If you’re new to The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, welcome! You might find the Glossary helpful for some of these words. Colons indicate the sea dragon’s thought communications.
Previously, Lllallogan chased after Geraint to stop him from trying to get to Heledd (entranced by a goslings bright tower) without a plan. Meanwhile, Elpis moped in the palace gardens and found a wishing bridge…
Read Part 1 / All Parts of “They Were Shining“
Llallogan swam in pursuit of Geraint. It was not nearly as efficient to swim in human form, but it was still faster than running up and down hallways and stairs in the palace.
He came to rest upon the palace’s parapets. Did Geraint head for the gate, or to the mountain?
It had not been so long ago when Llallogan and Heledd had stood on these parapets, with only the tower and the mountain looming over them, the caer laid out below.
The previous monarch had died. Llallogan’s Chosen Mark had flared white in that moment as had Heledd’s between her eyebrows. They’d gone to the palace to pay their respects. Somehow, they ended up escaping the endless rituals and ascended, knowing they couldn’t leave the palace until the king had been laid to rest in the Great Barrow outside the caer.
:Why did the Goddess pair us together?: Heledd stared out at Caer Morgana, her demeanour stiff. :The idea that we will be bonded…:
:It’s not like that,: Llallogan chided. :You are free to love who you choose—:
:And you will know who that is—: Llallogan wondered why he hadn’t registered her plaintive tone then. What had she wanted to hide from him?
:I’ll know you’d be in love, not with who. Not unless I really concentrated, and I’d only do that if I were interested. Which I’m not.:
Heledd’s gills flared, shoulders hunching.
His words dug under his ribs. Heledd was annoying but he could have been nicer about it.
The silence grew awkward. :I know you don’t like me,: she murmured, :but I don’t want to feel that through the bond.:
:I don’t hate you.: Llallogan gripped the calcified stone. Did she really think she had the monopoly on not wanting that intimate knowledge?
:I can feel your disdain even now.: Heledd folded her arms.
:We can shield,: Llallogan offered, not denying her accusation. :At least you aren’t at the beck and call of a goddess.:
:Whatever.: Heledd turned from the view and left him alone on the parapet.
Her slight had hurt him then, as had her attitude since, demanding he deliver prophetic dreams on request when she knew that wasn’t how it worked.
Still, he’d tried. Failed, and offended the goddess in the process.
Why had he tried? Why did his heart ache now? He thought he could be friends, not only because of the Chosen Court bond but because Geraint loved her.
Dreigiau môr streaming from the mountain ebbed around a single figure. Geraint.
Lllallogan swam in that direction. He had to stop Geraint’s rash, headlong rush. He couldn’t lose his best friend as well.
This is barely a response to the Smogust Story Hoard writing challenge by Bradley Ramsey and The Circus Dragon for the month of August. And yes, as it often happens with these month long challenges (often being precisely once before), it’s a serial.
Read Part 1 / All Parts of “They Were Shining“