The Dragons Grief

By Athilea Majiri

 

 An exhausted angel landed rather heavily on the hard red dirt of the ground just outside the mouth of an ominous looking cave. She fell instantly into a state of unconsciousness upon impact, which left her extremely vulnerable to any predator, or scavenger, that may have happened upon by her almost lifeless form. Even more so to the goblins that lurked within the nearby cave. They peered out from the darkness of their cave; they had heard her land and looked forward to a good meal.
  Immediately upon seeing what had fallen just beyond their door the goblins deemed her as a more then worthy prize to risk the burn of the sunlight. Some begin to leave the safety of their cave and, as soon as the sunlight struck them, they shrieked in agony. Their skin began to burn and smoke rose from their bodies as they collapsed in a growing pile of burning flesh. The stinking, smoldering mass of goblins was warning enough the others not to go out. So, though she was a worthy prize in their eyes, no other dared to leave the protection of their cave.
  By the time night had fallen, every last one of the goblins had begun drooling with the anticipation of their next meal. As they crept slowly out of the darkened cavern they keep in mind what they had planned, that is if she didn't suddenly wake up. They gathered around her still body in a large loose circle and slowly closed in, being sniveling little cowards they wished not to do this too quickly. Were they to do that, she could quite possible wake up from any sound they might have made. Once they felt that they were close enough to her, they tied her up with old, frayed ropes, and took her into the cruel looking cave.
  As they drug her deeper into the pitch dark cavern the angel awakened and, after realizing where she was, she struggled to escape. Yet, try as she might, it is of no use; she had exhausted herself flying for to long and to hard. She was still quite weak and the goblins had actually tied very strong knots, which was and unusual thing for them during the best of times. There was only one thing left for her to try: screaming. So she screamed, though this scream was not very loud at all. It was all she could do to keep from coughing her lungs up.
  “It’s no use wearing out your lungs, Light One,” the goblin closest to her face said, “No one will be able to hear you. We’ve brought you to deep underground for any on the surface to hear.”
  She did not give up though. If she knew anything about herself at all, it would be that she had a very loud, piercing scream. A scream that was capable of busting any creatures’ eardrums, which tended to cause profuse bleeding from the ears, followed by the inability to hear anything. Though it often hurt her to scream like that, she also knew that what the goblins had planned for her would be much worse then the sore throat she may have to endure for a couple of weeks.
  As she let out a scream much louder then she though herself capable, the sound reverberates off the walls of the cave and out towards the entrance, as well a deeper into the cave, she realized that the goblins had dropped her so that they could grab their ears as her screamed. It did her no good though; she had been tied up rather well. So they picked her back up after the echoes had subsided some and she was carried into a tunnel off to the left. Her scream could still be faintly heard in this cavern, but soon that ghost of the sound disappeared as well.


