《Flowers Before the Dragon》


 Chapter One

    There once was a kingdom that was rich in both resources and conflict. Many neighboring nations sought the abundance of treasure located within, and it wasn¡¯t long before the raids were beginning to take their toll. Lacking a strong army, the king opted to make a deal with the dragon Nicolaos. A powerful creature who was well versed in ancient magic.


    He would use his magic to defend the kingdom as long as every future king granted a favor of his choosing. The king agreed, and soon a thick miasma surrounded the border of the kingdom. It created a swamp of deadly brambles and pitfalls that no creature could hope to tread through and survive.


    Decades passed before a new king took the throne. Nicolaos asked for a castle of his own to live in. Nothing fancy, no need for many servants, simply a quiet and elegant place to call his home. The next king granted extended Nicolaos¡¯ property to include the nearby forest. With no humans allowed within, it soon became a haven for many a strange creature.


    More years passed, and then the day came where the health of the king was starting to fail, leaving Princess Linnea to be the next to seek out Nicolaos and grant his request. She was a frail-looking creature with auburn hair and eyes that held an orange hue, not having seen much of the world, but she, like those who had come before her, set out alone to the dragon¡¯s castle.


    The castle was indeed small. It was built partially onto a hill and was comprised of a single, spiraling tower. Time had not been easy to it, as vines of wisteria curled about the stone and had cracked it in several places. Undeterred from how abandoned it appeared, the princess dismounted and knocked feebly at the door.


    It creaked as it opened from the slight pressure she applied. She didn¡¯t know why she would think it would be locked. Twas silly to think that a dragon would be concerned with home security. Her head shook away her foolish thoughts and called out loudly from the entrance.


    ¡°Hello..?¡± Her voice echoed about. It would appear as though the castle was built as an entrance to a large cave, which would explain how a dragon was able to live in such a tower.


    ¡°Enter.¡± A crackling voice called back. It spoke in a language she understood but carried with it an inhuman nature that made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.


    Linnea was careful as she went. The hem of her skirt was lifted up so that it wouldn¡¯t be soiled as she ventured further within. Darkness soon gave way to the light of oil lamps hung up on the carved walls of the cave. A minor distraction to the sight of the creature that laid waiting for her at the back.


    What she noticed first were the bright lilac eyes and scales that shifted between blood red and deep purple in the flickering light. His horns gave off a faint light as his pale tongue flicked out of his mouth to clean a nostril. What shocked the princess most was the size of the creature as he slowly moved forward to give her a closer inspection.


    In truth, he was smaller than a horse, considerably shorter, but long bodied with an even longer tail. He quickly enveloped her as he looped about her body, careful not to touch her as he did so, and his back becoming rigid as he reared up to greet her eye to eye.


    ¡°Maiden. Why have you come to my den?¡± He croaked out. His breath had a slightly acidic scent to it that stung her nose, and it slowly flowed out of his mouth as a stream of blue fog.


    The princess took a step back, nearly tripping on him as she did so. She did her best to gulp down her fears as her fingers twisted about the fabric of her skirt. ¡°My name is Linnea. I¡¯m the princess of this kingdom, and my father is quite ill. It is time that I grant your request so that I may be crowned as queen.¡±


    Nicolaos pulled away from her so that she had some space to move. He lowered himself down and his wilted wings quivered with anticipation. ¡°Time for my boon already?¡± The tip of his tail twitched slightly as he thought. ¡°A queen this time? You humans have matured ever so slightly since the time your ancestor held the crown, yet you all serve me loyalty since I was the one that fathered this kingdom with your great-grandfather.¡±


    Linnea nodded warily. ¡°Yes. There are many stories of how this kingdom was formed.¡± Stories that she had told since she was a small child sitting on her own father¡¯s lap. ¡°But I am not a queen yet. Not until I complete your task.¡±


    ¡°Your father granted me this forest, and your grandfather built for me this meager castle. Do you know what the first favor was?¡± She shook her head and the dragon replied with a sneering grin. His tail flicked into the shadows and returned with a crown hanging from its tip. ¡°This.¡± He swayed it in front of her in a tempting manner.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°A crown?¡± It was something that suited Nicolaos¡¯ appearance. Black metal studded with jasper, coral, and sugilite.


    Nicolaos gently placed it upon the girl¡¯s head. ¡°It suits a girl such as yourself.¡± Nicolaos purred out. ¡°The boon was that I would granted ownership of the first daughter born to the family, one I have feared your family had forgotten, but I am fortunate to have been granted a beautiful human to do my bidding.¡±


    Linnea was quick to pull off the crown. ¡°I cannot abandon my place at the palace and become a possession. Despite what my predecessor may have promised you, that is something I cannot abide by, as there is no other option for an heir. I apologize.¡±


    ¡°Do not be so rash about such a decision. It is not as though I am asking you to be my bride or anything dreadful like that.¡± Nicolaos¡¯ pale tongue flicked about the absence of his lips. ¡°Tidy up the place a bit and make a meal here and there. You will be returned to your home soon enough, as soon as I figure out exactly what it is I hope you to do.¡±


    ¡°I cannot see the benefit of such a partnership.¡± Linnea spat out. ¡°My father is very ill, and I do not have the luxury to idle about.¡±


    Nicolaos let out a calm snicker. ¡°A month. Merely a month of your life.¡± His tail flicked back and forth in thought again. ¡°Everything I would want from you will be accomplished by then.¡±


    Her father may last until then, and surely the court would understand. Only Nicolaos had a say in who ascended to the throne. They would have to abide by his wishes. ¡°I will do as you ask.¡± She then looked around. ¡°Is there a place I might stay?¡±


    ¡°The tower was built with you in mind, but it is not my fault if you took many years to appear.¡± Nicolaos shifted past her. Despite his cool demeanor, the faint fluttering of his wings gave away his excitement. ¡°I have errands to do now that you are here. A servant will come by to bring you sustenance later.¡± He slithered past her on his stumpy little legs, and easily squeezed through the door that she had carelessly left open.


    Linnea gave a sigh as she examined the crown within her hands. It was lighter than she would¡¯ve first imagined but it still had a way to make her nervous. She decided to make her way up the tower to see what sort of room awaited her. Unsurprisingly, it was as equally full of dust as it was furniture.


    It was designed for a young woman in mind. A vanity was in the corner, and there were dresses of varying sizes set aside in an armoire. There was a bookshelf full of children¡¯s stories and romance novels, and the walls were covered in paintings of flowers. It was somewhat an eclectic mess, but she would do her best to clean up.


    Objects were cleaned of dirt and dust, and clothes were checked to see how badly damaged they were by moths. It would seem that a tower hidden within the woods was the worst possible place for storing clothing. The fabric was brittle and yellowed, and any lace tore at the lightest touch. She worried that the same would be true for the books.


    Linnea settled for sitting by the window while she undid her braids. She closed her eyes against the afternoon sun and listened to the birds. Nicolaos was out of sight, but her horse remained nearby. Soon enough, she found herself wondering what sort of servant the dragon had.


    As the sun began to set, her eyes flickered open as a strange sound filled the air. A high pitched ringing tone, like someone, was tracing their finger around the edge of a bell. Will-o-wisps began to fall like snowflakes from tree branches. When they landed, they bloomed into the shapes of people. Their mouths hung open. singing in an inhuman tone as they traveled in a straight line.


    Linnea found herself entranced. She lifted up the edges of her skirt and raced down the stairs to see where they might be headed. They led her to a clearing where the will-o-wisps had begun to dance around an oleander tree. Their song became louder, and their movements were wild and free.


    The princess joined them. Her feet moving elegantly below her as she skipped and jumped about. She giggled furiously as she kicked off her shoes and danced about in a frenzied manner. Although they matched her movements, it was impossible to tell if the will-o-wisps were enthusiastic about her presence. Their blurred faces were unable to convey joy, sadness, or disappointment.


    She continued to dance with them until the moon reached the peak of the sky, and then all were silent. Moving as one, the will-o-wisps turned towards the tree and fell to one knee. Its pink blossoms had bloomed, and golden light trickled from each, creating hundreds of tiny waterfalls.


    A lean looking man rose up from the ground, lifting himself up from the liquid that had pooled around the tree roots. He gasped as he drew his first breath, steadying himself as he gained his bearings. His dark green hair was short and framed by a leaf crown, and he had blush colored eyes that glowed faintly in the night. The will-o-wisps shifted back into small glowing balls that drifted up towards the stars, and he, in turn, bowed respectfully towards them.


