Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets

Chapter 10:Mutual affection

Lyndis strode beside the green dragon looking as tough as a castle wall. Or was putting on an act. She could tell between her glances each time he winced, sparingly itching at the scar running across his chest. Her heart ached as she remembered the crimson mess, how his breaths had come shallower and shallower. She rested her hand softly on his scales as he led her away from the village. The path before them was being created with each stride of the emerald drake’s paws. Trees were unwinding themselves, flowers were bending, making a clear way for the near silent pair. Cordenth sighed, taking in a long drag of the cooler air, slowly stretching out his wings. Her heart fluttered as he stretched his neck out, giving her a sweet smile. When his eyes caught hers looking he tilted that snout to the side, raising a scaly ridge.

“What are you thinking about?”

“About how brave that was of you today." She tenderly smirked, enjoying the warmth of her cheeks.

He happily nodded, closing his eyes in a smile. “Ah. I see, replying my heroism over and over again in your head? It was never my intention to leave such an impression!”

“Oh is that so?” She smirked, chucking how he casually shook his neck. Like he was trying to feign his interest, or delight. He was practically bouncing for the next few strides that she thought he might leap into the very air. “My dear Cordenth, your heroism would’ve been that much brighter if I was a pudgy merchant unable to roll away from a cumbersome harpoon. I’m trained to fight against worse odds. You were an absolutely daft fool. Keep that up and you’re going to end up dead.”

“Course. That’s what Croesus said.” His good cheer died, a dark shadow seemingly wrapping around him. His voice turned sharp, like that of a blade.

“Still funny the way he talks to you.” She tapped his neck, laughing about how the white gryphon had the made the larger dragon squirm. How as that onyx beak clacked back in such a fury that she thought the green was smaller than a dog.”

“He’s always had the privilege. Either he doesn’t care about mother’s wishes or she delights that he can make us so squirm. He’s been there since we were little.”

“Bit old for a gryphon isn’t he?”

“You could say that.”

“I think you brought him up to detract from the conversation.” She pressed her arms together, like she was praying to the green armored drake. “To hide that you wanted a helpless maiden to go save. Oh how brave you were Cordenth!” She pretended to faint. “Oh help me Cordy. Help me!”

“Of course,” The dragon grumbled, tossing his gaze away towards the darkened trees. The green about his frills was now nearly hunter green. He growled, dragging a talon across the softer dirt. “I never meant to doubt your skill. I only wished to repay you for saving me at the temple. Besides.” He tossed her a withering glance. “What do you expect me to do? Watch idly by while a lady is about to get skewered.”

“Skewered?” Lyndis had to laugh at how pompous he sounded like. “We have very different notions of what real danger implies. For you, the bigger the better, but in my case, something as little as a poison dart can-“

“I know. It’s just that…someone had to help you." He sighed, sounding like more defeated than before. "Even if you didn't need it.”

“Exactly. What you did was more stupid than brave.”

Cordenth swished his tail slightly to the side as he looked to her with his sunflower yellow eyes. Within them she saw the magnificent sky, shimmering stars twinkling before her. There was no malice, irritation, only a wanting need, a truth she’d only seen in too few people over the years. When you adventured like she did, it was rare. The people not trying to get something out of you. Was it all that bad? Her hand snuck out as if guided by the gods, scratching at his leathery like chin.

"Hey. I want to add that even though I could’ve handled myself, what you did for me was nothing short of heroic.” His low grumble tried to push off her words but she brought it lower, stepping closer with a sigh. “Just try not to get yourself on the brink of death next time we fight together.” Her hand snaked along the bottom of his neck, feeling how his heart tickle through his scales.

"Heroic, is it?" He held his snout up, his frills twitching. "I have not been called heroic before. How strange. Such a nice ring to it is it not? Fits me perfectly." His chest swelled with his next few steps, his head rising in a rather regal way. He rumbled in the back of his throat, a frilled tail swishing behind him joyously like a green snake.

"Oh no. What manner of madness has taken hold of me?" she playfully smacked his scales, "I’ve seemed to have ignited the fuse of a most menacing beast. Please for the love of the gods don't turn into a second Veledar on me."

"Oh, I don't think any of us would benefit from that change. Me least of all" The dragon snorted, pulling back his head with a wrinkle creasing his snout. A pink tongue snaked out, like he’d tasted a rotten pie. "As big as the world might be, it can only handle a single one of those dragons." Cordenth flared out his wings to take in a gentile wind against his membrane. His most enchanting scent swirling about Lyndis’ senses. Seemingly pulling her closer, to lean up against him as they walked. They only got a few dozen paces before he stopped, suddenly noticing her proximity. He looked down with such a timid smile she thought he was no longer a dragon, but a teen too embarrassed to talk to those of the opposite gender. He smiled with a hiss, turning to the canopy of leaves above, watching them seemingly shiver in the wind’s caress. “How I enjoy tranquil the weather had been for the past days. Do you get snow in Drenedar?”

“Depends on where you go.” She rolled her eyes at the small talk, off handedly mentioning how she snuck away from her guardians to build things with magic. She’d make forts and pretended to have adventures, not to mention explore the countryside around her home atop wolf back. How the smell of a hot drink had brought with it such comfort, a reprieve from the icy chill that snuck into her bones. Cordenth nodded along, sharing about he and his brother’s antics. How they used to camouflage themselves about the snow with spells. He all chuckles about one time his brother had been a rabbit, shifting at the last second to leap upon his then startled form. “So, the trees never change?” She caressed a waxy green leaf, not even a sign of the coming autumn about them. “Yet you get snow.”

