The King's Dragon
By: Marina L.

Long ago in a time when men and beast could be found at both sides of good and evil, one duo remained in the tails of the people. The wise female Dragon and the King, a man who was close friends with the Dragon. They journeyed together and fought side by side, later she protected him and his kingdom. Both cared for each other. But then one day the Dragon had to leave.
She left in the night silently and whispered a farewell to her friend the King. The King woke up in the middle of the night with a horrible feeling. He got up, dressed and hurried out of his bedchamber. As he entered the home of his Dragon his heart gave a lurch. She was not there she was gone. There was no trace of her. The King almost fell to his knees in pain and despair, but he held himself in check. He would find his friend, his Dragon no matter what.
The Dragon meanwhile had left to be alone in a secluded deep cave high in the Poison Mountains of Death Forest. It was the time of the eclipse and it was about time for her to be human once again. She could not wait this was her one and only chance.
As the King traveled the land looking for his Dragon he learned a lot about himself in the days and weeks on his journey searching. He found out that he cared a great deal for his Dragon more then he should. He loved her with all his heart and would do anything to have her back. It was an amazing realization on his part because he had known his Dragon for 13 years of his life ever since he was 12 years old. To him his Dragon would always be his woman.
The King yelled at his men in frustration. There was no word or sight of his missing Dragon. At night the King strong as he was still cried for not having his friend near. He missed her terribly, her unique sense of humor and the way her mind worked. He remember on those sleepless nights the times they spent sneaking in and out of the castle, playing pranks on the cook. Those times brought a smile to his haggard face but could not lift the gloom from his heart.
They traveled for weeks going to every village from Thorn Pass to Evil Hill. But no one had seen a dragon either flying or passing through. The Kings men where hopeless by the end of the month. The King himself was loosing hope too due to his men. But as they journeyed on word they were passed by an old farmer heading south. He stopped to pay respects to the King. Noticing the Kings pallor the man asked what was wrong. The King disheartened told the farmer his problem. The farmer who was named Thomas told the King that if he was looking for a Dragon he should head towards the Poison Mountains to the north right near Death Forest. That's where all the Dragons are heading you know the old man replied and continued on his way. The King looked shocked for a moment after the farmer left, then he gave a great whoop of joy and raced down the road to the north. The king smiled to himself his Dragon was the only living Dragon in their world but the farmer was a little strange though.
The King leaving his men outside stepped all alone into the darkened cave. He made his way slowly and silently through its depths. There was hardly any light to see by so the King walked with his hand on one of the dark stone walls. Then as he walked he saw a shimmer of light. He came into a large room and stopped, in the middle of the room was his Dragon with her head looking up to the sky. As the moon began to shine its light went through the open whole in the ceiling. As it infolded her the King screamed out "No." Then the Dragon was gone and in her place stood a young maiden with red eyes and black hair wearing a red ruby about her neck. She blinked and looked upon herself with surprise. The King looked stunned. The maidens eyes then fell upon the King. Her eyes grew wide like saucers as she backed away stammering "Yourrrr Highnessss". The King could not let her get away, in a flash he held her arm in his strong grip. Then he heard a growl issue forth from her red lips. "Unhand me at once" the young maiden said in an angry whisper. Their eyes met and something familiar flickered in those fiery depths. The King moved even closer until they were an inch apart from each other. He looked into her eyes smelled the fire in her dark hair and felt what exactly. Some familiarity when he never met this lady in his life. And what happened to his Dragon as his heart gave a lurch. The maiden cast her eyes down and pushed to get free. The King held her in his arms and once more looked into those blood colored eyes. "Who are you" he heard himself whisper. "No one your highness" not anymore and he felt a pain in his side as she punched him and ran. He called out to his men "cease her," as they were waiting outside the cave. As he found his breath and walked outside he saw two men barely able to hold the young maiden. He would find out what happened to his Dragon no matter what the King swore to himself.
Back at his castle he locked the fiery woman in a room near his own but he found her gone only to find her the next day in his Dragon rooms. There was a sharp pain in his heart as he watched the woman move carefully through his Dragons chambers.
