[@Lyla][@Crusader Lord] [hr] [center][h2][b][u][color=orange] Nimue Pendragon [/color] and [color=blue] Morgan Oaks [/color][/u][/b][/h2][/center] As the wizard heard Morgan speak well, if not greatly, of the fey-blood's magic skills in front of the entire court, a blush swiftly arose to Nimue's face in a manner not seen in thousands of years. Which is to say, since she had been a hornier teenager or younger adult who had been around Morgan and such. Heavens, she missed the redhead more than she knew...and it was perhaps time to talk to Morgan as well on that note. Yet as she then listened to the queen's words, she began to calm again, taking into account the serious situation that was being presented before them. A dark moon hanging in the east? Alien creatures invading the lands twenty years ago and corrupting everything? Not to mention her only being mentioned as Morgan's "Wizard Companion" leaving her curious as to how their lives had been translated into legend. Poorly to an extent, if the fey-blooded girl had to guess about it all from her gut instincts. [color=orange][b]"Perhaps we were returned by Vis for this such occasion, and are to specifically meet in this place i too feel compelled to go to as Morgan stated, now that the current four kingdoms in this age are being attacked by this unknown and likely very dangerous foe from the sounds of things,"[/b][/color] Nimue said after some thought, speaking aloud as her eyes trailed about the room to see if all were listening, before continuing on with her speaking, [color=orange][b]"Mortal magic cannot hope to enter the realm of true ressurection only Vis herself would be capable of. Such is the nature of things. Even my own magic only managed to extend my life and cease my aging."[/b][/color] [color=orange][b]"With that all in mind, however, i and Morgan are likely not the only ones who have been revived in this case. Other 'heroes' of the past of these current nations and past ones might be awaking as we speak right now, if this is such a threat as to fully resurrect at least myself and Morgan for such."[/b][/color] The wizard sighed for a moment, seemingly in her stride as a complete and utter nerd of magic as she spoke to the others, though attempting to analyze the situation aloud at the same time. It would perhaps be nostalgic for the knightess and "Queen of Knights" to see her former sister-in-law like this, who had been the premier mage of her day and age. Even so, as Nimue thought for a moment on what to say, a couple of fingers on her right hand rubbing her temple as her mind's gears began to turn, a slight tremble could be felt even through the stone floor. Not enough to be the likes of an earthquake, but...the sign of something happening. And on that note, the wizard's eyes popped open suddenly, as if remembering something she had forgotten to mention a bit ago. The color left Nimue's face as she looked back between Morgan and the queen, before speaking once more. [color=orange][b]"Oh Vis. Oh no. No, no, no. I forgot about Aldebrecht entirely for a bit there. By the gods, the dragon i turned itno my familiar is still alive. And he's on his way here. To see if i am actually alive, probably."[/b][/color] From the reaction it seemed that this might not be the best thing in Nimue's mind to be happening. but at the same time, that sort of tremor was familiar to the mage. The beat of a dragon's wings, a gigantic dragon's wings, was a thing one could never forget. And the panic that could viably ensue if she didn't do something might not be the best for a kingdom already in the middle of war. Not that the people could perhaps hurt Aldrebrecht, but that he could accidentally sit on them as well. Not to mention the property damage if they managed to anger an already grumpy dragon in some fashion. [hr] The queen seemed to key on the wizard's words, folding her arms over slowly as the effect of awe slowly faded from the room, though not entirely as the guards mostly left the trio to discuss. Those who had escorted both heroes eventually went to the side to stand watch - as they had always done. Some of the maids whispered to each other in the distance. Morgan smiled softly, remembering the rants of her friend and sighed silently to herself. 'Ah, same as always,' she thought affectionately. However the shaking of the ground brought the guards on high alert, the queen pulling her own blade as Morgan stood at the ready. [color=6ecff6][b]"Wait.."[/b][/color] Morgan said, eyeing Nimue. [color=6ecff6][b]"A dragon familiar?"[/b][/color] She could hear the loud beats of wings in the distance. [color=6ecff6][b]".. what in Avalon did you do after my death?"[/b][/color] she asked, slightly frantic. [color=6ecff6][b]"Gods, I do hope he will behave, at least?"