Omnixius
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DKP 8-17 to bless a rose
🕑 Added 2022-07-01 15:37:30 +0000 UTCSarah heard the door slam and looked into the sitting roomto see Gesius come in the front door. His aura was filled with concern, and she knew instantly it had to do with Rose.
“Is she alright?” Sarah asked while trying not to worry.
“I showed her my dragon form,” Gersius replied. “She was not prepared to see it.”
“What? Why would that bother her?” Sarah asked as she entered the sitting room. “If anything, it should have helped her feel more relaxed around you.
“She is determined to deny that anything we have to say or show her is the truth,” Gersius replied. “The dragon form forced her to reconsider what I was, and she can't accept where her logic went.” He settled into a plush chair and rested his head in a hand. “I fear she is going to fight us more intensely just to avoid facing the truth.”
“We dragons can be stubborn, but we aren't known for denying the truth,” Sarah sighed and moved to his side to put a hand on his shoulder. “Still, she is cursed, and so long as that has a hold on her heart, she will feel a need to deny us.”
“Maybe we can fix that,” Lilly said as she entered the room with Thayle.
Gersius and Sarah looked up as Lilly shifted nervously.
“Go ahead and tell them,” Thayle urged. “It was a very good idea.”
“Tell us what?” Sarah asked with a hopeful voice.
“I am afraid to say it because I worry it will hurt you,” Lilly replied as she looked at Sarah.
Sarah looked down at Gersius, who took her hand to give her courage. He could see the turmoil in her aura as she both wanted to know the answer and was afraid to hear it. He turned to Thayle and asked if she thought it was too much for Sarah.
“It's a delicate concept,” Thayle said. “It definitely rubs a wound, but in doing so, offers a potential salvation for Rose.”
“Then I need to hear it,” Sarah said defiantly. “No matter how much it hurts.”
Lilly nodded and explained her idea that Balisha was expending a great deal of power protecting Numidel from the curse. Now that he was dead, perhaps that protection could pass to Rose. Sarah was hurt by the idea and drew her hand away from Gersius so she could walk to the far side of the room in silence.
“I’m sorry,” Lilly pleaded. “I didn’t mean to bring him up when you are upset about Rose.”
“Child,” Sarah began and then took a deep breath. “I can't do anything about losing my dearest friend and my daughter's father. But if his blessing can save her, then at least his passing will accomplish something by saving his blood.”
“So you think it might work?” Thayle asked.
“Who can say?” Sarah asked as she turned back with wet eyes. “But I will do anything I have to.” She looked to Gersius with a pleading expression before begging him and Lilly to pray to Balisha for her blessing on Rose.
“Of course,” Gersius said as he got up and went to Lilly's side. “We will go across the bridge and pray to her now.”
“Thank you,” Sarah said as her aura filled with pain.
“I will keep her company,” Thayle said and went to Sarah. “Why don’t we go into the kitchen and have some tea.”
Gersius and Lilly went into the yard and across the patio to the wide, shallow stream. They crossed the stone bridge and walked across a relatively flat area before she turned to take both his hands.
“Do you think Balisha will help?” Lilly asked.
“I am not sure what she will do,” Gersius replied as he sat down and waited for Lilly to sit in his lap. “But we can try and hope that Balisha will answer.”
Lilly nodded and took a deep breath as she straightened her back. Gersius assumed the pose as well, his back perfectly aligned and his hands open with palms up. They closed their eyes and started the process of deep breaths before Lilly broke into a gentle song. Gersius picked up the harmony, his deeper voice lending power to their shared prayer. As they looked inward to the light, their minds were carried away to the source of power they called their goddess. Unbeknownst to them, a face peered out the window, listing to the joined voices.
Sarah opened the door to the cast iron over and blew a line of fire into the wood. Once it was burning, she shut the door and placed a filled kettle over the top.
“Sarah,” Thayle laughed as she sat at the table. “It’s the dream, just imagine a pot of tea and pour it.”
“It doesn’t feel right to cheat things,” Sarah protested. “I want this experience to feel as real as possible, and creating everything out of thin air feels wrong.”
“I see,” Thayle replied with a smile. “You are really looking forward to this part of our lives.”
“I think about it every day,” Sarah replied as she leaned on the table. “But I worry we may never have this home. Our duties to the empire will take many years, and who will pass it on to?”
