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"I just don't understand why they have to be so closed minded about it!" cried Ellissa.

The elf woman glowered as she sat on the edge of her bed, dressed in nothing more than a simple silk tunic she commonly wore to sleep in. Though more often than not, she slept in the nude. It was just more comfortable that way. Behind her sat a dragoness of pearly white and great, feathered wings. Shayna sighed and wrapped her arms around the frustrated lady.

"Some people just don't like change. They want things to stay exactly as they believe they have only ever been. Anything that departs from that norm is seen as an attack. It's heartbreaking, especially when it's something like this." the scaled lady said.

"Well I'm tired of doing everything they say I should do. I want to live my own life how I see fit. I want to do the things that interest me, go where I want to go, and even love whoever I please." Ellissa said, lowering her voice towards the end as she leaned back into her dragon's embrace.

A sad little sigh escaped Shayna once again. She nuzzled fondly into the elf's cheek then draped her large, warm, fluffy wings around her shoulders. It had been a difficult week for the elf. Accusations had come forward that she was of a different sort of appetite when it came to whose company she preferred. It struck twice as hard being that she wasn't just interested in other ladies, but that her eye had been caught by someone who wasn't even an elf.

"If you are so tired of their rules, why not just tell them as much and walk away?" Shayna asked, "If they are indeed serious about how much they claim to love you, then they should know how serious you are about the kind of person you've discovered deep inside. If they decide to accept you, then you can come back. If not, then you don't have to put up with them any longer."

"I wish it were that simple," the elf said with a sigh and closed her eyes, losing herself in the dragon's feathers, "It isn't something so easily done as said. It requires courage that I simply do not have."

"I think you do have it, you just don't realize it." the winged lady replied.

"I don't know where you see that in me. I don't feel brave in the slightest. At the first sign of conflict, I run and hide in my bedroom. If it weren't for the fact that you can fly, I'd be in here alone, sulking, trying to think of how I could just submit and keep my head down to weather this particular storm." Ellissa said.

The angelic dragoness squeezed her beloved firmly and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She wanted so very badly to help her sweet elf. Unfortunately, high born families were not terribly fond of deviating from the previously discussed established norms, especially when one deviated so very far from them. So to her family, Ellissa's preference wasn't just intolerable, it was socially destructive. There had been mention of how the family would suffer such terrible shame if she didn't marry a 'nice elf boy'. Then came the rattling off of the lists of possible suitors.

It didn't help that Shayna would occasionally tease the young lady and look through the images and 'love letters' sent by all the 'nice elf boys' wishing to court someone so uninterested. Occasionally, the dragoness would even attempt to encourage her to actually meet one of them, if only to see if her suspicions about them were right, or because she joked that perhaps one of them could be 'turned'. Shayna wasn't opposed to bringing a third into their games. Ellissa was less enthusiastic about the notion, making it all the harder for her.

It was all quite backwards, frustrating the lady and subsequently her girlfriend. They had kept it deeply secretive for as long as was possible. Now, it sounded as though there was no way of hiding it any longer. Either she would deny it and continue to hide for however much longer she could keep up appearances--which wouldn't be terribly long--or she would take the plunge and admit to her 'deviancy'.

"If you didn't have to worry about your family's judgment, what would you do?" Shayna asked.

"I don't know," Ellissa replied, "I suppose I would go traveling. Your stories make it sound so wonderful. I can just picture the two of us going from town to town, seeing other countries, immersing ourselves in different cultures, experiencing life more fully than anyone in this stuffy old palace."

'Palace' had been too strong a word, but it was used somewhat disparagingly. Her family lived well, holding residence in the nobles' quarter of the city. Of course, that came with all the social stumbling blocks she had been tripping over for years. It led her to feel like a princess being held against her will in some lofty tower.

"And I suppose if I just kidnapped you, then they would put a bounty on my head." Shayna said with a chuckle.

