Glorious Politics

AN: Third and Final part of Operation Queen-Maker. Hope you enjoy the conclusion to this mini-arc.

Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. Mistral is my OC.

Living in the Ice Kingdom wasn't too bad, I suppose. The 'safehouse' Mistral let me stay at was actually an abandoned seventh circle igloo. At least...it was above ground. There was a hidden trapdoor within that lead down to an underground bunker. It wasn't exactly big or luxurious, but it was livable—certainly better than that cave I'd stayed in for nearly two weeks. It was almost entirely constructed from ice, which meant no fires. One room had a small moon globe tree growing in it, so I was never without light. Many of the rooms had specialized sconces to hold them, as well.

Unfortunately, there was no way to cook meals down here. I couldn't start a fire without melting the structure or smoking myself out. I wasn't exactly surprised, though, since Icewings don't actually cook any of their food. They always ate stuff raw...and cold. It was something I had to get used to. Even after several months, I still wasn't the biggest fan of Icewing cuisine, but food was food. And it was easy to find, at least. All I had to do was go to the three lakes that comprised the gift of sustenance and pull out a free seal. I went there every other night to grab one.

As long as I kept the gift of diplomacy on at all times, I was fine even in the extreme arctic temperatures. Elsewise, I wouldn't survive more than a few hours at most. Even staying in the safehouse wouldn't save me for long. I took it off once just to check and immediately put it back on when my feet instantly went numb and horrible shivers hit me. So yeah, I kept that band on at all times.

The one real downside was that it did get a bit lonely at times. Mistral was the only dragon I interacted with on a regular basis, but he wasn't able to drop by every day. For one reason or another, he was only able to come by once every two or three days, and then only for a few hours at a time. He did sleep over twice since I started living here, but he was normally gone before the sun even rose.

The only other dragon that I had contact with during this time was my Nightwing contact who met me just south of the ice wall once a month. I was certainly surprised when I arrived at our first rendezvous to see it was Deathbringer, but it made a certain sense. He may not be Morrowseer's favorite dragon, but he was competent and was arguably our most experienced field agent.

Deathbringer always brought a scroll and some ink with him for me to write a short report of what was going on. Oral reports were unreliable, and Morrowseer wanted it straight from me rather than paraphrased by Deathbringer. If the assassin didn't completely forget, that is.

Mistral had dropped by on the day when I had left to meet Deathbringer for the second time, so I just told him I went flying to pass the time and that I hadn't expected him to drop by that day—which was true since he had dropped by the day before. He believed me because he really had no reason to doubt me. I'd lived there for two months, and nothing bad had befallen his Kingdom.

His fifth hatchday passed right after that. He was a lot more quiet and reserved that usual when he dropped by, even having a bit of an emotional breakdown now that it was just me and him. It didn't take a genius to figure out why he was so upset. It was his first hatchday without his parents, and that wound was still fresh despite how he tried to act otherwise. He stayed the night with me again that night, saying he'd rather be with me than anyone else for the simple fact that I didn't judge him for showing such 'weakness'.

My time up there really gave me an insight into what Icewing culture was like. The general stereotypes of them being cold, distant, and aloof seemed to be right in all but a few cases. Almost all of those exceptions were ranked in the seventh circle, though, so Icewings were basically incentivized to have massive egos and little regard for anyone else.

That's what Mistral made it sound like, at least. I didn't actually meet any other Icewings during my time there for obvious reasons. Because I wasn't like that, he tended to talk with me a bit more openly than I was comfortable with at first. After a few weeks of basically being his volunteer therapist, it became easier to have those personal conversations.

About three-and-a-half months into my stay—which was actually four-and-a-half months since I'd left the Nightwing island—is when I noticed Mistral started getting a bit...huggy. Don't get me wrong, I liked hugs about as much as the next touch-starved dragon, but he went from two hugs a day—one when he got here and one before he left—to taking any excuse to hug me. One example would be when he told me one day how his day was going. It wasn't a particularly good day for him, so I told him I was sorry to hear that. It was a simple exchange, yet he felt the need to throw a hug in there.

And then there was the nuzzling.