    Linnea averted her eyes, biting on her lip as she made her retreat. Specters were one thing, but being alone with a man was another. As she turned around, she was shocked to see that he had appeared before her. Golden light was still dripping off of his skin as he leaned in for a closer inspection.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± His voice was lyrical and mystifying. The sound of it alone made her cheeks burn painfully. Her lack of response made him take a step back. He bowed before speaking again. ¡°I am the king of these woods. You may call me Oleander. Won¡¯t you tell me who you are?¡±

 Chapter Two

    ¡°Linnea. I¡¯m the...¡± She froze up. Admitting that she was the princess would be a terrible idea. ¡°I¡¯m a guest staying with the dragon, Nicolaos.¡± Her hands wrung against one another behind her as her eyes actively sought any direction that wasn¡¯t him. This was utterly embarrassing.


    ¡°Nicolaos?¡± The man darted about her with a laugh, grasping at her hand and shaking it vigorously. ¡°A guest of his is a guest of mine. I have been told that he protects this realm from¡­ What do you call it? Man? They are evil sorts of creatures who seek only to kill all in their wake.¡±


    Linnea laughed nervously. ¡°I-I see.¡± She looked up at the stars, avoiding Oleander¡¯s movements as he tried to get a better look at her face.


    ¡°Tell me, which tree are you?¡± He grasped the edge of her skirt and traced his fingers along the embroidery. ¡°Such elegant and textured skin. You must surely be a flower.¡±


    ¡°A flower?¡± She glanced at him but looked away when she caught a glance of his pink colored eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t recall ever being a flower. What might you be?¡±


    Oleander leaned in, as though he were about to reveal a grand secret. His expression was one of excitement. ¡°A nymph. From the tree over there.¡± He gestured to the oleander tree. ¡°Are you not also a nymph?¡±


    Linnea shook her head. ¡°No. I¡¯m afraid to admit that I¡¯m human.¡± Her words did nothing but confuse him.


    ¡°Human? But those are humans.¡± He gestured to the will-o-wisps that still illuminated the air. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about their destructive natures.¡± Oleander leaned in again. ¡°They¡¯ve been cured of their harmful ways, but I can¡¯t exactly remember how.¡± One of the will-o-wisps floated down and made a ringing sound. ¡°Was it death? I believe they might be dead.¡±


    ¡°My goodness, all of them?¡± Linnea hesitantly poked the will-o-wisp. It felt frigid to the touch, and let out a ringing sound that seemed slightly offended. ¡°What could have happened?¡±


    Oleander waited for the will-o-wisp to ring again. ¡°Humans tried to conquer the lands, and Nicolaos stopped them by creating a border.¡± The nymph perked up at the thought. ¡°He must have truly been our savior during those days. These spirits are all that remain of the invaders.¡±


    The princess furrowed her brow. ¡°They¡¯re all ghosts then.¡± She then frowned. ¡°Are you the only nymph here?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Oleander also frowned at the idea. ¡°My kind, those who humans called fae, were hunted down as the humans feuded. Few remain, such as these spirits, and I am their king.¡±


    He held out his hand, and the will-o-wisp landed on it. The glow from it faded slightly, as though it were calmed by his presence. Linnea quietly watched the scene before quickly turning away, embarrassed by Oleander¡¯s nudity.


    Oleander finally came around to noticing her nervousness. He waved away the will-o-wisp before reaching forward to touch her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re warm. Are you perhaps some form of fire spirit?¡±


    ¡°N-no!¡± Linnea stepped back, and his fingers had left a burning sensation that left her skin tingling. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ N-naked. That might be comfortable for you, but I find it to be inappropriate.¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps I should find a more suitable skin.¡±


    Oleander headed back to the tree and stood underneath the waterfalls of nectar. The gold liquid weaved into a golden tunic that covered his body. Linnea began to wring her hands behind her back again. She also wanted to touch it to see what would happen but was afraid that it would somehow burn her.


    ¡°It won¡¯t hurt you,¡± laughed Oleander. He jogged over and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the tree.


    Her hand was forcefully held underneath one of the waterfalls. It felt warm and somewhat sticky. As it coated her skin, it created a glove that was as soft as silk, leading her to put her other hand within the nectar so that she would have a matching set. She let out a soft gasp of delight, and the will-o''-wisps once more formed into vague visages of people and begun their singing and dancing anew.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Oleander joined them, pulling Linnea along with every step. ¡°Are you planning on staying in the woods?¡±


    The princess gave a shake of her head. ¡°No. I would only be staying a little while. I will need to go home to see to my father¡¯s health and seek out a suitor¡­ Which is but a few of the many tasks that are waiting for me.¡± She made wide circles with her hands. ¡°I have many tasks, but no time to complete them all if I stay here for long.¡±


    ¡°A suitor?¡± Oleander was once again confused by her words.


    ¡°Ah, well, it¡¯s someone you get married to.¡± That did nothing to ease Oleander¡¯s confusion. ¡°To to be married is to have someone who will be by your side until one or the other dies. Someone who you are loyal to more than any other person.¡± Her eyes wandered off to the side. ¡°Normally one becomes a suitor when they seek to fall in love, but I don¡¯t have that luxury.¡±


    What odd things this girl was saying. He took her hand again, this time intertwining their fingers, and his other hand was placed against the small of her back. They began to twirl together around the tree. ¡°Is it rude to ask what love is?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like when someone makes you happy, but it¡¯s a very special sort of happy.¡± Linnea let out a sigh. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t really know how to describe it. I¡¯ve never felt it before myself.¡±


    Oleander was about to ask something else when Linnea¡¯s stomach let out a growl. ¡°Are you ill?¡±


    ¡°No, only hungry,¡± she whispered in a mouse-like voice. She felt horrid that it was loud enough for him to hear. ¡°I should return to my room. There may be food waiting for me there.¡±


    Hearing that she was leaving only made Oleander tighten his grip on her. ¡°Tell me, Linnea, what does a fae like you enjoy eating?¡±


    There were all sorts of foods that she ate at home but she felt she might offend Oleander if she said something so blatant as ¡®meat and vegetables.¡¯ He also didn¡¯t seem to know much about humans at all. ¡°What I eat is complex. Much of what I eat was once one thing, but we use fire and tools to make it into something new before I even see it.¡±


    ¡°So you are a flame spirit.¡± Before the princess could object, Oleander leaned in again so he could study her face. ¡°You have such wondrous eyes.¡± From this close, she could see that his eyes had a faint gold hue to them as well. They were so much like the flowers of his tree. ¡°Your eyes are like fire.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you.¡± Once again she found herself looking bashfully off to the side. ¡°I would be fine with some fruit if you had some, but I fear that I should be returning.¡±


    Oleander gestured to a will-o-wisp, who floated away in a bouncing manner. ¡°They may find you something. In the meantime, tell me about this strange fae world of yours. Why choose to not find the one who will make you happy?¡±


    ¡°My future is not the stars. Not everything has been put in place and set in stone.¡± Linnea fidgeted about, not wanting to talk about it with someone she had just met. ¡°And if every piece has had its shape set, then that is how it must be. It is simply the way things are done where I am from. That is all you need to know.¡±


    ¡°And where are you from? Though I am king, I have never once left my grove.¡± He gestured to the tree. ¡°This is my true body, and only certain circumstances would allow me to escape it.¡± Oleander paused as he thought to say. ¡°Escape is incorrect. I know little of what the outside world is like, and any news is welcome.¡±


    ¡°This realm is full of humans.¡± Linnea let out a quiet and nervous laugh. ¡°They call this land Orlean. I once heard that this land was filled with oleander trees, but they were cut down during the wars. Yours is the only one I have seen, other than the ones from picture books.¡±


    ¡°A whole realm named after me? I¡¯m flattered.¡± He pointed over his shoulder, and Linnea turned around to see a large wolf at the edge of the grove. It held a branch in its mouth that had a plum hanging from it. Oleander gestured for the beast to come closer, and the wolf dropped the branch at their feet.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± muttered Linnea. She had seen dogs before, but they were considered messy creatures, thus she had never been allowed near them. This wolf was also considerably larger than any dog she had seen before, and she instinctively hid behind Oleander in an effort to minimize her presence.


    Oleander stooped down and picked up the fruit, examining the red flesh within his palm. ¡°What a lovely color, but you should have a taste of something else first.¡±


    Linnea frowned. It had been days since she had last eaten anything that wasn¡¯t trail rations, and she was desperate to have something that was neither dry or tough on her teeth. ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    ¡°Something which you have hinted that you need the taste of.¡± He reached up and touched her chin, angling it so that she was looking up at him. Then he leaned down as though he were about to steal a kiss. He was so close that she could smell the floral scent of his skin.


    Maybe it was the lack of food, the days of travel, or the night she had spent dancing, but Linnea wasn¡¯t right in the head. Her mind was spinning with strange thoughts. What exactly would a flower taste like? But it was just as she nearly felt the coolness of his lips on hers that she turned her head away, if only because she heard a growl come from somewhere in the woods.


