magic coming back to awaken the Mother and for her to bring dragons back to the newly emerging Wizards.
Now, while the Queen chose to still live within the dragon caves on Genosha, rumors told of her being able to travel between the nests that were now cropping up all over, sowing them with her seed and bringing back the glory of the dragons. While Clint had never seen one of these new nests, he'd heard tell of them, and had hoped to one day find one.
She was laughing in his head. Did you just squeak?
"Um…maybe?"
She was vastly amused by him, Clint could tell. Mortals have named me thus. I prefer to be called Idris.
"Alright, I can do that." This was just unbelievably surreal. There he was, a non-magical person, having a conversation with the Queen of Air and Fire. And she was inviting him to call her Idris.
Clint pinched himself, convinced he was dreaming.
All that did was make a sore spot on his forearm.
"May I ask why you're talking to me? I'm not a Wizard."
No, and that is a great shame. You would make an excellent Wizard.
"Thanks." Clint himself wasn't so sure about that, but he wasn't about to argue about it. It also didn't stop him from blushing at the compliment paid him by a creature who, rumor had it, had been alive since the beginning of time.
You are welcome. However, you also have asked why I am here. Perhaps you are not aware that I have a connection to all of my children.
No, he hadn't known that, and admitted as such.
It is usually a passive connection, as any mother has with her children; however, it will also allow any one of my children to speak to me directly on certain matters. My daughter has told me of your actions, and how it bothered you that you inadvertently killed a dragon in the course of your duties to your fellows.
Oh, of course… he was being called on the proverbial carpet for what he'd done to Raina's dragon. "I'll accept whatever punishment you want to impose."
Lola might have forgiven him and accepted his actions as necessary, but this was the One Mother. And Clint had murdered one of her children. She had every right to be upset with him about it.
His dragon companion made a very disparaging sound, like she'd just blown a raspberry at him.
The Queen of Air and Fire laughed at her. Peace, daughter. He knows, but he does not comprehend. He also does not understand that I have seen his future, and what comes of that future.
"Wait," Clint waved a hand in her direction. "You saw my future?" What the hells was she even talking about?
I did. I was born within the fires of creation, even before the Gods of this world had been birthed out of the eternal chaos. As such, I have a rather tenuous connection to every time there has been, is, or will be. Unfortunately, my gift is but transitory, usually extending to which of my children will fit each newly born Wizard. However, there are times when prophecy comes upon me, and I am allowed to see the destinies of certain people. I foresaw the coming of the Deathless, and of his mate, the Cardinal Champion. I was the one who had Myfanwy await for the Champion in the depths of a broken tower, knowing that he would be there and that she would bond with him from the moment their eyes met.
Clint couldn't help but be charmed by her. Idris' voice was calm, and ancient, and yet there was a tinge of humor within it that wasn't mocking, but simply seemed to be happy with the world around her, as if everything was as it should have been. It made him want to wrap his arms around her neck and hug her, but he really didn't dare so that.
I choose each and every dragon to fit the Wizard that I perceive. That perception goes soul-deep, so that I know exactly what each Wizard shall need and what dragon would best suit, although the dragon does have the final say in whether they will accept the Wizard, or no. On the whole, they trust their Mother to be correct about such things, and will agree with my decision. Sometimes, however, they do not, and I always respect that choice.
When Lola was chosen for the Void Champion, I knew that he would suffer great darkness before the light would shine upon him once more. Lola was exactly what was needed; to support him at his darkest, and to love him in the light.
She glanced toward the aforementioned dragon, who straightened even more, her normal chatter sounding proud.
The Queen said something back, and while Clint couldn't understand exactly what that was, he could see that Lola was affected by it; she looked pleased, and gratified, without losing that pride that she was wearing like a royal robe. The Elf figured that Idris had let her know what a good job she'd done with Phil. It was so very true, Lola and Phil were well-matched. There was certainly something in what the Queen was saying, in that she'd known the perfect companion for Clint's lover even before he'd stuffed all his humanity down deep inside and had taken on the mantel of the Dark One. And that he'd changed so irrevocably into the good man he was now.
