Matheau and Beijore: The Stratford Legacy Begins
Okay, it took FOREVER to get this done, and I'm sorry. i don't have as much time as I like anymore, but here it is! I hope everyone enjoys it, I put a lot into it. I know there's probably a lot of spelling errors and such in there, but with only notepad to write on, you deal with what ya got, I guess. Please, any feedback at all is always appreciated!
Matheau and Beijore:: The Stratford Legacy Begins
Dreaming. A deep dream in which one knew that they were
dreaming, and yet everything was so very real, that one would think
that they could reach out and touch everything that they saw. A
majestic blue dragon, regal in all his magnificant glory. Patches of
deeper blue than the rest on his hind legs. The brillant golden
breast and belly scales......fading......fading......
Beijore sat up with a gasp. The dream had just ended, and
yet, she was already losing the details of it. She felt that she
knew the dragon in her dream, and yet....... "Beijore, is everything
alright?" The voice of her mate,
Matheau.....Calming....Soothing.....
"Yes, my lord, everything is alright." Beijore said,
settling back down on the bed and nuzzling into his neck for comfort,
closing her eyes. It was then that she realized her slip. She had
called him 'my lord', something that she had never once called him
before. Why had she called him that? Was it something to do with
the dream, or was it a mere slip of the tongue? If Matheau had
noticed the slip, he gave no notice of it, only his wings wrapping
around her as he held her in his arms to comfort her. "It was just a
dream, that's all. I don't know why it has shaken me up so......."
"Sometimes dreams are disturbing, no matter how innocent that
they may seem, my love." He kissed her neck softly, snuggling her
neatly against his belly. It never ceased to amaze her just how
perfectly that she fit there against him, as though when she had used
her magic to transform him, it made him just large enough for the
purpose. Still, she never felt more comfortable and at ease than she
did when she was curled against him, underneath the safety of his
wings. "Remember the dream that I had?"
"I wish that I could forget." She said softly into his neck.
She really wished that she could. The dream he had had about the
terrible monster that was his father that had raped her, killed her
and all of their children, and at last taken Matheau as well. But
her dream was nothing nearly as terrifying, but it was familiar, so
very familiar..... "Matheau, what do you know about me?" The
question came from nowhere, and it stunned Matheau into silence for a
moment, and all he could do was stroke her side lovingly. Finally,
he spoke softly.
"I know of you what you have told me, my love. I never asked
you about your parents, or your past. I never thought it my place to
ask, and if you didn't want to tell me then that was your right." He
cocked his head at her in question. "Why are you asking me that,
love? I don't understand.....Is something wrong?" Beijore sighed
softly and tried to snuggle closer into him. She felt cold, and she
didn't know why. She wasn't ill, had the dream really been that
bad? She couldn't remember it......
"Matheau.....I can't explain it, but I feel like something is
going to happen....Something that is going to change everything. But
there is alot about me that you don't know, and that you should know.
I've never told you anything about me.....It's like when we first
came together, and you never told me that you were half dragon....."
She sighed again, looking up into his eyes. "Matheau, I have to tell
you everything. So please, just listen to me, alright?" She took a
deep breath and steeled herself before she began.::
"Matheau, this cave, I was not born here. When I was a young
drakka, I wandered the world for a long while. When I took this cave
as my own, the village below wasn't even here yet. Before that, I
lived somewhere else.......A dragon kingdom." Matheau suck in a
breathe. He had never heard of a dragon kingdom before! He couldn't
even imaginesuch a place, it had to be huge! But before his mind
could wander to fantasy island, Beijore continued. "My mother and
father live there still...... Or at least, my father does. From what
I heard in my travels, my mother passed away shortly after my
departure." Beijore fell silent after that, and Matheau hugged her
close.
"Matheau, my dearest love. I feel it in my heart that
something is going to happen, something that is going to completely
change our lives.I cannot say how I know, or when it will happen, but
it is going to be soon." Beijore fell silent again, and for the rest
of the day, eijore didn't speak a word. She would occasionally look
to the lair entrance, as though she were expecting someone, or
something, to enter. Matheau was very worried, but try as he might, he could get no more information.
********************
Two weeks later, after countless more sleepess nights and
dreams that left Beijore quaking in his arms, something DID happen.
