No one was happier on the day of Zora's wedding than her father. Thrilled with the possibilities of allying with such a mighty kingdom, he jumped at the opportunity. He waited restlessly for the groom's family from early morning, grumbling and yelling at anyone who even glanced his way.
The queen was in the bride's room, playing with her small boy. The couple had already given up on an heir, even preparing their daughter for the role. However, once the baby arrived, the princess often thought that they hurried up with the marriage arrangements, just so they could get rid of her.
"Are you certain he is right for me?" the princess asked her mother.
"Trust in your father, child! It was he that arranged this match," the queen said, keeping her eyes on the boy at all times.
"But mother... I still have this tingling feeling in my chest."
"Those are your nerves playing tricks on you. I had the same feeling coming here..."
She flinched, her ears always listening carefully for the king's footsteps.
The door opened and a pretty girl with dark brown hair entered. It was princess Anna from a nearby kingdom and Zora's best friend.
"Sorry, I'm late. There was a problem with the carriage," she said, adjusting her slightly worn out dress.
Zora ran to hug her. Smiling, she took a good look at her and noticed her dress was torn in a few places.
"Anna, what happened to you?" she asked worried.
"Oh this!" her friend said, acting surprised. "Darn it. Must have torn while I was getting out off the carriage..."
"No worries, you can have one of mine," Zora said, making her friend smile.
Then the king entered, rubbing his hands. "There is my precious daughter. Are you excited to meet the groom?"
The young princess swiftly nodded, with her head staying low.
"Anything wrong!" he said, frowning.
"No. I will just miss you," the girl uttered, with her lips giving her anxiety away.
Back in the present, a small group of guards slowly rode on a narrow path that led down the mountain. In front, a horse neighed and trudged the road exhausted, with two passengers on his back. Zora was safely perched between the head's horse and her husband.
"So that is what happened," Aidan declared as he heard Zora's story to the end. "Who knew a creature like that could be reasoned with."
"Yes," she said. "It is a good thing that I remembered my friend's magical instrument. Every time I came to her palace as a child, in the evening her nanny would only need to flick a string, and we would fall into a deep sleep."
"That sounds like a powerful thing to possess. Have they used it for anything else besides getting children to bed?" the prince inquired.
"Not to my knowledge," the princess replied.
He hummed, thinking. "How did the harp end up there I wonder?"
"Who knows," Zora shrugged. "There are still a few wizards and magical items out there. You never know what you can find lying by the road."
Aidan tilted his head in agreement and went quiet. Zora glanced back at the commander worried.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I still do not understand why they refused to tell me anything about Anna. What could have possibly happened to her?"
Aidan pondered serious. "It worries me as well. Perhaps they were instructed not to talk about it to foreigners. Tomorrow we will reach her father's castle. We will find out then, for sure."
"I hope so," the princess bowed her head.
Her prince leaned into her ear. "Do you know what worries me? The uniforms of these men of boarder patrol. They look more like a band of outlaws than members of a royal guard."
Zora raised her eyebrow and took a second glance at them. Most of them barely had any metal parts over their leather armors. With only a few arrows in each quiver.
"They do seem a bit shabbier than I remember them," she said intrigued.
"Exactly. My brother always believed that boarder guards should have the best equipment. That way, the travelers that passed would envision our kingdom in the best possible light." As he said his name, he scowled and scoffed in anger. "Such a conniving man! I still can't believe what he planned to do."
Zora gently rubbed his grim face. "No need to think about it now, my dear. We'll sort things out soon."
He turned towards her smiling. "I must say, I'm honestly amazed how you managed to get away, my dear. Your escape plan was incredible!"
Zora's cheeks became rosy. "Well, I couldn't ask for your help because the king ordered me not to tell you. And then he sent you on a long journey. I had to think of a way to rescue myself."
He kept smiling as he tenderly addressed his princess. "And I thought my wife was a shy and timid creature, when in fact she is a clever trickster."
Zora pouted, slightly offended. "You are making fun of me again," she said sulky, turning her head away.
