Tatiana - Imperial Ruler Of Dragon's

Chapter 13

I played with the kids until it became dark and everyone had to gather at the village centre where the bonfire was already lit. One of the females handed me a woven crown of flowers to place on my head like the other females before I joined Katrina and her friends among the crowd of dwarves settled on the floor.

“So, how exactly does this ceremony go?” I ask Katrina, leaning closer though my eyes stared ahead.

“To start the celebration, a small group of dancers will gather around the bonfire in a circle, with hands joined and tongues waggling to make screeching musical notes. They say these noises are used to call the spirits from far and wide to come and join in on the celebration and receive blessings.” She explains, shoulders shrugging when I peeked her way with a sceptical look. “I think the ceremony is all based on fictitious beliefs but every Kingdom holds onto the tradition and considers it a great deal, so who knows, maybe some part of it might be true. Once they’re done dancing, food and drinks will be passed around and everyone will merry once the spirits arrive.”

“You’ve never seen the ceremony before?”

“No, it only happens every thousand years before the rooting ceremony.” She snorts, amused. “I just turned 18, I haven’t even lived past a hundred. There’s no way I’d have witnessed a big event such as this.”

“Then how come you know so much about it?”

“I asked Kimmy about it when I first heard of the ceremony during my first few months here. Just like you, Edora was a new, mystical place with secrets that puzzled and frightened me. But still, I wanted to uncover each one.”

Sighing, I turn my attention back to the festivity and bring my legs closer to my body.

“And how will they know when the spirits a-” My words are cut short when suddenly, out of nowhere fireflies of so many colours swarm upon the party.

They followed the path of leaves laid on the floor, millions of these tiny creatures moving quickly past lamps of glowworms and making the entire experience look even more unreal but mesmerising.

We watch the beautiful sight in amazement, my eyes roaming around as I’ve never seen so many fireflies gathered in one place. They head straight towards the bonfire and much to our shock, the fireflies dove into the flames which immediately grows with a soft explosion. The orange flames turning into a rainbow of colours.

Explosive cheers from the dwarves startle me and we glanced around as creatures jumped to their feet with hands raised into the air. What stupefies us, or I even more is when, rather than become charred dust these fireflies flew out of the blazing flames into the air and fluttered about.

Some of them playfully mixing into the crowd and flying above the heads of children reaching up to catch them. Giggles of excited laughter slipping out of their lips.

To one side of the gathering stood dwarves banging upon wooden drums and fingers flying off the strings of a ukulele. Put together, despite how loud and noisy the celebration was, the music is pretty enjoyable if you don’t mind partially impaired hearing. Candy, who sat in-between Troy and Katrina grabbed their hands and waved them in the air. Pulling them to their feet as creatures got up and began dancing all around us. I tilt my head and stare in amusement, taking hold of Gavin’s hand when he held it out to me with a smile.

Everyone danced with their hands joined and moved clockwise and counter-clockwise in catchy, choreographed steps, the steps sometimes needing a twirl, shake of hips, or a clap of hands. And even though we knew not the lyrics, we sang along when the dwarves broke into a cheery tone.

The wine was passed around as well as bowls of hot, delicious meals which filled our stomach and warmed our hearts. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, drank potent wine, not at all advisable for my age, and forgot about my worries. The scene looked like a beautiful picture taken right out of a storybook, with everywhere being illuminated by lanterns and glowworms prisoned in glass jars.

Everyone danced to their heart’s content, drank, toasted, and ate like gluttons. Momentarily forgetting for a moment their troubles as they lost themselves to the festivities. But as always, all good things must come to an end.

It was completely unexpected when all of a sudden, a loud horn bellowed through the night three times in warning of approaching intruders. Looking around in confusion, the celebration slowly drew to a halt when one of the guards on watch duty at the tower hurriedly raced our ways with loss of breath thanks to his short legs.

He screamed word at us which were incomprehensible, at least they were until he got close enough. “The Queen’s Guards are coming… the Queen’s Guards are coming!”

Those words were enough to send everyone into a state of panic, immediately several hands grabbed mine and without warning, I’m being pulled in the direction of what I’m hoping is an escape route. Heavy footsteps thumped after us and I turn to see Katrina’s friends following right behind, their faces set in a look of anxiousness.

I was pulled into one of the stone houses at the edge of the village and in the next second a bag was thrust in my arms, staring at it in confusion I glance up to ask Katrina what the hell I’m supposed to do with it but don’t get the chance because her friends barge in and the room was filled with a rush of instructions.

Soon, things were packed and cleared away. Bags swung over their shoulders. Shrugging, I do the same with mine and bite down on my lower lip in nervousness when we slowly crawled out of the house and hurried towards the back. The darkness surrounding us providing the best cover for our sneaky, little group.

A harsh hiss was heard just a few feet’s away, and our heads snapped up in alarm. Standing before the back gates are Hilgar and Kimmy, Hilgar had a bag strung across her body and a dagger hooked to her belt. She looked like the warrior she is as she scanned the surrounding area despite the darkness with alert eyes.

Stopping before the older dwarf, Katrina frowns in confusion at the sight of her cousin and the bag she carried. “Kimmy, what’s going on-”

“I’m so sorry dear, but unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to Oren as we’d planned. My illness has gotten stronger and I fear I will only be a burden upon your important journey.”

“Kimmy,” Unwilling to accept her words, Katrina grasps her hand in hers and held tightly. “You’re talking nonsense. You’ll never be a burden on me.”

“Dear, just because you don’t admit it doesn’t mean the facts aren’t true. But do not fear, for I have petitioned my sister here to go along with you lot. She’s better than I am at tracking and as you know she’s a warrior, she’ll do a fine job of protecting the Princess.”

I blink when several eyes turn my way, feeling awkward and embarrassed as the thought of being a burden makes my stomach turn.

Wait a minute, why did she refer to me as a princess?

“There will be many advantages to having her by your side than little old me.”

“Come on Kat, you know she’s right. Besides, we hardly have the time to stand here and debate on this. The clan can only hold off the guards for so long before they start searching the entire perimeter.” Troy advises, his words making Katrina slump in resignation.

Turning her attention back to Kimmy, Katrina sighs in reluctance and nods. “Fine, we will go with Hilgar as our tracker. But please, be careful Kimmy and continue to hold on. I promise I will find a way to free you from the curse as I promised.”

Raising a hand to pat her cheek, she smiles affectionately at Katrina and nods. “I will, I promise. Now all of you getting going, you have a long journey ahead.”

Nodding, Katrina and Troy were the first to walk away after sharing a quick hug goodbye with Kimmy. Gavin placed a quick kiss on her forehead before he followed after them and Candy, did some kind of weird Asian bow to the dwarf who reciprocated in return.

When it got to my turn, I didn’t know what to say to the dwarf whom I'd only come to know for a few days. But I let her grasp my hand in hers and squeezed gently. “Princess, you have a long and tough journey ahead of you. Sometimes things might get hard, and other times you will feel lost and afraid. I just want you to remember one thing, try your best to believe in yourself and who you are.”

I don’t completely understand her words, but nod none the less and hurry off after the rest. Hilgar trailing right behind me.