Son Of The Dragon

V

Dorina POV

I would have laughed in your face if you had told me that I was getting married at eighteen, but that was years ago. That was before an unfortunate incident with a deranged thief robbing a convenience store. I honestly did not believe that I was even going to make it to double digits in age. Casimir changed all of that. 

The moment we met I felt a pull in my gut towards him. And never in my life did I think that the son of 'Vlad the Impaler' would be from the same world that I came from. Though the idiot did trick me that one time, nearly sending me off on another grand adventure. 

The servants, still not used to being pampered, my father brought with us to prepare my dress in the corner of the room I was in. There was no clock but from the light I could tell it was closer to the afternoon than it was to morning. My mother had told me some strange tradition that the bride and groom were not to interact with each other until the bride's father handed her off to the groom. 

It was interesting, to say the least, getting to live through history. 

"I guess this is where that superstition came from."  

"What was that my lady?" I looked over to the servant girl stitching on the final decorations on my dress. 

"It was nothing, just muttering under my breath Elena." 

I was slightly worried about Casimir, he hadn't come back into the castle according to the guards. He had told me that he was going to go hunting with his father yesterday morning, and I knew how dangerously close that forest was to the mountain. I heard a commotion by the tavern late last night, but I doubted that Casimir would get drunk rather than see me before our wedding night. Unless his father dragged him into doing so. 

I let out a sigh and waited patiently as more servants entered the room to work on my hair. 

Mirena POV 

Her baby boy was getting married today, Today! Where in the name of god was he. He had missed breakfast and the final fitting to his wedding outfit. She had sent servants to fetch him from his room but they returned pale faced saying that he was not in his room. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She sent the servants to fetch her husband as well, who also failed to show up for breakfast. Once the servants returned she stood from her seat as they confirmed her suspicions, Vlad had not returned either. 

They had come back the other night after their successful hunt. The servants had confirmed this when they had picked up the boar her son and her husband had hunted. She called for an escort of guards as she made her way out of the castle and into the town. 

"My lady, the townsfolk mention that the Prince and the young lord were spotted in the tavern late last night." 

She growled under her breath as the guard added on to her suspicions. They weaved their way through the homes and soon found themselves in front of the tavern. Some townsfolk were laying in the dirt, some by windows as if they had been thrown through, some by the door. She looked around and found Cazan lying in a horse's water trough. Petru was desperately trying to get Roach, who was on the roof for some odd reason, to come down. Demitru was holding Vlad stead as the latter looked as if he was holding himself back from throwing up. 

She stormed over to Demitru and Vlad fury in her eyes. 

"Where is our son!" Vlad flinched as he looked into her eyes. 

"Where!" She grabbed him by the shirt "Is!" She started to shake him. "Our!" Still shaking the nauseated Vlad. "So-" before she could finish her angry tirade Dimirtu interrupted her. 

"The young lord shouted something about fighting a man named  Charles the Dancer and stormed off. We have not seen him since." 

She could feel a vein in her forehead throb, She dragged Vlad by his ear back to the castle before ordering the guards to find her son. 

Casimir POV

I immediately shut my eyes after opening them. The sunlight is burning much more than usual. I groaned as I slowly felt my limbs waking up after falling asleep in a rather uncomfortable position. Looking around, I found that I was somehow in a field surrounded by goats. My head throbbing, I slowly sat up, a goat looked at me strangely. 

" Sorry for intruding." Did the goats understand English? The goat let out a bleat and turned away, I guess not. 

I stood up and brushed the dirt and hay off of my clothes as best as I could. I had never been hung over in my past life, this was a new experience for me. I felt as if I had forgotten something. Sighing I made my way over to the fence, hoisting myself over I nearly face planted into a pile of manure. 

Shouting in the distance drew my attention, it was Demitru and Petru with a small group of guards pointing in my direction. I blanched, remembering that my wedding was today. I ran as fast as I could without blowing chunks, right past the guards, towards the castle, past my mother who had her arms crossed, and straight into the baths. I ripped my clothes off and threw myself into the waiting tub and nearly impaled myself on a bath brush I failed to spot. 

I hopped out minutes later after scrubbing myself free of mud and grime. As I ran back to my room, naked as the day I was born. A servant girl screamed as I ran past her shouting an apology as I slammed the door to my room shut. 

I tore through my closet as I looked for the set of clothes my mother had made for my wedding. Thankfully the tailor had taken my opinions seriously and let me help design my 'suit' as I saw fit. I laughed internally, 

" Let it be known that Casimir Tepes formerly known as Brent Whitfield has invented the first tuxedo in the 14th century!"  

