It has been quite a while since I uploaded, I honestly thought I never would again. But 2020 is full of surprises. Anyway, enjoy!

A rough knock on the door made Ivan's headache worse. "Your majesty," came the voice from the other side, he grunted in response. "Breakfast is served, Queen Mother wishes for you to accompany her." Another grunt and he could hear the man walk off, his shoes clicking against the tile and growing faint.

He laid still before untangling himself from his sheets sitting up in bed. The room itself had hues of dark reds and silvers, although less pronounced in the shadows. He touched his head feeling dizzy for a moment, then reached for a bottle on the nightstand beside him. He picked it up and went to drink but realized it was empty. He frowned but set the bottle on the floor next to several others. He sat there for a moment observing the bottles that littered his room. Then dragged himself out of bed without another thought.

*

Ivan paused in a mirror looking at his own reflection fixing his collar and pushing his hair back. Good enough, he thought before he entered the dining room. His mother sat there staring out the window with her eyes looking distant. Her fingers toyed with the napkin in her lap as she didn't seem to hear him enter. "Mother," Ivan greeted as he walked over grabbing her attention and pulling out his chair.

She pulled away from her thoughts a warm smile on her face, "Ivan. Lovely for you to join me," she said touching his arm as he sat down.

"Is everything alright?" He asked as he picked up a tea cup for it to be filled.

"Yes," she nodded but looked down at her lap. "Well, no, I'm worried," she admitted then. Ivan sipped his tea and she continued, "Natalya, I'm not sure she realizes what she's gotten herself into. Those...well I'm not sure what to call them."

"Mother they are people just like you and I," Ivan added as he set down his cup sitting back in his chair.

Her gaze grew sharp, "Those things," she corrected. "They aren't even human." At this, Ivan was silent and his eyelids grew heavy realizing where this was going. "They are monsters, Ivan. And it this is only a handful of them imagine what the rest of the lot is like."

"Natalya have given her word to protect them and the village. They came here trusting us," Ivan said lowly looking down at his food. He didn't have an appetite before this, even less so now. However, he reluctantly picked up his fork, the headache from his hangover becoming worse. He knew he needed to eat. "Human or not, we invited them into our kingdom to help us. We cannot deny their powers to them and I rather not have anymore uncessary bloodshed."

This time is Svetlana's turn to stay silent, she had stopped touching her food altogether now. Only the sound of a fork scraping against the plate filled the room and she looked away. "There's one more thing," she added and then paused taking a deep breath. Ivan glanced up at her. "I've found you a wife."

He paused setting his fork down carefully on the nearly empty plate. "A wife?" He repeated as if the concept was foreign to him.

"With everything going on I didn't want you to worry about finding one," Svetlana explained as she picked up her tea cup. Silence filled the room as she studied his face, but couldn't read any emotion off of it. Was he pleased? Unhappy? She couldn't tell and she set her cup down. "Ivan," she then said softly reaching for his hand, "You need an heir."

He didn't meet her gaze as he pulled his hand away. "I have a meeting with my generals," he said throwing the napkin atop the plate and pushing his chair out. Svetlana watched him as he wordlessly left. She set her cup down glancing at the crumpled napkin.

*

Ivan headed down the hall passing by blurred faces that saluted him. He didn't stop to talk to any of them instead turning towards the kitchen.

A wife? What was his mother thinking? Right now? In the middle of them being on high alert and she goes and does this. Who was he even going to marry? Perhaps if he had stayed and spoken to her he would have known, but the overwhelming feeling in his chest drove him away.

He slipped inside the kitchen, now that breakfast was over there wasn't anyone in there and probably not for the next hour. Soundlessly he headed towards a door that led to a cellar that held all sorts of booze and liquor. However, he wasnt just after anything.

He walked towards the back of the large cellar his chest feeling tighter as the nerves are at him. Perhaps she was another royal, or his mother was trying to set up some sort of alliance. He paused having spotted the bottle he was looking for. He quickly slipped it off the shelf and looked it over.

'Silver Berry Wine' it read and his finger brushed over the label. Unopened and yet he could smell the sickly sweet juice in the air already feeling as if it was intoxicating him. He broke the seal and immediately threw his head back taking a long drink from the bottle.

