The Dragon Heir (BOOK#1)

CHAPTER 13

✨️Motherland Of Mine✨️

The air thrummed with the echoes of victory. I stood tall upon the ramparts of the palace, my heart pounding a wild rhythm against my ribs. This was it. The moment I'd dreamed of for so long. My gaze swept across the sea of faces below, a mixture of relief, awe, and apprehension. I was Melike Kantakouzenos, the rightful heir to the throne, and this was my people, the souls I was sworn to protect.

But my heart ached. I saw the fear etched deep in their eyes, the scars of hardship etched upon their faces. The whispers of their suffering filled my ears, a symphony of anguish I could never fully comprehend. I knew that victory was only the first step on a long road to healing.

Suddenly, the cheers grew louder, a tide of adoration rising from the crowd. They were chanting my name, "Melike! Melike!" A warmth, a burning ember of pride, ignited within me. They believed, they trusted, and in that moment, I felt the weight of their hope pressing down upon me.

With a deep breath, I raised my hand, silencing the cheers. My voice, though shaky at first, grew stronger with each word, ringing with the power of righteous fury.

'Mo lepep Mauritian, mo avek zot zordi pa couma ene princesse mais couma zot la reine!' (Translation) 'My people, of the Old Mauritian, I stand before you, not as a princess, but as your Queen!' I declared, my voice echoing across the palace grounds. 'Depi bien tro longtemp, nou tou p souffer, sa peur lah p manze zot p vini mem.' (Translation)
'For too long, we have endured the tyranny of the usurper, the pain of oppression, the fear that gnawed at our souls.'

"Mo papa ine nome mw. Reine ek heritier du throne ban dragon. Sa li incontestable. Qui chaque ene dante zot incline zt devant mw ek apel mw zot la reine! Donc si mo ene traitor, zot si zot pareil!." (Translation) "My father named me, Queen and heir to the dragon throne. That is incontrovertible. Every single one of you bow to me and call me your Queen. So if I am a traitor, so are you.

The crowd gasped, a wave of collective memory washing over them. They remembered the dark days, the whispers of fear, the stolen freedom. The memories, so fresh, so raw, burned in my own heart as well.

But then, I raised my chin, the fire in my eyes burning bright. 'Nous tou ine buen lager, ine bien sacrifier ban saki nou kontan ek sa akoze sa zordi nou ine gagner nou victore! Nou liberte ine gagn le combat.' (Translation) 'We have fought, we have bled, we have sacrificed. And today, we stand victorious! The usurper's reign is over. Our freedom is restored!'

The cheers erupted anew, a roaring storm of joy and relief. I let their cheers wash over me, a cleansing wave of emotion. My own tears welled up, the weight of their joy and the promise of a brighter future weighing heavy on my soul.

'Mw, Melike Kantakouzenos, de Kantakouzenos, du sang de le peuple mauricien' (Translation)
'I am Melike Kantakouzenos of House Kantakouzenos, of the blood of Old Mauritian," my voice boomed, each syllable carrying the weight of my lineage. 'Mo mem ki la reine des dragon, ek mo mem ki p jurer ek zot si ki kiken fr zot dimal, zot pou mort cruelment." (Translation) "I am the dragon's queen, and I swear to you that those who would harm you will die screaming!'

The air crackled with the power of my words. The dragon's queen. It was no mere title. It was a legacy, a pact forged in fire and blood, a vow to protect my people with all that I had.

My gaze swept across the faces, a mix of awe and fear. I saw the hope flicker in their eyes, a fragile spark I was determined to protect. "We have a long road ahead. We must rebuild our homes, heal our wounds, and restore our land to its former glory. But I stand before you today, not as a princess, but as your Queen, a guardian, a protector. And I will not rest until our land is whole again! Together, we will face any threat, we will overcome any obstacle! Together, we will make our homeland a beacon of light and peace!'

As the cheers rose once more, I felt a sense of overwhelming responsibility washing over me. My heart ached for the pain my people had endured, but it also swelled with hope for the future we would build together. This was my people, my responsibility, my legacy. I was their Queen, the dragon's queen, and I would never let them down. The battle had been won, but the true fight for our future had just begun.

I turned around and looked at Tolga.

Tolga, his face etched with the weariness of battle, stood beside me, his hand reaching for mine. His eyes, usually sparkling with mischief and love, held a depth of sorrow I had never seen before. He knew, as did I, that the victory was a double-edged sword.

He was the rightful heir to Tygaria, a powerful kingdom bordering my homeland, but he had chosen to fight for Drakenwilds, for me. Now, with the usurper vanquished, the throne of Tygaria awaited him. Yet, the thought of leaving Drakenwilds, of leaving me, shattered the joy of our triumph.

'My love,' he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. 'We've won, but the war is far from over. Tygaria needs its king, and Drakenwilds needs its queen. I... I must make a choice.'

My heart ached with a pain that transcended the physical. I wanted to scream, to plead, to tell him that I would follow him to the ends of the earth, but the words stuck in my throat. What good would a queen be without her kingdom, a king without his people?

The wind whipped my hair, carrying the echoes of the battle cries, the pleas of the wounded, the joy of the victorious. It was a symphony of emotions, a kaleidoscope of hopes and fears.

'You should rule Tygaria, Tolga,' I said, my voice barely a whisper. 'It's your birthright, your duty.'

The pain in his eyes mirrored my own. 'But what of you, my love? What of Drakenwilds?'

He loved me, I knew, with a passion that burned brighter than any sun. He would gladly have forsaken his throne for me, but it was a sacrifice he couldn't make. He was the true king of Tygaria, just as I was the true queen of Drakenwilds.

'I... I can rule Drakenwilds,' I replied, my voice trembling. 'I can be the queen my people need.'

He reached out, his hand brushing my cheek. 'My love, you are strong, but you are not invincible. You need me, just as I need you.'

The truth of his words struck me like a blow. We were two halves of a whole, two souls intertwined by fate. To be apart was to be incomplete.

He looked at the wounded, the weary, the joyous, the grief-stricken faces of our people. He saw the hope in their eyes, the anticipation of a new era, a promised peace. He saw the responsibility that weighed heavily upon his shoulders.

'My heart is torn,' he said, his voice thick with emotion. 'I cannot bear to leave you, but I cannot abandon my people, my kingdom, my duty.'

He turned to face everyone,'I will renounce my claim to the throne of Tygaria. And give it to the rightful king my brother.'

The wind seemed to hold its breath, the roar of the cheering crowd dying down to a hushed murmur.

He turned back to me, his eyes pleading. 'My love, I will be king of Drakenwilds, with you by my side. We will rebuild, we will heal, we will create a future together.'

He knelt, his hand resting on mine, his eyes filled with a love that transcended any throne, any kingdom, any duty.

Tears streamed down my face, a mixture of pain and joy, relief and grief. 'Tolga,' I whispered. 'My king, my love, I will rule with you.'

The cheers of the victorious army erupted once more, a joyous symphony celebrating not just the victory, but the bond that would unite our kingdoms, our lives, our hearts. We were two souls, destined to be intertwined, even in the face of a choice that had torn us apart. We had won, and together, we would reign.

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Thank you for reading my story. I hope you leave a comment so that I can read it and don't forget to vote for me it would mean a lot if you do! Love you, beautiful people! ❤️