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DKP 8-16 A Rose with thorns
🕑 Added 2022-06-24 18:55:21 +0000 UTCSarah was tremendously nervous as she and her family gathered in bed to sleep for two days. She knew this time was precious, not only because of her daughter but because of the war in general. Gersius needed to march, and this delay was a sacrifice for her well-being. She intended to make the most of their time and laid her head on her husband's chest to begin.
A moment later, she was in the dream and using the bind, she located her loved ones, drawing them to herself one by one. When they were all gathered, she focused on the spaces below the palace and once again found themselves wandering the cells.
Just as she promised, Rose was waiting, standing behind her bars as she waited, the look on her face showing her discontent. Sarah said nothing as she took Lilly and Thayle's hands and focused on the valley.
She opened her eyes and let out a deep breath as she gazed over the peace of the valley. This place was special to her now, a safe haven where their love would dwell one day. Lilly blazed with happiness over the bind, the sensation causing Sarah to smile. They were in the one place they all wanted to be, and hopefully, Rose would learn something from that.
“So this is it?” Rose asked as she looked around. “An empty, desolate valley?”
“This is our home,” Sarah replied and let out a deep sigh. “And you are always welcome here.”
“I have my own lair,” Rose countered and took a few steps before looking at the cave. “So you all sleep in there?”
“No,” Gersius replied as he stepped up to Sarah and put an arm around her waist. “We will create a house and provide you a room.”
“It will take a few minutes to get ready,” Sarah added. “You are welcome to watch us plan it out, or you can explore the valley, but you must not leave the valley.”
Rose looked angry, but she folded her arms and waited to see what would happen next. Sarah and Gersius held their embrace and walked across the valley, leading the way to where the house would be. Sarah knew their future home inside and out, and with great joy, she focused on seeing it mirrored in the dream. To all their surprise, not only did the house appear, but the land around it turned green with tall grass. Several large trees and gardens full of flowers appeared as well, as Sarah's emotions fueled her efforts, and she went wild with creative desire.
“Wow,” Lilly gasped as she looked all around to see they had a small stone wall that fenced in a yard and what looked like a vegetable garden down one side.
“She turned the whole valley green,” Thayle exclaimed as she looked across the vast rolling landscape. “She even brought my forest into being.”
“How did you create such a thing with so little effort?” Rose gasped as she spun about. “The focus needed to manifest and hold something this large must be tremendous.”
Sarah was awestruck by the power that flowed through her being. She realized she had finally done it and allowed her emotions to power her efforts. She felt like a goddess, the strength of her love for this place and her desire to reach her daughter giving her supernatural power.
“She even made Gersius's workshop,” Lilly added as she peered around the side of the two-story house with a slate roof and large sunny windows.
“This is our home,” Sarah said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “And in it, I will take care of my family for the rest of eternity.”
“You won't survive the war,” Rose countered as Gersius turned his stern gaze on her and shook his head.
“Child, you have no idea just how powerful we have become,” Sarah said as she herself grappled with the idea.
Rose folded her arms as Sarah led the way, taking them inside to reveal a fully furnished house full of furniture and charm. Tears continued to roll down Sarah's cheek as she took them through the dining room and into the kitchen, where her massive wooden table dominated the center of the room.
“What is this space for?” Rose asked as she had little to no experience with human comforts.
“It is a room used to prepare foods,” Sarah replied. “The dominant woman often labors here to feed her family.”
“Why would you care what they ate?” Rose asked as she dared to look into the shelves full of jars and bottles. “Let them hunt something in the nearby forest.”
“You will come to understand,” Sarah replied. “I will cook you things to rival what you had in the dungeons.”
“She hasn’t been eating the food we have been providing her,” Gersius pointed out and turned his gaze on Rose again. “She prefers to throw it on the floor.”
“I don’t need your vile food,” Rose grumbled until Lilly stepped forward.
