First light streaked across the lands of Domino. The green hills began to fill with wildlife and the skies rang as birds welcomed the morning. Spring flowers bloomed and the rivers filled as the snow melted off the mountains. The Kingdom of Domino sparkled beneath the light of the ancient sun. The gardens glittered as the light hit the dew covered grass. The city below bustled as bakers and blacksmiths began their days work, the city was jubilant as Spring had finally arrived and the Queen was ready to birth her unborn child.
Up in the north tower of the castle stood King Oritel. He paced back and forth on the balcony, stopping every few minutes to watch the sunrise creep over the mountains. He noted the cloudless sky- it would be a Bluebird Day.
"Your Majesty" Oritel spun on his heel and trotted inside to the midwife. She wore a white nurses gown, Oritel noted flecks of blood on her and his stomach dropped.
"Is she OK? My wife? My child?" his voice boomed. The midwife held his hand gently.
"They're fine your Majesty. Your wife is incredibly strong and your baby is fat, healthy, and pink" her gentle smiled calmed him. He breathed out a sigh of relief. She escorted him to the other room where his wife and child were.
"Come and meet your baby, King Oritel" the midwife opened the double doors. Inside was a grand bedroom drenched in magnificent colors. The wallpaper depicted a red dragon breathing blue fire across the wall. It was so detailed a viewer could see the individual scales on the dragon. A large bed covered in fine clothe and warm furs sat in the middle. A tall window washed the room in the morning sunlight. Oritel approached his wife. Her orange hair was in a tangled mess. She was looking down at the small, pink infant cradled in her arms suckling on her breast. Oritel felt his heart beat quicken. His mouth felt dry and his body filled with warmth at the sight of the newborn.
"She has quite the appetite, just like her father" Marion quipped. She looked up at her husband. He couldn't take his eyes off the baby.
"What a beautiful child, I'm so proud of you Marion" his voice choked as he spoke. Marion chuckled and patted the bed. Oritel sat beside her.
"Meet your new daughter" Oritel's eyes lit up. He looked at Marion then at the baby girl.
"A daughter?" Marion smiled and nodded. "This is truly a blessed day. A daughter born on the first day of Spring, under a Bluebird Sky, with the sunrise to welcome her" Oritel wiped back a tear. Marion patted his thigh.
"She's the gift of dawn, remember the Solarian diplomat? She said a baby born at sunrise is a gift of dawn"
"She truly is" they sat together and watched as their newborn daughter hungrily fed from Marion. When Oritel looked back at his wife he saw a look of sadness.
"What's wrong my hummingbird?" Marion took a deep breath and looked up at her husband. She could see the worry in his eyes.
"I don't have it anymore"
"Have what?"
"The Dragon Flame. I don't have it. Our daughter has it now" both of them stared at the pink infant. It stopped suckling and looked around the room, her eyes barely able to stay open. Oritel couldn't imagine such a small, fragile creature having the most powerful essence inside it.
"Oritel. What do we do? If I don't have the Dragon Flame then Domino is vulnerable. If any other Kingdom knew it was inside her-"
"Don't think about that." Oritel rubbed her cheek and lifted her chin. "We haven't lost it."
"It's dormant inside her, in ten years it'll manifest itself but until then she can't protect herself. If anyone realizes this they'll take advantage of it. Maybe they'll invade Domino or maybe they'll steal our daughter" Oritel leaned closer to his wife and whispered.
"No one is touching our daughter" Marion scanned his face. He was young and handsome but had scars from battles. His eyes were determined and for a moment Marion felt safe.
"What about my followers. I can't be High Priestess of the Dragon Flame if I don't have it" Oritel got off the bed and approached the window. He looked out over the landscape. The sun was almost completely over the mountain.
"We don't tell anyone. As far as anyone is concerned you're still Keeper of the Dragon Flame. The armies will stay at bay if they believe it and the followers will remain loyal. No one will have interest in our daughter"
"When I was younger my mother and father had me locked away in a tower because people wanted my Flame. I don't want our daughter to live that life" Oritel turned to his Marion.
"She wont have that life I promise. We'll keep her safe but not trapped" He smiled at her. Marion adored his lop-sided smile. It was confident with a hint of playfulness.
"We do have one important matter to take care of" Oritel said earnestly. Marion kissed her baby on the forehead.
"What's that?"
"What will we name our daughter and Princess of Domino?" Marion chuckled.
"I've already named her" Oritel sat beside his wife. He tickled his daughter's cheek.
"What is her name?" Marion looked down at the chubby baby. The baby looked back at her with hazel eyes.
"Dafne"