@summonshadcw plotted starter!
Whenever someone came seeking an audience with her father, Melody was seldom present for such meetings; she wasn’t needed. This meeting, however, her presence was specifically requested by her father. So, there she sat, beside her mother, in all her finery, wondering why she was even there.
The man was announced, his titles not unfamiliar to her, but her kingdom took no part in his war. The reason for his visit was glaringly obvious to the young dragon and she very nearly rolled her eyes; she only succeeded in not doing so because her mother seemed to sense her attitude and shot her a look from the corner of her eye.
Blinking, the petite blonde sat a bit straighter hoping to avoid her mother’s ire, her full attention now on the conversation passing between their esteemed visitor and her father. It was exactly what she’d expected and she was certain her father was going to turn him away, as he did everyone who tried to pull them into this war, except…
“And what do you have to offer in return for my armies? Can you guarantee that my men won’t be going to their death’s needlessly?” her father tipped his head back, looking down his nose at their guest. Melody didn’t envy him, she knew that look.
Her father had something in mind and it was guaranteed to be something the Darkling would dislike.
With the practiced ease of a man who had ruled for a very long time, her father sat and listened patiently, letting the Darkling speak freely. Now, the young dragon almost felt sorry for their visitor. Her father was toying with him like a cat would a mouse. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, but stilled the moment her mother’s gaze cut to her again.
“Enough,” her father boomed, cutting the Darkling off. He stood, a towering figure of well over six and a half feet. Dark eyes cut to Melody and she stiffened, wondering if he’d sensed her unease, but his eyes were warm when they met hers and she visibly relaxed. Her father extended a hand to her and she blinked, clearly confused. Her mother murmured a single word in their native tongue and in an instant she was on her feet, moving to her father; she was dwarfed by him.
The littlest dragon to ever grace their mighty halls.
“You seek to obtain my armies and win this war?” and he took Melody’s hand and extended it to the Darkling. “Then bind yourself to my daughter and you’ll have your armies,” her father promised with a dark smile. Meanwhile, Melody paled, blue eyes cutting sharply up at her father. The King ignored her, but his grip on her was firm and she didn’t dare speak against her father, especially in front of a stranger.
Anger flared in her gaze and she turned that ire toward the man she felt responsible, the Darkling.
