The last stand

Chapter One

It was Daniel's Twentieth birthday and so the castle was busy making preparations for the extravagant ball happening tonight. Daniel however was quite nervous as today was the first that he'd be in the look for a wife.

Prince Daniel walked down to the servants quarters on the first floor and knocked on Eryi's door.

Eryi answered quickly dressed in simple clothes with short white hair, the palest skin, and icey blue horns. He kept his blue reptilian eyes lowered knowing it was Prince Daniel at the door as he was most ever morning. He contrasted completely to the dark haired tanned prince with his head held head, a bright smile, and his oak colored eyes with the little golden flecks were gleaming.

Eyri stepped aside to let Daniel. Princess Sarah was already in the room sitting in a chair facing a small mirror on a desk.

"I need to talk with Eryi in private."

"Can he at least finish my hair? Please?"

Daniel nodded and Eryi continued to work until the girl wore two neat braided buns on her head. She hugged Eryi and was shooed out by Daniel who closed the door after.

"Eryi....I've known you for a while now and I need to ask a favor of you..."

"How can I be of service, your highness." He said, his head still bowed down.

"I can't be betrothed tonight. I need you to help me sneak out, just before the party. "

"You're.....I don't think King Edmond would appreciate this. "

"I know he wouldn't but I can't get married to some girl I barely know, They've got the Princess of Freyda coming to try to woo me and frankly I refuse."

"I'm sorry, your highness, but i can't help you disobey the king.....however; if this night was to go poorly, maybe she'd get a bad impression and change her mind. That will buy you some time I think. "

"And you'll help with that."

"I can't say I will but I have a feeling things won't work out..."

Daniel smiled, "Thank you. "

_______

As Daniel's party went on, he was pulled aside by King Edmond and led over to were Princess Avery was standing in front of Eyri. Her dress was freshly stained with tea and Eryi was on the ground nursing his check in a look of shock.

Avery saw King Edmond and Prince Daniel approach and her face turned from anger to fear.

She all but ran up to then, "Your servant he...he tried to attack me! I had to defend myself!"

Eyri looked utterly astounded, "I'm sorry, sir, for speaking out of turn but Princess Avery is lying. I never laid a hand on her."

"You expect me to believe you over a beloved Princess? Guards! Take Eryi to the dungeons- Now!"

Guards walked up to Eryi, he stood up and help his arms out for them to take, his eyes locked on the ground.

"Father, Eyri wouldn't do something like that. In all the years he'd served us, he hasn't once done anything wrong. "

"Don't defend him! He's a dragon, there known to be dangerous brutes."

The guards took Eryi away. Daniel knew this hadn't gone his way, as he had just been planning to persuade her with his words, not his fists...

"I'm sorry, Avery, but I will not have a lair for a wife. "

"I'm not lying!" She said aggregated, "Why don't you believe me?"