"Honestly, I can't imagine anything more wonderful than being kidnapped by you. We could find an old run down castle or tower somewhere far away, fix it up, then live there quite happily, shooing away all the princes, knights, suitors, and adventurers sent to 'rescue the princess'." the elf lady said with a chuckle.

"That does sound quite amusing. But I think I would prefer the traveling to being anchored to a single place for too long." Shayna replied.

The dragoness had been something of a free spirit ever since she left her homeland. It had been a less than reasonable leaving. She had gone through a scenario not unlike the one Ellissa was going through presently, though it was to a much lesser extent. She had been permitted to leave, and there had been no conflict about who she was permitted to associate with or draw into her bed. The only sticking point was that she was expected to have children, as many as possible, and very soon. Her father took that particular point very seriously.

Shayna intended to become a mother some day, but she still feared her ability to fill the role adequately. Maybe with Ellissa's help she would be able to approach the matter with less trepidation. It was ironic. Both were high born women, one elf and the other dragon. Both were well educated, possessed not insignificant power, were expected to be very long lived, and commanded a healthy degree of respect in their respective communities. And yet, they were both still weighed down by their own insecurities and fears.

"You know what I would very much like?" Ellissa asked as a grin slowly spread across her lips, "I'd love to shock my parents to their core. Maybe I'd have you kiss me in front of them, and not a chaste little peck on the cheek I've seen plenty of ladies give one another. I would show them a deep, passionate kiss, one that would wipe out any doubt as to how I feel about you, and how you feel about me. Then, in the middle of the kiss you would just get 'carried away' and swallow me up right in front of them. You'd burp, rub your belly, then waddle out with me and we'd be off to have our adventures together."

Shayna giggled quietly, running one of her paws down across her lover's trim, flat stomach. Ellissa had the form of such a delicate thing, as was what many elves wanted for themselves or their children. A very elf-like appearance was almost tied to one's status. It belied the strong, fierce woman hiding just below the surface.

"You know... if it's courage you need... I think I might have a solution for you," Shayna said, "Since you're feeling adventurous."

"Does it involve you swallowing me? If so, does it also involve making sure you get a thorough tasting on my way down?" Ellissa asked.

"Yes, and yes but only if you ask nicely." the dragoness replied, her lips pulling into a broad grin.

"You swallow me, then you waddle down to see my parents and I scream at them from in your belly? Is that your plan?" the elf asked.

"No, but you're not terribly far off." Shayna answered.

"Well, if that's the case, then would it be at all possible to convince you to permit me the chance to enjoy that other little trick of yours I'm so fond of? A little fun first, then your high elf snack?" Ellissa asked.

"I'm still learning how to do it just right, so please don't judge too harshly if I don't perform as well." the dragoness cooed.

She was still a little self conscious about the matter, but she would have moved heaven and earth to make her sweet elf happy. What she was asking was something they had done before, but only a handful of times. As she had explained, Shayna was still working on this skill, but Ellissa certainly adored the curious little practice. If that was the elf lady wanted, then Shayna didn't see any reason to deny her. She very much enjoyed hearing her beloved's voice when she did it just right.

There was much that Shayna had learned in her travels, and quite a bit she had learned from her sister. That had been part of why she and her father disagreed. No children could come from that particular union, specifically one of two females--the fact that they were sisters played no part in the conflict. Such sibling joinings were quite common where the dragoness came from. Still, Shayna held a powerful fondness for her sister and intended to find a way to change the rules somehow, find a way for them to satisfy her father's need for grandchildren. Then perhaps the old dragon would stop trying to pair_her_ with suitors just as her elf lover had been suffering. She pushed such thoughts away and focused on Ellissa. The lady was anxious for contact beyond just a simple touch or kiss. Shayna had learned a special technique from Ivory--one she was still trying to master--some years ago, and it just so happened her elf was terribly enamored with it.

