Secrets of a War God

6.

Arelya

"Have you heard anything from the palace?" The King asked, he was sat on his throne with advisors scurrying around him. Not one of them looked in his direction to answer the question, knowing it was directed at his son.

"They are to hold a celebration tomorrow night for the princess, and the King has something planned. A reveal of sorts. But my spies do not have the information about what the reveal is." He sat next to his so-called father, not wanting to continue this conversation. 

Fabian was supposed to be the next to the throne, but his mother remarried before he came of age. This caused some upset within the palace and the people, but nothing could stop the new king. Within a year of his reign he had already had a child and started to control more territories, expanding their borders. Fabian and his brother had accepted the new king, but only at their mothers begging. They still resented him for how he treated people, specifically their people. 

"I want you to get more spies into the palace, Tarnon should not be keeping secrets." At this the King stood and removed himself from the room, taking the advisors with him. Except for one, he stayed to talk to the Prince.

They both moved into a separate room and continued their discussion, not noticing someone was following them.

Tarnon

Uther had finally decided to go to his chambers, not wanting to think of someone harming his little girl. They had planned for a big celebration tomorrow night, to show the success from Calissas trial and fully welcome her as the War God. But that part of the night was only known by him, there were too many prying ears in the palace to trust people completely. 

Opening his door surprised him, Teresita was sitting on his bed with a glass half full of alcohol. Just from looking at her he could see the pain in her eyes, it hadn't left since Calissa returned two weeks ago. 

"What are we going to do Uther? Your favourite child is being threatened by someone in these very walls, because of a secret she has to withhold from the rest of the world." She stood up and walked towards him, getting right up to his face. "Do you not see what this is doing to her, hiding what and who she truly is! It's going to break her!" With the last shout Teresita threw the glass across the room. 

Immediately the King through his arms around her, restricting her movements and the possibility of injuring herself. Moving them to his bed, Uther still did not let go of his woman, not wanting her to run away. He had her placed on his lap and was trying to calm her down, wishing that she would trust him for the safety of their child.

"Nothing is going to happen to her, she is safe here. With us. Now you need to go back to your room and calm down, you should not be seen in this state." He picked her up only to find her not wanting to go, not wanting to be on her own. With a sigh he moved her towards the bathroom, wanting her to get cleaned up before she remained with him. He had moved to change and was sitting up in bed when Teresita came out, she hadn't bothered covering herself with a nightgown. She moved towards her king showing him all her glory, knowing he wouldn't refuse her when she is like this. With a sigh Uther simply picked her up and threw her into bed, covering her with the blanket as he slipped in behind her. 

"We not doing this tonight Tere, you're mind is not right." With a huff she moved closer to him, gently moving her hips against him, wanting some form of release. "You will not get anything tonight, now sleep before I move to sleep somewhere else." With a final huff they both moved against each other and fell into a comfortable sleep. 

Calissa was tired. he didn't want to go to the celebration tonight, but considering it was her celebration she was forced into attending. Her, Naya and Lyla had been spending every waking moment together for the past two weeks, training and bonding. They had started to look like a unit, and if anyone had watched their training they could see that there was no way for them to be defeated easily. 

If they weren't training it was filled with eating or being accompanied by Faris and Kato, neither one liked how their brothers were treating her lately. It was mid afternoon by the time the trio had stopped training for the day, deciding to start getting ready for the night Calissa had made her way back to her chambers. Naya would not be joining them tonight as it was still hidden from the public, however Lyla was told to clean herself up to be present with her human. 

Calissa was helped by her handmaid to get ready, washed and presented for the public. By the time it came to dressing she simply asked her to leave, knowing exactly what she wanted to wear for tonight. Calissa picked out a light blue dress, smiling at the thought of her mother giving this to her. It was one of the more revealing dresses she owned, it was a halter dress, pulling the material over her chest and collecting at the back of her neck, letting the rest of the material flow down her back and creating a train. It fit her frame perfectly, making what little curves she did have stand out more, and the colour. The colour made her dirty blonde hair appear lighter and her eyes sparkle, all in all it was her favourite. Deciding to keep her hair down she opted for the simple vine crown with a few white flowers. 

Stepping out she waited for Lyla to come pack from her pack, finding the small blue ribbon around her neck to match the dress. They both walked through the palace, dreading the amount of people they are about to encounter for such a silly celebration. Faris and Kato joined them as they made it towards the throne room, both had a light blue accent to their appearance, showing their support for the unknown War God. 

