Chapter Text
Waking up in your own bed has it's own kind of magic. There is nothing like the feeling of home or the feeling being safe in inclosed in your bed. I stretched my body as I lay and feel all the delish pops and cracks. The good kind that just means you were laying down too long.
We have been home for two weeks and dad went to work as soon as we stepped foot in the house. No down time for the scribe. He told mom that he got inspired on a new project and would fill her in soon. I offered my services and he told me to focus on being a kid. He will let me know when he needs help.
Right. Got it. Totally remember how not to be stressed ... all the time. I can feel the sarcasm in my soul.
So I did what I can and started to strengthen my body like Imogen once taught her. Though using books instead of weights, lifting them up and down, is quite the motivation to not see her books with broken binding from dropping them. You can take the rider out of the scribe, but you can't take the scribe out of the rider.
When my arms became jelly I did 5 more. Pushing but not hurting.
After I finished my morning work out I soaked in the tub and then went to hunt breakfast. I have had the same pattern the last week. Workout, soak, read, ask my mom if she heard where or how Brennan/Mira was (day depending), get kicked out of the office, find dad help him for a bit, get kicked out of the office, then on to lunch. After that the days blurry. Sometimes is trying to avoid Dain, sometimes its talking with Dain, sometimes its walking around. The afternoons were nothing like she remembered. And she was okay with that.
Getting out of the tub, she got dressed and headed to read in the window. She liked to watch the sun peak over the mountain. As she was walking past her mother's office, she heard a sound. Normally she is not up this early.
"Mom? Your up early?" She was standing with her back to me leaning over a letter.
I watch her whip around and put a hand on her chest. "Violet, you startled me" I haven't seen her that surprised in a long time, she must been focused on the letter.
"Have you heard from Bren?" I asked. May as well get it out of the way
She gave me a look that was stern, but somehow soft. "Another nightmare?"
I told her a few days ago that I kept having nightmares about Mira and Brennan dying when she pressed on why I keep asking about them. Which is true. It was a living nightmare, but haunts me all the same.
"I have a meeting with our King and so I will be gone for a few days. Walk me to the flight field."
It wasn't a question. I follow her out of the room and down the stairs. We went a roundabout about way to the flight fields since she didn't want her almost 15 year old kid at the college of death. Not when she still thinks I want to be a scribe.
"We might have to transfer for a bit, depending on how my meeting goes."
"Transfer?"
"Yes. I might be working out of the palace in Calldyr for a few years and if that happens, we will move closer. The King has a few son's that are around your age."
I couldn't help shutter. Not making that mistake again with Halden. I see my mom shoot a look at me from the corner of her eye, but doesn't comment and I don't offer.
We make our way up the path to the side of the flight field where I see Aimsir waiting. I catch my mom eyes and she nods and me and I start running towards the dragon. Why the sudden change of heart this dragon has for me, I am not sure, but I will not waist it. She bows her head at me and I stroke her nose. She such a pretty brown color. Rich like Chocolate.
"That is unexpected"
At the new voice I whip around and freeze in stunned silence. The man standing with his hands in his pockets his head tilted watching me.
The biggest smile breaks across my face, "Brennan!" I yell racing towards him
He caught me as I leapt into his arms laughing and swinging me around.
"What-- How-- Did you get here?"
"Dragon" He teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Tell me"
"Well, when a Mommy dragon and a daddy dragon love each other..."
"Brennan!" I yelled laughing at him
He set me down on my feet, "Mom wrote me. Said you were having a hard time. That she thought you needed me. Needed to see me. She got them to give us leave for a few days to see you."
I turn my head and look at my mom who is not paying us any attention, but I can see by the light blush on her cheeks, that she was not expecting Brennan to tell me the truth. Like being a good mom was embarrassing.
I couldn't help the tears that welled in my eyes. Blinking furiously I tried to keep them from falling.
"Oh, so you give him a hug? What am I chopped liver?"
My head swings again and I see Mira walking across the field.
"Mira" I yell and dive for her arms as I did Brennan. "you're here. You're both here. You're both safe" I cry into her shoulder.
I feel her shift me and I wrap my legs around her not moving my head tucked into her neck. I feel her hand running up and down my back, trying to smooth my cry's.
I know they were alive in the time I came from, but the last time I saw them we were in the heat of battle. All of us close to burnout. My 14, almost 15 thank you very much, body could not process the adult emotions as well.
I feel Mira head turning from left to right, most likely looking from mom to Bern and back.
"Hey big brother" I hear Mira say softly and I feel the hand on my back disappear as I felt Brennen come in for a side hug.
"She's been having horrible nightmares every night for weeks. Almost always the same, but bouncing back and forth between the two of you dying" and Xaden but that would be weird since I have not 'met' him yet.
"What caused it?" I heard Mira ask as her hand starts running down my back again. I was exhausted and it wasn't even lunch yet. I feel my self drifting off to sleep as I listen to them talk about me.
"She woke one day and started screaming about her head. The mender said it was similar to Burnout." I hear both their breaths intake.
