Zenora, The Dragon's Fury
48. Story

“So, when the fire elemental finally had risen, after saying the ancient words for a thousand times, she…” Nicolai couldn’t contain his own laughing.

He was telling the story we had made up, for me losing the ring. He was really vividly speaking of all the details of it, trying to make the story as much believable as possible.

“…she wanted to hug the creature, only forgetting that he was made of fire!” Nicolai burst out.

“Her clothes caught fire and she tried to pull them off and… Oh please continue Emily, because I can’t!” Nicolai rolled over in laughing.

If you ask me, it was a little too much of an act, but looking at how the others reacted at the dining table, they were believing it nonetheless.

“I jumped in the river, to douse the fire.” I said while keeping my head down.

“No, you didn’t just jump! You frantically ran around like a headless chicken, hitting your own chest, trying to smash the fire out! So I just had to push you in!” Nicolai laughed and the others began laughing as well.

“Well what would you have done!? I was trying to summon that hot burning elemental all day already! So, when he finally was there…”

“…you hugged it out of enthusiasm.” Brock finished my sentence.

“Yes.” I said, while trying to summon a face of shame.

“Is that how you lost the ring, I gave you?” Suddenly Anna asked me, and the room got quiet.

“Yes, I’m terribly sorry Anna! It must have slipped off, when I jumped in the river. I only noticed when I was back at the shore, but then the ring was already far gone, washed away with the current of the river.” I said.

I looked up at her, and told her the lie. I hated to lie to her, to anyone, but I had to. This story has to become something funny, to be told at birthdays and passed on into history. But still, telling her the lie was not something I liked, and not having the ring anymore wasn’t taken lightly by me either.

As I rubbed the empty spot on my left hand, there where the ring had set itself for quite some time, I shed a small tear. I don’t know when the ring will return, and in what kind of condition it was returning to me either. Anna stood up from her chair and walked over to me.

“It is just a ring Mills. Don’t worry about it, I’m glad that you haven’t suffered any major injuries.” Anna said, after hugging me.

“Thanks Anna, It might be best if I don’t try to summon that elemental again, right?” I said to her, and she smiled.

I hadn’t actually summoned the elemental, you had to have an incredibly hot origin of fire, to summon it the first time. And by the river in the forest, there was no such thing. But the knowledge of having the spell, was going to be useful on another day. I’m sure of it.

We just started a small fire and burned some holes in my clothes, got them wet, with me actually jumping in the river, and took the clothes with us as proof.

The people that we came across, while walking back to the castle, were looking at me in a strange way. They know I’m their Queen, so they wouldn’t dare to laugh at me. But still a few of them had to chuckle as I walked in a long vest that I had borrowed from Nicolai. It had barely covered my bum, so I tried to walk really fast, to get into my own clothes again as fast as possible.

After taking a shower, and putting on a new set of clothes, I had walked over to the dining room and stepped in when Nicolai was already telling the story.

“So, when are you going to tell me the truth?” Brock said when we entered our room, after we went to see Iris, and the kids were put to bed.

“You know me so well Brock, is there any chance that you will let this pass?” I asked him gently.

Brock grunted and looked at me with furrowed brows.

“Let’s just say that my ring will return someday, and when it does, we have to take in the people that have it. Does that suffice your mind for now?” I asked him.

“No. That will leave me with even more questions.” Brock said.

“I know, but that is all that I can tell you. The Goddess is involved with this matter, and you know how she is. Please trust me.” I said to him.

Brock grunted again, but told me that he would let it go for now.

I was glad he said that. I couldn’t give him more information about what Nicolai and I had experienced today. A lot of years would have to pass by, before Thraka’s offspring would come here. And if I told Brock any details, then the saving of those children, would come in danger.

Twenty-six is my age now, and it would at least take up to twenty-five more years, before they will be here. Calculating that Thraka is five years of age now, and his future-self, which we met today, was at least thirty.

I am hoping that Thraka’s offspring will be in good condition though, when they come here. But remembering the way that Thraka looked, when he asked me to keep them save, was worrisome. I hope they don’t get to be forced this way, or are badly hurt when they arrive.

“Could you sleep now love, you are constantly moving.” Brock said to me, while he put his arms around my waist.

Yes, he is right, tomorrow is the day for the Gryphon’s ceremony, I need to be fresh for it.

I tried to sleep, but my mind was occupied with a lot of things that were going on at the same time now. Archeops was still searching for Hayden and the Pteragons, the banquet was being planned, the whole elemental and ring story, waiting for Iris to hatch and then tomorrow’s ceremony where the Gryphons were going to choose their rider. It was a bit too much actually.

Well I have to keep sharing my thoughts, and accept what happens around me. I let out a deep sigh and Brock cuddled me even tighter.

His bulky arms and marble-hard chest, clinging onto my back, while his day-old stubbles tickled the back of my neck.

I turned around, while he grunted, but I wanted to see his face. He was already gone to one of his dreams, snoring like a small piglet. I smiled at his sounds, and when I touched his face, his brows moved and his nose twitched.

He is the most beautiful man alive, and he is mine to worship. I put my hand on his cheek and wondered what life would have been without him. It sure wouldn’t have been this adventurous, this wonderful and blessed, compared to being a veterinarian, on Earth.

He gave me the two most beautiful boys, and I could only imagine how beautiful our girl must look like.