His feelings for me were growing. That much was painfully obvious. He probably didn't even realize what he was feeling since he was still pretty young and inexperienced in this field. I never broached the subject with him because that was one subject I wasn't willing to delve into. I didn't want to affirm his feelings because that would just make the end harder, and I couldn't dissuade him for fear of driving him away permanently. I really just had to deal with it.

And, uh...it eventually did become a problem. I first noticed it the day before I had to leave my fifth status report. It had been a relatively normal visit up until the end. He'd brought me some food to eat that wasn't a seal, so I was thankful for that. Then, we'd just talked about his day. His self-defense training was progressing well, and he was gaining both weight and muscle mass. His schoolwork was going well. Living with the royal family wasn't too much different than living with his own family.

Then he told me a funny story, and I laughed a lot. Then he started laughing with me. We were sitting right next to each other in what was essentially the living area even if there was only a single cushion and a small table furnishing it. We turned to look at each other once we calmed down, but with how close we'd been sitting, our noses ended up touching. Both of us froze at the contact. I have no idea what he felt in that moment, but I felt nothing but panic even if I was able to hide it deep down. I started to pull away after a second, and the motion knocked him out of his thoughts. Except...instead of pulling away, he leaned forward, and...he kissed me.

It was basically just a peck, and it hadn't even been on my lips. Rather, it was on my nose. The action itself, while panic-inducing on its own, wasn't the problem. Neither was it the shy, somewhat uncertain smile he gave me when he pulled away. It wasn't even the small bit of guilt and sadness rising within me because I knew the truth when he didn't. No, the problem was much more serious. My heart had fluttered at that simple kiss. And again when he smiled at me.

I thought him having feelings for me was a bad thing, but no. This was way worse.

He left soon after, looking as confused and uncertain as I felt. That night, I had to confront an unfortunate truth that I'd been denying ever since he started getting more and more affectionate:

I was falling in love with him.

I wasn't an inexperienced dragonet. I was almost ten years old, and while I hadn't been in an actual relationship, I'd experienced my fair share of crushes and silly fantasies. I'd even had one on Deathbringer at one point when I was young. He was just so charming, funny, and handsome that I couldn't really help myself back then. I grew out of it pretty quickly, though, and I never told him about it. The fact that he was an assassin—but mostly because Morrowseer hated him—turned me away in the end.

I knew what the flutter in both my stomach and heart meant. I'd felt that same warmth before, and I was well acquainted with the dull ache I felt when Mistral left. I'd tried denying it as long as possible, but I couldn't anymore.

Mistral was just...a rarity. Not only was he handsome, he was also fiercely loyal and protective. Every time he mentioned me revealing myself to the Queen, he swore up and down that he'd protect me no matter what. He was also highly intelligent, and I knew he would make a good leader one day because of it. And that's not to mention how confident he was without being arrogant or cocky. He knew what he knew, and that's all there was to it. He didn't doubt himself when he had no reason to.

He was the first dragon I'd ever met that didn't judge me for being a Nightwing. He didn't see the manipulative snake that I was in reality. He saw me for me, and everything—well, most of it—was built upon a lie. A lie...I didn't want to end. I was still aware of his age, though. While I would admit I was starting to feel a few romantic feelings towards him, I wasn't going to accept any kind of...physical relationship until he was older.

And therein lay the problem...

Mistral would never get much older if I continued this path. That night I had to actually force myself to stay. I wanted to get out of here as fast as I could, but I knew I had to complete my mission. I needed to do this for my tribe, but my desire to find another way was growing. I started getting sick every time I thought of killing Mistral, so I tried to think of something—anything—I could do to prevent it. I knew what I felt was wrong, but I was just a dragon.

I...wrote as much in my report to Morrowseer the next day. I needed his support for any action I took because, in the end, this needed to benefit the Nightwings as a whole. I had an idea, an alternative plan we could pursue that might work. I explained as much in my report turned confession. I gave it to Deathbringer and sent it off, fearing the goofy assassin wouldn't be the one to meet me next month.

As it turned out, those fears weren't unfounded. After another month of inner conflict, I journeyed out to make my scheduled rendezvous. Morrowseer was waiting for me...and he did not look happy. I landed before him and immediately wilted under his disapproving glare. "Sympathizing with the enemy, Greatness? That's a new low even for you."

