The Hidden Princess: Kingdom's Fate (book three)

Chapter Twelve: Would You Have Room for Another Friend?

I groaned as I lay awake in my bed; wondering how long I could pretend to be asleep before being dragged from my bed and into reality. I heard a small giggle and opened my eyes to see Sparrow at the end of my bed. "What are you doing in here? Your chambers are a few doors down..." I said. Rowen and Sparrow and been given a smaller chamber to share while my brothers all shared one. Emree had her own as well.

Sparrow grinned. "I wanted to be the first to see you! It's my first Nivetarian ball and I want to have all the time possible to get ready!" she said, bouncing up and down on my bed.

Reaching out my arms, I quickly wrapped them around her waist and pulled her onto the bed holding her close. "Just lay with me for a few minutes, then we will get up," I said. She argued for a moment then lay still. Smiling to myself I soon realized that she had fallen back asleep. I carefully slid from the bed and made my way to the window seat. Sighing, I felt for the necklace around my neck. "I wish you were here," I said, thinking of Nikolai. I told him it would be better if he stayed, but I truly wanted him beside me. I felt myself start shaking as the task ahead caught up with me. Not only was I in an unknown country seeking out the man who had murdered my family and countless others, but I was also tasked with mending a wound between two countries that had grown deeper each year. I sat contemplating what was ahead until a soft knock brought me back to the present. Quickly gliding across the floor, I cracked the door open to find Benedict standing on the other side. He went to say something, but then must have caught the look on my face. He remained quiet as he walked into my chambers then pulled me close.

After a few moments, he gently released me from his embrace but kept a hand on my shoulder. "Has everything finally caught up to you?" he asked. I nodded and he moved his hand from my shoulder to my hand and led me back to the window seat. "I know our situations are very different, but there was a time when Orion first told me I would become a lieutenant and that had me shaking in my boots. I had always been a follower. Even in my first two and a half years as an apprentice, I was a follower. I wanted other people to make all of the decisions. However, Orion saw leadership qualities within me and guided me to start to fulfill my potential," he said, pausing to smile down at me. "You have those same qualities and so much more. From the very beginning, we all saw your gift of leadership. We saw the way you cared about everyone and would give of yourself to make sure others succeeded. For a while, we all thought it simply meant you would be one of the finest Dragons ever," he said, chuckling as I ducked my head in embarrassment. "Then, when we discovered your true identity it was clear that you not only were born into the role of leader, but had been raised to fill that role," he said reaching over and lifting my chin. "You have not only filled that role, but you are thriving in it. The way you have handled all the tragedy and chaos thrown at you has proved you have more than enough to lead Auroja and make it into a flourishing country and I'm pretty sure you are still going to manage to be one of the finest Dragons ever," he said smiling at me.

Taking a shaky breath, I nodded. "Thank you. There are so many days I question whether I am truly the right choice for the throne. There are so many others that have more training and knowledge."

"Yet, none of them have the heart for our people and our country that you have," he pushed.

"And none of them have all the supporting family that I have," I said smiling up at my brother. "I could never have come as far as I have without you and all the Dragons. To have not only your loyalty to the throne, but to have your friendship, is one of the reasons I have come this far," I said.

Benedict smiled at me taking my hand in his. "And we are honored to have a sister such as you," he said, squeezing my hand. "I just came to make sure you were awake," he added, going to stand.