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. They 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"

"Wake the servants. We will leave this very morning. I must be there for the Prince. Everyone must dress in black. Do you understand?" We must show proper respect for the late King.

"I will see to it, Your Highness."

"Good."

The door closed quietly behind Calen and Mathanera sunk into her big chair. The King was dead, and now she would be Queen...... Of course she had known that she would be queen, but her marriage was planned for next year. This was too soon. Mathanera knew that the people had been expecting King Roterra to marry for many years now. He was a man of 30 years and had yet to take a bride.

Mathanera began going through the books, deciding what would come with her to Bren now and what she would have sent on later. Mathanera loved books and wasn't about to go to a new place without at least a few precious book to be her retreat. Mathanera was a good ruler, but she was shy and preferred to be alone rather than the center of attention she knew that she would be once she reached Bren. Mathanera was a timeless beauty. Her skin was silky and white ivory. Her hair was like stained cherry wood. She always wore it in complex braids that formed her hair into a crown complete with jewels hung from her locks. The Queen's eyes were striking blue, big, bold, and beautiful like the ocean.

Mathanera had a beautiful appearance and poised demeanor. She had been taught by her family to be very generous, and her people had been prosperous under her guidance. She would leave behind her council to care for the people in her absence, but she had no intention of simply abandoning her people to her council members. She fully intended to make her presence felt even from her throne in her own people's affairs. The truth was her people loved her and as such, they were worried that she would forget them once she became Queen.

Sitting there in her chair, Mathanera realized that she must address her people and assure them that she would not forget them. Mathanera sighed heavily at the thought of it. She had to give her people hope, and yet she had none herself. She rose from her chair and rang the bell by the door.

Almost immediately a knock rapped at the door and Mathanera answered, "Enter"

"You rang for me. What can I do for you milady?" asked the servant who had been waiting for her word for more than most of the past day.

"We will leave a little bit later than expected. Call the people of Brahn into the square. I wish to address my people before I leave to go to Bren, and become their Queen."

"Yes milady. Is that all?"

"No. I need some breakfast. I will take it to my bedroom. I have to go get dressed and see that my things are in order. When things are better, I will have the rest of my things sent to Bren, but I must see to that which is essential."

"It will be done milady."

Mathanera hurried to her chamber and was pleased to see that the packing was nearly completed. She was surprised that her things were packaged up so quickly. She had planned on sorting her belongings months in advance of her wedding so that she only brought what she needed in the first batch and less essential things could be sent for when she was settled in at the palace. But she had no notice here. Still, as she looked through the trunks she found that her servants had made many choices that she would have made if she were choosing for herself.

Three black mourning dresses were laid out for her to choose from on her bed. It seemed to her that all she had were mourning dresses. She had many made after her parents died, and still more made when her brothers disappeared. She would enter her new world looking like what she would be She would enter as a Queen.

Soon, all was ready and many of the people from the city were gathered to hear what they feared were the Duchesses last words to her people. Mathanera walked out before them and with tears in her eyes said, "My people, I am sorry to tell you all that the King is dead. I am leaving to attend his funeral as soon as I am done addressing my loving subjects whom I love so well. I am sure that many of your fear that with me gone to Bren to be Queen that things will not run here how I would have them run. I am to be your Queen. You are no less my people as Queen that you are with me as your Duchess. I will keep you as I have always kept you. I will keep you close in my heart."

And so, Mathanera started off in a caravan the very morning that the messenger brought the message of the King's death. She was thoroughly, but haphazardly packed, and she had brought only one lady with her. She knew what was her duty to do, and the sooner she made her presence felt, the netter it would be for the kingdom. The new King must appear strong and steady, and she must be strong and powerful with him. They were all that was left, well, they weren't exactly ALL that was left. The King did have a sister. Her name was Treyen, and she was a spinster. The people did not consider her in line for the throne. Mathanera was next in line to the throne after Roterra. What better way to strengthen the royal line that to produce an Heir from the two leading heirs?

Duchess Mathanera and Lady Rubaent rode along the bumpy winding road at breakneck speed. Lady Rubaent, Mathanera's only relative on her mother's side had accompanied her to court to act as a mother for her. Lady Rubaent was Mathanera's mother's cousin. Lady Rubaent had five children of her own to raise, but she had fostered four of them out so she could remain at court with the future Queen. She left a fifth child, her eldest son, Neejor, who was head of Mathanera's Counsil behind in Brahn to care for the Duchesses people there. They rode with the guards before and behind their coach. It was a journey in which security needed to be heavy They carried the next Queen with them.

