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Aithusa didn't understand mankind. They seemed so complex, and strange always doing things for reasons beyond her understanding.
She did know one thing about man though.
Most of them hated magic. Her Papa taught her that. Merlin the dragonlord who called her from her egg and had been raising her alongside Kilgharrah.
Kilgharrah didn't like humans at all, Aithusa just thought they were odd, not bad, just misunderstood, after all how could one hate magic when it was the very life force of the land?
Papa told her that most humans didn't see the world the way they did though. Not seeing the magic everywhere they looked the earth vibrating with life.
Aithusa thought that must be a terrible way to live, blind to the essence of reality.
But her papa chuckled and said, 'It isn't sad when it's all they've known.'
Aithusa still would rather see life through magic's eyes.
Her Papa didn't stay for long though, always leaving the forest returning to his home in the tall stone towers.
Aithusa tried to follow him once when she was very little but he caught her and took her back home, that was when he explained his purpose, and why he had to live amongst the humans and not with Aithusa amongst the magic.
He told stories of a Golden King, a man destined to lead the world into a new era of peace, and freedom for magic everywhere. Finally uniting man and magic once more.
Aithusa loved these stories, and hoped one day she could meet the man that had garnered her Papa's love and devotion.
Her Papa seemed to hope for that too.
So Aithusa waited and continue to grow into a strong young dragon. Proud and magical just like her papa knew she could be, and then one day her Papa didn't come to visit at night.
Kilgharrah explained he had told him to rest for a few nights while he watched over her because he was terribly tired.
Aithusa didn't like that. She wanted him here now with her, she would watch over him while he slept but the older dragon huffed a laugh and said it didn't work like that.
Aithusa thought it could and they were both just being dumb.
A few days later however her Papa returned during the daylight, and with a wonderful present.
Walking beside him hand in hand was a man with golden hair, a long red cloak, and strange metal scales.
It had to be her Papa's king!
She soared down to greet them, prancing over to them happily when her papa said, "Arthur, meet Aithusa, Aithusa this is Arthur. Be gentle my dear."
Aithusa reached forward, her body low to the ground with her wings tucked in, she didn't want to scare off her papa's king, so she gently sniffed Arthur.
When he didn't flinch away, she leaned forward placing her snout against his chest snuffling a greeting, "Hello!"
She watched the man's blue eyes as they crinkled softly with a smile, and he began to stroke her snout.
A minute later the man bellowed letting out a cheerful laugh!
Aithusa warbled, "Happy! Happy King!"
She pranced around the king flapping her wings showing off her scales as she leapt up into the sky, getting a gasp from the king, "Wow, Merlin! She's amazing. Aren't you, Aithusa?"
He scratched her scales and Aithusa smiled bearing her teeth. Together now, now he saw how great magic was!
Finally, here beneath the trees and by the water surrounded by nature, man and magic were reunited at last and Aithusa couldn't be happier.