chapter 6
Draco walked towards the Dragon cave where Ignis was slumbering. But as she smelled the Food she raised her head and saw Draco walking towards her. With her food floating beside him. Ignis was splendid Dragon, she was as white as the moon. Her talons and claws taking the colour of light grey. Her eyes as purple as phantom galaxy. She purred like a cat as she saw Draco which had the ground near them shaking. If the animals in the woods didn't already know about Ignis they would've been bloody scared. But as this was a normal occurrence whenever she saw Draco, it was fine. Draco huffed a laugh. As always her excitement to see Draco would always bring smile to his face.
"Ao ūndan nyke mōrītubis" (You saw me yesterday) Draco laughed as he came and patted her huge head. She purred playfully again as if playing with him. Some would say that she was his child but they would be wrong. Draco was her child. She gave him the power to overcome the fire, she gave him purity with fire. If it weren't her, Draco would've never gained enough confidence to stand against his Father. If it weren't for her Draco would've never found his love for animals and nature around him.
Draco gave her the food and she started devouring it in seconds. It would seem that she hadn't ate in days. But she just ate yesterday. After she completed eating food. She slept against ground again. Draco started petting her again and her purrs were loud enough to wake everyone.
"I need to tell you something" Draco said calmly. She opened her one eye to see Draco. Whoever said Dragons were not smart, they were dumb. Ignis understood everything. Somehow ignis figured out his feelings for Loki and started nudging them together. Ignis somehow knows that he and Loki 'mated'. They have a familiar bond and it shows. When he was almost kidnapped she was as calm as water, but when she found out about the bruises she helped Loki to burn them alive. Draco rest his forehead against her.
"The Queen is going to be there for the yule log burning ceremony. I need you to be calm when you see Loki."
She gave him a look that says 'who do you think I am?'
"Oh please, whenever you see him you purr so loud that leaves around you catches fire" he scoffed.
She closed her eyes as if that was an end of conversation. If it would be call that.
"Please, Ignis Dear, when you see Loki today you need to be calm. We do not want to scare the Queen." Draco requested. She opened her eye as if in acquiensce.
"Thank you, My Fire. Thank you" he said gratefully and started petting her again and she closed her eyes again as if she was going to sleep.
But then she tensed, sensing something else. Draco noticed that she stopped purring and was concerned.
"What is it?" Draco asked quietly as if his voice would spook her. But she looked past him to the figure coming near them. Draco turned around immediately and saw Queen Freyja coming towards them. Seven, he forgot that her purrs could wake up the Manor and that The Queen was residing in there currently. He cursed under his breath. And started walking towards her. He hastily bowed to her and started apologizing.
"Forgive me, I forgot that her purrs may have woken you up"
"Her?" she enquired, her eyes on my Dragon.
"Ignis, she's a she. She always shows her happiness by purring" right now she was eyeing the queen as if she was a threat. Draco held his breath, wondering what she would be thinking about them, his Dragon.
"she's as beautiful as Loki said" She breathed out. Draco let out a breath and Ignis closed her eyes.
"Loki talks about Ignis also?" he asked.
"Of-course he does, he is enamoured with all of you. His words always paint a picture so beautiful. His happiness, that he didn't find on Asgard but here, made me want to meet you all and express my gratitude."
"Ignis loves him" Draco said. He did not know what to say to that.
"Her happiness is a mirror to your feelings, is it not?"
Draco blushed. And it seems it was enough for the Queen. She chuckled.
"Why name her Ignis?" she asked.
"Well, when I first saw her, she was upset that she was caged. She burned down her cage and started escaping. I was worried that somehow she would hurt herself so without thinking I put myself in her way and she stopped and looked at me, and started crying. The fire and the sun reflected on her talons made her look like she was fire. She accepted my comfort and found a home with me here. That's why I named her Ignis."
She hummed. Probably imagining the scenario in her head.
"May I pet her?” She asked.
Ignis opened her eye as if to say yes.
"I think she agrees" Draco laughed.
She petted her and she got the approval in the form of purr. They stood there quietly enjoying each other presence. Draco wondered how did he even think she would not like them. She was Loki's mother, of-course her opinion and mind would be as open minded as Loki's. She taught Loki magic for Seven's sake. Naturally she would accept us if she thought Loki was happy. And Draco liked to think that they make Loki happy. She was a Goddess of Purity. Of-course she has an open mind. But no one on Asgard or anywhere really had ride a dragon. Claimed or tamed one. when Loki found out about these he was skeptical but he adapted quickly and became one of Ignis's favourite person.
"Do you know about the Aerion? The first Dragon rider?" she asked, breaking their silence.
"The history about the Dragon riders and the Valyria are lost over the years. But Loki did help me find about the Aegon's conquest and his first Dragon, Balerion." He replied.
