"Dragon Rose Chapters 10 - 14" by Christina Alisa Estrem

That night Doda dreamt of a dragon. He had dreamt of dragons before, but he felt like this was one particular dragon, but he couldn’t figure out who. This dragon was a most odd one, though. It had red scales with dark green eyes.

The dragon seemed to be telling him a message, but he wasn’t sure what it was.

That same night, Alloko, too, dreamt of a dragon. Although hers had rosy pink scales with amber eyes. It was most tragic what happened to her though. She felt as if she were the dragon. But that was too much for her to take at the moment, so she was content with only being a part of the dragon, instead of all of it. She figured, too, that it was just her state of mind playing tricks on her while she slept.

Doda thought that the dragon might have meant that he was supposed ti help someone, but he wasn’t sure who. With the dragon he had entered another world. It was much like his, yet very, very different at the same time. It looked like Avvingteesttia, his home, yet it looked like some place he had never been before.

First, the dragon led him through a doorway. On the other side, he saw animals running to and fro. Half the animals he didn’t even recognize. Then the dragon seemed to take off towards a castle in the distant background.

Alloko’s dream-dragon led her down a dark tunnel. Well, at least she thought it was a tunnel. It was too dark for her to tell. At the end of the tunnel there was a doorway.

Her curiosity got the best of her. As soon as she found the door handle, she turned it, and continued on her way.

She opened to a world of sunshine and animals. The sunshine was a relief from the darkness, but the animals? They were running everywhere. No order whatsoever!

Then something caught her attention. In the distant, set up on a hill, there was a castle.

The closer Doda and his dragon got to the castle, the more people he seemed to notice. Instead of animals running to and fro, as he originally thought, they were, in fact, people. He wanted to know what it was all about and why there were so many people.

That was until he got a few steps closer. Then he realized what they were running from. It was something so foul that he didn’t know such a horrendous stench even existed.

The more he paid attention to what the people were actually running from, it didn’t seem to be so much the stench, as what the others were saying.

As they ran, they were shouting, "The plague! The plague! It’s here!"

Castles had always intrigued Alloko. Maybe, she decided, that was why I was so excited to stay with Doda when I learned that he was the prince. This castle seemed to hold something special, almost like home.

In her heart she knew the answer, and in her dream-like state of mind. But could she really believe what this amber eyed dragon was trying to tell her, asking of her?

Her dream-dragon seemed to sense her state of unbelieving and stubbornness and knew that she had to do something else to convince Allokohott’ what her true destiny was.

Once most of the people had cleared away, or once he had gone past most of the people and was closer to the castle, he noticed that the dragon was still leading him on, despite the smell, which, surprisingly, didnœt bother him so much anymore.

He knew that the dragon was trying to show him something, but at the moment, sleep seemed more important. It would have to wait till morning.

Allokohott’ woke early the next morning, unable to sleep any longer. As she was getting dressed to practice with her swords, she felt something strange about her neck. She reached for it, and noticed that it was a small heart tied on a cord. She wasn’t exactly sure how it got there, but last night her dream seemed a bit more life-like than usual.

Morning didn’t come as soon as Doda had wished. Instead, he found himself inside the castle. And closer to the smell.

He wasn’t in just any room of the castle, he could tell by the only furnishings being a small circular wooden table with a red rose laid atop it.

The dragon walked over to the table, and there it stood for a few seconds before it disappeared.

Doda awoke as if it was just like any other day, at least, until he saw the rose sitting on the small table next to his bed.

Great, he thought. He not only had to read about some strange love/history story that only started making a little bit of sense, or dream about dragons and roses, but he also had those things coming to life. Now had a rose to hide, as well. He was sure, wait, he knew that nobody had given him the rose because his door had been locked. And he definintly didn’t have the rose before he went to sleep the previous night.

Alloko felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around so quickly she nearly took off Doda’s head. Well, in reality, the most she probably would have done would have been to make a very small slash across his upper arm.

"I didn’t recognize you there," Doda said in an attempted apology. "It’s been so long, I almost forgot what you looked like in men’s garments."

"Next time be more careful." It was all the reply she gave.

"Didn’t sleep well?" he inquired.

She didn’t answer.

"A dream." It was more a statement rather than a question.

She resumed practicing.

He decided to give her a partner.

"What are you doing?" she asked, annoyed.

He didn’t answer.

"I don’t need a partner!" She shot him a glare.

Doda, ignoring it, continued practicing.

"I don’t need a partner," she repeated.

He continued to ignore her.

Frustrated, she stopped and sat down.

"I wouldn’t do that in battle, were I you," he advised her. "You do want to fight, don’t you?"

