Fire and Water

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ong, long ago, even before men or elves or dwarves or gryphons were brought to dwell in the world, it came to be that Rochner the Fire Dragon and Lystara the Water Dragon were doomed to fall in love.

In those days, when the world was so very young, the dragons numbered only five: Rochner, Dragon of Fire; Varistan, Dragon of Earth; Shoralel, Dragon of the Air; Lystara, Dragon of Water; and Yenoh the Great Dragon who was father to the other four and ruled them all accordingly. Each was lord of his, or Her, domain and of all the creatures in them.

Now, it came about that one midsummer day, the Fire Dragon saw how beautiful and warm Shoralel had caused the weather to be and He decided to go out flying. Unlike the other three dragons, Rochner had no place to dwell and call his home, so He still felt the spirit of wandering that even now effects landless men. He also felt a bit lonely, as He had no animal creatures to tend and care for. So the Scarlet One heaved Himself into the air to search for something to occupy his time.

He soared over mountains and plains. Finally, He decided to turn east, toward the rising sun, and simply let the wind take Him on Her own fancy. Several hours later, the Fire Dragon began to smell salt in the air. So I have reached the end of Land. He thought to Himself. With that, the realization also came that he had been on-wing for long and long, even as the ancient dragons recon time. So He decided to stretch himself on the sand and sleep beside the Endless Sea. How long He slept he knew not, nor did he care; for what is a day or even a century to an immortal? But he had woken, and to splashing and churning of water, and to the sound of singing. Curiosity overcame Him, and, opening His eyes, the Lord of Fire set His gaze upon the fairest, most beautiful creature in the world. Her body was slender and lithe, looking more of a four-legged and winged serpent than proper dragon. Her head was broad and squared and broad, with whiskers on her lips and chin, and antlers sprouted from the back of her head. “Greetings to you,” She said, noticing him staring at her. “Do you fare well?”

“Yes….well indeed, now that I have rested, my lady Lystara. How fare you in your relm under these waves.”

The Water Dragon’s scales iridesced blue into green, and back again, as she moved slightly toward him. “Care you to come and see for yourself?”

“Alas, I cannot,” the other sighed. “For the Great Dragon bore me of fire and your kingdom of water would surely be my undoing; as surely as a heavy downpour douses a brushfire.” He thought for a moment. “What if you were to come away from your ocean for a time; wander with me throughout the world, soar with me into the clouds. Would you bask in the warmth of my fires of renewal that I send to forests and savannas that crave for the cycle of death and growth to be reset again?”