    ¡°There you are, milady.¡± Nicolaos stepped out of the shadows just as Linnea put some distance between herself and Oleander. ¡°Come to me before that creature hurts you.¡±

 Chapter Three

    Oleander could only laugh at the dragon¡¯s presence. ¡°Come now, beast, you cannot fault me for my curiosity. She was the one who claimed to be human, and I have my rights.¡±


    ¡°She is human.¡± Nicolaos kept his distance from the tree, and the tip of his tail was flicking back and forth like an agitated cat. ¡°And she is my human, and not yours to play with.¡±


    Linnea looked between the two, not knowing who to go to. ¡°I am not some property to be argued over, Lord Nicolaos. Oleander has been nothing but kind and courteous. We were merely having a conversation.¡±


    ¡°Milady¡­¡± Nicolaos ground his teeth together. ¡°This precious weed was burned during the war due to how venomous their blood is. These flowers fall from their branches and live only to seduce nearby humans. His appearance pleases you because he was born to woo you, kill you, and bury your body as food for his tree.¡±


    Linnea suddenly felt numb. ¡°You do know of humans. Everything you have told me was because you sought to trick me.¡±


    Oleander took a step towards her, and she took a step away. ¡°I did know you were human, but...¡± He frowned at the disgust on her face. ¡°I would never seek to¡­¡±


    ¡°Milady.¡± The dragon called out for her again. ¡°You have had a long day. Your place is within the tower, at least until I can teach you the ways of these woods.¡±


    Linnea glanced over to Oleander, who was now struggling to come up with anything to say. ¡°I will take my leave with you, Nicolaos.¡± She slipped the gilded gloves off her hands and dropped them at her feet before joining with Nicolaos.


    They walked in silence, with Nicolaos occasionally looking her way. She was visibly sulking. ¡°The desire to consume another is not an evil act for our kind. It is self-preservation.¡± That appeared to be his way of comforting her.


    ¡°What he did was quite different than leading an animal to slaughter,¡± Linnea replied flatly. The sticks and stones were digging in her feet, and she regretted that she had left so quickly that she had left her shoes behind.


    ¡°It is the same,¡± Nicolaos replied in an equally flat manner. ¡°A nymph uses its beauty to sway the heart of another, while a butcher would use a carrot to lead a cow. Unlike humans, we fae do not seek to breed humans into tastier and tamer specimens. We forage for them from the wild and let them thrive outside of our influence.¡±


    Linnea stopped and tug her toes into the dirt below her. ¡°What a horrid way to look at the world.¡±


    ¡°It is the literal truth.¡± Nicolaos flicked his tail about in an annoyed manner and craned his head back to stare at her in an unsettling way. ¡°You should seek to marry him.¡±


    ¡°... What?¡± She covered her mouth with her hand to prevent her shock from being overly visible. ¡°That simply will not happen, Lord Nicolaos! Not after you yourself stated that he views me as food!¡±


    Nicolaos scoffed and rolled his head back into place. He continued ahead at a slow pace until Linnea caught up to him. ¡°Nymphs are the very resource that humans killed each other over.¡±


    ¡°What would anyone desire anything from such horrid creatures,¡± she hissed.


    ¡°Because they are creatures of pure magic, and their trees were especially special.¡± Nicolaos paused by the door of the tower and waited for Linnea to open it for him. ¡°Fruit that would heal any wound, nectar that could grant the strength of ten men, even sap that made armor invincible. Hunted down one by one and slaughtered by humans, until only the poisonous ones remained, and those were destroyed due to their ferocity when it came to hunting.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Linnea let the dragon walk in first and watched him settle himself at the bottom of the stairs. ¡°Poisonous nymphs such as Oleander?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± snarled Nicolaos. ¡°Even after I built the barrier, humans continued to hunt down the nymphs. Now only the last one remains, protected because he lives in my woods. He claims to be king of this forest, but his only subjects are the wild animals and the ghosts of those lost in an old war.¡±


    ¡°And yet you claim I should marry a monster that would so easily kill and devour me.¡± Linnea pouted. ¡°I came here not to die, but to be queen.¡±


    The dragon shrugged and didn¡¯t care much for her opinion. ¡°I am not interested in your death, but I desire to strengthen the blood of the crown. Even the most poisonous of nymphs are weakened when they make a vow of love to a human.¡±


    ¡°I am certain that has nothing to do with me. I do not have the time to play such games.¡±


    ¡°But I would be quite delighted if you chose to do so.¡± Nicolaos rose up and circled around the princess. ¡°You are a fair maiden, and he is a lonely thing. It would not take much for you to convince him. Lie and say that you will take his tree to the palace, where he may live a better life. Have him make a vow to you. Do with him what you wish, and afterward, I will carve out his heart and devour it.¡±


    Linnea¡¯s eyes widened as she covered her mouth once more from shock. She began to stammer as her mind was unable to come up with any sort of proper response. There were simply too many ill words mixed with the dragon¡¯s logic.


    ¡°There is no need to be surprised, milady.¡± Nicolaos grinned widely. ¡°Were you not paying attention? It is not a vile act to seek out and consume a much-needed meal, and his heart is nothing but magic, magic that I desperately need to stay strong. My strength is this kingdom¡¯s strength, milady, and I need him free of poison before I claim what is mine.¡±


    She began to awkwardly shuffle from side to side. ¡°Please let me dwell on it while I sleep.¡±


    He gave a nod and slithered down to his cave. As she ascended the stairs, Linnea thought about their conversation. Fae and beasts seemed to be one and the same, but she was human. Humanity meant that she should strive to be above such ideals.


    Linnea entered her bedroom and locked the door behind her. If not for her weariness, she would not have slept at all. She would spend the night awake while she debated what it meant to be human, and why she was better than what Nicolaos desired of her.


    She dreamt of home. Of sitting on her father¡¯s lap as he read to her stories of the war and of the fae. Nicolaos was once again the one who saved them. He gathered them all together within his woods, and there were no longer worries of demons hiding in the shadows of their towns and homes.


    Oleander was a handsome creature. If not for his eyes and hair, he would nearly appear human. She didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable around him like she did Nicolaos, but he did attempt to poison her and meld her dead flesh with his roots. That certainly did much to dissuade her from liking him.


    Was he really the last of his kind? And if he were, does she have the right to help in his death? Oleander did claim that he could hardly leave his grove, thus him actively seeking to harm him would be one and the same as harming a defenseless creature. But, this was also the same as Nicolaos making a request of her, thus she could use this as an excuse to fulfill her boon and return home quickly.


    Her eyes fluttered open before they shut tightly once more. The sun was shining brightly through her window, and directly on her face. There was still an ache in her feet from where the forest ground had cut into them. As she sat up, she glanced at the dress she had on the night before, and pouted when she saw had soiled the grass and dirt had made it.


    Linnea relented and grabbed a dress from the armoire. Nicolaos didn¡¯t seem to be within the castle as she descended down the stairs, but there was a basket of food waiting for her. Food and a charred fish, which she ate as quickly and delicately as she could. This was washed down with a sour wine that had been left for her as well.


    All of the shoes that were in the room were too fragile for the woods. There was still time for her to decide whether or not she should abide by Nicolaos¡¯ wishes, but she would need to fetch her shoes from the grove. She was wiser now. Oleander only saw her as food, but Nicolaos hinted that his loneliness might make the nymph take care not to kill her too quickly. Linnea would use that against him, if only to get her shoes back.

 Chapter Four

    The glade looked different in the sunlight. It was still a wide area centered around a tree, but there was no longer the flowing waterfalls of nectar or the dancing will-o-wisps. A melody was drifting through the air, which made Linnea be cautious in her approach. Oleander was sitting within the shade of his tree, and the playful tune was coming from his bone flute.


    Linnea had rode here on her horse, to spare her feet the pain, and she patted the animal on the side of the neck in order to keep him calm as she dismounted. A sword was pulled out of her back and strapped about her waist so it was balanced behind her. She could see her shoes hanging from the tree¡¯s branches. If she were careful enough, she would be able to sneak up and snatch them before Oleander noticed her presence.


    Her feet padded softly through the grass. She then reached up to get her shoes, but could hardly reach, so she glanced at Oleander to see if he had noticed her. He was still entranced by his tune, so she took to jumping up and down in an effort to knock her shoes free, each time her nails barely grazing against the edge of them. A thin whine escaped her lips as frustration began to mount.


    The music ceased as Oleander looked up from the flute. He stood up and approached while Linnea hopped away from him awkwardly. She felt like she had been caught by a maid for sneaking into the kitchen in order to get a taste of pie. He lifted the flute and used it to knock the shoes towards Linnea, with them hitting her on the head in the process.


