Chapter 2
She who breathes Flame; The Dragon Queen Awakens
<Work in Progress>

"My brother is not a murderer!" The eldest of three Leseques snapped, standing from his chair. I expected the youngest, Oscar, to fight me the most on this, but I was instead staring down the eldest brother, Gael Leseque, who chose to defy me. Unlike his mistake of a brother, Gael had the potential for greatness that even I respect. He was distinct and persuasive - he would make a good father to his wife's children. I am happy to say I would never be his wife, however. I need control before anything, and he needs it as well.

    It was hard to believe these people were fighting me. My mother is now dead from an outburst of power from Merlin Leseque. I could not imagine thinking of this incident as anything other than a calculated move.

    "A murderer kills people," I responded. "Merlin Leseque has committed treason. If I had it my way, he would be exiled. Perhaps even killed."

    "Now, hold on!" Lord Albus stood, shaking his head. "Hold on, princess. You will not be exiling my son. He may have killed a woman but there is no need to exile him."

    I folded my legs over myself once again and waved my hand for him to sit. "That woman was our queen and my mother. I am right to call this treason. Even La Croix wants me to exile him."

    "Bastards, each one of them." Gael hissed at me.

    "I want him gone, to never return. To never hurt anyone again. Leave him in Mandalay." I said.

    The youngest, Oscar, looked up at me. His tears meant nothing, just a failed tactic to win me over through pity. "Please," he begged, "please, don't send my brother away."

    "Forget him, it'll make it easier." I said.

    My father cleared his throat as he entered the room, signalling me to leave. I was not satisfied with this, but he grabbed me by the arm and nearly threw me from the chair. Leaving was mandatory, so if I must I decided on taking a short walk throughout the manor. I wasn't about to leave when the family of my mother's killer was in the next room over. It would be all too easy for them to take my father from me too.

    It has been a month since Queen Aenwyn's death. A month of no research assignments, no casting training, no workouts, and - worst of all - no patrolling. The spies could be everywhere now, and yet Mother's death left me stagnant. I did not like moving, I did not eat, I did not cry. Heraclius was all over me, from just sitting in my room to accidentally calling me Aenwyn and balling. Another way to persuade me, or was it genuine sorrow I saw? I still do not know. All I know now is that I cannot trust anyone. The man I hated killed my mother, the father I loved could be lying to me, and the war is ever approaching. After Aenwyn's death, Prince Owai went too - and now Prince Jeremy is King Jeremy. He has overstepped into our lands, House le Faye now stays with me in Charstorm. Westwood is planning on moving to Leseque as well, to protect their loved ones. I know Lady Verity must hate me for what I do, but I simply cannot let Merlin Leseque go unpunished. In control or not, my mother was not destined for a death away from her home and her child. I was not destined to be queen yet. And yet, the people ask me to act and the eyes of those I thought I could empathize with now go cold. Heraclius says I'm more paranoid than ever, but I see the silver on Blair Westwood's tongue when he apologizes. I can smell the disdain from Verity Westwood and Gael Leseque for miles. I can almost taste the saltiness of the tears shed for Merlin.

    They cry for Merlin, and not their Queen. I would behead them all - make everyone of them a traitor - but executing a whole country and calling myself Queen would be delusional. It's in their eyes, they all see Merlin as my mother had - and now that she's gone they expect me to utilize him. As if I would simply forgive a murderer, nonetheless the murderer of Queen Aenwyn, my mother! My first decree as queen would be to lock Merlin up in an iron box and ship him far, far, far away. Where I'll never find him, where he'll never find Heraclius.

    Heraclius was shaping up to be a much better diplomat than I, perhaps he's so good at pretending that he deceives them too. Perhaps I was always wrong? It makes more sense if I'm right, however. I was his practice dummy for deception and they are his targets. If only I could have seen it sooner that no one but mother loves me. If I had, would she be alive or would I be dead?

    "Princess Lada?" The voice of Jamison drew me from my thoughts. "You're shaking, your Highness, please accept this coat. A gift from my brother."

    I frowned, but looked at the warm coat and accepted it. "Thank you, Jamison. You may be the only one I can trust now."

    "That's why I bring up my brother." Jamison said. "You're sixteen. They want you on the throne and there is no one to marry you to. My brother and I are basically royalty. He turns sixteen next month."

