The brothers were laughing and hugging each other playfully, hard thumps landing on backs. I was still sitting on the ground at the wall, trying my hardest to blend into the background before they saw me. My knees were tucked under my chin as I watched their greetings become a bit of rough horse play. They wrestled each other to the ground in what I imagine might be play fighting, thought I never had siblings or the time to do such a thing with.
The play left them all laying on the ground laughing as they caught their breaths. Then they were helping each other up. I hadn't seen Malack and Velack so happy before. They seemed to be a little bit more free than they usually were. But it all came to an end as they all turned to stare right at me.
"Come, princess," Malack called, holding out his hand.
"You bagged a princess?!" One of the new comers exclaimed.
"She's our princess, though not of the king's ilk," Velack explained as he chuckled.
Malack lifted one black eyebrow as I hadn't climbed to my feet yet. I hugged my legs harder as we stared at each other.
"She doesn't seem so inclined, brother. Maybe she needs a real drago--ooof." The other new comer said before being elbowed in the stomach by Velack.
"She's still skiddish," Velack said as he approached me.
Velack sank down, his butt to his heels, in front of me. His hand cupped my face and his fingers threaded through my hair. I closed my eyes at the touch and let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Come now," Velack whispered so only I would hear. "It won't be so bad. Come meet my brothers."
Velack helped me to my feet and he didn't say a word has my arms were still clutched to my chest. Before we could step forward to go greet the brothers, Velack pulled me into a hug. His chin rested on the top of my head and his arms squeezed me tight. I let my hands fist into the material over his chest as I soaked in the hug. We just stood there. I was absorbed into his embrace and I didn't realize that I had started crying.
"All is well, little one," Velack whispered.
Malack stepped around us and his hand went to my exposed cheek and his thumb wiped away my trail of tears. Then Velack kissed my hair before letting go of me. Malack kissed my tear stained cheek before I turned to go meet more dragons. Velack through an arm over my shoulders and drew me into his side and I let my arm wrap around to his other hip.
"Wyn, these are my brothers. Morin and Strek," Malack said as he pointed to each brother in turn. Morin and Strek did not look like Malack and Velack at all. They had the same skin tone but their hair was white at the scalp before going ashy at the ends.
"They don't look like you," I half whispered and everyone laughed.
"No. They look like our great grandfather on our mothers side while we look like our dads side."
"We are sorry for making you upset," Morin started. Velack squeezed my shoulder in reassurance.
"That would be our fault," Velack said. "We've been pushing her a little too hard."
Morin and Strek looked me over, though their gaze never felt sexual as they took in my slight frame under the garment and my exposed chest. The corners of their mouths had turned down as they looked me over and I worked hard not to shift my weight from foot to foot at their expressions.
"She's barely more than skin and bone," Strek half growled.
"Most of them are. The king's people just about starved his whole country to death. But we are working on it."
We led the brothers inside and down several flights of stairs to get to the kings rooms. Only we didn't go in that set. We went into another one. Inside, it looked like a mirror of the one Malack and Velack had claimed. Soft plush furniture, tables, rugs.
"This was the queen's quarters when she lived," Malack told them.
Strek and Morin plopped down on the couch and put their feet to rest on the coffee table. "It's not so bad."
Malack and Velack sat in arm chairs on either side of the coffee table, leaving me standing awkwardly as I tried to figure out what I was supposed to be doing. When Malack held out a hand, I went to him and he helped me on his lap. I sat sideways across his lap and he tucked me into his chest, his arms closing around me as they chatted. The rumble of Malack's chest as he laughed or talked soothed me as I lay against him. I wasn't even listening as they talked and caught up. Malack's fingers threaded through my hair and I let my eyes drift close.
When I woke some time later, it was silent. Malack had slouched down against the chair so he could half lay back as I had napped against him. His hand was still idly playing with my hair as I stirred.
"Where'd everyone go," I said hoarsely, my voice thick with sleep.
"They washed up and Velack is showing them around. We'll see them at dinner."
I snuggled into him more and closed my eyes, though I was no longer sleepy. He kissed the top of my head before laying his cheek there. I felt him take a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"It's time to get up, princess. We have a bit of time to clean you up before dinner."
Malack helped me to stand before he got to his feet. He lead me down the hall and when I figured out where we were going, I was shaking. Malack opened the door and led me back inside the bath house.