Once Arthur was able to calm his emotions through a breathing technique the monks had taught him he placed the parchment that he just read upside down on his desk and readied himself to read the next page.
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This day was a special day father. As this day was my five hundredth birthday. I met a dragon today. Yes a dragon.
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“Come with us to the tavern Isabella.” Harth spoke, “I heard the Dragon’s Breath is one of the best on the Dark Vale Island.” Dark Vale, an island that consisted of a constant coverage of gloom and doom. Specifically named from a very old and powerful wizard that cast a very high leveled spell that created the vale of darkness around the island. The wizard was said to be mad at the locals that lived there as they refused to let him practice his magic after burning half the island.
“I think i’ll pass.” Isabella spoke. She wasn’t her usual perky self. Something seemed off and her crew picked up on it.
“What’s wrong?” Boris asked her.
She looked down at him with an attempt at a smile. However, the tears that swelled in the corners of her eyes told another story. She glanced up at the rest of her crew that sat the table in the dinning hall and sighed heavily, “Look, I don’t think I’m in much of a celebration mood today.”
“But it’s your birthday.” Harth gave in and spoke the truth, “We wanted to celebrate you.”
She smiled briefly at them, however the smile didn’t last long. “I left home on my birthday. Most of you all know that. The pressure my father put me under, it was too great to bear and the sea seemed so freeing.”
“Why were you under so much pressure?” Boris asked as he couldn’t remember.
“I was supposed to be Queen of Vanguard. Father always told me, by age two hundred, the throne will be yours. The kingdom will be all yours. And that, scared me more than anything. I didn’t think I was ready for that yet. I felt like I still had a lot of growing left to do.”
“Did you ever talk to your father about this?” Boris asked.
“I tried… he never listened. Always so stubborn in his ways. I was named King when I turned one hundred and fifty. He always spoke with pride in his voice. Always spoke with command. To the point I never felt that he truly cared for me. That he only cared for the kingdom.”
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Arthur straightened up, “I… I had no idea.” He spoke as he choked back more tears. “I’m sorry Isabella. I treasured you always and knew you would be a great ruler. I just wanted what I thought was best for you.” He tightened the grip he held on this piece of parchment as he calmed his breathing. “Your death is my fault. If I hadn’t pushed you… you would still be by my side. My darling princess.”
He took a deep breath once more before continuing and proceeded to read the page before his tight grip tore the paper.
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“Now you know that isn’t true.” Harth spoke. “I’m sure he loved you just the same.”
Isabella shook her head, “Doubtful.” She sucked in her own tears as talking about her father and their kingdom of Vanguard was something she rarely did. Often in the beginning but as time went on he rarely passed her mind now.
“Don’t say that.” Boris spoke, “I’m sure you are on his mind.”
“Sure.” She whispered softly. “Can we talk about something else?”
“The Dragon Breath Tavern?” Harth questioned, “Perhaps a drink will help ease your mind.”
Isabella thought about it for a good moment. Drinking will help keep my mind at ease. “Alright.” Isabella spoke caving into their request. “Just try not to mention my birthday please?”
“Got it Captain!” They all spoke simultaneously.
They walked from the ship that was docked at Dragon’s Wing Port and made their way north to the Dragon’s Breath Tavern. The port they had docked at hosted ten ships at once, as it was one of the medium sized ports that they have gone to. The Dragon’s Breath is a tavern that hosts plenty of dragon themed drinks ranging in strength and taste. The Dragon’s Breath is named after a dragon that once had it’s home on the island until ruthless pirates came and killed the dragon and took it’s last two eggs. Rumor always had it that the dragon had three eggs and one was not found. Leaving the citizens and travelers to believe that one of the dragon’s babies was still around the island even though it was never seen.
“Ah! The crew has arrived!” A well dressed man at the bar spoke with a deep ethereal sounding voice as he spotted Isabella and her crew. Her crew had come by earlier to make sure there would be plenty of spots and beer for the birthday girl.
Isabella looked a bit confused as she had no idea that her crew had even left the ship to arrange anything, “The crew?”
The well dressed man smiled, “Ah, I see they did not tell you they came in earlier and spoke of a beautiful elven girl and how it was her birthday?”
Isabella felt her face slowly start to flush red. It had been sometime since someone had called her beautiful. “Thank you. But please, keep the celebrations to a minimum.” She asked.
He arched his eyebrow, “A charming young woman doesn’t want a celebration? Alrighty then. What would it be to drink?” He asked as he was quick to change the subject.
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“Something strong. But something sweet.” Isabella spoke as she took a seat at the bar. Straddling her chair with her staff dangling from her left side.
Her crew approached the bar and joined her, “We will have what she has.” Boris spoke. “Remember to put it on the tab.”
