The Girl With A Dragon

I Am Coming For Her

Alina

It’s late again and I decide to wander the castle. I have so much on my mind. I’m related to the goddess of dragons. I was engaged. But it was broken off because of an accident. My home was partially burnt to the ground. My mother almost died. And my friend, or I’m not sure what Elric is to me at this point, almost died to save her.

Maybe the reason why I never fit in is that I’m not fully human. Maybe being related to a goddess has made me different. I tried, but part of me just couldn’t follow the typical path that I watched my peers follow. While most princesses had tea parties and made friends, I was out with my dragon. I would rather be in a library than at a crowded party. I’ve always felt like the odd one out. My mother called it being a free spirit, but I wonder what my great grandmother was like.

“You are up late, oh daughter of mine.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard my mother’s voice when I wasn’t expecting it. 

I look over and I see that my mother looks healthy, albeit a bit pale.

“I am...I have a lot on my mind.”

“Would you like to share?”

I nod and my mother walks beside me as we head outside to the garden.

“I’ve never felt like I fit in and now I wonder if that has anything to do with my great grandmother.”

My mother smiles before saying “Partially, you’re so like your great grandmother, You carry her fire for sure. She was quiet, but cross her and you would regret it. She was always the most intelligent person in the room. We also raised you to be uniquely you. Don’t be afraid of your uniqueness just because others comprehend it. That is their problem. Not yours.”

I sigh and nod.

“I’m not sure what to do with Elric. Sometimes it feels like my mind and body remember him. I even dream about him. Shouldn’t I be with him?”

“That is only for you to decide in your current state. Not because of your previous past. Elric made it quite clear from the beginning that he would never force you back into a relationship. He only wants you if you love him.”

“I know...but we were engaged! That had to have meant something. He had to have meant something to me.”

“At one time, yes, but you have continued to grow over the years and so has he. You would have to see if you still mean anything to each other now.”

“Did we love each other? Like you and father?”

My mother smiles and her eyes glaze over a bit as if she's remembering a memory.

“You did really love each other, but differently. You two were like fire and ice. You used to be so ablaze with ideas and so confident. If you didn’t like something you changed it. If someone in the court tried to bring up a B*llshit topic, then you called them on it. He was your ice. He was calm and a reason for your fire. You two were joined at the hip and he was your closest confidant.”

We continue to walk in silence. The moon is full tonight and the humid tropical air feels cold against my skin. The weather here makes me miss my home.

“It sounds like I was a different person before the accident.”

“Not entirely. Yes and no. It's to be expected though. Your temperament changed some, but you’re still you. I think part of that is the memories that you lost. Those were key memories in your developmental years. Those gave you a good amount of confidence.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the accident? How have you been able to keep it a secret from me?”

My mother gave a deep sigh.

“This was under the direction of the doctor. We also had tried to bring up memories and the accident to you, but it only caused more pain and confusion in the beginning. We’re thought about it over the years, but Elric asked us not to. Or if we did, not to include him. At the time, it seemed too painful for him to tell you the truth and possibly be rejected by you. Or cause more harm to you. He took your accident to heart. We tried to reason with him, but there was no reasoning with him. He became like ice without his fire.”

I look to the moon and think over this new information. I wish that I would have been told sooner, but I guess everything has happened when it was supposed to.

“What do we do with the fire?”

“The castle will be rebuilt. That is the easy part, but finding which kingdom tried to attack us will be difficult. When we do. I’m not sure if we can avoid war at this point. They tried to end an entire royal family. We don’t want to put off your coronation, but we also don’t want you to take the throne with a possible war looming ahead.”

“Maybe that is exactly why they attacked. Maybe they assumed that at the very least, it would keep me from my throne.”

“This is true. This is something that your father and I have considered as well. The old guard isn’t jumping to change their ways. But I doubt that is the only reason that they attacked. All I ask is for patience for your father and me. We will try to sort this out. We will bring you along when we can, but your father and I would like you to stay here where you are safest. It was very bold to attack our home. I can’t guarantee your safety when we travel now. We have an unpredictable opponent. Normally the kingdoms that we know would not attack without a war agreement or sending word. This is out of the realm of our civilized ways.”

“Well, I could be trapped in worse places. Then on a tropical island with friends.”

My mother instantly looks relieved that I agree to this. This must have been weighing on her mind heavily.

 “A tropical island with the most dragons and the best trained army that the realm has seen. Elric has trained them well. You will be safest here.” 

__

Queen Marie

(Alina’s Mother)

I drop my daughter off at her room and start to walk back to mine. To say that I’m relieved would be a drastic understatement. She is okay with putting off her coronation and staying here. Everything that we’re doing is only to keep her safe. Sometimes I miss when she would argue back, but now is not one of those times. 

I see a small flame coming towards me and my heart sinks. The little flame floats towards me. Not burning or touching anything near it. No, not now….. This would be the worst possible time for this.

I open my hand and the little flame turns to a small note. The note says…..

“I am coming for her.”