In a brief moment of courage and indignation, I couldn't help but snap back. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not a heartless murderer like you."

He recoiled in surprise, the action accompanied by an equally surprised snort. "You think me heartless for wanting to save my tribe?" I could feel his furious gaze boring into my skull. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you!" I flinched at his yell but complied with his demand. He looked more furious than I'd ever seen him. "I am the only one with the conviction to do what others aren't willing to." He glared at me for several moments, but I didn't dare look away. Eventually, he huffed and turned away. "But despite what you think of me, I am not heartless. I am under no illusions that my methods are extreme. Evil, even. But everything I do, I do for my tribe. It is a necessary sacrifice to achieve our future, and the day I am no longer needed is the day I can finally rest easy, knowing we are safe because of what I was willing to do." He turned to glare at me again. "It's time you grow up and realize the same. You are the heir to the Nightwing throne, and you must be willing to do anything to protect them."

I was silent as I digested his monologue, and he left me to my thoughts. "Even if it means sacrificing our morals?" I eventually asked, my voice timid.

"You think the likes of Scarlet or Burn give a damn about our morals? They'd wipe us out without a second thought. The only difference is that we don't have the numbers to fight them openly. Manipulation and subterfuge are our greatest allies." He was quiet for a moment, and he allowed me to look away once more. When he did talk again, his voice was surprisingly gentle. "Our population is still in decline, Greatness. Mastermind predicts we have five years at max at the current rate before our numbers grow too small for repopulation." I audibly gasped at that. I'd not heard that information before, though they didn't always tell me everything. "We Nightwings are an endangered species...and we are facing potential extinction. Do you now see why we must do some...distasteful things?"

I did. But that didn't mean I had to like it. "Is there no better way?"

He hummed. When I glanced at him, he was studying me in deep thought. "You love him, don't you?" I flinched at the question, though it was surprisingly soft. There was no accusation or disgust or anything I expected in his voice when he asked it. It was almost like...he expected it. What he said next only confirmed that sneaking suspicion. "It appears Battlewinner owes me money."

I openly gawked at him. "You knew!?" I all but shrieked, horribly embarrassed.

"I had a strong reason to believe you would, yes. Especially after taking your previous crush on Deathbringer into account." He knew about that, too!?

But there was something distinctly wrong here. "You're...not mad?" I'd expected him to be screaming his lungs out at me, but he was talking normally as if we were simply discussing the weather.

"Not yet," was his simple reply. "Should you choose him over us, however...well, that is another story."

Another sneaking suspicion was worming its way into my mind. "I wasn't your last choice...was I?"

He actually chuckled at that. "I was wondering when you were going to figure that out." Then, however, he frowned. "I'm sure you're aware that your mother will die soon. Mastermind has been tasked with developing specialized armor that would keep her alive out of her lava pool, but...the three of us know it is a wasted effort." I bowed my head at that. Mother wasn't the greatest, but she was still the only mother I had. Losing her would be hard enough without knowing I would have to take the throne immediately after her death. "She wanted to test you, to see if you would truly have what it takes to rule the tribe despite your shortcomings. Operation Queen-Maker was my proposed plan to do just that."

"Wait a minute...you were willing to risk antagonizing the Icewings just so you could test me? And what happened if I got caught?" This was too wild! I had never expected this mission to be some sort of test. Was this whole mission as important as he made it out to be, or did he not even care about that outcome? "So do you even care about weakening the Icewings, or was that just a lie?"

"I...may have oversold the threat they posed. They lie on the other side of the continent from the Rainforest. Blister and her Mudwing puppet ruler would lie between us and them. That gives us time to replenish our numbers, and for Mastermind to create weapons from his Rainwing research. In time, I have no doubt our war with the Icewings will come to an end, but it will be on our terms...as always." That was...genius, actually. And I fell for it completely. "As for your safety, the guidelines I gave you minimized the danger you would be in, but it did not eliminate it entirely. You may be an incompetent leader, but you are not an incompetent follower." Wow, alright. I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. "But...your suggestion intrigued me."

