To Die For Love and Freedom

They were words that spoke of rebellion and freedom. Rebellion against those who had oppressed us for centuries and freedom to do and be what we wanted. They were words what promised a better life for ourselves and those who came after us. I fell in love with those words and with the man who spoke them. Those inspiring words from an inspiring man. Now, I stand condemned to death. Doomed to die for fighting for a better life, for rising up against those who would keep me down. He stands beside me, my lover and commander, along with many others who rose up with us. I pray our sacrifice will not be in vain. I pray that others will hear his words and fall in love with them and the desire for freedom.

Hawksrising Part 1: Dragon Knights 5

     Aylin repeated the word a few times to herself, associating it as the dragon's name. "I like it. I think is suits you." she finally said.
     "Thank you." he replied.
     Silence reigned once again. This time, it was Thunder who broke it.
     "Where will you go? The induction is a month away."
     Aylin gave him a sheepish look, "I didn't think that far ahead. I just took off. I didn't even think about what would happen if I wasn't chosen."
     The dragon gave a huff, blowing  smoke out of his nostrils. Apparently her recklessness did not surprise him.
     They sat in silence again, watching the setting sun.
     "What about Hawksrising?"
     Aylin gave the dragon a puzzled look. "What about it?"
     "Did you not say that is where you are from? Why not stay there?"
     Aylin looked down at her feet. She quietly replied, "I've never been there. I don't even know were it is."
     She felt Thunder's eyes on her, but refused to look at him. She heard him move, a quiet rustle of scales and the click of claws.
     "Then I shall show you where it is."
     At this, she glanced up at him, a look of hope lighting her face. "Really?" she asked. "You know where it is?"
     "Every dragon knows where the home of the Dragonfriend is."
     "How will we get there?"
     Thunder looked at her, and Aylin could have sworn in was a look of frustration. "I will fly you there."
     She looked at him for a moment. "You can do that? I thought you had to be older for someone to ride you. How will I stay on?"
     "I am old enough to carry a small rider and we can rest if I need to. Do you know how to ride a horse bare-back? 
      "I've done it once or twice."
      "Then that will have to suffice. Do not worry, if you fall, I will catch you."
     Aylin stared at him in silence for another moment and then got to her feet. Thunder lowered himself so she could climb onto his back. She found the hollow where his neck met his chest and situated herself. While not exactly comfrotable, the spot did offer some stability, and she gripped his neck with her knees. She leaned into his neck and found that she could grip the edges his scales by slightly pulling them up. Unlike a snakes, they had ridges and offered a fairly good grip.
    "Are you ready?" the dragon asked after she had stopped fidgeting.
    "Here goes nothing."
     She felt Thunder tense for a moment and then he sprung from the balcony. Aylin almost lost her grip. She felt the scales bite into her hands and hoped they had not cut them. A moment later, there was a jolt and a feeling of weightlessness as Thunder spread his wings leveled out.  He circled the citadel once, and then headed south-east.

**If you are interested in reading the ongoing continuation of this story, please follow this link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/66057351-dragon-knights
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Thunder: Dragon Knights 4

     Aylin sighed in contentment. She was finally coming down from the euphoria of the morning. After she and the black dragon, her dragon, had taken their places with the other chosen children, the gong that had started the ceremony rang three times, signaling the end of the Choosing.
     The children who had not been chosen were ushered out of the hall. Those who had been chosen remained with their dragons. The children's height and weight were measured and recorded, as well as their measurements for clothing. Although there were fifteen children, it all happened quickly, the process made efficient from years of execution.
     Lunch was served afterward and many of the children left and headed for home. The official ceremony presenting the newest generation of Dragon Knights would not take place for another month. This gave the rulers of the various nations that comprised the Six Lands time to prepare and travel to Storm Hold, the home of the Dragon Knights.
      Aylin had been too excited to eat. Instead, after arranging for the Baron's son David to take the horse she had ridden here back to Sandorne, she had wandered around the citadel. Eventually, she found herself sitting, legs pulled to her chest, on an large balcony overlooking the city.
     The balcony had no railing and offered an amazing view of the city and the countryside surrounding it. It was evening now, and the sun was setting over the mountains that formed the borders between Estrana and Draurhiel. She sat, mesmerized by the colors painted by the sunset.
     "Why are you still here?" a deep, male voice asked. "The others from your home left hours ago."
     Aylin gave a small start and glanced to look at the speaker. Her dragon was standing behind her, staring. She noticed that although his scales and horns were a deep black, his eyes were a bright, reptilian green. Turning back to the sunset, she replied, "Castle Sandorne is not my home."
     "Is that not where you were raised?" the dragon asked, confusion in his voice.
     Aylin gave a small laugh of derision, "Yes, but that doesn't make it home. Now that I've escaped, I'm never going back. Besides, I don't think the baroness would let me anyway."
     "I see." the dragon replied, although his tone gave the impression he was still confused. He stretched himself out across the balcony, curling himself around her and positioning himself so that his head sat just past where Aylin sat.
     They sat in silence for a while as the sun sank lower. Eventually, Aylin broke the silence with a question, "What's your name?"
     They dragon's green eye looked back at her, but he did not otherwise move. Neither did he answer.
     "What? You already know mine. What harm would it be for me to know yours?"
    The dragon looked back out over the city. After a moment's silence, his voice sounded in her head, speaking a single word, "Thunder."