PrincessKay
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Hatching a Heroine - Chapter 11 - Wataba
🕑 Added 2025-03-07 06:01:55 +0000 UTCWarning: This chapter contains allusions to suicide/a literal death wish
Melissa
Sitting in the massive dining room, at the upper right hand side of a very long dining table, I couldnât help but feel a bit out of place. From the four different forks, to the sommelier in black and white currently pouring me a cup of wine, everything about this dinner felt too rich for my blood.
It didnât help that the dining table, large enough to fit twenty, had only two chairs: one for me, sitting dead still from nerves, and the other for the dark skinned Countess, who sat with a faint smile on her lips.
Once the servant was done pouring, he bowed his head stiffly to me, bowed at the waist to the Countess, and then left the room. Leaving us alone with one another.
Liliath, for her part, took a small sip of her wine, before picking up one of her forks and a knife, and cutting into the bounty on her plate: goose breast and asparagus, with a white sauce, on a bed of aromatic white rice.
After reciting one prayer for grains and another for miscellaneous foods, I did my best to pick out the fork that matched Liliathâs. Iâm fairly sure I messed up, but the Countess didnât so much as raise an eyebrow. She only took the food to her lips, chewed, and swallowed, before moving for the next bite.
Compared to the quiet grace with which the Countess ate, I couldnât help but feel like my own attempts at cutting into the bird were clumsy. Liliath had cut into it without a sound, but my knife clacked jarringly every time it hit the plate. By the time I got my first bite done, the Countess was on her third.
Still, Liliath waited until I finished my first bite before speaking.
âI hope that youâre enjoying dinner, Melissa. I understand that soirees like this arenât always comfortable, for those unused to them. Thatâs most of why I had the servants leave. I had hoped that you would relax with no one watching.â
âThank you, uh -" I blanked on the term of address, unsure how to proceed. It was something I should have known, and yet the information felt just out of reach.
âLady Liliath will do,â the Countess said, chuckling.
I sighed. âThank you, Lady Liliath. But Iâd like a lot better if Lonna and Talith were here.â
âIs that so?â the Countess smiled, faintly. âYou seem quite attached to Lonna. You said something about being summoned? Does that mean you came from another world?â
âI⌠I guess soâŚâ I admitted, staring down at my goose breast. âIâm from a place called Earth?â
âYou will have to tell me about it some time,â Liliath said, smiling, taking another bite of her own meal. âThe word for dirt doesnât tell me much about the place. Iâm afraid we have more pressing matters to discuss, first, howeverâŚâ
âWe do?â I asked, confused. âIâm... I mean, I donât really get why you even wanted to have dinner with me. Iâm not a princess, like I guess Lonna is? And Iâm not really the Heroine, soâŚâ
âTell me, Melissa: do you know how I came to know Sorissa?â
âUm⌠no?â I frowned, uncertain how to process the change in subject.
âI was thirteen. The Runaway Princess had yet to run away, and the Queen was discussing with my parents an event where she would come to visit.
âI was⌠Very different back then,â Liliath smiled, faintly. âUnkempt. Wild. My hair a shaggy mess, because Iâd refused to let anyone cut it. My trousers constantly torn, and myself often muddied and dirtied. The result of getting a little too rough with my sword training.â
The Countess stopped talking, for a moment, to cut another bite sized piece of goose, and bring it to her mouth. After chewing, and swallowing, she continued.
âI was born to a commoner. My father loved her dearly. Enough to hold a quiet bonding ceremony - do you know what a bonding ceremony is, Melissa?â
I shook my head.
âItâs a religious ceremony. A pledging of love. Quite unlike the political handfastings we nobles use, when merging bloodlines through our heirs.
âBeing born of a bonding ceremony, instead of a handfasting, means being born outside the noble line. I was well taken care of, given anything I desired - but I had no status. My blood was seen to be as common as my motherâs. Only my fatherâs love kept us in the house. When he died, it was likely that we would have been thrown out on the streets.â
Liliath took another bite of goose, chewing slowly.
