Your own father betraying you.
Being a king, he wanted an heir. A male heir. But after many years and many pregnancies, all he had to show was seven daughters. He had tried every medical and rational way to ensure a son and after all of it failedâŚhe turned to the irrational.
An old man on the side of the road had told him that a son would be born if he sacrificed something dear to him to a dragon. And what was more dear to anyone then thier firstborn child? Of course, it wasnât going to work. Your father had never cared for you at all, you were no where near dear to the man.
His incoming failure was your only comfort now.
You were already in the caves, dragged away by your fatherâs men as your mother and sisters screamed and begged for mercy. He had none, not even for his children. And in the end, you were tossed into the darkness by your own parent. If there was a dragon, you certainly hadnât seen it. You were probably going to starve to death in here, withering away in your finest dress and jewels (which King Father had insisted upon apparently), like so many of your people.
You walked through the darkness, following a strange sound you kept hearing. Even now, your curiosity was getting the better of youâŚthe closer you got, the warmer the air felt. And then you began to recognize the sound asâŚbreathing. Slow, steady breathing as though something of someone very large was sleeping. You turned the corner only to freeze in your tracks.
There in the darkness, a dragon slumbered on a pile of treasure.
His scales were a gleaming scarlet, his underside a lighter pink. Beneath him, gold and jewelry and precious gems glittered beautifully. There really was a dragon in these caves. Maybe your father would get his son after allâŚAs though he sensed your being there, the dragon woke up.
You backed away, pressing yourself against the stone wall.
âWell, well, wellâŚitâs been among time since I have had a guest. What brings you too my humble abode, little one?â
His voice was silky smooth and deep andâŚrather relaxing.
âHuman sacrifice. My father wants a son in exchange for something dear.â
âAre you that something?â The dragon asked, cocking his head.
âNo. But he wants you to think I am.â
The dragon laughed, the sound shaking the cavern.
âI like you! I do like you, little one. Your father has sent you here for something he wantsâŚwhat is something you want? What are you willing to give for it?â
You thought for a moment before removing your locket.
âMy grandmother gave this to me before she diedâŚif I gave it to you, could you protect my mother and sisters?â
You tossed the necklace into the massive pile. A flash of light blinded you and you closed your eyes tight. When you opened your eyes, you were surprised. Before you say a big bed with red sheets and a table with food.
âRest. Eat. We will speak again in the morning.â The dragon said.
ââŚThank you. Can I ask for your name?â
You ate and crawled into bed after, wondering what was going to happen to youâŚYou woke up the next morning, only to find two gold eyes staring down at you.
âGood morning, Y/N.â The dragon whispered
âGood morning, Sona.â You replied.
The table was now decorated with breakfast, which you ate as Sona walked around his treasure. You learned that he liked to do this a lot. Over the next few weeks, you watched Sona sort through his treasure over and over again. You thought of home as he did. Of your sisters and mother, you wondered if your wish had come true. And after being there for a monthâŚThe fine bed and food made you think of something else too.
âCould I ask for something? In return for another?â
Sona paused, turning to look at you.
âFor my kingdomâs people to have beds and food. They need to be taken care of betterâŚâ
âAnd what will you give?â
âThese earrings. My mother gave them to be the night I attended my first ball. They were inherited family for generations, from one eldest daughter to the next.â
The dragon seemed to almost smile at you, gold eyes gleaming.
ââŚI will take them.â
That night, you found two small chests beneath your bed, one filled with clothes (including a warm nightgown that you immediately slipped into) and books. As you looked through the novels, Sona started an odd request.
âRead to me, little one. Something sweet.â
Picking out a poetry collection, you crawled into bed and read to the dragon, blushing at a few of the moreâŚdetailed love poems. Sona loved them though and you read to him until you fell asleep. You didnât even realize that the dragon was smiling at you sweetlyâŚ
But you did notice it the next day.
Over the next few weeks, Sona became less preoccupied with his treasure. Instead, he talked more with you. You found the dragon to be quite sassy, sometimes flirty, and very smart. He loved riddles and poetry and pretty girls in almost as pretty dresses. One morning, you woke up and ate breakfast again. Sona encouraged you to wear the light gold dress, telling you how pretty you would look in the color.
âSpeaking of goldâŚdo you have another request?â He asked.
It had been a long time since you had asked of something. But you had thought about this one long and hard. You looked at the bracelets on your wrists before taking them off.
âPut someone else on the throne. Someone who doesnât ignore the needs of thier people. Someone who doesnât throw their children into the arms of death. Someone who cares.â
Sona thought for a moment.
The bracelets were placed in his pile and that night, as you picked out another novel, you found another gift waiting for you.
A tall man, with blacker then night skin and long braids cascading down his back. He was dressed in scarlet silk and adorned with gold and jewels that gleamed wonderfully. He smiled at you and you stood up, backing away from the stranger until you tripped onto Sonaâs hoard.
âWho are? You need to leave?â You demanded.
âWhy? Donât princess wait to be rescued from evil dragons? Perhaps Iâm your prince charming.â He asked in reply.
That voiceâŚthat silky voiceâŚ
âSona?â You whispered.
âIn another flesh. So you like it?â
He stepped forward and leaned low, hovering over you. Only he didnât gloat over his goldâŚinstead he stared at you, eyes gleaming.
âWhat are you doing?â You asked.
âGranting your wish. But granting one of my own as well. You may leaveâŚyou may rule over your kingdom as the rightful heir. But only ifâŚif you give me a kiss. Just one kissâŚâ
He was moving closer, eyes closed and his lips so, so close to your ownâŚ
He paused, opening his eyes. He had such long, dark lashes you noticedâŚ
âI wanted to save my first kiss for my husband.â
You removed the final piece of jewelry you had, a ruby ring.
âWill you be that man?â
Sona smiled, revealing gleaming white fangs.
âOh, I was hoping you would say that.â
He finally got that kiss, oh that wonderful kiss. None of his favorite poems could ever have described something so sweetâŚone kiss lead to another and another and so many more.
And there would be countless more to come.
A perfect ending, you both thought. A perfect fairy tale endingâŚđ¤
