She looked up from the book she had been reading. Cipher had gone out earlier that morning saying he had to think and she nodded, letting him go off with a soft kiss and a hug. He had been gone several hours now and she didn't really think anything of it. She had been feeling uncomfortable the past few hours....edgy and then the pain hit her.....hit her hard.

She stood slowly, her head pounding...her arm hurting like it was covered in fire. She took a deep breath, fighting the pain from her mind, calming, realizing {she} was not hurt......

"Elanore....find me....."

Her head snapped around. "Johnathon!!!"

Her hand went to the pendant she wore...the mate to the one he wore. It was warm to the touch, so he was still alive, but from the pain wracking her body, he was hurt....somehow, someway....he was hurt. She took a deep breath and went to their bedroom, opening the chest at the foot of the bed. She had hoped never to wear what was in there, but, she felt she had no choice now. Lady Jaeden had understood her reasons for not wearing the sigil of the Silents but had insisted that she take it anyhow.

She looked down at the gold dragon coiled around the sword clutching the blood red rose and taking a deep breath, she fastened it securely to the collar of her tunic. Then she took a pair of her sturdy boots out of the closet and changed into them, tucking the hem of her pants into them and stood. She walked back to the chest and kneeling down, she pulled out the silver cord tied bundle of silk. She sat back on her heels and untied the bundle, knowing that once she finished this....it would never go back....and her life would be forever changed. Lady Jaeden had told her that she would ... know ... how to deal with the dreaming blade as she would have learned how to use it efficiently when she had grown into adulthood if it hadn't been for her getting lost in the maze and aging. Lady Jaeden had said she would remember things and she had.

She stood and unsheathed the sword, and it erupted into an almost blinding brilliance as the light struck the silver-edged ebony crystal blade. She opened her hand, examining the hilt....the carved dragon seeming to swallow the blade, its diamond eyes shimmering. She sighed and then she fastened the sword belt around her waist, the katana-like blade hanging lightly against her hip. With a deep breath, she walked downstairs and out into the garden.

*-*-*-*-*


The gold dragon watched the house, waiting for the one that had drawn his interest like a moth to a flame. The young girl had hair the color of the flames he loved so much. He had first seen her in the pool of the waterfall and had watched with curiosity as she seemed to not know how to swim. He would have volunteered to show her when he noticed the blonde haired male of her species that was with her and sighed, seeing the closeness the two shared. He remembered that his mother said that to the humans, the two were probably cavern-mates and that had proven to be the case since he had followed them discretely to the smaller house.

He watched as she came outside alone and looked at wonder that the fact she was ... armed ... and with what he recognized as a dreaming blade. How....prophetic. She was armed with a sword that he could relate to...even be called to assist her. Lady Jaeden had bonded certain of the dragons with the bearers of those swords even while the dragon grew in the egg. He had never felt that surge of power from the blades running through him and figured he had been passed over....his egg had been so much smaller than his hatchling-sibs and three of them answered the calling of three of the Lady Jaeden's knights, so he knew his mother's clutch had been inspected by the ArchAngel.

*-*-*-*-*

Elaenore walked through the garden and out into the open field behind the gate and without thought, drew the blade from its sheathe, raising it above her head, speaking one word.....

.....AZIMAERO......

*-*-*-*-*

The gold dragon blinked, hearing her speak his name and the surge of power that went through his whole being, linking the two of them together as sword-mates. He would protect her with his dying breath if needed....but he was hers to command. The huge wings unfurled from across his back and he reared up, roaring in answer to her Call.

*-*-*-*-*

Elaenore blinked, not knowing why she spoke....and she looked up at the dragon on the top of the waterfall seeming to answer her challenge. And it was then that she ... remembered ... this dragon was bonded to her as companion until death. And she watched in silence as the dragon glided to land near her in the open meadow and then seemed to lower his head in acknowledgement and then she ... heard ... him within her mind. The jumble of joy, wonderment, surprise struck her almost as strongly as the pain she had felt earlier as she reached up to lightly rub her hand across the bridge of the dragon's snout.

~MS~ Azimaero....we have to go find him....he's been hurt.....

The dragon nodded, crouching to allow her to climb to the area at the base of his neck and shoulders where there was what looked to be a saddle of sorts and she settled and closed her eyes, letting the power of the necklace she wore tell them both where Cipher was.....

*-*-*-*-*

She opened her eyes to see the ground come spiralling up towards them. This was not in Elysium ... she felt that. It was then she saw the huddled form on the ground and she all but slid off the dragon's back as he landed and ran to Cipher, coming to a stop, taking in the injuries and the fact he had been unarmed when whatever happened. She cradled him close to her....her eyes closing, healing him. In the back of her mind, she could feel the dragon lending his strengths to hers for the healing......