*It started out a beautiful morning; the sun was shining, releasing its
warmth to the earth, the birds were singing sweetly in the forests' trees,
and the waterfalls were running smoothly. Riania snuck away through the
forests of Rivendell, careful so that no one followed her.
At 400 years old, Riania was already getting into too much mischief for her own good. If only she knew how true that was.
Finally she reached the secret meadow she had discovered about 50 years ago, and still kept it secret. Only one other person had known about it-Brioslo. He had been her best friend, before he had been killed by an orc.
Riania skipped peacefully into the meadow, and started to pick flowers. There were all sorts—violets, daisies, forget-me-nots, and her personal favorite, tulips. As she silently frolicked by herself, someone watched her.
Miroros looked on at Riania, his much younger cousin, from afar at the forest's edge. She seemed so happy, Miroros would do anything to keep her that way forever. She had a future; she would meet an elf, fall in love, marry, have little baby elves… Of course he had a future, too, but to him, Riania was more important. She was his pride and joy; he showed her off to his friends all the time. They were very close.
Suddenly the ground shook violently, and Miroros was forced to brace himself against the tree next to him. Riania fell to the ground. Miroros gasped at what he saw. Looming behind Riania, a giant, evil dragon breathed in and out, staring at her hungrily. As Riania brushed herself off, she turned and froze. She had always been deathly afraid of dragons.
"Run!" screamed Miroros, the words flying from his lips through Riania's right, pointed Elven ear and out the left. Her feet were planted firmly on the ground, and she dared not move, no matter how her cousin yelled.
A gust of wind blew her auburn hair into her gray, ocean-like eyes, and her slim body quivered. Miroros shouted again.
"God Damn-it, run!" he cried from the forest. Unable to let his cousin die like this, he pushed his fair blonde hair away from his fair face and ran full speed at her. She still stared at the creature, and he plunged head first into her. She flew to the side and the dragon breathed its terrible fire…
*******
Riania sat bolt upright and screamed, her lungs already burning from a fever. Her maid- servant, Guyanias, rushed over with a cool soaked rag and moistened Riania's burning forehead.
"Miroros! No!" she continued to scream, and the maid did her best to hush her.
"Calm down, My Lady, he is safe in bed down the hall," she soothed. Riania's eyes focused and she came out of her nightmare/flashback.
"Guyanias, I-I-I remembered that day… When the dragon…"
"Shush now, My Lady, everyone is worried sick about you. Especially Miroros and Sriosno. You must rest and get well." Riania nodded in a feverish agreement.
"Yes." Then her head began to burn up and the fever overtook her.
At 400 years old, Riania was already getting into too much mischief for her own good. If only she knew how true that was.
Finally she reached the secret meadow she had discovered about 50 years ago, and still kept it secret. Only one other person had known about it-Brioslo. He had been her best friend, before he had been killed by an orc.
Riania skipped peacefully into the meadow, and started to pick flowers. There were all sorts—violets, daisies, forget-me-nots, and her personal favorite, tulips. As she silently frolicked by herself, someone watched her.
Miroros looked on at Riania, his much younger cousin, from afar at the forest's edge. She seemed so happy, Miroros would do anything to keep her that way forever. She had a future; she would meet an elf, fall in love, marry, have little baby elves… Of course he had a future, too, but to him, Riania was more important. She was his pride and joy; he showed her off to his friends all the time. They were very close.
Suddenly the ground shook violently, and Miroros was forced to brace himself against the tree next to him. Riania fell to the ground. Miroros gasped at what he saw. Looming behind Riania, a giant, evil dragon breathed in and out, staring at her hungrily. As Riania brushed herself off, she turned and froze. She had always been deathly afraid of dragons.
"Run!" screamed Miroros, the words flying from his lips through Riania's right, pointed Elven ear and out the left. Her feet were planted firmly on the ground, and she dared not move, no matter how her cousin yelled.
A gust of wind blew her auburn hair into her gray, ocean-like eyes, and her slim body quivered. Miroros shouted again.
"God Damn-it, run!" he cried from the forest. Unable to let his cousin die like this, he pushed his fair blonde hair away from his fair face and ran full speed at her. She still stared at the creature, and he plunged head first into her. She flew to the side and the dragon breathed its terrible fire…
*******
Riania sat bolt upright and screamed, her lungs already burning from a fever. Her maid- servant, Guyanias, rushed over with a cool soaked rag and moistened Riania's burning forehead.
"Miroros! No!" she continued to scream, and the maid did her best to hush her.
"Calm down, My Lady, he is safe in bed down the hall," she soothed. Riania's eyes focused and she came out of her nightmare/flashback.
"Guyanias, I-I-I remembered that day… When the dragon…"
"Shush now, My Lady, everyone is worried sick about you. Especially Miroros and Sriosno. You must rest and get well." Riania nodded in a feverish agreement.
"Yes." Then her head began to burn up and the fever overtook her.