Once Upon A Time (18 page)

The virile
male kneeling before me was definitely someone who could make my
heart stop. But I need to keep in mind, I am soon to become queen
of my clan and must act as such. I will not be able to let my
girlish fantasies interfere with my priorities as the soon to be
ruler. I looked at Taliesin as he took my last name and we signed a
document, All was almost set. The only thing left will be my
coronation upon my father’s death.

Squeezing my
father’s hand, I can feel his life force slipping away from him. It
will not be much longer that I will have to spend time with him.
Our times together were spent in preparing me in taking over our
clan would soon end, and as the Ddraig Goch, he would be able to
seek his rest with our Goddess, now that another male had been
chosen in his stead. I wanted to tell him that I wasn't ready, but
to do so would have been to shame him, to imply that he had failed
in his duty to prepare me. However, I knew I had only days left
until I was to become queen, and my heart wept, the tears of a
young girl losing her father.

The day my
father died I was brought into the main hall where Taliesin
Llewelyn was waiting on me. My gown was trailing behind me as I
walked to the throne where my father last sat. The heavy crown
laden with jewels was set upon my head and my father's sceptre
placed in my hand. The others started coming up to the dais, a
procession bowing and paying their loyalty to me and also to my
Consort Taliesin Llewelyn, who had his hand on my shoulder giving
it a gentle squeeze. After the last of our subjects left after
paying homage to me their new queen, I was told of the flight that
Taliesin Llewelyn and I would have to take. It was a chase of sorts
were the female dragon tries avoid capture of the male dragon. It
was a courtship of sorts. A successful First Flight was needed to
seal both our Mating, and to confirm that my Consort had been a
true choice. If he could not win me in the skies, then he would not
win me on the land.

When the
choosing of the Consort for the new Queen is in the hands of the
clan elders, not to mention the former Consort, her sire, there is
always the risk that they might forget the importance of the First
Flight. We are a long lived species and for some, First Flight was
a very long time ago. Still, I was glad that it was possible for
First Flight to happen. Even now, we had to fly high, to avoid the
risk of humans seeing us, and wondering if we were demons. At
least, as a red dragon, I was a familiar sight, since their rulers
used a similar symbol on their pennants and flags. Our Queen,
Ariawen, would fly in her white dragon form.

Why? It served
two purposes. One was to make it clear who was who. The second was
a reminder. We had driven the white dragon of evil from Cymru but
it did not mean that evil ceased to exist for us. If anything, it
was present more. As Consort, I needed to remember this, for the
danger of evil was a potential threat to my Queen.

The formality
of the First Flight announcement made me smile slightly. Yes, I had
proven that I was best suited to protect my Queen. Now I had to
prove my ... prowess in another way. That worked for me. I would do
this.

First Flight.
I suppose that if this journal is for posterity, then I should
explain. I am ddraig, a dragon in that bastard tongue that they
speak outside of our own blessed land of Cmyru. Our females lay
eggs. Eggs need a male's ... input to be fertile. I trust you
follow me so far?

So, add to
this that I am a Ddraig Goch, and Consort to the Queen. Ddraig
Goch, a red dragon, descended from the dragons which fight the
evils of our world. One of our number drove the white dragon of
evil from this land. So, when the Queen and her Consort fly, it is
not just for pleasure. It is not just to ensure that any eggs she
may lay are fertile. It is to remind us that whilst we may have
driven one evil from our land, evil is waiting for its chance to
regain a foothold, not just in our land, but elsewhere.

I shall speak
more of that later.

For now, I had
only been named Consort for one day, and our Queen had ascended her
throne on the day that her sire, the former Consort, had been
called back to the Goddess. To seal our Mating, our First Flight
must take place. It must be fast, it must be high and I must fly
with sufficient flair that my Queen comes to me of her own will.
Whilst the Council may have named me Consort, a decision based on
my ability to defend my Queen from all who might do her harm, I
must also convince my Queen that I am the best choice for her. It
is for this reason that the Consort is chosen the day before the
Queen is crowned. We do not meet and we do not converse before
then.

