Dragon Knights Fan Fiction ❯ Blithe Deception ❯ At The Dragon's Breath ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Dusis has long since been peaceful with the defeat of Nadil. Lykouleon and Ruwalk decide to take a little vacation from the palace and end up staying at a quaint little bar, where they come across a traiterous baron and someone who'll have much to do in thier futures. At the Dragon Palace, Raseleane discovers that the curse Nadil placed on her is lifting and finds herself pregnant with Lykouleon's heir...

Anime/Manga: Dragon Knights Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.21.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 10.2K | Visits: 476 | Status: Work In Progress

Author's Notes: Hello everyone!! *bows to all* What's up and kicking? First off, I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to read my story…as I'm notorious for lengthy chapters and all. The next thing I need to say is this isn't my first fic. More like my millionth and a half, the only thing is that this is the first one I've ever posted. If you wanna chat, AIM me at Bonny Fyfa I love talking to people!!

Now I hope this doesn't scare readers off but it does contain several OCs of mine. HAVE NO FEAR the main one is NO MARY SUE! *hopes to God she hasn't scared people off `cause she hates Mary Sues a lot too* I hope you all enjoy her and I hope my fellow females don't hurt me too badly for whom I created her for.

Since I couldn't ram everything I needed to put into the summary tidbit, I'll have to do it here. This story is a sequel to the Dragon Knights manga and the couples in this story are…

Rath x Cesia, Thatz x Kitchel, Rune x Tintlette, Lykouleon x Raseleane, Raamgarnus x Gil, at least two pairings concerning the DK's kids, and many other OC pairings I've had to insert to make a decent sequel to the fabulous manga of Dragon Knights.

Disclaimers: I don't own Dragon Knights but I'd kill to do so. This is the disclaimer for the entire story so DO NOT SUE ME FOR ANYTHING I love Mineko Ohkami's style and she is one of my favorite manga-ka. I do own Enyaren, Theisinger, Lucivar, the DK's kids, and any other OC that didn't appear in the manga. That being said, LONG LIVE MINEKO OHKAMI!!!

One more thing: My apologies for inaccurate information on the series, punctuation/grammar mistakes, and anything else that's messed up. I'm also sorry for anything else that's odd but this is my first time on Media Minor so please forgive me!! * bows*

Another one more thing: DO NOT STEAL MY CHARACTERS OR MY PLOT!! If you do, yon arse is reported and I shall HUNT YE DOWN!!!

Now enough of my babble and on with the story…

~ The Dragon's Breath, Bin-Rah, Dusis ~

The sun had long past fallen behind the mountains over the continent of Dusis and evening was already late in her hours after a long but beautiful, clear mid spring day in the kingdom. For any Tavern and Inn of any times, the further the sun sank the busier a place like The Dragon's Breath Inn grew in the dining chamber, in both noise, music, and an occasional drunkenness, the frequency depended on the general crowd a tavern served for the night.

This Tavern was also the Inn of a little village which was a day's horse ride away from the Capital and the Dragon Palace, so the level of drunken travelers and locals was a fair amount. Although there was no screaming or knives in backs or running swords through chests, a brawl was an ever- present threat in a tavern no matter how few the intoxicated were. The entire building was a large, four-level building with dark oak wood frames, balconies, and foundations while the smooth walls were a plain white washed paint. The main entrance consisted of a single, large curved and carved wood door with a black iron handle. Above it hung a cherry wood sign cut in the shape of a dragon bearing the Inn's name branded in burned, beautiful writing. On either side of the door were paneled windows to allow anyone outside to get a glimpse of its interior.

It was a large room consisting of several levitated areas, round tables scattered about in a semi-complex maze of chairs and legs, brightly lit by an Illumination spell and warmed by several fires burning in it's five hearths about the room. Against the very back wall beside the stairs that led up to the bedroom was the bar counter lined with tall stools while behind it stood a grand looking shelf filled with barrels, bottles of all sizes, glasses, plates, and tankards. There was a bit of a crowd inside that evening, as the wenches hurried along with their bussing and guests drank, ate, gambled, and talked with family or companions.

At a relatively secluded table tucked away in a dimmer corner of the Tavern, seated at a table for two under the loft that sported more barrels of ale, wines, whiskeys, gins, and just about any other alcoholic beverage ever brewed in Dusis was a pair of boyhood companions. To every pair of eyes in the place they were obviously young men in the prime of their youth, both very handsome and attracting the star struck gaze of ladies young and old, even a couple of men over their tankards. They were conversing and laughing over their personal matters with a bottle of strong elfish ale called Gold Luumbargis and a plate of dinner consisting of primarily roast chicken, a bowel of fruit, cheese, bread, and potatoes.

Who would have guessed that it was the Dragon King and his right hand man?

Lykouleon had disguised himself as a commoner, choosing a pair of simple, form fitting brown doe skin pants which accented his long, lean legs and were tucked into a pair of knee high black riding boots. Over his white linen poet's blouse was a knee long tunic of black cotton while a white sash was wrapped around his waist. This would support a simple, two-hand sword and sheath on his hip if it weren't leaning against the table beside him. His hair held a pair of Reme`, which were a pair of 'hair earrings' one could say. They were made of imitation gold and clipped to a lock of his bangs, hanging in a chain decorated with a few glass beads. The king had purposely chosen the jewelry of little value to avoid the attention real ones would surely attract.

