The Rising

If you haven't heard of Besglen, It wouldn't be surprising, just a simple little farming town with little cottages and several mills. All the men in town went to the Drunken Horse, the only inn Besglen has.
It would be even less likely that you have heard of me, Katrina. No one even in all of Wallachia, notice me, it seems.
I took on my mothers profession, and the five generations of women before her as a healer. My parents and family members made jokes about me, how I would wander off into the woods and gather herbs and flowers, even braiding some into my bronze colored hair. My grandmother was very spiritual, and would always say strange things about my hair, which I thought was quite simple, but in the sunlight she insisted it had blood red streaks that blazed gold before dying once more, like a phoenix.
Although I enjoyed going out into the woods, my mother insisted I didn't go for long, why? Wolves? Bandits? no.
We feared our own prince. His name I had been told was Vlad III, and had the title of The Impaler. That isn't what we feared though, he would randomly destroy his own towns in delight, or take the virgin women back to his castle and do horrible, wretched things to them.
Although I never said it out loud, I was not afraid, he would surely take my sister instead of me. She was blonde, blue eyed, beautiful, with considerably tan skin, but went with her looks.
I, on the other hand, had light brown hair, pale skin that made me look like a ghost, and a narrow build, but both of us were tall with blue eyes, but mine were more of a watery blue than her vivid green-blue ones.
But this is just where the story begins.

“Katrina!” I spun around, my feet spinning on the flattened dirt of the street, “Yes, Mama?”
“Make sure you aren't gone after nightfall!”
“Yes, Mother!” I waved to her before walking off into the slightly colder shade of the woods, my emerald slippers scuffing off fallen tree branches as I looked through the dark layers of the forest. Walking to the small brook like I always did, kneeling down and picking up the sprigs of bushy cattails. I was about to keep on looking for more, when a rabbit jumping out from behind the brush startled me. “Oh, hello there.” I greeted it, trying to calm my unsettled nerves.

For the next several hours I wandered around trying to find wormwood, the particular plant evading me as such mother needed it for a tradition of keeping the evil spirits away. Not realizing until the sun sank behind the evergreen-topped mountains how late I was, I rushed home stumbling here and there. Right before I reached the edge of the tree line I saw orange light up the black sky.
Fire.
No, No, the town can't be under attack now! I hid in a thicket of trees as a troop of armored warriors ran by, lighting up the wooden houses. My eyes burned from the smoke, I wiped them in an attempt to clear them, but to no avail. I listened to the crackling of the fire and screams of people, hoping my parents weren't among them.
Even though I lay behind the bushes, temporarily safe and hidden, but my body was inflamed. I looked down at my skin to see it glowing, “What the-”
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A roar echoed through the village and everything seemed to freeze, and in the next couple of seconds everything happened so fast. A shadow swept over the entire village blowing the fire out and sickening crunches, bursts of flames and massive whirlwinds of air startled everyone. When all was quiet, the warriors were gone. Dead presumably.
People crawled out from under their hiding places, Kathryn scrambled out from behind a barricade of barrels. “Katrina? Katrina?! Where is she?”
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“Ugh..” My bloodshot eyes opened slowly, I felt like I got kicked by a horse. I was propped against a broken wooden wall that was full of burn marks. I stood, Shakily getting to my sore feet. The pain seep through my body as I straightened my dress and hair, smudging the ash that covered me in layers. My ears were ringing painfully and I heard what sounded like a distant voice buzzing at me like a swarm of mosquitoes.

My eyes focused and as did my irritated ears. I heard my sister, Kathryn calling for me and heard her footsteps and she ran to me, but I couldn't seem to be able to process what exactly happened, and the fact the village was mostly intact despite the siege.

“Katrina! There you are. Where were you? Are you alright?” I slowly looked over at her, having to look up slightly seeing she was only an inch taller than I.

“I'm... I'm fine I suppose, and I was in the woods, trying to get home.” After getting checked over by my mother and sister, the town 'elders' as we called them, called together a meeting about exactly what happened.

All of the remaining people piled into the circle shaped meeting area, which was meant to house many guests.
“All right... I would like to call this meeting to order, about the topic that I'm sure everyone has thought about: What happened?” The main Elder, Sabjorn Announced, gaining everyone's attention.

