Fiona felt that she would finally be reunited with her loved ones…
Falling into nothingness. Choking as her lungs filled with water instead of oxygen. What a horrible and prolonged sensation, to die from drowning, as she sank into the sea.
Down in the depths of the ocean, time seemed to stand still all around her for some unknown reason. Fiona welcomed the encroaching darkness that dulled her senses.
Out of nowhere like a speeding torpedo a huge great white shark was making its way towards her body. Just as it was about to devour her whole, it was thwarted by an immense black mass that blocked its path.
The shark struggled to fight the creature that seemed equal in size if not power and their bloodlust churned the waters all around them.
Soon the sea would be saturated with blood and the victor would claim Fiona's unconscious body.
How it came to pass?
Tiamat was heading home from his last mission when he saw something glistening in the sea.
Immediately it sparked his interest, and he could not ignore the irresistible pull of something possibly shiny and valuable despite being tired.
He swooped down only to realize that object, a ring, was glistening from below the waters and it belonged to a girl who was drowning.
Tiamat ignored the warning signs of his body and dove headfirst into the icy cold waters.
It seemed that he was not the only one who had his eyes on the girl. For no sooner had he hit the waters, Tiamat was attacked by a great white shark defending its territory.
Normally, such a predator would be no match for him, but he was coming wounded from the battlefield.
Despite his injury he was determined to head home to a fiefdom that he had sorely neglected.
Since he had come this far, he didn't hesitate he fought the beast with all he got teeth, claws, spikes and all.
Whoosh!
Arms of steel gripped her waist tightly and swiftly propelled Fiona out of the water.
She was no longer swallowing water as a burst of energy pushed her skywards out of the swell of the roiling sea.
Soaring upwards into the sky, eyes glazed, nostrils flared, and her brain tried to make sense of the fact that she was no longer choking on sea water.
She felt waterlogged and couldn't move totally dependent on the strength of her rescuer.
Worn out and unable to move she lay pitiful, a throbbing pain in her temple, gasping for breath and wondering if the beast was going to eat her for a victory meal now.
They soared high overseas, over cliffs and jagged rocks and she lay helpless on what she assumed was the creature's back.
Its speed was slowing, the dragon was exhausted, while saving the chit had used up the last of his energy.
A whistling arrow shot at him from beneath and several followed soon after that were all as equally poisoned as the first.
The beast deflated like a balloon when an arrow pierced a vein in his wing almost crippling him. Fiona thought so much for drowning, now she was going to fall splat to her doom.
Even when they were both going to die the black dragon still managed to cover her with his body, protecting her from serious injury as they smashed into the ground together.
Before his enemies could discover the strange human with him, he used the last of his strength to shove her into some bushes and cover her with dead branches and leaves.
Fiona watched helplessly through the leaves as the enemies attacked her protector with a mix of spear and swords, continuously stabbing and poking him.
She watched transfixed as the black dragon changed into a man. Fiona wanted to scream but she bit down on her tongue to prevent herself from doing so. They definitely wanted to kill him.
Now that he was no longer in dragon form and bleeding out from his wounds, they tied him to a tree and bound his hands together with some rope.
Battered with the blood in his eyes, he still seemed formidable and even though his enemies acted brave they were still afraid of him.
Tiamat would never surrender willingly despite he had been captured by the enemy. He ignored his enemy and made sure not to stare in Fiona's direction.
Instead, he looked away with his face devoid of emotion. The foot soldiers wanted to kill him, but they had orders to be still and wait on their leader.
Darkness was descending and with it thunder roared and lightning lit up the sky. Rain began to pelt them hard, and the men were afraid they would all catch colds if they didn't take cover soon.
A soldier fretted, "if we stay out here any longer it may be the death of us."
They started murmuring amongst themselves and another voice shot out, "Our dark lord won't reach for another hour or two. Let's take shelter and then resume our post when he gets closer."
Swayed by the popular voices the soldiers all muttered their agreement and left to seek shelter in some nearby caves.
The interim leader hesitated a bit since, they were given strict orders not leave their prize unattended.
Yet looking at the dragon knight weakened and at death's door made him feel bold.
He mocked, "They call you the black flame but you're just a savage beast and you'll die like one after our master gets here and makes mincemeat out of you. So don't go get any ideas about escaping."
The dragon was at death's door; the idea of it somehow managing to escape was ludicrous.
The interim leader then turned and hurried away to get the hell out of the thunderstorm as that area was prone to floods.
If the waters from the sea overflowed its banks, it would be more merciful for the dragon to drown than come face to face with their ruthless leader.
From beneath the bush Fiona watched the brutality transpire before her eyes. She was afraid but she knew that if she didn't return the favor her tarnished dragon knight was going to die.
After waiting a few more minutes to make sure that none of the men changed their minds and returned. She ignored the exhaustive pain and forced herself to take baby steps towards the dragon.
Fiona had not fully recovered yet and risked everything, but she was the only one that could come to his rescue now.