  Just outside of the cave was a large jeweled dragon, with black scales, and white, shimmering wings. He had just begun to eat a large cow when he heard the scream, however faint, from the entrance of the cave. He looked toward the cave and cocked his head slightly to the left so that his right cheek was raised towards the heavens. He looked mournfully to the cow for only a moment before another wave of the scream filled his ears. Without another thought he went to the caves jagged entrance and entered, the scream had called for him to help whatever poor creature the goblins had captured. When he reached a place where he was much too large to pass through he shifted his form to that of a human with the leathery wings of a dragon, or perhaps a bat. He continued through the cavern without another moment of hesitation in a nude manner, he tended not to have clothing on him when he was in his dragon from, which was most of the time.
  A few goblins heard the noise the dragon had caused as he ran into some stone while they wrestled with the weakened angel. Four goblins finally manage to hold her down as others began to torture her by cutting soft, pale her and pulling perfect white feathers from her wings and where ever else they happened to of sprouted. The few that heard the noise quickly went to investigate what may have caused it.
  They left the cavern the angel was in and want back through the cavern the way they had came. Just a few feet away they ran into the legs of the dragon turned human and slowly look up, the fear of children in their eyes. They soon realized who, and what he was and shivered with horror before they turned to run. The dragons’ hands shot out and he easily snapped their necks. When there was only one left he grabbed it by the scruff of its scrawny little the neck.
  He turned the goblin toward him and looked the ugly little thing in the face, “I will let you live," he said calmly, "but only if you tell me what caused the scream. Do you understand?”
  “What scream,” the goblins eyes darted from side to side quickly, a sure sign that the despicable creature was lying.
  The dragon squeezed its neck slightly emitting a low, rumbling growl that originated in his chest, “Oh, you mean that scream,” the cowardice goblin responded quickly, “She’s back that way.”
  “And what cause it,” the dragon growled as he tried not to roar at the thing.
  The goblin hesitated until he felt that squeeze again, this time tight enough to cause a squeal, “She’s an angel.”
  He growled and threw the goblin toward the entrance, obviously not thrilled by this news. Though the goblin is stunned by the landing, he was not killed. The dragon has honored his promise, as he did all his promises, at least for the time being. If he were ever to lay eyes the goblin later he would kill it without a second thought.
  The dragon turned toward the cavern he was directed to and entered as quickly as he could in the clumsy human form. His first impression was that it was snowing, but then the scent of blood filled his nose. White feathers tinged with blood were falling gently to the ground, and a few goblins tried to overwhelm him once their original shock wore off. He dealt with these puny creatures just as easily as he had dealt with the others; he seemed to break their necks subconsciously. Once he was finished with that he stepped closer to the remaining goblins and the angel they sat atop of.
  Once they realized that something stood behind them, they turned toward it. As the two faced him they realized that they have no chance. This was all the more apparent when the smell of their fellows blood reached them and their eyes fell upon bodies of goblins, ones they had known sense they were born, on the ground around him. They looked around for a long time before the sudden urge to run through a crevice where he couldn't follow them seemed to strike them at the same moment. The cowards almost knocked themselves out when they ran headfirst into one another trying to get through the hole at the same time.
  Normally he would not have given the chance to escape before he killed them, but this time his mind was on other things. At the moment he was only concerned with only the angel that lay before him, bloody and unconscious once again. He moved slowly closer to the woman taking in her appearance and wounds. He took note of the bloodied condition her once white wings were in, and of her torn clothing which lay in bloodied strips beneath her. He knelt by her side and, carefully placed his hand gently on her left breast, checked for her heartbeat.
  He sighed with relief when he felt the slow but steady beat of her heart. He then took bits of her torn clothing and did his best to dress her wounds with the fragments, he was no healer though. He remained hesitant to move her until she was at least awake for fear that he may cause more damage then he could hope to heal in the process. All that he could do was think on what must be done next. He sat next to her on the dusty floor of the cavern with his knees raised and his hands dangling limply between them.
 