With great care, the dragoness turned her lover to face her. Ellissa obeyed, already trembling in anticipation. Lips brushed past one another as fingers worked to part tunic and robe, exposing both ladies to one another. As soon as was possible, they pressed together. The air between them was forced out of the way as supple skin glided against smooth hide. The full swells of their chests gave gently as they embraced and shared a kiss. It took no time at all for fingers to begin dancing across one another's gentle curves. A gasp escaped the dragoness as Ellissa showed how eager she was by focusing her attention on one of Shayna's breasts. The elf had sampled such tenderness from other ladies in the past, but the angelic dragon in her grasp had proven far too exotic and generous in her actions for anyone else to hold a candle to her. That when combined with Shayna's deep empathy, kindly manner, and tender comfort left Ellissa helpless against the dragon's power.

Shayna cupped one paw along the elf's cheek. The other moved to the small of the pointy-eared lady's back. A subtle push just above Ellissa's hips forced her to mash just a bit harder against her lover. It was a small thing, but it was an act one might consider possessive. Shayna wanted to demonstrate her claim over the young lady in her arms, and Ellissa was all too happy to let her. While the fingers of both ladies remained otherwise busy, a new limb was slowly coiling about, preparing to make itself known. The dragon's tail--long, sleek, graceful, and slender--slipped along the surface of the bed between her knees. She let the tip oh so gently prod against Ellissa's legs until she slowly found her way to the desired crevice. Then, she slowly lifted the inquisitive tip upwards, angling it towards the elf above.

A smile began to pull on Ellissa's lips, even as she remained locked with the dragon in a slow but passionate kiss. She carefully wiggled her legs apart, then brought a hand down to her nethers. She casually stroked along the delicate folds, reveling in the heat radiating forth from them as they had already begun to glisten. As soon as Shayna's tail found its way to its target, the elf graciously helped direct it to where it was aiming. She parted herself open with two fingers just before her dragoness eased the dexterous limb into the warm embrace of her flower.

Ellissa was made to gasp by the sudden presence within her. The sharp inhale forced her to pull back from the kiss purely as a reflex action. The hand near her groin stroked slowly down along the pearly-white extremity, hoping to coax it deeper still. Shayna let an amused grin appear on her muzzle and she pressed forward. Slowly, centimeter by centimeter, the dragon eased herself into those deliciously inviting petals. She twisted her tail one way, then another, going about the whole matter rather methodically. She was in search of something rather specific. The noises her elf made were far too marvelous, suggesting that she just take her time in her little exploration. Eventually, Shayna folded her tail over on itself, giving Ellissa a slightly greater stretch. That made the elf lady's eyes open again as she tensed.

"Oooh yes... that's exactly what I've been waiting for. Don't you dare stop." the fair-skinned woman said in a breathy voice.

"Just let me know when you need to rest. I don't want to overwhelm you." Shayna replied in just as soothing a tone as she always used during such sessions.

Her tail coiled about, turning and twisting, feeling a little like a snake trying to figure out how to turn around and retreat from a dead-end. The effort was fruitful. As soon as the dragoness felt a rough patch right where she had found it before, she began to slowly and sensually assault it. The elf gasped sharply as that most tender spot was located and made use of, not far in, but tucked up and out of the way such that any man would never be able to make use of it by way of his 'usual technique'. A finger or a tongue could reach it, but not the rigid, masculine formation neither Shayna nor Ellissa possessed or had much interest in. The dragon's tail, meanwhile, was flexible enough that it could turn about and apply pressure wherever it needed to.

As the dragon found her stride, she turned her attention to adding her own pleasure to the equation. Rather than be left out, Shayna angled the dexterous limb such that she could trap a portion of it between her thighs. The grasp was not powerful, only enough to feel the slender extremity move across her own quivering petals. A satisfied thrum, low and quiet, followed as the angelic dragoness joined with her beloved in shared passion. She worked her tail about in a steady rhythm with the elf, taking care not to neglect her own needs.

