"Elfling part four" by Rachel N. LeBeane

Chapter Four

I looked over at Kalen for what seemed to be the hundredth time in five minutes. He was still very pale and had to walk by leaning on Smokey. I wanted to go over and help him, but one dark glare from him had warned me off. Seems Smokey was right about him being a terrible patient.

"Are you sure you don't want me to help?" I asked, moving over. He looked up and sighed, taking his arm from around Smokey and facing me. I reached out to support him, but he shook his head.

"Its not that I don't want you to, its just that you can't help me. I'm not saying your physically weaker than us, or trying to be insulting. More than my physical weakness is causing the fatigue you see in me now." He said, swaying. Smokey rolled his eyes and supported Kalen again.

"What do you mean? What's wrong?" I asked. He didn't answer me and I glared at him."Kalen. I need to know."

"Of all my brothers, Karsh and I were the closest. We bound ourselves together late in his rein to help keep order in Hael. When I was in the shadow world, he used that bond to trap some of my power there with him. None of us can use it, but I need every ounce of strength I can get if I must fight him as my father did his brother. It worries me." He said softly, as if he didn't want me to know.

"Oh....well, We'll find something in Mystiva's library that you can use so you don't have to fight him." I said, shoving my fear down and trying to reassure him. He held my gaze for a moment then reached over and tugged my hair.

"Don't worry about me so, Elfling. I've lived many thousands of years. It'll take more than this to destroy me. Karsh knows this. We have time." He said. I stuck my tounge out at him and went back over to Cassandra.

"Are you feeling up to trying to heal Kalen again, Cassandra?" I asked. She pursed her lips and thought. When she turned to me, her blue eyes were sad.

"I'm sorry, Rydia, but I cannot. I must conserve some strength in case you or the dragon get hurt. As much as I want to heal Kalen all the way, I cannot. I doubt he'd let me anyway." She said, shrugging her pack higher onto her shoulders. I'd offered to carry it for her, but she'd declined, saying the exorcise was good for her.

Smokey stopped suddenly and raised his face to the sky. He swore in dragon and looked over at me."Hold Kalen for me, Elfling." He said. I hurried to do as he said, curious as to what the disturbance was.

"The Guardians are coming to investigate the disturbances I cause by being here." Kalen explained, grinning." And they're coming to see why their prince is with a demon. Makes me feel loved, for some reason." He teased, trying to ease my fear.

"They won't hurt you, since we're with Smokey, right?" I asked, sagging under his shoulder. The guy is heavy, even with me only supporting him slightly. "Kalen? They'll be nice to you right?"

"I'm afraid not, Rydia. Go stand by Cassandra." He ordered tersely, standing unsteadily on his own. I didn't move away from him."Elfling, do as I say!"

I scurried over to Cassandra and fought down my fears. I was just now realizing what traveling with Kalen meant. He took my safety seriously, and if he had to protect me from what he thought would disturb me, like other creatures reactions to him, then he would.

"He won't be harmed, Rydia." Cassandra whispered whispered in my ear."Look at the Dragon." She ordered, turning me to face Smokey.

He had his arms raised and was chanting in his native tounge. Water rained down from the clear sky, showering the landscape with fresh water. Smokey changed into his dragon form, using the water from the sky. Soon, four dark shapes flew over us. Two plummeted towards us, and I heard Kalen curse.

One dragon was a deep green color and the other was a brilliant gold. They changed shape as they fell, becoming a handsome man with more muscles than anyone I'd ever seen before and a slim, blond haired woman with familiar flashing blue eyes. Smokey blew a jet of icy cold water onto the man and shifted, bowing to the woman.

"Mother." He said simply. I gasped and studied the small woman who looked a bit like Smokey."Why are you so far from the palace? Does Father know you're here?"

The woman snorted, keeping a close eye on Kalen. I noticed the intense hatred burning there and shivered."A demon, Akorishanrana? How could you? Your older brothers were killed by such as he, or have you forgotten?" She snapped. Turning, she motioned the muscular man over."Take the demon and dump him in the desert. I care not if he gets dropped alive or dead."

Eyes alight with malice, the dragon man started for Kalen. I raised my hand and said a quick spell, one of the few I knew outside of Summoning. When the man would've grabbed Kalen, he howled and jumped back, clutching his hand as the skin blistered and smoked. Smokey winked at me.

