I stumbled into the castle, my legs shaking with each step.

I couldn't believe what Draco told me. I was terrified of what the elders would do

when they found out he acquired another rider. My heart raced and my mouth felt so dry.

Normal after riding a dragon?

"Evelyn?" James called from down a dark hallway.

"Hmm?" I asked, turning toward him.

"Are you alright? Where have you been?"

"Oh. I'm fine. I was just talking with...well you know."

"I see." He grasped my arm tightly, pulling me close. "You understand you can never tell anyone about him or the others, right?"

I nodded my head, trying to wrench my arm free. "I understand, James."

"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head.

"It's fine. I know that it's important to keep them a secret. Please start to trust me, James. I know we've only just met, but I am going to be your wife. Your country is now mine."

"I know, Evelyn. Forgive me for being so anguished. With my father being so near death, anyone could try to take over the kingdom."

"But you're his legitimate son. You'll be made king. Won't you?" I asked.

"Of course, but that doesn't mean others won't try to rise up and overthrow such a young king."

"I suppose. You won't have to worry though. My father and his army will be at your side." I smiled lightly, placing my hand on his arm.

I wanted to tell him so bad I would be fighting alongside him as well, but everyone seemed so against the idea.

"Let me show you to your rooms." He held out his arm for me to take.

I nodded and accepted, following him down a hallway to large doors. He pushed them open revealing a magnificent room. The ceiling was shaped in diamonds with beautiful paintings and moldings in the center, the walls were blue and gold with amazing tapestries, and the bed and its golden curtains with leaves of green stood in front of large bay windows. A large fireplace across the room roared with flames licking toward the top of the flu.

"It's amazing," I gushed.

"I'm pleased you like them. My bed chambers are across the hall. Those doors right there."

"You're so close."

"You do still need protection. At least this way you can also have privacy."

"Where are Charlene and Elizabeth's rooms?" I asked, glancing around for another door that would connect me to Charlene.

"They are upstairs."

"Oh. Upstairs?"

"Yes. I thought you'd really like some privacy. There is no way anyone can get into this room except through that door there."

I nodded and sat on the edge of the soft bed.

"What's wrong, Evelyn? I thought you would be happy with these arrangements."

"I am, James. I am very happy. I'm just tired from the journey. I think I need a nap is all."

"Very well. Someone will come round for you at dinner."

I crawled onto the bed, kicking off my shoes, and drifted off to a restless slumber. Visions of dragons, fire, ice, and mighty battles invaded my dreams. Soaring through the sky on Draco, looking down at a war, as the wind wiped about my body, I felt as though I was one with him. Dipping down low, knocking men off their horses, he roared, releasing a fireball from the pit of his stomach. A sword in my hand, cutting down the enemy as we flew inches off the ground. I didn't want the dream to end, but like all good things, it had to come to a halt.

"Princess Evelyn?" a distant voice called.

"Hmm."

"Princess Evelyn? Prince James asked me to fetch you for dinner."

"Dinner?" I asked groggily.

"Yes. Everyone is awaiting you in the dining hall."

"Oh." I sat up and stared at the young maid before me. "I must change quickly."

Standing, I untied the stays of my gown and let it slip to the floor without a care that the young woman remained in front of me.

"Oh!" she gasped, turning quickly.

I opened the great bureau that stood against a wall and scanned for something appropriate for my first night in Scotland. My eyes landed on a black damask gown. The chemise was a gorgeous dark green satin, the trumpet sleeves turned out to reveal the same satin. Lovely olive green leaves were stitched onto the satin in such exquisite thread. A black hood trimmed in lace finished off the gown. I glanced in a vanity mirror at the mess of curls that hung about my face. I tied them up with a blue ribbon and entwined a pearl diadem amongst the hair. I slipped into a pair of black slippers and ran to the dining hall.

"Evelyn!" James stood and his jaw slightly agape as he stared at me.

"Forgive me for being late. I did not intend on sleeping quite so late."

"You-you're fine," he stammered.

"Are you quite alright, my lord?" I asked as he pulled a chair beside him out.

"Fine. Fine."

He motioned for one of his servants to bring a goblet of wine for me as the kitchen maids and cooks brought out platters of food. His dinners were much less of an affair than my parents were. While he had some lords and ladies present, it was far more of a private affair than I was used to. A platter of chickens was placed in front of me, along with fish covered in lemons, bowls of cherries, apples, and what smelled like veal. A beautifully prepared pheasant was placed before James, he nodded his approval and the bird was then paraded before the lords and ladies who ooh'd and awed over it. The man who prepared it smiled from ear to ear at the satisfaction of the court. Something odd smelling invaded my senses; I glanced at a bowl of green, leafy things that rested near Charlene.

"What is that?" I asked James.

"It's cabbage and onions."

"Oh."

