Post by Elloria on Dec 11, 2010 19:55:25 GMT -5
Niko leaned against the wall beside the entrance to the Sacred Font, yawning widely. Although he loved his job, one thing he could never get used to was the late hours of it. It was only once or twice a year, but every time the new eggs came in he was usually up until the wee hours of the morning. No one ever saw their delivery, save for the two guards beside him. He didn’t quite understand the need for such secrecy - this was the Riders’ stronghold, after all. But who was he to complain when he was allowed to be so close to the beings he loved? So he stood there, waiting for his master to return with this year’s delivery.
Several more hours passed before he finally heard the tell-tale beating of wings that signaled his master’s arrival. Niko stepped away from the wall and out into the courtyard, scanning the skies. It was another few moments before he saw the familiar form of the dragon Salien. Soon, Salien’s silvery form hovered just above Niko, his powerful wings sending up a cloud of dust with each beat. Murmuring a brief shielding spell, Niko rushed forward to take hold of the small bag clutched in Salien’s claws. The moment he had it, he dashed back out from underneath the massive dragon so that Salien could land. Niko ended the spell and looked up at the proud Rider astride Salien. “I trust your journey went well, Melatoth? Salien?”
Melatoth leaned forward and patted Salien’s neck. “Uneventful, as usual. Though Salien grumbled the whole way back. I think he likes the late hours less than you, Niko.”
Do I look like a creature of the night? I am not and never have been nocturnal. It’s too cold after the sun sets, Salien remarked snarkily. Melatoth simply laughed. He had once confided to Niko that he loved the night. It was one of the more minor things the Rider and Dragon were often at odds about. But the pair worked well together, as all such opposite pairs did. It briefly stirred that deeply buried longing in Niko to share in that incredible bond. But it died as quickly as it had welled up. The odds were against him now, after all. It was rare for an elf to find a dragon by this age, after all. The best chance was in childhood when they first walked through the Font.
But no matter. He smiled at Melatoth and Salien. “If you both wish to take your leave, then, I can take it from here.” Salien’s pleased rumble preceded his abrupt takeoff. Niko turned his head slightly to avoid getting a faceful of dust before waving his farewell to the parting pair. Once they were gone from sight, he turned and entered the Sacred Font. He quickly descended the spiraling staircase just within the door, glad for the solitude he now had. It was normally somewhat busy around here, with at least a dozen or more elves at any given time tending to the eggs and the Font as well as various guards wandering about.
Niko followed the stairs down to the deepest vault of the Font, where all the newest eggs were placed. He marched through the long, echoing hall, glancing around every now and again at the countless eggs surrounding him. His hands had passed over every single one at some point. Not one had ever hatched for him. It was a rather depressing thought, so he quickly shoved it from his mind. Eventually, he reached the two ‘nests’ that had been prepared for the two new eggs they were receiving tonight. With a sigh he placed each in their own nest. His fingers lingered longingly over the second one, as if drawn to it and reluctant to pull away. He did, though. It really was time to get going. He neatly folded the cloth sack the eggs had been carried in, tucked it into a pocket of his scholar’s cloak, and whirled away from the nests.
He was about halfway down the hall when he heard a sudden tapping sound from somewhere behind him. He froze. He had instantly recognized the sound - hadn’t he heard it numerous times before? Whenever some lucky young elf had an egg hatch for him or her. But he couldn’t turn around to see for sure. Not until he heard several sharp cracks reverberating through the vault, the sound of shell pieces thudding softly against the sandy floor. Only then did he slowly turn back. His eyes widened as he saw a small hatchling shaking itself free from the farthest nest - from the egg his fingers had lingered upon. It flopped down into the sand with a small squeak before looking directly at Niko. Almost silently demanding that he return to its side. Without thought, Niko strode quickly back the way he came and dropped to his knees beside the hatchling.
It looked up at him, intelligence shining in its reptilian eyes. Had it really hatched for him? Well, who else could it have hatched for? No one else had touched it, after all. He hesitantly reached his right hand out towards it. His hand shook with eagerness, with fear. Was this the moment he had hoped for all these years? He stopped a few inches from the hatchling, waiting. It studied his hand for several moments, as if not quite sure of what it was looking at. Niko waited patiently - after all, he’d waited over two centuries for this moment. He could wait a little longer.
His patience was rewarded when it stretched out its long neck and gently nudged his palm with his snout. A sharp, blinding pain shot up his arm and he cried out in shock. It was far more painful than he had initially anticipated, even after having watched this moment so many times. He felt an overwhelming presence in his mind, nearly blocking out the pain. Nearly. But between the pain and the presence, it was a bit too much for Niko at that moment. He lost consciousness and collapsed, the sand softening his fall. It was several hours later before he regained his senses, to find the dragon curled up on his chest and vibrating with a pleased rumbling. He pulled his gaze from the hatchling to look up. Above him stood one of the guards from outside, staring down at him in surprise. “Are you all right, Niko-vodhr?”
