Upon Ebony Wings (SomethingSecret & Bunny)

[SomethingSecret]

Gathered 'round towering stones in a massive clearing near a mountain that reached for the sky itself like a finger of the very earth itself, humans watched the epicenter of the event with folded arms, nervous glances, and eyes that were widened or narrowed. Before them, standing proud at a stone altar larger than a man, was a collection of dragons ranging in size from a common dog to that of a large building a few stories in height and longer still when accounting for the tail. Their colors varied: shimmering silvers and gleaming golds alongside coppers, bronzes, and more, some with fin-like sails upon their backs and others with horns upon their heads. Some had long whiskers protruding from their snouts while others still had spikes on the ends of their tails. The dragons seemed to number as many as the humans who had gathered before them, and soft chatter along with low rumblings created an audible hum from both the humans and dragons alike.

The hum would be broken as a majestic gold dragon larger than any other dragon present stepped forward, its clawed foot digging into the earth as it stepped and gathering the attention of all the humans watching. He had a long crest atop his head and long whiskers protruding from his cheeks, with his long wings creating a backwards 'V' shape upon his back. He puffed a jet of air from his nostrils and rumbled lowly, garnering the attention of some. At last, the gold spoke, revealing long, dagger-like teeth in its mouth as it did so.

"Attention!" the beast roared. All eyes now were upon him. "It is time to perform the Rite of Patronage."

One of the men in the crowd flicked his eyes towards the dragon, then back to the crowd. His hair was jet-black, his eyes a soft gold, and he stood with folded arms, impatiently tapping his foot every so often as he watched the spectacle unfurl before his eyes. Momentarily, two humans would begin bringing a woman forward, as hushed whispers broke out among the crowd. The black-haired man watched the scene silently, his eyes tracking their every move like a predator.

"Present the Dragon Patron upon the Ancient Stone," the gold dragon rumbled. "This year, we grant our youthful silver Rexilon with a mate..."

The two figures kept dragging the woman forward, holding her by the arms and pulling her if she resisted.

"...Tonight, Rexilon will depart with this mate and make for the Rune of Dalgaz far to the East, where she will be given The Gift. Then, she will mate with Rexilon and bring forth many clutches of silvers for the years to come... a price the people of Alaren willingly pay for our protection."

The woman was at last brought before the dragons, just shy of the large stone altar in the center of the formation of standing stones. Before she could react, the great gold dragon swept the woman up in his claws, dropping her upon the top of the altar, lowering his head to speak to her. As he did, a large silver dragon with two long backwards-facing horns upon his head approached from behind the gold, his silver eyes intently watching the woman in the background.

"Before we perform the Rite of Patronage," the gold said to her. "First, we must know this Patron's name. Will she speak it to us, or will some other reveal her name to us?"

 

[Bunny]

This would be her chance to be the center of attention. People might have scoffed to know that one of the princesses of the lands felt unseen, unloved or even like she was the ugly duckling. Born to wealth, privilege and power? Boo-hoo poor princess. Yet, she had felt that way. Being rich or in a technical position of power did little for her. She was taught with her siblings so at least her education hadn’t suffered, but nothing she did was enough to make her parents proud of her. Being loved starved was a form of abuse.

No one wanted to hear that though.

When it had been brought up that in the coming Rite of Patronage should one of their line apply, Vivienne had leaped at the chance. It would give her a purpose, something she’d been lacking for far too long. It was also viewed with respect and honor, to mate with a dragon. While the idea on its own didn’t appeal to her, marrying for love had been the only card she’d held that her siblings couldn’t boast. Assuming her parents would have allowed it… Yet this would give her some control of her life, an agency which she’d never known. It would also make her parents proud of her. A goal she chased, though it had never bore fruit.

--

The murmur of voices reached her even within the chambers as she waited for the ceremony to start. She’d been picked and for once, her parents had given her the attention that she craved. They’d been proud and were here to witness the occasion. The first time in Vee’s short life that she could remember such a thing. At twenty, she was still considered a babe, more so when compared to the majority of the souls that filled the platform. Dragon’s lifespans vastly outranged that of the humans they needed to form the bond.