"R-Really?" Did that mean Morrowseer approved of my idea? I let my hopes rise...

Only for them to come crashing down. "Indeed, though not in the way you are evidently assuming. Your idea is folly, but the fact you were willing to think on your own rather than blindly follow orders is significant. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."

"How is— Mistral trusts me," I defended myself. "He swears up and down that he'll protect me from the Queen. If I can get her on my side, maybe we can end this stupid war and have the Icewings as allies! How is that folly!?" How could he not see the benefits of that!? Was he simply too stubborn to accept the idea that the Icewings could be anything but enemies?

"The Icewings are allied to Blaze, and their alliance will not shift. Glacier and Blaze are simply...too close for either to betray the other." He said it so matter-of-factly, and his utter surety was actually making me angry. I never got angry, especially not at Morrowseer. I was usually too afraid of him, but I wanted so desperately to change his mind.

"Then we should change alliances. The Ice Kingdom has never been invaded in the entirety of Pyrrhian history going back to even before the scorching. Blister was a good tool, but she's dangerous. You know that as well as I." I thought that was a good argument, but he already had a counter.

"Which is precisely why I'd rather have her as an ally than an enemy, which is precisely what she will become if we betrayed her. Plus, she knows about the tunnels, meaning she has a back door into our Kingdom...both of them." I had to give him that, but there was a simple solution.

"So just kill her," I shot back without hesitation. "Blaze would be easier to control, anyway."

He stared at me in mild surprise before snorting in what I assumed was amusement. "How ironic. You would have no problem with having Blister killed, yet you are unwilling to kill a single Icewing." I opened my mouth to argue, to say that he wasn't just another Icewing, but he interrupted me with another fierce glare, making me forget any argument. "Your motive is painfully clear, Greatness, but you cannot have a life with him. Have you forgotten already that you simply watched his parents be murdered and did nothing to save them? What happens when he learns the truth?"

"He won't." It was a feeble argument, and I knew it.

"But your entire relationship will be built upon a lie," he immediately pointed out. "And you know exactly what he would do to you once he learned the truth." I bowed my head at that, recognizing the truth in his words. "You're already too far in to change the plan now. You must kill him."

No...No I wouldn't just accept that. Even if I Morrowseer was right, killing Mistral was pointless! He said it himself; this was just a test. He didn't even care about the outcome! Why should I kill Mistral if I didn't have to? "And if I refuse?"

His silence was deafening. Eventually, he did respond, but I could hear the displeasure in his voice. "The unrest that would follow Mistral and Snowfall's death would benefit us and Blister in the long-term, but I will freely admit that it is merely an added bonus to this mission. Sparing him will not harm us, though you will simply be proving me right. You are not the dragon to lead this tribe."

So that's what this was about. Power. Of course it was about that! What else would he care about? "If you want to be King so bad, be my guest. I don't want to be Queen, and you're already King in all but title."

He hummed at that. "Were it so easy. There has never been a King in Pyrrhia's history. The only dragon who ever tried was Darkstalker, and history knows how that turned out. I will be the one leading this tribe, but there must be a Queen in the picture, too. Even if she is just a figurehead." Horror grew within me as realization hit. "Your mother has already made the arrangements. To secure our tribe's future, we are to be married. How soon is up to you."

Already made the arrangements!? No one told me about this plan! I couldn't marry Morrowseer of all dragons! I didn't even remotely like him. The age gap of twelve years wasn't the largest, but it still wasn't ideal! His last sentence caught my attention, though. "What do you mean 'up to me'?"

"Kill Mistral—show us you can sacrifice your morals to do what must be done—and you'll have a few years to yourself. Refuse and prove us right, and we'll be married upon your return to the island. Your mother wants me to whip you into shape before you become Queen, and I have no intention of proving her wrong. If I cannot do that as your superior, I will do it as your husband." He turned and spread his wings after a few moments. He'd said what he needed to and gave me his ultimatum. There was no reason left for him to stick around. He didn't need my answer in words. My actions would speak for themselves. "Oh...and one more thing..." I looked up as he turned to look at me. "Should you decide to simply run and abandon both your mission and your tribe, your mother plans to have you killed for treason. Do keep that in mind, will you? I'd prefer you live. Succession will be quite difficult, otherwise."

