The hatching ceremony
Author's note:
Since I'm running out of time and couldn't work on my chapters again before this weekend, I'm posting the only chapter I managed to do in advance :D
Eldar's POV:
The queen came to interrupt my meditation to inform me that today there will be a ceremony and that all the inhabitants of Ellesméra will present themselves in front of the egg to see if it hatches for them.
Egan is particularly interested in the egg so we went there.
Our arrival was very noticed and everyone greeted us. Fortunately the news of my aversion to this excess of politeness seems to have spread because I received as a greeting simple nods or bows. I returned their greetings before observing the event.
The queen, council and guards took the same place as Arya's welcome. Brom, Oromis and Glaedr had already arrived. In front of them, there is already a queue formed. Arya and a member of her group took the place I had yesterday, so I stayed on Egan's back to observe the event.
Arya joined me accompanied by her companion and explained to me how it was going to unfold. The egg is placed on a cushion in front of the stage and each of the elves will lay a hand on the egg for half a minute. If nothing happens the next one will repeat the process until the egg chooses a partner.
As she described it to me people came to test their compatibility with the egg and nothing happened. The operation was repeated tirelessly and it was quickly terribly boring.
I offered Egan to go leave instead of continuing to watch people touch an egg, but I was surprised to see him very focused on what was going on. I don't understand what he can find fascinating so I waited...
' *All this is useless little brother, the companion of this egg does not exist. So he is either already dead and she is expecting a next one or he is not yet born.* '
....
This is not very good news.... Wait ! "*Egan how do you know that ? This eggs is a female? That's awesome for you !* "
Arya raised an eyebrow when she heard my question and cast a questioning look as her companion remained impassive.
' *It's hard to explain but I'm sure I'm right. Call it instinct if you want but I'm 100% sure !* '
Arya seemed to lose patience as her gaze was now more irritated than questioning.
"*Be a little patient… Egan just informed me that the egg is female and her mate doesn't exist yet. He says either he is dead and she is waiting for another worthy one or he is not born yet. All this operation is useless, the one intended for her does not yet exist.* »
Arya's eyes widened for a moment before asking Egan if he was sure. Once she had the confirmation, she went to talk to her mother, the riders and the council.
"*Now that we're sure there's no point in staying here, can we leave ?* " Egan concentrates on the egg again and turns his big head back and forth between me and the egg.
'*Eldar slowly approach the egg, I'd like to check something .* '
He's really starting to get annoying but I have nothing better to do so I comply. When I get off Egan's back, I realize there is absolute silence and everyone is watching Egan and me. I guess they didn't like the news...
I shrug my shoulders and move towards the egg. I'm curious to see the difference between this female and Egan's egg. The Council and Riders frown and don't seem to appreciate my intervention, but no one stops me.
When I'm facing the egg within arm's reach of being able to touch it, I stare at the egg curiously, comparing it to Egan's. It only takes a few seconds before I feel a hot flash, I feel the egg react and feel the beginning of a connection similar to the one I share with Eldar. I reach out my hand to touch the egg to see if the heat is coming from me or from the egg. My movement stopped when I thought I saw him move only he is inactive again. When I reach out to touch him, I hear Egan calling my name ! I don't have time to turn around before I see surprise appear on the faces of those around me before something hits me hard in the side.
I don't really have time to understand what's going on. The world around me blurs for a moment before I crash into a tree. I can feel my arm and shoulder dislocate and hear my ribs crack.
People seem to gather around me because I can see their silhouettes but I'm too dazed to be sure. It takes me a few seconds to be able to see the world around me more clearly again. I suddenly have a violent nausea, my ears ring unpleasantly and I can feel my heartbeat in my eardrums.
When I look down at my arm to see what condition it is in, I'm not surprised to see it in such poor condition…a lot of the skin has been torn, the angle of my forearm is clearly not in a good way and I have the impression that the air lacerates my thorax when I breathe...
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Arya's POV:
Shit ! What just happened? When Eldar approached the egg, I'm sure I saw the egg move! However this is impossible! He is already bonded to a dragon. No one has ever been chosen by two dragons, we didn't even know it was possible.
I could see the disbelief in the eyes of those present. Oromis and Brom's face express more horror for their part. Out of the corner of my eye I see Brom and Oromis leap towards Eldar to push him away and prevent the egg from hatching for him.
Before they could complete the first step, two things happened simultaneously: a large black tail appeared on Eldar's side and slammed into him hard. A loud sound was instantly heard. This collision between Egan's tail and Eldar created a small shock wave in the form of a wind strong enough to force me to close my eyes and place my forearm in front to protect them.
A moment later, another impact noise was heard and I saw several people running towards Eldar. He flew over 20 meters to end up crashing into a tree!
The vision that Eldar offers us makes me wince, his eyes are completely haggard, his blood runs against the tree, his shoulder is dislocated and the part of his arm between the elbow and the right hand is completely broken. Two of his ribs are visible and stick out through the torn clothes.
It took me a second to digest the surprise of what just happened before I headed over to him for help. My mother was faster than me and had already moved towards him and some of the guards, but Eldar's haggard face suddenly went from daze to fury.
His green eyes then took the same shape as those of the dragons and took on an even more intense color than usual.
Yet another surprise! Who is Eldar to have this kind of metamorphosis? His usual face and the one he has now are unrecognizable! Just looking at it makes me feel real uncomfortable.
He gets up before coughing up blood and leaning against the tree so as not to fall back. When he saw the blood he coughed up against his hand, his pupils constricted even more.
He looked straight at me and hissed "Why!?" »
I felt the cold come over me and I suddenly had trouble breathing. I had no trouble understanding what is happening to me: I am terrified! I have already been frozen by apprehension and I have learned to tame this fear and this nervousness so that it does not become dangerous during my missions. However, I have never felt a fear of this intensity! I don't understand how Eldar manages to inspire such fear in me, but it is instinctive, my brain and my instinct are screaming at me: danger!
Before I can pull myself together, I see Oromis and Brom move a little further forward in a defensive posture, sword in hand.
It was then that a roar sounded and a black dragon came between us, forcing the crowd to move aside so as not to be crushed.
'*Calm down Eldar! NOW ! It was I who hit you !* "
I can't see Eldar anymore now that Egan is obstructing my view but I can still hear him: "Why Egan? Why are you attacking me outside of our practices ?* "
'*You're in no condition to listen to me, go calm down in a lake and we'll talk again when you've calmed down.* '
….
No answer comes but the feeling of fear slowly disappears. I realize that I, like Oromis and Brom, are sweating heavily.
Once I calm down, I ask Egan where he's gone because he needs urgent care. He just sniffles and says
' *Don't worry about this masochist, it takes a lot more to overcome him… He ended up in much worse states than this during our many training sessions when he didn't know how to use magic to actively heal. He'll be perfectly fine once he calms down.* '
As my mother demands an explanation from Egan and the council checks that there are no injuries, I can hear Brom say, "Holy shit! What was that !? »