Flame

Chapter 5 of Act 3 of "Obsidian and Flame"

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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.

Obsidian and Flame chronicles the story of Panawr, a sea dragon prince with a deadly secret, and Arddun, who possesses a useless gift and has no desire to marry a prince. When they come together, sparks fly, but they grow aware that something more is at stake than the throne. Can they save their home, Caer Morgana, or will their quest be in vain?

Panawr and Arddun pledged themselves to each other. Panawr had a nightmare, dreaming first that Arddun turned into fire and then ash, followed by a vision that should be very familiar to longtime Môrdreigiau Chronicle readers: a vision of the world’s ecological collapse. Panawr confessed to Arddun that he has failed the Goddess. After another day of bliss, Arddun returned home.

She planted a kiss on his head. :Come and meet the sea rice farmers tomorrow before they go out to the fields.: She headed for the door. :In the meantime, think … are you ready to show the caer and your family that you are whole?:

Arddun churned sea-rice in her father’s inner courtyard. The atrium lay open to the membrane above. The work usually calmed her mind but today she kept recalling the look and touch of her Panawr. Hers.

She looked up from churning the sea-rice to see the object of her memories and fantasies leaning against the doorjamb, watching her. They exchanged smiles. :How long have you been watching me?:

:Long enough to worry your father.: He straightened, walking toward her. :That looks like hard work.:

Arddun retreated around the churn, holding out the handle to him. :It is. Want to try?:

Panawr took it. He pushed the handle down and hauled it back up again. He repeated the action, frowning with concentration.

:It’s not just up and down.: Arddun intervened, tapping his arms away. :You need to mix it to the same consistency.: She demonstrated, adding a stirring motion to the up-and-down action. :Put your hands over mine. Feel what I’m doing.:

Panawr moved behind her, his arms alongside hers as she showed him the actions again. Arddun tried to ignore his chest pressed against her back and the way his gills stirred strands of her hair.

She slipped her hands out from underneath his. :Now, you try.: She adjusted his hand’s positions on the handle, resting her hands on his. His fingers were longer than hers, she noticed. Arddun resisted the urge to stroke them. He mimicked her actions, his muscles bunching and releasing, soon settling into a rhythm.

She ducked under his arm, but Panawr pulled her back to him, one arm about her waist. :Give me a minute. Who knew churning sea-rice could be so … enlivening?:

:Who indeed?: She knew exactly what he meant. Arddun twisted to look up at him, at his full lips and heavy-lidded gaze. She reached up, caressing his cheek, trailing through his short beard.

His lips twitched and broke into a smile. :Arddun.: His thought held a note of frustrated longing. His head dipped, pressing a kiss against her shoulder blade, just a breath away from her gills.

She could so easily lose herself in him… Her eyelids fluttering closed, she focused only on him.

:The sea-rice won’t churn itself.: Her father’s thought dashed ice upon her heated feelings.

The two straightened, stepping away from each other. Panawr’s hands slid to her hips. :No, it won’t,: he affably agreed, :but I didn’t come here for that. I got a little distracted.:

Wyddel grimaced. :Why are you here?:

Arddun stepped out of reach of Panawr’s hands. :He’s here to talk to you and the other foragers.:

Her father’s dark eyebrow ticked up. :He’s here to gather support for the upcoming election.:

:Whenever that may be,: Panawr agreed. :I can also help as an Advocate.:

:Most of the foragers are gone for the day,: Wyddel beckoned them to follow. :The elders though you must meet.:

:Of course,: Panawr followed, with Arddun close behind. :I have no objection to visiting the meadows.:

Wyddel paused midstep, looking back. :I heard you never leave the caer.:

:Not since I was a child,: Panawr thought. :Arddun and I haven’t even—:

Her father waved him off. :My daughters are grown but I don’t wish to hear it. Let’s go to the meadows first.:

They passed through the caer’s main gate without incident. Once out of the city, they paused in order to give Panawr time to adjust to his new shape and size. Flecked and tipped with silver, his grey scales glimmered like a school of tiny fish as he swam.

:I wish it were just you and me,: Arddun thought at him.

He turned his great whiskered head her way, his dark brown eyes sparkling. :Soon,: he promised, and swam after her father.

On their journey to the sea-rice meadows, Wyddel told him about some of the people he’d meet and the various factions.

During one of his pauses, Panawr asked Arddun, :How was it with Indeg?:

:Awkward and messy. But we made peace. We’ve always been so close. It didn’t seem right to remain opposed to each other.:

:We’re here,: her father announced.