With a light smile they entered the throne room, where the celebrations were in full swing. The Kings women were milling about, being the ever gracious hostess towards the citizens, proving that they could be the best by the Kings side. The only person who wasn't going all out and looking desperate was Teresita, anxiously awaiting her children to arrive. Yes even though Faris was not hers by blood, she raised him for the good part of his life and considered him hers. With their entrance a smile formed on her face, the woman was matching with them slightly by having light blue accents on her white dress, shwoing that they are united. 

With the hours that past Calissa was starting to become tired, the constant greeting of people was hard to do when you wish for them all to leave. Fairs remained by her side the entire time, knowing how she felt about public functions. Eventually they moved forwards and came to the drinks station, wanting to drown her sorrows in ale and wine was normally what Calissa did, but Faris refused to let her. Giving her a glass of clear liquid she took a small sip, feeling the burn as it went down her throat and realisation hit her. It was indeed alcohol, but Faris had changed its colour in order to hide it from their father. 

The night continued and both had become looser through the drinks, not realising that soon the King was to be making a speech. They had found themselves sitting across a table from Theon, who was to busy with a woman next to him to seem to care. Calissa leaned towards Faris slightly as something dawned on her. 

"I know who wanted to sabotage me during the trial." Faris' face remained unchanged, not wanting to give anything away to the prying eyes of the throne room. "It was my very own family, and in particular my eldest brothers." Theon had flinched at Calissas statement, but remained occupied with the girl in fornt of him, not wanting them to know he had heard. "You see, they didn't want me around anymore because of who and what I am. I think they saw me as a threat to their standing for our father, but I don't care. Lying to him is worse than showing him your actual hate." At this point her eyes had focused on Theon and saw the tension in his jaw, pleased that she got under his skin.

Faris had dragged her up after that statement, moving to a quieter corner of the room.

"You cannot say things like that with people around, are you dense! Who knows who could've heard you!" He was trying to knock some sense in to his sibling when he properly looked in her eyes. "It was actually them wasn't it?"

With a slight nod she walked away from him, not wanting to admit who it was and how she knew quite yet. As Calissa made it towards the front of the throne room her father walked to the raised podium. A hush fell over the crowd, recognising the leader of their kingdom.

"Good evening everyone, I would like to thank all of you for being her tonight to celebrate my daughter Calissa. Would you please join me." It confused the princess as no one was supposed to join the King during his speeches. "She showed the utmost courage through the trial, and the fact that she is with us here today proves as such. However, not only did she come back stronger, her prize truly showed her strength. Will you call her forth daughter?" More confusion from the speech filled not only Calissa but those who filled the room, especially when the young princess simply looked up. 

As if from nothing a shadow appeared over the celebrations, Naya landing in the open side of the room, directly behind the King and Princess. Shock was heard throughout the room, not believing the sight of a dragon behind their ruler. Some had started to shout in defiance, wanting a beast like that to be killed and its head used as a trophy, others were frozen in fear. But neither royal member moved from their positions, knowing no harm would come to them. Looking around it was exactly the response that Calissa had imagined, watching as her people became struck with fear or anger. 

"My people be calm, this magnificent beast will not harm you." Naya lowered her head towards the great King and received a small pat on the nose, content with her humans father. "This is the mighty prize that my daughter brought back, a dragon to which she has bonded with. Not only is it unprecedented, but a blessing like this has not happen to our people in over hundreds of years." Moving towards Calissa he grasped her hands in his. "The last time a member of our family had a dragon he was the War God, and his beasts made him one of the most powerful men on the planet. Today we are celebrating a new War God, my daughter Calissa, War God of Tarnon!"

At his final declaration the entire throne room started to cheer for the Princess, accepting her as their newly declared God.  Calissa had not been expecting this type of welcoming, she was sure some oppose but couldn't determine if they were all too scared now that there is a dragon.

Having enough she turned to her father, asking with her eyes if she could leave. Pulling his daughter into his arms, Uther relished in the small hug that he received. Calissa wasn't one to show emotion often so the hugs were precious to him, savouring them when he got one. Pulling her dress up into her hands she reached out for Naya, lifting a taloned foot for the Princess to use as a stepping stone onto her back. With a quick whistle Lyla jumped on as well, everyone staring in awe as the War God was on the beasts back. Calissa looked over the people, none showed anger in their eyes, only amazement. All except one of course.

Hidden in the shadows he watched as the beauty sat on her beast, completely comfortable with her animals. She gave a last smile to the crowd before their eyes locked, it was a quick look before the dragon took off. Taking the Princess he had only thought of ever seeing, wishing to stare upon the so supposed beauty of Tarnon. Slinking back into his shadows, he started to make his way back to the exit. Knowing that he would not stop thinking of her on his way back to Arelya.