In the center stood Rey, facing Piers, who would hear their vows. Staring at her with wide eyes, the beauty of his intended took his breath away, and he knew he would not trade their simple ceremony. When she arrived beside him, he whispered, “I have waited so long for you, my love.”
Blinking back tears, Ami nodded, “And your patience shall be rewarded.”
“Well,” Piers announced, clearing his throat. “At this point, I have to admit I have never performed a wedding, and it was never a regular occurrence on any ship on which I sailed.”
Turning to face him, the couple waited patiently for him to go on. Staring at them, the Mate realized he would have to make something up if he couldn’t remember the words, so he began to improvise.
“Reynard Daye, you have professed your devotion to this woman?”
“Aye,” he breathed, breaking into a wide grin.
“And you swear upon your soul you will live each day to come for her, for as long as you both shall live?”
“On my soul?” Rey faltered. “I don’t think that’s how it goes, Mate.”
“Shh,” Ami rebuked, working to keep a straight face.
Glancing at her, he agreed, “Ok, on my soul, I swear to live each day for her.”
“And you, Amicia Spicer,” Piers turned to her.
“Yes,” she nodded firmly.
“You renounce your name and take his, that you will forever walk by his side, so long as you both shall live.”
“I do,” she agreed, her features erupting into a wide grin.
“Then as the captain of… our group and the leader of our clan,” he said as he shrugged, “I pronounce you husband and wife.”
Gasping at the abruptness, Amicia’s smile faltered. Glancing around at their ring of friends, she could see the strained expressions. Her gaze arriving at Rey, all her doubts fell away at the pure adoration in his hazel orbs. “I do,” she breathed again, reaching for him and pulling his mouth to hers for the first kiss of the rest of their lives.
When their lips parted, Reynard silently claimed her hand and pulled her in the opposite direction of their camp. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see the others returning to their leaning shelters, and they would have the night to themselves. Pushing through the trees, he boasted, “I have located a suitable place for our wedding night.”
Her heart racing, Amicia followed, having not thought that far ahead. “Will we be alone?”
“Yes, quite,” he laughed, parting some taller shoots of foliage with thick stems and broad leaves. A moment later, they arrived at a small pond surrounded by dense woods. The moon had moved to the west but lit the small clearing brightly. Spread on the ground next to the water, lay a single blanket; all the protection they would have against the night.
“Oh, my! It’s lovely,” Ami breathed, her heart rate unimproved as her pulse thumped in her ears.
Staring at her, he wondered if she had ever held another. He didn’t care; she had vowed to be his for the rest of their lives, and that was enough for him. However, he didn’t have much experience with women; realizing that could be a problem, he longed for a moment to have been as worldly as Piers. His anxiety growing, he laughed, “I’m glad you like it. It will be our secret place.”
Turning to face him, she smiled up into his tense features. “Do not be afraid, my love,” she reassured. “We will share this night and many others.” Taking charge, she kissed him once more, but this time more slowly as she searched for the fire within him.
Return of the Captain
The following morning, Amicia and Rey left their private love nest, his quilt rolled and tucked beneath his arm. Walking next to her, a smile danced upon his lips, and his heart skipped a beat each time he stole a glance at her beautiful profile.
Her dress mussed and her hair a frizzy mess, Amicia felt less enthusiastic about their first night as husband and wife. “I wish I had thought to bring a few essentials,” she sighed as they neared their camp, her hand pushing against her out-of-control waves.
“Let me help you tame it,” he offered, dropping the blanket. Catching the locks, he forced them into a clump. Pulling the tie from his own hair, he used it to bind hers into a reasonable semblance of a bun.
Staring at his freed ringlets, Amicia groaned, “Thank you, but now you are unkempt.”
“I do not mind it,” he shrugged, noting her foul mood. “Are you not happy, love?”
Not meeting his gaze, she indicated the camp, “Everyone is awake and appear to be eating without us. We should go,” she huffed.
