Chapter Twenty-Three

Denrisi flew Arabella over the trees. Below her there was a cascading river. The water ran over the rocks in white frothy sprays. Carefully, he set Arabella down on a wide rocky shore. He back flapped twice and then fell with a crash against the rock. He lay there panting with exertion.

“Denrisi?” Arabella approached and laid a hand on his head. He kept his eyes shut.

“Forgive me dearest,” he whispered.

“Oh shhh,” she knelt beside his head. She smoothed down his whiskers and stroked his forehead. “I am so happy to see you.” She leaned down and kissed his snout. His eyes flew open. He went cross-eyed trying to look at her. She smiled at him, but felt tears well up in her eyes again. One ran down her cheek and splashed onto Denrisi’s nose.

He pulled his head away from her and sat up. He shook his head as if he were dizzy. Once he had his balance, he sat with his tail wrapped around his feet. His wings were slightly spread. Arabella sat where she was and just let the tears fall. She made no move to wipe them away. She was so tired of hiding them. It felt good to let them escape.

“Arabella,” he said softly. He gently nudged her with his nose. “Please, do not cry, please.”

“I am sorry,” she said. “Ever since Koaner killed you, I have been holding everything inside. It hurts so badly.” She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. Denrisi wrapped his tail around her and put his head down next to her. They sat there like that for a long time. Finally Arabella sighed and wiped away her tears. “I think I have some more tears to cry, but I can do that later.” She gave a small laugh. Denrisi pulled himself back upright. Blood was pooling on the rock beneath him. Arabella jumped up.

“Let me see your wound,” she walked to him.

“No,” he said and covered it with his claw. “It is deep and will not heal.”

“Denrisi,” she said. “There has to be something I can do. Please let me see it.”

She put her hand over his claw. He let her move it out of the way. She softly touched the skin around the wound. Denrisi let his breath out in a whoosh.

“Well it does not look infected,” she said. “Is it painful?”

“Yes,” he mumbled. “Every time I breathe I can feel that blade stabbing into my heart again.”

Arabella ran her hand downward to his belly. She felt his muscles quiver at her touch. Only a thin line showed where Koaner had thrust the knife into Denrisi’s stomach. She softly traced the scar. Denrisi sat perfectly still and let Arabella explore his body. She stilled her hand and leaned against him.

“Don’t,” he whispered. “You will get blood on you.”

“I don’t care,” she whispered back. “I can clean it off later.” She shut her eyes and listened to his heart struggle to beat in his chest. There was a soft popping noise close by.

“Back off foul beast,” Stig bellowed at Denrisi. “Don’t you dare harm her.” Arabella leaned away from Denrisi’s warm body. She looked at Stig. The little weasel was making biting motions at Denrisi’s tail. He was hopping up and down in a rage.

“Stig it is all right,” Arabella said soothingly. “This is Denrisi.”

Stig stopped and glared at the dragon.

“Well, I suppose it’s okay then,” he sat down and examined Denrisi closely. “So this is an air dragon?”

“Yes,” Arabella said. “Denrisi, this is Stig.” Denrisi half bowed to Stig.

“I am honored to meet my sweetheart’s brave protector,” he smiled at the weasel. Stig stood on his hind legs and puffed out his chest.

“And I am honored to meet her lover,” Stig said. Arabella’s eyes widened with shock.

“Stig,” she exclaimed. “Really, sometimes I can not tell when you are teasing and when you are not.” Mavie fluttered into the clearing.

“Oh I thought you would have been a dragon snack by now,” she sounded disappointed. Stig jumped at her and she fluttered into the trees.

“Where is the sack?” Arabella asked Stig.

“Just a moment,” he said. He popped out of sight and then popped back in with the sack.

“Oh you posses some ancient magic,” Denrisi said. “I have not seen teleportation since I was a hatchling.” He leaned down and looked closely at Stig. “Oh I see, you are truly not a real weasel.” Stig ran up to him excited.

“Can you see what I am then?” he asked. Denrisi shook his head.

“No,” he said. “The magic obscuring it is too strong.” Stig’s shoulders slumped. He slunk back to the sack dejectedly. Arabella withdrew the food bag. Stig’s ears perked up.

“Arabella,” he sighed. “You always know how to cheer me up.” He began to help himself to his favorite meal: mystery meat. Arabella scooped out some dried berries and put them on a rock near Mavie’s tree.

Arabella pulled out a large loaf of bread that was wrapped in a large white napkin. She smiled to herself. She offered the loaf to Denrisi who politely took it. Arabella shook out the napkin and cast a cleaning spell on it. The dragon watched with interest as he chewed the bread. She approached him closely and examined his wound again. She folded the napkin several times, and then pushed it against the wound. She cast a spell to hold the napkin in place. She looked at the bandage proudly. She did not recall ever learning such a spell, but she had made it work.

“Now, what would you like to eat?” she asked Denrisi who was busy examining the bandage. He looked up at her questionably. “My magic is working now. I do not know why; it just is. Watch.” She made a few gestures and cleaned Denrisi’s scales of blood.

“Good,” he said. “I thought it would come back to you.” He nodded. “I am not really hungry. My stomach has been upset since Koaner wounded me. Perhaps just something to drink,” he motioned for the bag and Arabella brought it to him. He reached in and pulled out a barrel. Arabella was shocked. She looked in the small bag and just wondered how such a huge thing could fit in there. Denrisi pried off the top of the barrel.

“I smell beer,” Stig jumped onto the rim of the barrel. Arabella watched as the weasel stuck his head in the beer. She thought that he had drowned, but he finally came up for air. He hiccupped and wandered back to his pile of meat.

‘I did not know weasels liked beer,” Arabella whispered to Denrisi.