"Akorishanrana, what have you done? Release Duribrana from this curse now!" Smokey's mother snapped, pulling the green eyed man to her chest and stroking his thick, greenish brown hair tenderly. Uh oh...

"I would not even if the spell was my own, Mother. Kalen is injured and needs care. Now, move aside and let me take my friends to the palace. We'll be staying in my suit of rooms." Smokey said, a hard edge to his usually teasing voice.

"I shall tell Karashinana what you have done." Smokey's mom hissed before leaping into the air and shifting. She turned her great neck and blew a wave of heat at us. I fanned my face and hurried to Kalen, who was swaying.

"Quick thinking, Rydia. I'm proud of that." He said, shaking his head when I tried to support him again. He leaned on Smokey."I cannot be seen in contact with you, or the dragons will think you contaminated." He explained.

"But, Karashinana saw you touch me numerous times." I said, frowning at him. He sighed and looked up at his friend for help. Smokey shifted Kalen to his other side and pulled me against his free one.

"My father is above most of our laws. As king of all dragon clans and leader of the strongest clans around, he doesn't have to. So, he can be a stuffy old dragon without being one of the prejudice ones. Like my mother. Nasty dragoness." He said, smiling fondly.

"Whats her name, Smokey?" I asked, feeling safe against him."Just in case I need to...send her away." I added quickly. He threw his head back and laughed loudly."Truly, thats what I want to know for."

"Sure, Elfling, sure. My mother is Harshina." He said simply. no titles to say, just a name. Which raised more questions.

"Smokey, I've noticed that all your names end in a female 'a'. Why is that?" I asked. He shrugged, almost dropping Kalen.

"It was said that the first dragon to obtain human form was a great silver female. She taught others how to change,read, write, and live. In honor of her gifts to us, we all have feminine names, even when we are male. It is our belief that one day, when the need is great, she shall be born again and come to save us all. Many of our priest think that she will be born like the ones she grew to love: Humans." he said. I listened as he went on, fascinated.

"There are others, like my mother, who take the belief farther than that. They say that the females are meant to rule and us males meant to raise the chicks. They believe themselves to be the superior sex among us and constantly argue every choice made by the council." Smokey snorted."What a waste of time."

"That is so interesting. Are there a lot of dragoness's like your mother?" I asked, walking quickly to Kalen's other side, supporting a fraction of his weight in case Smokey shrugged again.

"No, not many. But just enough so that my father is constantly battling them." He said. Then he took a deep breath and smiled."Ah. We're home, Elfling. Welcome to Mystiva. Its a site to see, believe me."

We climbed over the last hill in our way and stopped, staring. Dragons soared across the sky, the sun glinting off their scales in many hues. A lake shined in the distance and the shelter of a cool forest beckoned.

Tall, open air towers dotted the landscape. Many had dragons entering or leaving. Smokey pointed to the grandest set of all."The Palace of Dragons. My home." He said. I was unable to speak.

Smokey's home was at least one hundred feet high and gracefully carved from what looked to be a solid piece of white stone. Stairs wound around the outside and windows dotted the smooth surface.

"There are stairs and living areas for humans and those of us who like to remain in human form." Smokey went on to explain, hoisting Kalen higher on his shoulder."Personally, i like my dragon form better. Less...breakable."

"I'm sorry we've caused you to stay in human form longer than you'd like." I said softly. He looked back and grinned at me. He set Kalen gently on the ground."What are you doing?" I cried, rushing forward to help Kalen as he swayed.

"Letting everyone know I'm home. We need to get Kalen inside so he can lay down, and to do that, we need to get the formalities over with." Smokey said."Healer, tend to him while I do this." Cassandra hurried up and placed her hands on Kalen's broad shoulders.

"Move back, Rydia." Kalen instructed, eyes on Smokey. I turned and saw him dip his hands into a stream, lifting the water and letting it pour down his body. He opened his eyes and....shimmered. I blinked once and there stood Smokey, the huge white dragon.

He tilted his great head back and roared, launching himself into the sky to join the throng of dragons who'd suddenly stopped flying to watch him. I waited for Cassandra to recharge and replace the goddess necklace Kalen now wore constantly before I bugged him with questions.