Inhaling deeply, Rey calmed his nerves. Their vow had been spoken and consummated. They would be joined for as long as they both lived, so forcing a fight on their first morning as one would be unwise. “As you wish,” he replied softly, taking her hand and guiding her towards their friends.
Entering the circle around the fire, one of the large rocks had been left empty for them. Glancing over her shoulder, Ami could see her things were no longer in the shelter where she had left them.
“Uh, you’ve been moved,” Piers pointed out, stroking his beard anxiously at her displeased frown. “Since the two of you are now a couple,” he added, wafting his hand at her new dwelling.
“Thank you,” Amicia replied tartly. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure you approved of our union. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to change.” Kneeling on her new bed, she fumbled through her pile of belongings, locating her pants and shirt.
“Let me get you some privacy,” Rey offered, hanging his quilt over the front of their shelter so she could dress unseen.
“Thanks,” she snapped, squinting into the darkness until her eyes had adjusted. Pulling the coverings onto her legs, she slipped out of the gown and traded it for the comfort of her shirt. Then untying her hair, she brushed at it angrily, fuming under her breath.
She could not say exactly what had spawned her rage; she only knew the moment she awoke in their little clearing by the pond, she had felt it. Even a cooling dip to bathe before they dressed had failed to remove it. A gnawing, dripping anger, it poured over her, and nothing that had happened since she first opened her eyes seemed to soothe it. To the contrary, every step she took and move she made appeared to stoke the livid flames.
Outside, Rey took his seat upon their rock and waited for her to join him. Tapping his palms against one another anxiously, he glanced around at the others. Silence followed his bride’s sharp words, as each of them feared they had not been fully successful at hiding their doubts.
Emerging from her shelter, Ami took her seat next to Rey with a loud grunt. The girl’s emotions hard to read, she appeared equally displeased by the light of the morning after, or perhaps at their efforts to be helpful; it was hard to say as to the cause of her demeanor.
“We want you to be happy,” Meena truthfully observed as she handed her a bowl when the girl was settled. “We did not mean to upset you by the move.”
“Yes,” Animir seconded. “Oldrilin and I will share the other shelter so that you may sleep as husband and wife,” he added, also hoping to appease her.
The flush on the couple’s cheeks instant, Piers laughed at their innocence. “Ah, newlyweds,” he observed. Feeling like their father more than usual, he soothed, “You’ll get used to it.”
His gaze fixed on the fire, Rey’s heart raced. “Thanks for not mentioning it,” he grumbled, taking slow bites from his bowl of morning mash.
Eating eagerly, Amicia hoped to remain out of the uncomfortable conversation the men seemed to be sharing. Glancing at Zae, she could see the covert smile on her lips and realized the cause was hopeless; she was a married woman, and the time for embarrassment over such things had passed.
Taking her spoonsful more slowly, she glanced around, noting that the others seemed to have moved on. “What will we do today while we await our visit with the gnomes?” she asked, wishing to clear her dark mood with something pleasant.
“I’m going to work on our mending a bit more,” M
eena supplied cheerfully.
“Yes,” Zae agreed. “We will need to do what we can this day. If the gnomes agree to help us reach Adiarwen, we won’t have another chance.”
“Adiarwen,” Rey repeated softly, as if he had forgotten about their quest. “I never really thought we would make it that far,” he confessed.
“I hope that we will,” Piers countered. “We must stand before the dragons and plead our case if we ever hope to make a permanent home here, or to be returned to the one we left behind.”
Amicia’s eyes shot up to meet his the moment that he spoke. Home. She hadn’t thought of that. Swallowing, she glanced at her husband, seated beside her. “I think we should remain here, in Falconmarsh,” she suggested.
“What? Why?” Rey stammered. “I thought that was the plan – to meet the dragons and ask to be returned to the rim, or to some other place where we could live on our own… neither here nor there, but something in between.”
