At one point, he had realized what she was doing and merely smiled, as they continued to dance.
“Stop thinking that way. You’re going home tomorrow, and you will never see him again. Besides, he’s a Prince; in line for the throne. You’re not Princess material, let alone someone who could ever be a Queen. Just let this go, and get some sleep,” she scolded herself for thinking such foolish thoughts.
As she struggled to fall asleep, Cassy heard a soft voice in her mind. “Cassandra, we need to talk.”
“Who’s here?” Cassy sat up on the bed and looked around the room. She suddenly noticed a small ball of light floating across the room toward the bed.
“Keira, is that you?”
“Hello, Cassandra. It is good to see you again,” Keira flew up to the bed then sat on the pillow next to Cassy.
Cassy looked down at Keira and marveled how lovely she was with the shimmering light surrounding her. “It’s good to see you too, Keira. What brings you here tonight?”
“I have been here the entire evening, watching over the festivities. I see that you and Frier had an enjoyable time,” she winked playfully.
Cassy felt her cheeks warm at the idea that Keira had watched her with Frier. “Yes, he was quite a surprise.”
“I’m sure he was. It was a joy to see the Prince as he was meant to be. He will be a great King someday.”
“I’m sure he will,” Cassy said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Keira saw the sorrow in Cassy’s eyes and she understood her torn feelings as she faced the decision to return to her own realm. Moreover, Keira knew it would only be temporary, as life had a different future planned for Cassandra, the Champion of Walandra.
“I know that you will be returning to your realm tomorrow, and I have something important for you to do once you are there,” Keira saw the surprised look on Cassy’s face and smiled.
“Hold out your hand, sweet child.”
Cassy did as instructed, and in a swirling flash of red light, she saw the Blood Stone lying in the palm of her hand. “I don’t understand. I thought the Blood Stone was returned to its protected place.”
“That is what the King and Queen believe, but it has another important task to perform.”
Cassy tipped her head to the side, unsure if she understood why Keira would give her the Blood Stone.
“You will take the Blood Stone with you to your realm tomorrow, and once there you will give it to Abigail.”
“You want me to give it to my great-grandmother. Why? Won’t the book already be there in her library?”
Keira began to laugh. “No, you silly child. The book is no longer in Abigail’s library. It came with you to Walandra. You wore it during your quest.”
Cassy shook her head, trying to understand. “Are you saying the sacred Breast Plate was actually the book? I know that’s what was said, but I never actually believed it to be true.”
“Yes, it was true. You see, when Abigail came to Walandra, she was unable to break the curse. Therefore, when Alona was about to take her life, the Blood Key returned itself, the sacred Breast Plate, and Abigail to your realm.”
“I don’t understand. If she loved Roupert and he loved her, why didn’t she return?”
Keira exhaled a breath before speaking again. “She could not return because she forgot about Walandra and everyone she met here. Once she had returned to your realm she learned of her Grandfather’s death, so in her grief, she forgot all about her time here.”
“How sad, and that explains the look of sadness in her eyes.” Cassy could not imagine what it would be like to lose one of her parents.
“It was as it was meant to be. Had Abigail not returned to your realm, you never would have been born. I never understood that until you came to us, but that was the plan from the beginning.”
“But I still don’t understand. Why do you want me to give her the Blood Stone?” Cassy looked down at the stone, now glowing in her hand.
“It is not necessary that you understand at this time. Abigail will know what to do with it when the times comes. I leave it with you, so please guard it well. There are still forces in this realm that would like to have its powers. I will cast a protection spell to surround you until you return to your realm, but please tell no one that you possess the stone. Do you understand?”
Cassy nodded her head as she held Blood Stone in her hand.
“I see they have provided you with a nightgown,” Keira grinned.
“Yes and it’s quite comfortable,” Cassy rubbed her hand on the soft fabric.
“Well, I will take my leave of you, Cassandra. I am thankful for everything you have done for the Kingdom of Walandra. Your courage and determination are a tribute to the brave soul you are, as well as the woman you will be in your life.”
“Thank you, Keira. It has been an honor, knowing you.”
Keira took flight, and then bowed. “Goodbye, our brave Champion; until we meet again.”
Before Cassy could respond, Keira disappeared in a bright flash of light.
After Keira had vanished, Cassy dropped her head down on her pillow, mulling over their conversation. She held out the Blood Stone and looked at it again.
“So, I’m to give this to my great-grandmother, and she will know what to do when the time it right. If she doesn’t remember Walandra and everything she did here, that doesn’t make any sense.”
Realizing there was no sense in worrying, she held the Blood Stone firmly against her chest. She then closed her eyes, and after a few restless minutes, Cassy finally slipped off into a dream-filled slumber of the happy memories of her evening with Frier.
The sun rose above the mountains and awoke the subjects of Walandra for their first full day of freedom from the Evil Queen Alona. Everyone scurried about doing their chores with a renewed sense of joy in their hearts. The birds’ songs seemed to carry a cheerful melody, the flowers seemed to smell sweeter, and the rest of the Kingdom seemed caught up in a new feeling of tranquility.
