The Dragon Queen

Court a Dragon

The great throne room of Saltari, the capital of the Ten Realms, was filled to bursting with hundreds of noblemen, lords and princes, ranging from boys as young as fourteen to men so old that they couldn't have even courted the newly crowned queen's grandmother. Each and every man was filled with nervous anticipation, awaiting the arrival of the young Queen Lucia Helena, desperate to win her hand. Whoever would marry the formidable woman known as the Dragon Queen would dominate the entirety of the Ten Realms and hold unlimited power. They would be able to do whatever they wanted. Prince Thomas of Assar couldn't help but despise it as he watched the men bustle about the room. He was a tall man, taller than most of the men in the room, with what many described a handsome face "if he didn't scowl so much". He had shiny ebony hair, contrasting every fair haired person in his family, that bordered overgrown just to spite his father. His eyes, crystal blue, were narrowed in disdain as he watched his fool of an older brother, the ever angelic Prince Alexander, eye the throne the great queen was to sit on as if certain it would be his. That throne was the centre of power in all the surrounding kingdoms and Thomas would adore to see himself upon it, but that would never come to be. He was second in line to the Asgardian throne. He wasn't allowed to court the queen by law, but Alexander was. It was so infuriating! Thomas was the only man out of any of the pompous fools that surrounded him who had actually ever held a conversation with the queen. She was a nice woman - absolutely terrifying, yes - but Thomas would have adored to be the man she would choose. To think of himself sat on that great throne was like a dream, and she had the glorious power to make that happen. To think of what he could do with the crown that sat on her pretty head was unimaginable. Just as Alexander started striding around the room, posing and showing off his sword skills in an attempt to scare away the surrounding competition, Thomas decided to do something about his apparent disadvantage. Could he stand it if Alexander became the King of the Ten Realms and he was forced to bow to him even more than he already was? Absolutely not. So Thomas, completely unnoticed by pretty much everyone, quickly slipped out of the throne room in search of the queen. Surely they could come to some sort of arrangement that was beneficial to them both?

So many parties and so many nobles, all eager to win the Dragon Queen's hand. Part of Lucia wanted to put them out of their misery and finally choose one, just to end the continuous throng of men parading through her castle, another part of her was desperate to burn them all away with her dragon's fire. She was just sick to death of her advisors, Zane and Ian, presenting her with ridiculous lords and princes just because they had a respectable family name. Some of them couldn't even hold a sword yet! But today, today they had outdone themselves with ridiculous suitors, and Lucia was doing her absolute best to avoid the throne room at all costs. So far she had done quite well, keeping to the darkest, coldest part of the castle, skulking in the shadows of the corridors. She even avoided the servants. She was quite sure that no one would be able to find her, at least she was until a hand suddenly clenched around her wrist. Lucia immediately whirled around, dagger in hand, and held the weapon to her attacker's throat, only to breathe a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it was Prince Thomas that had decided to sneak up on her, and he was the only man she knew for certain wouldn't hurt her. He was too busy trying to trick her out of her crown to do so. There was something trustworthy about a man who she knew to be untrustworthy. "Thomas, I could have killed you" she growled, already lowering her weapon. The mischievous prince gave his silky laugh and released her wrist. "Oh, I doubt that" he returned "Now, I was wondering, my queen, what is a woman with so many suitors doing hiding away in the shadows of her castle?".

"Must you really ask me that? I thought you were clever" Lucia returned.

"Irritable queen" Thomas mocked. He tutted as if she was a naughty child and gently cupped her face, holding her with fingers so soft that she could hardly feel his touch. It wasn't possessive or controlling; it was actually quite nice. The only reason Lucia allowed it was because of how nice it felt to be held and not hurt. "I take it that you are frustrated with the parade of fools in your throne room?" he guessed.

"You have absolutely no idea how annoying it is!" Lucia instantly hissed "Everyday my advisors tell me I must pick a husband to ensure the stability of the kingdom! Am I not stable enough to rule alone?!".

"A queen hiding in the shadows of her castle? Absolutely, of course you are" Thomas nodded sarcastically. Despite how he was mocking her, Lucia couldn't help but laugh. He was the only man who would joke with her. To be honest, he was probably the only man who wasn't absolutely terrified of her, which was quite refreshing. Thomas had always been her favourite prince out of all of those on her council, even if he was a terrible liar. Though, in the words of Zane, a prince who would inherit nothing was hardly desirable for a political marriage. Just because she needed it, Lucia carefully pulled the only man she ironically trusted towards her and smiled when he automatically held her in an embrace so warm and so secure she nearly forgot about everything else. Why couldn't she just take him? He was far nicer than any of her other suitors. Yes, he didn't care for her but he put on a brilliant display. He was also fun to manipulate in turn. Lucia didn't miss how he smiled when she rested her head on his chest. She hated to admit it, but she was quickly discovering him to be the perfect pillow beneath her cheek. "Just so you're prepared, Ils Godara (Your Highness)" Thomas hummed "Alexander has also arrived to compete for your hand".

"Oh noooo!" Lucia groaned into his leather armour. Alexander was a nice man, a good man, and she could have him in an instant if she wanted. But he would do anything to please his father, the almighty King of Assar, and that would mean ruling in the "right way". That didn't necessarily mean doing what was best for her subjects, but what was best for the royal council. No doubt he would bore her senseless. Thomas chuckled at her groan and Lucia felt his gentle fingers run soothingly through her golden locks. It was a lovely sensation, she had to admit. "Usually maidens swoon when they hear he is visiting" he remarked teasingly. Lucia raised her head and fixed him with a narrow eyed glare. "Since when have I ever been a maiden? Or swooned? Does anyone actually swoon?" she wondered.

"You certainly don't" Thomas replied "Which I must admit I rather admire. Ladies who swoon are far too predictable" .

"I would so hate to be predictable" Lucia purred. She suddenly launched forwards and captured his lips in the boiling magma kiss of a dragon, a gift she knew she would only ever give to him and something only he would ever be able to return so bodly. Lucia had seen many burned by the dragon's kiss, flinch away in pain, but Thomas did the very opposite. His hand snaked into her long hair, pressing her against him as if craving more lava against his skin. But when Lucia pulled away, barely breathless, she was glad to see that pink dusted his usually pale cheeks. To manipulate him was delicious. He really believed she might care. "It appears that I have made you blush, dear prince" she observed mockingly.

"Hardly" Thomas lied. Lucia laughed and pressed a second kiss to his cheek, before she spun away from his grasp while he was still too surprised to acknowledge it. "Until next time, my prince" she whispered over her shoulder and excitement began to bubble in her stomach. There always was a next time but neither of them knew when and both had to work for it. She supposed that she could hold the suitors at bay until laws changed. She was the Dragon Queen after all.

Across the wild sea, a prince seasoned with years of constant war and battle, lowered his letter. He was a tall man, in his mid thirties, his green eyes long since turned to stone. Letter in hand, he stood from the bale of straw he had been sat on and wandered over to his dragon, contentedly munching on the carcass of some dead animal, and brushed a blistered hand over the beast's hard brown scales. "The Ten Kingdoms have a new queen" he mused thoughtfully "What an opportunity...".