They were awakened by terrified shrieks from the village below, and
immediately upon high alert. But then a large green dragon landed in
the cave's entrance, and he called out loudly. "Beijore Jezebella
Dra'kmere......If you are here, show yourself, we have no time, the
situation is urgent!" Matheau growled loudly and immediately moved
to shelter her and their children, but Beijore nuzzled his neck and
stood beside him.
"I am Beijore Dra'kmere no longer, but Beijore Jezebella
Stratford. This is my mate, Matheau Stratford......Now, tell me,
what is your business here? Speak at once, or remove yourself from
our home!" Despite her raised voice, it lacked the force of what she
would have had in protecting her children, and Matheau knew it all
too well. But he stood firmly at her side, the curious hatchlings
clamoring to get a view of the strange dragon. He was smaller than
even Beijore, but his hide, and the membranes of his wings were
painted and decorated.
"My name is DraKkor WindBlade. I come as a messenger of the
Dragon King, NooRoak Dra'kmere. He is in dire health, and his time
is coming soon. He asks.......Nay, DEMANDS the audience of his
daughter, the princess, as you are about to take the throne. Most
do not think he will last the week. Please, come to him with all due
haste!" As this odd dragon named his mate, his Beijore a princess,
Matheau looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. Then
he chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Sure you jest. There must be some mistake....." Matheau
made to move forward to force the intruder out, and Beijore read his
intent as clearly as if he had voiced it aloud. Beijore unfurled her
wing and put it between Matheau and the stranger. Drakkor eyed him
as though analyzing how much of a threat he could be.
"As her highness' supposed mate, I am to show you the proper
respect as such, however it has not been proven." Matheau felt his
blood begin to boil, and it was only through a gentle nuzzle from
Beijore that he didn't leap at the intruders' throat. "Drakkor, if
you know what is good for you, you will insult us in our own home no
more, do I make myself perfectly clear?" When Drakkor lowered his
eyes and bwed his head so that his lower jaw was nearly touching the
floor, Beijore turned her eyes to him, and he saw something there
that he had never seen before, and at that moment, he vowed never to
see it again. What he saw in those sparkling pools of emerald was
absolute fear. Whether it was fear of his reaction or fear of what
lay ahead of them, he could not say.
"Matheau, this is no joke. My father really is a Dragon
King, and i'm sorry I never told you so. I always knew this day
would come, but a part of me had hoped that if I ignored it, it neer
would. When Drakkor says that we're running out of time, it means
that.....My father is running out of time."
"And since you are the surviving heiress, you will rule as
Queen. If this is indeed your mate, and it is proven before the
kingdom, he will rule at your side as the new King. If it is not
proven, however......"
"I know what will happen, Drakkor, now be silent!" Matheau
looked at her again in surprise. For one thing, he had never heard
her use such a commanding tone before. And for another, she was
hiding something from him. He didn't understand all this talk about
'proving' that he was her mate. Was the dragon so blind that he
could not see the three hatchlings hiding behind them? "Matheau,
take the children to Sasha's. I'm sure that Drakkor is under orders
to guide us back."
"No!" The word left his muzzle before his mind could even
form it, startling both Beijore and the messenger. "A princess you
may be, but you are my mate first, and you cannot just order me
around! I'll not leave you alone here with him! If we are going
anywhere, we go together, as a family."
"Your highness, if I might make a suggestion....." Drakkor
said, bowing his head yet again. "It may be in your best interest to
bring your entire family with you.....Just in case things take a turn
for the worst." From the look on his face, Matheau could tell that
there was no 'if' involved, only the when.
"So be it. We'll fly to Sasha's lair first and gather up
her, Bakkaran, and Matheau the II, (Beijore had taken to calling him
that, for she thought it sounded more noble) and from there, we will
backtrack to Aurokhan and Jocelyn's to pick up them and their little
ones." Beijore sighed softly. "This is going to be a long flight,
made longer by the fact that i'll have far too much time to think."
Matheau wished that he could comfort her in some way, but he had no
idea of what was going on. He just had the shock of his life finding
out that his mate was a princess!
"As time is vital, I highly suggest we get a move on."
