The dungeon was cold and smelled like damp stone.
The only light came from the torch in my hand. I walked down the dark stairs, my silk dress making a soft sound against the floor. I wasn't scared anymore. I was the Queen now, and the "Blessed Lady" was the one in chains.
I reached the last cell. Inside, Elara was sitting on the floor. Her white dress was dirty, and her hair was a mess. When she heard my footsteps, she looked up. Her eyes were still full of hate.
"Are you here to kill me, Seraphina?" Elara hissed. Her voice was weak, but it was still mean.
I stood in front of the bars. I looked at her with pity, not anger. "No, Elara. I didn't come here to kill you. I came to tell you why you lost."
Elara laughed, a dry and hollow sound. "I lost because you used some kind of trick! You found the bottle. You told the King. You think you are so smart."
"I am smart because I care about the kingdom," I said, my voice calm and steady. "You only cared about yourself. You wanted to be Queen so people would bow to you. You wanted Alaric because he is a King, not because he is a man. You didn't care if he lost his mind as long as you had the crown."
"And you?" Elara shouted, standing up and grabbing the bars. "You were the worst woman in this land! Everyone knows Seraphina loved money! Why are you acting like a saint now?"
I stepped closer until our faces were almost touching through the bars. "The Seraphina you knew is dead, Elara. She died the day I realized that Alaric is not a monster. He is a man who protects this kingdom every single day. He turns into a dragon to fight our enemies, even when it hurts him. I didn't save him because of a 'trick.' I saved him because I love him."
Elara's face twisted in frustration. "How did you know about the 'Demon's Breath' poison? No one knows that secret except my family! Tell me who told you!"
I smiled a little. "You would never believe the truth. Let's just say... I have seen the future. I know every trap you planned. I know every lie you were going to tell. And every time you try to hurt Alaric, I will be there to stop you. I will protect him, and I will protect this kingdom."
I turned away from her, ready to leave. "You thought you were the hero of this story, Elara. But heroes don't poison their Kings. Heroes don't lie to the gods. You are the villain now."
"Alaric will grow tired of you!" Elara screamed as I walked away. "He is a dragon! He will eventually see you as a tiny, boring human! He will leave you!"
I stopped at the stairs and looked back one last time. "He won't. Because I am the only one who isn't afraid of his fire. Goodbye, Elara."
I walked out of the dungeon and into the fresh night air. I felt a "shiver," but it was a happy one. I had protected Alaric. I had protected the people. The plot of the book was completely different now.
Suddenly, a warm pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. I didn't need to look to know it was Alaric. His heat always told me he was near.
"You went to see her," he murmured into my hair. His voice was no longer cold; it was soft and sweet.
"I had to," I said, leaning back into his chest. "I wanted her to know that she can never touch us again."
Alaric turned me around to face him. He looked at me with a look of pure obsession and love. He reached out and touched my cheek. "You are too good for this world, Seraphina. You go into dark places to make sure I stay in the light."
"I do it for us," I whispered.
Alaric picked me up, his heart beating strong against mine. "The people are asking for their Queen. They saw you save me again. They know now that the stories about you were wrong. They see you as the heart of this kingdom."
"And what do you see?" I asked.
Alaric leaned down and kissed me, a long and deep kiss that made the world disappear. "I see my life. I see the woman who saved the Dragon."
We walked back to the palace together. The stars were bright, and the rain had finally stopped. For the first time, I felt like I wasn't just a reader in a book. I was a Queen, and I was going to make sure this story had the happiest ending ever.
I knew there would be more dangers. I knew other enemies might come. But as I looked at the man walking beside me, I knew we could handle anything. I had the knowledge of the future, and he had the strength of a dragon. Together, we were the most powerful force in the land.
I had come to this world through a tragedy, but I was building a masterpiece.