Alana and the Dragon Read online


d the Dragon

  by MDL

  Copyright 2012 MDL

  License Notes:

  In a time and place different from what we've ever known, but so very much the same, there was a forest unlike any other. The trees never wilted or became bare for the winter winds. No wolves roamed the woods, no hunters of any kind. The forest was protected, magic hung in the air and flowed through it's trees.

  It was the doing of an elven king, who's people resided there. They lived as one with nature, for they loved the land, their mother. All were content, save the princess Alana, a child who dreamed of seeing the outside world.

  “It isn't safe” the king had told his daughter. He preached of the darkness in the hearts of men. How a poor man would betray her for food, while the rich for fun.

  “Do you not say that there is good in all who live?” she asked in return. He then spoke of how temptation can easily blind a man to what is right and what is wrong.

  Alana, little more than a child, asked a question to make philosophers proud. “Father, what is a life lived only in shelter?”

  “Alana, you are just a child.”

  “And forever so in your eyes. I will be a child until I take the throne, and then there will be no time.”

  Eventually, the king consented to his daughter's wish, but that she would go with others, to keep her safe. Her journey to see the outside world didn't go as planned. Several days after leaving the forest, in the dark of night, they were beset upon and only Alana was captured.

  The leader of the human troop, Raid by name, demanded our elven princess brought to him, after all was done.

  “I am sorry for what has happened here this night” he told her in a most convincing way. “We did not know you were of elven kin. We are chasing the Legion of the Dragon, they have come this way. A most grievous mistake this was.”

  “Will you send me on my way than?” she asked of this Raid.

  “I can not, not yet.” Discord in his voice. “Our salvation may yet lie with your hands. Safe in your forest, you may not have heard. The dragon, Voltus, seeks to rule our lands. He is amassing an army to sweep us aside.”

  Confusion on her face and in her mind. “What help would a child such as I be to you?”

  “You are of elven blood.” It seemed such a simple thing. “There is a stone called the Dragon's Eye at the Serpentine Temple. It has the power to dissuade Voltus from his dark ambitions. However, only elven blood can cross the threshold. If you bring it to me, I will make sure you reach your forest safely and give you anything else you desire, so far as it is within my power.”

  “That sounds all very well, but I do not know where this temple lies.”

  “My goblin servant knows, he can lead you there.”

  After just an hour, Alana was once again seeing more of the world, but with an armed escort and a brooding goblin.

  “Where is it that we are headed?” She asked of the small and dour creature.

  It looked at her with bleak eyes. “A few days west, child.”

  The promise proved true, but the journey was not so straight forward. After half a day's trek through swamp land on the second, they came to the mouth of a cave and camped the night. At first light of morning, Alana awoke to find that only she and the sour goblin would continue on, for the opening in the rock was barely more then a crack large enough for her to crawl through.

  It was not long before it widened and she could again stand on her feet, but the passage was long and the dark looming. Alana felt fear for the long shadows and unyielding walls, but the goblin, strangely, seemed at peace. After several hours traversing the twisting corridors of darkness, light finally blossomed ahead.

  She basked in it as stepped out into the fresh air. When her eyes fell upon the scenery, something more than awe filled her. Luscious grass and pools of water littered the ground of the dome-like cavern. Tree roots at the opening far above, broke the light into beams, spraying majesticly around the Serpentine Temple.

  The structure was ginormous, seemingly carved of a single piece of white marble, etched completely with her people's cultural designs. Green vines crawled up everywhere along it's walls, adding to it's ancient beauty.

  “The temple was swallowed by the mountains ages ago,” the goblin told her, “after your people stopped worshiping the dragons.”

  Alana turned a questioning look on it. “We worshiped dragons? Why?”

  It smiled mischievously. “That, you would have to ask a dragon.” It pointed off to the temple. “You should hurry along, I would like to be gone from here before night fall. I will wait here, seeing as I can not enter.”

  Hurry she did, though not a run. There were no doors, just an elaborate arch that reach high above. A long hall full of mosaics, depicting dragons as noble and merciful, lined the walls. In the grand alter room, a green sphere with a smaller blue one inside, the size of a grown elf's hand, rested on a pedestal. The Dragon's Eye.

  Alana approached the crystal with caution, suddenly fearful of what might happen when she removed it. She slowly reached and gently picked it up. With the stone hovering just above it's resting place for untold ages, she looked around, checking for anything amiss. Satisfied when nothing caught her eye, she brought the Dragon's Eye to her chest and left with haste.

  When the goblin saw her coming it smiled without warmth, maybe amusement. “Good. We can be on our way now.”

  “What is your name?” It was a sudden question.