“A witch”
“A demon.”
“I heard from Marcus it was a ancient serpent from Hell that fought for us. Does that mean were damned?”
“I thought It was a dragon..”

These were all suggestions brought to light, most were shot down of course. Eventually, we only had one choice left : Dragon.

“Why would a Dragon protect us?”
“Maybe it's only protecting one of us...”

“Or..” The Elder said loudly, gaining silence in the hut once more, “It could be one of us...”

“What nonsense are you spouting?! There is no such thing as a dragon in human form!”

Elder Sabjorn Chuckled to himself quietly, rubbing his silvery beard.
“There are tales, mind you, about such things. About an ancient line of dragons, who learned to disguise themselves as humans, to live among them and learn their ways... But, those documents were lost long ago, and the family line seems to have disappeared, or maybe... Forgotten.”

The Bar keeper, Farin, spoke up this time. “How could one forget if their a dragon or not?

“Well... think about it. Maybe with dragons being hunted they wanted to give their young a normal life, and kept it hidden from them, and they remained in human form.”

From our spots near the left corner me and Kathryn exchanged side glances. Is that was happened? I studied my sister, the low glow of the fire dancing off her features, trying to imagine her as a dragon, but the image couldn't fit.

Actually, I couldn't even see myself as a dragon for that matter, nasty horns fire-breathing scaly beast, not for me.

After the meeting had ended we all walked back to our huts, but one thing is for sure. This isn't the last Besglen has seen of Vlad III Dracula, or the mysterious dragon.

The Capture

The court had been mostly quiet that day, with little complaints from anyone. Until of course the momentary peace was interrupted by a beaten, bruised, charred solider ran through the door looking like he had just ran straight out of Hell. Despite his appearance, The Prince looked upon the man with irritation, to alert his people in the court with his appearance.

“My Prince!! -huff-huff-... The attack...”

The Prince leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes narrowing at the scrawny man. “Well? Get on with it!”
This made the solider more nervous as he suddenly burst out. “All the troops sent to Besglen are dead your highness!”
This caused the infamous man to raise an eyebrow, “Dead? By whom?”
“I-I... I don't know sir, everything was going smoothly then a massive shadow covered us and... and... I don't know. It protected the actual town but demolished all our troops and supplies! I managed to find a sketch Hadvar was drawing during the attack, before he was slain as well...” The solider then brought out a scorched journal, then shakily, stepping to the edge of the blood red carpet that surrounded the throne extended it to a royal guard who handed it to the prince himself. His eyes scanned over the image, his brow furrowing slightly, before he handed it back to the guard.

“Very well. We'll see this 'dragon' of yours. General, get my troops ready and my horse, we head out as soon as possible.”
“Yes Prince Vlad!”
He turned back towards the frightened man, “And you, are coming along, and you better hope that dragons there if I'm going to all this trouble.”
The man shakily nodded, nervously glancing back and forth.
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“Where are we going?!”
“Away... For now.”
“We can't just leave!”
“We have to, it's not safe, even with a dragon around.”
I kicked a rock while glaring at the ground, my parents had gotten scared of living in Besglen, so they wanted to move a little while away from it, until things settle, if they ever do.
“Lets stay here for the night.”
“What about wolves?”
“Wolves don't like fire. We'll be fine.”

In the middle of the woods, with the sun settling behind the mountains and casting a fiery glare upon the woods, my father made a make-shift cover for us, and made a fire, going to collect extra wood while the rest of us settled down.
“I still don't like it.” I muttered, curling up against my sister with a pout.
“Katrina, it's not up for discussion, we're going, whether you like it or not.”
“Yes, mother.” I muttered, before curling even closer for warmth, I could already tell it was going to be a cold night.
------
The sun hit my eyes, slowly getting to my feet, the morning was bright and alive. Looking at my sleeping family, I heard a noise, my name... Something was calling my name... I turned and climbed the small ledge and ran through the birch trees, hearing the voice still, calling, calling. “Oof!” I feel down into a cove in the forest, and turned. Blue reptilian eyes stared back, “Y-You're the dragon...!”
“What are you talking about? I think you slept to long.”
“huh?!” I blinked, and the dream was gone, instead my sister leaned over me with a quizzical look,
“You babbling about some dragon, I think that story got to you.”
I sat up, looking around, My father was tending to the horse and mother was making breakfast.

