Chapter CVI: Queen

The main bedroom of the keep was typically occupied by Lord Pallor, but he hurriedly made arrangements for the servants to prepare it for the queen. As Isabella walked through the grand halls, she was met with reverence and tears of joy from her subjects, who bowed deeply in her presence. Each gesture of devotion stirred her heart, reminding her of the weight of her return.

A room adjacent to hers was swiftly prepared for Alicent. In Isabella’s chambers, a warm bath awaited, along with trays of fresh fruit, wine, and bread. After dismissing the servants, she gently undressed Ikkar, who giggled with delight as she lowered him into the bath. His laughter, so pure and unburdened, sweetened her heart, easing some of the tension that had gripped her for so long.

After feeding him fruits, bread, and warm milk, Ikkar’s eyelids grew heavy, and he soon drifted off to sleep. Isabella carefully placed him in the bed, pulling the blankets up to his chin. With Ikkar safely nestled, she undressed herself and slipped into the bath. The water, though not scalding, was warm enough to soothe her aching muscles.

As the scent of fragrant oils enveloped her, and the sight of Ikkar sleeping soundly nearby filled her vision, Isabella finally allowed herself to exhale deeply—a breath she felt she had been holding for the past two months.

Isabella slept soundly, her body and mind finally surrendering to the exhaustion that had plagued her for weeks. She rested undisturbed for nearly two days, enveloped in the safety and quiet of the keep. Lord Pallor, understanding the toll her journey had taken, advised her to take all the time she needed to recover. He assured her that any pressing matters could wait until she felt strong enough to face them.

During her long slumber, Isabella was visited by a mix of dreams and nightmares, all revolving around the same figure—the Dragon King. In her dreams, she relived that sweet morning by the stream where he had first taken her, his touch tender and his embrace a sanctuary. She felt the warmth of his arms around her, the sense of belonging she had once cherished.

But the dreams twisted into nightmares. In these darker visions, the king’s eyes blazed with fire, his face a mask of fury. She saw him towering over her, his breath searing the air as he condemned her for running away. The flames consumed her in these nightmares, burning her alive as his wrath consumed everything they had once shared.
Once Isabella felt ready, she left Ikkar in the care of Alicent and prepared herself to meet with Lord Pallor and his small council. As she donned the elegant Allendorian dress, with its intricate embroideries and delicate laces, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. This was a stark contrast to the simpler garments of a concubine, a reminder that she was not just a woman, but a queen.

When she entered the council room, the six lords present—some familiar, others new to her—stood in respect. Isabella kept her head high, the weight of her new reality settling on her shoulders. No longer a concubine, she was their queen.

Lord Pallor greeted her warmly and introduced the members of the council. Isabella acknowledged each of them, her voice steady and clear as she said, "It is a pleasure to meet you all. I must thank you for your unwavering loyalty to Allendor during these troubled times. And to Lord Pallor, I owe a special debt for sending his daughter on a mission I never imagined she would fulfill."

Lord Pallor responded, "Clara volunteered. She’s fiercely loyal to your cause, Your Majesty."

Isabella took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she knew needed to be said. "As you may know," she began, her voice carrying the weight of her experience, "after the Battle of Rosehall, I was taken to the Dragon King's palace, where I served as one of his many concubines in what was known as the Court of Fallen Queens, his royal harem." The title hung in the air, a reminder of the indignity she had endured. "It was during this time that Prince Ikkar was sired by the Dragon King himself."

A ripple of surprise passed through the room, some of the lords silently gasping at the revelation.

Isabella continued, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. "The Dragon King… He grew quite fond of me. He released all the other concubines of his harem, including me, eventually. He planned to make me Duchess of Dragonspire and his sole royal concubine."

One of the lords interjected, a glimmer of hope in his voice. "If the Dragon King released you and allowed you to return to Allendor, then perhaps there’s a chance for a peace agreement, to end this war without conflict."

Isabella felt her heart ache at the naivety of the suggestion. "It isn’t that simple," she said, her tone firm. "The Dragon King never formally released me from his harem, nor did he ever intend to release me from his palace. I fled because he got one of his old concubines pregnant—a woman who poses a dire threat to both my son and me. I had no choice but to leave."

The room fell into a shocked silence, the gravity of her words settling over the council. The lords were speechless, their previous assumptions about her escape shattered.

Isabella took another deep breath, her nerves tightening around her resolve. She spoke with a mixture of vulnerability and determination, "I know I am not the queen any of you expected. I am not a warrior or a ruler by nature, my father, may he rest, never prepared me for any of this. There were many reasons why I hesitated to escape the Dragon King’s court, and one of them was the fear that Allendor would suffer further—fall victim to his revenge. Our kingdom has endured too much already."

She paused, her eyes moving across the faces of the lords before her. "But I stand before you now, not just as a queen, but as a mother who wants to keep her child safe and a woman who wishes to survive. And so, I am here—finally ready to take over what is rightfully mine. The legacy of my ancestors."

Silence fell over the room as the lords exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of her words heavy in the air. Isabella watched them, her heart pounding in her chest, until one of the lords broke the silence:
"That motherfucker is going to burn us to death," he muttered, his voice laced with grim resignation.

Isabella left the council meeting with a heavy heart, her mind swirling with anxiety and dread. The thought of the Dragon King’s inevitable revenge weighed on her, not just for her own sake, but for what little remained of Allendor. Her steps were slow, burdened by the gravity of the situation, when Lord Pallor approached her, his face etched with concern.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?” he asked gently.

Isabella shook her head, her voice tinged with despair. “It was a mistake coming here,” she confessed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Lord Pallor’s expression softened. “Here is where you belong, with your people,” he said, his voice firm yet comforting.

A single tear slipped down Isabella’s cheek. “I missed Allendor so much,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“Allendor missed you too,” Lord Pallor replied, his tone laced with warmth. “We will prepare everything for your coronation ceremony.”

Isabella met his gaze, her expression turning serious. “There’s something you should know,” she said, her voice wavering slightly.

Lord Pallor’s brow furrowed in concern. “What is it, Your Majesty?”

Isabella took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her secret pressing down on her. “I’m pregnant,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lord Pallor’s eyes widened in shock, his breath catching in his throat. “Is the child…” he began, but his voice trailed off, unable to finish the question.

“Yes,” Isabella confirmed, her voice steady but filled with sorrow. “It’s the Dragon King’s. He doesn’t know… I didn’t know it myself until a couple weeks ago during our journey here. I might be at least two months in.”

Lord Pallor inhaled deeply, the gravity of the situation settling over him. After a moment, he squared his shoulders and looked Isabella in the eye. “I took an oath to your father, my queen, to protect you and the crown that is rightfully yours. I will protect you and your children, no matter what.”

Isabella shed another tear, her heart filled with a mix of fear and gratitude. “Thank you, Lord Pallor,” she said, her voice trembling. The weight of his loyalty was a small comfort amidst the storm of uncertainty that loomed over her.