To Find a Rider (Chapter - 5)

The wind howled angrily as it passed over the downed and unconscious dragons and their human companions, whipping the cold snow across their freezing
backs. The temperature lowered to an unbearable point for light-clothed human lives to reach the critical point, one in which they can die at anytime. But
their bodies betrayed them as it refused to let them awake and seek a warm shelter. Thankfully, the positions in which the five dragons landed allowed
their wings to cover their freezing partners, giving them slight warmth. Astarot also held a wing protectively over his younger brother out of an
over-protective instinct, and Shruikan laid a wing over the both of them, out of his fatherly instinct. It seems that they are doomed should they not
receive help soon, all they can do now is dream of better times…and that is exactly what they all did. Except Shruikan, who was trapped in his mind…forced
to relive that horrid day…the day he lost his rider, Akarli.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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(Shruikan’s dream)
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The large dragon could see himself flying high in the sky on a beautiful day. There were a few large, cotton-like clouds in the sky but they did not deter
the large dragon from flying with his rider. Now, he could see himself and his rider flying near the shore, his heart pounded hard in his armored chest
when he recognized the shore as being the one that he left his rider decades ago. It hurt him more when the image of himself and his rider passed over the
shore, not even thinking of what could happen, and flew over the calm waters of the ocean.

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This is amazing,

the young Akarli said within the image of Shruikan’s and the real one’s head.

I have not seen this ocean for years, ever since my mother brought me over the waters back then from a land far away.

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The image of the great dragon slowed as he finally passed the shoreline and is now flying over the sea, using the natural wind to help propel him forward
as the sun shined across his back and glittered all over the crystal clear water around him, showing its true brilliance.


Speaking of which, when are you going to tell me this story? I have longed to hear it for a while now,

the great dragon asked.
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Akarli gave the back of the dragon’s neck a long and perplexing stare,

But I have already told you the story many times already.

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Yes, but you have always told me the story while I was eating, how can I eat and listen at the same time?

The great dragon asked with a smile forming on his scaly lips.
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The same way that you eat and drool at the same time,

Akarli said as she smirked.
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Shruikan’s image let out a hearty draconic laugh as he did a barrel roll while Akarli hung on. The real Shruikan was shocked at how different his younger
image’s voice sounded. It sounded more juvenile, more confident with not a hint of fear in his voice. But now, the older, real Shruikan has a much older
and wiser voice, one filled with determination yet anger at the world. It held sadness and fear of his past life after Akarli had fallen.

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The image of the dragon in his dream flew on, farther into the ocean at a lazy pace to enjoy the scenery and to enjoy the company of his rider upon his
back. This gave him the opportunity to stretch out his wing muscles after being on the ground and doing nothing for so long. They did not really do much
together because there was nothing that really needed to be done at all. There were no wars, no help was needed, and there were no duties that the pair had
to do at all. They were currently northwest of the country of Alagaёsia. Akarli used to live with her mother and Shruikan in the small town of Hedarth that
was situated between the Edda and the Ragni Rivers in the East. They decided to just travel together and be alone with each other, that’s when Akarli
brought up the fact that she had not seen the ocean in years, to which Shruikan replies,


Well, what are we waiting for.

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It took a few weeks but eventually they did make it the ocean in the west of the country. The real Shruikan smiled at seeing his dream image enjoying
spending time with his rider.

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You know,

Akarli began as she looked upon the waters below.

I remember a song that my mother use to sing to me when I was but a child, it was a lullaby that she used to sing to me just to get me to sleep. When I
asked her where she got it from, she said that it just came naturally to her as we were crossing this very sea right here. She said that there was a sudden
storm that surrounded our ship; it was so bad that the waves reached over the ship! I had begun crying from the thunder and lightning and from the
sickening motion of the boat. I was only a couple of months old at the time. It had such a beautiful melody to it, and the words just flowed like silk
weaving across each other, turning into something beautiful.

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Shruikan was moved by the way she described the song.

Will you sing it?

he asked.
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Oh, heavens no, I don’t have the voice,

she answered.

But, I still remember all of the words and I hope to sing it to my children in the future. It has been years since the last time my mother sang it.

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Shruikan nodded,

What was it called? What was it about?

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Oh you would have to hear it to know what it is about, as for what it is called, it was the

Land of Our Dreams.

A fitting title for the occasion since we were heading to a new home after our old one was ravaged by...well…I don’t know what happened. My mother would
refuse to tell me, she only said that there was a great monster that was ruining the land.

