WEDDING

The daughters of Kothar had spent most of the day preparing for this moment. They both had taken their weekly bathing in dragon’s milk. After which they both had their hair pulled back and braided into a single braid and their long dresses of white were made to look exactly alike. If it was not for Avris being slightly taller and for their hair being different colors they would have looked like twins. They walked together holding hands. They were both scared and excited.

They were led by a lady in a red robe with the hood pulled over her head. She led them quietly down a long hallway to the Dragon Council chamber where Gynyorra the High Father Dragon awaited them.

When they arrived in the hall the red lady left the room. There they stood side by side and looked up at Gynyorra. They thought of him as the most beautiful dragon they had ever seen. Most dragons were only two or three colors, but he was mostly green with some sky blue, red, silver and brown mixed in and had horns and claws of bright gold. He had kept watch over them these past few years while Anash courted them. Gynyorra looked down at them with pride and remembered the first time he ever saw them. Anash had gotten Garthlac to get him an audience with Gynyorra his father. He had already heard of Avris the sword dancer from the Fire River Tavern, but did not know this was her until he heard the story from Vorent of how Anash was able to convince the tavern owner to set them free. That tale was almost too crazy to believe, but there were a lot of people that witnessed what happened that day and Vorent was known for keeping to the facts.

Gynyorra had spent the day being polished up to be very shiny just for Avris and Monorra. When they looked up at him, he gleamed in the light of the fires in the sconces surrounding the chamber. He was beautiful before, but with him being all shiny they gasped as they looked upon him. He was wondrous!

He made a soothing sound, then spoke, “I see thou are speechless as usual in my presence daughters. I hope ye get thy tongues back in time to kiss the groom.”

They blushed. “High Father Dragon!” Avris said in awe.

He made that sound again. “Please, just father will do. Remember I am giving thee away in marriage today.”

They blushed some more and spoke in unison, “Yes father.”

He was so beautiful that seeing him helped ease some of their fears about what they were about to do. Then he lowered his head to the ground and they climbed on and sat between his golden horns in a seat that had been secured there for their ride. He went gracefully as a cat through the large tunnel and at the opening he took flight without even the slightest jostle to the sisters.

Flying slowly out of the side of the mountain, with the sun going down behind him, he glided across a lake toward the beach on the other side. They could see two rows of torches where Gynyorra was headed. The wind fluttered their dresses wildly as they flew.

Gynyorra raised a little as he approached the bank of the lake giving him room to bring forward his legs. The girls braced expecting there to be a jolt when he touched down, but he landed as smoothly as he had flown. Then with the grace of a panther he flowed over the beach where people were gathered behind the torches. Many had come just to see Gynyorra. It was well know how beautiful he was. He walked with pride down the path thru the crowd. The sisters were amazed at how many had come. There were more here than they had ever met while living in the lair.

Most had come because it had been many years since they had seen dragons flying in the sky during the day. Dragons loved to play and fly and be out in the sun. But the Dryads had some explosive weapon that could send great spears very high into the air. Many dragons were lost to this. There were also many that came because Gynyorra rarely made an appearance. There were rumors that he was not well.

With all the people watching, this made Avris and Monorra even more nervous. Monorra took her sisters hand and squeezed it tightly and almost said she could not do this. But when she looked at her sister and saw the fire and desire in her eyes, she knew she was thinking of the first time they ever saw Anash. She then let her mind go back to when she first heard of him. The story they heard came to them almost a week before they ever laid eyes upon him. The unit he was with arrived and stayed a week on the grounds near the Fire River Tavern where Avris and Monorra were slaves. What they heard that night was a much more fantastic story than what Anash told them later. They were both anxious to see this young boy who had saved the lives of the men in his unit and when she saw him stand up to take Avris’s challenge her heart skipped a beat. How could he be so handsome? All the other soldiers were so gruff and rough and crude in attitude. She had been able to see his eyes when he stood up and she saw within them that he would one day be greater than all the others there. And with the way they all cheered when he stood up, she knew then he was already on the road to being their leader. Then as he took his place in front of Avris to accept the challenge and do the duel, she actually thought that he could possibly be the first to beat her sister. Thinking about that didn’t abate her fears, but somehow made them desirable. She knew she loved him and she knew she did not want to turn back.

Anash walked an old meandering stone path thru the woods with Torlene and Rossin following behind him. The three of them wore their dragon skins, but not the dragon scale armor. Armor was for battle and any related ceremonies. This was not such a thing in the eyes of the dragons. Marriage was sacred to them and they expected the same from those under the wings of the Honor of Dragon. They walked up to a set of stone pillars where Vorent and another man stood. Anash walked right up to the other man and looked him over.

