A Forgotten Realm

Chapter 5 - The King

Looking back I saw the crowd as they fell into silence with a look of hope that filled the room.

I took a deep breath and stepped through the veil unknowing of what or who would be waiting on the other side. As my feet fell upon the glossy marble floors of the other side I saw only one face. She was young and smiling ear to ear as our eyes met.

“Welcome my Queen I am Lilly and I will be your handmaiden here. If you will follow me I will take you to the Kings chambers.”

Her Golden hair fell framing her face lightly, her skin was pale, and her eyes a color of such a vibrant blue I’d never seen before in human eyes. As I stepped closer she turned to walk me wherever we were headed and I decided to speak up.

“Why his chambers? Could he not of met me here? Is this not in appropriate here?”

Lilly looked at me sympathetically and shook her head “it isn’t normal but it isn’t frowned upon either. The King doesn’t leave his chambers much as of the past few years here since he lost his mother. He also only allows two people to see him which are his sister and his best friend who is the best healer in the Realm. You are allowed though as his Queen and I’m sure he will be excited to meet you.”

“Is he aware of my arrival?” I asked stopping mid step. “Hearing you say you are sure he will be makes me think he is not.”

She nodded and a flash of emotion I couldn’t quite grasp washed over her face, Grief maybe?

“He is my Queen but he didn’t respond when we told him you’d be arriving so I don’t actually know how he will respond.. I promise you he’s nice and caring. He’s just hurting and struggling to push past his mother’s death.”

Walking for what seemed like ages we reached a large dark wooden double door with a golden dragon perched in the top center of each. Lilly bowed her head noting she was taking her leave and this was something I had to do alone. As I pushed the large doors open I saw a man perched in a large plush black chair by a fireplace made of dark stone. The man from what I could see had long dark hair he had neatly wound into a low bun and tan skin. As he looked back at me I glimpsed golden eyes with just a tinge of brown in them. He was magnificent to behold but my fear kept me stood still at the doorway.

“Come in and close the door I’m not going to hurt you or anything but we need to speak privately.” He spoke bluntly as he rested his face on his hand looking back to the fire burning in front of him.

Stepping forward I closed the doors behind me and walked slowly to the chair beside his nodding when I reached the chair.

“Why am I here? And out of all people how am I some Dragon Queen when all my life I’ve been nobody.” I felt his eyes without even looking at him piercing through me but not angrily more.. sorrowful.

“Please sit. The Gods chose you and you have never been a nobody even if it seemed so your status was bestowed upon your birth. It is unusual for one from the human realm to be the Queen but here we are. My name is Damien by the way, and yours?”

I sat down being careful not to mess up the ridiculously heavy dress and pulled at the corseted top a bit hoping to make breathing easier (unsuccessfully I might add.)

“My name is Alea Ryuyana. What did you want to talk about?”

Smirking Damien waved a hand towards me “if the dress is keeping you from being comfortable I’ll have someone bring you something lighter don’t need you passing out in the midst of conversation.”

A flush of red filled my face and I couldn’t tell if it was my embarrassment or my anger that he was making fun of me being uncomfortable in such outrageous clothes. “I don’t think anyone would be comfortable in such attire how about you give it a try.” I snapped at him and a deep chuckle filled the room. “It’s not funny.” I huffed just before jumping in my seat at the sound of a light knock at the doors. “A change of clothes for the Queen. I’ll leave them at the door” Lilly’s voice chimed through the door followed by the putter patter of her feet as she made her way back down the hall.

“How?-“ I started to ask but was cut off quickly by Damien’s words.

“We can talk through spiritual connections when and if I choose but it’s a power only the Queen and King possess with other dragons. Go get changed and we will talk after.”