Ten Drak Nevesta ch.4

"Life in the Den"

Dalek watched Meldina as she lay in his bed asleep. He was in his dragon form. His scales were black with a ruby tint, his eyes were a piercing ruby red, his claws were black and long, his tail was long and twitched constantly out of impatience, his maw was closed hiding his sharp teeth, and his head was softly placed near her. He wanted to nuzzle his sleeping bride lovingly but he would most likely frighten her. Dalek watched as Meldina opened her eyes and gasped in shock and fear. She sat up and backed as far away as she could from the dragon's head. Dalek raised his head and moved closer to her. He wasn't gigantic but he was large, much larger than her. Meldina wanted to scream but no sound came. She could only stare in fear at the dragon coming closer to her. Dalek slowly began to move his head closer to her and her eyes closed in fear. She shook and whimpered in fear as his nose lightly pressed against her cheek and he purred softly. Meldina opened her eyes and saw that the dragon wasn't going to hurt her. She was confused. "Why isn't it eating me?" her mind asked.

Then the dragon began to change. It gradually took the shape of a man and before she knew it Dalek was sitting next to her and was nuzzling her hair. "There is no reason to be afraid.." he said softly. "I will never let any harm fall upon you.." the dragon king cooed, holding his future queen close to him. No other man but him would ever lay a finger on her. He would protect her with his life. She would be locked away like a little bird to keep her safe. But it would take away her happiness and make her beautiful eyes filled with sorrow and tears. Meldina was kept locked up and away from the world for three days. Her spirit fell, she was always sad, and even her beauty began to show her sadness. Dalek noticed his bride's sadness. She would sit at the window and gaze out at the sunny meadows and the blue skies. Meldina would sigh and dream of being out in the sun. The dragon king approached his sad young bride. "Meldina why are you so sad?" he asked her. "I want to go outside and feel the sun on my skin, the breeze in my hair, and the grass under my feet.." she said solemnly. "I feel like I'm trapped in a cage." she whispered. His eyes seemed to soften as he realized that he mainly caused her sadness. "Is there a way that I can help your sadness?" he asked. "Let me go outside.." she answered. "Yes you can.. As long as I go with you.." "Can we go outside now?" Meldina asked. "Yes of course. We can ride to a meadow.." Dalek promised. "I need to be outside again or I will fall deeper into sorrow.." "Come with me.. I will take you outside." he said, taking her by the hand and leading her out of his mountain lair to the stables nearby. His black stallion snorted as it saw it's master. Dalek patted the stallion's neck. "You may pet him if you want." Dalek said as he started to saddle the horse. Meldina pet the horse's nose as he saddled the horse.

When the stallion was saddled and bridled Dalek lifted Meldina up onto his horse and mounted behind her. He took the reins in his hands and spurred the horse into a trot. They rode through the forest and her sadness melted away. She reveled in the feeling of the warm sun on her skin and the cool breeze in her hair. He noticed her sadness melt away and couldn't help but smile. She was finally happy. Dalek rode to a meadow and pulled the reins to stop the horse. "You may stay in this area only. If you run away I will punish you." he warned as he dismounted and helped her down. Meldina nodded as Dalek mounted his horse and sat in the saddle so he could keep a good eye on her. She could feel his intense gaze on her as she walked through the grass to explore the meadow. She could feel that his attention and eyes wouldn't move from her anytime soon. She tried to ignore it the best she could as she began to play. He watched his young bride frolic through the grass and flowers, truly happy to be out of her cage if only for a little while.

Dalek sat in the saddle still and his horse grew bored. The horse snorted and shook it's head before it pawed at the ground to show bored it was. The dragon king knew that the stallion was bored and wanted to run but he couldn't let Meldina out of his sight. Instead he patted the steed's neck and spoke to it calmingly. The horse still pawed at the ground and snorted to express it's boredom. Dalek let the horse walk around the meadow as he watched Meldina sit amongst the flowers. His horse wandered over to her and nosed her back with a nicker. She turned and smiled at the stallion. She pet the horse's nose and spoke to it sweetly. The horse nuzzled her face with a friendly nicker. Meldina giggled and Dalek smiled at his happy bride. She stood and hugged the horse's neck and the stallion rested it's head against her back. Dalek smiled down at her from the saddle. His horse truly like it's master's bride. She was kind and gave it attention.

"Meldina we must go home." Dalek said. Meldina looked a little dissappointed but she let him pull her into his saddle and ride away with her. She had her moment of freedom but now she had to be locked away in her cage, to await her moment to fly.