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The great dragon puffed out his chest,

Had I met this “monster” I would bring him down with one claw tied behind my back. No one and I mean no one is ever going to lay a finger or claw on you.

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Akarli smiled as she lied down upon her dragon’s back,

Thanks Shruiky, I can always count on you, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I feel that I am in good hands…

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…Claws,

Shruikan corrected with a smirk.

And for the record, you are the only one who is allowed to call me Shruiky. He smiled.

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Akarli laughed.

I feel that I am in good claws whenever I am with you, knowing that you will always be there to protect me, to push me forward…to catch me.

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The real Shruikan cringed when he heard the last three words. He remembered having this conversation with his rider all those years ago. However, back
then, he did not realize that he would be put to the test…a test in which he failed. Now he shut his eyes, knowing what would happen next. Wondering why
fate was so cruel as to force him to witness this again. But alas, his eyes were forced open by the cruel fate, forcing him to watch the next event take
place.

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Unbeknownst to the image of Shruikan, he had flown out several miles past the shoreline over the ocean while Akarli lied down upon his back just enjoying
the sun’s warmth. That is, until she felt a slight wind which caused her to sit back up and look around. She looked to her right and noticed some dark
clouds approaching them.


Erm, Shruikan? Perhaps we should turn around now, it seems as though a storm is approaching.

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The great dragon looked to the right as well upon the dark clouds and replied,

Nonsense, those clouds will never reach us. If it does start to storm then I can just come back and land safe and sound.

But he didn’t realize how far away from the shoreline he really was.
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The real Shruikan cursed himself of his own ignorance to his surroundings.

How could I be so stupid?

he thought to himself. He looked on…
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Akarli seemed a little skeptical but decided to let it be and she lied back down again and attempted to fell asleep. That was when Shruikan hit a little
bit of turbulence.


Odd,

the image thought as he looked back to the storm and noticed that it was coming closer, only about a mile away now,

Perhaps…nah, we’ll be okay.

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Turn around,

the real Shruikan thought.

Please, just turn around.

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But the image did not hear him as he flew on. He looked to his right again and noticed that it was now only a half mile away and now the wind is beginning
to pick up, adding to the turbulence.


What the…,

he thought.

There’s no possible way that a storm can come that fast!

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The real Shruikan knew that there was, this was common nature of storms, especially during the spring. The winds aloft can easily push a storm quickly over
land.

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The image figured that it was time that he turned around and he did, but by the time that he did the storm was already right on top of him. Damn it, he
thought as he began picking up his speed as the winds continued buffeting him around in the air and the rain began pounding at his back, awaking Akarli who
noticed the storm and clung tightly to Sruikan’s back as he raced back to the shoreline. It was very difficult for him to do so as he continuously used his
tail for minute changes to keep him on a straight track for the shores and he would always flap his wings hard as the downdrafts pushed him down towards
the ground. The rain was pounding at his face so hard that he had to close his eyes for a while to protect them and reopen them to make sure that he was
heading in the right direction. Then suddenly a wind caught one of his wings which tilted him dangerously to the side and made Akarli lose her grip of his
neck spikes and fall off. She screamed as she fell down towards the ocean. Shruikan immediately brought his wings closer to his body and made a nose dive
down towards his rider, but he was too late for she plunged into the ocean.

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No!


the image thought when he saw her hit the water, but this did not stop him as he continued to drop until he, too, hit the water. Once he was under he held
in his breath and immediately began looking for his rider…but it was too dark. Then suddenly, lightning filled the skies above him which gave him just
enough light to see his rider to his left. He immediately used his tail to propel himself towards her quickly but he was beginning to lose air!


Come on,

he said as he put on an extra burst of speed.

Come on.

He went faster when he noticed that he was almost out of air.

Just…a little…more…Yes!


He caught her in his claws and he immediately began using his wings to flap to ascend through the water until he was on the surface. He took a big gulp of
air and looked up to the stormy skies. Then he looked around him and to his surprise, he noticed a shoreline only a mile away. He knew that he was in no
condition to fly now, he had to swim. He placed Akarli upon his back and then began swimming towards the shoreline while the rain continued to drench him.
More than once he looked on his back to make sure that his rider was still there and had not fallen off. When he finally reached the shore, he placed
Akarli on the sandy ground and began to inspect her.

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Please, be alive,

the real Shruikan said to himself.

Stay there; just stay with her…please.