Drakkor said, turning to look directly at Matheau. "You,
illigitimate one. You will carry the children. The princess cannot
be burdened with....UNGH!!" It happened before Matheau could even
piece it together in his mind. Bijore roared in fury and struck him
full force in the face with her tail, dropping him like a stone from
a mountain top.
"You were warned, messenger!" She spat down at him, tendrils
of smoke curling from her nostrils. "You insulted my husband again,
and you also insulted me and my offspring by labeling them burdens!"
Matheau actually had to restrain laughter, because she placed a kick
into his gut while he was down, taking the breath clear from his
lungs. She then lowered her head and snarled at him. "When you can
get up again, you report back to my father that we are on the way.
We go from here alone, I know the way." With no more words to
Drakkor, She picked up Beijara and then kissed Matheau. "Sorry dear,
will you take our sons? We've a lot of miles to cover." With the
children in their arms, they departed, leaving the messenger to groan
and writhe on the floor.
******************
"I wish I had been there!" Aurokhan said after he had heard
what happened. "You really kicked him when he was down, Mom? Wow,
you kicked his butt!"
"No one insults my mate or my children." Beijore said with a
snort, though now that her anger had worn off, it was a snort of
amusement. "Let that be a lesson to you all. Don't stand for anyone
insulting you, no matter who they are, or what their status." After
the family had gathered and a short summary was given of what was
going on, they began their journey. Unbelieveably, the hatchlings
were all calm and very well behaved, making it worlds easier on the
adults. However, they didn't want to chance their luck, so when they
started to grow weary, Beijore directed them to a large clearing
where all of them could fit comfortably. Following one of Bakkaran's
ideas, the six adults formed a ring around the group of hatchlings,
the easiest way to keep an eye on them.
"If the wind is favorable, we should be there by noon
tomorrow." Beijore said quietly. It was clear to everyone that she
was anxious and wanted to be there now. "And if all goes well, it
will be your first meeting with your grandsire....I wish you all had
a chance to meet your grandame, but..." She trailed off, and even if
Matheau hadn't already known that she had passed, he would have
understood immediately from that hint alone. Clearly, everyone else
did too, because for a long while, the only sounds were of the
hatchlings wrestling with one another, and the sound of the crickets
chirping in the darkness.
"So what is this kingdom like?" Sasha inquired, breaking up
Matheau the II and Aurthur with gentle prodding from her tail, for
they were getting a little too aggressive in their play.
"I bet it must be huge to accomodate a large number of
dragons at once." Aurokhan said, staring off into space. Clearly he
was trying to picture it with his mind's eye, and having very little
success.
"Yes, it is an amazing place, Aurokhan. But its not a
kingdom like the humans have. There is a palace, yes, but that is
the ony structure within the kingdom." Beijore explained. "Now,
now, don't look so crestfallen, Aurokhan. We are dragons, we've no
need of buildings. What you is is sure to impress, I can promise you
that much." It fell silent for a moment before she looked over her
shoulder. Flicking her tail, she stood. "Matheau, will you take a
walk with me?" His response was immediate, of course. He stood and
approached her, waiting. The others closed the ring further to keep
the hatchlings from escaping. "We won't be gone very long." As they
started off, Aurokhan snickered.
"No sneaking off to mate, now!" This was answered by a
chorus of laughter and hooting from the others, to which Beijore
rolled her eyes and called back; "Stop acting like your father!" This
caused even louder laughter, especially from Matheau.
After they had wandered a ways into the forst in silence,
Matheau stopped and sighed. "I take it we are not on this walk to
take in the scenery, are we love?" Beijore shook her head and sat
down.
"Matheau, were going to be expected to act very differently
once we get to the kingdom, and I wanted to go over some of the
basics with you now. For starters, i'm going to start addressing you
as 'My Lord' in public, and you'll have to address me as 'My Queen',
or 'My love.' As royalty, we cannot us our normal terms of
endearment for one another in the public's eye."
"I can understand that, love, but there is something that has
been bothering me. That messenger kept saying that I had to 'prove'
that I was your mate, yet our children were right there. What did he
mean, and how exactly do I go about proving that I am your mate?"