Ydy, mae'n
wir. Yes, it is true. I will have not exchanged words with my Queen
before First Flight. She will know me by sight only, and by no
other means. Did I fear that I might not impress, that somehow my
flight might be lacking?

Boed i'r
duwiau yn fy dyst. May the Gods be my witness. I was shitting
myself. But that is life.

I was standing
in what used to be my father's royal room staring out the large
window. My nerves are fluttering in my stomach. Not only do I have
a clan to rule but now I must prove myself to the one the Council
has chosen for my consort. Yes, I knew his name and his face as my
father bragged about the decision on the day it was stated that I
was to become queen upon his demise, but what else did I know of
the Ddraig who must claim me? Precious little, but that was the way
that it was. If our Mating was true, we would have time aplenty to
know each other.

As I stand at
the window looking over the kingdom through the pitch blackness
with only a sliver of the moon hanging in the dark sky. I heard a
loud knock my heart jumping, then the door swings open in walks the
Chamberlain with a large smile on his face. "It is time your
majesty you must take your dragon form. I was reminded that I must
take the form of the white dragon, in memory of why the Ddraig Goch
must be at my side.

I snort
'un-lady like' " I knew that Taliesin’s form was a red dragon. All
those who were born that way were trained for the potential to be
the Consort and Mate of the new Queen, until such time as one is
chosen. I humph when the chamberlain explains the reason the
council made this decision, citing Taliesin’s prowess on the
training field, and the way he had excelled in all the disciplines
in which the red dragons were trained. I held up my hand stopping
him mid explanation. "It is fine I will take my white dragon
form."

The
Chamberlain bowed as he moved backwards out of the room. I follow
him through the open door climbing the many stairs to the top floor
of the castle. Reaching for the door that will lead me unto the
roof I push it open and walk regally out my robes billowing in the
wind.

Standing on
the roof I feel the scales form on my skin like mother of pearls
shining under the darken night. My wings spread with the same
shimmer. I am impressive in my size. My feet and hands now heavy
with thick claws. I looked to the other side of the roof and
swallow hard when I see his red dragon form formidable and yes,
sexy as hell. I hear the Chamberlain saying that it was time.

Just a sliver
of a moon lit the night sky, as I was escorted to the opposing
tower to the Queen's quarters in the castle. For tonight, my flight
must start from this, the guard tower. Henceforth, provided that I
gained the Queen's approval, we would fly together from her tower.
But tonight, the Ddraig Goch must fly to the Queen, and not with
the Queen.

In some
respects, I was more than ready for this flight. From the time that
I started to train, to make myself the best choice as Consort, I
had also planned and considered how I might win the Queen in First
Flight. I had watched eagles. I had watched the red kites, native
to our land. I had watched how the males won over their mates. I
had watched the native creatures of air in their dances. And I knew
in my heart that I had prepared as much as I might. May the Gods
grant that my preparation was enough.

As I waited on
the tower, in my dragon form, my wings open to the wind, I flexed
my muscles, warming them for this most important moment. A poor
launch would mean a poor flight. Opening my wings to their full
breadth, I let the wind swirling above and around the tower catch
them, pulling at them, making me yearn for the skies. But first, I
must wait for my Queen.

I watched as
she left the door to the top of the tower. I watched as her robes
billowed around her, and I watched as the scant moonlight caught
the white scales as she transformed to her white dragon form. White
dragon, to remind us that the Consort must before all else, protect
the Queen from evil.

As her wings
opened, they danced almost lazily in the wind, before with a snap,
her powerful legs drove her upwards, her wings catching that first
essential down stroke, which carried her upwards into the clouds.
For a moment, she circled above the tower, before glancing down.
And that was my signal. My own wings moved from their lazy
movements as my own legs drove me to the skies. With powerful
beats, my wings swept me upwards, towards my target. Each wing-beat
brought me closer, before with a mocking cry, my Queen ceased her
own lazy hovering above me and continued to climb.

