A Dragon's Mate

5

A/N: new chappie for my lovely readers. I decided to go ahead with this update because i feel bad about my previous absence. I hope you enjoy it. And as always comment and vote

"Your highness!" A female voice accompanied by a loud knock at the door wakes me. I sit up and look to the sleeping princess beside me. Her face is smushed against the pillow, her mouth wide open, and her blonde hair sticks out in all directions. I laugh and roll out of the bed to grab a shall and open the door to fine a petite brunette servant waiting.

"Oh! M-Miss Mayhem I wasn't aware you were here," she stutters wringing her hands.

"Well what is it, dear?" I ask with the most polite voice I can muster after just waking up.

"Well uhh.." she pursed her lips, "the drunk- I mean the post-ball brunch will be served shortly." I rub my face covering a smile at her accidental mention of what the servants call the drunken brunch, named such because most of the participants aren't quite sober when they arrive to eat. The king despised the name and ordered them not to use it but many still do.

"I understand. I'll have her down there in time. Thank you." I smile slightly but she frowns.

"Are you sure?" She asks biting her lip I nod quickly and close the door. She tries to say something else but it's to late and the door cuts off her words.
I turn and glare at the princess who has spread out to cover nearly the entire bed and decide to dress myself before bothering to wake her up. I cross the room and open the door to her walk in closet and inspect the multitude of gowns hanging along each wall. She has so many I doubt she's worn most of them more than once. I choose a pale blue sun dress for myself and a pale yellow for Ana. I hang hers on a hook just outside the closet doors and change into the blue gown.
"Calista why are you awake," Ana's voice is partially muffled by her pillow.
"Brunch will be served soon," I answer tying the laces on my dress, "we have to go so get up." Her answer is a groan and a blanket pulled over her head.
"Common Ana," I laugh and sit on the edge of the bed to pull on a pair of flats. She rolls onto her back.
"But my feet hurt," she wines pushing her feet into by back playfully.
"You'll be fine Ana" I respond just before pulling the blanket from her making her squeal.
"Fine," she huffs sitting up. I point to the yellow dress on the hook before walking to her vanity to fix my hair. Efficiently reminded that my hair has a mind of its own and simply won't do what I wish I pull it into a tail leaving only my bangs to frame my face.

I turn the find the princess's back to me waiting her shoulder slumped. I lace up her dress and pull it tight forcing her to straighten.

"Hey!" She grumbles, "I still have to breathe ya know." I laugh and loosen the lacing a bit before tying them.

"Sit," I gesture to the stool in front of her vanity. It takes ten minutes to pull all the pins from her sleep mangled hair and five more to make it look presentable. I step back.

"You ready?" I ask as she slips on her own pair of flats.

"I guess," she sighs standing. We leave her quarters and head for the dining room in the central part of the castle. The dining hall is already quite full of guests when we arrive so our arrival doesn't go unnoticed. Ana grabs my hand and practically drags me over to the royal table where her brother and mother sit waiting. Nate smiles politely at Ana and I, while the queen simply glares.
"We've been waiting for you Ana," the queen sneers at her daughter who merely bows. I follow her lead.
"My deepest apologies mother," she speaks in her most regal voice, one reserved for speaking to the queen. The queens sneer doesn't falter as she brushes a strand of pale blonde nearly white hair from her face.
"You must never keep your guests waiting Marriana," the queen speaks her name like a curse.
"Yes mother, " Ana responds eyes on the floor. I am still unable to understand why the queen hates her daughter so. Ana and I take our seats opposite the queen and prince.
"All stand for the king," the announcement rings across the room. We quickly follow the order.
"Entering King Denzel Fowlstorm," the announcers voice booms once again as a pair of doors open to reveal a large man with the brightest smile. I can see where Ana gets it from.

The man may have been considered built forty years ago but now pushing seventy he could only be called.. well large. His neatly trimmed salt and pepper hair and beard was slightly disheveled this morning as if he had just woken up.
"Be seated," he called his voice smooth as silk. We sat.
"Rosie!!" The old man nearly squealed as he rushed Ana and pulled her into a tight embrace,"I am so sorry I couldn't be at your ball last night. A storm moved in much quicker than we thought it would trapping us at an inn. Captain Audric wouldn't let me go out in it to get here in time." He continued babbling with Ana trapped in his embrace. The queen glared daggers at the two. Her brown eyes nearly black with hate.

"Daddy it's fine you can let go now," she interrupted pushing against his chest trying to escape. He finally let her loose and took his seat at the head of the table. Nate quickly involved hos father in a conversation about politics and why the king was away.

"Rosie?" I questioned Ana with a whisper as she returned.

"Tell ya later," she whispered back and frowned. I returned her frown before glancing to the queen whose face had changed so drastically it was nearly terrifying.
She now look like the sweet grandmother who told love stories to her grand children. She seemed engrossed I the conversation between the king and prince.
"King Royston agreed to the deal so we will not be having issues from him or his people," the kings statement calls my immediate attention. We've been on the edge of war with the king of Sinjin for over a century for the precious farming land of Ceres along the border we share with Faylinn, the country of Fae. What on earth could have made him drop it? He needs farming land to feed his people. His lands are to cold and windy for much planting. This doesn't make any sense. From the look on Nate' s face he must agree.
"What changed his mind?" The prince asks. His father scowls.
"The witches are moving once again that's what," his response illicits an immediate silence over the entire room.

"What do you mean father? Have the witches moved north? Are they attacking Sinjin cities?" Nate grills his father who offers no immediate answer.
"Maybe this is not the best place for this conversation son," her voice is soft and smooth, no hint of its previous malice. The king pats her knee under the table. Nate curses silently, merely mouthing the words.
"There is a war meeting at noon. Nathaniel you will be there," the king stated, more a demand than a question. The prince nods.
"Rosie," the king addresses Ana, "You will be traveling to Eos to study politics under the masters who await you. You should ready yourself." He dismisses her with a wave of his hand. When she rises I follow suit.
"Seamstress," the king calls out. I freeze. Ana throws me a meek smile before leaving the room.
"Yes sire," I respond, surprised I made any sound at all.
"I heard you are very good at what you do and have seen the beautiful dresses you make for my daughter. We will be needing a flag to fly over our allied armies. Your task is to design that flag." He says all this without looking at me, he only stares at the door Ana left through.
"Yes, your majesty," my mouth speaks the correct response but I'm not sure how. My brain Is fried. I glance at Nate but he is just as lost as myself. King Denzel waves a hand at me in dismissal just as he had Ana. I bow and proceed to exit the room in a daze