Knights of Atlantis

“It’s so pretty…” Eira’s voice was quiet in Doe’s ear, words whispered softly under the layers of rumbles and chatter which filled their surroundings with a dense layer of noise.
The throne room before them was indeed beautiful, golden light filtering through cracked stained glass. The stained glass formed figures she didn’t recognize, strange creatures which stood on hindlegs. Some sported wings which spread wide, filtering sunlight through their pale white feathers of glass. Doe’s hooves clicked over the cracked and warped wooden floors as she made her way down the hall, feeling Eira squirm in excitement on her back. The pair had been summoned here by the guards, her eyes flicked back to the large scarred iguanodon who stalked along behind her. His brown gaze remained locked on her, as if ready for her to suddenly bolt and she had a feeling they wouldn’t be gently guided back in line. Not like she even had the space to flee; on either side of them loomed crowds of hulking iguanodons of various sizes and colors. Oviraptors skittered between their powerful legs, sheets of metal balancing delicately upon their graceful backs and upon those sheets were various fruits and plants… The oviraptors were carrying food for the iguanodons.

The whole gathering caused unease to prickle at her scales and no amount of Eira’s excitement would dull that anxiety. Surely Queen Rhys would not have summoned them if not for something of great importance. Doe breathed, feeling it slowly expanding her lungs as she passed one of the towering windows that made up the old ruins. Colored sunlight kissed her scales and danced off Eira’s feathers, painting them in various shades of golds and reds. The hatchling shifted impatiently on her scaled back, however they could both see the goal at the end of the hall.

There she sat, draped in golden light which covered her like expensive silks, sprawled the queen of the iguanodons. Her golden armor glittered in the light and her primate companions carefully picked through her feathers, removing any pests that dare dirty their beloved queen. On either side of her Doe easily made out the lumbering tanks called euoplocephalus. One bore a pattern which greatly reminded her of a dog, his differently colored eyes locked on her. Watching carefully. On the opposite side was another, a euoplocephalus sporting some kind of green… Vest. Doe recognized her as Donna, and thankfully Donna didn’t quite seem as pointed. However, the iguanodons stationed next to either euoplocephalus looked just as steadfast as the dog looking one. The parasaurolophus could feel her heart beat thrumming in her chest and echoing in her ears, so loud that she wondered if any of those around her could hear it. If Eira could hear the thundering tempo, she showed no signs of such a thing and kept her golden eyes firmly locked upon the ethereal form of Queen Rhys.

When they had reached but a few feet of The Queen suddenly the dog looking guardian rumbled low in his chest, a sound akin to growl, and swung his tail in disapproval. A very clear sign to stop, which she did. As Doe stopped, Eira rose from her sitting position, claws excitedly scratching Doe’s scales as the hatchling twitched and resisted every urge to run and scramble around. In the corner of her Doe watched as the hulking iguanodon, Guerilla, lumbered around to stand off to the side. However, Doe made note that he was making it a point to stay within a few strides of them.
Unease curled in her gut like a snake. Something was wrong with this, all of this-

Then she spoke. Her honeyed voice instantly silenced any chatter which had previously been rippling through the abandoned building. “Welcome, My Courts.” As she spoke she slunk off the slab she had been resting upon, golden light glinting off her armor as she did so. Her eyes swept over the gathered dinosaurs then settled on Doe and Eira, and something about her made Doe shift on her feet. There was something in her eyes, something obscured by the veil of sickeningly sweet honey.
“And welcome, our loyal allies.” She crooned as she got closer, and the closer she got the more Doe was startled by just how young she looked. She couldn’t be more than a yearling-

“I thank you for coming, I’m sure my summons was confusing.” She did not wait for any sort of response as she circled around them, however dared not touch the mere ‘commoners’. “I have called you here, to your knighting ceremony.” As she spoke these words she made her voice louder, broadcasting to the entire building. Eira chittered softly in excitement, down rubbing eagerly against Doe’s scales as the hatchling forced herself back down into a settled position. Likely to appear more proper before the queen.

“K-Kn-eight-” Eira tried to repeat the words, likely to ask a question. However the words were difficult for someone as young as herself.

“Knighting,” A flash of annoyance in Queen Rhys' eyes as she stared at Eira. That flash was quickly replaced with forced patience. “A knighting ceremony is when those who have shown tireless loyalty to our kingdom, become honorary knights. Defenders of the kingdom of Atlantis.” Eira chittered excitedly in response, feathers fluffed to show off each beautiful feather. Doe however, did not share such excitement. Sure make Doe a knight, but Eira was but a chick. Bones still delicate and developing and they were going to *knight* her?? What logic would there be to making a chick a knight?

Now was not the time for questions or suspicion. Not when they were surrounded on all sides by massive clubbed tails and pointed thumb claws, all of which would be devastating to a tiny oviraptor chick.
Queen Rhys bowed her head, touching her forehead against Doe’s as she muttered words that Doe couldn’t understand. When her eyes lifted their gazes met and a tense moment passed before the queen lifted her head to Eira, repeating the action once more.
And so, they were knights. And Doe was less than pleased about this.