“You could always pass it on to Rose,” Thayle suggested. “She is your daughter.”
“Only if she breaks the curse, and then I am still not sure,” Sarah replied. “I think Lilly's child would be better suited to the role. She is the first blood of Gersius after all.”
“That is very honorable of you to say,” Thayle agreed as she, too, felt Gersius would want it that way. Still, she knew he would accept rose as a daughter if the woman repented and opened her heart.
“I watched you two play on the swing,” Sarah said as she folded her arms around herself. “I so badly want this happiness for you.”
“Well, thank you,” Thayle replied. “But you need to be happy too.”
“I was happy,” Sarah insisted. “Seeing the joy you two were in was all the reward I ever wanted. It hurts to know this might never be.”
“Oh, please don’t let this dream die,” Thayle urged. “We will find our way here eventually. It means just as much to the rest of us.”
“I know,” Sarah sighed. “It's just the pressures of the never-ending wars and the constant issues of state. I feel like we are being torn apart by the constant demands on our time. We don't even sleep very often.”
“Which is why these two days are extra important,” Thayle insisted as the kettle started to sputter.
Sarah nodded and went to the cupboard to get two teacups. She set them on the table and then took down a jar of ground tea leaves. She used a spoon to fill two metal tea steepers and added them to the cups. A minute later, the kettle started to whistle, and Sarah picked it up in her bare hands to pour it.
“You don't feel that at all?” Thayle asked as Sarah didn't even flinch from the hot metal.
“I am a red dragon,” Sarah replied. “I don't even consider this hot. By now, you should have developed the same resistance. Have you tested it yet?”
“Me? No, I haven’t wanted to see if I will burn or not,” Thayle replied.
“Then try it now,” Sarah said and put the teacup in front of her. “Dip a finger into the water.”
“And if it burns me?” Thayle asked.
“This is the dream,” Sarah replied. “If it burns, you will either jump back unharmed, or it will cause you to wake up.”
“I guess that makes this the best place to test it,” Thayle agreed and dared to hold a finger over the water's surface. She hesitated a moment when she felt the warmth rising, but it didn't feel as hot as she expected. With Sarah glaring at her to get on with it, she nervously dipped a finger in to find the water pleasantly warm.
“Good,” Sarah said and pulled a chair up to sit across from Thayle. “At least we know that is working.”
“So I am immune to fire?” Thayle asked as she looked up.
“Well, probably most normal fires,” Sarah corrected. “If you took a direct and prolonged blast from a dragon, you would likely still feel the heat. Dragon fire is partly a spiritual attack. That is why we reds can burn one another.”
“But it fire,” Thayle insisted. “I could probably survive a dragon sweeping the ground from overhead.”
“I am sure you could,” Sarah agreed. “But let’s not put it to the test if we don’t have to.”
Thayle nodded and picked up her steaming hot tea, daring to press her lips to the cup. It was a warm pleasing sensation, and with a smile, all fear of the heat vanished as she savored the flavor.
“Tea tastes better in the dream,” Thayle replied and set her cup down. “And what are we doing?”
“Enjoying the moment,” Sarah replied before taking her own sip. “Pretending that we will be this happy one day.”
“Sarah, we will be,” Thayle insisted and looked around. “Still, I can't believe you want to be a mother to us. You honestly don't mind taking care of the home while Lilly and I run about?”
“It’s all I dream about,” Sarah replied and set her cup down. “I desire to see you two fill your days with carefree happiness like I never had when I was so young.”
“Oh, Sarah, it isn't too late for you to have fun,” Thayle urged. “In this form, you hardly look any older than Lilly or I.”
“But I am older,” Sarah replied. “Older than all of you combined and doubled. It doesn't matter how I look in this form. In my heart, I want to take my place as the mother over the younger dragons.”
“Well, if that is what you want, I am willing to turn my heart over to you,” Thayle agreed. “I already know Lilly is ready to embrace it.”
“Good, I want more big smiles and giggling laughter as you two play,” Sarah said as she smiled. “Now, what am I going to make for dinner?””
“Are you ready for cooking?” Thayle asked. “I know you have been spending some time in the kitchens at the palace, but this will be your first meal.”
“I am sure I can manage it,” Sarah stated. “I have had the cooks show me how to prepare a few basic dishes, and this being the dream, it will turn out the way I expect it anyway.”
