"Yes, I do refuse to marry her. Ambassador Ria is now officially Hautian royalty and I have chosen her to be my queen."
Ria's heart swelled with pride as she heard him standing up for her, and, by the same token, for himself. But there was no time for congratulations. The Onoatiga weren't going to take the Dragon King's rebellion lying down. It struck Ria that they had never faced any opposition from their favourite puppet, and their manner showed that they didn't quite know what to do with his response.
"That is not acceptable, the law demands true, blood royalty to be your bride." The lead Onoatiga's voice was the standard raspy monotone, but it sounded as if he had a bit of a glitch. If he was human, he would have been stuttering, Ria thought bemusedly.
"And which law is that?" Xagrun was not backing down.
"The law of Dragona, which you, the Dragon King, are expected to uphold."
"Ah, but if I am the Dragon King, then the law of Dragona should be what I have agreed to, should it not?"
"You are subject to the law just as any other citizen."
"That I do not dispute, but then I wish to be informed who passed such a law?"
The other Onoatiga were moving closer, apparently sensing the tension and backing up their spokesman. Ria pressed closer to Xagrun, feeling his power beginning to pulsate again, but this time it was a force of authority with a different intent than mere self-gratification.
He was moved to protect her, his new love, and to protect his kingdom from what he now suddenly realised was a parasitic, subliminal dictatorship. The true king was emerging like a Phoenix from the ashes of aeons of undetected oppression.
"It is simply the law and you must submit to it."
"I cannot accept that. Until you have proven to me that such a law was set in place by my father, I will not accept it. And if it is so, then that implies that I, as the reigning Dragon King of Dragona, have the power and authority to amend or abolish such a law, should I see fit."
The Onoatiga were by now fully convinced that their subliminal hold on the king had been broken. They resorted to more desperate measures, each one drawing a laser weapon from the white folds of their robes.
"Then you leave us no choice but to eliminate the threat." It was creepy how there was no emotion in their voices. It only added to the disconcerting sense of speaking to a creature that had a blank screen for a face.
"The threat? Ambassador Ria is no threat! Not to the Kingdom of Dragona, and certainly not to my rule. It is because of her that I am becoming a true ruler, a true leader. She has taught me how to look outside of myself, to see the needs of others, and from now on, I will treat the affairs of state of my kingdom in a much better informed way! The first shall be to remove you from my cabinet!"
The spokesman raised his laser weapon, pointing it straight at Ria. With a shock, she saw a little red dot of light trained on the centre of her chest.
"Move away, Dragon King," the Onoatiga rasped. Through her shock, Ria realised that they were somehow programmed to preserve the king's life, as if their survival depended on his, in true parasitic nature.
Xagrun seemed to have perceived that, too. He moved resolutely between Ria and her antagonist, the red point of light now glancing off the darkened scales of his chest, as he held her firmly behind him with both hands. "I will not. I am her king, and it is my place to protect her, as one of my citizens and as my bride."
Ria buried her face in his warm back, wanting nothing more than to kiss him. She had never been so sacrificially protected, never felt so consummately safe. In a flash of memory, she remembered her mother reading to her the story of Esther and Xerxes. She remembered how the story had ended. He had also defended her from some bad guy who wanted to annihilate her, and her whole race, if she remembered correctly.
That story had stuck in the depths of her memory, buried in the everyday realities of life, but brewing in the cellar of her deepest heart's desires. Tears of joy mingled with heartache began to spill over onto her cheeks and darkened Xagrun's embroidered bolero.
That was the kind of hero she had always been searching for, and finally given up the search. Now that she had found him, was she doomed to lose him if she did go back to Earth to assuage her family's fears and grief?
Would she even be able to make it back to the right decade, at least, and then back here to the man she now knew without a doubt that she belonged to? So many questions, so few answers, such a burning desire for one being. It felt surreal. Either she was going crazy or she was dreaming.
Xagrun's decision to call the Onoatiga's bluff paid off, and Ria felt relief wash over her as she heard the raspy voice order his compatriots to stow their weapons.