"Never had it?" he asked.

I shook my head as he spooned some on my plate.

"Is it good?"

"Put a bit of salt on it and it tastes good."

His minstrels appeared shortly after we began feasting, lovely melodies I wasn't familiar with drifted throughout the hall.

"How is your trip, Princess Evelyn?" a tall, broad man asked.

"It is going very well so far, thank you for asking."

He bowed his head to me and moved toward James. As the Scottish courtiers moved toward the center of the room to dance a man burst through a side door. His clothes were dirty, his hair disheveled, and he smelled of a barn. He ran up to the prince and whispered in his ear.

James's eyes grew wide as saucers before he whipped his head toward me and then back to the man. "Are you sure?"

He nodded his head.

"Come with me." James pushed his chair back and grabbed my hand, yanking me up.

Nervous about what was happening, I glanced at Charlene and Elizabeth as James dragged me toward the side door. The massive barn stood right outside the dining hall.

"Is there something you wish to tell me, Evelyn?"

I shook my head at him. "No."

"Nothing at all? Nothing about Draco?"

"What about Draco?"

"He has just returned from meeting with his elders and said

that you are his new rider!"

"Oh. That. I suppose that is something I should tell you."

"Really? Yes, that is something very important you should have informed me about!" James spun on his heels to stare into my eyes.

"Draco instructed me not to, at least not until he spoke with his elders. Which he did."

"I do not like secrets. You cannot keep things from me, not only as my future wife but because of the people who are after you."

"I'm sorry."

"Draco!" James bellowed.

"Sire?" an invisible voice asked.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was unsure what happened, or if it could happen."

"Is it true then? Evelyn is your new rider?"

"It appears so. The elders believe I never truly bonded with my previous rider but I did with her," he responded from all around us.

"What is to be done?" James asked.

"She and I are one now. She shall be with me for all times."

James turned towards me, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"You can never leave."

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked.

"We will have to marry as soon as we possibly can."

"Why?"

"Your bonding with Draco has solidified everything between us. He's been here longer than I. He's never bonded with anyone since his first rider died in battle over one hundred years ago."

"So he's just been sitting in the barn all this time?" I asked.

"I don't just sit in the barn. I still fight when needed. I was always riderless."

"What does this mean for me though? I have to stay here forever?"

James sighed heavily, running his fingers through his messy red hair. "Yes. As much as I don't want you to be in that kind of danger, you will now be a part of the Scottish army. I have no idea what I'm going to tell your parents. I have to send a letter immediately."

I couldn't hold back the smile.

"Please don't look so happy."

"Do you have a dragon?" I asked.

"I do. We bonded some twenty years ago."

"You bonded with your dragon when you were two?"

"Aye."

"Would it be so bad for the future king and his bride to be dragon riders together?" I inquired.

"It has never been done before. No woman has ever bonded with a dragon."

"Has a woman ever had the opportunity to?"

"No. We've never allowed a woman the chance to bond. I suppose if you do well we should think about changing the law."

"Where is your dragon?" I asked.

"He is at the nesting grounds with his mate. He will return in a month's time."

"The nesting grounds? He and his mate are having babies?"

"A baby. A dragon only produces one egg every ten years. This will be his fourth hatchling that has made it to hatching."

"One every ten years? That's quite a long stretch between eggs."

"That's why there are so few of us."

"I see. Have you had eggs?" I asked.

"No. I have never found another dragon I like enough to have eggs with."

"I understand. It's hard being forced into something."

"I never forced you into this engagement," James said hurt enveloping his voice.

"I know you didn't, and the more I get to know you the more I am looking forward to our marriage."

He nodded and turned to leave. "I suppose you should probably start training with Draco."

"Training? I thought I came here for freedom."

"That was before you decided to bond with one of my dragons. You start tomorrow morning."

Sighing heavily, I turned the other way, walking toward the barn.

"It won't be so bad," Draco said, landing behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw nothing. "Perhaps not. At least I won't be training alone."

"I'll be training you," he said.

"You will?"

"Princess, I am over one hundred."

"Yes, you are. How do dragons live so long?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. For us it is natural. While for you humans it is natural to die after only fifty or sixty years."

"What will you do once I die?" I asked.

"Maybe I'll produce eggs by then. I will spend time with your descendants; perhaps I will continue protecting the kingdom until I die."

"How long do dragons live?"

"The oldest that the elders have spoken of was nine hundred and fifty when he joined the others in the night sky."

"That's really old."

"For us, yes. Our average life is only six hundred."

"That's still old."

"Go get rest, princess. We begin tomorrow."

I turned from the barn and made my way for my rooms. I went through the main doors and down the long hall. I glanced at James's door and saw the flickering of fire light. I quietly opened my door and removed the gown, chemise, and other garments, collapsing into bed with nothing more than my diadem still in my hair.