Silent Moments

Chapter 4

His announcement was met with a cheer as everyone went around in a huge bustle to prepare a feast. A feast for me I thought, “Tonight,” Spoke the King interrupting my thoughts, “We celebrate, and tomorrow we work.” I meet his gaze and I see sorrow? Is that the right word for what I see, no I think, pity is more suitable. The feast is grand, pheasants of every variety, vegetables of every kind, the finest of wines. Dessert is coming up now, and everyone is bustling, talking in excited voices. The king rises from his place at the head of the table, tension is sparked throughout the hall, no one speaks, “As you know by now, Zephyr, the prophesised child has come to us in our time or need. Please ensure that he is welcome, tomorrow there will be a reunion. Everyone is invited.” A murmur spread throughout the hall, questions arose, but met in hush as the king raises his hand once again for silence. “Dessert.” Servants burst through the double doors that lead to the kitchen carrying platters of desserts of every kind, from hot desserts, to the frozen desserts, I even notice a cake placed not far from me that is set alight. The night is coming to an end as the people of the lure head to their rooms, many exit the building off to find their way in the night and some even fly directly up, one or two I notice purely vanish in thin air. Would I have been welcomed like this if I went with the creature? I  push such thoughts from my head as the king approaches where I sit, “Come,” He spoke gently but his voice still holds the authority of a command, I get up and walk a few paces behind him, mapping out precisely where we are heading, just in case, I think, I need to escape. We come to a halt outside a beautifully crafted oak door that stands over two men high. “Your room, I hope you find everything you need inside, breakfast is at dawn, please be prompt, tomorrow is a big day, not only for you but for the people as well.” With those words the great monarch leaves me to explore my room. I push open the door and see a spectacular room, simply furnished but elegant all the same. Dark blue tapestries drape from the walls, a door leading out to the balcony, there is a cherry oak sitting table with a black couch besides it, not a few metres away is a massive open fire, burning brightly lighting up the room in a brilliant orange glow. I walk through a door way on the right and find the sleeping chamber, draped in dark blue curtains, furnished with luxurious pillows and a soft down blanket complete with a bedside table and a floor length mirror. I now walk to the closet and find a huge selection of clothing, all look as though they are my perfect fit. I walk back to the living room and walk to the room opposite, finding a bathroom, with a massive pond like bathing tub made from wood also, towels I find are in the cupboard as are soaps and scented candles. Lighting a few and placing a towel near the tub I grab some soap and decide to clean up, I turn the taps on and within minutes the tub is full and the water is at a perfect temperature, undressing I clamber in and begin to relax. I clean myself, wash my hair and rinse, the water feels brilliant around my skin so I relax on my back and let it soak in. hours pass before I clamber out, dressing in some sleeping clothes I found in my new closet I walk into the bedroom, acutely aware that someone or something is watching me. I speak into the darkness, “Come out please, I know that you are there.” From the darkness I heard a small gargle and a chirping noise. I light a lantern that illuminates the room and not even a stride away I see a small blue lizard like creature. I walk up to it, and scratch under its chin, once again it makes a gargling noise which I gather from the silly look on its face is pleasure. “So what are you?” I ask no one in particular, looking at the creatures’ eyes I see intelligence, realising that it is a dragon, “A dragon?” I ask, wonder and amazement floods through me. I felt a sharp pain in my right forearm; I look down to see the little dragon has bitten me. I chuckle at the infants’ power as beads of blood gather on my forearm. I wipe it away feeling drowsy. I clamber into bed, gesturing for the tiny dragon to accompany me. It leaps from where it sits and lands heavily on my stomach, groaning I roll over. The dragon curls up to my chest, wrapping its tail tightly around my wrist, as if fearing I’d disappear.