The Prophecy Unfolds: Dragon Queen (8 page)

I
sat down feeling weary now. My nerves in shreds as I tried to make
sense of what my future held after so many fantastical revelations.

Patros
marched across, quickly took my hands and pulled me on to his lap.
Taking my face in his hands turning me to him. His lips gently
pressed to mine and I couldn't help but return his kisses. I was
powerless to resist him. My heart sped up and once again my deceitful
body was alight with an electrical storm that was matched by my inner
turmoil.

He
leant back and released a long sigh saying “Now will you tell
me what is wrong? What have I done to upset you so much that you shut
yourself off from both myself, and Talos? I don't like it when you
close yourself off like this.”

I
lowered my eyes and opened my mind and sent
Why didn't you
tell me your pregnancies only last six months here. Not even that
with twins. It's so much for me to handle right now. So much has
happened to me in such a short time.

He
placed his fingers under my chin and gently raised my head looking
deep into my eyes as he pulled me close.

“
I'm
sorry. I didn't think it was that important and I did say you had a
lot to learn. About me and our people and how different our world is
from yours. This has all happened quickly for me too Alex. Until
earlier on this week when I felt your presence and I realised that
finally there was a chance the prophecy would be fulfilled. I have
been waiting for you for over 200 years.”

I
was so overwhelmed by my feelings and emotions, and the flood of
similar ones flowing back from Patros. I put my arms around him as
finally the flood gates opened and my tears began to fall. I sobbed
and trembled so badly that Patros pulled me closer. He held me firmly
but gently and began to rub small circles on my back. I'm not sure
how long we remained like that but gradually my sobs subsided with
the aid of comforting buzz.

“
I
love you Alex. More than I can ever tell you. I never expected to
fall for you so deep and so fast. I always thought it would just be a
sexual thing but it isn't.” he whispered. Placed his hands over
my stomach and the buzzing increased as he bent and placed a kiss
there tenderly. “I am so happy and honoured that you are
carrying my child. I can never thank you enough for this.”

Once
again I could sense both dragon and rider sending comforting thoughts
so that I felt how much they both loved and cherished me. I couldn't
help but smile.

Everything
will work out. Please just wait and see. We will make this work.
He sent.

Throughout
the day my education continued. Luckily Patros took it slowly as he
realised I wouldn't be able to remember everything I needed to. He
broke it down in to bite sized pieces teaching me what he thought
would be the most relevant in my first weeks as Queen.

First
off I learned about some of the animals that populated the planet.
Not all of them but the main ones he felt I should have knowledge of.
He started with the dragons, dragonflies, werewolves and dragon
riders.

One
of my first questions for Patros was about the language. Why could I
understand and speak to them all and also have the ability to
understand the thoughts of a dragon.

He
went on to explain that this wasn't always the case. He walked over
to the shelves and retrieved a number of ancient looking books. I
thought I had inspected the lair pretty well but obviously not as
well as I thought as I hadn't spotted these. On inspection there were
numerous books and parchments on the topmost shelf. I must take some
time to look a little more closely at my surroundings as soon as I
could.

Once
opened I saw writing that looked like so much gobbledegoop to me. He
explained that Syros had a completely different language about a
thousand years ago. That was before they realised that the females of
the native population were becoming less fertile. This prompted the
factions to work together and approach the witches, magicians and
scientists. Together they managed to produce through a combination of
science and magic the portals that had transported me here. Teams
were then able to travel to distant planets in search of compatible
females. Earth wasn't the only planet that the people of Syros had
visited over the millenia. Although it soon became obvious that we
were the most compatible of all the species on the worlds they had
visited. A number of portals were destroyed when it became obvious
that there was no way the species on those planet were compatible. A
decision was taken later that in order for communication and
assimilation to occur it was logical that a common language would be
useful.

On
realising that English was the most common language on earth it was
gradually introduced in to schools. Initially as a second language
but over time it became the first language of the planet. Some
ceremonies continued in the old language even now but there are so
few individuals left able to read or write it, this was rare.
Gradually the old language died out. As new females arrived over time
the language was updated to incorporate changes. Except for some
nicknames and colloquialisms used in some areas on earth.

The
first portals established on Earth also happened to be in England.
Over time it was recognised that English was in the main language
used in communications across the many nations on Earth and was also
the language of the skies.

No
one knew for certain why both races were similar in form and DNA.
Similar enough that sexual reproduction was possible. Although some
of the scientists on Syros believe that both planets were originally
outposts for an even older alien race. As ruins on both Syros and
Earth had been identified as being alike in so many details. Also the
language and culture on Syros bore a strong resemblance to those
millennia old on Earth itself. But no one could say for sure.

Our
days continued like this for a number of weeks. Whereby I learned
that on Syros there were werewolves, dragons, dragon riders, witches,
magicians and magic. Though there were no vampires and other shape
shifters were unheard of. I felt a little disappointed at that
because I'd always loved a good vampire and shape shifter story.

