The ruthless king and his long lost love

10 years ago: Laughter filled the halls of the palace whenever we were together, Rynn was the most joyous of people and she brought laughter with her wherever she went. It never mattered what was going on around her she always chose joy, and she spread it like a wild fire. I’ve never seen her look sad or scared, until today. War broke out in the kingdom. A long building tension that finally snapped. No matter where you looked you couldn’t escape the sight of death. Rynn clung to me as we rushed through the halls desperate to find our families, tears running down her cheeks. Anger filled my body, she was only 13 there was no logical reason for her to have to go through this. I was only 15, not much older but old enough to have seen this war coming and know to be on guard. She was oblivious to the hate in the world. She only ever saw the best in people. I wouldn’t let her down, I would help her find her family and get out of this kingdom safely. “Philip I’m scared” she cried as we slowed to check around the corner before continuing. I looked back at her and my heart broke a little as more anger filled my bones. I was a royal. My family comes from a long line of royal dragon riders, the only left of our kind. I couldn’t ride yet, that usually came when you turned 16. I was so close, yet so far. “It’s okay Rynn, we’ll get through this. Take a few deep breaths and get ready to run again” I gave her hand a quick squeeze and turned around to check the hallway, we were so close to reaching our safety. We just had to make it down the hallway and across the palace square. It was risky, nowhere to hide if people came in but we didn’t have another choice. I sucked in one deep breath and we started running. When we were half way down the hall I heard a shriek and felt the warmth of Rynn’s hand get ripped from mine. I turned around to see a rouge solder pulling Rynn away from me “and just where do you think you’re going prince Philip?” The sound of his voice alone made me want to kill him, but he had Rynn so there wasn’t much I could do. Before I could think of what to say the hallway started to fill with people. More rouge solders. We were doomed. I reached for my sword, ready to go down swinging when fighting broke out all around me, soldiers filled the hallway and before I knew it I was being dragged away. “NO STOP! We need to go back!” I yelled at whoever was carrying me away from Rynn, away from the castle. The last thing I heard was the sound of Rynn screaming for me as I was dragged away, helpless to protect her. Present day: “NO” I abruptly wake up at the sight of Rynn’s scared face in my dreams. It’s been 10 years since I’ve seen her and most nights I dream of the horrible night we were separated. Cold sweat runs down my neck and back. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember what my horrible uncle did. He couldn’t take being second so he killed my father in his sleep, my mother barely escaped with her life that night. And now my uncle rules the kingdom. Most people stayed under my uncles rule. Claiming he was a more safe fit than my father or me because he didn’t have a dragon. Fear is a powerful thing and my uncle used it for his advantage. He spread evil lies that the dragons only ever picked the most evil heirs in the family to bond with and that’s why he wasn’t chosen and my father was. I’ve never heard such an outrageous lie. The truth is, dragons and very intelligent creatures and they only want what’s best for their riders and their kind, so when they sensed the evil intentions in uncles heart they cast him out, refusing the bond with him and refusing to let him use them. After that my uncle was filled with angry jealousy and started his plan to take over the kingdom. Even after the war when we started our own kingdom uncle spread rumors about me being the most cold hearted ruler to ever exist in the kingdom. At first I fought against the lies, but eventually they started to become reality, but not fully. The more uncle spread lies about me being cold hearted and ruthless the more I was when dealing with him and his people only. To my people I am still stern and cold hearted at times but I’m also fair. At least I try to be. If there’s one thing I’m horrible to my people about it’s when they try to throw their women at me. I am not at all interested in any women but Rynn. Even after 10 years she’s still all I want. I just need to figure out how to safely get her back. And I’d better figure it out soon.