XLIV

Lady Dae

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Dae continued to watch the free dragon fly, she would beat her wings until it would take her to the clouds and hide her, before she would close her wings diving down before opening it to do a complete turn, the dragon could be heard from where they are, it was as if she was singing.

"I'm afraid I hadn't asked you what you wanted as a reward for your good deeds." The princess stated getting her attention, the princess was looking down on her with a soft smile on her lips.

"May I ask what you would want as a reward? Name it, and I shall give it to you." Dae looked beyond the horizon, the sun had yet to set, she knew that the day is still long.

"When I was a kid I used to be locked in a tower, with nothing to see but endless waves of Golden sands. My tower was located far away from my father's kingdom. I have nothing to indulge with except painting, playing the harp and listening to my nanny's stories." She began talking, feeling the need to share her story, as no one often listens to her.

"One time she told me the story of a pirate, who went on an adventure, to collect different treasures and to see great wonders across the hollow sea and into the unfamiliar land of Genosis. She told me about the wonderful sea, and ever since then... In only dream of ever being in a beach. To see the ocean." Ever since she was a child, it was one of the things that she has wanted to see, the ocean, the blue water that sparkled beneath the rays of sun...

" Hmmm.... I thought you would ask for something extravagant, I didn't know you would ask for something so simple. Fine, the beach is it. I happen to know one that is closest to us." The princess stood up and whistles getting the attention of Wildfyre, she petted her dragons head and whisper to her... The dragon began to stand up and shakes her body.

" Let's go." The princess said holding her hand again, Dae's eyes widen.

" Right now?" She asked her in surprise, watching as the dragon offers her wing so that they could climb up on her back.

" Yes... Right now. Why? You don't want?" Dae shakes her head and quickly followed the princess. She helped her up, and once on her back the princess helped her get settled, Wildfyre had no saddle unlike the other dragons, the spike on her back was cut clean, giving enough space for her rider to sit in, but she has a reign, which helps the princess with her grip.

"When was her spike cut?" She asked her as the princess settled behind her, they are both wearing dresses so they had to hike it up so they could seat properly.

"Pardon?" The princess asked, as she made a sound the signals Wildfyre to stand up.

"I said when was her spike cut off?" Wildfyre began walking to the edge, and Dae grip on the nearest spike she could hold onto, despite having riden the dragon once, it still made her heart leap whenever she moves.

"Dragons spikes are usually clipped from the moment they hatched, as their spikes are often soft during those stages, riders who doesn't want saddle have that done to their dragons. When I Owned Wildfyre she have her spikes clipped, I guess my aunt, her former owner isn't a fan of saddles." When Wildfyre was already on the edge, the dragon leap down, making Dae scream, the princess wrapped her arms around her and pushed her closer to her. Her screams grew louder when she saw that they are fast approaching the land, she closed her eyes in fear that they might hit the land, she braced herself for the impact but it never came... Instead she felt being lifted. As if the gravity momentarily disappeared.

"Open your eyes... Come on." The princess gently whispered, and Dae did. She was greeted by the  clouds and the view of the city down below, The winds blew past them, making her eyes water a bit.

"I want you to keep them open." The princess demands of her, and Dae could only nod her head,too enamored by the sight that the Dragon had offered them.

"Have you seen the tower of Maiden?" The princess asked her as Wildfyre veered to the side. And Dae shakes her head no.

"There... The tallest of all the towers. And the biggest one... Home to several hatchlings and smaller dragons." The princess pointed the tower in which they are heading, the tower was indeed the tallest, bypassing those other towers, and this one was bigger than any of the tower that she had seen before, but up above, it looks so small. As they approached the said tower Dae began to see other dragon riders atop their very own. And Dae had seen several type of dragon kinds. While two legged flying beast were the most common one in the kingdom of Solvira she could also see four legged ones. But they are smaller, with features closely related to birds, some also has feathers, the colors of dragons were also different, some can be compared to precious stones, like the dragon of the princess, and some a simpler colors, while others have patterns similar to tigers and that of the striped horse that her father once let her see from above her tower.

"What do you think?" The princess asked her, as they circled around the tower.

" It's magnificent your highness." She stated truthfully watching everything with bathed breath. Now that they are closer to the tower she had Noted that it has several opening, where dragons came out. Some are even hanging by the wall of the tower.

After done circling the tower Wildfyre had finally flew past it, releasing a loud shriek. She did not know what it meant but she began ascending.

"Hold on tight." The princess said wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling her more closer to her, until Dae could feel the princess ample breast pressed against her and her warm body shield her from the cold. Wildfyre ascend higher to the sky until they went past the clouds. From above the kingdom of Solvira looks puny... It was as if Dae could wrap her hands around it.

"This is freedom." The princess whispered from behind her, the princess too was looking far below.

