Festival of Death: A Young Princess's Desperate Dance with Fate and Family Politics

Chapter 2 Part 1
The Festival of Death

I broke off my dangerous words as my kid brother Sunbeam appeared at my side. Seeing through the shadow that he created, I reached my hand in and dispersed it. I was met with a pouting frown. “What did you do that for sis, I was just trying to have some fun”. I put my hands on my hips and scowled down at him.

“It is not called fun when you take the shape of a ghoul, I could have killed you if I did not see past that cloak you so brilliantly made…for a runt”. To take the bite out of my words I messed up his shaggy hair and smiled down at him. Pretending disgust he threw my hand off and crossed his arms. He sighed and smiled his boyish smile, “okay no more cloaks around sis only his high highness papa”. He then took my hand and started for the castle in the distance weaving through the crowds of drunken reptiles, personally I just hoped no one got too drunk and decided to Shift and set the market ablaze.

Though some have already have Shifted into less dangerous creatures, which we had to jump over, or quickly dodge. Getting an idea I tapped Sunny on the shoulder so he could find an avenue for a breather. “This is going to take forever how about we try flashing together”, he answered me with a blinding smile and took both my hands in his, “library?” “Library”, I agreed. Together we concentrated and with a pull and a feeling of flight we opened our eyes to see a labyrinth of books and rolls of parchment. We grinned goofily at each other at the progress we made; progress because for once, none of our body parts had flashed into or merged into anything.

Suddenly his smile disappeared and he quickly dropped my hands and moved away, knowing what to expect I plastered a fake smile upon my face and turned to meet the inappropriate searching gaze of my father. His gaze left mine and met my brother’s, then again found mine. “You know very well I don’t want you hanging around this ungrateful runt”, his voice though like honey took a steely and sneering edge when he talked about my little brother. I stood taller and tried my best to stare him down I did not win. “I’m sorry father we were just practicing or speeches for the festival”.

He snorted, but gratefully did not press further, “good at least with your help he wont be a complete embarrassment”. I lowered my head showing submission. Apparently satisfied he turned dramatically for the door giving his cape flight. He stopped before he exited, “oh one more thing, tonight will be different, tonight I will choose a new bride to take the throne”. He then left the library leaving my brother and I to gape at each other in shock.


The gown was too tight in all the wrong places, I complained to my hen like maid. Warmdawn only tutted and continued to pin and place the garments that made my ceremonial gown. She paused for a moment in her pinning and placing and met my amber gaze in the looking glass before us. “You are quite handsome young lady, there is no need to be nervous, and his majesty will choose a excellent young woman”. We stared at each other for another second then burst out laughing.

“As if any female will take him” I managed to get out between breathless giggles. We sobered instantly realizing that’s not exactly the case. Warmdawn voiced my thoughts, “we both know that whoever he chooses will not have a choice”. She turned me toward her and locked gazes. “Let us promise that we will look after the poor woman he chooses”.

I nodded my understanding; we both knew that many who entered his bed, exited baring his handprints and sometimes footprints. Dawn turned me back to the looking glass and continued her alterations. “Now stand still my young dragon and stop complaining I’m almost done.”

The dress was finished and it was stunning with out being sensual. Flowing to my feet it was the color of the orange that graced the sky when the sun prepared its bed. Outlining my breasts it then dropped like a column but for a small cinch in the waist to accent the curves that the rest of it covered. The sleeves were also made of a fine cloth with cuts of net just in the right places. They were shaped like upside down pitcher flowers that left my wrists and forearms bear.

Dawn then gently lifted my feet placing comfortable slippers upon them, knowing very well many a young draken will be asking me for a dance this night. “Dawn I love it”. I turned to hug her and she returned it with vigor. She made her tutting sound again and led me to the dresser to prepare my hair. With quick and sure fingers she swiftly plucked and folded and tucked strands into an elegant French braid that was netted in a flower design.

I was always amazed by her artistic skill, and she surly showed it through my outfit this evening. She kissed me on the cheek and shushed away my thanks and shooed me to the door of my chamber. Turning back I saw a tear escape her silver pearl eyes and I wondered if her dreams of prophecy had visited her the night afore. But I banished the thought, if she knew she would tell me. But a small voice inside me questioned if her vision was of me and if that was the reason she did not tell me so as not to test the fates.

I shook away the rest of my doubts and waited for my brother so we could descend the steps to the hall together. Not a minute latter he materialized at my side dressed in trousers and tunic, the fabric matching mine only to a slight shade. He looked up at me and gave me one of his blazing smiles, “You ready Rose?” I joined our hands and nodded to him, “ready”. We descended the steps in unison each supporting the other. Ready for what ever our father was about to throw at us.

The hall was way too silent for the mass of bodies that crowded here. Faces rose at our entrance with smiles and joy. But that was short lived when my father again captured their attention at his spot upon a raised dais at

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THE END