Dragonborn: Mated to the Dragon king

Rodric stared at his daughter in stunned disbelief. He couldn't believe her words.

"Aria... I would never hand you over to those monsters. No daughter of mine will become a slave to the dragons! Over my dead body!"

"Father... Father, please. For centuries our people have sacrificed themselves to save our kingdom. Perhaps… it is our turn to give ourselves for the greater good. So... I will offer myself to the dragons to save my people. It is my duty as a princess of Eldoria." she interjected, her voice shaking now more than ever as she struggled to hold back tears. Rodric couldn't believe his daughter, Aria.

"Aria..." he muttered sadly, and she broke into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Please, Father... Let me do this. Maybe this is what my destiny is, and I am willing to accept it."

King Rodric walked closer to his sobbing daughter and cupped her face with one hand, his eyes red and filling up with tears. The councilman bowed and quietly walked away to give them some time alone.

Rodric thumb caressed her cheek gently as he stared down at her.

"You remind me so much of your mother... And the love we shared before she passed away," he muttered hoarsely, his voice low and filled with sorrow.

"You and Livia... The two of you are the apple of my eyes... I can't imagine anything bad happening to you both. I don't...want to lose you, Aria. Please. Let me and my councilmen find a solution to this dire situation. You are too young to entangle yourself in matters like this..."

"Father, I am not a child anymore. Today I am nineteen years old, old enough to face my destiny. Please... Let me do this. I beg you..."

Her voice cracked, and Rodric felt his world crumble. Unable to hold in his tears, He pulled her into a tight embrace and they sobbed in silence. Shortly, the other princesses came to the chamber and caught them crying bitterly.

They surrounded Aria, holding her close in a bittersweet moment of unity. Only Sybilla stood apart with her hand resting lightly on their father's back. Her face was etched with grief.

***

As the hours passed, the dragons grew impatient. Emrys who perched upon the mighty Verdanscale, leaped down as King Rodric approached with his guards.

"So, Rodric, will we have your daughter as an offering for our king, or shall we set the entire kingdom of Eldoria aflame?" His amber eyes glinted with malice as he sneered.

Rodric was enraged by his threat but kept his cool.

"I... I will offer my eleventh daughter to you if that is what your king wishes this time..."

Rodric's voice faltered greatly as he spoke. This was the hardest decision he had ever made in his entire life. Giving away his people to appease the dragons was painful and heartwrenching, but giving his beloved daughter Aria, the first child he had with his late wife, the queen, was more heartbreaking than anything else.

Emrys cracked a devious grin.

"Excellent. Where is she?"

Rodric sighed deeply, lowering his head in defeat.

"She is on her way. The maids are preparing her..."

In the palace, Aria stood motionless as four maids prepared her to be offered. They helped to loosen the sash around the waist of her dress. Another took off her shoes.

Then, they pulled the black dress off her and presented the clean ceremonial white robe. An offering to the dragons had to be dressed in that robe. It had been customary since the pact began.

"My dear sister will not wear that." Sybilla declared.

She stood beside the entrance, watching with tearful eyes. The maids turned to look at her with confused gazes.

Sybilla crossed the room and approached Aria who stood half naked by her bedside. She cupped her face with trembling hands.

"Aria, I will not let you be dressed like a slave. You are the eleventh princess of this great kingdom. Although your bravery may seem like a defeat, it's not. It is a testament to your courage. If you must be taken by those dragons, you must go like royalty." she uttered lowly and Aria smiled tearfully.

"Sybilla..."

"Wear this instead. I had this dress made for you as a surprise for your birthday. Who would've thought that a day that should've been special for you would turn out like this?" she wiped a tear off her left eye and both sisters laughed softly. They tried to keep the mood light.

Sybilla placed the box on the table and opened it, revealing a beautiful custom-made dress inside. It was Aria's favorite color as well.

"Sybilla... This is beautiful!" Aria muttered under her breath, her eyes wide with joy. "Thank you so much."

Sybilla merely smiled and gestured for the maids to come forward.

"Help her put it on," she ordered, and they got to business right away.

When they were done, Aria took a moment to gaze at her reflection. The maids were in awe. The dress was truly a masterpiece.

It was a stunning sapphire blue with a fitted bodice adorned with intricate silver embroidery in floral and vine patterns. It had a sweetheart neckline trimmed with delicate silver lace and long, semi-sheer sleeves with sparkling beadwork that tapered elegantly to the wrists.

The skirt flowed in cascading layers of rich velvet and organza, revealing a silvery-blue embroidered underskirt through a front split, with a regal train edged in matching silver designs. A jeweled belt, set with sapphire-like stones cinched the waist, completing her enchanting look.

Her hair was let to flow in luxurious curls down her back, adorned with little silver flower hairpins on both sides to complete her look. A little touch of makeup as a finisher made Aria look like an elegant empress. Sybilla couldn't help but smile widely.

"Aria, you look so beautiful. I'm glad I got to give you my gift at least." She uttered with a smile and Aria forced a smile through tears.

"I would always keep this dress as a memory of you and my sisters. I love you so much, Sybilla. Thank you."

The duo hugged, their hearts bursting with emotion.

After putting on a pair of matching shoes, Sybilla took Aria by her hand and led her down the stairs to the outer chamber where her sisters and the palace staff waited.

The moment they sighted her, their eyes welled up with tears.

"Aria..." Livia muttered and rushed to hug her tightly.

"Livia... Please be safe. Follow your dreams, like I always told you. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't be a warrior, or a sailor, or whatever..." Aria whispered to her right ear.

Livia's eyes welled up with tears.

The other sisters took turns to hug and speak words of encouragement to her. As they did, a guard came in.

"My princess, it is time," he announced, sending a grave silence into the chamber.

Aria's heart raced faster than ever now, and her body trembled uncontrollably. Her palms had become sweaty at this point, and her breathing heavier.

She turned to look at the faces of everyone she ever knew including Bertha, the kind woman who raised and took good care of her and Livia after their mother's passing.

Sybilla had wanted to come with her, but Aria refused. She wanted to walk this walk alone. In her own words, She did not need any more guidance in facing her destiny.

"Goodbye, everyone." She managed to say with a tearful smile and turned to leave with the guards.

As they walked through the place's enormous halls, Aria briefly placed her hand into her dress's pocket to feel the dragon's tooth. At first, it had been a pendant, but now, she intended to use it as a weapon.

If any of those dragons tried to hurt her in any way, she wouldn't hesitate to use it on them.

'I've always wondered what it would be like to stab a dragonborn in the chest...' she thought, determination brewing in her chest. "If I must die, I will make sure at least one of them falls with me."