Sif Dies At The End

[01]: The Price of a Dragon's Heart

In a room where all that glitters is gold, all glittered.

The diamond chandelier hung on the high sealing emitted a soft jingle as the spring breeze circled the four walls made out of white marble held up by golden pillars. The velvet, silver embroidered curtains fluttered as they hung from a wide balcony guarded by two winged golden dragon statues on each side. The queen-sized bed next to it had a wide frame that sparkled as numerous jewels were imbedded in its gold cast design.

A large bookshelf covered one of the walls and while half of it held a large number of scrolls and books which covers were metal plated, the metal used being gold with crystals scattered around as bookmarks. The other half of the shelves was stacked with jewelry boxes, some open displaying the magnificent sets inside, while others were closed yet the boxes seemed as expensive as the jewelry pieces themselves.

On the opposite wall of the bookshelf, a grand vanity was placed in the middle. To it's right, was a pile of random shiny objects stacked in the corner. As for it's left, there hung a painting within a scroll. The wooden scroll seemed out of place in the opulent room, but when the breeze reached it, it tilted slightly and emitted a light sparkle as the light hit it.

The painting was of a snake-like creature mid-flight, a dragon of the east. It was portrayed flying through majestic clouds, over grand mountains, and above a slithering river. The creature had violent eyes, knitted eyebrows, large claws, rough scales, and sharp teeth. Held firmly between those menacing teeth was an orb.

It was golden, shiny and it sparkled.

The light hit it once more and its glint reflected on wide, icy blue eyes that were staring obsessively at it. The owner of those eyes was across from the painting on a golden couch, soft bedazzled pillows and embroidered silk covers showed glimpses of the body laying on it.

Platinum blond curls were tussled in a mess, tangled up in a diamond tiara. Long eyelashes fluttered over pink cheeks as rosy lips quirked in a delighted smile. A straight nose twitched as the breeze directed one of the stray curls towards it and slender, ring-stacked fingers moved the hair out of the way and a jingle sounded off as the thin wrist, full of precious bracelets, moved.

Once the hair was finally tucked behind an ear pierced thrice with a ruby and two diamonds, a couple of delicate feet popped out as one of the silk covers slid off of the couch. A clanking sound was heard as one of the ankle bracelets adorning them grazed the golden armrest.

A slender neck, from which hung an extravagant number of necklaces and pendants, turned at the sound but soon reverted back, all attention once more on the shiny orb in the dragon painting. "I want it so bad..." A soft voice muttered in a sigh.

That was Sif.

Opulent, proud, and noble.

The princess of Valland and the last dragon of the west, who, as of three years ago, has been on a quest to get a dragon orb from the east. And, if her room of treasures was an indication for anything, it was that whatever Sif wants, she gets.

Especially if it's something shiny.

And an eastern dragon's orb was definitely shiny. So, she had spent the past three years plotting a way to get one and finally, her rings and bracelets clanked as she stretched her hand, grabbing another wooden scroll that was placed on the ground.

Her plan worked! A wicked grin stretched across her seemingly inexpressive face. The scroll had foreign characters inked into it, it was quite lengthy, stiff yet elegant with a stamp of a bright red dragon in one corner. It was heavy with gold edges, clearly, the sender was of high status.

As for its contents...

"SIF ALRUNA SKARSGARD!" The grand golden double doors of her room were pushed open as a booming voice barged in. The voice matched its owner as an angry young man hastened to where she was laying.

"Did you really send a marriage proposal to the emperor of the forbidden city!?" He asked in horror.

Alarmed blue eyes reflected the same shade as hers as her brother sputtered in disbelief in front of her. "Have you gone mad!?" he pulled at his own blond curls in frustration "How could you do this without consulting any of us!?"

Sif rolled her eyes, thinking that he was being his usual overdramatic self, then gave him a deadpan stare "Would you have agreed if I had consulted you?"

"Of course not!" He spread his arms in a gesture that screamed, obviously!

"Exactly." She simply said as she ignored his rambling and turned back to stare at the painting.

"This is my fault." He held his head as he kneeled and stared tearfully between Sif and the scroll.

"This is all my fault for bringing you souvenirs of my travels."

"This is what I get for being a good older brother..."

"I'm never appreciated in this castle... "

"Papa gave up the crown as soon as I turned of age for a late honeymoon with mama..."

"And now my own sister wants to leave me for a damned orb on the other side of the earth..."

"How can a king be so miserable..."

"How can my own family be so cruel..." He whined.

"Vilhelm!" Sif said sternly, ticked off by his words, "It's not just an orb." She explained.

"It's a perfectly smooth sphere, with a shiny surface!"

"It sparkles on the outside and glows from the inside!" She emphasized.

She grabbed the wooden stamped scroll once more and showed it to Villhelm, pointing at a part that he couldn't read and said, "And! See this?" her wrist jingled as she tapped on the text, "It says here that it is priceless!"

"The only way to get one is to mate an eastern dragon." She simply concluded rendering Villhelm speechless.

"Besides," She leaned back on the couch. "I'm the last royal with dragon blood in the west. There's no one worthy of my status here to mate."

"There's the highwater clan" Villhelm tried to convince her.

"Werewolves are already born with mates." She retorted.

"The northern coven sent a proposal..."

"Their warlock wants me as raw material for potions, not a mate"

"What about a prince from kingdom Savyllin?"

"Humans are too frail and their lifespan is too short."

"Then the house of Vanguard..."

"Dragon blood is too much for vampires to handle."

"But their lifespan is-"

"Villhelm." Sif cut him off, sighing. "The emperor already agreed to my proposal. He is expecting me by winter"

Defeated, Villhelm plopped down on the couch, sitting next to his sister as she continued "And-" She handed him the emperor's scroll as she said, "He's letting me have my pick out of the princes." She said proudly,

"Whoever I choose, will get the crown so I'll be fine" She patted his back in a rare gesture of comfort, then she added.

"And rich."

She got up, her jewelry announcing every movement as she approached the painting, determined eyes locked on its target. She counted her future conquests. "I'll have it all, Vil, trust me."

"A royal castle,"

"A mighty mate,"

"A grand kingdom,"

"A mountain of gold,"

"And," She tapped on the orb as she finally reached the painting.

"A dragon's heart."