"On the contrary, I'm showing my admiration. Look, look at how much I adore you," Aidan giggled, defending himself. She glanced at him, pouty. Still, it was hard for her to keep a stern expression, especially with him encompassing her with his warm body. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in dark orange tones. Bird chirps were replaced by night hoots and fireflies. The commander stopped his men and instructed them to make a camp for the night.
The prince looked around. He did not want to camp with the rest. With a subtle nudge, he smirked at the princess. Blushing, she pressed her lips and nodded. The couple continued on further.
The area surrounding them was rocky, with low grass and few trees. They laid on the grass secluded from the rest. Zora took his face and gently kissed him. He placed himself over her as they continued. She pressed her lips, nibbling. Aidan's grip tightened. She bit him so hard it almost made him bleed.
"Ouch!" Aidan yelled pulling away. "Why did you do that?"
Zora stared at his covered mouth with guilt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she stuttered, embarrassed. "I don't know what came over me."
Removing his hand and inspecting it, Aidan said, "You're not going to turn she-wolf on me, are you?"
Zora observed his face carefully. He did not seem angry. In fact, he was laughing.
Embarrassed, she slapped his shoulder. It was no stronger than a pat, which made Aidan laugh even louder. "Oooh, spare me, oh wolf mistress of the night."
"You are mean!" she struck him again, starting to chuckle herself.
"When we come back I have to ask the fairy creature to make me a wolf too," he teased.
"Aidan stop! You're embarrassing me," she whined.
An hour later, the prince went scouting and returned to the patch of grass. "There's a cave we can spend the night in," he stated. Zora was not trilled with this idea.
"Caves are dark. What if it's full of snakes, and crawling insects. Or worse! What if a witch lives there?" she declared.
Aidan' eye twitched. "Offer her a pear, maybe she comes out," he sarcastically replied.
"It's not funny!" she yelled irritated.
"It is a little funny."
"I'm serious! Lord knows what slithers inside. There could be a bear with sharp claws ready to attack us! Or an army of bats that can swarm us with their ugly wings."
"Alright. Where should we sleep then? Out here on the open?" he asked with his eyes half-closed.
"Why not? Look at how beautiful the moonlight shines upon us. What can possibly happen?"
"Bandits, pickpockets, wolves, woodland creatures..." he replied with a monotonous voice.
"What are you talking about? The guards' camp is close by," the princess was determined. "If something appears, they will surely protect us. Besides, I would be too terrified to spend a night in a cave. I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink.
Aidan sighed exhausted. He glanced at his horse, whose head was nearly touching the road. A pose which announced that he could not take another step. "Whatever you say, my dear."
They camped on the field and quickly fell asleep. Aidan was loud sleeper, with snores that sounded like a sawmill, Still, that did not seem to bother his overtired wife who laid peacefully in his arms.
Meanwhile, a sudden swing of large and heavy wings was heard. A stocky black figure with a long neck and even longer wings covered the night sky. His tail wider on the base, becoming thinner just like a lizards, with a mace-like ending. Noticing the smoke coming from the camp, the creature looked down curious. Diving a little, he grinned exposing his sharp teeth. Spotting the two sleeping passengers and their horse, he growled and plunged down towards them. Fire burst from his nostrils as he growled from above.
"What was that?" Zora screamed frightened. Aidan awoke mid-snore. The growling was heard again.
"Quickly, jump on the horse!" he said mounting him with great speed. Zora followed him, winded from shock.
"Giddy-up!" the prince commanded. The startled horse ran as fast as he could. The sound of enormous wings was getting louder and louder.
"He's gaining on us!" the princess was in a state of panic.
"Ya, ya, ya!" Aidan bellowed.
Alas, the steed was fast but it could not outrun the fiery beast. The creature descended just above them and grabbed Zora with his long claws. She screamed as she was pulled up. Her grip loosened and she let go, unable to hold on to her husband.
"No! Let her go!" the prince took out his sword, but it was too late. The beast has already soared out of reach. With a mighty blow of his tail, he struck Aidan over the head. The force of the blow knocked him to the ground where he fell unconscious.
Zora called out his name in panic, as her voice got smaller and smaller. The terrified horse continued to run without his riders. The prince laid motionless, bloody and alone on a dusty road.