Kingdom of Rohan by Kseniia Skrypnikova

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom of Rohan,

where  lived people, wizards, magical creatures, dragon-shifters who could turn into mythical creatures. But for more than a century, there have been wars between humans and wizards for power in the kingdom. This century had brought nothing but sorrow and grief to both mortals and wizards. The bloodshed had taken its toll on generations, leaving scars that ran deep. However, hope dawned upon the realm when King Valdeval of Rohan, a wise and compassionate ruler, sought to end the cycle of violence. He was able to convince the "light wizards" to join forces with the kingdom. Through relentless negotiations and acts of goodwill, he managed to forge an alliance that would alter the course of history. The scars of the past slowly healed as unity prevailed over division. However, not all were willing to accept this newfound harmony. The remaining dark wizards, unable to bear the oppression they believed was inflicted upon them by humans, chose to retreat to the mountains and people who did not want to put up with life next to magical creatures. 

Amelia was the daughter of the currently reigning King Beatrix, and the great-granddaughter of King Waldeval. The girl grew up smart and beautiful, taking kindness from her mother and courage from her father. Everyone in the kingdom loved the girl and dreamed that the day would come when the girl would rule, who would be able to unite the two worlds once and for all. Amelia loved to sneak out of the palace and look at the city, its inhabitants, people and magical creatures. Amelia knew that the day of her engagement with one of the human princes, Prince Philip, from the Far Lands beyond the sea, was not far away.  His physical appearance reflected the darkness within, with features twisted and contorted. And his eyes, cold and calculating, held a malevolence that seemed to pierce through the souls of those unfortunate enough to meet his gaze. 

She did not want to marry the first man her father chose for her, especially after she met Prince Philip. She could not accept that someone would decide her fate and decided to run away to the city a day before the wedding. The king thought that it was again evil wizards trying to interfere in the life of the kingdom. The king ordered the gates to be closed and the royal guard sent to search. Amelia was found near a cliff near the sea, she took one last look at the view and felt the last breeze of freedom, but could not keep her balance and fell. The guards ran to the cliff, looked down and there was no one in sight, when suddenly the dragon rose headlong upwards, holding the unconscious young princess. The royal guard began to shoot arrows at the beast, but its scales were too strong and no one could hurt it. With trembling hands and unwavering focus, one of the guards aimed for the vulnerable spot on the dragon's leg. The arrow flew true, piercing through the scales and embedding itself in the creature's flesh. A thunderous roar echoed through the sky as the dragon recoiled in pain. With a powerful swipe of its wings, the dragon knocked down the guards and  flew away together with the princess. 

Amelia slowly regains consciousness, smelling the disgusting smell of seaweed and fish on the fire. She opened her eyes and saw a man beside her, a young man dressing his wounds. She looked around and saw that she was in a dark cave, where the only source of light was the fire. 

“Where am I?” -  Amelia asked the stranger.

“Good morning, i hope you slept well..on the DragonStone” - the stranger answered irritatedly. 

“On the DragonStone?! We’ve been captured by dragons?! They're gonna eat us?”- Amelia started to paniс.

“Oh no, I don't eat princesses, I prefer delicacies like oysters, mussels, you princesses are not tasty at all” - he laughed. 

“You are a dragon-shifter! How dare you capture me here! Release me immediately!” - Amelia turned to him. 

“Well , my answer is ‘no’. See princess, if I want to release you, which is not my priority right now, I couldn’t. Because one of your kind guards attacked me and wounded me, so for one week all the flights are declined. And if you are not noticing we are in the middle of the sea, in the cave surrounded only by the water and crabs!” - the stranger answered irritatedly. 

“I cannot believe that! Why did you kidnap me?” - princess asked

“I saved you, you’re welcome! So you'd better help me get better so I can send you home” - the stranger answered. 

“Then tell me what your name is?” - Amelia asked

“My name is Anar, one of the last dragon-shifter”  - the man smiled 

They both agreed to help each other during their stay in the cave, he caught fish, she made seaweed bandages for his wound. A week passed, the girl and the boy became friends. Amelia learned about the ancient dragon-shifter traditions and the magical abilities they possessed. Anar, in turn, gained insights into human history, culture, and the struggles faced by mortals. She realized that not all dragon-shifters were dangerous or antagonistic, and that there were many who desired harmony just as fervently as she did.