“Our mother prefers to keep the forest green and timeless. She’s old fashioned like that.” The dragon resettled his wings against his back as he resumed his slow walk, silently placing each paw slowly in front of the other in a graceful manner reminiscent of a lord. “I think it’s more of her obsession of liking to be in control.” He sighed, “Even the seasons bend their will to the Emerald Lady.”

Lyndis took in his form, settling upon his darkened scales from his snout to frilled tail. His eyes seemed to wink in the moon light, his gaze never breaking from the still forming path. The rogue wondered if the ness keeping them here had predicted her son’s heroics? She had told him to stay, to obviously avoid whatever had transpired, but he’d gone anyway. “Why did you jump in the way for me? I mean, is it just because I helped save your tail back at the temple? Deal for a deal?" She raised an eyebrow at him, and she smiled as he would not turn to her, and how his paws shifted from side to side. Like he was keeping something buried beneath his scales. Come on, you stubborn little hatchling. Admit you took a fancy to me.

"W-well you see... it’s partially because you…I mean to say you’re..." he stumbled through his words like a trapped field. "Y-ou are really, I mean really..."

Laughter burst out of her like an old dam. Even as she blushed and felt butterflies swarm inside her. "Oh Cordy, Cordy, Cordy. Whatever shall we do with you? Crush on a mortal? Your mother will die of shame:” She sighed, shaking her head. “Don’t fret your scales none. I won't tell anyone... Though if you ask me, I think it's only natural to have a taste for princesses." She wrapped an arm around his forelimb, leaning against his scales. She found it rather cute, even as he didn’t look away, simply stammering with ever green frills. Where they ever going to go back to normal with her around?

"What?” He pulled away with a dismissive snort of air, batting his paw at her.” A crush on a half-elf? That’s not…normal," he stammered, chuckling nervously in his throat. "I’m a dragon! Feeling that way about a mortal is-"

“Improper?” Lyndis smirked. “What about the maidens that slept the night over in your cozy little cave? Was that improper too, when you dressed them up like princesses, charmed them with tales of bravery while your tail sneaked up from behind to-"

“That’s not how it happened.” The dragon hissed, picking up his pace until she gazed upon his swaying tail and haunches. Did he seek an easy way out of this rather embarrassing situation?

But Lyndis was not about to let him have it. She raced to his front and looked him square in his eyes, hands on her hips. “I know how to read a face, scaly or not. Out with it.”

“Out with what? I just said you’re likable, alright? You have this…this aura.”

“First time I had someone compliment my aura,” Lyndis smile, pressing the palms of her hands onto her chin. “Now tell me. It can’t be worse than taking a harpoon to your chest, damn it.”

“But it is. I never had to…” the dragon sighed. “I do not do this often. Please. Is there no way to avoid all of this?”

Lyndis shook her head. She just stood there, arms crossed her arms, giving the dragon a knowing smirk. She watched him still try to not look at her as he fidgeted with his paws.

"Y-yes I have a crush on you, alright? Are you pleased now to have gained the dragon’s favor?" He finally settled his eyes onto her. "It’s a lot more than a favor though…you have been very sweet to me from the beginning, and nice when your red companion was nothing but snarls and narcissism. Plus, you saved me. I’ve never had someone risk their life for me before." His tail curled around his form, "Even if you did yell at me that one time."

“Oh, I never yell without a good reason. Anything else?”

“Well…I quite like your gear.” He poked a bit at her clothes with a claw “I believe I already spoke plenty of your skill. Now about your look, I find you to be rather..” he coughed the last bit into his claw. “pleasing to the eye,”

"Oh really?" she replied with a happy croon. "Did you just find a veiled way to tell me I’m beautiful?"

"Well, how could I not?" He lowered his snout. "I mean your radiance is stunning... In many ways, you remind me of the greatest emeralds that I have stashed away...er… what I meant to say is that you are the most interesting individual I have ever met. Denies what makes her for all intents and purposes above her peers, yet… driven to adventure and far simpler things. " He gestured to the tree line, "Not to mention you agreed to wander about the forest with me."

“Only because there’s nothing else to do in this forest.” Lyndis said casually. “Unless you have a pub of seedy individuals hidden within your scales, wolves to ride about your trees, or possibly a thug to outwit or three.” She casually shrugged, avoiding how his head cocked to the side, eyes ever widening the longer he looked at her. He suddenly gasped, perking up with excitement dripping about his speech.

"You have a crush on me too, don't you!"

"Well wouldn't that be ridiculous.” She waved him off with a laugh, though ignoring how her cheeks flushed to life. “Two little lovebirds destined for each other? Do you really believe in this sort of crap? I’m more realist than that. We just met, Cordy... To already be pining over one another is just over the top, like something taken straight out of a fairy tale." She tried to sound convincing, but the look he was giving her said he wasn't buying it. Not with the way he smirked and swished his tail.

“For a rogue you seem quite bad at lying," He rumbled, carrying after her with a bounce in his steps.

“I’m good at lying about things that matter.” Her eyes rolled as he nosed at her with a happy trill, noting how she hadn’t denied it entirely.

“Don’t…make that sound again.” She turned around, cursing her disobedient cheeks. Couldn’t they hide how her heart thumped quicker with each moment he was closer to her? The dragon of course did it again, only this time he had the audacity to rub his scaly snout along her cheek like dragons used to when they greeted each other.

