"Will it truly be fine?" asks Elissa, displaying a momentary timidity and hesitation that is most uncharacteristic of her. Oh, how her brother Franklyn would sneer and smirk with satisfaction, if he could see her now, with her feet seemingly stuck on the ground, unable to take another step forward, and her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles are turning red.
Not so high-spirited now, eh? Franklyn would taunt Elissa. Not so bold and defiant now, are you, sweet sister?
Well, thank the gods Franklyn is nowhere close in sight. Not that he would be any bolder in this situation, wagers Elissa.
Rhaena raises her eyebrows. "Surely you are not afraid of this slender little thing? Androw told me that you sailed your first ship when you were four-and-ten, and later, you went as far north as Bear Island. He has never known anyone more fearless than his glorious sister, Androw said. It made me quite envious, truth be told. None of my own brothers had ever spoken so admiringly of me."
That "slender little thing" is a pale blue she-dragon, whose color matches the color of Elissa's eyes, Rhaena claims. A ship is one thing, but a dragon is something else altogether. A ship might sink to the bottom of the ocean, taking you and everyone else on board with it, but it could not burn your flesh or eat you alive. It could not –
"I am not afraid," denies Elissa. "I am merely being cautious. There is still much I want to do in this life, so many adventures I wish to experience. Falling from a dragon would put a crimp on those plans."
Rhaena smiles. "Do not worry. I have given others a ride on the back of Dreamfyre before, and they all live to tell the tale."
"Your late husband, you mean, before he claimed a dragon for himself? But he was the blood of the dragon, like yourself. And I am not. Perhaps she will find me … not to her liking? Perhaps she will … reject me?"
"She will not. I am certain of that."
"But how could you be so certain?"
"She knows friends from foes."
"How does she know it?"
"From me. From her rider. She feels what I feel. She senses what I sense."
"And what do you feel?" asks Elissa, with a gaze that speaks a thousand words more than just those five.
Rhaena does not reply with words. She takes Elissa's hand, and helps her to mount Dreamfyre.
What Elissa feels when she wraps her hands around Rhaena's waist is, This is right. This is true. This is how it should be. This is how I want it to be.
Dreamfyre soars, and with her, Elissa's heart.
She imagines herself sailing to the furthest lands beyond the Sunset Sea, while high up in the sky, Rhaena flies on the back of her dragon, traveling to the same direction. We will conquer the sky and the sea both, dreams Elissa. Fair Isle will be their base on dry land, but the sea, the endless sea and the sky above that sea, will be their new home.