The Dragon Queen

Eyes of the Advisors

This wasn't at all Zane's idea in the slightest. If it were up to him, he would have avoided bringing the subject to the Queen's attention at all costs, anything to quell her anger. But no. Ian had so cleverly decided to deal with the problem once and for all and corner her in her throne room, when no one could help her think of an excuse to escape. He really didn't want to confront her so soon after she had been flying with her two favourite princes. One word out of place and he would find himself in the dungeons.

Now, the rumours that typically swept through the Ten Realms on a daily basis described Queen Lucia's angered disapproving glare to be as painful to endure as being burnt alive. They were, of course, untrue. Only her advisors truly knew the horror of her venomously murderous green eyes, framed by the formidable iron throne. And, on this occasion, Lucia was glad that the two men quivered afore it. How dare they say such a thing? She thought she had made her position quite clear. "Repeat yourselves" she ordered them in a hiss that seemed all the sharper from the room's echo. "I hope I misheard you". Both men gulped. 

"No, Your Majesty" Ian muttered in a shaking voice, seeming to regret his dedication to confront the problem "I-It's true".

"Have the kings, queens, lords and ladies not been rich under my rule?" Lucia instantly questioned, digging her nails into the arms of her throne in fury "Have their pitiful meaningless existences altered in any way, shape or form since you both placed the crown on my head?".

"N-no-".

"Then why do they demand I marry?" Lucia barked, barely keeping herself from shouting. But she had almost had enough! When would the Ten Realms learn that she was their queen, the Dragon Queen, protector of all? She had proved it time and time again and still they demanded for her to conform to rules as outdated as themselves. She was not nor would she allow herself to be another faceless queen trailing in the shadow of a king. "Its the way things are done" Zane quickly tried to explain, in the manner of one ripping off a plaster so it wouldn't hurt too much "Your father said so himself. The dragon's blood must continue on to secure the realms".

"So you simply want me to produce an heir?" Lucia clarified "I already have one. My sister, Jenna, will be queen if I die". Ian and Zane instantly shuddered with looks of equal horror.

"That can't happen!" Ian hastily hissed, hands clasped together as if begging.

"Correct. She would cause a war within two seconds" Zane agreed and Lucia rolled her eyes. Even she could see that her sister was certainly no lady and she cared very little for pleasing the royal court, but she wouldn't drag the kingdom into war. She didn't have the attention span for it. Lucia's philosophy was that she was dead and Jenna ever became queen she wouldn't have to worry about it. Ian sighed. "Now, see here, Your Majesty" he said, reminding Lucia of how wearily her father used to speak to her when she and disobeyed him "Ruling is not simply about pleasing the people but the nobility-".

"They can please themselves" Lucia snapped. With the amount of land and gold her father had given them before he died, they ought to. And only a few had parted with it to help the poor of the realms! "But they need to know that their future is secure" Ian argued tiredly, as if explaining something very simple to a very simple child. Lucia rolled her eyes. "Go on then" she spat "Tell me how I could perfectly reassure them".

"Glad you asked!" Ian suddenly exclaimed with a wide grin "Prince Alexander would be the perfect choice".

"Oh no" Lucia groaned like a wounded animal, leaning back into her thone. "Tell me why" she growled, head in her hands "Why does everyone want me to marry that oaf?".

"He's in direct line for the throne!" Ian excitedly informed her, apparently oblivious to her anger. Zane however was not and, like Lucia, had his head hopelessly in his hands. Lucia was glad to see that at least one of her advisors were smart. "Not only that, but most of the nobility like him!".

"Alexander is rash, impulsive and narrow minded" Lucia growled. Not to mention far too easy. It wasn't that Lucia particularly disliked Alexander, not enough to talk about him as she did, but she simply didn't want to marry him. He had only ever held a real conversation with her a handful of times and each time he had blushed so much she thought he would faint, while Thomas laughed in the background. "But his heir will be-" Ian began to argue. That did it. The dragon that usually slept so soundly within her heart reared its mighty head and roared fit to shake the castle. Lucia suddenly rose to her feet and shouted "ENOUGH!" so loudly that her guards levelled their spears at the two advisors, as if they had threatened her. In a way, they had. They demanded for her to marry someone she didn't love to please others, give him her crown, give him her children, her life, her dragons. If she were to have children, they certainly wouldn't be his, they would be theirs, not that she wanted any in the first place. She had enough to do tolerating the whining brats that were her royal council without toddlers screaming in her ears as well. Lucia took a deep breath to calm her voice, slight guilt in the pit of her stomach when she noticed how tears had sprung to Ian's eyes. "I have a proposal for you" Lucia said in a voice of forced calm, but her advisors still shook and her guards didn't get lower their spears. "I will be allowed to rule and live as I see fit. I will marry whom I want, when I want, if I want. In return, the nobles will be allowed to keep their lives. Tell them that if the decision of their queen displeases them at all, they can be prepared to leave my castles, houses and estates that they live in. Because this kingdom is my kingdom and I belong to no one. Tell all the nobles that now".

"Potifa statares. (Well said)" a familiar voice complimented, and Lucia looked away from her pale advisors to see Thomas so casually leant against the double doors of the throne room. Her guards instantly levelled their weapons at him in shock, but Lucia quickly ordered for them to stand down. She wasn't at all surprised by his sudden appearance. He came in and out of her castle so often these days it was only to be expected for him to listen in on a debate so interesting as this one. "What's he-" Ian began. 

"Deliver my message to the Ten Realms" Lucia interrupted, taking her place back on her throne.

"Th-that wouldn't be w-wise, Your-" Zane tentatively began. Lucia didn't know how he dare.

"Your queen gave you an order" Thomas barked sternly, stalking into the room. He was no soldier, but many had seen him do things with a dagger that could haunt children's nightmares, and no one failed to see the shiny blade that protruded from beneath his sleeve, ready and waiting. "For your sake, I suggest you do it" he hissed. For the first time that day, Lucia smiled in relief as the two hastily scarpered from the room. "Plak smallon sana air utres ditrute dalonce. (At least you are on my side)" she sighed with a hollow laugh.

"Arona mal deg, I mes bregada ils dilemasors. (More than that, I can solve your problem)" Thomas purred in a way Lucia knew she should be wary of but she liked the sound. He reached forward but his hand paused seconds away from her face. How strange he was compared to every other man at court. Most took it upon themselves to lead, to apparently be gallant. Yet he was asking for permission and, with a careful nod, Lucia granted it, allowing him to cup her face. "Leva utres. (Go on)" she prompted, loving his deep blue eyes on her skin. Thomas smirked and captured her lips with a soft, undemanding, unexpecting kiss. "Uniteg I. (Marry me)" he breathed hopefully against her lips. Lucia hated how hard it was getting go refuse, but how could she agree after sending the Ten Realms her message? Instead she laughed and fondly pressed the most gentle kiss to the side of his mouth. "Uson sana sog henarus a takak I rangara statares? (Did you not hear a word I just said?)" she asked "I una a tremsora et I homosarat to isa aitras. (I am a dragon and I belong to no one)".