The Queens Sonnet

“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley.”

Or diamonds in the sky, Sonnet told me while she gazed at the stars.

She was a wispy one, long in the leg but short in stature, eyes of violet against mane of fire. She looked like no other amongst us, but it mattered little to me or any man seeking her love.

I do wonder if the queen’s parents had any idea of this day before us when they brought Sonnet into the royal family through adoption without knowledge of her parents, or understanding of her DNA.

I had witnessed her slay men three times her weight with the roar of the lion, then turn to tease me with the smile of a schoolgirl.

She was the Braveheart all men fell to, in battle or love, often the same without regard, that she was from distant lands. I must admit even I was troubled with thoughts of Sonnet being more than a friend to me.

Oh but the others, they couldn’t leave her well enough alone when it came to her bond with the valleys watchdogs, the dragons of the druid. They too seemed spellbound by her Beauty, the dragons, her manner of moving, and her voice that could melt ice.

I wondered if I to appeared as helpless as the dragons, watching them fawn over her as if she was their firstborn. I swear it seemed Sonnet had a spell over every living creature.

The moon was just out of our reach this bright night, it felt as if we might walk to its doorstep. Sonnet beside me we looked over the moonlit field of carnage we had created, no fault of our own.

Still to see the sea of crimson leach into the earth's soil brought heavy heart to both of us, lovers of life we felt burdened. Our land safe once more, we leave the dead behind us in vision only.

The castle silhouette in the distance we head for camp to clear our heads and mend our hearts in preparation for the next wave, for we know the star people will return in numbers.

The dragons of the druid were sacred to us, and while hellraisers, were our hellraisers, no one would dare tell us of their fate or take them from us.

Try as I may, I could not remember a time without them, or the legions showing up at our cliff walls from distant lands in an attempt to defeat us.

Always the same the look on their weary faces when they realize we stand to defend our land and dragons alike, told from the calm voice of Sonnet.

I could see the paradox of protecting the menace which killed our very own, but Sonnet would have little to do with speaking of such things as redemption. They were her angels, I pray not her end.

We had been fortunate this time, we were facing overwhelming odds once their reinforcements reached us. These people from the stars would soon understand our limits for each battle they learned more about our weaknesses.

One of our kingdom's greatest fears is to be defeated and broken, leaving us slaves to the star peoples’ every whim and demand, should we fail.

While these star people could not fly without machines, or breathe fire, it was obvious they were descendants of the druid dragons. Committed to freeing their own and returning them to their home, tearing them from our Queen's land.

How cruel of fate to send rescue for those unwilling to leave, would any of us remain in victorious life?

I wonder.