“I thought the same thing,” Lilly admitted as she walked up to Sarah and took her hands. “But human foods smelled so wonderful, and I tried some. I can't explain how shocking it was to taste their cooked foods and discover how amazing it was. They have so many varieties of things to eat that I am still surprised by new things, and I love them.”
“Every culture has its methods and recipes,” Thayle pointed out. “I bet you will still be surprised a thousand years from now.”
Rose looked confused as she ran a hand along Sarah’s table. She was obviously unfamiliar with human culture and somewhat curious about what was happening. However, the red of anger still filled her aura, and she was quick to see a flaw in Sarah's plan. “So you intend to toil here for these humans and an inferior dragon?”
“It isn't toiling,” Sarah quipped. “Nothing is a toil if it is done out of love, and you mind your tongue about who is an inferior dragon. Need I remind you that Lilly was able to force you through the dream-like a dog on a leash.”
Rose’s nostrils flared as she went silent, unwilling to challenge Sarah on so blatant a display of Lilly’s power. Sarah nodded and took them out the back door onto the stone patio to find the benches and chairs arranged around a square raised fire pit.
“Look,” Lilly said as she pointed to the yard. “There is a bridge over the stream.”
“And there is a swing hanging from the tree near the stream,” Thayle added and took Lilly's hand. “Come on. I want to push you on the swing.”
They ran off, glowing with happiness, leaving the others to watch the display. Sarah took careful note of the colors that twisted in Roses's aura as she was awestruck to see them doing something she had no words for.
“What are they doing?” she asked as Thayle gave Lilly a push causing the little dragon to giggle.
“They are playing,” Sarah replied with a slight smile. “Maybe you should join them.”
“Playing? Isn't that a human thing?” Rose scoffed. “Something their offspring do.”
“So you do know something of humans?” Sarah asked.
“I happen to be a queen,” Rose replied and took a haughty stance. “I rule over a kingdom of humans who know how to respect a dragon properly.”
Gersius saw the truth flare in the woman's aura and turned to Sarah, who was just as shocked. How could this dragon rule over a kingdom of humans, and where was her kingdom?
“Where is your kingdom located?” Gersius asked, wanting to know more about Rose and her involvement with humans.
“Far the west,” Rose replied with a pleased smile, feeling superior that they knew nothing of her true power. “I rule a vast area of the Doan lands.”
“You rule over the Doan?” Gersius said, truly surprised.
“They hold to the ancient traditions where Dragons are revered and meant to be their rulers. As a result, nearly all the Doan territories are ruled by dragons as humans should be,” Rose stated flatly but turned as she heard Lilly cry out in joy. She watched for a moment as Thayle pushed Lilly higher, the two women so obviously enjoying themselves.
“So the Doan are ruled over by dragons?” Sarah said as some things started to make sense.
“The Doan have their own system of rule,” Rose corrected. “A Chief and his wives lead each faction. A group of factions is called a Droma and is led by a collection of the wisest women known as the Sezrahsar. When Droma band together, they are led by a warlord, and the entire Doan empire is headed by a single man or woman known as the dragon chief.”
“So, where do the dragons come in?” Gersius asked as none of this explained the role they played.
“We own the land,” Rose replied. “This is our world, and the Doan worship us as their betters. They pay tribute to the dragon that owns the land, and in return, we do not eat them or their livestock.”
Gersius and Sarah shared another glance speaking silently over the bind to share their thoughts. She was hardly the ruler considering all she did was offer not to eat the humans in exchange for payment. Gersius pointed out that this was very much how old human stories of dragons went. The beasts demanded tribute, or they would cause calamity to eh surrounding populations.
“Surely you offer the humans something more than a threat of destruction?” Sarah balked. “If that's all you bring, you are hardly a ruler. You are more of a monster.”
“Why should we offer them more?” Rose retorted. “We are the oldest and most powerful species on the planet. We deserve to be shown their respect as the world's rightful rulers.”
“But you don't rule,” Gersius countered. “All you are doing is extorting a people through fear. A ruler takes care of her people and shoulders the responsibility to ensure the safety and stability of her kingdom.”