I walked over the fallen twigs, and made myself look presentable while the others sat down around to eat, getting out silverware and plates we had brought along, then we were on the move. “We should be at the peak of this mountain by night fall, then it's a clear shot to Marblewarden.” Along the way I picked flowers like I naturally did, Kathryn watching me oddly, making jests at me about dragons and flowers.
It stalled about half of an hour because of a small river that took sometime coaxing the horse and us across before we we're on a small winding line through the forest up the mountain, only encountering a couple foxes that were easily scared away. By sunset we we're at the top, the small cliff edge offered a beautiful of the valley below, and Besglen.
I felt a slight pang of homesickness overcome me, my family entering the small cave behind me, testing it for any creatures. I walked down the brush covered slope and gathered twigs, bringing them inside for my father.
“Ah, thank you Katrina.” I nodded and walked back out, siting myself of the edge of the small overhanging rock, watching the patterns of the fire play of the ridges of rock.
“Where will I belong?” I asked, looking up at the stars, that always seemed to stay the same.

“Talking to yourself again Katrina?” I turned my head to see Kathryn sitting down beside me.
“Yeah, I suppose. I miss home already...”
“I know, I do too. We're just going to have to deal with it though.”

I sighed and looked down at the little town, it's many fire's still burning.
“Well don't stay out too long, Papa doesn't want you attracting animals.” She stated with a teasing smile, I nodded and she left, letting the leaf shutters my mother wove together fall behind her, cloaking me in darkness.

I sat out there, thinking to myself for I don't know how long, before I guessed I should retire for the night, and stood slowly walking back to the cave.

A scream.
My head snapped around, “you've got to be kidding me.” I whispered looking at the horde heading straight for Besglen, apparently they didn't get the message.

“Come on dragon... Do your thing and save them.” I prayed, hoping to see it's shadow over take the village and get to the actual creature. I prayed and prayed, nothing. I suddenly realized.

It wasn't coming back.
“No...” I ran through the forest down the mountain on instinct, everything moving in a blur, faster and faster, “No, No No NO!” I slid to a stop at the edge of a cliff directly over the village, the troops marching to village with a deliberately slow pace. Screaming... Screaming...
“NOO!!” I clutched my head, where are you?! Why did you leave us?! I suddenly saw my skin glowing again, I was so angry with the dragon, I didn't care. How dare it leave us in our time of need?!

I felt a force push me on all fours, and when I clutch the soft ground, I felt the entire cliff rumble... “What?” I looked down, Suddenly I was much higher up and my hand was... a massive claw?

What a minute, that story... I was the dragon!

“How do I work this thing now?” I muttered, feeling abnormal muscles protrude from my back extend. “Wings check.” I hissed, my body stretching and shifting. I felt so heavy... But so strong.

I looked out at the meager townsfolk trying to stall them from the destruction. I snarled, my anger rising, and I didn't care how I did it, I just needed to stop them.

My wings snapped open, and I let out a battle cry of a roar gliding down over the small village and over the Princes forces, I heard cheers...
the townsfolk! They we're cheering for me!

The Prince himself, this caused me to stare in shock. He was here!
SLAM
Into the side of a mountain, unfortunately the mountain seemed to take more damage and rumble dangerously. I took off once more, flapping heavily, seeing them all scatter like bugs. I unleashed a jet of flame on instinct.

My claws lashed out, destroying any opposing forces, my blood surged through my veins.
“See! I told you! A dragon!”

I looked over, seeing the Prince himself grinning at me, with an odd look in his eye. “Excellent.”

The nervous man beside him grinned as well, but looked quite relieved.
“Capture it!!”
“hm?” I suddenly felt something wrap around my leg, dragging my down, several other wrapped around my limbs, dragging my down. “uh-oh” I hissed, slamming the ground with such impact the earth seemed to shatter and crumble, I stood fulling lashing out, again and again.
“Such power.” He purred, watching me like a predator watches it's prey. I glared at him, my tail lashing out, but was strapped down as well. Then my head, I growled.
“You are mine, and I will make you stronger, and you will serve me.” He walked up to me, setting his hand on my snout. I snarled, and tugged at the ropes.