"I remove you from my cabinet as of today and expect you to leave your offices immediately that we return," the new and improved King Xagrun informed the Onoatiga, still holding Ria firmly behind him. It almost seemed too easy, Ria thought.
The response was quick and calculated, "We have acquaintances here in the Hautian Galaxy. We will join them immediately, so you need not concern yourself with transporting us back to Dragona."
Ria knew who they were speaking of, and she suspected they would simply retreat to rally forces before trying again to infiltrate the power centres of these galaxies. She wanted to stop them, wanted to end their ridiculous brainwashing of whole kingdoms. Especially since the leaders of these kingdoms had been so kind to her, despite their primal customs. Suddenly a great boldness filled her, and she pulled herself loose from Xagrun's grip.
Standing proudly beside her king, she stared defiantly at the blank, glossy faces of the robotic beings. She noticed Venna and her parents, their veils back in place and a roomful of guards backing them up, had stationed themselves behind the group of Onoatiga. Their presence bolstered her resolve even more.
"We know who you are. You are part of the Black Council who thinks they rule the Hautian galaxy, and I bet you have all sorts of other names in other galaxies. But you have been exposed for the frauds you are, leeching off other races in your lust for control." She felt Xagrun's eyes on her, his approval radiating from him and seeming to lift her until she felt so light she thought she was floating. "Well, it's over! Your pseudo-reign is coming to an end, you parasitic mind benders!"
Xagrun placed his arm around her and drew her close. "My queen has spoken," he said, his voice warm and deep.
"And my guards will escort you from the premises," King Holdort added, "Be sure you have left the planet within four hours, or we will be required to imprison you, according to our law."
On cue, the Hautian palace guards moved forward, quickly surrounding the Onoatiga, their weapons drawn. "Lay down your weapons on the ground and kick them towards us," the captain of the guard ordered.
"We know where your little backwater planet is, Earthling," one of the Onoatiga hissed at Ria. She glared at him as the guards came between them and escorted the unwelcome element out of the palace.
"Don't listen to him," Xagrun said, his tone dismissive. But Ria felt her gut tighten, even if just a little. She hoped she hadn't brought a threat on her own home planet. Now she had another, more pressing reason to go back. She would have to warn Earth. But who would she tell of the possible threat? Who would listen to her?
Venna rushed forward, again tossing aside her veil and breaking in on Ria's thoughts, "Oh, you were wonderful, my sister, Hautian Princess!" she gushed, and Ria thought that sounded like something Natty would say in one of her fantasy games that Ria had always been obliged to play along with. Ria smiled and Venna embraced her, spinning her around and around in a crazy, off-balance two-step.
"We are so proud to have you in our family, aren't we, Father!" Venna laughed.
"Of course," King Holdort agreed, smiling. Clearly, he loved to see his daughter happy. Perhaps that was the only reason he had agreed to her request to adopt Ria into their Royal lineage.
"King Holdort," Xagrun said, his face grave, "I do believe we should speak about the issue of the
Black Council aka Onoatiga. Our galaxies need to take hands to eradicate this parasitic race."
"I agree, King Xagrun. Or at least to contain them in such a way that renders them inoperative."
"Precisely," Xagrun concurred, grinning at his bride to be. "Do you see what you have done, Ria Gallagher?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you. I told you once, you have turned my world upside down, and now you see the evidence."
Ria left Venna's side and embraced him, wordlessly drinking in his affirmation.
"So. The wedding is tomorrow, then?" Venna said, clapping her hands together gleefully. It was more a statement than a question.
Xagrun laughed. "Why not?" he said expansively, his golden eyes locked on Ria's.
"Come, we must prepare! Time is wasting!" Venna's jubilance knew no bounds. She led her family away leaving Xagrun and Ria alone. Ria watched them go and then she crumbled, overwhelmed and overwrought, her head spinning with a thousand jumbled thoughts.