"Kalen, how important is Smokey?" I asked. "He seems to be respected a great deal. Even Harshina listened to him. You've taught me much, but you always left the dragon part of things out of my studies."

Kalen sighed and rubbed at his cheek " Smokey is the prince of Dragons, Elfling. He is next in line for the throne. And he's also the White dragon. As you know, he has power over water. He also has other powers that only white dragons get. His people think that he will wed the Sliver dragon and bring about the peace their kind need so desperately." He said softly.

"What exactly can he do?" I asked, watching as Smokey dove and twirled gracefully in the air. Kalen let out a longing sigh and i tightened my grip on him." No flying yet, Kalen. You're still very weak." I chided.

"I long to stretch my wings." He muttered, pulling his gaze from the sky to focus on me." No one knows what Smokey can do, Elfling. He hides his true power behind that suave manner he always uses. I may be stronger and able to beat him, but thats only if I embrace the darkness inside and transform into my demonic form completely. Even then, I doubt i would win easily." He said.

"Ah, here he comes back." Cassandra said, smiling about her serenely." I've always wanted to see the inside of a dragon's roost." She said, smiling girlishly at me. I covered a giggle and moved Kalen back a few steps as Smokey landed.

'Elfling, you'll be staying with me up in the roost. Kalen will be in the tower, but on the lower levels. Cassandra will stay with him." Smokey said, reaching for his friend. I pulled away and glared at him.

"I want to stay with Kalen, Smokey!" I said, putting my hands on my hips and pouting to add extra emphasis. If dragon's could roll their eyes, Smokey would've right then."Really! You've said he's a horrid patient yourself, and Cassandra isn't young. It'll be easier if I help them out."

"I understand, but that is not how it can be here. Demons are evil, by law. The only reason Kalen hasn't been killed is the fact that hes with me and I'm above the law. You'll be allowed to visit him, and I promise you, you won't be bored." He said, helping Kalen climb onto his back as another, pretty reddish gold dragon landed and walked up."Yes, Ankara?"

"Lord Akorishanrana, Harshina sent me to take the elf to her suit." The dragoness said. Smokey growled and spurted a bit of ice into the air before he calmed himself and shook his head.

"Not to her rooms, but mine. The healer as well." He said. The dragoness bowed and I climbed onto her back after helping Cassandra up."Follow me." Smokey called over his shoulder as he launched himself skyward. I held on and looked around as I joined the other dragons in the sky. If this is what Kalen feels every time he flies, no wonder he loves having his wings.

~*~

"So, am I being put in the dungeon?" I asked Smokey as he flew through the air and headed for his tower. He twisted his neck around to look at me and give me his dragon laugh."Thought I'd ask."

"No, although it would probably be safer for you there. No, you're in the set of rooms right below my own, so Rydia can easily go to see you. It will be less traumatic for her if you are close by. My kind haven't seen an elf in many years, and I fear the excitement will overcome their manners. Or what little manners some of us have." He said, angeling down to land in the open air of his tower top.

I slid off his back and moved away and he changed back. He hefted me over his shoulder and hauled me to the side of the room as the little red dragon landed and let Cassandra and Rydia get off. She looked around her in awe and smiled at the beauty surrounding her.

"How are you holding up, Kalen?" She asked, walking over to me and laying a cool hand against my brow. I rolled my eyes and knocked her hand away." Oops. Forgot that demon temperature differs from human and or elven ones." She said, grinning sheepishly.

"Truly?" I asked teasingly. She smiled shyly in her special way and I had to look away. Smokey grinned down at me and I elbowed him in his ribs." As soon as I'm better, I'm going to look threw your fathers library, but until then..." I trailed off and looked over at Rydia.

"Right. Keep miss Elfling busy pouring over books. Easy to do, friend. Let me get you in your rooms so Cassandra can fix you up and you can rest." He said.

"I want you to bring me some of the ancient texts, Smokey. I can glean some knowledge by reading them while I'm confined to a bed." I said. He just rolled his eyes and helped me down the first set of stairs to a cozy little set of rooms that overlooked the vast forest that made up most of the dragon lands.

Rydia came in and looked around her with wide, excited eyes. I realized what Rydia had missed out on by growing up with me and felt a pang of guilt that I should have taken away so much beauty and knowledge from her.

