The Dragon Mage

I hurried across the marble halls, the shouts of maids behind me. Why can't they just leave me be? I didn't ask to be followed all the time! " YOUR HIGHNESS!" " My Lady, Please-" I can hear the search party grow as countless guards and maids join in the chase. Why do these people hate me? Is it so wrong for me to decline every fancy outfit they try to dress me in? I don't need a new ball gown, I already own hundreds I'll never even wear. " Princess Fiere, Where are you?!" I felt a hand clamp over my mouth, arms tightening around me as i'm pulled into the shadows. This is bad, I have to get free. "Calm down, Fiere, it's only me." I felt myself relax upon hearing his voice, he releases his hold on me, looking around the corner. "Can't stay out of trouble, I see." "Feyin!" I exclaim "Shh, unless you want them to find you" He gestures for me to follow him as he hurries into the hallway and through the servant passageways. I ran close behind him, watching as light shone in from the exit, and before I knew it, we were outside. His laugh filled the air, such a cheerful and warm sound which forced me to laugh too. "You just can't cut them a break, can you?' "Hey! you try wearing one of those death traps! I swear, someone is trying to kill me." After a momentary pause, we both doubled over laughing until our lungs hurt, and we hit the ground, lying back on the grass, the clouds moving across the sky in the tiniest increments. This is what living should be like, full of laughter and freedom, without all the fancy dresses and nagging maids. "Why do they chase me anyway?" "Because you're the princess." "No, I'm not," I said. "I'm the daughter of a knight who died in the war, that's all." " Fe, I know you were raised by a War hero, and you have every right to love him," He says " but blood doesn't lie, the king is your father." I have heard this a million times, but in the end, nothing has changed. Even if blood doesn't lie and that man is the one who sired me, he's not my Father. I had a father... He died in the war when i was only a girl... That is the father I remember. "Do you want to spar with me?' I couldn't help how my face lit up hearing him say that, like my father, I love the sword. It makes me feel closer to him. "You sure you can handle it?" "naturally. I am a knight, after all." " Ha… knight in training, maybe." "Ohho, its on. I'll make you eat those words." " oh really?" "yea" "You think you can?" "I KNOW I can" "OK, if you beat me, I'll give you anything you want." "anything?" "Anything.. But I seriously doubt you'll be able to beat me. I mean, I AM the daughter of a War Hero" "Oh, but princess," he says," that has no effect on your skill." I drew my sword in record time, blocking his blade from making a hit. "not bad" " Speak for yourself" Our blades clash, metal hitting metal, both of us fighting for the win when, suddenly, he drops low, and before I knew it, my sword went flying, and I was tackled to the ground, Feyin on top of me. We're both breathing heavily, his hands pinning my wrists in the dirt. " Got you!" "Lucky break" "Even so, a deal is a deal." I could feel my heart pounding a million miles a minute. He's holding himself up so as not to crush me with his weight. His green eyes were looking into mine. It's like walking into a forest, so vibrant. So peaceful. " Alright, Soldier, what is it you desire?" "you." I felt my entire body freeze up from the shock of what he had just said.. "Feyin?" "I've known you most of our lives, Fiere" he says, "and within that time, I've fallen for you. I want to marry you, Fe." "Feyin" I couldn't believe my ears.. Had I really just heard what i think i had? "I will become a Knight worthy of the crown, so no one can stand between us" he says,"and when I achieve that, Promise you'll marry me, Fiere." I had waited for years to hear him say those words. I wanted nothing more than to be with him for as long as I can remember. "Yes." I said "Feyin, I promise." Little did i know just how far away that dream had already become. I was walking through the halls, the maids scolding me for having run off earlier. When they found me covered in dirt, they practically died then and there. With furious tones, I was dragged back to the royal bathing chamber, scrubbed clean so hard i swear I am missing skin in some places, and dressed up in one of those dresses with a price tag that could buy a major town and supply it for five years. How ridiculous is this? "You mustn't behave like this, Your Highness." "It's unbecoming for one of your stature." I hate this. Why are they always nagging me? It was just some dirt, no big deal, geez.. "I WILL DO NO SUCH THING! TELL YOUR PRINCE HE CAN FORGET ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING" His Majesty? I walked towards the door, peaking in through the small crack to see a man arguing with the king. What's going on? "Your highness! you must-" "shh" The man approaches the throne, a look of distaste on his face. " I think there has been a misunderstanding, your majesty" he says, 'his highness wasn't asking permission.. He wants the girl." "He can go to hell. He's not getting my daughter" Who is this man? And what's his business with me? " Either you give him the Princess" he says, "or you'll watch this city and all of its people burn." My blood ran cold, his words echoing into my mind… My heart is pounding, my body went rigid. What should I do? What can I do? If i don't do something, the kingdom will die... NO! I can't let that happen.. Not after he died saving it… it can't go out now. Not like this. Never! "Your highness, we should-" Before I even had a chance to second guess myself, I pushed the doors open, running into the room. " PRINCESS!" "Fiere?!" " If it's me you're after, here I am" I exclaim "Take me and leave the people out of it!" Just what have I gotten myself into?