Thread: The Weight of the Crown (JellyFish & Greeneyed23)

The silence that came with the Souled served duel purposes. it forced everyone into their homes, the poor and needy even fleeing into shelters, churches, and if they could homes. Everyone watched him walk through the it windows, scared and worried. Were the dragons coming? Was this a declaration of war? What was going on? All of these questions and more were racing along with the news of the Souled's arrival. They were jumping from mouth to mouth fast light. While the souled was still miles from the castle the news reached the castle. There were a number of rules for the receptions of diplomats. Especially in the case of a Souled. While the Little Dragon marched along a young page began to ring the Dragon bell. This was the required protocol on the confirmed arrival of any of the Dragons. This bell shook the halls of the entire castle waking everyone but this was also protocol. The sound was too distinct, too unknown, too alien to be anything but what it was and the Royal family scrambled to get dressed. they had to greet their visitor. Ellen woke with a yelping start and rushed with all haste summoning her fellows maids then went to wake and dress her princess only to find that she was not in her room. panicking she sent the maids in all directions to find her while she went to speak with the king. The Souled, heard the bell but he walked on slowly as ever. he was not to be rushed. And he had his own reasons for upsetting them like this. King Patis could not believe it. he was hearing the bell again. He hated that sound. it sounded like the beckoning of death itself. he sent messages that the guards should move out and open all gates, as well as presenting honor guards. he decided to let the people sleep if they wished. It would be dawn by the time the Souled arrived but he himself and his family had no choice. they had to be presentable, had to have everything prepared. Especially the Jade Dragon. this was a throne carved out of a massive block jade into the form of a massive snakelike dragon that balanced somehow on on just the tip of it's tail. He had that carefully dusted then polished then brought it into the throne room to sit in the exact center of the black marble room. he rather hated this room. His throne was surprisingly comfortable and even the massive jaws of the Dragon who had supplied his throne, spread wide behind him the upper jaw jutting over his head, making it look both as if he had somehow killed this dragon by his mere presence and at the same time as if it was eating him. the lower jaw was dug into the floor beneath his throne the fangs sprouting around his chair and down the steps ringing the approach to his dais with fangs. they had been carefully smoothed but they still looked quite dangerous. but though this position worried him it was traditional. He hated that his throne room was always so dark. even after using the mirror system to like it up there were always shadows. There were lamps, torches, and fires everywhere and this served to also make the room muggy and eternally hot. So he sat on his throne sweating and waiting. He did not dare even think anything rude or cruel about the Souled but he so wished he, or she would hurry. No one truly knew yet, they simply assumed because of his size. For some reason that reminded him of the Dragon Eyes. There were a number of things about them that were notable but just now he was thinking of the pair, taken from the very skull above his head, that served as the guardians to the Dragon Embassy. They were massive things, and had belonged to an ancient dragon even when she had been killed. Her eyes had not aged, or deteriorated in anyway and still moved to look at any approaching creature and had driven many a would be thief or spy mad, and had killed many more, and until the door had been lined the tales of the dead bugs, bats, rats and occasionally a beloved pet before the door were still told. He himself had seen them from a distance but had never approached and had built the lined door after his younger brother, attempting a coup, had tried to break into the Embassy only to be driven entirely insane and throwing himself out of a window to fall into the city below. When Ellen told him of Aretha's vanishing he sighed looking over at his wife. Queen Nila was nearing her sixth decade but was still a stunning beauty. Her hair had lightened but was still a gold like the metal itself, and her smile still warmed the hearts of her husband and everyone else who knew her. She noted his grim demeanor and smiled, her happy smile lines vanishing. He sighed and smiled back. She was his rock. There was no queen's throne, though she had her own heavy crown, because the eldest of the ruling family, male or female, was meant to rule alone and Nila accepted this. She had been sitting in her place, a beautiful and very regal chair at her husband's right hand just off the dais, when Ellen entered. now she sighed as well. Aretha? At her husband's nod she waved everyone out of her way and went toward the gardens. Nila had her middle child's looks. The same hair, the same hands, and nearly the same face. She also, like Aretha, wore few rings, though she did wear her wedding ring on the left ring finger, and her own family's crest ring on the same finger of her right hand. These were rather simple but still beautiful and would be buried with her at her request. She walked along silently wondering why Aretha had vanished tonight of all nights. Then again she likely didn't know. They themselves had just found out. She reached the gardens and summoned the attendants to find her daughter while she went to look as well. Aretha darling? She was struck by something then looked back. She could only just hear the bell here. Interesting. She called a bit louder. Aretha my love! the dragon bell is ringing! We need you!