The Fall of the Dragons

By I. L. Miller

Imagine youre reading your favourite detective novel, listening to the latest music and texting your friends, when suddenly someone arrives and tells you that you are a werewolf. You probably wouldnt believe that. But what if it was true? Would you be ready to leave the life youve known so far and to meet your family in a foreign world where war is coming and someone is killing dragons?
Travel hundreds of years to the past to solve mysteries and to fight for justice, to find new friendships and a new home, to learn about yourself and the others around you and to explore the world of Ferladen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504990622

I. L. Miller

I. L. Miller (Ilze Liliana Millere) (1995) has been enjoying writing since the age of seven, and she is one of the youngest published authors in Latvia, her home country. Her first book was written when she was only nine years old, and it was published when she was twelve. So far she has published seven stories and fantasy novels in the Latvian language. “The Fall of the Dragons” is her first book written and published in English, and it has been one of her biggest dreams to publish a book internationally. In her fantasy novels, Ilze tries to capture reality and to portray real-life issues and situations to get various messages across for the readers to think about. She finds new ideas everywhere in the world around her, the people she meets, and the situations she experiences. Ilze’s novels include elements of fantasy, offering something for everyone—from escapism to characters that are easy to relate to, from representation of real life to vividly described fantasy worlds. She covers themes of self-discovery, changes, relationship and friendship, as well as the battle between good and bad in her novels. She also likes to challenge stereotypes and to look at ordinary things in a different way. Besides writing, Ilze enjoys music and filmmaking and has many other interests. Ilze is positive and enthusiastic and always full of new ideas. She is not afraid to take risks and to try and learn something new, and she is willing to work hard to make all her ideas and dreams come true. At the moment, Ilze is studying at university and working as well as making and publishing videos on YouTube, presenting a radio show, and occasionally writing articles for a magazine. She always has an independent film or other project in her mind to work on. Describing herself, Ilze says she is a realist with many dreams and a vivid imagination. Ilze can be found on social media under the name Ilziliana.

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© 2015 I. L. Miller. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/09/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9063-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9062-2 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Novel edited by - Kim Servant

Cover designed by - Meldra Bula, Ilze Liliāna Millere, Eva Buijs

The map designed by - Emīls Toms Kampuss, Ilze Liliāna Millere

Table of Contents

Shooting Stars

A Royal Task

A Guest From The Past

An Entirely Different World

Almost Like Dreams

Unaccepted

More And More Questions

Behind The Tunnel

The Tribe In A Forest

Hope

Reunion

Between Rafts And Bridges

A Royal Event

Unexpected Turns

Choices

Back To Reality

Confusion

Too Much Trouble

Despair

The Wrong Visitor

Back Home

A Part Of The Fantasy

Among Different Creatures

The Return

Becoming A Part Of The Tribe

Rumours

The Initiation

Suspicion

Saviours

Princess’ Power

Detective’s Notes

Fear

Loneliness And Longing

Imprints And Scents

The Secrets Of The Palace

Threats Of War

A Prisoner In Her Own Home

All Kinds Of Keys

On The Other Side

Reflections

Gone

New Tasks

This book is

dedicated to everyone

who helped me to make

the Legend of Ferladen real

The%20Map.jpg

A map of Ferladen

Meadow dragon month/October

Day 15

My initiation is coming soon. That means I will finally be a part of Ferladen. Finally, I can officially live here.

Oh, wow, I didn’t mean it like that. I can return to my previous life any moment. Maybe I will. I haven’t decided anything yet.

Maybe I could just travel from one world to the other all the time. To spend every day twice – in the contemporary world and in here. Then I could be with Sophie and David, and also with Alraiv.

Okay, I’d probably lose my mind if I did that. It’s hard enough to deal with everything in one life.

Also, Naurrika isn’t letting me out of her sight. I couldn’t get away from the tribe every day.

And I can’t lie – I love living here. I really do. I have never felt this alive. I feel like I finally have a purpose, a goal.

Oh, today my mother saw me briefly during my sword practice. She smiled. That was cool.