The door opened as I finished putting on the suit jacket. My mother glared at me and walked over, I felt like she was holding back screaming at me. 

"Casimir," she looked at my 'tuxedo' "where in the name of god where you and WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING!" 

I stared at her, I had never heard my mother curse before. Taking a deep breath I began to started to explain. 

Flashback 

A dozen drinks in and I had relaxed enough to not kill Cazan outright. I was standing in the center of the tavern with a shield held close to my chest and a cup of ale balanced on my head. I watched as Cazan threw the knife and flinched as it struck the cup off my head.  

"You… son of a whore," I threw the shield to Petru. "One more."  

"Wait!" Cazan picked up the shield. "It's my turn." Demitru stumbled over and balanced a cup on his head.  

Petru was restraining his laughter as was Vlad. I picked up my bow and nocked an arrow.  

"Cazan?" I raised my hand to my eyebrows as if looking for him. "Where are you? It's so dark in here."  

Vlad was now in stitches, Cazan waved his hand. "Here, I'm here!"   

I drew the bow and let the arrow fly in one smooth motion. The cup flew off Cazans head and stuck to the wall with the arrow piecing through it.  

The tavern erupted into cheers and laughter. Throwing my bow I stomped over to Cazan, grabbing him by his waist I hoisted him up. I kicked the tavern doors open and threw Cazan into a water trough. He sputtering before resigning to his fate and slumped into the water.  

I entered the tavern once more throwing my arms wide.  

"The Onion bastard has been vanquished!"  

More cheers and laughter came from the taverns customers. Vlad walked over and threw a arm over my shoulder.  

"Son tonight will be the last night you have as a free man! For tomorrow you shall be bound to your wife, come enjoy the pleasures of flesh. Just this night."  

I immediately pull away, Vlad was now holding his side laughing. Petru and Demitru laughing along with him.  

I turned around hiding the red creeping to my cheeks. Vlad put his arm over my shoulder again.  

"Relax son, it was but a jest." He backed away as I glared at him.  

Snatching a tankard from a passing servant girl I downed the contents in one gulp. Liquid confidence filling my gut, standing on the table I threw the tankard at the wall splintering the wood.  

"Fuck it, I'm going to kill Charles Dance tonight, so that I can have copious amounts of sex with my wife tomorrow."  

I jumped down from the table and stormed out of the tavern looking for Roach. I heard a neighing from above, looking up I saw Roach grazing on the top of the tavern roof.  

'How the fuck?' I shook my head and stumbled away looking for another horse. In my drunken haze I walked aimlessly until I spotted a pasture.  

"This grass looks really comfortable." I grumbled as I collapsed on my back.  

"I'll take a short nap to sober up, then I'm going to go to Broken Tooth so I can kick that vampires ass." I said to no one.  

Closing my eyes, sleep immediately took me and all thoughts fled my mind.  

Flashback End. 

Mirena was looking at me with disappointment clearly in her eyes. 

"Look, in hindsight it probably was not a good idea to drink that much on an empty stomach." 

She pinched the bridge of her nose. Shaking her head she looked at me again. 

"Casimir, I pray that Dorina does not hear that you wish to have 'copious amounts of sex' with her after you kill this 'Charles the Dancer'" 

"It- I don't know mother, the man is troublesome at best." 

"Who even is this Charles you speak of?" 

I sighed as I pushed my mother out of my room, "No one of importance mother. You and Father need not worry yourselves." 

Before I could shut the door she stops it with her hand. 

"Drunkenness aside, I am proud of you son. You have found love at such a young age, and now you'll be off making a name for yourself soon." 

I stepped out of my room and pulled her into a hug, "I could not have come this far without the love you and father showed me mother." 

I felt her tense up before sniffling, fighting off tears. She returned my embrace before nodding and stepping back into the hall. 

"I'll send a servant once we have the great hall ready." 

I smiled as she walked away to do her own preparations for the wedding. Closing my door again I sat on the corner of my bed taking a deep breath. 

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect my life to turn out this way. All the nightmare like vision aside, the threat of war, not even the prospect of maybe having to fight a vampire could ruin my mood. I buckled my sword onto my hip and looked at myself once more in the mirror. In my old life I had dark hair and tanned skin, earned from days out on deployments. As my reflection looked back at me I brushed my now light brown hair. My eyes were just like my fathers, hazel, with flecks of gold scattered around. 

I would never have called myself handsome, yet now I could confidently say that I was relatively handsome. I had inherited my mothers looks and my fathers eyes. Signs of a beard starting to show. Dorina hated facial hair but I insisted that it gave my face some structure and manliness. 