Coos, cries, gasps, and pants swirled around the room as the ladies writhed against one another. It was almost too good to let it end. But they could only hold out for so long. Barely a few minutes into their shared bliss, both could feel the fatigue begin to grow in their limbs. It screamed for them to stop, but they refused. All that mattered to either of them was the passion they shared. Unfortunately, it was fast approaching its end. Shayna wanted to make Ellissa fill not just the room but the hallway beyond with her cries of elation, and the elf certainly did not object. The dragoness withdrew her tail only so far to be but the width of a couple of fingers, then plunged back in, deeper than she had been thus far.

Ellissa arched her back and slammed her hands down onto the bed. Ellissa's fingers curled as she grasped the sheets. A scream was there on her lips, ready to escape, yet the elf had not the breath. Shayna had stolen it away. The elf often called the lady her 'dragon thief'. It was an adorable nickname that had been born out of Shayna's ability to spirit the lady away to go get into mischief on a regular basis. Now, she was spiriting away Ellissa's ability to breathe.

The angelic dragoness twisted her tail about within the delicate folds of her lover's flower, pumping smoothly into the moist flesh. She slowly pressed deeper and harder, taking care to listen to her beloved for any sign of pain or discomfort. None came. Instead, the elf rolled her hips forward against the intruding limb. She wanted more, to the point she lifted her legs and one after the other wrapped them around Shayna's waist. The dragoness provided without hesitation. Each plunge saw her press onward even further, right up until she felt the barrier at the far end of the elf's tunnel give way. Her tail slipped through, giving Ellissa's belly a gentle swell. It also forced air back into her lungs so that she could squeeze it back out in a mighty shriek.

The sound did indeed reach well past the walls of the bedroom and into the hall beyond. A few passers-by slowed and peered at Ellissa's door in concern. It wasn't that they thought she was in danger or that something malicious was happening. It wasn't the first time such a noise had been made. They were worried that she might have found her limit and gone just past it. The elf writhed about hard on the bed, trying to press against Shayna's tail as best she could. She was in the throes of an intense climax, clamping down firmly on the intruding limb, and yet she was eager to take more. The lady was insatiable.

Slowly, the peak began to wane and Ellissa was able to find her breath once more, taking it in deep, loud gasps at first. Shayna slowly relaxed herself down on top of the elf, wrapping her arms and wings about the poor, exhausted lady. The mental strain of controlling her tail in such a way had left her slightly worn out as well.

"I think that's a new record. That had to be almost half the entire thing." Shayna said.

"Yeah... it... it was incredible... I... I kinda wanna see... if I can fit it all in." Ellissa huffed through her pants.

"Soon enough, dear. Soon enough," the dragoness cooed, "Now, do you think you're ready to disappear for a little while?"

"Absolutely. I'm ready to feel you all around me." the elf replied, slowly recovering her composure, but unable to help but grin like a fool.

---

Shayna thrummed low in her throat as she nuzzled against Ellissa's cheek, tracing her fingers across the elf's smooth skin. This was often how their evenings ended, the elf diving into the dragoness and staying there until the next morning. At least half of those times, Shayna wouldn't swallow her beloved but draw her into a far more intimate place. That was the angelic lady's favorite method. Tonight, Ellissa wanted to feed her dragoness. It had the added bonus of being tasted so very thoroughly. Shayna looked forward to that quite a bit herself.

"How does my scrumptious elf want to be eaten? Head first? Feet first? Or shall we try that tricky method of bending you in half again?" Shayna asked with a hungry look in her eyes, "I've been working on stretching my jaw so I don't strain anything."

Ellissa giggled as she recalled the last time they attempted the most difficult of the three. It was tempting, but she elected for a different choice.

"As much fun as it was getting eaten ass-first, I think I'd like to feel you creep up from below and see the world from in your jaws just before it all goes dark," the elf replied with a similar sparkle in her eyes, "It will let you savor me for longer, and I know you just love taking your time."

"True. One cannot rush such a fine delicacy as you. Very well, roll onto your stomach for me, dearest." the dragoness said.

