Nixiesocean: So, here you go. An update for The Younger Twin. And no, this isn't the end, believe me, you'll know when it's the end of my story.

:-)

So, until then, sit back, relax and enjoy my story.

Also, The mini-parts are because I didn't want to write twenty million little stories each only a few chapters long. Instead, I combined them into one long story arc and separated them into little sections, further divided into chapters.

Enough rambling.

Responses:

Classy Lady Elegance: What fun would a story be, if there were no sadness? In any case, you'll get your happiness… at the end! My chapter was 'brill'? Is that short for 'brilliant'? Lol.

Sea's of Bitterness: Nope! It isn't the end:-)

Read, enjoy and review!

Chapter 14: A Journal Entry and a Capture

Mira Eyen turned out to be illiterate. She was the first I'd ever encountered that was such. Even Everett, a carpenter, knew how to read and write. We began with the Common language. She knew a little bit of it, but wasn't fluent. Common was easier to understand the basics of language.

I wrote the first letter of the alphabet. "A." I told her.

In clumsy writing she copied the letter. "A." She repeated, committing it to memory. She wrote it many times until the clumsy 'A' had begun to form a very finely tuned shape. Luckily, Dragons were fast learners. We went through the whole Common alphabet in those three hours.

It gave three hours of each day a sort of meaning. Meetings with the Draconic Council and my royal advisors crowded each day. I began to understand why my parents said Queen Katharine and King Lance had changed. Free time was a luxury I forsake with the throne.

Mira Eyen's lessons were a careless sort of time in my day. I enjoyed them as much as she did. Then, of course, I got sick.

I awoke. Each morning I did relaxing exercises to get my morning going. This time, however, I felt sick to the stomach. The earth reeled around me as I fought to get to the privy. The ground spun and I nearly fell. I was sore and felt like I had been battered. I threw up last night's dinner.

I took a sip of wine to stop the spinning. It didn't stabilize, so I didn't drink another. I took a sip of water to cool my stomach's rebellion and quench my thirst. I breathed in deeply and counted to ten.

The spinning and the sickness slowed. I left the privy and checked for anything on my nightdress. I had a little bit of water, but that could be explained as carelessness. I rang the servant's bell. Quickly, a servant appeared in the doorway and curtsied deeply.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" She asked serenely.

I rolled my eyes. I needed to get a lady-in-waiting soon. "I need to be dressed." I replied. She curtsied again and pulled out some dresses for me to wear.

Dresses required corsets. I needed one since I was getting out of shape. My stomach definitely wouldn't allow me that sort of thing. "Dress tunic and breeches today." I ordered.

She flushed and put back the dresses. Out came a pale peach undershirt, a silver and purple tunic and black breeches. I smiled. It would give the advisors a shock to see their Dragon-Queen in men's clothing. Then again, I told myself, I'm not up to playing dress-ups today. Maybe tomorrow.

The advisors did get quite a shock. They gaped. One, the youngest and named Lord Coven, even had the audacity to look away. Lord Coven, I learned from Mira Eyen, was only twenty Human years and very eligible. The serving girls often occupied his bed at night.

I was protected from his charms. My heart was dead-set on one Human. Quickly, before my treacherous brain led me down a path I didn't want to go down, I thought about the Draconic Council.

Lord Coven coughed and stood. "My Lady Queen," He murmured. "We were not expecting you in such… interesting attire." The others nodded their agreement.

The Dragon Council consisted of five men. Lord Coven, a blue Dragon and thirty, Lord Solis, a gold Dragon and one century, Lord Menon, a green Dragon and forty decades, Lord Wyaon, a white Dragon and one-and-a-half centuries and lastly, Lord Qeun, a silver Dragon and fifty decades. Each wore an over-robe denoting their color and age (younger being lighter and older being darker, this made it very easy for the dyers).

I sat. The five men also seated themselves. "What is on the agenda for today?"

Lord Qeun spoke first. "The Humans are fast encroaching on our lands. They've started killing Rogue Dragons," He spat the title. Rogue Dragons were Dragons that had not paid their respects to their Dragon-Queen and were considered perfect targets for Human knights. "Not that I care, but who's to say they won't start on us next?"

