The Legend of the Seven

To Agocaster

The sun was just beginning to disappear behind the rolling hills of emerald green as the seven reached them. Arcaena let out a sigh as little Elzae curled up in her lap "What if this doesn't work?" she asked. Ailwin raised an eyebrow "What do you mean?" he asked. She sighed again "I mean what if the other dragons don't accept her, or what if she doesn't want to leave us." she said. Ailwin grabbed her hand "They will, dragons only lay one egg at a time, and only once every five hundred years or so. She's important to them. As for if she doesn't want to leave us, I can't say but we'll deal with that if it comes." he said brushing Arcaena's hair behind her ear. She smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder. Ayred slowly approached the two elves and dragon, his ocean blue eyes locked to his feet "The others say dinner is ready." he said before turning back around. Arcaena sighed again "You will have to forgive him eventually, it was an accident after all." she said as she scooped up Elzae and cradled her. Ailwin pet Elzae's little head "I will, but it's only been a day. He can afford to sulk a little longer." he said as he walked off towards the others. Arcaena shook her head with a small smile.

The seven sat together around a small fire, in the distance they could see Agocaster the mountain dwarfed Mount Oseran. Shael went around giving each of the others their food before getting her own, except for little Elzae who squeaked loudly in protest to being forgotten. The others laughed as Arcaena went into her bag to get the meat she had brought for Elzae. They sat late into the night talking and laughing together. As they others went to bed one by one Ayred took the chance "I am so sorry Arcaena, Ailwin. Please... I don't know what came over me." he said never looking up. Arcaena elbowed Ailwin and stared him down, Ailwin sighed and looked to his little brother "I forgive you Ayred. I don't think any of us really understand what happened." he said. Arcaena grabbed Ayred's shoulder "You know I forgive you, that's the first thing I said when I woke." she smiled at him. Arcaena stood, putting Elzae around her neck "We should all get some sleep." she said.

Arcaena still held the habit of sleeping close to Celaena even though she and Theoden had slept next to each other since their marriage. This night though before she got near her sister Ailwin grabbed her hand and stopped her "Sleep with me tonight?" he asked. Arcaena tilted her head to the side for a moment before nodding and allowing Ailwin to lead her away. Together they curled up under one of the few trees in the area, Ailwin placed his arm around Arcaena and pulled her close. She shifted gently under his touch but soon found her comfort and settled in. As the sun rose Ailwin woke to both Arcaena and Elzae lying on his chest, he smiled brightly before waking the two girls. He found himself falling further in love with the beautiful Arcaena, he had known for a month now that he was bonded to her, but until last night he was unsure of her feelings. The seven came together near the tree Ailwin and Arcaena had slept under, "We should reach Agocaster by midday, we'll return Elzae to her people, and from there we'll ride hard to Cresa and complete our mission." Ailwin said. The others nodded "Alright, let's move out." Theoden added.

Riding across the grasslands was easy, the seven were making great time until suddenly Ailwin through his hand into the air signaling for the others to stop. From behind a hill the seven watched as a herd of centaurs ran across the plains, the herd was lead by a beautiful red haired female, in fact the herd was made up of mostly females and younglings with two very large males in the back. The seven waited until the herd was out of sight before they continued, losing almost an hour. They arrived at the base of Agocaster just after midday. They tied their unicorns to a large boulder and began their assent, before the seven were even a foot off the ground a large dark shadow appeared above them. Before they could look up a strong wind hit them knocking them back to the ground, as they collected themselves a very large grey dragon landed in front of them. Ailwin and Theoden began to pull their weapons, but Arcaena jumped in their way and shook her head no before turning to the grey dragon.

The dragon bowed its head to her and spoke telepathically "Thank you, youngling." the voice boomed inside Arcaena's head. The dragon then addressed the group "Elves are not permitted on the mountain, what do you seven want?" the large he-dragon boomed. Arcaena spoke "We did not know your rules, we deeply apologize. We are here to return someone who was stolen from you." she said, respect radiating in her tone. The dragon raised himself up to look even bigger "What is your name young one?" he asked. Arcaena raised herself up as well "My name is Arcaena, the others are my traveling companions." she answered, "If I may, what is yours?" she returned the question. The confusion on the others faces was easy to read, none of them, not even Celaena had ever seen Arcaena behave this way. The he-dragon spoke to Arcaena telepathically again "Speak with your friends, they need to understand what is happening." out loud he said "My name is Stormcloud." he then turned and gave the seven spaces to talk among themselves.

Arcaena turned to the others Ailwin immediately asked "What in all the gods just happened?" his confusion was palpable. Arcaena placed her hand on Ailwin's shoulder "I can't completely explain right now, I don't think even I fully understand, but I feel connected to him somehow. Not as strong as with Elzae, but I still feel it. Explain what I mean to the others, I'll finish with Stormcloud." she said before turning and walking towards the dragon. Stormcloud looked down "I figured it would be you alone who joined me." he said. Arcaena gave a small smile "Alas I am not alone." she said reaching into her bag and gently pulling little Elzae out and presenting her to Stormcloud. The shock that suddenly ran through him was intense "Where did you find her?!" he growled. Arcaena took a step back, fear running through her for the first time that day "She was in the castle in Naellin. I rescued her with the intent of returning her to her people." she explained quickly. Stormcloud shook his head "She can never truly return to us." he said with a sigh.

Arcaena raised an eyebrow "What do you mean.?" she asked. He leaned down to nuzzle the little hatchling "She is bonded to you, a truly rare occurrence. I know you feel it, she views you as her mother." he sighed again "We can take her, teach her our ways and how to talk, but as long as you live she will come to you." he finished. Arcaena nodded "I do feel it, she was important to me from the moment I laid eyes on her. I love her as if she were my own child." she said. Stormcloud nodded "That is why she can never be ours again. A bond like you have with her is one in a million. It is also why you feel connected to me, I am her father my mate Silverwing is her mother. Silverwing has been beside herself since we lost her." he sighed deeply. Arcaena also sighed "I never meant to cause pain." she said looking at her feet. Stormcloud nuzzled her "I know young one, our connection may not be as strong as the one you share with Elzae, but I can still feel what you feel and read your thoughts." he reassured her. Arcaena leaned into his large head "When should I return to retrieve Elzae?" she asked. Stormcloud gave what could only be interpreted as a smile "You won't, she will come to you when the time is right." he said.

Arcaena handed Elzae over to Stormcloud and walked over to the others to watch as they flew into the air. Before departing Stormcloud looked at Arcaena " Do not go with the others to Cresa, you have something far more important to do." his voice rang inside her head "Go to a cave southwest of here, you will know it when you see it." he said. Arcaena raised an eyebrow, but before she could ask Stormcloud and Elzae were gone. She told the others what he had told her "I'm coming with you." Celaena stated forcefully. Theoden grabbed Celaena's hand "Where you go I go." he said. Ailwin looked at his little brother, "Well Ayred this one is up to you now." he leaned in and whispered "I need to be with her." he then hugged Ayred "Us four will go to the cave, you three carry on to Cresa and finish the mission, we will meet back up outside Ancestor wood." he finished. Ayred nodded, Wyn and Shael both looked down with sadness and concern written on their faces. Arcaena and Celaena took a moment alone with Shael, as did Theoden with his little brother before the seven parted ways.