Suddenly I feel the transfer of Mira's strong arms to Brennan's. I know he is running his magic through me as he holds me. My head tucked under his chin, like I'm a child. Honestly I don't really care at the moment. I am just happy to have him here.
"I can feel that" He says "It feels... like... she channeled somehow and used to much"
"But...How?"
I feel firmer hands grab me and flip me around, setting me on my feet, mom's eyes wide with panic, her eyes searching mine, "Did you channel, Violet? Did you pull from a dragon or the ground?" My eyes go wide, she thinks I'm Venin. I quickly just shake my head, worried about my voice deceiving me. Her eyes glaze and I am sure that Aimsir is telling her my soul is whole.
She sighs, wiping the tear marks away for my face and lightly pushes me back into Brennen reach. His hands coming down on my shoulders.
"I have to go, or I am going too late. You both have been give off the weekend for personal matters. I expect you to be back in your dorm or post by Midnight Sunday.
"Yes, General" they both toned.
"Violet, Happy Early Birthday. I won't be able to bring them home again for a while, so I wanted to make sure I got them here before, if and when we leave for Calldyr."
"Thank you" my voice cracking a little on the word
"Go, Have fun"
She turns and runs for Aimsir and takes a leap and she is on her back and they take off.
"makes it look so easy" I mumble, envious of her ease of riding
"Something you should not worry about little scribe" I hear Brennan tease
"lets go to the apartment" Mira says and I see her grabbing her bag I noticed for the first time.
"Wait one second" Brennan murmurs looking around
Suddenly a big black dragons lands in front of us.
I can't breathe. I stare into his amber eyes. I know he is not mine to look into his eyes but I can't look away.
I watch him tilt his head at me like he is trying to figure me out.
My head start to swim, as I hear Mira, call my name, then shakes me a bit. I gasp with a breath, but not looking away.
I see a rider out of the corner of my eye jump down.
"Hey, I saw the General leave---What's going on?" He says looking at me then Tiarn and back.
Suddenly the dragon dips his head a me.
"Whhhhaaaaaaaat------" I hear Noalin say under his breath. Drawing it out in confusion.
"Dragons do that"
"Do What?" I hear Mira say looking down at me, I can feel four sets of eyes on me.
"Bow. They bow and when asked about it... they say--
"Dragons business" All four of us say at the same time.
That softens me a bit and I release my gaze at the beauty that is...was... my black dragon.
I turn back to my siblings, and simply say, "What's for lunch?"
------
"oof" I grunt as I take another lunge. I been doing lunges with 3 books over my head to try to strengthen my legs and knees. I can feel them wobbling, but I press on with my routine.
The last two days with my siblings have been amazing. Dad has been popping in and out since he is in the middle of a project and is single minded. I haven't laughed so hard in... a very long time. Naolin is constantly teasing Brennen and I don't think I have ever seen my brother so happy. It makes my heart swell and a little sad they are leaving today.
Bren and Naolin need to leave this morning to make it back to their post in time. They were going to have breakfast with us. Mira said she was planning to leave in the afternoon, since she has homework to do still.
I give another grunt as I lunge back across the room, arms shaking a bit to hold the books above my head. I added a new book to my pile today when I could do two without issues yesterday.
"What cha doing?" I hear from the door
I about fall over at the voice leaning in my door frame. I didn't even hear the door open in when I was lost in my thoughts.
I straighten up and head back to my little bookshelf in my room, "Nothing"
"Doesn't look like nothing" he says flopping on my bed
I huff at him.
"Come on, Tell me, What else are big brother for?"
"To mock and tease?"
"Besides that. Support, unconditional support"
"I think you are getting that mixed up with sisters" I hear Mira add when she walks in flopping down next to Bren.
"Sure, That too. Now tell us. Why are you doing... book... lunges... every morning when you think we are asleep"
I shoot him a shocked look
"Hey, you maybe up early but I haven't gotten off my mid watch shift yet and So I kept them while I was here"
Knowing when I beat, I give them the basics, "I am strengthening my legs and knee joints"
"why" Brennen asks tilting his head at me
"Do you want weak joints?" I challenge him back
"Well no, but why the sudden change? You never worried about it when we lived here. Never wanted to work on it as I remember."
"Well... things change" I sniff and look away from them, "Plus it will be easier when I am a rider in a few years" I mumble under my breath
"WHAT?!" I hear them chorus
"You are not going to be a rider" I hear disbelief in Mira's voice
"Yes. I am. Dragons like me"
"Yeah well they can like you from a distance" Mira argues back
"No, Sorriengail's are riders. Dad's a scribe, but I was born a Sorriengail. Plus I don't really have a choice in the matter. Mom will force the issue... eventually. "
"No--"
"She right" Brennan cuts Mira off
"What?" she screeches head whipping to look at Brennan
"Mom has always said that we are all riders. I hoped that with your... condition... that she wouldn't push the issue. Plus we have years to figure it out how to keep Vi in the Scribe quadrant. Take a breath Mira. We will figure it out. We three are a team. Together we can figure out anything."
I hope he was right.