Together, they swam forward to meet the foragers, who paused their work to watch them approach.

Later, the three of them arrived outside the Wyddel family home. :That went well?: Panawr hoped so.

:It did. It went very well,: Wyddel, Arddun’s father, affirmed.

Arddun agreed. :They felt heard and that’s no easy thing to accomplish.:

:Easier than sea-rice churning.: Panawr’s eyebrows quirked. :Are you returning to the palace with me?:

Arddun paused, her face paling.

:Of course, you want to spend more time with your sister,: he thought quickly, burying the sudden pang caused by her hesitation. :That’s import—:

She pointed behind him, her gills spasming. :Your father. He’s coming here. He looks furious … and worried.:

Panawr turned. A small squadron of royal guards followed his father. :Nobody died,: he thought at his father, including Arddun in his thought.

Rhydderch’s pace slowed. :What possessed you? You could have—:

:I wouldn’t risk destroying our primary food source, nor the ones who harvest it. I’m healed, Father.: Panawr bared his shoulder, ignoring his father’s warning yelp.

:When? How long?: Rhydderch reached them, pulling Panawr’s robe away from his shoulder and arm before pulling him into a hug. :Oh, my boy. How did this happen?:

Panawr stood awkward and stiff in his father’s arms, unsure of what to do with his hands. :Recently … and I don’t know how. One morning it was just gone. A gift from the Lady?:

Rhydderch released him. :We’ll have the Chief Healer examine you, make sure…: His face roiled with emotions, his mouth working like a beached fish. :Oh, my boy. If only your mother were here to see this.:

Panawr stiffened, taking a step back. His heart pounded, remembering how she had succumbed to the horrible disease he carried. She’d been alone, with only himself as a helpless witness.

Arddun moved toward him. :Don’t,: he thought at her.

She halted, her expression smoothing into practiced blandness. :We will not take up any more of your time, Prince Panawr.: She bowed. :Thank you for taking the time to check upon my sister and I.:

Panawr faced her, hoping he concealed his grief and his longing to remain with her. He didn’t want to share her with his family yet. :Of course. I will visit again.:

Arddun folded her arms, her brow crinkling in worry while her lip curled in disdain. :Indeg will tell you not to bother. We’re doing just fine.:

His eyebrow quirked before resuming his own blank politeness. :Of course.: He nodded and retured with his father to the palace.

:Arddun?: Panawr thought to her.

She kept her gaze upon the view outside her bedchamber window. She let her gaze blur the building opposite and the translucent membrane above. :Did it all go well?: She imagined her thought flying to the palace.

:It did. The Chief Healer couldn’t even find a single spot.:

Arddun sighed, glad the last remnant of the infection had faded. :And your father?: Rhydderch’s sudden affection had surprised her.

:He’s a bit much at the moment. I think he had given up on me entirely.:

She wanted to gainsay him but the only time she’d seen Rhydderch help his son had been at Trachmyr’s trial. :I miss you,: she said instead.

:And I you … Father knows.:

Arddun sucked in a breath. :How?:

:I suspect everyone knows actually. We were not as discreet as we thought when we snuck off for kisses before the Four’s trial, nor in requesting more food being sent up from the kitchen in recent days. Someone must have reported not only my leaving the caer, but who was with me. If Father has figured it out, we can assume the rest of the family knows and will use that information.:

She shivered. :Because I am your weakness.: She had been foolish to think that their cozy respite from the world would last. She didn’t want to be the cause of his downfall.

:One I would not surrender.:

:Not even for the throne?: She couldn’t resist the jab.

Panawr’s pause told her more than she wanted to know. :I can have you both. Shall I tell you how much I miss you?: He proceeded to detail all the ways he wanted to caress her until Arddun begged him to stop, her body thrumming with desire.

The summons came the next morning. A royal guard delivered the Esteemed’s request for Arddun and Indeg to return to the palace. :The prince is ready to make his apology.:

Indeg leapt from the sofa and dashed toward the door. She glanced back, extending a hand to her sister. :Come!:

Arddun rose, clasping her hands before her. :It hasn’t been a month.:

Indeg paused. :Does that really matter?:

:It does if it’s not genuine.: Arddun raised her chin. :Are you ready to be used as a pawn by this family?:

:Cynwal loves me.:

Arddun nodded. :Yes. Panawr loves me too, and they’ll do their best to protect us, but we have to be ready to protect them and ourselves as well. I won’t be some helpless pawn.:

Indeg bit her lip. :What do you see in him?:

Arddun managed a thin smile. :Be glad that I didn’t fall for your golden prince. Shall we go?:

The royal guard led them through the caer and into the palace. Once there, he escorted them to one of the larger salons, near the Great Hall. Inside, the Esteemed, seated upon an ornate calcified chair, and her family awaited them.

