The cold wind made me shiver, I felt a cold stab of fear, someone was out there seeking me, and that someone was not Rhuigan. Could it be the very thing I had vowed to hunt down? Was it the legendary dragon Charersha? Did she know of my task? I felt panic rise, I felt fear, or was this fear? I had never felt such cold terror, in some ways it felt interesting. I had never felt like this, never had fear touched my soul. How could people live like this? I felt my mouth go dry. I could almost touch Charersha's mind, she was close. Soon, very soon I would meet her, my heart pounded like mad. But then , I forced myself to calm down. I was after all, the berserk queen of Shildan's desert people, I would not let fear touch me.
I heard footsteps, but they didn't sound like Ru's. The darkness surrounded me, I could barely see my own hands. Where was Ru? He should have returned by now, some hours had gone by since he'd left. It worried me a bit, since I couldn't stop picturing his body lying down on the rocky surface of the desert. My beloved Ru, he had followed me here even if it meant an inescapable death for him, and maybe me too. I knew deep in my heart I couldn't survive this impossible task, I cursed those prophets.
I should never have left the city, those prophets had outwitted me, that still made me mad. Curse their prophecies! I could almost see their faces on my wedding night, their grins when they told of the danger that still hunted us. A month ago, everything had been right, I had proven worthy of being the next queen, that had been the one single goal in my life. Because amongst my people the Queen's position was something you earned, not something you just inherited, I had been amongst the strongest candidates since my mother had been the last Queen's sister. When I became the queen, I married the war-leader, Rhuigan, the man who was the second most powerful person amongst my people. The Queen was the first but the prophets were also powerful, they stood on the outside of every law, and that could be used for evil-purposes. Like this mad task I was set out on, a dragon slaying mission.
That was why I was here, to kill a dragon, the prophets thought the dragon would be the doom of our people, and that I was the only one that could kill her. Well, that was the official reason, but to tell you the truth, I was here because they had realised that I wasn't just a mad berserk that could be controlled like a puppet. No, they had discovered that I could think, that I had a will of my own. So they told me to go alone on this mad quest, they wanted me to die alone in the desert, but Rhuigan had insisted on following me, he knew where the dragon dwelled. The prophets were not happy about that, but a married man had the right to follow his wife, if he thought her life to be in danger. He had also noticed the prophets hate, he had sensed that they wanted to get rid of me.
Ru, he was the best thing that happened to me since my crowning, we had fallen in love, which was strange since the war-leader and the queen would seldom be truly fond of each other. The marriage would sometimes end up in wars, but that was not the case now. I could still remember our first night together, his warmth when he pressed his body against mine. I shivered, it was truly cold out here, I felt someone touch my shoulder, I spun around with a dagger in my left hand, I stopped just an inch from Ru's throat. He grinned at me:
- Nervous? - Maybe, did you find anything? - Yes, I found them, the ruins of Nargorin, the dragon lives there I'm sure, I could almost feel her watching me, but I saw her not. - Then we shall face her tomorrow? - I think so…<br> Silence fell, we were both nervous, what would be the result from our encounter? After some minutes I put my blanket on the ground and we lay down, close to each other, to keep out the cold wind. Ru kissed me, it was kiss from a desperate man, he was clinging to me like a sailor to an anchor. I let his kisses drown my own worries, this might be our last night together. Our lovemaking was fierce, and the cries of our joy echoed in the desert. When we were finished, we lay a long time just watching the stars and holding each other close. Saying goodbye, I thought, but I didn't speak the words out loud.
When I woke up I found that he was already awake, he had founds some water, which was good since finding water in the middle of the desert was not likely to happen. We ate in silence, then I packed our blankets into my almost empty sack. I hoped that we would not starve to death before we found that dragon.
The day was past noon when we finally reached the abandoned city where the dragon dwelled. Of the city that once had been so beautiful, with fountains and houses of white marble, now only ruins remained. The dragon had set it's mark upon every house, you couldn't escape it's touch, the heat was unbearable. I took a deep breath, here I would die if didn't by a miracle survive. Ru squeezed my hand, he wished me good luck. And I was sure nothing but luck would help me in this task.
When we approached that what we thought to be the dragon's lair, we heard it's voice. - Who, approaches the city of Nargorim, and me its mistress? - I wont tell you my name unless you tell me yours dragon! I roared, for now I felt anger arise in my veins, this dragon had destroyed that ancient home of my people, it was I who should avenge them. - I could tell you my name but that would take days, since my name is not just a name it's a tale , but I have been called Charersha by some. - I'm Leisha fire-heart, and I have come to kill you! - Oh, spare me from those thoughts, do you honestly think you can harm me? - Yes, I said and my voice was as cold as ice, I have the firestone. - You? You have the firestone? The dragon sounded surprised - Yes, and I'm destined to bring the doom upon you, you know that, I spoke the words without even knowing the meaning of them. - Come here, alone, for so it's destined - I will, I said, but before I could do anything Ru had run to the dragon. He just shouted "you shan't go first, Char might be deceiving you" and that was the last I heard of him.
When he reached the lair, the dragon breathed her hot fire on him, she grilled him like a stick of meat. I ran forward, but I saw that it was too late, I only heard his last words: "Leisha, don't, promise me " And what I shouldn't have done passed me, I roared at the dragon: - You shall pay for this! I felt my anger burn me like dragon-fire, I picked up the stone and let all my anger pass through it, I cast it right in her eye. She let out a cry of pain, then she fell down. The ground shook of her enormous weight, I shivered the berserk madness had flowed out from me like water from a broken cup. Her golden eyes stared at me. She had been a real beauty, a jewel amongst the black dragons. She let out a sigh of relief, like death was something that she had waited for.
I was as weak as a new-born child, the stone had sucked all the powers that had been left in my body. I fell down on my knees beside my loved Ru, I knew deep in my heart the reason for his death, it was because of him that I had been able to destroy the dragon. If he hadn't died I wouldn't have had enough hate in me, not enough power the unleash the firestone's own powers. But I couldn't accept it, there he lay on the ground, dead as stone. I lay down beside him hoping that death would come soon, I couldn't go on living without him. Soon, I fell asleep, of pure exhaustion and grief.
That was where the soldiers found me the next day, they had followed us to see if we could win the dragon, they would have never believed that we had succeeded if they hadn't seen the dead dragon. They soldiers buried Ru and carried me like a hero home. But I didn't feel like a hero, I knew that I would never be as happy I'd been with Ru. He had been the prize I had to pay for succeeding, and I felt that it was a far too big one. But he had given me a last gift, nine months later we celebrated the birth of Ru's and mine son. He was named Charda.
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. It's really sad and really good. 