Chapter 31
"Grant, promise me you'll watch over him until we're back." Abigail stood to the side, one hand on her grimacing son's shoulder and the other clasped in her husband's. I looked over to Cindy who was having a rather vivid conversation with Magda, out of earshot of her daughter.
"Of course I will, Damon has already asked me to. I think she knows he won't make it until you're back though. He's barely holding on as it is." Grant whispered solemnly. Abigail nodded and buried her face into Grant's shoulder, hiding her soft sobs. He rubbed soft circled on her back and Adam started to tap his foot. I gave them a moment, checking the saddles on each of the dragons and helping Cinderella into her seat.
"Such majestic creatures, these dragons." She smiled, and it seemed like she had not a care in the world, as if the love of her lift wasn't lying on his deathbed and she may never see him again. I couldn't help but admire my cousin. If some distant relative I had never met turned up on my doorstep asking me to leave Jack as he lay there dying to fight a war I had no part in, I don't know how I could do it with so genuine a smile.
"Who are we riding today?" Damon asked, running a hand down Gums' neck.
"I think you'll suit Little Bite, he's a little rough to ride, but he's fastest." Damon looked over at the white dragon and turned back with a mischievous smile. I suppose being king with a dying father and a brat of a nephew wouldn't leave him with much time for flying around on dragons.
"Perfect." He went over and managed to clamber onto Little Bite's back, who turned his head around to sniff his passenger and snort in approval. I looked around to see Jack helping Abigail and Adam onto Gums' back, the little boy still scowling deeply and sitting stiffly on the saddle. Grant stood below his wife and son, a hand on Gums' pale hide as he said his last goodbyes to his family. He was being left to babysit a nation and a dying father-in-law, while his only family left him to fight a war they, and it pains me to think, might not return from in one piece. I put a hand on his back as he was preparing to turn away from our departing party.
"Thank you." I whispered and he nodded solemnly, taking one of my hands in his for a moment, dropping it before he left the party to the safety of the castle. I watched him retreat for a moment before climbing into Frostbite's saddle and taking Alyssa from Jack and adjusting her seat to keep her on the beast's back. I gave the command for the group to lift and led Frostbite to the front of the group, heading north to England.
"We should set down by midday." I called to Jack who flew beside me, making faces at Alyssa. He took off to do a couple of loops behind the group and came back soaring backwards, facing the rear of the dragons.
"Nadia sent us some gifts." He called over the wind, his bright white smile blinding. I turned my head to see a small flock of dragons in a wide assortment of colours. I smiled at the cluster and thanked Nadia before turning back to focus on getting to Germany before the sun started to drop. I ignored the sounds of Adam's complaining by focussing on his uncle's whoops of delight as Little Bite tumbled about behind the bulk of the group. I completely understood his sheer enjoyment of this, despite the gravity of the general situation; sitting on a throne can only get so exciting before it grows tiresome.
"We're just outside the capital, aim for the courtyard there." Jack pointed down after returning from scoping the land. He took off to tell the others where to direct their steeds and the stragglers followed the leaders. He set down after the dragons, landing on the balls of his feet and running over to take Alyssa who was already squirming to touch the ground again.
"Stay behind and watch the dragons dear." Cindy kissed her son's cheek and left him in charge of the others, accompanying Jack, Alyssa and I up to the castle. "Snow and I are old friends, her son is a delight." Our small group followed my cousin to the door and stood behind her as she lifted the knocker and let it fall, causing an echo to sound throughout the castle and call the doorman to his post. The man who opened the door, which I would have thought was much too heavy for a man of his… stature, appeared to be one of the dwarves Snow always kept close by her.
"Cinderella, my dear, it has been much too long. Come in, I'll fetch the Mistress." Cinderella curtseyed to the doorman and laughed, taking his outstretched hand and allowing him to step her through the threshold into the foyer.
"It would be greatly appreciated Happy, many thanks." The small man hurried off to find Snow, leaving us in the warm foyer to sit and wait. Alyssa barely had time to start exploring the new space before Happy returned with Snow, beautifully dressed in her blue and yellow gown.
"Oh cousin it has been far too long, come." The two embraced warmly, Snow greeting her closer cousins before turning to myself. "If I am not mistaken, you would be Elsa." I curtseyed slightly to confirm. "Oh none of that, cousin." She laughed, pulling me into an embrace as well. It didn't take long to introduce her to my daughter and explain Jack into her vision and have her convinced of our plight and need for her son's assistance.
"Mother?" The dashing young man with the most golden hair I've yet seen called as he was ushered into the room by Happy.
"Brandon, my darling, these are some of your cousins. They've explained they need your assistance