"Remember, I only fight for fun."

And then he saw it.

"That’s new, isn’t it?"

"What?" was all she managed to say.

"That necklace. You didn’t have that before."

"You don’t know that." She knew he knew that she was lying.

"Where’d you get that?"

This is getting annoying! Doesn’t he see that I don’t want to fight or talk to him, especially about this necklace.

She stood up and started to walk away.

"I got something, too." He shouted from behind her. It was no use, or was it?

She stopped, turned. "The dragon?" She knew her answer when he nodded.

"Pink?" she asked hopefully.

"Red," he replied.

She raised an eyebrow in his direction. "There’s something you’re not telling me. Don’t even give me that look like you don’t know what I’m talking about, either." She placed her hands on her hips and stomped her foot for emphasis.

"Uh . . ." he started, "I think there’s something I need to show you."

Still very annoyed at him for making her play this guessing game of his, she followed him as he walked to his chamber. She watched him walk towards his bed, but before he got there, he stopped at a small table in front of it.

Alloko took a step closer to see what it was that he was looking at, but all she saw was a simple red rose.

"What’s so special about that?" she gave him a questioning look, like he had gone daft.

Instead of picking it up, he left it where it sat, wondering if he himself had gone daft. He could tell that she believed it to be true just by looking at her face. To cover up his embarrassment, about the rose, he quickly came up with an excuse for Alloko to leave. After she left, he reached for The Book from its hiding place.

There must be something special about this rose, and that necklace she was wearing today, he thought.

Not to his surprise, The Book opened.

He read.

"Dragon Lady sensed that the end was coming. She did the only thing that she knew was possible. She cast the soul of Dragon Rose into The Necklace. It was only with pure luck that she was able to succeed at her task.

"The entire village was in an uproar. All of the villagers were trying to escape as quickly as possible, but to no avail. There were shouts from every direction. ’The Plague is coming! The Plague is coming!’

"As many as could escaped. Dragon lady knew that she wouldn’t be one of those, the few fortunate. When she first heard of The Plague, she searched for The Necklace. Just in time, she was able to cast the right spell, the one that would protect Dragon Rose.

"The Necklace wasn’t very fancy, but it still worked. In fact, it was very simple. A black cord like string with a small black charm in the shape of a heart. It did its job quite well.

"She prayed with all her might as she cast The Necklace onto one of the ships that was going to the New World. To Avvingteesttia-"

Doda couldn’t believe what he was reading! He knew for a fact that that couldn’t be true! Avvingteesttia was where he lived, and he had never heard, or read, about people coming by ship, and escaping a plague.

There was something at the back of his mind that urged him to continue reading. Something that told him he would find the answers to all of his questions. At least those that grew as he read.

"Staying on Dreyverzon was not anyone’s first choice, but as the ships filled up and left, it soon became the only choice.

"The few that were left behind soon died as The Plague carried them off to the Afterworld."

What luck he had, or didn’t have, for that matter. Whenever he found an answer to one of his questions, it was only replaced with more questions.

It had been a few days since he was last able to read. Many of those in the castle had begun to wonder about him, especially his father, the King. It was breakfast one morning when his father looked at him and told him that yes, it was good to read, but that he shouldn’t be reading all the time so that he forgets about his duties as being Prince. "As Prince it wasn’t his duty," his father clarified for him, "to make others suspicious of his actions." Then he made extra emphasis about how he should be outside as a leader, not constantly in his chamber, like someone afraid of the world around him. They would surely think him more than just daft.

So he headed his father’s advice.

At least for a few days.

It was another late night of reading, he didn’t want his father thinking that he had disobeyed his orders.

There was still that question about the rose that he had mysteriously received. Though, he thought, that maybe one of the castle maids might have accidentally left it. That didn ’t really seem to be true, though, because he had had it for over a week, without water, and it still hadn’t showed any signs of wilting.

When he reached for The Book, it began opening. The pages found the spot that they wanted him to read.

So he read.

"How was he to know that she wasn’t one of the Immortals? The way he saw it, it wasn’t his fault, but hers. She should have told him before he let his heart get too carried away. If it hadn’t been for her beauty and her internal spirit, this never would have happened in the first place.

"Even though Kalidor knew he shouldn’t lay the blame on Dragon Rose, it was his human side that did it. Besides, it was always the female, wasn’t it? If it hadn’t been for that, the love spell that she placed on him, he never would have been in this situation.

"For what she did, she would pay. He would make sure of it. After all, two could play at this game of spells. He would cast a spell upon her so that no other could love her. If he couldn’t have her, nobody else could. And he couldn’t have her, so nobody else would, either.