I should really stop using that word. I should say… wonderful. Yes, I think they like that word here.

Also, I saw a meadow spirit. It was bright red. So beautiful. Maybe I could catch one and bring for Sophie one day. Ha-ha. She would love that.

What else is new…? Temvirro said again that it doesn’t matter how powerful, smart or rich we are because we all share this one life together. We all have equal rights and we should all just help each other to make this world happier…

Maybe I can make this world a better place… I think everyone can do something to achieve that. If we all remembered now and then that we are not alone in this world.

Yeah, I always feel so inspired after Temvirro’s lessons. He’s such a wise man. Everyone should have a teacher like him.

Life is weird, isn’t it? It is so full of surprises…

My life is almost like a movie now. A movie about a realistic and sarcastic girl who was suddenly thrown into this magical world…

I still have so many questions. About me. About my family and my past. About Ferladen.

And about dragons. Yes, what’s happening to the dragons?

Shooting Stars

‘Why would you even ask me that? You know you two are my closest family. You’re like my brother and sister. And Robin and Sarah, they’re like my… parents. And all the other teachers and students are my distant cousins,’ Madeline giggled about her comparisons.

‘Wait a minute,’ David tried to look deeply offended. ‘What do you mean, I’m like your brother?’

‘Okay, you’re not,’ Madeline leant closer to David and kissed him on his cheek. She rubbed his short black hair and sat back only when David had looked at her and smiled back.

‘Should I leave you two alone?’ Sophie asked, raising her eyebrows. Madeline shook her head and hooked her arm into her best friend’s arm. David took Madeline’s other hand in his.

‘So, are you trying to say that…’ David began sarcastically, ‘that your boyfriend is your brother, your best friend is your sister, the school’s cook and librarian are your parents and you are distantly related to everyone else who studies and works here? Sounds like a perfect family. To be related to all three hundred students… I mean, you don’t even like most of them…’

‘Come on, stop, you know I’m joking,’ Madeline laughed.

‘That’s not something we hear often,’ David mumbled and then avoided her punch.

Madeline sighed. Everyone always teased her about being too realistic and too serious. In her opinion, those moments when Madeline was joking or talking about something impossible always amused everyone far more than necessary.

The idea of the staff at her boarding school being like Madeline’s family was sad and happy at the same time. However, she didn’t worry about knowing none of her relatives. She felt at home here. That was also the reason why Madeline wasn’t living anywhere on her own. She was eighteen years old, she earned some money for helping Robin, the school’s cook, but… Here, in her school, she felt so good that she didn’t want to leave this place. The boarding school wasn’t an orphanage but it had been her home for as long as she could remember. And other students spent most of the year here too, so Madeline had known almost everyone in this school for a long time.

Madeline hadn’t actually seen much of the rest of the world. She had only left the boarding school to go on a few trips with her classmates, teachers or friends.

‘Wouldn’t you want to meet them, though?’ Sophie returned to her question, while braiding her long, golden blond hair. Madeline didn’t reply, but picked up her friend’s hat from beside her feet and started to roll it through her fingers. Sophie always reminded her of a real… cowgirl. Before moving to a little house in the area of this boarding school, Sophie had lived in the countryside with horses, goats and chickens. Her favourite clothing was either floaty dresses or skirts and long, plaid shirts and her hair was always braided in different ways.

Madeline preferred simple and comfortable clothing – jeans and jumpers. Right now she was wearing David’s jumper which was twice her size because David was tall and Madeline, compared to her friends, was really short. Her short, brown hair was neither straight nor curly and she kept it pinned down with lots of hairclips.

‘I don’t think so,’ she answered finally. ‘My parents left me here. They haven’t been a part of my life for more than ten years. Why would I want to meet them?’

‘But you’ve thought about them, haven’t you?’ David asked.

‘Some time ago, yes. Not any more. Once I did want to know if, for example, my dad had the same brown eye colour or if my mum had the same hair as me. Or whose strange voice I have inherited,’ Madeline looked dreamy for a moment. Her voice was low and slightly husky, as if she always had a sore throat. ‘And then I just stopped thinking about them.’