[/b][/color] she continued, wanting to make sure that everything was okay at least. To that, the queen tightened her grip on her blade, but motioned the guards to stand-by, getting the gist that the dragon may be friendly. However dragons in general was amazingly powerful and extremely rare - the only reason Morgan has even managed was because of Excalibur, back then. [hr] [color=orange][b]"Morgan,"[/b][/color] Nimue said, moving over to the slightly frantic knightess and putting her hands on her shoulders, trying to look Morgan in the eyes and assert a sense of calm to her, even as she herself tried her best to allow the color to return to her already pale face, sincere care for and a genuine attempt to soothe the redheaded knightess shining in her eyes at the same time, [color=orange][b]"It will be ok. He'll be fine here. As long as i'm here he won't try to eat anyone or such. He definitely knows better than that. Though he will likely be grumpy."[/b][/color] [b]Hopefully[/b]. Hopefully Aldebrecht would not eat anyone or such, but she could not say that aloud without perhaps setting the entire area on alert to attack a dragon if he but breathed in their general direction. Which would not end well for the kingdom, rather than ending badly for Aldebrecht. Oh in the name of Vis, she hoped the dragon would be on his best behavior....which at times was not saying much. Of course she could still beat the old lizard after all these years, she guessed, as she was back in her prime and Aldebrecht had been around sitting for heavens knew how many millennia since Nimue's.....first death. In that case it would be like old times....minus keeping the fight away from a town. And in this case, the current queen was here of this land and was likely not equipped to fight a dragon if she guessed right. [color=lightgreen][b]"Wizard, are you alive or is a necromancer playing tricks?"[/b][/color] a great, booming voice said, reverberating through the walls of the castle like an echo chamber for a moment before fading away again. [color=orange][i]'Aldebrecht, please just land outside the castle. I swear to Vis that you are going to startle the people in here with me at this rate!'[/i][/color] Nimue communicated to her familiar, using the mental link she sensed had been reestablished between the two of them. [color=lightgreen][b]"Ah. That same nagging tone as always, Nimue. Fine. I'll land outside the castle, but i can't promise part of the forest won't get a bit squashed in the process,"[/b][/color] the dragon said aloud, too lazy to communicate back through the link and instead speaking aloud again where all could hear, even as the boom of his wings lightly shook the stones of the castle and a great 'thud' shook the very ground itself a bit as he finally landed on the ground. And indeed, he would be squishing at least a few trees in the process. As for people, he had avoided smashing them, though to him it likely wouldn't have mattered if he didn't remember that Nimue could transmute him into a blasted mouse again if he angered her. He had make that mistake a few too many times several millennia ago when he had traveled with her. Nimue sighed, hearing a few small shouts outside as more than a few people likely began to notice a rare dragon, among the already rare species of dragons in general, sitting next to the castle with a perturbed and grumpy look on his face from being interrupted from his nap. Though as much as she sighed and tried to be confident, the color never really returned to her face at all. Indeed, the mage was still an amount nervous after all of this time, but mostly for the reaction of others and fearing that half the area might be burned down if the dragon was tipped over the cliff of emotions and into an actually terrible mood beyond his general grumpiness. [hr] Everyone in the throne room was quiet for a few seconds before Meliadoul spoke up, gesturing to the royal guards. [color=fcdf76][b]"Go outside and calm the people down - let the guards know that the dragon is fine. Fetch Odessa while you're at it. I'll be out in a moment."[/b][/color] The guards ether saluted or simply took off, following their queen's commands without question. Eventually, she put her blade away and looked at Nimue. [color=fcdf76][b]"I trust you.. but please make sure that he is.. civil.."[/b][/color] she replied, hesitantly, as if it was hard to garner the attitude to just accept the presence of a friendly dragon. With a nod, [color=fcdf76][b]"Dame Morgan, Lady Nimue.."[/b][/color] She then started a jog outside the castle herself. Which only left the pair for the moment. Taking in a deep breath, Morgan slowly relaxed and watched Nimue for a few moments. [color=6ecff6][b]".. and you know I trust you as well - with my life. If you say the dragon is friendly and civil, then I have no reason to doubt your word."[/b][/color] At that, she simply smiled, seeming far, far less shaken about it than just about anyone. [color=6ecff6][b]"Perhaps it would be best we speak with your companion though? He obviously went out of his way to see you - as grumpy as he may be."[/b][/color] At that Morgan almost snickered, gesturing for Nimue to lead the way. [hr] [color=orange][b]"It would be more than best to speak with him. He was probably hibernating a lot of the time since my death. Were he to exhaust himself too much, he'd have to feed....and..."