The Girl With A Dragon

Alina       Ahh, another ball. It's been two years since I turned eighteen and I've grown rather sick of these gatherings.        I live in a region with multiple royals families. We reach rule over our own country. Every time a royal son, or daughter comes of age, we have another ball. I'd much rather be with my Dragon, or doing anything else really, but I have a duty to marry eventually...... So here I am. I've met pretty much every royal son born...and I'm bored. They're too easy to read. They want my dragon, they want my kingdom, but I have yet to find a partner who is worth a damn.       "Alina! Why are you sulking in the corner? This is my party and you're my closest friend!  I can't help but smile at my closest friend Cia, as she hurries to me, and takes both of my hands.       "I'm....bored". I say honestly.       "Oh, Alina! No Dragons to tame here! So my party makes you yawn."  she says with a smile. She won't hold my honesty against me. She knows me too well.       "It does, but I will try a bit harder. I'll go find Joseph and have a dance or two.".       I do just that and find Joseph. Like normal, he has a crowd of women around him. He's entertaining them and laughing. He really is handsome. With his 6'3 build, and perfect blonde hair gelled to a more formal style. He's even sporting his formal military uniform. Too bad that I see him more as a good friend.         He sees me approaching and excuses himself.       "Ahh, I see that you have decided to come out of your corner." He says as he takes my hand and leads to to the dance floor. I can feel the glares of death from behind me.       "I thought that I would come to save you from them," I say as we begin to dance.       "Feel free to save me anytime you like."       "There are some pretty faces in that group."       "There are always pretty faces. The Realm of Royaume is filled with beautiful women"        "What a charmer you are! No wonder you have a fan club over there" I say teasing him.       "How is your dragon training going?" asks Thomas.       "It's going, my dragon is stubborn, but smart," I say as we continue to dance.       My dragon is a rarity, she is dark green in color. Which matches the greenery of my country. We're mostly a forest region. Royal daughters are rarely born with a dragon, but as my mother was, and her mother was, so was I gifted with a dragon. In times of war, an extra dragon can make or break the odds. So I am viewed as a prize, but for my dragon.  My parents also decided to change their laws and allow firstborn daughters to inherit estates. I am the first daughter in my region to become a queen in my own right. Whoever marries me will get more resources, my countries resources, as well as another dragon.        "You know, not every man here is a cad," says Joseph as we come to meet each other again.       "Is that so? Who would you suggest?" I say with a smirk.       Joseph sighs.       "That's what I thought," I say back.        "Would you really like my help? I can start asking around"       "Why not? I'm terrible at this type of thing"       "Fine, but you have to do the same for me. I can't read people as well as you do."       "Ah, yes, all are good, kind, and sweet in your eyes, but I agree to help find a queen worthy of you, my dear friend."       "Good, write to me when you have a worthy candidate and I'll keep an eye out for you"  says Joseph as we finish our dance and bow to each other.        I head back to Cia. She is chatting with her mother near the large pink birthday cake.       "Ahh, Alina! I'm so glad that you could make it!" she says as she kisses both of my cheeks. I love Cia's mother like my own. She and her daughter are every bit as gracious and kind as I would hope to be one day.       "Of course! I wouldn't miss it" I say back with a smile. Cia's mother heads over to another corner of the room to make more of her rounds as the queen.         "So have you found anyone that has piqued your interest?" I ask why wiggling my brows at my friend.       She slaps my arm and laughs at me.       "Actually I have! His name is..."       My friend is interrupted by a royal announcer announcing three very late royals.       "Presenting King Elric of the La Mer Kingdom, Princess Ava of the La Mer Kingdom, and Princess Emily of the La Mer Kingdom."       I look up to see three very striking individuals. All three are tanned, with vivid blue eyes, and dark hair that has been lightened by the sun. I also notice that all three have a silver dragon on their right forearm. Even the two young princesses. Who look to be barely teens.        "They have dragons too!" I whisper to Cia.       "The La Mer girls? Of course, they do! I thought that you knew about them. They're the only other royal daughters who were born with dragons."       "Who is this king? He looks so young!"          "Elric? I think that he is three years older than us. I'm surprised that you haven't met them! Your parents were friends. At least that's what I've heard from my mother. They're from the region on the coast. Their father got some sort of strange sickness. So Elric just took the throne  this past year "        I truly thought that I had met all of the royal sons, but I guess that I was wrong. I look back to the family to see Elric looking being greeted by Cia's father. Both young princesses have linked arms and are walking towards the cake this now being served.       I look back to Elric to see those ocean blue eyes looking at me. Why does he feel so familiar?