Stephen's Stories 4. The Dragon Queen
Molly and Stephen and their story-telling were introduced in "The Professor series," but they continued to write stories and share them with one another. Stephen's stories will appear in the Romance category. Molly's stories continue the Dominance/Submission theme of the original series and will appear under BDSM.
"Have you figured out who the queen is yet?" Molly asked. "Fairy tales always need a good villain."
"Maybe she isn't really a villain after all. I think she is just misunderstood."
"Oh, no. A post-modern fairy tale."
"Right into the twenty-first century."
"Groan. Let's have it."
Part II. The Queen
Princess Camilla grew up in a small kingdom in uneasy times. Her mother was dead and her father the king, whom she adored, was in ailing health. She and her eight-year-old sister Brista were the only heirs, but she had three uncles who all craved the throne. As Camilla grew through her teens, her father became increasingly dependent on her to assist him, so she gradually learned how to rule the kingdom. Like him, she loved the kingdom and wanted above all to protect the welfare of the people. To do that, she had to prevent the uncles from seizing power.
A neighboring principality, sensing the weakness of the kingdom, allowed some lesser barons to send raids across the border, stealing cattle and looting outlying villages. The king was too weak to lead an army and was afraid to give that much authority to any of his brothers. However, without royal leadership, the defenses were too weak deter the robbers.
"Perhaps I should get married," Camilla suggested as she discussed the problems with her father.
"That time will come when someone can be found worthy of you. I think it is best now to introduce you to Soral." Soral was an old woman who lived in the castle. Camilla always felt uneasy around her, and readily believed the rumors that she was a witch. However, her father respected Soral and occasionally consulted her in private. Now, as trouble came he urged Camilla to do the same.
"What does Soral have to do with this?" Camilla protested nervously.
"People don't give her her due. She is wise in her own way. Now help me up and we will call upon her.
Soral was sitting alone in her room, as she usually did. "Come in," she called in response to their knock on her door. "I have been expecting you. The teakettle is already on the fire."
The king and princess entered the room. Soral, who had not risen from her chair waved at the kettle in which water was boiling and at three cups on a small table. She was expecting the visit, but how, Camilla did not know how. Soral did not look at either of her visitors directly, but her gestures indicated that she expected Camilla to serve. Camilla was irked by this lack of deference to her royal status, but her father had always shown deference to Soral.
"Soral, it is time for my daughter to make your acquaintance," the king said when all were served.
"High time. Almost too late. Come here child."
As Camilla scooted her chair close, Soral studied her. She took Camilla's hand in her own and held it in silence for a long time with her eyes closed. Camilla glanced at her father, but he only shook his head to direct her attention back to the old women.
At last Soral spoke. "You are a remarkable young lady; but you will need all your strength for the coming battles. You will have some difficult and important decisions to make. Now tell me your heart's desire."
Camilla felt it impossible to hold back with this woman. "I wish to rule. I wish to be a good queen so that my people will know peace and prosperity."
"That is a good wish. A difficult wish. You have a good heart, child. You will need to make many sacrifices. You can become the queen that you want to be, but don't expect the people to love you for it. What is it that troubles you today?"
Camilla had so many questions, but she sensed she would not learn by asking them. Briefly, she summarized their current plight.
"You have a good understanding of your father's cares." She spoke as though she had already known about the border raids and only wanted to test Camilla's perception. "Listen closely, there is a hill that overlooks the village of Carford from the east. The hill is called Dragon's Head. On the night of the next new moon, take an ox and tie it to a stake there. Do this in person. Do not remain on the hill yourself, but set a guard at a distance to make sure no human disturbs the ox. Then you may watch from a position of safety." She turned to the king. "It was a pleasure to meet your daughter."
The king rose and thanked her for the tea. With a tilt of his head to his daughter, he signaled it was time to leave.
"What was that all about?" Camilla asked, indignant.
"Do as she says, and learn. The new moon is in a week. Carford is about four days from here and that is where the raiders have been. Take a strong escort with you, but do not engage the thieves. You won't be strong enough. The only purpose of your soldiers is to protect you."
That was all Camilla could get out of him; but she made her preparations.
As they neared Carford, they could see farmhouses burning. The raiders were still nearby, poised to attack the town itself. The princess and her guards took care not to challenge them and did not enter the town, but stayed on the other side of Dragon's Head sheltered by a low ridge that skirted the town. At the appointed time, an ox was staked on the crown of the hill. The guard was positioned at the foot of the hill to protect the approaches, while Camilla found a perch for herself protected by large boulders with a good view of both the peak and the town.
The night was quiet and dark. If she had not been forcing herself to stay awake by poking her arm with a needle, she might have missed the large shadow that glided across the stars and landed on the hillside. The ox lowed and made a panicked squeal and there was silence again.
Camilla continued to watch until a glow appeared on the eastern horizon. She heard a trumpet blare and sounds of horses moving toward the town. A watchman cried out and shouting men gathered to protect the houses. Now there was a rustle of wings from the hill and she looked up to see an enormous dragon lift into the air. It circled twice and dove toward the attacking band. Horses reared and stampeded. Men were thrown to the ground and began to run away. It took the defenders a few moments to comprehend the opportunity, then they charged into the disorganized marauders and began slaughtering them.
When the commotion had ended an hour later, half of the attackers lay dead or captured; the rest scattered and were running for their lives. Two of the villagers had been injured and the town was wealthier by many captured and recovered horses and livestock.
Only Camilla had had a good view of the dragon. After terrorizing the field, the dragon had paused briefly near her and caught her eye, as through to say, 'We have settled a bargain.' Then he vanished.
When her guard returned to the castle, they had no coherent story to tell, except that the villagers had driven off the raid. Camilla sought out Soral, who listened patiently to her story.
"The world is a mysterious place," she replied. "The power that sent the dragon did not do so to help you. It was hungry and wanted to eat the ox. You merely created a situation that also helped your people. You accessed great power; but it comes at a cost. Last week that cost was only an ox. Next time it will be much higher."
Peace returned to the kingdom for the time being; but as her father's health continued to decline, Camilla's uncles became more restless. They reasoned that it would be easier to seize the throne before an heir was officially recognized. They had no inclination to cooperate with one another and divide power; but once one brother started to make a move the others could not afford to be left behind.
When word came to the palace that the uncles were gathering their forces, Camilla sought out Soral for advice.
Soral held Camilla's eyes for a long time and then stared into the fireplace. "I see the palace in ruins. The guard is dead. You father's corpse lies with its throat cut and his brains spattered on his bed. His daughter is led away in chains to rot in the dungeon."
"Who has done this?"
"Three jealous brothers. And they will fight over the spoils until there is no wealth to be had and no kingdom to rule."
"And who is there to rule?"
"The lands will be divided by vultures from the neighboring states. It is finished."
"And Brista and I?"
"Neither to be heard from again. One is imprisoned underground. The other flees with a groom to escape the carnage. She is raised to live and die as a peasant, never remembering her family or position in life."
"No! This shall not happen. What can we do to stop it?"
"The price is high." Soral did not take her eyes from the fire.
"Anything. I will sacrifice myself, if necessary."
"That is not enough. The fates do not ask what they have already."
"What do you mean?"
"If you want the dragons to come to your assistance, you must offer them what they need. A young woman."
