The Curse of the Dragon (R for language)
Characters Eric
Prompt Deathfic #12 Fate
Word Count 717
Summary Eric makes one teeny-weeny mistake and things end up very, very different!
A/N
Set after the episode Tardos Keep. And Ive messed with the
potential timeline of the episodes slightly and the characters. Not
only that, but this stops at a cliffhanger deliberately :)
A/N II - This is another idea I'd like to come back to at some point.
= = =
The Curse of the Dragon
Hank! Hank, wake up!
The Ranger gave a low groan. He was tired, he didnt want to wake up. He had absolutely no interest in being awake, not even if the world was ending. His body was telling him hed only had a couple of hours sleep, and after such a long, hectic, difficult day, he needed as much rest as he could get.
They had been welcomed back to Tardos Keep with open arms, and they had celebrated long into the night. Though the city was virtually deserted, the few there were left still knew how to have a good time. He was going to have a headache well into next week.
Wake up! The voice was just a hushed whisper, but full of urgency. Cmon!
Go a-way Hank slurred.
But his protests were ignored. Instead, someone grabbed his shoulder and shook him.
Wake up!! For fucks sake Hank WAKE UP! he hissed.
He knew that voice. That damned Cavalier!
Go away Eric!
Hank its important! There was an edge of desperation in his tone that Hank didnt like, and he didnt like it more than he liked to stay asleep. He half opened his eyes, letting a thin chink of light though.
The
Cavalier was crouched down beside him, and the look on his face jerked
Hank completely awake in an instant. The boy looked terrified, and not
the usual pretend-terrified-so-I-can-get-out-of-wo
What the hecks going on? demanded Hank. He instinctively looked to the others, who were lying, still sleeping in the same room.
Ive Eric didnt seem to be able to talk any more and there was a few moments of frosty silence as Hank glared at the Cavalier. The glare seemed to work.
Look, Hank, youve gotta help me. Please. I didnt know what was going on.
Calm down! Whats happened?
I couldnt sleep, Eric began, after a deep breath. I went to have a look around, that was all and
And
There was this girl hanging around too. Blonde, pretty you know.
Hank put his head in his hands. A girl? Hed been woken up of advice about a girl! That was just typical Eric!
Just be yourself and
No, interrupted the Cavalier shortly. Dont be stupid! I dont need that kind of help! Its much worse than that! Much much worse.
Hank scowled at the other boy, knowing that he was making a fuss about nothing, yet again. How often had they been though exactly the same thing?
Well ? he demanded. Amaze me!
Eric seemed to miss the sarcasm completely and leaned forward to talk in earnest.
I needed some food, and I went to have a look around. I wasnt prying or anything like that. Someone else was around and I figured she was someone from the Keep too. I mean, why shouldnt she be. There was no reason why she shouldnt be. And we chatted. It wasnt anything much. But she was interested in what happened with Venger. She asked about it. She asked about the Dragonbane and I told her. There didnt seem any reason to. She was here, in Tardos, and I just talked to her. I didnt know what was gonna happen, Hank. Youve gotta believe me! I didnt know what was going to happen!
Hank frowned. He didnt really understand what Eric was so worked up about. Anyone who was still in this city was bound to know about the Dragonbane. What was his problem?
Eric, either tell me what you did or let me go back to sleep!
The Cavalier took another deep breath, and held out his right hand. On it was a raw, red mark, like a burn, in the shape of a curvy X. His voice was low and shaking as he spoke.
I told her where it was. She took some and I tried to stop her. I followed. I followed her out to the plains, where she was. I didnt know she was there. I tried to take the Dragonbane back, but Eric stopped talking with a jolt. Far away there was a long, low rumble.
Fear swelled through Hank.
Eric, what have you done?
Ive killed Tiamat, he replied.