You could say that going back there was some awkwardness among us, I know I would. Quinten, after fighting with Ashley and Collin for awhile, finally bound the two of them. He carefully placed Ariana on Pustrei's back and the dragon disappeared into the sky, I guessed he was taking Ariana to the castle for help. Quinten wasn't playing around about arresting us, he made us walk in a single file line and told none of us to speak. He was still kind and every night we stopped he would release our bindings one person at a time to stretch before placing his spell again and then moving to the next person.
It wasn't until I saw the massive castle on the horizon that I felt truly doomed. The Queen will surely punish us severely! My mom doesn't even know where I am, I haven't had my phone to even talk to her! I bet she is going out of her mind...
"ACORN!," Luna's voice and presence kicked in the door to my brain without a warning. I gasped and Quinten glanced over he shoulder at me, but said nothing.
"Luna! Oh Luna, I missed you so much!"
Hearing her made my doubts flood away and a smile stain my lips, but she turned seriously too quickly for me to enjoy it.
"Alyson, I heard that you attacked the Rider Ariana! I did not believe it to be true! It can't be!"
"Luna..." I couldn't find the words to describe what happened. It pained me to think that I was associated with Collin's actions, but I let it happen, so it was partially my fault. "Is she okay?"
"Yes, Rider Ariana awoke two days ago, she has been out at the academy like nothing has happened. But everyone has heard of her attack... and people are blaming the Earth Riders."
Shit. I am already hated and I've only been here a little over a week.
"Did you at least find the egg?!," Luna asked.
"Yes, we found it."
"Has it cracked?," an edge on Luna's voice showed her concern.
"No, we haven't even opened the chest it is in... we didn't have time."
"So you haven't seen the egg?"
"Well... no," I replied.
"So you may not even have the egg?"
"No!" Shit, she's right! We might not even have the egg! "We definitely have the egg."
"I know when you are not speaking the truth."
Shit.
"I'm almost to the city. I'll talk to you about it then."
"The Queen told us we were not to see you until she speaks to you about the attack."
"I wish you wouldn't call it that. I didn't attack her."
"It may not have been you, my acorn, but she was attacked."
My heart sank, Ariana had been nothing but kind to me and I liked her. She was a little sarcastic but still so sweet and I had helped some guy attack her! FUCCK!
"Well, I'll talk to you about it when were done with the Queen."
"Be safe." With that Luna left my head and I was alone, but her presence remained and it gave me a small amount of comfort.
We had not reached the city limits when a large green dragon swooped out of the sky and landed in front of us. Oh shit, it's Arya. Arya was the scariest elf I had met, she was always so cold and unemotional. She leapt off of Firnen and strode over to us with ease.
"Kvetha, Dröttning Arya [1]," Quinten bowed showing respect to the Queen of the elves.
"Eka hávr né ilian thornessa. Tauthr edtha [2]," Arya spoke with irritation lingering in her words. What are they saying, I wondered to myself.
"Go," Quinten told us while gesturing after Arya.
I sprang into action and trailed after the Queen elf as she glided over the grass towards the city. I thought she was taking us through the city and I knew I would be embarrassed to have people looking at me, but she didn't. She stopped and raised her hand and a door way appeared, it was stone arch with the throne room waiting on the other side.
She stepped aside so I could step through, I turned to her and she must have seen the fear in my eyes.
"It is a portal. Go through."
I turned back to the arch and stepped into throne room. Queen Nasuada was sitting in her throne and her gaze was set on me, her eyes made me feel uneasy. I would have rather walked through the city.
The others followed me until Arya was the final one to step through and the portal closed behind her. In that moment, my fear was at it's peak; this was like being in the principal's office for fighting. Except for being suspended, I'll be killed, my grim thoughts emerged.
"Your highness, I w-...," Collin attempted to fix the damage, but it was done.
Queen Nasuada held a hand up to silence him and he obeyed. She spoke a few seconds after," For what has happened, there will be punishment. Nothing goes without consequence."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, This is it.
"Attacking a Rider is punished by imprisonment and sometimes death if the Rider choses so. Ariana does not wish that upon any of you, she vividly recalls the attack and has named certain people to blame. Rider Collin. Rider Ashley. You both attacked fellow Riders, members of your own clan. Explain your actions to me, why would you do this?"
"Your majesty," Collin blurted, eager to redeem himself," We did not attack to harm. We were merely playing out a distraction that was taken too far."
"A distraction? Why the hell would you need to distra-..." Quinten was puzzled but Arya silenced him.
Queen Nausada's face lifted, not of happiness but she was intrigued by the news. " So you attacked Rider Quinten and Rider Ariana to distract them from...," she left the sentence open for him to finish.
