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

Epilogue

Sighing in contentment, I leaned into Nikolai's side. The sun was setting and we were gathered in the library with our friends and family. We had spent the day celebrating my birthday. That morning, I was woken by fourteen of my fifteen nieces and nephews, Thatcher, Aaron and Ally's son, being the only one not there as they had gone back to Hillsdale to restart the village. After breakfast we had escaped to the woods outside of Jarrow for a day of exploring and relaxation. For dinner Chloe and the ladies had taken over the castle kitchen to prepare a meal from childhood. Shortly after dinner the nursery maids had taken the children to give us adults time alone.

"So I am thinking due to all the excitement, we should call training off for tomorrow," Alakay said, slipping his arm around his wife Nadea and pulling her close.

The other Dragons quickly nodded their agreement while Erik sat shaking his head. "Nice try. You were lucky I gave you all today off," he said.

"If you hadn't your wife would have had your head. We all know who really runs the Dragons," James shot, earning a playful glare from their general.

Nikolai stretched and slowly slid from his spot behind me and stood, earning a cry of protest from myself. He smiled down at me and pulled me up, intertwining his fingers with mine. "Not that this argument isn't entertaining, but I am going to kidnap my wife for the rest of her birthday," he said.

"I enjoy being kidnapped by you," I said, smiling up at him.

"Yeah, well we object!" Kole cried half-heartedly from his position on the floor with his wife Miriam.

"Yeah, well you're just a Dragon. I'm married to the queen and I believe she'll side with me on this one," Nikolai shot back.

"Erik! Do something! Sam's still a Dragon and you are the general," James urged.

Erik sighed. "Sam, stay," he said. When Nikolai continued to pull me towards the door he snapped dramatically. "Well darn, I tried. That girl was never good at listening to her commanders," he said.

Nikolai, myself, Nate, and the ladies all laughed while my Dragon brothers all glared at Erik. "Glad we have such a strong leader," Rowen grinned.

"It really has been a great day. Thank you all for never ceasing to amaze me with your love. I might even suffer through a little training with you tomorrow, however for the time being it is my birthday and I want to spend the rest with my husband," I said, leaning into Nikolai as we stood by the door.

"Mmm-hmm, we all know what you mean," Alakay said with a smirk in his eyes.

"Good night everyone," I said, sending a quick glare to Alakay before pulling Nikolai from the room to the sound of men laughing and ladies trying not to.

"Finally! I thought we'd never get away," Nikolai said, pulling me through the castle halls and to our chamber. After slipping from our day clothes and into something more comfortable Nikolai pulled me to our bed. Once we were settled he turned to me with a grin. "Now, tell me a story."

I laughed, shaking my head as I smiled at him. "Shouldn't I be the one deciding what to do? It is my birthday after all. I mean at the least shouldn't I be the one getting to listen to the story?" I questioned.

Nikolai shook his head. "No. You are better at telling and I am better at listening," he said.

Shaking my head, I sighed giving into the request. A small laugh escaped my lips as he quickly placed his head in my lap like a small child preparing for a bedtime story. "Once upon a time there was a kingdom who had lost all hope. An evil tyrant had taken over and killed the beloved royal family, or so the people thought. Yet in a small village, far away from the capital, a young girl was being raised with no idea of her true heritage. It wasn't until she lost everything that the secrets were revealed that she was truly the queen of this kingdom," I said as I brushed my fingers through his hair.

"And then she met a dashing young prince from a neighboring kingdom and she fell madly in love with him losing all thoughts of reality," Nikolai interjected.

"I thought I was telling the story," I laughed. "Yes, she did fall in love with a neighboring prince. Through the connections made with this relationship, she was able to help change the kingdom's fate. Together this courageous queen and her loyal friends stood up against the tyrant and brought him down once and for all. And they all lived happily ever after," I said.

"Boo. That was too short. Tell me another. One where the dashing prince is more involved," Nikolai encouraged.

Nodding, I took a moment to think of another story. "Alright, I have one," I said with a grin. "This one involves a daring rescue by said prince, although when this story took place he was no longer prince, but king. He and his queen brought peace to their kingdom. It was time to celebrate the friendship of three nations on Shamwari Island for the first time in generations, but while traveling the queen and her first son were captured by pirates. Her only hope for survival was her cunning thoughts and hope that her king would come," I said.

Nikolai frowned. "No, not this one. Although a happy ending came, there was too much pain and loss. The short time they held their child was not enough. Tell me a happy one," he said, reaching up and taking my hands.

A single tear slipped down my cheek and I smiled as I felt Nikolai's hand wipe it from my face. "A happy one? How about the one where after months apart and with war still lingering the prince and princess got to step back and finally get married?" I asked.

Nikolai shook his head. "No, not that one either. Tell me a story I have not heard before," he said.

My heart leapt in my chest and a smile slowly spread over my face. "How about the one where the kingdom rejoices after the announcement of the upcoming birth of a new royal child?" I asked.

Nikolai nodded his head. "Yeah, that one sou..." he said then froze. His eyes widened as my words settled in. Jolting up, he turned to me. His eyes traveling from my face to my stomach and back again.

Tears ran freely from my eyes as I nodded. "Our little angel is going to have a sibling to watch over from above," I said quietly. Slowly reaching out, I took his hands and placed them on my stomach and then placed my own over his.

The tears on my face were mirrored on his as he looked down at my stomach. "We're pregnant again," he whispered. He then leaned forward. "As I loved your big brother for the short time we held him, so will I love you no matter what time we have together," he whispered to my stomach. He then looked up at me. "I love you my fierce, beautiful, Dragon Queen," he said, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on my lips.

I sighed as I leaned into my husband, his arms now wrapped around me and his hands resting on my stomach. I thought back over the past ten years and all that had happened. People often asked what I would have changed. Yet every time the question was raised my answer remained the same. Each event shaped who I was and made me into the person, the queen, that I was today. All I would have asked for was more time with my son. There were times that were hard and painful, but each time brought forth a new strength. I was no longer Samantha, the orphan. To some I was Samantha; friend, annoying little sister, and wife. To others I was Sam; the first female Dragon. To all I was Scarlett; hidden princess and Queen of Auroja.

                                                                                  The End