The Dragon’s Throne 1

Chapter 8

Anna rolled out of bed, calling out in the darkness.

“Hold on, hold on,” she said as the pounding continued.  “I’m coming.”

She held the fireplace poker in her hand, hanging beside her leg.  She assumed that Gabe wouldn’t come knocking, but she didn’t want to risk it.

“Who is it?” she asked when she was standing on the other side of the heavy door.

“It’s Eleanor.  Who else would it be.  Open up, you’re not going to believe what’s happening.”

Her excitement was palpable, and Anna hurried to unlock and open the door to her friend.  Eleanor rushed inside, her face positively beaming.

“What’s going on?” Anna asked.

“The most amazing thing.  Hurry, put on something nice.”

Before Anna could respond, Eleanor was already walking past her, going into her room and opening the door to her closet.

“Oh my gosh, Anna, you must wear this one.  This one is perfect.”

Anna rounded the corner, her stomach dropping when she saw the dress that Eleanor was holding.

“I can’t wear that one.”

“Why not?”

“My mother sewed it.  I don’t want to ruin it.”

“But you have others that your mother sewed.  Today is a special day, you should wear a special dress.  The green is the same emerald as your eyes, and the copper accents match your hair.  You’re going to look like an angel.”

“What is so special about today?”

“The prince is getting crowned as king today.”

“What?” Anna said, still clutching the green dress in her hands.  “When did they announce that?”

“He sent his servants to announce it.  They went door to door.  They didn’t come out this far?”

“I guess not,” Anna said.  “I don’t think anyone knows that I live out here.”

“It doesn’t matter.  The invitation was extended to everyone in the village.  We’re meeting in the Neutral Zone at sunrise.”

“Is that why you’re here in the dark?” Anna asked, laughing.

“Are you kidding?  I haven’t slept since the knock at the door last night.  I was too excited.”

“Well, have fun, but I’m not going.”

“What?  Are you crazy?  Do you think that they won’t notice you missing?”  Eleanor stuck her finger in one of Anna’s red curls.  “It’s not like we have a village full of fiery-haired women.  You will be missed.  Especially by the Prince.”

“Stop it,” Anna said.  “He doesn’t remember me.  I was just a convenient dance partner.”

“If you say so.  But you don’t have a choice.  All villagers are required to attend.”

Anna sighed. 

“I was hoping to relax today.”

“You can relax tomorrow.  Today is a day for celebration.”

“You really are excited.”

“It’s not often that you get to see a royal ceremony,” she said breathlessly.  “And the WereDragons are so secretive about their customs and their home.  This is an amazing opportunity.”

“I guess you’re right.  I was just hoping never to see the prince again.”

“I don’t know why not.  He bought half your shop and he’s gorgeous.  Have you ever seen hair so black?”

“Maybe you should dance with him.”

“I wish.”

Anna sighed.

“Fine, I’ll go.  But as soon as it’s over, I’m coming home and taking off the dress.”

“Agreed!” Eleanor all but shouted, covering her mouth with her hands when she realized how loud she was being and giggling.

“I wish I could get as excited about this as you are, but all I want to do is go back to bed.”

“Sleep is for the weak.”

“And the tired,” she said, stepping into her bedroom just out of sight of Eleanor and changing while the pair talked.  “I can’t wait until tonight when this catches up with you.”

“It won’t.  That’s the good thing about being younger than you.”

“I’m twenty-four.  I won’t even be twenty-five until December.”

“And I’m still twenty, so I’m younger by nearly five years.”

Anna blew a strand of red hair out of her face and rolled her eyes as she worked to french braid it tightly.  She tucked the single strand behind her ear and smiled.

“You’re going to pass out, just you wait,” Anna insisted.

“We’ll see.  It doesn’t matter, because the coronation will be over and there will be no reason to stay awake.”

“You’re crazy,” Anna teased, coming out of the room.  “Can you help me tie this?”

“Oh, Anna.  You look perfect.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s like she made it just for you.”

“I wasn’t even born when she made this.  For all she knew, she could have been having a boy.”

“You don’t think that she knew, on some level?”

“I doubt it.  I would like to think that she knows now, and that she sees me, from somewhere in the clouds.  But we won’t know until we die, right?”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s okay.  My mother has been gone my entire life.  This isn’t a new emptiness.”

“I shouldn’t have been so insensitive.  You look beautiful.”

“We should go.  I don’t want to take the road, so maybe we can take a shortcut through the field.”

“Okay,” Eleanor said.  “Lead the way.  Age before beauty and all that.”

They laughed their way out the door, heading into the field and straight toward the Neutral Zone. 

There was already a crowd of people gathering there, standing around a stage that had been set up at some point the night before. 

“Let’s get closer so we can see,” Eleanor said, grabbing Anna’s hand and dragging her forward before she could protest.  “There, this is much better.”

“We’re right in front.  I don’t want to be in front.”

“Stop.  It will be fine.”

“For you.  I’m trying to avoid the prince, remember?”

“And in a few minutes, you’ll be avoiding the new king.”

“Oh, wow,” Anna said.  “I didn’t think of that.  I need to go home.  I can’t be here, Eleanor.”

“Stop being dramatic.”

“I’m not trying to be dramatic.  I just feel so anxious.”

“We’re all excited.  This is a big day for Aman and for Aldeia.  It’s not every day that we get a new king.”