Sitting across from him was Ruwalk, who was dressed rather similarly to his boyhood friend. He had donned a pair of unyielding black leather pants that did much for his tall, lean frame and on his feet were a matching pair of ankle high, lace boots. On his narrow hips instead of a sash he had chosen a couple of chains made of thin, silver links to drape around his waist and keep his own sword there, which was propped up against the wall. His loose, long sleeved white shirt was tucked neatly into his pants and was complemented with a plain, black leather vest while his long, ebony-gone- auburn hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

The two had decided it was high time for a little time spent together away from the palace and as commoners-incognito, to explore the surrounding areas of the kingdom and to see the effects of Lykouleon's rule. It had been fifty years since the defeat of Shydeman, Shyrendora, and Nadil, and the kingdom had calmed down to its prosperous state it had been before the demons had begun to gather. Rath constantly complained of there being nothing to do since there were hardly any demons left to run after, but it didn't mean that they had vanished completely.

According to the rumors that the blonde haired king and his companion had heard, there would soon be a new threat concerning the demon army on the continent Arinas. But who could possibly believe such a tiny rumor when no others that they had spoken to could vouch for it? Besides, the time was for relaxing, not worrying on war, or so Ruwalk had tried to convince his friend. Thus far, the Yellow Dragon Officer thought he had done a good job of doing so, since Lykouleon was far away on a trip down memory lane. He couldn't say anything about it, since he was guilty of it too and had fallen pretty deeply into it.

They were reminiscing the first time they had gotten themselves intoxicated together, some…eight centuries ago now (AN: What, Aren't Lykou and Ru the equivalents of twenty six year old men? Well that's what they look like to me in the manga, they're both so young! And hot! Ok that's enough of me). They had snuck out of the Castle and came to this very tavern on their third day-trip. They had gotten themselves so plastered that the next morning they had found themselves sprawled all over each other on their inn room's bed. Lykouleon had such a hangover he was bedridden for a full day and Ruwalk ended up spending most of the morning in the bathroom, emptying the remains of the alcohol from his stomach.

"...I'll never forget the look on your face when you woke up!" Ruwalk laughed, "You took one look at me, said that you felt like `dragon shit' and passed out."

Lykouleon rolled his blue green eyes, "Well if memory serves me right, you were the one who spent a good three hours spilling your innards out over the floor…and on the carpets…and on the maid's lap." He retorted with a smirk, seeing that the comment had playfully bruised his boyhood friend's ego.

Ruwalk nodded, remembering that poor girl and how well she seemed to understand…apart from the slap across the cheek and the bucket of ice water that had been thrown in his face, she had been very sympathetic! The Yellow Dragon Officer grinned and took a draught of ale, scanning his memory to find another, but the Dragon King beat him to another subject.

"Well the minute we return to Draqueen," The blonde haired man declared quietly, "The first thing I'm going to do is to dismiss the Baron D'Manlars, since he seems to be overtaxing the people to a point they can't support themselves. I know it's my fault for not seeing through him more closely but perhaps the gold he's stolen from the people can be returned."

Some while ago the Dragon Lord had decided to test a new system of the tax collecting and established a Baron in each of the 18 main cities and villages throughout Dusis. His intentions had been to make the whole process simpler but idea had gone somewhat wrong, since a few he had chosen were thought to be honest, honorable noblemen. But alas they had turned greedy and overtaxed Lykouleon's people, an event he would place a firm stop to and publicly apologize to the nation once everything was over and done with.

This would mend the damage, but not the King's guilt.

Ruwalk saw his friend's self bitterness and gave him a small kick in the shins, "Stop worrying about it. It wasn't you're fault, they fooled us all."

"Aye, you're right." Lykouleon admitted and decided to change the subject, "Anxious to get home? It's nice to know that Alfeegi wont geld us for running off for a week but I think that Cernozura, Tetheus, Rath, Cesia and just about everyone else in the Castle will." He said with a smile and a chuckle, which Ruwalk returned but the mention of the late White Dragon Officer had caused a mournful silence for a few moments.

The castle hadn't been the same since the death of Alfeegi and Kaistern. Rath had felt so much guilt when he finally came-to and free of Nadil's mind control and found that he had killed one of his companions under the wizard's spell. So much guilt that one night he had tried to kill himself…and he probably would have, if Cesia had not sensed his distress and stopped him. Everyone around the castle missed his fussing and there could be no denial on the issue. Ruwalk smiled at the memories. If he were still alive, the aqua haired officer would be two breaths and a heart attack away from sending half of the Dragon Army after him if he had seen the parchment they had left daggered to Lykouleon's throne.

"On a happier note, at least Rasalaene will be there to welcome you. I can tell you miss her." The Yellow officer remarked with a grin, which his blonde haired friend nodded his reply honestly. "Yes, I do miss Rasalaene. Next time I take a trip like this I'll bring her with me."