  After what felt like an eternity she moved slightly, a soft whimper passing through partially opened lips as she began slowly wake. She jumped and jerked her head in the direction of the rustling she heard next to her, not to find goblins, but a man with a strange set of wings. She noted the leathery texture of them, her eyes fixed on that for a while, entranced by them. Then she realized that the two of them were completely nude, and tried to move away from him. Before she could move far he grabbed one of her wrists as gently as he could.
  “Please do not fear me, Angel. Look around and you shall she that I come not to harm you, but to help you. I heard your scream as I was beginning to eat outside of the cave. Understand that I was compelled to find you.”
  She kept her eyes fearfully on him for a long while before she finally decided that it was safe to look around. She found that the goblins bodies were strewn across the dirt, or was it ground bone, floor of the cavern. When he sifted his position a little she jerked her head back toward him, “What compelled you,” she asked, her voice sore and rough sounding, still fearful of him.
  He shook his head, “I don't know why I felt the need to come here, and I just did. Something within told me that I should find the source of the scream. Your scream called me to it, like I was meant to find you. That’s the feeling I got at least. No matter my feelings though, something wanted me to find you. Something that thinks that you are important, and that I can keep you safe for now.”
  She arched a silver eyebrow, her fear dispersing a little more, “I'm not sure if I should be grateful, or embarrassed then,” the sparkle that was then present in her eyes would tell him that she was falling for him, but he didn't think that could possibly be true.
  She cast her eyes down at her nude body, examining the dressing of her wounds that he obviously had to of done. She seemed to concentrate too hard on her wounds; the only thought in her mind was how his eyes felt on her. It was as though he could see straight into her soul even when he couldn't see her eyes. When she looked back up their eyes automatically locked onto each other. In that moment they felt as though they could die together in a perfect bliss, as long as one was in the others arms.
  It scared the hell out of them both when they heard movement from the crevice the two goblins had escaped through. He decided that it would be a good time to get out of there and stood up quickly, careful not to hit the angel. He leaned down to pick her up but was pushed away by slender hands.
  “Do you really find it necessary to carry me?”
  “I thought that you hadn't the strength to stand,” he said, perplexed.
  She did try to stand but without any success, “Well, perhaps I don't. I had to know for certain though. I don’t like to be carried if it is unnecessary.”
  He nodded understandingly and picked her up, “Then I shall carry you.”
  They left the cave the way she had been brought down as quickly as they could, the sound of pursuing goblins echoing off the cave wall the entire time. It even sounded as though the goblins were getting closer and, many times, far to close for comfort. Until they were outside of the cavern neither of them felt as though they had gained any distance.
  Once they reached the warmth of the late summer night he tried to shift her body to his back. It took a few tries, but he finally managed to do it and immediately he changed to the form of a dragon. He took flight as quickly as he possibly could, he lowered his head as he pushed himself from the ground and, when he had enough altitude, he let fly the fire hid dragon lungs provided for him. He scorched the few goblins that had gathered below him, and some of the land that surrounded them.
  Flying ever higher, he began to turn his body to the North with the hopes that it would throw the few unscathed goblins off their trail. When he felt that he had gone far enough to not be seen he gradually turned west, and continued in that direction until they reached his lair. He was able to enter the very large cave before he had to shift forms again.
  He lowered the angel to the floor who watched as the dragon went off in search of something. She was still much too weak to stand without the help of someone else, so she couldn't follow him when he moved from her line of sight. All that she could do was hope that her strength returned to her quickly, and then she wouldn't feel so indebt to this kind stranger. When the dragon finally returned he had a dress in his hand, presumably for her to wear. It was rather old and somewhat musty, and by the look in his eyes she could tell that he hadn't even realized that it had been there.
  “You can bath in the pond next to the wall over there if you want,” he pointed to it, “Don’t worry. The water is fresh, and I’ve seen to it that no creatures live in that particular puddle of water. I will carry you if you decide that you wish to.”
  She looked to the pond he directed her toward unsure of weather she should or not. Looking down to her body once more she could see the remainder of her clothing, used to dress most of her wounds. After much debate she decides that it really did not matter, that he had already seen her unhidden body.
  She nodded slowly, as she tried desperately not to make eye contact, “I will take a bath, and thank you for your hospitality . . . as well as all else you have done to help me. If not for you I would not be alive, and I am very grateful for it.”
  He smiled to her, unable to remove his eyes from her form for what seemed an eternity. Then he picked her up just as gently as he had before and carried her to the pond, after he handed her the dress. He sat her in the pond and took the dress from her and laid it off to the side.
  As she sat in the water she felt very aware of his presence in the cave. Though he did not watch her at that time and, though she feared the feeling that would come with his glances, she wished that he would look to her again. She bathed in silence and felt how the water seemed to restore much of her energy, then she could feel his eyes upon her and a smile spread across her lips. He could not, however, see this smile because she was turned away form him and her hair shrouded her face from view.
  Once she was finished she discovered that the dragon was standing next to the pond. The thought that filled her mind was that he was there to help her up if she still needed it. She stood up and moved toward the dress before she had time to realize that she had nothing to dry herself off with. When she turned back to him she could see that he was holding a piece of moderately clean cloth in his hands.
  He took a couple of steps towards her, giving her the makeshift towel. When she reached for the towel their eyes meet once again. For a long time they just stood frozen in place, lost in each others gaze. They found themselves unable to pull away and, before they realized what was about to happen, their lips met in a light kiss. This kiss, though it was light, is more passionate, and more filled with love than any could ever imagine in a simple touch of the lips. The angel broke the kiss quickly, however, once she came back to her senses.
  Without looking directly at him again, she took the towel and started drying herself with it. She then laid the towel down and picked up the dress, careful not to get it wet. She pulled the dress on slowly desperately hoping that the back wouldn't be to high for her what was left of her wings to be comfortable, she felt his eyes on her. Again, the feeling of them burning into her soul filled her mind, yet she loved and feared every minute of it. Her heart beat heavily within her chest with love that she couldn't quite understand yet.
  Neither of them understood what was happening between them. They only knew that it became more unavoidable with every glance. When she finally turned to face him she noticed that he is had clothing on. Though he wasn't wearing a shirt, most likely not owning any, he did wear a black pair of pants. Perhaps he donned these to make her feel more comfortable, or perhaps it was to make himself more comfortable in her presence. She moved timidly closer to him forcefully keeping her eyes cast to the ground.
  “Why will you not look at me,” he asked, sadness filling his voice.
  “I fear what will happen if I do. Every time our eyes meet it feels as though I am already dead, and in a world that is absolutely perfect, but I know there isn't such a thing. And the kisses frighten me all the more, but I cannot explain why,” she responded softly.
  He let a sigh escape and looked around for a moment, as though he could pluck the words he needed from the air, “If it would make you more comfortable I will leave until you are well enough to fly again. Other than that I know of nothing I can do to make you more comfortable here.” She shook her head vehemently, almost looking up to him, “I cannot do that. This is your home, and it would be rude to force you to leave because of my silly fears. I will just have to get use to these feelings, and to looking at you. No matter what the consequence may be, or I should leave myself.”
  “Are you certain of that, Angel?”
  Slowly, ever so slowly, she raised her grey eyes to meet the dragons golden ones, “What do you think?”
  He doesn’t speak, finding himself unable to. They keep their eyes locked onto each others. Still they wonder why they couldn't move, why they seemed to be frozen in place. They both felt paralyzed.