    "I don't need a marriage to be queen."

    "But they will think you are more mature." Jamison shrugged. "Lada, please think about what I said. You don't have to marry him if you wish to look for someone else."

    I shook my head, and tightened the jacket. "We will discuss a day to meet. Give me your address and I'll have my guards send for him."

    "Thank you, Princess." Jamison nodded, and let me walk again.

    The action a traitor would certainly do, but now I was too exhausted to humor those thoughts. This was all happening so fast and now Mother was not here to offer me tea or force me on a walk. I always hated those walks. They took away time for patrolling. They took away time I would normally reserve for her sake. Aenwyn was a good queen, so I need to be great. And my daughter; from her, I will accept nothing but perfection. A son will be useless, so two daughters will be my best option once I'm as withered as the books I study from.

    After about three, four hours of me wandering the hallways, I was finally called back to discuss the finalization of Merlin's fate.

I noticed that Gael and Oscar were gone, and nearly jumped in excitement. "Is he being exiled?" I asked Heraclius immediately.

    "No, wildfire." Heraclius sighed, and gave me his seat. "I have discussed the sentence with Judith and Albus, we want to run past a different option."

    "A different option?" I scowled. "What is more of a justice than exile?"

    "Complete devotion." Judith offered. "Our son could be your betrothed, but Heraclius refuses that option."

    "My daughter," Heraclius never sounded more sullen, "is not a prostitute."

    Albus quickly spoke up, Lord of Meldrift and of defusing situations, "Right, which is why that won't happen. But devotion in another way. Servitude. Your father, the King, has informed us of your paranoia and having him out of sight would only scare you more. But if he was always next to you, he could never leave your watchful eye. He will train and become your bodyguard, and he will serve you without resistance - or else you can decide his fate."

    I did not see this option coming, but I - the fool I am - decided to laugh. I was laughing so hysterically that father rushed to my side. It was funny, how easily they found a way for him to get the cruelest punishment and me the best option for grieving. Father had Jamison get me water, and after my fit of madness, I crossed my legs and folded my hands over my lap. "When can he start?"

    The next week, Merlin Leseque was waiting for me in the Dark Keep. I requested that he be placed with a neutral party so he did not get any ideas on running away. I will not be playing cat and mouse games with the boy - his fate is mine to determine. I started patrolling again, writing in a journal of my findings. Any mistake or unusual decision, every lie and scandal; it's documented in my journal. If I cannot reach my journal, I write on my arms and repeat it later on parchment. Holding Merlin Leseque's fate in my hands felt like I was holding the world in my hands, I was wielding the full might of Ostines through one man. This man happens to be a murderer, but they did not have their mother slain by him so it's different for them. Proof that Merlin was worth something shouldn't be at the cost of my mother's head. But I suppose I don't control the press as much as Doneuuald does in Chiadan. More news comes of their expansion - the lords fear for a war. Whatever Jeremy is planning, he will not make a fool out of me. I will strike him first.

Finally came the night I ride to the Dark Keep, where I meet with the Midnight Council. The Matrons waited for me, and when I finally got there they tended to my needs. I could see a jealous Silverbark sneering at me, so I had her Matron beat her in the middle of her sisters. Apparently it was her daughter, but force was necessary. Upsetting me was not an option to them, not when Merlin was under orders to do as I said. That much power with a cruel mistress would not leave this place peacefully if they did not dance for me. The women walked me to the cells and there sat a boy chained in iron, fearful of his fate. He seemed almost as affected as I was from his actions against my mother.

"Your Highness," Merlin Leseque gasped in awe.

I smiled at him kindly. "We finally meet, new friend."

Merlin nodded gently and let me pick away at his locks. "Your Highness, about what happened - your mother - I want to apologize. If you're going to kill me, I understand."

"Kill you?" I asked. "Why would I kill you? You're a boy in need of help. I am your help."

"Your mother," Merlin tried to speak her name, so I silenced him.

"We do not need to discuss her right now. Merlin, you are not being punished. I will help you become a masterpiece." I told him, and gave him stories of grandeur. He was puddy in my hands, hugging me and thanking me for the fresh start in life. Gone would be the days of his drunken street fights, gone were the tears accompanying him in bed. I fed him what he wanted to hear and he loved it. Just as I expected him to, what I poor fool he was to think I cared for his life at all.