[/b][/color] the mage said, slightly skittish in her words for a moment as she continued to try to smile at Morgan, letting the words trail off purposefully to hint to Morgan just how bad that could be if Aldebrecht of all dragons had to actually feed. A giant among dragons, a titan as compared to humans, and immense grumpiness that would make Vis unable to make him smile, but that was Aldebrecht. Able to eat the entire countryside if he was hungry, too lazy to get on Nimue's bad side unless he really got that hungry. And even then he had that hoard of gold of his to snack on if needed. Leading Morgan through the castle, asserting a sense of calm as she noticed the regular people about them either going about their business or scrambling in a slight panic, until they came to the outside of of the queen's stone and well-built domain. However, as they turned the corner and looked upon the new arrival, it was hard not to see it as a rare and terrifying sight of the great and majestic dragon. Standing before them was an immense dragon, at least "immense" as compared to any human, a glowing pattern on its stomach and pieces of gold, jewels, and other treasure encrusted near permanently into his stomach scales. Further, his body all over was coated in great, weighty black scales that would seem to weight a great deal each. A pair of jagged, turned horns lied upon his head, crusty and fearsome looking from sheer age and experience in...goring thing on occasion. Perhaps other dragons that had gotten on his bade side? A pair of fearsome, draconic, ancient eyes were locked into his head, sitting above the great maw that held his array of teeth and could expel the mighty fire of a dragon. Even his sheer size was enough to make a few guard outside, despite their bravest faces, seem as if they were nigh to pooping their pants on the spot. Especially since the dragon sat there with a patient but ultimately grumpy disposition about him. [color=lightgreen][b]"Ah, mage. It is really is you, and not some corpse-puppet necromancer raised. I suppose your sleep was far better than those i've taken in the last 12,000 years?"[/b][/color] the dragon said as he noticed Nimue, his voice booming with an echo bouncing off of the castle walls, not seeming very surprised upon seeing Nimue, though he raised an eyebrow at seeing Morgan as well, [color=lightgreen][b]"Ah, is that the woman you went on and on about back then? The little dragonslayer? Haha. This is quite the sight. But I swear, if you don't tell her you've always wanted to get-"[/b][/color] [color=orange][b]"Aldebrecht! Don't you dare finish that sentence!"[/b][/color] the mage said in a frustrated manner at the dragon's words, her cheeks puffing for a moment as a deep blush came to her face, a glare akin to a thousand blades shooting its way into the great dragon like he was an annoying sibling who tried to tell her secrets out in the blue, though after this the great dragon laughed and left Nimue finally calming down a bit more than before, though to her it seemed he had not changed a single bit in these millennia, [color=orange][b]"By Vis, i never should have divulged that to you back then.... Still, it is good to see you, for what it is worth, you big scaly old lizard."[/b][/color] The dragon scoffed for a moment, as if playfully offended, his grumpiness fading for a moment as the banter seemed to bring up his spirit briefly, before he spake once again in his same voice. [color=lightgreen][b]"Old and scaly is right, little mage. Ah, but hearing you again bring up this old dragon's heart a little. Mind you, this does not make up for your presence waking me again, though at least i don't have to scorch the area to try to kill some necromancer if you had been some shambling corpse right now."[/b][/color] That was another thing Nimue had been worried about. Aldebrecht was not the one to take the hard route to such a problem. Not that he was dumb, but he needed quite a lot of rest for a dragon. And really, he wasn't the oldest among dragon if it had been as long as he had said. Still, mentally gulping and pushing away that former fear, the mage let out a sigh of relief before a small smile donned her face whilst Aldebrecht went back to his grumpy appearance and expression once more. Not that he wasn't happy, but the was probably very tired right now. [color=orange][b]"You're lucky i didn't catch you doing such a thing, or else it'd turn you into a mouse. Still, you've earned your rest after all we went through, so don't think i'll be calling on you at all unless i seriously, truly need it,"[/b][/color] Nimue continued, speaking before looking to her side, remembering Morgan was there again as well before gesturing to the redhead next to her. Nostalgia was truly a distracting thing sometimes, [color=orange][b]"Ah, but you already noticed Morgan. Aldebrecht, this is Morgan. Morgan, this is Aldebrecht...who was my traveling companion for a time in the past."