Layla’s scale shone in the lamp light and Nimue stood back in pride at the results of her loving labor. The young girls who tended the dragon changed and Nimmie realized that the sun must be going down. She thought of the orders given to her about riding the dragon back to her home. She bit her lip. Flying would get Layla all dirty, nothing like airborne insects splattering on scales to dim the shine but that couldn’t be helped.<br/><br/>“I will send Layla straight back. If she isn’t back before the moon is fully up, go to the guardian or get word to the Lady that something has befallen her.” Nimue instructed as she led the golden beast from her lair. The girls tittered behind their hands.<br/><br/>“You worry about her as if she were a small infant instead of a fearsome dragon.” The bolder of the two smirked. Nimue didn’t get offended but she laughed at her own foolishness.<br/>“She is the only baby I have now,” Nimue explained as she patted the broad side. “She protects me and I care for her. It is a winning combination.”<br/><br/>They made their way to the barren rock just outside of the cave and Layla bent her long neck for Nimue mount her. Once gracefully settled, Nimue raised her hand and shouted,<br/><br/>“Ascend!”<br/><br/>With a leap, the dragon took to the air, flapping her leathery wings. The sky was washed with orange in a deepening blue sky. The clouds looked like claw marks of red as if the sun had raked the horizon in an attempt to stay a little longer with the earth. The evening breeze had quickened and the swooping through the air nipped at Nimue’s cheeks. She felt alive and was aware of the pounding of her heart in her ears.<br/><br/>With a whoop, Nimue coaxed the dragon higher and higher and then with subtle pressure, sent her into a diving spiral. The dragon’s wings were tight against her body as the they split the air with a rapid spin. Nimue’s hair had come loose from her hood and was floating in a curly mass around her face. Her eyes were alight with joy and screams of pleasure erupted from her mouth.<br/><br/>“Again, Layla!” she commanded at the great dragon unfurled her wings to begin the ascent again.<br/><br/>This time, Nimue could see the cottage in the distance and Maric entering. She urged Layla on faster until the countryside was nothing but a blur. They climbed and dived with greater velocity.Now at her home, Nimue was leaning into the dive when, dizzy with the rolling, lost her grip and went plummeting to the earth. Her shrieks rang out and were lost on the wind. The ground was hurtling ever closer and Nimue, in horrified fascination, was unable to close her eyes. Before she came close to the thatched roof, iron talons closed gently around her.<br/>The dragon slowed and deposited her in her front yard and finished her flight with a thud, close by the horse paddock.<br/><br/>Nimue straightened her cloak and patted her unruly black hair in place and then went sedately to the door.<br/><br/>“Honey, I’m home.”