night-blooming;

“Isi…” whispered Robin. It carried in the silent room. He didn’t want her to do this. She didn’t want to do this either, but she had orders to follow. She had sworn an oath promising just that. She could not disobey. She closed her eyes. In her mind, she was eighteen years old again, kneeling before the throne and gashing her palm with a ceremonial dagger. With blood dripping down her hand, she had sworn to follow her king’s orders and uphold the law… and to protect the innocent. What was more innocent than a baby? Enya’s only crime was being in the wrong place, and if anyone was to blame for that, it was Isi. When she opened her eyes, it was to see the king leaning forward on his throne, watching her intently. Behind him, every eye was trained on her. He had given her an order. She cast the sword aside. It rang on the stone floor, but the sound seemed suddenly very far away. Blood roared in Isi’s ears. She lifted her chin. “No.” One word, but it cut the silence like a blade. “Excuse me?” The king’s voice was soft and smooth, but there was a tone of danger beneath it. “I said no, your majesty. I will not do this. I swore to defend the innocent, and I will not murder a baby.” She squared her shoulders. Just as she had not had it in her to take Enya’s life the day she found her, she could not bring herself to do it now.

Every movement of her armour echoed off the stone. Isi hoped the dragon would not be alerted to her presence too soon… but then again, it had likely already been disturbed by the quake. And taking her armour off would be an even worse idea. That thought was only further validated when the tunnel opened out into a larger cave, and they caught their first glimpse of the dragon. A small crack in the stone high above them offered just enough light to see the creature. Pale pink, significantly larger than any creature Isi had ever seen… and asleep, it seemed, curled up in a nest of sorts against the far wall. Its scaly sides rose and fell, slowly but rhythmically. Isi paused; the dragon seemed to be no threat right at that moment, so she could take her time. A sweet smell lingered in the cave. The dragon’s nest seemed to be the source: plants and flowers of all colours and sorts stuck out of it, flattened under the dragon’s weight. “It’s beautiful,” breathed Robin behind her. Isi took a deep, slow breath. “It is.” Truly, she had never seen anything like it. And she had orders to kill it.

Wulgaria 'Moon Silver' Gown [x]

[Text ID: "If you tuck the name of a loved one / under your tongue too long / without speaking it / it becomes blood"]