AWAKENING

By Ida and Isolde

(18 November 2001)

Kronos awoke to the rays of the sun tickling his face and eyes. He was lying in the soft grass at the foot of the monolith.

What a strange dream, he thought, before noticing a shadow out of the corner of his eye, rousing him from his sleepiness.

The subject of his dream lay beside him, eyes shut, just an arm’s reach away. The only difference in her appearance was her hair; it was disheveled and had fallen on her face. The Immortal stretched his hand instinctively to push away the locks of hair. To his touch, Ida opened her eyes and smiled.

"Hello, Kronos," she said calmly. The provocative gaze disappeared, replaced by a friendly gleam. "I owe a debt of gratitude to you..." She stood up and looked around the countryside.

Wide green fields lay in front of her, and on the grass, poised like a living sculpture, stood a raven-black Arabian stallion. Atticus seemed surprised by the sudden appearance of the stranger and he eyed nervously. At last, he considered the girl harmless because she decidedly did not seem a horse-eating kind. He shook his mane and turned away to continue feeding on the lush grass.

The Immortal quietly laughed as if she had been able to read the horse's mind. Her gaze slipped along. She saw moss-green hills and far beyond, just within the sight, there were some huge peaks covered by snow. As she looked to south, she discovered a sparkling blue sheet of water surrounded by forest. "It is DarkOver," she whispered. "Perfect."

Kronos scrutinized her, there was more here than just another Immortal seeking the shelter of DarkOver. He scanned her physique. She was not a woman of idleness; her hands were used to handling weapons. He chuckled to himself, pondering the obvious. She's a warrior. Why come here? He knew little of her except the memories of his supposed dream.

Kronos surmised there was some pressing reason for her arrival, and he'd get answers -- now. Turning his back to her as a sly grin covered his features. "So, you are here now," he said calmly, then without warning, spun around and took hold of her throat, placing just enough pressure on it to keep her from making a move.

He leaned over her, his eyes darkening as he commanded, "Remember one thing, this is my realm, and if you play games here, they are by my rules! Understood?" One eyebrow rose slightly and a slow satisfied grin curled the corners of his mouth as she nodded her conformation. With that, he let her go. "I care only that you don't cause me any trouble. You only get one warning, Ida. Those are my rules." Grinning, he stepped back and narrowed his eyes. "Never say I didn't warn you. Now... why are you here?" he asked simply while crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the monolith.

The newcomer took a deep breath and rubbed her throat with a very slow, cautious movement. "I had... trouble with some people in the real world. Even my immortality would not have been able to protect me from them. So I had to go. The real world is against our kind. That is why I am here."

He stood unmoved by her answer, his eyes never straying from hers. "Not good enough. You don't expect me to believe you ran away from mortals. Perhaps it's the game..." His head shook slightly as he laughed. "Perfect, another coward in my midst."

A wince crossed her face. "I am no… coward!" she hissed back.

He just grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement and a subtle hint that his patience was wearing thin.

"OK," she shrugged. "If someone has the right to know the whole truth, that is you. I was working for a research Institute in the last few years of my life. I was looking for the answer that has been sought by our kind for thousands of years. There was an accident, which unfortunately revealed that I was a bit... hmm... different from the rest of the world. Before I realized, they made a lab rat of me. This was the only way I could get out of there. I didn't stand a chance against them. Do you want to hear the details? You only have to ask..." There was no trace of emotion in her voice, but that only gave her words more weight.

"Looking for answers to questions *some* of our kind may ask, not me." He stepped closer to her and grinned. "So they caught you and caged you like an animal," he said with disgust as a finger ran softly over the side of her cheek. "That is when you used the dream to reach out to me... I understand."

His words and touch were calm, almost gentle, not the threatening man shown her only moments ago. She unconsciously blinked in surprise then relaxed. "However, now I'm here in DarkOver, in this peaceful and safe world." She smiled faintly, then looked around confused, because the usually sparkling sunshine was hidden by a huge, dark shadow. Her voice showed signs of alarm. "Peaceful? Safe? What's this, Kronos?"

"Helloooo there!" Draco bobbed his head while emanating a little sulphur-stone smoke. "A newcomer." He eyed Kronos with some surprise before turning back to gaze at Ida. "I am Draco... and you?" The dragon searched her with a penetrating gaze, and then asked, "Should you be here?"

The girl looked at Kronos out of the corner of her eye. Because she didn't see any sign of nervousness, she calmed down a bit. So the beast isn't dangerous. Maybe he is a vegetarian, she thought. She tried to answer calmly, "I have a right to be here. According to the decision of Kronos."

Draco chuckled and nudged Kronos with his massive head. "So another one, you seem to be popular."

Kronos shoved at Draco's head without results. "She's just arrived," he snarled. "And I'm not done with her yet! So go and find someone else to bother." He peered up and scowled at the dragon.

Draco chuckled and puffed out more smoke. "Kronos, I could take those remarks as insulting, but we know better." He winked at the Horseman and then pressed past, lowering his head directly at Ida. "I didn't catch your name," he said again, smiling this time and baring all his teeth.

"Her name is Ida, and she's..." Before Kronos could get another word out both Ida and Draco shimmered then vanished. "None of your concern," he added with a bit of frustration. "Damnit Draco!" Kronos turned and whistled for Atticus. "Magic, dragons, angels, priestesses... what next," he mumbled and headed the stallion's head towards home.