Niko looked back at the dragon. A small smile slowly lit up his face. “Yes, Renaeu.” He lifted up his right hand - now glowing slightly with the gedwëy ignasia - and gently stroked the hatchling’s side. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt better in my life.”
Several more hours passed before he finally heard the tell-tale beating of wings that signaled his master’s arrival. Niko stepped away from the wall and out into the courtyard, scanning the skies. It was another few moments before he saw the familiar form of the dragon Salien. Soon, Salien’s silvery form hovered just above Niko, his powerful wings sending up a cloud of dust with each beat. Murmuring a brief shielding spell, Niko rushed forward to take hold of the small bag clutched in Salien’s claws. The moment he had it, he dashed back out from underneath the massive dragon so that Salien could land. Niko ended the spell and looked up at the proud Rider astride Salien. “I trust your journey went well, Melatoth? Salien?”
Melatoth leaned forward and patted Salien’s neck. “Uneventful, as usual. Though Salien grumbled the whole way back. I think he likes the late hours less than you, Niko.”
Do I look like a creature of the night? I am not and never have been nocturnal. It’s too cold after the sun sets, Salien remarked snarkily. Melatoth simply laughed. He had once confided to Niko that he loved the night. It was one of the more minor things the Rider and Dragon were often at odds about. But the pair worked well together, as all such opposite pairs did. It briefly stirred that deeply buried longing in Niko to share in that incredible bond. But it died as quickly as it had welled up. The odds were against him now, after all. It was rare for an elf to find a dragon by this age, after all. The best chance was in childhood when they first walked through the Font.
But no matter. He smiled at Melatoth and Salien. “If you both wish to take your leave, then, I can take it from here.” Salien’s pleased rumble preceded his abrupt takeoff. Niko turned his head slightly to avoid getting a faceful of dust before waving his farewell to the parting pair. Once they were gone from sight, he turned and entered the Sacred Font. He quickly descended the spiraling staircase just within the door, glad for the solitude he now had. It was normally somewhat busy around here, with at least a dozen or more elves at any given time tending to the eggs and the Font as well as various guards wandering about.
Niko followed the stairs down to the deepest vault of the Font, where all the newest eggs were placed. He marched through the long, echoing hall, glancing around every now and again at the countless eggs surrounding him. His hands had passed over every single one at some point. Not one had ever hatched for him. It was a rather depressing thought, so he quickly shoved it from his mind. Eventually, he reached the two ‘nests’ that had been prepared for the two new eggs they were receiving tonight. With a sigh he placed each in their own nest. His fingers lingered longingly over the second one, as if drawn to it and reluctant to pull away. He did, though. It really was time to get going. He neatly folded the cloth sack the eggs had been carried in, tucked it into a pocket of his scholar’s cloak, and whirled away from the nests.
He was about halfway down the hall when he heard a sudden tapping sound from somewhere behind him. He froze. He had instantly recognized the sound - hadn’t he heard it numerous times before? Whenever some lucky young elf had an egg hatch for him or her. But he couldn’t turn around to see for sure. Not until he heard several sharp cracks reverberating through the vault, the sound of shell pieces thudding softly against the sandy floor. Only then did he slowly turn back. His eyes widened as he saw a small hatchling shaking itself free from the farthest nest - from the egg his fingers had lingered upon. It flopped down into the sand with a small squeak before looking directly at Niko. Almost silently demanding that he return to its side. Without thought, Niko strode quickly back the way he came and dropped to his knees beside the hatchling.
It looked up at him, intelligence shining in its reptilian eyes. Had it really hatched for him? Well, who else could it have hatched for? No one else had touched it, after all. He hesitantly reached his right hand out towards it. His hand shook with eagerness, with fear. Was this the moment he had hoped for all these years? He stopped a few inches from the hatchling, waiting. It studied his hand for several moments, as if not quite sure of what it was looking at. Niko waited patiently - after all, he’d waited over two centuries for this moment. He could wait a little longer.
His patience was rewarded when it stretched out its long neck and gently nudged his palm with his snout. A sharp, blinding pain shot up his arm and he cried out in shock. It was far more painful than he had initially anticipated, even after having watched this moment so many times. He felt an overwhelming presence in his mind, nearly blocking out the pain. Nearly. But between the pain and the presence, it was a bit too much for Niko at that moment. He lost consciousness and collapsed, the sand softening his fall. It was several hours later before he regained his senses, to find the dragon curled up on his chest and vibrating with a pleased rumbling. He pulled his gaze from the hatchling to look up. Above him stood one of the guards from outside, staring down at him in surprise. “Are you all right, Niko-vodhr?”
Niko looked back at the dragon. A small smile slowly lit up his face. “Yes, Renaeu.” He lifted up his right hand - now glowing slightly with the gedwëy ignasia - and gently stroked the hatchling’s side. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt better in my life.”