“I’ve never seen you look so clean.”

“This is the first time I ever been called to attend the wedding of one of my tavern girls. Even though Avris and Monorra were my slaves and you dealt well with me. Actually you dealt better and more ingenious than any other; I still felt I owed my girls this honor. I’m proud to see they now have better lives than I could provide.”

“That sounds awfully long winded for just saying you are here for the free food after the wedding,” came Vorent’s reply.

Sap’s eyes widened with a mischievous gleam, “I was not told of any free food. I come to make sure Anash kept his word.”

“I believe thee, but don’t expect my brides to believe that. Of course they will be glad ye came.”

They then walked down stone steps that led them around to a ledge. There they could see below them the courtyard where the wedding was soon to take place. In the center was a round stone step that was only about four feet across. Anash’s mother was standing next to it looking out toward the lake. On the other side of the step was the speaker. Then over to the other side just a few steps away from his mother was a huge stone bowl. The inside of this bowl was scorched heavily from all the times that dragons had breathed fire into it to burn up whatever had been placed there in a pledge. On both sides of the courtyard were crowds of people. They lined up from the courtyard to the lake. Leaving a wide enough path for a dragon to land. This place had been especially built so that people and dragons could attend any ceremony here.

Above Anash and his groomsmen was another ledge with three dragons. All the people and the dragons were facing the lake. They were watching for Gynyorra. It was hard to see if he was coming yet because the sun was setting behind the mountain on the other side of the lake and it was shining brightly in everyone’s eyes.

Suddenly a shout from someone in the crowd nearest the lake and then everyone began to clap and shout as Gynyorra gracefully came in and landed. As the High Father Dragon slowly walked up with the brides upon his head, Anash and his men walked down the narrow steps that led to the courtyard. They came down behind a wall and there they waited as the speaker began calling out to quieten everyone down. It seemed to take some time for the excitement to go away.

Anash could easily imagine what was going on. Gynyorra would be standing proudly with his brides sitting upon his head between his horns. Turning around slowly for all to see him and his adopted daughters. This was no ordinary wedding. For Monorra and Avris were considered Dragon Royalty.

He felt a hand upon his shoulder. He turned to see that his mother had come to see about him. They hugged, “If only father were here today.”

She smiled and spoke with pride to her son, “He stands with us, my son.”

The cheering began to die down. Soon all was quiet and only the Speaker could be heard. It was time. As the Speaker began, Anash led his mother and those that would stand with him, through the narrow passage in the stone wall. He walked out and stood upon the stone step behind the Speaker. His mother stood beside him and the men stood behind them.

“Behold! A great day is upon us. The Daughters of Kothar have come.” He stood there a moment letting his words take hold, “People under the wings of the Honor of Dragon. One has come from among thee to stand here tonight. A hero amongst the Honor. The son of the Dragon Savor.” Ooooh came from the crowd, for they all knew that story. “I first heard of this path taken when it led him through the air to save his men from captivity. And before that story could spread through the land, he bargained and won the freedom of these two fair sisters. Then before the High Father Gynyorra he brought them and they were taken in. They are the daughters of Kothar.” Cheering began again and it took some time to slowly quieten down. But not completely gone. The crowd was in a great mood and the Speaker was enjoying himself.

Gynyorra slowly lowered himself down, moving ever so gently. Finally laying his head down upon the ground before the Speaker.

The Speaker twirled around in his gray robes, covered in gold and black knots. His agility flowed easily for one whose long hair was almost completely gray. His face was clean shaved except for a small place at the tip of his chin where the hair hung down at least two feet. His blue eyes sparkled as they reflected the torch lights. This was the kind of moment he lived for. The Speaker raised his hands high as a gleam came to his eyes. All waited anxiously for him to peak again. He continued, “He stands now before you upon this stepping stone. Look at this tall handsome member of the elite guard. He has fought many battles and led many campaigns and is this year’s winner of the Dragon’s Challenge.” More Cheers went up. Many here saw Anash compete in the challenge and that excited the crowd even more.

He had their full attention. Now it was time. He raised his hands and slowly turned around to silence them. Once silent, he turned and faced Avris and Monorra who sat patiently upon the head of the High Father Dragon Gynyorra. He lowered his hands and slowly went down on one knee.

“Let us welcome the brides. The daughters of Kothar. Avris and Monorra. The Queen and Princess of Dragons.”