“We ensure the safety of the people,” Rose countered. “If a conflict arises between groups, we dragons often resolve it for them. We also teach chosen individuals the art of weaving to make them more effective in combat.”
“So that is why they suddenly have so many weavers,” Gersius said as he considered the sudden rise in the skill of the Doan. “You are teaching them siege craft and tactics as well?”
“We are making them strong enough to stop the collapse of our society,” Rose growled.
“You are trying to stop the collapse?” Sarah said in surprise. “I am sorry, but our traditions are long dead. We have already collapsed, and your bloodshed is only making any chance of recovery take longer.”
“You are the collapse,” Rose said as anger flared in her aura. She pointed an accusatory finger at Sarah and Gersius as she snarled in rage. “Your actions alone have killed a dozen more of our kind. That anyone would seek to restore Balisha is abhorrent. She cannot be allowed to finish the extinction of our kind.”
“So, again you are not ruling, you are exploiting and controlling through fear,” Gersius said.
“We are doing as we should,” Rose raged.
“I see,” Sarah said as Rose's anger became almost painful to look at. “Why don't we talk about this again at dinner. I will have the girls show you your bedroom, and then you are free to do whatever you like until I call.”
Gersius was impressed how Sarah backed away from so dangerous a conversation and turned the focus back to settling in. She called for Lilly and Thayle, the two girls running up with smiles before asking them to show Rose to her bedroom. Lilly took Thayle's hand, and the two beckoned her to follow, leading the way back into the house as Rose looked disgusted by it all.
“You can just come right out and say it,” Thayle said as they led rose down the hall.
“Come right out and say what?” Rose growled in annoyance.
“You are unhappy to be here,” Thayle replied as Lilly stopped at a doorway.
“Why would a dragon want to live in a tiny human house?” Rose said as if the point were obvious.
“I like living in houses,” Lilly replied and threw open the door to reveal a large canopy bed and oak furniture. “This is my room where I will one day keep my things.”
“You plan to keep your hoard in this tiny room?” Rose asked.
“Not my hoard,” Lilly countered and rolled her eyes. “My personal things, like my dresses and hair brushes.”
“You disgust me,” Rose spat and shook her head.
“Suit yourself,” Lilly said with a shrug and pointed to the door across the hall. “That's Sarah and Gersius's room. You probably shouldn't go in there unless you knock first.”
“I think she should walk right in,” Thayle laughed. “It would do her some good to see the truth.”
“I do not know what you two are getting at, but I have no intention of going anywhere near my mother’s lair,” Rose countered.
“Anyway,” Lilly sighed and moved down the hall to open the next door. “This is Thayle's room, and you can have the next one down.” She took Rose to the next door and opened it to reveal a similar bed and furniture to Lilly and Thayle's rooms.
“You expect me to live here?” Rose asked.
“You agreed to spend two days with us,” Thayle pointed out. “You don't have to spend a minute in that room, but it's yours if you want it. You can shut the door, and we will give you some privacy, but Sarah may knock to make sure you are alright.”
“I don’t understand what any of that means,” Rose scoffed. “This human nonsense.”
“You will understand,” Lilly insisted. “And you may even start to appreciate it. Why don't you go in and sit on the bed at least? This space is now set aside for you, and you can tell us to stay out if you want to.”
“You are giving a prisoner the authority to order you out?” Rose balked.
“We are giving a member of our family the respect she deserves,” Lilly corrected. “You have the right to privacy if you want it, but you still have to sit down to meals.”
“We are not family,” Rose quickly pointed out and stormed into the room. She looked around with a look of distaste and exclaimed that such a tiny space was unfit for a dragon. She pointed out the uselessness of the furniture before finally sitting on the bed to look confused. She reached down to press at the blankets, testing the bounce as if unsure what it was.
“Why is this so soft?” Rose asked as she lay back.
