The princess and the dragon

The princess woke one morning to yet another day of royal

duties. Two ladies maids came in and swept her out of bed and

into her garb for the day. She went along with it only because she

had no other choice. It felt like a tornado every morning. The

incessant pulling of her hair to get it just right for the court that

day. 

“Which crown my lady?“ One of them asked. 

“Marie I have told you before to call me by my name please. ” Looking at the crowns that I could choose from a feeling of boredom washed over me not for the first time.

“Yes but that is just not proper. You are a princess so I must address you as such.“ I rolled my eyes at her.

“What do you think of my request Zia?” I asked turning to the younger of the two.

“Ha ha, I love your name Ember. Title or not to me following the princesses wishes is what we should do, at least in private.” She beamed. 

“Thank you Zia. I will do this crown.“ I said pointing to a silver crown set with turquoise and diamonds, bordered by beautiful spiral carvings on the outer edge.

Looking in the mirror as Marie placed the crown, I wished for a simpler life. Something that wasn’t quite so demanding, the protocol of meeting dignitaries nearly every day was overwhelming more and more each day. The queen was teaching me to rule the kingdom one day. 

A knock sounded drawing me from my thoughts. Nodding to Zia giving my permission to open the door turning to face whoever was coming in. 

“Are you ready your highness?” It was one of the guards. I did not recognize her.

“Yes, but were is Callum? He is usually my escort. And who are you?” I sincerely hoped it wasn’t another changing of the guard. 

“I am Jaylin.” She said bowing. “Callum is with your mother the queen. Are you ready to join them?”

Walking down the corridor, we came to one of the biggest doors in the palace. On the other side was a strategy room. Everyone from diplomats seeking an alliance to military officers met in there. I came to a stop. 

Jaylin moved to open it. “Are you coming?” Feeling as stiff as a board, I forced myself to move. Voices were raised as I entered. My mother sat at the opposite end of the room on her throne. She should have looked regal but all I saw was tired eyes behind a slipping mask of patience. Moving to take my seat at her side, the argument barely lulled before continuing. 

“What is this about mother?” I asked quietly as I settled into my throne. 

“I’m not sure anymore. It started as a misunderstanding and now no one can stop them.”

“Has it come to blows?” She shook her head. The two men suddenly stood up even more angry. A senator named Darren grabbed the closest man to him.

“Enough! Calm down..” Darren dodged as the man turned on him. The man’s eyes went as wide as saucers when he saw me and my mother. He stammered an apology and sat down. The other man sat also. 

Some time later the morning meeting ended. It took everything in me not to run out of the room, I was hungry and hadn’t had time for breakfast. I snuck down to the kitchens to see if the cook had anything left to give to me. Every so often she did. 

“Senna?” I went through the open doorway. Lunch dishes were in various preparation stages. All of the breakfast things were already cleaned up or being cleaned by kitchen maids. Looking around a bit, I found a plate of scones sitting under a warming cover. “Is the cook here?” I asked the maid. 

“No your highness. You didn’t receive your breakfast tray today?” She stated with a nod. “We can spare a few scones, take some.” she smiled returning to her work. I wished that I hadn’t missed Senna she’d become a friend over the years. 

People greeted me as I passed them in the halls on the way to my favorite spot to be alone. I visited the north watch tower once a week because it was the least visited tower. The north side of the Palace faced the mountains so most of the time no one was concerned about an attack from that direction. 

Sitting down I unwrapped the scones and watched for a friend. After a few minutes of nothing I decided he wasn’t coming this time. 

“Ember you’re late.”

“I’m late? I think you’re late. I’ve been here for ten minutes. How come you are still invisible Soren?” I asked turning towards the sound of his voice holding out a scone. 

“I was here before that but left because you didn’t show. I’m not invisible it’s camouflage. I can blend into my surroundings.”

Shaking my head I responded, “You’re invisible to me so I will call it that.” As he moved I saw him. He was small for a dragon, his scales shimmered and became green and gold. My breath caught as I saw him it didn’t matter that I’d expected it, he was beautiful. 

“Again Ember?” Opening his wings for balance as he hopped to the wall he turned to face me and took it. 

“Well if we saw each other more I probably wouldn’t do it. Your scales are stunning to me though.” Leaning against the wall I looked out wondering which mountain peak Soren called home. He seamed to read my mind. 

“You can’t see my home from here. I live deeper in the mountains than these four peeks.” I looked at him. “I come this far for you. We are friends right?” I moved to sit next to him.

“A princess and a dragon are friends. My people wouldn’t believe that. I’m not sure that I do.”

“Not a princess and dragon. Me and you, Ember and Soren two young people. Friends because we get along.” Zia and Senna treated me as a girl not a princess so I saw them as friends. My tittle didn’t matter to them I did Soren was the same. Would the other dragons do the same?

“Can I go there with you?” 

“My home?” I nodded. His tail flicked back and forth. “You would like it there but this,” he gestured with his wing, “Is your home. You want to leave it?” He asked in disbelief. 

“I want adventure more than sitting in there safe and unchallenged every day. I want to see some of the world to learn something new.” Soren handed back the scone I hadn’t realized I’d thrown. My cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

“The world is big I haven’t ventured passed your kingdom. I’m still a young dragon it would raise alarm in my nest if I did.” I scoffed at him. Shaking his head almost like a dog he continued. “I’m a small dragon because I am young, not as young as you but still young for a dragon.”

