The Prophecy Unfolds: Dragon Queen Read online

  Does everyone know what I've been getting up to? I thought.

  Once again found myself blushing and pink cheeked. Patros took my hand in his. I was becoming more used to the buzzing sensation that happened each time now and comforted me by sending

  I'm sorry it upsets you but it is fairly common knowledge. Soon all will know what has happened. People gossip. Especially when it's such exciting news and related to the prophecy.

  I squeezed his hand back and nodded.

  Patros disappeared some of the other men from the village to gather provisions. Sara took me inside the house which was toasty warm with a roaring fire in the grate. I couldn't help but wish that I lived in a house instead of a draughty lair.

  “The children are in school. You'll get to meet them next time you visit. They will be so upset they missed their new Aunt. You'll have to come back and dine with us one evening soon. I have three children. Two boys, and a girl. Andre is eight, Pat is six and Emilee is four. My mate is the blacksmith here and is busy in the forge. His name is William although everyone calls him Will for short.”

  I had to smile as she chattered away and realised we were quite similar int hat respect as I love to chatter.

  Sara already knew I would be needing some more clothes and as we passed through the living area I became aware of a loom situated there. This loom was very different from others I had seen in museums back at home. It was large one and had lots of brass flywheels and were connected by pipes. I must have looked look puzzled so Sarah took my hand and led me to the loom.

  “Patros has explained to you about some of the differences between Syros and your world. This loom is run on steam. These pipes lead out to a source of steam.” She said pointing to where they exited to the rear of the house. “ The volcanoes that run throughout the land here provide that steam. Free energy for the taking.”

  I had no idea about the use of the steam to power things and decided that I needed to talk more about this with Patros some time soon.

  Sara went on to explain that they had a tannery out back and that the buckskin clothes I had on were tanned there. On Syros they had deer like on earth and these provided the buckskins needed for the robust clothing for the Dragon Riders others.

  Sara led me next to her bedroom and opened up a large prettily decorated wooden chest stood at the end of the bed. She lifted out a couple of dresses and held them against me.

  “You'll need some dresses for whilst you are pregnant and these were mine. As we are a similar size I feel certain that they will fit you,”

  I smiled at Sara and thanked her adding “I think it will be quite a while before I'll need these but thank you all the same.” admiring the beautiful embroidered dresses in my hands.

  Sara looked at me quizzically and smiled “Has Patros not explained anything about our people yet? In your world I believe a pregnancy lasts about nine to ten months? Here ours are much shorter, ours span about six months at most. That is if you go full term. Did Patros tell you we are twins and that twins run in our family? I can tell by your shocked expression that he didn't.”

  Sara led me to the bed and we both sat down. By reflex I automatically placed my hands upon my stomach as I tried to come to terms with Sara's revelation.

  “Did he tell you how slowly we age?” at this I nodded “But he didn't explain about the pregnancy?” I nodded again becoming a little agitated at all these strange unnerving revelations.

  “Don't worry just yet. You have some time to get accustomed to all this before Patros will call for me and the midwife once labour begins. Now you need some more things. The buckskin shirt and pants are traditional garments. Each year the village is asked to produce a fresh set in anticipation of finding the Dragon Queen. So there are a number of older pairs stockpiled that I am sure will prove useful.”

  She took the clothes from my hands placing them in to a large cotton bag with a tie string top . Then took me to where I could see into the tannery through the bedroom window. Buckskins visible stretched out and drying in the sun.

  We stepped out the back door and walked across to be greeted by Paul the Tanner. He was a wiry individual about six foot tall with shoulder length dark brown hair and a swarthy complexion. He had the most amazing liquid chocolate coloured eyes.

  He led the way in to the tannery and over to a large wooden cupboard at the rear of the room. As he opened the doors on view were piles of buckskin clothing neatly folded within. As he retrieved two pairs of pants and shirts I realised they were identical to the ones I wore now.

  “I will begin to work the buckskins I have to make you some more. Obviously these will only fit you for a short while then you will need some more as your pregnancy progresses. Especially should you be having twins as everyone hopes you will.” He looked me up and down as he said this and again I felt myself blush

  “Does everybody on this Syros know I am pregnant.” I thought loudly shouting in my mind.

  I got an immediate response from Patros Are you alright Alex? and I closed my mind off to him, and Talos too.

  He came around the corner and offered me his hand. I ignored his proffered hand and he could see I was more than a little bit upset. We bade farewell to Sara with a hug and a kiss, slowly making our our way back to the clearing. Talos was curled up happily dozing in the sun.

  “Speak to me Alex please at least open your mind so I know what's wrong. I don't like you shutting me out.” Patros pleaded.

  All I could manage to say was “We'll speak back at the lair. I'm too upset just now.”

  Talos looked at us both his eyes swirling. We quickly remounted, tying the supplies and my bag of clothes to the saddle.

  The journey back was fraught with a strained silence but I had a feeling that a discussion was held between dragon and rider that I wasn't privy to.

  We landed and this time I managed to manoeuvre off Talos without help. I was so determined to get down under my own steam. Patros silently unsaddled Talos who promptly disappeared. I presumed he had gone to hunt and we set about unpacking the food along with my newly acquired clothing.