*

"Do you think she'll send us back?" Vlad asked quietly as he picked at his food. It had been two days since the incident with the general, and all they had been doing since was general tasks around the castle. Cleaning, cooking, etc… all without a word from the Princess.

"No," Elizaveta replied without looking up. The five of them sat in a half circle on the floor of one of the rooms. It wasn't much, but they had decided to eat like this away from the others. They weren't exactly in their good graces - and the glares they received confirmed that. She set her plate down with a sigh and looked around at each of them, Gilbert being the first to look up.

"What's the matter?" Gilbert asked setting his own plate down.

"She still hasn't told us the truth," Elizaveta muttered and this caught everyone's attention now. "All she says is that we are here to help, help against what? Against who?"

"What could they possibly be afraid of?" Michelle frowned as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "They have huge armies, and dragons!"

"Well you wouldn't expect the Oxesternia's to be afraid of anything either," Gilbert added. "Yet, they were fearing for their lives not too long ago."

"Do you think the two things are connected?" Elizaveta asked her voice lowering.

"Could be," Vlad murmured now staring at the wooden floor between them all. "But even if that is the case...having us here seems strange. Like something else is happening."

He looked up at Elizaveta just as there was a knock on the door.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" Torris was heard asking from the other side. Elizaveta got up dusting off her pants, only sharing a look with them before answering. He smiled and bowed slightly, "I see you're all here. Wonderful. The Princess would love to have a word with you all."

"Right now?" She asked surprised by the sudden request.He nodded and after a few moments they followed.

Natalya sat back in her chair, tapping her pencil against the desk staring at the crumpled letter from the day of the attack. A reminder. Her eyebrow twitched the more she thought about, the pencil snapping in her grip. "Princess," she heard and only waved her fingers in the air without looking up. The shuffling of feet filled the room with each of them standing beside one another. The door closed behind them and she finally looked up looking at the small group, pushing the crumpled paper and broken pencil aside.

"Your majesty,"they said in unison their hands over their chest.

She waved her hand once more wordesslu standing from her chair and walking over to a large collection of scripts along her wall. She ran her fingers gingerly across the spines, her silver eyes lingering on a book with a silver spine and red lettering. "It seems I've underestimated you all,' she began pulling away from the shelf and turning towards them. At once they all looked up at her confusion in their faces. She studied them for a moment, it was clear now that magic was tied to their blood, to their very essence of existing. "Now that I've evaluated where you all, I think my original plan isn't competent for this job. So I've created a new one."

Elizaveta raised her hand slightly, "Princess if I may?' Natalya waved her hand allowing her to continue. The Serpent cleared her throat, "I've been thinking for a while and something just doesn't sit right with me. I...well you said we were here to help. Help against what, or who?"

A defening silence became uneasiness as Natalya's eyes lingered on her, like knives it pierced her skin. "A who," she replied turning away. "My family has been targeted twice now by the same group that attempted to the the Dutchess' life. Although I beleive Oleo acted mostly on his own in his incident. This group managed to kill my father - the reason for my brother crowning - and they attacked once more at said crowning." She paused her voice lowering just above a whisper. "Almost killing my sister and the new King." She glanced over at the note once more then cleared her throat as she turned towards them, her hands resting behind her back. "Im aware of your aid to the Duke, which is why I sought you out. News travels quickly, especially on the tongues of sheep. But no matter," she clapped her hands and smiled softly, a flash of innocence along with it. "We'll be working on your strengths now. Michelle and Nikola you two are best suited for the infirmary, I'm sure the nurses there can use the aid of your magic. Gilbert and Vlad, stronger than I anticipated I admit." A grin came across both their faces but just as quickly they tried to hide it. "I've decided to still have you all train with the other soldiers, refine your skills as best as you can until I get what I need." She then turned to Elizaveta who stood with her hands clasped and looking right at her. Her hair tied back in a neat braid, such a contrast to the wild loose hair she had back in the forest. "I've decided to have you work the stables," she said to Elizaveta.

"The stables?' The serpent repeated furrowing her eyebrows. Her first thought was, Was she being punished? Why would she be sent to the stables?

Natalya seemed pleased however, sending everyone off except for Elizaveta."Come along I'll show you the stables," Natalya said, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked ahead.