[/b][/color] [hr] While even the queen seemed slightly shaken by the massive building-like creature that was Aldebrecht, Morgan seemed nearly unphased by the creature's presence. However she did raise her eyebrow at the title, 'little dragonslayer.' The only thing she could do is mentally smirk - oh, how little did he know of her prowess, especially with her time spent in Avalon. If nothing else, her causally fearless expression would do enough to likely pique the dragon's curiosity, even if it was silently given. Though she was unsure of the embarrassment that Nimue gave way to, wondering what it was that Nimue wanted to get. 'Strange,' she thought quietly. None-the-less, the two bantered a bit before she was finally introduced. Normally Morgan would have felt it polite to bow or some other similar gesture, but in this case, she felt it might make a bigger impression if she stood her ground. [color=6ecff6][b]"Well met,"[/b][/color] she said, standing, no fear in her eyes. [color=6ecff6][b]"It is a pleasure,"[/b][/color] was all she could think of adding. After all, she did not know the dragon, but he seemed civil enough, if cranky from lack of apparent sleep. In the meanwhile, Meliadoul stood, watching the exchange before trying to reassure her men that it was okay - that if Morgan seemed comfortable - then things were likely not as dire as it might seem. Though she even thought it was quite the scare to see such a large dragon, never mind a dragon at all! Regardless, before long a woman with short, brown hair came marching outside. She seemed on edge, thanks to Nimue's companion, but otherwise was collected much like the queen. She wore light plate, though it looked custom made and master crafted, with dual shorts swords on her hips. Speaking softly to the queen for a few moments, she simply bowed her head and wandered off. The queen stood to the side, looking as if wanting to speak to the pair, but being polite and not interrupting their conversation with Aldebrecht. [hr] [color=lightgreen][b]"Ah, the pleasure is mine as well, i suppose,"[/b][/color] the dragon said, giving an audible chuckle before continuing on, amused by the redhead's silent fearlessness and standing her ground, [color=lightgreen][b]"Truly if i wanted a fight you would seem to give a good challenge in the process. It has been a long time since i saw someone stand there like that before me."[/b][/color] Afterwards, the dragon seemed to slightly...was he shrugging for a moment there? [color=lightgreen][b]"Still, after all these years i'm still very much due for a nap, and i'm very keen now to get back to my lair of all things. Unless the entire countryside is willing to become my next meal if i stay up too much. Of course, no one should think that they would be following me back home either. I could do for a lovely warm snack in that case,"[/b][/color] the dragon said, a slight grumpiness easily leaking into his words amidst his casually speaking, like this as if it was nothing special to him but also was a very real threat to any possible treasure-seekers who might want to follow him back to his home. Truly, he had seen a lot in his thousands of years of being alive by this point in time, including the occasional idiot trying to take his things. In that case, eating them alive was rather enjoyable to his palette, [color=lightgreen][b]"But whatever deity decided to bring you both back, just try not to waste it too soon. I've seen how brief you little humans tend to live, short of transmuting yourselves like the little mage there did to extend her own life by a great deal before."[/b][/color] [color=lightgreen][b]"So with that, i suppose, i will be off."[/b][/color] Giving a great heave of his wings, sending great gusts of wind that bouced off of the sides of the castle walls, and perhaps cracked or broke a few smaller windows in the process, Aldebrecht's immense form began to move off of the ground with each beating of his great wingspan that was surprising even for a dragon. Bit by bit he would move himself off of the ground, until in the air once more he began to fly back towards his lair of treasures. Much to the likely relief of the queen and others, this direction would take him far from the castle itself, in the opposite direction actually. But all the same, Nimue felt glad for the dragon's sudden departure as well, fitting after the things he had said and the like. Dragons could sleep for a long time, and his boast of eating the entire countryside was no false thing either. That was literally what she had stopped him from doing all those millennia ago, as he had been in the middle of a feeding when she had run into him first. Turning to Morgan, and noting the queen's seeming appearance of wanting to speak to them, the mage calmly noted the situation before speaking once more. [color=orange][b]"Ah...well, that was Aldebrecht for you,"[/b][/color] Nimue said, her tone and appearance becoming calmer as the dragon grew ever distant to them, addressing Morgan directly though indirectly being able to be heard by the queen near them as well, [color=orange][b]"Still, Morgan, i think the queen might want to speak to us. At least...since Aldebrecht is finally gone."[/b][/color]