    ¡°Ouch¡­¡± She quickly picked up the shoes and clutched them to her chest. ¡°I mean, ah¡­ T-thank you.¡±


    ¡°Hold still.¡± The nymph took a step towards her, and she immediately leaned away from the poisonous creature. ¡°Hold still and close your eyes while you do so. It makes me uncomfortable when you stare at me with such a frightened face.¡±


    ¡°Claims the monster who attempted to murder me last night,¡± she hissed back.


    ¡°Hold still,¡± he pleaded for a second time.


    Do it for Nicolaos. Don¡¯t fall for Oleander¡¯s traps, but do it so Nicolaos could eat him later on. Linnea sucked in her lips and bit down on them with her teeth while shutting her eyes tightly. She then clamped her free hand over her mouth as further insurance.


    ¡°What is with that expression?¡± He stifled a laugh but she only responded with a shake of her head.


    She could feel at him tugging at her hair. He was braiding it or something, feeling around her head and brushing away the stray strands around her face. It was quick work and he pulled away soon enough. Linnea hesitantly reached up and felt what he had done. There was a braid there that had flowers woven within it.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She frowned.


    Oleander smiled softly. ¡°It reminds me of how you appeared last night. A wild and free spirit of this forest.¡±


    Linnea¡¯s frown contorting into a look of disgust. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to base my appearance on what you like or dislike.¡±


    ¡°You should. After all, I am King Oleander.¡± The nymph grin became a cheeky one. ¡°And this glade is my kingdom. All who step here must obey my commands.¡± He tapped the tip of his flute against her nose before tucking it into his belt. Somehow he had found himself a white suit with gold trimmings. At least he wasn¡¯t naked. That¡¯s all Linnea could say about that.


    ¡°Now that I have reclaimed my shoes, I will be on my way. I should find Nicolaos.¡± If only to see if he had anything planned for her today. She placed her shoes on the ground and slipped her feet within them.


    ¡°The spirits told me that he spends several hours each day sunbathing,¡± said Oleander as he pointed to the west. ¡°The forest has a rocky outcrop there that becomes quite warm during the day. I do not know for certain, since I have never been there myself.¡± He then smiled at her when he noticed her looking his way. ¡°You could stay here and help me with a small task, if that will please you.¡±


    ¡°Not particularly!¡± Linnea spat out.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Oleander took a step back, surprised that she would raise her voice. ¡°I will make a vow to not eat you if you promise to do me this favor.¡± This promise eased some of her worries. She nodded. ¡°I need a deer. A deer¡¯s body will be enough for me to make it for another year.¡±


    ¡°And you believe that is something I can do?¡± Her father had his early hunting trip with members of his court, but she had not once got with them. She was always at home with her mother, studying embroidery or reading books. The only thing she got as an only child was a handful of sword lessons, and that hardly labeled her a proper hunter.


    ¡°I believe you can make do better than I, as you have the freedom to leave this place. I certainly do not.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± she spat out another statement. Linnea at least had a short sword on her horse. He was still waiting at the edge of the grove, too afraid to enter. ¡°It may take me some time to find one on horseback. You will have to be patient.¡±


    ¡°Then do not take your horse,¡± said Oleander as he waved his flute about.


    He played a sharp and quick tune upon it, and it wasn¡¯t long before a new creature entered the grove. A large gray wolf with a black face. She was covered in scars and nearly rivaled Nicolaos in size. It was possible that she was bigger than him, as she was closer to the size of Linnea¡¯s horse.


    ¡°Those of these woods have named her Mother.¡± He gestured to the beast. The wolf put a paw forward so she could bow respectively at the pair.


    Linnea¡¯s horse was visibly shaken by the beast, and he slowly began to retreat further and further back into the forest. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I cannot consider Miss Mother to be my partner.¡±


    ¡°Mother has an extraordinary nose.¡± Oleander smiled proudly. ¡°She has always brought me the best catches in the past.¡±


    ¡°Then have her catch your meal this year as well!¡± Linnea cried out. Her sudden cry made her horse flee. She slumped at the sight and at least hoped that he was making his way back to the tower.


    Oleander twisted about so that he was in front of her. ¡°And do you think I¡¯m not desperate for a taste of your flesh?¡± He paused, relishing in the thought to the point where Linnea felt exceedingly uncomfortable. A shake of his head snapped him out of it. ¡°I would like it if you were my ally. Mother is older now, and her sight isn¡¯t what it used to be. Do this for me, and I promise to not harm you.¡±


    ¡°... I will do as you ask.¡± Linnea said through clenched teeth. She held her hand forward for the wolf to sniff. Her palm facing downward, fingers relaxed so Mother could smell her knuckles. This is how she was taught to introduce herself to dogs, but she had never dared to attempt it in the past.


    Mother gave a nod and stretched her paws forward again so her back was low enough to clamber onto. Linnea looked between her and Oleander to see if they were being serious about this, but all the nymph would do is smile. Hesitantly, she sat on top of the wolf, and Mother took off running as Linnea let out a loud yelp.


    The wolf was quick, and Linnea was forced to hold onto the sides of her scruff in order to keep her balance. Her sword bounced painfully behind her, whacking every now and then against her tailbone. Linnea tightened her grip all the more as Mother came to an abrupt stop. There were the silhouettes of deer moving about the trees.


    Linnea dismounted as Mother stretched out her paws again. ¡°Am I supposed to..?¡± The princess made a whacking motion with her arm while Mother stared blankly at her. She half expected the beast to give some sort of response but was only met with silence. Mother gave a pat to the ground with her paw, as though signaling Linnea to stay here. Perhaps the wolf expected her to be useless and was going to take on all the work herself.


    Linnea was going to ask another question, but Mother had suddenly vanished into the treeline. She pouted and stayed where she was told to. How long was she expected to wait? Her father used dogs for hunting, but the kill always went to the bow. Now that she thought about it, she had no idea how a wolf killed its own prey.


    Just as she was thinking about it, the birds in the trees around her took off all at once. As her eyes followed them, she was nearly knocked over by a pair of deer that were running her way. She fell to the ground from shock, barely avoiding a collision in the process. Linnea rolled onto her knees and struggled to pull her sword free. Her grip tightened about the hilt as she stood up.


    A flash of silver flew the air, followed by a splatter of red. Linnea didn¡¯t think. She merely slashed out at the next thing that ran her way, and she succeeded in landing a harmful blow. The doe skidded before falling to the ground, then flailed about in an attempt to stand up again.


    Linnea¡¯s heart was racing. It was horrifying. The deer struggled to breathe as it attempted to stand. Her sword hand hacked a large gash into it, and a hunk of flesh was hanging uselessly from its neck to chest.


    There were no more deer, and all Linnea could hear other than the struggling deer was the soft sound of Mother¡¯s paws against the ground. She glanced at Linnea as she walked past, and then casually clamped her teeth around the deer¡¯s throat. Then she laid down, pinning the deer in place as she waited.


    The deer¡¯s hooves scratched against the dirt as it slowly suffocated. First they were quick, then they were slow, and finally, there was no movement at all. Mother rose up and walked past Linnea again, carrying kill within her maw as she did so. Linnea struggled to put her blade away before she followed, and the pair walked back to the grove in silence.

 Chapter Five

    Mother entered the grove first and dropped the deer at the base of the tree. Small roots curled out of the ground like worms, curling about the body before slowly dragging it down below. The color of her cheeks had gone white, and her dress was covered in brown splotches of drying blood. She dragged her feet as she went, and stayed at the edge of the grove.


    ¡°My, you did return quickly!¡± Oleander beamed at their speedy return, but then tilted his head with confusion at Linnea¡¯s appearance.


    So this is what it meant to be a butcher. It was quick, and the deer did not suffer much, but it didn¡¯t leave a good taste in her mouth. How was she going to feel when Nicolaos decides that Oleander is ripe for slaughter? ¡°Ah, yes. Thank you for greeting us¡­¡±


    ¡°Over here!¡± Oleander held his arm above his head and waved enthusiastically. ¡°I can¡¯t congratulate you if you¡¯re all the way over there!¡±


    Linnea hesitantly took a few steps into the grove, and was shocked when Oleander ran up to greet her. He put his hands on the sides of Linnea¡¯s hips and pulled her closer. ¡°W-what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Are you really so sheltered that such a small act startles you?¡± He laughed as she nodded.


    ¡°I hardly view that as a bad thing.¡± She gasped as Oleander wrapped her up in a tight hug.


    He buried her head against the side of her neck. His skin felt so cool and soft. Oleander truly was like a flower. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect it to be so difficult for you,¡± he whispered. ¡°Should we watch the sunset together?¡±


    She tilted her head slightly, whispering quietly towards his ear as she spoke. ¡°It will still be sometime before that ha-AH!¡± He picked her and carried her further into the grove, before gently placing her down on the grass and curling up next to her.


