Bellezath's Flight

Thirza stood nervously chewing her lip. Her stomach was tying itself into knots and she felt all the blood leaving her head. She looked at herself in the mirror of her weyr and took a deep breath. I'm a nervous wreck! she thought as she looked at the reflection of herself.

C'mon! Bellezath urged her rider with her mind.

Thirza sighed as she left the weyr. Bellezath on the other hand is ecstatic.

Why shouldn't I be rider-mine? I'm flying. The gold was more than ready to rise.

Thirza followed her lifemate to the feeding grounds. You know the best dragon will catch you. Who will get me?

Bellezath smiled at her rider. Trust me. The queen looked at her possible mates. Their bronze hides sparkled in the sun. Only one brown was even trying for her. She smiled smugly to herself.

Thirza sighed and waited nervously, looking over the male riders. She didn't recognize one of them. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of familiar brown. "Amorth?" She turned to look for the dragon again, but Bellezath cut her off. The queen dove for the herd of goats like a thing possessed.

"Bellezath!" Thirza ordered, remembering what she was supposed to do. "Blood it! Blood it!"

The queen roared, but did as her rider told her to. Thirza sighed in relief when Bellezath obeyed. The queen was almost out of control. The breath was completely knocked from her body, however, when Bellezath's emotions made there way to her rider. The feelings hit Thirza like a brick wall and she stumbled back a few paces. She watched her queen as she started to shine.

"Bellezath." She murmured quietly as her dragon leapt to the sky. "You look like a sun..."

* * *

Bellezath roared from the clouds and dared the males to try anc catch her. The bronzes all rose to the air along with the single brown. The bronzes bullied and pushed their brown cousin, quickly outdistancing him. They were fast and soon caught up to the golden dragon. She screamed at them and quickly dove then rose up above all of them. All of the bronzes followed her, but one. He didn't pull up from the dive in time and crashed to the ground. He was unhurt, but refused to return to the skies. Bellezath laughed. She flew tauntingly before the bronzes, letting them get close, but never touch her. The single brown hung back, reluctant to race beside the bigger bronzes. Bellezath screeched at him, ordering him to chase her, demanding his respect. He scoffed at her. She ignored him. Something in the back of her mind told her that she knew that brown, but in her crazed state she couldn't place him. She roared at him again and snorted. If he's giving up already, he doesn't matter.

Bellezath spun in the air, throwing off a bronze who'd attempted to grab her. She snapped violently at him and pulled past her chasers. You will not catch me! Bellezath screamed at all who could hear her.

Thirza covered her ears with her hands. She felt faint. Bellezath's emotions were pounding through her. It was almost unbearable. She stumbled and almost fell. Strong arms caught her. She looked up, dazed. "R'nan....." She breathed leaning against the rider. "How?"

He smiled. "Amorth's in the air." He quickly turned his attention back to the dragons. Thirza looked at him.

Only two bronzes, plus the brown Amorth, were still in the air. Bellezath was tiring and the bronzes were exhausted. Bellezath screeched at them, demanding that they keep going. One of the bronzes dropped from the sky. Bellezath laughed. The last bronze lunged at her. She dodged left, but the bronze was faster. It grabbed a hold of her and held her...

He grabbed a hold of Thirza and held her. The bronze rider kissed her, forcing his tongue inside Thirza's mouth. No! She screamed mentally. Bellezath, not him!

Bellezath roared her indignity. She struggled, but could not escape. Suddenly the bronze was pulled off her. Amorth dug his claws deep into the bronze and bit his neck. Bellezath quickly pulled away from the tow and flew fast. That was too close!

R'nan sucked on his bruised knuckles. "Ow." he muttered. Thirza smiled. The large bronze rider was unconscious. He never even knew what hit him.

Bellezath spun and twirled, but she was tired. Amorth was catching up. She spun and he grabbed her tail. She fought momentarily, but quickly gave up. He was the one for her, for Thirza. The gold and brown dragons spun in the air.

R'nan picked Thirza up and kissed her gently. She smiled. He carried her back to his weyr. She rested her head against his chest. "I didn't think you'd come."

He kissed her forehead and laid her on his bed. "Have I ever let you down?"

"No," Thirza murmured, feeling Bellezath's ecstasy. "But there's a first time for everything."

R'nan grinned at her grabbing her and holding her tight. He kissed her long and hard, Amorth's pleasure filling him. "You're right there."