Chapter 3

Elspeth woke to warmth and a crackling fire. Something digging in her cheek made her open her eyes and her hand moved to push it aside. Focusing on her surroundings she realized she was laying in the nest of gems holding the dragon eggs.

Everything came back like a bad dream and she lurched. Fear grabbed hold and she scrambled toward the edge of the oversized nest. Looking around she saw no huge dragon about and thought her luck had come back. Maybe she’d live after all, maybe she could leave now.

As she slowly stood up, aches in her muscles, cuts and bruises, gave way to excruciating pain and weakness, a moan tumbled forth, and she thought she’d be sick. She sat back down. Weariness washed over her, but it did not diminish the awe she felt. Looking around she saw the glitter of the woven nest of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, gold, silver and so much more.

“Why there’s more treasure here than many kingdoms all put together.” She glanced at the small fire under the hole in the roof and watched as lazy smoke filtered up and out. “Do dragons need fire to stay warm? How ironic.” She giggled. She heard the flap of large wings and looked toward the opening. With the folding of her wings, the dragon she had healed, descended upon the opening, blocking all light in the cave’s doorway. And of all things, large branches full of berries were clutched in her long claws. Very long claws.

“Hungry thought you may be,” said the dragon. Her thought was tinged with amusement.”

She sat dumbfounded. “Hu…hun…hungry? Uh…ok, hungry.”

Saphira laughed, as much as a dragon could laugh. “My life you saved, my babies a chance they have, I protect you always.”

“No need surely. Healing is what I do.” She lifted her chin, with pride, grinned at the large dragon, and suddenly felt a kinship with the huge beast. Her fear somewhat alleviated she stood and walked toward the colorful dragon.

Saphira bent her head down so they were eye level. The dragon half closed her eyes and rubbed her face against Elspeth’s shoulder in affection. She laughed and stroked the side of Saphira’s face. Then Saphira stretched her neck, flung her head back, and blew fire directly at where she stood. Not a yellow flame this time, but one of blue.

She stumbled back in horror sure death was imminent. But she stood unharmed. Confused she looked down. Just above her heart there was a hole in her blouse and a perfect replica of Saphira burned into her chest. It didn’t hurt.

Saphira laughed again. “Now you carry the dragon mark. I know you had a hard time putting in order what I was trying to say to you. It was hard for you to understand me fully, but now that you carry the mark you will understand me completely. You will be able to communicate with dragons. All dragons. I think because you are a healer you could pick up my thoughts. Though I know not how or why you did. No human has had the mark in over a thousand years.” She bent to move the jewels around in her nest. She stood and looked toward her eggs, made a cooing sound, and with her nose nudged the eggs closer together. Standing full height, she once again turned to Elspeth.

“You have to save a dragon’s life to carry the mark. Not an easy thing to do, since normally we do not get along with humans. We sometimes eat them, but only to keep them afraid of us. If we didn’t they’d hunt us. We only eat the unfavorable humans. We do not prey on the innocent.”

Elspeth looked at the dragon in awe, yet somehow unafraid. She watched as the light and shadows played off her colorful scales, saw the sharp intelligence, and changing emotions in her eyes, and wondered how anyone could ever kill such a majestic creature.

“But now, no dragon shall ever hurt you,” Saphira continued. “All dragons will help you. You and I are forever connected, mind to mind. My children will also share that gift with you. You need only think of me to come to you or call I’ll be there. I belong to you, and you me,” she explained. Leaning down, she nudged her shoulder with her nose, then looked straight into her eyes.

“If you need a lot of dragons call upon the force of us. Your mark will glow and be a beacon for them. They too will aid you, if you need them. We will hear your call from great distances. Now eat.” Saphira nudged the berry branches closer to Elspeth’s feet.

“Saphira? I do not understand. Why would I be honored enough to receive such a mark? I’m nothing more than a plain peasant girl, from the monastery no less. I have no other gifts other than my healing. I’m really very simple. I’m not a soldier of great strength, nor do I hold a world of people in my hands. I’m just a woman and a weak one at that. There is no greatness to me that seems worthy of such a thing. For such a great thing, why me?”

Saphira laughed. “Strength comes in many shapes and sizes, Elspeth. It took courage for you to climb the cliffs into the den of the most feared of creatures. When I lay on the floor dying, you could have saved yourself, but instead knowing none of this, or what I would do to you, you stayed and healed me without a thought to your safety. Such a brave thing. You have an inner strength that is great, a heart of purity, which is rare, and a kindness and knowledge of the life around you.

“You as a healer, respect all living things. That in itself is a rarity. No, Elspeth you know not the amazing qualities you have. Even though I have no true answer as to how this all came to be, I know there is a reason. In all of life there are reasons, and you shall find out soon enough. We both will. Now you must eat to build your strength for whatever it is that is coming.”

She glanced down at the dried blood on her hands, and the dirt on her dress. She wasn’t hungry, but she did wish she could have a bath. Forgetting the dragon could read her mind Saphira answered. “Eat first, I will then take you to the river to bathe.” Waddling to the corner of the cave Saphira picked up something and came back and dropped it at Elspeth’s feet. A hunk of old meat, smelly old meat. She grimaced. “Uh, the berries will be enough, thanks.”

“Oh,” Saphira said. “I forgot you cook meat. Why you burn good meat I don’t know, but here…” Saphira reared back and blew fire, scorching the dead piece of meat, so it looked like black leather.

She laughed. “Really Saphira berries are all I’d like to break my fast.” She smiled at the dragon. She sat and ate her fill of the best tasting berries she’d ever eaten. “Where did these come from? I’ve never had anything so wonderful.”

“They grow on the top of Mystic Mountain where no man can go. It’s the only place they grow. We feed small quantities to our young. They have healing properties and encourage strong growth.”

Elspeth frowned, even though she did feel much better, invigorated. “But that mountain is cursed. No man can go near without fear of dying. Men and women alike, are turned to stone statues.”

“For humans yes, but the mountain is not cursed, it is blessed. Especially for dragons. Eat now, and we will see to your bath. I will leave you to bathe. I must keep close watch on my eggs. They are soon to hatch. When you are finished call me, and I will return to get you.”

“Oh then, you shouldn’t take me, I wouldn’t want you to miss that. It’s okay really.”

“Nonsense, it takes time for them to crack through. It takes only seconds to get you there and back. That way you can take time to enjoy your bath. I insist. I can never repay you for what you’ve done for me. Let me enjoy being, how do you say it? Friend, family? Let me be your family.”

She couldn’t explain the love that enveloped them both, but she knew her life would never be the same from that moment on.