“Well, as I promised, I will deliver your highness to the kingdom, only on the condition that your guards do not shoot me again” - said Anar

The boy turned into a dragon. He didn't look scary at all now that Amelie had learned about Anar and befriended him. He picked her up and flew up towards Rohan. 

The entire fortress was surrounded by guards, they noticed a large beast from afar and began to shout about the return of the monster. The commander told the men to get their arrows ready, when suddenly they heard Amelia's cry, begging to stop. The commander-in-chief recognized Amelia and ordered the guards to stop the fire. The dragon landed in the courtyard of the palace, gently setting the princess down. The king ran out onto the porch, Amelia joyfully ran up and hugged her father. Amelia talked about her hero and the confusion that arose. The king's gaze shifted to Anar, who stood transformed from a dragon to a young man, his presence commanding attention. The king could not believe that his daughter was saved by a dragon-shifter. Philip also ran to his bride and wanted to congratulate the princess with an insincere smile, but she just ignored him. Philip was offended by the news of the princess's idea to present Anar to the court. He immediately disliked the young wizard, he tried to convince the king that it was better to send the wizard back to his home.  But instead of that, the King asked him to stay for today's ball on the occasion of the princess's rescue.

The news spread through the palace, sparking a mix of excitement, intrigue, and apprehension among the courtiers. The evening came quickly and with it a solemn ball, where all the courtiers of the kingdom were present. Princess Amelia entered the ballroom, radiating confidence and grace. She wore a gown that symbolized her alliance with the dragon-shifters, with intricate designs of dragons and magical elements. Anar stood beside her, dressed in regal attire. The attendees, including the courtiers and nobles, were initially apprehensive about Anar's presence. However, as they observed the genuine connection between Amelia and Anar, their skepticism gradually gave way to curiosity and acceptance. Anar invited the princess to dance, they danced and there was tenderness and sincere feelings in their eyes. Both realized that they fell in love with each other. They did not notice anyone but each other, they looked into each other's eyes, there was no hall for them, no guests, only the two of them at this moment. When suddenly there was a cry, the king was killed. Amelia looked around in horror to see Prince Philip with a knife and his kingdom's army approaching. 

He shouted: “I've had enough, I've put up with a boastful princess, this old king, to get my power, and now it turns out the wedding isn't going to happen. I will no longer rely on anyone, I will take power into my own hands.”

A skirmish between the royal guard and Prince Philip's men began. Tears fell from Amelia's eyes, she was in a fog, she did not understand what was happening, her father was gone, everything collapsed. Suddenly a voice rang out, trying to bring her to her senses. It was Anar, he said that she needed to be saved. He led her across the hall into the back garden, protecting the princess from her attackers. Prince Philip ran after them : “I almost lost my crown but I won't let a monster like you take it, you both die today.”

He lunged forward at Anar, slashing him with his sword. Amelia screamed in terror, she wanted to stop him, but Philip pushed her aside. Driven by a surge of adrenaline and the depth of her emotions, Amelia found her voice and shouted, "Stop! Please, stop!"

Philip paused, his eyes filled with anger and determination, while Anar, wounded but resolute, faced him with steely resolve. In front of the young princess and Prince Philip, Anar began to transform into a dragon. The great beast stood in front of him, roared and breathed flames at Philip. The prince did not have time to turn away, the flame engulfed him. At the last breath, Anar fell. Amelia ran to the dragon, hugged his head and washed him with the tears, “Don’t leave me”. 

As the riot subsided and the royal guard tended to the wounded, Amelia refused to leave Anar's side. She was taken to her room, her mind consumed with thoughts of the future of her beloved and her kingdom. Anar was found to be alive but weak from his injuries.

Eventually, as the kingdom mourned the loss of their king and assessed the damages caused by the upheaval, Amelia and Anar made a decision. They would unite their strengths and rule the kingdom together, a human princess and a dragon-shifter, bringing about the change and peace they had always envisioned. Under their leadership, Rohan flourished. The wounds inflicted by the battles and divisions of the past began to heal as the kingdom embraced a new future. Magical beings and humans coexisted in harmony, their differences celebrated rather than feared.