Just then out of the blue a waitress walked up to the table and promptly sat in Ruwalk's lap, causing the ebony-auburn haired man to blush a brilliant red and his eyes to all but pop from his skull. The wench was the equivalent of a thirty year old human woman, and although she was attractive, with long waving blonde hair and shimmering violet eyes, she was far too off for Ruwalk to consider trying to court for a few reasons. One, he hadn't felt he found a woman he wanted to romance yet. Two, she was too far drunk to hardly know what she was doing and three, had a good portion of her corset undone.

Lykouleon couldn't help himself and burst into laughter as his companion stuttered polite thanks when she had pinched his cheek and commented on his charming good looks. The longhaired Officer looked desperately over at his friend for help, but assistance wasn't needed. Two other waitresses had hurried over and helped their fellow server to her feet and apologized. Jolene, as they called her had had a little too much ale with her friends that evening and was a bit of a flirt when intoxicated. Both gentlemen accepted the apology but the Yellow Dragon Officer immediately seized his tankard and downed the rest of its contents in a single gulp, trying to ignore his friend's ever present laughter and the urge to punch him in the face.

"Oh that made my evening, Ruwalk. I never thought of you as the shy type with women."

"Yes, well I wasn't expecting that." He said and gestured the bartender from across the room to bring another round. The blonde haired king nodded and mouthed a thoughtful 'OH I see' and continued to move his head sarcastically as his friend continued, "Besides, you're one to talk. You were even more tongue tied when you met Raselaene."

The Dragon King laughed at this, "Believe me friend, when you meet the right one, a woman will infect you like a plague. When I saw Raselaene for that first time my knees went so weak I could hardly stand on them."

"So that explains why you tripped on your cloak!" The ebony-auburn haired man laughed, slamming a fist down on the tabletop and earning a glare from his boyhood companion. "That stung, Ruwalk." He said with sarcastic bitterness and chewed the last piece of his dinner roll, both young men falling quiet and listening to the merriment that filled the neat chamber.

~ Outside ~

Enyaren sighed with relief as she gently reined her horse to a stop, the chestnut brown mare pausing across the street from The Dragon's Breath under a tall, candle lit street lamp. The night was beginning to grow chilly and the day's fatigue from constant travel was beginning to sink into her body. Her limbs and back were aching from sitting in the saddle for so many hours on end, and the rest of her was screaming out for a bath, a decent meal and a bed for the remainder of the night. As she contemplated her options, Castanya, the beautiful black mane horse she rode whinnied quietly and tapped a hoof to the cobblestone road under her.

Her orders had been to get herself to Draqueen as soon as possible, but a demi-elf knew fatigue and hunger too. She was no immortal and since her mission description hadn't included times when she could stop, the young woman decided to spend the night at a decent, youkai-free Inn. Finally a scarce few hours to relax! `Mission for the cause' was horse-shit blackmail of the worst kind was the proper way to describe her current dilemma! Enyaren sighed and patted Castanya's neck, murmuring to the tiered horse calmly, "C'mon friend, lets put you away in the stable."

The stable of the Dragon's Breath resembled any place for horses to rest and were located behind the large building, set as large, single level barn. Behind the two white washed double doors was a long line of stalls, a straw covered dirt floor, a loft, grooming equipment, bridles, bits, stirrups, feed, saddles, and horseshoes were all packed into the warm wood building. The brown haired demi-elf left her ride in a stall beside a magnificent black stallion that was fit for the Dragon Lord himself and a just as beautiful Cimarron stallion with a mane and tail as dark as ink. She left her saddle, bridle, reins, and bit hanging on the un-sanded, gray splintering wood of the stall's door, while hiding her saddle bag and purse in the hay-pile behind Castanya.

Aye me, it's been a few weeks since I've slept in a bed she thought and as she began the trek back to the Inn, the young woman passed a pair of men who were well worth a second glance to any healthy young woman (or a strange man). Both were tall, thin but lean and obviously built of steel under their clothing, betrayed by the fabric that clung in all the right places. The one with long, ebony black hair that faded to auburn at the tips especially caught her attention. These two were no mere commoners, since they both carried the regal, elegant posture of a noble and not the submissive air of a peasant.

As they looked over at each other over their shoulders, the young girl gave a quick curtsy and said, "Next time, milord, try not to stand so straight before sneaking away from your mansion."

Lykouleon's eyebrows went up as the pretty young lass disappeared behind the open barn doors, giving them a farewell wave without looking back at them. Ruwalk had been just as stunned and looked at his blonde haired companion with a raised eyebrow, gesturing towards the door with his finger,

"Do you know her, Lykouleon?"

"No, but she's very clever if she figured us out. She's the only one I've ever encountered while dressed as a peasant that could see right through it. Aside from Alfeegi." The Dragon Lord replied and headed towards the stall where his horse, Constance had been resting in. Emerald green eyes noted that a new horse was in the stall between his ride and Ruwalk's, being an appealing chestnut brown mare with her black mane and tail braided and laced with a vine or two of honeysuckle flowers. It must have belonged to the girl that they had just encountered. As he brought Constance out of the stall to saddle him, Lykouleon almost laughed, seeing that Ruwalk hadn't moved an inch and was still staring at the door.

