Alda drew in a long, deep breath with the creature’s proclamation. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Blue held by shadowy hands on the outside of the light’s reach. They brought it into the room and she moved quickly towards it, though stopped and hesitated once it made a sound that was almost excited once it lay eyes upon her.

“This was lurking on the edge of the forest just outside.” He took in the room and then raised a hand to show the creature should be let go, and once Blue had made it over to Alda, its awkward movements with wings and legs that didn’t quite collaborate with one another, he had a curious look on his face.

“I can see why you’re touched by the gods. This wyvern has attached itself to you and is imprinted.”

So that’s what it was called, Alda thought, looking down at the now correctly named wyvern rather than ‘creature’. She gathered it in her arms where it laid its head upon her chest. “The witch of my village tasked me with Blue’s care.”

“Ah yes, the witch. I’m familiar with her and have talked to her a few times. She’s a valuable resource for magic in the world. I would recommend taking this seriously if she’s tasked you with… Blue’s raising.” The light in the room flickered and dimmed for a moment, shadowy figures moved in closer with the edge of the light shrinking.

She was suddenly nervous with that, looking over at Hadren who was kneeling with his head bowed and a look on his face of confusion, anger and other emotions she couldn’t quite place. He rose, though, when he moved away and motioned towards the door.

“You’re free to go. I will have someone come to you in a few days with your task.” Pausing as the light faded even more. “I will monitor your progress through a representative. I will send him your way. They will not be visible to anyone but you two during your journey.”

With that there wasn’t any time or room to say anything else as the light blinked out and assumably he was gone from the room. Alda breathed a sigh of relief and she felt uncertainty rise in her chest. What was she supposed to do while accompanying Hadren on his quest? She wasn’t anyone that could fight or use magic, so she didn’t know how she was going to be of any use to him.

Hadren rose and moved towards her, the mix of emotions he had on his face before having melted into one of determination and resolve. Reaching out a hand, he shoved the other one into a pocket.

“As you heard, I’m Hadren. What’s your name, girl? If we’re going to be spending possibly an eternity together, I don’t want to call you ‘girl’ all the time.”

She looked up at him and gave a small, tittering laugh. “Alda. My name is Alda. And this is Blue.” Lifting the wyvern up to make it clear who she was talking about. “I have no idea how I’m supposed to be of any use to you. I have no fighting skills or magic to sling about.”

“We’ll figure it out.” He said quietly. “I just want to make sure my family is safe and I’ll get them back eventually.” The thought was sobering by the looks of it, as he was trying to accept his situation. He didn’t look happy by what she could see from studying his features. He looked like he was a kind man and her heart reached out to him in sympathy.

“I’m sorry… I’ll help you find this thing they want so we can get them back. I don’t know how, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out, like you said.” She gave him a smile that shone brightly for a moment before dulling back to its casual resting position.

He looked at her and gave a half smirk. “It’s that or die trying, since we’re both bound to one another. Though I suppose for me that doesn’t matter too much now.” A laugh splitting his lips in a sharp bark.

He didn’t convince Alda he was okay though, his face reflecting the worry and something else she couldn’t quite place. The light finally fading and shadowy figures moving from the darkness towards them, interrupting her thoughts. One grabbed her arm, which she fought for a second, but resigned herself to being led from the room.

“Ah, good.” Something spoke from the hall as they emerged. A man tall and lanky with pointed ears, mouse brown hair in flowing splendour and eyes that were sharp and cunning. “It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for a bit. The king gets a little lengthy in his talks sometimes.”

He stepped out of the light of the torch nearby and held out a hand to her. “I’m Elidas. I’ll be your companion on the way to your quest.”

Alda didn’t know what came over her when his hand touched hers and shook it briefly. Her heart fluttered in her chest, her palms got sweaty and she could barely breathe. He was beautiful and something about him simply made her body respond in a way she wasn’t familiar with.

This man was trouble for her, and she wasn’t entirely happy about the situation.

“You okay?” Hadren asked when Elidas moved away to talk to one of the shadowy figures for a moment. “You look moonstruck.”

She started for a moment. Was she really that obvious? Swallowing down every bit of emotion and feeling she had for the pointy-eared fae. “I’m fine… just. I don’t know. I’ll be fine.” Giving him a reassuring smile.

He nodded and looked at her for a moment before smiling slightly. “I know that look anywhere. Just be careful. We know nothing about these people.” His hand reached out to pat her on the shoulder like a fatherly figure. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that, though it was comforting at the same time.

“Thanks. I will be.” Nodding briefly and hushing as Elidas came back and gave some smile that was almost emotionless and didn’t extend to his eyes. He looked her over for a moment and seemed to make some decision internally with the look on his face, which was calculating and almost cold at the same time. Why in the world would he set her off in a way that was just so heart pounding?

The fae stepped over to them for a moment and motioned for them to follow him, then turning down the hall with them in tow. “We need to get you equipped. Running around in plain clothes will not do you any favors and I don’t need you getting incapacitated.”

Turning while he walked backwards to face them and give the most disconcerting smile she had ever seen. “You’ll face some unique challenges along the way now that your eyes are open to the world of the fae. It doesn’t take much if someone believes enough. I’ve heard you…” Looking directly at her. “… are skeptical, though I can’t see why you don’t now believe.”

“I’m still skeptical because this is all very new to me. The gods have been dead for decades and this isn’t something I ever thought I’d be seeing. I’d heard tales, of course, but they were far and few between, and told more like a children’s story to scare little children into behaving.” Her voice was odd to her, talking to him was enough to set her heart going pitter patter.

“Keep that skepticism healthy. I’m sure at this point you at least know we’re not a children’s story. Stick with me and you’ll both be fine.” The smile lighting his face was genuine this time, and she almost melted on the spot.

He was definitely trouble for her and she wasn’t sure how she was going to make it through their assignment without being miserable feeling this way. She was sure he would never reciprocate feelings from a human.

They exited the hall and entered a huge cavern filled with everything expensive imaginable. Elidias bowed to them and swept a hand gracefully towards the shadows.

“My friends, please welcome Alda and Hadren to the fold for now.” Looking at them directly. “As I said, here, there be dragons.”

And with that a shape, huge and frightening by its size, shambled out of the shadows, its claws ticking on the floor. A huge head, scaled and ancient, lowered towards them. For a moment, she was terrified as it opened its mouth and a long tongue snaked out to taste the air.

“Ah… fear.” It breathed the words in a rumbling voice deeper than the ocean. “Delicious.”