The Last Dragon Princess

I woke before dawn to the sound of screaming. For a moment, I remained tangled beneath my blankets while confusion clouded my thoughts and I wondered if I had been pulled from sleep by a nightmare. The castle was always quiet at this hour because most of the servants did not begin their duties until sunrise, yet frantic footsteps pounded through the corridor outside my chambers and distant voices echoed through the stone walls. Then the bells began to ring. The sound rolled across the capital like thunder and my eyes snapped open. Alarm bells. My heart immediately started racing. I pushed myself upright and swung my legs over the edge of the bed just as the door burst open and my maid hurried inside carrying a fresh gown. "Your Highness, you're awake." She said. although relief did not soften her expression because she looked terrified. "What is happening?" I asked. The woman hesitated and her fingers tightened around the fabric in her arms. "I don't know." She said but I knew that she was lying. I had grown up in the royal court and I had spent years surrounded by nobles who lied as naturally as they breathed. The fear in her eyes told me she knew exactly what was happening. The bells continued ringing while more shouting erupted somewhere beyond my chambers and I stood and crossed the room quickly. Outside my window, a dark plume of smoke rose into the pale morning sky and my stomach dropped. The war. The fighting had been growing worse for months and every report arriving from the front lines had carried more bad news than the last. My father always insisted victory remained within reach and the court repeated his words faithfully, but even I had begun doubting those promises. "Where is my father?" I asked. "He is still with the army." She said and the knot in my stomach tightened so I moved toward the door. "Princess, you shouldn't leave your chambers." She said urgently but I ignored her warning. The moment I stepped into the corridor, chaos surrounded me. Servants rushed past carrying crates and bundles. Guards sprinted toward defensive positions throughout the castle. Several noblewomen stood clustered together whispering fearfully while tears streamed down one woman's face. Nobody stopped long enough to explain anything and the higher I climbed through the castle, the worse the panic became. Finally, I reached one of the western towers. The heavy wooden door groaned as I pushed it open and cold morning air immediately rushed against my skin. I stepped onto the balcony and everything inside me went still. The battlefield stretched across the valley beyond the capital. The war was over and we had lost. Thousands of soldiers covered the countryside below, yet our army no longer resembled an organized fighting force. Entire battalions were retreating while others dropped their weapons and surrendered. Above them, dragons ruled the sky. Massive winged beasts circled overhead while their riders guided them with terrifying precision. Their scales reflected the rising sunlight and flashes of gold, crimson, silver and black moved through the clouds like living storms. One dragon swept low across the battlefield and panic spread through an entire regiment. Men scattered in every direction while others fell to their knees. More surrendered and I gripped the stone railing so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I had heard stories about dragons my entire life and I had seen sketches painted by traveling artists, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality. They were enormous. Beautiful but terrifying. The sky itself seemed to belong to them. A distant horn sounded across the valley and what remained of the human army began withdrawing completely. The battle was finished. The Dragon Kingdom had won. I remained frozen on the balcony until movement near the castle gates caught my attention. A column of riders approached the city. At their center rode my father. King Aldric. Even from a distance, I could see defeat hanging over him like a shadow. His armor was battered and covered in dirt. Several pieces appeared cracked. One shoulder plate was completely missing. Yet grief was not written across his face. Rage was. The expression frightened me more than the battle itself. I hurried down from the tower and made my way toward the council chamber. By the time I arrived, voices were already shouting behind the doors. Two guards stood outside and neither stopped me so I slipped inside. The room immediately fell silent as my father stood at the head of the table while his advisors surrounded him. My older brother, Prince Lucien, occupied a chair near the center of the chamber. Everyone looked exhausted and defeated. "We should surrender formally. The war cannot continue." One noble argued while another slammed his fist against the table. "Surrender will only invite further demands." He yelled. "We have no army left." The first noble said. "We still have allies." The second one said. "We have nothing." The first guy said and the argument exploded again while my father silenced everyone with a single glare. "This kingdom did not fall because of weakness. It fell because dragons believe themselves superior to humanity." He growled and the room became quiet. "They burned our villages. They invaded our lands. They murdered our soldiers." He said as his voice grew colder with every word. "They will pay for this humiliation." He continued. I exchanged a glance with Lucien and for the first time, uncertainty flickered across my brother's face. Before anyone could respond, the chamber doors opened and a guard stepped inside. "Your Majesty, the dragon envoy has arrived." The guard announced and the room stiffened instantly as my father straightened. "Bring him in." Father said. Moments later, a tall man entered the chamber. Unlike our nobles, he wore no jewelry and carried no symbols of wealth, yet confidence radiated from him effortlessly. His silver cloak rested across broad shoulders, and a dragon insignia gleamed on his chest and the envoy stopped before the throne. "The war is over." He announced calmly while nobody interrupted him. "The Dragon King offers terms." He added as the room listened with frightened expressions. "Human lands will remain independent. The capital will not be burned and no executions will occur." The envoy said as several advisors exchanged surprised looks and then whispers followed. Shock rippled through the chamber and even I stared at him. Those terms were far more generous than anyone expected. "What is the price?" My father asked. The envoy's gaze shifted across the room and for some reason, it settled on me so a chill raced down my spine. "There is one condition." The envoy said as silence fell and the envoy spoke clearly. "Lady Seraphina will marry the Dragon King." The envoy finished. For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him. The words felt impossible. Surely I had heard incorrectly and then chaos erupted. Several nobles jumped to their feet. Lucien cursed loudly and advisors began shouting over one another. And then my father slammed both hands against the table. "No." Father said and the single word echoed through the chamber. "No daughter of mine will be handed over to dragons." Father added as the envoy remained perfectly calm. "You may refuse." The envoy said as my father's eyes narrowed and the envoy continued speaking. "If you do, the war resumes." The envoy said clearly. The room became silent again and his voice never changed. "The Dragon King showed mercy because he wishes for peace." The messanger said and nobody moved as the envoy's gaze swept across the chamber. "If this offer is rejected, there will be no second offer." He added. A terrible feeling settled inside my chest. "The capital will fall. The kingdom will fall. There will be no mercy." He said as I looked toward my father. For years, I had believed nothing could break him. He had always seemed larger than life. Unstoppable and unshakable. But now I saw something different. I saw a king whose army had been destroyed. I saw a ruler whose kingdom stood on the edge of ruin. Most frightening of all, I saw a man considering the impossible. Slowly, his gaze found mine and the room faded away. The advisors disappeared, the envoy disappeared and there was only my father and the look in his eyes. For the first time in my life, I realized he was actually weighing the cost. His kingdom. Or me. My pulse thundered in my ears. Surely he wouldn't. Surely he couldn't. So I waited for him to refuse. I waited for him to defend me. I waited for him to choose his daughter. Instead, King Aldric stared at me for several long seconds before speaking words that shattered my world. "You will marry him." Father said.