"What am I doing?" she blurted out. "What have I done?" She collapsed onto the couch that thankfully stood behind her as if waiting for her breakdown. Her shoulders began to shake, as she buried her face in her hands. Xagrun quietly sat down next to her, not really knowing what to do with her sudden change of mood.
"You are marrying me, and you have changed the course of history," he said, his habitual pragmatism coming to the fore as his default coping mechanism.
"Yes," Ria said, dropping her hands into her lap and holding his confused gaze with troubled eyes. "But what does that new history look like?"
Xagrun was flummoxed, "You are not happy to be my bride? You are distressed because you have helped save a galaxy?"
"I am happy! More than you know, but I have also doomed my own planet!"
"Earth?"
"Yes, Earth! Those Black Council bastard hybrids know where it is! That one said so and what if, what if, they actually go there and..." she didn't really know what they could do, and that was probably the scariest part of it all. "I have to warn them, somehow. This makes it even more urgent for me to get back. Maybe we should call off the wedding until I get back?"
"What if? You're going to call off the most important day of our lives because of what if?" His voice was gentler than his words, "Ria, there are two kingdoms working together to keep watch on those varmint. We won't let them do anything to Earth. It is now, according to both Hautian and Dragonesque custom, our responsibility to ensure the protection of your planet."
"It is?"
"Absolutely." He nodded, stroking her cheek.
"But what if—"
"Ah, there you go with your what if's again." Xagrun smiled at her like one would smile at a child's silly fears.
"I'm just so scared, Xagrun!"
"I know you are. Everything will be okay, you'll see." He drew her into his arms, kissing her hair as she began to weep, her body shaking.
He held her, without a word, letting her sob it all out. All the wavering uncertainty, the great longing, the overwhelming ecstasy, the uncontainable excitement billowing through her soul.
"Shhh... Shhh... Shhh..." He soothed her frayed emotions as he rocked her. She had no idea how he knew to do that, but somehow that, mingled with just his mere presence, stilled the flood of unease raging through her.
"You did what you believed to be right in the circumstances you found yourself in, Ria. That is admirable, not only for an Ambassador, but for a Queen. When you described the kind of woman I should marry, I knew you checked all those boxes. I knew then that I would marry you, and not Venna. I just didn't know how it could be possible."
Ria lifted her tear-streaked face to look at him, her eyes bright. "And then Venna herself made it possible. How ironic!" She giggled and snuggled into him, feeling his heartbeat against her skin.
He picked her up and carried her to her chambers. I could really get used to this, Ria thought, as he laid her on her bed and kissed her forehead.
"Sleep," he said, as he left. "We have a busy day tomorrow." With a wink, he disappeared behind the closing door.
Chapter 15: Nuptials
"Do hold still, dear sister!" Venna reprimanded Ria as she buttoned the dress she herself would have worn in a few weeks’ time. It was gorgeous, made with something akin to silk and shot through with all the colours of the rainbow, making it look like fluid mother-of-pearl. It was nothing like the heavy, embroidered cloth that was the Dragonesque standard of beauty.
It was made up of layer upon layer of the wispy fabric, making Ria feel like she was dressed in rainbow-filled clouds. Venna had sprinkled fragrant gold flakes into Ria's curly brown hair and touched up her features with coloured and fragrant powders that she mixed herself.
The crown princess had insisted on being Ria's matron of honour and wouldn't allow any of the maids in waiting into the room. Ria knew it was partly because she wanted an excuse to remove the veil and just be a girl with her new-found sister.
"I don't know how to thank you for this dress, Venna. I feel like I shouldn't even be borrowing it."
"Nonsense!" Venna laughed, the sound like music in Ria's ears. "You are my sister and it makes perfect sense that you should have it!"
She finished touching up the wayward strands of hair that had escaped from her elaborate styling and knelt down in front of Ria.
"I want you to know that I am here for you, whenever you need me. Being a Queen can be a pretty scary thing if you don't have the training for it. Mother has taught me well, and I will be more than happy to pass on all that I know to you, as I'm sure she will, too."