With that, I was left alone, the wind from Morrowseer's wings buffeting me as he took flight. My own flight back north was filled with much doubt. The Ice Kingdom may be enemy territory, but it was starting to seem much more welcoming than home.

Marrying Morrowseer? I will reluctantly agree that it actually would be good for the tribe. I have the royal blood. He has the actual ability to lead. Still, couldn't mother have told me about this? If I had been raised to expect this...marriage, I don't think it would be as bad. To drop it on me like this, though? And while I'm on a mission, no less?

I guess he did say it was a test...

So it's either do as Morrowseer and mother want, kill Mistral and Snowfall and have a few years to prepare for my arranged marriage. Or spare them, go home, and be married immediately. If what he said was true, I couldn't just fly away and hide from this choice. They'd send an assassin after me for sure, and it definitely wouldn't be Deathbringer. They'd be able to find me eventually no matter where I went, but...there was one place they couldn't reach me. I'd be safe in the Ice Kingdom. I could even barter my knowledge of the tribe's operations for safe asylum here. I'm positive Queen Glacier would jump for joy at the prospect.

But I couldn't—wouldn't—do that. Not only did it mean abandoning my tribe to potential extinction, it meant revealing the truth to Mistral. Even if Glacier did allow me to stay, he wouldn't be so quick to forgive and forget. He's the only reason I would ever want to stay, so if he hated me, there was no point in even debating.

So that just left me with the first two options. Kill or spare. Single or married. Out of the two horrible outcomes, I'd rather not marry Morrowseer yet. Even if it just bought me a few years, I'd rather have the time to prepare myself for that.

So that's that, then...

I would become a murderer to save myself. I'm sure mother and my future husband would be proud.

I returned to the safehouse after dark, as usual, and things were pretty much normal after that. Just because I'd made the decision to kill Mistral didn't make it any easier, especially when he began to realize what he was feeling, too. Hugs turned to cuddles, and I could almost forget everything in those moments.

Two weeks I allowed myself. Two weeks of normality, of not being ashamed of myself and my feelings. Exactly fourteen days later, I posed the question to him. "Do you really think Queen Glacier will let me live?"

He blinked at me. "Is that why you've been so upset lately?" I guess he'd figured out that something was amiss, after all. "I promised you I would protect you if I had to. The Queen listens to me. I know she'll see reason." He seemed excited, believing I was finally coming around to accept his offer.

"Yeah, I know. I'm just...nervous. Icewings and Nightwings don't exactly have a good history." He nodded at that sadly, looking away in thought. "Could we...try someone else first?" He looked at me curiously, so I explained. "What about Princess Snowfall? If we can get her on our side, have both of you sticking up for me—"

"Then the Queen will have to believe us!" he finished with an excited grin. "You're a genius, Starfall!" Then, he went quiet, once again in deep thought. "I'll have to test the ice first. Give me a few weeks, and I'll let you know how it goes."

I nodded, so he hugged me and then ran out of the safehouse. My breath came out in a slow exhale as my stomach clenched. I just barely avoided throwing up from the immense disgust I felt at myself and what I was being forced to do.

I didn't know what he was planning to do, but I imagined he was slowly going to reveal the truth of what happened that day to Snowfall. If she seemed open to the idea, he'd then tell her about me. It was a confession he could only admit once he was completely sure she wouldn't tell her mother. Elsewise, he'd risk being convicted of treason and me being caught and killed.

True enough, it was nearly a month before he told me that Snowfall knew and wanted to meet me. I forced a smile on my face and nodded. The meeting was set for that night, and he left to give Snowfall the news. That left me a few hours to prepare.

I started by snuffing out all the moon globes in the rooms closest to the entrance. I only left the ones in the far room alone. Then, I sat myself in a dark corner, my dagger clutched in shaky talons as I waited, my stomach doing all kinds of uncomfortable acrobatics from how nervous I was. All the while, I repeated the same phrase as a mantra: To sacrifice of myself for the good of the tribe.

Hours passed before I heard the door open. My heart was pounding with adrenaline and anxiety. I heard him call for me. "Starfall? Why is it so dark?"