Elizaveta followed silently, her gaze casted down, wondering if she was going to have to shovel horse poop for the rest of her days here. Well, on the bright side she would be in good company with horses. They always had something wonderful to talk about, such kind creatures. She looked up a soft smile on her face, despite it all, she was going to try and make the best of it!

"Your Majesty," a man said as he held his fist over his heart. Natalya nodded towards him as they stood before a large wooden door, several locks along the side of it. The soldier then pulled a lever beside him, unlocking the door and it slowly creaked open. Natalya watched patiently as the soldier then gave Elizaveta the torch.

"Thank you," she muttered quickly following Natalya who was already heading down the stairs. A gust of cold air hit her causing the flame to flicker, although the Princess didn't slow down. Natalya's seemed to descend the stairs with grace, her hands holding up her dress as she glided down. A sparkle of excitement could be seen when the light of the flames illuminated her face. "Your Majesty where are we?' Elizaveta asked feeling her heart begin to race, her grip tightened on the torch.

"Didn't i say the stables?' Natalya laughed as they soon came to the end of the stairs and Natalya rushed forward.

Elizaveta followed, her heart in her throat as she held her breath. She saw nothing but darkness, until Natalya took a hold of the torch casting it aside. "Princess!" Elizaveta said but Natalya forced her to turn back to the foreboding darkness. It only took a moment for her eyes to adjust, her lips parting. More than a dozen eyes stared down at her scattered about the cave that she realized had light streaming in from above.

Dragons of all shapes and sizes, no two alike stared down at them. They all seemed to near the edge, peering closer to the guest in their chambers. "Welcome to the stables," Natalya said taking a hold of her arm. Before them, from a pocket of darkness Elizaveta had not seen, stirred another creature. Although this time she recognized the creatures as Dragoslavia.

He rose and stretched out his limbs his scales glowed a soft shade of jade beneath his scales and he settled back down once more. "Princess," he said nearing his head as she reached out petting him. Elizaveta stepped back unsure if she was welcomed to touch him.

Natalya pulled her hand away as Dragoslavia returned to his nap and she watched him for a moment. "Do you know the story the Birth of the Dragon?"

Elizaveta glanced at her, "I don't think I do." She didn't spend much time reading, although books themselves were hard to come by back home. Most of the time one had to trade for books, they were definitely seen more as a luxury.

Natalya nodded and released her arm but urged her to follow as she walked towards some stairs. "Its an old tale, about how dragons came to be. A sad story," she said quietly walking up the stairs until they came to a ledge. A sliver of light illuminated the small spot with a single statue carved into the caves edge. A woman without a face but thin lips, her figure shown through the carved stone cloth as she peered down at her hands, a small snake looking up at her.

Elizaveta neared the statue her lips parting, she had seen paintings of the woman before. She never had a face, always veiled and her clothes hardly differed. She usually wore an ebony robe with silver stars and beautiful moon roses all over. Her skin pale as snow with hair long and usually a deep brown, sometimes red. At the foot of the statue were several candles, some had been burned and other new accompanied by smaller items that appeared to be offerings. "Who is she?' Elizaveta then asked turning towards Natalya who had let her observe in silence.

"You don't know who she is?' Natalya frowned, but was hardly surprised.

"I've seen pictures," Elizaveta said quietly then turned away to look back at the statue once more. "Back home they said she was a Goddess, an old one, they no longer remember her name."

"Indeed, she is a Goddess," Natalya said approaching the statue and gingerly ran her fingers over the stone. "Her name is Nythia," she said softly her gaze becoming soft, "Some may regard her as a relic of the past, but she is the mother of magick. She is magick itself." Elizaveta listened intently staring at the statue, then at the snake in her hands. She realized the snake had a large crack along the neck, as if it were going to fall off. "Her most believed companion is the snake. Misunderstood creatures, much like herself," Natalya explained and with a wave of her hand all the candles lit up. "For this reason, she is also the Mother of Dragons."

Elizaveta watched silently almost forgetting they were surrounded by the large creatures themselves. She glanced up and around the large cave once more, still feeling the gaze of many of them as they looked on curiously. "I could never be such a thing," Elizaveta said quietly.

"Well not with that attitude," Natalya laughed as she wiped her hands on her dress. "Do you know how the first snake became a dragon?" Elizaveta shook her head and Natalya sighed and took a seat in front of the statue motioning for Elizaveta to do the same.

