You're currently being dragged through the halls of a castle belonging to the current queen of the elven queen Orelia Windborn. You're a human soldier who's been taken as a prisoner of war after your group was ambushed by elves and you're the only one who survived the torture that followed after being captured and now even after all that and you still haven't been broken the queen herself has decided to try her hand at interrogating you
The castle is extremely luxurious from what you can see through your blurry vision as the pair of big bulky elves drag you through its hallways towards the queens private quarters. Once you've reached her door they drag you inside and throw you to the floor before leaving you on the floor bloody and beaten with your hands tied up and as you mange to get up to your knees again you're met with a cold gaze by a woman in a white dress standing over you
She looks down at you with a cold gaze before taking a step back to look at you better as you're on your knees in front of her "So, you're the lucky survivor? I must say, I'm impressed you managed to survive all that..." She says, her voice cold and distant as she gazes down at you
I glared back at the elven queen from under my thick black hair, a sinister yet controlled glimmer in my eyes. “Oh, this is nothing. You haven’t seen true torture.” Orelia sighed, clearly aware but not impressed by my words. She then leaned in and put a hand to my forehead, closing her eyes and chanting in a low, dark voice. A shock ran through me, causing me to snarl menacingly at Orelia, but she ignored me and continued. Soon a pair of horns, about four inches long and made from some strange black material appeared from my temples, and my teeth grew sharper as if belonging to a large cat of prey.
"Hmm...Interesting." She mutters as she steps back and observes you once again. She tilts her head slightly to the side as she looks at your newly formed horns with curiosity before speaking up "I see that you've been through a lot of pain, just like my people have. But I don't want to make this any worse for either of us." She says, her voice still cold and distant but slightly less strict now as she takes a seat on a nearby chair, crossing one leg over the other elegantly
"Why do you fight so hard against us? We have done nothing but defend our home, and protect the forest we call ours." Her voice was soft yet firm, almost pleading with you to understand their side of the story. "Don't you see that if we were to lose this war, everything would be destroyed? Not just our lives, but also the very nature around us?"
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes boring into yours as if trying to find some spark of reason within your tortured soul.
“I’m not the one to blame, you arrogant little…” Orelia snapped her fingers and I felt my windpipe constrict, so I forced myself to not choke. “I’m not…even human…” I managed to get out between struggling breaths. The queen raised an eyebrow and stopped her spell, gesturing for me to continue. “The human king isn’t my leader, or even someone I know. I come from the Northern mountains, multiple weeks of travel from here.” Orelia stared at me in disbelief, her eyes going wide with surprise. The only things living that far north was the arctic dragons; huge white behemoths that breathed permafrost and could devastate entire countries on their own.
Her eyes narrow as she tries to process this new information. "You're...lying." She says quietly, more to herself than to you. The shock of discovering that her enemy might not be who they seemed causes her heart to race wildly in her chest. It was unsettling, and for a moment she feels like the entire world around her is spinning out of control.
She stands up slowly, taking a step closer to you, her eyes boring into yours once more.
"How can I know that you're telling the truth?" She asks, her voice cold and distant once more as she tries to regain control of the situation. Her mind whirls with possibilities, none of them good. If this human really isn't part of their enemy forces...then what does it mean? Does it change anything at all?
She takes another step closer, putting her hand on your cheek, gently tracing the contours with her fingertips.
Her heart is racing now, and she can feel the warmth of your skin beneath her fingertips, so close to her own. It's unsettling, this strange connection they share through touch. Orelia takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she removes her hand from your cheek. "If what you say is true..." She begins quietly, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "...then perhaps there is another way."
"Perhaps," she says softly, her gaze never leaving yours as she searches your features for some sign of deception. "If you can prove your words true, perhaps there is a way to end this war without anymore bloodshed." She pauses, taking another step closer so that they are now standing only inches apart. "But first," she whispers, licking her lips nervously before leaning in to brush them against yours, "I need your trust."
My heartrate spiked through the roof at the sudden kiss, and I leaned back as far as I could, looking up at Orelia with a confused and flustered expression. “W-what, was that?”