The blonde haired King couldn't blame his friend. The girl had been fairly beautiful. Her hair was a rich shade of chocolate brown which had been stubbornly pinned up to the back of her head, with strands, curls, and tiny braids falling loose from the day's activities. Her face was fair set with eyes a brilliant shade of electric cerulean blue and skin a shade of soft ivory white. The girl was a head shorter then Ruwalk with a slender, delicate build and a blossoming figure due to her young age. She couldn't have been a year older then a human girl of 16.

Her clothing was simple, being an off the shoulder cream white chemise that fell to her shins in a wide flaring circle skirt to show a hint of smooth, white legs and small, slender feet tucked into a pair of matching slip-ons. On each of her shoulders was a long strip of sheer black nylon that dropped to her knees in both the front and the back. They framed her shoulders and helped support her promising chest since a matching silk sash that tied beneath her breasts secured them there.

She must have been a local, since she carried no cloak and although the weather was fair during the day, the night held a definite chill in the northeastern portion of the Kingdom in the mid springtime. A pretty image, but the Dragon Lord was obliged to break his boyhood friend from the trance via thrown horse-coat brush. It did the trick and earned the blonde haired man a glare and a small insult.

"Now now, Ruwalk," Lykouleon said with a laugh, "She's gone. Saddle your horse now, Man, we still have a long ride to go."

"I know that." Ruwalk muttered and proceeded to pull his own ride, hot- tempered creature known as Hellstorm from his stall and groom him for the night's journey.

~ Outside ~

Enyaren giggled under her breath. She had probably scared those two sons of Dukes with her comment but if they had no desire for trouble they'd learn to walk like a commoner and not just dress like one. As she rounded the corner that would put her at The Dragon's Breath's entrance, a scene occurring across the cobblestone avenue under the tall candlelit street lamp caught her attention.

There was a man of noticeable aristocracy with five armored guards, who had a trio of struggling two eight year old boys and a six year old girl in their grasps. The peer of the realm was a Baron, and if memory served her right, his name was Powell D'Manlars who lived in the city of Luwen, which was a twenty-minute ride away from Bin-Rah.

The Barron had plainly never missed a meal in his life, as his gut was hanging over the three over crossing brown leather belts he wore over a knee long, red velvet tunic embroidered with the Dragon Lord's seal in gold threads. Under the tunic was a poet's blouse of fine black silk and a pair of brown, knee long breeches complemented with dark stockings and a pair of the most ridiculous looking heeled-shoes Enyaren had ever seen on a man. On his waist to one side was a golden hilted sword studded in jewels and on the other was a very fat, overloaded purse of gold coins.

His guards all held knapsacks stuffed until their seams were loosing, with their weapons in one hand and a struggling child or a companion's bag in the other. What concerned Enyaren on the situation were the young ones. Clearly they were in need of a meal, and had probably tried to pickpocket the Baron of a simple loaf of bread. Damned bastard, collectors like him always ran the citizens out of food and home with their demands. The sight made her grateful that her village was small and mostly made of farms.

"Please sir, we haven't eaten for a day!!"

"Hush up, ye wretched little brat, I'll have you arrested and hanged for thievery!" The Baron snapped and seized the shoulder long, dirty blonde hair of the younger girl in his fist before bringing his brown-gloved hand across her older brother's face. The blow sent the 8 year old to the ground in a shuddering heap, as he was clearly waiting for the kick in the ribs that was sure to come. The tyrant!! Out of the corner of her eye, the brown haired demi-elf noticed the two nobles from the stable emerge with their horses, both probable to leave with their mounts and her only way of helping within minutes.

Enyaren smirked to herself...her late mother had always told her that her rashness would land her in jail one of these days. Perhaps this would be the day that her prediction would come true, as the 16 year-old-girl began to make her way across the street glad that she had left her bag and cloak in the stable. She didn't need anything surplus to burden the getaway.

As Lykouleon and Ruwalk walked their horses around to the main road, the ebony-auburn haired man was busy trying to firmly secure his saddlebag over Hellstorm's saddle. However their attention was arrested by the wretched scene across the street and the girl's solution to it.

"By God, girl, don't be stupid." Lykouleon whispered as he watched their acquaintance march herself across the street. As a commoner, he couldn't say a word on anything and still keep his identity hidden after it. Both men stood dumbstruck as the slender brunette walked up to Baron Powell without a string of hesitation or submission and seized the aging man's hand, freeing the smaller girl from his grasp.

"I hope you have a very barren wife at home sir, since a man who abuses children like this deserves none of his own. And I don't suppose that his Highness Lykouleon demanded so much gold for the monthly tax. I was wondering why this place seemed so lowly.” She said, eyeing the heavy bags of coins that D'Manlars had collected.

The Baron looked at her with a shocked, offended face and pushed her back by the shoulder a few steps as if it was generous that he give her a warning and let her off so easy for her outrage. "It's none of your business, girl, I'll have you whipped for your insult!"

"Insult?” She drawled sarcastically, "You taxed the villagers so much that parents can't afford to feed their own children and force them to beg on the streets. You take more then the Dragon Lord demands and use blackmail to keep the citizens silent. It's very obvious." Inwardly, Enyaren snickered at Powell's reaction of sheer horror at being sassed, mocked, and accused of tyranny (which was all in all the absolute truth) by a mere common girl. It was probably the first time in years of pampered life that D'Manlars had been so disrespected.