“So it’s comfortable to sleep on,” Lilly explained. “Humans value comfort and go out of their way to build warm, dry homes and provide a soft place to sleep.”
“Demonstrating their weakness,” Rose laughed. “We dragons do not need such things because we are strong.”
“I know you are only saying that because you can’t understand,” Lilly countered. “You believe your way of life to be the pinnacle of existence, but I am here to tell you, you don’t have a life at all.”
“I live as my ancestors lived,” Rose insisted.
“And what did they do?” Lilly asked. “Can you name one great dragon construction that didn't come about because of humans? What about a song? Do dragons sing anything? Do they play instruments or dance? We dragons don't even find joy in the act of breeding, whereas humans find a great emotional and physical reward.”
“We have no need of such things,” Rose argued and rose from the bed.
“No. You see, that's where you're wrong,” Lilly said in a firm voice. “We desperately need these things because our culture has stagnated. We have become no better than a wild animal, existing only to eat and sleep until we eventually pass away. Balisha and Solesta saw the potential for dragons to rise to a whole new level of being by learning from the humans. So they gave us our human forms and sent us among them so we could grow into something more. But when that growth started to take place, Solesta changed her mind. She started the war to stop dragons from changing, and Balisha was forced to defend herself.”
“That’s a lie,” Rose snapped and stormed forward to point in Lilly’s face. “Balisha wanted to weaken us so we would die out.”
“Solesta told you that,” Lilly groaned. “Everything you believe comes from Solesta. Well, what if I am telling the truth and Solesta is the one lying to you? Can you honestly look at me and say I am worse off for having a comfortable bed to sleep in?”
“We don’t need such things!” Rose shouted.
“Then what is the point of your life?” Lilly asked. “Why do you even exist? You serve no role in the grand scheme of things, and in the end, all you will have to show for yourself is a dirty cave on the side of a mountain someplace.”
“I don’t need to show something of myself,” Rose claimed.
“Then, once again, I say you are no better than an animal,” Lilly said. “You exist only because you exist and have no greater purpose than that shared by a groundhog.”
“More like a snake,” Thayle interjected. “Why live solely to exist? Surely you want your life to mean something? We overheard you talking to Gersius and Sarah, you claim to rule a kingdom, but in reality, you are a dangerous pest.”
“Rodent!” Rose snarled and turned her glare on Thayle. “You shall not speak to me so disrespectfully.”
“Respect has to be earned,” Thayle countered. “And you are a wild animal best avoided because you bite.”
“How dare you!” Rose shouted as Lilly got between them.
“You need to calm down,” Lilly insisted. “Gersius told us you will fail the terms of his agreement if you lose your temper.”
“I will not be talked down to by a rodent!” Rose screamed.
“She is my wife and has accomplished things you can't possibly dream of. Her actions have changed the coursed of this war, healed her faith's misconceptions, and brought about a whole new appreciation for women across the empire,” Lilly argued. “Can you say the same thing about your deeds? Has a single one of your actions changed anything?”
Rose looked perplexed as her aura danced between rage and confusion. She obviously wanted to argue with Lilly and prove her wrong, but she couldn't name a single accomplishment of note.
“Hmm,” Lilly said with a nod when Rose remained silent. “Why don’t we go outside. I will push you on the swing.”
“I am not demeaning myself by playing as a rodent does,” Rose snarled.
“Fine,” Lilly sighed. “But come out and watch us anyway. You can ask questions if you feel so inclined.” She took Thayle's hand, and the two women walked away, not really caring if Rose followed or not. They passed Gersius and Sarah in the kitchen, who used the bind to ask what all the shouting was about silently. Lilly explained Rose's dragon inability to see the world around her and then said they were going out to play on the swing some more.
Lilly laughed as she pushed Thayle, the two women enjoying the moment as Sarah sighed and watched from the kitchen window. Gersius sat at the table, his mind a storm of mixed emotions. He felt the need to be present in the real world, moving his armies and taking steps to protect the empire. For all he knew, the missing Doan army was attacking, and he was not awake to deal with it.