‘Yes, I understand,’ Sophie said quietly. ‘I guess I would feel the same. It would be really weird… to meet your parents after such a long time. They would be like strangers.’

‘That’s it, let’s change the subject,’ Madeline said strictly in a suddenly loud voice, breaking the thoughtful atmosphere. She didn’t like to discuss topics that included the question ‘What if…?’ She believed that it was only important to think about the present. And maybe the future. And so she asked:

‘What is your biggest, craziest plan for the future? What’s something you want to accomplish?’

Normally Madeline didn’t fantasise much, but late autumn evenings like this were magical enough to make even her dream a little.

The three friends were sitting on the roof of a low warehouse near the boarding school. They could see the massive old building of the boarding school in red and brown brick between the trees in front of them. The sky of a September night with hundreds of stars was expanding above their heads.

‘I want to fly,’ Sophie replied immediately. ‘With an air balloon, with an aeroplane, with a helicopter, with… anything,’ her voice was childishly excited. ‘I will become the first author to write a book in the air,’ she laughed.

Madeline smiled at her friend’s imagination. It wasn’t a surprise that Sophie’s favourite genre was fantasy – the one genre Madeline liked the least. She preferred detective novels. Realistic stories that made the reader think and complicated plots excited her.

‘And then one day you will enter a storm and the prince of your dreams will rescue you from your balloon and you will both live happily ever after,’ David said teasingly to Sophie and Madeline giggled. They both often teased Sophie for liking melodramas and romantic comedies. After watching these, Sophie would tell them with tears in her eyes that she had to find exactly the same perfect guy. Madeline then would destroy the beautiful atmosphere, saying that life wasn’t a movie. But that never convinced Sophie.

‘The most unbelievable miracles can happen in life. You only need to believe. If you believe… everything can change,’ she often told Madeline.

‘Yes, exactly,’ Sophie pretended that she hadn’t noticed David’s sarcasm. ‘What is your plan then? To annoy every single person you ever meet?’

Madeline giggled again and David shook his head. He didn’t even try to deny that he could be very annoying. Just like Madeline, he was simply too stubborn to change his opinions or points of view. And it didn’t matter if they were right or not.

‘No, I actually think I’ll become a lawyer. Nobody believes I can do that, so… it’s going to be a real crazy challenge.’

‘I believe in you,’ Madeline told David in a soft voice.

‘Yes, I agree it’s a good choice,’ Sophie joined in, and then smiled teasingly, ‘I mean, everyone will need to leave the court because they won’t be able to stand you.’

The friends laughed until Madeline realised that she hadn’t answered her own question.

However… she didn’t even know the answer. Madeline actually had no idea what she wanted to achieve in her future. And that worried her.

‘I’m so good at telling others what to do and how to do it but… I don’t know what I want myself,’ Madeline mumbled. ‘I suggested the future jobs for both of you and that’s what you’re going for now. Well, okay, actually, when I told David to become a lawyer, we were arguing and I meant that as a joke…’ she remembered. ‘But anyway… Maybe that’s what I need to do. To become a… careers adviser. If such a job exists,’ she said and sighed, realising that this idea didn’t sound as tempting as she had hoped.

‘No, I think you will do something great with your future. Something that will change the world,’ Sophie exaggerated, of course.

‘Exactly, you’re too special,’ David joined her, trying to cheer Madeline up and she smiled as warmth filled her. Although Madeline didn’t know what to expect from her future, she was sure that she wouldn’t be alone.

‘A shooting star!’ Sophie suddenly exclaimed and pointed up, startling Madeline and David. ‘Oh, you have to wish for something!’

‘You know it’s nonsense…’ Madeline sighed but David pressed his finger against her lips, standing on Sophie’s side this time.

‘Mady, please, wish for something!’ Sophie repeated with the look of a pleading child in her eyes.

‘Okay, okay,’ Madeline shook her head.

Just to make her friends happy, she sighed and wished for the first thought that came into her mind:

‘I want to understand what I really am… and what my place in the world is. And what my future goal is.’

