Dragon’s Breath

I wake up early with a jump in my step. Happy is too vague a word to describe the emotions I'm feeling. At the prospect of seeing Flavius, my heart feels like it's going to rip from my chest. Maybe I'm overly eager about being with him, but now that I know he's my mate, that he's mine, I can't help but want to be closer. I crave to be near him, to know more about him.

Grabbing some clothes, I stick them in a small bag as I jump out my room window I faze a burst of violet fog expelling from my body, heading for the lake.

Upon my arrival, I do not see Flavius, so I faze back and wait. I wait until late into the morning. But he never comes.

When I finally come to terms with the fact that he's not coming, I head back to the castle. I find it strange that Flavius wasn't there waiting for me like he usually is. Did I scare him off? Maybe I'm being too straightforward? I don't want to scare him. That's not my intention, but maybe for his sake, I should slow down my pursuit. After all, I did push all of my issues and beliefs onto him fairly quickly. I hope with time we can be together.

Walking through the halls, I notice there are more servants than usual bustling around. After Gregory's announcement for my wedding, things seemed to get busier. And I couldn't hate it more. The busier the castle is, the more people there are. I've dealt with enough people to last me several lifetimes. I miss being in the horde where there is less commotion. Dragons live in smaller groups in my horde we average a hundred and fifty strong.

I wander the halls with nothing better to do, I head to Gregory's office. Knocking on the door I hear a faint, 'come in'. I walk into the room excitedly and pull up a chair. I take a moment to look at Gregory, noticing his normally perfect hair is in disarray. His eyes are hanging low with deep purple bags. His body is sagging with exhaustion, but when he peeks up at me, his eyes suddenly fill with light that wasn't previously there.

"Nora my dear, I'm so glad to see you. You seem to be in a good mood. Do tell, what has you so excited?" He inquires.

I lean back into the chair with a wide smile grazing my lips. There's so much to tell him, I don't know where to start. I do hope that a light-hearted conversation will help to ease some of his obvious troubles. Gregory spends so much time worrying about others, I wonder when he finds the time to worry about himself. I can't help but think how hard it must be to be a king, thinking of the well-being of others before yourself. This is a burden I know I couldn't handle, which makes me respect him all the more.

Thinking for a moment, I finally decide what I need to say, "I would like to start by apologizing to you for what happened yesterday. I allowed my anger to take control and for that I'm sorry," I say with my eyes cast down.

Gregory heaves a gentle sigh.

"Nora, dear, there is no reason to apologize. It happens to even the best of us. Besides, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to get the information we needed." His smooth, calming words help ease some of my worries. I don't know what I would have done if he was upset with me. The last thing I want is to see his disappointment aimed at me.

"Thank you truly, Gregory," I say.

With a light smile, he shakes his head. "Now, tell me, what has you so happy?"he asks.

With his question, I feel my body once again blooming with bright white happiness. One I am completely unfamiliar with, but is welcomed.

"After Flavius took me away yesterday we had a moment...," I trail off.

Should I be telling him this considering it's his son I am due to marry? Well, I've said too much to go back now.

"A moment of romance, I can assume due to that doting look on your face," Gregory guesses.

"Yes. I used to think I'd never meet a man like him, much less a human. But with him, I feel that even the line between races can be broken," I tell him happily.

Gregory stares at me with sorrow-filled eyes.

"I'm glad to see you like this, I truly wish that I could help. But as of right now, your wedding with Geoffrey is a priority. You understand, don't you?" He says this, placing a hand on my shoulder. Saying this, he looks more upset than I do.

My heart feels as though it's being strangled. The thought of marrying Geoffrey makes me sick. But I'm bound by duty, for now, and I will have to continue with this marriage. No matter what, though, I will find a way out.

"Y-Yes I understand," I croak out suddenly feeling on the verge of tears.

With a weak smile, Gregory says, "Worry not, my dear; things always have a way of working themselves out. Try not to worry too much about things that are out of your hands."

"Alright, I'll try." For him, I'd try almost anything, I owe him a lot.

A light silence envelopes the room. I sit in the chair staring at the ceiling. As much as I'm glad I met Flavius considering my current situation, things might have been easier if he never met me. I've caused so much change in his life and in such little time too.

At my sudden thoughts, my body begins to tremble as an overwhelming sadness builds within me. Why is it when things begin to feel right they start to go wrong all over again?

Gregory clears his throat.

"Today I've set up for you to meet with Evalene and a dressmaker so you can begin picking out the fabric for your wedding dress."

My head snaps to him.

"When is the appointment?" I ask.

"Evalene should be sending a maid for you here shortly," he informs me.

A wedding dress, huh. I never truly enjoyed understood why humans held such grand celebrations for the union of two people. It's honestly such a pain. Something simple would be much better.

"We just announced the wedding yesterday, is it really necessary to begin working on the dress now?" I ask.

"I understand that this isn't what you want to be doing, but making a wedding dress for a royal is quite a long project. If we start now the dress will be finished sooner," he tells me.

"Oh, I see. That makes sense. I think I can survive that," I sigh.

Having to help with the making of the dress doesn't bother me too much, but is it really necessary for Evalene to be there? I'd rather not have to deal with that woman, she's already a pain as it is.

"While we're waiting for you to be called on, care for a game of chess?" Gregory offers.

Chess sounds nice.

"I'd love to," I say.

We move from his desk to the table by the fireplace. We play chess for a while and I win all but one game.

"How did you become so good at this game? I've never played with anyone who has such skill," Gregory asks.

"My grandfather loves chess, and taught me to play when I was little," I tell him.

Speaking of my grandfather brings back fond memories from my childhood. Grandfather used to come to visit me and my brother when we were little. That is until he had a falling out with my father, I never saw him again after that. Grandfather is one of the few dragons still alive that lived during the reign of king Syke. His knowledge and power know no bounds.

"Your grandfather must be very good," Gregory comments.

"Yes he is, he's the only person I have yet to beat, he's not only good at chess but many other things as well. My grandfather is one of the few remaining elder dragons since the Fire of Alira." I say.

"I have heard the term leader dragon but I'm not quite sure what being one entails if you don't mind me asking," Gregory questions.

"A dragon receives the term of elder once they live for ten thousand years. The older a dragon is the stronger they become elder dragons are the strongest," I explain.

"There's a lot you could learn from a person that old," Gregory comments.

"Yeah I could it's too bad my father no longer allows grandfather to come to the horde," I say sadly.

"Tell me dear how old is your father," Gregory asks curiously.

"My father is a little over one thousand five hundred years old. He actually hatched during the Fires of Alira," I tell him.

Suddenly, someone knocks on the door.

"You may enter," Gregory says, looking at the door. It's pushed open, and a maid walks in.

Curtsying, she says, "Her majesty has requested princess Eleonora's presence for the making of her wedding gown."

Standing up I thank Gregory for his company and leave with the maid. She leads me through the hall and into a large fitting room. The room is filled with fabrics of many shades of white and laces of many designs. The maid has me sit in a seat while I wait for the arrival of the queen.

With only a few minutes of waiting, Evalene arrives with a man who I assume to be the dressmaker. He's clothed in fine silk with his brown hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"Now then, let us begin with choosing the fabrics. And Eleonora, do try not to be so picky. I have other matters to attend to after this," Evalene says in a commanding voice.

I can tell already I'm going to have one long afternoon ahead of me.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter don’t forget to like and comment.- Ray