The Dark Prince's Bride (the original version of Will You Love Me?)

Chapter 2

Renee laid in the meadow just outside the castle walls. Her long brown hair was tangled among the tall grass and wildflowers. Her hazel eyes sparkled in the starlight that shown overhead. She loved the stars. Many nights she would lay awake stargazing until at last she fell asleep. Sleep didn't come easily for her. She had seen many horrors in her eighteen years.The stars and the purple river of light soothed her. They reminded her of the times when she was a girl and would sit up late to watch the stars with her father.

She could still remember the stories her father would tell her about the luminara, the purple ring of light around the planet of Anoria. He said that they were what gave the wizards their power. I wonder if it's true... or just another of his fairy stories, she thought.

Her eyes wandered to the two stars that were different from all of the others that filled the night. They were brighter than all of the others, one of them was red in hue and the other was blue. She could remember her father telling her stories about the stars symbolizing a prophecy. She couldn't remember the whole story, but she remembered him saying that the blue star was hers. Of course her father had often told her fairytales in which she was the heroine and would marry a handsome prince and together they would vanquish a dark lord. For a long time she had actually believed that was how her life would turn out... until that fateful day when she lost everything. Her dreams became poisoned by nightmares, her thoughts strayed from longing to defend and bring peace to the land... to seeking only vengeance. Her only dreams were of a soft bed and a warm meal, and a place... any place she could call home.

She sat up as she heard the sound of giant wings flapping behind her. She turned to see a large black dragon land in the grass a few meters away from her.

She didn't run or even make any movement to flee. The dragon was her friend, her oldest and dearest friend. Some nights he would come to visit her, somehow he always seemed to know where she was.

She smiled happy to have his company. She'd been alone for many years before she came to work at the castle. But he had always been there. He always seemed to appear when she needed him most. Tonight was one of those times. She couldn't stop thinking about her father, she missed him terribly.

The dragon came over to her and laid down behind her so that she could lean against his side. Most nights they would sit together this way watching the stars, until at last they would fall asleep snuggled together. 

They were both silent for several moments as they watched the heavens.

The dragon noticed that she was quieter than normal. He studied her face for several moments before noticing the tears in her eyes. "What's wrong, my starlight?"

She smiled at him, he had called her that every since he learned of how much she loved the stars. "I was just thinking about my father. He used to tell me so many fanciful tales. He told one about those to stars..." She pointed to the two stars. I wish I could remember the whole story. "...but I was so young that I scarcely remember it. Do you know the story about those two stars?"

"There are many tales... many rumors. But no one knows for certain," the dragon replied.

She moved her eyes from the heavens to look at her dearest friend. "But you are an ancient and wise creature."

"I am not much older than thou, fair maid. I have not lived much more than twenty years of men," he replied.

"My father said that it was a prophecy... something about the one who would defeat Obsidian. But I remember little more than that for I was a small child and many long years have since passed," she said.

"Hmm... a prophecy. It may well be true, my starlight," he replied, then he fell silent.

She grew worried as he didn't say anything. "Is something wrong, my dear friend?"