A Royal Task

‘Alraiv,’ Leliya’s voice disturbed Alraiv’s thoughts. ‘Prince Artunyel wants to see you.’

Alraiv stood up with reluctance on her face.

‘Shouldn’t you be happy that the prince wants to see you?’ Leliya, Alraiv’s best friend, smiled with a teasing look in her eyes.

‘Not if I can’t do my job because of him,’ Alraiv pointed to a basket where she had been sorting fruit.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll do that. I’ve got nothing to do until dinner anyway,’ Leliya placed her little braids behind her ears and sat down in Alraiv’s place.

Alraiv sighed and walked to the palace unwillingly, washing her hands and face on the way in one of the many little rivers in the Water Elf Tribe.

In a short while Alraiv was standing in front of prince Artunyel and his father, king Amidriven. She bowed and sat down in front of the prince. Alraiv felt his light blue eyes staring directly at her, so she lowered her gaze to look at the wooden table they were sitting around.

‘Alraiv,’ the king said. His voice seemed to become weaker every time she met him. His gaze was sickly and his posture – feeble. He looked much older than he was. ‘It is at last my honour to announce the task you must complete to be taken into the Royal Household.’

Prince Artunyel turned away and Alraiv exhaled the air she had been holding. She looked up to see the grey-haired king.

Yes, for many years it had been known to Alraiv that she would become a part of the Royal Household and even a part of the Royal Family. She had never been asked anything. It had simply been decided in this way.

If Alraiv could choose herself, she would prefer to spend her whole life in her little house with the fruit trees and the fountain where she could watch the water spirits. That would be enough for her.

‘…thence this key was carved just for you. I hope you do perceive how essential it is that nobody else finds it. But I am confident in my belief that we can trust you. Am I right?’

Alraiv nodded, trying to hide that her mind had drifted away for a while and that she had forgotten to pay attention completely. She looked at Artunyel and noticed a smile in the corners of his lips. He definitely knew that she hadn’t heard everything the king had just said.

‘Travelling through time, most certainly, is dangerous, but we will leave you with all the guidance you need to make sure you return home safely,’ the king added with a kind but sleepy smile.

Alraiv froze. Travelling through time? What else had she missed? Why did she always lose her concentration when she needed it the most?…

‘So,’ Artunyel spoke in his soft, fluent voice. ‘You will go to the far future to find the missing werewolf princess, Medlinn. We will show you how to open the time tunnel with your key…’ he handed Alraiv a massive bronze key, ‘and you will give Medlinn hers, so she can get here,’ he placed another key, which looked exactly the same, next to the first one. ‘Every key is carved for one particular person, so be careful not to lose or confuse them.’

‘Who is this… missing werewolf princess?’ Alraiv asked, hoping that the king hadn’t already explained that when she hadn’t been paying attention.

‘Medlinn is the oldest daughter of the king and the queen of the Meadow Werewolf Tribe. We found out that she was accidentally sent to the future,’ Artunyel explained.

‘And how exactly did you find that out?’ Alraiv didn’t understand.

‘We found an old prophecy which was written some time after this werewolf was born. We haven’t seen this girl for years and nobody has mentioned her. It is almost like she was never born, although I do remember spridges announcing the birth of the princess Medlinn. Therefore, we tried to find out why and how she disappeared. As you know, lately most werewolves haven’t been very talkative but, luckily, we know this old, kind man from the meadow werewolf Royal Household who told us about Medlinn being sent seven hundred years into the future,’ the king explained, talking slowly and with deep breaths between words.

‘I still don’t understand why you need her…’ Alraiv mumbled, scared to raise more objections against the king and the prince.

‘We need her because of how suspicious this is. Maybe this girl is the secret weapon werewolves are hiding. We have to find out who she is and why the werewolves have avoided mentioning her all this time,’ the king explained.

‘So, the werewolves don’t actually know I’m going after her,’ Alraiv concluded. Artunyel nodded and she sighed. She didn’t like that any of the werewolf tribes had to be involved in her task. She wasn’t ready for that.