I bowed my head. "Furde will not bother us. Calain, will not either after an envoy. Auszin-Guen is not near us and Aludn is our only real threat." I replied. "I know the royal family of Furde, my parents are their advisors. Princess Jade of Calain is soon to be betrothed to Prince Aram of Furde. Auszin-Guen's queen is related to King Lance of Furde by blood.

"Our only real threat, if any, is Aludn. Even then, King Brennin of Auszin-Guen is Queen Fria's brother." I ended my explanation by laying a hand on the table. "Any other concerns?" The five men shook their heads. "Good. I'll be in my study." I stood and the world began to spin.

Lord Caven eyed me. He probably thought me a nice juicy slab of steak. "My Lady Queen," He murmured, helping me steady myself. I got a shock. I knew what he was doing. Stupid blues. I raised my chin and took my arm away.

"I'm fine." I lied. In truth, I was fighting another wave of nausea. "I shall be in my study." I left the room, trying not to sway. I felt a probe in my mind. I closed my eyes and found its source. Lord Qeun. Leave me alone!

I felt it retreat. I am sorry. He whispered apologetically. In an even quieter tone, he added, Watch out for Lord Caven. He wants his heir on the throne.

I controlled my immense irritation. Thank you. I said tersely. Now please leave. I felt a bow and his presence left. I mentally kicked myself, since when I had ever been so rude to advisors? I breathed deeply and felt the world stabilize.

I couldn't concentrate on my expense-management papers so I took out my journal. I decided to start writing in Furdian. Too many people here knew Draconic and Common.

Journal,

It's been a while. Life's been busy. It's been about four days since my coronation and… it is stressful. I want to send a letter to Queen Katharine and King Lance, telling them of my new responsibilities, but they hate me currently. I may send Lord Solis as an envoy once my rule is stabilized. Lord Coven can't be trusted, along with Lord Menon. Blues and Greens are notorious for their… appetites for Human girls. I'm willing to give Lord Wyaon a chance, being that Whites are fairly neutral.

Reds aren't even a part of Dragonhold. Asnarinith, I was told, was the last Red to ever be in Dragonhold. Most of them aren't around anymore. Knights of Old killed them all off.

I'm sort of happy. If ever a Dragon was pure black-evil, Reds are the perfect example. How do you think all those stories of Damsels-in-Distress and Knights-in-Shining-Armor came about? Reds.

Enough rambling…

I miss Ade. I can't figure out why I ran. I tell myself it's for his own good, so he could marry a good little noble girl and have a perfect little royal family. Sometimes, I think I was scared. Of what? Draining didn't scare me. Being crowned didn't scare me. Facing bandits didn't scare me.

Why would love?

(Mental headshake) It was wrath. I know it. The wrath of his parents is what I couldn't bear. I couldn't bear being a scapegoat for him. I love him, even enough to not produce an heir with another man, but I cannot bear being a scapegoat. I am no one's fallback plan for punishment. I will not be blamed for his choice to leave.

I went with him because I vowed to protect him; a vow I failed and now see the folly of it all. My stupid little vow allowed me to be closer to him, maybe closer than I ever truly wanted to be. It's too late now anyways. In Human terms, I'm a ruined woman.

Why is it that women are 'ruined' but men never are? I shall never understand that about Humans. What makes men so superior to women? I've seen births. The next time a man tries to tell me he's better than I am, I shall remind him what pain women go through to "fulfill their duties as wives". I will remind that man that he has a "duty" to his wife to be faithful.

Too many marriages go sour. Men can bed women without a penalty because they are not the ones taking the result. Women cannot bed a man because everyone would know they had. Women have this unmistakable thing: they get pregnant. Their stomachs grow and everyone knows they've been with a man.

Unless of course, you're just a glutton, then it's your own fault.

Angrily yours,

Dragon-Queen Ceara Adele

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My journey south was very dull. There were no bandits to be slain and no one suspected "Master Adam" to be the runaway prince any more than the next guy over. It was all quite boring. I wished I had brought something to write with to document my excursion (not that there was anything interesting) so I could show it to Ceara when I saw her again.

If, a little part (the pessimistic side) said, if you can find her.

I rolled my eyes and continued on Lightning. He was a good horse and responded to the lightest touches now. I fed him oats each night. He was nice to me now, and never threw me.

Needless to say, this "adventure" was turning into a very dreary "ride".

My only reason for continuing was to find Ceara and ask her one question; "why?"

