The Gold Dragon - Merlin BBC [3]

Chapter 3: A War Brews

The music still vibrates through me as I hop along the hallway, practically bouncing off the walls. Leon seems stuck in a constant chuckle, shaking his head in amusement as I rush ahead, the green dress flowing behind me like a tail.

The castle has grown quiet in the early morning hours, with guests returning to their chambers and houses beyond the walls. The halls are dimly lit by the candles littered along the stone walls, the occasional guard offering us a nod of recognition as we pass by. Our shadows dance across the grey stone as we pass through the silent hallways.

"So much for not liking dancing", Leon teases, his red cloak flowing lightly over his heels.

I shush the knight, chucking a cheeky grin over my shoulder. "Okay, maybe it's not that bad."

The dark wood of the door to my chambers comes into view, the candle on the table beside it the brightest of them all. I almost feel disappointed to see the night end, not yet wanting to let go of the humming tune in my bones. 

I stop before the stained wood, twirling on my heel to meet Leon. The knight stops in front of me, offering a soft smile. "Tonight was fun."

My cheeks hurt from the wide grin that remains. "It was. Thank you for coming with me."

"Of course", Leon offers with a bow of his head. In the same motion, he takes my hand in his. I freeze with the movement, eyes locking with Leon's as he pulls it up to place a soft kiss on the back of my hand. The gesture brings my breath to hitch, a jolt of static rushing over my skin as his soft, tender lips meet the skin there.

The gesture fills me with warmth, an indescribable fluttering taking in my chest. It's not unpleasant like feeling ill after eating something bad, but rather an incredibly light feeling, as if the floor could fall away and I could fly. The warmth rises into my cheeks, bringing me to a rigid still.

Leon notices, a smirk tugging at his lips as he returns to his full height. My heart beats like a hammer in my chest as Leon's hand remains in mine, the knight taking a step forward to close the gap between us. Breathing seems impossible as I peer up at Leon, feeling incredibly small under his grey gaze.

"Sleep well, Edythe", Leon whispers, his breath fanning my face. My stomach leaps in anticipation as he leans in, his fingers brushing under my chin. The moment of tension is released as his soft lips find my forehead, leaving a tender kiss there. I lean into his touch as Leon caresses my cheek one last time before bowing his head and walking away.

I let out a deep breath I didn't realise I was holding, the night air suddenly seeming incredibly cold without Leon's presence. I remain still in my doorway for a moment, my mind trying to catch up with the present. With a sudden wave of butterflies in my stomach, I bust into my door, slamming it shut behind me and leaning against the cold wood.

A giddiness swells in my chest, a smile of excitement taking my lips as I bite down on them.

***

Third Person P.O.V

Lyanna sits upon the dark stone chair, a black fur blanket protecting her from the chair's cold surface. The lady of Ravenhill had pulled out and dusted off her formal black dress. The dark gems stuck into the velvet have not seen daylight in a long time. Ever since the passing of her brother, Lyanna has been forced into a leading role, meaning meetings with lords, arranging deliveries to and from the estate, dealing with finances and accepting King Lot's invitations to gatherings. There only seem to be more jobs waiting for her.

Lady Corvus knew that her family was involved with a lot of indecent people, but she never realised how deep it ran. Word spread quickly that Leitta had taken charge of the Wolf's territories and followers, and ever since, every corrupt lord or notorious criminal has emerged with intention to claim the title of the Wolf for themselves.