“Neither did I,” he whispered back. “Would you like some?” Arabella cupped her hand and dipped some of the beer out. It tasted a bit sour and musky.

“I do not think I like it much,” she said wrinkling her nose. “The wine we had last time was better.” Denrisi laughed and picked up the whole barrel. He tipped the entire contents into his mouth. He set the barrel down and gave a large sigh. After they ate, Arabella lay next to Denrisi. He curled his body around her as much as he could. Stig snuk in and lay in Arabella’s arms. Soon he was napping.

“Ah, what I would give to be that weasel right now,” Denrisi sighed.

“That is only because he is cuddle size,” Arabella laughed quietly. “I have some questions for you.”

“All right,” Denrisi sighed. “I knew you were going to have them. Ask away sweetheart.” Arabella blinked at the endearment, but it really was not too surprising.

“I seen Koaner kill you,” she said. “Why are you still alive?”

“Easy, I am a dragon,” he said.

“Explain better, please. You were not a dragon when his stabbed you,” she pointed at his nose.

“It is true that if I had been a real human, I would have been dead. As it is, Koaner cut through my heart,” he rubbed his chest near the bandage. “I did not know anything more until I was transformed back into my dragon body. I removed the knife and lay there casting a multitude of healing spells. None of them truly worked on this wound. I am hoping that time will heal it.” He laid his head down.

“Why?” Arabella asked. “Why can you not heal yourself?”

“It is my magic,” he said. “It is still damaged from that time when Koaner attacked me mentally. It feels as if he has stolen something from me.”

“Could you teach me one of the healing spells? I could try to heal you with my magic,” Arabella said.

“Let me think about it,” he said. “The spells I know are not for human magic; they work best with dragon magic.” He closed his eyes and Arabella was afraid that he had gone to sleep.

“How did you find me so you could save me?” she said softly. Denrisi smiled and his fangs gleamed white.

“I have been able to track you through the crystal ball,” he said. “My magic has been able to do that much at least. Even though,” he frowned. “I did loose you several times. Usually at night, when I was in human form.”

“Oh,” Arabella covered her mouth. “That was my fault. I thought that Koaner tracked us down one night using the crystal. So I started taking it off every time I slept.”

“Koaner tracked you down?” his frown increased. “Explain,” he demanded.

“We had stopped at King Waldemarr’s camp and he attacked the camp,” she felt Denrisi’s side rumble. “In fact, Koaner is the reason why I ran away from my mother’s a second time.” Denrisi stayed silent and Arabella knew that he was waiting for her to talk again. “Koaner threatened me, so I thought it best to leave.” She hugged Stig closer to her face.

“He threatened you?” Denrisi voice shook with anger. “How?”

“He said,” Arabella swallowed hard. She had not even told Stig this, how could she tell Denrisi. “He said that he was going to father a child with me.”

“What?” Denrisi bellowed. Stig jumped up and hissed. Mavie flew up into the sky tweeting in alarm. Arabella scrambled to her feet. Denrisi leapt to his feet. “He…,” Denrisi seemed speechless. His whole body was shaking and his wings were twitching. “That immoral piece of demon spawn! No,” he shouted, “he is lower than the demon spawn. He is a pile of demon excrement!” Denrisi was breathing hard. Blood streamed around the bandage.

“Please, Denrisi,” Arabella pleaded. “Please, calm down.”

“I will rip the gizzard from him,” Denrisi swore to the hills. “I will hurtle him down into the abyssal pits.”

“Denrisi, please stop,” Arabella covered her ear in distress. His dragon bellowing was starting to hurt her head.

“I will scatter his blood across the face of the earth,” he shouted.

“Denrisi,” Arabella huddled down and cried. The world suddenly turned quiet again. She looked up and found herself gazing into Denrisi’s concerned eyes.

“Forgive me,” he said. “Did I frighten you?”

“No,” Arabella stood up. “It is just that I have never seen you so angry before. Your voice hurt.” She rubbed her temples. Denrisi nodded. He was back in control of himself. Arabella could sense that he was still very angry. He let her clean his wound and reset his bandage.

“Denrisi,” she said quietly. “Please, try to be still.” She stroked his neck. “You are precious to me. I do not want to see you hurt again. I barely survived the first time.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I do not think I could survive if I were to lose you again.” She felt Denrisi’s claw stoke her hair.

“I will try to control myself,” he said. “I promise on my dragon’s honor not to loose my temper again.” Arabella lifted her head and stared at him.

“That is not what I meant,” she snapped.

“Then what did you mean?” he asked. Arabella sighed. She had not thought that it would be this hard.

“Denrisi,” she hid her face into his shoulder. “I love you,” she whispered. The dragon froze in response. She had expected some response from him, but he was just still. She looked at him. Large dragon tears streamed down his face and he smiled at her.

“I think that I have known that for a while now,” he said. “I am overjoyed to hear you say it though. It is something that I gave up on hearing centuries ago.” Arabella wrapped her arms around his massive neck. “Please,” he whispered. “Tell me that you love me every day.”

“I will tell it to you every hour of every day if you wish,” she whispered back. “I love you Denrisi.” She said it louder with more confidence.

“I love you Arabella,” he said it back to her.

“Oh please,” Stig interrupted. “You two are just…” he waved his paws around while standing on his hind legs.

“Leave them alone, you stinky weasel,” Mavie dive bombed Stig.

“Stinky?” he shouted and snapped at her. “Come back here you tasty like morsel.” Mavie gave a scream and flew off into the trees.

“I wish that bear had eaten you,” she yelled as Stig pursued her.

Denrisi wrapped his wing tips around Arabella.

“Sorry honey,” he said. “This is the best hug I can give you until the moon shows up. I will hug and kiss you properly then.” Arabella leaned back into his dragon embrace content to be held by Denrisi.