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I thought if I had some herbs to calm the upset stomach, the nausea would stop. After three days of suffering through meetings with worried looks and seated-only lessons with Mira Eyen, I finally swallowed my pride and went to beg to my mother for help.

I knocked on her door. She appeared in the doorway. "Ceara!" She said cheerfully. "My Lady Queen," She amended. I rolled my eyes.

"Mother, I need to talk to you." I said quietly. "Please."

She bowed her head. "Come on in." She opened the door and I entered her rooms. She visited Father every so often. She said she enjoyed Dragonhold more than the palace in Furde. I think she just wants to keep an eye on me. She shut the door. "What's wrong?"

She became a worried mother now. I liked it. I wanted someone to fawn over me, I realized. I blushed. "I've been having this nausea-" My mother gasped. "What?"

"Who is it?" She demanded. "Who?"

I furrowed my brows. "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes glowed. She spoke in a low voice. "Who's the father?"

"Oh, Goddess," I moaned. "Oh, Goddess… no…"

She was curious. "What's wrong? Having a child is perfectly fine! It's the Goddess' blessing to women!"

"Blessing!" I snorted. "Being ripped in half by a child. Sure, nice."

My mother breathed deeply. "Who is the father?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Why won't you tell me?" She pleaded.

"Because I don't trust you to keep quiet. I don't care if people think I'm irrisp-" I stopped myself. "Because I want a secret for once. I want something to have for myself. I gave up my privacy, my opinions and my freedom to become the Dragon-Queen. I want something of my own."

Apparently, my mother was deaf, because she kept pleading with me about "whom the father was." I rolled my eyes. I nearly slapped her. "Mother. I came for some herbs for a stomachache. Not for a party."

She sighed. "I guess you'll tell me eventually. I'll keep quiet." I smiled. My mother could be sensible when she needed to be. "The sickness will abate in a few days. It's shorter for Dragons because our children grow faster. About seven months."

I bowed my head. "And I get to endure a huge stomach and irritation for the next twenty-eight weeks?"

"No, after a week the nausea stops." I scowled. "What? It's beautiful. Believe me, you'll be happy to be a mother as soon as you are one." She smiled kindly. "After all, you'll have a sibling soon anyways."

Had she forgiven me? What was this about a sibling?

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I guess the women found a bedraggled, dirty man handsome because I had more than one woman approach me. Of course, I sent them away. My heart was set in stone and written with one woman's name. Ceara Dragonborn. I realized I'd been away a week already. I was in the region, that much I knew. Somehow, I was certain, I was in the general area (being about ten square miles) of Master Everett's house… and in a forest.

Someone stood up behind me. "Do Move Not." The person said in broken Furdian.

I breathed softly. "Yes. Okay." I replied. I felt a hand grasp my wrist. "Do not touch me." I hissed, wrenching the person's hand away from me wrist.

"Prisoner are you." It said. "With come me." I shook my head in confusion. What type of grammar was he using? I turned.

'It' was a human. She, actually, was tanned and had scant clothes on. A small bit of animal skin covered her… female parts. Another loose bit of leather covered her… lower region. I noted she had scars running over her body. They formed the shape of a Dragon on her flat stomach. I realized what she was.

She was a 'native' of Furde.

"Move!" She poked my back. "Do Stare Not!" She shoved me into a bush. "Stupid men." She added. Reaching down, she pulled me up and onto her back. Mind you, I'm not a light man. I'm built, now anyways, for combat, meaning lean and muscular.

When she ran, I felt her muscles bunch up and stretch out. I swore.

"You speak not." She breathed heavily. Finally, after about a ten minute run, she stopped and set me down. "You are prisoner. You speak not." She cuffed my head. I growled. "No speak!" She hit me again, on the head.

I rolled my eyes. Dear Goddess, please let me get out of this soon!

Her eyes were hard. "You call me 'Mistress', yes?"

I raised my chin. "Is that a question?" She hit me. I raised my hand to strike her when, in a flash, she had her dagger pointed at my throat. "Yes, mistress." I muttered.

"Loud." She ordered. I shook my head. The dagger came dangerously close to cutting my neck. "Speak!"

"Yes. Mistress." I replied acidly. I refused to be drug down by these natives. I was their prince!

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Review please!

Thank you to Classy Lady Elegance and Sea's of Bitterness