The others looked at me briefly, and I had to surpress a shiver as the two brothers stared at me. 'Stop looking at me...' I thought fearfully. The room was relitively quiet, except for a few hushed whisper here and there. "Greetings everyone!" King Darius said.  "Greetings your highness." Everyone spoke at once. "I bet you all are wondering what you're all doing here." he spoke calmly. A small bout of murmurs bubbled up before he put his hands up and everyone went silent. "Now, as you all know there are rumors of wars, we don't know for sure if these are true or not but don't be afraid alright?" he said calmly. We all nodded, "Now as you all know the Bonding ceremony is almost here." he said, more murmurs errupted and he gave everyone a moment before having them calm down again. "Right, well we're changing somethings, this year-" he paused looking up at king Byron who nodded towards him, "We're allowing others, both nobles, Royals and servants a chance to perform in the ceremony, those of you here have been chosen." King Byron said. 

       "WHAT!" The eldest son shouted. This startled the others including me. I looked down and listened calmly. "What do you mean? it's only been the royals!" Princess Starla said. "Exactly!" the youngest said.  "Please settle down, and don't interupt." King Darius scolded them. "Yes sir." they replied. "Apologize." he said. "Sorry King Byron." they said halfheartedly.  "Now, let him explain what we're doing." King Darius said. We all nodded, "So we've hand picked you all for a reason, each of you have a quility in you that we need for a special task." he said. We all looked at each other for a moment.  "We need to better prepare incase war actually happens we need a means of better defense since they will be alleying with others which will leave us isolated and defensless." King Darius said. 

      "With that said whoever can comeplete the ceremony then we'll be able to move on, you will be bond to a dragon whom will chose you, from here you will practise working together and we'll go from there." King Byron continued. "Any Questions?" King Darius asked.  "Father why will there be more of us rather than just us three? aren't we suposed to take the thrown when the time comes?" Princess Starla asked.  "Well some things are changing and we're taking precautions." he said.  "What does that mean?" The Eldest Prince asked. "It means we're changing some of the rules for the betterment of the kingdom." his father replied calmly.

         "Any other Questions? parents? Any of you wish to ask?" King Byron asked. A few asked simple things, "That isn't determined yet...we'll get back to you on that soon." King Darius said.  I had questions but was too afraid to ask, and I don't like the stares I've been getting from the two princeses. "Why do you two keep staring at the girl?" a dragon Counsellors asked. The princeses didn't answer and looked away, 'Thank you.' I thought to myself. 

         "Well, if you have questions don't be afraid to ask just come to me or King Byron if you have any questions for the upcoming ceremony, also please if you don't already know what tasks are ahead read up on them." King Darius said. "Now, you all are dismissed." he continued. Everyone slowly walked out of the thrown room, King Darius and Byron stayed back and spoke to each other.  As I caught up with my family, Cole came up to us. "Hello old friend." he said to me. I smiled and nodded to him. "Hello, how are you your highness." I said. formally, since there were too many others around we had to be a bit formal.  "Sir may I borrow your daughter for a moment?" he asked my father. "Yes sir, I'm okay with this." my father replied.  So with this Cole picked me up by my dress and carefully set my on his shoulder. "Where do you want to go?" he asked me with a small mischiveous smile. "Anywhere interesting." I said. "Alright, lets see what we can do." he replied as he walked up to one of the many platforms. "Drake, if her highness asks where Miss Carlisa is, tell her I have her running an errend for me." he said. "Yes sire." a silvery dragon with pale blue eyes said. "Thank you." Cole said. Once he left and before Cole took off he let me shift to his neck. I carefully held onto his spines and leaned forwards, "Also if she or those princeses gives you trouble come to me, and I'll help deal with them." Cole said.  I made an iffy sound, "I won't do anything bad." he said.  "I don't have a comment on that, sorry." I replied. "Fair enough." he replied simply. "Now, are you ready?" he asked. "Yep." I replied. A small smile crept onto my face. It was nice to feel the wind on my face. Even though I'm afraid of heights I'm not so afraid now since I know Cole won't let anything happen to me.

                                                                                                ***

       "So, you want them to be able to bond?" King Darius asked. "Yeah, they've known each other since they were twelve, she wasn't even afraid of us." King Byron said. "Really? If memory serves me well, they were the ones who sacroficed their farm for the sake of their village?" He asked. "Mhm, also, if she completes the trials, can she and her family be taken in as royals? the other will be nobles the reason I ask this is because they've given up much and aren't always treated fairly, they don't complain but I've seen how others treat them, not all are mean but there are a few who have be particarly nasty to them." King Byron said. "Who?" King Darius asked. "Why haven't they said anything?" he continued. "Fear of those around them, you do know that one wrong move and one wrong word and they're livelyhoods can be destroyed." King Byron said. "So, is it my children?" he asked, they were particularly attentive to her when cole came up to her." King Darius said. "Yes. She won't say anything unless you ask but even then it'd be very hastatantly." he said. "Right...I'll ask around and observe what they do, then I'll take action." King Darius said firmly. "Thank you, and they'll become royals?" King Byron asked. "Yes, they are a good family and it seems that you and your family are quite fond of them." King Darius pointed out.  "Aye, they helped us gave us a place to stay, taught us thing we didn't really know how to do and included us treated us like equals rather than someone greater than them." he pointed out. King Darius nodded, "I'll be sure to keep them safe, and when the trials are over, I'm certain Cole already knows whom he will bond with. Darius said with a small smile. "Aye." King Byrom said.