Dragon's Sorceress Queen

6. Ignoring the Commands

Rosabella-

"How much time do you think we'll take to reach there?" Nina asks me. 

It has been quite a time and with this heavy dress, it's getting harder for me to just sit with my dress puffed around me. Poor Nina is just sitting in the very corner.

"It's been some time, but I think we'll reach by tonight," I answer and she pouts before supporting her elbow on her knee and placing her chin on the palm of her hand. 

"Do you want to stretch a little and get out of this carriage?" I ask her and her eyes light up giving full attention to my proposal.

"I would love to, but I don't think King would like us to stop here. He could have asked us to take  a break already otherwise." She says pursuing her lips. I frown a little while thinking.

"I guess we can have a little break. The weather is clear and it is a beautiful evening." I say and stretch my hands out before knocking at the wooden carriage to grab the coachman's attention. 

The carriage stops with the two horses giving out a little 'neigh', and soon enough one of the combatants is beside the door.

"What do you request, my queen?" The combatant asks.

"Please inform King Dargan that I would like to take a break," I tell him and after a nod, he walks to the front. 

I hear the sound of the feet of a horse before his voice fills my ear.

"We will meet right here after fifteen minutes," Dargan says to the crowd and Nina stretches her arm and opens the door before any combatant could.

She jumps out first before holding her hands out to me.

"C'mon, come out fast." She says before I hold her outstretched hand. She holds my gown for me and I step out at the same time when Dargan makes his way to me. As my gaze meets his, I trip on the steps of the carriage and give out a loud shriek before his eyes widen and he pushes Nina to the side and I land in his arms. 

I grip his shoulders tightly and look at him already looking at me. 

Oh Lord! That beard!    

"Thank you," I say without breaking my gaze from his.

"Ow!" Nina's little voice attracts my attention and when I look at her, my eyes widen seeing her bleeding palm. 

"Nina!" I exclaim and wiggle out of his arms. He puts me down and I move towards Nina.

"How did it happen?" I ask her while looking at Dargan. 

"Ah no, I just tried to grab something to prevent falling but my palm scraped this screw on the wheel." She explains while covering her other hand in blood as well.

I frown at Dargan before taking her hand in mine. 

"Bring me water," I say and one of the combatants brings a lather water bag. I pull it open and pour the water on top of Nina's hand.

"It's fine, Ro... I mean, my Queen." She corrects herself and I frown at her but I can't say anything as we are in public and she has to address me like that.

"This would help, my Queen." The combatant offers me a few neem leaves and a piece of cloth. 

"Thank you," I thank him and treat Nina's hand before finally looking up. I see all the combatants looking at me but from far. Dargan is standing in the same position and I march towards him.

"Why did you push her?" 

"I saved you." He says while looking at me with calculating eyes.

"That's not what I asked," I say.

"She was in the way and if I hadn't pushed her, you would be down on the ground embarrassing me. I don't want my people to think that I chose an immature, clumsy woman as my wife." He says and my nostrils flare which I doubt he might have noticed.

"I could've handled myself. You didn't need to hurt my friend." 

"I can totally imagine you handling yourself with your dress bigger than you." He mocks me.

"Trust me, I would've rather preferred to come in my daily wear than this, but apparently I had to impress my husband," I say and he smirks.

"Impress me? I would be really impressed if you could just shut your mouth and stop acting like an insolent." He says clenching his jaws.

"Well... deal with me," I say while holding Nina's hand. 

I give him my last hard look and drag Nina along with me to get away from him.

"You have only five minutes," Dargan says behind me while I move with Nina to the furthest end. 

The land is lifted here and down below is a lake. The lake forms a leaf shape which can be taken as a heart shape as well. It's not too big but not too small as well. 

"This is the forbidden lake," Nina says standing beside me. 

"Hmm..." I hum knowing well what she is talking about. Everyone knows about this lake. 

"Though there is no problem passing by it still people avoid getting closer. There have been enough accidents to prevent anyone from going close to it." She says. Though I have heard about this lake, I never saw it before, and to be honest, it's beautiful. The water remains still on the top with only slight soft waves because of the light breeze. The colour is clear blue with unending depths.

"What could be the reason for all those happenings, Nina?" I ask her.

"I believe it's the same as we have always been told. There are really the sorcerers from the war who stay underneath hidden from the real world. What else could be the reason for the sudden change in the colour of the water? It seems like someone celebrates with crackers and the lightning comes up to the surface. Moreover, it's such a crazy coincidence that it always happens on your birthday!" Nina squeals with excitement. 

"Yeah, that's a coincidence, but... still..."

"I wish I could explore it to its end," I say and Nina shakes her head at me.

"So that, the sorcerers can capture you and do whatever they please." She says in a bored manner.

"You already judged them to be the bad ones?" I ask her.

"No, but you are different and I don't think they'd be pleased to see any outsider especially if they are in there, hiding." She says.

"I'm not just different for them, Nina. I'm even different from my own kind. I don't even have a wolf. What could I possibly do to them?" I scoff before remembering my talk with my mother. She said even she doesn't have a wolf, but how is that even possible? 

"You are right." I turn around at the voice and see Dargan looking at me. 

I didn't know he was standing here, but how long has it been?

He looks at Nina and she leaves us alone with her head bowed.

Dargan's eyes move to meet mine but I decide to turn around and look back at the silent lake.