"Where we are?" she asked.

"At a quiet place," Draco answered softly.

"That's for sure." They stood on the shore, on the top of a lonely rock, that was completely surrounded by water when the tide came in. The light shirt didn't give her much comfort in front of the chilly seaside wind. The girl was shaking. She folded her arms and they both took a good look at each other.

The dragon was huge, bigger than any living being she'd ever met before. She remembered those legends and tales that she was told in the real world, and decided that they were far from reality. The dragon was scary... and breathtaking, beautiful and exciting in the same time. After the initial shock passed, she scrutinized the strange reptile in detail. Draco's entire body was covered by scales, which sparkled like bronze and gold in the light. When they touched her just a moment ago, they didn't seem cold or rough, instead they seemed silky. However, his eyes were even more remarkable. He had large, dark eyes; they provided proof of a strange wisdom. Surprisingly, she recognized some emotion flicking over his features (unless her imagination played games with her).

Finally, the dragon broke the silence.

"Now let's start from the beginning. Who are you?"

"Oh... my name is Ida. I'm sorry I do not want to seem impolite. I'm just... surprised."

"Don't worry about it little one, I understand." The dragon chuckled softly. "I know your name... but *who* you are is what I'm asking." He titled his head to the side. "Let's try something else." A smile crept across his massive features but he did not show his teeth. "How did you get here?"

"I already said. According to Kronos' decision, I could enter. We already met in the past. I belong to him... in a certain way."

Draco chuckled smoothly. "Oh, of course you do," He nodded. "I'm not questioning Kronos' allowing you here... He and I have a an arrangement of sorts." He settled down on the ground, resting his massive head atop one claw and then peered softly at her. "It's just not clear, how you got here. The Yellow Pages don't mention this place. And that trinket around your neck doesn't have that kind of power."

"Trinket? On my neck?" The Immortal stared surprised at the medallion that she wore on a thin piece of leather. It was made out of bronze and it was a sun-cross of four dragon's heads. Since she could remember, that piece was always with her. But how does the dragon know anything about that? And what powers is he talking about?

"So you are wearing an ancient talisman and you did not even suspect what was in your possession? You don't remember how you got it, do you." The dragon read everything off her confused expression. "You don't remember anything from your childhood?"

"I was born in Greece..." she started.

"Oh no, little one, you were found in Greece, after your First Death." He raised an eyebrow. "There's a difference."

She looked at him with wide-open eyes. It took a few minutes before she could utter a word.

"How do you know all this, Draco? How do you know things I can't remember? What do you know about me? About my past?"

"Questions, questions, so many of them." The dragon shook his head. "You ask much, while avoiding answering me." He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Something for something. You answer my questions, and then perhaps, I shall answer yours. Oh, of course, I know who you are, I know who gave you that..." One mighty claw rose and he gently touched the shiny object, eyeing it with fondness. "I also know how you received that wound... So, who helped you to get here? And why did you come? I want to hear the truth." He sat back down and smiled at her, knowing the answers already but waiting to see what Ida remembered of these things. Everything in good time, he thought. His eyes softened as he peered at the young woman. "Well...?"

The girl unwillingly touched the scar on her back-head, which she must have received some time before her First Death. It was the shape of a perfect circle, size of a smaller coin, her hair covered it all the time, so nobody could know about it. She was silent for a long while, then shook your head.

"It was a dream. Ever since I can remember... I have strange visions sometimes, images about an endless realm. They are usually chaotic and cloudy but last night, there was razor-sharp clarity. I could see him standing at the monolith. I could feel his power... I could reach out to him... and at last, I could ask him." She smiled. "That is all."

"I see." Draco grinned and shook his head slowly. "He is undoubtedly powerful but this fact wouldn't be enough. I also heard your call. In fact, this summons was so strong that it was able to wake me up from my deepest sleep. It was a curious feeling that makes me really curious. And it was your luck. No one can set foot on DarkOver without my knowing and consent. You had asked and received Kronos' permission but in the end it was my power that brought you here." Draco straightened up showing his full height.

"Oh." She was quite astounded. "I did not know. In that case I have you to thank for this."

"Don't mention it." He sat down and fixed his eyes again on the newcomer. "I would rather hear your answers than your acknowledgements. Let's see… You could reach both Kronos and me by a dream. It is a remarkable ability. Nevertheless, the way of dreams is rather uncertain. Who taught you to handle them?"

The Immortal looked at him confused then bowed her head, lowering her shoulders. "Nobody... A ghost from my past," she whispered with closed lips. "I don't have anything to say."

"If that is how we stand..." He shrugged and stood up. "Then we are finished... for now. Don't worry, one day you will get answer to all your questions." He plodded along to the edge of the cliff and opened his wings.

DarkOver’s newest and probably most lost tenant, looked on in dismay as the dragon's great bulked lifted off into the sky.

"Draco!" she shouted. "You can not leave me here! Come back... Please..." whispered to herself.

"That's my luck," she stated, after realizing that there wasn't any way to go down the steep vertical wall of the rock. "I'm here in the middle of nowhere, completely alone, without a sword..." She raised her head and shouted into the void. "Where the bloody hell am I?"

THE END (for now)