.

.

.

“Young master, please! Your mother is still weak from the battle—”

“I want to see her!” the boy struggled against the butler’s hold, “Mother!”

The hallway was dark, lit only by candles that flickered with the slightest movement. Instead of the usual warm weather of the South, cold wind howled and slammed against the tall castle windows, a sure sign of the ongoing war between Fire and Ice.

“She is not allowed any visitors until she has fully recovered. Where is your caretaker?”

“I don’t care!” his vision clouded with tears, “I just want mother!”

“Young master!” the butler found it more and more difficult to fight against the child’s strength, especially as his eyes began to glow red. He gathered his courage, knowing just how powerful the young dragon could get.

“Let him through.”

They turned wide-eyed to the lady who stood by the door with elegance despite the slight labored breathing. Her beauty was still radiant with thick silky black hair that ran past her waist, but any person could tell how far she was from her true brilliance.

“Mother!”

“My queen!”

“I’ll take it from here,” she smiled and dismissed the butler, her son’s hair as he buried his face in her dress. She bent down and carried him to bed, pressing kisses to his cheek and wiping his tears. “Now, what are you so upset about, Hyukjae? It’s unusual for a strong boy like you to cry.”

“But, mother,” He clung to her neck, “you’ve been gone for months and— and— when you came back, they said you were very very hurt and that I couldn’t see you and the ice dragons are still-- and that as early as now, I need to prepare myself because— ”

“Ssh, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Hyukjae closed his eyes as she wrapped her arms around him, swaying from side to side. This was always how she would comfort her young one and Hyukjae calmed down almost instantly.

“I’ll defeat them…” He murmured as he laid his head on her shoulder and the cracks on the ruby red pendant around her neck. “I’ll defeat those ice dragons for hurting you, mother. For taking father away from us… I’ll never forgive them.”

She sighed and pulled back, looking at her son with a sad smile, “do you remember what I told you about your pendant, Hyukjae?”

He nodded, “it’s my dragon heart.”

“Yes,” his mother chuckled, “and one day, your dragon heart is going to choose a precious person who you’re going to protect and who’s going to protect you in return. The person you’re going to live for.”

“Will it glow like yours, mother?”

She smiled and cupped his cheek. “Why, yes. It will glow a beautiful ruby red, like your eyes.” Like your father’s.

“Who is this person? Can I choose? I want to choose you, I will protect you!”

She chuckled, ruffling his hair; “I don’t think we have much choice when it comes to the heart, Hyukjae. But promise me this—when you find that person, you have to hold them dear. Protect them.”

Mother is smiling…

“Live for them, not for revenge.”

But somehow…

“No matter what.”

She’s crying as well.

“I promise.” — ♦

A/N: I’ve recently been entertaining the idea of star-crossed lovers, a struggle between love and hate with lust overpowering, dragons, reruns (too. many. reruns.) of Saiyuki, Hyukjae dressing like a mafia boss, and the tiniest hint of Frozen. So, uhm… 4 or 5 chapters, tops.