"I'll have you hanged, girl!" He snarled. The brunette merely looked him straight in the eye with a defiant expression and said in a bold, bold tone "You want to hang me? Then you'll need a good reason to hang me without loosing face, Sir. You wish for a thief? You have one."

In an instant, Enyaren had seized the nearest guard's saddlebag that sang with gold, jewels, and bread and took off at a swift run down the dim, torch-lit street. Although she had received a Baron's rage, she unknowingly earned the admiration of a king, his Right Hand, and everyone else that had witnessed the event. Due to her heritage, the demi-elf had been blessed with the Elvish lifespan, agility, and intelligence from her late father, who had once been a great General in Lord Lykouleon's ary in the earlier wars against the Demons and Nadil.

Using her wit, she was easily able to lead two of the five guards in a chase that left them toppling over each other in a horse's water trough outside the Inn doors while she hung gripping the pipes on the wooden awnings above the soldiers. This was easily done since there hadn't been much attention to the trough in the shadows. Knowing she'd have time to gloat over her jump later, she was easily able to swing herself into a back flip and made a bolt for Lykouleon and Ruwalk, who had been far too bewildered of her behavior. The girl turned her shoulder and rammed into the long-haired one's chest, sending him winded on his rear in the dirt, earning her his horse in another swift leap.

"My apologies, milord!!" She called and galloped off, swiping the reins against the large animal's flank, urging it to run as fast as it possibly could for the time being. Lykouleon watched her go before looking down at his dumbstruck friend, whose red garnet eyes reflected vast amounts silly conflicting emotions as to what had just happened.

"Aye me, Ruwalk you're too much of a gent." The blonde haired king said with a smile.

Finding herself in the middle of a back road after making a sharp right by the baker's shop, electric bright blue eyes spotted her next opponent running as fast as his legs could possibly carry him at her, his sword drawn and lifted back for a blow. Apparently, the oaf hadn't seen the clothesline that hung a mere seven feet off the ground pulled back in her grasp, because when he was within ten feet of the young woman he felt a sharp sting across his face and his back planted firmly in the dirt. Laughing at the man who was buried in a pile of armor, skirts, and petticoats, Enyaren wheeled the hot-tempered stallion around and urged it back down the rest of the narrow lane whispering encouragement in her father's Elvish Gaelic.

She had emerged back onto the main road in front of The Dragon's Breath to find that the Baron and the remaining two of his guards were shouting, cursing her to hell, and running after her in the opposite direction. Seeing the children curled together against the side of the unknown building across from the Inn, the brown haired girl rode up to them and dropped the heavy sack at their feet.

"Take your fill and share the rest!" She called and cantered back up to Lykouleon and Ruwalk, who had been patiently expecting her return. She leapt off the horse and curtsied breathlessly to them, offering them an apologetic smile. "A thousand thanks and apologies milords."

Lykouleon nodded and smiled amiably, taking the reins from her as Ruwalk was still paralyzed from the shock. "It wasn't any trouble."

"Well I need to run now. I don't fancy my neck in the hemp. I bid you farewell and goodnight!" She said and took off again, this time in the opposite direction she had first ran, the tails of her nylon scarves trailing behind her as she hitched up her skirts to allow an easier run.

"Wait!" Ruwalk called, throwing his arm out as if he could reach her forty feet away, "You didn't tell us your name!"

"It's Enyaren!!" She hollered, spinning around for a brief second, "Enyaren from the village Rochefitz!"

Ruwalk felt a smile tug on his mouth as his hand dropped back to his side and he watched her vanish around the slender curve of the road and vanish in the black of the night. Perhaps it was her boldness and zest that grabbed at his interest. "Enyaren." He unconsciously murmured out loud, which only sent his companion into a hysterical fit of laughter.

Lykouleon felt his sides practically splitting, since he couldn't remember the last time that Ruwalk had ever been smitten with a beautiful woman. Well it appeared Thatz wouldn't be collecting on the wager he had made with Rath about Ruwalk's sexual preference.

"Aye me, it seems you are infected like the plague!" He gasped, earning an elbow in the rib from his longhaired friend and a growl. "Doesn't she remind you of Thatz, Ruwalk? Although Thatz would have kept a few things."

"Yes." He replied faintly, his red garnet eyes fixed on the path that Enyaren had vanished down. What was it about her that made her so…...attractive? NO! She couldn't have been much older then 16, there was just no way that he, a full grown man would ever be morally correct by being smitten with a woman so young! Maybe he was coming to be a perverted old man…after all, without the Yellow Dragon Crystal he was…just how old was he again?

Lykouleon shook his head and mounted Nightshade, who had been growing very impatient in his tracks. "To Draqueen then, my friend?" He asked with a smile at his boyhood companion, knowing all too well the state of his mind. After all, he too had felt it when he had first set eyes on Rasaleane so many years ago.

"Yes, let's ride." Ruwalk replied quietly.

