The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

The expression on his face was worth it. A mixture of shock, happiness, and something else…

He grabs me into his arms and lifts me up, twirling me in the air. And when he puts me down, he covers my lips with a greedy k**s. We both know what’s coming next…

But a sudden knock on our door ruins our great plans.

“If these are your friends, I am going to kill them,” Rien grits through his teeth.

“They are your friends too now,” I chuckle and then shout, “Come in!”

The door opens and Agnes in a light blue and gold dress comes in.

“I need to speak to you both”, she says, going straight to our balcony as well. There, she passes both of us and comes up to the rails, placing her hands onto it. For a minute her grip seems so strong that I am afraid she is going to break it. She looks nervous, agitated… The dragon princess almost shaking.

“Agnes,” I say carefully, “Are you all right? You don’t look like yourself.”

“I was wrong,” she says quietly and I gasp, but Rien decides to add oil to the fire.

“I am sorry, I didn’t hear you. What was that?”

I hit him with my elbow with all my might. But this man is made of stone!

“I was wrong!” Agnes repeats, louder this time, “I was wrong about soulmates and about you two… I… I took you to the Seer because I was sure that she would help you see how things really are… I mean, how I thought they are… I thought she would say that you have to stay here… Or maybe even that you shouldn’t be together at all. I didn’t expect to hear that you will have a happy life together…with many children… At least one becoming a great King. It’s…It’s fascinating!”

We both say nothing. Because there is nothing to say in a situation like this! I can’t believe that even finding out that I am with child she thought that we might need to separate still!

“I am so happy for you both!” she says, a single tear rolling down her cheek, “I really didn’t think that it was possible… But what’s more important, I was sure that dragons can only be safe here. That the life we lead here is good… Now I see that it is not the case. To be free is good, to meet your soulmate is good. Even though it might hurt. But if I am completely honest, I am happy that at least I had Aaron for some short time… It’s better than not knowing what real love is… And now I look at the two of you and…And I know that this is how it should be!”

“Happy to hear all that, dear Aunt,” Rien smiles at her and so do I.

I can’t believe we have melted the iceberg that is called Agnes, The Dragon Princess.

“There is something else,” she turns to us, “Thanks to the Seer I now know that dragons will have a place in the world behind the walls of Agnegard… Your son will lead them and protect them. And probably your other children, and I am happy that you are going to have many, too. So…So I want to help you!”

“Help us with what?” I ask carefully, not to raise my hopes up. I need her to clarify that first.

“I want to help you to win that war as fast as possible!” she smirks, “I’ll speak to father and I’ll do everything I can to help your cause. Believe me.”

“Thank you!” I run up to her and give her the biggest and warmest hug. Already in the process of it I realize that the princess is not used to things like that, considering how awkward her body against mine is. But in a couple of more seconds her hands land on my shoulders, patting it. Not very naturally, but I take it still and count that for an embrace.

“Agnes, this means a lot to us,” Rien says, “You have no idea! Thank you so much!”

“You’ll thank me later,” she smiles, “And now I have to go. I have a lot of work to do! I just wanted you to know first and to apologize.”

Apologize, huh? There wasn’t a word of apology if I remember her speech correctly. But of course, I stay silent about that!

“By the way,” she pauses at the door and looks at us, “I need your permission to disclose some things that the Seer have said. Not that last part, though. Will you let me?”

“Yes,” I say at once. Anything for her help. Gods know we need it!

“I do not mind as well,” Rien agrees.

“Oh, and about that last part,” the dark-haired princess says, “I wouldn’t be too worried. Those things can be interpreted in different ways. Everything comes true but not always in the way you think it will originally. I am sure he’ll be fine. But pay attention to everything and look for signs.”

Agnes leaves and I throw myself into Rien’s arms, giggling happily.

“There is still a chance, right?” I look at him.

“I think there is,” he agrees with me, kissing my nose, “Also, you and Agnes have just brought me an idea…”

In the morning, we decide to go to our friends’ little house and discuss everything there one more time. We all need hope and now we finally have some.

I dress up nicely into a beautiful light pale dusky pink dress made of sheer fabric. It starts with a necklace-like collar with crystals and goes down to a matching belt, flowing freely from there with a small train behind me. The back is opened but there is a cape going from sewn with the same crystals shoulder pads all the way down to the floor. The look is light and airy. And I can’t help but fall in love with it. I leave my hair down but wear a matching diadem on my forehead that finishes off the whole outfit.

And Rien’s eyes when he sees me are worth all the time spent putting it on and all the effort.

“I have to say that I am the luckiest man alive,” he chuckles and k****s my hand.

“Only because you make me the happiest woman,” I smile at him.

He opens the door for me and this is the first surprise of the day. Around our entrance, we find a few lit candles and flowers.

