Birth of a Dragoon

Betrayal?

I walked through the silent halls of the College, bored out of my mind. Because Cearúil was stilling missing, I wasn't allowed to join my classmates and practice spell craft. ArchMage Mors didn't trust me just to sit in class and listen without attempting anything. I would like to say I wouldn't try anything, but with the private lessons Cearúil had been giving me, I felt a little more confident and willing to try more. So I probably couldn't just sit there and not do anything.

I sighed deeply as I noticed two of my fellow peers; Serena and Noel. Both didn't much care for me and made their distaste of me quite clear. I am still not certain how they learned of my abandonment, I don't go around speaking of it to any and everyone, but they knew and were quite vicious in their taunts. Anger and resignation filled me when they noticed my approaching form and started for me.

"Well…well…well, look who we have here, Serena. If it isn't the little orphan, Gwen."

Serena laughed as they stopped before me, one on either side to make sure I couldn't easily get away. I straightened my back and put on my poker face, which I had gotten quite good at. It annoyed them when my face or body language didn't give away exactly how much their words hurt me, or how easily they drove home. It had been hard at first, but over the years I learned how to ignore their taunts…at least until I was safe in my room where there were no witnesses.

"So Gwen, where is your little bodyguard? Did he finally decide to stop pitying you and go after someone more deserving?"

Noel leaned in closer to me. "Aww, what's the matter? You should be used to people not wanting you. Used to being abandoned. I mean, your parents didn't even want you after all, why would anyone else either?"

It hurt…deeply, but my annoyed look stayed plastered on my face allowing no pain or sadness to surface. Instead I thought upon Serena's words, well part of them. Did everyone see Cearúil as my bodyguard? Was he actually the reason behind the lessoning of the taunts and curses cast my way? It was possible; my peers didn't slow down or start to leave me alone until the second week of Cearúil's attendance. Did he threaten some of them to get them to stop? I wasn't certain, but the possibility gave me several more questions to ask him.

Noel and Serena were obviously getting upset by my lack of care at their taunts. Little flames danced along the skin of Noel's arms in his rage, while Serena's was less noticeable. She actually smiled sweetly at me as she casually placed a hand on Noel's forearm. Their gazes met for a moment, before he turned back to me with a mocking grin as well.

"Well, you're going to be late, little orphan. You've better get a move on."

I didn't respond as they moved aside to let me pass unhindered. Their laughter was extremely annoying while they schemed amongst themselves. My eyes darkened in suspicion, whatever they planned was not going to be good. I didn't want to think upon it, or how much damage they planned to deal to me, and instead found myself roaming the hallways, searching for a distraction.

Stopping near the kitchens. I smiled at the rich aroma wafting out from them. An idea formed moments later that had me hurrying into the nearest kitchen. As I hoped Chef Cerla was among the staff. I quickly made my way up to her and smiled brightly when she turned to me. An hour later, after a hard won argument, I left the College with my prize; a picnic basket filled to the brim with Cerla's specialty and a thick wool quilt.

Because of a group full of i***t Mages, three ArchMages and five Grandmasters, the supposed to be week long eclipse had turned into two weeks, almost three. It seems even an artificial eclipse still caused Cearúil's magic to wreck havoc within his system. I would sneak out during class to sit with him when I could, which he didn't enjoy, or for practice when I could talk him into it. Ironic that, when he was in human form, he had to argue and force me to try; now, I had to do those things to him to get any practice in.

Cearúil didn't want me practicing while he was stuck in Draco form, because of the eclipse and the unstableness of his magic. Just because I understood his caution, it didn't mean I had to enjoy it. The picnic basket I now carried was to be a peace offering of a sorts.

Making certain no one was around or watching me, I snuck out of the College and dashed across the soggy fields to the forest. The i***t Mages not only screwed with the eclipse, but they had also made our simple storm into a monstrous never-ending tempest. Those same Mages were now attempting to undo their lovely work, with no luck yet. They were hopeful one or both would end by dusk. Yeah right.

Traversing the forest was extremely tricky, especially for someone as inexperienced as I. It took three hours for me to finally locate the higher leveled clearing Cearúil had found the third night I snuck out to visit with him. It was nearly three miles away from the cave he had taken me to, which was a good thing should I make a mistake and was followed.

That cave was his home, his safe haven when he couldn't return to the College. So far I had been lucky and no one at the College realized I had been sneaking away. I could only hope it would remain that way, I did not want to endanger Cearúil and lose the trust he had granted me.

Cearúil followed Gwen's progress through the flooded forest at a distance, making certain he wasn't seen before he wanted and that she didn't get lost or injured. He had begun watching the College after the second time she had left it to find and visit with him. Gwen had finally arrived at his cave around midnight that eve, out of breath and bloodied from the knees down as well as the pads of her palms. She still tripped and fell over everything in the forest, just not as bad as that night. Probably because of the path to the new clearing he found and showed her didn't have as many obstacles for her to trip over.

Cearúil was curious over the basket Gwen carried, it smelled deliciously. She also carried a blanket with her, though that was not uncommon now. After that first night lying in the flooded fields, she started bringing a thick quilt to lie upon. They still hadn't discussed Gwen's declaration, though that was entirely his fault. He avoided that discussion like the plague of long ago. It wasn't because he hadn't finally decided how he felt over it, he was fairly certain…probably it was more that it still wasn't the right time.

Elation flared within Cearúil when he peered up through the tree branches, the eclipse was finally waning! Soon, so very soon, he could finally be on two feet again. Yes, he enjoyed the freedom his Draco half granted him, but he couldn't be involved in the things he loved. Couldn't sit in a crowded classroom and learn the spells and incantations his mother had enjoyed and learned to use efficiently and affectively. His mother hadn't been very…happy over his Draco nature; in the beginning she had forced him to attend the Mage's College, even though he had never wanted the life of a Mage. Now, he enjoyed it, even loved it, though he wasn't about to give up his Draco nature, as she had always demanded of him.

