The Dawning of Truth--3

    The wind bit at Elise's face, turning her cheeks cherry red, as they descended towards the meeting place, a nearby valley.  Through the fading light Elise could see that many of the dragons had already arrived.  Vilma stretched out her legs and with a slight bump they landed.  “Thanks, girl.”  Elise slid off and landed lightly on the grass her hair swishing about hert.  The dragons turned their attention from Veander in the center of the group to her.  Joy welled up in her heart.  They all loved her.  Every one of them.  A black minor dragon landed lightly on her shoulder.  She gently rubbed his head.  His kind was rarely seen at the meeting place since most minor dragons preferred to live alone on the mountains.

    The dragons parted like water before her as she approached the pale dragon.  With slight bow she asked, “What news do you bring?”

    “The country is at war with the Viskens.  The king of our country has died and his son reigns in his stead.”  He licked his lips and glanced hesitantly at her.  “He seems honorable.  I think we should help.”

    Stiffening, Elise glanced around at the other dragons.  They watched her, waiting.  Their loyalty ran deep.  They would go nowhere without her.  She lifted her chin.  “I will speak with the Him.”  Heads bobbed in agreement.  As she left the group her shoulders slumped.  The last things she wanted to do was to go to war.  She had hated the other king.  It was because of him she had been taken away from her mother.  Could his son be any different?

    “It would be quicker if you flew,” the soft words soothed her nerves. 

    “Yes, Sike, it would, but-I need to walk.  I need to think.”

    He nodded and nestled his small body up against her neck.  She smiled.

    Rocks tore at the skin on her hands as she pulled herself over the edge of the rock face.  “We made it.”  Sweat poured down her face as she sucked in great gasps of air.  “I had forgotten how steep it was.”  Out on the horizon the sun was beginning to rise, a sign of how long the trip had been.

    “Elise!  How good it is for you to come visit me.”  A large dragon, covered with glittery silver scales, slowly moved towards her. 

    She managed a bow before collapsing to the ground. He chuckled, the deep sound shaking the ground.  “What brings you here?”

    “Vaender brought word that the country is at war.  The king is dead and his son rules in his place.”

    Wisely he replied.  “And you are wondering what to do.”  The old dragon looked out over the mountains with a sigh.  “You don’t want go, do you?”

    “No.”  She turned desperate eyes on him.  “I can’t.”

    “Why not?”

    She lowered her head.  “You know why.”

    “Tell me again.”

    Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as her voice turned bitter.  “It was by the king’s order I was taken away from my mother to become a servant at the castle, not that I every made it there.  It was because of him that I got hurt.  It was because of him-“ she stopped, the tears now flowing freely down her cheeks.  “I-it was because of him that my mother is dead.”

    Surprise rimmed the dragon’s voice.  “How do you know?”

    “A couple years ago Vaender tried to find my mother.  All he found out was that after I was taken away she was killed by the king’s soldiers.  They thought she had been in league with those that had chased me and the king’s man.”

    “I didn’t know.”

    Elise buried her head in her lap, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.  Sike chittered sympathetically next to her ear. 

    For a few moments silence reigned.  “Elise,” the dragon stooped near her, his large head inches away from hers.  Large black oval eyes stared at her intensely.  “I’m not going to tell you that you have to go.  That is something you will have to decide.  But you can’t hide bitterness away in your heart like this.  You need to forgive what the king did to you. Now-“ he stopped her from replying, “I didn’t say it would be easy, but if you want to be truly happy again you will listen to what I say.” 

    She bit her lip until she could taste blood.  “I’ll think on it,” she replied her voice barely more than a whisper.  Forcing a smile to her lips she stood to her feet and bowed once more.  “Thank you for your advice.  I-I need to go now.”

    He bobbed his large silver head in understanding.  “Farewell.”

    Once Elise was far below the dragon’s abode she let the tears fall.  It’s not fair!  She pounded her fist into the ground.  I don’t want to fight for a kingdom I hate!  Sitting on the edge of a steep hill covered in dirt Elise poured all her grief out through her tears.  Her fingers dug deeply into the loose dirt clamping it into a ball.  In her mind she could picture her mother’s tearful face, the sneer of the man that took her away, and the cruel smile of the man that nearly killed her.  Everything in her life had fallen apart that day.  The only thing that had kept her from falling into a deep hole of grief had been the dragons.  They had raised her, provided her with food and clothing, and most of all, they had given her their deepest friendship. 

    Finally, when the tears stilled, Elise rose to her feet.  Feeling hollow inside, she made her way back to the cave where she stayed.  Without another thought she collapsed on her pallet and immediately fell asleep.