& nbsp; ~ Later...~

As Enyaren crept along the shadow covered wall of The Dragon's Breath back courtyard, she wondered where the Baron and his men had vanished off to. Men like Powell D'Manlars never left ten pounds of gold, jewels, and goods behind no matter what the danger he was in. Well, if he had given up the case the entire escape was her gain. Since that little escapade had earned her a wanted dead or alive warrant, staying in Bin-Rah for the night was out of the question. However her current problems were pushed to the back of her mind when she felt an uncomfortable intrusion into her thoughts. Staring at the floor in front of her, Enyaren could see that the symbol for `joined' had appeared on her forehead and was blaring a bright black light.

~ You don't have time to dawdle, girl because I don't have a lot of patience.~

A voice in her head hissed as she entered the empty, lantern lit stable. Shit, she should have seen this coming from the searing headache that gripped her brain. Enyaren scowled and stumbled over an abandoned broom before collapsing against an empty stall's door, her hands holding her head in a feeble attempt to ease the pain. Damn the bastard…...she hated the man that was her master with a passion and hoped to the Gods above that he'd die and be damned eternally to hell at Nadil's right hand side.

~ You heard me, Enyaren, get up and ride! ~

"I'm not invincible, Theisinger. I need rest!" She said, wincing as the demon pulling the strings of her mind gave a particular hard yank.

~ That little escapade didn't show for your fatigue. ~

"Yeah," She asked, staring up at the ceiling with the best glare she could muster, "Well, this mission's description didn't mention trying to make a month long trip in a week or forbidding me from trying to help a couple of beggar children."

~Watch your mouth! ~ He snapped, causing her to hiss in discomfort and tug at her long, chestnut brown hair, ~ Or that pretty-boy lover of yours and your sibling brats will be introduced to my darling dogs…Well, tsk tsk tsk look at this! ~ He exclaimed, apparently amused at something. ~Now you'llget your little self to Draqueen much quicker, since that Baron you antagonized earlier has found you. ~

"What?!" She exclaimed out-loud deafeningly, hitting her head against the wall in her shock.

~ I'll be watching you, Enyaren. ~

The brunette sucked in a deep breath and fell limp against the rough, splintering wood she had collapsed against and looked up, finding the Baron D'Manlars and five swords crossing against her throat. She was tempted to laugh since the pair she had tripped were still damp from their soak and the one she had literally clothes-lined had various pieces of women's undergarments stuck to his armor and chain-mail.

"Well, well, well," Powell snickered, "It appears we have our thief. Tie her up she comes to Draqueen with us."

Enyaren felt her pride shatter like glass as she forced herself to submit to the ropes the guards held, hearing Theisinger laughing his damned head off in the back of her aching, tiered mind.

Memories of her family passed by as her mental defenses went up, the reality of the world shutting itself out as she remembered the best times of her life. She was at home, helping her youngest sister Fantina into her nightdress and answering all of her innocent questions on love and knights while telling her younger brother Lucian about the great Dragons of the king's tribe.

"Enyaren, I'm a man now! Men don't go to bed so early!"

"Enyaren, I'm scared of the dark!"

"Will you tell me a story, please?"

Never mind the guards yanking her along like a leashed dog by her wrists.

She was scattering feed to the chickens while her oldest brother Ryence ran about the barnyard with the dogs chasing a leather-sewn kickball. She was sewing the rip in her fiancée's shirt while Cajeton butchered the leftover meat from dinner with his long, white blonde hair messily tied back in a ponytail.

“Enyaren, can I go spend the night at Dougal's house tonight?”

“Enyaren, love,” He would tease as he tried to keep her in his bedroom, “We're going to be married soon, might as well get used to each other's peculiar sleeping habits now!”

“Cajeton, not `till we're married!”

Never mind the threats D'Manlars made to see her hanged. If Theisinger wanted his only capable slave able to penetrate the Dragon Lord's defensive barrier, he wouldn't let her die. Suffer maybe, but not die.

Enyaren had been happy living on her parent's farm. She had been an ordinary peasant girl, trying to make ends meet and keep her family fed, acting as the lady of the house since their parent's untimely death. Although it was difficult and unusual for such a young woman to be in charge of the house, she at least had her fiancée, Cajeton to help her. Everyone around Enyaren, including Cajeton and her three siblings had believed her story of how they had died of the small plague that had been spreading around the little town of Rochefitz.

She hadn't wanted anyone to know that the renowned General Lahaan and his wife Elias had been murdered in cold blood by the demons of the man she was now forced to serve. With her siblings all spending the night at their friends' houses, she had come home from an outing with Cajeton to find her parents sprawled in their bed with their blood spattered everywhere. Theisinger, their slaughterer had been standing there too, holding a leash that tethered a vicious demon dog on the end that had a mouthful of blood-stained teeth. She had understood what had happened instantly; her mother was a simple housewife with no way to defend herself and her father had started to suffer daily pain from the leg-wound that had caused him to resign from Lykouleon's armies. Neither of them or her for that matter, was a match for that hellish monster that the youkai-lord restrained as if it were a mere pet.

