Chapter Twenty Three: Castle Drama

“Thirsty”, Stone croaked, a glass of water was handed to him.

            “What happened?”  Stone asked.

            “You healed Glenna, the Queen Mother.  You also gave her back her arm.”  Torch told him in awe.  “You, my son, are a Healer.”

            “No he’s not.”  Alred said from the doorway.  “He’s an Elemental.”

            “What?”  Stone said loudly.

            “What’s an Elemental?”  Stone asked Torch.

            “It’s a race of dragons, completely magical.  They are the source of magic, and they are very powerful.”  Torch explained.

            “So what’s the big deal?  I’m still Stone, still your son, right?”  Stone said with worry.

            “Yes you will always remain my son, and being an Elemental will not change that.”  Torch promised.

            “Don’t make promises you can’t keep big guy.  We Elementals are going to want to know where this pup came from, and by the look of him, I’d say he’s a direct descendant of our oldest Elder.  That makes him Royalty in my Territory.  Right Alred?”  Raven spoke up.

            “Um, could we move this out of Glenna sick room?”  A nurse asked.

            “Just give me a minute, and I’ll be right along,” Glenna said with excitement.  She had missed the Seasons this year, and this was the most drama she had seen in at least a year.

            Everyone entered the Throne Room, and Ryoch started, “let’s get some introductions, since you were in my mate’s sick room.  Who are you, and why are you here?”

            “My name is Raven, and I am an Elemental.”  He said with a short bow.  “I am here to discover the source of great magic that has recently come to our attention.”

            “Okay, but why were you at Glenna’s doorway?”  Ryoch pushed him.

            “Why, I followed the magic, it was a brand new signature, and it was unbelievably strong.  Raw yes, but stronger than any healer could ever hope to be.  A Master Healer.”  Raven said with awe at the yearling.  “You folks sure do know how to breed magic don’t you?”  Raven asked.

            “It would appear so,”  Ryoch said, thinking about it for the first time.

            “Stone are you o.k.?”  Torch asked him.  Stone nodded yes, but snuggled further into Torch’s lap.

            “Can you talk with us a little while?”  Raven asked.

            “I’m not leaving my father.  If you or your Elders want to speak to me or see me they and you have to come here.”  Stone said, firmly.

            “Alright, I agree to that, but it will only be me.  My Elders don’t leave home, except for one, and he is probably biased in this matter.”  Raven stated looking at Alred.

            “You said I was direct descendent of someone.  You must be too, since we share the same colors and him too, huh?”  Stone whispered.

            “I‘m old, not deaf!!! “  Alred warned them.

            Just then, Glenna entered the throne room.  Apparently completely healed, there was a smile on her face, as she joined her family.

            “What did I miss?”  She asked Bella.

            Bella caught her up, and then they returned to the meeting.

            “Damn fool, coming here like this.”  Alred mumbled and paced.  Should have known better, I should have stayed away longer.  Supposed to be gone after a few days, why is he still here?”  Alred was pacing faster, and working up a good steam.

            “Alred?”  A voice came from the entryway.  “It’s so good to see you!”  C’lest ran to him.  Alred looked at the family waiting for answers, and now this, an old fiancée.

            “C’lest how are you?  Visiting huh?  Well I’m sure it will be fine, just don’t try so hard.”  Alred warned her.

            “Mother this is C’lest, she’s come to visit, and seek a pardon.”  Bella said.

            “Hello Mother,”  Glenna said with the flush of anger on her cheeks.  “Have you changed anyone yet?”  Glenna asked in a firm tone.  “You do know her magic don’t you?”  Glenna asked Bella.

            “Remember human magic is primary, but there is always a secondary.  Your grand-mothers is changing dragons to human form, and humans to dragon form.”  Glenna finished.

            Everyone turned to C’lest, staring.

            “No Glenna, not yet, I was too busy being a grandmother to Bella, while you slept.”  C’lest said, with just a hint of sarcastic bitchiness.