I leaned forward, my own dinner forgotten. âWhat changed?â
â...I was chasing after a particularly fascinating insect, in the gardens, when Sorissa called out to me. I had no idea who she was, at the time, but her fancy dress made it clear to me that she was important. So of course, not wanting to be punished, I came when she called.â
âAnd she⌠Made you a countess?â I asked, frowning.
âIn a way. Iâm wataba, you see. Sorissa was the first person to see it.â
âWataba?â I asked, lips pulling into a puzzled frown.
âI was born into the wrong body. Born masculine.â The Countess took another sip of wine, as I stared.
âI was raised as a boy,â the Countess continued, âand to Sorissa, it was plain as day that my form was wrong. As such, she offered to design a spell for me, that would give me whatever form I desired. I accepted - and was transformed.â
âAnd⌠Youâve been transformed ever since?â
âIâve been myself, ever since,â the Countess corrected, a small smile on her lips. âAs I said, Sorissa was right - I am wataba: an individual born in the wrong body.â
âYouâre transgender?â I knew the word, and the concept, even if Iâd never actually met a trans person before. Wataba sounded like a similar concept.
âIs that the word for it, where youâre from?â Liliath asked. âApt.â Her smile widened, for a moment, before dropping off entirely.
âOf course, Sorissa wasnât done. She asked me next if it would be okay to talk to my family. To reintroduce me, as their daughter. I hadnât even picked out a new name, yet - but Sorissa insisted that it be done while she was present.â
The Countess cut into her goose breast, again, but this time did not lift the poultry to her lips.
â...She took me in front of my family. I still didnât know who Sorissa was. I didnât know why my family was bowing. I only knew I was scared. Terrified of how my family would react to the new me. But when Sorissa told them that I was wataba, my commoner mother, my count father, and even his handfasted wife, whoâd so far never bothered with me - they all bowed their heads as one.
âSo did my half brother. But he snickered.â
Liliana lifted the bite of goose shed precut to her mouth, chewing methodically. Swallowing.
âIs that⌠did she kill him?â I asked, speaking softly.
âShe melted his head clean off his neck.â
I dropped my fork, as the Countess took a forkful of rice.
âThen she turned to my family and ordered my father to adopt me into the noble line. She said that they had all best get used to the future countess, or that she would be back for them as well. And simply walked out the door.â
The Countess reached for her wine glass, emptying it in one long sip.
â...I heard youâve hated Sorissa ever since. Is that true?â I asked.
âHate isn't complex enough to describe what I feel for her. The anger, the despair, and the knowledge that my life turned on a whim of the Queen. They all exist, in ever shifting measures.â
âHow did she know?â I asked. My mouth felt dry. My throat parched.
âI expect she used a spell. One that gave her the ability to look into the depths of my being.
âNow ask me how I knew.â
âHow⌠How did you know?â My heart was beating fast. My fingers were clenched in my lap, meal long forgotten.
âAfter I was transformed, it just felt right.â
The words hung heavily in the air, for a moment.
Then, a small strangled cry escaped from my lips, and the silverware clattered down to her plate. All at once I was sobbing into my hands.
Liliath stood, walked over to me, and gently stroked my back, a small smile on her features. âItâs okay. None will mock you here.â
âI⌠IâmâŚâ
âShhhâŚâ the Countess whispered, rubbing my back again. âItâs fine. Itâll be okay. Rebirth is a painful process, I know. I know it better than most.â
She put her hands on my shoulders. âYou can say it. To me first. And then to your friends. We can say it together, if youâd like. Or you can go it alone. But why donât we practice first.â
The Countess backed up a few steps, and then smiled. âMy name is Liliath Koleff, a countess and a woman. And you are?â
Smiling through the tears, I looked up at the other woman. âM-MelissaâŚ. Drewski⌠Iâm Melissa Drewski, and Iâm⌠the Heroine.â
***
Lonna
***
âLonna. How long are you going to lay there?â
I made a noise - something between a grunt and a groan, containing no words whatsoever. Good enough, right? Talith knew me well enough to figure out what I meant.
