A New Birth

"A New Birth"

By Carol Ann Keefer

                          The Inn was busy as the villagers filtered throughout the room, Isabelle, with her basket, stopped by every table hoping to sell at least one or two apples. Betsy, the bar maiden shooed her away from the patrons so that they were not bothered by this waif, ignored, Isabelle stumbles pass a group of unsavory characters, one catches her just before, Isabelle landed on the floor. 

             "What's this?" Exclaimed an older man, showing the others Isabelle's palm

             "Look!" Shouted someone else, pointing to the symbol tattoo right in the middle.

             "Child, where did you get this?" Betsy asked

Fear welled up, pulling back her hand; "I, um, I don't know," Isabelle stuttered. 

             "She's a witch!" Someone scream

             "Kill her!" Commented an older woman.

Terror on every side as a group of men surrounded Isabelle, each pulling and pushing her small body until they had subdued her. They were carrying her away to the prison just outside the village, locking her in a small narrow room. Darkness covers her soul, and a sickness crept deep within her, shaking with fear she sat in a ball, knees tightly against her chest. Horrible odors lingered throughout her cell as she waited for what appears to be an end to her life. 

             Then a voice, a small unattached voice called her by name, "Isabelle" echo's in the darkness that surrounded her body. "Yes," Isabelle squeak barely upon a whisper. "Isabelle?" the voice called out again, except this time, closer to her left ear.  Terror gripped her heart, such as she had never known in all of her young life.  

             "Isabelle" the voice sounded right next to her, she can feel a presence of someone touching her shoulder, afraid to move she sat still, labor breathes. "It's okay," the voice assured her, "It's okay; I'm here to get you out of this prison.," a warm, soft hand grab Isabella's arm, pulling her up, taking her through a small hole in the back of the room, leading her down a tunnel.  

             "Ouch!" Isabelle scream, stumbling over roots and rocks, being dragged through the tunnel by an unnamed soul. "Quiet!" The voice shouted, "Or else someone may hear ya." Yanking on her arm, pulling her further down the tunnel, until all hope of escaping disappearing in the darkness.  Isabella, trying to twist her arm free from the person's grip, to no avail, in one last-ditch effort, she stumbles to the fact that she is trapped.  No longer is she resisting being taken deep dark tunnel by her capture. If it weren't for the person holding onto her arm, she would be unsure of which way to go through the tunnel.

             "Ouch!, watch it", the voice angrily said, Isabella came to a sudden stop right into the person; "Sorry" Isabelle quietly said.

             "Hush !" the person said, "They'll hear ya." Pulling her closer, Isabella was able to make out that whoever this person is, they aren't any taller than she is, barley five feet tall. Again they are on the move, Isabelle squinting her eyes, adjusting to the darkness that's surrounding them.  

             "Use you' ens eyes." the person demanded.

             "What?"

             “I'm saying, use your eyes." the person repeated, pulling Isabella closer, that she was able to feel the person's warm breath.  “I don’t know what you mean,” pushing herself away from him.  “I say use you’ ens eyes to see.” Isabelle did not understand what this man was saying about using her eyes; it was pitch black, no matter how hard she tried, Isabelle could not see. He mumbles words that she had never heard before; then suddenly like magic, her eyes started burning, red hot, a flash of lighting, she was able to see. The room became clear, bright, and there before she stood a small round man, a dwarf, she supposes, long black beard, hand on his halt that his ax was resting.  Board was his shoulders, fierce almond eyes burrowing deep within her soul.

             “So, now you’ ens see?”

             “Yes, I can see you.”, Isabelle’s eyes were downcast, fear, grip her heart; for now, she was able to see her captor. Never before had she seen a dwarf before; they were mystical creatures, stories of long ago to frighten children.  “And?”  “I don’t know.” Isabelle stuttered, not sure of what to do, whether to break free and run or relinquish herself to this dwarf. 

             “My name is Quinns.,” as he continued, “ Quinns, the dragon slayer,” he proudly said.

                            “I’m Isabelle, of course, you already know my name,” Isabella continued, “Though I don’t know how you know me. I have never seen you before, Mr. Quinns.”

             “Never mind that, now, for we still have a long way to go before the,” glancing around, “the transformation happens.” Bewildered, by his statement, she starts to ask- holding up his hand to stop her from saying anything. With her new eyesight, it made it easier to follow Mr. Quinns, the tunnel twist and turn until it reaches wooden steps, taking a deep breath, Isabella muttered “Humans,” with disdain voice. “Yes, humans, now quiet,” nimble up the steps with Isabelle close at his heels. 

