Chris saw the three dragon knights stride out from the centre of the throng below. The crowds parted, a little in awe, to let them through. They were not forceful, they all seemed to wear smiles, saying it was ok. Everyone was going to be fine. Timaeus led slightly, in his silver and blue armour and robes. He reminded her of her father. How she longed to see him again...

Hermos was in red on the right hand side of Timaeus, and Critias, all in black, walked on his left. They wore their swords sheathed and their helmets on their heads.

Chrisana looked towards where a horde of what looked to be hideous creatures stood. Her father's side. Were these monsters really her father's army? Why? Why would he choose to side with such evil looking beasts... she closed her eyes and stopped herself. This was not any way to trust her father. He knew what he was doing. Of course he did.

She hoped.

Then the formation broke, drawing herself out of her mind and back on to the battlefield. Five warriors walked behind the unmistakeable figure of her father, the king. Standing in front of Ironheart, she had to contain her excitement!

But he looked so dashing. He was wearing his hair loose, rather than in the ponytail she remembered. His armour glinted in the sun, and his face was stern and serious. He meant business. And she had a nasty feeling he was expecting her to be there.

Hold on tight, Father. Hold on. I'll be there soon.

Dartz saw the three men approaching him. He spread his hand out behind him, signalling for the five to remain there. He put his hand on the hilt of his new sword, and walked towards them.

It felt like an eternity walking towards those strangers. And he could not see Chris.

"Stand strong Hermos." Timaeus spoke calmly. "The King will listen to our Queen. She's his daughter."

"Step lightly, Timaeus." Critias warned, "We're dragon knights. He will not know us."

"I've spoken to the King before." Timaeus continued forward.

As they reached the centre, the three knights took their helmets off and held them under their arms.

Dartz removed his own helmet, slightly fearful of what his uncontrolled hair might do. He rarely wore it loose and he was concerned it would knot itself around something or other... This was one moment he must have authority.

"Greetings, your Highness." Timaeus smiled, "It has been a while."

Dartz looked confused, but shook it off. "I come to discuss your terms, but I believe I was meant to be speaking with the Queen." His tone was bitter.

"Nowhere on the note did it say you were speaking with Queen Chrisana." Hermos spoke up, defensively, as was his way.

Dartz was about to retaliate, but Timaeus spoke first; "Hush, Hermos. The Lord Dartz will naturally want to speak with his daughter. But your father the Prince Regent prohibited it."

Dartz licked his lips, "Then how can I know that anything you say is true. I expected to speak with my daughter."

"And your daughter wanted to speak with you." Timaeus smiled softly, "But Ironheart kept her back. The original plan was to meet you here, and we would turn on Ironheart and take the kingdom back together, But..."

"Why are you familiar?" Dartz looked long and hard at Timaeus, forcing the knight to be silent, "Why do I know your face?"

Timaeus relaxed a little and smiled, "I was your good lady wife's captain. Captain of the Queens Guard. I escorted her from the Summer Isles to Atlantis. I was her dear friend for those few weeks."

After all. She doesn't exactly look like you.

Dartz narrowed his eyes, "Of course..." The jealousy began to burn at his heart, "Where did you vanish to after escorting my wife?"

"He came to us." Critias sensed some growing agitation within Dartz. He glanced worriedly at Hermos who appeared to be more concerned with how close Timaeus was to Dartz...

Dartz's face remained stony, "And, why, exactly did you leave?"

we need to be sure about... Succession.

His hair was flecked with brown.

"My services were no longer required." Timaeus sounded unsure of where this was going, "This is not what I came to discuss with you my Liege."

Dartz tapped the hilt of his sword furiously, his father's words echoing back at him constantly.

You'd never met Iona before the wedding day. I wouldn't be surprised if Chris isn't the captain of the Queen's guard's.

Dartz screamed and drew his sword.

The dragon knights drew theirs just as swiftly, stepping back slightly from the noise.

"Sir, calm yourself." Critias demanded, "We have done nothing to offend you. We come with a message of peace from your daughter."

"Your daughter wants no harm to come to you. In fact," Timaeus continued, "That's why she has hired us."

"I don't believe a word you say. What interest is my daughter to you?" Dartz demanded.

"She is my queen, sir." Timaeus was losing his patience.

Hermos stepped forward, "Your Highness, we are against Ironheart. We are on your side, if you would just listen to us."

"You are trying to talk me in to surrender." Dartz's green eye glowed ferociously, "Ironheart has put you up to this. Why else wouldn't Chris come with you? She's the Queen, she may do what she will."