“Oh, come on. What am I, a dragon in disguise?” Lyndis chuckled, trying in vain to push him away. “You’re rubbin about me like our dire wolves.”

“Mrrrmm, a wonderful green perhaps.”

“Am I that transparent?” Lyndis’ chuckles turned into an all-out laugh.

Cordenth pulled his snout back, wrapping his tail around his form. “So, whatever shall we do now? The night is young, two beings underneath the canopy of night. With hearts that seem all aflutter about one another.

“I never said it wasn’t aflutter.

“And yet…” He snaked his head round, his eyes but a yellow sea of happiness. “You havn’t denied it.”

"Well..." Lyndis trailed off suggestively. "I think you rescued a princess today." She slipped closer, softly caressing the underside of his jaw. His scales there kissed her fingertips, a delightful warmth running through her arm and ever burning her cheeks.

"That I certainly did. Although she heavily insisted on how unneeded that was." he chuckled, his eyes locking into hers.

"Even so, I think if this was a fairy tale, the brave dragon would undoubtedly get a kiss from the princess. Isn’t that right? Or do dragons do things differently?"

Apart from a twitch of his tail, Cordenth said nothing to her as she moved in closer to his snout. The closer she got, the faster her heart beat.

"I think I can agree with the ways of your people this time, we prefer to nuzzle and lick. Along the neck is one of the most intima-”

She kissed him on the cheek, one little peck to thank him for his noble deed. When she pulled back a giggle escaped her at the dragon's expression of joy splattered onto his snout. With his frills twitching and the happy rumbles he was making.

"T-that was most pleasant." He gave a playful growl in the back of his throat. "Though I thought it was supposed to be on the lips?"

"That’s a tad further along don’t you think? You’re my rescuer in that moment, not my bloody mate!” She pushed away his snout. When it followed her still, she was forced press against his nose, earning herself a teasing lick across her fingers. “Hey!”

“I’m feeling like I was denied by my sharp-tongued princess.”

"Your princess?” Her playfully pat on his snout ever widened his eyes. Like he hadn’t meant to say those words.

“Thousand apologies.” Cordenth bowed his head with a sheepish look about his snout.

“Don’t you worry your cute snout over this. I can be your princess if you want me to. Though only if you go about playing your cards right.”

"I would like that very much, Lyndis...you know, I have something to share too. My name...It's Cordenth."

"But I already...” she began softly, then understood what he was getting at. Veledar had just ripped his name out as means to humiliate him. Cordenth had no choice back then, wounded and battered under the claws of a mightier dragon. But now? He was giving his name to her not out of necessity, but because he really trusted her with this precious part of himself.

"Thank you, Cordenth." She hugged him tightly, "I will treasure it too." She let out another pleased sigh when the dragon descended upon her smaller body with another pleased rumble, covering her with his neck in a warm, scaly embrace.

"It might sound strange, but I am glad you brought a spark of adventure in my mundane life, even if all of it is owed to my mother.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t give her credit for this.”

“She dragged you from the sky. Brought you into our realm. Without her intervention, we would have never met.”

“That’s a funny way of saying abducted.” She laughed, “I’d like to think fate would have favored our meeting, even if it happened many years later, in totally different circumstances.”

“You mean an adventure?”

“Yeah, I tend to move around a lot,” The half-elf patted his neck reassuringly. “But I’m glad it happened sooner rather than later, as long as we just forget about the second part of it. Deal?"

"Deal." Cordenth stretched his neck up and looked up into the sky for a moment. "I have an idea..." He turned his head back towards her with a smile. "Would you like to fly?" He gestured to his wings as he began to unfold them, his frills twitching excitedly.

“Carrying me again?”

“No.” He snorted, patting the ground softly with his paw. “Properly this time, on my back.”

"Are you sure you’re okay with me riding you?" she put a hand on her hip. "It literally took Arcturus over a month and a near-death experience for the dragon to warm up to the idea of what most dragons might consider…undignifying."

“Those rules don’t apply to princesses,” Cordenth stuck his tongue out.

Lyndis should’ve slapped the silliness out of his head for even saying that. However, she could not deny the excitement that started to build in her chest. The memories of Veledar's flight surfaced in her head, bringing her back to that wonderful voyage through the clouds. Except this time, she had an entire dragon for herself. “Hold on.” Lyndis cut in. “What if your mother-“

“Not her decision,” the dragon interrupted her just as swiftly, curling around and offering her a place between his wings. "Here. Climb up. I’ll be gentile I promise.”

Lyndis shrugged as she grabbed hold of the dragon's shoulder and pulled herself up. Around the base of his neck her leg went, getting into a proper position. It felt like how she had ridden dire wolves back home bareback, although, he, of course, had the frills lining his neck. Thankfully they folded down for her, otherwise it might have been a tad uncomfortable for him to put up with something big and hard constantly pressing down upon them.

"Please be careful. There is no saddle back here." She fell slightly forward and wrapped her arms around his smooth neck. “Nor any fur for me to grab hold of.”

"Don't worry, Lyndis." Cordenth replied with a smile, "I will be as gentle and graceful as one of your little kitty cats." He spread his wings wide in one motion, easily covering the path she was on.

“That fills me with reassurance.” She almost rolled her eyes as she remembered how pesky said kitty cats could be. “Any special destination in mind?"