"Smokey, this place is beautiful. Where will I be staying?" She asked, looking away from the view to walk over to where I sat and smooth back my hair absently as she made certain I was comfortable.

"In a set of rooms just off from the sleeping area above. They're covered, so don't worry about rain." Smokey said, dragging a heavy oak table away from the way to set next to my bed. Cassandra came over and laid her hand on my chest, closing her eyes briefly.

"You should be perfectly fine in about a week, Kalen, if you don't push it." She said, giving me a warning look." Don't make me have Smokey sit on you to keep you down."

Rydia about choked on her giggle. Smokey snorted, and left us alone to go deal with the dragons who would soon be arriving to great their prince. " I'll have Smokey take me to the library later and bring the oldest, most moldy tomes I can find." She said, sitting on the bed.

"Hey, where'd Lexi go? I noticed she was gone, but forgot to ask." I said, realizing that the little fox was gone. Rydia blushed slightly.

"Lexi said I didn't need a familiar and left, right after you got hurt. Well, right after she knew you would live. She said you were a better teacher than she would be, so she left." Rydia said, shrugging." I think shes right, when I can get you to teach me anything. So far, all I can Summon are lesser things and Smokey's dad!"

"You can Summon more than just creatures, Rydia, and I've told you this before." I said, pushing up into a sitting position." Ice, wind, fire...its all at your command. All you have to do is focus and reach for it. And I mean really reach. You'll have to clear your mind of all else and focus only on what it is you want."

"Okay...teach me." Rydia said, jumping up, her eyes shining with excitement."Tell me how to do that. It might be good for me to be able to do more than hide when we get attacked again."

"Cassandra, see of you can find a bowl, empty please." I said. The healer nodded and left the room. I turned back to Rydia." Picture a pool, its surface without a ripple. Now, with your mind, emerge yourself into that pool and let its serenity embrace you." I instructed.

Rydia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. I watched her closely, noting when her body ceased its twitching and became still. Perfect. Cassandra came in and gently placed the bowl on the table. She smiled as she quietly left the room.

"Now, Elfling, I want you to summon the element of water to you. Just water, not ice of mist. You know how to call things to you. You needn't use the Summoning spell for this. Just call the water to your hands." I instructed lowly, my voice so quiet it was hardly there.

Rydia's hands formed a bowl and she whispered one word. Her palms filled with water and she opened her eyes, staring in wonder at what she'd done." Look, Kalen, look! I did it, and it wasn't hard at all!" She cried.

I smiled." Its your magic, Elfling. Pour the water into the bowl. I want to see if your powerful enough to make it change to ice." I said, nodding to the wooden bowl. Rydia poured the water in and stared at it hard. Her brow creased, but nothing happened. Finally, with a sigh, she sat back.

"Nope, can't do it." She said sadly. I casually lifted my hand and passed it over the bowl. She watched, wide eyed, as the water froze." If I can do it, Elfling, so can you. Try again. This time, though, I want you to summon the water from the bowl to you and make it change to ice as you bring it over." I unfroze the water with a sweep of my hand.

"Okay. I can do this." She muttered, closing her eyes and centering herself again. Not five seconds later, the water rose from the bowl and froze as it dropped into her hands. She whooped and jumped up, holding the ice up like a trophy.

"Nicely done, Elfling. I want you to practice this spell and master it before I teach you the more destructive powers of fire and wind." I said. She smiled and dropped the ice back into the bowl before sitting beside me again.

"Are you sure you're not a Summoner? You can do a lot of the same stuff I can do, and you know a ton of stuff about the craft." She said. It wasn't the first time she'd asked me that, nor would it be the last.

"No, I'm not. I know what I know because your sister often had me help her remember her lessons. I have a better memory than elves do. mostly because I've been alive longer. And the things I do that seem similar to you, are, in fact, demon magic. All demons can freeze water. It makes traveling across lakes easier. And all demons can center themselves if they so choose. Most do not." I explained.

"Makes perfect sense." Rydia said, shaking her head." Oh well. I'm going to go find Smokey so I can find you those tomes I promised. You rest, and don't give Cassandra such a hard time." She ordered, jumping up and running lightly to the stairs. She paused and came back, bending over me to kiss me on the cheek."Thank you for teaching me, Kalen." She whispered, running off.