A sweet silence hung between them. Ria so wished Natty could be there. She had always reminded Ria of her promise that she would let her be her bridesmaid. That was a promise fate had forced her to break, and yet that same fate had provided her with a sister, Venna, who, crazily enough, was the Hautian version of her silly little Natty.
Ria hoped she had appreciated her enough, that Natty would remember her as the sister who loved her, and not the one who told her she should stop daydreaming. She had to admit to herself now, that she was just as much a daydreamer as Natty had been. It was a characteristic that bound them across time and space. In some strange way, Natty was there in the form of Venna.
"You miss your family, don't you?" Venna's voice was softly commiserating, her eyes wide with compassion.
"Yes," Ria admitted, knowing that Venna would not be offended by her honesty. "Especially my little sister, Natty. You remind me very much of her." Ria gave her a sad smile.
"That's a great compliment for me. Any blood relative of yours must be an amazing person." Venna's smile was as genuine as it was beautiful.
"I wish you could meet, one day," Ria said, brightening a little. "She would be over the moon to meet a real princess, especially a shape shifting one. She's a real fairy story glutton."
"Fairy story?"
"Oh, stories about mythical beings that don't exist. On Earth, that is." Ria laughed, suddenly feeling lighter. Somehow, talking about Natty made her presence seem even more tangible.
"Shapeshifters don't occur on Earth?"
"No," Ria shook her head.
"Would you like to see my dragon shape?"
"Oh! Yes!"
Venna looked at the clock on the wall. "We're all done, and we still have an hour before the wedding - your wedding! - let's go to the garden and I'll show you."
"But you still need to get ready!" Ria protested, not wanting Venna to lose time for her own preparations.
"Ah, I'm ready to see you wed to the love of your life! Besides, you are the one everybody will be looking at, so my most important work is done!"
Venna spun happily in a circle, making her own multicoloured skirts radiate out about her like flower petals. Then she grabbed Ria's hand and led her from her chambers, looking right and left at every corner, shrinking back into hiding and stifling giggles whenever they saw a guard on his rounds.
At last, they made it outside, and Venna led the s
himmering bride to her favourite place in the garden. It was a pool filled with water lilies that looked like clusters of daisies growing from heart-shaped leaves. Surrounded by thickly planted flowering shrubs and massive trees, that made Ria think of weeping willows, with white bark and golden yellow leaves.
"Sit here," Venna commanded breathlessly, showing Ria a living bench made of intertwined branches, softened with moss and fine foliage. She walked over to a clear patch of grass and began to morph before Ria's eyes. The Earthling stared, her jaw-dropping without her even realising it.
From the humanoid being emerged a tall, sleek dragon with wings like a butterfly, but they were able to fold closed like those of a regular dragon. The shapes and colours on them reminded Ria of a monarch butterfly and were echoed in the soft scales that covered the rest of Venna's dragon shape.
She towered up above Ria, probably the height of a house, if one had to guesstimate. Her neck arched like a swan's, it's bronze-coloured mane, like a pony's, rippling as she tossed her head. She thrashed her long tail playfully, chasing birds from the trees, so that they dispersed in fluttery panic, loudly protesting the disturbance.
Ria laughed out loud. "Venna! You're amazing! I'm so jealous!" She jumped up from the bench and ran all the way around her, wanting to take in every angle. Venna spun around, glorying in her own beauty in a way that wasn't prideful, but unselfconsciously exultant.
This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen! Ria thought, I have to get Natty here, someday, somehow. I just have to!
A voice suddenly broke in on the celebration. It was the high-pitched stammering of the nervous lizard butler. "Uhm... Your Highnesses," he said, and coughed spasmodically, "King Holdort is looking for you," he said and then immediately scuttled off.
"Busted!" Ria laughed, as Venna returned to her humanoid shape and replaced her veil. She took Ria's hand and they followed the path the butler had taken towards the palace.
The morning sun was still low on the horizon and the palace sparkled like an opaque diamond set amidst the rolling green lawns and fresh, flowering foliage. King Holdort was waiting for them, arms folded, near the fountains just behind the palace.
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