The Dragon Riders

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. The valley was a peaceful place, green grass grew along the bank of the river that split the land into two sides. Wild flowers grew sporadically in the area, filling the air with their sweet perfume. A small village sat nestled along the left side of the river.

Freya could remember the day the dragons came. Children ran in between the houses made of cobblestone, chasing each other laughing in glee. In the center of the village surrounded by large stones was a bonfire. A few men stood around the fire talking while taking turns to rotate a boar that was suspended over the open flames. There was to be a feast in the village, to celebrate a marriage between the chief’s son, Nolan and Freya’s elder sister Simone.

On the other side of the river, in a patch of wild flowers, Fraya was carefully picking only the flowers who looked the most beautiful. After each thorough exam she would place the flowers who passed into her small wicker basket. She couldn’t help being a little envious of her sister. Simone was going into a loving marriage, something that was rare at these times. Freya knew if she married, it would be one of convenience. She didn’t have her sister’s flawless beauty. Where Simone had golden brown hair that somehow always managed to look silky. Freya’s own hair was black and wavy. She always had little wisps of hair that wouldn’t stay down. She took after their dad while Simone took after their mom.

Freya shook her head to clear her thoughts and stood. She began trying to brush the grass stains from her brown floor length skirt. Slightly annoyed that it was a failed attempt, she bent down to pick up her basket so she could start making her way back to the village to start on the flower crown for her sister. The river’s clear blue stream was only interrupted by some stepping stones, the water crashing into the stones before splitting around it. Each stone was spaced about four feet apart, causing Freya to have to do small jumps to get to the next stone. She held her skirt in one hand and the basket in the other, making the zigzag jumps until she reached the side of the river where the village was. Slightly swinging the basket, she took her time walking back home.

As she was reaching to open the door, Freya heard a rumble that sounded vaguely like distant thunder. She looked at the sky and as far as she could see, the sky was clear. Opening the thick oak doors she sent a quick prayer to the Gods that it did not rain and ruin Simone’s feast. Her sister would be devastated. The sweet smell of blueberries assaulted Freya as soon as she opened the thick oak door.

She cut through the living area, placing the basket of flowers on a beautifully carved table in front of the fireplace. Her father, Jaarad built it from a sturdy oak tree that he found when traveling out of the valley. The top has vines carved into the top, connecting in the middle to have a rose in full bloom.

“Mama, I’m back.” She calls out as she walks down toward her parents room where her mother Jo was helping her Simone get prepared for today. Freya sat on top of her parents bed to watch her mother brush out Simone’s brown locks.Freya felt like someone pierced fee heart with a blade of jealousy. She was happy her sister found her true love, but jealous because that’s what she wanted the same. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she went to stand in front of her sister to start helping apply color. She went to grab the container that had the red lip stain, made from deer tallow, caster oil, red rose petals and beeswax, except the jar was empty. “Darn, we are out of the lip stain. I’ll have to make a quick batch.”

“Hurry back dear, we have to start on the flowers next if we want to get them finished in time.” Jo says as she starts to braid Simone’s hair. Her tone was as gentle as her touch. Nodding Freya took the empty container with her. She made a quick stop to her room to grab the deer tallow, and caster oil. Moving some of the other herbs and oils around she couldn’t find any bees wax and rose petals. She grabbed a mortar and pestle, securely placing them in the empty container into a eaded out of the house.

She heads a few miles to the right of the village where she usually gets the beeswax. She will have to travel a bit further for the rose petals. Just as she starts to move the branches of a willow tree to begin her search for a hive, a loud roar comes from the sky. She covers her ears ducking under the leaves of the willow. A large shadow passes over the grove, covering the fields between her and the village. Freya risks uncovering her ears to peek through the branches. She sees a massive emerald green dragon flying past. It’s massive front legs tucked in, its hind legs easily double the size of a tree trunk. It’s claws looked more like teeth than anything else. She watched in horror as it flew over the village. Fire blasting out of its gaping maw easily catching the roofs on fire. She could hear the screams of the people trying to flee. In fear, Freya did the only thing she could think of, she ran further into the trees rather that witness the slaughter of her loved ones. Tears streaming from her eyes, she tripped over a few roots that stuck out of the ground. Her hands and knees were scraped and bleeding, still she pushed on until she reached the big willow in the middle. It had a hole just large enough she could squeeze into it. She used to use this as a hiding place from her sister when they were kids.

Freya wasn’t sure how long she sat there, knees pressing into her chest. Her hands covering her mouth so that her sobs didn’t escape. Eventually her exhaustion took over, her bloodshot grey eyes closed and she dreamed of a blue scales, giant aqua eyes with black diamond slits for pupils.