#i thought in honorr of pride month

[stories-by-rie]

18 Verla and Prymia

The king stood at the window and looked outside. His grief and sorrow were clearly visible on his face, dark shadows under his eyes and his skin pale from the sleepless nights.

He sighed deeply as he stared at the starless sky. He thought of his daughter. His little girl who actually wasn't a little girl anymore, but a strong, young and beautiful woman that reminded him so much of her mother.

His wife had just passed away and the loss of his only daughter seemed too much to bear. He could hear the heavy doors open, as a servant came in.

'There just arrived another, Sire', he said.

Another one. How many princes and knights had already lost their lives by trying to save his beloved child? The princess that was kidnapped by a vicious dragon. He had heard of such stories quite often but had always believed it could never be his girl.

'Let them in', he ordered and soon light steps walked into the great hall.

He turned around, surprised to see a woman in front of him. But not only was she a woman, but also a princess, fierce looking and pretty.

'Your Highness?', she greeted him, bowing deeply and then looking him directly in the eyes. It was obvious that she wasn't easily scared or intimidated.

The king nodded, unsure about how to react. Could he send in a princess?

The yellow light of the candles flickered in her face and made her look like a ghost. Her dark black hair nearly melting with the background.

'Tell me, princess, where are you from and why should I grant you the chance to save my daughter?', he asked, deciding to treat her just like the others.

'My name is princess Verla. I come from the northern kingdom, beyond the big mountain of Feylla, daughter of King Richard the mighty. Let me try to save your daughter. I am capable of returning her and you are desperate, Sire.'

The king who was usually known for being very strict and prone to accurate behaviour looked at her gently and impressed.

'I met your father once. He is a great man. I've sent more than a dozen men after my daughter already. None of them returned. How could I possibly send another man's child after her, fully aware that she might not return either?'

'I might be a woman, but I have been trained in combat since birth. I have the power to bring your daughter back. And... I have the strongest will, Sire.' The princess bowed her head, as she spoke the last part more shyly.

Obviously, the king noticed how she tried to hide her feelings and walked down to her.

'The strongest will?', he wondered.

'You daughter and I met only once on the summer night's ball my father gave. But since then my heart was hers, Sire.'

'So you want to save my daughter because you love her?'

The princess blushed and even in the dense light, it was clear to see how she felt insecure for a second. But she looked up again and nodded.

'Forgive me if I ask too much, Sire.'

'You can't ask too much, princess Verla. I do. I ask you to risk your life by saving my daughter. My only one. She is my only heir.'

He walked a few steps, turned to her and smiled.

'The truth is that I promised my wife before she died that I would let Prymia marry whoever she wanted. Consequently, not only my daughter's life is in your hands, but also her hand... I wish you the best of luck, princess Verla.'

The woman bowed once again, smiled and then left for the kidnapped princess.

After a weeks journey, Verla arrived at the cave, where the dragon held the princess Prymia captive.

The road was covered in skeletons as not only the king's knights and princes tried to save her, but also brave villagers.

Verla pulled out the sword and walked closer to the cave. Chills ran down her spine, but she was too determined to walk away now. The silence made it hard to believe that there was such a cruel creature in the cave. Although she couldn't have said what she had expected.

The closer she got, the more it started to smell awful and as soon as she entered, she felt the urge to throw up.

Slowly she walked towards the centre in the darkness. Hoping that she wouldn't wake the beast. Suddenly she spotted the dragon. A light shimmer spread through the cave, as the animal snared little fires in its sleep. In its arm was the princess. Just as beautiful as Verla remembered her. As she came closer, the giant eyes of the creature opened.

Angrily it stood up and the tail moved dangerously, covered in spikes.

The fight started, not only for Prymia but for both of their survival.

Verla didn't know how she killed the dragon. It happened so fast. But in the end, she held Prymia in her arms, unconscious and covered in the golden blood of the dragon.

She carried her outside, happy to finally breathe in the fresh air.

But the princess wouldn't wake.

Verla wiped away a tear. This couldn't have been in vain.

She sat her on her horse and walked back. She had a week ahead of her, unsure if Prymia would survive. Deep sorrow spread in her heart. She had been so sure that she would have been able to slay the dragon. Never would she have dreamt that she would fail to save her either way.

The way through the woods was the fastest. She continued the journey even at night, therefore the witch's house, that emerged in between the trees, seemed even scarier.

The house was the only thing surrounded by fog, mushrooms spread on the way like a carpet.

Verla took a deep breath and knocked on its door... Cat bones hung under the roof, owls screeched in the woods and one could see the blue lights shining from the outside.

'Who is there?', an old woman asked as she answered the door.

'I am princess Verla. I need help. My friend, princess Prymia won't wake up. She was kidnapped by a dragon and I fear for her life.'

The old woman stared at both of them for what seemed like an eternity, wiped some blood away from Verla's armour and put the finger in her mouth.

'Mmmh, dragon blood. Come in, sweet girl. I just might be able to help you.'

Verla carried Prymia in, trying not to step on the black cats and laid her down on the table.

'Most people don't know, but slaying a dragon is only one half to save a person from them. Their ultimate weapon is the poisonous spikes. If you touch them, you'll fall into the dragon's sleep. There is just one cure against it.'

'Do you have it?', Verla asked hopefully.

'No', the witch answered.

