Val pulled on a simple navy blue gown and headed for the throne room in time for her daily meetings with her Generals and knights. Sitting at her throne, she nodded slightly Clarise, making sure she was alright and faced the General and knights "you all know you don't have to bow, right?" she teased.
The general smiled slightly "a sign of respect for our queen." he said simply
"No need," She stood and walked over to the new knights, crouching before them "You may rise, the three of you."
They looked over to the general, who nodded
"Forgive us for our formality you're Highness, it's what we've been taught." he apologized
She nodded, having to turn her eyes up at the knight to see him "No need for apologies. I know what you've been taught. Don't worry about anything." She grabbed a sword from the General's Sheathe, challenging him silently for him to try to get it back and pointed it at the knight's chest
He stared in surprise "um, you're Highness?"
"Show me what you've got, a new knight should be prepared for any attack." she challenged, walking around him.
"I will not attack my queen," he said, eyes staring straight, trying not to reach for his sword
Val rolled her eyes "Oh come now, what's a little fun?"
Drake heard the conversation from outside the doors of the throne room and released a sigh of relief that she was safe. Hopefully they, mainly Val hadn’t sensed his presence.
The other two knights stared in shock as. Al circled the one knight
"surely a queen shouldn't be handling such a weapon?" One of them chimed
"Ha you've done it now. Where's Drake, we may need him soon." The general muttered with a grin
Val stopped circling and handed the sword back to the general, never once breaking eye contact with the knight spoke "oh really? And tell me sir, how is a queen supposed to protect her kingdom alongside her knights? On a throne while she watches them die? I think not." She shifted to a wolf and sat in front of them, looking each one in the eyes before shifting back. "I am a weapon, I suggest you all never cross the line where you become the target." She smiled as if nothing happened and returned to her throne.
Drake rolled his eyes as he pushed open the doors to the throne room, entering with a casual swagger he barely used anymore, “Now, your Majesty, there is no need for dramatics. We’re all on the same side here.” He shrugged a shoulder, slipping his hands into the pockets of his trousers. His bright blue eyes stood out against the contrast of nearly all black from his hair and his clothes, making them almost glow unworldly.
"and I completely understand that, I would want it no other way." She said with a smile, not letting her guard down at his presence "now on to the knighting. Val took the ceremonial sword from Clarise and stepped down to the first knight "your name?"
"Sir Michel your Magesty."
"Sir Michel, kneel if you would please."
He obeyed and kneeled before the queen
She place the sword on his left shoulder "do you swear to willingly protect this kingdom and the people within?"
Drake moved to stand beside her throne, leaning against it casually as if it were a wall or a pillar in any other part of the castle. His eyes scanned each and every knight in the room twice over, those sharp eyes flicked to every sliver of movement they saw.
The knight glanced up at Drake then at Val "I do,"
Val nodded and moved the sword to his right shoulder "good, and do you swear to follow your heart and not the rules set in place, when and only when you feel as if they benefit the kingdom and the people? even without my knowledge of your actions? and do you accept the consequences afterward if deemed unhealthy to the kingdom, yourself, or others?"
Michel stared at her with confusion "even if it goes against you?"
She nodded "Yes, even if it goes against me."
He nodded "yes, I do."
She nodded and reached for his hand, turning it over. "Then I happily accept you as a Knight of Nalra." (I don't know what I initially called the kingdom) She made a cut into his hand and let his blood drop onto the blade
Drake watched the blood drip and then a flash of a memory was before him. He blinked rapidly a few times and it disappeared, leaving him back in the throne room with wide eyes and slightly shaky hands. He cursed himself silently.
She did the same with the rest of the knights. Once finished, she headed back to her throne, glancing up at Drake "you alright?" she asked quietly. Sitting down, she faced the new knights and the General "you may rise." she said proudly "I queen Valtira of Nalra, hereby declaring the three of you knights of Nalra. Congratulations."
Drake only inclined his head at abs, in neither a yes or no response to her questions as he himself didn’t know. Then he stiffened slightly, his head snapping towards the windows of the throne room, eyes darting across each one.
Sensing his growing unease, she stood from her throne to dismiss everyone "thank you everyone for coming. Please congratulate these fine new additions on your way out." Every one had left except the general "your highness, a word please?"
"In a moment." She said, turning her back to him
He nodded and left the two.
"Want to tell me what's really going on?"