    They talked for a time. Mostly it was him asking questions, as he didn¡¯t have much to say about himself. Books were a particular fascination. Partially he was appalled that they were made from trees but was interested in learning about the written language. She wasn¡¯t willing to teach him it, but she did tell him some of the stories she had read.


    Trees blocked off the true view of a sunset. All that could be seen were the clouds and the subtle changes of color. It was beautiful in its own right but lacked the true brilliance of the horizon. Linnea frowned at the sight, but Oleander was fascinated.


    ¡°It¡¯s like a flower... The way the colors shift from bud to blossom to death,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Have you never seen it a different way?¡± She rotated to her side, choosing to watch him instead of the sky.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember. It¡¯s quite possible that I was the first tree here. The sky may have been quite different then. Does it change all that often? From year to year?¡± He also rotated to his side when he noticed that she had moved.


    ¡°Is it hard for you to remember?¡± He did seem to struggle the night before, relying heavily on the will-o-wisps for much of his information.


    ¡°The tree is my body, and I am but it¡¯s flower,¡± he replied. ¡°My role only allows me to remember what is important. I know I must get a body for my roots, and that I am the king of this place. My subjects, the spirits, and animals teach me anything else I may need, of Nicolaos¡¯ presence, and of man... Anything else is not important.¡±


    ¡°I have trouble imagining what that is like,¡± Linnea whispered.


    ¡°I have trouble imagining anything different,¡± Oleander retorted.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°But you remember anyone else visiting you?¡± Nicolaos had hinted that there may have been other fae here once, but he never mentioned where any of them had gone.


    Oleander reached over and grabbed her hand. ¡°I feel as though it were easier once. Mother wasn¡¯t always here, and maybe there was someone else that brought me meals. Perhaps I once had fae in my court. I don¡¯t remember it, but if I question my current state, I know that this was not always how it was.¡±


    She began to wonder what happened to the others. ¡°I see...¡± The sky had already started to darken, and the sound of the will-o-wisps singing could be heard in the distance. ¡°Maybe Nicolaos would know?¡±


    ¡°The spirits told me that other fae have shorter lives. There were so few of them left that they failed to have children, and they slowly became the last of their kind until there was no more. I believe it¡¯s a blessing that I don¡¯t remember any of it myself.¡± He stared at her for a moment before saying anything else. ¡°You truly plan on leaving soon?¡±


    Linnea sat up and averted her gaze. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll stay for a month.¡± She realized that a nymph might not know what that meant. ¡°Until the moon matches the appearance that it had the night before.¡±


    ¡°You truly cannot wait till the end of summer?¡± Oleander kept his eyes on her.


    She tensed up at the idea. ¡°I still have to tend to my home, and I wouldn¡¯t wish to see you fade away as flowers do.¡± She didn¡¯t know how she would feel if she had to witness that. ¡°I... I-I read a story once about nymphs. It said that one was able to turn human once they vowed their love for another, but that fate seems more cruel than the one you have now.¡±


    ¡°Who is to say for sure?¡± Oleander closed his eyes, concentrated on remembering. ¡°My magic keeps this grove beautiful. If I were to become human and leave this place, the nearby trees will eventually choke out all light, and my tree will wither to nothing in the darkness.¡±


    ¡°So it would be cruel,¡± Linnea whispered. She stood up. ¡°The night is here. I should return to the tower.¡±


    Oleander stood up and held out his hand. ¡°Or we could continue our dance from the night before?¡±


    Linnea crossed her arms. ¡°If you are not out to eat me, why are you so flirtatious?¡±


    ¡°I am but one of perhaps hundreds of blossoms, but one fact has always been with us. The universal truth that is burned into our very souls.¡± Oleander kept his hand out for Linnea to take. His fingers curling in and out in order to tempt her. ¡°Flowers are meant to sway a woman¡¯s heart.¡±


    She frowned. He smiled. With a sigh, she took his hand, and the two began their dance anew. The will-o-wisps danced and sang with them as well. With every twirl and skip, the two never once dared to look away from the other¡¯s eyes.


    The moon was high within the sky when Linnea decided that it was time to part ways. She performed a curtsy, and he in turn gave a bow. When they rose up, they froze in place, each waiting for the other to say something first.


    ¡°I would walk you back, but¡­¡± Oleander gestured to the tree behind him.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Linnea exclaimed. He was the biggest threat in these woods, and she would be safe enough walking back by herself. ¡°I will be heading off.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± She froze up and sucked her lips in and he drew her in close. Instead of a kiss, he simply placed his forehead against hers. ¡°Come back to me. As soon as you are rested, return to me.¡±


    Linnea pulled herself away again. ¡°I will do as I please.¡± Her tongue stuck out at the nymph as she turned away, and the will-o-wisps were kind enough to show her the way home.


    Nicolaos was waiting for her outside of the castle. He was curled about his tail, eyes glowing lilac as he studied the woods. They flitted over towards Linnea as she approached and a puff of blue smoke started to seep out from his nostrils.


    ¡°I¡¯ve returned, Lord Nicolaos.¡± Linnea curtsied.


    ¡°You reek of blood and nectar, child,¡± growled the dragon. His tail unfurled itself, and he flicked open the door with the tip. ¡°Play as you must, but do not forget that we have a bargain. You must uphold your end of the promise if you are ever to have the crown.¡±


    ¡°You should not concern yourself with the details of my outings, sir. I will do as you ask, but I require my moments to stay private.¡± Linnea hesitated before entering the castle. ¡°But I do find myself full of questions. Please spare a moment to speak to with me?¡±


    The dragon stared at her, studying every bit of her face and posture. He nodded and walked passed her. ¡°In my cave. There are eyes and ears everywhere in these woods, and on you. Ones that will undoubtedly whisper to their king if we are not careful.¡± He sneered as she took her time to follow him. ¡°We are partners in this endeavor, and whatever knowledge I have is for you to have as well.¡±

 Chapter Six

    Nicolaos sauntered towards the back of his cave. As he walked, he spat out wisps of flame that curled about the torches and set them aflame. He continued on until he reached a worn down section of stone. Once more did he curl about in a circle like a cat, and waited patiently for Linnea to settle herself on a nearby stone.


    ¡°This forest was once full of fae. Father told me once that you asked for these woods so that they might be a sanctuary for them.¡±


    The dragon¡¯s tongue flicked out for a moment in thought. ¡°I chose this place because it was far from human settlements and because there was a settlement of fae here already. Humans dare not approach me, and my presence was enough to grant the fae here the protection that they so desperately needed. I was once a welcome presence here.¡±


    Linnea nodded with agreement. ¡°I was frightened to come here as well, but have since quelled those emotions.¡± Aside from the dragon, a nymph, and singing ghosts, there was hardly anything unusual here at all. ¡°What happened to them?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Nicolaos¡¯ abrupt laugh let out a puff of smoke from his maw. ¡°Use your mind, milady, and you will understand.¡± He smiled in a coy manner. ¡°I ate them. Every single one. They were all hunted down one by one before their hearts were carved out and devoured.¡±


    ¡°Why would you do that? Was it truly necessary?¡± Her whisper echoed quietly against the surrounding stones.


    ¡°I am addicted to power. Is not everyone?¡± His eyes glowed all the brighter as he could nearly taste it. ¡°Magic grants me my desires, and I, in turn, use it to protect this realm. The fae here were a source ripe for harvest, and both you and your people have benefitted from my endless hunger.¡±


    Linnea looked down at her hands and realized just how dirty her dress was. ¡°And what would you do once you have eaten Oleander?¡±


    ¡°For one, I would not refer to it by its name. It is food.¡± His harsh words made Linnea worry that she could not remember if he had ever used her name. ¡°And I do not know for certain. That is an old nymph, one that I and my servants have been grooming for decades, and my power would no doubt ascend to something majestic. I do not know what I would do with it all.¡± His tail twitched with anticipation.


    Linnea stood up with her hands gripping tightly along the edges of her skirt. ¡°Forgive me. I fear that I am more tired than I realized. I would like to go to bed, but we may continue this conversation on later?¡±


    Nicolaos narrowed his eyes. ¡°Do not fear me, child. I would never break the oath that I have made to your family. If I sought to war with humans, I would move past my barrier to do so. All of the boons I have asked have been in preparation to devour this one nymph. There is much more I desire, and your descendants are going to provide it for me.¡±


    A shake of her head was given. Linnea realized at that moment that Nicolaos was not her ally. Humans were merely a different sort of prey for the dragon. The only reason they had not fought before was due to Nicolaos not wishing to feed directly upon them.


    Linnea ate the food that had been left out for her and debated on what she should do next. She had trouble sleeping, plagued by nightmares about Oleander¡¯s death and her place upon the throne. She didn¡¯t awaken until the early afternoon. As she sat up, she stared at herself within the mirror and realized that she had dark circles beneath her eyes. Appearances were not something she should be concerned with, as she needed to concentrate on getting ready for the day.