Why is he here now? To mock me because I don't have a wolf? Well, he married me, it wasn't forced upon him.

"You are indeed different, but only different from the people around you." He says and I furrow my eyebrows slightly.

How does that even make sense? I'm only different from the people around me? Then to whom am I alike?

"It's time to go." He says before turning around and going back to where we had stopped. All the combatants are in their position and I think they are only waiting for me. 

I heave a sigh and lift my gown before walking down the uplifted area. Nina joins me and helps me get back to the carriage.

As I am about to sit back in the carriage, I hear some commotion and see one girl with her dress stained in mud and trying to talk to the combatant, more like trying to convince him.

Her eyes meet mine and I instantly stop the combatant. I let her in and call her closer. She stays at a distance and bows in front of me and Dargan.

"I apologize for my interference, but I need help to heal my sister. Please help." She says bowing her head. She is shaking and fiddling with her fingers while sometimes grabbing her mud-stained gown. Her hair is dishevelled and she is barefoot. 

"Where is your sister? Don't worry she'll be taken care of." I say before Dargan could say anything. 

"Thank you, kind lady! My sister is there, under the shade of the tree. She is unconscious." She says pointing in a direction behind her.

"Then we should hurry there," I say ready to move but Dargan's voice stops me.

"I'll leave a few combatants here and they'll see that your sister is well if possible." He says looking at the girl before turning around to look at me.

"You are not going anywhere." His voice is firm but I completely ignore him and drag myself to the girl. 

"Lead the way," I say and she hesitantly looks at Dargan before nodding her head. I train my focus on her all the while because I'm sure his glare would kill me if I look at him. He needs to understand that I can't just leave her here. It's a good thing that we took a break otherwise we would have never known.

"This way." She says and I walk behind her. I take careful steps but that didn't stop me from getting my dress ruined.

"If he could, you'd be dead right now." I hear Nina whisper worriedly but I'm more concerned about this girl and her sister.  

"I can deal with him later," I say while following the girl. She takes us to a fragile girl laying on the ground. She is laid unconscious with sweat beads forming all around her neck and forehead. Her feet are dirty and are bruised. Her face is dull and her condition tugs at my heart. 

"For how long has she been like this?" I ask the girl.

"Since hours now. We have been having bad days without food and water for days but today she lost the strength to fight anymore." She says while her eyes do not move from her sister's face.

"Hand me the water bag," I ask the combatant and pour the water in my palm curving to make a bowl. I sprinkle the water at the girl before her eyes start fluttering. I can tell she is gaining her conscious but she doesn't have enough energy to open her eyes and face any questions.

"Bring the stored food and more water bags." I hear Dargan order which is soon taken care of.

Nina helps the girl sit with the support of the tree trunk behind her. I offer her the food and water. She hesitates feeling intimidated by the crowd surrounding her but her sister, the girl who brought us here sits beside her and pulls her in a hug. 

"Don't worry, Tina. These kind people are here to help us. They are offering you food. You need to eat, dear." She says feeding her. I offer the food to her as well as she feeds, Tina.

"We need to leave." I hear Dargan say making the two girls look at him. I can see them nervous around him. He has the ability to scare anyone away.

"Not yet. I need to make sure they are okay."

"They will be fine. They have their necessities fulfilled and it's time we leave. I expect you by your carriage in five minutes." He says before walking away.

"Where do you two stay?" I ask the girls after Dragan has left with the warning. I know very well that if I do not go, he'll have to wait. There is nothing else that he can do.

"We are the abandoned ones, kind lady. We were born as rogues. Our parents left us long ago and now even our fate seems to follow the same path." The girl who brought us here says.

"What are you gonna do after we leave? How will you survive?" I ask her.

"We'll live as long as we are destined to. We are just happy that we could survive today. The rest will be thought of later." She says.

I can't just leave them here when I know I can help them. I don't know how their parents became rogues but it has nothing to do with them. Wolves go rogue either when they want to live away from the Kingdom or their King punishes them to go rogue. In some cases, when someone wants to get away from all the worldly pleasures, they move away and live their life simply alone. Seeing them, it's clear that they don't want a life away from more beings that can be their friends. They haven't done anything bad as well.

"You don't need to worry about your survival anymore. If you want, you can join the Royal pack. We are heading there, you can come with us and start a new life." I tell them and they just stare at me bewildered probably not expecting that.

"You are going to the Royal pack? Are you the Queen of werewolves? Ah! I apologize for intervening and stopping your journey, my queen. I wouldn't have dared if I knew who you are." She says gasping while I give her a smile.

"Then I'm glad that you didn't know. At least we could save your sister..." I say leaving the statement hanging since I don't know her name. 

"Ah! My apologies, my Queen. My name is Ana." She says gasping again.

"Ana, that's a beautiful name." I compliment her.

"Ana, you need not worry about anything. Just tell me if you want to join the pack and I know you do. You'd be happy there and I'm certain you can work and earn for your needs." I say and she looks at her sister. 

I know the offer is very tempting for them but they seem hesitant.

"What about the King? Are we allowed?" Ana asks.

"Don't worry about that." I smile at her.

"Thank you, my Queen!" Ana exclaims happily and I know her answer already.

We all walk back to the carriage and I see the combatants ready in their wolf form again to continue the journey with some on the horses as they preferred.

I directly make my way to Dargan who must have already understood my intentions.

"The girls are coming with us."