The great forcefield parted and she matched into the gleaming city, first in an unending procession of knights in armor, still streaked with sweat and dirt from the battlefield. The road rose up beneath them in a shimmering ribbon, taking them straight through the labyrinth of sharp shining spires, to the highest spire of all in the heart of the city—the Queen's castle.
All along the procession, the inhabitants of the city stopped to stare; dragon riders halted their steeds in midair, nobles leaned out of their windows high in the spires for a better look, and more and more onlookers gathered on the road below to crane their necks to see as word of the knights' return quickly traveled through the city.
Another forcefield parted before her, letting the knight into the Queen's sanctum; the highest circle of the city. The shimmering road stopped at the smooth, impenetrable wall of the Queen's castle. The knight knelt on bended knee before it, as though before her liege, the enemy standard which she bore on the whole long march home held outstretched in an offering of victory.
"Stand," the Queen proclaimed and the standard was taken from the knight's gauntlet.
The knight stood. The wall had disappeared before her, giving way to a high arched gate, in front of which stood the Queen, draped in robes of the shimmering stars; the disks of the sun and moon crowned her head.
"You honor us with this banner of victory. Let all who see you know what you have done for our great Kingdom."
A circlet was placed upon the knight's brow.
"Let all rejoice in the victory we have won!"
The sky above erupted into an explosion of light and color as the celebration commenced below.
"Welcome home," the Queen said with a quiet smile. "I am sorry to have had you away for so long."
Writer's Month - word: flag | setting: castle
AUgust - Science Fantasy
Flufftober (catch-up August) - Sparklers & Fireworks