Drake stood unmoving, the Bandit's large arrow trained on him. By the size of the bow he had, it would easily pierce his scales and injured he would do no good to the rest in a fight. Remaining still, he growled, his voice echoing deep in his throat.<br/><br/>His attention focused on the enemy, he didn't notice the scent of approaching horses, or the familiar scent of the same squad that had hunted him the night before. He spun around expecting another attack from behind when they burst from the bushes but when they went after the Bandits, he was caught in the middle of the conflict.<br/><br/>His massive sword was drawn in moments and he ran towards the leader, the blade bursting into flames as he neared and readied his attack. Before he had the chance to swing, the roar of Shawne's odd steed erupted over the yelling and the clashing of steel, making most stop to look including the leader and Drake. With the momentary pause in the fight, it was then they chose to withdraw, and Drake let them go, sheathing his sword again. He snorted in annoyance as the threat had passed, or so he had thought...<br/><br/>"Hold on a moment!" the Captain said, "Isn't that the beast the Adventurer's Guild has a quest to kill or capture? It could be dangerous!" Crossbows were instantly aimed at Drake and his guard went up once more. The slender woman standing behind him seemed to fall in a haze of smoke and a black panther emerged from under Drake's wing, her lip curled and fang's bared at the King's men. Several of them went wide eyed as the panther spoke.<br/><br/>"He is no threat to you." she hissed, "Leave him be and just take your Chosen to the Queen like good little minions."<br/><br/>Drake widened his stance, ready for action, whether that was running or attacking, yet he felt anxious. More than he should be with only this many men before him. He felt his adrenaline run high, so much so he began visibly shaking. Enough for Tarathar to notice.<br/><br/>"Drake?" she asked, turning back to him.<br/><br/>His vision blurred and he took a step back. Closing his eyes he shook his head, but his sight would not steady. The world began to spin and he fell to his knee, Making Tara turn away from the Guards and change back into her normal form. The Guards stood staring at something few of them have even heard of. The elf calmly walked up to the hulking Dragon and put her gentle hands on his jagged chin.<br/><br/>"What's the matter?" she asked, her voice seeming to echo for him. The steady sputtering in the background from Shawne's bike started to bore into his mind and he fell forward on his hands, now on all fours. Something was wrong. He felt cold. He has never felt cold before. He was a fire dragon. Fire Dragons do not get cold. Even when they die, they go out in a blaze of glory, quite literally, leaving behind no gelid corpse, only a pile of ash. Tara felt it too. His scales became cold to the touch and she recoiled for a moment when she felt it, then gasped when she saw it.<br/><br/>Drake struggled to keep his vision steady enough to see the scales on his hands and arms turn blue for a moment, then fade back to red, then blue again. After a few moments of the undecided color change, the reverted back to their normal red hue and his vision stabilized, but his breathing was heavy and it echoed in his throat.<br/><br/>"Miss, stay away from it--" The Capatain started, but Tara's scornful look caught his words in his throat and she approached Drake again, taking his large face in her hands.<br/><br/>"Love, what is it? What happpened?"<br/><br/>"I am fine. No need to worry." he said, standing up once more. The Captain's brow raised as Drakes words reached his ears.<br/><br/>"The beast speaks..." He muttered, "You speak our language, monster?"<br/><br/>"Aye. But I'm no monster." he growled, "I could call you the same."<br/><br/>"By order of the Queen we are to escort the Chosen back to the castle for an audience with Her Magesty. This Dragon will come along but bound until it's intentions are made clear and the situation with the Farmers is resolved. It is still a suspect." He announced. Several guards rushed to Drake and pinned his arms and tail, putting chains around him and pinning his arms behind him. Drake had no strength to resist and let them do it, while another held Tarathar back while she tried to fight for him, smoke already beginning to appear around her as she began to change.<br/><br/>"No. Tara. Let them." he said. The smoke faded and she remained as she was, her arms held behind her by a guard.<br/><br/>"I can't let them take you! You did nothing wrong!" She cried, "You helped the Chosen! You should be rewarded!"<br/><br/>"I'm tired of running. I'm tired of hiding." he said, "I'm just tired of it all."<br/><br/>"You're giving up? That's not like you!" she cried, struggling against the guard once more.<br/><br/>"No, not giving up. Just taking another approach." he said quietly as the rest of the guards were distracted by Shawne's bike as she pulled up closer. While they were busy talking, Drake leaned down so only Tarathar could hear, "Let them take me. Lock me away. Whatever they want. But the whole Kingdom will learn that the Queen has found the Chosen and a dreaded Fire Dragon. Everyone will learn of me and I will make it my goal to change their opinion of me."<br/><br/>"What is your plan, Love?" she asked.<br/><br/>"There is a price on my head, but I shall pledge myself to the Queen, and apply for Knighthood under her."