Wings of Fire: Melting Ice #2

Chapter 19

It had been two days since Aurora saw Charming. She was still confused and worried about his words, and his mention of him killing her was fresh in her mind. That means Hyacinth was really in the right to kill him. 

Aurora and Hyacinth had made it over the mountains, and they were already crossing the large stretch of desert. It was like a vast ocean, except with sand and hot temperatures. Then we'll be home, and I can deliver my.... brother's message to Iceberg. Maybe she can understand.

"Do you perhaps... want to stop at a shop?" Hyacinth asked.

"No, we shouldn't rest. I want to keep going. We need to get home as soon as possible," Aurora growled. "This message is really important."

"And Iceberg is probably really worried about you," Hyacinth pointed out. 

"Hey!"

Aurora glanced back to see a large SandWing with a long spear and shiny black-tinted armor with red stones in it. "Two dragons passing through, huh. I must know your names, and where you came from and where you're going."

"You're not going to hurt us, are you?" Hyacinth asked, holding his arm out in front of Aurora.

"No. By the looks of it, you two are hybrids, right? We welcome hybrids on our land," the SandWing dipped his head. "Queen Desolate loves hybrids. Maybe you would like to meet her?" He prompted.

"We don't really have the time, but thanks for the offer," Aurora said, dipping her head. 

"I'm Hyacinth, and this is my daughter Aurora. We are heading to the Ice Kingdom to deliver a message to Queen Iceberg," Hyacinth stated. "And we came from the Rainforest Kingdom."

The SandWing dipped his head. "Nice to meet you, Hyacinth and Aurora. Are you sure you don't want to meet Queen Desolate? I'm sure she would love you."

Aurora was about to say no, but Hyacinth opened his jaws to speak first. "Hmm sure, why not?"

"Alright, I shall take you to her," the SandWing roared, starting to fly ahead of the two.

The three dragons were beginning to reach the ground as Queen Desolate's Stronghold came into view. They flew closer and closer, covering more and more ground each time. Eventually, a large SandWing appeared. She was thin. Her scales were shades of yellow-brown, and one of her red-brown horns had a golden ring on it. She wore three silver necklaces around her neck, one containing a skyfire. One of her eyes had scars crossing over it, and two more scars stretched across her jaw. 

"Oh, Barren, who are these two?" Queen Desolate asked, rushing over. Closer now, Aurora noticed a small black heart tattooed under the Queen's eye. She glanced at Aurora, gasping suddenly. "Three moons, you are just gorgeous! What is your name?" She asked.

Aurora grew shy suddenly. "I'm Aurora. Y-you think I'm pretty?" She questioned. The Queen of SandWings said that! 

"Yes! Aurora fits you well! You are so pretty!" Queen Desolate squeaked. "Why do you come and have a feast with us?" She prompted.

"Thanks, but no. I'm not hungry," Aurora stammered, her heart pounding. Can we just go home?

"Oh! Then how about I take you around the stronghold?" Desolate asked.

"Well... we have somewhere to get to," Aurora murmured. "My mother, Queen Iceberg-"

"Your mother is Queen Iceberg?!" The SandWing queen gasped. She raised her tail, her eyes sparking. "Then you must be treated with loyalty!" She said, dipping her head.

"Oh um," Aurora mumbled. "I have something to deliver to her."

"Oh, you do? Well, I'm sorry if I've just wasted your time!" Queen Desolate whined.

"Hey, it's fine. A queen apologizes to no one," Hyacinth stated, raising his chin. He glanced at the pretty SandWing. "We can always come back."

"Would you like Barren to accompany you to the Ice Kingdom?" Queen Desolate asked. "It's dangerous to travel by yourself. Especially since you're a hybrid," she pointed out, looking at Aurora.

"We're fine," Aurora stated. "We should be leaving now, though," she sighed.

"Right, right," Desolate mumbled. "Well if I ever see you again, you're allowed to have all the free food you want!" She cheered, smiling.

Eventually, Aurora and Hyacinth left Queen Desolate. The sun was starting to set by the time the Ice Kingdom came into view. It was a white blur in the distance, but the trees and slopes were slightly visible. The sky had turned a beautiful mixture of pink and orange.

Aurora could feel the hot winds turn slightly cooler the more they approached the Ice Kingdom. She turned to Hyacinth, feeling strange. "Hyacinth... how did you save me? You said you heard the fighting, but the Rainforest Kingdom is extremely far away from the Ice Kingdom."

Hyacinth sighed heavily. "Well to be honest.. I traveled to the Ice Kingdom to talk to Queen Iceberg. I felt as though it was time. But then I found you. You were unconscious, so it was hard dragging you back to the Ice Kingdom."

"You carried me all the way back?" Aurora prompted.

"Yes. I didn't go to Queen Iceberg. She might would have thought that it was the one who hurt you. She would've killed me on spot, and you would never have heard my side of things," Hyacinth explained.

Aurora glanced down at her bandaged arm, wincing. She peeled back the leaf wrap, seeing the dry blue blood poke out. She pushed the leaf back, blinking. When can I see Apple again?

Soon, the two dragons arrived right at the edge of the Ice Kingdom. They stepped into the cold, soft snow. 

"Well, this is it," Hyacinth sighed. He hung his head, looking down at his long shiny talons.

"Hey, how do you not freeze?" Aurora asked.

"Snowcatcher had enchanted me," Hyacinth stated. He lifted his chin, his green eyes narrowed as he focused on the palace. IceWings were seen flying in and out. "Iceberg better listen to me. I... just want her to know why I did what I did."

Aurora looked at her father, her eyes shining. "She'll listen to you, I know." As a cold breeze washed her scales, she felt her stomach get heavy, like a stone had dropped in it. But what if this goes bad?