I realized how tired I was... No... Not now! My energy faded, and my body huffed as it slept, my vision blacked out, returning to my human form, startling all. “A woman..” Hushed voices continued, as the Impaler Prince himself seemed speechless. Then quickly regained himself and picked me up and set my unconscious body in front of him on his horse, and if to show ownership, and rode of with the meager remains of his once massive army, and rode to his castle, victorious.

Getting Acquainted

“Little one?” A voice called softly.
“Huh?” I looked around, I was in the forest.... how?
“There's something I want to show you.” I turned and saw the dragon... or me. It was huge, it's blue eyes motioned to follow as it stood and walked through the forest.
When we reached a clearing I saw besglen, “what? Why did you bring me here dragon?”
“Look at your people, look at your family.”
I looked where it pointed with it's tail tip, seeing them huddled together.
“Their.... Their crying? Why?”
“You are their hope, the reason they were saved, who would not cry for that?”
“Am I... Dead?”
The dragon looked at me before chuckling. “No, not yet. You were captured, and will wake up soon, just be sure not to forget where you come from.. or you will lose yourself.”
“What do you mean..?”
The massive creature suddenly sighed, “You are waking little one, be prepared. I can say no more.”
“But..-”
The world suddenly turned into swirls of color, before going black.

“Wait!!” I sat up, panting. I was in a dark room with stone walls and carpets covering the floor. I looked around searching for any remain of the dragon or my dream.
“Just a... dream..” I looked at my hands, one was slightly tingling and had a slight burn...
I sat back against the headboard, looking at the flat ceiling. The door creaked open slightly, and a skinny nervous man scuttled in. I stared at him, watching his movements as he set down what I guessed my breakfast. It looked delicious, but I was in no mood to eat, my family... What will happen to them? I prayed they were all right.
“Prince Vlad would like to see you down at the garden in an hour. Please don't be late, it aggravates him.” I nodded slowly, and watched him walk back out quickly as he had came in, closely the door quietly behind himself.

I forced myself to eat part of the breakfast, before sliding out of the warm sheets and my bare feet making contact with the cold stone floor with a soft woven carpet over it.
I flicked through my wardrobe, seeing numbers of dresses, but nothing else. I will admit I was never a dress person, but apparently I had no choice now. I picked out a red dress with a fire-like pattern on it, and two servants who had been standing by for quite some time rushed over and put it on me, then did my hair in an elaborate braid.
I went down a flight of stairs after getting directions from a servant, and continued until I saw a garden to my left, a pathway winded to a fountain where several men stood, having a conversation, I could tell one was the Prince, from his red and black clothing that was fit for a prince and shoulder length dark hair. The one to his left had brown hair and was wearing a mixture of green and black clothing. There were three to the right of him. One was an elderly looking gentleman wearing purple, another had dark hair as well, but was wearing blue and white. The last had light brown hair and was wearing a light pea color with white as well.

I felt a harsh wave of self-consciousness wash over me, I was never one for people, and the fact these were people I had never met before and on top of that they were all nobles and / or royalty.

The one to his left glanced over, looked away then glanced back very quickly, “Well, Well if it isn't fire girl.”
My eyebrow twitched as attention was directed at me, “Fire girl? Really?”
He grinned and eyed me up and down as the others seemed to, “Don't you like my nickname for you.”
I glared, “Well 'Fire Girl' is going to throw you into that fountain, does that explain what I think of it?”
Several of the men did “Ooooohh” “You've done it now lad”
The man put his hands up in defense, “Settle Pyro, I was merely jesting with you.”
I crossed my arms and huffed, “Don't poke the sleeping dragon with a stick and you won't get burned. Simple, unless of course your small mind can't comprehend that statement.”
He puffed up, “Listen woman, you have no place to tell a man-”
“You were born from a woman, have some respect. Lord, It wouldn't surprise me if you couldn't hold a woman for more than a week.”
The elder man laughed loudly before putting a gentle hand on my back, “Ahaha! I like this girl, and that fiery temper she's got.”
The offended man in green muttered, “Keep her then, I lost interest anyway.”
“Bah no, too young for me, I already have a woman anyway, and I've held her for more than a week Hah!”
The prince himself finally spoke while still looking at me with what I assumed was curiosity, but I didn't meet his eyes. “Enough, leave us.” And they indeed did as they told, nodded to me and bowing to him before departing.