When I chose the dragon for the child, Raina, I understood that her path would be a difficult one. Not that I knew exactly what sort of trouble she would cause, I could not see exact events, but I did understand that she would be a black soul, and chose her dragon accordingly, and who willingly accepted Raina as his charge. When you meted out justice upon Raina for what she'd helped do to your mate, and killed her dragon in the process, you were merely fulfilling the destiny that the universe set for them. This was not your fault, although your mourning does you credit. I thank you for that, Clinton Barton. You are truly a good soul.
This new compliment had Clint blushing harder than before; even his ears felt warm. He'd done a lot of bad things in the past; while not on the same par as the Dark One and Marcus Johnson, he'd been an assassin for hire, up until he and Natasha had gone as straight as they could and still make a living. He'd never really ever consider himself good, although he was willing to try his very best for Phil and Daisy and now Crystal, although he wouldn't meet her into the morning.
And that is the essence of a good soul…willing to try despite what one thinks of themselves, out of love or loyalty or the need to see that someone is happy.
"Well," he shrugged, "when you put it that way…"
He still wasn't sure that was all there was to it, but he'd let it slide. It wouldn't do to argue with someone as old and powerful as the Queen of Air and Fire.
It truly is a shame you are not a Wizard. I would have the perfect dragon for you.
She raised a wing, and a glowing portal opened underneath. Stepping through the portal was a golden dragon, about the size of a retrieving dog, bouncing into the clearing as if it was the best thing it had ever done. Brown eyes whirled in laughter as it – he, Clint was certain – caught sight of the Elf standing there, busily being amazed at actually witnessing that whole portal thing and the fact that a dragon was now bounding over to him, throwing himself onto the archer and knocking him to the ground. A rough tongue began licking Clint's face, dragon drool getting his hair wet.
Clint couldn't help but laugh in helpless enjoyment. Just this greeting helped lift his spirits even more than Lola had; if this dragon was greeting him so effusively, then he thought everything was going to be alright.
At first, he was too busy wrestling with the new dragon to notice the faint glow of something in the back of his mind. He thought he was just feeling all the pleasure of meeting this new dragon, who was obviously so very glad to see him. Clint was convinced it was just another case of a dragon being attracted to his Elven-ness, and didn't think anything of it.
But then, suddenly, something bloomed within his mind. A bright, happy presence that loved him despite not knowing him…or maybe it did know him, and accepted him despite all of his faults. It was like having all these glorious emotions dropped straight into his brain, and with a start that had Clint pulling away from the dragon who was bound and determined to lick every bit of visible skin, he realized what this must be.
It was impossible.
It should have been impossible.
Clint wasn't a Wizard. He hadn't a single magical bone in his body. And yet, this dragon had just bonded to him, and was his and his alone.
It was like getting every single Naming Day gift he'd never received as a child.
Clint struggled to sit up. The dragon wasn't happy about it, but he allowed the Elf to shift him enough to push himself into a seated position on the cold, wet ground. His eyes met those of the Queen of Air and Fire – of Idris – and he knew that confusion and joy and all sorts of other emotions he couldn't name were showing in them for her to see.
"How?" he gasped.
The Elves have always shared a link to nature. And, if you had been a human, it would not have been possible. However, as he is my child and you are special for your love of the Void Champion, I was able to… tweak things just enough to allow the bond. He is your companion, Clinton Barton…and you are his. This bond will last until the end of all things. Are you willing to accept him?
How could he not?
Clint had always wished for more than just the adoration of every dragon who ever saw him. He'd dreamed of this sort of connection, and had envied Phil his closeness with Lola, who had loved the Elf unreservedly almost from the moment they'd met. He'd been perfectly willing to accept whatever he could get, and been just fine with it.
He couldn't help but shake his head in wonder. "I just…I can't thank you enough."
Thank me by protecting dragons when you can, and mourn them when you cannot. And love my child as you love Lola.
She rose onto her haunches, which made her all the more imposing. Now it is time to name him.
Clint stared right into the happy brown eyes of his dragon, and it came to him in a burst of certainty that was stronger than any he'd ever felt.
"His name is Lucky."
And he could tell that his dragon approved.