“What is this?” I ask my fiancé in surprise, “Did you do it?”

“No,” he rubs his chin, “I don’t know where that came from…”

“Hm, strange then,” I shake my shoulders but decide not to pay too much attention to it, “Let’s go. Maybe it’s just some kind of dragon tradition we still don’t know about. Let’s visit the library here later today. I think we really need to learn as much as we can while we are here!”

“Considering that our son will be a dragon,” Rien chuckles, “I think that’s a good idea.”

We walk out of the palace and that’s where the second surprise of the day reaches us. A huge staircase in front of us is also filled with lit candles, flowers, and what looks like gifts. I notice baskets with food and small dolls, fabrics, and even jewellery pieces.

“Rien, something is definitely up,” I whisper to my gerdian while holding his hand.

“I cannot agree with you more,” he replies, looking at all the things as we go down.

“She is here!” someone shouts and I flinch, “Agnelind is here!”

Agnelind? Who the chaos is Agnelind?

I notice how people are standing at the bottom of the stairs looking somewhere in our direction and can’t help but look behind us. Maybe this Agnelind person is there?

“Agnelind! Agnelind!” I hear voices coming from different directions. And all those people are definitely looking at me!

We go down the stairs and people from all sides are trying to touch me, my dress, my hair. I am pretty sure now that I am this Agnelind… I wonder what it means… But probably something good as everyone is smiling and if crying – it looks like happy tears…

“Bless us, Agnelind!” a woman next to me begs and I feel awkward.

“Share your fire with us!” another says.

At some moment there are so many of them that Rien pulls me by my hand into his tight embrace and dark flames surround us. When I open my eyes, we are both in the reception room at the little house. But no one is here.

Suddenly a loud m**n comes out from the boys’ bedroom and my cheeks flush. What the chaos? Another m**n and then one more… And it’s none of the boys… It’s a woman’s voice…

“Yes, Rick, Yes!” the female shouts and I already regret that we came here.

“Rien, we’d better go back!” I turn to my gerdian and he smirks, knocking off a vase from a table. It breaks into tiny pieces over the flameglass floor, creating a lot of noise.

“Not yet,” he chuckles and waves his hand for his dark flame to destroy the evidence. The m***s disappear and out of the girls’ bedroom run out Dereck and Isidore. The latter fixes her disheveled hair and her lips look swollen. Oh, my… We really shouldn’t have come.

“Hi!” Isidore squeaks, trying to act as if everything is normal, “What are you doing here?”

“Interrupting something obviously!” Rien snorts, “Pardon us!”

“That Rick is such an animal,” Isidore clears her throat, “There is a new dragon girl every day here! Sometimes even more than that!”

“Terrible! Simply terrible!” Derrien chuckles, eyeing them both while I turn completely red.

The door to the boys’ bedroom opens and a dragoness in a pastel green dress walks out, holding her shoes in her hands. And after a while, Rick follows tucking his shirt into his pants. Typical of him and not the first time I am witnessing a scene like this.

“Hi!” he smiles like a cat who just ate a whole big fish, absolutely not embarrassed.

“Honestly, Rick,” I roll my eyes, “And what if they decide that you are too good to let you go and imprison you’re here?!”

“Then that would be the death of the brave,” he winks at me, “But honestly, it’s your fault!”

“What?” I look at him in shock.

“Yeah,” he snorts, “Have you heard how they call you?”

“You mean this Agnelind stuff?” I raise my brow.

“Yeah, that,” he nods, pouring himself a glass of water, “Agnelind is their Goddess of Fertility.”

Rien and I look at each other with open mouths.

“And why would they think that?” I can’t comprehend what is going on.

“Because you are with child,” Dereck says calmly, “For them… It’s an event of their lives! They haven’t had children in a while. For some reason, dragons who are not soulmates can’t have children together. That’s why you are now a Goddess to them.”

“Yeah,” Isidore chimes, “One of Rick’s girlfriends shared all this with us while she was waiting her turn…”

Rick! You dog…

“They say that even the presence of Agnelind can make miracles,” Rick says, “That’s why I’ve been so busy lately. Serving ladies of Agnegards as their…’

“WE GOT IT!” I stop him before he says more.

Oh, gods! Unbelievable!

A knock on the door disturbs our uncomfortable conversation. But no one hurries to let the unknown guest in and when I look questioningly at my friends, Isidore snorts, “Well, we are not waiting for anyone! It’s either your devotees or Ricks!”

“And I am closed for the day,” a smile spreads over my friend’s face.

Rien sighs heavily and goes to open the door. Surprisingly, it’s Agnes. Gods, I hope she is not requiring Rick’s services!

“Derrien, grandfather wishes to speak to you,” she smiles at my fiancé, “And the sooner the better!”