I took his arm as he offered it, not wanting to offend him of all people. He was surprisingly very warm, I thought he would have a slightly cold atmosphere around him considering his viciousness in battle.
“Are you going to tell me your name.......?”
I glanced up, momentarily meeting dark eyes with a glimmer of dark green in them. “Katrina, your highness.”
“I see, you've caused quite the commotion here.”
I blushed slightly in embarrassment, “I'm sorry, my prince..”
He waved his free hand dismissively, “It's quite fine, good to get the place moving every now and again I suppose. And by the way, you may call me Vlad, only if I get to call you Katrina, instead of 'Miss Grimsver.” I could sense the humor in his voice, and I never took him to being to the type to talk lightly about titles.
“O-Of course..... Vlad..” It made me worried to say his name, I was being very cautious, not trying to make him to angry or upset him, The Prince was indeed known for his nasty temper.

“Good, now that we have that settled, let's talk about your... gifts.”
After a long, long, walk through the massive castle and getting verbally interrogated by The impaler prince, several topics he got quite touchy on. Especially since he asked most of the questions and allowed me to ask my own, but when it came to his background information he got snappy and aggressive, so I left that topic alone.

We arrived in what I assumed to be a training field where several servants led me away to a dressing room and put me in light fitting metal armor, and was custom made to fit a woman of my size, before leading me back out. The prince was still there waiting patiently. “If you are going to learn to fight, it's best you learn to fight as a human in case you need to switch rather quickly. Do you know how to wield a blade? Or bow?” He frowned when I shook my head and sighed, “Very well, Farinson!”
A giant of a man trotted over with surprising grace for someone his size, he was easily 6'4'' and his shoulders were twice of the width of mine, and his body as well was covered in armor. “Yes, Prince Vlad?”
He gestured to me, “I will leave her training here to you, Katrina this is Jagr Farinson, captain of the guard, Jagr, this is Katrina... The one we spoke about.”
The tall man nodded several times eying me up and down, “Yes, yes I remember, alright I will do my best.”
“Excellent. I must hold court so I do not have time to spectate at the moment.” with a wave of his hand Vlad strode back into the door we entered in with several of his entourage behind him.
“Alright little lady, let's see what you can do as far as handling a blade.” And we discovered I wasn't good with any blade, but I did best with the two handed broadsword, but all of the ones given were to large. I worked best with a bow and traps, proving to have exceptional aim.
And days went on like that, sometimes the prince would watch, but mostly just me and Jagr, and he had become a father figure to me, and never gave any compliments just kept pushing me to be better, which I had to admit was a good strategy.
Days were melding together and it was repetition, repetition, make sure to never to this in that situation or this situation. It was always, get up, get armor, train, eat, study, train, meet and converse with the nobles or Vlad himself, but that was rare, train, then sleep.
This day though A servant ran in the middle of practice and said Vlad wished to see me, so I had to run to get myself ready, and let the servant lead me to his study, which was odd considering I've never had the chance to go there. We waited a moment after knocking, then entered the servant closing the door behind him as he nervously ran off.
“Ah, there you are, I was beginning to grow inpatient.” I looked to the end of the room to see in sitting near a fire place in a throne placed there, with an old looking book spread across his lap. “sit down, I merely wish to speak with you.” I did as I was told, seeing him close the book and set it on the end table next to him, “I was just informed of some interesting news regarding your family..” My heart pounded in my chest, “What...” I croaked out quietly, “What happened to them?” He studied me for a moment before leaning back and relaxing, “Something very interesting... It seems the Prince of Hungary took your sister's hand in marriage, quite the odd event don't you think?” My body relaxed suddenly, “Are they well?”
“But of course, more than that. The Prince Deredon spoils them practically, and takes his your sister everywhere with him, attached at the hip those two are.”
“Oh..” I looked down and fumbled with my hands nervously, “Is that all you wished to discuss...?
“No, but the other... topics will have to wait until you get more adjusted here.”
I nodded and after saying a farewell I departed off to my room quietly.

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 17.07.2012

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