             Through the trap door, the candlelight descends, casting an eerie glow to those standing in the cottage. Immediately, the dwarf pulls up Isabelle in a room of four humans and two older men, one middle age, and the last, a mere child. They stood there watching Isabelle with suspicion sensing their fear, Isabelle makes a hissing noise, jumping back in surprise; “I’m sorry,” casting her eyes downward. Holding up his hand, hushing the mummers in the room before he spoke, “This is Isabelle, the one to bring back balance.” Every one of them looked at awe towards Isabelle, causing her discomfort, shying away behind Quinns as he went on to say that they must reach an island, far away from here, before the transformation takes place.

             Finding a chair off towards the side, Isabella sits down, wrapping her arms around her, wanting to disappear into thin air, as Quinns and the two older men whisper off in the corner. Hush voices raise and soften as tension grew, the younger boy slowly approaches Isabelle’s chair.  Within inches from her, he looks into her eyes, and he innocently asks, “Why you’ ens eyes are yellow?”  Isabella replied, “They are not yellow; they are blue, like the sky.” Shaking his head, “no.”, he went on to say, “No, they are yellow.”

             “Excuse, me” Isabelle interrupting them and asked, “Are my eyes yellow?” Quinns stopped long enough and said, “Yes, they are yellow. Now go back to where you were while we discuss how to get you out of here.” “What did you do to me?” Taking her by the shoulders, he said, “I didn’t do anything to you’ ens, I simply speeded up you’ en’s transformation, that’s all.” Shooing her away like a spoiled child, a dismay to what he said the word transformation, she sunk back to the chair, fear gripped her tight, refusing to let go. 

             With provisions, they continued on their way under cover of darkness to the harbor, boarding a ship waiting to take them to the faraway Island. Not so a simple task, especially since the whole village had discovered, Isabella missing from her cell. Nevertheless, it was a task that Quinns was assigned too, however, not the one of his choosing. Still, he made for such a job, and for that reason alone, he will see it to competition, with his trusty ax, a sharpened blade tucked underneath his cloak, he was ready to face whatever came their way. Isabella, on the other hand, was changed, not by her doing but another. Reluctantly, she followed every instruction Quinns told her, down to covering up with a borrow, smelly, cloak, the one the older man was wearing.  

             Her palm was burning, an incurable sensation, one she had never experienced before, now, it glows, deep red hot, Quinns wraps a cool cloth around her hand.  Temporary, her pain subsided, causing her to question the dwarf’s motive behind his helping her to escape her original captors. What now feels like it was a hundred years ago, in reality, was the only night that past.  Darwin, the younger man, accompanies these two strange creatures, he is smooth skin, lanky, however, carries himself with confidence.  Isabella finds him attractive, and she is grateful to have someone else, besides, this dwarf, to keep her company.  Time is of the essence, Quinns kept on reminding them, with a stern glare, he keeps a vigilant eye out for anyone suspicious along the way towards the harbor.

             Against the moonlit sky was a silhouette of a tall three-mast ship just beyond the last dock in the harbor, pointing out the ship, Darwin, motions them to follow him just down the path on the other side of the road. Quick as a mouse, they follow him, staying close as possible, determined not to get caught. What seems like time was moving in slow motion, they arrived at the ship, just in time to board before it set sail in the murky waters below.  Safely below deck in a room pass the crewmen, huddling together, Darwin excuses himself and says, “Remember, to remain quiet; otherwise, we are all in danger.” He slips out, securing the door behind him, finding the ship’s captain he reports for duty.  Time is of the essence, and speed is necessary to make it to the Island in time before the transformation takes place. 

             Huddled together in this small room, Isabella, in desperation, wanted to ask the dwarf questions; however, fear is what kept their speech no more than a whisper. Cramp, together with only a small mattress on the floor, sitting down, for the first time Quinns, doubted his calling, as It were, for this task. Isabella, find herself wondering how all this had happened, and who or what is she?” So many things are unclear, like looking through a distorted mirror and only seeing half of the image. Her own life was full of mystery, from the abandonment of her parents to living on the streets and going from one house to another looking for food to eat, a warm bed for the night. 

             Quinns, himself, being somewhat an outcast, going from job to job, always looking for a place to call his own, now one more job to do before he can end all of this and settled down, somewhere, he won’t be recognized.  Regardless, this is his fate, like so many others of his kind, criticized for who they are, given jobs that no human would take, now, faced with a danger that waits for them on this Island.

Prophecy of balance, and it was up to him to see that it takes place, no matter the cost. Here he is with Isabella, the one foretold, and the one who doesn’t know that destiny awaits her on the Island. Both had succumbed to this one thing, drawn together from before the creation. 

             Days turn into weeks being toss on this endless seas, only escape from this cursive hole of a room was in the wee hours of the mornings, when all of the crew are sound asleep. Relieve for such times, and Isabella finds herself lost in the stories that Quinns and Darwin recite, fascinated as they are, she still doubts that she is the one to bring balance between peoples. With the nearing of the Island, just off the port bow, Isabella, and Quinns make for their room one last time before shredding from their prison.