"There was once a young woman who lived in these very lands," Natalya began. "As a child she would sneak away to be outside by herself. Away from the mundane duties of life and it's said she often strolled through the woods, singing. This caught a serpent's attention who enjoyed her voice so much he began to follow her. At first, the girl was afraid, fearing the snake was some sort of evil forest spirit, but he wasn't. Once reassured, they began to spent a lot of time together. The girl singing, and the snake curled up on her lap, or dangling around her neck like a string of pearls. Always listening. The more the serpent spent time with her, the more his love grew for her, and in turn the larger he became."

"Larger?" Elizaveta chuckled.

Natalya nodded, "In the story the love for the girl made him bigger." Elizaveta laughed softly and Natalya continued. "Well, the girls father found out. Rightly upset he set off to kill the snake much to the girls pleas not too. Before that morning the man was to set off, she snuck out to warn him. The serpent, who was more than willing to kill the man, asked what he should do. "Offer to kill the fox," she replied, "The one that eats our chickens and goats."

"In the morning he set off to find the snake but came across a serpent nearly twice the size of any man. The serpent knew who the man was, so he spoke to him. "Sir, I am but a humble servant of the forest and Goddess." For snakes are very polite," she added. "The man didn't beleive him, asking him why he shouldn't kill him."

"I can kill the fox that hunts your goats and chickens." The man agreed. The next day the girl went out and after a few hours came back with the dead fox, however he still wasn't convinced.

That night she snuck out once more to warn him, he asked once more what he should do. "Offer him some exotic furs," she replied, "We need money for the coming winter."

That morning the man set off to kill the snake and when he asked why he shouldn't the snake replied, "I can bring you exotic furs, ones you can sell for large sums of money." He was hesitant, but agreed. The next day his daughter returned with a small collection of exotic and furs that were indeed worth a fortune. However, fate is cruel, and the very same day a man from the same town came to ask for the girls hand in marriage. The man, now rich and no longer in fear for his animals lives, decided to agree. Under the condition, the man kill the snake - unknown to the girl." Elizaveta gasped "Cruel isn't it?' Natalya asked.

"Why would he? After everything he's done for the man."

Natalya laughed harshly, the flames flickering and the light bounced off her face. But her eyes grew dark, distant, "What makes you think you can trust man?' she asked quietly her gaze slowly shifting to look at her. Elizaveta didn't reply as Natalya continued on returning her gaze to the flame, "So, the boy accepted the challenge. He then set off to find the snake determined to kill it. On his way there he heard the faint voice of someone singing, it put him under a trance of sorts as he followed the voice. Upon finding the voice he saw the serpent and in the middle of it's coil sat the girl singing a soft melody."

"Did he kill it?" Elizaveta asked nearing the princess.

"He tried," Natalya chuckled, but her smile disappeared soon after. "He shot out of fear. The serpent, assuming his beloved was in danger, quickly took action. Killing the boy." She paused, "The townspeople soon came to find out, and together they descended upon the serpent. The girl begged and pleaded, but they didn't listen, instead locking her up. Together, the townspeople beheaded the serpent taking its head as a trophy. The girl, although locked up, could see the head strung up on display for all to see. She cried, and cried, but nobody listened. Nobody cared." The flames danced high at the foot of the statue as if dancing, flickering and curling while turning the rim of some of the candles black.

""She heaved the sorrow of her chest into the silent night.

Hands outstretched past the bars of her confinement, trying to reach past the distance between them for one final goodbye.

The night breeze brushing through her fingers,

carrying the stench of soured blood.

She screamed her prayers and curses all in one breath." " Natalya recited from memory, a flash of the book came across her mind.

"But despite her feeling of loneliness - there is always one who listens. Since the world is silent during the night, she wishes to listen to our tales. An insight to a world she cannot see, nor take any part of. Late into the night, like a lover, she will listen to our tales of woe and sorrow, of joy and triumph. Although, she most enjoys stories of love." A smile crossed Natalya's face, her features softening at the thought. "This night, like all nights, she listened and heard her cries. Heard her story and was so moved by her pain that she asked her daughter, Nithya, to help. The Goddess, who prizes snakes and holds them sacred heard of this, she decided to revive the serpent anew."

