THE DRAGON HEALER [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 16: A DAUGHTER OF THE QUEEN

She woke up from what seemed like an eternity of sleep, or even worse, like she had just escaped from the grip of death. Her head was heavy like some horses had just trampled on it. The inside of her mouth was dry, and she could not swallow because of it. Her eyes hurt though she could see where she was.

She was in a room, on a large bed with four black wood pillars from which hung a white lace-embroidered net. The room had stone walls, dark grey and cold. Across the bed was a small, square oak table and on top of it was a ceramic jar and a ceramic glass, and two dirty grey armchairs on its left and right. That was it. The whole room was just so grey. From one large window covered with thin curtain to her left, she could see snow falling. She would venture to guess it was early morning from the way the light was—the grey light that may have been from the sunrise that was covered by fog and winter clouds.

As her brain sputtered to life again, she realized something that sent shiver down her spine.

She existed in this bedroom, she could touch everything, but she had no idea who she was. What is my name? How did I get here? She wanted to scream out those questions, but to whom?

Her breathing began to go faster when panic embraced her. She had no memory whatsoever.

"Ah, you are awake," soft melodic voice startled her, and she turned to the direction of the room's massive oak door where a woman now stood. She was tall and slender, with large, honey-coloured eyes and raven black hair. Her dress was a silk long-sleeved, blood red top with tight bustier that showcased her plump cleavage and black laced long skirt. She was beautiful, her skin looked so pale it seemed like it was glowing. Her raven black hair was long reaching her waist, loose, and straight. Her whole body exuded flowery fragrance, a mix of lily and jasmine; fragrance that smelled like a contradiction to her, it was as if she had smelled the same fragrance in a calm situation in her life, and in a fearful situation. She had seen the woman's face before, she did not remember how or when, but she did meet that woman before.

"Who are you? Where is this?" she asked questions, and continued,"Who am I?"

The woman at the door smiled—a strange, awkward smile. "I will tell you all. You need to know all." Then she sauntered closer to the bed, and sat at the edge of the bed. "Are you ready to listen, sweet girl?" she asked while twirling the tip of her long black hair.

A nod from her was all that woman neeeded to start telling her more information.

"Your name is Alanna. You are my daughter, my long lost daughter. My name is Thyrra, I am the queen of this land of snow."

She gasped. "My name is Alanna," she repeated. "And I am your daughter."

Queen Thyrra nodded and patted her hands. The queen's hand was cold, so cold it sent shiver down Alanna's spine. In fact she had trembled quietly since the moment the queen stepped into this room. She did not understand why, it could also be because it was now winter as she could see snow from the window.

So her name was Alanna. She was a daughter of that woman in front of her, a woman who claimed to be a queen of this snowy land. She repeated those new facts to herself, and somehow failed to convince herself about the truth of those facts. But who else could she ask about her?

"Call me Mother, Alanna. I would love to hear it. I will tell you all about what has happened. So listen to me now," Queen Thyrra's eyes trained on her, and her heart beat so fast it seemed like it almost exploded. Something about the queen, her mother, that scared her.

Alanna froze.

"Are you scared of me, sweet girl?"

Alanna was quiet, she was not sure what the safe thing to say was. She could not stop herself from trembling.