Tales of the Heart
Nuala was the very image of cuteness. Huge, expressive emerald eyes that were wide with wonder and curls that tumbled down her back and seemed almost too much for her little body. The maids had perfected the art of braiding her wild locks into braids that crowned her head and fell down both shoulders to around her mid back. Her little pointed ears were petite and delicate. She listened intently to her father from where she sat in her little ruby blankets, arranged like a nest. She was obsessed with tales of the dragons, one dragon in particular. Her father, King Kalith loved to see her little face light up as he told his stories. She settled into her nest of blankets and clutched the little dragon toy that went everywhere with her. The fire crackled softly, casting an amber glow around the dimly lit room and she was riveted as her father started to speak.
“They live in the mountains, where few are brave enough to venture. On the right day, when the wind travels in just the right direction you might hear their roars. The land of Dragons is cold, barren in places. They are beings too large and mighty to live in the forest so they took to the mountains. Many feared them, but it was apparent to others that if one worked on a basis of respect then an alliance could be formed. Their king is a formidable creature. Ruby in color and capable of destroying a village in a single breath. Though he is far larger than any other that lives in his realm he is a fair leader. On the coldest days he uses his element to light fires and to warm the earth around him. One such as him doesn’t seem to feel the cold. An advantage of having a belly full of fire. He became a friend of our own realm in a battle against the dwarves. A bitter and rancorous battle it was indeed. He brought his kind, and he brought his fire, a fire that even their magic couldn’t withstand. It changed the course of the battle for the elves. The day that Kazabor decided to aid us gave us the chance to live in peace in our own kingdom; an alliance was formed between two kings that had spent years viewing each other as strangers. He still resided up at the summit in the Dragon Mountains, coming down only very occasionally to see the royal family. One of the times he came down he brought something special for the princess, a little red dragon that he vowed would always keep her warm. For within it was an ever glowing ember that he had given her as a gift..”
The king looked up with a smile to see that, as usual, his teeny tiny little daughter had drifted to sleep in her little nest. As with each evening that passed, she lay clutching the very toy that he spoke about. True to his word the little dragon was always warm, and she treasured it above all other possessions that a three year old might consider important. It went everywhere with her and it had Kalith wondering if the legends might one day come to fruition. Never had he seen such an instant awe in a child’s eyes as the day that Kazabor, King of Dragons had come down from the mountains to visit his only daughter and to provide some comfort at the loss of the queen. He kept his knowledge to himself as he smiled and gathered his daughter into his arms. He carried her back to her nursery and settled her for the night, making sure that the little dragon remained with her the entire time. He knew she wouldn’t wake with the ember from the dragon king next to her. It was her very best comfort.
