Post by Venus on Feb 6, 2008 13:59:39 GMT -5
Claimer - All story is mine.
Prologue
"But in her oh-so thunder perfect mind, the cleansing rain washes down..."
Theia smiled as the familiar words of the stormsong disrupted the silence surrounding the warm nursery. The words were echoed back by the shimmering shield covering the entrance and the haunting melody filled the whole cave with stories of sweet stormwinds and skyfire.
Outside, the summer rain was pouring down; clouds swathed the moon, and the crackle of lightening arched across the stars every few moments. The storm was right on top of them - yet here she was, encased safe and snug inside a convenient cave along with some select mambers of the traveling tribe.
Their leader, Faysal, a large burnished bronze male, sat tall on a flat rock. To his left, Urd, the old mage dragoness twiddled her blunt claws.
And in the corner, the bard of the tribe, Ozan, sung the stormsong gently under his breath, lulling them into contentment.
But contentment was inadequate to describe the anticipation zinging through Theia's veins. Tonight, her daughter would have her fate read.
Tonight, she would be named.
The ceremony was a quiet one, of course. To have their whole tribe know the fate of their daughter would be wrong. This was something private.
Turning to her left, Theia met the sparkling grey eyes of her mate, Nuada, as he looked on at the comforting scene.
~Where is she?~
His mellow tone echoed in her thoughts, and she replied with pride.
~With Urd. Just behind her.~
A hum of acknowledgement came through their bond, and the pair sat back, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Faysal rose to his feet, and the stormsong faded away into silence.
"It is time to read the fate of our newest dragonet. We ask now of the Earth mother Gaia to protect and guide her through every step of her life, and to let us see a little of her future. Urd."
The last was a low command, and Faysal sat back again, watching the ceremony with a quirked eyeridge.
Urd struggled slowly to her feet, and Theia's scales raised as she felt the safe touch of Ozan's magic dancing through the air. From behind the wizened mage, the tangle of sleeping limbs that was her daughter floated at shoulder height; her movement was stilled by Ozan's spell, but scales of the palest blue shimmered in the moonlight.
Theia felt a surge of maternal pride and smiled at Nuada, feeling the emotion echoed in him.
Urd began speaking under her breath, hands moving in unknown motions above the sleeping form of her daughter. Different dusts and herbs were sprinkled down on to her hide, disappearing beneath the tough skin.
As the silent ritual went on, lines of shimmering gold and silver burned into existence across the blue skin of the little dragonet, shining like the brightest fire against the darkness of the cave. They whirled into unfathomable patterns, ever-shifting until they decided to settle in gentle circular swirls and stripes.
"The Earth Mother has accepted her presence in the world."
Urd's growling croak filled the small cave, and the small group waited with bated breath as the mage closed her eyes. A taloned hand reached out to rest upon the forehead of the dragonet...
Urd gasped and threw her hand away from the small blue hatchling as something bright and blood red flared into existence on the side of her right horn.
"She is cursed!"
Theia felt her joy evaporate like spring rain in the heat of summer sun, and autumn mist fell in front of her eyes, blocking her sight. Vaguely, she heard Nuada shouting, and Faysal demanding explanation.
What she did hear crystal clear were the murmured words from Ozan the bard, taken from a verse of the stormsong.
"...and fury will crash upon the world, the oncoming storm will be seen totally
unfurled..."
"She cannot remain here with us if she bears a curse like that!"
"What are we supposed to do then, leader? Would you disown a hatchling just because of some...rune??"
Urd's voice cut across both the arguments and the stifled silence.
"The rune is Hagalaz. The egg of life - it denotes chaos, destruction and disruption on all levels. But there is a way I can balance her, with other runes. Leader, there is no need to take such rash action."
Theia felt the fog lift and the fire of hope felt tight and bright in her chest.
Meeting the wavering gaze of her mate, she sent him a pulse of reassurance before turning to the mage.
"Do it."
Faysal stalked to the other side of the cavern, meeting the eyes of both parents, taking time to analyze them.
"The first sign of trouble. That's all it will take."
Nuada met his gaze with a fierce glare. Theia only had eyes for her daughter.
Still asleep, she was now curled in the embrace of the old mage dragoness. Urd had fallen easily into a trance to discover the runes needed to balance the cursed blood of the dragonet.
A few long minutes later, her eyes snapped open and flared deep blue for a startling moment before fading back to their normally yellow-green.
Theia heard a sharp gasp come from her, before she proclaimed in a raspy voice.
"I need to speak to the parents. And the parents alone."
Faysal shot a look at Urd which told her in no uncertain terms how unhappy he was with this arrangement, before her stalking towards the exit.
"I will want to know of this conversation later Urd. I will not house a cursed hatchling if it will endanger the rest of the dragons."
And with that, he was gone.
Ozan simply rose with a respectful nod, and stepped quietly out of the cavern.
Urd met Theia's eyes.
"Her name is Venusevdarielestarisandrelam."
The mother's thoughts raced for a moment in translation, before she looked at the old dragoness in puzzlement. Had she become senile in her old age?
"Spirit of love, beautiful incarnation of Isandre? What does it mean?"
Urd looked strangely wistful.
"It means, Theia, that your daughter Venus is housing a very old spirit within her. A hellkite, even - one mentioned in relation to many different others in many different legends. Never taking a prominent role strangely enough, but always there in some shape or form. No-one knows her true name, but she is most commonly known as the Lady Isandre. It looks like your daughter is destined for greatness."
Nuada glanced uneasily at her. Theia herself didn't know what to make of it.
"But...the curse?"
Urd waved her off. "I'll be able to balance it easily now that this Isandre is factored in. But I suggest that you keep this piece of knowledge between us. The spirit is slumbering and has seals placed around her so that she will only wake when necessary. But it is still something which shouldn't be public knowledge. Even Faysal shan't know of this... now, the balancing."
Reaching out a hand to lay it on Venus's other horn, Urd chanted a few words under her breath and four runes flared into golden life, their light blending with the red of the curse.
Urd looked up and spoke their names, each one flaring stronger as it was spoken.
"Elhaz. Thurisaz. Two twinned together for protection and good fortune. Guard your charge and her secret for as long as she lives. Uruz. Balancing the good and evil to keep her stable. Seal her blood and stop the rage unless it is needed. Mannaz. Show others she is not one to be trifled with - reveal the energy and power within, and place a final seal until they all fall away."
The red light faded as each opposing rune got stronger, until it was merely a scratch in the surface of her horn.
Urd clicked her talons and the others faded to similar scars in the surface of the ivory.
"It is done."
&&&
Outside, leaning against the wall by the entrance of the cave, Ozan the bard hummed a few last lines of the stormsong underneath his breath.
"For now though she hides, cowers behind the screen of clear and shuts away the rushing tides. Steps away from the storm out of fear of what she could become."