Mathanera's face was drawn with anxiety and excitement. She often sat with her eyes closed. Mathanera had never been fond of traveling in a coach. It had always been in her nature to ride a steed on her own out where the wind could fill her nose and play in her hair. The air inside the coach was thick and stagnant. There was no way for her to see ahead or behind her. This was a coach built for security. There were no windows built into the coach, and even the door outside was covered with a thick cloth. There was also the superstition that no one should see the face of the new Queen until she is unveiled by the King himself. The superstition held that a maiden to be Queen must not be identified before the wedding either, so she must always appear with a second veiled lady at all times.

After riding at a painful pace, the caravan arrived in Bren the next morning. In the center of the city of Bren lie, a kingly palace made of shimmering granite. The rulers of the Brentanians lived. Prince Roterra lived comfortably in their illustrious dwelling. The dead Kind had been a kind and just ruler of the people. Most people thought Roterra to be the very likeness of his father and expected him to rule much in the same way.

They rode to the gates of the palace. The guards immediately opened the gates and had the trumpeters sound the arrival of the new Queen. A veiled Mathanera and veiled Lady Rubaent were helped by the coach and led to chambers where breakfast laid in wait for them. It was there that they could clean up and prepare for the funeral of the King, scheduled for just a little over an hour away.

"What a grand place this is" Mathanera spoke under her breath with awe.

Now don't go losing your head like a country bumpkin, you will be Queen of this city and the whole of it will be at your disposal. Try to just sink into the luxury," Lady Rubaent giggled, trying to cheer the nervous girl.

The room was very large and had several side rooms. There was a room with a tub and tables filled with all the preparations for the rituals preceding her wedding. It was clear that these were to be her chambers until the wedding was completed. Lady Rubaent helped Mathanera change into her black mourning gown to attend the funeral rites for her fallen Uncle. Lady Rubaent too dressed in an all-black gala as well. She braided a black veil into Mathanera's hair and then her own in the same fashion.

At length, a bell rang in the distance, and then there was a knock at the door. Lady Rubaent opened the door to the armed guard to lead them to the temple for the King's final journey. The guards led them through many hallways and doors. Anyone who happened to be in the hallway at the time jumped against the wall in reverence as soon as they saw the ladies in their veils. Mathanera, smiled below her veil, though not from conceit. She just felt compassion for the people who already loved her so completely and thoroughly.

Finally, they came to some large doors that were propped open and guarded. Her guards led her into the temple hall and straight to the seat of most honor. There she was seated in the Centre of a guarded prayer box where all could see her. The ceremony began before her, and as was custom she was to speak of and shed tears for her uncle, being his next closest relative. another 500 times. Teas are prepared throughout the night meant to purify her body and soul. This was a marriage of the people and therefore had sacred significance in the heart of the commoners. Mathanera passed out in the preparations and slept the rest of the way through them.

When Mathanera awoke, she was anxious. It was early in the morning and the wedding wasn't scheduled until midday, so she waited for the time of her marriage in an elegantly decorated room. This room was reserved for royal brides to use before they take their fateful trip before her new people and her new husband. She had finished the stringent, exacting, and irritable, ritual-bathing rite that all brides must endure. She sat at the vanity with her skin scrubbed until it was red and sore all over. Naked, she looked at her young body in the mirror and hoped her Kind would be pleased with it.

"Now wait just a moment, and I will put the perfumes salve on your skin. You look like a worried child. "Don't worry, this salve is guaranteed to give you the skin of a baby," said Lady Rubaent reassuringly.

"I am not worried about my skin, I am worried about being a good wife," she replied timidly.

Lady Rubaent brought a ceramic bowl of heated salve over to the vanity and began smearing Mathanera's body with it. She put the white concoction on with thick swipes of her cloth. It made her feel as though her skin was literally drinking in the slave. At times, it made her shiver though the room warmed well. The fragrance seemed to calm her and set her mind at ease. She had nearly fallen into a sleep when Lade Rubaent spoke again.

"There angel, I'm sure that you feel better now, don't you, she said as she shook Mathanera's shoulders to bring her back to the waking world.