The Second Generation of Fire: Arien Dragonstar

[Nuelda]

Chapter 1: The Birth of a Legend

~*~Nuelda lay in the Houses of Healing, both anxious and furious. She had just given birth to a daughter, her first child. The healers had taken the baby away to check for illnesses and such, but the first-time mother did not trust them.
"Brinklior," she said furiously to her husband, who was sitting right beside her, holding her hand lightly.
"Yes?"
"Make sure they don't hurt my baby."
"I can't leav-"

"Brinklior Nierdin, now!!"
"Alright." He got up swiftly, afraid to face the wrath of his raging wife. Before he left, he gazed at Silatha, who, -of course-, was already in the room.
"Why don't you talk to her?" Brinklior suggested quietly to the dragon. "Maybe you can calm her down."
~*~The elf left the room quietly, and the dragon approached the woman slowly.
"Why are you afraid?" Nuelda's voice softened, and she managed to turn her head toward him. "Hmm?"
~*~Her friend flashed her a toothy grin, revealing many sharp teeth. "Why are you so angry?" he asked in return.
"You didn't answer my question, Sil."
"I need you to answer my question in order for me to answer yours."
"Why are you so complicated?"
~*~The dragon laughed: a deep, rumble that was music to her ears. "Probably because I spent so much time with you." Nuelda frowned.
"I think my life would've been easier if I would have just slayed you."
"I love you, too."
~*~She smiled, and the door opened, creaking as it went.
The woman shot up into a sitting position, waiting to see her child.
~*~Brinklior stepped in, grinning like a madman. In the crook of his arm was a carefully wrapped bundle: their daughter. Nuelda burst into tears as she held her baby girl for the first time. "My little Arien," she crooned softly to her child. A tuft of downy, coal-black hair rested on her head, and her eyes were closed. Her little fingers of her right hand curled around her mother's. "She's beautiful!" she heard all of her friends whisper. She smiled at her daughter, thinking of all the wonderful things they could accomplish together.
~*~Silatha craned over so that he could see her as well.
"Hold her out," he said quietly. She obeyed swiftly, unsure of what her friend would do. With the tip of his nose, he brushed Arien's forhead softly. He stepped back, satisfied with his work. A gasp ran through the small crowd that had gathered around them. There, on his daughter's forhead, was the most beautiful thing Nuelda had ever seen. A white star with a silvery sheen lay on the babe's brow.
~*~Nuelda smiled gratefully at her dragon friend, overjoyed with what he had done. She hooked her free arm around his neck and kissed his nose lightly.
"Thank you" was all she could say, and all she needed to.
[/left]

[Nuelda]

Chapter 2: Taking Her Home

~*~Brinklior paced about the room, lips forming curses Nuelda had never heard before. It was almost impossible to hear them anyway, for her newborn daughter found a new hobby: crying. She had wailed non-stop for a full day now, and nothing Nuelda or Brinklior did could stop her merciless shriek.
~*~Rocking in her chair, Nuelda desperately crooned her little girl's name, and the baby's crying stopped abruptly. She looked up at her mother with big hazel eyes, curious.
"Hello, my wittle goirl. Why's you cwyin'? Why's you cwyin'?"
"Ugh, you're making me sick!"
~*~Nuelda cast an icy look to her husband, who stood in front of her with a scowl of disgust.
"At least I did something! You just walked about the room, complaining!"
"Oh, so its my fault she cried, now?"
"Yes, I think it is mainly your fault. You are her father, and all she wants is some love!" She held out the blanket-wrapped child, who stared at her father intently.
~*~Brinklior tried to avert his eyes, but Nuelda always moved Arien to be directly in his gaze.
"Oh stop it, would you?!" he snapped. His wife jerked the baby back into the protection of her arms, as if to shield her from the angry man. Arien burst into tears, screaming at the tops of her lungs.
"See what you've done?!" Nuelda exclaimed thunderously. She stormed out of the nursery, slamming the door in her wake.
~*~Brinklior stood in the middle of the room confusedly as he tried to sort out what just happened.
~*~Nuelda ran down the hallway with her shrieking child and opened to the massive wooden doors. She let out a shrill whistle, leaving Arien very confused.
~*~A whinny rang through the air of the outdoors. A mighty buckskin stallion bolted down the hill, racing cheerfully to his friend.
~*~"Bringol!" she cried, overjoyed. She hugged his neck tightly and asked, "Will you take me to Silatha? I need some help." The horse tossed his head proudly and Nuelda mounted without bridle nor saddle.
~*~He galloped swiftly through a variety of terrain: shoulder-high grassy fields, crowded forests, freezing rivers, and craggy rocks. After a few hours of hard riding, both horse and rider were exhausted. Foamy lather took up most of Bringol's muscular neck and withers, and Nuelda's entire body was drenched in perspiration.
~*~They finally reached Silatha's cave, to the relief of all three travellers. Nuelda dismounted, with Arien still wrapped in a bundle, resting in the crook of her right arm. She kissed Bringol's forehead, as a way of saying 'thank you'. He nickered softly and wheeled around, heading back home.
~*~Nuelda climbed the sharp, rugged rocks until she reached the ledge of the cave. "Silatha!" she called, her voice echoing in the cave. Arien let out a burst of happy bubbling sounds, enjoying the repeating sound.
"Nuelda?" a deep voice inquired from the back of the cave.
"Yes, its me."
~*~The dragon crawled out from the darkness, smiling brightly. "Oh, you brought little Turnip-head, too!"
Nuelda laughed melodiously. "Yes! Say 'hi', Arien!"
She lifted up her child to let her see the dragon's face. The baby beamed with delight, making more gurgling sounds. She reached out with her little hand and touched Silatha's nose lightly.
"I'm glad she likes me." He looked at his friend curiously. "Now, why have you come?"
~*~Nuelda sighed, pulling up a chair. Silatha's cave had a few pieces of furniture in it, for when Nuelda came visit, which was quite often.
"Brink wouldn't help with Arien. Again. I don't know how I'm going to live with him if he keeps getting so angry!"
It took a minute for Silatha to answer, but when his words came, they were gentle. "He is afraid, Nu. Afraid of change. His world turned upside-down when Arien was born." He shuffled his wings to a more comfortable position and laid down, his scales rustling. "Give him a while; he needs to think about many things, including how to care of his child." He paused, then added quietly, "And you always have me, as well."
~*~Nuelda smiled. "Thank you for the advice." She fidgeted under his concerned gaze, and slowly added, "May I stay here tonight? Things will be a bit awkward at home." Her friend smiled. "Of course you can stay. You even have the bed here, so Turnip-head can sleep with you, too."
~*~She rolled her eyes when he turned, and dressed Arien for bed. It was already getting late. She reached out with her mind and touched Brinklior's conciousness. She entered and said, I love you.
He did not answer.

[Vingilot~sailor]

I like it, Nu!! ;D

[Tinuviel]

It's REALLY good Nu ;D! I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Cirtolthiel]

That's great, Nu!!