  I sat down feeling weary now. My nerves in shreds as I tried to make sense of what my future held after so many fantastical revelations.

  Patros marched across, quickly took my hands and pulled me on to his lap. Taking my face in his hands turning me to him. His lips gently pressed to mine and I couldn't help but return his kisses. I was powerless to resist him. My heart sped up and once again my deceitful body was alight with an electrical storm that was matched by my inner turmoil.

  He leant back and released a long sigh saying “Now will you tell me what is wrong? What have I done to upset you so much that you shut yourself off from both myself, and Talos? I don't like it when you close yourself off like this.”

  I lowered my eyes and opened my mind and sent Why didn't you tell me your pregnancies only last six months here. Not even that with twins. It's so much for me to handle right now. So much has happened to me in such a short time.

  He placed his fingers under my chin and gently raised my head looking deep into my eyes as he pulled me close.

  “I'm sorry. I didn't think it was that important and I did say you had a lot to learn. About me and our people and how different our world is from yours. This has all happened quickly for me too Alex. Until earlier on this week when I felt your presence and I realised that finally there was a chance the prophecy would be fulfilled. I have been waiting for you for over 200 years.”

  I was so overwhelmed by my feelings and emotions, and the flood of similar ones flowing back from Patros. I put my arms around him as finally the flood gates opened and my tears began to fall. I sobbed and trembled so badly that Patros pulled me closer. He held me firmly but gently and began to rub small circles on my back. I'm not sure how long we remained like that but gradually my sobs subsided with the aid of comforting buzz.

  “I love you Alex. More than I can ever tell you. I never expected to fall for you so deep and so fast. I alwa
ys thought it would just be a sexual thing but it isn't.” he whispered. Placed his hands over my stomach and the buzzing increased as he bent and placed a kiss there tenderly. “I am so happy and honoured that you are carrying my child. I can never thank you enough for this.”

  Once again I could sense both dragon and rider sending comforting thoughts so that I felt how much they both loved and cherished me. I couldn't help but smile.

  Everything will work out. Please just wait and see. We will make this work. He sent.

  Throughout the day my education continued. Luckily Patros took it slowly as he realised I wouldn't be able to remember everything I needed to. He broke it down in to bite sized pieces teaching me what he thought would be the most relevant in my first weeks as Queen.

  First off I learned about some of the animals that populated the planet. Not all of them but the main ones he felt I should have knowledge of. He started with the dragons, dragonflies, werewolves and dragon riders.

  One of my first questions for Patros was about the language. Why could I understand and speak to them all and also have the ability to understand the thoughts of a dragon.

  He went on to explain that this wasn't always the case. He walked over to the shelves and retrieved a number of ancient looking books. I thought I had inspected the lair pretty well but obviously not as well as I thought as I hadn't spotted these. On inspection there were numerous books and parchments on the topmost shelf. I must take some time to look a little more closely at my surroundings as soon as I could.

  Once opened I saw writing that looked like so much gobbledegoop to me. He explained that Syros had a completely different language about a thousand years ago. That was before they realised that the females of the native population were becoming less fertile. This prompted the factions to work together and approach the witches, magicians and scientists. Together they managed to produce through a combination of science and magic the portals that had transported me here. Teams were then able to travel to distant planets in search of compatible females. Earth wasn't the only planet that the people of Syros had visited over the millenia. Although it soon became obvious that we were the most compatible of all the species on the worlds they had visited. A number of portals were destroyed when it became obvious that there was no way the species on those planet were compatible. A decision was taken later that in order for communication and assimilation to occur it was logical that a common language would be useful.

  On realising that English was the most common language on earth it was gradually introduced in to schools. Initially as a second language but over time it became the first language of the planet. Some ceremonies continued in the old language even now but there are so few individuals left able to read or write it, this was rare. Gradually the old language died out. As new females arrived over time the language was updated to incorporate changes. Except for some nicknames and colloquialisms used in some areas on earth.

  The first portals established on Earth also happened to be in England. Over time it was recognised that English was in the main language used in communications across the many nations on Earth and was also the language of the skies.

  No one knew for certain why both races were similar in form and DNA. Similar enough that sexual reproduction was possible. Although some of the scientists on Syros believe that both planets were originally outposts for an even older alien race. As ruins on both Syros and Earth had been identified as being alike in so many details. Also the language and culture on Syros bore a strong resemblance to those millennia old on Earth itself. But no one could say for sure.

  Our days continued like this for a number of weeks. Whereby I learned that on Syros there were werewolves, dragons, dragon riders, witches, magicians and magic. Though there were no vampires and other shape shifters were unheard of. I felt a little disappointed at that because I'd always loved a good vampire and shape shifter story.

  As far as animals were concerned I already knew we both had deer or something similar in common. I also found out that some animals had accidentally migrated between the planets via the portals such as horses and cattle. These were common sights on both planets due to this. On Syros they had unicorns and ordinary wolves alongside of the shape shifting werewolves I had already met.

