#sgaeyl

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There were many things in his life that Xaden Riorson could predict. Having to bear the responsibility of hundreds of children, bonding a powerful dragon, becoming his generation’s shadow wielder. 

But he didn’t quite predict you. 

It started off with morning duty to the Scribe Quadrant during his first year. He took on the duty begrudgingly, but it was better than breakfast duty. While you were always kind and respectful towards everyone who entered the quadrant for tomes, that is not what lured Xaden in. 

It was the way you did not look at him with fear, like every other cadet. Instead, you looked at him with admiration. 

For a moment, Xaden had wondered if perhaps you were from Tyrrendor or in a nearby province, but it seemed you did not understand the language when he greeted you in Tyrrish one morning. 

As for yourself, you could not lie to yourself that Xaden Riorson is a handsome man. Despite his broody and cold exterior, you could tell there were true and genuine qualities apart of him. As you got to know him more, he proved you right.

He was kind to those that earned it.

He had a good sense of humor—sometimes dark, but you didn’t mind. 

While he didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, he still demonstrated in his own way that he did have a heart. 

The way he always spoke highly of the marked ones, especially Garrick and Bodhi, never failed to make your heart melt. 

He always found ways to show his gratitude for your kindness. As such, he began organizing the tomes alphabetically, to save you the trouble. 

It did not take long for Xaden Riorson to catch your heart, but he refused to tell you that you had his from the moment he met you. In his opinion, he had not met anyone like you, man or woman, and he swore he would protect you with his life. 

The other thing he didn’t predict? 

The way Sgaeyl instantly took a liking to you, far before you two became a couple, and would even threaten Xaden if he ever fucked up. 

Even though his dragon is supposed to be on his side. 

At first, Xaden was nervous to introduce you to his dragon, because if Sgaeyl did not approve or tried to attack you, his heart would be split in two. So would his mind. Would he have to protect you or allow his dragon to do what she pleases? 

He didn’t have to make that decision. 

When you met Sgaeyl, you were nervous to say the least. You weren’t dreading the interaction, in fact you were looking forward to it. While your boyfriend didn’t speak much about his dragon, they always seemed like a perfect pair. If you love your boyfriend, why couldn’t you also love his dragon.

You didn’t show an ounce of fear as Sgaeyl’s golden eyes looked down at you. Her blue scales were a beautiful sapphire color, reflecting in the hot sun. Her golden eyes were prettier than golden nuggets themselves, and you were sure she knew it too. 

Xaden held his breath as the interaction unfolded. You, tilting your head in bravery and respect. Sgaeyl, looking down at you as she decides how she feels. Xaden didn’t breathe until Sgaeyl bowed her head, allowing you to place a ginger hand on her snout to caress it. 

He could feel the content and approval through his bond with the blue dragon, until she finally spoke up, “it would be a shame to have to kill my rider if she ever got hurt.”

Xaden’s gaze snapped towards his dragon, “you would seriously choose her over me?”

“Of course,” Sgaeyl replied, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. “She is clearly outstanding if she melted your heart.”

Xaden internally rolled his eyes, purposefully being dramatic with it so his dragon could feel it. She huffs in response down the bond, fed up with his antics. All the while, she is perfectly happy with you itching and petting her snout, while your eyes glitter in amazement and happiness. 

Xaden did not think his dragon was being true to her words. That she would choose you over Xaden. It was not until you two had gotten into a petty argument, in which Xaden was brooding and refusing to cross the threshold to the Scribe quadrant, that he realized the truthfulness in her words.

He approached his dragon, ready to mount her. He wanted to fly to release his energy, not wanting to take his rage out on anyone—especially not you. Except, when he went to climb, his dragon aggressively shook him off of her.

“What the fuck?” Xaden seethes down the bond, his anger getting the better of him.

Golden eyes pin him down as they narrow, “have you apologized to your human?”

Xaden rolls his eyes at her, “no, I will speak to her tomorrow. Now, let’s fly.”

“No.” Sgaeyl stomps her front feet in response, “you are going to apologize to her.”

“You don’t even know what we argued about,” Xaden deadpanned, raising a dark brow at his dragon.

“What I do and do not know doesn’t matter. Until you apologize to her, do not even think about mounting me.” 

“Wouldn’t you rather I approach her with a calm mind than a frustrated one?” Xaden attempts convincing his dragon, but she refuses to budge. He internally groans, understanding instantly that Sgaeyl had taken your side. 

It almost makes his envious of the way Sgaeyl instantly became bonded and attached to you. She is his dragon for gods sake, shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t she be taking his side in every argument. 

Apparently not. 

