Chapter 9-Acceptance

So I made it happen then, Ryta commented as Narssia stared her daughter down with only small twitches of pain from where Arxa was beginning to build her strength back up.

Made it happen? I don't understand . . .

I figured that if I could overwhelm Arxa then she would end up being so conflicted and confused that you would have no problems in breaking through. Now I see that actually worked as I had planned, Ryta informed her mother.

Of course. You figured out that your presence alone acts as a threat to her mental control over me. You've changed very much since that night when she killed your father. I'm quite proud of you. Narssia growled softly, afraid that Arxa was trying to use her deep connection with her daughter to have her snap and loose it, thus destroying everything Ryta had done moments before to bring her to the surface again.

Sitting down, Narssia allowed herself a breath of tensed air. Ryta walked over and sat down beside her, lifting those warm azure blue eyes to her own eyes as she had done in the past before all of this had happened.

I'm tired Ryta, Narssia muttered, catching her daughter's gaze for a moment.

I know. Mental battles are exhausting.

No, I mean I'm tired. I've been trying to get out, fight my way, and I don't think I can do it anymore. I don't think I can hang on. Her eyes dropped, exhaustion setting in as Arxa stewed with quiet anger.

Sure you can.

Ryta growled, trying to lift her mother's spirits but noticing Narssia's defeated look as her eyes met the yellow irises of the one who had given life to her and she looked away, ashamed of being so optimistic.

You know what, she hummed after a moment. Let's go get some air. I know just the place.

Getting on her feet, she waited for her mother as Narssia slowly forced herself to stand. Her eyes seemed so hopeless, so lost. As if everything was falling down around her and all she could was hold on for dear life.

Ryta ignored the feeling in the back of her mind as she made her way to the entrance of the cave, a feeling that whispered to her that this might be the last time she would ever be with her mother again one on one. Of course that seemed too disheartened for her and so she put it out of her mind as Narssia followed along behind her as she leaped from the mouth of the cave and took to the air, winging her way to a very special place she had found with her mother months before.

The gentle stream and windswept grass of the peaceful foot-and-a-half field that overlooked a deep gorge of unknown depth met the two dragons as they descended straight into the middle of it. Narssia's mood had brightened very little but Ryta could tell the difference was enough to make her mother look around with interested eyes.

You remember the last time we were here? The brown dragoness inquired as her mother's gaze met her own, a curious flicker to them that confused Ryta for a moment.

Yes, I remember. Narssia nodded in understanding, her eyes washing over the swaying grass and passing over the flowing brook that spilled out along the edge of the northern side, the gorge drop off to the south. You were standing on the very edge of the field closest to the gorge. Like an idiot.

Ryta snorted, recalling the scene all too well in her mind. It seemed her mother was perking up some by just being here at least.

You were asking me about why I had fallen in love with a dragon before your father. Asking me to tell you how he died.

Remember what you said? Ryta questioned, her eyes watching her mother for fear that something could break them apart at any moment.

I said I had been foolish and that he died of natural causes.

No. Before that. Here Ryta was testing Narssia. She knew of the events the morning before their trip to the field but how well did the black dragoness remember them.

Narssia looked away, absentminded for a moment as she searched through her memory. She didn't have much time to search before Ryta finally answered her own inquiry.

You denied both my questions, Ryta growled, her tone not fierce but reminding to her mother.

I had been busy that morning. Jormundur was coming into his telekinesis and I feared what that might result from that. Besides, you were barely able to fly and I knew I could keep your attention much easier if it was directed away from the painful inquires you wished to know of my earlier years before your father.

Narssia walked over to barely two steps away from the fall to the gorge, her eyes becoming filled with despair once more as she gritted her teeth together to mask the pain of Arxa becoming more active the longer she lingered in control.

It seems like a million years ago, Ryta commented as she advanced to join her mother, the peace we had back then I mean.

Narssia paused before she spoke, still fighting against Arxa but only more subtle than previous battles waged between them. A lifetime really.

We made it through it, together, the brown female hummed as she stopped beside the older dragon, Narssia to the right of her. Made it through all the craziness, you and me, even if it wasn't always easy. We can make it through anything Mom.

Even death? Narssia questioned, her own morality starting to become apparent as she was facing a foe she couldn't win against.

Why not? Ryta sighed.

Because this isn't me, or rather isn't all of me now. It's not just my body anymore because of what Arxa has done with it and with me. Narssia turned her gaze to her daughter, a sense of guilt in her eyes.

