The slowly awakening Rhiannon groaned as she stretched herself like a cat. It was a deep and rumbling sound and the hearty yawn that followed bared lots of frightening teeth. She looked in the mirror, covering a whole wall of her accommodation and wished for it to disappear. It was awkward seeing her own body in a form this foreign to her. But at the same time, it felt so good. That was the most frightening part of her transformation. The slow disappearing of her human mindset. She changed back to her human form only to feel worse. An urge to scratch of those remaining scales, to tear out her slitted eyes a reminder of what she had become. Panic flooded her mind like physical pain. A soft cry rang out of her dry throat. How could she ever face her parents like this? How was she to explain the monster she saw in the mirror?

She stared at her reflection. Having read about cases like hers in novels she felt she didn't carry herself well. A sense of bitter self-mockery let her laugh in a quite hysteric way. But why should she simply accept this fate of hers? Technically she knew she was a dragon; she had already seen it yesterday but... It felt different today... she covered her face in both her hands unwilling to see any more. The dullness of emotions faded as the transformation had concluded. The pure rationality of shock had dimmed her fear and wrath.

Then she looked again at her reflection and it hurt her internally. Knowing one was a monster was not the same as looking into your own face unable to recognize it. It was just rubbing salt into an open wound to place a mirror that big in here.

She sighed. Rambling didn't change a thing about her being what she was. It was like shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted. All she could do was to cope with it. Maybe she could slow down the changes that occurred to her if she didn't give in as she had last evening. Maybe she would stay more human if she used her human form more frequently.

Remembering the joy Miriam had shown when she had told her about being a royal dragon. Rhia was sure that no dragon would understand if she didn't embrace the changes that happened to her. Even if she could only belate it they would certainly not tell her.

Though she had changed to her human form but she still felt torn. Everything but one with herself. Taking on human form she felt a light strain from compressing her dragon form into the small human body. But she ignored it and pretended not to feel the sting of worry when she remembered that Miriam spoke about the 'true form' instead of dragon form.

She didn't want to be a dragon dressed up as a human. The thought alone frightened her. Thinking about it she refused it downright. If someone asked her about what she was, she would answer she was a now a human that had undeniably inherited some dragon traits.

Rhiannon felt if could only force herself to believe it with every fibre of her being it would come true. Despite her gut feeling and all scientific evidence she wanted it to true. If she denied becoming a real dragon maybe she would be human again.

As her resolve grew stronger, she felt her confidence growing too. Maybe it was a fool's errand but she decided to go down fighting. She wouldn't change back into that cursed dragon form. A part of her knew it was childish and obsolete. But...

Interrupting her train of thoughts that had long since entered hysteria a knock on the door startled her. She spun around and hissed instinctively. Another novelty that shocked her. Those feral non-human instincts kicking in. Rhiannon was disgusted at the changes in herself.

'Come in.' she said quietly her back towards the door, not intending to turn around. The dragon in her knew she would be heard without raising her voice. And those memories told her she very impolite. It didn't matter to her...probably a part of her intended to be rude. She didn't want to know those things the dragon told her. It felt like the clan memories, the blood memories, invaded her way of thinking whilst giving her that information. Changing it as they assimilated to her mind.

Light steps sounded in her back. They stopped a few steps behind her. She knew she should turn. But she really did not feel like it. A sigh could be heard.

'It seems like you are not taking your new situation as good as my mother and little brother thought. I thought it strange to begin with.' a nice baritone stated in a worried manner.

Rhiannon didn't bother to answer still looking at the mirror. She saw a handsome young man standing right behind her. Stern black eyes, short styled hair and scales contrasted pale skin. He was a real stunner. But she tried to ignore both her dragon instincts and her own attraction. So, she purposefully waited before turned around after a while- slowly. Affronting him on purpose. This young man, or dragon as she corrected herself, was the crown prince. And part of the reason for misery. She knew it wasn't fair to blame him but it felt good. His decision had been the turning point. He had tipped the scale.

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He frowned as he looked into her face. Morgan knew what she was trying to do and wore his best poker-face. His solemn expression was bare of any trace of guilt. He smiled instead as he looked into her eyes challenging her intently.

'You should know that other people would kill for the chance to be one of ours. And a royal at that.' he said in a strange tone and chuckled softly. 'But before you start complaining right now... I was sent here to guide you to the dining hall. My mother awaits you. I suggest you dress yourself up for sent she still is your queen... Even if you hate to admit it. Or fear it. I'll be waiting in the corridor.' than he left the room leaving a flabbergasted Rhia who had been thoroughly seen through. Even without saying more than two words.