Orelia's cheeks flush as she pulls away from you slightly, her eyes searching your face for some sign of understanding. "That was...an offering," she whispers quietly, her voice barely audible above the sound of her heartbeat in her ears. "An act of trust between us." She takes another step closer, sliding a hand through your hair and cupping the back of your neck possessively. "I am not accustomed to showing such vulnerability,"
her voice barely above a whisper as she gazes down at you intently. "But I must if there is any hope of peace." Her lips curve into a gentle smile, and she leans in once more, brushing her lips against yours before pulling away again, leaving you breathless and confused. "Now," she says, her voice steadying as she takes another step back, regaining some of her composure, "prove to me that you aren't lying."
“Remove my chains.” The guards around us exchanged nervous glances with the queen and each other, but Orelia nodded. As the metal fell to the floor with a clang I stood up, my body shimmering like mist. After just a few moments I had been transformed, my skin now covered in almost blindingly white scales, two wings sprouted from my back and a sharp barbed tail grew from my lower back, almost twice as long as myself. My face took a drastic turn and turned more sharp, elongated like a lizard’s head and a wolf’s snout at the same time. The air around me seemed to drop in temperature by several degrees, causing the elves to shiver.
Her eyes widen and she takes a step back, her hand instinctively going to her neck as if to steady herself. "I-it's true," she whispers, voice shaking slightly. "You're not human." She looks at you with newfound respect, even though the sight of your transformed self fills her with both fear and fascination. The guards who were originally here to protect her now look to Orelia for guidance, unsure of what to do in this unprecedented situation.
"You... you are an arctic dragon," Orelia breathes, her eyes fixed on your transformed form. "I never thought such a creature still existed." She takes another step back, trying to put some distance between herself and you as she processes this new information. The guards around them remain tense, ready to spring into action should the need arise.
"I... I must consult with my advisors," Orelia says, her voice shaking slightly. "This changes everything." She looks up at the guards, then back at you.
*She stands there silently for several long moments, her mind racing as she tries to process the implications of your true identity. Her eyes travel over your scaled form once more before finally meeting yours again. "I will return shortly," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. With that, she turns and swiftly exits the room, leaving you alone with the guards who remain tense and cautious around you.
The door slams shut behind her as she exits the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the guards who stand watch over you. They glance at each other nervously before turning their attention back to you, unsure of what to make of this new development. Minutes stretch into hours as Orelia consults with her advisors, debating on how best to proceed now that she knows your true nature...and just how much trust she'll be willing to extend.
Finally, the doors swing open once more and Orelia re-enters the room, her expression unreadable as she meets your gaze. She walks slowly towards you, stopping just a few feet away before speaking softly. "I have made a decision." Her words send shivers down your spine despite the warmth emanating from your body. "You will be taken to our healers to ensure that you are healthy and well, for you are an important ally in this time of war."
"However," she continues, her voice taking on a more stern note as she takes another step closer, "you must swear upon your honor that you will not try to escape or harm anyone within my kingdom." Her eyes bore into yours, searching for any sign of deception or betrayal. She holds out one hand expectantly, waiting for you to make the oath before trusting you further.
I hesitated for just a moment, but then reached out and grasped her hand in mine, carefully avoiding to scratch her with my sharp claws or the edges on my scales. Orelia’s hand was smaller, softer and warmer than mine, making me feel as if I was holding hands with a child instead of the elven queen. “I promise, you have my word.” The air around me turned cold as I spoke, chilling Orelia’s face in a silent gust of arctic wind.
Her eyes widen slightly at the cold air that emanates from you as you speak, causing her to shiver involuntarily. But she doesn't pull away, instead holding onto your hand tightly as if it were a lifeline in this strange and unfamiliar situation. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. She steps even closer now, close enough that their bodies are almost touching from shoulder to hip, her free hand brushing against the soft fur covering your chest.
"I hope we can find peace together," she whispers softly, her breath tickling your ear as she speaks. "You are unlike anything I've ever encountered before...and yet, somehow...you feel familiar to me." Her hand moves up to rest on your shoulder now, gently massaging the muscles beneath her fingers as she gazes deeply into your eyes.
The air around them grows warmer and more comfortable with each passing moment, despite the cold wind that still emanates from you.