Snippet #1364023

A cool breeze welcomed Andrea Fairfax as she passed through an open doorway and stepped onto the high, stone balcony of the Queen's palace. Gratefully taking in the refreshing night air, she walked over to the balcony's edge and scanned the sleeping village below. The only source of light came from the starry night sky and the occasional oil lamp swaying in shop doorways. Andréa's gaze moved from the quiet village to the dark forest resting behind it. Memories of herself running into the forest as a young girl flooded back and she half smiled to herself. Then another image, though slightly blurry, flickered back:

~ Andréa, probably around the age of ten, was once again in the lush, green forest. She was wearing a long, satin, red dress which she had to bunch up in her small hands to prevent herself from tripping over the hem as she darted between trees and and ducked below low-hanging branches. Her long, auburn curls bounced as she ran through the forest with a wide grin across her face. Not too far behind, someone was chasing after Andréa. She was about the same age as Andréa and had pink pigtails which curled into tight spirals. As Andréa ducked under another branch she didn't see a root protruding from the earthy soil and tripped over it landing in a soft patch of grass. The pink haired girl quickly caught up with her and knelt beside Andréa, concern filling her wide eyes. "I'm fine," Andréa said with a smile. Then the pink haired girl laughed and helped Andréa to her feet.~

"Teto."Andréa's voice came out in a barely audible whisper as she spoke her pink-haired friend's name. The thought of her friend made her grip tighten on the balcony railing. Moving her gaze from the forest to the large courtyard bellow triggered yet another memory:

~ Andréa, now sixteen, was sitting alone on the stone bench in the courtyard of her home before she came to live in the palace as one of Queen Reiann's loyal protectors. She had picked some of her mother's prized roses and was holding them to her nose, taking in the sweet aroma, when she heard soft footsteps approaching. Setting the roses on her lap, Andréa looked to see who was coming. A wide smile stretched across her face as the familiar spiraling, pink pigtails came into view. "Teto!" Andréa quickly stood up, brushing off her scarlet dress, and rushed over to her friend. They embraced in a warm hug and began to walk around the bright, colorful courtyard. Close to midday, the two had just lain down in the lush green grass to take in the warm sunshine when heavy footsteps echoed throughout the courtyard. Andréa and Teto both shot up to see three tall, well built men coming towards them.

Teto was the first to speak, "Who are you, and what do you want?" The three men simply looked at each other and nodded. the oldest looking one took out a rolled parchment and opened it for Teto to read. Teto's eyes widened as she read the spidery writing. "Me? They want me?" The man holding the parchment nodded.

"Teto? who wants you? And for what?" Andréa's voice was hinted with concern as she looked from Teto's wide eyes to the parchment. Andréa's brown eyes grew as she read, "They want you to be the new Dragon Keeper, Teto?" Teto was silent from the shock. "They want Teto?" Andréa turned her attention to the men, who simply nodded.

Teto finally spoke in a soft, shaky voice, "I always thought the dragon was a myth."

One of the men spoke next, "It is very much real. And that is the reason we have come for you. We need you to protect the village from this bloodthirsty beast."

"But why Teto?" Andréa nearly screamed her words.

"After careful consideration we chose Teto because we believe she has the ability to sooth the beast and in doing so, keeping it at bay."

"But what happened to the Dragon Keeper before Teto?"

"They-" Began the man holding the parchment but stopped as the others shook their heads. "Lets just say they are unable to fill out their duties any longer."

"I see," Teto looked somberly at the ground, "And you wish for me to take his place?" The men nodded. "I'll do it." When Teto spoke those words Andréa looked up shocked at her friend.

"Teto, your going to accept their proposition?" Andréa's deep, brown eyes were rimmed with tears. "But I'll never be able to see you again!"

Teto remained silent for what seemed an eternity, "It would be selfish for me not to go, Andréa." She turned and looked into her tear brimming, brown eyes, "Think about the rest of the village. What would happen to it if no one was controlling the dragon?" She turned to the men, "I'm ready." They nodded and gestured for Teto to follow as they headed for the courtyard gates. Teto turned and smiled sweetly, "Goodbye, Andréa."

Andrea stood, watching them as they left and tears trickled down her rosy cheeks for this would be the last time she ever saw those pink spiraling, pigtails.~

Andréa vigorously shook her head trying to keep the painful memories at bay like Teto tried to keep the dragon at bay before it killed her. Her head snapped up when she heard the blood curdling screams echoing throughout the marble corridors. Sir Batrava Andréa had never been very found of him or his blood lust. Andréa inhaled the night air deeply before heading back inside the palace. The chain mail that covered her body clinked as she made her way through the corridors towards Sir Batrava's torture chamber.

Another shriek made Andréa freeze in front of the torture chamber. She stared down the stair case which lead to where Sir Batrava kept his victims. She shuddered slightly as another scream echoed up to her ears. A small thought began to bubble inside of Andréa as she stood in front of the chamber; she had never seen its inside. Curiosity began to take over and before Andréa realized what she was doing she was already half way down the stairs, the door only a few feet away.