D-043: Castle of Light

Doris walked through the halls of her castle. The perpetual frown that graced her face was present as usual. Ira trotted behind her rider, unfazed by the expression. She’d been around long enough to know that the frown rarely left. When it did, it left for a deeper frown or grimace it seemed. That, or a look of hurt and betrayal. Ira wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her rider smile in the 20 something years she’d been with her. Ira smiled for the both of them now.

Doris’ castle had many rooms, spiraling towers, 2 dining halls, massive kitchens, an exquisite library in the dome of the biggest tower, and quite a few music rooms. It had a grand hall and a literal throne room that sometimes Doris entered to feel important. They rarely had visitors to the castle. Doris always complained that her children and grandchildren never visited, but never took kindly to the suggestion Ira would sometimes make that it was due to the frown and lack of appreciation they got. Doris never left the first floor anymore. Her other dragon had once made the suggestion of putting in elevators so Doris could move from floor to floor easily and enjoy the full range of her castle. She’d merely scoffed at the idea and claimed adding “those machines” would ruin the authenticity of the castle. She was very big on authenticity and not repairing old things. She felt very strongly that artifacts were important and should be preserved but not meddled with. “Look but don’t touch” seemed to apply to most of Doris’ current life. Ira had been around long enough to know when she could get away with ignoring that rule and when it actually applied. The little dragon was quite sure that this rule also factored into Doris’ family not bringing their children around. Every little one would be scolded for touching things.

Doris opened the door to the room she occupied most often. This was a short walk from her bedroom and another short walk from the most lavish bathroom. It was a sitting room with several artifacts on display. They all held a story. Ira had been there when they’d acquired a few, but not for all. Doris’ other dragon had been around for the majority of them. They were far older than Ira and had been Doris’ companion on her adventures for many years. The artifacts were all from Doris’ youth and adult life. She’d brought them back from escapades and trips she’d taken. There had been a time, Ira mused, when Doris’ fiery spirit and stubbornness had led her to new places and on adventures. Now she just grumbled around the castle and her best qualities had become her worst.

Doris settled down into her favorite armchair. She did own a few electronic machines. A sound machine full of recorded books sat next to her chair, and Doris loved to listen to her books while resting or watching out the vast window in the room. Rarely did anything other than a bird move in the outside world, but still Doris seemed to enjoy watching the world from the comfort of her chair. She was too old to venture far out into it anymore. Ira jumped up into her bed. She had an ottoman next to Doris’ chair with a massive dog bed in it. The long-necked dragon curled into her bed and rested her head on the edge. The sound of the book on tape drifted through the room. Robinson Crusoe it seemed was today’s winner. Ira closed her eyes. This life was very comfortable to her and she enjoyed having Doris as her rider, despite the old lady’s flaws.