The elf leaned up to give her beloved another kiss. It was brief but strong; a sort of gesture of consent, trust, and excitement. As soon as it was broken, Shayna rolled off Ellissa to permit her to 'assume the position'. The elf rolled the other direction in spite of the temptation to give chase and pin her dragon on her back. That would be counterproductive, but certainly a pleasing distraction. Ellissa had something better waiting for her, so she pressed her chest into the gloriously soft sheets, rather than against her lover's comforting bosom. Her supple, sun-kissed skin glistened in the candlelight, giving her slender yet gently curved frame a warm glow. It was highly inappropriate for an elf of her standing to have a complexion that suggested such lengthy exposure, but Ellissa didn't care. She preferred it to looking as though she were made of porcelain. Shayna found the warm tone terribly alluring as well.

The dragoness ran one of her paws along one of the elf's arms, tracing her way down across Ellissa's shoulder, then down her spine. It elicited a quiet coo from the woman. As soon as Shayna reached the small of the elf's back, she lifted her palm, letting only the tips of her fingers brush across the warm skin, right up until she reached her lover's full buttocks. There, the dragoness lingered for a moment. She cupped her palm against the plump shape she found there. For one as slim as Ellissa, it was a fairly generous swell, a comfortable handful to say the least. The angelic lady massaged the elf's supple cheek gently. She adored every curve the woman possessed, aching to learn every single part of her so perfectly she could sculpt her from memory.

The elf lifted her rump and pressed into the appreciative palm, wanting to encourage a lengthier study. One firm-yet-gentle squeeze brought out another hum of delight from the woman, pleasing the dragoness. Much as Shayna wanted to linger there, she pressed on. The elf's thighs followed after, firm and strong. If Ellissa's family had known how often she went running through the fields and forests after being stolen away by her dragon, they would have locked her in her room until she lost the strength and stamina such excessive exertion had given her. Thankfully, a locked door was little concern to a creature that could fly. Shayna would still spirit her away whenever possible.

The dragon's fingers traced down over those legs, passing to Ellissa's calves. A soft breath of a sigh slipped from Shayna's lips as she drank in the whole of her lover's form. She could scarcely put into words how desperately she loved the young lady laid bare before her. And here that beautiful creature was offering herself up to be consumed. There was something precious about the elf that the dragoness could not articulate. She felt a powerful need to be near her, to feel her skin pressed against her hide, to know that no one else could possess her. She could not stand the idea of being separated from the heavenly woman laying before her. It inspired certain thoughts in Shayna, thoughts she tried so hard to push away knowing that to speak them aloud would only end poorly. She leaned down and pressed her nose to the small of the elf's back and kissed her ever so gently before letting out a quiet whisper.

"No one will take you away from me. You will be mine and no one else's... at least for the night." Shayna said.

The words were so very soft. She wasn't sure that Ellissa had heard them. Her breath along the elf's skin had certainly made an impact. It brought a gentle shudder up her spine and made her giggle. The young lady kicked her legs gently and wiggled her toes as the tickling warmth of the dragon's breath washed over her. That writhing only stirred the angelic lady's hunger further. She needed to take Ellissa into herself, to consume her so that she could claim her.

Shayna moved down along her lover's beautiful form until she sat on the bed just at the woman's feet. Still wearing a simple, elegant robe, the dragoness reached down to unfasten the loosely-knotted tie dangling about her waist. It had done little to keep her garment closed, but then she wanted to give the elf access to her earlier. Now, she wanted it leave it completely open. It might still close once this was all said and done, but she didn't want any discomfort to get in the way of such a wonderful moment. With that preparation out of the way, the dragoness reached down with both paws and lifted the elf's feet from the bed.

Ellissa bent her knees to point her toes towards the angelic lady's muzzle. She fought to keep still, wanting to wiggle in anticipation. This had been such a marvelous form of intimacy to share between them ever since Shayna explained it to her. Those first moments were always the most frustrating, waiting for her dragon to start to swallow her. Never had she feared being brought to harm. She trusted her beloved utterly and completely. The elf sighed and relaxed visibly the very instant the warm breath that had washed over the small of her back kissed at the soles of her feet. A slick, wet tongue slowly slid across the woman's skin, taking care not to tickle but rather to inspire a deep soothing wave that would roll up over the elf. It worked just as it did every time.