Alraiv already knew where to find the closest time tunnel. The king, with Artunyel’s help, explained how to use the key and where to look for Medlinn.

‘Please, do remember that the time key carvers work only for the Royal Families and that time travel is a strictly hidden secret from everyone else,’ the king ended the conversation with a warning. ‘With this task not only do we trust you with a great responsibility, but we also offer you our respect and loyalty, sharing a royal secret.’

Alraiv nodded nervously. As a gardener for the Royal Household, she had heard about time travel before, but, yes, she knew what a great secret it was.

With her heart pounding far too quickly, Alraiv left the room, wishing to be back in her home again where she could think about her task on her own.

Alraiv heard quiet, light footsteps behind her and next moment a soft hand touched her shoulder.

‘Alraiv, wait,’ Artunyel said softly.

Alraiv sighed and turned around.

‘Prince Artunyel, I need to go ba…’

‘How many times do I need to tell you that you don’t need to call me a prince?’ Artunyel smiled. ‘And don’t worry, I won’t keep you long.’

Alraiv stood, waiting, with her eyes on the ground, feeling uncomfortable.

Finally, she looked into Artunyel’s eyes and noticed worry and concern in his face.

‘Good luck,’ he said. And, before Alraiv could answer, the prince turned and left, looking back over his shoulder at Alraiv on his way.

A Guest From The Past

‘Mady, wait!’ Sophie stopped. Their lessons were over and both girls were on their way back to school from the closest shop with sweets and snacks in their bags.

‘What is it?’ Madeline looked at her friend, bewildered. Sophie was watching the woods next to them with a tense expression as if she was trying to spot something. Finally she shook her head and they both resumed walking again.

‘I thought I saw something… strange,’ she mumbled.

‘That’s because you’re daydreaming too much,’ Madeline reproved her.

Both friends spent the evening, watching funny videos on the internet and gossiping about their classmates, while Madeline was also texting David. His parents didn’t allow him to spend nights at the boarding school – he had to return home every evening.

At nine o’clock in the evening Sophie also left Madeline, to spend the weekend with her family.

Sometimes Madeline joined her. However, she kept in mind that those were the only days when Sophie’s family could be together, therefore she didn’t want to visit them too often.

The next morning after breakfast Madeline went to the school’s kitchen to talk to Robin, the cook. Robin was the most positive person she knew. He was in his forties and he had worked as a cook in restaurants, on a ship and even on the streets, making and selling sandwiches and burgers. Robin always had lots of funny tales to tell and, although sometimes Madeline thought that his stories were too exaggerated and unbelievable, she always listened with pleasure because she didn’t know much about the outside world. These stories filled her with a strange satisfaction and longing.

‘…yes, and you know, those sharks, they just look terrifying. Although I have seen them before, it still gets me every time. And then, when I thought that…’ Robin talked enthusiastically, gesturing with a pan of pancakes in one hand.

With a smile on her lips, Madeline turned away from the man and looked at the window because she saw the light moving behind her.

Someone was standing there. Madeline noticed a slender, tall, greyish green silhouette, sliding away quickly. She frowned and looked at the cook again who hadn’t noticed anything.

After the conversation with Robin Madeline decided to find out who or what she had seen behind the canteen window. Overgrown with sharp bushes, it wasn’t a place students would normally go. Soon Madeline regretted her decision because the branches were spiny and they scratched her arms. She stopped next to the window and looked around her thoughtfully, trying to find a reason why anyone would be there. She leant down and noticed a piece of greyish green clothing on one of the branches. The fabric was plain and rough, and Madeline didn’t recognise the material. She put the strip in her pocket.

Madeline crept out, feeling angry with her boredom, caused by a lack of friends and activities, which had made her enter the bushes. What had she even hoped to find?

That was probably a negative trait she had picked up from reading all those crime novels. Madeline liked to find clues and explanations for everything that happened around her. She always needed to analyse and to reach conclusions. Always.

