Disclaimer: I don't own anything you reconize.
Green Eyes
The elves had ridden horses out into the forest to look for the "disturbance" that their commander had detected. Instead they had come by the dragons Sheer and Sunriser and their rider Keryl. The riders had insisted on going ahead to tell their commander but that they could follow, they just didn't want to startle the people in the city.
A good 3 hours passed before they actually entered the city. Ryan was in a terrible mood (because of hunger) and Mirror was talkative, asking the elves questions about what hade been happening to the elven nation with the absence of the metallic dragons.
The story had been short and sweet, once the dragons of Paladine had vanished Beryllinthranox had taken over. She had been demanding tribute in the forms of silver, gold, food or anything of material value.
Mirror was enraged after the story. He fanned hid wings about and snarled loudly. In his anger his tail lashed out and hit Ryan. Ryan who was already in a bad mood lashed out, hissing. Mirror quickly jumped away.
"Relax you two." Keryl said lightly, "Remember, we're guests."
"And guests don't get fed?!" Ryan snarled, "I never had such a terrible host! Where is he?!"
Mirror calmed, Keryl was right, they had to relax. If either of them lost their temper they could end up breaking something..as in a building. Mirror shook his head to clear it, "We will eat..don't worry."
A moment later the doors of the Tower of the Sun opened. Gilthas walked down the steps into the green courtyard that the three were in.
"Greetings Dragons of Paladine." he said with a deep bow. Ryan snorted and glared, "I something wrong?" Gilthas asked politely.
"As a matter of fact...!" Ryan began.
"No, nothing your Highness." Mirror interjected. Ryan seethed.
Gilthas shrugged, "Welcome to Qualinesti, it is good to see the servants of Paladine are well."
"I serve no one..." Ryan hissed softly to herself, Mirror flapped his wings hitting Ryan in the head.
"My apologies sister.." Mirror said not meaning it, "And no Lord Gilthas, if you believe that the dragons of Paladine are well you are sorely miss led. As a matter of fact..we are the only ones here."
"What happened to the others? And why does Paladine not answer our prayers. Surely he would not let such a tyrant as Beryl rule us?" Gilthas spoke quickly, hopefully. He had obviously been asked the same questions by his followers many times, but because he was their king he had to remain strong so he had probably had to lie to them a bit.
"To the others I can not say..I ... I mean we were left behind and as for Paladine..." Mirror trailed off. The absence of his Lord was terrible and left a crushing feeling in it's place. He felt alone and vulnerable, with out Paladine guiding him, he was or felt at least, lost.
"You do not know?" Gilthas asked looking sadly at the dragon.
"No.."Mirror sighed.
"This is terrible..not even the servants of Paladine himself know what has happened." Gilthas had obviously been holding a lot of hope in the dragons. He had probably thought that the dragons had come to tell him that everything would be all right and that the Gods were only testing them...but that was not the case.
Gilthas stood up strait once more, "At least we know for sure now that something is amiss." He looked at the three, "I will gladly have you as my guests for as long as you desire. There are some dragon stables up a nearby road, you many stay there if you wish."
"Is food there?" Ryan asked sharply.
"Well yes..I'm sire there is.."
"Then lets go!" with a few running steps she took off in the direction Gilthas had pointed.
"I apologize for my friend," he said as Keryl mounted him, "She..hasn't eaten in a while.."
"That's alright. Rest well Silver, I will come visit you in the morning."
"Till then." and Mirror took off after Ryan.
After eating their fill all three of them had dropped off to sleep. Ryan had chosen the roomiest stall and was laid out mumbling in her sleep.
Her dreams swirled about, floating out of her reach.
She growled and shifted some more.
Slowly images came to her. They were dark, surrounded by a green haze. She heard a faint voice it
hissed menacingly at a smaller squeaking voice.
Ryan snorted in her sleep.
The image became clearer. A young elf boy was kneeling, shaking on the cold stone floor. "Please... Your Highness! I...I ... didn't mean to..to..mess up."
"You little fool! You know how important this was to me?!" a enraged voice roared.
"Ye...yes!" he sobbed.
"Do you know what happens to people who fail me?!"
"Ye..yes.." he cried, whimpering.
The voice in the darkness laughed sweetly, "But my little servant... I will make it quick.. Unlike the others who suffered for days.." Long talons stretched out from the darkness.
Ryan shifted again, rolling onto her side. She growled softly.
"Your soul...it mine!" the voice hissed.
"Noooooooooooo!!!!!" the little boy cried. His cry turned into a shriek as he died, his blood spilling over the smooth stone floor.
Ryan flinched.
The shadows began to swirl again. The voice growled pleasurably, it was almost a purr. The it suddenly stopped. "Who is this I see?" she purred pleasantly, "Come out, come out where ever you are?"
Ryan rolled onto her stomach.
"I can smell you! Come! Now! I command it!" the voice yelled, tired of her short game.
"There you are..." she purred again. Through the darkness with the green haze came tow huge eyes. They glowed with their vertical slits and then thinned. "I seeeeee yyyooouuu!!!!" she hissed. Her eyes grew so bright that Ryan's body recoiled in pain. The eyes threatened to swallow her and consume her. The eyes seemed to scratch at her flesh. "You are mine fool!!!! Those who interfere with me, die! " The voice paused, "You are a dragon, a gold dragon! I thought your kind where gone!" When she got no response she became angry, "BLAST YOU! SHOW YOUR SELF! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE! I WILL RENDER YOU TO PIECES." A blast of energy was sent out that shocked Ryan's body.
Ryan woke with a scream her head flying up and her wings hitting the sides of her stall. Keryl and Mirror came quickly. "What is it? Ryan are you alright?"
Ryan panted unable to reply. He pupils were dilated and her body shook uncontrollably.
"Are you ill?" Mirror asked taking her shaking for the chills.
"N...n .. no." she stammered. She dragged herself to a sitting position.
"Then what?" Keryl asked looking at her with concern.
"She knows.."
"Who knows what?"
"That we're here." Ryan shivered.
"Who?" Mirror asked gently.
"Beryl...." Ryan whispered.