Cassy stirred from her slumber at the sound of the handmaiden entering the room.
“Good morning, I hope you slept well?” The handmaiden entered the room carrying a basket with Cassy’s freshly washed clothes.
Cassy sat up in the bed then yawned and stretched. “Yes, at a matter of fact, I slept quite well.”
“Good. I was sent to bring you to eat breakfast with the Royal family. The Queen thought you should eat before you return to your realm. Besides, I believe the King has something he wishes to give you.” The handmaiden removed the clothes from the basket and laid them on the bed next to Cassy.
“Your clothes are washed for you. I hope you find them satisfactory.”
“Thank you, they are fine,” Cassy grinned as she got out of the bed.
“Very good, I will leave you for now.” She turned and walked toward the door.
“Oh, well, let’s not leave them waiting,” Cassy smiled as she reached for her clothes. “Please give me a moment to gather my things and I’ll join you in the hallway.”
Once the handmaiden had left the room, Cassy quickly removed the nightgown and put on her clothes. She laughed at how the entire time she was on her quest, she had not noticed that her pajamas had magically transformed into clothes and her robe had become a jacket. “I wonder why Aaron and I didn’t realize that we were no longer in our pajamas? I guess it was more of that Power of the Dragon stuff. I am going to miss those boots though,” Cassy laughed, as she looked down at the slippers sitting on the floor next to her bed.
Cassy reached under the pillow on the bed and pulled out the Blood Stone then she picked up her robe and put it on. “Okay, let’s put you in here for safe keeping,” Cassy said as she put the Blood Stone in one of the pockets of the robe. Once she was convinced she had everything, she walked toward the door. Before opening the door, she turned and looked back at the beautiful room.
“It’s a shame that I’ll never come back here again.” She then reached for th
e door handle, opened the door, and joined the handmaiden in the hall.
When Cassy entered the room, she noticed Aaron already seated at the table with Frier and eating what appeared to be a large platter of pancakes.
“Good morning, it’s about time you woke up. Heck, Frier already took me for a morning flight,” Aaron said with a mouthful of the tasty treat.
Cassy walked over to the table and sat in the open chair between them. “He did? I bet you had a blast. I see now that you’re enjoying your breakfast,” she laughed as he took another huge bite and crammed it into his mouth.
“Oh man, that was the best time ever. I wish I were a Dragon. I was hoping to go again, but I know we’re leaving soon.”
Cassy looked at Frier and saw him smile. “Thank you for doing that.”
“I enjoyed taking him. We had a good time,” Frier responded.
Aaron took another large bite of his food as he rolled his eyes, “I don’t know what this stuff is, but it’s delicious. Mom needs the recipe.”
“Your brother has a healthy appetite,” Frier said, as he watched Aaron take another bite.
“Yeah, Dad always said that he’d probably eat us if we ever ran out of food.” Cassy then laughed when she saw the surprised look appear on Frier’s face.
“You are joking, correct? While I know he loves to eat, I do not believe that he would try to eat you, or your family.”
Cassy could not help but laugh at the concerned look on Frier’s face. “Yes, I’m only joking. It’s just a figure of speech. Aaron would never eat us, at least I hope not.”
Aaron looked at Cassy and grinned. “I’d never eat you because I’d probably get a bad stomach ache, but Melissa might be tasty. With all those creams to keep her skin soft, she might be extra tender.”
Frier broke out into raucous laughter at Aaron not wanting to eat Cassy. “So, you say that her twin sister is much more delicate. How interesting…”
Cassy glared at Aaron then at Frier. She did not understand why, but she was nervous at the idea of Melissa meeting Frier.
Aaron saw the look in her eyes and sensed her fear. “Hey, you wouldn’t like Melissa, Frier. While she may look like Cassy, she isn’t as cool. I promise you that had it been Melissa facing the Evil Queen, your kingdom would have been screwed. No, Cassy is the brave one in the family, and I’m proud to be her brother.”
Cassy looked at Aaron with both surprise and gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you, Aaron. I’m proud of you as well. This sure has been an adventure for us, hasn’t it?”
Aaron nodded his head then returned to eating his breakfast.
Frier raised his hand, summing one of the servers to bring his and Cassy’s meals. Once they had their meals, they ate in silence as they contemplated the events to come.
Chapter 26
Cassy leaned back in her chair and rubbed her overstuffed stomach. “Those were absolutely delicious. What were they called?”
Frier placed his fork on his plate and pushed it away from him. “They are called Templends. They are a favorite among my people. Roupert used to make them for me on special occasions. I only wish I would have stopped eating them two plates ago,” Frier groaned.
“Speaking of Roupert, where is he this morning?” Cassy looked around the room, hoping to see him.
“He is meeting with my Father and the Castle Guards. They are discussing security issues for the Castle.”
It surprised Cassy why they would need special security for the Castle. “Why do they need to worry about security now? Alona’s gone, so any danger you may face is gone, right?”