"By the gift of air, she gave the serpent flight.

By gift of fire, she gave the serpent breath.

By gift of water, she gave the serpent movement.

By gift of earth, she gave the serpent shape.

It took three days and three nights for the new creature to be given life, and on the final night where the girl was due to be hung, he came back.

One would of course assume he came back vengeful - as one would assume dragons are dangerous and violent creatures by nature." There were sounds of soft clicking or hissing from around them and Elizaveta glanced up. A few of the dragons had moved to spots where the sun warmed the ledges of the cave. Extending their bodies out and allowing the sun to reflect off their scales as they relished in the warmth. "But truth is," Natalya said grabbing her attention once more, "They were never like that to begin with. Much like serpents are polite and gentle creatures, so are dragons. Wise beyond years and power unlike any mortal could grasp, they are timeless creatures." Another flash of childlike innocence crossed her face briefly before returning to normal. "They're misunderstood...as most of us tend to be." She then looked down and she sighed. "Well, the dragon saw no reason to fight the townspeople, only to be reunited with his beloved. As you could imagine they weren't to keen on fighting this new creature, so they released her. Asking him, what he was. "I am the child of your ignorance. Given life by the Mother of Magick, Nithya." And the pair were never to be seen again. Some say Nithya created more dragons, some say it was the dragon and his wife. Either way, this land used to be full of them."

Elizaveta nodded remembering she heard the tales of the dragons. Of snakes becoming dragons once they reached a certain age they would travel here to live the rest of their days. "What happened to them all?"

"Man."

The flames had burned most of the candles down, wax spreading across the stone floor of the statue. "This happened when all the people had magick, right?"

Natalya nodded, "When the Goddess blessed everyone with the gift of magick she did not expect them to turn on her own children. Dragons were sacred, beloved creatures of the Goddess, never to be given as sacrifice nor slain. With time her rules were tossed to the side, forgotten. So she turned the dragons onto them, to make them remember. To be greatful. They, in turn retaliated by not just killing the dragons that attacked, but nearly all of them. Some believe this was the reason for the Great Cleansing."

Elizaveta felt a lump in her throat when she heard that term and shifted uncomfortably. "Do you?" She asked.

"I think it was a part of it," Natalya replied, not looking at her. "But Man was terrified of the Goddesses wrath. Terrified of having their power taken away. Due to this, the Serpent King was born, to be the bridge between dragons and humans. To end the genocide and war of this land."

A silence settled between them as they watched the flames in silence. They were smaller now, regular and unmoving. "I'm only the way I am because of my magick," Elizaveta then whispered looking down at her hands. "Without it..I'm not sure what or who I would be."

"You'd be just like everyone else I think," Natalya then said as she leaned back on her hands. She stared up at statue trying to picture what kind of face a Goddess would have. "Not like it's a bad thing. But unfortunately you were born with greater power." After another moment she turned toward her, "Now, let's see what kind of snake you are. I've been dying to know."

"Oh...r-right now?' Elizaveta asked glancing around, although the only other audience were the dragons - most seemed disinterested by now. Natalya nodded and at first Elizaveta was apprehensive, but she eventually gave in. "Excuse me," she said softly tucking herself away to undress so she wouldnt tear at her new clothes. She shakily slipped out of the clothing the cold setting in quickly, as she took a deep breath her eyes glowing a sharp golden color.

There was a soft breeze that blew though and a dull glowing that came from behind the ledge. Natalya was expecting a decent sized snake, perhaps 15-20 ft long, but what she was far beyond what she could have imagined. Just the head of the serpent was nearly her size if not more along with it's massive black scaly body. An iridescent shine that reflected off of it from the small glints of light.

"Wow…" Elizaveta whispered unable to pull her eyes away. She hopped right down admiring the large creature, running her hand over it's body.

"Be careful, you may cut yourself Princess," Elizaveta warned turning her head to look at her. From this position. The Princess looked like an ant, something she could easily push aside and crush. Although she heard a low huff and glanced over seeing Dragoslavia looking right at her. "You're...much larger than I anticipated," Natalya then said as she pulled her hand away. Her shoes clicked against the cobblestone as she stood back taking in the magnificent creature. Her gaze became soft, but Elizaveta had an unnerving feeling. "This will be fun," Natalya cooed.