The Dragon Queen

Chapter 9: Mother's promise

After Nina extinguished the fire that wrapped around one of her favorite books, gasping at her new discovery.

"H-how did I do that?" Nina eyes widened with disbelief, did something so painful unlock her hidden blessing?

"You have come into touch with your blessing, my queen." Jasper bowed his head at Nina.

"I-I understand that much, b-but how?" Nina shook at her head, placing her once perfect book with a cherry leather cover on the side table.

"Your anger towards the ones who are responsible for your mother's death, it must have trigger it." Jasper declared, hopping to Nina bed sitting with his head to a slight tilt.

"What's the plan now? We know what Miss Clear is planning, I can't wear a gown by her." Nina claimed pacing back and forth in front of her bed.

"Maybe you can, my queen." Jasper narrowing his eyes at Nina.

"What do you mean, Jasper?" Nina stopped, turning towards Jasper with concern.'Was I already failing them so deeply.' Nina thought, bitting her bottom lip.

"Miss Clear, isn't aware you know. Take the dress but have another dress to wear instead." Jasper shrugged his shoulder slightly, looking to the side. Nina tapped her hand on my chin thinking

"I did see another dress shop near Miss. Clear. Perhaps I can sneak into town without my guards, and ask them?" Nina stated looking at Jasper.

"Or perhaps you can write down exactly what you want for your gown, along with your measurements." Jasper informed her, 'maybe that would be a better idea' Nina thought, going out after being told someone was seeking out to kill her was rather foolish. Nina walked to her small table where she would eat her lunch, taking a piece of paper that always served her well, when random thoughts poked her mind. She gave detailed instructions on how she wanted her gown, color, length, design writing a note with it 'Complete in four days -Princess Nina' it wrote. Nina placed golden pieces in a small blue stack, giving them extra for completing it quickly.

"Will you take this to that shop Jasper?" Nina asked closing the stack, as she crossed the room towards him.

"Of course my queen." Jasper bowed, letting Nina tie the stack to his foot, with that he took off to the shop out the window that once let him in.

"I wonder what he looked like, I never did ask Jasper" Nina sighed, as she picked up her book, it was damaged more than she thought. It was a old book, took her father years to find, the leather was wore, cracking in places, oh but how she loved the book. A knock took her away from the book, still holding it in her small right hand that not long ago had fire in it.

"Y-yes?" The door opened, her father smiled looking at her.

"I wished to say goodnight Nina, I hope you found a dress. The event will be soon here." Nina nodded at her father, the thought to tell him was strong but she could never give him the source of who told her this unsettling details, he would tell people she's mad or sick.

"I did father thank you." He smiled, and started to close her large solid oak door.

"Father?" Nina asked out, causing him to stop.

"Yes my daughter?" Nina smiled, placing the book behind her back.

"Would you say mother was gifted?" King Richard was visibly taken aback by her question, stepping into her room.

"What made you ask that question my daughter?" Nina shook her head, smiling. 'Perhaps seeing her mother in a painting in the dragon realm really made her question what happened to her, or what she was hiding to make someone wanna hurt or even kill her?' Nina thought looking at her hard floors.

"The stories you told me, of mother. How her heart was so pure, that everyone bowed to her not just because she was queen yet because the great respect she brought with her. You never told me how met mother?" Nina tilted her head looking at her father with a questioning look.

"Your mother knew-" King Richard half smiled looking at the open window in Nina's room. Nina stay on her chair looking at her father, he was strong. His shoulder held a weight no one could understand or even bare themselves, his voice deep and demanding yet always softened at the site of his only daughter. He had a scar on his right upper cheek, Nina didn't know where he got it but rumors of servants mentioning of the day her mother and father fought, she threw a wine glass at the wall, shattering into hundred pieces, causing one large piece to hit him. That was the same day her mother found out she was carrying Nina, but always the same day her father learned she was connected to the dragon realm, wanted her to control them, making them fight for him. Her mother refused, her rein with the dragons was still new but they trusted her more than the Sun Goddess herself. Her father light brown hair was long, covering his eyes just enough it gave a mystery to them.

"Your mother was a queen in her own way, long before she met me Nina. She made Lord's and Ladies bow to her long before I made her my wife, even so longer your mother." King Richard smiled, letting a single tear shed his sad eyes.

"How so father?" Nina was curious of her mother, her father talked of her but never in grave detail.

"Your mother knew your path with the dragons, I finally realized that when I saw the dragon egg, at your party. She was a rare gem, when she learned she was carrying you, something in her changed." King Richard sat on the edge of Nina's bed.

"She wanted to hide you away, she felt something or someone was going to harm you. When she was nearing her final months with you, she made me promise her something." Richard looked at Nina, who sat on her chair watching him curiously

"Protect you at all costs, until you're eighteen year then you'll know the way." Richard shook his head, chuckling slightly.

"Meaning?" Nina questioned, standing from the chair as she crossed her way to her father.

"Meaning that when you turned eighteen, you would know who or what you're meant to be." Richard looked up at his beautiful green eyed daughter. Her black hair fall freely on her back, her slik night gown loose around her body with a matching robe over it.

"You will be a great queen one day Nina, I know it." Richard smiled as he stood up from the bed, taking in his daughter's face, it looked just like Megan's. Richard kissed his daughter's head, quickly leaving the room.

"Your father misses her greatly, my queen." Nina jumped looking at Jasper, who stood on the window like a bird.

"You have an act of scaring me Jasper, don't you?" Nina sighed walking to him, extended her arm for him to crawl on.

"It's never intended my queen. I dropped off the stack and note to the shop. Why did you make it four days?" Nina looked out her window as Jasper sat on her shoulder with his tail wrapped around her upper arm.

"Just so Miss. Clear and the other dress maker don't cross paths." Nina closed the window seeing fires that the gates starting to light, it's shift change now.

"Very wise, starting to be a smart queen already." Nina huffed at his remark, 'Smart queen hardly but a respected one from she could tell.' Nina thought, as she sat on her bed, blowing out her light and letting slumber take her.