Citadel - A Tale of Ara [1x1 IC]

[Emperor Nat]

"Would you like to see?" Kargath smiled. "Come, we'll go to the park. There should be enough space there."

He stood, stretching for a moment, before offering his hand to Aera and helping her up off the bench like a proper gentleman. It was an interesting prospect to say the least; to witness a dragon in the flesh, right in front of her. The two walked down the long market roads, between the old buildings; Kargath following the signs on the roads despite clearly knowing the way. It was odd, he seemed to adopt an entirely false way of walking; a slow gait, leaning on a cane, pretending not to know what he was doing. And for a man who seemed to prize trust as highly as he did, this seemed a little hypocritical.

But then, perhaps it was his way of making himself appear less threatening than he was. He had never claimed that Aera's legends and pictures were not true... but rather that they weren't quite accurate. Perhaps some dragons really did make their living burning down villages and destroying the livelihood of others. Maybe he just didn't want to be associated with that.

They soon came to the park; a wide-open, green space with bright, healthy trees dotted about the place. It was vast, an entire lake sitting within the borders of the thin stone line separating the outside world and Citadel.

[Carantathraiel]

Aera walked beside him, her hand in the crook of his arm, matching his pace. Through her gloves she could feel his strong, muscular arm, although she hadn't doubted for a moment that he would be weak or feeble, despite his apparent age.

When they reached the park, she inhaled. Nature. Her eyes went down for a moment as she debated removing her shoes to feel the grass on her bare feet. Instead she simple threw back her hood and pulled her cloak behind her shoulders. Releasing Kargath's arm she took off her gloves and reached out to touch a tree, smiling.

With a happy face, she turned and grinned at the dragon. "I would like to see." She finally answered his offer.

[Emperor Nat]

Kargath nodded, walking out into the middle of one of the greens. He then stripped down, throwing his clothes to one side - apparently not caring for Aera's gaze one way or the other - before taking a small breath. At once, his body started to change. First, scales covered his skin; a deep black colour. Next, his hands and feet began to twist into claws, two wings beginning to force their way from his back. His face continued to mutate, losing the kind, nurturing quality it had - replaced with a broad reptilian nose and great, mighty jaws. All the while he grew and once he had finished his transformation he roared, throwing his wings out.

His head alone was about the size of a horse-drawn carriage, each one of his claws the size of a young child. His wings were huge, black and leathery; nearly blotting out the sunlight in Aera's general area for their size.

"I am Kargath, Black Dragon of the West." he said, his voice deep, great and booming. He lowered his head down to Aera's level, turning his head slightly so she could look him in his great golden eye. "Impressed, child?"

[Carantathraiel]

In the reflection of his eye, she could see herself, long and morphed, her expression, normally controlled, showed great surprise and awe. She craned her neck and turned her head to look at him, mesmerized by the power and by the beauty of him.

"Very much so..." she said quietly, her voice trailing off. "You're so beautiful." Never had she ever imagined she'd see anything like him.
Aera held up and hand. "May I?" Kargath nodded his huge head and she gently put her hand to his scales, feeling the iron hard scales, warm with life.

[Emperor Nat]

"You're too kind." Kargath said; his deep voice, although somewhat intimidating, nonetheless showing a hint of modesty in it. "It is clear you haven't seen many of my kind, if I impress you. The Dragon lords, highest and most respected of our brood... they are the impressive ones. Her majesty the White Dragon of Skalheim is as big as Citadel's keep and her scales shine like the snow in sunlight..."

He sighed, a little wistfully. Kargath was a strange beast, more complicated than she had thought. His appearance fearsome, his demeanour calm, his body comfortingly warm. She could hear the great heart inside his chest slowly beating, once every few minutes, pumping the hot blood through his veins. His scales themselves were unusually warm; he simply seemed to radiate heat out from him. But then dragons were known for their fire, so perhaps it was not such a great shock.

[Carantathraiel]

Still distracted from the sight of him, her words were slow. "Did you think I misspoke? When I said I'd never...." She trailed off again, her feet moving her. His enormous claws, black and shiny, stood about half her height. His great wings a canopy above her. Her hand stayed on his hide, trailing slowly. Her hands tingled, responding to the fire inside him, her own inner fire burning. It was then she removed her hand, rubbing her palms together to cute the itch.

It occurred to her that he was quiet large, and in considerable plain sight. Her dark eyes glanced around. No one was nearby. "Do the city folk not mind you?" Her brow creased. "Are dragons common sight?"

[Emperor Nat]

"Newcomers, travellers and the like mind. I can cause quite the panic when I want to - they run screaming 'dragon, dragon in the walls' at the top of their lungs until one of the blackguard asks for a description. If myself, or Yddraiggoch, are thought to be the cause of the panic then the Blackguard give them some tea and wait until they've calmed down to send them away." he chuckled, an almighty sound that made Aera's body vibrate in time with it. "They know I am to be trusted, as are certain others of my kin. It is rare that an unknown dragon finds their way to the city, as they know better than to anger Nyx. She is not a woman one wishes to cross."

He lay down, putting his head on the ground and curling his tail around - Aera in the middle of the small patch of grass he left free.

"There have been, in my knowledge, two dragon attacks upon Citadel. Their skulls were donated to the Morhaven academy for study."

He yawned nonchalantly.

[Carantathraiel]

"I spoke with the Lady Nyx earlier, a few days back." Aera informed the dragon. "She was the one who told me about the dragons and explained that a few lived around the area." Unable to resist, her hand went back to him. There was something about the fire in him that drew her. "Hearing about it and seeing it are still very different. I think I still had doubt, really."

Her head turned and she saw herself in the great golden eye. "What do you do, if I may ask, when you're in your human form? Do you work? Or do you just observe and watch?"

[Emperor Nat]

"It's an odd exchange, but one that works out quite well. In return for a house, a wage, access to the Morhaven academy and a noble title... I live in the city. I knew Nyx's father very well, attended his wedding and her dedication in fact, and she appreciates me being around. More than that though, I am a cannon with which to threaten any potential enemies of the city. To know that a dragon has invested his time and interest in the place and its people is more intimidation than is required to prevent most revolutions or invasions. Besides... she, along with her co-rulers of the Nation, is a mouthpiece of my God. And so I would bow my knee to her regardless of what it gained me."

He closed his eyes for a moment, nuzzling the grass and inhaling its scent deeply.

"So to answer your question properly, I spend most of my time enjoying early retirement. Whereas most dragons my age are still yet to be broodfathers or broodmothers and therefore unable to have food brought to them, I have no need to hunt. So I enjoy the company of the people, and I spend much of my time reading. Reading is always worth the effort."

[Carantathraiel]

Aera grinned, taking her hand away again. "I enjoy reading myself. While I lived in the palace I went through a good amount of them. I enjoyed stories for children, and songs. And histories. I found those fascinating. They helped me learn the common tongue, when I was a little girl."

"If you don't mind more personal questions," She grinned apologetically, knowing she was asking a lot. "How old are you?"