"You will see princess. I assure you it will be worth your time." Cordenth shook his wings swishing his tail behind him. "Now hold on!" He flapped his wings and pounced into the air. With his next wing beat they pushed towards the canopy, dodging branches, vines, and other flora that bent away from his wings. Within a few seconds, Cordenth broke through the crown of the forest.

Lyndis stitched herself to his warm scales as the wind dragged its icy claws through her clothes. She hugged him ever tighter, squeezing shut her eyes as he dipped a wing and started a turn. The forces of both ground and sky assailed her at the same time. Holding on for dear life, Lyndis just tried to focus on what little warmth she was getting from his scales, and not on the imminent feeling of slipping towards the earth.

"How are you?" His concern filled voice came moments later, pulling her out of her anxious thoughts. "I did not mean to frighten you." She felt him flap once again, making her tighten her grip on him.

"It's not your fault." She uttered, "It's just the lack of a saddle that makes the flight more…exciting." She imagined her knuckles were white at this moment from how tight she was holding onto the dragon. When she felt him level his wings and enter a glide, she chanced a peek towards the ground below. She looked down from the back of the emerald scaled dragon to see a patchwork quilt of dark green spread out all around them. It rose and fell like the waves along the sea, broken by dark shining mirrors that were lakes and ponds. Clouds flowed out above, like vast grey rivers brought to life by the moonlight shining overhead. Stars and black void created the river’s edge, thousands of twinkling lights fighting off the cold about her bones. She sighed, relishing at this opportunity. Not just to relish in this sight alone, but share it with another. Her tightened grip even wavered as he maintained his glide.

"How are you feeling now?" He arced his head back. “Feeling more brave?”

Lyndis took a deep breath of the cool air, letting it rest deep in her lungs. She met his eyes, blushing from his careful look about him or the wind she didn’t know, or hardly care in this moment. “Tad better.” She laughed, trying to keep her composure.

"I promise you won't fall. On my word as a dragon."

"I trust you." she nodded.

“Then let’s go take a closer look shall we?” Cordenth dipped a wing, causing her to clutch at him tighter than before. However, this time, she did not close her eyes. He swooped down closer to one of the many watery mirrors, mindful of the trees that lined it like a protective wall. Though as he neared they bent as if to his will, making room for them like two lords before wooden peasants. With a mighty back-wing, the dragon slowed his descent and softly landed on his hinds. "Here we are." he chuckled as he fell on his fours, trotting over towards the water with a happy sway about his haunches. When they were near the water’s edge he lowered himself, easing her dismount. "How was the flight, dear Lyndis?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Certainly not too bad for my first bareback flight." she slid off smoothly and softly to the ground. She nudged his scales softly with one of her elbows. Dragon who took me flying was kind of cute, so it made up for the fright he gave me."

"Cute?” The dragon kneaded the ground with his claws as he swung his head up high, and swished his tail. “Is that truly the best word you can find? I’d have thought a more regal word would have sufficed.”

"Brave, handsome, but cute to boot! Oh yes, you’re very cute indeed... Now why did you bring us here, Cordy?" She gazed out towards the twinkling lake before them.

"Well... If you know the right time of night." He turned his head towards the bright moon above, "and you know the exact spot…" the dragon settled onto his haunches, curling his tail around them both.

“Do I get to change into a dragon?” Lyndis chuckled as he pinned back his wings.

“Oh, sadly not, but you do get an enchanting view of yet another one of my favorite places.”

Lyndis took a seat beside him, not minding the latent chill of the grass from below. “So, is there more to this place, or you’re just trying to impress me yet again?” She smiled as she felt his tail flop till it was around her slowly, as if he was trying to do it without her noticing. The damned dragon was trying to be romantic!

"You know… some might think you’re trying to be romantic, Cordy." Her knowing gaze met his own, prompting the dragon’s frills to quiver as he looked away.

"How so?"

"Really now?" She gave him a smirk with a cocked her head. "The night sky to gaze out into, the beautiful lake." She pointed to his tail that was slowly getting closer and closer. "And how you are trying to wrap your tail around me?"

His tail suddenly flopped away like it had been wounded.

"What...no... I would... never." He snaked his head back down towards her. "Although if I were..." he snapped his head to face the lake, as it seemed to suddenly explode with light.

Multiple brilliant balls of illumination rose up from the lake’s surface. Vibrant reds, enchanting greens, tantalizing yellows, every color of the rainbow could be found among their glowing number. In unison they started to spiral above the water like little serpents, leaving a magical trail in their wake. They would turn, rise, fall, and swish around in myriads of wonderful ways. They swirled around, getting closer and closer towards them, as the lights seemed hell bent on painting everything in sight with their colored trails.

Lyndis jaw dropped as she took in the myriad of swirling lights. It was like out of the fairytales she’d skimmed during her younger years, an enchanting scene she’d have usually scoffed at. Words had failed her as she watched in amazement, only ever met with a warm glow. When a green snout appeared in her periphery she turned, losing focus of everything that wasn’t him. Most folks had tried to win her favor by spouting family blood lines or putting on giant spectacles about how great they would be, but this was sweet.

"Cordy…this is…”

"Yes?" He smiled, his tail rustling closer.

"T-this is beautiful!" she reached out to touch a trail of light once one of them spun right past her. I have never seen anything like this..."

"You really like it?" he asked softly.

"Cordy, I absolutely adore it."

The dragon leaned in as the lights spun around them, like they were curious about what she and Cordy were up to. Her heart raced with every breath of the crisp air mixed with his scent. In the glow of the lights, his scales blazed with the most beautiful nuances that she had set her eyes on.

