Astrid remembers a story her mother told her. Cinderella, made a slave by her evil stepmother before she met a prince and became his princess. The love part is not what remembers Astrid about the story, however. But the fact that the girl was friends with the rats. While Astrid, hopes she won't be here enough to become friendly with the huge one that's been staring rather for the last few minutes. "Shoo!" She tries to scare him away, but this rat looks like he's seen some stuff. She gives up. She doesn't even have a window here to see where the sun is. It feels like she's been here for days already. The rat takes a few steps closer and despite her speech from earlier about being brave, she screams. A guard comes to check on her. "I see you met Rabbit. Don't look him in the eye and you'll be fine. He hates provocations." The guard says and Astrid looks away from the rat. "See? He left." The guard laughs and Astrid looks around. The damned creature is truly gone. "Thank you..." As
"Tamara is still not here?" Astrid asks, the day growing late as Loras returns from his meeting. "No... I sent people to go bring her, but we won't be hearing from them for at least two days." Loras answers, throwing himself on the bed. The meetings started to become longer and longer as Tommen's support from the corrupt lords is rising. Loras has become increasingly tired. James, his general, rushes in not even a minute after Loras returned. The king sighs, but still gets up to hear what the bringer of bad news got today. "What has he done, now?" Loras asks, but James is just staring, place as a ghost. "James!" "The... the prince. Omar is sick." Loras pushes James aside and starts running towards the harem. Astrid and James follow him. In Lysa's apartment, the atmosphere is so heavy you can cut it with a knife. Lady Sansa arrived here too and tries to console Lysa in a corner. "What happened?" Loras asks them. "The medic is with him..." Sansa answers as Lysa starts sobbing lo
"Still nothing?" Astrid asks, leaning on the study's door. It's almost midnight and Loras must be tired, but he has been stuck with his nose in those books since he came from the dinner with the prince. "I just want to make sure you're not fine now and become ashes in the morning." He answers stretching his back. Astrid goes behind him and starts massaging his sore muscles. "I don't think it works like that." "The dragon's breath is not a normal fire. No one knows the true extent of its power. But I've seen it turn enemies into nothing." He shakes his head, not wanting to stop. "Fine, then let me help you!" "It's the old Valarian language, you don't know it." He says. They had this discussion earlier. "Not with reading. With putting your thoughts in order. I don't know, maybe I can find a connection that you somehow missed. Do you have theories, something?" "Not really. But it can't be because you were holding him. I checked that first." "Maybe your love kept me alive." Astrid
The next day, early in the morning, Astrid takes a deep breath, as the dragon rises through the clouds."We can check on Tamara tonight when we come back. The hunting lodge is in the way" Loras says, checking the map in his hands. Astrid smiles, as she started to become more and more worried about the princess with every day that passed."I miss her. With everything that happened..."Loras tightens his grip around her waist."Tommen will pay for this ordeal."A war of succession... Only legends remember those things happening. And the legends are bloody.They are silent for the rest of the flight it's hard to talk with the wind hitting their faces at that speed. He could go slower, of course, but they agreed to hurry so the news of him leaving the palace don't reach Tommen."Is this the place....?" Astrid asks as she looks around where the dragon landed. There's nothing, not even the shadow of a tree Just an empty field."The idea for it is not to be found." Loras answers as he turns
An explosion of light makes Astrid scream and close her eyes. She hears Loras saying something in the background, but she can't understand what. After a moment, she feels his familiar warmth on her skin as he picks her up and runs away.She opens her eyes again after what feels like hours and even now the colorful light in front of her is blinding."What is happening?" She asks Loras while he still holds her in his arms, looking at the source of the light and taking small steps back."You did it..." He answers."What?" She asks again, confused. He points up at the sky and Astrid sees Dracos flying in circles above what looks like a head of a dragon forming from the light.The sun is almost down when the dragon fully emerges from the egg and the light dims down to nothing.Astrid watches in disbelief as two magnificent beasts fly above them. One playful and one cautions."It's not a baby dragon?" She asks, looking around like this other dragon just happened to be around and the dragon
Thousands of men wearing armor are gathered around a few huge fires. Tents, carriages with provisions and stock animals are laying beneath their feet like a sea of blood.Astrid is paralyzed and Loras curses his brother's name. They thought they had more time... They thought that supporters of the prince are not that many. They thought... They thought a lot of things that prove now to be wrong.Before she could even wrap her head around the situation, Loras already pulled himself together."Astrid! Give me your hand!" He commands her and she looks up. Just like when they kissed earlier, he is upside down, flying above her."What?" She asks looking at his extended hand with concern."Now!" He says again, and before she could let her fear knock some sense into her, she grabs his hand. As though Aine and Dracos could feel their plan. They roll over and Astrid falls from Aine's back into Loras' arms. Thousands of feet high in the sky. "Great job, little one."This was traumatizing enough
"Come in, Astrid..." He says, obviously pissed by her barging in. Once the door is closed he adds. "Mate or not, you will ask for permission to come in. I am still your god-damn king and you will respect that!""No, you are not." Astrid answers just as pissed."Don't over do it, Astrid." He warns her, signaling her to get out, but she ignores him and continues."Because my king isn't a cold-blooded asshole, who would break his sister's heart and kill his best friend just because he is pissed because they didn't tell him everything like they can't have feelings and hopes and plans that don't require your opinions. This is the problem, isn't it? That they didn't ask you. That you couldn't be in control of the situation, that someone close to you did something without your approval. Your ego is the only thing hurt right now.""Enough!" He shouts, coming closer, dominating her with his height. But Astrid doesn't back down."Tell me I'm wrong.""Servants saw. They will spread rumors and he
"Do you want me to marry Tommen? If he kills you?" Astrid stares at Loras in utter shock."He would be weak, he would look for ways to strengthen his claim, and marring another dragon rider will be more beneficial for him than any alliance." Loras explains, calmly. And that pisses Astrid off even more."And why would I do that?""Because being his strength would mean he would fight to keep you safe.""Did it cross your mind that I'd better die than marry him?""Yes.""And?""No. You won't die.""You can't order me from beyond the grave.""I don't order you. I am asking you. Let me go to the battle with the consolation that you are going to be safe regardless of the result. Let me go knowing that even if the worse happens, you will be here to stop Tommen from destroying the kingdom." His words are so soft, and the look in his eyes is so warm. Astrid can't help it. Even if her heart breaks with this promise, if this is what he needs, she is ready to sacrifice anything, even her soul."V