The First Rule of Court
1347 Words
Alina
I woke up the next morning to roaring hurricane winds outside my window; Which means no flying back today.
Not that I mind…..
Maybe I can explore this place and get some answers. I force myself out of bed and write a quick note to my palance and my parents. I seal it and give it to aservant. Just as I finish, I hear a knock at my door.
“Alina, It’s Eva and Emily. Can we come in?”
“Yes, I just woke up.”
Both girls come in with smiling faces.
“Good morning!” They both say at the same time.
“Good morning,” I say less exuberant than them.
“Can I do your hair for breakfast?” Asks Ava.
“..Ava I’m sure that she wants to do her hair or have a servant do it.” Mumbled Emily.
“...No it’s fine. I don’t mind really. It’s so long now that I am clueless” I say to both of them, giving Emily a half-smile.
“Oh Goody!” Let out Ava as she ran to get her tools.
“You just made her week. She loves doing other people’s hair, but rarely gets to try on anyone else, but our mother, or myself” said Emily with a smile.
“Do you really not get many visitors here?” I ask generally curious.
“We get lots of male visitors because they have dragons. You’re the only other girl with a dragon. Any of our other friends would have to take a long boat ride here. It’s just quicker for us to fly to them most of the time.” Said Emily.
Ava returns with a curling iron and clips and starts to get to work.
“....well, in that case, I’ll have to visit more,” I say earnestly.
“Oh, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to feel bad for us. We’re so young”
Said Emily while blushing.
“I don’t feel bad...it’s nice being around other girls with dragons. It’s difficult for me to make friends. Most girls my age see me as competition…..Besides my friend Cia. Besides, I’m barely twenty.
How old are the both of you?”
“I’m fourteen and Ava is ten.” Said Emily.
I wave my hand in the air.
“See? Not that big of a difference”
“You seemed popular at that party,” said Ava.
“Looks can be deceiving little one. The first rule of court. Two of those girls tried to dye my hair by putting hair dye in my shampoo bottle. Another one spread terrible rumors about my integrity just because my dragon and I flew with a prince that she was interested in.”
Emily, gasped “That’s terrible!’.
“Indeed, I’m not saying don’t trust anyone, but let people earn your trust. Don’t just automatically give it.”
As I said this, Ava finished the last braid and I admired her handy work. She did a half up and half down with a mix of curls and braids.
“Ava! This is lovely!”
“Thank you, your highness!” Said Ava with a curtsy.
“I’m not a ‘highness’ yet,” I say while smiling.
‘
“I know! I’m just practin’ “ said Ava as she grabbed my hand and we headed to breakfast.
__
“....did you really fly through a hurricane? asks Ava excitedly, as the first course of breakfast was served.
“I did indeed!” said Elric while smiling at his little sister.
“...don’t get ideas Ava!” said their mother while looking slightly uneasy.
“...I’ll tell you the secret to that later,” said Elric in a loud whisper that his mother clearly heard.
“You two, oh dear me. One adult and two preteens with dragons. I’m surprised that I have raised all three of you in one piece!” said their mother in a huff.
“Darling.. don’t be too hard on them” said King Hugh as he entered the room. He gave his wife a kiss on her cheek and sat next to her.
“Father, you look well today.” said Elric as we all started eating now that everyone was present.
“ I feel well, I suspect that is due to Alina’s discoveries” said King Hugh while giving me a small smile.
“You mean about your dragon?” asks Elric looking slightly perplexed.
“Not just my dragon, but the fact that he and I are linked. He will hopefully get better with proper nutrition and so will I.”
“Why aren’t our dragons sick...how did grandfathers dragon live so long?” asks Emily.
They all look to me for an answer.
“My educated guess is that your dragons are too young. Your dragons can digest meat, but they do that in a smaller secondary stomach. Meat was never meant to be their primary food source….. More as a back up in case they’re too far away from the ocean. As for your grandfather’s dragon….maybe he was too proud to show that he was sick. Some dragons will ask for help and some will hide their pain. I’ve seen this with my father’s dragon. He had a broken foot for a month, but none of us knew until my father himself saw a lump that was in the wrong spot.”.
They all look like they’re thinking about what I’ve said.
“When is your coronation?” asked their mother.
“A little over a month away”.
“That is so soon! Are you excited?” asked the queen.
“Partly excited, partly nervous.” I say honestly.
“Well… if you are anything like your mother or your father, then you will be great. Our realm has had the longest time of peace that it has ever had due to them. They’re brilliant rulers and the apple hasn’t fallen far from the trees.” said the queen as she took a zip of an orange drink in a champagne glass.
I blush a bit at her compliment.
“.. your Coronation will be historic, correct? Since you’re the first woman in Royaume to rule without being married first.” asks Elric while looking at me from across the table. Not looking the least bit tired after flying through a hurricane...and our late night stroll.
“Yes, I guess it is historic.”
“...its about time! Hopefully, other first-born women can follow after you.” said King Hugh.
“In my realm, they already have. They have been able to since my parents made this choice when I was in my teens.”.
“That’s so great!...now that I think about it. We should make some changes to our own laws. What do you think of that, dear son of mine?” asked the queen.
“I’ve been thinking along the same lines for a bit now. I’ve drafted some changes, but haven’t finalized them. Alina, since you’re stuck here in a storm, would you mind giving me feedback?” said Elric,
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the King and Queen’s facial expressions change due to Elric using my first name only, dropping my title.
“I’d enjoy that very much.” I say with a smile.
- Writer
