Fire and Ice

Chapter One

 Opal ran his claws along the designs in the ice walls. The necklace with two Silver rings on it, thumped against his chest. His tail swayed back and forth slowly, brushing the slippery ground. The long icicle-like spikes that ran down his neck gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the open balcony doors.

There was a rapid knock at the door, a moment of hesitation, and then three more knocks, louder this time. He assumed it was Dryas, the IceWing he was apparently betrothed to. She was the queen's niece, quiet, rich, and tentative. Not very talkative, definitely a follower.

She'd do anything anyone told her to do without thinking twice, it was a little scary at times though. "Come in Dryas." he said, folding his wings and sitting near the wall. A small, white IceWing with hints of blue around her claws and wings entered the room. Two gold rings thumped against her neck as she approached.

"Hello uhh- um..I- I swear I know your name- i-it's...uhh.." she stuttered, words fumbling over each other or bumping into one another like a small room with hundreds of panicking scavengers. He sighed, rolling his light amber eyes "Opal." he said.

She nodded, wincing as the door slammed shut behind her. She sat near him, though not daring to sit too close. Opal looked at the ceiling, frowning at it and going back to admiring the sunlit glass table in the center of the room.

"Opal, can I be honest with you?" she asked, fidgeting with her claws and pinning her eyes on the ceiling. "I suppose-" Opal mumbled, not really wanting to hear what she had to say but complying politely anyway like his mother taught him. "I don't want to marry you, I don't even like you." she sighed. He looked over at her, a little startled by her confidence, not at all fazed by the actual statement.

She glanced over, eyes widening and talons shooting to her snout. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that last part- I shouldn't have said any of it! Sorry- please don't tell on me! Sorry, really-" she panicked.

Opal shook his head, pushing her claws down and away from her snout. "No, I completely understand and honestly I feel the exact same way." he said in a calm voice. Dryas nodded slowly, looking a little guilty. "We need to keep up the act for our parents though, it won't be until later when we spill to them if at all." he explained.

"Opal! Meeting!" a voice called from the hallway. He rolled his eyes and poked his snout out of the door. "Why do I have to go? I'm not even on the council!" he called back. "Come on!" the voice responded. He rolled his eyes and stepped into the corridor. "Come on Dryas." he muttered, starting toward the meeting room.

When he approached the doors, he wasn't allowed to touch them. They were recently installed into the palace for any private meetings that needed to happen so they were meltable.

Dryas pushed in front of him and opened the doors, her tail brushed against his side as she entered, probably a silent thank you. The queen's gaze passed right over her niece and landed on Opal. "You're late again, Opal." she hissed, glaring menacingly at him from her special spot in the council. Opal opened his snout to speak "Well I-" he started before his mother shot him an indignant glare and shook her head.

He shut his snout and sighed. "Yes ma'am, it won't happen again." he mumbled, finding a place at the edge of the council table. The dragons at the end who he sat next to, scooted away cautiously. They didn't wish to be burnt to a crisp.

Right. Firescales. "Please continue your report Galanthus." the queen announced sternly. All eyes were on a large, scarred IceWing with pale greenish-white scales and a short downward icicle mane. Her snout was less narrow than the average icewing. She looked weathered and annoyed, like she was secretly suffering and deeply sad about all the lives she ended in past wars..