Zenora, The Dragon's Fury
38. The Meeting

After a quick shower and getting dressed again, I told the boys to come to the throne room, as we were about to have a meeting. Other young children weren’t going to come, but mine have to learn to attend to these kinds of meetings. They are the next in line to become King of Terralon, so I want for them to experience all sorts of things, that Brock and I are dealing with daily.

We entered the large hall, which was crowded by people who sat behind their tables and they became instantly silent, when they heard us come in.

We walked our way to the thrones, and while going there, people around us slightly bowed their head and nodded in respect. I was feeling grateful that they had this kind of respect for me, and the habit of accepting it, was growing into me more each day.

“Thank you for coming here on such short notice.” I started the meeting, when Brock and I took a seat on the thrones.

“I know, that you’ve had more than two weeks to get used to the idea of your King being gone. But I hadn’t had that luxury. I only found out about it, when I returned to the castle, which was a few days ago. I humbly thank you for giving me some time and distance to grieve on my own, to give the passing of my dad some place in my mind.”

The people were paying attention to each and every word I said.

The whole room was filled with our friends, loved ones, counsellors, heads from each different department of administration and organisation, and several high ranked people from the army. On the sides stood some members of the Royal guard, and some servants as well.

“I have asked Natalya to gather you all here, to notify you about some issues. First of all, when I was gone, I was with the Elven Elders to get my body healed again. This was necessary because I had given birth to our baby girl. The birthing wasn’t exactly what we had planned in our minds. Because the egg that is being protected by Ayinthur, contains our precious daughter.”

Besides the ones that knew this already, the people started to whisper and confusion rose up within them.

“Yes, our daughter is going to be part dragon. Just like I can communicate with dragons, so will she. My dragon powers have been transferred to her. Resulting in me, laying an egg.”

Nicolai clucked like a chicken and laughter erupted from all of them. I laughed shortly with them, until Brock glanced angrily towards Nicolai, and the crowd got immediately silent again.

“Tom and Natalya, could you organise a few builders, to build a shelter around them? I suspect my daughter to be in the egg for several more weeks, and I don’t want unexpected guests to peek at her and become interested to take her away.” They both nodded in agreement.

Brock chimed in as well, asking for one of his warriors to set up a round-the-clock schedule, for the army, to protect the egg at all costs.

“Axel, could you provide food for Ayinthur too? Because he is too stubborn, to hunt for himself right now, as he won’t leave the egg. Please discus with his royal chicken-ness what he prefers for food.” I said.

Ayinthur roared massively outside.

“Oops, did my eyes just turn purple? Then he might have heard me.” I said to them.

The people laughed again, but stopped quickly, to not have to endure Brock’s glares again. I bumped Brock’s shoulder, and whispered to him to lighten up a bit. He doesn’t have to be serious this whole time.

“On further notice, Brock and I have been talking about assigning a new General to our army.” I continued when I had cleared my throat.

“As you might all agree with me, is that Archeops here, would be a perfect suitor. So, please stand up Archeops, and accept a great applause from everyone.” I pointed my hand to him, and was ready to clap my hands.

But he just kept sitting, looking at me and Brock with wide eyes. He couldn’t believe what I just said to him. Brock stood up from his throne and walked over to him.

“Arch, brother, best friend. You are the best reliable person on this whole damn planet. Did you honestly believe that we didn’t take you to be our next General?” Brock said to him.

“Well, no actually. I always thought that you would be staying the General. Even though you will become King soon. I expected you to stay in that function, until Tyler would have come of age.” Archeops said to him in a hushed voice.

“Stand up Archeops, I command you!” Brock said, and Archeops stood up from his bench.

“I, Brock, current General of the army of the King of Terralon, relieve myself of my duty. I will pass on this great responsibility to my always loyal and dear friend, Archeops!”

Archeops hesitated for a moment, but then returned the words.

“I, Archeops, am honoured to relieve you of your duty, and take full responsibility in becoming the General of the army of the King of Terralon!” Archeops replied.

“All hail General Archeops!” Brock yelled.

“Hail to General Archeops!” The people in the room all yelled at the same time. Cheers and applauds came soaring towards him, his eyes proudly shining with joy and disbelief.

We took a few minutes to celebrate our new General. I asked the servants to get some wine, to pour to the people, and soon everyone was singing and rejoicing the newly ranked Archeops.