No, it is you. Mother, I'm looking at you. Ryta snapped back, her eyes flickering over to Narssia and staying there.

You're looking at nothing more than a broken shell of who I once was, Narssia growled.

No, it's you. Look, I need you to keep fighting in there. Okay?

I can't. Narssia blinked, feeling as if she was being caught in rapids and the water was slowing rising all the while she was trying to keep her head above the rushing liquid. She's killing me and I can't hold on anymore Ryta.

Yes, you can, Mother. Ryta tightened her gaze as her mother blinked more forcefully, shaking her head slowly as she did so. That's why you called out to me before the fight started. That's why you called me out alone.

Narssia's gaze hardened, her eyes locking onto her child like steel traps. I called out to you because I knew you were easy to sway since you value the lives of those around you more than you do your own.

Mother, that is not you! Ryta snarled as Narssia somehow fought back to the surface, having slipped for only a second and had Arxa speak through her.

That's what I'm trying to get you to understand, Narssia hissed as she snapped her eyes shut and clenched her teeth, nearly dropping to the grass but getting caught and steadied by her daughter who turned her around so that her back was to the gorge.

Mother? Ryta growled as worry overtook her. Stay with me.

Narssia finally broke her grip on her mental pain and roared, the sound heartbreaking to her child as Ryta rested her head on her mother's left shoulder. Narssia finding barely the strength to lean her head on her daughter's right shoulder.

Hey. Fight it, come on. I need you to fight it. I need you to fight it, Mother. Ryta blinked, finding her eyes moist with unshed tears. Come on, stay with me, Mom. Please?

Narssia sighed as she drew the power from within herself to take a step back from her daughter, their snouts now nearly touching each other. I'm sorry Ryta.

With that she turned, forcing herself into the air and landing on the brittle rock that descended to the gorge as Ryta roared out in shock before leaping over and trying to grasp a hold of her mother to pull her back up. Unfortunately Narssia was several thousands of pounds heavier than Ryta and such the brown dragoness only scraped futilely at the dirt that mixed in with the grass of the field.

Pull yourself up, Mother! Ryta begged as Narssia glanced up with calm eyes.

Let me go Ryta, let it end.

I can't do that, her child growled, becoming emotional as she realized her mother's plan.

You need to move on with your life.

I need you to be there for me. Now, pull yourself up, please. Ryta could hear her voice becoming emotional but she knew no other way to express her pain at the thought of her mother's death only minutes away.

You're going to have to carry on for the both of us, Ryta. Okay? Ryta nodded slightly, blinking away tears as they invaded her view of her mother. You tell your brothers I love them. Take care of those that you hold precious in your sight. You fight the good fight. You've always been everything that's good in this world.

Mother, the brown dragon moaned, sniffling as she could barely keep herself together to even say anything.

And I have a feeling this world has seen nothing from you yet.

I can't do this without you. Again Ryta blinked away her tears, starting to get annoyed by the faint film of water that obscured her finale views of Narssia.

You can do anything Ryta. Anything. Remember that. Narssia paused for a moment, looking up into the tear-filled eyes of her daughter. Saying goodbye was harder than she had thought it would be but it had to be done, for both their sakes. I love you.

Mother? Ryta questioned as Narssia glanced up at her with expectation. Finding no cue as to when she was to speak next, Ryta whispered her last fours words to the black dragoness carefully and also painfully emotional. I love you, Mom.

With that having been said, Narssia released her mental hold on the dirt and began to slide down the steep drop to the gorge, her eyes looking up at Ryta as her daughter watched with tears streaming down her small cheeks.

About halfway down, the black dragoness gave up her mental hold on Arxa and the dragoness spirit born of magic took back control of the body. She did lay in the dark dirt for some time while Ryta's shrill roars of sorrow split the air but eventually the young dragon left and she took to the air to go find Sitedal and Jormundur. Their mother had given her free reign now and it pleased Arxa that she was no longer having to fight a presence that was as annoying as she was mighty.

Lifting her snout to the clouds above, Arxa howled in joy for the first time in a long while. Her mind was as clear and cold as it should have been right after the night she had killed Raxmon and taken over Narssia for the first time. The dragoness had found strength to combat her then, had a purpose to explain her resentfulness and lack of cooperation with Arxa and with the power of the Orichalcos.

Whatever that purpose had been, it was gone now. Only she was left.