The Dragon Prince

Chapter 9

Queen Marina Fairmore

Imperial City, Vrinian

The stone was cold as I placed my hand upon it. It was smooth to the touch, and in a single second it felt like the stone was ancient and coarse and was being thrown against my heart, breaking it down until there was nothing left. Even in death I had hoped he would awaken, however, here I stood, staring down at my brother's resting place. It was permanent now, sealed closed and separating me from him, separating a sister from her brother. Forever.

The crypt was quiet and cold. The candles were lit, but still it felt like death. Lewis would now forever be here with everyone else we lost. For a brief moment I wondered if he had been the lucky one, and had been granted to leave this life, but then I recalled everything he left behind. A new wife. His family. His friends. He didn't deserve this. I did. But he didn't.

"I figured I would find you down here." A voice said softly. I pulled my hand back, but didn't turn around. I knew who it was. How could I not? Time had never changed my father's voice. I crossed my arms, as my hands lightly gripped on to the light fabric of my long, off the shoulder sleeves. I wasn't used to any of this. I wasn't used to feeling like a girl. I was used to feeling like a hunter, alone in the woods, and not a pretty-princess in a castle with jewels that weighed a ton and dresses you dared not move wrong in. I had forgotten how different wearing a dress felt, how heavy it was and how much work went into wearing it. The beading and needle work was beautiful, but made it that much more heavy. It was tight, as well, across my chest to my hips. Underneath the beading was the pale pink and white fabric. Not my idea choice, but mother had ordered it that way. At one time I liked pink, but now it seems like a childish color to me. Innocent and childish.

"Wallowing in self-pity. My father's voice was serious and quiet, but still held a bit of humor as I glanced back at him. My face undoubtedly showed I was cross with his use of wording, and he could see it. I hated that he knew exactly what I was doing. Of course I was down here. Of course I was wallowing in self-pity. He was my brother.

There was only a few features I had gotten from my father. The color of my hair and eyes was one. The shape of my nose, my lips and my ears. The rest I got from my mother. Mother had given me quite the disapproving glance this morning when she was coming to see how I faired getting ready for my coronation. She always loved my hair long, and I had cut it short and kept it short. It felt to my shoulders, curling slightly. But now it was pinned up with braids and curls. Only a few strands hung down in my face now. My hair wasn't used to the fancy up-dos anymore.

My father gave a weak smile, his dark eyes now leaving mine and coming to rest on another stone chamber. I knew whose this one was. How could I had been so foolish as to this I was the only one going through this? My father went through it. Dominic the first, our Dominic's father. He was king for only a matter of days himself, before the poison which killed his wife and parents, killed him as well. My father didn't talk about his brother much, but when he did, I used to hang on to every word, absorbing in the history of my family.

"Everything is so different." I mumbled while glancing away as he looked at me with his eyes I had inherited. "It wasn't supposed to be like this when I returned."

"Would you have returned?" He walked over to me. His calm tone made me remember times long ago, when he would listen quietly and provide answers the best he could, and as calmly as he could, even if I had done something wrong. I had never seen my father angry, truly angry, disappointed maybe, but never cross.

"I would have, I think, eventually." I swallowed hard and gave a light shrug of my shoulders. "I would have given up."

He shook his head. "No, you wouldn't have. Even if you returned, you would never have given up." He sighed, placing his hands on my shoulders. It was the first time I let anyone touch me since I walked through the city gates. "You still haven't given up. I see you, when you think no one is watching, sitting there worried. You jump at any mention of news or a letter. I have seen the map in your room, with all the places you have been crossed off."