Arddun exchanged glances with Panawr, but of course being in the Esteemed’s presence they couldn’t think privately to each other. He sent her a small, encouraging smile.

Cynwal had his back to her, speaking to Trachmyr’s wife and mother.

:Thank you for not keeping us waiting,: the Esteemed thought to them all, gaining Cynwal’s attention.

He turned, his gaze going at once to Indeg. She stepped toward him, but the royal guard held out a hand to block her.

:My son must apologise first, my dear.: The Esteemed attempted and almost succeeded at conveying warmth.

Arddun met Cynwal’s gaze. This seemed so wrong, too soon. Her heart fluttered against her ribs and she urged her gills to flap in a slow steady rhythm. If he wasn’t sincere, she wouldn’t accept it no matter what it might mean.

:I have wronged you,: Cynwal said, his voice flat. :I have just apologised to Trachmyr’s family—:

Arddun’s gaze flicked to them. The two female draig môr clung to each other, in tears. The wife managed a nod in her direction. Arddun’s brow furrowed. The woman felt him sincere?

:—I have no excuses. I should have been stronger, and wiser, but I allowed my grief to better me. You cannot understand…: His face crumpled. :Arddun, forgive me, I should never have dared threaten your life.: He took a step toward her and collapsed onto his knees, still reaching for her. :By the Lady, if I could undo what I have done, I would do so! Forgive me.: He sobbed, the thought of :forgive me: repeating over and over.

Beside her, Indeg made a small sound of distress, one Arddun felt in her core. It hurt to see her sister’s pain. One didn’t need a gift to tell their agony ran deep.

It was for her to offer healing. The sudden thought wouldn’t let go. She stared down at Cynwal’s golden back, his long black hair hiding his face. She could help his healing.

She took one halting step forward, then another. She knelt before Cynwal. Reaching out, she rested a hand on his head. :You are forgiven, Cynwal, golden prince.: For a moment, it seemed like he really did glow golden.

He lifted his head, his face slack from the enormity of his remorse.

Her hand stroked the tears from his cheek. :Cynwal, you are forgiven. I trust you will cause no more harm to me and mine.:

:Never!: he gasped. His gaze went from her to Indeg, standing behind her. Arddun’s sister flew into his arms, nearly bowling him to the ground. They clung to each other, sobbing and kissing and stroking each other’s hair.

Arddun rose, her limbs trembling. A burst of memory. She remembered meeting the Goddess—

:That was well done, Arddun ferch Wyddel.: The Esteemed rose, both Rhydderch and Morfudd supporting her arms. She looked paler, less certain, more fragile. :I thank you for your grace, given all your hardships. The son of my husband wishes you would stay for dinner. I hope you will accept this request.:

Arddun bowed. When she looked up, the Esteemed had already left the room. Cynwal and Indeg stumbled after them, still gripping the other. Panawr crossed to Trachmyr’s family and she heard him bid them farewell.

Panawr approached and took her hand. They stood alone in the salon. :This is going to sound strange but both you and Cynwal glowed.:

She blinked at him. :I … I saw it too.: She gripped his hand tight. :I don’t know why I didn’t remember this before but the Lady visited me on that longest night so long ago. She told me my gift would be one never seen before or ever again. But this glow, what does it do? Cynwal still looked a mess afterward.:

:Worse,: Panawr agreed. :He kept his composure when speaking with Trachmyr’s family. Something about you … somehow you stripped away his barriers. Just as you stripped away my infection. You reached the heart of both he and I, Arddun.:

She gazed down at their joined hands. :I have no idea how to control it. It comes through me when it wants to.:

:Were you not going to forgive Cynwal?:

:I thought about it,: she replied with honesty. :But his thought rang so true that I felt an echo inside and…:

:And you glowed.:

:Yes.: Her lip trembled. :The Lady said the caer had a chance to be saved because of me, because of this gift.: Her vision blurred. :Even though Trachmyr’s … gone, is it possible we can still save Caer Morgana from disintegrating? How?:

Panawr cupped her face, kissing her forehead. :We’ll figure it out. Together.: He peppered kisses down the side of her face, angling for her mouth. :I have some thoughts as to what we can do until it’s time for dinner. I’ve missed you.:

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