"So we could find the target of the quest and keep it hidden."
Nasuada raised her eyebrows," Are you saying that the object was found?"
"Yes, my Queen," Matthew stepped forward. "I have the object in my pack."
Nausada turned to whisper to one of the guards behind her seat, the guard nodded and left the room without a word.
"Where is your pack?," she returned to the conversation.
"I believe it is on Erea's saddle."
"Quinten," The queen turned to him. "I will need Matthew's pack immediately. Be gentle for it has precious cargo."
"My Queen... I am confused," Quinten confessed.
Nausada smiled at him," I understand, all will be explained. I will need the pack first."
Quinten nodded and then turned tot he door, exiting quickly to retrieve Matthew's pack. When the door clicked shut, Nasuada stood.
"Have any of you spoken of the egg?" All of us shook our heads," Good," she said aloud. In a much calmer voice she said, "I cannot unbind you, all of you are guilty of a crime until the situation can be explained. Once the egg is safe, I will explain the situation to Quinten and Ariana. Both can be trusted with the secret."
Wait... what?
"If they can be trusted, why did we not tell them of the journey's purpose in the first place!?," Ashley asked, making a good point. "If they would have known, there would be no 'attack' and none of us would be in trouble! We didn't even need them there in the first place!"
"My decisions are not for you to question," Nasuada's eyes was cold and her voice was stern. Ashley immediately looked away, I would have too, Nausada stare was very intimidating. "The council has reasons for arranging the quest the way that we did."
The door opened and the guard stepped through with Ariana behind him. I let out a small sigh of relief, Thank goodness. She looks normal and unharmed. Ariana walked in front of the throne and bowed before speaking.
"You summoned me, my queen?"
"Yes. You look well, Rider Ariana."
"Thank you."
Then the door behind us opened and Quinten rushed in with Matthew's ugly bag in his hands. As soon as he was in reach, Arya took the bag from him and scurried to the door, leaving me wondering about the egg and of we even had it.
"Rider Quinten, please come stand with Rider Ariana," The queen requested and Quinten stood by Ariana. "Both of you have done me and incredible service, for that I thank you. You have helped keep Alagaesia safe once again," she smiled. "I must explain to you the nature of the quest you went on, things did not go as planned and I blame myself partially for that." The Queen went on about Tarathi and the eggs, we were all standing behind Quinten and Ariana so I could not see their reaction an neither of them said anything. "I do not commend the action of violence," The queen stated. "All of the Riders will have consequences for the attack on you. I believe there was a better and less problematic way to handle the situation. I am sorry for the inconvenience you both faced on this journey."
"Thank you, my queen," Ariana bowed.
Quinten final spoke," So one of these Riders, will have more than one dragon?"
"Yes," the queen nodded. Quinten fell silent again," Bothe of you grew up on this land," Nasuada continued. "You know the dangers of the truth I have spoken and I must convey that this is of the upmost security. No on will know of what I have told you, am I clear?"
"Yes, my queen," the pair answered in unison.
Nasuada nodded, "You may go." Once the door shut from them leaving, Nasuada broke the bonds on all of us. " I have yet to decide the punishment fit for this situation. For now, all of you stay in your rooms unless told other wise. Go," she turned from us.
We all left the throne room together, once in the hall I had no clue where I even was. Luckily for me, no one really was moving to leave. I should follow Matthew, he lives pretty close to me. This hall was about the same size as mine, but it had large pillars and beautiful cobblestone walls and floors.
Collin randomly embraced Ashley in a hug and I saw she was crying, I took small step back. I didn't like people crying and I didn't really like her either. Collin tried to soothe her, so I turned to Matt who rubbing his eyes, he looked exhausted.
"What did she say?," A voice caused me to turn to face Collin and Ashley again. It was Ariana, she was down the hall a ways leaning on a pillar.
"We are confined to our rooms, until punishment," Ashley said through her tears.
Ariana simply nodded," I told them I didn't want you to die... or even be imprisoned," she sounded sincere and I felt horrible. It felt like she was apologizing to us when it was our fault.
"Ariana," I squeaked," I'm so sorry."
She looked and me and nodded some more," Now that I know why, I feel less confused. Even though I know the reasoning, it makes no sense..."
"We did not want to hurt you," Collin said while stroking Ashley's hair.
"I know, but forgiveness is not cheap," she said as she turned and walked away from us, her steps echoing on the walls.
Oh god... When will this day be over.
"Alyson? Are you done with the Queen?," Luna asked.
"Yes, I am headed to my room now."
"I'll meet you there."
[1] Hello, Queen Arya
[2] I have no happiness for this. Follow me.
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