“Oh, that's a good point,” Thayle laughed. “You should count your blessings because most women learn how to cook from years of working alongside their mothers. Those that have to pick it up later tend to make a mess of it for quite a while.”
“I want everything to be just right for Rose's sake. Our husband says he showed her his dragon form, and it shocked her,” Sarah explained.
“So that’s what you were talking about when we came in,” Thayle said as she picked up her cup. “I bet she doesn’t understand how a human can gain strength from a dragon.”
“He didn't say other than to suggest she couldn't accept what his dragon form meant,” Sarah replied. “She ran into the house and shut herself in her room.”
“At least she took advantage of her private space,” Thayle said. “She seemed very confused at the idea that we were giving her someplace to call her own.”
“Confused is a good way to describe it,” Sarah sighed. “Cursed is another.”
“Let's hope Lilly's idea works, and Rose receives Balisha’s protection,” Thayle said.
“Let’s hope, indeed,” Sarah agreed.
Lilly and Gersius saw the golden rope that led to the distant light that was the power of their goddess. Now that the connection was established, they opened their hearts and earnestly shared their desire. That Numidels protection would pass to Rose so that she might feel the power of emotion.
They saw a wind-swept plain of tough green grass and hardy shrubs. There wasn't a tree to be seen, and the sky was blue but full of drifting clouds. Lilly and Gersius turned about, unaware of what they were supposed to see, until Lilly gasped in awe to see a single rose growing among the weeds. She and Gersius bent down to study it and noticed the stem was covered in thorns. Only the petals were safe to touch, and Lilly dared to reach out a single finger.
The moment she touched the petals, the flower was encased in a watery bubble, many of the thorns suddenly falling from the stem. Suddenly the sky darkened, and the moon raced by, then the dawn followed the sun rushing across the sky. They watched as it set and was replaced by the moon yet again. The moon raced across the sky until the dawn started to streak the sky red. Then the bubble burst, and the flower suddenly grew even more thorns than it had before. The petals turned black, and suddenly they were in the field no more. They were on a plateau on a rocky place as the silver moon shone brightly in the night sky. Suddenly a dark sphere began to eclipse the moon, and the ground shook with anger.
Lilly jerked awake unable to hold the vision as something from the shadows screamed to be released. She got up as Gersius came around and quickly rose to comfort her.
“I believe we have gotten our answer,” Gersius said as he pulled Lilly into a hug. “The flower is rose, and the thorns are the curse over her heart. The bubble is meant to show Balisha's protection.”
“What did the moon and sun mean?” Lilly asked.
“Two days,” Gersius replied. At the dawn of the third day, her protection will break, and if Rose hasn't been saved by then, she will become even more dangerous.”
“What about the dark moon eclipsing the silver one?” Lilly asked.
“I do not know,” Gersius replied. “Perhaps that was a warning that Rose will somehow lead to the defeat of Balisha’s power?”
“It can’t be,” Lilly insisted and looked to the house. “How could one little dragon cause such a catastrophe?”
“Look at yourself and ask that again,” Gersius answered.
Lilly looked down as she thought about the chain of events that led to her current life. She helped topple a mad abbot, forge an empire and win several wars. Though she was just one little dragon, she had changed the course of history and brought back a nearly dead goddess.
“Then we have two days to change her heart and save our goddess,” Lilly insisted.
Gersius nodded, but he wasn't sure two days was enough time even if the curse were lifted from Rose’s heart. Still, for Sarah's sake, they would do all they could, and maybe they could tip the odds in their favor.
“How?” Lilly asked.
“Must you read every thought I have?” Gersius asked.
“I like listening to your thoughts,” Lilly replied. “Don’t you listen to mine?”
“No,” Gersius replied with a smile. “But if you must know, I thinking maybe you could talk to her about how you felt when you were bound.”
“Why will that help her?” Lilly asked as they started for the bridge.
“If Balaisha protects her heart, then perhaps your story about being bound and how it helped you feel the missing emotions might encourage her,” Gersius explained.
“Encourage her to do what?” Lilly asked.
“Give someone her true name,” Gersius replied.
Lilly stopped in shock as she considered the idea and how it might help. If they could get Rose to share her true name with somebody who would love her, then maybe she would break. She nodded to Gersius, and they returned to the house to find Sarah and Thayle sitting at the kitchen table.