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The image nudged her with his snout to awaken her, but she would not open her eyes. He placed his ear upon her chest to listen for a heartbeat and was
dismayed when he heard nothing and immediately took his head off of her and shed a tear. But he removed it too quickly, for had he left it there a little
longer, he would have heard a faint but visible heartbeat.

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How,

he thought.

How can I still be alive when my own rider…passed into…the void?


He hung his head in shame, and then he picked it up and raised it to the rain-drenched heavens and let loose a massive roar and a flame to match his great
sadness to honor his rider.


Why must the good die young?

he asked himself. Then he thought,

If my own rider has died but I am still alive then that must mean she,

he hung his head low,

she destroyed the bond. I failed her…so she took me out of our bond…forever.

Then the reality of the situation hit him hard.

I…I killed my own rider,

he noted.

I deceived her and threw her into the ocean, oh what have I done?

He backed away from his rider while shaking his head at the entirety of the situation.

No, no it can’t be true…but it is.

He let a few more tears drop as he shook his head some more.

Good bye, my rider. I…am so sorry. I am not worthy of having such a great friend like you. I…I…,


but he said no more as he raised his wings and left his rider behind out of fear and confusion. But had he stayed just for a moment longer he would have
heard his rider.

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“Shruikan…Shru…where are you?”

she had asked softly as she moaned in pain. She fell back down to the ground.

“I love you…”

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The real Shruikan noticed this and felt his heart about to explode out of the extreme sadness. He was angry at himself for not staying with his rider like
a true rider and dragon should be. Then he heard a voice in his head.


Save me, help me.

Then, he noticed people approaching her from the trees and they bent down around her. One man laid a hand down over her heart.
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“There is still a heartbeat, we can save her,” he told the others and they nodded. He noticed her eyes opening slightly. “My name is Robert, sleep, we are
taking you to our town in the country of Frostloral, just relax. We are going to help you.”

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But that was all Shruikan saw as everything around him began to change.

Save me, help me.

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Now, the scene changes. The shoreline was replaced by a forest. His image can be seen once again, walking between the trees with his head hung low.

What have I done,


he said to himself with his eyes downcast. Then, he heard a twig snap behind him and he immediately turned around to see a man with tattered clothing and a
rider’s sword strapped to his belt.


Who are you?

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“I am but a weary traveler, seeking a companion to accompany me on an adventure. I have recently lost a great friend of mine, one that is irreplaceable. I
am seeking a new friend to help me and gain revenge upon the evil world for hurting my friend. Will you, brave and valiant dragon, take me up on my offer
to give you my companionship and to join me on this quest?” the man asked as he bowed before Shruikan.

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The real Shruikan shook his head.

Please, say no. You do not know what you are getting yourself into.

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The dragon considered this. He began thinking how, perhaps, it was not his fault for killing Akarli. That it was the world that killed her and took her
away from him. He nodded his head.


Fine, but you have not answered my original question, who are you?

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“They call me Galbatorix.”
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Once again, the real Shruikan heard the phrase echo through his mind.

Save me, help me. Save me, help them…

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Them? Who, who am I supposed to help?

But the scene turned black, with only the phrase echoing through his head to remain.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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The great dragon was the first to awaken after his horrible dream. He looked around and noticed that it stopped snowing. He suddenly felt a chill and
looked at his back and saw snow piled on high on top of him. Then he looked under one of his wings and saw the two younger dragons that he was currently
caring for and smiled when he noticed that Astarot placed a wing over his brother to prevent him from freezing to death. He stood up upon his feet and
walked a little bit away from the group.

Where are we?

he asked himself when he took a good look around.

And why did I have that dream? Who am I supposed to help?

These questions continued to fly around in his head. When he took the next step, he heard a large crack. He looked down at his foot wondering what caused
that noise. He lifted his foot up and sure enough, a large crack had formed there with water leaking from beneath the ice.

Water and ice?

Shruikan asked himself. Then, he noticed that the crack suddenly grew as Shruikan placed his full weight in just the right spot. He followed where the
crack was going and noticed that it was heading towards Astarot and Ehecatl.

Odd,

he thought.

Wait a second,

he looked around himself and noticed that all around him was a shoreline off in the distance. Then, he noticed an empty boat that was frozen into the ice,
this only confirmed his suspicions. But he was too late.

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Suddenly, the ice that was supporting Astarot and Ehecatl cracked and gave way, sending the two young dragons plunging beneath the ice. Shruikan’s eyes
opened wide and he began running towards them. Once he arrived at the hole in the ice he looked into the hole, searching for them. Nothing. Then, the
phrase repeated in his head.

