As soon as my feet touched the ground I sprinted as fast as I could to the stables. My horse was in its stable with its rains still on but not it saddle. I opened his stable door grabbing his rains quietly sneaking out of the castle grounds.

"Alright boy,"I said when we were outside the castle gates, "I'm going to need you to run as fast as you can for me." He looked me in the eyes his eyes showing told me that he would run into the mouth of Hell its self with me if I needed him to.

I smiled at him hugging his neck, "Thank you my friend." He craned his neck giving me a horses hug then bent down so I could climb onto his back.

"Alright boy lets go," I said and he took of running full speed to the dragons cave. The dragons cave was near an old Roman fort that was now in ruins. Thankfully we made it there before my mother.

The dragons cave was a hot spring with small pools of melted rock which made it's cave warm during the cold winter. I tied my horse behind a group of trees to keep him hidden. As I walked into the cave I set my bow with an arrow and said a prayer asking for strength. The cave was hot baking me in my armor. Half way in I was already sweating, my brow was soaked with sweat. After about five minutes in the blistering heat I found the dragon drinking from one of the cooler springs. The steam from the springs clouded my vision but I could make out the dragon and tell that his back was facing me. I took aim at the back of his head right wear his neck meets his head,but before I could fire my arrow his swiped my feet from underneath me causing me to fall and shoot my arrow into the caves roof just past his head.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the dragon said holding his battle ax tail to my throat, "It isn't very nice to try and shot someone while they are getting a drink."

"My apologies good sir I shall wait for you to finish your drink but I must say I am in very much of a hurry, " I said holding back my fear.

The dragon turned to face me moving his tail only to pin me down with his right forearm, " Such polite manners. Tell me what is the polite daughter of the dragon slaughter King doing here. Trying to kill your first dragon to impress your father?"

"No," I gasped out.

"Then tell me what are you trying to gain Dragon Slaughers Daughter.!?"

"I am not that dead mans daughter even if I am his seed," I said with a pit of difficulty, " And I only wish to protect my baby sister from his cruelty that has passed down to our brother. Good sir may I please ask you to kindly remove your arm I'm getting very hot."

He moved his arm letting me feel a little cooler, "Thank you."

"Now tell me how will killing me protect your sister from your brother," the dragon asked as I sat up wipping the sweat from my brow.

"My brother was injured when a peasant girl fell on him causing him to fall onto a spike," I explained, " My mother hopes to bring him here to you to heal him. I know I should be thankful for this but my brother is cruel and evil. I promised my sister that I would not let any evil come close to her."

The dragon was silent for awhile. I got on my knee kneeling with my head bowed, "My lord I am sorry for attacking you but I can not allow my brother to take the throne. God knows what terrible things his black heart will do with that much power."

"I understand that your intentions are pure Princess and I accept your apology ," the dragon said.

"Then will you refuse to help me brother," I asked some hope rising in my chest.

"I believe I can help you and your brother by changing his heart."

"Can you do that Sir," my emotions became mixed at his words. I would be able to have my brother and he would be kinder and we could be a happy family. Hope for my brother filled me but one thought came to near crushing my hope.

"My Lord what if my brother is still just as cruel and heartless as my father even with your help? My sister is not even a year old yet and I do not want such a pure little thing to be tainted by such a cruel creature."

"If your brother is still just as cruel as your father by your sisters first birthday than I will take you both to live with me. And I will protect you both with my life this I promise you both."

"Thank you kind dragon," I said bowing my head then I held out my sword to him, "I vow as a princess and knight of the Old Code that I will repay you for this kindness towards my sister and I. Ask anything of me and I will do it even if it costs me my life. I give you my word, my sword, and my soul to your serves my Great Dragon Lord."

He bowed his head in return to my vow. From the entrince of his cave I heard Bowen and my mothers voice followed with some other men. My blood became ice in my veins at the thought of my mother seeing me fully dressed in armor and armored.

"Kind dragon my mother and mentor are here with my brother I can't let them see me or know that I was here. Is there any place in your home I can hide or another way out?"