Blinking at him, the girl sighed, “I’m afraid they won’t allow it. If we stand before them and they deny our request, they might strike us down.”
“Then so be it,” Animir growled. “Bally gave his life to see that we stood before the council. I believe we should honor his wishes.”
Before the argument could escalate further, a shadow passed over their camp, causing the group to look up in unison. Above them, a large dragon made a slow pass. On their feet, they moved out into the clearing, where they could maintain their line of sight as the beast moved away.
“What the hell?” Piers spat as the group formed a loose circle, all staring into the sky as the creature turned again.
“Does no one think we should hide?” Zaendra asked, her voice heavy with concern.
“No,” the Mate growled, shading his eyes as he stared into the morning sun. “I’m done with hiding.”
Ami watched the dragon turn, her heart racing at the unmistakable colors. It’s him. She knew it in her gut. “Where have you been?” she asked, reaching out to him but getting no reply. “Answer me, damn you!”
Flying lower with each pass, the dragon glided across the heavens, its massive wings stretched wide. On the fourth pass, Rey observed, “I see a definite scar on the left, and the colors are right. Ami, I believe your friend has returned,” he managed calmly, holding the dread from his voice. If she had been communicating with the dragon, she had made no mention of it to him, but it would explain her altered attitude so soon after they had wed.
Landing in the center of them, Lamwen touched down gently, and no sound was produced beyond the air as it passed over his massive wings. Facing the girl, he waited, watching her blond strands catch in the wind as she glared at him.
“Lamwen,” Amicia whispered. Her anger ebbing at the reality of him, she stumbled a single step towards him before catching herself. Cutting her eyes over at her husband, she gasped, “Oh God.” Her heart racing, she could not have anticipated the rush of emotions that overtook her, both exhilarated joy and pure terror surged through her veins.
“I must speak with you,” Lamwen informed her, his gaze fixed upon her stricken features.
Anger replacing all other emotion, Ami ground her teeth as she bit, “Where the hell have you been? I called to you –”
“I was unable to reply, my queen,” the dragon snorted, swinging around as he studied the rest of the group.
Swallowing, Piers blinked back tears. The beauty of the beast before him a wonder to behold, he only wished that Baldwin had been there to share it. “Speak then and be gone, dragon,” he commanded, afraid of what his sudden return could mean after all they had endured.
“Not yet,” Lamwen growled, completing the turn and facing the girl once more. “I must converse with Amicia in private. Then I will be ready to share my tale with the rest of you if you will hear it.”
“You’re damn right we’ll hear it,” Reynard near shouted, hurt by the pain his love had endured at the dragon’s callous actions. “Ami has been worried sick about you, but you couldn’t be bothered?”
His protectiveness clear in his tone, Amicia’s heart ached for him and the awkwardness of the captain’s return. “It’s ok, Rey. I will hear him.” Addressing Lamwen, she commanded, “Have your say.”
“Not here,” Lamwen replied, lumbering towards her so that his hot breath surrounded her smaller frame. “Climb upon my shoulders. I will carry you to a place where we may speak in private.”
“Why can’t you simply take a walk?” Meena interceded, joining the conversation. “You share telepathy, as well, so one of those options should suffice.” The older woman had no desire to see the girl removed from their midst, even by her supposed friend.
Staring into Amicia’s green orbs, the dragon made no reply. Instead, he waited for her to comply. When she closed the distance between them, he groaned with satisfaction, leaning forward to provide her with easier access.
Hoisting herself up and placing her leg over his back, she sat upon his shoulders so that her thighs rested against his massive wings at the point they joined his torso. His neck before her, the scales were rough beneath her hands as she caressed them, searching for the best hold.
“I am ready,” she announced when she was certain of her grip.
Leaping into the air, Lamwen spiraled straight up, the wind rushing into their faces. Hundreds of feet above the marsh, he leveled out and headed due east.