"You're being a fool!" Timaeus bellowed, walking towards him, trying to make him see sense.

Dartz saw his chance. He spun, his hair following him round as he brought his sword up towards Timaeus, and stuck him vertically up the eye with the point of his sword.

Timaeus yelled out in pain, doubling over and staggering backwards, as a trickle of blood ran down his cheek. He clutched at his eye as the stone of Orichalcos glowed in the hilt of the sword.

Hermos had rushed to Timaeus' side, whilst Critias defended them, his sword pointing at Dartz. "What in hell's name do you think you're doing?"

xxx

"You see Chrisana." Ironheart lay his hand on her shoulder, "Your father has drawn blood during peace talks. That is why he can never be a good man. He must be defeated. The Orichalcos has corrupted him." Ironheart's lips drew in to a curl. He was winning. This would shut the little brat up. Her father was an evil man.

Chrisana watched as her plan shattered before her like. She felt like a hot summer's day had suddenly been hit with an icy blast, sending it in to a deep forever darkness.

Her father had lied. He did not want her back. He didn't even care. That was clear.

She felt like she had gone into mourning all over again.

xxx

Dartz spat at Timaeus. "You cur."

"Sire! Why will you not listen! I knew you were stubborn and arrogant the day I saw you! I handed Iona over to bad hands. You have done more than enough to settle my mind on that at least." Timaeus dragged his glove away from his eye.

Dartz took a swing at him but in a flash reaction Timaeus met his blade defending the blow to the head Dartz would have dealt him.

They were a centimetre apart, staring in to each other's eyes with vicious intent. The only thing that would ever stop the conflict would have been Iona.

"Dartz stop it, please. Timaeus! He's a good man I swear." Her voice echoed around in Dartz's head. He wished she were there.

Dartz stopped, "Why are both your eyes still blue?"

"Why are your eyes different colours?" Timaeus hissed.

"The... the Orichalcos was thrown into my eye. The same should have happened to you when my sword hit your eye."

Timaeus laughed, "The difference is, Dartz. My heart is pure. I hold no jealousy, and no hatred. Now? I am purely defending myself. I have dedicated my life to defending people. So I can never be cursed with the Orichalcos."

Dartz pushed him away, "That is not how this stone works!" His fury was rising, "The Orichalcos is a blessing, not a curse. It's what's keeping Iona alive! And how can your heart be pure, with all the lust you had over the Queen of Atlantis! My wife!"

Timaeus lowered his sword, "Lust? You think I lusted after your wife?" He laughed slightly, "I adored Iona. I saw her walking on the boat every evening. I talked to her, I laughed with her, and she told me how afraid she was to become your wife. We had only ever heard rumours of the arrogant prince of Atlantis! But I never stepped out of line. I was in love, but I knew she was destined for another. For you. And I left. A knight is always honourable before anything else. If I were not, I would never have been able to become a Dragon Knight."

"A Dragon Knight? Is that what you are?" Dartz shook his head, " You're myths? Legends that have never turned up when people truly needed them. Fakes that care only for themselves?"

"Hold your tongue..." Critias stepped forward but was stopped by Dartz's stony glare.

"A Dragon Knight." Dartz whispered as his anger pulsed through him. "I CURSE YOU ALL WITH DRAGONIC MIGHT!" Dartz raised his sword and pierced the ground with it., creaking cracks that ran through the earth around him, up to Timaeus' feet.

For a moment there was silence, Timaeus raised his head and their eyes met for a second before the earth beneath them began to shake.

Dartz lightly closed his eyes and began muttering a chant under his breath, when he opened them he stopped and stared at the three men.

"Become what you claim to be."

Three green stripes coursed along the grass before them to each of the men. Ancient symbols wrote themselves across the earth and surrounded them.

"What are you doing?" Timaeus demanded. Hermos tried to step away but the symbols had locked his feet in place.

Dartz said nothing. His hair blew around him, and he looked up towards the cliff where Ironheart stood. Although his face was unclear, Dartz knew he was smiling. Dartz had given him what he needed. What he couldn't see were the bitter tears that were falling from Chrisana's eyes as she watched her father become what she had feared most.

Slowly, the three dragon knights began to transform.

A.N: Hello all! It's been a while... So thanks to a reviewer I found this morning I decided to get my bum in gear and do another chapter, almost a year after my last but... hey... at least it's updated, right? I will start trying to write more, I hit a bit of a wall, but I'm at least pleased with this chapter. Also I have refound my adoration and love for Dartz as I cosplayed him last week and I felt fabby.

Much love to you all beautiful people. 3 Keep smiling!