Gersius explained the vision and his thoughts on what it meant as Sarah started crying. Thayle did her best to comfort Sarah, who had been given a tremendous blessing, but the tears continued to fall. Lilly then explained the part about sharing her story with Rose, hoping to entice the dragon into sharing her true name.
“I need to get a meal on,” Sarah said as she sniffed and wiped at her eyes.
“Sarah, just will it into existence,” Thayle urged. “You are too emotional to be doing all this work.”
“I want to do it,” Sarah replied as she got up. “This is my dream and my first chance to care for my family.”
“I will stay and help her,” Gersius said. “Why don’t you two go out and play.”
“Yes, father,” Thayle said sarcastically as Gersius shook his head. She knew he hated being called that, but she smiled as she took Lilly's hand and went back outside.
Gersius waited until they were gone to turn to Sarah and suggest she check on her daughter. The blessing was probably already in effect, and Rose might be feeling very confused. Sarah nodded and leaned in for a kiss, thanking him for praying to Balisha. She then took a deep breath to steady herself and walked out of the kitchen into the sitting room, heading for the far hall. She went by the girl's rooms until she reached the firmly shut door and paused outside, silently praying for a miracle.
She tested the handle to discover it wasn't locked and slowly opened the door to peek in. Sarah's heart melted to see her daughter lying curled up in the bed. She hadn't noticed Sarah's presence, and for the moment, she looked at peace, as if asleep and dreaming inside the dream.
“Rose?” she called softly and then dared to knock. The red-haired woman shot up and glared at her, but something in her aura was different. It showed confusion if Sarah had the colors right. Thayle had explained it all several times, but colors could mean different things when they were rays, haloes, or pulsing lights. “I am sorry to intrude on you, but I thought maybe you would like to talk. I would love to answer any questions you had about us or anything else.”
“Why?” Rose asked as she looked around the room. “Why do you want this?” She accentuated her question by raising her hands to indicate the room around her. “You want to live like them?”
“I know that is difficult to understand,” Sarah began and paused in the doorway. “May I come in and sit with you to explain it?”
“What choice do I have?” Rose replied with a hint of her anger returning.
“Child, we have given you this space as a refuge from us. I will not intrude on it unless you give me permission,” Sarah replied.
“Then come in,” Rose sighed and looked to the window as she heard laughing. She got up and went to the glass to see Lilly and Thayle sitting on a stone bridge and splashing their bare feet in the water below. They were pressed together with arms around one another, laughing as they kicked water into the air.
Sarah came up behind her to see the sight for herself. She wondered what was going on in that dragon's mind and how it would haunt the woman ever after.
“Are you bothered by what you see?” Sarah asked.
Rose turned to face her, chewing on a thought before looking to the side.
“No, I just don’t understand it,” Rose admitted. “I don’t understand why any of you want to live like this.”
“There is great reward in living with a family,” Sarah replied. “But even I couldn't appreciate it until I met Lilly.”
“Lilly? Why would she make a difference?” Rose asked.
“Lilly discovered a secret by accident,” Sarah explained and walked to the bed to sit on the side. She patted the mattress beside her and beckoned Rose to sit. To her amazement, the dragon came and took a seat, staring at the window as Lilly squealed in delight.
“What did she discover?” Rose asked.
“That human love is far more powerful and complex than we dragons ever gave it credit for,” Sarah replied. “By the time I met her, she had been with Gersius for months, learning emotions over the binding from him.”
“What do you mean she was learning them?” Rose asked.
Sarah was delighted that this conversation was taking place. Gersius hoped Lilly would be the one to tell this story, but Rose was ready to hear it now. Sarah explained how the binding allowed Lilly to feel human emotions for the first time, and once she experienced them, she was unable to let go. She wanted to learn more and more about the human way of life, though her experience was often painful.
“When I met that little flower, I saw something I hadn't seen before,” Sarah explained. “Here was a dragon who saw things as a human did. She was worried about a man and a woman and cared for them with compassion. She laughed, played, and ran about chasing small animals just to hold them and experience their touch. She touched everything as if all the experiences were new, and she loved to wear dresses and soft shoes.
“It is strange being able to feel such things,” Rose admitted as she ran her hand over the blankets. “I don’t think I have ever felt the world around me like this.”
