The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 115

HERA.

If I did not replace it so tiring I would have been fascinated.

For fear remains one of the strangest emotions to ever perturb mortals and immortals alike.

The odd thing about fear, is that everyone reacts differently to it.

Some people discover that for themselves when trouble arrives, it is far less arduous to fold their bodies up in a ball, to make themselves smaller targets. Others get violent and begin to look for the nearest weapons with which to defends themselves.

To strike first before they themselves are struck.

And others still are content with simply falling into shock.

Becoming immobile, freezing up like water in the winter months and breaking apart just as easily when hit.

Then, there are those like me.

The ones whose desire and instinct to survive is so strong that it rides over every other part of their brain.

The stupid parts that tell them to scream and call for help.

The even more stupid parts that tell them to freeze or make themselves smaller.

These are the ones who when faced with danger think of doing only one thing.

They run.

The only difference is this time, I am about to run in the most stupid of directions.

Not away but towards.

If the old Hera could see me now...

The one who did whatever it took to keep herself and her brother alive, I have little doubt that she would spit at my feet and hit me for good measure.

She would not understand why I am not fighting harder to stay well and away from whatever threat it is that slowly but steadily approaches.

She would not understand why I am so willingly to risk it all for the king of the dragon realm.

But she would understand that being alive meant nothing if I had to lose one more person I loved.

I push away from the window with it's fearsome view of dark grey skies and far off lightning.

Rushing from one end of the room to another, swinging a dark green cloak around my solders and slipping my feet into firm sandals, I feel inadequate...confused even.

I am trying my hardest not to panic but it is hard.

Very hard.

All my earlier anger at whatever it is I had seen between him and Minth is almost entirely forgotten.

Extinguished like a single flame in a raging storm.

I am not entirely sure I know what it was that I saw in my premonitions

They had been too fast.

Too sudden to make any sense of and it is becoming increasingly clear from the eerie, howling wind outside my window and all the commotion I can hear from the courtyard below, that I do not have the luxury of time to sit down and think. But I know enough to be certain that I need to replace someone.

Midas, before he goes to the dragon temple for whatever reason.

And Leo before he does whatever it that he is planning to do.

What I will say to either dragonkin man or where I will replace them is of little consequence to my panic filled and harried mind.

I abandon my attempts at packing up my hair and just stuff it beneath the hood of my cloak before rushing towards the door.

Looking outside the window of my chambers had shown the courtyard in a state of ordered hysteria.

There had been soilders running afoot, horses and dragon Ryders readying themselves as if to march out into battle, dragons of all shapes and sizes flying in and out of the castle grounds...

I may not know much about whatever in hades is going on, but I do know that if I want to replace the dragon king then that is where he would be.

At the forefront of it all.

Dragon Ryder and warrior king.

Unlike other monarchs, he would never sit at the back or in the center of his army, safe from the brunt of the attacking forces.

If there is an on going attack on the dragon realm like I suspect there is, then I have little doubt in my mind that the one leading the army, sword drawn and teeth bared, would be Midas. My Midas.

I just needed to make sure he comes back to me.

Alive.

I need him to come back to me alive.... please dear gods... please

....the life you have given me so far, you owe me. I swear

"I promise if you bring him back safe I'll never ask for anything ever again... except on special occasions."

One wrong step and I almost slip down the winding steps leading to the foot of my tower.

My ankle hurts but I barely notice it.

I hear them before I see them.

The clanging of metal feet against smooth stone and it feels like a bucket of cold water had just been tossed over my entire body.

Breathing through an open mouth and struggling to control my racing heart, I watch two dragon Ryders turn appear at the foot of the steps.

Then two more...then two more...then two more...

What if they are here because...

No, snap out of it Hera.

Nothing has happened to him. He is the dragon king remember. Immortal and everything.

He is perfectly capable of taking care of himself.

He has to be.

I take deep breaths. Breaths to remind myself that I am queen of the fifth realm and that breaking down in tears is not appropriate.

Not matter how badly I wish to do exactly that.

A dragonkin warrior I recognize as one wearing the colors of a Captain appears between the two soilders in front.

He bows low. "My queen."

"You may rise. What is going on? Where is the king...is he safe?"

"His Majesty is fine my queen, he is about to lead the dragon army into battle."

I wonder if they can tell how dry my throat is or how badly it is that I am shaking.

"Ba...battle... against what enemy?"

The silence that follows tells me all I need to know.

"Gods above, you do not know do you?"

"You need not be afraid your highness."

"Do not lie to me Captain. I do not need it."

What I need to do is to go out and replace him myself...to touch his face and tell him that I...

That I need him to come back.

And to warn him about what I had seen.

But when I try to pass between the guards, they cross their spears and bar my way.

"What in all the realms is going on, I demand that you let me through right this instant."

"I am afraid we cannot do that your Grace. Please return to your chambers at once." "How dare you?"

"You will be safer inside..."

"I do not care. On whose orders do you dare block my path?"

"The King."

With the visor of his helmet down and over his eyes, it impossible for me to read his face.

But I do not need to.

If the King said it, then queen or not, they would die before they let me leave the tower.

I open my month but before I can say anything else, I hear a loud horn.

Two of them to be exact.

"What was that?"

The captain looks down and all the other Ryders glance at each other but no one gives me an answer.

"I asked you a question. What. Was that?

"Tis the war horn my queen."

"What?"

"The army...they are marching out."

"No...no...no"

My only chance of replaceing Midas before he left for the war is now almost throughly gone.

I blink back the furious tears that have suddenly appeared in my eyes.

I could scream and try to run but short of jumping out the window in the stairwell, there is no way I am getting off this tower.