"He knew it was cruel, but it ws the only thing he could think of. But then, for an added twist, he decided that the only way the spell could be broken would be if it were him who broke it, by being her one true love.

"As he knew, that wouldn’t be happening any time soon. First rule to any of the Guardians of the Old Ways! It is forbidden to become involved with any mortal dragon, no matter how tempting!"

A few more pages turned.

"A sad thing to happen to any of the Guardians of the Old Ways.

"What Kalidor, or Dragon Lord, didn’t know about his spell, or curse, that he placed upon Dragon Rose, was that it was really his own. He didn’t know that Dragon Rose’s soul had already been cast into The Necklace.

"Being that only a true love could break the spell, he was cast into a rose. This rose, though, was very special. It would never wilt, therefore, Kalidor had all the time to wait. And wait he would, for his love to come to him.

"It wouldn’t be as simple as that, though, being that his one true love, immortal or not, was cast into a heart necklace.

"Forever they would be separated, until the right person at the right time found them both once again. Only then would they finally be together."

Now was a first for The Book: it closed. No matter how hard Doda tried, he couldn’t get The Book to open again.

Allokohott’ woke with a start. It’s all just a bad dream. She tried to relax herself. It’s just a very, very bad dream. She rolled over in an attempt to fall back asleep.

It was useless. Moments later she was startled awake. Two of the strongest guards were taking her from her bed. She couldn’t even attempt a protest!

Rudely, she was dropped in front of the king, who was sitting on his throne. This cannot be good! she thought.

The king stared at her, she couldn’t figure out why. What had she done?

"Banishment." the King repeated, knowing that she hadn’t fully been listening.

Alloko could hardly believe her own ears! Banishment? But how? Who? She hadn’t done anything to upset the king this much, had she? Oh, she hoped not! she looked to the king’s son, Doda, who stood beside his father’s chair. A mischievous grin on his face. How could he? And to think, I actually thought he was my friend! She couldn’t believe her luck in befriending betrayers.

"Guards!" bellowed Takki, the King. "Yes?" answered the two men who had taken her from her chamber. <p> "Durrocke. Krimmsonde." He looked at each of them. "You are to accompany Allokohott’ to Dreyverzon . . ." <p> All the muscles tightened in her body in protest. There wasn’t anywhere to go. No where to run. <p> She felt somebody grab her shoulder. "Allokohott’!" shouted a voice. <p> "I don’t want to go!" she replied. It was useless. The hand on her shoulder started shaking her. "Allokohott’. Wake up!" The voice shouted. <p> Finally, her eyes opened. "Please don’t send me away," she pleaded. <p> "You’re not going anywhere," the voice tried reassuring her. <p> Then she realized who it was. "What are you doing here?" she asked Doda. <p> "We need to talk," he told her. <p> "Now?" She was in no mood for talking. The only thing on her mind was falling asleep, only without the dreams this time. <p> "I need to show you something," he continued. <p> She groaned and turned to her other side. "Not that rose again?" she asked hopefully. <p> "No. Something else. Wait here." <p> "It’s not like I plan on going anywhere else right about now." <p> "Good." <p> Before she could reply, he had already left the room and returned. He was holding a very old looking book in his hands. <p> Not even giving it a sideways glance, she showed her disinterest in whatever it was that he held in his hands. <p> </fontsize="+2"> <fontsize="+3"> <center> Chapter 14 </center> </fontsize="+3> <fontsize="+2"> <p> Sure, Doda had pleaded with him to send Allokohott’ to this planet that was her home. What had gone wrong with his son that he would think such things as there being life on other planets? The story seemed very odd. That it was her duty to go there because it was her home. And when he asked his son where he came by this information, all he did was show him a book, a very old book. <p> Doda told him that she needed to go back and fulfill the Legend. That’s about all he said. "She is to return home to Dreyverzon" (<i>that was the name of the planet.</i>) "and break the curse between her and her long lost love." Then he told him that he had to send her back, which left him to come up with a plan. <p> <i>Banishment.</i> <p> But if there really was the legendary dragon on this other planet, he would be the first one to get a hold of it. And if he couldn’t have it, nobody else could, either! He was smarter than to tell his son about his own plan. The poor lad would be heartbroken. <p> He would send the poor lass off as soon as possible. First thing in the morning. Of course he would have to come up with some way to get her there. A simple spell, with lots of rose petals, would probably do. That way when they threw all the stuff in the air, it would fall to the ground and Doda would learn of his stupidity and not worry about there being life on other planets. </fontsize="+2">