"There is a back entrance just follow the stream and you should find your way out my noble princess," he pointed to the cooler hot spring he was drinking from, bowing his head when I walked towards the stream. I bowed my head in thanks returning my bow to my back and my sword to its sheath. Before I left I asked him how I would find if and when the time came.

He told me, "On the night of your sisters' first year go into the woods dressed as you are now armed with your weapons and sister in your arms. I will come to you and bring you to my home where the two of you will live with me as along as you wish my princess." I bowed in thanks then made my way out of his cave. When I was out the sun had began to set and a cool breeze had started to blow onto my hot and sweaty face. The breeze was a welcome relief to the heat I had just come from. I could feel my body and armor cool down. After a few moments of cooling off I ran back to my horse riding as fast as he could back to the castle. I prayed the whole ride that we would make it there before my mother or before anyone had noticed I was gone.

I arrived back at the castle before anyone had noticed I was gone and before my mother and Bowen had returned. Not even the guards watching the gate didn't even see me enter through the gates as they were too drunk to even lift their swords. No one saw as I entered the stables all but a young stable boy bringing in water for the horses. He was no older than maybe seven years of age. At the sight of the princess dressed in armor and caring a sword and shield caused him to have a look of both shock and amazement on his face. I pulled a gold coin from my boot tousing it to him. He bought it in his dirt covered hands a big grin spread from dirt covered ear to dirt covered ear.

"Tell no one you saw me to night and there will be more where that came from," I said handing him my horses rains and another coin, "Now take care of my horse. Brush him, water him, feed him a barrel of the sweetest apples. He has done a great good for me this night."

His smile became bigger at the second coin in his hand," Yes my Princess I shall groom your till he shines like the stars."

"Good," I handed him another coin then I stared towards my room.

I was at the stable door the boy asked me why I was dressed as a knight and out riding so late in the day, "Were you avenging your father and brother my lady?"

"No my brother and father got what they deserved I was just out for a late night ride. Tell anyone you saw me..."

"I will not speak a word of our meeting Miss."

I smiled at him then toused him another coin. He bowed to me and I bowed to him then ran back to my room. My room was the same as I had left it. My dresses still laid all across my bed, my weapons still exposed, and my sister sound asleep. I sighed in relief as I climbed onto my balcony and into my room closing the windows. I removed my armor then just laid down on the cold floor my naked body cooling from the long day. I laid there for what felt like an eternity before a very loud knock came at my door. I ignored it but then who ever was knocking didn't like being ignored so so he knocked even louder waking up my little sister causing her to cry. Now I was tired, annoyed, and angry. I quickly put on a robe then rushed to my sister trying my best to soothe her while that servant kept knocking louder and louder.

"I heard you the first time," I yelled as I walked to the door. I opened the door to find a noble that found most of his wealth in kissing up to my father and brother. Also he found his way onto the list of people I hated most in my fathers court.

"You better have a good reason for waking my sister up so rudely if not you better find a quick way to make up for it," I said as I tried to comfort my sister.

"Terrible sorry Princess Cathirne," he said bowing at the waist then he cupped his hand around my cheek, "I hop I didn't ruin any pleasant dreams."

I sneered at him slapping his hand away, "What is it you want? Tell me quickly before I call the guards on you."

"Yes I've come to tell you that your mother has returned with your brother. The dragon was able to heal him but he is still weak."

I sighed still comforting my sister, "Thank you for telling me this now I must get my sister and myself to bed. Tell my mother I look forward to seeing her at breakfast."

"Yes your majesty I will tell the queen," he bowed his head then kissed my free hand, "Sweet dreams my princess."

I slamed the door in his face than started a fire in my fire place rocking my sister in my arms singing to her of our mothers people. She soon began to quite down and soon she fell asleep in my arms. Instead of laying her in her crib I laid her my bed next to me still in my arms.

"No evil shall touch you my sweet light," I whispered to her as I traced her face with my little finger, "Hopfuly the dragon has given us a kinder better brother."

Sleep than took over my mind and I drifted into sweet nothing dreaming of a better life with my people happy and always feed. No war no sickness just happiness