The envy dissipates as quickly as it forms, understanding quickly how maternal his dragon truly is. While he has always bathed in that love from her, he would have to learn to share with you. But because it was you, he didn’t mind.

Later that night, he snuck into the Scribe Quadrant, shocking you at his appearance. You were happy to see him, even happier to hear him apologize for the argument you two had. You had even apologized yourself, and the silly argument faded into nothing the moment he showed up. 

“You know,” Xaden mutters between you to, “Sgaeyl threatened me today.”

You turn towards him on your bed, “what do you mean she threatened you?” 

He lets out a sound between a scoff and a chuckle, “she told me I am not allowed to ride her until we worked through our differences.”

You giggle, taken aback by her actions, “she took my side?”

Your boyfriend places a gentle kiss on the crown of your head, “she once told me she would choose you over me.” 

You didn’t respond at that, but his words caused warmth to bloom in your chest. Knowing his dragon not only liked you—but is protective of you in the same way she’s protective of Xaden, was everything to you. While you believed there wouldn't be a moment where you needed her protection, you could tell. 

There were times you had caught a familiar blue dragon soaring over the archway between Scribe and Rider as you crossed to deliver some tomes. You pretended you didn’t notice, but Sgaeyl did not rest until you were safely back in your quadrant, quickly flying back to the Vale. 

When it was time for you to join Xaden and the other cadets in Aretia, it was Sgaeyl who came for you. Originally, you had planned with your boyfriend to meet him a few villages outside of Basgiath. Imagine your surprise when a large, blue dragon landed on the bridge, silently threatening every scribe until you came out. 

Thankfully, Xaden had been with her, so you didn’t have to worry about attempting to ride her alone. Sgaeyl was sure you could figure it out, and she swelled with pride when you successfully mounted her without Xaden’s help. Even you boyfriend was proud. 

Since then, you had been on Sgaeyl’s back many times—with Xaden, of course. While Sgaeyl was not against you riding her alone, there was something unnerving about riding a dragon as a scribe. Alone, nonetheless. 

“Xaden?” Your voice fills the night sky, earning a hum from your boyfriend next to you. You two were laying on the grass outside of Riorson House, the busy fortress finally quiet under the beautiful stars. Sgaeyl slept not to far from you two, her tail resting possessively over yours and Xaden’s legs. “Is it…common for dragons to be affectionate towards their riders significant others?”

Xaden paused at your question. He knew the answer too well, he’s asked himself the same question ever since he properly introduced you to Sgaeyl during your first year. Nearly four years later, and she loves you as her own. 

It’s unsettling. 

“I do not think so,” Xaden finally says, his hand flexing against your waist. “But Sgaeyl is maternal, especially with me and Andarna. I’m grateful she feels the same way towards you.” 

“Me too,” you confess, keeping your voice low as to not disturb the creature you’ve become so fond of. “She’s important to you, and now, she’s become important to me.” 

Xaden smiles, lovingly watching the two most important females in his life. This is the future he wants, when all this war and bloodshed is over. To be able to rest in solitude with his dragon and the love of his life, completely content and happy with himself and his life. 

“If she’s in your head all the time, doesn’t she already know everything about me?”

“Well, some things, sure. But not everything. She can hear what I’m thinking so long as neither of us is shielding, but it’s not like she goes rifling through my mind.”

“As if there is any need to, when you are constantly bragging about the little one, or bemoaning how much you miss her,” Sgaeyl scoffs.

Xaden refrains from answering. It’s true he often mentions his sister to Sgaeyl — who else is he supposed to talk to about her, when Basgiath is filled to the brim with people who would wish her harm if they ever learned of her existence? Garrick and Bodhi are the only ones he can fully trust in this regard, and the three of them rarely talk about her for fear of eavesdroppers. It’s only with his dragon that he doesn’t need to worry about that.

“Basically, she knows what I’ve shared with her,” he continues, “which admittedly is quite a bit, but even so that’s not the same as actually meeting you. You don’t have to, obviously, I just thought you might like—”

“Of course I want to!”

Xaden grins, inwardly shaking his head. Apparently, the idea of meeting a dragon is much less intimidating to his sister than that of a new human acquaintance. Typical. While he doesn’t quite understand the logic of it, if indeed there is any, he is glad to see her embrace his suggestion with such enthusiasm.

“Okay. Ready to go, then?”

She looks down at herself — or rather, at the pajamas she’s still wearing, since Xaden and Garrick had appeared in her room to wake her with breakfast in bed a mere half hour ago. “I guess I should get changed first.”

