The Given Crown

The Given Crown

Two centuries is a long time. It's a long time to live, a long time to build, and a long long time to rule a kingdom. Today it would all end at the tip of a blade, the blood of one would be spilled tonight. One queen would fall, her fate decided. The casket was already open, waiting for the body of a monarch.

Queen Leta stood out on the balcony, gazing upon the dragon kingdom of Hoersten. The Decanus dynasty would end this day, she knew her hours were numbered. Overall the lives of her fellow dragons had improved under her watchful eye, but not all agreed with this sentiment, some couldn't wait to see her reign toppled.

A soft knock sounded from the door to her chambers.

"Come in."

The door squeaked open, and a young dragoness slipped into the room. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she shook as she delivered a stiff bow.

"Your highness"

"It's ok Tiela you don't have to call me that, not today."

Tiela seemed even more upset at this, and Leta attempted to calm her nerves.

"Worrying won't stop what's happening child, you just need to accept it and move on. It's likely that you can even keep your job as the queen's servant if you stick around."

Tiela was really quiet still and she was working hard not to cry.

"But Leta, you're going to die! I, h-how are you so calm about this?"

"You're only 90 summers old, I've been queen your entire life. I'm over seven hundred, I've lived long enough to be happy with how all this turned out."

Tiela really was crying now, and Leta wrapped her paws around Tiela's shaking shoulders.

"This is how it has to be Tiela, it's for the good of all Hoersten."

A much louder knock sounded from the door. With Tiela still in her arms she turned and opened the door, peering into the hall. Just outside her chambers stood a royal guard. He offered a small bow before he began.

"Your majesty, the ceremony will begin soon, come with me."

With Tiela now tucked under her wing, Leta centered the crown atop her head. She straightened her spine and stood tall, emerald scales shimmering and slightly curved horns nearly touching the ceiling. She was in very healthy condition even in her advanced age, and many drakes still tended to stare a bit too long when she passed by.

She followed the guard down several flights of stairs and through a hallway before the three of them entered a massive courtyard.

"Sir, can you stay with poor Tiela here? Whatever happens, I want you to keep her safe."

"As the queen commands, I shall guard her till my final breath."

Tiela shook her head vigorously, still crying.

"You can't do this! You taught me everything I know, I- you h-have to stop it! You're the closest thing to f-family I've ever had."

"It will be ok little one, be calm. The lessons I gave you and the progress I built will be my legacy, hold on to those and I will never be truly gone. Live long little Tiela, you too will make a great queen some day."

The guard held Tiela back as Leta ascended the steps to a large platform in the middle of the yard. A massive crowd was gathered in front of the dais, and to her left stood a truly ancient dragon. His scales were bleached and patchy, thousands of years had passed by his gilded eyes, hundreds of queens just like her came and went in this spot. The dragon held a thin iron spike in his claws, arm outstretched towards her. She gingerly grasped the blunt end of the iron and slid it from his grasp. She turned to face the crowd. The raspy voice of the elder washed over the crowd.

"We are here today to recognize the abdication of power in the crown. And as all monarchs are such for life, their blood must flow out!"

The ancient beast turned his great head towards her.

"Do you, Leta Decanus, abdicate the crown as per the ancient pact of stone?"

"I do relinquish my power and this crown, back to the people who give it authority."

With her free hand she removed her crown and placed it in the waiting claws of the dragon next to her.

"And do you relinquish your life to clear this throne?"

"I will spill my blood for peace in the future and the resolution of this change."

Leta's hand holding the spike tightened, then thrust into her chest, blood flowed freely as she collapsed on the dais. The spike was sharp, almost sharp enough to be painless, though she could still feel it inside her chest.

"THE THRONE HAS BEEN CLEARED, A NEW QUEEN AWAITS THE RESPONSIBILITY!"

As she bled on her side Leta saw that Tiela had stopped struggling, and now just stood in shock.

Leta's lings began to fill with blood, and in her final breath she croaked out to Tiela.

"I live on in you, my daughter."


Darkness…


Light, blinding light, then a distant view of a beautiful young dragoness sitting on a throne, her gilded crown encrusted with rubies.

Leta couldn't be happier with her legacy.