"Above here I am untouchable. I am like a God." The princess added, inhaling the fresh air from above. Dae could only relate to what she was saying, indeed above you would feel untouchable, here your duty won't ever reach you, here your husband won't demand for you.... Here you are free. Dae had close her eyes and bask into the glory of  the sun and sky. She wishes to feel this kind of feeling once more.

"Would you take me on dragon back again?" She asked the princess, leaning back and enjoying her warmth.

"I would take you whenever you want... Just say the word to me." She whispered, her grip on her tighten once more.

"I wish for this to happen again." Dae said with a laugh, she doesn't know why she's laughing but she guess it was due to the feeling of being up above, she was feeling light and their were butterflies in her stomach, the princess herself couldn't help the smile the spread across her lips.

"When I am queen... I shall take you with me on my yearly procession, here on dragon back. I shall allow you to see the wonders of my kingdom from above." She promised her. Wildfyre bellows before suddenly diving  making her squeak in surprise. Now below the clouds Dae was rewarded with the view of white sands and cerulean waters. She gasp at the view and the smell of the sea from above.

"Let me make look for a safer place to land." The princess stated before stirring Wildfyre to the side, but Dae couldn't tear her eyes away from the view. The princess made sure to land on a higher plane, the princess looked around making sure there was no other people around them, while Wildfyre huff and a deep sound resonated from deep within her. The princess smiles and dismount from Wildfyre and helped her down.

"Remove your shoes." The princess stated as she removes her own,Dae quickly followed, removing her shoes, the princess then hid it besides Wildfyre, the princess then grabs her hand and lead her down the beach.... Dae couldn't stop the squeal the broke from her upon feeling the sand beneath her foot and in-between her toes, the princess laughed at her childish reaction.

"Burry your toes. Like this." The princess told her before showing her what to do. And Dae did that... On the surface the sand was warm, but beneath it, it was cold.

But her attention was quickly drawn to the sound of the waves sloshing against the beach.

" Can I?" She asked like a child asking for her parents permission. Roshanne smiled and nods her head, and without further Ado Dae run towards the water, a loud gasp escape from her lips when she felt the cold water kissed her feet. Without a care Dae began walking further until the water was below her knee. Without a care for her dress she began walking further until the water was above her knee.

"Do not go any further." The princess called for her, Dae looks behind her and raised her thumb before looking down below, the water was so clear that she could see her toes from beneath and the small fishes that was swimming by. She could also see the seashells in which she took great joy in picking. She had ever heard about this on her books. She began picking up more shells. Until she had no more room left in her hand,she looks behind her to see the princess just watching her, with a contagious smile on her lips she began walking back.

"Your highness...look." She excitedly presented the shells that she had collected.

"Please Dae... Just call me by my name. It's just the two of us after all."  The princess told her, Dae paused for a moment and stare at her.

" Okay." She replied with a beaming smile, Roshanne offered her hand for Dae to place the seashells upon it.

" My my.... This is many." The princess noted. Dae could only giggle.

" Can I pick more?" She asked her with eyes sparkling.

" You can pick more till your heart is content." She told her, Dae giggles and return back to pick more seashells, she did so until she was sure there is none left on the beach.

" Done?" The princess asked her, who's now sitting by sand, And Dae eagerly nods her head as she flops by the princess side in a very unlady like manner. But Roshanne did not care, they are far away from the eyes of the nobles in the castle, Dae could act however she wanted to act.

"My hands and toes are prunes now." She noted as she wiggles her toes. The princess chuckles before tucking a loose strand of Dae's hair behind her ear.

" Have you enjoyed your reward?" The princess asked her, and Dae nods her head, she had enjoyed truly, she never felt joy like this before. She was so happy that she could feel her chest beat beneath her skin.

"I certainly did your highness." She replied, the princess raised her brow, and Dae blushed having forgotten that she is allowed to call her by her name.

"I mean Roshanne." The way Roshanne's name rolled between her lips was a pleasure, it made the hair on the princess nape stood on its end and her skin grew warmer. As much as an Roshanne wishes to ravage this woman, to see her beneath her, writhing and moaning, she would rather much see her smiling and giggling, after all Roshanne understood that Dae

rarely felt joy in her life... Like her Dae was miserable. Bound by her duty to her father and honor.

A low bellow from Wildfyre had snap her out of her thoughts, she looks up at her and saw her staring back at her. She was telling her something, and she could feel the need to return.

"I think we should continue this some other time. We should head back." She stated, standing up and brushing the sands off of her dress. Dae did the same.

"Just pick the one that your really like, we don't have any bags to place them." She told her watching as Dae pouted, but comply nonetheless. After picking up the shell that she sees as beautiful, they went back to the castle.

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The trip back was quicker than Dae had expected, nevertheless she was happy, her heart is filled with joy at the present she had received from the princess, and although she craves more of her company the princess have sent her away, promising that they will talk again tomorrow.