Frier reached over and took Cassy’s hand in his. “Do not worry about such things. My Father is a very powerful King so anyone wanting to do us harm will not find victory here. It is just a routine meeting; that is all. Come; please join me for a walk in the garden. I would like to have some time alone before you return home to your realm.”
Frier stood then led Cassy outside to the garden just off the balcony where Roupert had spoken to Keira the night before.
As they strolled down the path leading to the large water fountain, Cassy could not help but feel sorrow at the idea of leaving Frier and Walandra behind her. She knew it was foolish to feel this way, but something deep down inside of her did not want to leave. She glanced over at Frier and felt her heart beat wildly. Once at the fountain, they sat on the bench in the shade below a large tree.
Frier looked over at Cassy and swallowed, trying to gather his thoughts before he spoke. He knew she would be leaving soon, but he wanted her to know his feelings before she left him forever. “Cassy.”
“Yes, Frier.”
He turned so that he could look into her eyes. “I know that we are both young and that we have separate lives, but I wanted to let you know how I feel about you before you leave.”
Cassy looked into his eyes and felt her heart breaking. She wanted to respond, but the words evaded her lips.
Frier saw the emotions stirring in Cassy, and he felt overcome with his feeling for her. “As you know, once a Dragon surrenders his heart to the one they love, it is lost to them for all eternity. I love you, Cassy, and even though we will live far apart, you will always possess my heart.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed it.
Cassy could no longer hold back the tears fighting to escape down her cheeks. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and tell him that she would stay with him, but she knew that was impossible. She had to take Aaron home and give her great-grandmother the Blood Stone, as she had promised Keira.
“Frier, I wish I could stay with you and live here forever, but I can’t. I have to return to my family. I have obligations and things I need to do.” She reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes, hoping she had convinced him.
He turned his head away, fighting the pain welling up inside of his heart. “I understand obligations. I have many things that my Father expects of me as well. Learning the truth of who I am, and having everything I have believed my entire life turned upside down is frightening. The only thing that has made it bearable is you. When we met that first day, I felt something that I could not explain. Something deep inside of me awakened when I saw you standing there. I did not know what it was, but for some reason I sensed that we would be in each other’s lives. I did not know how or why, but my heart told me you would always be special to me.”
Cassy tipped her head to the side, surprised at his words. “But you never let on. I knew we were friends, but you never let on there was any more than friendship.”
Frier chuckled, “It is because I did not understand it myself. I was under my Mother’s spell in which not only was I trapped in the body of a young boy, but I had the emotions of one as well. It was not until the spell was broken and I gained my Dragon powers and memories that I thoroughly understood the strange feelings I had for you.”
Cassy shook her head and laughed softly. “In my realm, people speak of love at first sight, but this isn’t as simple as that, is it?”
Frier reached up and wiped the tears from her cheek. “No, it is not. I know you care for me. I can see it in your eyes. The Power of the Dragon has forever joined our hearts, and I wanted you to know that I will love you for the rest of my life.”
“Oh Frier, it’s so unfair,” she cried out then threw her arms around his neck. “I can’t stay with you. I’m sorry.”
Cassy held on to him, not wanting to let him go. She knew their time together was coming to an end, and that she would never see him again. How can one love someone so deeply in such a short time? The words burned in her mind.
She pressed her cheek against his and whispered in his ear, “I love you too, and I will for the rest of my life.”
“Ah, there you two are,” Roupert laughed when he saw the flushed looks on their faces.
“I thought we were going to have to send out the Palace Guards to bring you back inside. The King and Queen have been waiting,” Roupert winked playfully.
Frier and Cassy exchanged embarrassed glances then followed Roupert to the Great Hall.
“There they are. We were wondering when you two would join us,” King Ashlym teased. “Please come here.”
Frier and Cassy walked to where the King and Queen were standing with several of the Royal family.
“Cassandra, please come stand by me,” the King smiled as he waited for her.
She glanced over at Frier, not wanting to leave his side.
“Go on, the King awaits,” he smiled, as he released her hand.
Cassy walked over to the King and Queen with her heart pounding in her chest as she wondered what they wanted.
“Behold, our Champion, Cassandra. She came to us from another realm, summand by the Blood Key. Through the selfless acts of bravery, she bested the Evil Queen Alona and made it possible to banish her to the Land of Shadows for all eternity.”
Cheers erupted from those gathered around. “Praises for our Champion, Cassandra!”
Cassy looked up at the King and noticed the broad smile on his face. He held up his hand to silence the crowd then he turned to Cassy. “We will forever be in your debt. The Queen and I wish to bestow a gift showing our appreciation for all you have done.”
He turned and retrieved a necklace from a small jeweled box. “This amulet has special powers which will give you the ability to return to Walandra should your heart wish to return.” He took the necklace and handed it to Frier.
Cassy turned her back to Frier, allowing him to put the necklace around her neck. Once it was in place, she lifted the amulet and looked at it.
“It looks like the Blood Stone, only smaller. Thank you, it’s beautiful,” she said in a near whisper.
The Dragons Blood Key: Legend of the Dragon's Blood Key - Book 1 Page 18