‘I’m sorry, I thought you were in danger’ he awkwardly declared. Lexi smiled,
‘It’s fine Rowan, just push the door shut and pass me my towel, would you?’. He fumbled to push the door shut and scooped up her towel. He kept his gaze lowered as he approached and held the towel out towards her. Lexi giggled a little,
‘Rowan, it’s okay, you don’t have to look away’. He slowly raised his gaze until they were eye-to-eye. She stepped out of the shower towards him, placed her hand on his bare chest, leant in and kissed him tenderly on the lips. She them took the towel from him, wrapping it around herself. He slowly moved forward, reaching up and brushing his fingertips gently along her collarbone. His hand slowly moved up to cradle the side of her neck, his thumb gently resting on the side of her face.
‘I love you’ he whispered, as he passionately returned the kiss.
‘I love you too’ she sighed, as he wrapped his arms around her.
***
Amber was amazed by Lexi’s ability to spend over an hour in the shower. As she entered the room, wrapped in her damp grey towel, Amber laughed,
‘You must be part Naiad, the length of time it takes you to have a wash!’. Lexi flushed,
‘Yeah, I was feeling pretty grungy after days without a decent shower. I don’t think a dip in the river counts’ she laughed, pulling some fresh clothes from her drawers. Dressing under her towel, she emerged wearing some cut off, dark denim shorts and a teal green t-shirt with a campervan on it, she decided socks wouldn’t be necessary. She was beginning to feel comfortable with the whole bare feet thing.
‘By the way’ Amber queried, ‘Have you seen Rowan? He was here when I went to see Mum, when I got back, he’d vanished. I figured he was with you until I realised you were still in the shower’. Lexi flushed a deep shade of purple, thankfully Amber hadn’t noticed as she sat on her bed, flicking through a magazine.
‘Um, no, no I haven’t seen him. I… I think I’ll go look for him actually’ she stammered as she swiftly made an exit through the french doors.
Rowan stood with his back against the wall, one foot resting on the brickwork. A smile spread across his face as Lexi bolted out of the doors next to him,
‘That was a close one!’ he whispered, trying his best not to laugh out loud. Lexi playfully slapped his arm and shook her head at him. She took his hand and flicked her wings open,
‘Are there any ponds or rivers nearby?’, he nodded, a questioning expression on his face.
‘Sure, there’s the Dragonfly pond only five minutes from here, why?’. She smiled,
‘I’ve got something to show you. Take me there?’. Rowan grinned at her wickedly and flicked his wings open,
‘You’ve got more to show me? I thought I’d seen it all!’ he chuckled, swiftly kissing her and hurtling off, as fast as his wings could take him. She caught up to him in less than a second, playfully poking him as she matched his speed.
They landed in an overgrown area, deep within the woods, the sun shining down upon them through the dappled leaves. A large pond sat close by, willow trees surrounding its banks, draping their branches into the still water. There was an abundance of Dragonflies flitted around, Lexi guessed that was clearly how it got its name.
‘This is perfect’, she stated as she approached the water. Rowan tipped his head to the side, still confused as to what her intention was. She lifted her hand toward the pond and the water began to swirl gently. Lifting her hand toward the sky, the water followed, fish and all other living beings included. She paused, focusing on settling the ripples. Soon the water looked more like a glass fishbowl, the creatures within swam around, generally none the wiser. She turned to him smiling,
‘I was experimenting with the water when you burst in earlier, what do you think?’. Rowan stared in astonishment, completely lost for words. He just nodded, gazing up at the large orb of water. She aimed her focus back at the water, and with very few ripples, began to mould the water into a large dragon.
‘Wow!’ a voice exclaimed from behind them. Lexi jumped, losing control of the water.
‘Amber!’ She yelled, laughing as both her and Rowan were engulfed in a tidal wave. ‘So much for clean clothes!’ She chuckled. Amber hung her head apologetically,
‘Sorry. I saw you guys heading out this way, I was curious where you were heading’. Rowan chuckled,
‘Good job that’s all we were doing’ he murmured, Lexi flushed a little, giving him a swift dig in the ribs with her elbow. She turned slowly, taking in everything around her.