She dressed in a blue dress that had been seemingly chosen for her while she was fast asleep. It was beautiful and matched the tone of her scales. Rhia hated it to the bone. After dressing she begrudgingly followed him and met him in the corridor. He smiled at her and offered his elbow. Like... Well like the prince he was. Without any mockery.

She complied for she felt ashamed by her own childish behaviour. After a minute of walking, he offered 'It would be nice to talk to you. Otherwise, I will have to believe the cat got your tongue for real.' Cunningly smiling at her. Her face blushed but she couldn't even tell why. He was attractive sure, but he was a prince and more importantly a dragon. No one she wanted to like.

'I am sorry. I don't feel like talking right now.' she answered sourly but without the sting she intended. His nice manners and behaviour where a fool proof way to make her regret behaving nasty. His smile told her he knew. Politics.

They had walked silently side by side. None of them felt the need to break the silence. It was quite comfortable actually. That reminded her of what her mother had told her about men. 'Dear it is necessary to have a man who you can talk to. He has to be strong enough so you can protect each other. That's alright... But you know you've found the one when he's able to stand your silence.' It was funny that she thought about it right now. She shook her head at her own stupidity but smiled all the same. It wasn't like she had time for ships right now. Lost in thought she was startled when Morgan began to speak again.

'Even if you can't imagine I know what you feel like. I... Well, I was in a denial of what I was when the first changing caught me. I did everything to resist it but I still was unable to stop it. My rebellion and flight stopped the moment I seriously endangered those near me by a change of form that forced me out of control over my body and mind. That's what happens when you fight it. It will take you to your knees and overcome your conviction. Then if it, does you are a victim of your own instincts and lose grip of your conscience not better than those werewolves in the fairy-tales. ' he told her in a tone bare of emotions. His honesty shocked her. He didn't seem to want to manipulate her. The prince seemed to disapprove his mother’s agenda or at least the fact she was hiding things. She felt he really tried to help her.

But when she looked into his eyes, she knew that that was not all. There was a pain even deeper in there. It hurt her to look at it. This prince was not simple. She liked his sincerity. He was dangerous and he was handsome. Rhia wondered what kind of occurrence had left the wounds in his heart. The newest dragon cursed herself for behaving like a lovestruck teenager and wondered whether her dragon nature played a role in this mess of hormones. Maybe there was some kind of heat or something. She had to dig deeper in her new situation both in culture and in biology and stuff.

They stayed silent for the rest of the short walk. 'We are here.' Morgan simply told her as they reached a huge doorway whose two halves were opened by the guards as they approached.

It felt a little strange as they bowed and greeted 'Welcome my Prince, Milady.' she tried to conduct her in an appropriate manner and thanked them solemnly. The prince smiled at her and greeted them by their names. Rhiannon liked the way he smiled.

They entered the huge banquet hall. It had the atmosphere of a medieval knight's hall filled with long table banners and tapestries as it was. The queen of dragons awaited them at the high table. It stood at the other side of the hall right under a huge colourful tapestry. It was ancient and showed some of dragon kin’s more glorious moments in history. The high table was the only one that showed its broad side towards the door all others only showed their small sides. There were several dragons present who stood silently up to greet the newcomers as they made their way to the high table. Suddenly Rhiannon felt thankful to whomever gave her the blue dress she wore at the moment. She would have felt even more out of place if she had worn a more casual outfit. Miriam and Mero greeted them friendly. Morgan sat next to his mother to the right whilst Mero was placed a little further down the table. Rhiannon was directed towards an empty stool at Morgan’s other side. It was clearly a place of honour, even if she didn't know how she got there. All eyes of the other dragons present were directed at her and seemed to assess her position based on her place at the table. It was clearly about politics and nobles. Alliances and intrigues. A statement.

She felt presented and didn't know which agenda was behind it. It made her feel small. Her small sigh of relief was noticed by Morgan who chuckled as the queen told all present to enjoy their meal.

'You will get used to the attention eventually.' he told her with a smile. In many a situation she would have found his reaction assumptious but right now it was comforting. The black prince clearly had a way with words. The rest of the dinner was spent with small talk and niceties. Which sounded worse than it truly was. Prince Morgan and the Young Knight Tobias Finley, who was Morgan’s second in command and an old friend of his, were a quite joyful company. Morgan’s black and Tobias grey eyes sparkled as they recounted several stories of their mischief they did when they were in merging. It was hilarious.

When the dinner was finally over the prince escorted her back to her room and Rhiannon felt that her future life might not be as bad as she had thought it to be. Morgan seemed to be someone to befriend, to take away the loneliness she had felt even before her transformation.