Help them…
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He did not stay to think and he immediately plunged into the freezing cold water but not before he took a huge gulp of air. He used his wings and tail to
direct him in the direction that he wanted to go.

Where are they? Aha…there!

And he immediately swam towards the two young dragons. Once he reached them, he grabbed them in his arms and raced towards the hole in the ice, but he was
losing air again, but this time, he can’t surface due to the ice above his head, nor can he breathe fire to make another hole in the ice since he was under
water. Once he almost arrived at the hole, it was too late for he had no more air to give to his body and he was too weak to use his magic to help him
survive…he was doomed. His eyes began clouding over when he began to gently sink beneath the hole. Before his eyes completely blackened, he noticed another
dragon plunge into the icy waters and swim towards him. But this dragon…was white.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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“Amelia, that is not how you properly hold the tea cup,” the mother corrected her daughter. She was having another ‘etiquette lesson’ with her daughter.
She was trying to shape her up into a proper young lady. The baby was asleep in a bed behind the mother.

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Amelia cringed when she heard this. Through gritted teeth, she asked, “Then what

is

the proper way to hold a tea cup, mother?” Her hand holding the cup began shaking as she said this, spilling some of the hot dark liquid inside. She placed
it back on the table.

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The mother sighed as she bent over the table to pour more tea into the cup, then, she placed the tea pot back in the center of the table. “You must hold
the cup with your pinky finger pointing outwards, like so.” She demonstrated this technique. “And why, my dear, are you wearing such atrocious attire to
our little mother-daughter session? Where are the nice skirt and blouse that I bought you the other day?”

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“In the back of the closet with the other stupid, frilly skirts and blouses,” the teenage daughter replied. Then she looked at her clothing, she was
wearing male’s breeches with boots and a plain yellow shirt. “What is wrong with the clothing that I am wearing?”

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“Why, it is dirty, rude, despicable, all-in-all it is not something that a proper woman such as you should be wearing!” the mother exclaimed. “Excuse me
for shouting.”

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“Shouting?! You weren’t shouting! You want to hear what shouting sounds like?! This is shouting! Because I am sick and tired of you trying to turn me into
a frilly girl. Has it ever come to your attention that perhaps I

like

dressing like this? That I like who I am? Admit it; you are just ashamed to be seen around with a daughter like me!” Amelia shouted enough to wake the baby
and cause him to start crying, but the mother stayed rooted to her spot, shocked at her daughter’s outburst.

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“Amelia, I am sorry for upsetting you, I understand…”

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“You understand nothing!” the daughter interrupted. “You don’t know who I am, the things I like!” She stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts. “As
unusual as it may sound, yesterday was the closest I have ever been to you because you actually showed your love by hugging me which was very rare. Little
things like that is all I need but you rarely hug me. Instead, you treat me like an outsider. I just want to talk with you about normal things like a true
mother and daughter. It doesn’t matter what we talk about…it could be about the weather, or,” She thought of another topic. “Or maybe even your childhood.
I want to hear what you were like when you were younger, you have never told me of it. I assumed that it is because you were ashamed of me. Please, if you
really love me, you would tell me.”

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The mother said nothing. The daughter began shedding a few tears. “Please, tell me…”

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But still, nothing came out of her mouth, only the words, “I…I can’t.” That was all the daughter needed for her to sit up from her chair and run from the
table away from her mother. The mother looked down and cringed when she heard her daughter’s bedroom door slam shut. “I can’t, because even I don’t know,”
the mother whispered. She sat up from the table and held her crying son in her arms, attempting to rock him to sleep. There was a knock at the door to
which the mother answered, “Come in.”

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The door opened and in came a familiar man. “Oh Robert, what a surprise. What brings you hear?” she asked.

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The tall man took off his brown hat and held it in his hand over his chest. “Hello Akarli, I just heard some shouting and was just wondering if you are
alright,” he answered.

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“Yes, yes I am alright. It was just a disagreement with Amelia again. I just wish that there was some way for me to get closer to her like mother and
daughter should be.” She began thinking back to her conversation with her daughter. “Robert, she wanted to know about my past.”

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The man sat down on a chair in the room, “Well, did you remember anything of your past?”

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“No, I still remember nothing. However, I have been having dreams lately,” she pondered.

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The man perked up. “Having dreams is one way of recovering after a case of amnesia, what were your dreams about?”

