A Dragons Favor

I struggled to make my way through all the chaos my outbursts had caused. Everyone is searching for the princess, I had to find the queen. I passed Gabriel the royal chef.

" Have you seen the queen anywhere?"

"Ze queen? Check in ze garden." He hollered as he ran passed, his french accent so thick I could barely make out what he was saying.

I turned down the corridor, the garden was the last place I would've checked. As I made my way through the archway of roses that sat in the entrance of the palace garden I saw the queen. She was sitting on the wall of the water fountain crying into her handkerchief.

"Pardon me your majesty?" I spoke softly.

Her head snapped up, "Oh Ellie. I'm sorry you caught me this way." She dabbed at her wet eyes trying to regain composure.

"I found something your highness."

"Really? Show me."

I handed over the journal. She opened the leather wrapping with great care, almost as if she was afraid of what she'd find.

"From what I can tell she's gone up to twin peaks..." I started.

"Oh Flora, why? It's so dangerous up there..." The queen was talking practically to herself.

"What are we going to do your highness?"

"I'll present this to the king, please accompany me."

I shrank back slightly.

"Oh honey, it's ok I won't let him hit you again okay?"

"Yes ma'am. "

A look of pity swept across her face briefly before she hooked her arm around mine and led the way to the throne room. My hands were clammy as I recalled how my last visit to the king went.

"Everybody out!" the queen ordered as we entered the throne room, I was shocked by the amount of authority in her voice. I could tell by everyone's faces they were equally as shocked.

"Must I repeat myself?" She demanded.

With a scuffle everyone vacated the room until just the three of us remained.

"What's this?" The king scoffed as he looked at me cowering behind the queen, "Back for more peasant?"

"Enough howard! Ellie has found something that may help bring Flora back."

"Show me."

"Stay here." She whispered to me before marching up to the king with the journal.

"Hmmm...this is quite a plan here." He mumbled while leafing through the journal,

"You sure the little brat here didn't plant this herself?"

My jaw dropped in shock at his accusation, I had had enough of this.

"Your majesty," I said through gritted teeth " I found this in the wall beneath the princesses bed, what could I possibly have to gain for planting this?"

The king sat for a while tapping his chin and contemplating what I had just said.

"Very well, you may have not planted this but you must have helped her plan her escape. It's very convenient that shes missing and the only person to find anything regarding her whereabouts is her personal maid."

"You know I could have you executed right? I just have to say the word, no one would miss you. "

My head bowed in defeat there was nothing I could say to this man that would prove my innocence.

"Ahem...darling." The queen cleared her throat at him, "Should we focus on what our plan of action regarding Flora is?"

The king smirked at me, "I know exactly what we're going to do. Ellie since you lost my daughter you get to find her."

I was in shock, lost her? The woman ran off and neglected her duties as princess!

"You have 5 days to find her and bring her back. If you are successful you'll be rewarded, however if you don't find her then don't come back. "

"What? " I started.

"If I catch you back here without my daughter you will be immediately executed."

"But sire..."

"No buts! If i were you I'd get going now. " He said with a devilish grin. I had no choice, I had to go get ready. 5 days... that's all I had before my life would end.