Omensent: Rise of the Shadow Dragons (59 page)

Damion and Raven watched the joyous chaos from the privacy of the balcony
outside of their chambers. They had excused themselves from the celebration not long after the feast began, leaving their guests to their assorted idiocies.

"It seems everyone is enjoying thems
elves." Damion commented, engulfing his new wife in a gentle embrace. "I think they would keep drinking all month long if they could."

"I believe you're right!" Raven giggled, watching the people as they danced and
cavorted through the streets. "But they all seemed quite happy for us. Look how many of our friends and loved ones came to witness our joining!"

"And for the celebration afterwards, of course." He smiled.

"Of course."

They stood together in silence for several long moments while they watched the merriment below.

"So tell me, my mighty Dragon Lord," She asked in a serous tone, finally breaking the silence. "Are you ready for the responsibilities that come with being a father? You won't be able to go traipsing off to save the world every time that something happens somewhere in the world, you know that, right?"

"I think the world can take care of itself for a while." Damion smiled. "My sole purpose in this world now is to look after you," He lay a hand on her slightly swollen belly. "
and my child."

"Good answer!" She murmured as she drew him close and kissed him gently.

************

Raven gave birth
six months later to a beautiful healthy baby girl which she and Damion promptly named Leia. She seemed to Damion to be impossibly tiny when he gently took his daughter into his trembling hands for the first time. She stared up at him, ensnaring his heart completely with a single glance of her piecing hazel eyes. Her hair was the same shade of black as her mother's, who looked tired, but elated at the same time.

"She's beautiful, Damion!"
Snowfeather chirped from his place on the headboard of the bed.
"She looks just like her mother!"

Everyone gathered around closely to await their turn to welcome the new member of their oddly
assorted little group. There was many joyous tears as the newborn child gazed gravely upon those who she would grow up to call her family.

Damion smiled down at his daughter, his heart nearly bursting with the love he felt f
or the tiny little child. "Hello, Leia, my little goddess," He greeted her in a soft whisper. "I promise you that I will always be here to watch over you and protect you, no matter what happens. There is nothing in the heavens or on this earth that could ever keep me from your side!" He kissed her tenderly on her forehead.

"You have done good, Damion!" Lady Skie told him, tears streaming openly down her cheeks
. "Your mother and father would be so proud of you!"

"Thanks
, Aunt Skie." He carefully handed the tiny bundle over to Damarius, who had been dancing around the room impatiently waiting his turn to hold Leia. "I just wish they could be here right now to see their first grandchild."

"I'm sure they are watching from where ever they are, right now
," She assured him. "and they are as proud of you as I am!"

L
ater that night, long after everyone had finally left to find their beds, Damion was quietly sitting in a overstuffed chair that he had dragged in from the hall, watching Raven and the tiny bundle that was his daughter as they slept, when he suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of dread overcome him. He slowly rose to his feet, ignoring the nearly overwhelming feeling of alarm, and tried to pinpoint the source of the disturbance he felt. He made his way to the balcony outside and looked out over the quiet city of Sevria for several longs moments. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, he glanced up at the glittering stars high above, his eyes automatically searching out the constellation of the dragon god, Draco. He continued to search for the constellation for several seconds before he suddenly realized that the area that usually held the bright constellation was now completely void of stars.

He stared up into the black patch of sky
in incomprehension, the feeling of dread quickly returning. He suddenly seemed somehow sure in the knowledge that something terrible had just occurred. He continued to stare up at the dark void until the sun finally began to emerge to begin a new day.