As
far as animals were concerned I already knew we both had deer or
something similar in common. I also found out that some animals had
accidentally migrated between the planets via the portals such as
horses and cattle. These were common sights on both planets due to
this. On Syros they had unicorns and ordinary wolves alongside of the
shape shifting werewolves I had already met.

It
was further explained that this is where the dragons, unicorns and
other fantastical creatures had passed in to the folklore of Earth.
As occasionally creatures had migrated across the portals that
shouldn't have. Teams sent to bring them back recaptured them but not
before people had seen them.

Very
soon I was to be taken on a trip to visit a few of the main cities.
This is where I would have the opportunity to meet some witches,
dragons and their riders. Ours was not the only lair, far from it.

At
the end of my third week I was a little dismayed to see that my
pregnancy was already beginning to show a little. A little bump
evident where my once flat stomach had been

We
recently to visit Treetops again to have dinner with Sara and her
family. My family too now apparently according to Patros and Sara.

Sarah
had made a fantastic pot roast and baked rustic bread. The smell as
we entered the house made my mouth water. My appetite was increasing
I was disappointed to note, along with my girth. I had a vision of me
wobbling along before too long.

The
children were a delight and squabbled over who was to sit next to me
and Uncle Patros. Emilee was especially enamoured of me and asked
could she touch my bump to feel the baby. So I let her. She tenderly
touched my bump and said a little “Hello.” to it. Emilee
was petite like Sara but had hazel eyes and long silky dark hair.
This formed a halo of tight curls around her face past her shoulders.
Sara went on to explain that there weren't many children in the
village and as a result Emilee was absolutely fascinated by babies.

The
boys could have been twins except one was a little taller than the
other. Andre was the older and taller of the two. The pair of them
were both stocky and fairly tall for their ages. Andre was eight
years old and Pat (short for Patros which I should have guessed), was
six years old. They had their father's dark brown hair and their
mothers blue eyes and were a mischievous pair.

When
Will came in from the forge he said a quick “Hello.” then
excused himself before heading off to clean up before dinner. Will
was tall and looked to be about six foot five. Stocky with dark brown
hair that he kept tied back in a leather thong. He also and a huge
bushy beard. His arms seemed enormous to me but then he was a
blacksmith. A gentle giant of a man with eyes shone when he looked at
Sara and the children. And was quick to laugh and smile.

Everyone
included me in conversation so that I felt very much part of the
family.
Although I felt a touch of sadness thinking of my poor
dad back on Earth. He must now think I had either been kidnapped or
may even be dead. I kept forgetting Patros could read me and he leant
across and gave me a huge kiss and cuddle as he sent his love in
thought form.

I
got to listen to the first music that I had heard native to Syros as
Sara brought out what appeared to be a small harp – like
instrument. Sara had a lovely voice and sang as she played. It was a
haunting melody about dragons which reminded me of folk music back
home on Earth.

We
returned home and I fell asleep almost as soon as my head touched the
pillow. Being pregnant was certainly curtailing my love life at the
moment as I was tired constantly. Since returning to the lair after
the second kidnapping attempt I'd had no further nightmares. No
sightings had been made of the werewolves near the cliffs or close by
either. So I began to settle in to my new life as best I could.

My
love for Patros and Talos in turn was growing over time until I
couldn't visualise a life without them. Yet from time to time I
thought about my dad and the life I had left behind and became a
little melancholy.

By
the end of my fourth week I looked as if I was about four months
pregnant to my eyes and had a visit to attend. A visit to the local
midwife back in Treetops.

Patros
dropped me off at the village and Sara was there to greet me and
escort me to the midwife's cottage. Patros kissed me then disappeared
as he had a meeting to attend. I was to send to him once I was ready
to return home.

Sara
gave me a number of sideways glances as we walked as a a tiny smile
played across her lips. We headed to the opposite end of the village
from her house to a pretty cottage with scented flowers around the
door. We knocked and a large friendly looking lady answered. She had
twinkling pale blue eyes and dark blonde hair that reached almost to
her knees in a long plait. She looked me up and down and then
proceeded to give me a huge bear hug as she kissed me on either
cheek.

“
Goodness
me you must be Alex. I an so honoured to be your midwife. To play a
part in the fulfilling of the prophecy is such an honour.” she
continued excitedly “ I am Allysa by the way. Where are my
manners? Come along now I want you to undress and get on the bed here
so that I can examine you. There is a gown on the bed you can put on.
We will leave you for a moment to prepare. Shout me when you are
ready while I chat to Sara.”

She
led me in to a small room as we talked and shut the door leaving me
to undress. I placed my clothes over the back of a chair and lay on
the bed. I had put on the gown on then placed the sheet off the bed
over my lower body.

I
called out “Ready.”

Alyssa
returned and asked whether it would be all right for Sara to come in
whilst I was being examined. As Sara was going to be there for the
birth I didn't have a problem with this at all. Although I did feel a
little shy but knew I was going to have to get over my shyness soon
enough.

As
I lay on the bed and she felt my bump and produced a similar
listening device to ones that I remembered from training in the
community as a student nurse. She placed it on my bump and positioned
her ear on top listening attentively.