Onto the next chapter!
Here we get Scortwits backstory, the true identity of Alana, and the reason that a dragon keeper owns a vineyard.
Let's go!
—0—
"Understand Harry, we only have five, maybe ten minutes. You will have to watch everything."
The child blinked as Charlie finished setting up an array of silver runes around them.
"What will this spell do exactly?"
"It will show you nothing more or less than what truly happened on the preserve. It's an ancient spell that went out of use with the invention of the pensive." Charlie answered.
"What's a-"
"A pensive? You will learn about them one day. For now, watch, and keep an open mind."
Charlie stepped into the circle and waved his wand. Silver light gathered around them, coalescing and growing brighter. Brighter than Harry thought possible.
With a flash, they stood upon a large field of rocks and sand. A shallow lake sat some distance away, and behind it sat a mountain. A river flowed around the lake and down into the valley of the gravel field.
"Where are we?"
"It is not a matter of where, but when." Charlie nodded.
"This is…"
"This is where the dragon lodge is built." Charlie nodded. "Although where we are right now, it hasn't been built yet."
Harry blinked and Charlie smiled, before pointing to a shape that grew larger over the hill of the field.
A young man, with a neatly trimmed beard and long hair, walked towards the gravelly fields with a smile on his face.
"Is that-"
"Scortwit. Several years before our time." Charlie nodded.
"We went back-"
"Shhh…" Charlie held a finger to his lips. "Watch carefully."
Another person ran over the hill. A young blond woman in a white summer dress.
"Charlie! Charlie where are you taking me?"
"It's a surprise." The man turned and caught her with a playful smirk.
"Well it can't be much of a surprise if you're bringing me to the old shale fields. The lake has almost dried up! All that's left here is rocks!"
The young man laughed and gestured to the massive expanse of gravel. "This! I bought this Alana! And I'm going to make it into what you always wanted!"
The woman's face broke into a grin. "Oh Charles! But… how? The ground won't bear any fruit… we can't plant anything here!"
"Trust me my love. Soon this land will be rich soil, perfect for the grapes, and your merlot…" the man took out a bottle of red wine.
"My great grandmothers original recipe." The woman smiled. "You remembered."
"I saved the bottle that your father gave me. I was waiting for this…"
"It's wonderful."
Scortwit poured the wine into two glasses, and the couple stood, looking out over the rocky expanse.
"Hold on tight, okay?"
"What-"
Charlie grabbed Harry's hand as the world shifted. They now stood in a cave, watching a conversation between Scortwit and a large presence which lay in the dark..
"You seek to move me, tiny one?" A rumbling voice spoke.
The young man knelt down and bowed his head. "I have a large plot of land, Gore. It is in Romania, near a drying lake. It would be perfect for hatchlings."
"There is more to it than that… I know it." The voice hissed. "Do not attempt and deceive me…"
Scortwit stood up and looked into the shadowy depths of the cave.
"I have researched dragons my whole life. I know what your magic does to the world. It would heal scarred land."
"You wish for me to be your TOOL?"
"NO! No…" the man shook his head, sweat rolling down his face. "You know… you know I can't leave you Gore… you know."
Two great yellow eyes flicked open as a dragons head slithered out into the light. Spikes grew from its head, and it's face was scarred beyond belief.
"I know you cannot… you are my human, you are my mate of other body."
Harry could see the spark of anger and malice in Scortwits eyes, but it disappeared.
"Yes… I am…"
Charlie held onto Harry's hand as the world shifted once more. They were there in the vineyard, looking out over the grapes. A version of Scortwit, a few years older than the last, stood beside them.
"I still don't know how you did it."
Harry turned to see the young woman, Alana, walking out of the vineyard cottage. Her belly was a bit bigger, signifying that she was with child.
"How I did what?"
"You turned a wasteland into paradise in a month." Alana laughed. "I know that you are magic, but it is still beyond you…"
Scortwit chuckled and walked through Charlie, the image of the man turning misty before solidifying again. "My love, it was simply magics blessing, just like the little one shall be…"
The woman chuckled and held her growing bump. "Eden…"
Scortwit smiled and took Alana's hand, before walking back to the cottage.
"Help me make the wine, dear?"