“Oh, stop that brooding,” Sarah scolded out loud as she turned from the window. “We can all hear your thoughts echoing like a bell in our heads. “You left explicit instructions to wake us if there was any danger.”
“I know how important this time is,” Gersius replied. “But I cannot help but feel the urgency to press on with the war. I do not know how to be idle.”
“We aren't idle,” Sarah corrected and sat beside him on the bench along the table. “We are trying to open our daughter's eyes and save her from a path that will only lead to her death.”
“But can we save her?” Gersius asked. “She is under the curse, and no matter what we say or do, she cannot feel the emotions she needs to break free. I do not believe we can win this battle with logic or argument.”
“We have to try,” Sarah urged and took his hand. “That we managed to capture her must be a sign from the divines. They meant for this to happen, and we must trust they have a plan. Please, we can't abandon our daughter to this prison. We must do all we can for her.”
“Sarah, I want her to understand with all my heart, and I would do anything for her well-being. She is the most important thing in our lives right now, and she deserves every ounce of our effort,” Gersius insisted. “But it took the binding to break the curse on both Lilly and Shadros. They needed that bridge to feel the emotions Solesta locked out. I do not know how to reach Rose, and it pains my heart to think she might be lost again.”
“It hurts me as well,” Sarah said and leaned over so he could hold her in her arms. “I love her, and I want to be able to tell her that. I want her to understand just what that means, so she will know how special that makes her. I would do anything for my daughter, and no matter how far she runs from me, I will never give up hope that one day she will miss me.”
Gersius rubbed her back as the two shared the moment of pain, unaware of the woman peaking around the corner. Rose heard every word and was confused as to why her mother cared. This was more proof that the human taint was weakening her, filling her with feelings that served no purpose except to poison a dragon's mind.
She retreated down the hall and went to the sitting room where plush couches were arrayed around a table. Some walls held bookcases full of books and others paintings of dragons. She didn't understand what her mother saw in these things, but her curiosity got the better of her. She started to pick through the books, looking for something of interest.
Female dragons prized knowledge, especially that of the weave, and she heard a rumor that humans liked to write their secrets in these things they called books. But, much to her dismay, most of them were empty, figments of the dream meant to fill out the room but had no real substance. She did find a few books that contained actual words, but they were written in the human tongue, and she didn't know it.
“Why would humans waste time on things like this?” Rose asked as she tossed it aside.
“It’s one of the ways they pass their knowledge down,” Gersius said as he entered the room.
“Perhaps you should try living longer,” Rose laughed.
“Perhaps you should try living with a purpose,” Gersius countered.
“I am sick of being told I have no purpose,” Rose snarled.
“So I heard,” Gersius replied as he walked into the room and sat in a plush chair. “But do you have any skill or information worth recording in a book? Is there anything you wish those that come after you to remember?”
Rose looked annoyed at his question and folded her arms without answering. Gersius nodded and then gestured to one of the chairs, asking her to sit and tell him about herself.
“I have nothing to tell you,” Rose replied.
“How many children did you have in your brood?” Gersius asked as if she hadn’t spoken at all.
“Why would you want to know that?” Rose asked.
“I am interested in your life,” Gersius said. “I am searching for something of value that I will remember you by. In human cultures, children are often seen as a great achievement of their parents. So, how many did you have?”
“Two,” Rose said as she eyed him cautiously. “Both males.”
“What color was the father?” Gersius pressed.
“Who cares what color he was?” Rose scoffed. “All that matters for a brood is what the mother is.”
“So what color were the boys then?” Gersius asked.
“Blue,” Rose said as she dared a step closer.
“So the father was a blue,” Gersius said with a nod.
“How do you know that?” Rose choked. “Have your pet dragons told you all our secrets?”
“Is it really a secret?” Gersius asked as he shrugged. “That male children take the father's color is a harmless fact.”
“It is dragon knowledge,” Rose countered. “And rodents don’t need to know it.”
