Morgan Rice: A Fate of Dragons

He searched for her frantically through the crowd. Had she come? Was she still interested in him?

The crowd grew rowdier, and the sun began to set, torches were lit and the drink grew stronger. Jugglers appeared, throwing flaming sticks, sporting events ensued, and huge spits of meat were rolled out. Thor was thrilled to be in the middle of it – but without seeing Gwendolyn, something was missing.

“Hey, that’s my girl!” someone screamed threateningly.

Thor turned and saw O’Connor, with his limp, dancing with a girl, then saw a drunken stranger approach and shove O’Connor hard. The man was tall and beefy, and O’Connor stumbled back several feet, caught off-guard.

The bully continued towards O’Connor, but before he could take another foot, Thor, reacting instinctively, jumped into action – as did the other Legion members around him. Within seconds, Thor, Reece, Elden, and the twins pounced on the man, knocking him down to the ground.

The man scurried up, fear in his eyes, and ran off.

Thor turned back to O’Connor, who was fine, but dazed. As Thor looked over at his brothers, he realized how quickly they had come to each other’s defense, realized they were now all truly one unit, there for each other. It felt good.

Thor saw all the people dancing, and his thoughts returned to Gwendolyn. He searched for her everywhere, breaking away from the dancing area, leaving his brethren, and walking up and down the rows of banquet tables. He had to find her.

He jumped up on a bench, trying to peer above the crowd. But he saw no sight of her, and his heart fell.

He jumped down and saw an attendant from the castle, a girl he recognized, a beautiful girl, maybe seventeen, and ran up to her. She turned to look at him, and her eyes lit up in adulation. She was flirting with him.

“Thorgrin!” she exclaimed.

She embraced him, and he gently pushed her away.

“Have you seen Gwendolyn?” he asked.

She shook her head, and looked into his eyes.

“I have not,” she said. “But I am here. Would you like to dance with me?”

Thor gently shook his head and hurried off, not wanting to get embroiled with anyone else.

He looked everywhere for Gwen, on all corners of the field, and was starting to think the worst. Maybe she had run off with someone else. Maybe her mother had gotten to her, had forbidden their relationship. Maybe she didn’t feel the same way about him.

Suddenly, Thor felt a tap on his shoulder.

He spun, and his world melted.

Standing there, just a few feet away, smiling back, was the love of his life.

Gwendolyn.

Thor was mesmerized. Gwendolyn looked as beautiful as ever, staring back at him with her wide smile, her perfect skin, her long, blonde hair, her large blue eyes. It was like meeting her for the first time. He could look nowhere else. His heart pounded. He felt as if he had truly returned.

Gwendolyn jumped into his arms, embracing him tightly, and he embraced her back. He could hardly believe that someone like her could love him, and he loved her back with everything he had. He hugged her for a very long time, and she did not let go.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” she whispered earnestly into his ear.

“As am I,” he answered.

He felt her hot tears running down his neck, and slowly pulled back. He leaned in and kissed her, and they held the kiss for a long time, as people jostled them in every direction, shouts and cheers all around them as the crowd swirled.

There came a whining, and Gwen looked down in delight to see Krohn, jumping up on her, whining. She reached down and petted him, kissing him and laughing as he jumped on her and licked her face.

“I missed you,” she said.

Krohn whined.

Gwen stood, smiling, and looked back to Thor, the last rays of sunset lit up her eyes, and she reached out and took his hand.

“Come with me,” she said.

He did not need prodding. She led him through the crowd, zigzagging this way and that, Krohn following, until finally she lead him through an ancient gate and into the royal gardens.

They were back in the labyrinth of formal gardens, where it was quiet, the cheers of the masses muted. They had privacy, finally, and they held hands as she faced him.

They kissed again, for a long time.

Finally she pulled back.

“Not a day passed that I did not think of you,” Thor said to her.

She smiled.

“And I you,” she said, looking into his eyes. “I prayed every day for your safe return.”

Thor smiled as he reached into his pocket, and slowly pulled out the stone he had been dying to give her.

“Close your eyes,” he said, “and open your hand.”

She closed her eyes, smiled, and tentatively held out a palm.

“It’s not a snake, is it?” she asked.

He laughed.

“No, I think not,” he said.

Thor reached out and gingerly place into her palm the piece of Orethist he had found on Dragon’s isle.

Gwen opened her eyes, and examined it in wonder.

The stone lay in her palm, glowing like a living thing, attached to a silver necklace chain Thor had forged.

“It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.

“It is Orethist. A rock from the shore of Dragon’s isle. It is said to have magical powers. Legend has it that, if you give it to someone you love, it will save their life.”

Gwen looked down and blushed as he said the word “love.”

“You brought this all the way back for me?” she asked.

She looked at it in awe as Thor took the necklace, walked around behind her, and fastened it around her neck. She reached down and felt it, then turned and hugged Thor tight.

“Is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever been given,” she said. “I will cherish it forever.”

She took his hand and led him deeper into the twisting and turning pathways of the gardens.

“I’m afraid I have nothing to give you in return,” she said.

“You’ve given me everything,” he said. “You’re still here.”

She smiled, clutching his hand.

“We can be together now,” she said. “My mother…she’s not in her right mind. I’m sorry for her. But happy for us. We have no more obstacles between us.”

“I have to admit, I was afraid that when I returned, you might be with someone else,” he said.

“How could you think such a thing?” she scolded.

Thor shrugged, embarrassed.

“I don’t know. You have so many others to choose from.”

She shook her head.

“You don’t understand. I’ve already chosen. I want to be with you forever.”

He stopped and turned and kissed her, a kiss that lasted forever under the fading light of twilight. At her words, Thor was happier than he’d ever been. Because that was exactly what he wanted, too.

She looked embarrassed.

“And I have to admit something, too,” she said.

Thor looked at her, puzzled.

“I was afraid you might not think me beautiful anymore,” she said, eyes lowered, “because of my scar.”

“What scar?” Thor asked.

“Here, on this cheek,” she said, pointing to the scratch that Gareth’s dog had left.

Thor squinted at it, puzzled.

“I can’t even see it,” he said.

“That’s because it is nearly dark. In the light of day it is more visible.”

He shook his head.

“You imagine it to be greater than it is,” he said. “It is but a trace. Inches away, I can barely see it. And besides, it does not detract from your beauty – if anything, it adds to it.”

She felt her heart warming, felt reassured, realizing he was genuine, and leaned in and kissed him.

“I was attacked,” she said as she pulled back.

Thor’s face darkened, and he lowered his hand instinctively to the hilt of his sword.