    Nicolaos was out again. There was another bowl of nuts and fruit left on the table for her. Once again, she shoved them in her mouth in an unladylike manner. She could help but to be starving. This was gulped down with a glass of water, which moved painfully down her throat.


    She found her horse waiting for her and tended to him to see if he had any wounds, then scolded him for abandoning her the previous day. Strapping her sword to her back, Linnea then rode off to the rocks that Oleander had told her of. What she found instead was a stream where the dirt gave way to boulders flattened by time and weather. It was the sounds of a waterfall that made her slow her pace.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The dragon was bathing out in the sunlight. He looked like a black snake from this distance. Linnea dismounted and slowly stalked her way closer. She put a hand on the hilt of her blade and drew it out slowly as she watched the monster¡¯s tail twitch.


    A growl escaped his lips as he opened an eye. ¡°What ill thought has crossed your mind?¡± The dragon croaked as he stood up.


    ¡°It may have been different before, but Orlean does not have the right to exist as long as we turn a blind eye to your vile actions. That is the decision I have made as its queen,¡± proclaimed Linnea from what she hoped to be a safe distance. She took the sword and held it firmly within both of her hands.


    ¡°How noble the children of your kind believe yourselves to be. Your people would be dead, and you would not have even had the opportunity to be born were it not for my graciousness,¡± hissed Nicolaos as his shriveled wings fluttering angrily behind him. ¡°You act as though your ancestors were not murderers, and you believe yourself innocent and free from the suffering you would cause your people if you were to cast me out now.¡±


    ¡°Orlean is not as weak as you claim it to be! We are a proud and strong people!¡± Linnea called back. ¡°What my ancestors did was out of desperation for keeping their people safe, but that is the past! We must move forward for us to grow! For that to happen, you must be defeated!¡±


    Nicolaos¡¯ tongue flicked about. ¡°Are the hearts of young maidens truly that careless? I did not believe that nymph could sway you to his side so easily.¡±


    ¡°It has nothing to do with that flower!¡± Linnea cried out. Her mind was already made up. She charged in, seeking to end the dragon once and for all by her hand. Nicolaos sought to disarm her by tripping her up with his tail.


    The princess jumped over the obstacle, but the soles of her shoes skidded along the damp stones. Her sword was brought down upon Nicolaos¡¯ tail as she stumbled forward. It was partially severed, and Nicolaos spun about. His enraged shriek issues forth flame and smoke, which Linnea failed to avoid.


    Her dress and the left side of her body was badly wounded. The grip she had on her weapon faltered as he arm fell useless by her side, yet she continued to defiantly stare down the dragon. Swing after swing was taken, and all Nicolaos could do was to spit fire at her. Time and time again she was burned, but she refused to back down or even die.


    It was the look in her eyes that scared him the most. They were the same as a predator¡¯s, staring down a weakened prey. As much as he fluttered his wings, they failed to lift him up in the air. Time had weakened him. His once glorious form had shriveled from both disuse and gluttony. Even if she was injured, Nicolaos had trouble keeping up with this girl¡¯s movements.


    Linnea¡¯s opportunity came when he lunged at her. She somehow managed to slip her blade into the softer scales of Nicolaos¡¯ throat, spilling a dark blue ichor over the both of them. He stumbled back and faltered just as the deer had the day before. Suddenly he was small and feeble, and his eyes widened with horror as he realized his time had come.


    They had barely started to glaze over when Linnea raised her sword up once more. She brought it down repeatedly, each whack an attempt to splinter the spines and scales that laid along his neck. His head fell free of his body, but the horrified expression remained. With the last of her strength, she kicked it off the edge of the stones and watched as the river carried it away.


    There wasn¡¯t enough time. With Nicolaos gone, the barrier that protected Orlean would begin to fade. How long before those on the outside attempted to venture in once more? How long before their armies arrived to pillage these lands? Nicolaos was not the only who had been weakened by peace. Orlean¡¯s military force was nonexistent.


    Prying the scales free from his chest, Linnea began to cut into it. She scraped and sliced through flesh until she found his heart, and sought to cut it loose from its restraints. Nicolaos had taught her that power was important, but it needed to be within the hands of those who could wield it honorably. Her hand delved into his chest, and she yanked free his heart.


    Linnea didn¡¯t hesitate to bite down upon it. Nicolaos¡¯ heart tasted like fire. It singed her throat and made her stomach boil. The pain was a thousand times worse than the burns upon her body, but she continued to devour all she could.


    Her temples bled as horns burst out from them. As the blood trailed down the sides of her cheeks, it began to darken from a bright red to a dark blue. Shriveled wings burst out from her back, her nails grew into talons, and her spine screamed with agony as it stretched out and formed a tail.


    This was the solution she gave herself. She would be the one to wield this power, no matter how much it had tainted her. Even if she could never return home, even if she would no longer be queen, this was the decision she had forced herself to take. May the gods damn her for her choice, and she, in turn, would damn them with her newfound power.

 Chapter Seven

    The sun had already set by the time Linnea was able to drag herself back to Oleander¡¯s grove. Her pain was making her delicious, and it was only the sounds of his flute that had guided her back to this place. Oleander looked up at this creature who had wandered into his territory and felt a shiver cross his features at the sight of her.


    Her clothes were burnt and stained, purple scales had sprouted in strange patterns along her skin, and there was a vacant smile on her face that exposed a set of fangs. Linnea¡¯s hair was still auburn, but the roots had gone dark and her orange eyes had turned lilac around the edges. The tail behind her twitched slightly from her anxiety.


    ¡°What has happened to you?¡± Oleander dropped his flute and rushed to be by her side. He grasped onto her shoulders in order to stabilize her and studied the changes she had gone through. ¡°Is this normal?¡± She shook her head. ¡°The spirits will be here soon. They¡¯ll know what to do.¡±


    Linnea dragged her fingertips against Oleander¡¯s cheek. The blood on them stained his skin. ¡°He wanted¡­ H-he wanted to kill you, Oleander. I know that¡¯s what fae do, but I didn¡¯t think that would¡¯ve been for the best. I-I didn¡¯t know what else to do¡­¡±


    ¡°You are speaking such strange words again. Who wanted... Nicolaos? Did you..?¡± He took a step back. ¡°You truly are a human. I thought you would somehow be different than the stories, but¡­¡±


    ¡°He wanted to eat your heart, Oleander!¡± Linnea cried out. ¡°He wanted you to love me so you would no longer be filled with poison, just so he could devour you! I-I¡­ I didn¡¯t want that to happen!¡± She fell to her knees and began to tug at her hair. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it fair that you should die, but¡­ I don¡¯t know how to create the miasma, or to protect Orlean¡­ O-or anything anymore!¡±


    ¡°What you need to do is wash away the sins you have committed, but they have forever tainted you,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°I need to recreate the miasma, or Orlean will fall,¡± she whimpered.


    Oleander studied the broken creature in front of him. ¡°You must make the dragon¡¯s magic your own. Sense out what is new about your world. Seek out where his spells have been laid.¡± He bent a knee and took her hands into her own, to stop her from harming herself further.


    Closing her eyes, Linnea struggled to expand her senses. She could see the borders of her kingdom. They were full of death. Twisted structures made of bone and dried wood and the skulls that decorated them had smoke slowly dripping from their eye sockets. Words began to flow unbidden from Linnea¡¯s lips, forming a language which she had never heard. She could see the smoke begin to pour from each skull, forming a dark fog that began to choke the area.


    Linnea¡¯s head began to spin as she broke away from the connection. She slumped to one side and took comfort in Oleander as he caught her. ¡°I believe I have done it, but what now? If I were to make things right, I can only do so by exiling myself from my people and taking Nicolaos¡¯ place here.¡± She looked up at his face. ¡°But you will stay with me, will you not?¡±


    Oleander eased her head against his shoulder. ¡°Only until the end of summer.¡±


    ¡°But you will be back the next spring?¡± She would be fine as long as he returned to her.


    He tightened his grip about her before replying. ¡°No. A new king will be crowned each summer, and although he may look similar to me, he will not know you as I have. He will not even remember you.¡±


    Linnea covered her mouth with her hand. She felt as though she were about to vomit. ¡°What have I done? I struck out in a moment of fear, and I did not think to¡­¡± She pushed herself away from Oleander if only to toss her arms about his shoulders and draw him into a forceful kiss. If his lips were truly poison, she wanted to drink her fill.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Oleander was the one to push her away this time. He grasped at her cheek with his hand and studied her face. ¡°Are¡­ Are you alright?¡± If a flower were capable of blushing, his cheeks would be burning red at the moment. ¡°Please say something, Linnea, and promise me that you will never act so hastily again!¡±


    Her world was spinning, and she felt weakened by their brief contact, but she felt as though she might live. ¡°I may be fine after some rest.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± The nymph lifted her up and carried her under the branches of his tree, and he held her until she fell asleep. Though weakened, her mind wouldn¡¯t let her rest completely, being plagued by nightmares throughout the night.