Dae was walking down the hall with a big smile on her face, she did not pay any mind to the questioning look she had received from the servants, nor did she pay any mind to their whispers. Her heart is elated, and that is all that matters.

"Your grace please! Stay away from her... You are in no condition to fly!" Dae's steps falters when she heard commotion, up ahead people are gathering, and some knights seems to be panicking, running back and forth calling for aid. More people have already gather around, trying to get a look of what is going on.

"Your grace please!" She heard a woman plead.

"Leave me alone! I must go!" The woman cried, followed by the shrieking of a beast. When Dae finally made it through the flock of people she finally get to see the reason of the commotion. It was the queen, besides her was none other than the beautiful Seraphis, who was shrieking and snapping her jaw at whoever dares to approach them.

Dae had noted the state of the queen, she was once again barefooted, she was still wearing her nightgown covered in dirt, it appears that the queen have slowly began to neglect herself, it seems like she hadn't even washed her face.

"Your grace! Please!you are in no condition to fly." One of the queen's servant pleaded to her, but the Queen did not answer.

"My son!!! I need to see my son!" She cried before turning back around to face her Dragon. Seraphis is with no saddle, therefore trying to mount her would be dangerous for the queen.

"Quickly! Call someone!" One of the knight shouted as some tried to approach the beast, but to no avail.

"Your grace!" Dae shouted, getting her attention the attention of the disgruntled woman.

"Your grace, the prince is away." She stated, trying to reason with her, trying to get her away from her beast.

"Khalil?" The woman asked as she slowly walked away from her beast.

"Yes... Didn't he tell you? His Majesty the king had sent him away to attend a royal business with the lord of the High mountains." She told her, Dae had no idea what she was talking about but it seems to be working.

" Why?" The queen stopped walking when Seraphis lowered her head as if stopping her from walking away from her. Dae looked at the beast who was looking back at her with a knowing look in her eyes.

"A.... A marriage offer had been proposed your majesty." She said, tearing her eyes away from the dragon, the prospect of Marriage seems to get the attention of the queen as she  quickly without hesitation had approached her. Leaving Seraphis behind, this made everyone breath in relief.

"My son is getting married?! No!!! No! He cannot be! He mustn't marry anyone else but his sister. No!" The Queen shakes her head before holding her hand and pulling her closer to her.

"Roshanne....where is my daughter?!" For a moment when the queen was speaking with furrowed eyebrow and clear determination in her words... Dae thought she had caught a glimpse of what was the queen before.

"The princess had attended some royal business too your Majesty." The queen pulled her even closer to her.

"Are you her servant? Take me to her... I need to talk to her... She mustn't allow her brother to be married off to someone else! They are the blood of Gods they should be together! Take me to her." The queen demanded her.

" Perhaps her majesty would like to get ready first before meeting her?" Finally a servant of the queen approached them, holding onto her arms and pulling her gently away from Dae. This seems to snap her out of her thought and she looks down on herself before nodding and turning around to walk away... The other servants quickly followed behind her.

"Thank you my lady." The other servant said with a kind smile before following the queen with haste, Dae watched the retreating figure of the woman, even though the queen had gone mad... The way she walks and speaks... Shows Dae a glimpse of what she was before.

"That's quite a show." Startled Dae looked beside her just in time to see prince Alastair, he was standing tall beside and was looking down on her with a pleased smile.

"Prince." She greeted him, bowing her head in respect to him.

" It may have seems that you have charmed the queen. Quiet unusual, she was hard to approach back then, always guarded and never bother to engage in idle talks or gossips, and she's even harder to approach now, that she...." The prince paused for a moment, seemingly trying to find the right word to use

"Have become moonstruck." The prince stated as he kept his eyes on her.

"How did you do that?" Dae shakes her head, not knowing how to answer him, she didn't do anything.

"Really? You don't know? Sometimes I doubt you. I often think of you as a witch... Who bewitched my father...and everyone around you." He stated making Dae's face turn red in embarrassment, Dae can't understand if the prince was insulting her or what. She couldn't hear any sarcasm in his voice, and he was smiling at her.

" I-i'm not a witch." She defended herself with her brow furrowed, she thought him to be kind, what changed? He laughs and shakes his head.

" I meant no offense my lady. I was just merely stating my opinion thinking you would prefer it if I were honest. Don't you want honesty?" O, he was just being honest. Dae thought to her self... But that doesn't make his words any more offensive, but she decided not to say anything against it.

"I am not a witch. I never learned any Witch craft." She stated before looking back at Seraphis who's bellowing.

"Hmmm.... That's a shame." The prince replied before looking at the bellowing beast.

"Come my lady. Let's get out of here... It's not safe to be around a wildling dragon... They are unpredictable after all. And seraphis is one of them... And just like her bonded rider, she is unpredictable." The prince offered his arm to her, Dae hesitated at first but she did take it anyway. Dae cast one last look at the dragon before paying her attention to Alastair.