"You know....as beautiful as the lake is... There is something even more beautiful in my eyes."

Lyndis fought the chuckle that built up in her throat. That line was infuriatingly corny, but with him looking at her ever so fondly, she let him have it. She let the dragon delight in the warm feelings brought by her words while she giggled and reached out to caress the underside of his snout. "You know.... I’m not very picky when it comes to my garb. A rogue takes what they’re given, but green had always been my favorite color."

"You mentioned that before."

“Who says I can’t say it again?”

“Lyndis Kuxion…you truly are the most enchanting woman I’ve met…” The mischievous dragon licked along the side of her cheek with a warm rumble.

Lyndis felt everything else melt away. The sounds of the forest dulled, the lights faded, even the slight chill had been driven away by the blanket of warmth that fell upon her. She pulled away and they just stared into each other’s eyes. She felt her face grow warm as she watched the stars twinkle ever so beautifully in his.

“I am most glad you came into the forest."

"That’s the second time you say that tonight," she laughed back, carressing his chin with a petite hand, watching his frills twitch slightly on the side of his head. "I will say again Cordy…that I too am glad we’ve found each other. You’re not anything like the bully that lured us into a trap."

“And you’re not a heartless bounty hunter that earns her living from selling us in pieces on the black market.”

“The killing is Arcturus’ job. I just do the shipping once Veledar’s done chopping you up.”

“R-really?”

“Nah,” Lyndis burst out when the dragon’s eyes widened. “What sort of twisted stories have you heard as a hatchling? We’re just a band of clueless adventurers tied together by the ego of a singular dragon. I’ll consider myself lucky if we even manage to get into Entis undetected.”

“That seems dangerous. Are you sure the reward is worth the risk?” The dragon inched his snout closer to her chest as he curled around her.

“I don’t know yet…” Lyndis stared out into the distance while she caressed his jaw. “Past his ego, buried deep beneath the century-old humor he flaunts around, Veledar is a noble dragon. One that already sacrificed his life for the man that was supposed to deliver him in chains.”

“Arcturus? Why didn’t he?” Cordenth rumbled happily under the playful treatment of her fingers. He pushed into her hand to demand scratches along his neck.

“Change of heart,” Lyndis smiled at Cordenth’s pleasant trills. “We all had once we got to know the true Veledar. You might too, as long as you don’t step on his proverbial greatness.”

“I’d rather know more about you.” The dragon nuzzled along her arm until, with one long exhale, found refuge against her chest.

“That’s a long story to ask for,” Lyndis started to caress his warm frills. “What do you want to know?”

They stayed like that for quite some time, pressed up against one another, sharing their past experiences. They spoke of time since passed. Of people they knew and warming tales that had kept them smiling through the years. She shared of friends still waiting back in Drenedar, ones that hadn’t sought the freedom and call of adventure. He spoke of only times spent within this place, the trees that seemed all too like family. Though despite his growth within here he knew it was his time to leave. Longing for the whisper of adventure like she’d been. She smiled as he wrapped a wing around her and looked to the stars above.

"Would you like to retire once more to my cave?" he lowered his snout after a time. "I did not mean to steal your whole night.

"It’s alright." Lyndis whispered. She ran a hand across his pebbly scaled face, threatening to get lost within his brilliant yellow spheres. She thought back to the previous night, and the feeling of safety, warmth, and how loved she had felt when he had held her tightly against his chest. "How could I say no to an offer like that? Especially when being spoken so politely?”

"Not worried about any funny business?" he raised an eyebrow, chuckling in the back of his throat.

She gave him an amused grin as she playfully smacked his cheek. ”

"I can be quite... mischievous." he replied quickly, licking her right across the face with his dark pink tongue.

"Hey! And I know!" she pushed his snout away with a giggle as he let out another deep chuckle. “And if I catch your tail going somewhere it shouldn’t gods help me!”

"What if you give it permission to go to such places?” he licked her again.

"Cordenth!" she screeched, not even fighting him anymore. It was not unpleasant, just different. "W-what was that about?" she laughed as the green dragon retracted his head away with a smirk.

“Show of affection.”

"If all of them are as wet, I’m not interested," her laughter turned into a chuckle under yet another tongue stroke. She traced his green scales as the dragon crouched low for her and gestured to his back.

"So come on, the faster you get on my back, the faster we can be snuggling.”

"Whispering sweet nothings to each other I'm sure." She swung her leg up onto Cordenth as she took her position on his back.

"That does sound appealing." he crooned, spreading his wings wide and wiggling his haunches. "Ready, princess?"

"Certainly, my loyal steed. Take us into the air!"

"I am much better than a steed." The dragon wrinkled his snout, giving his wings a test flap on the air.

"The best of the winged brigade for sure." she rubbed his scales reassuringly. "Now...Please..if you would be so kind, o’, brave and valiant dragon. This princess would like to accompany you back to your cave, and cuddle against you till morning." Lyndis let out a long sigh, already picturing in her mind a green forepaw curled around her.

"Sounds good to me!" Corenth launched himself into the air, propelling them across the treetops with powerful beats of his lime green membranes. The dragon angled his wing membranes and brought them into a quick turn before once more spreading his wings to glide along the soft currents ruffling his frills.

"Cordenth?" she asked, her eyes gazing out to the sprawling forest, the sparkling river, and the near endless horizon.