Pulling some stray bits of lint off of my suit I made my way over to my bed to sit down. A knock on the door redirected my attention. I squashed the last bits of the nerves and walked over to answer. 

"The hall is ready young lord." I nodded at the servant girl and made my way out of my room. 

Mirena had pulled all the stops out for my wedding. Decorations hung on the walls, the family portrait had been finished and now displayed Ingeras in my mothers arms. The guests were seated in rows of benches and a vibrant violet carpet rolled on out through the center as the 'isle'. Vlad had hired a band, and I smiled. Dorina would kill me if she knew I had instructed the musicians to play 'Pachelbel's Canon in D'. She had explained that she absolutely loathed the song, apparently lots of songs in our time followed it's chord progression. Not that I had noticed. The band had looked at me strangely but dismissed it once they rehearsed the song. They thought it was a beautiful tune albeit a bit simple and repetitive. 

I chuckled internally thinking about how I plagiarized Pachelbel nearly 200 years in advance. as I made my way to the front standing by my father who I elected to be my best man. 

"Your outfit is strange, but somehow fitting." 

"Why are you whispering father?" 

Vlad looked at me before replying. "Your mother." 

I looked towards the guests and immediately looked away, Mirena was glaring at the both of us. 

"I forgot to explain my outfit to her when I told her about what happened last night." Vlad blanched 

"Did you mention the jest I had made?" 

Grinning, I looked at him and nodded. Visibly paling he mouthed an apology to my mother who turned away. I looked around a bit more at the guests, identifying members of Dorina's family along with guests they invited. My father did not have much family left so on our side was Mirena's friends and family all of which were either glaring at Vlad or coddling my little brother. The noise died down as the hall's main doors opened, Dorina had arrived. 

I swallowed hard as I watched the goddess of a woman enter with her arm weaved through her fathers. The band started to play and I bit back a smile as I saw her nearly miss a step. I could have sworn I saw her mumble a few expletives through her veil. As her father reached the front I took his position taking Dorina's hand in mine. She squeezed my hand threateningly and I smiled back. 

The priest began the ceremony and I zoned out, opting to observe my bride in her dress. The pale crème coloured fabric clung close to her skin accentuating her curves. The dress was still rather conservative, but she had somehow gotten away with it revealing her shoulders. Dorina had flowers braided into her hair, the white petals making her fiery hair stand out. 

"…and now the vows." Pulling myself from my thoughts I nearly blanked out. 

Taking a deep breath I looked into Dorina's eyes through the veil. 

"I've had this written for a while now," I started addressing the crowd. "I guess deep down I knew that one day I would finally meet a woman who I could love wholeheartedly." Pausing again to steel my nerves. "Dorina, I am not a perfect man, I have flaws and weaknesses. Despite this I swear to you now on this day that I, Casimir Tepes, son of Vlad and Mirena Tepes. That I will love you with all my heart, you shall never want for anything, for I shall lay the world at your feet, you shall never want for anything, for everything that I have is yours, and whatever you may seek, we shall find together. On this day, I am yours as you are mine. 

Dorina's hand shook in mine, I squeezed it to offer her comfort. 

"Casimir, I accept all that you are. When you are weary I will be your comfort, when you are lost I will be your guidance, and when you feel sorrow I will be there for you as your friend, as your love, and as your wife. On this day I am yours as you are mine. 

The priest raised his hands up. "With God as our ultimate witness I now ask the heavens to bless this union. I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride." 

I resisted the urge to tear off Dorina's veil and raised it gently. Dorina looked at me with tear stained eyes. I leaned forward placing my lips on hers as applause and cheers rang through the hall. I pulled away before brushing the tears off of her cheeks. We both turned to address our families, wide smiles on our faces. Dorina quickly turned around before tossing her bouquet of flowers. I watched as the dozen roses sailed through the air before nailing Petru in the face. He fought the flowers and made eye contact with a servant girl who blushed. I threw my arms out, 

"Let's get this fucking party started!" 

My mother looked at me disapprovingly as the guest cheered before filing out to the courtyard where the rest of the servants had prepared the feast. Food was placed on the tables as the guests took their seats. Dorina and I took our spot next to my mother and father in the seat of honor. I immediately downed the tankard that was set in front of me by a servant. Looking around myself I felt warmth radiate from my core. I was surrounded by so much happiness and love that it washed away all the negative thoughts that had been in the corner of my mind since I had those visions. I looked over to Dorina who was speaking with my mother. Vlad was out of his seat excitedly talking with Vasile. Petru had disappeared with the servant girl. Cazan was brooding in a corner, somehow we had forgotten him at the tavern. I felt Dorina take my hand and pull me from my seat. Music started playing as she pulled me to the center of the courtyard. In my past life I had never been much of a dancer, Mirena had made me take etiquette courses once she saw my abysmal attempts at a waltz years ago. 