"Is she back there in that room?" an unfamiliar female voice asked. It could only be Snowfall. They began moving that way, having fallen for the bait.

Icewing eyes are good at seeing in the dark, but they never spotted me, thankfully. The time I spent in darkness also adjusted my eyes so I could see reasonably well. Once they were far enough away, I moved from my corner and moved to shut the door, not even bothering to hide the noise of the heavy lock going into place.

The two Icewing dragonets whirled around at the noise, having made it halfway across the main room. "S-Starfall? What are you doing?" The distant light struck the metal of my dagger, making it visible to both of them. Snowfall was already backing away, clearly afraid. Mistral just seemed confused, the poor fool.

"My job," I spoke quietly. "I'm sorry. I'll make it quick and painless; I promise. Just don't make this harder than it has to be."

Mistral was a smart dragon. I could already see realization hitting him, and his look of betrayal turned to one of anger. "You...you used me? This whole time, you never even cared about me, you were just using me to finish some contract!" I flinched at the accusation. Not just because the second part was true, but also because the first part wasn't. I did care. It's why this was so hard already.

"I had no choice," I argued feebly, though I squared off, getting in a battle stance.

"There's always a choice!" he spat back, all the kindness I was used to replaced by anger and bitterness. No doubt he'd become quite a cynical dragon should he live past tonight. "Stay behind me, Snowfall."

He had turned to look at her when he spoke, and I took his distraction as an opening. Despite our age difference, we were close to the same size, and he'd put on some extra weight during his training. Even still, he wasn't ready for my surprise attack.

I pinned him easily, and I was readying my dagger to strike when Snowfall tackled me. I was similarly unprepared for that attack, but I kept my feet and threw her to the wall where she collapsed. My gaze lingered on her for a bit too long, so Mistral nearly got a cheap swipe in with his claws. I ducked in the nick of time and barreled into his exposed chest. He hit the wall behind him, the air in his lungs leaving in a big whoosh, and he collapsed.

I pressed my dagger to his neck as he glared up at me hatefully. The fight was over more quickly than I'd thought it'd be, but he had just started training. And while I was no combat specialist, I still kept up with my old lessons just in case. "Do it, then," he spat, completely unafraid despite the danger he was in. "Come on, Starfall—or whatever your real name is—finish it. Make your superiors proud." I pressed the blade harder against his neck, drawing some blood, but he still stared me down without so much as a wince. "DO IT!"

I growled at him, my talons starting to shake as I realized I couldn't. Every quiet night of cuddling. Every hug. Every conversation we had about nothing in particular. Every laugh we shared. That one accidental kiss. It all came back to me at once, and I was reminded of why I hadn't wanted to do this in the first place.

But he couldn't know that. "I want you to remember this moment, Mistral." I kept my voice calm but my eyes hard. "Remember how it could have ended had I been anyone else. You're lucky I don't care what my superiors think."

I released him and backed away as he coughed a few times. He stood as I was unlocking the door. "I'll remember," he swore with a snarl. "And I hope you do the same, for I want you to remember that you let me live the day I tear out your heart."

I didn't bother responding and simply fled the scene. It was a long, cold flight back to the desert. And I didn't mean cold as in temperature. No, my heart felt empty, and it hurt a lot. Despite how much I'd prepared myself—despite the conviction I tried to have—I hadn't followed through. In the end, I'd spared Mistral and Snowfall, unwilling to case aside my personal feelings and morals. I wasn't my mother, and I didn't want to be.

I'd accept my punishment knowing that, but I hoped this band I was still wearing would earn me at least some leniency. Only time would tell if I made the right decision or not, but it felt as if I had.

But who was I to say?

AN: A lot of the unanswered questions and what happens next will be answered in the next chapter since all those happen after Queen-Maker itself. So we'll find out what happens to Greatness, and we'll learn what Mistral did afterward.

Also, Morrowseer x Greatness sounds really weird at first, but it actually does make sense from a political point of view. I tried to explain as much in the chapter, but I don't think it would be outside the realm of possibility for them to actually be married for the good of the tribe. What do you guys think?

Until Next Time

AdmiralCole22