"Yes?" he tilted his head back slightly to gaze at her with a solitary eye.

"I…I think this...all of this." she gestured to the forest. "Looks far more appealing from the back of a handsome dragon." His maw parted into a smile, bringing life to one of her own.

"Why thank you." he trilled, his steady flap of wings bringing them closer and closer towards his waterfall cave. "You really know how to make my scales feel all warm and tingly. I feel as though it would even make my scales go red."

"Feeling bashful, dragon?" She leaned against his neck, sighing in comfort at the feeling of wind brushing against her.

"Only when a lady offers me such pleasing words." he angled his wings towards the ground and started to circle the roaring waterfall below. He back-winged moments from the ground, touching down softly on the river’s edge.

Once on the ground, Lyndis jumped off the dragon's back, slightly disappointed that the flight had been so short. She walked in tandem with the green, resting her palm on his scales as they walked. "So, we all sat down, talked, got ranted at and ordered around by your mother, but what about her other half?”

“Her sister?” Cordenth cocked his head. “None. Well…None she told us about.”

“I meant your father, unless dragon eggs just happen to sprout from the ground.”

“Like dwarves?”

“Yes. Exactly like dwarves,” Lyndis giggled as they moved ever closer towards the dragon’s lair. “I noticed it's just you and your mother in the forest, and well, I’m curious from whom you got all these good traits.”

"Ah...well... mother can be very affectionate when she wants to. Father is…not around.”

“He died?”

“No. We just… never met him." Cordenth's frills drooped slightly. "Although mother said he loved us very much."

"Cordy..." she patted him softly. She had not meant to hurt him of course. "I'm sorry for bringing it up...I should have known better."

"It's alright," he nuzzled her softly. "Perhaps I will find him one day and do all the things I’ve wanted like hunting, wrestling, or fishing. It will be the happiest day of my life."

"I hope you do one day."

"Would you help me?"

Lyndis stopped with the dragon outside the mouth of his cave. "You know what?" she smiled. "After we go to Entis and get Veledar's book back... I would love to go find your missing father, becaaause one of the main talents of a rogue is to find things!” She chuckled at the way Cordenth mimed a genuine look of shock. “Did your mother ever mention where he would roam around?"

"Not really," he wrinkled his snout. "But I will make her tell me even if we must come to claws over it," he growled in the back of his throat. "She will not be keeping that from me any longer."

"Well… when you do, Cordy…." She caressed his snout, heart rapidly beating as their lips almost touched. Scratching his chin, she pulled away, warmth running against her cheeks. "I will be there to offer you my rapier. Seems rather fair."

He broke away and gave her a soft pleased rumble from his throat. "I would like that very much." he wrapped his wing around her, causing her to sigh and lean into the warmth. "Now come, princess." he deepened his voice to a near growl. "Into the dragon's lair, we’re heading. Grawwraaarrhhh,"

"Oh no!" she gave a fake cry, moving along with his insistent push. "Not the dragon’s lair! What are you going to do to me, you monstrous beast?" she pressed herself closer against his scales, as he brought her to his bedding once more.

“You’re about to see…” the dragon rumbled happily. “Here we are, my fair lady.” He curled his neck around, joy ever glowing in his eyes. ”What is your desire?”

Lyndis’ eyes went back to the chest of undergarments. “A nice hot bath and a proper set of clothes.”

"Did you just say-“ His frills turned a darker green.

“Not the kind of tongue bath you have in mind, my dear.” Lyndis scooted over to the chest. “There will come a day when I will play the role of a hatchling to you, but right now, I am a princess, and a princess must be properly dressed if she is to join her charming captor. It will only take a minute.”

"Oh, of course," he held his snout up with a grin. "It is the proper thing to do, after all." His chest swelled as he rose up, pinning his wings to his back.

"You’re just a fountain of good manners, aren’t you?” she traced his neck with her hand, causing his eyes to close and a soft purr radiate at her touch. "You purr?" she giggled.

"Only when I am touched by your delightful hands." he mumbled, his tail slightly fidgeting. When she let go, he strode over to his bed and once more laid down while Lyndis busied herself with the chest.

She picked out a darkened brown dress with green stitching, and had off-white frills by the arms and neck. She laughed internally as she held the thing out in front of her eyes. It was hideous, but in a nice sort of way. She had always loved the frills of clothing, although she would never tell anyone that. It made her look like a desert topped with whipped cream.

“What do you think?” She moved it aside to look to the dragon that was looking right at her.

He tapped a paw, eying her up and down. With a nod he rumbled. “No other could make a finer choice.”

“Really? Cause you got a lot more stuff down here.” Lyndis chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m not like those princesses. Why, for one, they’d scream with fright if they even caught you peeking at their undergarments.”

“I-I wasn’t-“

“It’s alright if you’re curious,” she laughed, stripping herself in front of the dragon. She felt her heart beat faster as she heard him give a pleased rumble as each bit of her clothes touched the ground. "See something you like?" she paused, one arm getting into the garment.

"Yes…” The green squirmed, his frills ever the darker. “Very much so."

She laughed as the dragon thumped his tail onto the stone, giving off another rumble.

"You look like you’re gazing at me like I’m some form of meat." Lyndis commented in the meantime. She pushed her arms into the nightgown and let it fall to her feet. "Should I be terrified?"

"No," the dragon opened his wings invitingly for her. "Unless you think I'd wish to taste such a fine specimen."

