I Have To Go
Merrick needs to go to the peaks of Tel'naïr, but Venyran won't let him go alone. They've been having this argument for days, but today's the day Merrick is heading out for real. This journey is a spiritual journey, in a sense, for it will clarify a conflict Merrick has been struggling with for months.
“Merrick, why won't you stop and listen to me!”
I closed my eyes and groaned. Venyran was shouting, again, while I was packing my bag. I opened my eyes and huffed as I packed another bowl in my sack. It never hurt to have a spare. “Ven, I've told you already that I have to do this! I need to discover this on my own. And to do that, I need to be alone.”
I looked over at Venyran as he crossed his arms. He was a rather handsome dragon, his crimson face curled into a scowl. He was a bigger dragon, flightless of course, but bulky and firm. It made sense for a soldier. Venyran had broad shoulders and stood at about average height for a person. Well, average among the medium size races. His horns grew up and back angularly, the left one broken off at the tip. He was in half plate, like myself, with the emblem of our kingdom on the breastplate.
I stood up and exhaled heavily. Leaving was hard enough, to tell Venyran not to come with was harder still. I released the tension in my hands.
“Ven,” I said as I walked across our home to him. The military was at rest since we defeated Pcoratia to the west. As a reward for our heroics, blah blah blah, the kingdom gave us a small cottage in the West Quarter. It was a quaint home, but we made it our own. Bits of war memorabilia decorated the walls of our two-room cottage. I laid my arms around his neck and looked into his golden eyes. He was still flicking his pointed tail in annoyance, but I kept returning to his eyes. Gods, those eyes were so hot. And the way his snout came out with those two little teeth poking out; he's adorable.
“I know you want to protect me, and I love you for that. But this is a journey that I need to take on my own. I'll be okay, Ven.” He looked down and closed his eyes as he laid his hands on my hips. We stayed like that for a few moments. When next he spoke, he spoke like the rumbling stones of his homeland, his accent strong and proud.
“But what if you are waylaid by bandits? Or slip to your death in those icy peaks?! I could save you-”
I interrupted. “I'm not a helpless recruit, Venyran! I'm a warrior too, I can f-”
“Blast it, Merrick, I don't want to lose you again!” My heart caught in my throat. I tried to find the words, my mouth gaping like a fish’s, when he kissed me. His forked tongue dueling with my own.. We parted, myself gasping for air.
Once I collected myself, I started again: “The peaks of Tel’naïr are dangerous, but that's why I have my glaive! And the guards of Tel’Neliva will doubtless be patrolling near the mountain bypass.” Venyran grabbed me by the shoulders again.
“The Telnarians don't know you're human!” he whispered. The affection I was feeling quickly turned to rage.
“Do not treat me like they have.” Venyran quickly let go of me as shock spread across his face.
“Merrick, I'm sorry-”
I shouted back, “Why do you stoop to their level?! You're the only one who saw past my skin and now you're using it against me?!” Venyran put his hands up in surrender.
“Merrick, I am sorry. I wasn't thinking when I said that. I'm just scared because you're going to be gone for so long.” I hesitated, then reached out to grab his hands in mine.
“I’ll only be gone for a few weeks.” Venyran then got in my face and said “If you take longer than a month, I'm coming to look for you.” I took the opportunity to kiss him, and then we both started laughing.
Venyran started helping me pack after that. I already had my bedroll and tent, but Venyran helped point out the things I forgot that might come in handy. The peaks would be frigid for me, so I grabbed his raccoon-fur jacket. He wouldn’t mind. When he asked if I had a knife, I stared at him, then flipped the tip of my glaive under his chin. He stopped making suggestions then. By the time we were done, my pack was heavy like when we marched in the military. We reminisced about the long hauls across fields and mountains. Once we got everything settled, Venyran asked me, “Why are you going to the peaks of Tel'naïr again?” I smiled at him as he did his characteristic hip slouch.
“Word among the troops is that Master Tenrune can help clear your mind. Last I checked, she lives in Tel’Neliva. Or at least near it.” I said as I adjusted a few straps. Venyran chuckled.
“You know what they say about rumors among the troops? They're-”
”About as true as a scaly cat.” I finished with a laugh. “I had Shinood look into it, he says it's legit.” Venyran gave me a dubious look, which was quite amusing to see on a dragon’s face.
“You had that possum verify intel?”
I shrugged. “His heart’s in the right place. Plus he tends to be very thorough when he does research. He's even made me a route that will hopefully save me half a day there and back.” I said as I reached out to my mate. He joined me in an embrace tighter than any knot.
Or any knot… I thought with a mental chuckle.
We hugged for a long time, then kissed for longer still. I opened my eyes as our kiss broke as Venyran said “I love you Merrick. I am so proud to call you my mate.” I felt my heart lurch and I longed to drop my sack then and there. But I steeled myself and said, “I love you too, Venyran. Thank you for believing in me. I really do need this. I will come back to our home, hopefully with a better understanding of myself. Maybe when I come back, you can make sure I can't walk straight?”
Venyran smiled into a wide grin, his red scaly jaw laced with desire. He tried to reach out to me, but I put my pointer finger right on his snout. If you didn't know, dragons look very dorky when you boop them on the snoot.
“Not so fast, buster. When I get back.” I said. With a blur of motion, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward right to his face. I began to yelp as I fell into his kiss. If Ven had said to stay then, I probably would have. Instead he said, “When you come back. Because you will come back.”
I nodded. “I will come back.” We kept looking at each other then, neither one of us wanting to be the one who turned away. Before my heart demanded I stay, I turned from the love of my life and stepped out of the cottage. The sun met my eyes as I stood in the middle of the cobbled road. I looked back and saw him standing in the doorway. No… not standing but bowing deeply. I gave him a bow in return, then turned to head towards the northern gate.
I watched as Merrick turned his back to me. I felt mist collecting at my eyes as I looked upon his shaggy black hair, his curved glaive tied to his pack. He would be okay, he had to be. That didn't stop my mind wondering if that would be the last time I would kiss him, or gaze into his emerald eyes. He had been safe because he had been near me, but now he was on his own.
“Maybe I should follow…” I started to mutter, but then I shook my head. Merrick wanted to be alone, I needed to respect his decision. I tried to keep myself busy by cleaning just the living room. After I cleaned the entire house, I decided to clean my armor. I took my armor off and went into the bedroom to get the armor polish. As I grabbed the silver tincture from the shelf, my eyes wandered to the small chest under the bed. It wasn't hidden well, just out of sight. There lies the key to Merrick’s transformation, one that would change him forever. I sighed as I contemplated Merrick’s situation. I wondered what I would do, were I in his position. I reached down and grabbed the chest and immediately noticed the chest was lighter than normal. I laid it on the bed and opened the clasp. The potion was gone.