"Catch me if
you can, Consort." That cry was understood by all. Fear not, my
Queen. I have no intention of failing.

I leapt off
the roof my wings flapping with a downward sweep, my body lifting
off the roof and climbing high into the sky. as soon as I clear the
clouds I call out to the consort "Catch me if you can!"

Then I took
off my mighty wings flapping strongly as I soar higher and higher
into the night sky. I can hear the Consort’s wings flapping loudly
into the night. I can look down below me and I see him racing
towards me.

I veer off to
the right and swoop down staying above the clouds. the stars
looking like diamonds as they twinkle over our heads. Then making a
quick turn I rise up once again. Flying loops and curlicues in the
sky. I can hear the male coming closer, laughing loudly.

As my wings
beat powerfully in the night sky, carrying me higher and closer to
my quarry, to my Queen, I could not help but laugh as she danced in
the sky above me. Is it possible for a ddraig to be a ... how did
the French come to call it? A coquette? She spun, she swooped, she
danced in the air above me, showing her strength, showing her
grace. Showing that she was, above all, the Queen of the Ddraig
Clan.

But, I must
play my part. I must prove to the Queen that I am not only a worthy
Consort in terms of my ability to protect her, but that I am worthy
of that grace and majesty. And yes, when it comes down to it, I am
worthy to be the sire of the next generation of Ddraig which will
be the result of any eggs that she might lay.

Then again,
the day that she lays a Queen egg will be one of sorrow for me,
because it will mean that the Gods have decreed that a danger is
present which may lead me to lose my Queen, and face a life when I
must raise our next Queen, our daughter, to maturity and see her
take her own consort.

But such
maudlin thoughts have no place in a First Flight. To win our Queen,
I must be clever, as well as demonstrate my power. For me, that
meant, using the thermal draughts that I could feel around my body
and under my wings. Using those draughts, I let my wings take me
higher, above the clouds, and yes, let the Queen lose sight of me,
as I climbed above her. I intended to win this prize.

Folding my
wings, I watched as the Queen continued her lazy dance in the sky,
enjoying her flight for the sheer pleasure. And then I dove down,
extending my legs, my target clear, the Queen's shoulders, seizing
her firmly, feeling that hint of panic as her wings were fouled, my
long tail wrapped around her gleaming pale form, red against the
white, before I opened my wings again, and with powerful strokes
carried us upwards again, my cry of triumph echoing in the sky and
across the mountains.

Let the humans
wonder, although some would know what that cry meant.

The freedom of
flying in the night sky was joyous as I danced across the sky.
Letting my guard down for once, I wanted to be caught by this
magnificent male flying past me and out of my sight, but he must
also prove to all that he has the strength and power to catch me.
The sheer pleasure of being free from problems of the clan and
responsibilities that being queen means.

I was enjoying
my flight circling all the while searching for the new Consort in
the night sky around me. I know he is somewhere nearby as my nerves
begin to tingle and then I let out a harsh cry when I feel his
talons grab hold of my shoulders and shivers course through my
entire body when he lets out his cry of triumph,

The dragon in
me wants to fight off his claim and I try to use my now captured
wings however with his tail wrapped around my body tightly I am
truly captured. He flies us up higher into the sky, his powerful
wings beating a rhythm, matching my heart, I wonder can he hear it
also? This dragon, my Consort; is as my father stated before his
death, the perfect male for me. First Flight must be high and it
must be fast, and in taking me in this way, Taliesin was proving
beyond all doubt that he had both the skill and the strength to be
my Consort.

I would be
remiss to say I wasn't interested in his forms both his human form
and his dragon form. I will do my best to be the best queen for our
clan and with this proud male at my side our clan will be the best
it can be.