She froze when he spoke that, as she was right about to take her place within his limbs. "Did you just…?" she brushed the awkwardness of his boldness with another laugh. "Cordenth! I was not aware you had such naughty thoughts lurking within that horned head of yours."

“You’ve been warned.”

“Oh yes, but be careful not to have me unload all my naughty thoughts over you,” Lyndis shot back, sliding between his limbs and pressing her head to his chest.

"Mrrrmmm, I rather like the taste of princess." he chuckled, running his tongue along her face. Even the saliva she didn’t mind when he pulled back, looking so fondly at her.

She let out a sigh at his affection, burying her face against his chest as the familiar forelimb wrapped around her, pulling her deeper into his comforting embrace. "It feels so enchanting, sleeping here against your chest. One might not want to depart."

"Then never leave. I will remain more comfortable than any bed you will ever know."

she sighed again as he draped his wing around her. That's when she suddenly felt him pull her tighter and jerk his head up.

"Corden-"

"Hrrrr." he snapped back in a whisper. "Be quiet...please. Someone’s coming.”

“Who can-“She shut her mouth closed. Why was he shushing her? The pulled tight against his arm, unable to see anything but the membranes of his wings. Thankfully she didn’t have to wait long to find out.

"Cordenth." came the voice of the Emerald Lady from the entrance of the cave. “Come to me. I’ll only stay a moment.”

“Gah.” Lyndis hissed. “At this hour? What in the world is she after?”

“Stay here,” Cordenth left her alone with another one of his warm licks.

“Like hell I will,” Lyndis whispered, grabbing onto her nightgown and followed after the dragon, her bare feet barely making a sound on the cold stone of the cave.

"Mother." the green dragon stopped a few meters away from the much larger dragoness, bowing his head slightly under the amethyst gaze of his mother. "What brings you to my cave?"

“Little one…” the dragoness advanced towards him with slow, measured steps, her claws clicking gently on the stone floor. “You took a harpoon to the chest today. Is it so strange that I come to make sure my son is feeling better?"

Lyndis almost choked at the sound of those words. This had to be a mistake. Whoever this creature was couldn’t be the same Emerald Lady she knew. Holding her breath to avoid making the faintest of sounds, she peeked out from behind her hiding spot to watch the large dragoness slowly pad her way further into the cave. Without the purple mist, without the snarls and narrowed eyes. She looked rather normal, and for a moment, she almost believed Cordenth from the other night.

"I’m sorry, mother. I know I should have listened to you, but I just couldn’t stay idle while Veledar and the others risked their life to protect our forest. We had to do something. I had to-“

"I know, little one." The Emerald Lady slunk her way closer to her apologetic son. Cordenth flinched when her snout met his neck, then released a long growl of relief when, instead of the sharp embrace of teeth, he was treated by the gentleness of a mother. The dragoness nuzzled her way up and down his neck to ease his obvious worries, then moved even closer to shadow him under her enormous wing. Growls came from under the living shelter. Growls that Lyndis could not interpret in any other way but genuine affection between a mother and her son. She was proven right when the Emerald Lady pulled her wing back to bathe Cordenth’s smaller snout with four last comforting licks.

"Why, mother? What moves such a downpour after days filled with nothing but snarls and orders?”

"I had to make myself understood by these mortals. If anyone knew you and my brother were the soft spot in my scales, they would use that knowledge to harm you. I cannot bear the thought of something like this happen again. If it wasn’t for that bull, you… you could have been…"

“But I’m not, because I chose to put a bit more faith in these outsiders,” Cordenth’s tone was stern. “I know you mean well in the end, but the methods you use to accomplish your goals are ancient, mother. You have to evolve along with the rest of the world, or see yourself buried beneath the ashes of the past. Of what could have been if the mortals hadn’t rebelled against us.”

“My son, what you have seen in that temple-“

“Confirms what I already felt in my heart long before you lured the red dragon to us.” Cordenth said. “If we can befriend mortals, persuade them to help us instead of hoarding, enslaving, or branding them as lesser, we stand to gain so much more.”

The Emerald Lady turned back towards the exit, staring at the crystalline waterfall. “That is a naïve way to look at the world, Cordenth. You have known nothing but safety under my wings, but this safety also keeps you unaware of what really happens beyond the borders of our forest. Out there, these lesser creatures slay us by the thousands. Do you think I would allow you to expose yourself to such threats? You’re too young, too innocent to understand the darkness that lurks in their hearts.”

“No,” Cordenth shook his head. “Their darkness? What about yours, mother? You, who cursed a man chosen by Bahamut herself, instigated an unneeded conflict that had you marred from snout to tail? You, who remind our willing subjects of all the things their ancestors despised in us with each passing day?” The green dragon brushed along his mother’s side, seeking shelter under her wing. “Arcturus saved the red’s life. Lyndis saved mine. Can’t you see? It doesn’t have to be that way anymore. We can stop pretending.”

“I do what I have to for the good of the-“

“Don’t.” Cordenth retreated away from her embrace with another annoyed hiss. “You’re not doing it for our family. You’re doing it for yourself! Otherwise you would’ve told me where my father is.”

“This isn’t about him.” The Emerald Lady looked at the ground, as if she tried to hold onto something too heavy to share with her son.

“How can it not be? Are you even aware of how it feels not to know? To wonder if he met his end peacefully or at the end of a hunter’s spear?”

“Cordenth,” the dragoness spoke calmly, unaffected by her son’s increasingly louder growls. “It’s late. We’ll talk about your father another time.”

