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                                                                                     The fall of Omarga

            A day like any other came to Verlo. The rain had seized, and a little black friend of the wizard had returned, all wet and dirty. Me and Erlan took honour in cleaning Rafael until the bird feared water so much, he would never leave the palace in the rain again. Although the clouds weren’t covering the Sun, the weather seemed dim, as if something dreadful was coming to Verlo. The wizard and the king had been quiet with their plans, and they were waiting now for their plans to be set into motion. It made my prince awfully quiet, and I so wished to know my father’s plans that he was keeping a secret. I knew better than to pester him and I knew this was no game, but I didn't stop myself from wishing I could carry the burden with him. There was no burden I wouldn't carry for him!

            Rafael sat on my shoulder, rubbing against my cheek. We were on our way to the hall to get Erlan away from work, which the king was keeping him with. I came to a big opening, with a high throne and a red carpet leading up to it. The king sat in his rightful place and was giving out letters to be sent off by Erlan. The wizard turned to my arrival and gazed at me with joy.” Rafael never sits on my shoulder!” I looked at the bird, who just smirked if a bird even could.

            “Is it your crow?” The king asked with a bother in his voice.

            “Yes.”

            The king looked at the black bird a bit softer than the first time. “Does he deliver letters?”

            To this, the wizard nodded with disappointment. “No.” As aware as the bird seemed when listening to us, he never lifted a feather for the wizard when he tried to teach him something useful.

            The king smiled at me. “Go on then you two, I’m done with Erlan now.” I rushed to the wizard's side to pull him away from work, and he smiled with excitement. That is, until someone knocked at the big door across from the throne. The king gave Erlan a wary gaze, and the wizard nodded with courage.

            “Come in,” the hall filled with the king's strong voice, and he became ten years younger. A messenger came to the throne, but he didn't look like the usual one. He was wearing a white gown, all torn, and he had untidy blond hair. When I saw it, I couldn't unsee it. He was wearing a crown. The young boy's head held a golden crown that was smaller than a kings.

            “I come to you with a warning, king of Verlo!” the boy yelled, trying to hide the fear that hid in his chest. Erlan held my hand tight, for he suspected the worst to come from this messenger, but I felt safe in the wizard's presence.

            “And who might you be?” my father was kinder than the first time.

The boy kneeled in front of the king taking off his crown. “I’m Gabriel Or, third born of the king of Omarga, I come to you, your majesty, with the terrible news that . . .,” the prince stopped with a gulp, but he didn't hesitate, “Omarga has fallen.” Dread filled the throne room, and I knew father feared for his people, for Verlo was a lot smaller and weaker than Omarga had been. Did we even stand a chance against the kingdom of Questin?

            The boy was younger than me, but at the same time more experienced. It saddened me that this was the occasion when I first saw a real prince and it wasn't all glimmers and wonder that filled my heart. I caught the gaze of the young prince and I found pain that I hadn't yet experienced. I looked for help to Erlan and he seemed to be grieving the prince's pains as his own. What pain had the young prince had to go through and would this pain find me too?

            “Child, you must be tired. We will give you a room and some food, don't you worry,” the king finally said with passion for the boy, but he declined.

            “Not yet, there’s more I was told to tell you!” He stood tall, though you could see his sleep devastated eyes.

            “Go ahead then,” father let the boy speak, “if it can’t wait, I'll let you speak.”

            The prince nodded his head in confidence.” Questin has a beast! It devoured our towns and set flame to every roof! It was a dragon if I had ever seen one, wings, claws, and it was as big as a castle if needed.” It brought fear and confusion. Erlan was a dragon too, but he wasn't scary and evil. Were there others like Erlan? The wizard seemed tense as he gazed upon the prince. His beady eyes were almost looking through the young boy, and it made Erlan Dolos look eerie.

            “You’re saying this dragon can change size?” My father asked.

            The prince nodded agreement. “Yes, and that’s not all. It could take a human form too! The commander of Questin’s army, I believe, was in command of it. With one hit with his magic staff, the dragon would wipe out a whole kingdom! It’s a wild thing that the Questin kingdom has found use of. My father . . It took his life.” The king's head fell, and Erlan twitched as he did when his dragon skin showed under his starry blue coat. My prince was probably scared and disgusted all over again of what a dragon could do. I squeezed his hand tight, for I knew my dragon wouldn't hurt anyone in a wild and evil way. Father lifted his head, getting up from his throne to meet the prince eye to eye. The poor thing had come for refuge and my father would surely give him one, but for how long? Questin will be at our borders soon as they are done with Omarga and there would be no safety here.

            The boy then said with a victorious cheer. “Your highness, my oldest brother and the remains of the knights of Omarga are at the castle's entrance ready to fight and kill Dolos the dragon!” The room fell silent. I watched my father trying hard not to look upon his advisor as I tried not to look at my prince, for I knew I would see his beady eyes.

            Dolos.

            Erlan Dolos.

            Was he the dragon we had to fear?

            The prince stood in confusion, finally showing his age in his expressions. “Is. . Is that Okay, your Highness?” He looked at the king who was standing before him.

            “Yes, you and your brother are welcome here. I'll attend to your rooms,” he said with a flat expression. The young prince thanked him and ran to the door with his good news to his brother.

            As soon as the door shut, all eyes were at the dragon in the room and my father stood with betrayal in his eyes while my prince stared back with his beady creature eyes. “Dolos? Is that what you go by?” the king asked.

            Erlan hid his gaze. “Yes, my king.” It hurt for me to let my prince go and step back. He was the dragon that I had to fear.

            “Who will you fight with, Dolos?” My father raised his voice, and it would've scared me if it was me being yelled at.

            “My king, I fight for Verlo now! This is my home!” He said with desperation, with tears filling his dilated creature eyes.

            “So be it. Go to your room and I wish not to see you till my army is ready to leave,” he ordered.

            Erlan still was full of fight, and he raised his voice again. “My king, you must understand! I would never . ., Questin army has my . . .”

            “SILENCE!” it was the first time I had heard my father yell, and it made me shake in fear. He repeated himself, sending the beast away. “That’s enough, Erlan, you're excused, go before I change my mind!” The dragon turned to me with his sorrowful eyes, and it hurt me.

            “I’m sorry . . Astra, I would never hurt . .”

            My father interrupted his speech, and I flinched with fear.” LEAVE!”

            Erlan Dolos' eyes filled with so many tears that it seemed floods would take over the palace, but he made himself leave his footsteps hitting the floor a lot louder than a humans would, and it pained me to realize I hadn't noticed before. He was the monster I should have feared with the difference he had presented in the first time he came to this palace. He wasn't human and I couldn't pretend I didn't see the beast in him, and neither should I let myself forget the fact that he was the monster that destroyed Omarga. He wasn't the man who I should choose to call my prince. But even so . . . The last glimpse of his starry blue coat made me run to catch up to my love.