Then came a moment of awkward silence as the daughters of Kothar did not come down off of Gynyorra as was expected. Anash began to become nervous as he stood there waiting. But they just sat there and looked right at him with unblinking eyes. Then he heard a whisper in his ear. A very familiar whisper that he had heard many times. Mostly at times that he did not know what to do. But he missed what was said. It was just one word and he missed it. Now his heart was sinking as he could tell that his brides were expecting him to do something. Anash finally turned and looked inquiringly at his mother.

Marchalla smiled up at him reassuringly and in a soft voice, “Thy father said for thee to bow.”

Anash swallowed as he thought that this could not be. They wanted him to bow, when they were his equals. But something sparkled in his mothers eyes and he felt his heart soften and the words that she had spoken to him many times when he was growing up came back to him, “To be a true and good leader, ye must be able to serve with the loyalty of a good slave.”

He looked back a moment at Vorent and Sap. Vorent had his usual stone face, but with a glint of amusement in his eyes and he could see that Sap knew exactly what was going on. Then turning back he looked up at the two women he loved. They were watching him intently. Yet even with their solemn faces they could not hide the passion in their eyes. He stepped off of the stone and went down on his right knee and bowed his head and heart to the passion they could not hide.

The daughters of Kothar climbed gracefully off of their adopted father. Before walking to their future husband, they kissed Gynyorra. There were a few ahhhs and sighs heard from some of the single girls that were watching. Then the daughters walked slowly to Anash and they each took a hand of his and helped him stand up. Once he was standing the three of them faced the speaker, who was now standing with Gynyorra behind him. The dragon actually looked like he might cry.

“Dragons mate forever. Never parting for their joining. This becomes the path. Their love blends them together and makes them one. They never look back as they travel on. Now we stand in the heart of the lair of Stohyer, the land of Dragons,” he looked at the three before him.

“Anash, you are here this day to become one with the daughters of Kothar. Together you stand for all to see and hear this day. Are you ready? Are you truly ready?”

“I am”

“Then we shall begin”, the speaker waved a hand and a lady in a red robe walked over carrying a tray with three cups on it. The smell of dragon milk flowed strongly from them. As the three each took a cup and began to drink, the speaker continued, “Each person has three powerful possessions. They must be shared so that a marriage may become strong. So as you join together this day, you must also join these possessions. Join together your will, your love and your imagination and let it all grow strong.”

As he spoke they drank from their cups and when each had finished a third of the milk, they passed the cups. Anash passed his to Monorra; she passed hers to her sister as Avris passed hers to Anash. They drank another third and passed the cups again. Then they finished the milk. Anash had had dragons milk before, but this time there was a slight bitter taste in it. He wondered if this was the fabled laced milk he had heard rumors about. The daughters of Kothar recognized it as the milk that Senashea had them bathe in and drink as part of a ritual.

Once empty the three cups were tossed into the large stone bowl over to one side. Then they turned again to face the speaker. He held out to them a dagger. One made in the style of the dragon blade. At the base of the blade next to the cross piece were two more short points. One on each side of the blade. As he raised the dagger straight above him, “It is time to pledge thy vows.”

Gynyorra rose up and reached out and allowed the dagger to cut his palm, the only place that dragons have no scales. The blood flowed down the blade and shimmered in the firelight. The crowd made an awww sound.

Monorra then took the dagger and cut the last few inches off of her hair, “I am one with Anash.” She then handed the dagger to her sister as she dropped the hair into the stone bowl.

Avris then cut off some of her hair and as she dropped it into the bowl, “I am one with Anash.”

Avris did not hand the dagger to Anash, but took the long braid of his hair and held it out straight. Together Avris and her sister held the dagger and cut off at least six inches of his hair and as they dropped it into the bowl, Anash spoke loud and clear, “I am one with the daughters of Kothar.”

Gynyorra rose up as he spoke, “I accept they pledge.” Then before anything else could happen, he blew flame into the bowl and burned all therein to ashes in one loud explosive blast that shook the ground.

The crowd cheered as the sound of drums began to beat. The crowd began to dance as Gynyorra raised his head and shot a stream of flame straight up into the sky. When the dragons flying above saw this, they began shooting flame into the gathering clouds. Making the clouds grow darker and thicker. So raindrops began to fall. The crowd roared as the rain fell. For such meant that the wedded ones would have good healthy children.

Dancer Poems:

*  Lady at the Fountain
*  Such a Wonder
*  Wizard Dragon Siridias
*  Black Dragon
*  Promised Sword