The bartender nodded. He walked to the back and pulled out a rather large bottle of a clear liquid. As he swirled the liquid in front of them the liquid turned from clear to gold. “A Dragon’s Breath.” He spoke, “One of our strongest drinks. Leaves a burning sensation in the back of your throat. And can give you a wicked hangover if too much is drank.”
“What makes it so strong?” Isabella asked.
The man gave a smile, “A drop of dragon’s blood. And a bit of magic.” He said as he began to pour seven glasses.
“Dragon’s blood?” Isabella questioned, “I thought the dragon’s on this island were long gone.”
The man shrugged, “Blood can be kept. If properly handled.” He explained.
Isabella knew that the dragon had been killed well over hundred years ago. So, the blood being from that dragon was unlikely. The longer she thought, the more she began to question if the man at the bar was a dragon in his shifted form.
“There ya go.” He spoke in a charming demeanor.
He went about his business as the crew drank the Dragon’s Breath. To Isabella’s surprise most of her crew was able to maintain their concentration and stance. As she drank she watched the man carefully.
As she watched she heard his voice in her head, “Stairng your highness?”
The voice startled her, almost causing her to spill her drink. “How?” She thought as she hoped he would receive the message. As she could not talk telepathically herself.
“I think you know.” He spoke a bit harshly. “Have you come to finish of my bloodline like the rest of the pirates in the past have attempted?”
She stared at him, “How dare you accuse me of such! I only attack what comes at my ship.”
The man had stopped cleaning a glass that he held in his hand, “You are not like most pirates that come in here are you?”
She shook her head, “Nope.”
“I sensed your good when you walked in. It was why I was comfortable telling you about the dragon’s blood.”
“Sensed?”
“I can sense evil. I can sense good. It was a trait I gained through trial and error.” The man spoke. “My name, Aurelius, the protector of Dark Vale.”
Isabella gave a smile to the bartender, which received a few questionable looks from her crew as no one else was hearing the conversation inside her head. “Well Aurelius, I am Isabella Knight. Ex Queen of Vanguard.” Isabella decided to give her full title to the dragon as he was being truthful with her, she felt she could be truthful with him. It was an innate feeling, one she couldn’t explain. One she felt so rarely.
Aurelius arched his eyebrow, “Ex?”
Isabella sighed, “I left the day of inauguration. Which was my two hundredth birthday.”
His eyes softened as he walked over to her. He rested his hand against hers that rested calmly on the bar. She felt a warming sensation as a burst of magic flowed from him and into her. “Sorry love. I see.” He spoke as she could feel him read her mind. He dared not to go too deeply but just on the surface he could get enough information to piece everything together.
“Normally I’d be mad at you for reading my mind. But I am thankful that I don’t have to repeat my tragedy.”
He nodded and removed his hand from hers. “I looked at a few memories. I think you may have it wrong my dear. Your father only wanted what was best for you. He saw you slipping into a deep mind set that he feared would lead you down a dark path. I got a sense he thought naming you Queen on your two hundredth birthday would make you better. I could tell your father loved you deeply as you were his only child. The only heir to the throne of Vanguard. He put pressure on you, not to overwhelm you but he knew that one day you would do great things.”
Isabella’s face said it all. She was stunned that he was able to pull that from a few visions that she allowed him to see. And his declaration started to shift something in her. “What do you mean?” She cried in her mind as she tried to hold back tears.
Aurelius went and grabbed a cloth and brought it to her as he was able to sense her sadness, “Your father loved you. Even if you didn’t see it as love. Take it from someone who never met their parents, he loved you. And still probably loves you.”
She pressed the cloth lightly underneath her eyes, brushing away the tears that had escaped. “I messed up didn’t I?”
Aurelius shrugged, “I don’t think so. The sea suits you more than a throne would ever. But leaving your father and not telling him goodbye or writing to him… perhaps.”
She took a deep breath and let it out with a loud sigh. She was aware her crew was staring at her. Concerned from her sudden teared soaked cheeks. Which she knew she would address later. “You think it is too late to write to him now?”
Aurelius smiled, “It’s never too late to reconnect.”
“Thank you.” She spoke allowed.
“Mhm.” He muffled the sound as he went back to refocusing on his glasses.
“I hate to cut this short, but I must go write.” She spoke as she felt a new wave of emotions towards her father. A wave that came like a wave crashing against her Golden Lure, the ship that she sailed the seven seas on.
The crew looked at her confused as she downed the rest of her Dragon’s Breath and headed back to the port. Once there she went to her quarters and began writing.
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Father, that was the day I first wrote you. A dragon with a pure heart and a wise mind made me realize what you were attempting to do. I am sorry for leaving you the way I did. I was hurting then. I am better now. I hope one day the sea will take me back to you father. And I will be able to hug you one more time.
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Arthur felt thousands of tears fall from his face. He had a dragon to thank for his daughter and his reconnection. A connection he held dear and true to his heart as the years without his daughter were some of the most painful he had ever experienced. And now he had to go through that again all over again.