  The goblin stared at her with surprise. “I... I have not gone by my name in so long. It is Galluf.”

  “Does Raid not know your name?” Innocent curiosity.

  Galluf turned away, beginning to walk back into the long dark of the cave. “He does not.”

  The voyage out passed faster than the one in, or perhaps it just seemed that way. In no time, Alana, our elven princess, and Galluf, the dour goblin, were sitting among the escort, eating their night's meal.

  The next day's dawn brought a renewed journey, a sojourn that would take them into mountains further west, to meet up with Raid and stop Voltus. A trail was left by their comrades, small things that would have gone unnoticed, save by those looking for them. On the morning of the fifth day, they put the low lands behind them, taking at last to the rocky regions.

  On the evening of the seventh, as camp was being made, Galluf came over to Alana. “Tomorrow we will catch up to my master. He is waiting for you, the lair of Voltus is nearby.” He told her, a subtle meaning.

  When night came and all slept except the watchman, Alana slipped out of camp. She had questions which could not be answered by the men of Raid. As the long hours of the dark passed, our elven princess made her way through the surrounding area, until she came upon a cave mouth, hot air streaming out.

  Alana made her way in as the sun began to rise. Weariness crept through her, eyelids heavy. Still she moved deeper and deeper, the heat growing slowly. Then, she was in a vast chamber.

  The great Voltus loomed above her, his scales shimmering red and blue. He was like a giant snake, two sets of wings down the length of his body, tip of his tail in a chasm. With bright yellow eyes, slit down the middle, he turned his gaze on her.

  “An elf? Long has it been since I have seen one of your kin.”

  Alana looked around curiously. “A man named Raid tells that you seek to control these lands.”

  Voltus snorts, thick smoke puffing out his nostrils. “What need have I for controlling lands? I am dragon.”

  “I have seen the Serpentine Temple, where my kin once worshiped yours.” Sharp were her words.

  But Voltus only laughed, deep and rumbling. “Ten thousand years ago, your kin were just beginning their civilization. They saw us as gods and did all they could t
o honor us, the Serpentine Temple was the last of their efforts. Eventually they realized the truth and left for their woods, to worship nature.”

  Alana holds out the Dragon's Eye. “What does this do?”

  Eyes wide, Voltus stares at it. “How did you get that? The temple was destroyed.” The dragon snorts again. “No mind. It was a gift for your kin, to summon a dragon if ever there was need.”

  Suddenly, Alana knew there was someone behind her. Her arm was grabbed and the Dragon's Eye taken from her grasp. She looked up at the man holding her.

  Raid smiled darkly at Voltus. “The Dragon's Eye may only be able to summon by itself, but I also have the Black Heart of Ragoth. With the two in hand, you will be compelled to do as I command.”

  Voltus roared, but Raid raised the Dragon's Eye. “Be still and silent,” and the dragon complied.

  Alana saw Galluf behind his master, meek and hidden in the shadows. Raid looked down at her, darkness in his eyes. “You were supposed to come straight to me. Why wander into the dragon's lair?”

  “Too many questions.” A simple reply, yet so true.

  Galluf took a step forward. “Will you let her go, master? She did do as you asked.”

  “Why do you care, goblin?”

  “She is nice.”

  “Nice?” Disbelief coursed through the word. “Being nice is no reason to spare the life, especially not one that knows too much. No, I will end her now.”

  A sudden scream of rage and fear, determination and desperation, erupted from the little goblin. He rushed forth and flung himself at Raid, knocking Alana and the Dragon's Eye from his grasp.

  The man threw Galluf away from him. The little goblin slide across the ground and over the chasm's lip. Alana cried out for him.

  Raid stood over our elven princess, danger evident on his face. “You have cost me much, child.” Then, he must have sensed something amiss, for he turned around in time to see the head of Voltus spring at him. The dragon flung him into the air and opened it's mouth wide.

  One last cry of outrage escaped Raid as Voltus snapped his mouth shut.

  Alana scrambled to her hands and knees, crawling to the chasm's edge. She peered over hoping against hope that Galluf would be there, just in arms reach. But, not all fairy tales are happy, for the little goblin was nowhere to be seen. Tears of pain and loss streamed freely from our elven princess.

  Galluf had saved her for no more reason than she had asked his name. Such a simple kindness, yet so powerful. For the rest of her days, she would never forget him.

  Voltus, truly a benevolent being, returned Alana to her forest, where her tale was received with shock and awe. Her father once again feared for her well being and refused to hear any more talk of adventures. This time, it was Alana who conceded to her father's wishes. For a time.

  The first adventure of our elven princess has come to an end, but it is far from the last.