The Troll War

Chapter two - King Potts

The Captain of the guards knocked on the door to King Potts chamber, "Your Majesty, a dragon has brought a female creature claiming to be Princess Tea."

The King hurried to the door and flung it open, "Creature? Tea? What are you talking about?"

The Captain dropped to one knee and bowed, "Sire, a dragon landed in the courtyard with a female of a type I have never seen before and an equally strange bat. She is certainly built like a troll and sounds like one, but she has no worts or hair on her body and the hair on her head is smooth and silky. She did have the Princess's ring," (handing the ring to King Potts), which I've brought to you."

The King studied the ring closely, "Yes, this certainly is Tea's ring. Her brother has a similar ring, but with different markings." He continued to look at the ring and shook his head, "Have you gotten anything out of her yet?"

The Captain, still kneeling, "No Sire, I thought it best to wait to see how you wanted it handled."

King Potts signaled the Captain to rise, "Take me to her." They left for the dungeon at a brisk pace, at least brisk for the King.

Tea sat on some straw on the right side of the room near the heavy steel barred door. Her head was in her hands, tears running down her face and wishing Leaf or Korb or somebody would explain what changed her. She knew some of the lighter tortures used by trolls, and had heard the screams of people being subjected to the heavier and more extreme tortures. She was living a nightmare. Someone approached, she was certain it was a guard sent to torture her. Reluctantly stood to face her uncertain fate. "Father!" She Jumped to the bars and grabbed them so quickly that the Captain and her father jumped back. "Father, please get me out of here." She was half pleading and half insisting.

The King studied her up and down, "You somewhat resemble my daughter, and you sound like that demanding little girl we raised," (Tea's heart was jumping for joy, he recognized her), "but young lady, that is as far as it goes."

Tea was dumbfounded. King Potts and the Captain started to leave, but stopped. Turning back to a totally mortified Tea, "My daughter has a birthmark, show it to me."

Her mouth opened wide, "Father! That is too embarrassing."

"Show me or I leave."

Hanging her head, "Alright", then indicating the Captain with her hand, "make him go away or turn around or something." The King instructed the Captain to turn around, which he did.

"Ok, now show me."

Tea turned around and lowered her pants, to expose a clover leaf shaped birthmark on her right cheek. "Satisfied Father?" She pulled up her pants and turned to meet his gaze. "Well? Do I get released or not?"

"Not yet."

"What! Didn't that birthmark prove I am your daughter?"

"It gave credence to your claim, but I need to consider this more in depth. Nothing will happen to you until I make a decision, these are troubling times and I must be completely certain. The kingdom is at stake." Then the King turned to the Captain, "You say she and a bat arrived on a dragon? Did the dragon confirm she was my daughter?"

"Yes Sire, as did the bat creature."

"Take me to them."

The King and Captain approached the (now sleeping) dragon, Bannon dropped to his knees, "Your Highness. Your guards didn't believe us, but the lady we brought was indeed your Princess."

"Mr. Dragon," he wasn't really sure how to address a dragon, "May I speak to you for a moment?" The dragon opened one eye to look at the King and grunted. "Was that my daughter Princess Tea you brought this sunrise?"

"Yes, the bat and I both told your apparently dense guard that twice, but he insulted me by saying I might be lying. Dragons don't lie." She then closed her eye.

The King took a deep breath, "Mr. dragon I am sorry my Captain didn't believe either of you, but these are difficult and perilous times, and I cannot fully accept and trust her just yet. I know you and your fellow dragons don't lie, but would you do me the indulgence of bringing the elf my daughter accompanied on his quest?"

The dragon gave a very deep and dramatic sigh, and then a huff which almost caused the King to fall backwards. "Non-dragons can be so exasperating. Yes, I will get Leaf the Nice for you." She stood and stretched her back, then her wings, and gave a very wide yawn, and with a great dramatic flourish took to the air and returned to Glenn. "Interrupting a perfectly nice nap, how rude. And my name is Maria, I am female, not a male, you should really learn the differences since we are going to be around here a lot."

"I will endeavor to learn, and thank you Maria." Then to Bannon, "Come with us Bannon, I'd like to know more about your brothers and what my wayward son is up to."