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The woman sat down next to Robert. “There…believe it or not, but I saw…dragons in my dream.

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Robert cocked his head as he thought. “It…does make sense, slightly.”

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“What do you mean?”

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“Akarli,” Robert began. “When we first found you on that beach, you were wet, as if you have just taken a plunge into the ocean during the storm. Around
your body I noticed…footprints. They were quite large and they immediately caught my attention while the others were tending to you. I looked closely at
them and noticed that each footprint had four toes ending in a sharp point. I also noticed a line running between each footprint meaning that whatever
creature made those had a tail. Also, there were loose scales surrounding your body as well.”

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Akarli fingered the object that was resting against her breast on a long golden chain that wrapped around her neck.

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“Yes, Akarli. That scale on your necklace that I gave you for Christmas this past year was one of the black scales I saw. Hopefully, this should trigger
something in your memory and if it does, tell me. I have to leave now, but tell me if anything should happen.” He opened the door and placed his hat back
on his head and stepped outside. “Good bye, madam.” He closed the door and he left.

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Akarli placed the baby back on the bed when he fell back asleep. She stood up and began walking around the room; she went to a window and looked out at the
busy people walking along on the street, pretending that the events of the previous day had not happened. She fingered the single scale on her necklace
again. “What could this dragon possibly have to do with me?” she asked herself. She looked at her right gloved hand and stared at the white glove, as if
she can see right through it. She slowly pulled the glove off, knowing what she would find. When it was completely off and stared at the palm of her hand.
There was a silver mark; she had shown it to Robert a long time ago, he quickly drew in a quick intake of breath. Then he told her to find something to
cover it and never let anybody see her palm. She knew that he knew what the mark was, but he never told her. “Silly, imagine me…with such a large, dirty
creature. Preposterous, impossible, unlikely. But still, what would a dragon be doing with a fragile little lady like me?”

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The baby began crying again and the mother turned around and picked him up again to sooth him. “My big, strong, boy. Mommy loves you…I just hope that you
would love me too. I wish that I can get close to my daughter, for as long as I can remember, we have always been separate, as if we had come from
different worlds. Me from an unknown, fragile lady universe and her from one full of man’s work and dirtiness,” she laughed. Then she began thinking, she
sat down on the bed with the baby in her arms, rocking him to put him back to sleep. However, he wouldn’t sleep, he just stared at her with wide blue eyes,
curious. The mother chuckled. “Oh dear, I don’t suppose you want to sleep anymore, do you?” she asked. “Well, let us change that.” Suddenly, she does not
know where she got it from, but she began to sing a song that she believes she heard from the past, but where?

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“Slumber now my darling one.
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Rest, for now the day is done.
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Mother sings a lullaby;
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"Hush, my darling do not cry.”
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May your sleep be as sweet be as sweet as the wind on the waves
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Blowing gently t’ward far happier days.
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May each breath be a promise to help you believe.
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We’re off to the land of our dreams.
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We’re off to the land of our dreams.
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Sail away, sail away to the arms of the greener lands.
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Sail away, sail away to the land of the free.
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Sail away, sail away to a home for my children.
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Calling to you.
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Calling to me.
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Calling to you and to me.
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Papa waits on a distant shore.
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Soon we’ll be with him once more.
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Moonlight shines on oceans deep,
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As the ship softly rocks you to sleep.
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May your sleep be as sweet be as sweet as the wind on the waves
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Blowing gently t’ward far happier days.
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May each breath be a promise to help you believe.
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We’re off to the land of our dreams.
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We’re off to the land of our dreams.
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Sail away, sail away to the arms of the greener lands.
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Sail away, sail away to the land of the free.
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Sail away, sail away to a home for my children.
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Calling to you.
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Calling to me.
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Calling to you and to me.
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Sail away, sail away to the arms of the greener lands.
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Sail away, sail away to the land of the free.
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Sail away, sail away to a home for my children.
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Calling to you.
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Calling to me.
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Calling to you…………………and to me………………
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Slumber now my darling one………
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We’re off to the land of our dreams…”

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When she finished this song, she looked down at her child and smiled when she saw that his eyes were closed. She stood up and placed him back on the bed.
Then she sat down on the bed next to her child. “It is strange, but I think that my mother sang that to me when I was but a child…I believe that we were on
a boat escaping something and trying to free ourselves. She wanted to give me a better life, I believe.” She sighed, “But this isn’t the land of our dreams
anymore, is it?” she whispered.