Theisinger had been brief with his explanation. After introducing himself he had told her that he had planned to use Labaan as a manservant but finding that the former elf general was lame, decided to use him and his beautiful wife as food for his dog. Enyaren could remember shaking in anger and foolishly attempting to avenge her dead parents. Since she was a little girl, Labaan had taught her something he planned to teach all of his children; how to kill a man with a dagger if it was necessary. He had said that since he was no longer able to move like he used to, he would have to depend on his oldest children to help defend the family if it came down to it. Enyaren could remember managing to plunge her father's dirk into Theisinger's kidney but he had released the canine youkai. She was pinned beneath its claws instantly, struggling to keep those lengthy talons from digging into her chest and neck. Once she was still enough to listen, the red-haired demon had told her a brief synopsis of what he planned to do to Dusis. He had also decided to take one of Labaan's children in his place and figured that Ryence would be the best pick, despite him being only ten years old.

"No, Ryence is only a kid, he wont be much help to you. Take me instead, I'll be more helpful to you. I can ride a horse, use a dagger, and draw up maps. I'll do anything you tell me to, just leave my family out of this."

"Very well. From this day forward you serve me until I release you. Disobey me and my pet shall enjoy tearing that sweet voice out of little Fantina's throat. And not just her, so you'll best do as I tell you if you care enough for your family's sake. Do you give me your word?”

“Only if you promise me that you won't touch any of my family. And only if your plans succeed you let me come back here to my family and never bother me or my village again.”

“Fair enough. Do we have a deal?” Theisinger asked, holding his aristocratic hand out to hers. Enyaren hesitated but spoke clearly through the tears sitting on her eyelashes. “Aye…I pledge my allegiance to you, my lord.” She said, tilting her head downwards and placing her palm in his, shaking his hand to seal their bargain.

Theisinger had been kind enough to make the blood in the bedroom vanish and turned both of her parent's skin a pale, sickly color spotted with red. Her excuse to the community obvious, Enyaren had sunk down to her knees on the floor beside her mother and father, crying bitter tears all through the night. Lying through her teeth about their deaths to her siblings, her fiancée, and the villagers had been the most difficult thing she ever had to do.

Never mind a thing D'Manlars did if it meant that the ones dearest to her were safe.

~ Days later in the gardens in the Dragon Palace, Draqueen ~

Springtime was here.

Queen Raseleane inhaled a deep breath of sweet, warm, mid afternoon air as she walked about the paths of shimmering white and gray tiles that crisscrossed over the gardens of her home. On her forearm was a basket of pale wicker half filled with an assortment of flowers from the way that she had came, all in full bloom (or partly there) creating a bright, attractive bouquet in their case. The day was warm, clear, and bright as the sun shone just a little past noon in the pale blue sky that it hung in.

The Queen had her long, rich rose colored hair pushed back behind her left, pointed ear by a decorative jeweled hair comb, which took the shape of a butterfly above its teeth. A few blossoms of forget-me-nots had been woven across her head thanks to one of her handmaiden's skill, and on her ears hung a pair of elegant, diamonds. Her husband had given her both the comb and the earrings as a gift some…...three decades ago. Perhaps they were a bit old fashioned for humans, but to her they were priceless. The Queen cherished everything that her beloved had ever given her.

Her dress was just as elaborate, being a wide set skirt of many layers of white and rich blue laces and silk embroidered with a string of golden vine and flower, trailing the ground behind her with the swishing sounds that normally accompanied such a gown. The bodice fitted comfortably around her now-thin waist, showing a modest amount of cleavage and a draped necklace that fell around her shoulders made of flat, thin links of gold. Her sleeves were long and full, cuffing at her wrists to complete the regal, beautiful image that a Queen was meant to create.

As Raseleane wandered off the path and into the trimmed, emerald grass under the shade of a tall, old, yet majestic willow tree, her spare hand was placed on her lower stomach. ~ Aye me, ~ she wondered, setting her basket of flourishes down in the grass, ~ Please let it be true…~

Lykouleon had led the country to peace and victory for the Dragon Tribe since the defeat of Nadil, Shydeman, and Shyrendora. It had been five long decades since the end of that horrible battle, and the lands had returned to a peaceful, prosperous period in time. Despite the death of Alfeegi, Kai-stern and so many other innocent people, the country had overcome the difficulties.

Raseleane had read in one of the palace library's books that when a powerful wizard was truly dead and gone forever, curses that he or she might have placed on their victims would slowly begin to lift, depending on the curse. It had been…50 or so years since Nadil's true defeat? And rumors had told that some of his other victims still living in the kingdom were finally becoming free of that Black Magic. If a curse was lifting from her as well, then it would surely mean...she would wait until the day her husband returned before she would tell. To speak of it too soon could possibly make it untrue.

It had started the time she had been taking an early evening stroll about the palace when a wave of fatigue had grabbed her and according to Ruwalk, who had been strolling by, had passed out in the middle of the corridor. He had taken her to Cernozura for a checkup, and the short, blonde haired woman hinted that it was an early sign of pregnancy. Her monthly curse had been late and it had never been late until that day a little over a month ago, and it had yet to come again since her normal cycle indicated that she should have bled that day but she hadn't at all. She had woken up sick each day the week she had noticed a change in her body and her appetite had increased.

She hoped it was a girl.