âLonna. You walk in. You throw your cloak on the floor. You kick off your boots. You collapse into bed. And you donât move for five tree-forsaken hours! At the very least, could you please tell me what happened?â
I rolled onto my side, just long enough to glare at Talith, before sliding back onto my stomach. To think, Iâd thought heâd get itâŚ
âCome on, Lonna. Did the Countess do something? Did something happen to Melissa? Give me a clue here! Even if itâs just a name.â
â....Tabitha.â
âTabitha!?â Talith demanded, taking a heavy step forward. âWhat the fuck is Tabitha doing here!?â
I kept my mouth shut, face plastered against my pillow.
â...Wait⌠Your contactâŚ? Donât tell me your contact was Tabitha?â
A curl of smoke rose from between my lips in response, a bit of fire forming in my mouth for half a moment before I thought better and extinguished it.
âOf all the burning - in what tree-forsaken world did you think it would be a good idea to trust Tabitha!?â
I shifted so that I was on my side, again, and facing toward Talith. âThought we had something.â
âHadâŚâ Talith stared for a moment, clay mouth sealed shut, glowing red dots boring into me. âLonna. Youâre talking about a girl who broke your damn antler off!â
âSo? I broke them both off all over again when we had to go back to IfeâŚâ It had taken a lot of courage, and a lot of alcohol, but Iâd done it by my own two hands. All so that I could slip into the castle, and get the Heroine summoning spell.
âI really thought I could change the world,â I muttered, mostly talking to myself. âI thought I could summon the Heroine, and sheâd defeat Sorissa, and everything would be great. But I canât even convince Melissa sheâs the real deal⌠how am I supposed to do something as impossible as making her marry me?â
âMarry⌠Lonna. Why the hell would you want to marry someone you barely know!? Not even getting into the fact that youâre a lesbian, and sheâs a-â
âDonât say it,â I whined, clutching the pillow against my ears. âI donât want to hear it.â
âLonnaâŚâ Talithâs gravely voice held actual concern as he walked towards me. âWhatâs going on? I know youâre attracted to how he looks, but you canât tell me youâre actually falling for him.â
âHer, Talith.â I turned my head to glare at my brother. âMelissa asked that we keep to she and her.â
âYeah. To keep herself from getting noticed. As if there arenât plenty of wataba who donât have access to a transformation spell.â
âItâs what she wantsâŚâ
âBut why!?â Talith demanded, voice growing in anger. âWhy does she want to be called Melissa? Why does she want to be called she and her? Why would a guy want any of these things?â
âThatâs not our place to question⌠People are free to have any gender expression they want. If you start questioning-â
âYou start invalidating,â Talith finished, shaking his head. âYou sound just like Vellos.â
âHe did teach me half the things I know,â I pointed out, propping myself up on one arm. âEspecially about gender expression. And being born in the wrong body.â
âAnd about being a thief,â Talith reminded me. âDamn manâs going to get himself caught one day.â
âNot if you make an honest man of him, first,â I countered, smiling faintly. âI mean, assuming he forgives you for abandoning him and coming with me to IfeâŚâ
âHeâll still be ranting about it when heâs old, and wrinkly, and every last featherâs fallen out,â Talith predicted, a small smile on his face. âHow I cared about my sister more than him.â
âEven though you really just didnât want him in dangerâŚâ I pointed out.
Talith shrugged. âDonât want you in danger, either. Thatâs why I followed you. Though if youâre going to pull something as stupid as trusting in Tabitha, itâll all be for naught.â
I scowled, and let myself drop back down on the bed.
âŚFor about a second, before straightening myself up again.
âWhy do you hate Melissa so much?â I asked.
â...What makes you think I hate her?â Talith asked, not quite meeting my gaze.
âI mean⌠You try to push her away at every opportunity you get? You used to do it with anyone I got interested in the village, butâŚâ
âYou mean the ones who used to bully you, throw rocks at you, and call you names?â Talith responded, voice taking on a menacing growl. âWhat a mystery as to why I didnât want you dating them.â
âThat was when we were kids. And Iâll remind you that you let them do it, when we first moved out there.â
â...I was⌠I didnâtâŚâ Talithâs gaze sank to the floor.