‘There are some large rocks over there, let’s go that way’, She stated heading off into the woods.
‘How do you know that?’ Amber queried. Lexi smiled,
‘I can feel them!’.
A short walk into the woods stood a large pile of boulders, covered with moss and debris from the surrounding woodland. Rowan jumped up onto one of the rocks, hands on hips, puffing out his chest. He looked like a superhero.
‘Okay, let’s set you a task’, he stretched out his arm and pointed to a raised area in the distance, ‘Move these rocks, all together, not one by one, to that mound over there. Then stack them one on top of the other without them falling over’. Lexi raised her eyebrows,
‘How about starting off with a smaller task?’ Rowan shook his head as he approached,
‘Sorry, no time for smaller tasks’ he winked, giving her a cheeky peck on the cheek. Lexi closed her eyes for a few minutes, sensing everything around her, judging the mass and shape of each piece of stone.
‘Okay, I can do this’ she murmured, raising one hand, then the other. The boulders began to tremble, the debris shaking off and falling to the ground. Then slowly, but surely, they rose into the air, all together. Keeping them suspended approximately a metre from the ground, Lexi began to move them towards the mound. As they grew closer, they separated, each suspending themselves into a queue leading to the final resting spot. The first rock suspended above the mound began to spin, then slowly dropped into place, burying itself approximately halfway into the earth. On the summit of the boulder sat a level area, Lexi then used this surface as a resting area for the next rock, spinning that until she found the correct balancing point. Once in place, two more followed, until the fifth and final boulder. The last one was proving difficult, it didn’t feel like it had a good point to balance it on. Lexi moved it up into position and suspended it upon the other four rocks, not letting go of it with her mind. She thought for a moment then reached out into the woodland, searching for something to help keep it in place. A smile grew on her face as she found the perfect thing. There was a sudden burst of earth from around the boulders as vines shot up out of the ground and began to weave themselves around the pillar of rocks. They spun a beautiful, intricate pattern as they climbed. Wrapping themselves around the last stone, they reached out into the air and latched onto nearby branches, safely securing what had become a magnificent work of art. As the growth settled flowers began to bloom on the stems, adding a final stunning touch. Rowan and Amber stood and stared, speechless, as they admired Lexi’s creation. She flicked open her wings and flew to the top of the towering formation, perching herself on the highest rock, now securely held in place. She closed her eyes for a moment and drew a deep breath. She immediately detected a whistling sound, and it was getting closer, very quickly. Her eyes shot open, turning to her right she could see an arrow heading directly for her. She swiftly raised her hand, it stopped mid-air. Rowan was at her side in an instant, scanning the trees for the archer.
‘There’ she whispered to him, pointing off into the distance, at a tightly overgrown area on the ground. She flicked her hand and the undergrowth unravelled from around the culprit. There sat a young boy, no older than ten, bow in hand.
‘I’ll kill him!’ Rowan growled, as he darted past her towards the boy.
‘Rowan, NO!’ She yelled. She flicked her hand once more and the boy flew into the air, through no choice of his own, and was drawn swif
tly towards her. She placed him down on the ground next to Amber, keeping a hold on him so he couldn’t hurt her. Lexi lowered herself to the ground, Rowan joining her, clearly annoyed.
‘I’m sorry Rowan, but he’s just a little boy that’s been led astray’. She smiled down at the child, ‘He’s you, had you not met Amber and Celeste’. He took a deep breath and nodded. She knelt beside the boy, holding out her hand and gently placing it on his arm,
‘What’s your name?’ she questioned. He flinched away, looking absolutely terrified. Lexi shook her head gently, ‘It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you’. He looked up, towards Rowan,
‘He might though’ he muttered. Rowan joined Lexi on his knees beside her.
‘’No I won’t. I was angry with you for trying to shoot someone I love dearly, but I understand that you were ordered to do it, weren’t you?’ The boy nodded his head. ‘So, what’s your name?’. The boy pulled himself upright, as if standing to attention,
‘My name is Theo, son of the Commander. He won’t let you keep me prisoner you know!’. Rowan’s whole body slumped. Lexi looked from him to the boy and back again, the realisation sinking in. They looked so similar, they even had the same black and white hair.
