So Far Gone: The Leader

I stare into his eyes with bewilderment. "What?"
He stares back into my eyes, his night skies twinkling with wonder. He opens his mouth but remains speechless.
"What?! What about me is so important?!" I ask, even more desperate to find an answer.
He closes his mouth and blinks. "Come with me." He replies before reaching down and grabbing my hand.
I freeze as the warm hand gently grasps mine. My mind has a flash back and I wonder out of reality.

I am laying in the soft, luscious, grass beneath the shade of a tree, reading a book. I can not remember the book's title or what it was about, but I do know it was our favorite.
He gently pulls the book from my hands and reads a few lines out loud to me. His voice is soft like the grass beneath me but also loud and emotional like the song of a lovebird. I look up at his gentle face and smile, watching him carefully. He smiles, knowing I am watching him, and looks down at me. He then reaches down and strokes my cheek then bends over to kiss me, but I quickly sit up and grab hi hand. He entwines our fingers and touches foreheads with me. I gently push on his chest so he is laying on his back then rest on him, our fingers still entwined. He strokes my hair and I slowly close my eyes.

I open my eyes and am once again greeted by those black-blue wonders.
"You okay?" He gently asks with a slight hint of worry.
I smile and nod reassuringly.
"Okay then. As I was saying, follow me." He continues before leading me down the pathway once again.

We return to the house and he sits me down at a table then sets a plate of food in front of me. I stare in awe at the feast. I can not identify most of the morsels but I care not. I pick up the only thing I recognize, a chicken leg and take a mouthful  off of the thick bone. A shiver went up my spine as I chew the rich meat. I had almost forgotten the taste of food.

"Now then," he says as he sits down across from me, "Down to business."
I look up at him and lower my drumstick, listening closely.
"As you probably know, for forty years the world we know has been under siege by a corrupted leadership. No one has seen the ruler and lived to tell about him, but we do know he is a master of the dark arts. He is the one causing the darkness over the city. We also know that he has been sending troops to the free lands and taking anyone they can find captive and imprisoning them in the city."
I nod, agreeing with everything he has said.
"Seeing we agree, I wonder if you know anything about the history of dragons."
I nodded once more. "I do know a thing or two."
"Would you care to enlighten me?"
I pause and and look him over carefully before proceeding. "Well, I do know that dragons used to be everywhere. They could be found in the darkest places of the city or in the brightest places in the outside lands. Their numbers used to be very large and people respected them for their beauty and power. Well, almost everyone did. The troops within the city have always been hunting them. In the city, we are told they are "heathen" and "evil" creatures and need to be destroyed. But I never agreed. I had never seen a dragon until I Skyfall."
He nods and rubs the side of his head thoughtfully. "Well, it is true that dragons can be dangerous, but thy are not evil." He stops and leans forward so his arms are resting on the table. "What you probably don't know is there is a breed of evil dragons breed by the leaders of the city. They have set those dragons free in the surrounding lands to destroy the resistance."
"Resistance?!"
"Yes. Those who are free have formed a resistance and aim to take back our land....but, we haven't been able to penetrate the city's defenses. We send in dragons to fight off the troops surrounding the barrier, but they never return." He pauses and looks into my eyes. "A month ago, we decided to send in Skyfall. His fighting abilities can not be matched by any other dragon. He has unique powers....and he is the only one who does not have a rider. Many have tried but with little luck."
My face is expressionless as I stare into his eyes. 'What is he getting at?' I ask myself, trying to make sense of everything.
"After much debate, we finally went through with our plans and released Skyfall. We waited for weeks and when he did not return, we expected he suffered the same fate as those sent before him." He pauses once again, making sure I was still following. "Then, he returned with you."
"What are you saying?" I ask, my heart beating so loudly I am sure he can hear it.
"I am saying, you are Skyfall's rider."
My heart stops and my face goes pale.
"Dragons choose their riders. You are meant to lead the resistance."
"What?! No, I can't, I don't even know how to fight and even more, I don't know how to handle a dragon, I can't!!" I exclaim desperately.
"We need someone who knows the city. Most of us have never been there. If Skyfall trusts you, we know that is saying a lot." He replies smoothly, trying to keep me calm.
I stare at him, unsure of how to reply. My eyes begin filling with tears so I slide them close and rest my face in my hands. "I don't know what to do." I mumble, barely loud enough to be heard.

I hear his chair slide backwards then the sound of his boots hitting the floor as he approaches. His warm hand rests on my cold shoulder and I look over at him as he kneels down to my height. "I will help you, if you will only help us." He whispers, looking into my eyes, his pleading in return.

I sit up and turn my body to face his. "Is it alright if I have some time to think about it?" I whisper in return, my face still pale.

He searches my eyes then nods and stands. I will take you wherever you wish."

"I would like it if I could go back to the barn." I reply as I stand up next to him.

He nods and walks toward the door and leads me back to the barn. I walk back to Skyfall's stall look inside at the sleeping dragon.

"If you need anything, feel free to come find me." He says gently as he follows my gaze.
I nod then look over at him. "Than you for everything."
He looks back at me and smiles slightly. "Don't mention it."
I smile then look back at Skyfall as he turns to leave.

"By the way," He calls from over his shoulder, "My name is Jet."