    She was running through the woods as Nicolaos flew after her. Everything had been set alight by purple flames. Linnea stumbled over the edges of her dress at the edge of the grove, and Nicolaos flew above her. His maw clamped onto Oleander, tearing him apart like paper while the nymphs tree was absorbed by fire. As much as Linnea tried to shout out, nothing but silence left her lips. All she could hear were the flames and the dragon¡¯s laughter.


    It was the sounds of birds that woke her the next morning. They were bouncing along the branches of the tree, and pecking at the grass in an effort to find worms. Oleander was curled up in a tight ball next to her. He wasn¡¯t moving, nor was he breathing, and he appeared to be a bud waiting for his chance to bloom.


    Linnea had never seen him in the morning. He didn¡¯t seem injured, so this was perhaps his way of sleeping. She took a moment to fan out her wings before flying over to the river. As hard as she scrubbed herself, she couldn¡¯t scrap away her sins. Oleander had been right about it. Her mistakes clung to her, and it left an itch upon herself that she could not reach.


    Then she headed to the castle, where she watched a will-o-wisp drag in a new basket of food. Of course. These were Nicolaos¡¯ servants. Anyone who had died to his miasma had their soul bound to his well, and he then used them to manipulate the fae of this forest. Like how Oleander relied on them so heavily for their information, it was all misdirection so that the fae would not fear him.


    She wolfed down the food that had been brought to her, but none of it seemed to satisfy her. There may have been some rations on her horse, but the creature fled in terror when she made an attempt to approach. Linnea was hardly surprised by that, but she hoped that her horse would be able to fend for itself here.


    Linnea returned to the river in order to bathe herself in the sun and to meditate on the miasma barrier. All seemed well, but that also failed to quench the desire within her. A scent of something danced about the air. Her slitted eyes snapped open, and she glanced upward at the trail floating above her. Whatever it was, she sensed that it would fill the void that she felt.


    The silver trail began to lead her through the woods, twisting and turning about the trees. It led to a field of blackberry bushes, where fairies were darting about the flowers. They were dancing by each blossom, ensuring that each blossom would be becoming a juicy berry by the time fall came.


    Linnea¡¯s eyes became thin slits. She could nearly taste the magic that was dripping off their succulent bodies. It was a force that she wanted all to herself. Hiding behind a tree, her tail whipped out and snatched up a fairy before the others could notice. Her claw pierced its chest, and she brought the fae up to her lips, sucking out their organs in an attempt to absorb the magic.


    The results were exhilarating, but this was such a small morsel. It did very little to satisfy her appetite. She debated going for another, but she was also disgusted with herself. Linnea had promised herself to be better than Nicolaos. A promise she had already broken.


    She quickly buried the body and retreated back to the river to wash the blood off of her face. Oleander was awake by the time she returned to the grove. She spoke with the will-o-wisps as they appeared, teaching songs before Oleander would get bored and ask her to dance.


    Thus began their lives together. They would dance throughout the night, and Linnea would retreat back to her castle. During the day, she would curse herself by hunting down what magic she could, unable to resist her urges. Then she would spend a time teaching the will-o-wisps everything she knew. If she ever failed to appear, they would be able to keep Oleander company.


    Not once did her hunger ever seek out Oleander. Even if it did, she would refuse. He was the reason she made the choice to murder Nicolaos. Whether it was love or morality, she didn¡¯t know anymore, but it felt like the right thing to do. As long as she could stay by his side and protect her kingdom, it didn¡¯t even matter.


    Days turned into weeks, and soon the days began to grow cooler. Autumn would soon be approaching. Oleander¡¯s tree would soon enter hibernation, and the flower himself would fade and dissolve way. Neither he or Linnea ever questioned the coming end, not as long as they could treasure the other¡¯s smile.

 Chapter Eight

    ¡°How much longer now?¡±Linnea fanned out her wings as she laid on her stomach, absorbing what heat she could from the sun. Her hand sought out Oleander¡¯s and he grasped it tightly.


    A few days, perhaps a week at most.¡± He pointed up at the sky. ¡°That one looks like a duck.¡±


    Linnea looked at the cloud he was pointing at. It didn¡¯t look all that much like a duck. ¡°When was the last time you have seen a duck?¡± She had never seen one within the grove before.


    ¡°They often fly overhead, much like how clouds do,¡± he said with a pout. ¡°Does it not look like a duck?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°The sun is setting soon.¡± Linnea pulled him to a stand as she rose up. ¡°Trust me. There is something that I want to show you.¡±


    Her magic had gotten stronger. Not only from her feedings, but from her practice as well. Will-o-wisps surrounded the pair, and they began to float up in the air. Maybe he could not leave his grove, but the space above it was fine. She took them higher and higher, until he could see past the tops of the trees that had always obscured his vision.


    Oleander was at a loss for words. He could finally see what the true sunset was like. A golden orb swallowed up by hues of pink and blue. From here, he could see the whole of the forest, the river, and even the distant smoke rising from villages as people prepared their dinners.


    ¡°Has the world always been this beautiful?¡± His only regret was that he had no way to remember this. No way to carry this image to all the other flowers that would be born from his tree.


    ¡°No. Every sunset is a little different.¡± Linnea kept her eyes on him. His smile was all that mattered to her. ¡°In autumn, the leaves are lit up like fire, and in winter, it looks like the world is painted in gold.¡±


    ¡°There is a¡­ A fluttering in my chest that has nowhere to go, yet it¡¯s fighting to burst out. My skin wishes to sing, my mind is a mess when it comes to what words I wish to speak, and my very being feels like it¡¯s being twisted back and forth by an invisible force.¡± He glanced at her bashfully. ¡°I believe I understand you now. Love truly is a happiness like no other.


    Linnea laughed at his words. ¡°I can think of no better romance than one where a flower falls in love with the sun.¡±


    Her laugh made him stammer for a moment before he found his words again. ¡°Linnea, where will you go after I die?¡±


    ¡°I thought I would stay and see what the next flower was like, but I¡¯ve decided to travel past the borders of these lands. I¡¯ve taught the will-o-wisps enough to know that the next one will not be left wanting.¡± She pointed a claw past the dark miasma that laid in the distance. ¡°But I desire to know of the world past this one. There is much I wish to see.¡± And magic she wished to feast on.


    ¡°Linnea.¡± The nymph repeated in a softer tone. ¡°If I vow to become human so that I may stay by your side, will you give your heart to me?¡±


    ¡°Oleander?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I could never ask that of you. After all, you were the one who said that you cannot imagine ever being anything but what you are now.¡±


    ¡°I also cannot imagine leaving you alone in the world, not as you are.¡± The ground below them lit up like stars as the will-o-wisps began to dance, and the two of them began to slowly float back down to join them. ¡°As stunning as the sun can be, it will never be as beautiful as you. I do believe that I love you, Linnea.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Their feet gently landed in the grass, and a sinking feeling had filled Linnea¡¯s chest as well. ¡°I would tell you that I feel the same, but I have no right to say as much.¡±


    The blossoms of the tree were once again dripping nectar, forming dozens of golden waterfalls. Oleander tightened his grip about Linnea¡¯s hand and guided her to his tree. ¡°I have had weeks to think about it, and this is the decision that I have made. Tonight is the night that we leave this grove forever, but you must vow to give me your heart.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Of course!¡± She flung her arms about him. Hot tears were streaming from her eyes as her voice began to waver. ¡°You may have my heart! You may have as much of me and more! Anything you ask for, I will give it to you!¡±


    Oleander let out a sigh of relief. He pressed his lips against her neck, and soon enough, they met together in a kiss. It didn¡¯t leave Linnea nauseous as it had before. His skin felt warm and welcoming. Every loving word was returned in kind, and every gentle touch was matched with passion.


    They twisted together in a sacred dance, and the will-o-wisps were every singing. The nectar flowed about them, the stars shined high above, and Linnea could never imagine a more beautiful night. Still wrapped about the other, they fell into a deep slumber, and she felt herself wishing that there would be many more nights such as this one in their future.


    It was the dry crunch of leaves that woke Linnea up the next day. Linnea sat up, and the bleariness left from the night before still clogged her mind. Her hands groped about, seeking the warmth that had comforted her the night before, but all she felt was a pile of dried petals. Suddenly her mind was much clearer as she looked about, and she could find no signs of her precious Oleander.


