The Dragon's Fight

Chapter 2

-Ashes-

I hated seeing her ride away. I hated that we were both going our separate ways to win this war, but bringing people together was something Laelia excelled at, while I was better with the strategies. Before we could put our plan into motion, though, we still had one stubborn king to convince.

“She’ll come back,” Rathilion assured me beside me.

I turned to look at him. He stood with his arms crossed, meeting my gaze, and offered a small smile.

“She always does,” he added.

“Yes, she always does,” I echoed.

I turned around and walked with the others inside to find Rathilion’s father.

“I’m not sure what else we can do to convince your father,” I remarked as we walked through the many hallways. “He’s very stubborn.”

“That he is… and he believes that as long as we don’t seek out war, it will never find us.”

“And what do you believe?” I inquired.

Rathilion smiled, shaking his head slightly. “Am I not trying to convince him?”

“You are, but this man raised you. Are you saying that not even a small part of you believes the same as he does?”

Rathilion’s expression darkened at my words.

“What’s wrong?” I probed.

“He was never very involved in my life, unless he had something to criticize,” he revealed.

I understood. My father and I hadn’t been very close either.

“So, does anyone have a suggestion on how we can convince him?” Henry inquired.

“Let’s start by finding him,” I replied.

“No,” Rathilion suddenly interjected.

I turned to him, feeling puzzled. “What do you mean, no?”

“We need to find my mother first,” he explained. “If anyone can convince him, it’s her.”

“And you believe she’ll listen?” I questioned.

“I hope so.”

We continued through the palace until we emerged into a large garden where the grass was white, and wild animals roamed freely, grazing and enjoying the little warmth the sun provided.

In the South, it never got cold, but here in the East, things were slowly transitioning from warm to cold. Rathilion led our small group—me, Henry, Will, and Carter—deeper into the garden until we reached a wide open area.

There, by a fountain, sat his mother, feeding some young deer. She was strikingly beautiful, with long white hair, pearly skin, and a light blue dress that covered her from neck to feet. Her eyes, the same light green as Rathilion’s, always seemed to pierce through you, as if she knew your darkest secrets.

“My son,” she greeted as we approached. “You bring a threatening aura with you.”

“I’m here only to talk,” he responded.

“You’ve come to try to persuade me to convince your father to go to war.”

“There will be a war,” Rathilion insisted. “Whether or not he chooses to join it.”

“You should heed his caution. He knows well what war can bring,” she warned her son, not even looking at him.

She remained focused on the small animal in front of her, which allowed her to pet it. The wild creature trusted her completely, a strange sight that showcased her power.

“Mother… this time, it’s not something we can hide from,” Rathilion urged.

“Why do you seek it?” she countered, turning to face him.

“What do you mean?”

“War. Why do you seek it? For glory? For power?”

“It’s the right thing to do. They need our help!”

“The dragons and humans have settled their differences easily without our intervention. Why are we getting involved now?” she questioned.

“Because they need us. Ashes and Laelia should be on the throne. They will usher in a new era!”

“How can you be so sure?” she inquired. “What makes them different?”

“You know the answer,” he replied. “You see the power in them too—the hidden strength.”

The queen finally rose to her feet. She was tall, just a few inches shorter than her son, and she carried herself with the strength of a queen.

“I see it,” she acknowledged calmly. “But how can I be certain they will use it wisely?”

“Haven’t they proven themselves already?” Rathilion challenged.

“Laelia has, but I’m not so sure about Ashes,” she remarked, turning to me. “How do I know you won’t abuse the power you’ll gain?”

“You think I carry a darkness,” I responded. “And you’re right. I do. I always have. I’ve desired blood and war, and I didn’t care about the lives I took—they meant nothing to me… but I’ve changed.”

“Have you really?” she pressed.

I nodded. “Laelia. She brings me peace, and with her by my side, I will ensure I rule fairly,” I assured her.

“And what if she isn’t by your side?”

I stared at the queen, feeling puzzled. Why wouldn’t she stand beside me?

“What are you implying?” I questioned.

“What if your queen dies?” she posed.

My heart stopped for a moment, just from hearing those words—my worst fear, Laelia’s death. She had given me light and life, and with her gone… that might all disappear. Slowly, I began to understand the queen’s concern. If Laelia wasn’t there to bring me balance, could she really trust me with the crown?

“If she dies…” I hated even speaking the words. “And I find myself… broken from her death, I will hand the throne to Will. He is next in line.”

I turned to look at Will. He froze on the spot. I could have mentioned my brother, but Ladon was too young and wild. He had never been trained to be king, but Will had.

“Will,” the queen addressed him slowly, drawing our attention to her. “Step forward, please.”

Will did as instructed, walking over to the queen. She studied him carefully, examining him from various angles. My heart began to pound harder and faster as the silence stretched on. What if she refused? What if she didn’t see Will as a suitable heir?

“I see hidden strength in you as well. Potential, and not the same darkness I perceive in Ashes,” she observed.

No one carries the same darkness as I do, I thought, though I kept that to myself. The queen finally stopped studying Will and turned to her son.

“This is very important to you. Why? Is your attachment to this Laelia truly that strong?” she inquired.

My hands tightened at my sides involuntarily. I didn’t intend to react that way. Rathilion had done nothing to suggest he would try to take Laelia from me, but I understood how her heart might have become confused during the time I pushed her away.

“I want peace,” Rathilion explained.

“So you claim, but there’s something more you desire,” the queen remarked.

“I believe in a new era, Mother. I believe we cannot just stand by as these lands are overtaken because we are too afraid to act. Seeking out war does not mean we seek blood. Sometimes, we simply can’t hide any longer. We need to take action,” he asserted.

She nodded slowly before turning to Will again. “I would like to see you as king,” she remarked. “Perhaps one day, I will.”

Did she believe we would die? Or that Laelia would? I hoped not, but whatever had convinced her, I was fine with it.

“So, will you speak to Father?” Rathilion inquired.

“No, but I will support you when you bring it up to him again,” she replied before walking away.

We watched as she disappeared back into the palace.

“Well, that went better than expected,” Henry commented.

“At least we have her support,” Carter noted.

I sighed. This didn’t go exactly as planned. I just hoped Laelia hadn’t run into any trouble yet.