I shook my head. The girl was a constant surprise. One moment shes ready to pounce on me for annoying her and the next she thanking me for teaching her. The mood swings were tiring. Its a good thing I don't age, or my hair would be white by now.

Cassandra came creeping in, a tray of bowls and glasses and such balanced on her arms. I groaned when I saw she had herbs on there as well." Must we do this again, Cassandra? I already told you that I co not need such things to heal. I will be perfectly fine without them."

"I promised Rydia that I would take proper care of you, and that includes giving you some herbal remedies to speed healing and boost your body's natural defenses." Cassandra said calmly, laying her things out. I decided to humor her. After all, it was for Rydia's sake.

"Do the dragon towers live up to your dreams?" I asked, sitting up to allow her to help me stretch out my poor wings." I've been over the world many times, and nothing quiet comes close to their splendor." I said, sighing." When I see Rydia among the dragons and staring at the history, I feel I cheated her out of a higher education. Did I do the right thing, or was I selfish?"

"It is true that the dragons could have taught her the same things you do and taught her the other things you yourself had to learn along with her, like young elven illnesses and the like. But, if she'd grown up among the dragons, Rydia would not be Rydia. She'd be a very haughty and pampered elven princess with no real world experience." Cassandra said, going over to her bowl and mixing foul smelling gunk into a bowl.

"Elfling also has no real world experience, Cassandra. Sure, she knows more than most princesses are allowed, but she grew up with a demon and a water dragon. We would talk at night, when she was supposed to be sleeping. I fear our influence is rather apparent at times." I said, almost sheepishly. Cassandra smiled and handed me the glass.

"True, but it is refreshing and endearing. Rydia is a charming girl, you could do no better. But you know what the best thing about her is?" She asked. I shook my head, trying to think what would be the perfect quality of an already perfect person." Her honesty, integrity, and her love for everything and every one. And do you know where you got them from?"

"It was a prominent trait in her family." I said, trying not to gag on the nasty drink I was forcing down my throat. " Her sister could never lie, not even to get out of trouble. Rydia doesn't have that problem."

"Children pick up things like that from their family members, Kalen. But Rydia had only you when growing up. So all those qualities I mentioned before...she got them from you. You taught her something dragons never could. You gave her love, and taught her humility. You did a good job, Kalen. And the fact that your a demon....it only made her look beyond the skin. You are a great man, Kalen. Its time for you to see that. Look beyond yourself and see what Rydia sees. You have a greatness in you, and about you. Yours is the power of the kings of old. I have been shown much by the Goddess, and what I've seen of you, past and present, are a constant display of a goodness that surpass many humans and other creatures. It will teach them what you taught Rydia." Cassandra grinned and packed up her things." I can't wait to see the faces when people realize a dragon out-did them all."

I stared after her for a long time, then I put my face in my hands and wept.

~*~

When I went up from Kalen's room, Smokey had been surrounded. He'd seen me and waved. I'd returned the wave and seated my self in a corner. It hadn't taken long for the dragons tp see me, and to rush over.

"An Elf! How long has it been, Arashina?" A large green male asked as he shifted to talk to me where I sat under the lower ceiling of the room." A good hundred years, at least."

"I'm only three hundred years old." I shyly said. They forgot about arguing and begun to question me. I thanked the Goddess for Kalen teaching me all about Elven cutler and telling me of the splendor of my homeland. I was able to easily answer the demanding river of questions. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

"Move it, everyone. We've been traveling all day. She's tired, MOVE IT!" Smokey shouted, effectively clearing moist of the dragons out. A few stayed, obviously higher ranking. They had some rather serious questions for Smokey.

"Akorishanrana, we've heard disturbing tales from Harshina. She claims that you were protecting a demon from her guard? Pray tell us that is her next plug to get you out of the way of royal lineage. If you exposed an elf to such, why...think how much damage could have been done to her!" An elderly gray I was beginning to hate said in a wheezy voice.

