Enchanting deception

I need to stay by your side

Gareth stood in front of the well known gates ten years later. It has been twenty years already when they first visited here with his father. He just turned thirty-eight and waited for this moment. His army blew up the gates causing chaos in the city. As they marched in it was obvious that the people of the dragon kingdom gathered there for a wedding. Everyone was in their best attires watching a young couple at the podium far away. It was Ronan's son, Marty's wedding. With a smile on his face Gareth leaded his army towards the young couple and the only thought in his mind was to end Ronan's bloodline there and take Constance with him. Gareth believed that he will make Constance happier than ever. Ronan pointed him in the crowd and grabbed a long sword from one of the guards. Constance shouted in fear as she saw her husband spreading his wings and charging at Gareth. She knew that her husband wasn't a fighter. He was a half blood dragon with only the ability to fly, but he could also control other's mind and make them hear him voice, while Constance had the power of the Earth dragon. Constance put her hands on the ground and soon hundreds of vines burst from the ground, attacking the enemy. Constance turned to her son, then saw that Marty and his companion kissed each other. All could see for a brief moment the red thread of life that bound them together. Marty's and Miranda's chests burned with a golden light. Constance knew exactly what had happened. Their hearts had changed, so that they would always carry what they had promised to each other. The marriage of a dragon was final and unalterable. What was joined in heaven could not be separated by any earthly force. Miranda, tearing away the skirt of her beautiful white dress, and following her husband's example, the young girl took up the sword. She immediately rushed to Constance's aid and protected her from a flying arrow towards her, while Marty fought beside her father, guarding him. Constance's eyes searched for one person in the crowd, but she couldn't point her out. With a relieved sight she looked back at the city, dozens of her people died in vain and she couldn't protect them. She felt useless and weak as a Queen when her doubtful thoughts seemed to arise, she hear a voice kind to her heart, clearly resonating in her mind.

- Your voice is the sweetest melody I've ever heard, your eyes the most gorgeous I've ever seen and your heart is the bravest I've had the honor to carry with me. I love you so much my sunshine. - she found her husband's lovely glance for a moment and with tears in her eyes she nodded. She concentrated her power on their enemies and Constance wanted to crush each an every one of them for ruining this day. The bravest heart... He said. Only if my beloved Ronan knew that the bravest hearts of all is beating in my chest. - Constance thought. Ronan fought for the safety of his family and city. Next to him Marty found himself face to face with Gareth. The wolf's face was totally distorted by anger and madness at that point. He didn't take his eyes off of his father and Marty knew he had to keep him safe. Gareth charged at him and he defended themselves the best he could. He didn't inherited any special abilities like his parents had, but Marty was insanely strong and fast, but he wasn't fast enough. Somehow, Gareth hit his sword out of his hand and with his long sword he aimed at Marty's heart. Both Constance and Miranda screamed from the top of their lungs at the sight in front of them before their voices silenced forever. Gareth pierced through both father and son's hearts. Ronan stepped in front of Marty to protect him but they both met their end there. The fight stopped and everyone was staring at the grotesque sight of the two dragon man, staring at Gareth with their hearts pierced.

Gareth shook his head and shouted at Ronan.

- WHY ARE YOU BOTH STILL ALIVE?! - Ronan and Marty looked towards the bodies of their life partners. The unbearable pain in their hearts was written on their faces. Ronan pulled the sword out of them and his son rushed to Miranda in tears. He held the dead girl in his arms and his cries were more screeches at that point. Not only their remaining people, but also the soldiers of the enemy army froze. The pain in the young man's voice was too much to handle. Gareth grabbed Ronan but he just looked at him with those complex eyes, staring right into his soul.

- Why are you alive?!? - Gareth shouted again and Ronan looked at the sky with a tear in his eyes. His voice sounded like a whisper when he said.

- You came so many times here, she cherished you and taught you about our people. However, you never really listened. When a dragon accepts their life partner, their hearts change places.

- Shut up. - Gareth said as he understood what Ronan said. He looked behind them and saw Constance laying on the ground. He released Ronan and the man walked to his wife. He held her in his arms and gently closed Constance's eyes. Gareth stumbled back as his eyes stared at him again. He killed Constance... She was dead and there's nothing that could bring her back. All this... It was for nothing. He turned to the door and followed by his army left without saying anything, just like they arrived After they left Ronan cried hugging Constance.

- Even in death, you are the most beautiful. - he said giving one last kiss on her perfect lips. From the corner of his eyes he saw Marty holding a dagger.

- MARTY STOP! - he shouted and hit the dagger out of his hand. Marty turned to his father in tears. His pain was another torture for Ronan. His emerald eyes he inherited from Constance despite being alive, looked dead inside.

- I cannot live like this father. - he mumbled and his voice broke again and muffled due to his tears.

- Marty, dad, what happened here? - a little voice asked and they turned around to see Adalinda looking at the destruction in front of her. Ronan couldn't hug her since he didn't want to release Constance from his arms.

- I'm glad you are fine, Adalinda. - he said and saying her name he remembered the day she was born. Constance looked like a Goddess with the tiny girl in her arms. Marty watched his sister, holding one of her tiny hands and his beloved's eyes met his.

-What should we name her? - he asked and Constance looked at the baby. Her eyes. Just like his father's. She smiled and said.

- She is the Dragon Princess... Let's name her Adalinda. - Ronan nodded and walked to them caressing Adalinda's little head and kissing Constance.

- Welcome, Adalinda, we have been waiting for you. - Ronan said. Back from his memories now he stared at her daughter. She was twenty that year and Marty thirty for human years. Although Adalinda looked like a little teenager, she could fully understand what happened. Marty mumbled something and buried his face into Miranda's shoulders.

- I cannot live like this... - he said but they all knew. If they hurt their life partner, they won't be able to see them ever again, not in the afterlife. They couldn't commit suicide, without killing their own heart which beat in the woman's chests. Adalinda looked at his already half ghost father and her dying brother, both with holes in their chests.

- Who did this? - she asked and Marty answered.

- That filthy wolf, Gareth.

- Mother's childhood friend? - she asked and Marty nodded. Adalinda looked around, almost no one survived from their people as only a few were fully dragons, and most of them were hybrids. People kneeling next to their life partners, not knowing how to continue. She took a deep breath and said.

- I'll help you. - Ronan looked at his only daughter and shook his head.

- We cannot ask you for something like that.- Adalinda hugged his father's shoulders fighting her tears and she said.

- You don't need to. - Ronan cried hugging his dead wife and his little girl.