“That's because you can't,” Sarah sighed. “As dragons, we lack the ability to feel fine detail. The warmth of the sun, the gentle caress of the wind, the soothing wash of the rain. All of these things are unknown to us, but humans delight in them. They have such a broad appreciation for things that we don't even know exist. They live in an almost alien world where everything is meant to be experienced and felt.”
“So you want to experience these things?” Rose asked as she looked at her mother. “Being a dragon wasn't good enough?”
“I am still a dragon,” Sarah replied as she took on a proud expression. “I have simply chosen to experience more of the world around me. In this form, we can come to know the world the way humans do, and I assure you, I am far richer for it. I have developed an appreciation for this form and the way it can share in expressions of love. If you knew for even a brief moment what it felt like to be in the arms of somebody who loved you, you would never go back. That is why I want this. I want to build a home where I can dwell with those who love me.”
Rose flared with red, then blue, then rings of green and yellow. She was flashing with emotions so fast that Sarah was unable to mark their passing. The confused dragon got up and paced the room, muttering something about the lies of Balisha.
“Child. Have you ever considered that both goddesses might have been right?” Sarah asked.
“What?” Rose asked as she turned to glare at her mother. “Obviously, Balisha was wrong.”
“Was she?” Sarah asked with a tone of uncertainty. “Here we sit in the form that is her gift, talking in your bedroom. All of this was made possible by her blessing and love for us. She did it so we could grow into something more than we were and become a truly great and powerful culture.”
“Then why did Solesta try to protect us from it?” Rose asked.
“I will never be able to say for certain,” Sarah admitted. “But maybe she feared the dragon's way of life would change too quickly. Humans live such short lives, and they make changes almost overnight. Perhaps she feared dragons might embrace that change and bring it to their own order. In a way, Solesta was simply trying to preserve the dragon's way of life by slowing things down. While Balisha was embracing change too rapidly.”
“So, you admit Balisha was wrong,” Rose stated.
“No, she wasn't wrong, simply too fast. She needed to give Solesta, who was far more dragon in nature, time to adjust to the changes,” Sarah replied and looked away. “I fear we are doing the same thing to you. You are slow to change like Solesta was, and we are driving you to accept huge changes as quickly as possible.”
“It won't work,” Rose replied with a smug smile. “I know the truth, and I will not waiver.”
“I know the only truth that matters,” Sarah replied and got up. “I love you,” she said and walked to the door. “You should go outside and talk to the others. Lilly and Thayle would love to spend time with you. Go splash in the water and see just how different it feels. You will be surprised by the world if you dare to experience it as a human.” She left the room, leaving the door open to encourage the dragon to come out.
Gersius was still sitting in the kitchen, waiting to hear how her conversation went. Sarah was pleased with the results and could tell Rose was being protected. She was far more open to talking and though still defiant, was filled with questions. She sighed and looked about her kitchen as she began to plan her meal. This was her chance to fill the role she dreamed of and take care of her family with gifts of her love.
Lilly held Thayle close as they kicked little arcs of water into the air. Thayle laid her head on Lilly's shoulder and enjoyed the warm embrace, hoping this moment wasn't really a dream. They both looked up when a shadow crossed their paths and met the narrow gaze of Rose, standing beside them.
“What are you doing?” Rose asked with a hint of annoyance.
“Just sitting and talking,” Thayle replied. “You are welcome to join us.”
“I don’t need company,” Rose said defiantly as she folded her arms.
“Yes, you do,” Lilly replied as she leaned back to meet the woman's gaze. “I thought I didn't need anyone either. I was a dragon, and I had my cave, my hoard, and plenty to eat. So why would I need anybody else?”
“Exactly,” Rose agreed.
“Except that I now realize how alone I was,” Lilly added. “And I am terrified of going back to that.”
“Why?” Rose asked. “What do you need their company for?”
“Because I love,” Lilly replied as if the answer were obvious. “And you will never understand it until you experience it for yourself.”
“I have no desire to understand it,” Rose said as her aura flashed with a lie.
Lilly and Thayle smiled but kept their secret to themselves, not wanting to alert Rose that they knew. Instead, Lilly went back to splashing while Thayle snuggled in close, the two women laughing and smiling again.
