The Ancient Dragon's Bride

Chapter 2

 “Oh you are so very lucky to have been able to have a conversation with him Astrid!” Taura exclaimed.

  Rolling her eyes, Astrid muttered, “I do not understand, what does it matter if he is 'captain' he’s no more different than any other elf.”

  “Oh but he is, Astrid,” Taura breathed with exhilaration. “He has the most perfect smile, and he can make the most beautiful mermaid feel jealous,” Taura giggled. A feeling of annoyance crept up Astrid’s chest. All her sister ever saw was pretty faces and nothing more. Without word Astrid left her sister’s side. “Astrid? Where are you going?”

  “I’m heading down to the dining hall for supper,” pausing she muttered under her breath, “you’ve caused me enough stress for today.”

Rapidly making her way down the steps, a wave of mouth-watering smells hit her like a wall. “If it weren’t for the comfort of food, I’d probably wind up dead,” Astrid sighed. The stress of having nine sisters was not a pleasant one, and Astrid already had a lot on her plate altogether. Taura was the worst out of all of them, especially at the moment. Just as Fayeil was about to tell her how to escape her sister had ruined her chance. Her only dream was most likely out of reach forever.

  “Astrid my daughter there you are! Come sit, we have much to discuss regarding your birthday,” her father’s cheerful voice chuckled. With a soft smile, Astrid made her way next to her father.

  “Siya, please tell the girls it’s time to come down,” the king said, looking up at a little blue fairy that was struggling to carry a napkin.

  “Oh, of course your highness,” the fairy squeaked with embarrassment. Dropping the napkin, she fluttered out in a flash.

  “Now, what is it that you would like for your birthday my dear?” He asked with a cheerful grin.

  Without thought Astrid blurted out, “I would like to be able to see a griffin, father.” Narrowing his eyes at his daughter he took another bite of the chicken leg he held in his hand.

  “Darling we’ve talked about this before, we are not letting you go past the castle borders,” a calm voice soothed. Rapidly turning her head around, she saw her mother walking gracefully down the steps, her sisters following.

  “But mother, it is my only wish, and it doesn’t even cost one gabolt, so why should it be a problem?” Astrid asked, her hopes slowly falling apart.

  “It is too dangerous Astrid, I’m not risking your life just to see a griffin,” her mother sighed with an extra emphasis on the griffin.

  “I’m sure it’ll be alright if we were to send her with a few guards or so,” Her father shrugged, “what harm could it possibly do.”

  Sitting down besides Astrid’s father she asked with a smile, “why don’t you ask for something more…. normal. A dress perhaps? Maybe I’ll even allow a new horse.” Before Astrid could retort back to her mother, the sounds of armor hitting the floor and swords clinking began to echo throughout the grand hall. Suddenly her father stood up with a serious expression. “Fayeil,” he greeted, as the charming captain walked through. Fayeil slightly bowed his head but kept walking until he reached the king. Astrid kept trying to catch his eye or some type of acknowledgeme- nt but he kept his eyes on the king. After a good minute of whispering had passed by, the king finally sat down and nodded to Fayeil who in return smiled back at the king.

  Just as Astrid thought he was going to walk past her she felt a hand gently grip her shoulder. She turned around only to see Fayeil whispering, “meet me at the same place by the river, right when dawn breaks.” Without thought, Astrid nodded enthusiastically. He let out another soft smile and then made his way out.

  As soon as he had left her sisters then began to giggle and whisper. “Tell me Astrid, what did Fayeil say to you?” Her father asked as he took another bite of the potato he had mutated with his fork. A piece of meat she had thoughtfully been chewing got lodged in her throat and she rapidly spit it out onto her plate.

  “Oh um, he was just telling me that-that he had a nice time talking with me today,” Astrid stammered.

  “Oh I’m sure,” he grinned with a wink. Astrid never blushed, but she could feel her pale cheeks getting hot. Anger began to bubble at the pit of her stomach, so she quickly stood up before she blew her cool.

  “Father, mother,” she said slightly bowing her head. “I’m quite rather tired, I think I’m going to head to bed now.”

  “I’m sure she’s just going to go see Fayeil,” one of her sisters teased. The anger that had started to bubble then had started to boil.

  “Gemmi this is not your affair to meddle with, go back to quietly eating your food,” her father reprimanded. Her sister then quickly looked down at her plate of food, the annoying smile on her dwarf-like face not disappearing.

  Without thought Astrid made her way out of the dining hall, her frustration clear. She couldn’t tell her father about what Fayeil really had said, otherwise he would most likely get punished for offering to help her escape, and for herself, she couldn’t even imagine what kind of punishment she would get.

  She made her way up the long staircase, stomping within every step. “Why must I have to live with such ignorant people,” Astrid muttered. “They never respect me, or my feelings. Why they don’t even treat me like I’m”-

  “Princess Astrid? Do you need assistance?” A tiny voice squeaked. Astrid looked around only to face a little orange fairy.

  Heaving a sigh Astrid shook her head. “Assistance, no, advice, yes.” Climbing the last step, she headed inside her little bedroom, the fairy following.

  “Well, what advice would you like?” asked the fairy, as she gingerly made herself comfortable on Astrid’s shoulder.

  “Any sort of advice that would make me hopeful,” Astrid murmured as she grabbed her night gown.

  “Well,” the fairy said thoughtfully, “I couldn’t help but listen to your conversation, with your father about wanting to see a griffin. So I guess the best advice I have is…. don’t let the other side win. Even if they have the better argument, and the right answer doesn’t mean that you have the wrong one.” The fairy looked up at Astrid hopefully. “Was that advice any good princess?” Plopping on her pink silk bedsheets Astrid let out a sigh.

  “Yes, advice I’ve been longing for, mind you.”