The Dragon that Saved the Princess from the Knight

Part 1

ONCE UPON A TIME...

          There was a princess. Her name was Faryn. She lived in the beautiful kingdom of Nawetchaksas, which was at war with the neighboring kingdom of Abotinam. In order to end the pointless bloodshed, the king of Nawetchaksas pledged his daughter Faryn to the highest knight of Abotinam, which was the prince Odell. Little did her father know, but Faryn's heart lied elsewhere...

"How could you father!" Faryn cried after hearing the awful news.

"I had no other choice if we wish to end this fruitless war!" the King said firmly.

"But there must be another way!" Faryn pleaded.

"I'm sorry, but this is how it has to be," he said with a hint of remorse. He hated seeing his only child this upset. Surely she understood how important this was?

"This is so unfair!" she lamented, and ran down the hall to her chamber.

"Daughter, wait!" the King called after her, but she was long gone.

The princess bolted to  her chamber, startling several maids. She slammed the door of her chamber and threw herself on her bed. She expected huge ugly sobs raking her whole body, but instead a single tear fell down her cheek and onto her pillow, leaving a dark stain. How could this be happening? Of all the princes, it had to be him. The most stuck up greedy peacock she ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. A knock on the door jolted her back to reality.

"Comeback later please, I just need a moment," Faryn commanded.

"Can't you make an exception?" Faryn recognized that voice anywhere. She flung the door open to see the love of her life standing at the door, a cup of tea in each hand. "M'lady," he said bowing and spilling a little tea on his foot. "OUCH!" he cried as he set the cups carefully on Faryn's writing desk.

"Goofball," Faryn teased stifling a laugh.

"Love you too," he joked as he gently closed to door, but Faryn knew the truth behind those words, uttered in the darkness when no one else could hear. Antonio was hers, and she his. Though their love was not forbidden, it was frowned upon when a member of the royal family fell for a servant. Antonio was a chef.

"You seemed in a rush. I thought you could use some tea," he handed her the cup. "What's on your mind?"

"Father betrothed me to prince Odell," she said quickly, as though she could make it go away.

"NO!" he shouted in outrage.

  "Keep it down!" Faryn hissed. "He is coming tomorrow to pick me up, he wants us to be married in a fortnight."

"I won't stand for it!" he said.

"There's nothing you can do," Faryn said placing her hand on his chest. Now that the Princess was betrothed, this love was forbidden.

"I also came to give this to you," he said softly placing something in her hand. "I will find a way to get you back," he promised. Antonio planted a firm kiss on her cheek before  leaving the room, his cup of tea untouched. The Princess opened her hand and it was a beautiful necklace with two dragons, one gold and one silver, intertwined to form a heart.