The moon hung high above the citadel, casting its silver light across the sprawling kingdom of Drakhelm. From my balcony, I could see the floating islands that dotted the sky, the faint hum of magic that held them aloft barely perceptible. The world seemed peaceful tonight, serene even, but peace, I had learned, was often just an illusion- a thin veil covering the storm that rumbled beneath the surface. I had just left Evander, and though I had tried to ease his mind, the worry in his eyes lingered in my own heart. He felt it too, the shifting currents of unease that swept through our kingdom. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, something deeper than what we could see. Evander was so perceptive, so like me in that way- always thinking, always watching. And though he hadn't said anything directly, I knew my son. His silence spoke volumes. I turned from the window, my thoughts heavy, and made my way through the darkened halls. The sound of my footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor, but it wasn't the footsteps that weighed on me- it was everything else. My kingdom, my family, the fragile peace we had fought so hard to maintain. At the heart of all my concerns was Elowen.
The nursery was quiet as I stepped inside, a sanctuary within these walls. It was the one place I could retreat to, where the weight of the crown lifted just slightly, and I could simply be a mother. Elowen lay nestled in her cradle, her small form barely visible beneath the soft blankets. Her breathing was steady, calm, as though the troubles of the world could not touch her. But even in her sleep, there was no denying what she was, a blend of power and contradiction. I moved closer, leaning over the cradle to gaze at her. My youngest child, born of both dragon and wraith blood. Her tiny horns, shimmering in the low light, were a faint reminder of her lineage, a testament to the power that coursed through her veins. And yet, there were darker features too- her skin, pale like the mist that clung to the Citadel's edges, and the faint glow of her eyes that flickered even in slumber. I brushed a hand gently over her forehead, my fingers tracing the delicate scales that lined her hairline. Elowen stirred slightly but did not wake. She was so innocent, so untouched by the darkness that loomed on the horizon. I wished I could keep her that way forever. But I knew better. The world outside this room was growing more dangerous by the day, and my worries were not just for Elowen- they were for all of my children. For Evander, whose heart was too kind for the weight of the throne. For Valentina, whose fire burned so fiercely, and for Alaric, who had always stood apart, harboring resentments I had never fully understood.
And then, of course, there was Azaroth. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking in the quiet of the room, trying to push away the thoughts of what my husband might be planning. But it was no use. Azaroth had grown distant, and his ambitions- whatever they were- cast a long shadow over our family. I had felt it for years, the slow creeping darkness that followed him, but he had always assured me that his focus was on the kingdom, on protecting Drakhelm. Lately, however, I wasn't so sure. I wasn't sure of anything.
I glanced down at Elowen again, her tiny fist curled beside her face. A dragon-wraith child, a symbol of the complexity of our world. Our kingdom had always been a place of contradictions, humans and monsters, all coexisting in a delicate balance. But that balance was fragile, and I feared it was beginning to crack. Azaroth's ambitions, Alaric's growing distance, and now even Evander sensed the unrest. I knew that if we lost the peace between Drakhelm and Valtoria, the whole realm would plunge into chaos. The centuries of diplomacy, of careful negotiations and alliances, could be undone in an instant. War would not only ravage our lands but tear our family apart. A part of me wanted to believe that I could still hold everything together, that I could protect the peace. But the other part, the part that whispered in the darkest corners of my mind, told me that it might already be too late. That the storm was already upon us, and all we could do was prepare for its impact.
I sat down beside the cradle, resting my head in my hands. I felt the weight of it all- the kingdom, the family, the crown- pressing down on my shoulders. But more than anything, I felt the weight of uncertainty. I had always been the one to hold things together, the queen who could navigate the treacherous waters of politics and power. But now? Now, I wasn't sure if I had the strength to steer us through what was coming.
"Elowen,"
I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"What kind of world will you grow up in?"
The baby stirred, her tiny lips parting in a soft breath. I could almost see the world she would inherit, a world of of monsters and humans. A world teetering on the edge of war. I had always believed that peace was possible, that we could find a way to coexist. But now… now, I wasn't sure. Azaroth's distance, the rumors of unrest in Valtoria, the strange tension between my children, it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn't yet see.
A sudden noise from the hall pulled me from my thoughts. It was probably nothing, a servant or a guard on their rounds, but it reminded me of how little time we had. How quickly things could change. I looked down at Elowen again, my heart aching with a mother's worry. For all her power, she was still so small, so vulnerable. I would protect her, of course. I would protect all of my children. But could I protect the kingdom? Could I protect the peace? I stood slowly, my hand resting on the edge of the cradle for a moment longer. I knew I had to be strong, for them, for all of them. But as I left the nursery and walked back through the darkened halls of Skyreach Citadel, the weight of my fears pressed down harder than ever.
The winds outside had picked up, howling softly against the windows of the citadel. The storm was coming. I could feel it in the air, taste it in the wind. And when it came, I feared that none of us, no matter how powerful, would be ready for it.