Drake held up his hand to stop her, head still darting across the windows. And then up as the flapping of large wings could be heard over the castle, along with Drake’s growl as he headed towards the doors and towards the castle grounds quickly.
Val followed in close pursuit along with her general who had been waiting outside.
"Your highness?" He asked as he followed
"Not now, just follow." She ordered
He nodded and called some of the other knights including the three new ones
As soon as they were outside, they could see the dragon that had landed on the lawns, black and red as it shifted into a golden haired man. Drake was snarling, hands had turned into claws as the other male just chuckled and stalked towards them, stopping a nice distance away.
“Now, Prince, is that anyway to treat one or your loyal citizens?” He asked, his voice as smooth as honey.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare call me that you bastard.” He snarled.
“But it is true, is it not?”
“I renounced my title.”
“It was never acknowledged, I made sure of it,” The man grinned and looked to Val, “You’re Majesty.” He bowed low.
"what business do you have here, sir." A soft growl escaped her lips as she spoke, not liking on bit the aura this man was giving off. She acknowledged the bow as a sign of mockery, not respect. "I suspect it was not only to reconnect with an old friend."
“Actually, it is not, and besides, I don’t even think he even recognises me as a friend.” The man waved a hand idly.
“Damn right I don’t.” Drake replied, his claws flexing.
“You’re not acting very princely, are you?” Drake just rolled his eyes.
“What do you want, Harrow?”
“To discuss something very important with her majesty, and you, I guess since it involves your land and your people.”
Her form shimmered with the want to release her magic, sensing that something was very off about the man "very well, we may discuss. If it goes farther, you're leaving. Got it?" She turned and headed to the throne room, her general and knights making a division between Drake and Val, and Harrow. closing the door behind them and heading to the throne, she sat and glared at Harrow "what is there to discuss?"
“As I’m sure Drake has told you, long ago there was a war between the dragons,” Harrow pointed to himself with a wicked grin, then Drake, “And the humans. After the war his highness, who is also your husband, renounced his title as prince, well, King as his father passed, and left though it never was acknowledged. His lands have been in ruin and have been over run by a dark power,” A flicker of darkness flashed across his eyes, something not from this world, “I have come to request the his majesty returns to his kingdom and helps us fight against our enemies, hopefully with the aid of your people.”
Drake stopped his pacing and looked at Harrow, really looked and knew something was wrong with his man.
Val inclined her head "and which side of this conflict are you on? The one helping his people or the ones who want to take control, hm?" Her eyes grew sharp, "I have no control of decisions made in other lands. See that my husband is the unauthorized ruler of his lands and the joined ruler of mine, I'll let him take charge with this situation. I shall stand by his decision." She stood from her throne and gestured for Drake to take a seat
Drake looked at the throne for a moment before walking towards Harrow, “Why you?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Why did they send you? The one man I hate to seal this agreement and bring me back home?”
“I guess they just chose whoever was best fit for the role.” Harrow explained, his green eyes turning a dark black slowly.
“You’re not Harrow at all.” Drake took a step back as darkness erupted through the throne room.
Val ducked as darkness filled the room "Fantastic, just what I need." she mutterd "Get everyone evacuated!" she yelled to her knights
"But your-"
"NOW!" she shoved them all out of the room.
Turning to face 'Harrow' she growled loudly, releasing her true form.
The darkness diminished and left behind a strange looking creature. It stood on two feet like a human but it was hunched over and its skin was nearly jet black and scaly. It had no eyes yet seemed to know exactly where the two were and its wings flapped a couple times.
Val growled loudly and started to circle the creature, glancing over at Drake to make sure he was alright. Please make sure everyone's alright.
Much to Drake's horror, he couldn't shift into his dragon as the room was too small. He was fine, luckily, though.
Val lunged at the creature, latching onto his back and biting down hard on his neck
The creature let out a small scream, it's claws reaching behind it to grab Val and pull her off.
She yelped in pain as claws dug into her back. She was dragged of the creatures back and flung into a nearby column. Standing up with a low whine of pain, she prepared to attack again
Val didn't have time to attack before Drake was upon the creature, tackling it to the floor in a mess of limbs and teeth and blood from the new injuries.
She ran over to help and got in a few hits to try to distract the creature from hurting Drake
The creature seemed persistent on Drake, only attacking Val when necessary. The creature itself had a few injuries but not as many as Drake.
