Rescue The King

Part 1

Peace was something that seemed to have gently fallen upon the Naws Kingdom like winter's first snow. Refreshing, chilly, and beautiful. Even more beautifully, the peace that followed in the next few years was like the spring melting that same gentle snow to make way for the beautiful foliage that was born anew while all of nature appeared to wake up and truly prosper.

It was only a matter of time before a hot and relentless summer struck that peaceful kingdom, leaving the unprepared citizens sweating under pressure of the merciless sun.

This metaphorical summer came in the form of a dragon, making the heat somewhat less metaphorical.

The winged beast had come and struck when no one was prepared, striking at the very heart of the kingdom. The heart of the land. The beloved and benevolent King Siegfried who had saved their kingdom from monsters and crows alike, even freeing them from the forever sleep that had befallen them due to some cruel sorcerer's machinations.

Mytho still hadn't quite had the heart to tell his people that rather than any monster, the cruelest villain wasn't a 'sorcerer' but instead an old sadistic author with a tragedy kink.

It just felt like it might dishearten that beautiful spring.

Besides, as his beautiful queen had advised him, it wasn't really information that was necessary to the prosperity of their people.

Mytho had agreed and so, the matter of precisely how or where his 'greatest' achievements had been attained was left in a fog of mystery. The most that any average citizen or noble might know was that a valiant duck was absolutely pivotal to success.

Oh, and of course that the tragically departed princess Tutu from the neighboring kingdom of Ekal was a national hero who was to be venerated throughout the generations.

Such things as how King Siegfried had met his beautiful queen or other such matters had a bit more of a fog about them.

Perhaps, Mytho wondered while being carried off in the claws of an hubristic dragon, perhaps if he'd made more of an effort to persuade Rue this wouldn't be happening.

Naturally the people knew very little about their queen. She was beautiful and kind, those that met her said that she was wise beyond her years, and all could tell that the love between the two royals transcended common sense.

But, if one would allow an author to be someone crass, she was viewed as something of a trophy wife.

Mytho clearly loved her absolutely and she returned that love fervently but aside from that, the woman with no power or background had offered absolutely nothing to the kingdom politically.

And Rue had sort of liked this misconception.

Mytho had tried to persuade her to let them know how much work she put into her administrative duties or how she had been pivotal to the growth of the economy over the past couple years. Or at least to let the public know what a brave and fearless woman she was.

Rue had so gently assured him that she didn't need or want any of those accolades. The only thing she had wanted her whole entire life was in her arms and it was the thing she was best known for, how could she not be happy with that knowledge?

Still, Mytho felt really sorry for the dragon.

Speaking of the pitiful creature, it was currently monologuing as it carried Mytho off to a far off lair. Something about crippling the symbol of prosperity in the kingdom and then slowly dismantling the government under its might.

The dragon really seemed to be of the opinion that the capital would fall easily without King Siegfried's rulership. Mytho sighed and bemoaned that the dragon's plan really did have one absolutely ingenious aspect.