The Dragon's Oath
890 Words
I read the message over and over again. The words refused to make sense.
The Queen will choose between her crown and the man she loves.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
"I am surprised."
Lucien carefully removed the paper from my hand.
"You don't have to."
His voice was calm, but the tension in his jaw remained.
"Not yet."
I looked up at the dragon. It was still bowing. The enormous animal had not moved at all. Its golden eyes never left me.
The men around us stood frozen. No one dared to raise a weapon. Not a soul even bretahed too loudly.
"What does it want?" I whispered.
Lucien responded without straying his gaze from the dragon.
"It's waiting for your permission."
"My permission?"
"To approach."
My eyes widened.
"You're joking right?"
"I never make jokes."
Of course he didn't. I looked back at the dragon. Every instinct told me to run, but I took a step forward cautiously and nothing happened. I took another step forward and still nothing happened. The dragon lowered its head even more until its massive snout rested on the castle courtyard.
It was waiting for me. I raised my hand slowly.
"Aria..." Lucien cautioned.
I hesitated.
"What if it attacks?"
"It won't."
"You sound very certain."
"It already had the opportunity."
He was right. The dragon could have torn the whole castle down, but the moment it saw me, it had stopped.
I took a deep breath and I reached out. A surge of warmth went through my body the instant my fingers touched its scales.
The world disappeared. I stood beneath a silver sky.There were no castles, no smoke or war, only endless white flowers stretching to the horizon.
"What is this?"
"My memories."
The voice seemed to come from everywhere. I turned and saw the dragon standing several feet away. It was smaller now but still quite enormous. Only it was no longer scary.
"You can understand me?"
I always could. Its tone seemed ancient, much older than the mountains.
"I simply waited until your power awakened."
My pulse quickened.
"Who are you?"
The dragon lowered its head.
"I am Vaeros. The Last Guardian Dragon. I swore my life to your family before your great-grandmother was born."
I gazed at him.
"My family?"
"The House of Moonborn."
He studied me quietly.
"You eyes looks just like hers."
"My mother's?"
He nodded.
"And her kindness."
I felt a lump in my throat.
"You knew her?"
"I carried her into battle."
The image was impossible to imagine. My mother, riding a dragon.
Tears burned my eyes.
"What became of her?"
Pain filled Vaeros' ancient eyes.
"I failed."
"You didn't."
"I did," he said and paused for a while. "I swore I would protect my Queen,"
His voice turned softer.
"However, I came too late."
The sadness in his words felt genuine.
"For twenty years I sought you. I thought you had perished next her. But the Moonstone called to me. And now..."
He lowered his large head.
"...my Queen has come back."
I was not sure of what to say. Everything was happening too quickly.
"I am not a queen."
"You will be."
"I'm still not ready."
"No ruler is ever ready."
Before I could answer, the peaceful meadow suddenly shook. The blossoms vanished and the sky was covered with dark clouds.
Vaeros growled.
"They've found us."
"Who?"
"The one who leads the Crimson Order."
The ground split open and a shadow rose from the darkness. It was tall and covered in black cloak. His face remained hidden beneath a hood, but the rage spilling from him made my blood run cold.
"So..."
The stranger chuckled.
"At last the dragon has found his Queen."
Vaeros stepped protectively in front of me.
"You are not welcome here."
"I don't have to be."
The stranger raised one hand. Black chains shot out of the ground and they wrapped around Vaeros' wings.
The dragon roared. The sound shook the whole world.
"No!" I sobbed.
I tried to reach him. The stranger gazed right at me. Even if though I couldn't see his face, I felt his smile.
"You've grown."
His voice had an uncanny familiarity.
"As anticipated... The daughter of Selene survived."
My heart almost stopped.
"You knew my mother?"
"Oh..."
He started smiling once more.
"I was quite familiar with her."
Everything shattered before I could ask another question. I gasped and fell backwards.
The castle courtyard came into view once more. Before I could fall, Lucien grabbed my arm.
"What happened?"
I struggled to breath.
"I saw..."
I turned towards Vaeros. The dragon gazed at me with sad eyes.
"I know who rules the Crimson Order."
Lucien's look turned more serious.
"Who?"
I swallowed hard.
"I could not see his face. But... He knew my mother.
Vaeros let off a deafening roar just before Lucien could respond. Every warrior looked toward the sky and I looked up also.
My heart ceased. Dozens of black figures were descending through the clouds. Not one or ten but an entire army. Each warrior rode a winged beast.
A man dressed in black armor flew ahead of them. Even from this distance, I could feel his eyes on me.
Vaeros' voice echoed inside my mind one last time.
"Run, my Queen... He has come for you himself."
- Writer
