Fire & Ice

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My father's kingdom

was a peaceful one.

It was a land

of prosperity, gentility,

and an appreciation of freedom

which my father valued

above all else.

Had it not been such,

I would not be who I am.

Instead of riding across open fields

and hunting with my father,

I would be sitting with my mother,

hands folded,

knitting stockings and such.

And entertaining boring young men

who would fulfill

my mother's dreams for me

to be the perfect princess

in dresses and jewels,

married of by the age of 18.

But my father didn't see

the world that way.

As his only heir,

I was able to enjoy

all the adventure life had to offer

as if I had been born a prince

instead of a princess.

So my mother

lovingly frowned on us both,

and hoped one day I would meet

my match and come to my senses.

Are you enjoying yourself, Augustin?

Ah, my lovely daughter.

Just in time for lunch.

How was your morning ride?

Wonderful. She's the best horse

I've ever ridden.

Mm, good. Just stay out

of the Isma Woods.

The tree people won't care

if you are a princess.

They'll rob and kill you either way.

I know, Father.

On, I'm starving.

Please, use your fork, Luisa.

What would I do without you, Mother?

Luisa, have you been in touch

with the Duke of Tagendor?

His mother said

he's quite interested in you.

We exchanged a few letters,

but he's such a bore.

Everyone bores you.

Father doesn't.

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Luisa, you have to start thinking

about marriage.

It's not right for a young woman

your age not to be married.

Look at the way you dress

and carry yourself

like one of your father's

stable hands.

That's no way

for a princess to behave.

I'm not concerned

with marriage, Mother.

There are far more important

and interesting things

to put my efforts into.

Like what?

- Riding.

- Fencing.

Hunting.

All right, enough.

Is marriage such a bad thing?

Not always.

What was that?

My King, Queen Remini,

are you all right?

Yes, we're fine, Paxian.

Send some men to the village

to tend to the injured.

I'd like to go, too.

I'm sure they can handle it.

I'm sure they can,

but I'd like to see for myself.

I think it's good for Luisa

to be with her people.

Oh, oh! Ohh.

Luisa.

Get inside. Inside now.

Here, come with me.

Hold on.

This way, this way!

Here, under here.

Luisa's down there.

Send some men to find her.

As you wish.

Cover your eyes.

Don't look.

We weren't prepared for this.

Let's go. Come on.

Your Highness,

you should go back inside.

Men, get ready!

Do not fire

until he's almost upon us!

Wait.

Get ready.

Aim for the head.

Fire!

Luisa, are you all right?

Find her parents.

Thank God you're safe.

Where did the dragon come from?

Paxian, we haven't had

a dragon attack in over 20 years.

I don't know.

Find out. I don't think it'll give up

so easily next time.

That day was only the beginning.

The fire dragon returned to Carpia

every few weeks.

Sometimes to feed,

sometimes it seemed

just to inflict destruction.

There was nothing

my father could do.

Within three months, our kingdom

was almost destroyed.

For the children.

Come back here! It's mine!

People are turning on each other.

They're starving to death.

May I suggest there may be

other things more appropriate

for a princess

to concern herself with?

Really? And what do you consider more

appropriate than my kingdom?

- Luisa, that's enough.

- But, Father, he's not...

Come, let them speak alone.

- But, Mother.

- Luisa, please.

You can't act that way

in front of your father.

I don't like Paxian.

He treats me with no respect.

Even if that were true,

it doesn't mean

you can behave in such a way.

He is your father's advisor,

not yours.

Now, go to your room.

- But...

- Now.

I've just received word

that King Quilok

is requesting a meeting with you.

Quilok? What does he want?

He is willing to open the doors

of his kingdom to you and our people.

But he wants you

to surrender allegiance to him.

That little snake.

If I thought it were possible,

I believe he sent this dragon

after us himself.

We've run out of options.

We may have to consider his offer.

Why hasn't the dragon

attacked his kingdom?

He must have something

protecting him.

Perhaps it's just luck.

Your Highness,

desperate citizens of Carpia

have gathered outside the castle.

Should we allow them entry?

Absolutely not.

They are starving out there.

They are not our responsibility.

Until King Augustin

surrenders to our kingdom,

his people will remain

at the mercy of the elements,

or the fire dragon,

whichever comes first.

My father could never see

beyond our little province.

It's all going to be

so different so soon.

I want you to put more men

around the dracon.

Yes, Your Highness.

What about Knight Alador?

Oh, with all due respect,

that is not something to consider.

Well, he's the only man

to ever kill a dragon.

He is a traitor.

The Knight Alador was banished

by King Quilok for treason.

It's no secret that King Quilok

was envious of Alador.

Nevertheless, Alador's knighthood

was taken from him...

the most serious of punishments

that can befall a knight.

And it is in strict violation

of our treaties

to employ a knight

which has been banished.

I know what the treaties say,

Paxian.

My father was part of the counsel

that wrote them.

But the future of the kingdom

is at stake.

Forgive me, Your Highness,

but it's you who told me

that when a king begins to choose

which laws to follow

to suit his own needs,

he has been corrupted

by his own power.

Mother, you scared me.

You're eavesdropping.

No, I just didn't want

to disturb them.

Luisa, I already asked you once

to go to your room.

Now, please, do as I ask.

Who is the Knight Alador?

Luisa, stay out of it.

If this is a man who can help,

we have to find him.

Now, who cares what he did?

Half our soldiers are former

thieves and criminals...

what's the difference?

Are you saying you know how to rule

a kingdom better than your father?

No more than Paxian thinks he can.

Paxian is the King's Chief Advisor.

Well, then he's not a good advisor.

That's not your business.

Father doesn't want to see it,

but you know I'm right.

Alador defeated an ice dragon

for King Quilok I.

After he died, King Quilok II claimed

that Alador turned against him.

I wouldn't believe anything

Quilok says.

That's beside the point.

Alador is banished.

Anyway, Luisa, go to bed,

and it will slip my mind to tell

your father about your spying on him.

I don't want to hear anymore

about this from you.

Good night.

I'll send in your maid.

What are you doing? You are supposed

to be dressing for bed.

I am going to the Isma Forest

to find this mysterious Knight Alador

everyone is talking about.

You should not be going anywhere

at this hour.

Especially not to Isma.

I am going, and I can protect myself.

I know he must be in Isma.

If I were Alador,

that's where I'd be hiding.

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