Prelude

The massive golden dragon roamed down a road in the continent of Efthemia. His cream and gold coat glistened in the sun. Large yellow feathers darkened at the edges to a deep, royal blue, framing his delicate head. Lion-like paws raised little clouds of dust with every step, though they made no sound as they touched down. He feared nothing and was feared by all, after all Alaric Draco, King of the Dragons, or the Dragon Emperor, had no need to fear any mortal creature. It had been a good day, besides several pesky knights trying to prove themselves. They had been little more than a nuisance. Incredible how conductive metal armor was!! He passed a small town, people screaming and hiding in their houses (like that would help if he decided to attack). He would have flown, but he was returning from a DragonMeet and his wings were tired. He liked a good walk anyways, on occasion and within reason.

He was a good distance from the last town when he heard it. A young female's voice, murmuring and babbling to herself. The first thing he saw were the flames. Flames of red that flickered and burned on the girl's head, teased by the breeze, reflecting the sunlight. Then he saw the jewel bright eyes, jade green eyes and burning with an ethereal light. He watched as she registered him for the first time since he had crested the large hill and caught sight of her. Two pairs of eyes met and widened as they took the other in, but instead of screaming or running the other way, as the great beast expected, she just stared at him.

Curious, Alaric walked forward until he stood right in front of her. Crouching and turning his head until a single burnished, golden eye was a mere foot from the girl. She should have cowered in fear, most did when there was a dragon about, but instead she giggled. Yep, she giggled. Alaric recoiled in shock, his head snapping back like that of a startled serpent. The girl toddled forward, clearly only a child as humans called their hatchlings, to one of his massive paws and pulled herself up onto it. Alaric starred in bewildered amazement. How was the human hatchling not scared!? The girl yawned and Alaric watched as her emerald eyes changed to a contended gold before she curled up and dozed off… Still on his foot.

As Alaric watched the girl he noted how easily he could roll her off or end her life. Yet something made him hesitate. This girl was one of the first to act like this around him since he had become Dragon Emperor. The only other one being his mate, who had died two years ago. Even his young sons treated him with deference, albeit a more familiar one. Alaric sighed, realizing that this young human child had captured his heart in a matter of seconds. Another example of why his father had called him "easily swayed." A flash of light illuminated him and an imposing blond man with liquid gold eyes and burnished bronze skin stood in the place of the dragon, cradling the girl in his arms.

Holding the sleeping child against his chest, Alaric jogged towards the Nest, where the dragons of his Weyr awaited his return. Glancing down at the sleeping child he remembered the way her eyes had changed colors. It reminded him of a story his father once told him of the first dragons. The wisest and swiftest of them had been a beautiful silver dragon with four wings. She too had possessed eyes that changed color based on strong emotions and feelings. Alaric smiled. The name almost seemed preordained.. He would call this human girl child Arima, after the dragon from the story. Arima Draco, Alaric liked the sound of that. Now how to explain this to the Wyer. He sighed. There went his good day.