Elara spent the rest of the day in her study, pouring over maps and historical texts, trying to find any mention of the Dragonborn. She had never been much of a scholar, but she knew that she had to be diligent in her search.

As the sun began to set, Elara's stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She rose from her desk and made her way down to the castle kitchens.

The smell of roasting meat filled the air as she entered the kitchen, and Elara's mouth watered at the sight of a platter of roasted chicken. She was about to reach for a drumstick when a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Princess Elara, I'm surprised to see you down here."

Elara turned to see the castle's head chef, a tall, portly man named Wilfred. She had always liked Wilfred. He was one of the few people in the castle who had never treated her differently because of her position.

"I was just looking for a bite to eat," Elara said, trying to sound casual.

Wilfred raised an eyebrow. "You know that you're not supposed to be down here, Princess."

Elara sighed. "I know. But I'm not in the mood for a formal dinner tonight."

Wilfred nodded, understanding. "I'll fix you a plate," he said, waving his hand at the kitchen staff.

As Elara sat down at one of the long tables, Wilfred joined her, bringing a steaming plate of chicken and vegetables. "So, what brings you down here tonight?" he asked, taking a seat across from her.

Elara hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should tell him about the prophecy. But something in Wilfred's kind eyes made her trust him. "I'm looking for someone," she said finally.

Wilfred raised an eyebrow. "Who are you looking for?"

Elara took a deep breath. "The Dragonborn."

Wilfred's eyes widened in surprise. "The Dragonborn? You believe in that old prophecy?"

Elara nodded. "I have reason to believe that it might be true."

Wilfred stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I don't know much about prophecies, but I do know a thing or two about people. And if there's someone out there who's marked by a dragon-shaped birthmark, you can be sure that they're going to be keeping a low profile."

Elara nodded, realizing that Wilfred was right. "So how do I find them?" she asked.

Wilfred shrugged. "I'm not sure. But if you're serious about this, I'll help you in any way I can."

Elara felt a surge of gratitude towards the chef. "Thank you, Wilfred. I appreciate it."

As she finished her meal, Elara couldn't help but wonder what other obstacles lay ahead of her. But for now, she was grateful for the support of a friend. And with that thought, she headed back to her study to continue her search.

The night passed quickly, and Elara found herself still poring over maps and texts as the sun rose over the castle walls. She had learned a few new details about the Dragonborn's supposed location, but nothing concrete enough to act on.

As she rubbed her tired eyes, she heard a knock at her door. "Come in," she said, not bothering to look up.

The door creaked open, and Elara was surprised to see her younger brother, Prince Roran, standing in the doorway. Roran was dressed in his usual finery, his blonde hair tousled and his green eyes sparkling.

"Good morning, Elara," he said, smiling.

Elara raised an eyebrow. "What brings you here so early, Roran? I thought you didn't usually wake up until noon."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Roran grinned. "I have a proposition for you, sister."

Elara leaned back in her chair, intrigued. "What kind of proposition?"

"I've been thinking," Roran said, sitting down in one of the chairs across from Elara's desk. "You've been cooped up in this castle for far too long. You need to get out and have some fun."

Elara raised an eyebrow. "And what do you suggest?"

Roran leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "A hunting trip."

Elara frowned. "A hunting trip?"

Roran nodded. "Yes, a hunting trip. We can ride out into the woods, track some game, and have a good time. You know, like we used to do when we were kids."

Elara shook her head. "I'm sorry, Roran, but I can't go on a hunting trip right now. I have too much work to do."

Roran's face fell. "Come on, Elara. It'll be fun. And who knows? Maybe we'll stumble upon the Dragonborn while we're out there."

Elara raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

Roran shrugged. "I don't know. It just seems like the kind of thing that would happen on a hunting trip, doesn't it?"

Elara sighed, knowing that Roran wouldn't take no for an answer. "Alright, fine. But only for a day. I have to be back by tomorrow morning."

Roran grinned. "That's all I ask. I'll meet you in the stables in an hour."

Elara watched as Roran left her study, shaking her head in amusement. She knew that she probably shouldn't be going on a hunting trip, but she couldn't deny that the idea of getting out of the castle for a day was appealing.

With a sigh, she pushed her work aside and made her way to her chambers to change into her riding clothes. She had a feeling that this day was going to be more eventful than she had anticipated.

As Elara made her way to the stables, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. It had been a long time since she had gone on a hunting trip with her brother, and she was looking forward to the chance to get away from the castle for a day.

When she arrived at the stables, Roran was already there, dressed in his riding clothes and grinning from ear to ear.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

Elara nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Together, they mounted their horses and rode out into the woods. The sun was high in the sky, and the forest was alive with the sounds of birds and small animals scurrying through the underbrush.

As they rode, Elara felt herself relaxing for the first time in weeks. The stress of her responsibilities as queen seemed to fade away, replaced by the simple joy of being out in nature with her brother.

They rode for a few hours, tracking game through the forest and enjoying the peace and quiet. It wasn't until they stopped to rest their horses near a small stream that things took a turn.

As they were sitting by the water, enjoying the cool breeze, they heard a rustling in the bushes nearby. Roran immediately jumped to his feet, his hand on his sword.

"Who's there?" he called out.

There was a moment of silence, and then a figure emerged from the bushes. Elara's heart skipped a beat as she saw who it was.

It was a man, dressed in tattered clothes and carrying a small pack. His face was gaunt and his eyes were sunken, as if he hadn't eaten or slept in days.

"Please," he said, his voice hoarse. "Please, I need your help."

Roran and Elara exchanged a look, and then Roran stepped forward. "What kind of help do you need?"

The man's eyes darted back and forth, as if he was afraid of being overheard. "I'm being chased," he said. "By the Dragonborn."

Elara's heart leapt into her throat at the mention of the Dragonborn. "What do you know about the Dragonborn?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man leaned in, his eyes wide. "I know where he's hiding," he said. "And I know how to get there."

Elara and Roran exchanged a glance, both of them stunned by the man's words. They had been searching for the Dragonborn for weeks, and now this stranger was claiming to know where he was hiding.

"Where is he?" Elara asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man hesitated, glancing around nervously. "I can't say here," he said. "It's not safe. But I can show you on a map."

Roran looked skeptical. "How do we know we can trust you?"

The man looked up at Roran, desperation in his eyes. "I swear to you, I'm telling the truth. Please, you have to help me. If the Dragonborn catches me, I'm as good as dead."

Elara could sense the man's sincerity, and she knew that they had to help him. "Alright," she said, dismounting from her horse. "Show us on the map."

The man reached into his pack and pulled out a small scroll, which he unrolled and spread out on the ground. Elara and Roran crowded around, studying the map intently.

"This is where we are now," the man said, pointing to a spot on the map. "And this is where the Dragonborn is hiding." He pointed to a location in the mountains, several miles away.

Elara and Roran exchanged a look, both of them feeling a sense of excitement and trepidation. They had been searching for the Dragonborn for so long, and now they finally had a lead.

"Thank you for showing us this," Elara said, rolling up the map. "We'll make sure you're safe."

The man nodded, relief flooding his face. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you so much."

Elara and Roran mounted their horses, and the man fell in step behind them as they rode back to the castle. They would have to be careful from here on out, but Elara couldn't help feeling a sense of hope. They were one step closer to finding the Dragonborn, and to ending the war once and for all.