"Yes, yes Loki would not know about Aerion. Do you speak High Valyrian?" she asked.
"Oh yes, there's a magical community in Romania who knows about the dragon riders. But they do not know of the history. We, I mean I enlightened them with the knowledge. They thought that the High Valyrian was the only way to calm down the Dragon. They didn't know the story behind it. Apparently, I, too do not know about Aerion" he said.
"Do they ride dragons?" she asked.
"No, they cannot. I think Ignis only allowed me to mount her because I tried saving her rather than caging her. Even if she loves Loki and Harry and My Mother, she does not allow them to mount her." she hummed and averted her eyes. Draco thinks that she's hiding something or not telling him something. But he cannot ask. He does not have the authority to do so. She will say when she thinks it is the right time.
"The first of the Valyrians, once created by Arrax, took shelter in the valley beneath Mount Valyr. As the rest of the men of the world rose up and killed their dragons, the Valyrians learned to live alongside them. Dragons were apex predators, and oftentimes a man wouldn't have eaten unless he stole his dinner from the leftovers of a dragons kill. The dragons recognized their kinship with the Valyrians and were much more tolerant of their presence, often not attacking unless provoked. Over the years, the Valyrians grew as a people and a culture, and where men grow populous, war often follows. No one knows if it was the first Valyrian war when Aerion took to the skies, but the one thing all agree on is that Aerion taming is the start date from which Valyria started counting their time.
As a boy, Aerion was always adventurous and inquisitive. One of his many adventures led him to a cave in which he found a large golden egg. He stayed with the egg day and night until it hatched into a dragon. Aerion, so taken by the beauty of the dragonling, forsook the company of men and instead spent his days with his dragon, to which he gave the name Karnax. Aerion and Karnax rested together, hunted together, and were in all ways inseparable. As Karnax grew, however, it became impossible for Aerion to keep up. In desperation to not be apart from his friend, Aerion one day mounted Karnax. Karnax, it is said, so loved Aerion that he allowed the mounting. From then on, Aerion and Karnax took to the skies, flying all over Essos as they willed, but always they would return to the valley below Mount Valyr. One day, on returning to their valley, Aerion spotted from the air two large armies about to do battle, and his former village in flames. Conflicts between two rival groups had come to a head. Just before the two armies clashed, Aerion and Karnax landed in the field between them, and Aerion commanded them to lay down their arms.
The men dropped to their knees, worshipping Aerion as Arrax himself made flesh. The spot of Aerion’s Landing became the city of Valyria. Aerion spent the rest of his days among the Valyrians, arbitrating disputes and ending conflicts with the help of Karnax, and teaching other Valyrians how to tame dragons. House Kipagon, one of the oldest and most powerful of the freeholder dragonlord families, claimed direct descent from Aerion the Rider. With the power of dragons supporting them, the Valyrians went on to forge a mighty civilization that has yet to be equaled since." Draco was so consumed by the story that he did not realise it was nearly the time the festivities. Draco did not even realise how and when they sat across the stones near the cave when Pipsy came and informed them about the time.
"I must apologise. I did not realise the time." he said apologetically.
"Fret not, it was me who engaged you in the tales of the past, dragon rider" she waved her dismissively.
"Please call me Draco" he requested. He did not even realize that she has been calling him dragon rider.
"Draco" she tested. "means Dragon"
"Yes, my mother and I have always been fascinated with dragons and their intelligence" he said awkwardly. She hummed thoughtfully.
"We must continue the tale some other time, Draco. But this is something I have to give you." she handed him a piece of parchment and there were runes drawn over it. Runes he did not recognised. There were no runes In the entire universe he does not recognised. Well except the sorcerers runes. What? They were unique for each sorcerers based upon their personalities. No way he could recognize those.
"These are my runes, I made them specially for you. I know Loki would always be there for you. But if you need anything and it is not in the power of Loki, I will help you find answers. Just draw the runes with the ashes of a oak tree and a drop of your blood. It will mix your essence with ashes and call me where you are. Beware, that only you can see these runes. Not even Loki can see them" she said.
Draco did not expect this. She thinks something is going to happen, that even Loki would not be able to help him. Thousands of thought were running in his head and he could not grasp one thought. He could ask her outright what she thinks will happen but she would not answer. She has no obligation to answer me. And he is in no position to say anything to her. So he just stared at her in astonishment.
She gently patted his cheeks in motherly way, he couldn't get any more overwhelmed than it is right now.
"Do not misuse this" she warned.
She was not threatening him, she just wants me to use this wisely. Maybe it is a test if he can be capable of being with Loki, if he can keep up with him. He's the God of Mischief and she wants to know if he can be his equal. If he can be what Loki needs.
"Thank you" he said hoarsely. Maybe he is thanking her for a chance.