Master of Dragons, Part 1 (complete)
Chapter 16

It was the sound of humming that brought her from the depths. It was a soft at first, then slowly got louder. Someone singing? She felt the cold next moment, and then the pressure on her body. After a few more moments, she felt the rumble around her.

A hand was placed on top of her forehead, the skin was ice against hers. She attempted to move, wishing to sweep the hand away, but her body refused to listen. She seemed to be laying facedown on something soft, like a bed of wool.

Heavy.

She felt so heavy. She attempted to move her arm again, but only twitched. She laid there, trapped by her own body. Move, she willed herself. Move.

“We have one more day until we reach the border of Zepan.” A soft feminine voice spoke. It was loud, so loud.

“I know.” A deeper voice, but still feminine answered.

“What do we do? She saved the Caravan; we cannot abandon her.” The softer voice seemed to quiver.

She felt a hand on her arm, and she wished she could wince. The flesh was so cold it burned her. “But it has been two weeks, and she has not moved once.” The deeper voice seemed worried.

“Athelstan has said we can pay her toll if we must, or keep her until she passes in the least.” The softer voice seemed to trail off. She felt something close to her face, and then she could feel cold breath against her cheek. Another attempt to open her eyes, but no response. They seemed to be even heavier than her finger tips.

She heard a small intake of breath. “I think I see movement. She may be starting to wake. Get Athelstan!” The deeper voice ushed. She heard some shuffling, then feet against wood. She attempted to move again, and she could feel her fingers twitch.

Cold hands wrapped around hers. She attempted to wiggle them off, the cold making her uncomfortable. New, bigger cold hands touched her forehead, then her cheek, then her shoulder, and then her side. “Fever is still high, body heat seems to remain at an unnatural state of heat.” She heard a male voice, someone who must have been in the room already. “The Dragon is still refusing to leave the side of the woman, perhaps its connected?” The man seemed to mutter to himself. She felt hands on her back, and the pain from it made her want to wince. “Wounds show accelerated healing rate, her back has almost gotten to the point where we can flip her. Other than that, nothing.” She felt the presence of a face in front of hers. “I don’t see signs of her waking up, Aria. Little to no response from her, and no new movement.” The man sighed, and she felt the woman prickle. She attempted to move her toes, but felt nothing.

Move, she willed herself. Toes, wiggle. She felt them wiggle, albeit hardly.

“I saw her eyes move.” The deeper voice, Aria, said steadily. The man let out another sigh.

“Eye movement does not mean…” The man groaned, not finishing his sentence. “Go follow Averil and tell her it’s a false alarm.” His voice was curt, like he no longer had patience.

“Yes, Doctor…” Aria was quiet, and she heard shuffling, the cold hand now leaving hers.

“Next time make sure to pass anything through me first.” The Doctor said, and she heard a door close. “Stupid… I told them I wanted a male assistant, not some guy who wants to be a female.” She heard more shuffling, then some clinking. “But no, they said since I was going to a Caravan temporarily, I did not need a useful assistant. And it would be good, since she was from this Caravan.” The grumbled to himself, and she heard her dragon growl. She felt smooth scales against her arm, and she knew her dragon was beside her.

The rant was all to familiar, but still made her heat. Aria was correct, she was starting to wake up. Slowly. Her mind seemed to be much more capable than her body at this point.

Move, she willed. This time she felt her arm twitch, and her legs.

Yes, her body was slowly responding to her.

She felt the presence of the doctor, and then eyes. Leering.

“Neither girls have been away since I was called for this woman…” She could feel his voice near her, and her dragon growled once more. She felt energy flow from her dragon, as if it was filling her with power.

Move.

“Ugly. No man would want such a scarred woman. So… Don’t mind of I-” She felt a hand on her ass, and she heard her dragon hiss. Her eyes snapped open, her body finally answering to her. She pushed herself up, despite her body screaming at her, and kicked the man in the chest. His eyes were wide as he fell over, and slid to the other side of the room.

She fell just as hard as he did, but she braced her weight on her uninjured side. Heavy, and weak. She was so weak! Each limb weighed as much as a tree, and her torso was lead. Each movement was painful and difficult. Tingling needles of pain stabbed her skin, but she still forced herself onto her side, and rested on her dead arm.

The man was sitting on his behind, eyes wide in fear. “Do not t-touch me.” She forced out with a dry throat. Her lips cracked, obviously lacking in hydration. His mouth opened, then shut, like a fish out of water.

“You- You-” He gasped, flushing heavily from what seemed like anger and embarrassment. “You dare kick a doctor?” He stood, probably trying to seem menacing. She continued to lay, glaring at him. Her dragon hissed from behind her, much like an angry cat.

In her peripherals she could see her sword. It was only a few feet away, leaning against the wall.

She could-

The door opened, and red hair flashed in the light.

Athelstan’s moss green eyes met hers.

Those said eyes trailed down her body, his cheeks turning as red as his hair.

She blinked, following his gaze.

Sunkissed skin. Hers. Bare. Oh, she was nude. The only thing covering her was some bandages around stomach.

Oh no.