She felt at peace here in these enormous almost bare rooms. She felt at home somehow. She sighed and walked on curios. Then out of nowhere she whirled around to find the King behind her. She began to back away but saw something in his eyes and stopped. There was pain in his eyes or tears but she must be imagining things or wasn't she. The King reached her and stopped. He looked up into those perplexed eyes and laughed without joy. "I would not harm you" he told her. "Please I need to know what happened to my Dragon". She tilted her head to the left while looking at him. He shivered with something he could not name. "Dragon?" she asked confused. "Yes he said these are my Dragon's rooms" he told her, showing her with his hands. She looked around at the gigantic rooms, including the one they where in and tilted her head to the right perplexed. The King wanted to cry then and there for he knew that this lady had no idea of where his Dragon was. He felt his heart contract like it was about to shatter from the pain. Before the maiden knew what she was doing she held the King in her arms like a child soothing his hurt and pain. There was something here she felt it in every bone of her body. She held him until he calmed and then let him go with a little feeling of loss. She turned her back to him and whispered so that he could hear "I don't remember much your highness but if you give me time maybe I can remember something about your Dragon". The King listened and nodded his head then left her. Something strange was going on but what was he did not know.
Days passed as he and the maiden spent time together. Sometimes she remembered things that shocked and surprised him while mystifying him even more. They got to know each other and became friends. But the Kings heart still had a huge whole and he still felt lost without his Dragon there to love and care for.
The full moon season ended at last after another month and the maiden ran into the kings room with a cry. "Your Highness, your Highness I remember, I remember" she cried happily. The King embraced her in his arms as she hugged him. "What do you remember" he asked smiling while looking down at her. She looked up and met his deep blue gaze and said "my name, I remember my name." "So what is it" he asked teasingly and received a soft punch in the ribs. "It's Maud if you must know" she spoke up angrily and then grinned. Then to her surprise she saw the King pale, she sat him down as he took long shallow breaths. "What is it, what's wrong" she begged him. He looked into her worried red eyes and gulped. Then barely whispering he said "my Dragon's name was Maud but no one knows that but me". Her eyes opened wide in shock and then she whirled and ran from his room. After the King got himself under control he went after her to find her in his Dragon's rooms. She sat on the floor so quietly he almost ran to her instead of walking up to her. He put a hand on her shoulder and saw her come back to life again. Her head turned and his deep blue eyes met her unfocused fire red ones. " Maud" he choked out in a whisper. She smiled at him and put her small hand on his cheek. "I am here Jonathan, I will always be here" she said in a very calm voice. King Jonathan cried out as he grabbed a hold of his friend, his love. He began to cry as she held him in her arms. After a time he stopped and looked at her lovely face her warm red eyes and he could not help himself but to kiss her right on her soft red lips. When he looked back again at her he saw the surprise in her expressive eyes and face and then the spreading blush coloring her wonderful face. "Jonathan" she stammered more then a little flushed. He grabbed her off the floor and into his arms and spun her around laughing with joy. His heart was whole again. When he put her down she smiled up at him shyly this time and said "I missed you too". He grinned from ear to ear then frowned. "Maud what happened?" he asked confused. She sighed and bade him to sit and then explained that she was still his Dragon and would always be his friend but she was also a human who had a curse put on her a very log time ago. She finally was able to break the curse but it came with a price she could not be purely human but both and the memory loss was due to his interference, the King blushed at that statement. Thank goodness she got her memory back. The King then became angry and began to yell at her "how could she do this to him, she almost lost herself, he almost lost her forever." Maud got up and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder "but you didn't did you" she whispered with a small smile. He turned to look at her, then grabbed her hand and stated " I am not ever letting you go again. Maud not ever you hear, you will be my bride." Then he got up and began to drag her to the exit of her rooms. Maud was too shocked to speak or stop him. But after she got out of her trance she halted him. "What in the world are you doing saying not ever" she yelled. "I am your Dragon and friend you cannot marry me." "Think what the people will say" she stated. The King gave her a large grin and stated "I love you Maud and I am not letting you go". His words sent her shivering with pleasure. "And the people love you". But she halted him again and got out of his grasp. "Are you sure you love me?" she asked worried. "Yes he stated with all his heart". "Do you love me Maud?" he asked in a whisper with his midnight blue eyes fastened to hers. Maud knew she did so she nodded at his question. The fear left the King then. He grabbed Maud into his arms and kissed her soundly. He loved his Dragon maiden and would finally have her. He was at peace and incredibly happy.
They married the next day with all the servants present including village people and had a whole corridor to themselves when everyone left. King Jonathan carried his wife Queen Maud into his bedroom and closed the door. Then he began to show his virgin bride just how much he loved her and missed her. And Maud in return showed her husband her love and devotion to only him.

Fin
The End!