âWe were kids.â I shrugged, dismissing it with that.
âI was fifteen. I should have known better.â Talithâs voice was heavy.
âYou barely knew me. You just saw a stuck up, half dragon princess whoâd run away from home. Someone who put you and mom in danger, and caused you to relocate to a remote farming village. Which everyone was terrified was going to get wiped off the map, when Sorissa came looking after me!
âKids make mistakes. Then they grow up and make new ones. Like sleeping with Tabitha. Or thinking I had something special with Tabitha. Or thinking I could have something special with anyone, when Iâm just a half dragon, runaway princessâŚâ
âLonnaâŚâ Talith started, reaching out a hand.
I slapped it away, glaring up at him. âTell me why you hate Melissa.â
âI donât⌠Hate⌠Melissa. I just donât think sheâs any good for you.â
âWhat, like, romantically? I mean, Iâm not going to date anyone who isnât a girl, so-â
âNo. I mean. To be aroundâŚItâs just...â Talith sighed, lifted up a hand, opened his mouth, and then let the hand drop and his mouth close.
âWhat?â I asked, leaning forward.
âShe makes you think you can do this. She makes you think you can take on Sorissa, and fight her. She gives you hope - even though she isnât the Heroine, isnât a girl, isnât even capable of fighting. She makes you want to keep going. Thatâs why I donât like her, Lonna.
âBecause I think sheâs dangerous.â
I stared at him. â...You think I canât take on Sorissa?â
âI think sheâs your mother, and you shouldnât have to. And⌠also that⌠Youâve never been able to figure out how to kill her without using the Heroine. Which Melissa isnât. So.
âYeah. I think you canât take on Sorissa.â
I stared at Talith for a moment longer, not sure what to say.
â...IâŚâ Talith started, only to stop when a knock came on the door. âIâll⌠Get your cloak.â
âDonât bother,â I muttered, putting my feet on the floor and standing up. âEveryone knows what I am already. Whatâs the point in hiding it?â
***
Melissa
***
I stood awkwardly in front of the door. I was flanked, on either side, by Joanie the rabbit sapphi, and a human guard who insisted on looking straight ahead at all times. Joanie, too, was staring straight ahead, but in her own words it was to give me âa little privacy.â
A very âlittleâ privacy.
Still, I gathered up my courage and knocked on the door. After which, I heard muffled conversation, followed by footsteps. It was only a moment before the door opened, but considering the news I had to share that moment felt like eternity.
When the door actually did swing open, though, I simply stood and stared at the girl on the other side.
âLonna youâreâŚâ
âNot wearing my cloak?â Lonna muttered, crossing her arms. âGo ahead and stare if you want. Iâll even do a spin.â
Lonna turned about, and walked back into the room, leaving me to stare after her.
Of course I was staring, though! Lonna had wings! Small, dull red, leathery wings, with a thin membrane stretched out over a bony framework. She had a tail, too; small, thick, reptilian, colored red like her wings.
Not to mention the fact that her feet looked like a cross between roots and talons, with elongated toes that ended in claws.
I couldnât help but stare at her, for a moment, before hurrying in. âIâm⌠Iâm sorry. I mean, I guess if your moms are a dragon and a dryad, that means youâre not human? But I didnât knowâŚâ
âThat I looked like a freak?â Lonna suggested, back still turned to me. âThat Iâm an ugly chimera, with horrible dragon traits?â
â...Actually, I think you look beautifulâŚâ I admitted, shrugging my shoulders. âI mean. Youâre part dragon! And Iâve always loved dragons, so-â
âIn what tree-forsaken world would someone love dragons!?â Lonna demanded, spinning around to face me at last. âMaybe thatâs fine in your confusing little world, where guys want to be treated like girls, but here? In Mistina? Dragons are bad. Theyâre horrible. Theyâre evil. And Iâm descended from them! Okay? Itâs not beautiful, itâs notâŚâ
âLonnaâŚâ I hesitated for a moment, before getting onto my knees. Now at eye level with her, I reached out a hand to gingerly brush away the tears that were starting to form in the corner of Lonnaâs eyes.