Madeline spent the rest of the day until lunch in her favourite soft, wide arm chair in the library. She finished reading the next book and then discussed it with Sarah, the librarian. Sarah was a kind grey-haired lady who had been working in the boarding school as long as Madeline had lived there. This lady was the only person Madeline had actually known since she remembered herself. Sarah knew Madeline and her favourite literature very well, and she always let her know when they had new books in the library that Madeline would enjoy.

Mealtimes during the weekends were always slightly… oppressive. Although many students stayed at the school, the canteen seemed very empty without Sophie and David. Madeline sat at their favourite round table alone and looked into the distance with an empty gaze, lost in her thoughts and memories.

After all these years spent in the boarding school, Madeline didn’t actually have any other good friends. Maybe her sarcasm and scepticism made her seem… rude. And she just never felt any… connection to anyone else here.

Madeline remembered the day when, around two years ago, she was put in a pair with David during a housekeeping lesson when they had to cook. Madeline had been very dissatisfied and angry with Sophie who would have normally been her partner but was ill that day. Yes, at first Madeline and David didn’t like each other at all. Everything about David annoyed Madeline. From his arrogant look and laughter, to his brown eyes which always seemed to be full of confidence as if David saw himself better than the others.

They were making pizza. Both teenagers, then sixteen years old, spent the first half of the lesson in silence, looking at each other with dissatisfaction on their faces and using only the most necessary words. The atmosphere eased slowly and they began to talk. Madeline couldn’t recall any more what they were talking about but she was sure they were arguing. They did that a lot. They always found a topic where both of them had a different opinion and then tried to justify that until one of them had to give up. They were both really passionate about their own values and ideas.

But that day the conversation changed direction and, instead of becoming angry, the teenagers started to laugh.

‘But I still think I’m right,’ David said and touched Madeline’s shoulder with flour on his hand, leaving a white spot there.

‘Oh, really?’ Madeline grabbed some flour and did the same to him.

The next moment they were attacking each other with flour and spices, and ketchup, like little children, laughing and shrieking, until they found themselves closer to each other than ever before.

Madeline remembered that moment very clearly. David’s dark brown eyes, sparkling in excitement, his messy and now dirty hair and his smile which seemed so childish because of the flour on his cheeks and nose.

‘I still don’t know who won,’ Madeline said then, feeling her heart drumming crazily. The voices of other students seemed to have disappeared.

‘Even?’ David offered and lightly touched the tip of Madeline’s nose with ketchup on his finger, making her laugh, while she nodded.

Deep in her memories and with a dreamy smile frozen on her lips, Madeline jumped and realised that the canteen was almost empty.

She sighed and went to clear away her dishes. She looked at the window on her way and froze.

Someone was there again. A silhouette in greyish green clothing. Madeline stood and looked at its face, hidden in a dark shadow.

Confused and slightly scared, she quickly turned away and returned to her room, trying not to think about the person, because her thoughts were really disturbing. She had definitely read too many crime novels.

• • •

When the evening had fallen, Madeline was sitting on her bed, listening to music and doing homework. She was humming along with every melody she heard, while doing maths tasks. Mathematical subjects caused no problems for Madeline which was something Sophie could never understand. As a very creative person Sophie wasn’t very good at any of Madeline’s favourite subjects, including her most favourite one, chemistry.

A knock at the door resounded. Madeline stopped singing and froze, wondering who would visit her so late. When nothing happened, she returned to her studies.

Some seconds later there was another knock. Madeline stood up and opened the door.

Nobody was there.

Frowning, she turned around and gasped.

Someone was standing outside Madeline’s window. The same mysterious character she had seen before. Of course, as she was living on the ground floor, it wasn’t unusual, but… she shivered, feeling uncomfortable.

The mysterious person lifted its arm and knocked on the window again. Madeline was standing still, wondering what to do. She could pretend she hadn’t seen anything. Or call someone. However… this person didn’t seem dangerous. Because of its slim body and long hair Madeline guessed it was a young girl.

Madeline moved finally and opened the window a small gap.

‘Yes?’

‘Are you Medlinn?’ the person