"Of course my love. You know, perhaps we should name our next child after our little craft." The young Scortwit nibbled the bottom of his lover's ear.
"Our Second? Already making plans are we?"
"Only for the loveliest woman earth."
"Oh you…"
Harry's heart felt warm as he watched the woman turn and kiss Scortwit. The man's hands wrapped around her waist as he held her and kissed back. The two stood like that for a while before separating.
"Your beard is getting long, my love."
Scortwit smiled. "I think it's majestic, worthy of Merlin himself!"
Alana giggled. "You will have to trim it before the baby is here, otherwise they may yank it from your chin!"
The woman laughed as Scortwits eyes bugged out, and the world shifted once more.
"So… he has a woman… he has betrayed me!"
Harry looked up at the towering dragon, who watched the two humans from afar. Her great tan scales gleamed with battle scars as she blinked her large yellow eyes.
"He will rue the day he ruined my pride…"
With two great flaps, the dragon took off. Harry could see Scortwits worried face looking up at the dragon as the world shifted once more.
They stood in a basin. Scortwit was on his knees before the dragon.
"Please Gore. I have kept you with me, but I am in need of my own kin!"
"I am your kin!"
The dragon curled its lip back and let out a puff of steam.
"Please… I will do anything."
"Anything?"
The man gulped as Gore leaned down. "You have one week, and then I want them gone. Do you understand me?"
"Yes… yes of course."
The world shifted again. Alana stood, her belly a bit bigger as she stared at Scortwit.
"What?"
"You have to go."
"Charlie Scortwit!"
"There is a dragon in the basin Alana! It wants me. You have to go."
The woman frowned. "I am in no state to travel, you know this!"
"Please…"
"I am staying."
The world shifted once more. Harry stood beside Charlie as they looked over the burning cottage. Scortwit was on his knees, crying over the half eaten body of his love as the building burned. A roar sounded overhead and a blast of flame was blown over the vineyard, obliterating the plants.
Scortwits hair whipped around upon a current of magic. Even though it was just a memory, Harry felt so small in the man's presence as a wand made its way into his hand.
"GOOOOOAAAAAR!"
Scortwit shouted, his eyes flickering as the dragon swooped back, razing the second half of the vineyard and flying away into the night.
"COWARD! You kill her and run? GORE!"
Scortwit screamed and whipped his wand at the forest, blasting a line through the trees before running after the dragon.
The world shifted again. Scortwit stood upon the top of the mountain, the great dragon remaining airborne in front of him.
"You made your choice…"
"It wasn't a CHOICE! You forced this upon me!"
Scortwits eyes flashed as the dragon bared its fangs.
"You are my mate of other-"
"I am not yours! I was never yours!" Scortwit shouted. "Your actions have shown me I was wrong to go along with your words. I should have just used you as I intended!"
"Watch your tongue!" The dragon hissed. "I can kill you just as easily as I did your human whore."
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The dragon swooped to the side as a jet of green light sailed past them.
"You DARE-"
"How DARE you call her that you malicious beast!"
The dragon reared back. "I warn you! I shall strike you down if you continue to resist me!"
"Then do it! Strike me down and know that I still won. I am still with her and not YOU!"
The dragon snapped its mouth shut. It stared at Scortwit for some time, before shaking its head. "Then it is good that I have allies to strike you down in place of me."
The air was filled with wingbeats as several more dragons appeared. Scortwit stumbled back as the dragons all growled.
"Coward…"
"You made your choice, Scortwit."
"FIGHT ME! Fight me you COWARD!"
The dragon turned its back, preparing to fly away. "You already broke my pride. My brethren attack you not out of respect for me, but out of pity."
The dragon flew away, leaving Scortwit with four adult dragons. Each snarled and began to close in, while Scortwit just stared blankly at his retreating enemy.
The heat of dragon's breath slowly approached, and Scortwit squeezed his eyes shut.
"Alana… I will see you again…"
The fire swept over Scortwit, bathing him in unbearable heat and corrosive flame. Scortwit was under the torrent of flame for a full minute, before the beasts relented.
To the surprise of all present, Scortwit was alive. The man shivered as the shadowy outline of a woman sat embracing him, shielding him from the flames.
"Alana…" tears rolled down Scortwits face as he looked at the apparition. The woman smiled before vanishing into the air, leaving the man alone once more.