             “Land Ho!” shouted one of the crew from atop the crow's nest. With the Captian, ships crew, excitedly watch the land come into view, Darwin secretly makes his way to the room that hides the stowaways—launching the longboat, ships crew on board along with Darwin, row to the shore.  Time-lapse and without finding much on their first trip, the ship’s crew rows back to the boat. 

             In the early morning, three companions push off towards the Island. Through the thickly overgrown forest, they find shelter. Quinns, giving heed, not to build a fire, as much as they desperately wanted to keep warm, they followed his advice. Sunlight filtering through the forest, giving aid to their surroundings, as Quinns leads them further up the mountains, unsure of what to expect, Isabella and Darwin relented to his will.

             Safety was Quinn's main focus, especially for Isabella’s transformation into the creature that she was designated to be, a dragon. He had prepared for this day, and now, all his long hard work will finally materialize, a balance between all peoples. Quinns lead them to a cave, tucked away beside a cascading waterfall. A magical aura sending chills down Isabella’s spin, the wonder of the riches of long-forgotten days of old laying about scattered, tossed aside like rubbish.

             “Well, here we are.” Quinns proudly announces to his companions.

                            “So, where is here, exactly?” Isabella nervously asked

             “This, my dear child, is where you will transform into the creature that you are born to be.” Quinns, pointing towards the massive throne made of gold inlay with precious jewels.

             “A dragon?” – “Yes, a dragon.” Quinns quickly said

                            “Are you sure?” - “Yes,” pointing towards a room off the left. Cautionary, Isabella, glancing from Quinns to Darwin, frighten with the possibilities of what will or can happen, she hesitated, only for a minute, then she resided herself to this pending doom awaiting her. Dash is the hope of marriage, having children, and growing old with her husband, if she had one, at least. Darwin silently takes his leave and waits for his instructions from Quinns, as to what his duties will be once; Isabella is re-born into a dragon. Quinns is here to oversee the chosen ones' complete transform and to give aid with instructions such as the duties concerning ruling all of the lands.  His is a noble cause, one that Quinns never took lightly, nor shrink from his life's purpose. 

             “Darwin, come here, lad.” Quinns called, immediately he came over, examining his palm, he asks.”Where are you’ en mark?”

                            “I, um, don’t have one.” - “What do you’ en’s mean, don’t have one?”

             “It was me’s father who had the mark. ”

                            “Why did you’ ens come?” – “I came because my father is old.”

             “Boy, now listen to what I’s gone to say,” Quinns continued, “ Spend time alone with Isabella.”

                            “Why?” - “Cause, you’ en’s are called to be one with her”

             “But she”—“Not until the moon rises. Now go”

             Evening came, and Darwin emerged from the room as Quinns rises and greeted him with a hearty handshake, examining his palm for any mark. Both he and Isabella’s tattoo match, bonding them as one. A new awareness sweep over Darwin, a feeling he wasn’t able to comprehend or explain, a sensation of both wonder and delight.  Now they waited until the moon rises to meet the dragon as she emerges from her chambers. 

             Isabella’s body burned with a red hot flame; pain traveled to every nerve ending, sweat pour, and drenched her whole being, like a caterpillar metamorphosis into a butterfly, Isabella transformed into a dragon.  Wings open her scales the color of red, hard like iron, razor-sharp teeth and claws, she burst through the doors showing both her Majesty and power.  Fear and awe-filled their hearts as Isabella tower over them

             “Your Majesty,” they said in unison, bowing down low. Signaling with a nod, she tries to speak; words did not come only low growls.   Raising his hand, Quinns spoke, “You’ens, Majesty, you’ en only need to do is to think words, and Darwin will translate what you say.” She nods, and in her thoughts, forming clear and bright words appeared; “Darwin, can you hear me?” - “Yes, Isabella, I can hear you, my love.” “Good, you and I are one?” – “Yes”

             Isabella gazing over towards Quinns, and said: “Darwin, ask this dragon slayer; what does he plan to do now?” Clearing his throat, Darwin asks, “ Mr. Quinns, Isabella wants to know what you are gone to do?” - “Call him, dragon slayer!”- “Dragonslayer.”

             “I’s is a dragon keeper, not slayer,” Quinns firmly said, taking a few steps back from where Isabella stood. She intently gazes deep within the dwarf’s brown eyes, causing him pain, for a dragon, can look into the soul and see the truth.  Satisfied with what she saw, she relented her gaze and returned her attention to Darwin, sensing that there was something different with him Isabella inquires of him: “What about you?”—“I am yours completely.”

             “Dwarf, will I ever return human?”

           “Quinns, Isabella, whats to know? Will she ever turn back to a human?”

              “Yes”

The End