DRAGON'S FATE

CHAPTER ONE

Mathanera, The Duchess of Brahn was a mere seventeen-year-old girl. She sat alone in her study with nothing but sorrow on her face. She was alone now. She had no family left. She had come into her position less than six months ago when her brothers both mysteriously vanished.

As a young maiden, her parents had died when a plague came through the area. Her brothers had been her parents from that point on, but when the farmers near their lands started losing livestock to an enchantment from Silvercrest, her brother's fate was sealed. The animals were set loose by some magic and were lured towards the woods. All of them had wandered away to the woods. The never made their way back out of the woods. No one ever saw them again. The plight of the farmers touched her brother's heart. They entered the forest to recover the lost animals.. They were following the strange light that had been appearing nightly leading livestock into the forest to be lost forever. They never returned but neither did the lights and no more livestock have wandered off into Silvercrest since that day.. The people of Brahn and Bren held the lost brothers in their hearts as heroes.

She had only Lady Rubaent and her children who were further distant relatives. She had her uncle the king, and his son, Prince Roterra, but they lived in Bren and Mathanera had never been to court before. Mathanera was lost in her musings when there was a knock at the door.

"Enter" She answered in a numb voice.

The door opened and her trusted confidant Lady Rubaent came into the study. The room was a mess, there were books strewn all around. They covered every flat surface in the room. The room itself was terribly dark. Mathanera had only a few candles lit in the vast room.

"It is not healthy for you to lurk here in the darkness. It wont bring them back, you know."

"I know that it won't bring them back, but Calen I miss them so." The pale girl answered with the effort of pain lingering on her voice.

"There is news my lady. The king lies dead in Bren. We must prepare for the journey. You will be Queen."

"You Know that I don't want to be Queen. I want to stay here. This is my home."

"You have no choice milady. Who is there worthy to marry the prince than you?" He is as alone in the world as you are, maybe more. He doesn't even have the distant cousin of your mother around to take care of him. Being a Duchess had required mush of you, but you have risen to each occasion dwell. I will be proud to have you as my Queen."

"If only my brother hadn't arranged my marriage for me. I wish that I could have met my husband and chosen for myself. But our noble blood is dwindling. So many of the nobles died in the plague that took my mother. Ever since there have been conflicts throughout the remaining family members, but no one has been immune to death and there are too few of us now for me to be foolish and wish for love."

"Every noble woman wishes to marry for love, but perhaps you will love Prince Roterra, as well in this arranged marriage as you would have in a marriage of choice." Lady Rubaent said

"I will try Calen. I will try. Have my things packed up and made ready. What time of day is it?"

"Tis a few hours till dawn. I thought you would want to know right away. I came as soon as the messenger was seen to"