Drakewood was the most successful kingdom in the North realm. It was a very peaceful place, having the absence of war for over centuries. There were always rumors of war, but none of the neighboring kingdoms ever had the guts to challenge Drakewood. Many said Drakewood was dreaded because of its location; it was situated on the highest mountain surrounded by Westerhaven, Frostfall, and Ironreach. While some said they were feared because they had the hardest metal—the legendary dragon-forged metal.
Cedric was the son of a royal servant, Garrick, who was the royal chef. Cedric was Garrick's only son and companion; he had lost his wife to childbirth and had only Cedric left. Garrick was getting really old and fragile to be able to continue his services, so he was retired by the king and was paid a large sum of gold seasonally, as he was very close and trusted by the royal family.
One day, while Cedric was clearing the table after he and his father had lunch, there was a knock on the door, and his father answered it, being busy at the moment. His father came in, and when Cedric saw the royal letter his dad had in his hand, he became really eager to know what the visit was about.
"What does it say?" Cedric said as he stretched his neck over his father's shoulder.
"Go get me my glasses so I could read it," Garrick said as he squinted and peered closely, adjusting the distance between his eyes and the text, as if struggling to decipher the words due to diminished eyesight.
Instead, Cedric gently took the letter from him, "why bother yourself when I am here with my youthful eyes."
"So what does it say?" Garrick said as he sat on the chair close to him.
"Well, it says that your service will be needed urgently, It also says that you are permitted to come along with your son. You are expected to be present at daybreak."
Cedric was happy that he was going to get to see the inside palace. Although his dad worked as a chef, the palace was strict with security and never let in anyone that had no business in the palace authorized by the king.
The next day, by daybreak, Cedric made sure they were ready and at the palace early. When they reached the tall iron gate, the guard on top of the gate gave a signal, and the gates were opened to them. Cedric awed at the beauty of the palace; it was big and made mostly of gold.
They spent so much time in the kitchen, preparing many dishes with Cedric and some maids assisting Garrick as he did his magic.
Garrick and his son were given the honor of serving the food themselves with the help of the kitchen masters. Cedric walked behind his father, who was led by the kitchen masters in order not to falter; he couldn't stop staring around. When they reached the table, the royal family was present. He saw the king and queen, the four princes sitting beside the king and the princess who sat beside the queen. Cedric paused as he saw the princess; she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She was a radiant young princess, adorned with cascading golden locks that shimmer like strands of sunlight, exuding an ethereal beauty that captivates all who behold her.
After everything, Garrick and Cedric were given a room in the palace for the night. Cedric had fallen in love with the princess's beauty instantly and couldn't stop thinking of her face; it was love at first sight.
The next day they were given two horses, one carrying a cart of gifts gifted to Garrick by the king as gratitude for a successful and wonderful feast. Garrick rode the horse carrying nothing and reached home early while Cedric carried the other and was more behind due to the load. When he reached his house, Garrick was already asleep; the old man was tired of the journey.
Cedric then went to carry all the gifts from the carriage and lock them up in the store. He was shocked by what he saw as he opened the cloth used to cover the cart or rather who he saw. It was the princess; she was dressed in one of the servant's garments, hiding in the cart.
"What are you doing here, your highness?"
"Shhhh, please don't expose me," she said as she stepped out of the cart.
"What are you doing here, your highness?" Cedric asked again with a lowered voice.
"Firstly call me Aurelia, and I just needed to be free before tomorrow."
"What happens tomorrow?"
"I will be carried away by my newly wedded husband chosen for me by my father."
Cedric felt pity for her and was sad that the girl he had fallen in love with got married on the day he first saw her face. After they had so many conversations, Cedric took her out to the city so she could just see around, with her disguised in a hood of course to avoid being spotted by anyone.
They went to so many places; Cedric was happy to see how happy Aurelia was to be outside the palace walls. He thought to himself, "maybe staying isolated in a golden home away from everyone isn't as good as it seems."
They bought so many local delicacies that they both ate on their tour, and when they finally reached a particular shop where a rugged-looking man with an eye scar sold winterberry stew, they were making the purchase when the man asked Aurelia how much she was going to sell her dragon emblem necklace.
Cedric immediately seeing that the man had noticed the necklace and therefore knew who she was being that the dragon necklace was a royal heirloom. He immediately urged Aurelia that they left, and they left. But as they left, the man started following them, and then another strange man joined him.
Cedric now sure that they were not safe started running with Aurelia. They reached Garrick's house, but unfortunately, the man still was able to keep up with them and this time he came with four more men.
Garrick was not in the house, probably because he left to find Cedric. Cedric took her to the storeroom, and they hid behind some foodstuffs.
Cedric could feel his heart beat against his chest. He turned to the princess and whispered, "look, we need to find a way to get you out of here; I remember the mark on the berrystew man's hand, it is the same mark that was on the enemy spy that was caught days ago."
"Oh my god, are you sure?" Aurelia asked as she realized the greater danger she had gotten herself in.
"Yes, I am sure, and if they find us we are toast."
"Don't worry, we are going to be alright," Aurelia said after which she started humming a song.:
Cedric was about to stop her so they wouldn't be heard, but he was too late, as the biggest man among their chasers stormed in and dragged them both out. They surrounded them, and the scarred man laughed menacingly, "What do we have here, the princess? Today must be the day destined for Ironreach to have its revenge."
Just as the scarred man drew his sword, there was a rumbling roar accompanied by powerful beating of wings. The other men ran away in fear, while the scarred man froze where he stood, terrified by what he saw.
Cedric turned just to see a fierce dragon. He stumbled backward as he was hit by the strong wing created by the dragon's landing. The scarred man was finally able to move and took to his heels, falling continuously as he ran for his life. Amidst all this great fear, Aurelia was happy and calm as ever.
She ran and hugged the dragon on its large neck, almost the size of her whole body. "Seraphon, you came just at the right time."
Just then, Cedric remembered what an old friend of his had told him once—that Drakewood was truly feared because the royal family were descendants of true dragon blood.
"Sorry we have to part like this, but I have to go now because my absence must have been noticed the moment I called Seraphon. But I will forever be grateful for the tour and will never forget you," she said as she mounted the dragon.
"Aerionis," Aurelia said, and the dragon obeyed, flying away. When Garrick returned, Cedric told him everything that had happened. Some days later the spies were caught. Cedric never forgot that day in his life—the day he had an adventure with his first love and the day he witnessed myth.