Smokey turned to face him with the coldest look in his eyes. Even though the gray was in dragon form and Smokey human, the gray took a step back." Yes, there is a demon in my home. Rydia was raised with him, and even your probing questions could find no fault with her education. She is as sweet and pure as any elf before her, maybe more so. And just so you know...that demon you just insulted is my best friend. He's the only one I've got. He saved my life once of twice along the years. You may ask my father for that story." Smokey said.

I noticed that the air was getting very cold. I rubbed my arms and shivered. I could see my breath, but Smokey never took his eyes off the gray. The dragon seemed to be held in place by something, be it fear or something else, I do not know.

"I may not take up the power my role in our society grants me, but I assure you, I still have it. Now, leave me, before I have a change of heart and decide I like politicizes after all and have you banished." Smokey warned, looking away from the gray and releasing him from some spell.

The gray ran and jumped off the tower, flying as fast as he could towards a big structure in the distance. I stared at Smokey, awed by that rare display of temper as much by the power he wielded.

"That was something. You need to teach me how to hold someone with my gaze, Smokey. Think of all the trouble I could get my self out of with Kalen if I could do that." I said, standing and letting out a sigh of relief as the air warmed up.

Smokey snorted and turned to me."Kalen taught me that, Elfling. Good luck getting away with it. How is he settling in?" He asked, sitting beside me and stretching his arms out over his head.

"As good as can be expected, I guess. He's a bit uncomfortable here. Not that I blame him. Smokey, why doesn't anyone look beyond what he was born as to see the real him? If I wasn't an elf, the dragons wouldn't of looked twice at me at all. If Kalen was a...a...a druid or a human, they would ignore him for the most part, but not kill him. But just because his brothers are evil, they expect him to be as well." I said, hugging my arms to my self." Kalen is the most perfect person I've ever meet. I've never seen anyone so afraid of his power that he didn't use it, and made certain that he never does a wrong. He should be honored."

"I happen to agree with you, but that is something the world, and Kalen himself will have to deal with. He himself conforms to the stereo type of his kind. I remember the first time he had to yell at you for something. He told me later he'd been terrified to do so, because he was certain it would awaken his demon side. He's got it buried so far inside himself, he goes into trances to reach it." Smokey smiled softly and ruffled my hair." Lets go to the library."

"In a second. I want to let Kalen know I'm leaving. Cassandra just came up, so he should be ready to rest." I said, hopping up and running lightly down the stairs. I paused outside Kalen's door, shocked to hear him crying. I ran back up, grabbed Smokey, and pulled him down.

We peered in and saw Kalen wipe his eyes, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed and standing. I was surprised to see him looking so good after the wounds and trauma he;d gone through, but he was a demon and Cassandra had been working on him.

"If your done spying on me..." Kalen said, turning to the door. " I wasn't going to go flying about, if thats whats worrying you. My natural defenses have healed me up well enough that I can move freely about."

"um...Kalen, why were you crying?" I asked, walking inside and plopping down on the bed." I only remember one other time you cried. When Selina died." I said. Smokey counted to three on his fingers.

"Three times for me. The last time you used your demon powers, the time you had to kill a phoenix, and the time Rydia almost died of flu." He said, then he paused and shook his head."My age is showing. You didn't kill the phoenix, you saw Melkin do it for some evil ritual or other."

Kalen ignored him for the most part." Demon's usually never cry. I'm strange among the race. I was crying, Elfling, because Cassandra said some things to me that I do not think are true. I'm...confused." He shook his head." Are you going to the library tonight? I have some idea of what you need to look for."

"Yeah, we're going, but can't you come? Since your better, can't you come with us?" I asked. He shook his head again and looked away. He does that whens he's embarrassed about something."Kalen. Tell me."

"Your friend cannot stand to be the passenger. Even flying here under my power was hard on him. Lets just go now, Elfling, while the others are busy." Smokey said. Kalen nodded his agreement.

"Alright, wheres the library and how long will we be gone?" I asked. Smokey tapped his nails against his teeth as he thought." Well? Certainly its not far."

"No. Its in my fathers home. But Kalen will want tomes so ancient they'll fall apart in our hands and we'll need special gloves blah blah blah. So I expect us to get there in thirty minutes and stay for a good four hours. Are you ready?" He asked.

I got up with a sigh and rubbed my neck." Sure." I nailed Kalen with a look." I hope you know I'm doing this for you. So..." I looked back at Smokey." To the library we go."