“What is your true age then? Not fifteen like me?” He flicked his tail and smiled in amusement. 

“Well the dragons of my clan can live for one thousand years.” My eyes widened in surprise, before I could ask more questions he put one talon up and continued, “I’m thirty I’ll be fully grown around one hundred.”

“Really? But you’re small you told me so. How would that be possible?” Soren laughed at me. 

“You’re not an especially tall human. Aren’t you expecting a few more growth spurts before you turn 20?” I took his point I did have some more growing to do. 

Looking at the sun high over head I realized I would have to go soon. “So if I did go with you to your home how would that work? Standing on your hind legs you're as tall as me. We would have to walk there because you couldn’t carry me could you?“

Cocking his head slightly he wore a confused expression “It’s too far to walk without proper preparation. I actually could cary you but we would have to land a few times before we got there. Today isn’t a good day to go though I’m sure you have many things left to do and I’m expected back soon.” He was right but I didn’t like the idea of going inside again. We parted ways and promised to meet again soon. 

Reluctantly I descended the stairs leaving the inviting sunshine behind me. In the corridor I stopped one more time at a window Soren was already out of sight. I felt a twinge of separation from my friend as I often did. 

Moving on down the corridor I heard, “There you are Ember I’ve been looking for you.” I looked up as my mother fell into stride with me. “Where have you been?”

“I was at the top of the north tower. I needed some time to myself I saw that the sun was out so I wanted to spend some time in it.” 

“Were you looking out of the mountains again? You have always been fascinated by them.” My cheeks reddened I had forgotten how well she new me. 

“I have a question about the dragon lands. How much do we know about them?“ She halted in surprise before continuing forward. “I just think it'd be interesting to learn about them.”

“Well I don’t know much myself, but I do know that we have a section in the library on them. They keep to themselves and we keep to ourselves we maintain a kind of peace that way. Some legends say that we used to go to war against dragons. Those stories never had a happy ending. Aside from tea time this afternoon we’re not doing anything else if you would like you can spend the afternoon in the library.”

“What if one dragon ventured out hypothetically, what do you think that would mean?” She didn’t answer right away we continue toward our appointment. 

“Ember this is really something you should look at in the library.” Throughout teatime I kept coming up with more questions. I couldn’t hardly wait to get to the library. 

Hours later I closed yet another book. Already reading several that afternoon they seemed to contradict each other. Some of them said the dragons were good others said they were bad. 

I tapped my finger on my chin, “Soren he had a clan are there different clans?” 

“Yes young princess there are different clans of dragons.” I hadn’t even realized i had spoken aloud I looked up and saw Darren. 

“Sorry didn’t mean to frighten you.” He gestured to the seat next to me. “May I?” I nodded sitting more upright. 

“You didn’t really interrupt anything. I had already finished this book I’m just trying to puzzle out why they’re so contradictory of each other. But if there are different clans are the different books speaking of the different clans?” I colored in embarrassment as I realized I was rambling I had a tendency for that.

“Sorry that was a lot of questions if you don’t know the answers I’ll just go back to the books.” I reached for another book.

Darren chuckled, “ I don’t know if every book speaks of a different clan. I do know that the dragons history is just as diverse in our own they have many different places they live just as we do. I’m not sure what they called them selves but I would imagine it is like a settlement like we have different kingdoms and small villages.” I suspected as much when Soren told me about his nest but I still wanted to go with him perhaps even more so now. 

“Darren have you had any experience with Dragons? I know you’ve traveled between villages and things of that nature, that’s why I’m wondering.” I ran my hand over the spine and cover of my book. 

He wore a slightly amused expression, “ I do travel a lot. I wouldn’t say that I’ve interacted with a Dragons though I have seen them from a distance. I didn’t dare get closer than I had been that day that I saw one. What I know is that they do like to trade for precious metals or anything you find precious.

Although most often it is metals and jewels.” 

I pursed my lips thinking for a moment. “Have you ever seen or heard of anyone having an opportunity to visit one of the dragons homes?” I knew I was going about this in a roundabout way but I just didn’t know how he’d react to me having a friend from a Dragons.

“No I can’t say that I have princess. I’ve heard that in some border villages and towns that children supposedly make friends with younger dragons I’ve never seen it happen. When these children make friends with the dragons they go away for a while and then come back sometime later a month, a year I’m not sure the accounts are all different. My point is when they come back they’re never really harmed but they’re more hardened.” He seemed to be struggling with the last word. “Harden isn’t right experienced I suppose. Whatever they experience with the dragon it seems to help them somehow here in the human realms.” I thanked him and we parted ways.

A few days later I was back at the top of the north tower ready to see Soren and ready to go. I had spent nearly a week thinking about it and spoken to my mother. She agreed that I should go for a little while. 

“Are you sure about this Ember? You’re trading what you have for something you don’t know.” Soren asked landing on the same edge he’d been on the week before. I looked behind me one last time my mother was in the doorway.

“You will protect her?” Stepping towards us she met Soren‘s gaze. “She is my whole world.”

“Of course.” He said with a nod, “she’s my friend I will protect her as long as we’re together.” He opened his wings in a protective gesture.

“Good luck, be safe,” she hugged me tightly.

“I will, I will even send messages when I can. I’ll be back before you know it.” Turning around Soren got into takeoff position and I climbed onto his back.

“Are you ready? This might be a bumpy ride.” I told him I was turning one more time to wave goodbye to my mother we launched into the sky flying towards the mountains.