‘Rowan, do you know him?’ she questioned. Rowan slowly nodded,
‘He was born a year before Ash died’. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he looked into the boys’ eyes, ‘I can’t let you go back Theo, you’re my brother. Whether you remember me or not, there’s a much better world out here for you, out from under the wings of our Father’. Theo nodded slowly,
‘I remember you vaguely. You were always kind to me’, He dipped his head, wiping away a stray tear. ‘Why didn’t you ever come back?’ Rowan sighed,
‘I couldn’t. He was trying to have me killed. I couldn’t get close enough, I wanted so much to get you out of there. I’m so sorry, can you forgive me?’ Theo nodded slowly,
‘I can try’. He looked to Lexi, ‘I’m sorry I tried to shoot you, are you my brothers’ girlfriend?’ Lexi chuckled a little,
‘It’s okay, it’s not your fault. And yes, I guess I am his girlfriend’ she winked.
Eve of Battle
Before they knew it, the sun was beginning to set, the day drawing to a close. Lexi sat alone on the porch, gazing out at the human world. Only a few days previous she’d arrived here, none the wiser. It felt like a lifetime ago. From where she sat, she could hear the clearing on the other side of the house, alive with the sound of hundreds of birds. They had been sent as messengers to all the villages loyal to the crown within the kingdom, requesting their assistance in taking down Garrick. The instructions were to meet at the Gilded Fields two hours before sunrise tomorrow. A part of her hoped not too many would answer the call, she was terrified she’d have to bury more innocent lives, gone too soon. Another part of her was hoping that there would be enough people to give her hope, that they had a chance against Garrick. She sighed and laid back onto the decking, hanging her legs over the edge so her feet swayed loosely amongst the long grass.
She swiftly sprung bolt upright, an idea forming in her head. She didn’t want the lives of her people put at risk, so what if she could give them the extra edge and have the people set back as reserves. She smiled as she rose from the decking. Sneaking out of the back doors, careful not to catch Rowan’s attention as he sat talking with Theo, she entered the woods. She had a good feel for the land now, it was as if she had an inbuilt GPS. She picked up speed, flitting faster than she ever had previously. Within a few minutes she stood looking down at the Palace from a ridge nearby. From above ground, it was relatively small, its white marble walls, glistening in the last of the daylight. She knelt on the floor, placing both hands on the ground, I really hope this works, she thought to herself. She closed her eyes, reaching her mind deep into the ground, searching. There you are she sighed.
Deep beneath the earth, trapped within the tunnel, the dragon stirred. She was tired and so hungry. She had found the spider that the children had killed and had already feasted upon it, but it wasn’t enough, and she feared she would now die within the cramped passage. A voice entered her mind, a child’s voice, one that she recognised from only a few days previous. Hi, my name is Lexi. I’ve come to free you. The Dragon signed, how is a child meant to free me? She replied. Above ground Lexi smiled, I’m not just a child, I’m the new Queen and I am fighting to restore balance within this Realm. That means setting you free, so you may join Titus. I believe you may know of him?. A little hope ignited within the dragon, I would owe you everything young Queen, if you can indeed free me. I thought I was the last of my kind. Titus is a majestic dragon, I would gladly join him. Lexi nodded her head, he truly was magnificent. I’m going to come down there in just a few moments and unlock the door. Do whatever you need to do to free yourself. You’re below the Palace, I’m guessing that will be destroyed, but that’s fine. When you emerge, I have the power to heal you, so you can join Titus. Are you ready? The Dragon drew in a large breath of stale air, hopeful that she’ll soon be breathing fresh open air. I am ready. However, if I am under the palace, the Elders are somewhere above me, they were the ones who trapped me in this tunnel? If I encounter any of them on my ascent, may I take my revenge? Lexi paused, contemplating for a moment. I don’t believe in revenge, but if you feel it’s what you need to do, I won’t stop you, she replied, sighing deeply at the decision, but understanding it was a step towards gaining the dragon’s trust, by letting her have her vengeance. Lexi poised herself, then flitted swiftly down the side of the ridge, through the entrance of the Palace, and within seconds stood in the basement, face-to-face with the blood sealed door. She pulled out a penknife she’d stashed into her pocket, flicked out the blade and carved a small cut into her palm, placing it onto the seal. The door began to creak and groan, I’ll be waiting on the ridge outside, she stated, turning, and flitted swiftly back the way she came. I will join you shortly, the dragon replied, as a rumbling of collapsing stone could be heard deep below the Palace.