  It was further explained that this is where the dragons, unicorns and other fantastical creatures had passed in to the folklore of Earth. As occasionally creatures had migrated across the portals that shouldn't have. Teams sent to bring them back recaptured them but not before people had seen them.

  Very soon I was to be taken on a trip to visit a few of the main cities. This is where I would have the opportunity to meet some witches, dragons and their riders. Ours was not the only lair, far from it.

  At the end of my third week I was a little dismayed to see that my pregnancy was already beginning to show a little. A little bump evident where my once flat stomach had been

  We recently to visit Treetops again to have dinner with Sara and her family. My family too now apparently according to Patros and Sara.

  Sarah had made a fantastic pot roast and baked rustic bread. The smell as we entered the house made my mouth water. My appetite was increasing I was disappointed to note, along with my girth. I had a vision of me wobbling along before too long.

  The children were a delight and squabbled over who was to sit next to me and Uncle Patros. Emilee was especially enamoured of me and asked could she touch my bump to feel the baby. So I let her. She tenderly touched my bump and said a little “Hello.” to it. Emilee was petite like Sara but had hazel eyes and long silky dark hair. This formed a halo of tight curls around her face past her shoulders. Sara went on to explain that there weren't many children in the village and as a result Emilee was absolutely fascinated by babies.

  The boys could have been twins except one was a little taller than the other. Andre was the older and taller of the two. The pair of them were both stocky and fairly tall for their ages. Andre was eight years old and Pat (short for Patros which I should have guessed), was six years old. They had their father's dark brown hair and their mothers blue eyes and were a mischievous pair.

  When Will came in from the forge he said a quick “Hello.” then excused himself before heading off to clean up before dinner. Will was tall and looked to be about six foot five. Stocky with dark brown hair that he kept tied back in a leather thong. He also and a huge bushy beard. His arms seemed enormous to me but then he was a blacksmith. A gentle giant of a man with eyes shone when he looked at Sara and the children. And was quick to laugh and smile.

  Everyone included me in conversation so that I felt very much part of the family. Although I felt a touch of sadness thinking of my poor dad back on Earth. He must now think I had either been kidnapped or may even be dead. I kept forgetting Patros could read me and he leant across and gave me a huge kiss and cuddle as he sent his love in thought form.

  I got to listen to the first music that I had heard native to Syros as Sara brought out what appeared to be a small harp – like instrument. Sara had a lovely voice and sang as she played. It was a haunting melody about dragons which reminded me of folk music back home on Earth.

  We returned home and I fell asleep almost as soon as my head touched the pillow. Being pregnant was certainly curtailing my love life at the moment as I was tired constantly. Since returning to the lair after the second kidnapping attempt I'd had no further nightmares. No sightings had been made of the werewolves near the cliffs or close by either. So I began to settle in to my new life as best I could.

  My love for Patros and Talos in turn was growing over time until I couldn't visualise a life without them. Yet from time to time I thought about my dad and the life I had left behind and became a little melancholy.

  By the end of my fourth week I looked as if I was about four months pregnant to my eyes and had a visit to attend. A visit to the local midwife back in Treetops.

  Patros dropped me off at the village and Sara was there to greet me and escort me
to the midwife's cottage. Patros kissed me then disappeared as he had a meeting to attend. I was to send to him once I was ready to return home.

  Sara gave me a number of sideways glances as we walked as a a tiny smile played across her lips. We headed to the opposite end of the village from her house to a pretty cottage with scented flowers around the door. We knocked and a large friendly looking lady answered. She had twinkling pale blue eyes and dark blonde hair that reached almost to her knees in a long plait. She looked me up and down and then proceeded to give me a huge bear hug as she kissed me on either cheek.

  “Goodness me you must be Alex. I an so honoured to be your midwife. To play a part in the fulfilling of the prophecy is such an honour.” she continued excitedly “ I am Allysa by the way. Where are my manners? Come along now I want you to undress and get on the bed here so that I can examine you. There is a gown on the bed you can put on. We will leave you for a moment to prepare. Shout me when you are ready while I chat to Sara.”

  She led me in to a small room as we talked and shut the door leaving me to undress. I placed my clothes over the back of a chair and lay on the bed. I had put on the gown on then placed the sheet off the bed over my lower body.

  I called out “Ready.”

  Alyssa returned and asked whether it would be all right for Sara to come in whilst I was being examined. As Sara was going to be there for the birth I didn't have a problem with this at all. Although I did feel a little shy but knew I was going to have to get over my shyness soon enough.

  As I lay on the bed and she felt my bump and produced a similar listening device to ones that I remembered from training in the community as a student nurse. She placed it on my bump and positioned her ear on top listening attentively.

  She stood upright and took my hand in to hers smiling broadly. “Alex I can hear two distinct heartbeats and as I suspected by your size you are pregnant with twins. Congratulations. It's not unexpected as Patros himself is a twin. His mother too was a twin. I don't expect you to carry the whole six month term though. You will probably deliver at least a couple of weeks earlier Sarah and I will keep a close eye on you and with your permission Sara will accompany me in attending you once labour begins.”