Now, there is a reason that I invited all of you here.
1508 Words
Dru, King of Dragon’s
We’re all seated at a table that has been lavishly set. All I can think about is how my people and our dragons would thrive with all of these resources.
A servant comes to bring us drinks.
“Beer or wine, your majesty?”
“If you have beer that is dark and close to bread, he’ll have that.” Said my second, he’s always teasing me about my choice of drink. But we’re with another party. We’re not at some brothel.
I glare at him and the servant simply nods and goes to get the others drinks.
“Since we’re being frank with each other, can I ask you a taboo question, your majesty?” Asks Luke.
Queen Aimee turns her head to the side and there’s a hint of a smile on her face.
“I feel as though I might regret this…but go ahead.”
“What do you eat?”
Her cute button nose scrunched a little as she laughed. The sound almost sounds musical. Her posture, which had become more rigid when we sat down, visibly relaxed.
“Oh that! I prefer human food, but I’ll occasionally crave blood…when you’re half human and half vampire, it can go either way. My brother that you met earlier, takes more after my father and craves blood more than I do.”
Fate above, the question wasn’t the worst that I’ve heard from Luke’s mouth, but a way to treat her like a science experiment.
I kicked him under the table, warning him to be careful. She might be warm, but she was still beyond his station.
He grimaced but got the message.
Our drinks come and I notice that her majesty drinks wine. Drinking plenty vs sipping like most regal women do. Is she nervous then? I shake my head at the thought. She has no reason to be nervous. She has the upper hand here.
We all dig into the food and I marvel at how amazing everything tastes. Fresh fish is one thing, but fresh meat, which was probably butchered this morning, is another thing entirely.
The food continues and so does the drink. I noticed that her majesty keeps up with us drink for drink. My second and third are showing more signs that they’ve been drinking than she is. So she can hold her alcohol. The conversation flows easily between all of us. She’s lovely and makes it easy to be in her company. She made some sort of joke and I was so busy observing her that I missed it.
“Your highness, you don’t find me funny?” She asks, probably knowing full well that I simply hadn’t heard her. I can’t help it though. She is so unlike what I had pictured.
“Oh don’t take that personal, he generally isn’t the life of that party, that is my job” said Luke.
“He’s King, he will not always be the life of the party, but he’ll probably be the one always funding them.” She said with a light cheer of her glass.
“Very true, your majesty.”I said back..
Even my third had started to join the conversations with this beautiful Queen.
The food is taken away and another round of drinks comes in. As soon as the drinks hit the table, we heard it.. a monsoon of rain.
“Well, that doesn’t look like good weather to fly back in. How about I have servants draw up some rooms for you?” Says Queen Aimee as a servant fills her glass.
“We wouldn’t want to impose on you. I’m sure that we aren’t your only guests for the day.” I said back, being polite. Although I really don’t want to fly back in this weather.
Queen Aimee waved her hand in the air. As if to wave away my comment.
“You’re my only guest. Besides a small birthday for my younger brother. Of which, you can all attend…it is settled then.”
Without even asking, I saw a female servant leave to prepare the rooms.
“Now, there is a reason that I invited all of you here.”
“I suspected it wasn’t just for us to eat your food and drain your wine cellar.” I responded back. Trying not to be too harsh, but at the same time, bringing the reality of the situation back to the conversation.
For a split second, I see a bit of nervousness grace the Queen's face before she continues.
“Exactly, your majesty, I don’t expect this one dinner to erase all of the pain between our people, but I hope to offer something to be a prize of peace. Although I know nothing can replace the lives lost…”
As she says this, a servant brings over a large map. On the east coast, near where we fish, a large piece of land is marked off. She gets up from the table and walks over to the map
“I want to offer this land to you. I cannot explain, nor can an apology be enough for the loss caused by my predecessor, but compensation is in order.”
I got up from the table and looked at the land. It is rich. There’s farm land, mountains that can be mined and the coast of which we already use.
“This land is very valuable. I don’t see this passing your governing bodies.”
“It always has. I wouldn’t come into a meeting like this unprepared…”
I looked into her unique eyes, shock running through me. This is the closest physically that we’ve been and I can smell some sort of perfume coming from her. Between that and her beauty, I have to remind myself that she is still my enemy. Even if this deal went through, we’d still be neutral at best.
“What do you want in return? Nothing is ever free.”
“Of course, we’re asking for the war to end. For our peoples to coexist again. With everything that has happened..you and your people deserve more than this, but at this current time, this is the best olive branch that I can offer.”
“So, you’re simply asking for peace?” asked my third. He is as skeptical as I am.
“Peace is not a simple matter. Not with everything that has happened. How I see it, to ask for peace is a big ask.”
“..she’s not wrong. Our people will want this, but congress is going to want more.” Said my third.
“Congress is a bunch of old bats who will just want to fill their pockets. We can handle them.” Said Luke. His father is a duke and highly respected. So, although I am king, if Luke is also for this, then it will help sway congress.
The Queen looked like she wanted to laugh at Luke’s comment but refrained.
“How much time do I have to look over the maps and read the legal documents?”
“…and know that we will read every document.” Said my third.
The Queen simply nodded.
“As much time as you need….the people dwelling within the land have been notified of the possible change. They can stay or come here with compensation. So no additional blood will need to be split in order to make this work. Your rooms have been prepared. You’re welcome to relax or begin to look over the documents.”
“Thank you for this. I’m not sure if we can make this work, but my people need a change.”
“I understand. Thank you for coming here at all.”
She’s been holding my gaze and the chemistry between us is so thick, it’s hard for me to look away.
I heard my third clear his throat. And it snaps me out of whatever trance we were in.
“I guess we will leave now…” I say as I give her a half bow and she gives me one back.
“…what time and where is the party?” Calls Luke from where he sits.
Queen Aimee Smiles,
“We have an indoor spring and waterfall here. Food and activities will be at six.”
“Will the previous king be present?” asked my third. Mostly because her father is not a person that we would enjoy being around. Considering everything.
“Unfortunately not, my father is handling some family matters in Lexadoor. He won’t be back for weeks.”
“Fine, we will come then.” I said, making it clear that this deal is with her. Not her father.
“She nods, great, I’ll have the servants bring swimwear for you to choose from. As swimming wasn’t on our original plans.”
“Thank you, your majesty. You’re a gracious host.”
She simply nods and smiles. We turned to leave and a servant led us to our rooms.
- Writer