But we have one more thing to do, I have to start talking about arranging the coronation. But my insecurities came rushing in again. Will they accept me as their Queen, am I worthy enough? Am I not just taking the throne, because I am this powerful, that I am the Chosen one? Is this what Norim meant, by using my powers to get what I want?

By asking about the arrangements of the coronation, I was practically crowning myself, which was never my intend. I wanted my father to do that, for him to pass on the title. But now that the Kingdom hasn’t got an actual ruler for almost three weeks, how am I going to take over now?

“You do realise, that I can read your mind?” Nicolai suddenly asked me, and I gasped.

He stood right in front of me now, putting his hands on my knees, looking me straight in the eyes. I was wondering what he was going to do next, he had just heard my thoughts, was he going to tell my worries to the rest of the room? Was he going to tell me that I wasn’t worthy of ruling the Kingdom?

A smile came upon his face. “Emily dear, let me show you something.” He suddenly said.

He walked over to one of the Royal guards and whispered something in his ear. The guard walked over to my throne and kneeled in front of it.

“What is the meaning of this?” I asked, but Nicolai shushed me.

I looked at Brock and my sons, they lifted their shoulders, not knowing what was going on either.

Nicolai walked over to someone of the financial administration and whispered something in his ear too. Then, just like the guard just did, this man walked over to my throne and kneeled right next to the guard.

The room became silent, as everyone else became curious as to what Nicolai was doing. But he kept continuing his whispering with several other people. And just like the others, they all came walking into my direction and kneeled on one knee as well.

I kept asking what the meaning of this all was, but Nicolai kept shushing me and continued what he was doing. Soon, all of the men and women were either kneeling in front of me, or bowing in the back of the room. Every inch of floor was filled with the knees of people, showing their respect to me. But why?

“You there, please repeat what I have asked you to do.” Nicolai asked the first person that he had whispered to.

“To show my allegiance, to my Queen.” The Royal guard stated, at which I dropped my jaw.

“And you, what have I asked you to do.” Nicolai touched the shoulder of someone else.

“To show my allegiance, to my Queen.” The woman said the same thing as the Royal guard. Are they really doing this? Are they accepting me as their Queen?

“All of you, please tell me what I have asked you to do.” Nicolai said.

“To show our allegiance, to our Queen!” The room stated at the same time.

I got red cheeks, my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t say a word. Tyler came standing next to me, holding my hand. I looked at Brock again and he was whispering with Kaden.

Nicolai asked for all of the people to stand up, and then he walked over to our head of registration.

“Now, Evian, could you please enlighten us with what the requirements are, to crown our next Queen?” He asked him.

I could see a frown form upon Evian’s face, but he kindly answered Nicolai’s question.

“Not much, Nic. Just the attendance of a person of registration, each and every head of every department of administration, the general and his higher ranked soldiers, and of course the female in question. Then they have to show them their allegiance to this specific female and then she would be Queen.” He informed us and my jaw dropped again.

“Okay, that sounds like a lot of people, so could you look around here and confirm to me that they are all actually present?” Nicolai asked again.

I shook my head to him, hoping that he didn’t just force this onto me. I wasn’t ready! I’m not even properly dressed!

Nicolai chuckled. Oh, he is going to have it from me later!

“Well, yes Nic. All of them are here, are you implying…” Evian answered Nicolai, but got interrupted.

“I’m not implying anything, just pointing out the obvious. Just one more question Evian. Did all of the required people not just all kneeled in front of Princess Emily, when I asked them to show their allegiance to their Queen?” Nicolai continued.

“Yes, but…” Evian tried to say something, but got interrupted by Nicolai once more.

“Emily dear, please allow me to pronounce you, in front of all the required people and all of your friends and loved ones, who kneeled before for you, showing their allegiance, to be…”

He walked forward to the thrones. In the meantime Brock had grabbed my other hand to try and calm me down, and Kaden stood behind Tyler, curious about what was happening as well. Then, Nicolai took a deep bow towards me, before finishing his sentence.

“… to be Queen of Terralon.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, not realising that they have just witnessed the coronation of a Queen, of me!

“ALL HAIL QUEEN EMILY!” Anna yelled, and every single soul in the room joined in her hollering and cheering.