Dragon of the Flames

Chapter 3

Shadow looked down on her plate, served by a little green-glowing servant fairy. Delicately cut slices of unicorn meat rested on the large china, a meat of great rarity and a delicacy amongst dragons, that just didn't seem appetizing today. Sure, this meat, sacrificed by a race almost unique in it's kind, could make any dragon's stomach rumble, but on this day, Shadow's thoughts weren't on her food.

The Elders, her littermate friends and the Royals who had come to visit the castle were all merrily chatting together. What was in the center of Shadow's vision was Azure. Confident, almost boasting, the young dragon was chewing like a boar on the unicorn meat. The sight was making Shadow's stomach do uneasy flips. How could a such handsome dragon, from a such prestigious linage, eat louder than a werewolf could howl?!

The most unnerving in the scene was Sweet, talking to Azure with the silliest lopsided look. Shadow couldn't understand how she wasn't able to show disgust at the Prince while he chewed his unicorn meat like a true carnivore, dipping his head backwards to swallow a bite in a single gulp. The snooty Prince was hardly listening to Sweet's very interesting story about the two banners in the throne room.

Since the throne room had been the only room large enough to greet everyone, the servants of the castle, (hobbits, fairies, gnomes, house elves, and more...) had shaped the throne room as a dining hall. Tables were aligned and the throne had been stored away, while the two elven banners sifted in the late morning wind over their heads.

Oh, why wasn't it early morning, you ask? Well, turns out the mister Azure the blue-blood Prince had a habit of waking up only later in the morning, and eating even later. Everyone had had to wait for him to show up at table to start their meal. Shadow rolled her eyes. Sure, this was the first time this Royal family was staying at the castle, so she shouldn't rush to conclusions about Azure. Perhaps this was only a faze, or a sign he was feeling very at-home in the castle, but it struck a nerve for Shadow.

Sweet was still talking away, much more confident when it came to speaking about history, or books, or geometry, or finances... the kind of things old, rusty dragons cared about. Somehow, she was able to keep everyone rooted to her story with her words alone, the pieces of unicorn meat in her plate half eaten. Even Shadow had to admit her friend was a much more interesting storyteller than Elder Mana.

"-the left banner on top, with the golden dragon billowing flames, represents the first queen, and the first dragon, ever to have been born, like a star is born in the universe. When she was fighting the demon Tarus, she let out a multicolored blast that charred him to dust. This dust, it was said to be of a fierce blood red color. Queen Edna, for that was her name, collected the dust and brought it to her brother, Eden. Eden, the dragon depicted on the second banner, is the blue and green dragon biting his tail. He did this, as the story goes, to bind away the evil in the dust and create earth, for he is the planet, and the red dust, the veins of magma below the world's surface."

"Even if many races believe we live on mother earth, our home and land is on the back of male dragon, the brother of Edna. Mother Edna, -Queen Edna- who saw her brother sacrifice himself for peace in the universe, promised she would watch over him. That's how the lineage of Her Highness and Queenship began. All Royals are descendants of our first mother, Edna, and her brother, Eden, who is earth itself."

Shadow thumped her tail on her table to show her appreciation to Sweet's story. The dragons around the table copied her, applauding Sweet's tale.

"T'is not without thou, Elder Mana, that these young 'uns t'would know their history so accurately," Praised Sapphire gracefully, his voice deep and clear. The Elder responsible for the education of all dragons alike puffed out her chest a bit with pride.

"You're so smart! When I grow up, I'm going to be smart like you!" chirped Sky to Sweet, waving her arms and hitting Raven in the face, who snorted annoyingly. That caused an unanimous laughter amongst the dragons at the table when Sweet's ears heated up in embarrassment at the young dragon's comment.

The table returned to it normal, festive mood. Shadow saw Azure lean towards Sweet and whisper something to her. The golden She looked down at her piece of meat. Did Sweet really like him? If she did, why did Shadow care? The Queen of Dragons shook her head, and tried nibbling on a piece of unicorn meat in her plate. After all, she still had flying class to attend later that day, Royal delegates visiting or not.

"I swear, Sweet must have lost her mind. The pegasus I take care of in the gardens chews grass more delicately than him!" complained a voice beside Shadow. She jumped up, scared someone had discovered her thoughts. Clay was staring at Azure with an even worst glare than his usually annoyed look.

Shadow was at loss of words. She wasn't the only one who had realized Azure's selfish manners? The thought stunned her, but Clay was glaring straight at the blue blood Prince, as if he was the unicorn meat in his plate. After Clay had said those words, he saw his sister's head sink down in her shoulders after Azure has whispered something to her. She replied too softly for Clay or Shadow to hear.

Shadow gave her friend a puzzled look. Sweet looked down at her plate, avoiding her gaze. Clay snorted at the sight, as if he'd been expecting it all along.

"I'm sure he said something about a beautiful dragon princess living in another castle, far away, getting prepared for their marriage or something like that." Muttered the dull red-scaled dragon, his white wings shifting a bit, rolling his eyes again. Rolling his eyes was something Clay did often.

Shadow frowned. If that was true, it would have been announced and everyone would be talking about the rumor. Could it be true? Shadow felt a mix of pity and jealousy for that princess, far far away. If Azure acted like this all the time, handsome or not, he'd be a Royal Pain.

The Eldest of Elders cleared her throat loudly and billowed a bit of smoke to catch everyone's attention at the table. Shadow looked up to the Elder that she respected the most. The old dragon coughed a bit, as if the smoke has passed through her lungs without ease.

"Me' wish to prepose a toast." she croaked, and Shadow realized she was looking older than she had ever seemed. With two claws, the old She lifted up a cup into the air, filled with unicorn blood to go with the meal. Everyone raised their glass proudly, murmuring softly, wondering what words of wisdom would the Eldest Elder pronounce.

"A toast to thee upcomin' wedding o' Prince Azure and Thee Queen o' Dragons!"

The murmuring stopped.