Cearúil circled the clearing as he watched Gwen enter into the center of it. With the very near ending of the eclipse, a heavy weight had lifted from his shoulders. He felt light hearted and was in a playful mood. Quietly entering the clearing as well, he slowly approached Gwen's back. He stopped several feet away, then lowered his head until it was practically resting on her shoulder, albeit behind it a bit.

"Why are you here, Gwen?"

Gwen jumped several feet off the ground with a scream. Cearúil wasn't certain how she had managed to keep a hold of both burdens she carried. She recovered from her scare pretty quickly to whip around and glare at him.

"I thought I'd bring you some food, even though it's probably not enough. Now, however, I don't think you deserve any of it."

Amusement filled him. What is it? He asked as he lowered his snout to smell the medium sized basket. A moment later, his eyes lit up in pleasure. Is that what I think it is?

"No!" She stated as she quickly moved the basket to hide behind her back. "It is not anything that Chef Cerla made."

Further amusement filled Cearúil as he lowered his head toward Gwen once more. Are you certain of that? Cause it smells like chicken parmigiana to me.

I laughed and dodged back, then twisted around when he rushed around the back of me to snatch the basket out of my hands. I remembered Cearúil commenting once over the fact that Cerla made the best chicken parmigiana, his favorite dish, but didn't realize he would react so happily and carefree over it. Perhaps the Mages had finally figured out their mistake and the eclipse would be ending shortly?

My laughter ended quickly when Cearúil instantly whipped around toward the forest in the direction of the College. A slow hiss of menace escaped his throat as he rose up on his hind legs to survey our surroundings. After a moment, his head snapped back to me in anger.

"You were followed!"

My eyes widened. "No, it can't be. No one was around when I left. I made sure of it."

Hearing crunching twigs and leaves nearing us, I ran up and began, uselessly, to shove at his leg. "Cearúil, you've got to hide. Hurry, there's still time for you to leave without being seen."

Cearúil stared down at Gwen for a moment, before dodging into the trees on the far side of the clearing. He could hear their voices now as he lay quietly watching Gwen. She was casually placing the quilt upon the ground, then began emptying the contents of the basket. She didn't seem to be nervous at all over the intruders.

A sick feeling filled him; could Gwen have betrayed him? Could she have lied about her feelings? She had been quite convincing that night, but who is to say she hadn't faked it somehow? She did exceptionally well at hiding her feelings from those who taunted her, what was to say she wasn't able to fool him as well?

Cearúil stewed as he paced back and forth in the forest, listening to the conversation of the new arrivals; one was male, the other female. Cearúil's eyes darkened even further in rage; those voices sounded like the twins, Noel and Serena! This wasn't good; those two hated Gwen to no end. No, she hadn't betrayed him; the twins were here for her.

Anger rose within him, fierce and strong. Endangering himself or not, he wasn't about to allow them to harm her. Glancing up at the eclipse, relief filled Cearúil; half of the moon was now apparent. He closed his eyes as the twins entered into the clearing with Gwen, and attempted to rein in his magic to change. It didn't want to return to his strict control and with the partial eclipse still hovering high in the sky, it was winning with staying free.

My back stiffened as I watched in concern Noel and Serena enter into the clearing with me. Oh this was so going to be fun. I refused to glance in the direction Cearúil had left in; hopefully, since they weren't supposed to find out about his being a Draco, he would stay out of sight and allow the two to do whatever it was they planned to me. I have suffered through their bullying before; in fact, my body still carried many, many scars from the spells they threw at me in the past. They couldn't kill me, it was against the College's rules, which were quite strict concerning such things, but it didn't mean they couldn't beat the hell out of me or even severely injure me.

I stood up as the twins predictably spread out, to once again stop me from attempting escape. I felt the shift of wind and buzz of electricity in the air as they summoned their powers, guess they decided not to taunt me again. Didn't matter, I just wish they would hurry up and do whatever torture they wanted to inflict upon me. The wait was always the worst to endure. Of course, I could always try the small fire or water spell Cearúil taught me, but I lacked control and didn't want to hurt them, not really.

I closed my eyes when a ball of electricity formed within Noel's hands, then shot out towards me. I cringed, but nothing happened. Cautiously, I opened my eyes, then cringed again. The ball of lightning twisted, turned, and crackled several inches from my chest directly above my heart. Amazement filled me, staring beyond the ball, I noticed twin blue gazes full of shock as well.

"That wasn't very nice of you to attempt, little boy."

I wasn't certain which to be more surprised over, the ball of electricity shooting back toward Noel, or Cearúil's voice not being just in my head. I whipped around, proving just how much of an i***t I truly was; considering I now put my back to Serena, who was more powerful than Noel. Cearúil stood behind me, fully human and clad only in a soft brown pair of torn britches. At his warning, I twisted back in time to catch a fireball in my abdomen.

A curse flew out Cearúil's mouth as a bright, searing fireball exploded out of Serena's palm to strike Gwen full-blown. The blasted girl listened to his warning; instead of dodging left or right, she turned around like an i***t so it could hit her straight in the gut. Cearúil wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions to rush through him as she fell to the ground in agony.

They rocked him and nearly forced him back into his Draco form. Without much thought a green flame went hurtling through the air at Serena for the kill, while Noel recovered enough from the lightning to quickly get to his feet. He was somehow able to leap the distance between him and his sister to wrap an arm around her and disappear. The green flame vanishing right along with them.