"A dragon??! What do you mean I will become a dragon??!" All etiquette goes out the window as you sit up straight despite your pounding head and achy body. "How is that possible?? I'm a human!"
"Now now, your Highness, please do not trouble yourself, it will all become clear in time," the court wizard tries to console you.
"That's right, just rest now, darling," the queen says with a saccharine smile as she presses you back into the pillows. In your distracted state, you don't notice while all this is going on, the court physician is holding a strange-smelling censer near you, and suddenly you feel quite drowsy.
"She should sleep for a while now," you hear the court physician say despite your muddled brain. "However, given her changes, it might not last as long as usual." Thanks to your suddenly abnormally strong senses, you can even hear the whispers between your parents and the court wizard as they leave the room.
"What about Lenis?" your mother hisses as you realize she is talking about your brother, the Crown Prince. "If it becomes known he did not receive the dragon's blessing--"
"It will be taken care of, there is no need to inform him," your father cuts her off. "No one knows except the four of us and that maid, and she is easily dealt with. If the princess fell ill, then naturally the maid should be punished," the king says coldly, then turns to the court wizard. "I assume preparations are underway."
"Yes, your Majesty," the court wizard replies. "But I would caution your Majesties, there is little known about the process, and less about what abilities it may bestow upon the Princess. It may render her difficult to contain."
"She must be handled securely; a dragon is too valuable to the kingdom to lose. We shall say the Princess is being moved to recover her health," the king orders. "It is best if she goes willingly. What must be done later, I will leave it to you."
Even though your head is completely fuzzy and your body feels like lead, you realize that conversation means nothing good for you. However, at the moment, your options are limited. You cannot move in this state, and if anyone sees you, there is no guarantee they would recognize you at this point. Nevertheless, you need to get away for your own safety. Whatever your parents had planned, you knew they only regard you as a pawn to be used, as does your brother. Finally, you drift off into slumber.
**************************
A week later, and apparently preparations for your move have been completed. You have not seen Mira since the day you collapsed, and you doubt her survival. Furthermore, you have been monitored at all times under the pretense that you have contracted a severe illness. The story is you are being sent to a villa to recuperate, away from the bustle of the castle. Not only is the public being fed this malarkey, but you are as well. If you hadn't heard the conversation the day the changes began, you might have actually fallen for your mother's tear-filled eyes and your father's solemn demeanor. Needless to say, your brother had never come to see you, probably afraid he might contract whatever fake illness you were supposed to have come down with.
Your forehead has finally stopped throbbing, but the bulges at your temples are definitely growing. Your skin has also been sloughing off to such an extent that you will need to wear an outfit that completely covers your body, including a veil to cover your face. Under the fallen skin you have shuddered to find hard scales beginning to appear. There is no doubt in your mind now, whatever you are becoming, it is not human.
You are determined to escape, but you have not had a chance within the castle. After all, the king and queen are utterly determined that no one else would learn of your fate, and you are in no shape to overcome the numerous guards. Hence, you decide to effect your escape during your travels, wherever they were taking you. At some point you would have to leave the city to keep up the pretense of being sent away, and out on the country roads there must be an opportunity to get away.
What you didn't account for is that the minute you enter the extremely sturdy carriage and the door closes, the court wizard casts a spell on the carriage to keep you captive. How are you going to escape now?
Panic begins to take over as the carriage trundles on without you finding a weak point. The walls, floor, roof, and even windows seem utterly sealed by the spell. Finally, miles into your journey, the rush of adrenaline is too much. You feel your body heating up and your head pounding. You are reduced to writhing on the floor, and begin to realize something else about you is changing.