  A few nights later the dragon heard something outside of the cave. He dismissed it at first before the realization that the angel was out gathering food for herself hit him. He ran as fast as he could to the mouth of the cave still not use to his humans legs and not knowing exactly what he should expect. All he knew was that he feared the worst for his angel and moved faster. He had never known just how fast he was capable of running in this form when the need arose.
  When burst out of the cave and found nothing he called out to her, “Adalia!!!” he paused,”Adalia where are you!!??” His voice echoed across the forest.
  There was a rustling in the bushes to his left and just as he jerked his head in that direction he saw a single feather float lazily to the ground. He flew to that spot, his form nothing more then a blur to any watching. What he found was a heart wrenching sight that brought tears to his eyes, and a lump in the back of his throat, it was the first time he'd ever cried for another.
  Beneath a hill of fighting, scrambling goblins, lay the angel in a pool of blood that one could almost swim in. When he saw this the dragon shifted forms, and let loose the most anger and grief filled roar any have ever heard that tore across the clearing and into the forest. Goblins were grabbed up into his mouth and torn apart in the same manner a dog would tear up an expensive rug. In a matter of moments the goblins were nothing more than bits of hateful, stinking meat strewn across the ground. Ignoring the scent of their poisoned blood, as well as the taste of their rotten flesh, the dragon shifted forms again to lift the angels form gently.
  It was at this moment he realized without a doubt that he had fallen hopelessly in love with the angel. Tears of silver that mixed with his blood rolled slowly down his cheeks. He sat on the ground for a long time, his arms wrapped around the bloodied angel, and his head resting on her cold shoulder. She was dead, and he was lost. He could never find another like her. As he gave up so did his strength and will to live.
  As his tears continued to flow, they mingled with her blue tinted blood, and dripped from her raised shoulders to the ground. Everywhere that the mixture of blood and tears landed and pooled around them roses immediately began to sprout from nothing. Roses of all colors imaginable, and some unimaginable, grew around them with flying dragons on each petal. With the deaths of these two star crossed lovers was born a flower more precious than any could have ever believed. And if one looked closely enough, they would see the tiny figure of the angel that once rested on those mighty creatures back.


©2005 Pamela "Athilea" Johnson All Rights Reserved