Characters & Their Short Stories

Elly = Cost of the Crown

**The stars are very beautiful above the palace walls

They shine with equal splendour still above far humbler halls**
I laid back on the grass. The ocean waves pushing against the sand and stone bellow. The stars were beautiful tonight.

**I watch them from my window, but their bright, entrancing glow
Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago**
There bright, entrancing glow was a sad reminder though. Of the freedom, I had given up by becoming the Dragon Queen.

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**The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow**
I circlet of shimmering silver rested lightly on my brow.

**I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow
But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred
I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head**
Once upon a time I only thought about freeing the dragons and gaining a title, but once I took the band I found it heavy on my steel heart though light upon the head.

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**Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least
The true Queen knows her people fed, before she sits to feast

The good Queen knows her people safe, before she takes her rest
Thinks twice and thrice and yet again, before she makes request**

I looked around the campfire, making sure all my friends were ok. They were all chatting happily as they ate dinner. I walked into my tent, sitting on my sleeping bag. As I looked over my plans for the hunt once more, I calculated the implications.

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**For they are all my children, all that I swore to defend**

Tears blurred my vision as I fell to my knees by Emily's side. I screamed, things turning to ash around me.

**It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend—**

I smiled as I walked through the crowd. We shared smiles and greetings.
**And of my children high and low, from beggar to above
The dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love**

I looked out at the crowd, all of which who had volunteered to come with me for the war.

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**The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command**

"We want to help Elly."

I looked at them. And smiled.

**Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand**

I looked out at the Dragons. They understood my pain of losing a dragonling.

**That land and people first have needs that I may not deny—
So I must send my dearest friends to danger—and to die**

Lethe nodded before walking off to prepare the others. I looked at Anna.

"Please look after her. Keep her safe."

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**A friend, a love, a child—it matters not. I know indeed
That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need
They know, and they forgive me—doing more than I require
With willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire**

"Arora, No!"

She smashed the lantern, flames flooding the tunnel behind her, and ran down the corridor

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**These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can't shed**

I held back the tears until I got to my room.

**The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead**

I slid down the door, hand over my mouth silencing my sobs.

**O Gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry—
And if you have compassion—let me send no more to die!**

I knelt at the lake, looking at the stars. I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't send any more dragons to die.