“Hmm,” Gersius said as he nodded. “I am afraid you will find I know a great deal about your kind, and I am not a rodent.”
“You are less than a rodent to me, an insect not worthy of noticing,” Rose insisted.
“And yet you are talking to me,” Gersius said calmly. “I have even developed some respect for you. Two sons is a noble thing. I am sure you were a good mother.”
“Of course, I was a good mother,” Rose snapped. “I learned how to raise a brood from my….” Her words trailed off as she realized what she was about to say. Gersius saw her aura fill with guilt for just a moment before flaring with anger again.
“Is something wrong?” Gersius asked.
“Stop trying to reason with me,” Rose said slowly. “I see through your rodent deceptions.”
“I think perhaps we should clarify what I am,” Gersius said as he got up. “Please, follow me into the yard,” he asked and took her to the front door.
Rose followed him, looking around the valley as they stepped into the front garden. Gersius asked her to wait by the door as he went into the lawn and turned.
“What are you doing?” Rose asked in annoyance.
“Sharing a human secret with you,” Gersius replied as his eyes began to burn with red fire. Rose jumped at the sight and stepped back just before black mist began to crawl across his skin.
“This isn't possible!” she screamed as Gersius was engulfed in a swirling black cloud that a moment later flashed with light. She took another step away as he strode out, his powerful scaled form glaring down at the tiny woman. He flapped his leathery wings so she could feel the force as his tail lashed behind him.
“Now, do you understand?” Gersius asked in the dual voice of a dragon. “I am not a rodent.”
“You’re a dragon?” Rose gasped as she looked him up and down. “But no, you still look human but with scales?”
“It is a blended form,” Gersius said as she knelt, so he wasn't towering over her. “I have gained this strength from the love of your mother.”
“Her love did this to you?” Rose stammered as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“It did,” Gersius replied. “Thayle has the same gift, though her scales are blue like Lillys.”
“You are both like this?” Rose groaned and staggered a few steps as she shook her head. “But why would a human gain strength from a dragon? What is this love that it causes such a change?”
“That is what we want to show you,” Gersius replied. “But you have to stop fighting us.”
“I will never give up my beliefs,” Rose said, but her heart wasn't in her words.
“Rose,” Gersius said as he reached out a hand. “What do we have to gain by showing you this?”
“I don’t know,” Rose growled. “But his must be a trick.”
“It isn't a trick, and you do not see what we have to gain because you don't feel or understand love. If you did, you would understand just important you were to your mother,” Gersius insisted.
Rose thought back to the conversation in the kitchen and how her mother said she would never give up on her. She didn't understand why she would say something like that and even more why it mattered. Now this rodent was scaled like a dragon talking about something only rodents understood. Love was a part of their weakness, yet he claimed his strength came from it. Her mother said Lilly could manipulate the dream because of her emotions, and Rose was helpless against it. She looked around and had to acknowledge that her mother displayed superior power and control of the dream, shaping this entire landscape in the blink of an eye. Was her power rooted in this love?
“Are you alright?” Gersius asked when she stood motionless too long.
“I…. I want to go to my room,” Rose said and looked up. “I want to be alone.”
“Of course,” Gersius said, taking a step back to make her feel safer. “Sarah will knock when dinner is ready.”
Rose fled the yard, rushing into the house as if an army were chasing her. Gersius smiled to see her go, knowing full well he had shaken her beliefs to the core. If this pressure could be kept up, maybe, just maybe, Rose would be willing to stay longer. If they could get her to travel with them for a bit or at the very least meet them in the dream, they might gain her trust. It was a hope he held dear to his heart as even now, he could feel Sarah's anguish. She wanted to save her daughter at any cost, but without breaking the curse, he didn't know if they could.
With a sigh, he changed back and headed inside. The first battles of the war to save Rose were victories, but the walls around her heart were strong. He hoped he had to strength to shatter them as he did at Calathen, or Sarah would be forever wounded.
Comments
Sam4005
Shes a thorny one lel
