Dragon's Sorceress Queen

13. Among the People

Third person's POV-

"For how long will you be here, Tara?" A man in leather pants asks finally after contemplating for a long time. He needed The Tara to stop sitting by the side of the forbidden lake and join him with their pack.

The sun has set already but Tara, their leader isn't showing any signs of leaving the side of the lake as he sits there on his four legs. 

"Tara, I request you to join us. Sisa has prepared the delicacy. She wishes you to have it before we leave to our land." The man says.

"This is our land as well, Ralph. Can't we stay here for long?" The man by the lake asks.

"Of course you can, Tara, but you know very well that you will spend your time here by the side of the lake all the time. You won't be able to take your mind off her." Ralph says.

"What makes you think I won't think about her once we go back to the main land?" The Tara asks.

"I believe you won't be so gloomy staying there," Ralph says with a frown.

The man laughs and gets up on all her four limbs before turning to meet the fair man with light stubble who has come to take him.

He stands tall with brown hair and his beard complimenting his hair colour. His brown fur looks clean but ruffled on the limbs. Though the man stands smiling at the other man, he is a sight who can frighten anyone or shock, anyone, if not the former. A trader would run away at his sight, a working woman would most likely faint seeing him knowing how weak they are. A soldier might try to fight him to defeat and bring him in front of his King and gain the respect no man ever had. A King would do the same if he doesn't ride his horseback to the safety of his land that is. 

He is someone never seen before or even heard of. Dragons and Sorcerers are the myths in the world, but a creature like him has never been known. He stands on all four limbs like a wolf but he exists as a man from the upper half. His chest is like a man, bold and out. His shoulders are broad with a neck like a man followed by his face. His hair fall down to his shoulders and his arms like that of a man. He is a complete man until the fur covers his body from his lower region to all the way down giving him two hind limbs and two forelimbs like a wolf. 

"I didn't receive any response." He says looking down on the ground. 

"Did you expect it?" Ralph asks him.

"Ah, right! I guess I hoped though." He says smiling.

"What did you even write in that letter?" Ralph asks.

"I... kind of expressed my feelings and told her not to be afraid." He says making horror creep upon Ralph's face.

"You can't do that! That wasn't what you were supposed to write!" Ralph says in a low yet urgent voice.

"What was I supposed to write then?" The man asks to frown and looking really confused.

"Well, you weren't supposed to write anything at all!" Ralph says before heaving a sigh. 

"She could be scared," Ralph says approaching the man carefully.

"Well, I'm scared as well." 

"You are scared for her and she might be scared of you now. There is a difference." Ralph says putting the man in a dilemma.

"Let it be. We didn't hear anything strange being encountered. I think there is no trouble. Come, let's go and have some of Sisa's delicacy." Ralph says suddenly grinning.

"Yes, let's go. I'm happy you finally appreciate something about Sisa other than just her body." He says making Ralph groan.

"I'm not always behind p*****s, Tara. When are you going to stop accusing me?" Ralph groans.

"The day you stop calling me 'Tara'. Actually, not even then, but I'll try." The man laughs.

"I'll call you by your name. This is the title we all have given you. The day we get on the same level, we'll become true companions and I'll get the right to call you from your first name." Ralph says.

"Well, I don't have any last name so you have no choice but to call me by my first and only name. Anyways, when is that day going to come?" The man asks.

"You know. The day I save--"

"The day you save me in the time of need. I know, I have heard you say that so many many times already." The man waves his hand in the air.

"But nothing is going to stop me from boasting being the closest to you." Ralph chuckles.

In the castle-

Rosabelle's POV-

"Evenings are the most mysterious. People are cheerful after being under the scorching heat but gets inside the very second it starts to get dark. Mothers keep their children warm and put them to bed a little after. Men force themselves out in the darkness because they need to protect the Kingdom and eventually their families. They are brave they do so, or they are expected to do so because they are men. 

Evenings are that silence before the storm. People are happy unknown of the dark things coming for them in the darkness. Perhaps, it is not bad for everyone. Some await darkness to fulfil their missions. It provides cover to many who seek a cover to hide their doings. 

I shall enjoy mine as long as I still have the time to." I say to Nina. 

"You have all the time in the world and all the coming evenings to enjoy. I believe what the King said." She says while brushing my hair.

I turn around to face her and she stands looking down.

"You believe people too fast, Nina. I'm afraid your kindness will get you in trouble someday." I say while standing up.

"I don't have the choice, Rose. We can only have faith in the King to not take you to his mother again." She says. 

"I'm fine now, Nina," I assure her.

"Of course, you'd say that. You don't even know what she did to you. You just felt the pain." She says holding my hands while frowning with concern.

"Yes, I did feel the pain but now I'm fine. Just pray, the daughter doesn't do anything." I say playfully but sweet Nina only gets worried more.

"Oh yes! She has invited you for a little time together. Rose, do the meeting in the open and do not go to her chambers." Nina says for the hundredth time. 

"If she invites me, I won't deny, Nina. And don't worry, nothing will happen to me. I feel like this invitation was just an excuse. She was tensed pacing out of the wall and had to come up with some excuse." I say before ending our conversation.