âLonna. Youâre beautiful. Okay? Youâre gorgeous. I donât want you to ever doubt that.â
Lonna stared at me for a moment. Then, without warning, she leaned forward to press her lips against mine.
My eyes widened in surprise, but I didnât pull away. It honestly felt nice - like a warm tingling spreading from my lips, down throughout my body.
After a moment, Lonna parted, looking down at the ground. âS-SorryâŚâ She muttered. âI uh⌠shouldnât have done that. I donât even like guys, so-â
âIâm not a guy.â
â...What?â Lonna asked, voice barely more than a whisper.
âIâm not a guy,â I repeated, a small smile on my lips. âMy name is Melissa Drewski. Iâm a girl. And I guess that means I really am the Heroine.â
A soft groan of frustration could be heard from Talith, in the background. I didnât turn to face it, though, too happy to care.
âYouâreâŚâ Lonna whispered. âYouâre a girl?â
I nodded, in response, a happy, if slightly shy, smile on my face.
Though I still couldnât help but asking⌠âUm. Lonna. About that kiss?â
***
Sorissa
***
I sat upon my throne, a small smile upon my lips.
Before me were three feminine figures - a young woman with blonde pigtails, blue eyes, and a manic grin upon her face. A rotund woman, dressed in layers of colorful silk clothing. And a slightly more mature, rakish woman whose head was decorated with cat ears. All three of them were kneeling before their queen, as was proper.
âIt seems my daughter is after the Scale of Mount Drogone. I want you all to go after them - and ensure they do not get it.â
Two of the subjects remained silent. The blonde, however, lifted her head, revealing a faint scar that ran from her scalp to her right eye, and from beneath her right eye down her cheek.
âThank you for entrusting me with this, Mother," she said. "I wonât fail you.â
â...Tell me, Kylee. What have I told you about calling me âMotherâ outside of designated events?â
âN-Not to do itâŚ?â Kylee muttered, looking back down at the floor.
âCorrect. And what have I told you about Lonna?â
âThat sheâs⌠better than me. In every way.â Kylee was gritting her teeth as she spoke, the anger evident on her usually manically happy features.
âOf course she is. She was grown with a seed from my tree, within my dear departed wifeâs body. There is not a single piece of her that would lose to you. Thatâs why Iâm putting Dame Belinda in charge of the mission.â
A feline pair of ears twitched at the mention of their ownerâs name. âIt will be my pleasure to serve,â Belinda said, their voice and gestures deferential.
âOf course it will. Or Iâll have Maeve, here, play with your heart until youâre practically begging me for a torture session. Now. Off with the three of you.â
The three bowed their heads, then stood and filed out of the room.
I smiled as I watched them leave, but the moment they filed out the door the smile dropped from my features.
âAn abandoned toy, a scheming knight, and my personal inquisitor. I know it wouldnât do to make things too difficult, but I do hope this isnât going too far in the other direction⌠If I donât challenge Lonna properly, I donât expect sheâll ever grow.â A small smile touched the corners of my lips, then dropped away.
âBeing a parent is hard, Arasitelle. Making the people of Respiran hate me - thatâs easy. And fun. But making Lonna despise meâŚâ
A small sigh escaped my lips. âLosing Nadell hardened my heart. Losing you shattered it. And now itâs like someone is stomping on the pieces.â
I shook my head, forcing a smile back onto my lips. âAh, well. An immortal queen does what she must, for the chance to join her loved ones.
âNot that I believe in the Valley, of course. But if it truly is a place where all our mortal mistakes are forgiven⌠I hope to see you both soon, my loves.
âI hope to see you very soon, indeed.â
~~~
Author's Notes
Okay, so this is the last release of the night.... I made the mistake of double checking what chapter 11 was, and couldn't resist.
Comments
Meridian Prime
...Is it bad that I kind of hope this 'Valley' is real, and Sorissa doesn't get to see it? You've succeeded in making her extremely hateable for me, ten out of ten villain.
Striving Spark
Thanks for the catch!
Bernard
**Lonna** I muttered, mostly talking to myself.
