Dragon Witch: Found

The Child

Narcissa was walking down the corridor towards the ballroom on the warm summer night. Today marked the 50th anniversary of her daughter's disappearance and all of the villages of the kingdom had gathered to pay their respects. She sighed as she stopped and looked at a painting on the wall. It was a field close by to the castle she used to live in; and her heart ached every time she looked at it. She had planned on taking her daughter to Equanorn at least once a year and to the exact field that her own mother used to take her to when she was little. While Narcissa knew her daughter was alive, she also clung to the hope and prayed to Adonai that she was being well taken care of; for she also knew deep down in her heart that the likelihood of her daughter being returned was very slim; and that was what made every passing day all the more painful for her.

A little bump to her calf brought her out of her thoughts, and she looked down to see a little child with blonde hair peek up at her with wide hazel eyes. "Hello," the Queen whispered, kneeling down to her level.

The little girl quickly stood up and took a step back a moment, uncertain of what to do.  "Narcissa!" A male voice, causing both of them to look in the direction it came from. "Darling!"

The little girl attempted to flee, but Narcissa gently grasped her wrist. "I'm over here, Malicus," Narcissa called back to her husband, turning back to hush the little girl who had begun to whimper. A flash of gold caught the Dragon Queen's eye, and she noticed the heart shaped pendant around the child's neck. "Calm down, sweetie," Narcissa soothed, taking a look at the pendant. She briefly caught a glimpse of the stone in the pendant before the child pulled away. The necklace looked exactly like the necklace she lost after giving it to her daughter.

The little girl continued to struggle as Narcissa gently grasped her shoulders to keep her still. "Where did you get the necklace?" She asked calmly, trying to get the child to look at her. The child struggled harder, but the Queen's grip was firm. A hand was placed on Narcissa's shoulder, and she looked to see Malicus there. "What's going on here?" He asked as Narcissa took her hand off the child's shoulder and grasped the wrist again.

The child tried to pry Narcissa's fingers from her tiny wrist, causing the Dragon Witch chuckle in amusement before turning to her husband. "She bumped into me," she explained, raising her hand a bit before the little girl was able to sink her teeth into the Queen's flesh. "Don't do that."

"Let me go," the little girl whimpered,once again attempting to be free of the Dragon Witch.

"Calm down," Narcissa soothed, trying to walk with the struggling child.

"How did she get back here?" Malicus asked as Narcissa pulled her hand away again to save the skin; lifting the child up briefly.

"She must have wandered off," Narcissa shrugged, reaching out with her telepathy in a last desperate attempt to get the child to calm down so they all could get her back to the ballroom without anyone receiving injury. There was something vaguely familiar about the child's mind; however Narcissa was not able to dwell on it as the child once again tried to bite her. Easy young one, she repeated.

The child froze and started looking around- probably to see where the voice was coming from. I can talk to you with my thoughts, Narcissa continued, stopping to look at the child. I won't hurt you, but I need you to come with me so I can return you to your parents. She gently probed the little girl's mind and the feeling that she knew the child grew; she pressed on, though, suppressing the feelings that were threatening to overwhelm her- she had to find something to entice the child with... and she found it a moment later. Do you want a cookie?

The child nodded eagerly.

Then come with me, Narcissa smiled, releasing the little girl's wrist and taking her hand instead. Her smile faded when the child looked away and the ache in her heart once again returned.