AVELINE The time had come. We stood at the northern gates, the duke's words of encouragement echoing in my ears as the cold wind bit at my skin. The army was assembled, their faces grim but resolute. The North Wall lay ahead, a foreboding line against the gray horizon, and beyond it, the battlefield awaited.

I was mounted atop Elryx for the first time, her massive form shifting beneath me with an almost imperceptible grace. Her scales shimmered like molten gold, reflecting the dim light of the overcast sky. Her violet eyes glowed with a quiet intensity as she glanced back at me.

"Hold on tight, little one," she murmured, her deep voice both soothing and commanding.

Behind us, two other dragons joined the formation, their enormous wings stretching wide as they prepared to take flight. The soldiers stared in stunned silence, their disbelief evident in their wide eyes and hushed whispers. Dragons were a rare sight, almost mythical to many of them, and now they were witnessing not one, but three.

Duke Edric sat astride his black warhorse, his piercing gaze surveying the men and women under his command. He gave a sharp nod. "Move out!"

Elryx launched into the air with a powerful beat of her wings, and my breath caught as the ground fell away beneath us. The other dragons followed close behind, their roars echoing across the landscape like a battle cry. The army below marched in disciplined rows, their armor glinting faintly in the pale light.

As we approached the battlefield, a chill crept into the air, carrying with it the unmistakable stench of blood and decay. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen beasts and men alike, and the sky above was darkened by thick, swirling clouds. It was a grim, unwelcoming sight.

The battle began almost immediately. The beasts came in waves, grotesque creatures with gnarled limbs and razor-sharp claws. Magicians on the ground hurled fireballs and lightning bolts, their spells illuminating the darkness, while swordmasters cut through the monsters with swift, deadly precision.

From above, I watched the chaos unfold, my heart pounding in my chest. This was my first battle, my first test, and I couldn't let fear control me.

Suddenly, a deafening roar rose above the cacophony. A massive horde of monsters, numbering in the thousands, emerged from the shadows, their shrieks piercing the air. They surged forward, overwhelming the soldiers and threatening to engulf the duke himself.

"Elryx!" I shouted, gripping the reins tightly. "What do we do?"

"You have the power, Aveline," she said, her voice calm despite the danger. "Use it."

I closed my eyes, reaching deep within myself, and felt the familiar spark of magic ignite. Channeling my energy, I raised my hands and focused on the creatures below. Flames erupted around me, spiraling into a roaring tornado of fire that descended upon the horde.

The monsters shrieked as the fire consumed them, their charred bodies collapsing to the ground. The soldiers below paused in astonishment, their faces illuminated by the fiery glow.

I could hear their murmurs, their disbelief. "Is that... Lady Aveline?"

For a moment, it seemed as though the tide had turned. But then, more monsters emerged, their numbers seemingly endless. My fire tornado wasn't enough.

"Elryx, what do we do?" I cried, panic creeping into my voice.

Elryx's voice cut through the chaos, steady and unwavering. "Command me, Aveline. Tell me to use my fire."

"How?" I asked desperately.

"Say my name and the word 'ember.' Loudly. With purpose."

I hesitated only for a second before shouting, "Elryx, ember!"

A roar erupted from her throat as she opened her massive jaws, unleashing a torrent of fire that swept across the battlefield. The flames were blindingly bright, incinerating everything in their path. The monsters stood no chance, their ranks obliterated in an instant.

The soldiers below erupted in cheers, their morale soaring. Even the duke turned his gaze upward, his expression one of astonishment and pride.

I was stunned. I had known Elryx was powerful, but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely. "Elryx... you're incredible," I whispered.

"You've only scratched the surface of what we can do together," she replied, her tone almost playful.

As the flames died down, the battlefield fell into an uneasy silence. The monsters had been repelled for now, but the battle was far from over.

The fight continued for three grueling days.

The first night, the soldiers dug trenches and fortified their positions, while the magicians set up barriers to repel the enemy. I stayed with Elryx, her warmth a comfort against the biting cold. The duke visited me briefly, his praise sparing but heartfelt. "You've done well, Aveline. The men are speaking of your fire tornado and Elryx's flames. You've given them hope."

The second day was the hardest. The monsters attacked relentlessly, their numbers seemingly endless. Exhaustion weighed heavily on the soldiers, but they fought with unwavering determination. I rode Elryx into the fray, using my magic to shield the soldiers and clear paths for the swordmasters.

"Keep going, Aveline," Elryx urged as my energy waned. "You are stronger than you realize."

By the third day, the tide began to turn. The monsters' numbers dwindled, and their attacks became less coordinated. The soldiers, bolstered by their victories, pressed forward with renewed vigor. Elryx and I continued to fight from above, her fire cutting swaths through the enemy lines.

Finally, as the sun began to set on the third day, the battlefield grew quiet. The last of the monsters had been defeated, and the soldiers let out a collective cheer, their voices ringing out across the blood-soaked ground.

As we made our way back to the duke's castle, the soldiers' spirits were high despite their exhaustion. Many of them looked up at me with newfound respect, their gazes filled with gratitude and admiration.

The duke rode alongside me, his expression unreadable at first. But then he smiled, a rare, genuine smile that filled me with pride. "You've proven yourself, Aveline," he said. "You're not just the mother of dragons—you're a warrior in your own right."

His words warmed my heart, but as I looked at Elryx, I knew I couldn't have done it alone. "Thank you," I whispered to her, my voice barely audible.

She rumbled softly in response, her violet eyes glowing with approval. "This is only the beginning, little one. Together, we will achieve even greater things."

As we passed through the gates of the duke's castle, I felt a sense of accomplishment unlike anything I had ever experienced. The battlefield had tested me in ways I couldn't have imagined, but I had risen to the challenge.

I was no longer the girl from Thorne, bullied for her white hair and white eyes. I was Aveline Skyefyre, the mother of dragons, and I was ready for whatever came next.