I walk out to meet Dargan in his usual tough clothing. He takes me in as he does usually and stretches his hand out for me. I see Roald standing at the side and keep my hand in his. Dargan places a soft kiss on the back of my hand while matching my gaze. Once he pulls away, he doesn't leave my hand and the whole time I do not waver my gaze. 

"Get the carriage, Roald," Dargan says while he holds the reins of his horse.

"Do not bother, Roald. I'd like to walk." I say smiling at him before turning to Dargan.

"It's a long walk around the Kingdom, My Queen." Roald insists.

"That's even better," I say and he nods with a smile. Dargan grabs my hand and pulls me with him.

"Get my horseback to his place," Dargan orders Roald before I stop him.

"Tell somebody else, Roald. You can come with us." I say to Roald and face Dargan's annoyed look. His eyebrows scrunched like a kid.

"I like his company. He is my only friend here." I tell him.

"I thought Nina was." He says moving out the main doors and the crowd comes into view.

"She is more than just a friend," I say.

"You trust your maid more than you should." He says making my mood turn sour suddenly.

"She is not my maid. That was the only way I can keep her close to me." I say through gritted teeth.

"Of course your parents wouldn't allow you to be friends with her. Who knows she steals your jewels?" He says.

"Don't you dare talk s**t about her. Why do you even care? At least she doesn't hurt me like you and your MA did." I say emphasizing the word, 'Ma.'

"She didn't hurt you. She had an objective-"

"A selfish objective." I cut him off clearly pissing him off.

"This is where the market starts, My Queen," Roald says hinting that we need to stop arguing.

"Your best friend will be Eleanor." Dargan orders.

"How do you know? What if we don't get along?"

"You will get along. She will be how you want her to be." 

"She is not my prisoner! Why would she change for me? Don't answer. You yourself don't know how your relations are with her. You didn't answer me when I asked you back then." I say in a low voice.

"It is just fine." He says glaring at me.

"Fine where you don't even talk," I say.

"At least we see each other daily unlike you and your cousin." He says making a point. I shut my mouth after that remembering all the times I and Richmond have talked. It was always the greetings.

I rather focus my attention on the people around us who start bowing. I smile at everyone while they just look at me without any expression. People back at home didn't bully me for not having a wolf but I cannot say anything about it here. Of course, they wouldn't dare do anything when I'm with their King. 

Perhaps, I shall come here in a disguise someday.

"It wouldn't hurt to smile," I say to Dargan while seeing the kids playing around. 

"Trust me. They would die of astonishment if I did." He says and I chuckle.

I see the mothers of children trying to keep them from running away as those little bunnies don't care that their King is among them. I chuckle at the scene in front of me and stop in my tracks.

I sign for the people to continue their works before making my way to the little kids.

"My King, My Queen." The ladies bow saying in unison while the kids continue making something out of paper.

"You may continue with your work. I'm sure they are enjoying themselves." I tell their mothers who leave shortly after.

"The best phase of life is one's childhood. Nothing to be worried of, nothing to care of." I grin looking at Dargan before moving towards the kids.

"Not for everyone." I hear him say under his breath.

"Would you mind teaching me to make that thing?" I ask them. All of them turn their eyes to me before one little boy drags me by my gown.

"We have a new student!" He exclaims and I turn to look at Dargan who is simply frowning. I chuckle seeing his face and motion for him to come along.

"How did I teach you to greet the King and the Queen, Rick?!" I hear a woman yell at him from somewhere behind but the little guy could care less.       

"I'm their teacher, Mama. They should be the ones to greet me now." He says loudly looking back while continuing to drag me.

I chuckle hard at his clever talks while assuring the mother that it is alright.

The little boy takes me to a much less crowded area and near a well covered with a big round rock. The other three children go and stand beside him before bowing to greet us.

"My Queen, My King." They say in unison.

"You acknowledge the King first, kiddo," Roald says.

"The King can protect the Queen better if she stands in front of him, I suppose. Greetings to you too." The little boy says and I raise an eyebrow at Roald playfully who just shakes his head.

"What if the Queen knows to fight," Dargan speaks reminding me of our first encounter.

"She wouldn't know to fight better than the King." Another girl says and I give them a look as if they betrayed me. 

Weren't they at my side?

Dargan smirks at me before the same girl speaks.

"There you see. A man's ego doesn't allow him to admit that she can fight better than him. So, nonetheless, he'd want to stand behind to protect her." She says rolling her eyes while saying 'protect'. 

I break into chuckle again. 

These children are fun! I can't believe this little girl just mocked the King!

Dargan's expression changes and he glares at the little girl before I hold him by the arm.  

"She is just a kid. Besides we can always check who is the better fighter." I say winking at him. He pulls me closer and leans down close to me.

"Whatever pleases, my Queen." He whispers before placing a kiss near my ear.

"Time to learn!" The kids shout all together bringing me out of the daze. I turn around to look at them and then at Roald who lowers his head clearing his throat.  

Dargan smirks at me before I make my way to the kids while shutting my eyes in embarrassment.

The kids get on top of the rock as I make my way to them before I hear a loud call.

"QUEEN BELLA!"