“When? If not now, when? Next week? Next month? Next year, even?”

“He is alive and well. That’s all I can tell you.”

“He…” Cordenth’s fire started to diminish. Crouching down, he crawled back towards the warm embrace of his mother’s warm embrace. “He’s…father’s alive?”

“Of course. I would not lie to you about this. I hope you know that.”

Cordenth broke down into soft growls once he reached her. His smaller snout met his mother’s much larger head, and the two dragons nuzzled each other lovingly for at least a minute before Cordenth pulled his head back and looked at his mother with tears in his eyes. “How…how is he? I have so many things I want to tell him…”

“And you will. The time to leave your nest is quickly approaching. Who knows? Maybe you will meet him during one of your adventures and make up for all the lost time.”

“You miss him too…”

“What? No. Don’t be silly,” the dragoness dismissed the notion with a playful shove of her wing. “I had to raise you all by myself precisely because not even the blessing of new life could keep his wings tethered. Adventure is for your father what you two are for me.”

“I’ll find him, mother. And when I do, I’ll convince him to return home so we can all be reunited, like a real family. That is my promise to you.” Cordenth nuzzled her reassuringly.

“That is a blissful dream to have, but please, Cordenth, be careful where you let your wings take you. I would never want to lose you...you and Lyyreth…" She lowered her voice along with her once-proud head. "are the world to me..."

"T-thank you..." Cordenth embraced her within his forepaws, sharing yet another tender moment with his mother. “You’ve brought me great comfort tonight, mother. I…I love you, even we do not always see eye to eye."

"I love you too, Cordenth...never doubt that...no matter how it may look in front of these outsiders."

"I understand," he replied sheepishly as the Emerald Lady perked her head to look around, nostrils twitching with interest.

"What is that...hmm." A smirk grew to her snout as she reset her wings against her back. "I better let you return to your slumber. It will be good for you to heal after what had transpired."

Lyndis moved behind the stalactite that shadowed her form. Curses! Did she just catch her scent? The half-elf already started to form plans on how to deal with the potential repercussion for her unbound curiosity.

But nothing happened. No retribution came. As calmly as she strolled into the lair, the large dragoness stood up on her fours and turned to leave. It felt like this was a dream, the Emerald Lady acting so affectionate. She would have never believed it, if she did not just see it with her own eyes or heard her words with her own ears.

"Have a tranquil night, mother, and thank you for your visit, brief as it might’ve been. We need to spend more time like this."

"I know. Good night, Cordenth." The dragoness made her way back to the cave entrance with long swishes of her tail, only stopping once to look back to her son with a grin. "Who knows, Cordenth? Maybe you will be a king one day."

"Me? King?" Cordenth asked softly, as his mother left without another word, chuckling in the back of her emerald armored throat.

“Sounds like your mother has big plans for you.” Lyndis chuckled once the dragon enveloped her with his warm wing.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if these plans are tied to your royal lineage, princess. Even I could smell your scent as if you were standing next to me,” the green dragon nuzzled her playfully. “

"So, what if she knows? Are you ashamed of having me in your cave?" she asked softly, still not releasing the dragon’s head from her embrace.

"Nonsense." He nosed her gently, causing her to laugh as he snorted warm air onto her. "I just.... don’t want her to stick her nose in all my affairs."

"You know, I keep wondering. How in the world did you come from her? You seem nothing like the scheming version of her."

"We did have her servants to help raise us. Perhaps they had more impact on our development than she did? Like father, mother finds herself taken with her own agenda far too often."

"Hmm…I guess we all need something to keep us going. I can’t see myself turning down a chance at adventure either."

"Lyndis?"

"Yes?" she looked up to the dragon's snout as he looked down onto her.

"Your little mission tomorrow. The one with the fort?"

"It's not exactly little, Cordenth." she wrinkled her face.

"Regardless. I will be going with you tomorrow, I'll even drag Lyyreth along."

Lyndis smiled up at him, not exactly surprised, but still touched by the dragon’s benevolence. "You’re willing to..." she ran her hand along the scar on his chest. The scar he had gotten saving her. "Risk your life again?"

"Can't have the brave princess go into battle without her emerald knight."

"You’re my knight now? That’s a big leap from the lazy lizard we found lounging on that rock," she laughed.

"Why not? I have armor, I am rather handsome, and I saved my dearest princess today!"

"When you present it like that..." Her hand found his lowering jaw, his scent inundating her senses. How her heart raced, her head felt all fuzzy. How he looked to her with such radiance, she couldn’t turn away. “Would love for you to accompany me.”

Like they were pulled together by a string she kissed him right on his pebbly scaled snout. His rumble tickled her heart, as an overpowering heat burrowed into her bones. Everything else melted away as her eyes closed, drifting away to the pleased sounds coming from them both. Why it was so intense she had no idea, but she loved every second of it. They held the kiss for several more pleasured filled moments of bliss as she rubbed his jaw. She pulled away finally and they just stared into each other’s eyes. She felt her face grow warm as she watched the lights flicker ever so beautifully in his yellow slits.

“Well..” He rumbled, licking across her face, “That was most enchanting.” They both chuckled together as he extended a wing, leading her back to his nest. Once they settled in, Cordenth laid his head beside her and pulled her tightly into his warm embrace. She closed her eyes and sighed, as she felt him wiggle his tail and breath in contentment. She drifted off in his warm blanket, wanting to be no where else.