***
Lexi stood on the ridge, watching as the Palace collapsed into rubble before her. As the dust settled, she could see the outline of a pale grey dragon, barely more than a skeleton, its bones protruding through its paper-thin skin. It approached Lexi, clearly weak and struggling to move. Lexi walked to meet her, reaching out and stroking the side of her enormous face as she laid herself onto the ground.
‘You poor creature, I’m so sorry for what they did to you’. She said solemnly, ‘I’m also sorry I didn’t set you free when we encountered each other a few days ago. My friends and I were very scared’. The dragon laughed weakly,
‘I don’t blame you child, I would have been scared of me too’. Lexi knelt beside her,
‘I’m going to try and heal you, is that okay?’, the dragon nodded slightly. She placed her hands upon her, closed her eyes, and began to channel the light upwards and outwards, focussing it on healing and providing energy and life. She could feel the bones slowly starting to disappear below the dragon’s flesh as she began to regain her former self. Lexi opened her eyes and stepped back. Before her stood an altogether different creature. She was smaller than Titus, but no less magnificent. She was a beautiful shimmering pale green, her scales edged with a deep emerald, two magnificent crystal horns adorning her head.
‘Wow, you’re beautiful!’ Lexi remarked, ‘What’s your name?’ The dragon smiled, baring her teeth, which looked a lot less menacing than they had the last time they met. She bowed her head gracefully,
‘Thank you, my name is Silva’. In the distance Lexi could hear a ruckus, guessing it was Garrick’s men, realising the Palace had been reduced to ruins.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you Silva. I fear we don’t have much time before Garrick’s men are upon us. Are you able to find Titus?’. She nodded,
‘I can sense where he is, he’s not far from here’, Lexi smiled.
‘That’s great. Go to him, if you wish, and I hope to see
you both soon’ She reached up and placed her hand upon Silva’s chest, ‘You are every bit as majestic as Titus’ she winked. Silva puffed herself up, feeling immensely proud of her restored body, then spread her wings and with only a few swoops, was airborne and disappearing into the distance. Lexi turned away from the rubble that was meant to be her birth right and flitted swiftly into the forest before she could be seen.
***
Lexi arrived back at the Gateway, a little the worse for wear. As she emerged from the woodland, Rowan ran to her, catching her as she collapsed from exhaustion. She was barely aware of the quarrelling around her, as Rowan carried her through the house, out onto the porch and laid her down on the front lawn. Instantly she felt the connection, as she’d hoped. Her energy soon beginning to return as she lay there, all she could hear were Rowan and Amber arguing. They were blaming each other for having not kept an eye on her.
‘I don’t need a babysitter’ she mumbled. They both ran to her side. Rowan lifted her head slightly, and cradled her into his lap.
‘Where were you?’ He challenged, concern evident in his voice. Amber took her hand,
‘We were worried about you, and with good reason by all accounts!’ she stressed. Lexi smiled a little,
‘I visited an old friend of ours’ She whispered, still too frail to speak clearly. They both went silent for a moment. It was Rowan who began putting the pieces together,
‘Lexi, did you flit all the way to the Palace?’, She nodded. ‘Did you free that beast from the tunnel?’, She nodded once more.
‘She’s not a beast Rowan, she’s a beautiful Dragon, her name is Silva’. He gasped,
‘You restored her health, that’s why you’ve returned like this?’ She smiled up at him,
‘Yes, because if I’d left her another day or two, she would have been dead. Now they have a chance, and so do we. There are now two dragons, and they’re on our side.’ Rowan gazed down at her, he understood why she’d done it, as did Amber, but neither of them could help being frustrated with her for not taking them with her. Especially Rowan, he was meant to be her guardian. They sat on the grass in silence, taking in the night sky as Lexi recharged her strength.
Ignite: The Awakening Page 10