            “Well there you go, you’ve met your granddaughter, now it’s time for you to leave.”  said  Glenna angrily.  C’lest looked at Glenna with longing.  She wanted to be a part of her daughter’s life so badly she could taste it.  To finally be accepted was a dream she would have the rest of her life.  C’lest turned to gather her things, and leave.

            “Um Mother, you can’t make C’lest leave.  Her main reason for coming here was to see me, the Queen, and as Queen, I would like her to stay.”  Bella said before she lost her nerve.

            All eyes were on Bella, their mouths agape.  The Queen had just rescinded a command from the Queen Mother.  Glenna looked like she had eaten something very sour, and Bella looked scared to death.

            “I’m sorry Mother, but it’s true, and if I am ever to be the true Queen, you are going to have to let me make my own decisions.  C’lest is my grandmother, and I want to get to know her, and she is going to stay.”

            “Okay everyone lets go, nothing to look at here”, Mara ushered everyone out.

            “No, its fine, Bella’s right, and she is the Queen, it’s her right as Queen to have a guest, even if that guest is C’lest.”  Glenna said.  “Just keep in mind, Bella, there’s a very good reason C’lest was exiled.”

            “I will, and thank you”, Bella said very softly.

            “I will just go,” Glenna and C’lest said in unison.

            “No!!!  All three girls said.  “There’s something big going on with the family, and you need to be here.”  Bella said to both of them.  C’lest and Glenna looked at each other, and shrugged.

            Raven and Stone both looked to Alred, waiting on answers.  Alred was still pacing, but running out of steam quickly.

            “Why are you still here?”  Alred asked Raven.

            “I’m waiting for someone.”  Raven said without details.

            “O.K., who and how can I get them here now?  You should have already been gone.”

            “Its fine Alred, I promise not to harm anyone, including you.  The dragon I am waiting for has about a month or so to come into their majority, I can’t leave until then.”  Raven explained.  “So, you’re the Castle Sorcerer?  It figures they would have someone of your capacity to help train these marvelous hatchlings.”  Raven said.

            “It doesn’t matter, all of them are born magic in one form or another, and I just fine tune them.”  Alred said humbly.

            “Now, how about that question the pup here asked,” Raven coaxed Alred.

            “Yes, we are all one family.”  Alred leaned slightly towards the young Elemental in Torch’s lap.  “I’m your grandfather, your mother was my daughter.  I have been looking for you, for over a year now, but my magic doesn’t reach all of L’Arne.  So I’ve been taking leaves to go search myself.”  Alred said stroking Stones cheek.  “I think Torch would make you a fine father.”  Alred added.

            “And you!”  Alred said, getting to his feet again.  “You were supposed to be gone”, he repeated.

            “I am here, and here I will stay, until either the Queen asks me to leave or my request is denied by another dragon.”  Raven stated.  “Oh no you don’t!”  Raven said firmly.  “I’ve already been probed by the best, an old dragon like you?  No way!”  Raven was getting irritated.

            “So, old one, how am I a direct descendant?”  Raven was afraid he knew already.

            “You are my son.”  Alred said quietly.  “Eight-hundred years ago, your mother and I were very much in love, of course we could never be life -mates.  I was in exile and she was the Clan Princess.  If not for her Royal status, she would have been exiled also, when you hatched.  You were taken by the Elders to raise, and this caused your mother to do what she did.  The Elders had taken everyone from her, and she succumbed to a great depression.  On your first birthday, she went to see you, the Elders denied her, and proclaimed she would forever be alone.  Leona couldn’t fight the depression anymore, so she took her own life that same day.”  Alred finished the tragic tale.

            “You are my father?  Why would the Elders risk me knowing you?  Why would they send me here?”  Raven asked.

            “I don’t know, unless they have foreseen something, and you and I meeting is a part of it.”

            “We could look, Alred”, Bella offered.  “We are twice as strong now with the girl’s home, and mother being awake“

            “You have no idea, if it’s not butterflies everywhere, it’s Astral Projection.  They have out grown me, and they’re still just yearlings.”  Alred said with pride.  “You would be a perfect fit, if you ever decide to leave the Elementals and their stringent Code of Conduct.”

            “I’m working on it, that’s why I am staying another month.”  Raven said with a smile.