The air cool as it gushed against her, Amicia clung to him tightly. To her surprise, it was not fear that greeted her on their ascent, and a delight she could not have explained exploded within her, crushing her anger beneath it. The air moist when they reached the water, she laughed out loud as he dove to skim just above the waves, sprinkling her with spray.
“Lamwen, it’s beautiful!” So many days she had stood upon a cliff, overlooking the ocean and dreamt of that very moment. “I have so longed for this.”
Hearing the happiness in her voice, the dragon’s heart raced. “You were meant to fly.”
“I believe that I was,” she agreed, recalling her childhood home and pushing herself up to catch more of the air as it crashed against her face and chest, much as she had since she was a child. Ahead, she could see a collection of rocks jutting out from the surface of the waves. “What’s that?”
“Dragon Rock,” he replied, slowing as they landed on the jagged stones.
His wings flapping beneath her, Amicia marveled at how easily he had carried her. “Do you bring girl’s here often?” she laughed aloud, her delight apparent.
“No. You are the first mortal I have carried,” he supplied as she slid from his back to stand beside him. “Take care, some of the footing is not firm.”
“I will,” she agreed, moving gingerly as she paced the length and then width of the small island. Made entirely of stone, nothing grew on the small section of earth protruding from the sea. “It’s amazing,” she declared, turning to face him with a full grin. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
“Ah, you have missed me and the excitement I bring to your days,” he observed.
“Very much,” she sighed more quietly, feeling a little deflated. “Why did you not reply to me? Obviously, you were alive, but you allowed me to believe you were lost to me forever.”
“I had my trials to face, and I could not help you with yours,” he groveled, feeling ashamed at his course of action. “I regret any pain it has caused you. You made a beautiful bride, for a mortal.”
“You were spying on me,” she accused, her eyes narrowed as the last bit of her bliss evaporated. Her features crinkled, she fought to hide the pain. “You let me marry him,” she sobbed.
“That was your choice to make whether I agreed with it or not. Would you have decided differently if I had spoken my warning?”
The air caught in her lungs, Amicia glared at him. How could she say the words? She loved Rey deeply, but she knew in an instant his availability had been convenient, and her actions would cost them all in the end. “Speak you
r words and take me back,” she growled, angry at the position she found herself in.
“I have something I must share. I have hinted at the truth from the first time that we spoke, beside a brook as you entered the lands of the north. Do you recall that day?”
Searching her memories, she did not have to look hard to find the night she had first gone to him. “You became my secret friend,” she whispered. “I remember every moment of it.”
“I intended to kill you that night, Amicia. I still have not discerned what about you prevented my doing so,” he informed her evenly.
Drawing a ragged breath, tears formed in her eyes. “I wish that you had. Or better yet, that you had succeeded the night you sank our ship. Then my suffering would never have happened.”
“You wish to die?” he asked in surprise. “You have fought so rigidly for your life and those of your friends.”
“Yes, we have fought, but it has been for nothing, it would seem. Everything is wrong,” Amicia cried, clenching her fists so that her nails dug into her palms. “My parents, or who I thought were my parents. From the moment they found me, my life has been an incredible lie. They used me as much as they sheltered me, then left me before I was ready to stand on my own without them.”
“They cared for you, Amicia,” the dragon countered. “Without them, you might not have survived to find your way home.”
“Home?” she clipped. “I wouldn’t call this home despite all that has happened. I’ve been trapped in this place for years, Lamwen! I can’t leave, and I can’t stay,” she wailed. What am I to do?
Watching her tremble as she ranted and unable to hear her private thoughts, the beast did not reply.
“Did you hear what I said?” she shouted, then broke down into a loud bellow. “My friend is gone! Baldwin is never coming back, and I feel like it’s my fault. I wanted this. I wanted to find the place where I belong, but I had no idea what coming here would cost me.”
“You are part of Eriden, princess. Do you think there could have been another way?”
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