"Matheau, this is something that I know is going to bother
you.....So I want you to sit down, relax, and just listen to me,
alright?" When Matheau nodded and only after he had been sitting
down for a few moments did she speak. "Matheau, one of the oldest
traditions in my father's kingdom is the proing of the royal line,
and when one of the royal line takes a mate, he or she must prove to
the kingdom that the mate-in-question is a strong, worthy mate." She
began to shift nervously from side to side, and Matheau could tell
that her story was nearly to it's climax. "In order to prove your
worth, we hae to undergo a ritual together.....We have to.....That
is, we must...." Matheau stood and cupped her jaw lightly in his
paws and kissed her softly. She had been shaking in her nervousness,
but when he kissed her, she sighed happily and her shaking slowly
stopped.
"My love, think of all the trials we have already been
through and overcome together. Our love and our bond are strong."
He let go of her and sat back down, curling his tail around his
haunches. "Nw, take a deep breath, relax, and tell me what it is
that we must do."
"We have to mate in front of the entire kingdom and you have
to mark and impregnate me!" Beijore blurted, and Matheau's eyes went
wide.
"WE HAVE TO WHAT?!!!" Beijore shrank back from him in fear,
even as the roosting birds fled the nearby trees with squawks and
caws of protest and anger. "Beijore, you can't possibly expect me
to...."
"But you HAVE TO!" Beijore cried, staring him dead in the
eyes, no sign of humor or jest was there. "If you don't, that means
that i'll be open to suitors..... That is what the messenger tried
to say beore I stopped him." She lowered her eyes, and tears dripped
down into the grass. "I know....That it may be embarrassing, and you
may even find it a bit degrading. But if you dont do this, then you
will lose me, Matheau, and not by choice. Bcause if you can't or
won't do it, mak no mistake....I will end my life. My life is
nothing without you." There was such conviction in her voice, such
certainty, that he would have been a fool not to believe her. A
shudder crept up his spine at the very thought of her taking her own
life, and he quickly shook the thought away.
"I would neer allow that to happen, my beloved, no matter
what I had to go through, no matter how humiliating." He took her
paws gently in his own, entwining their tail together. "You and our
family mean more to me than anything in this world. Besides....."
He smirked and squeezed her paw. "It might be fun to see how many
dragons I can embarrass with my size and sexual prowess." Despite
herself and the seriousness of the situation, Beijore found herself
giggling. She shouldn't have been surprised, Matheau had always been
good at making her see the lighter side of things. When she stopped
giggling and finally got herself untangled from him, the pair made
their way back to where the rest of the family was waiting for them.
***************
"Hooooooly Shit!" Was Aurokhan's exclamation when he first
laid eyes upon the kingdom, earning him a hard swat from Sasha,
Jocelyn, and Beijore for his use of foul language in front of the
hatchlings, and of course, a laugh from Matheau and Bakkaran at
Aurokhan's expense. But of course, his reaction was only natural,
considering the sheer beauty of what lay before them.
After they had climbed or the rise of a high mountain, it
dropped down into a deep valley. The way it was shaped, one would
think something massive had fallen from the sky, and scarred the
planet's surface. But it would have to have been a very large
something, for the crater surrounded by moutains stretched for miles
in every direction, further than the eye could see. What could be
seen, however, was breathtaking. Forests that were lush and green
and full of life. The grassy meadows and plains were also thriving
with life, some of it dragons looking up at them as they passed by. Soon the palace came into view, and everyone except Beijore let out
startled gasps of surprise.
The towering palace was menacing, stretching many stories
into the sky and claiming miles of territory for itself. "My
ancstors built this palace, stone by stone." Beijore commented as
she began her descent. "But the true beauty of this kingdom, my
father's pride and joy, lays behind the palace." The family's gasps
of awe were alot louder, and Beijore chuckled, not knowing how they
could have missed it before. Behind the palace was a massive
waterfall spilling down the cliff-face, falling into a lagoon the
deepest and purest blue unlike anything that any of them had ever
seen. The palace stretched into the sky, but the roaring waterfall
started many lengths above the palace, almost at the top of the
mountains. With the sightseing done, Beijore led them down to the
palace doors where two guards, A large bronze and a smaller white,
blocked their path.
"State your name and buisness." The bronze stated gruffly,
but not at all unfriendly, his gaze firm and penetrating.
