The Dragon’s Throne 1

“What set her off?” Silas asked.

“I realized that she was using me.  I’ve known for a while that she was sneaking out to be with another man, but it wasn’t until tonight that I put two and two together.  She’s after the throne, and she was going to use me to become queen.”

“You know, this wouldn’t be happening if you had taken a wife already,” Silas said, starting in on the same old lecture he had for the past year.

“You’re right,” he agreed, stunning Silas.

“I am?”

“You were right about a lot of things.  I’m ready to serve my kingdom and step into my role as king.”

“What brought on this change of heart?” Silas asked, looking suspicious.

“Speaking with you, for one.  But also, finding out that I was being used and cajoled into thinking that Marissa was keeping company with me because she enjoyed me and not for some ulterior motive.”

“I thought your lovers were only friends,” Silas said, raising an eyebrow unconsciously.  “Is that what we heard a few minutes before you showed up?”

“Yes.  When I told Marissa I knew her game, and I knew that she was sneaking out and sleeping with at least one other man, she tried to play me.  But I had her when I mentioned that I thought she was only with me because she thought that she would be queen someday.  She changed when I told her that would never happen.”

“You were very honest about that from the start.  You’ve been honest with everyone; you never wanted to be the king.”

“And I still don’t,” Eli said.  “But it’s not about what I want.  It’s about what’s good for the kingdom.  I’m good for the kingdom.  You’ve been running Aman the same tired way for decades and all it’s gotten us is a village full of people who think we’re monsters, and a human leader who collects taxes in your name without a shred of concern for the repercussions.  Things need to change, and a change of leadership is a start.”

“What if I’ve changed my mind and I don’t think you can run Aman and Aldeia?  I’m sorry to be blunt, but you’re going into this with an ideal that just isn’t realistic.  What is going to happen when everything is ruined?  I won’t be here to pick up the pieces.”

“I won’t need you to pick up the pieces.  I’m not a child.  I can do this and I’m going to do this, with or without your approval.”

“If I choose to fight you for the throne?”

“Why would you do that?”

“I’m within my rights,” he said.  “It’s customary for the Dragon King to step aside when the oldest son is of age, but if I think you’re unfit, I can fight the custom.”

“You’re not going to fight him,” Lauren’s voice said from behind Silas.  “It’s time for us to step back.  We’ve been ruling for forty years.  I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to just enjoy our lives together.”  Lauren put her arms around Silas’s waist, leaning back so she could look him in the eye.  “Eli might have ideas about ruling that are different, but they’re his ideas. 

“Just like you stepped up at eighteen and took over the kingdom doesn’t mean that Eli isn’t going to rule as well as you.  After all, I remember a certain someone having to fight for his plans to be accepted by his own father.  Your ideals were nothing like your father’s and here we are, safe and sound, just like we were under your father’s rule.”

“The stakes are higher now,” Silas insisted.

“The stakes will always be high,” Lauren countered.  “And the dangers aren’t any greater than they were when we were children, and every reign comes with its own sets of issues.  Right now, our issue is that even the villagers are seeing corruption among their ranks.

 “I think Eli has a good, solid plan, and that his way of dealing with things will empower the villagers to stand up to tyrants.  If people had stood up to the tyrant fifty years ago, we wouldn’t be in this position in the first place.  If we don’t learn from history, we’re doomed to repeat it.  Let Eli try something different.”

Eli stood there, waiting for his father to see the truth in Lauren’s words.  More than anyone, his mother had always understood his heart, and he knew that she believed in him like no one ever had.

“I will fight you for it,” he said to his father.  “I don’t want to, but I will.”

 “Are you threatening me?” Silas asked.

“No.  But I’m willing to fight for my right to save the people we were made to protect.  This is much too important to leave well enough alone.”

“Silas, listen to him.  You raised him.  We raised him.  He has a good head on his shoulders and a good heart.  Trust him.”

“And if he fails?”

“Why do you assume I’m going to fail?”

“Because you haven’t ever shown this much interest in taking over your role.  You’ve enjoyed all the perks of being royalty without any of the responsibilities.  I don’t know what changed, and I’m finding it hard to believe that you changed so quickly.”

“It’s something I’ve been struggling with for a long time,” he admitted.  “But I have a plan, and I want to step up.”

Silas was silent for a moment, then he let out a big sigh and Eli knew that he had gotten through to his father.

“Alright,” Silas said.  “When do you want to have the confirmation?”

“Tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

“This has been a long time coming, don’t you think?” Lauren asked.

“It has, but I don’t think we can organize a confirmation by tomorrow.”

“Of course, we can,” Eli said.  “Tomorrow is Festival.  It’s a simple matter of sending couriers with the announcement this afternoon.”

Silas arched an eyebrow.

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Sometimes things are simple,” Eli said.

“Alright,” Silas agreed.  “Tomorrow at sunrise, in the Neutral Zone.  Perhaps that will also be a good way to explain why you suddenly showed up to Festival today.”

“Don’t,” Eli said.  “I will not make excuses for the choices I make.  There doesn’t need to be an explanation.  I’m king, at least I will be tomorrow.  That is explanation enough for the choices I make.”

Silas smiled, clapping Eli on the back affectionately.

“Now that’s very regal of you, Son.”  He turned to Lauren and smiled.  “Maybe our boy is cut out to be king after all.”

“You’re the only one who had doubts,” Lauren said, hugging Eli warmly.  “And now I have an excuse to wear that new dress you bought me.”

He hugged her back and kissed her on the cheek. 

“I can’t wait to see you in it,” he said.