Touched By A Dragon

Chapter 37: Sisters

Lillianna sat at her desk, gazing out of the stained glass window. The seas had been getting rougher, the waves larger and the boat more unsteady. It had been hard work but they had almost made it to the point where they could go no further. Lillianna fidgeted with her sleeve, slightly worried that the knights clan wouldn’t turn up in time, or at all. She pulled the draw under her desk open and took out a paper and a pen, then she started to write another letter.
Just as she signed her name, she heard Lydia shout to the others to get their weapons, followed by a lot of heavy thuds of someone boarding the boat. She looked at Talon and he looked back at her.
“We’ve been bored,” He muttered, “I’ll go fight, you stay here. If you die then all of this would have been for nothing.”
He opened to door and closed it behind him, for a second she could have sworn she heard a voice she recognized, but before she could place it it was interrupted by Lydia.
“We will not hesitate to kill you. Leave now.” She said.
“That’s not a good idea, you know, big old wooden boat,” There was a pause. “Source of fire as well as an easy getaway.”
“No, is it?” Lillianna whispered.
She tried to open to door but Talon had locked it from the outside, so all she could do was listen. The voice continued.
“Look, we don’t want any trouble, we were called here. Look I have a note, if you would let me go to my bag.”
“Not a chance, you could attack us.”
“Thought so, look the dragons don’t mean any harm, just let us see the Captain.”
Lillianna knocked three times on the door, very loudly.
“Talon let me out, I sent for the riders.” She said calmly. 
Talon stood aside and unlocked the door.  Lillianna dropped her calm composure and ran out out of the room, a huge smile on her face.
“Peter! Oh, my Ethereal, I am so glad to see you here! I thought you weren't going to come!”
“P-princess?”
“Yep, it’s me.”
Peter crouched on the floor, his head bowed. All of the knights followed his lead.
Lillianna blushed, she forgot what this felt like.
“No, please. Stand up. I’m not the princess here. Here I am just like everyone else.” 
Peter stood up, everyone else following his lead.
“forgive me, it's just that your so different. You seem wiser and you feel like a different person.”
“Yes, well it has been a long time. People change. And I see you have become clan leader, Jewel looks good in gold.” 
Peter looked over to his dragon then back at the princess. 
“Yeah,  a lot has changed. But this is only a temporary position.” 
The others looked uneasy and but said nothing. Lillianna nodded.
“indeed. Well I have...acquired this lovely ship and it would seem such a shame to just leave it out in the open, do you mind if we sail back?”
Peter thought for a while. 
“well it would make our trip a few days longer, but the dragons do seem tired. I will talk to the other riders about it, give us a minute.”
Lillianna nodded and Peter formed a circle with the riders and their dragons. Lillianna turned to Lydia, Alena, Clover and Tiffany. Lydia marched up to her, eyes brazing and face twisted in rage.
“You invited reptiles and psychopaths onto this ship! They could have burnt this place down and left us here! You are a danger to this crew and to my family. I don't want your gold. Just go.”
Lillianna nodded and opened her mouth to reply, but Alena spoke first.
“Sister please, think about this,” she muttered. 
“No! I have already thought about this! Have you forgotten what thoes vile beasts did! Have you forgotten what happened to...” 
“No I haven't! I will never forget what happened to mother! What happened to me and Clover! It's eched into our skin forever!” 
Alena picked up the hem of her dress to show burns and Clover rolled up her sleeve to show huge scars in the shape of dragon claws. Tears sprang into Alenas eyes but she kept yelling.
“I know you blame yourself for what happened! Just because you where with Father! But it's not your fault! You would have just gotten killed! I know you are so protective of us because you are afraid to lose us, but you can't keep us locked up from risk. This is the real world and we can't hide from it forever. If you can't trust her, then trust us. Please.” 
Tears were falling from Lydia's eyes, she said nothing but nodded her head. She took a breath and gulped.
“I love you both very much.” She whispered.
“And we love you too.” Clover whispered back. 
Clover and Alena rushed up to their sister and hugged her for a while.
Lillianna smiled and turned away, back to the knights.
“Peter, have you and your clan come to a conclusion on this situation?” 
“Yes, we have. Due to the riders training we know how to sail and it is agianst the knights code to refuse help to thoes in need, regardless of status.” 
“very good, Peter. Do you have a plan?” 
“Well, we were thinking that since there us eleven of us and and eleven riders, we cloud help sail and the dragons could pull the ship forward to avoid being blown off course. Could I talk to the Captain?” 
“Hold on, I'll check. She's not exactly a dragon lover.” 
“understood.” 
Peter nodded and Lillianna turned to Lydia and her sisters. 
“Should I still leave? I do not wish to cause you any grievances.” 
Lydia answered, poison lacing her voice.
“You can stay, but under a few rules. First of all cut the fancy talk, you ain't any better than us so don't pretend you are. Second, this is my ship, my family and my rules, nothing happens here without me saying so. Thrid, do what i tell you. And last, thoes reptiles are to be chained up and kept away from their owners at all times. If you have a problem with anything that I said, then you can leave. Is that clear, princess?” 
“Crystal,” she smiled in her usual calm voice.
The she turned back to Peter and whispered.
“We might have a tiny problem,” She told him.
“And what's that?” 
“The dragons will have to be chained up and separated from you.” 
Surprisingly,  Peter took it well, he smiled and chuckled.
“Um,  James, I think I broke Peter.”
Peter burst out in laughter and James poked him.
“Yeah, he's gone,” James sighed.
Peter laughed for a few minutes then he stopped and took a deep breath.
“No, I'm fine. This is actually exactly what I was planning.”
“You have a really bad sense of humour and a really bad plan.” James told him.
“No,” Peter sighed, “just...let me talk to Lydia.”
Lydia turned around and marched up to James.
“I heard my name?” She hissed.
“Ah, Captain,” Peter bowed deeply, smiling.
“Finally, some well deserved respect,” Lydia nodded, blushed.
“I was just discussing your brilliant idea,” He said, looking her in the eyes.
She blushed beeper and Peter blushed back. Lillianna turned from Lydia to Peter, they didn't even seem to notice her, she smiled and nodded approvingly. 
“well, I'll just leave you two to discuss...plans.” 
She smiled again and left to her cabin.