Dragonbreath

3

It took me one whole hour to get ready. The girl who was send to help me gave her best, but my hair took half an hour to look acceptable. My hair isn't very long but my black curls just are a thing for itself.
As my hair and makeup where done she pulled out a deep green dress with a slit at the right left. It was completely made of satin and looked like it was flowing down my body.
It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever worn. As a finishing touch she put an silver collar around my neck. It was formed like a snake with two emeralds as eyes. It looked like the snake was curling up my neck.
As I put on the shoes that were given to me I looked in the mirror and stoped for a second to look at the person I was seeing there. Not covered in dirt or blood but clean. I was shocked to see my silhouette. My body looked like it would just be made of skin and bones. I didn't notice how much weight I had lost. My ribs where clearly to be seen and my checks had lost a lot of there normally more rose tone. But overall the girl had made me look like a princes.

As I walked the way that I was told was the way to the dining room I realized for the first time how big this place actually was.
I walked across rooms filled with couches and pianos, most of them had big pictures of people I didn't know on the wall.
I walked past a great hall where I could imagine that Luc would be giving balls, if he did. The hall just pulled me towards it, so I took a step inside and looked around. The ceiling was extremely tall and from there I could see gigantic luminaries hanging down. They seemed like a sea of crystals flowing around. It was beautiful. The walls where covered in a red carpet with golden details such as little flowers or ranks. Some of them even had symbols on them that appeared to be something like a rune.
I could very well imagine how big balls and arrivals where celebrated here.
I walked towards a picture of a young woman. As I could see, it was the only one to hanging in this room. It showed a woman in her early twenties in a beautiful golden dress that in in second looked like a dress but in the next shined like an armor. Her long brown hair was braided to a thick braid and fell over her shoulder. She had big green eyes and a warm smile. Her checks looked rose even as the rest of her body seemed more of a pale tone. She had beautiful curves that where perfectly shown by her dress. It looked like it had been sewed onto her body.
But the most interesting things on the painting was the background. Behind the girl the was a gigantic red dragon. The paint had done an extraordinary job, cause it appeared that the dragon really was moving through the way the painter had used colures and the way he had let the light fall. The dragon had golden eyes which seemed to follow me wherever I went. It was a magnificent piece of art.

„You like what you see?" I heard a voice behind me saying. I quickly turned around only to see him standing right behind me. He had moved so quietly that in all my fascination I hadn't noticed him.
„I" I started to talk but he interrupted me quickly.
„It's ok, you don't need to worry. I'm mot going to be mad that you're here."
He looked at me and asked: „Do you like the picture?"
„Yes, but why is it the only one in here? There is so much space but only painting." I asked.
He looked down a little bit and his smile faded for a second. Just a tiny bit of a second but I noticed it.
„That is a story for another time my little warrior. Come with me, it is time for dinner." he said while he gently took my hand and led me out of the hall. I was wondering who the girl in the painting was and what the dragon had to do with everything.
But I did not dare to ask him.

He led me through hallways that seemed to be as different as just possible. One looked like the it was completely made of night with floor and walls out of a black shimmering material. The ceiling on the other hand was covered in a dark blue with silver dots who looked like stars. While walking through it I felt a kind of calming wave crawling over my back. I could have stayed there for ever. It felt like home. Like a place I belonged to, like I was pulled towards this darkness to be completely consumed by it. Before that could happen Luc slightly pulled my hand. „We have to go, dinner is almost ready and I don't want the others to have to wait. I can show you the rest of the castle later." he said while starting to walk again.
„The others?" I asked a bit confused while quickly walking behind him. He just turned around at me and said with a grin on his face: „ You are going to love them, they are just as stubborn and crazy as you."