'But you do', she continued and pointed at Verla.

True love? It shot through Verla's head. Nonsense.

'Dragon's blood', the witch said, pointing at Verla's armour.

'The blood is the cure against the spike's poison. In most cases, saved people die, even after the dragon died, because most don't know that they have to get some of the blood. But you have it on your armour. So we are lucky. The dragon usually injects the victim with the poison, so that they can't run away while it is gone. I can help you, but my help comes at a prize.'

'Name it.'

'Mmmmmh... You first born child!', the witch asked with triumph in her eyes.

'Uhm. I don't... Well... The thing is I don't think I will ever have children on my own.'

The old woman looked at her suspiciously.

'Why not? You're a princess, you'll marry. Have children.'

'Yes, but... I love... Princess Prymia. So...'

But the old woman didn't seem to understand.

'I am in love with princess Prymia. If we were to marry, we couldn't have our own children', Verla repeated herself.

Utterly confused the witch looked at both women.

'Then I'll have... Uhm...' the witch looked around as if looking for ideas. Finally, she looked Verla directly in the eyes.

'I'll have you!', she decided triumphantly with a smirk that fitted a small child.

'M-me?', Verla repeated surprised. Perplexed, she looked at Prymia, as she slept on the table, her hair messy and dirty, yet still so beautiful. She looked at her lips, lips she would've loved to touch just once. And now she wasn't allowed to ever hold her head gently in her hands?

'Of course', she agreed, wiping a strand of hair out of Prymia's face.

'Then I shall begin to cure her', the witch whispered and began to collect the blood which still hadn't dried. When she finished, she had a small tube filled with the golden liquid.

As if she was dancing, she started to cook in her kitchen, adding various ingredients. Soon, the room was foggy and a purple shimmer came from the pot she brew the cure in.

Meanwhile, Verla looked at her love. The one evening had been so short. Ever since, she dreamt of meeting her again, telling her how she felt.

She held her hand. In the end, it had been worth it. Not being with her was better than knowing that she was in constant danger. Verla gave happily her freedom for her life.

The sun already started to set, when the old witch came to them with the cure.

'Take it, it will wake her up', she said and as soon as the first drops touched Prymia's lips, her green shining eyes opened.

Slowly she got used to the light, wiping her eyes and sitting up.

'Where am I?', she asked as she slowly came to her senses.

'Prymia! You are saved, do not worry. My name is-'

'Verla', Prymia continued.

'You remember me', Verla smiled and had trouble speaking has her heart skipped a beat.

'Of course, I do. How could I ever forget?'

Verla felt how the blood rushed to her head and her fingertips tickling.

'The dragon!', Prymia suddenly screamed out, panic in her eyes.

'It's fine, I slayed the dragon. You are saved now, you can return home.'

Tears of relief ran down the princesses cheeks and she stood up to hug Verla.

'Thank you. I will forever be grateful. Will you return home with me?'

But Verla couldn't. As tears escaped her eyes, it wasn't tears of joy but sorrow.

'I am so sorry. But I can't. To save you I had to give up my freedom. I belong to the witch now', Verla explained. While she spoke out loud her fate, the grief seemed to choke her throat. The words were merely whispers and her stomach became a pit, filled with lead.

She wasn't even sorry for herself. She gave herself happily so that Prymia could live. But at this moment she could see that Prymia felt similar, if not the same for her.

The deal did not only take that away from her but also from Prymia.

'No. This can't be! Do I have to lose you here, now that we finally found each other? Why would you save me from the dragon if you were about to end my life so shortly after?'

Verla couldn't bear the sadness in her love's face any longer.

'It's fine, Prymia. Just go home now.'

They both held their hands as Prymia was clearly struggling to follow that wish.

'Verla, the day we met, I fell in love with you. I know it was just a short time, but I feel like I know you better than anyone I ever met. If I have thought of you every day since that summer night, I have dreamt of you every day while I was in the dragon's cave. Leaving you behind now, I am sorry but I can't do that.'

Verla's smile seemed to make the whole room shine.

'I've fallen in love with you too, Prymia! Every minute I spend thinking of you gave me the power to kill the dragon.'

The two women fell into each other's arms. The hug seemed to last for only some seconds, as the witch cleared her throat.

'Mmmh, well...', she croaked. 'I can see true love here', she said as if she was speaking to herself. She then proceeded to walk through her kitchen and picked an ugly toat up as she stared at the two princesses.

'I guess now that I have seen your pure hearts, you may both go. And reveal my true form', she laughed insanely and with the flick of her hand she disappeared in smoke - just to step out of it as a friendly looking fairy.

The fairy coughed and tried to wave away the fog.

'You're a fairy?', Verla asked surprised.

'I have been the whole time! Or I am still a witch, whatever term you prefer', she answered with the same hoarse voice as before. Something that didn't fit her appearance anymore.

'I don't need any payment for my magic. I just needed you as bait in case you had ill intentions. But clearly, your love is real. So you may go both home.'

'Thank you!', Prymia grinned and hugged the fairy.

'Greeting cards would be nice though, so I'll know how you two are doing.'

'Of course', Verla promised and hugged her two. She then looked into Prymia's green eyes and a tear of joy ran down her face.

'We can be together now', Prymia whispered.

The princesses came closer and finally kissed, for what seemed like an eternity.

And they lived happily ever after.

~27.05.2018~