"Your Highness?" He finally asked, cutting through our pleasantries and bonding. "Miss Lada, what are we doing here? Why here?"

I sighed sadly, "Merlin, Ostines becomes more unsafe every day. I have come for the aid of the Midnight Council. With them, and with you, I can bring Ostines back to how it always was."

"A war is happening?" He asked.

"No, but soon. I fear King Jeremy will be the one to initiate bloodshed."

Merlin's eyes widened. "Morrigan, Blair... Miss Lada, what can I do? I don't know how to control my power and I don't know how to fight."

"Then you will learn. I will have the guards train you; I will summon my armies and they will show you; I will have the greatest minds come to you so you may know the full extent of your power." I promised. "You will be Ostines' future, Merlin."

Merlin's smile flickered. "Miss Lada, I don't want to be that big. I was always meant to die young, I don't deserve to be immortalized."

I cupped Merlin's face and shook my head. "You lie to yourself, Merlin. You deceive yourself into thinking no one loves you, and that you are alone. You deceive yourself by doing Death's job by counting the days. You don't have to be immortalized and special to be worth something to someone like me, Merlin."

I could feel his heart give out, and he collapsed into my arms to cry. Despite my burning hatred for this boy, I felt lighter as well. My empty words were a bubble that was somehow big enough to lift us both up, and I felt a strange sort of kinship with my greatest enemy.

With Merlin persuaded to join me in Charstorm, I finally went to my last encounter for the day. The Midnight Council consisted of the Matrons of each Witch Clan living in the Dark Keep. Crystal Blueblood the First sat at the helm. To her right were Miriam Goldsmoke, Jeminia Ironteeth, Beryl Redglare, Enid Silverbark, Heulwen Moonbeam, and Rosina Lightacre. To her left were Dieneke Yellowlegs, Valerie Blackthorn, Tatiana Greenbriar, Renske Copperclaw, Fien Daybreak, and Juliette Grayrose.

"So glad you could join us, Highness." Beryl spat, but Enid gave her a glare.

"Welcome, sister, to our meeting." Crystal said. "Whilst you and the boy spoke to each other, we discussed our involvement in your upcoming war."

"I'm glad you sense it too." I smiled politely. "I'll be happy to repay you handsomely once the war is done. I only aim to bring peace to Ostines."

"You are a monster," Juliette interjected, "you smile and dance with a kinslayer and wish for peace?"

"Indeed. Peace and forgiveness."

"You sound just like Aenwyn." Heulwen laughed, and stood. "I want no part in your web, Arachnid." With that, one coward exposed themselves through a stride for the door.

"I'm sure the rest of you know that while I am preaching my mother's gospel, I am not a pushover child. I will bloody my hands so children don't have to see that blood in their homes." I declared. Merlin seemed impressed by my certainty, and so did Tatiana.

"Your mother must've been so proud of you." She smiled, and turned to Crystal. "I would like to sign."

"You're that easy?" Renske frowned. "Give me the document. I'll sign too."

"Document?" I questioned and Crystal smiled gently.

"Child, this document is an agreement to who will be joining the war. We are all of the Midnight Council until war is upon us, in which we are divided by ideals and must sign a contract that we cannot conquer each other due to the war."

"I understand. I would also like to sign." I said.

The table was silent. I was not to sign, and yet here I was asking to sign anyway. Enid smirked after a while, "You may be a bitch - making me beat my kid - but you've got quite the way with people. I'll sign, I want to watch this Princess ascend."

"Thank you, all three of you. This is more than I could ask." I smiled.

"Oh, stop it." Valerie laughed. "We are women of chaos. The only reason we do not kill each other is from these contracts. War gives us a reason to exist."

"Then sign." I challenged.

Valerie stared at me for a moment, then took the page after I signed my name and silently wrote her own.

When the meeting started to close, I pushed up from my seat as another woman spoke up. "Wait, your highness." Rosina waved her hand to me. "Is it true? You want to protect. You would not fight if there wasn't a promise of peace?"

"If there was another way, I would take it. Jeremy forces my hand." I said solemnly.

Despite leaving before I could see, Rosina signed since she appeared with the small army I acquired the night before. Five clans fought alongside me. I would not fail my mother now.