CHAPTER 30: TO SAVE A KINGDOM [2]

Evening came, and Aeron walked home slowly. He was dragging his feet as if the ground were heavier thanusual. His head was full, no, it was overflowing, with everything Nyella had said.

He entered their hut and closed the wooden door behind him. The place was quiet. He sat down on a small stool and rested his arms on his knees, then stared at the floor as he was lost in thought.

If I use Draco, people will see him. They’ll fear me. They’ll talk. They might even come after us.

But then again...

If I don’t... if we lose this war... if the invaders push past the soldiers and reach the village... they’ll find Draco anyway. And they won’t hesitate to kill him. Or worse, use him.

His thoughts fought each other. Every reason not to act was met with a stronger reason why he had to.

That night, sleep didn’t come. Not even for a minute. Aeron just lay on the floor, staring at the wooden ceiling of their home. His eyes were wide open in the dark.

And in the morning, he wanted to get aafeeling up, confused. It was a small folded paper tucked in the side of his belt, he had forgotten it was even there.

It was the letter Nyella had given him. The one she had left in his palm after that kiss.

He opened it slowly and carefully and then he began to read.

’I was satisfied being born a princess and into a noble house, trained nobly... until I met you, Aeron. You showed me something more, what it means to be happy. What it meant to smile. What it means to actually live.

The moments with you... They were the best of my life. And I know I’ll never get them back again. As much as everything in me wants just one more moment, just one more hour of laughter or peace... I know it’s gone.

Maybe, in another life, we’ll be born closer to each other. We’ll grow up side by side. We’ll play all day. We’ll read under the trees.

Thank you for saving me without knowing who I was. Thank you for giving me joy I never thought I’d experience.’

By the time he reached the end, Aeron’s eyes were full of tears. They rolled silently down his cheeks and soaked into the letter. His hands shook as he held the paper to his chest.

And just like that... he knew what he had to do.

He stood up quickly and wiped his face with his sleeve. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t look back. He headed for the door to leave until someone stood in front of it.

"Mum?" he whispered.

She had been waiting for him.

"I know where you’re going," she said softly. "I know what you want to do."

He froze.

"Must you do it?" she asked in a trembling voice. "Do you really have to?"

Aeron swallowed hard. "Yes, Mom. It’s the only way... even for us to survive."

Elarya didn’t stop him this time. She just nodded slowly and wiped her eyes.

Then she turned and walked toward the corner of the hut. From under a stack of cloth, she pulled out something wrapped in a soft fabric. She turned back and held it out to him.

"You’ll need this," she said.

Aeron took it gently and unwrapped it. Inside was a finely made set of thick leather garments. Not armor made of steel, but it was strong and beautiful.

"I stayed up all night to finish it," Elarya said. "I knew this day would come. I always knew it, even when you were just a boy. You have your father’s heart, Aeron. You’re just as good, as brave,, and as selfless as he is."

Aeron looked up, surprised. She had never spoken of his father before. Not even once.

"This is how your father dressed when he fought," she said. "And now, so will you."

Aeron shed more tears as he held the garment close.

"If you must go," she whispered as she stepped forward, "then I bless you. I bless you, my son. May the skies protect you. May your heart stay pure, and may you always be in the right direction."

Aeron stepped into her arms, and she held him like she did when he was a little boy. For a long time, neither of them said a word.

Then he gently pulled away, wiped his eyes again, and nodded.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too," she said, barely holding it together.

And with that, Aeron ran out. Towards the mountain.

At the cave, Draco was there, quiet.

Aeron approached slowly, wearingrtheothes his mother gave him. He pulled them on piece by piece. They fit perfectly.

He turned toward the dragon and spoke. "See this?" he said, pointing to his chest. "I’m ready now. I’m ready, Draco. And I need you now. I need you to help me save her. I need you to help me save us. Help me save this kingdom."

Draco didn’t move, he just watched Aeron.

"You’ve helped before, even when I didn’t ask for it," Aeron went on. "But now I am asking. Please. I need you."

Again, Draco was quiet.

Aeron didn’t know what to do. "Please Draco." He cried.

Just then, Draco shifted.

He took one slow step forward, then another, and just like that, he turned and leapt to the edge of the cliff outside the cave. He opened his wings and flew into the sky.

Aeron ran to the mouth of the cave, watching as the dragon soared above the trees. Draco circled the area once... twice...

Aeron stood in awe.

Then the dragon came back and landed at the edge of the cliff. He lowered his head and crouched.

He was offering his back.

Aeron didn’t waste a second. He climbed up carefully, then gripped the base of the dragon’s neck. Draco let out a huge roar and flew away.