"Very well then. Do what you must."

And then struggling not to cry, I make my way back to my room.

But I am unable to sit still.

Not with what I know...

With what I had seen.

I know that pacing is a stupid, pointless activity that only serves to make me more restless but I am unable to bring myself to stop.

There is a tightness in my chest that threatens to suffocate me.

Pain and regret like barbed ropes wrapped around my heart.

Squeezing and wounding until it hurts just to breathe.

I should have let him explain.

I should have calmed down and listened.

And when he wanted to tell me..to tell me that he loves...

I should have waited.

I should have said it back.

If I had not been so hell bent on being angry, we might even have been together when I had the premonition.

I could have warned him then.

Now it might be too late.

I look out the window for the umpteenth time.

The sky is getting darker and heavier...like clouds on the edge of a thunderstorm.

I stare down at the death white grip of my knuckles against the window sill.

Please...gods...show me a way.

When I pull open my door with a nearly violent swing, the guards are directly outside of it.

I swallow and fold my hands.

"I would like my maid brought to me please."

"Your highness our orders..."

"Were you asked to keep me safe or to starve me to death?"

"To keep your safe your highness. But it is not wise to let anyone up here. Not until we can be certain of what threats are coming."

"You may have been instructed to keep me from leaving this tower but do not forget that I am still your queen and I demand that you send for my maid right this instant."

I know it must seem like I am being deliberately stubborn but I do not care.

It is the only chance I have.

The captain bows his head and turns around.

"Wait!"

"Yes, your grace?"

"I would like a meal."

Even covered as his face his, I would have to be stupid to miss the confusion and slight judgment in his voice.

"A meal, your grace?"

I raise me chin to stop from gulping nervously.

"Yes. To help me calm down. A bowl of dates and raisins. Bread and melted butter as well. It would be most delightful if she could add some meat and pie...and mead...and honey wine as well." The captain's hesitation is almost barely noticeable.

He nods once more before disappearing between the gap in the guards.

I close the door of my room.

Then I wait.

And I wait.

And I wait.

Sitting crouched down and back against my door.

As I sit, I start to feel a warmth on my chest.

I frown and lift my hands towards it.

My wedding gift.

The necklace with the dragon pendant that I have not taken off since the morning the dragon king and I were bound together.

I frown even harder.

Am I cold or did the necklace seem warmer in my grip?

But before I can fully think about it, I hear a knock on the door.

Hesitant and unsure.

"Your Highness?"

I scramble to my feet and brush off dust from the sides of my gown.

When I place my hand on the door knob I am not surprised to replace myself shaking.

"My queen."

"You may enter."

I stand aside for her to come in.

Her and her cart.

And then I close the door softly behind her.

She pushes the cart towards the feet of the bed where I usually sit to eat and then turns to face me.

The fear and uncertainty in my face is mirrored in her eyes and shaky voice.

For the first time in gods know how many years, the dragon realm is under attack.

Even worse is how they do not know who the enemy is or how to even arm themselves.

And for a warrior nation like the 5th realm, being unable to defend themselves is a scarier fate than death.

I may be worried for Midas but all the other dragonkin could be on the verge of having their entire homeland destroyed.

"Oh Henette."

I throw my hands around her larger frame.

She hugs me back. Her shoulders quivering.

"Hera...I am scared."

"You do not have to be. Have faith in your king and your Ryders. Has he ever let you down before?"

She pulls away, sniffing and swiping her arm across her nose.

"But this threat your grace, an enemy that possessess the ability to darken the skies and shake the ground. What if...what if we lose?"

"No."

I am shaking my head so hard I worry my neck may come unscrewed.

"We will not let that happen."

"We?"

I turn away to avoid looking directly at her but she follows me.

"Hera... what do you mean by we?"

I glance furtively at the door.

"Henette I have to leave this castle."

She rushes towards me and grips my arm gently. Her voice quiet and beseeching.

"No...No your Majesty. You cannot go out there. It is too dangerous"

My whispers are harsh and urgent.

"I have to."

"No. You most certainly do not."

"But I do. I have seen...I have seen things. Things that must be stopped before they happen or we die. All of us."

"All the more reason for you to say here, safe behind the castle walls."

"And let the man I love run to his death?"

"If something should happen to the king, the dragonkin would need at least one of their rulers to remain alive, to guide them."

"But don't you see Henette. I love him."

"Hera..."

"I love him!!"

I glare at her through the haze of my tears.

"If he does not return..."

My voice cracks.

"If I lose him...the dragon realm will not just lose their king... they will lose their queen as well."

I sniff back my tears with more force than is necessary. "So will you help me or not?"

Henette watches me for a long time.

"You better not die out there."

I startle myself by laughing at the disrespect in her tone.

"I will give it my best."

"So what insane scheme do you have in mind this time your highness because I doubt you brought me here because you were in need of a meal."

I point at the cart of food as I walk towards the door.

"Wait you really wish to eat?"

"Heavens no. Food is not even the last thing on my mind right now."

"Then I do not understand...."

"Shhh..."

I press my finger to my lips to quieten her and then press my ears to the door.

An effort to accertain if I can tell whether someone is leaning against the door or listening in.

I get nothing.

I move away from the door. "I do not need the darn food. This...this is what I need."

The cart that was used to bring the food in.

It is the same cart that is used when bringing up laundary and anything really.

A rickety metal structure made up of four squeaky wheels, a flat surface above for carrying food, and a mini cupboard like compartment in the middle for carrying everything else.

"You my dear Henette..."

I pull open the two small doors and examine the empty, doubtlessly cold metal space.

"...are going to wheel me out."