Water Vegeance: Trials of Darkness 1

"Minister!" Princess Merra exclamed as Lauren Ragawe was led into the throne room. It had changed since she had left. Now the dragon symbol stood where the darkness seal had once. Looking over the other members of the room, Ragawe nodded. The Dragon Troop was present.

"Forgive me if I don't kneel." she replied testily, it was four in the morning after all. Her purple eyes lingered on Rantros, who was sitting at Merra's feet, before giving the Dragon Princess her full attention.

"That's actually why you're here," replied a deceptively cheerful voice. "We needed to be sure of your loyalties before this war continues." Ragawe knew that by 'we' she had meant Rantros, but she knew as well as he did where her loyalties lay.

"Would I be killed if I told you I follow Warena?" Lauren asked, her usual sarcasim as apparent as ever.

"So it's true..." Merra mused. Now Ragawe had a good idea what had happened. Merra believed that Lauren's allegiance was with the highest bidder. For the most part it was true, but Merra and Rantros were both unaware that Ragawe had put her philosiphy aside for a time. "Then why did you choose me only to leave?"

"My intial plan was to stay, Merra," Ragawe replied. "But you have changed this country. The red moon shines no longer on this land, and for that I cannot stay."

"Very well," Said Merra. "Now we know. You may go, Minister."

Ragawe turned to leave when someone laid a hand on her shoulder. "Lauren," Said Rantros, turning his childhood friend around to face him. "Will you reconsider?"

"No," Lauren said flatly. "We could be a great team, Shal, but Warena has more than war in mind. I cannot join you just because we're friends."

"You would give up your homeland for her?" Rantros said curoiusly.

"She is my queen, Rantros," replied Ragawe. "You of all people should know what that means. That also means that the next time we see eachother we will be fighting on opposite sides of this war."

"We could've made a great team," said Shal Var sadly.

"Maybe after, we still can," Lauren said hopefully. "Just try not to die before that happens. Promise?"

"Only if you you promise me the same."

"Of course."

"Then after this war, we can see how well we fight together." Said Rantros, taking a step back.

"Yes," said Ragawe, hugging her best friend for the final time. She turned and began to make her way down the long hallway that had once been hers. "Goodbye Shal Var." She said without turning around.

"Goodbye Lauren." Rantros said from his place at Merra's feet.

~~*End of Chapter 1*~~