“I thought you were talking?” Rose asked.
“We were,” Thayle replied. “We were just talking about my building a temple here.”
“You want to build a temple in the dream?” Rose said as if the idea were stupid.
“Not the dream,” Lilly laughed. “This valley is based on a real place. We will build the temple in the real one.”
“There is a forest at the far end,” Thayle said and pointed in the direction. “I temple will go in the forest where I will surround it with flowers.”
“Why?” Rose asked as if the idea were pointless.
“I happen to like flowers,” Thayle replied and got up. She walked barefoot to the shore and then waived a hand as she sang a melodious song. The grass all around began to shift and move as flowers in a wide range of colors burst forth. Rose moved to the middle of the bridge to avoid being swarmed by flowers, but her expression was one of confusion.
“What good is that?” Rose asked as Thayle finished her song.
“It adds a splash of color, a pleasant scent, and now we have flowers to pick for Sarah to put on the dinner table,” Thayle said as she waded into the blooms and began to pluck some plants. Lilly joined her, each woman picking a dozen flowers to give to Sarah.
“This is madness,” Rose balked as she watched them work. “None of this serves a purpose.”
“Yes, it does,” Lilly replied as she plucked a blue flower that she fancied. “Giving them to Sarah will make her happy and fill her with love.”
Rose tossed her head in annoyance and growled that a dragon didn't need to feel love. Lilly turned about and walked over the bridge, holding out three red flowers, one of which was a rose.
“Give these to your mother and see what happens,” Lilly suggested.
“Why?” Rose asked. “I have no need of silly rodent things.”
“Yes, you do,” Lilly replied. “You just can't see it because of the curse. But you need it like you need gold, maybe even worse. I was angry beyond measure when I was first bound, but I began to feel Gersius over the connection we shared. His emotions were so strong I started to feel love, compassion, mercy, and other things I didn't even have a word for. Just a few days into being bound and I was already questioning what I believed. What I didn't know was his binding shielded me from the curse. Without it to blind me, I was able to not only learn of his emotions but feel them myself. Then I started to see the beautiful things around me, like flowers,” Lilly finished and held the three red blooms up.
Rose swatted them out of her hand, causing Lilly to frown, but she said nothing and turned her back on the angry dragon. She returned to Thayle, and they gathered more flowers before walking hand in hand back to the house. Rose followed as they crossed the patio, sniffing at the air as she detected a strange scent. It was nothing like she had ever experienced before, which sparked her curiosity.
“Well, Sarah has learned a little bit about cooking,” Thayle said.
“Don’t you mean mother?” Lilly teased with a smile.
“Ha, let's give mother her flowers,” Thayle replied as Rose followed them into the kitchen. Sarah was in the middle of tasting a sauce simmering in a cast iron. There were fish seasoned with a dozen herbs and what looked like butter cooking to one side. Beside them on the counter was a tub of white butter and a plate of steaming freshly baked bread.
“Bread!” Lilly said excitedly as she came in.
“What are you three doing in here?” Sarah asked as she looked up. “Dinner isn't ready, and I have a lot of work to do.”
“We picked these for you,” Lilly said, holding out her flowers as Thayle joined her side.
“You picked flowers for me?” Sarah asked as a smile spread over her face. “Oh, you beautiful creatures,” she said and wrapped them in a hug. She squeezed them tight and then gathered the flowers to put them in a jar that she set in the middle of the table. She stepped back to wipe a tear from her eye, then looked up as Lilly and Thayle held hands again. She caught sight of the angry look on Rose's face but didn't allow it to cloud her moment of joy. This was a magical moment where her lovely wives treated her like the head of their home. She intended to savor every second of it, and Rose would have to puzzle it out later.
“Thank you,” Sarah replied and turned back to her cooking. “Now, give me a little more time to prepare the food.”
“Speaking of which, how did you manage to make a dough and raise a bread so quickly?” Thayle asked.
“I cheated a little,” Sarah replied with a wink. “Now out of my kitchen. I will call you when the meal is ready.” She shooed them back out the door and closed it behind them, filled with a sense of joy. Tonight would be her first meal served to her family, and her errant daughter Rose would be among them. This called for something special, and with a little bit more cheating, she just might manage a pie.
Comments
Sam4005
After reading release that witch i can be sure that food is the true way of bringing lost woman to your side