Fifteen minutes later, Sgaeyl is waiting for them in a mountain meadow not too far from the fortress, having flown down upon Xaden’s request to spare his sister the hike all the way up to the valley where Aretia’s dragons reside. She sits on her haunches with her tail curved around herself, wings spread wide like she’s enjoying the early morning sun, or like she’s showing off her impressive wingspan.

His arm slung protectively around his sister’s shoulders as they walk closer, Xaden leans in to murmur, “Remember: no eye contact, and no talking to her directly unless I say so.”

“I know.”

Xaden knows she knows. Most likely, she understands the dragons’ preference not to directly interact with any humans beside their chosen rider better than most people do — she, too, hates interacting with anyone outside her family. The only difference is that she has yet to bite anyone’s head off for having the audacity to approach her. Maybe if she had sharper teeth and the ability to breathe fire, social interactions wouldn’t be so damn frightening for her.

This once, Xaden has the impression she’s less anxious about the encounter ahead than he is, which is a first.

He just loathes the possibility that she might end up being scared of Sgaeyl. Respectfull fondness would be preferable, mild intimidation acceptable, but fear? No. He never wants to see her wear the terrified expression the new first-years do on Conscription Day, when the wingleaders’ dragons descent upon the courtyard in a show of their might.

This won’t be like that, he reminds himself. It will only be Sgaeyl, and she assured him she would be her kindest self — whatever that means by her standards. His sister will know Sgaeyl won’t mean her any harm, and he’ll be right by her side. It’ll be fine.

The nearer they draw to her, the wider his sister’s eyes get. No wonder, since she’s only seen Sgaeyl and Chradh from her window before. Flying overhead, the dragons are so far away as to barely seem real; up close, Sgaeyl is more than a little imposing, even as she tucks in her wings and curves her neck into the shape of a question mark to gaze down on them in an uncharacteristically benign way. Her jaw is firmly closed, hiding the maw that could swallow Raspberry as easily as if she really were one of the fruits Bodhi named her for.

“She’s even bigger than I thought,” she whispers, staring at the placid dragon in what Xaden decides to optimistically interpret as awe.

“Mhh, blues tend to be on the larger side. Some dragons are even bigger, though, like her mate Tairn… or Codagh.”

Xaden immediately regrets mentioning Melgren’s dragon. While his sister wasn’t present at the execution, she knows enough to recognize the name of their father’s killer. He doesn’t want the thought of him to overshadow what is supposed to be a special — a happy — moment.

“See her tail?” he asks by way of distraction.

She nods. “Dagger. That’s the rarest for blues, right?”

“Right.” He squeezes her shoulder, pleasantly surprised she remembers the information he mentioned in passing the previous time he visited home. Smiling, he adds, “Sgaeyl is many things, but ordinary definitely isn’t one of them.”

They’re close enough now that Xaden pulls her to a halt, the dragon’s looming shadow just barely touching their feet. Better to be safe than sorry. Although he knows in his heart that Sgaeyl would never harm his sister, that doesn’t make it a good idea to provoke her by throwing basic safety-measures out the window. She might stay outwardly calm even if he were to bring the girl too close, but that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be consequences for Xaden later.

The sharp comment he was half-expecting for the thought doesn’t come. His shields have been getting better, finally enough so to reliantly keep Sgaeyl out of his head unless she really tries to barge into it. He lowers them now.

“Berry-bug, this is Sgaeyl. Sgaeyl, meet my little sister.”

She gives Sgaeyl a small wave, visibly uncertain whether the gesture is appropriate. Xaden has never been prouder of her.

“Mhm... she has courage,” Sgaeyl observes. She’s regarding her much the same way one would an adventurous toddler, her mental voice tinged with amused approval.

Xaden doesn’t bother hiding his relief. “Yeah. She does.”

“And what do you except us to do now?” Her wry tone suggests that if she had eyebrows to raise at him, she would do so now.

“Well… I don’t know,” he admits. “I just wanted you to meet each other.”

His sister is looking at him too, waiting for his guidance. Xaden gives her a reassuring smile. Despite his lack of a plan, this is going very well.

There’s no need to make this into a big deal, he decides. He has introduced them, and now, the three of them can hang out a little, without pressuring either dragon or girl to be more social than she likes to.

He spreads his flight jacket over the dew-damp grass to sit in Sgaeyl’s shadow, his sister upon his lap so he can rest his chin on her shoulder and murmur about the thrill of soaring through the sky. There’s no doubt in his mind she would enjoy it as much as he does. Although there is nothing he would like more, he knows better than to ask Sgaeyl if they could take her for a short flight. After the huge favor she’s doing him by acting as non-threatening as he’s ever seen her, that would be pushing his luck too far.

Not that he really minds. Sitting there with both his girls, Xaden feels more at peace than he’s been in years.