The four dragons growled and prepared to attack once more, but Scortwit wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up. "My fight is not with you four. It lies with Gore."
"The one known as Gore shall face punishment, but you must die." One of the dragons replied.
The younger Scortwit glared. "I do not care how many of you must fall at my hand. Her punishment shall be decided by me alone."
The dragons roared and inhaled, but were stopped as Scortwit took a breath. What happened next would be ingrained into Harry's mind forever, as Scortwit spoke in a language foreign to her. It was old and harsh, and his voice carried the words on a deep guttural timbre. Although it was not what he said, Harry found herself understanding the premise of what Scortwit said as all of the dragons fell and crouched to the ground.
"Kneel."
The man flicked his wand at one of the dragons. "I am sorry for this. Imperio!"
The dragon's eyes glazed over and it craned its neck down, allowing Scortwit to climb upon its back.
"After her."
The dragon fanned its wings, before leaping into the air, rapidly flying after Gore.
Harry and Charlie shifted onto the dragons back as the chase began. The puppeteered dragon slowly caught up to Gore, who was already several kilometers away.
"Why are you- YOU!"
Gore saw Scortwit on the dragon's back and let out an angry roar, before blasting the dragon's chest at point blank with a breath of flames.
The puppeteered dragon screeched and fell to the ground as Scortwit screamed in rage. As he fell to the ground with the dragon his voice took on the same powerful tone it had upon the mountaintop. This time, Harry understood it perfectly.
"Dragon! Come to me!"
Gore stopped in midair and turned. By the dragon's face, Harry could see she was trying to fight it, but her body wouldn't disobey the command.
"No… you cannot be! They are all dead!"
"You killed my one true love. For her I would do anything!" Scortwit answered angrily. "Even become a dragon lord…"
Several screeches drew Harry's attention skyward. Dragons were flocking to the skies for miles around, some screeching as they zoomed in on powerful jets of wind, others breaking out from burrowing underground and leaping skyward.
"Fool! You spoke the dragon's tongue and brought them all here!"
Harry could see the spark in Scortwits eye as he turned to the dragon. "I did, and they are prepared to carry out justice by my hand."
"What do you- no! Please no!"
"Kill her."
"Scortwit! Charles! Please!"
"Goodbye Gore, may you rot in the eternal flames of death."
The air dissolved into painful roars as the world shifted once again, several years later, by the look of Scortwits health. It seemed recent.
They stood upon the stone tower, overlooking the vineyard. A stack of river stones was before them, right next to where Scortwit sat, drinking a glass of wine.
"I showed Charlie the history of the preserve today. Oh Alana… how you would love the boy. Of course you would find it funny having two Charlie's around!"
The man chuckled to himself as a warm breeze blew over the tower, ruffling his hair.
"Oh… how I miss you…"
And suddenly they were back in the lodge. Harry blinked and wiped tears from her eyes as Charlie sighed. The young man began picking up the spell components as Harry sat down on the floor.
"I had no idea…"
"It's okay. I didn't either until he showed me. To answer your question, every year, on the autumnal equinox, Scortwit takes last year's wine and shares a drink with Alana. It's the only time when he gets to see her."
"She comes back from the dead?" Harry blinked.
"For five minutes." Charlie spoke. "She cannot speak, only hold him. It was a spell he cast with the remains of Gores body, allowing her to visit him once a year."
"And they share the wine."
"A glass of Merlot. Always Merlot."
Harry nodded. "Merlot…"
—0—
At the edge of the preserve, Scortwits boots fell upon crisp leaves with a satisfying crunch. The man looked at his surroundings for a moment, before turning and heading one way, then another, eventually coming to a large flat stone upon which sat the large skull of a Hungarian horn tail.
"Happy anniversary, Gore."
The wizard gave a well placed kick to the skull, shifting it a bit, before spitting on the grave.
"Hope you're still rotting in hell."
—0—
~it is said that soulmates share more than love,
For even death shall take pity
if they should be driven apart~
—0—
And that's the story of Scortwit, along with Harry's name.
Yes, that's right. Harry will now take on the name
Drumroll please…
Merlot Evan Potter! Or for disguising purposes, Merlot Lily Scortwit.
I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and as always,
I'll see you next time