    Her eyes fell upon the oleander tree. It was dead. The leaves and flowers had withered and fallen, and the wood was left dry and crack. Linnea stood up, crying out as loudly as she could. She tried to fan out her wings, in order to fly out and find him with her magic, but they, like the flowers, had shriveled up and fallen off.


    She studied her hands more closely, and her claws were gone. Her horns were missing, and her tail was also gone, leaving nothing but a scar behind. Not knowing where else to go, she ran back to the castle and stumbled up the stairs. The dust was wiped away from the mirror, and she stared in shock at her human appearance. All that remained was a faint lilac hue that stained her left eye, and all other magic was gone.


    What had Oleander done? Why was he no longer with her? What had happened to her body? She pulled on a dress as quickly as she could, and raced back down the stairs. Mother was waiting for her. The horse that had abandoned Linnea so long ago had been coaxed into returning by the wolf.


    A brief thank you was given, and Linnea rode as quickly as she could away from these woods. Not to her castle, but to the edge of the border. For days she rode, allowing only as much rest as was needed to prevent her horse from dropping dead. She ate little and slept even less, being driven on to find her answers.


    When she arrived, she was horrified to see that the miasma was gone. What had replaced it was a ring of oleander trees that knitted together in an impenetrable barrier. When Linnea held up her hand in an attempt to touch it, an invisible force pressed back. She didn¡¯t know what to make of it. She couldn¡¯t understand why Oleander had done this after he had promised to stay by her side.


    With no place to return to, Linnea made her way back to her home. Nothing made her feel better. Not the news of her father making a full recovery, or the celebration of her successful return. Her father had sent soldiers to find her, but the only news that they had returned with was that Nicolaos was gone and a demon had taken his place. They were thrilled to know that she had come home safely.


    Linnea was told that something wondrous had happened. On the night when she and Oleander vowed their love, the rivers throughout the kingdom flowed gold. The skies had lit up with lights, the miasma had been banished from the border, and the wall of oleanders had taken its place.


    After all was said and done, Linnea had no energy to tell them the truth of her own story. She said that Nicolaos had needed her help to ensure that he would no longer be needed to help monitor the border. Together, they found a different solution, and the dragon¡¯s last request before leaving these lands is that his forest remains a refuge for all fae.


    Linnea spent a long time after that wishing to be left alone in her chambers. She had no energy anymore and found herself trapped in thoughts of what she had done wrong, or what she could have done differently. All she knew was that Oleander had somehow sacrificed himself for her. He had taken his sins away and had lost his life in the process.


    It was for that reason that for the coming weeks, and even years to come, Linnea would struggle to keep her eyes dry of tears.

 Epilogue

    It was out of fear that Linnea was married off right away. There were those that were worried that the king would fall ill again, and this time he would not recover. Linnea¡¯s melancholy state had left her unsuitable to be a leader, and her husband was an educated and nobleman. He was kind to her, and she did not hate him, but she would never learn to love him.


    Regardless, she served him dutifully as his wife and quickly became burdened with child. The pregnancy was quicker than expected. What should have been a day of celebration turned into one of horror as she gave birth to a large green pod. A priest was called, who quickly declared Linnea cursed by dark magic, and that the pod would need to be burned in order for her to be cleansed.


    But she refused to have her child taken away. She hid the pod within a box under her bed, and her husband helped her burn a replacement. He truly was a good and kind man, and that was when Linnea decided to tell them the truth behind her adventures. Despite her flaws, he still accepted her, and it wasn¡¯t long before they expected another child. This time it was a boy, with auburn hair like his mother, and eyes like his father. With this child, Linnea would continue her duties as raised him the best she could.


    Yet she felt nothing but grief. For every step of progress this child made, the one hidden beneath her bed was being denied. He was a handsome child, she taught him much, was kind like his father, and beloved by many, but it did nothing by cause Linnea pain to watch him grow.


    When her father died, and when her husband took his place as king, Linnea could stand it no longer. It was in the middle of the night when she disappeared, taking her firstborn with her. Her husband would forgive her, but her son never would. Not that Linnea would care, she never returned to her home again.


    Years passed and her son would eventually get married and have a prince of his own. One that had been taught many stories by his grandfather about his grandmother. He would gain a wanderlust from it, and against his father¡¯s wishes, he set out on an adventure of his own in order to find his grandmother.


    He would not leave himself unguarded. Nicolaos¡¯ sanctuary had long since been filled with fae, and many were dangerous to humans. The prince wandered about the edge of the woods until he saw an old wolf. One as large as a horse, and covered in old battle wounds, just as his grandfather had described Mother.


    Dismounting the horse, he followed the wolf to a grove. There were two oleander trees growing at the center, both were full in bloom. One had lilac flowers, another had orange, and beneath them slept two of the most beautiful beings the prince had ever seen. As beautiful and strange as they were, the prince couldn¡¯t help but feel connected to them.


    They woke at his presence, and he tried to explain who he was. Neither of the nymphs seemed to understand much of what he was saying. When asked about his grandmother, they did know at least something. The spirits were their teachers, and they had taught them that she was their mother, although neither flower had met her themselves.


    After returning to this place, Linnea had buried the pod where their father had died. She brought them a deer every year and taught the flowers that were born about the world around them. When there were no flowers to be seen, she put on a disguise and traveled about Orlean. Any stray fae that she found were given sanctuary here.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    She was a wise woman who was loved by all, but that¡¯s all the flowers knew about her. Seeking more answers, the prince ventured out into the woods again. He sang songs with elves, helped gnomes with their tinkering, and watched the faeries tend to blackberry flowers. There were weeks spent learning stories of his grandmother, but no one knew what had happened to her.


    Mother was his guide on most days. Her presence alone was enough to make most fae behave themselves, and they were more than helpful when they realized that the prince was Linnea¡¯s grandmother. He was provided with food and shelter during his search, and there finally came a day where someone told him that there was a part of the woods that no one ventured to.


    The prince immediately headed there and was surprised to see that it was nothing more than a collapsed tower. He carefully made his way in, and the bottom half of the tower appeared to have once been a shelter for someone. There were old furs up that were hung up to dry, and what remained of a cooking area. What surprised him most was that there was a giant lizard¡¯s head hanging on the wall, long ago mummified and covered in dust.


    ¡°And who are you?¡± The mummified head of Nicolaos croaked.


    Clutching at his chest, the prince felt like he nearly had a heart attack from hearing the dead dragon speak. He explained who he was and that he was looking for his grandmother. Nicolaos took his time to respond. So much so that the prince wondered if the first question was just a fluke. Perhaps the creaking of trees, or a bird¡¯s song that he had mistaken for words.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead,¡± muttered the dragon. ¡°She never did quite figure out how to keep this place maintained, and it collapsed upon her. With the last of her strength, she dragged herself to her children and let them devour her. Nymphs are not particularly picky creatures. They will devour whatever flesh they can get.¡±


    So she was dead after all. It hardly surprised the prince, but he couldn¡¯t help but mourn the woman he had never met. He thanked Nicolaos for his time and turned to leave.


    A snarl escaped from the dragon¡¯s desiccated lips. ¡°Your blood has obeyed my wishes for generations. Do not think you can escape simply because I do not have the means to chase you.¡±


    The prince lent Nicolaos an ear and agreed to his terms. He took the dragon¡¯s head back to the grove and placed it at the base of the tree. Tiny worm-like roots came through the dirt and dragged the skull deep beneath the earth below. Nicolaos¡¯ final wish was to be free of his torment, and he would no longer feel the desperation to feed upon magic again.


    Confused, the nymphs asked what he was doing. The prince explained, and they still didn¡¯t seem to get it. Regardless, he made the time to be careful about his words, at least until he was somewhat convinced that they understood his intentions. Then he gave them each a kiss on the cheek and told them that he would always love them as family. This only succeeded in confusing the nymphs all the further.


    None of that mattered though. The prince would be the last human to ever enter these woods. He would make sure that his people learned of what his grandmother had worked so hard to protect, and that they would never bother they fae again.


    Oleanders do not live forever, even with the power of magic. The nymphs were the last of their kind, and they would never have children of their own. That was something that never bothered them. Flowers were hardly bothered my much, but the two couldn¡¯t help to feel an absence some days. As though there were a voice missing from the chorus that sang to them every night.


    The other fae worked to keep their kings company. Their days were full of stories, and their nights were full of dancing. Linnea¡¯s final wish would be granted. Until the day her children died, not once could the nymphs ever be described as lonely.


    Eventually, the barrier failed as well, and the fae scattered themselves in order to stay hidden. Orlean would fall, and magic would be forgotten, but a part of Linnea¡¯s story would always remain. It lives on in the songs of the will-o-wisps, who still travel to the grove each night. They continued to sing for no one, songs meant for the king who had died oh so many years ago.