The Prophecy -- Last of the Dragons

Stumbling, they sought their way through the woods. The castle had fallen and many lives had been lost that day. It was a black day for the knights, while the hunter celebrated their triumph between the smoking stones of theirs foes former keep. Not only men were killed, dragons just as well, thinning their numbers ever further. They were fighting a lost battle. While their numbers dwindled, the Hunters grew ever stronger, pushing them further back every day and leaving less and less room to fight back. Escaping had already become impossible, unless you got wings. Time and time again, the Knights had tried to make the dragons flee, but they would not move. Perhaps they knew it would be to no avail. Where-ever they would go, the Hunters would find them. They could run, but they could not hide.
With a few words, Alexandra ordered to set up camp beside a little stream. It would be their home for the next few days. Hopefully, the rest would allow them to gather their strengths and tend to the wounded. Alexandra knew she could thank the gods that she ordered the evacuation off the castle soon enough, so that they could take supplies with them. An so that they did not had to see how the servants and healers were put to the sword. Silently and brooding, she walked the camp, putting the few man that were able to fight around it as sentries.
Alexandra was not sure how long they would be able to last like this. They had far too few supplies and to many wounded or dying. The forest was unforgiving and winter was coming fast. The Hunters had known the best time to strike. If they did not defeat them at the castle, nature would soon join them to help. After a last round of the campsite, she retreated to her tent and sank onto a chair. She felt defeated, but she did not want to show it to the men. They relied on her for strength and leadership in times like these, so she needed to be strong, or at least appear so. It was when she was alone at night, that the breakdown came. Two years had passed but she still missed the wise words of her father. His counsel and wisdom, the stern words when needed and the soothing ones when she felt sad. They were long gone now and the only thing that rested was family.
When her squire brought her the evening meal and helped her out of her armour, she noticed she had not been spared. Somehow enemy steel had gotten between the plates, leaving a bloody mark on her underclothing. Claiming it was just a scratch, she wanted to send the boy away, but he would have nothing of it. “I’ll send one of the healers m’lady.” Ever loyal, he only wanted what was best for her, but she was stubborn to the bone. “Let them be. There are others who need them more than I do.” But it was to no avail. When she started her supper, he left. He might just be a boy, but he was no fool. The size of the bloodstain was more than indication that it was not just a scratch.
It was already dark when the woman came in. She was setting on bed, trying to peel the fabric out of the wound, but the dried blood would not let it go, not without reopening it. Alexandra cursed softly, not realizing she had company. “Those are some foul words child.” The woman’s voice was soft and you could easily here the age in it, but also her wisdom. “That sweet lad was right to fetch me. And you should be a little bit less stubborn.” Taking a bowl of water from the table when she passed, she walked towards her. “It’s nothing. I bet there are others who need your services more than I do.” Frowning she looked to the woman. “The others have been taken care of, girl. You are the last one. No sit still and let me help you.” For a moment, Alexandra did nothing. Perhaps she needed help, but what would the men say if they knew she was wounded? Sighting, she gave in and laid back to be helped.
“You haven’t changed a bit.” The woman spoke softly as she peeled the fabric out of the wound. “You were just as stubborn when you were a small girl as you are now.” Alexandra could imagine that all too well. It was something everybody said to her. “I remember the day when you were born. Many believed you would not make it. Born to early, too small and weak for the world. And the unfortunate death of your mother.” For a moment, her patient turned uneasy on what was supposed to be her bed. “Ow yes, I was there. And I helped you into this world.” With a last pull, she tore away the rest of Alexandra’s underclothing. “And I was there when your mother died.” She did not look up from her work and it seemed she didn’t need Alexandra to react to what she said. “but not before hearing her last words.” She send the squire of the fetch fresh water and her herbs while she looked at the Lady-Commander. There was a silence in the tent that could almost be felt. Something in the air, words unspoken and yet heard very clearly. The silence was unbroken while they waited, but once she could continue, she spoke again.
“Your mother told me something that night, something no other person had heard beside herself.” The cold water soothed the sting of the wound, but Alexandra paid no attention to it. She would never admit it, but she wanted to hear what the woman had to say. Her father told her once that you could only be a great leader if you learned to follow. Don’t walk in front of your men, but between them. Listen to them, their stories and their wisdom. Learn and use it to become better. “When she learned she was pregnant, she went to seek out advice. Being the wife of the Lord-Commander, she travelled into this very valley. Your mother had a great respect for nature and even more so for the wisdom of the dragons who lived here. She met them and one of their elders spoke to her.” So Alexandra was not the first one who had spoken to one of the dragons? She wondered if it was the white one her mother had met, or another. “She was told something that brought her both great grieve and joy. She would give birth to a baby daughter, but at a very high price.” There was a sadness in her words Alexandra could not explain. She had never know her mother, but the woman had and she could feel a love and respect for her. “Your daughter will be special, but for that, you will have to pay the price. You will never see her grow-up or take her first steps. You will never see what kind of woman she will become, nor learn to know her first love. However, your daughter will follow in her father’s footsteps when the time is ripe. She will have your gentleness, but still be a warrior who knows what’s right and wrong, a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, but with the loving and caring heart of a mother.” It seemed the woman was telling her what her mother had been told before she was born. “Born for greatness, but also born to fail. A day will come when she’s older when all she has known will crumble at her feet and nothing but rubble will be left. It will be on that day, that she will have to make the most important decision a leader can make. For your daughter will be special, more than one will ever know.” Alexandra had the feeling she would see her life passing before her eyes as she heard the words. The world she knew was crumbling around her and everything she knew was indeed falling apart. “For your daughter will have the heart of a dragon. She will know what to do in time, without being told, and will do it right. In the end, she will die, old and far away from here, but it will not be her end. Because, somewhere in the future, your daughter will return to this world, to finish what has been started. And when that happens, we will now. The dragons will be there and we will stand by her side once more. Soon, you will pay the price, but what you will buy with it, is so much more than you can imagine. The dragons will look after her, she will be safe, I promise you that.” The old woman gave a last tuck at the bandage before standing up. When Alexandra looked around, she seemed weary. “So my mother gave her life for some kind of prophecy?” She was lost. How could this be? Kind persons should not have to die. “She did child. And all that was told her has come to pass so far. What will happen in the future is still a mystery, but I have faith. Better you have too. No go to sleep, tomorrow is another day and another fight.” She left, leaving Alexandra to think and ponder over the words she had told her. Was there really more to her then want met the eye? Didn’t the white dragon told her she was more as well? Pulling the thing blankets higher, she went off to an uneasy nights with more nightmares than she liked. Perhaps the morning would bring council.