As Dorina and I spun around the courtyard in a world of our own she looked at me and smiled, 

"So what's this I hear about you fighting a dancer named Charles?" 

"My mother told you," she nodded. "What else did she tell you?"

"Oh, she just mentioned something about you wanting copious amounts of something with me." 

I stumbled a bit and she giggled as she hid her face in my chest. As the music changed and more guests joined us on the 'floor' I led Dorina to the rear of the courtyard. We made our way to the fountain where we had our first conversation. 

"This is where we first talked and where you told me about your life before this." She smiled. "You know, I meant everything I said in my vow." 

She took my hand. " So did I Cas."  

"We might be the only ones who know what's about to happen, and have the ability to change things."  

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there."  

Kissing her again I savored the taste of her lips. She leaned into the kiss feeling it, I felt her tongue trace my lips asking for entrance. Before it could progress a cough drew our attention. Pulling away from a blushing Dorina I looked at the one who had interrupted our moment. Mirena was looking at the both of us, Vlad at her side. Soon Dorina's parents joined them. 

"It's time for the bedding ceremony." I felt heat cream into my ears. 

"Mother, father, I know… there doesn't need to be an audience." 

Before they could protest I picked up Dorina in a princess style carry and ran off to my room. Dorina was giggling as I kicked the doors open to the hall and continued on my way. Dodging servant and guest I finally kicked the door to my room open and threw Dorina on my bed before slamming the doors shut and sliding the lock shut. 

"Oh, Casimir," Dorina said in a teasing tone. " I didn't know you liked playing rough."  

Feeling a blush on my face betraying my emotion I kicked off my boots and unbuckled my belt letting my sword clatter on the floor. Dorina yelped as I jumped into my bed joining her into a night of passion, the promise of many more yet to come. 

[Line Break] 

I woke up to a knock on my door, Dorina's hair spread across my bare chest. I untangled myself from her embrace as I quickly pulled on some pants. Unlocking my door I pulled it open revealing Vlad who looked at me with a knowing smirk. 

"Breakfast is ready in the halls son, your mother wanted to send a servant girl but I wanted to spare them the embarrassment." 

"How noble of you father." He laughed as he walked away. "We'll be joining shortly!" I called out to his retreating form. 

I closed the door again just as Dorina sleepily sat up on my bed. Rubbing her eyes she look at me,

" What time is it?"  

"Love, I couldn't possibly know that, they haven't invented clocks yet."  

Dodging the pillow she threw at my head I laughed as I finished getting dressed and buckling my sword onto my hip. 

"Don't be an ass," she got out of bed on shaky legs. "I'll join you once I wash up a bit."  

Nodding, I left her to do her business as I made my way to the main hall a strut in my step. I was embarrassed to say that I had died a Virgin in my past life. Dorina had a laugh about it when I told her a while back. Inexperience aside, we had both enjoyed ourselves the previous night. Years of training had paid off as my stamina was top notch.

As I took my seat I failed to notice the knowing looks that people threw my way. Piling food on my plate, I took a bite of meat as I met my mothers eyes. I stopped chewing as she smiled, a look of deviousness passing on her face before she started talking. 

"So Casimir, how was your first night with your bride." 

"It was fine," I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you ask?" 

Still smiling, she continued. "Well, the servants informed me that they had heard screaming coming from your room late into the night. Some even said that they heard moaning early into this morning."

Coughing and sputtering could be heard around the table. I dropped the bone I was holding and was about to reply when Dorina entered the room. 

"Lady Mirena, Casimir was just showing me how amazing  his sword was." 

I wanted to smash my head through the table. More coughs came from around the table. Vlad looked like he was going to fall over. Mirena looked at Dorina and smiled. 

"In fact Casimir showed me some brilliant moves with it. I even polished it for him after he was done showing me his moves." 

I groaned silently and attempted to sink into my chair to hide from the embarrassment. My mother was at a loss for words, a slight blush on her face. As Dorina took her spot next to me, Mirena stood up and dragged Vlad out of the main hall. Looking at Dorina I whispered to her,

"That's the first time someone has actually managed to out embarrass my mother." 

Dorina smiled as she started putting food onto her plate. 

"Well, she's going to have to get used to it. I'm her new daughter after all." 

Pouring myself a cup of water I looked around the room, guests and servants alike were avoiding my gaze. Had we been too loud? Making a mental note to soundproof our future room I resumed eating.