The roar made her jump and she felt her nerves set on edge. Vee wasn’t having second thoughts, but this was still a huge step. The morning had been spent primping and pampering her. The heavy fall of her white hair had been braided and fell down her back in a waterfall of artfully twisted locks. The pure white of her hair had been studded with rubies, making her hair look like drops of blood had been caught in the spiderweb white strands. Her face was left bare, save for a touch of color within the center of her lips and a touch of kohl that set her amethyst eyes aglow. Her pale, alabaster skin was in contrast against the dress of red and gold. It both hid everything and left very little to the imagination. Yards of fabric and Vee still felt naked. The bodice was of deeper, richer red and framed her breasts the deep v daring. A band of gold inlaid with a ruby rested at the apex of that v and the spill of blood red fabric fell from there, two high slits on either side.

Now her hands smoothed the skirts as two dragons, in their more human form entered. Hands on her elbows, she was led from the chambers to the waiting dias. It felt like she was heading to the gallows. Though she didn’t resist or fight them, they guided her as if they expected her to flee. As she came to wait at the base of the raised platform, she understood. Not all would have come willingly. She did this for her people and the protections the dragons offered them.

She’d not expected to be lifted into the air and she bit back a cry of surprise and fear as she was deposited on the altar. Looking up at him she crossed and frowned up at the dragon. There was no need to manhandle her… Her chin tilted, defiant. “I am Vivienne D’sanguis.”

 

[SomethingSecret]

As Vivienne announced her name, the silver dragon snaked his head around the gold's, until the two were side-by-side, eyeing the woman. It spoke, its voice rumbling yet not quite as deep as the gold's. His silver scales gave off a brilliant sheen in the sunlight, each scale as large or larger than

"Vivienne is a fine name," it said. "I am pleased to meet you, dear patron. My name is Rexilon, and I will be the one mating with you to continue our line."

At the utterance, the two dragons gave toothy grins. The gold spoke again a moment later.

"She is a proud one," he said. "Look how she holds her head high in our presence."

The dragons made a low sound resembling a chuckle, the vibrations of which would make the very ground of the stone altar difficult to stand upon.

"Yes, I see that Gensax," Rexilon said, still chuckling. "She will make for a good brood-mother indeed. It is a dragon's lot to be proud."

"And brave," the gold added, chiding like a schoolteacher.

"And brave," the silver said. "Yes, I think I like this one..."

From the crowd, the black-haired golden-eyed man followed the conversation, his attention hanging on their every word. Despite the distance between them, his eyes focused like a hawk's, as though he could make out the littlest detail of the woman standing alone on the altar against the two great beasts. The man huffed, puffing a bit of air out of his mouth that visibly steamed against the cool morning. His form was lithe and elegant, yet the features of his face were sharp and pointed. A fine black silk surcoat hung from his tight shoulders, a garment with various dark hues scattered about for contrast between the upper and lower layers, with the occasional gold trim for visibility. His face with smoothly shaven, and his hair was short and well-groomed to give him the appearance of nobility. In a way, he supposed he was.

"I do too," the gold said, his cat-like eyes wandering back to the maiden upon the stone altar. "Tell me, little one," Gensax said. "Have you ever thought of becoming a dragon's mate before...? Tell us more about the woman who will be this proud silver's mate..."

 

[Bunny]

The silver scales caught the light and Vee could appreciate his beauty. All dragons were fiercely beautiful after all. She inhaled through her nose as she tried to squash the slight annoyance that rose. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Rexilon.” Oh, she knew what her purpose was, knew why she’d been picked. One dream given up for a chance to make her parents proud, to be looked at by all others of her race with reverence. They smiled at her and in truth, that was terrifying. Their teeth were razor sharp.

Anger flashed in her eyes as they talked about her, almost as if she wasn’t there. She might have been the least loved of her siblings, but she was a princess. With that came pride. She wasn’t often seen less than and it bothered her. The stone alter beneath her feet vibrated as they laughed at her and for the first time, Vee wondered what she’d gotten herself into. Not the whole producing heirs, but the way they.. He.. would look at her.

They liked her pride, her bravery? That was well enough, but to be talked about as if she wasn’t there. That he liked this one. What if he hadn’t liked her? She shook her head, her white braid slithering along her back. “I hadn’t.. No.” This was the truth and she frowned up at them. “Is it common to talk about your soon to be mate as if she wasn’t standing before you?” A brow rose in question and she tried to not let her temper get the better of her.

“I am a princess from the Kindgom of Tirith.” She didn’t know what else to tell them. Did they care that she was skilled in needle work or sword play? Or that she hated apples and had a fondness for spiders? That she couldn’t carry a tune and loved to sing, nevertheless?