so  long now  he had been   hers  faithfully.  since the  night she had  been  brought to him.   dragged into  the crumbling  castle walls by  two knights  from her own  palace.  believing that  the monster  that resided within  would rip her  to shreds.  he had  instead  destroyed the  men,  tearing them  limb from   limb within the  form of his dragon.   although he  was indeed  a monstrous  creature,  he would never  have harmed an  innocent.  a child of  four  no less.  heâd  brought her into his  home,  raising her  with the  affections of a  father.  &&  the firm,  steady hand  of a  brother.   he  was whomever  she needed him  to be.  their bond having  grown  in the short span of   time  that he had  been  involved with her.  keeping  her hidden  from the world,  he would venture to the  village,  in his  human form,  bringing her  clothes,  &&  books as she  grew.  keeping her  safe,  &&   without  realizing it,  falling  in love.  it was  forbidden by  his own kind.  the affections of a  dragon  towards a  human.
      although he  could take a humanâs  shame,  he was  not a human.  he  could not remain  in oneâs  form,  &&  were he  to falter  he  could end up   perishing  because of it.  so he  laid at night  as a dragon,  curled around his  princess,  &&   by day  he was  a human,  softly  nurturing her.  heâd  made a vow  long  ago that  he wouldnât  love again.  that such  a thing   was out of  the question  for a  heart so  closed,   but he  did love.  &&   he always  would.   it was  in soundless  compliance that  he came to their shared  sleeping  quarters,  his human  form still in  tact,  her request to  have a  conversation with him,  causing his  natural  curiosity  to peak  within.    â   what  do  you need,  princess  ??   is something  the matter  ??   â  he offered her  a lent ear,  settling on the  blankets,  letting his  hands rest  in his  lap,  as he  listened.