Lykouleon had snuck out of the palace a week ago with Ruwalk to visit the neighboring villages for a small outing, as the parchment her husband had left daggered to his throne said. The Dragon Queen smiled as she held a lily blossom to her face and inhaled. If Alfeegi were still alive, he would have been two breaths and a scream away from running after her lover and the Yellow Dragon Officer and dragging them back to the castle himself. Kicking, screaming, and commanding or not.

The Palace had never quite been the same without the fussy, but well meaning White Dragon Officer.

Just then, the rustic sounds of old iron creaking open came from her left. Looking over at the tall, ivory covered walls that surrounded the palace grounds, Raselaene's first reaction to the rustling vines was alarm but it was quickly replaced when her ears picked up on the sounds of her husband and Ruwalk's light hearted conversation. Apparently there was a secret gate in the wall because the rose haired Queen had never seen it before, and received a fairly pleasant surprise as her blonde haired mate brushed through the ivy veil.

Lykouleon had disguised himself as a commoner, causing Raselaene to smile. No matter what her husband did, the Dragon Lord could never loose the regal, majestic posture of a King. Pursuing behind him was Ruwalk, who was dressed rather similarly to his boyhood friend and had also been unable to banish that nobleman's step. Both men had been laughing with each other on whatever their conversation topic had been as they shed their black leather gloves, signaling the Dragon Queen that they had had a good time.

Lykouleon had been first to notice her, and was closely followed by Ruwalk as they came up to her. Raseleane got to her feet and opened her arms to receive her husband, who placed his hands on her waist and greeted her with a gentle, chaste kiss.

"Raseleane, you shouldn't be walking alone if you're not feeling well." He murmured, smiling down at his wife. Even after his little vacation he was still fussing after her from her fainting spell. Raseleane figured he probably felt guilty about leaving her but in all truth, the idea had been hers in the first place. It hadn't taken long to persuade Ruwalk to get Lykouleon away from the life of a royal for a couple of days. After all, the kingdom couldn't possibly collapse with Rath running in his place for a few days……could it?

"Hello, Lykouleon. Did you have a nice time?" She asked pleasantly, ignoring his previous comment and returning the smile, her hand still over the new life growing inside of her. Oh she simply couldn't wait any longer. She had to tell him soon! She greeted Ruwalk with a smile and an innocent hug as he bowed his salutation.

"Tetheus is waiting for you, Ruwalk. I told him that I'd send you to him the instant I saw that you back so you might want to go see him. He's probably in his office right now, and you'll most likely need the records from last week's convention from the village Kinkade." She said, thankful for the excuse to send Ruwalk off. She loved him like an older brother but telling Lykouleon of the secret inside her was something she wanted to do when they were alone.

Ruwalk grimaced and nodded, sensing the tiny hint that his two friends wanted to be alone. "I remember that, he'll probably geld me for not turning in that report before I left. I'll break the news that we're back and meet you later for dinner!!" He called and began to run towards the Palace at a quick, nimble pace, leaving the Dragon King and Queen unaccompanied under the willow tree.

Raselaene smiled up at her husband, who placed his forehead against hers and grinned like a cat. "Lykouleon, I have news for you." She said, gripping his shoulders and looking up at him with her urgency clearly written on her face. Concerned for his wife, Lykouleon slipped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her close, catching onto the scents of her perfumes and hair oils. He stroked his hand through her hair and at the small of her back, listening for Raselaene's words. What she said turned his legs to water but he stood on them never the less.

Raselaene took in a breath and whispered against his neck, "I have your child inside me."

The Dragon King looked down at his wife, his blue green eyes wide with disbelief and shock. The blonde haired man had faced many enemies before in the most desperate situations and none of them had ever made his heart beat so fast as it was then. How was it possible, the Faeries had said that Raseleane could never bear his children because of Nadil's curse?

Lykouleon blinked, his hands framing his wife's face as he stammered, "H- how."

"Nadil's curses have weakened since his defeat, Lykouleon. We're going to be a mother and a father." She said, feeling a few tears collecting in her clear blue eyes, which were caught by her mate's thumb and brushed away. “I…I always thought I'd never…”

”Oh Raseleane…” The blonde haired King murmured, giving a content sigh and dropped to his knees, embracing his wife around the middle and holding her there with the side of his head pressed over their baby growing inside her. For the time being, the Dragon Lord felt himself the happiest man in the whole world, some of it showing itself as collected moisture in his eyes.

He was going to be a father.

AN: Ok so how was that for a first chapter? Did you like it? Hate it? Was it overwhelmingly sickening with the mush? Let me know if you did, it would be very much appreciated. Is Enyaren too much like a Mary Sue? Gods, I hope not, I tried to make her very likeable but not an annoying dramatic heroine kind of thing. I'd like to apologize for inaccurate spellings or facts once again…yes I do that frequently but it's only because I know that mistakes distract/annoy people so I'm sorry!!

In any case, the next chapter should be coming up soon, provided that the readers enjoyed it and I get a couple reviews for it. Previews for the next chapter include the introduction of the evil dude of this plot, Theisinger, his cronies, and his motivations. Plus we meet back up with Rune, Tintlette, and see just what THEY'VE been up to the past fifty years! ^~

Once again apologies for the spoilers, wonky spacing, punctuation/grammar mistakes, and inaccurate information. I try my very best!!