"My name is Beijore Jezebelle Stratford, daughter of NooRoak
Dra'kmere, the king. Please take me to him immediately." The guard
nodded and lead them into the palace. The palace itself was full of
tapestries and photos of her ancestors, and in the center of the
grand hall was a fountain of a majestic blue dragon. If she
remembered correctly, it was the likeness of her great-great-great
grandsire.
"We have been expecting you, my princess. We were instructed
by your father to bring both you and your prospective mate (Matheau
barely contained a growl hearing this) to him immediately. While you
are in audience, we will show the rest of your family around the
kingdom, and then to the temporary living quarters. Follow me,
Highness." Matheau had no idea why it was necessary for him to be
there, but he didn't argue, only followed.
They came to a large set of doors carved with the golden
shapes of two huge dragons on them. Their guard exchanged a word or
two with the guards posted, and one of them slipped inside. "Wait
here, you are being announced to the King now, Princess." With that,
he bowed and left. They didn't have to wait longer than a minute or
two before they were ushered inside quickly.
The throne room was huge, and at the end of the long walkway
were two twin thrones carved of what smelled to be oak, and gilded
with gold. Sprawled out on the silken cushions of one was an old
dragon that Matheau could have instantly identified as Beijore's
father, even had he not known ahad of time. A lighter shade of blue
than her for the most part, save for the jagged streaks of sapphier
on his flank and tail. His eyes, however, were a shade of lavender,
not Beijore's emerald green. However, in his old age, he had gone
blind in his right eye, leaving it a milky white. Beijore tried her
best to keep her composure, but she was beginning to shake, and her
mouth went dry. When they reached thed three steps eading up to the
throne, beijore bowed her head low so that her jaw touched the
marbled floor, and was thrilled to see Matheau mimic her. "Daddy,
i'm here." she said softly, raising her head.
"I always did love it when you called me that, my precious
daughter." The old dragon rumbled. His voice was very deep, and
Matheau thought it was the sound a mountain would make, if it could
talk. "I am glad you made it here so quickly, so that I could se you
one last time. Don't look so upset, my precious daughter, death is
inevitable, and I have lived a long, rich life." The dragon took a
slow, rattling breath, and for a moment, Matheau had feared it was
his last. But after a quiet moment, he continued. "My passing is
not why I had you sommoned, and we both know that. You are my first
and only child, Beijore, so you are to take the throne. And
this....." He motioned to Matheau. "This must be my son-in-law?"
"Yes daddy, this is Matheau. We found each other in the
mountains where I made my home." Beijore fell silent for a moment
and Matheau turned to look at her in question. "Daddy, please, let
me go get your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren so that
you can meet them!" She was pleading, practically begging him, but
he shook his head.
"It is better that I pass with them not knowing me. Imagine
the pain it would inflict upon them, to meet their grandsire for the
first time, only to have him die moments later." He waved at the
air, as though trying to shoo a fly away. "No, my daughter, I
remained alive for one purpose.....To meet this fine young dragon who
has won your heart. I still remember the dad you left. "You said to
me, 'I'm never taking a mate, daddy! I'll come back stronger and be
one of your imperial guards, just wait and see!' You were so young,
I didn't want to let you go.....But look at you now." He smiled to
her, and he was crying silent tears. "All grown up with hatchlings
of your own. I'm so very proud of you, my daughter."
"Then his head turned to Matheau, and he felt like he was
being stripped to his soul under the old dragon's -his fathers, he
corrected himself- gaze. "You seem a good and noble dragon, Matheau.
You would not have been able to win my precious daughter's love
otherwise. You will take my place wether you like it or not.
Beijore will help you, but you must learn on your own. Uphold the
laws and traditions I have fought so hard to keep intact these long
years. But most importantly, never hurt my daughter. I'll be
watching, and if you hurt her, you'll answer to me in the next
realm." His warning delivered, he laid his head on his paws and
smiled, closing his yes. He gave one last shakey breath, and then he
was still forever. As Beijore threw herself into his arms and
grieved her loss, Matheau's mind was a confusion of mixed thoughts
and emotions. But on thought showed through clearly:
"Her father's story and legacy may be over......But ours is
just beginning."