Shayna opened her mouth wide and carefully drew her lover's feet in, letting them rest on her tongue as she felt up along the lady's calves. It was an act of more than just seeking a better grasp. She kneaded across the firm, toned shapes to further ease her elf. A quiet sigh spilled out of Ellissa as she lay there, her head turned to one side and her eyes closed. Her hands were folded neatly underneath the pillow her cheek rest atop. She looked so serene. Part of what was happening broke Shayna's heart. She didn't want to disturb the lady when she appeared to be so comfortable. But she knew the coming resting place waiting for her would be far more desirable. The first swallow came in that moment, born out of a longing to give the elf what she sought.

Warm, slick flesh squeezed and pulsed around Ellissa's feet and ankles. The dragon's throat gripped her quite well, even going so far as try and tug her deeper still. The urge to gulp claimed Shayna and she did not make any attempt to suppress it. Instead, she allowed short, brief pulls so that she could maintain some degree of control over the pace. Oh so gradually, the dragon worked her way up over the elf's calves, running her tongue across them appreciatively. The sigh above gave way to a giddy coo. As soon as Shayna reached her lover's knees, she noticed that Ellissa had moved one of her hands down to the already well-moistened crevice previously explored by the dragon's tail. She plunged her fingers into her own petals and began to slowly swirl them about. That naughty elf was trying to jump ahead.

Shayna reached forward with one of her paws and cupped her palm over Ellissa's, holding it there so that the elf could not make too much progress without her. It made the lady giggle and she shifted her legs about. The movement was an attempt to rub her thighs together. Clearly she was aroused, aching for something more than she could get at that moment. Only minutes after a powerfully satisfying session with her dragoness and she was already stoking the fires again. Ellissa was insatiable, and the angelic lady found that to be quite the appealing attribute. It meant she had someone who shared her own proclivities towards a very passionate private life.

Another swallow brought Ellissa's knees into the dragon's jaws. She could feel the tips of Shayna's teeth rake just ever so softly across her skin. Never had she ever worried about the damage those beautiful, sharp, and possibly deadly fangs could inflict on her. She never felt any safer than when she was with her dragon, especially when she was being made to fill that dragon's belly. Shayna sealed her lips around the elf's legs and suckled away, slathering her tongue across the tanned flesh offered to her. The mighty thrum in her throat translated up through Ellissa's thighs, making her shudder. That rumbling purr would soon be wrapped all around her hips. Knowing that, the elf used her free arm to actually push herself along the surface of the bed, aiming to slide herself deeper down the dragon's throat.

The act did not go unnoticed. Shayna relaxed her gullet around the elf as she was made to engulf more of her, this time at Ellissa's behest. It wasn't uncommon for the young lady to practically climb down the dragon's throat, or up between her legs. Such enthusiasm was always appreciated, even found to be terribly endearing. It meant the woman desired to be as close to her dragon as possible. Shayna was going to make sure her beautiful elf would have what she wanted. The next swallow was a large one, aided by Ellissa's eager pushes. It sank her in up to her hips just as she had hoped it would. Her shapely bottom pressed against the roof of Shayna's mouth, letting her glistening, thoroughly-soaked petals land directly atop the dragon's tongue. That was right where she belonged, the elf thought to herself.

The hand that had been teasing those folds earlier withdrew. Instead, it shifted to cup against the underside of the angelic lady's chin. Ellissa caressed along her lover's muzzle, even moving down to stroke across Shayna's throat. She could feel the swell of her form in the dragon's neck. That excited her terribly, prompting her to begin rocking forward against the inquisitive organ now within easy reach of the same tunnel previously occupied by a different limb. Shayna did not disappoint, not in the least. She knew her elf terribly well, so well in fact that she knew how to draw out the moment and make it last for a gloriously long time. Even with half of the woman in her throat, the dragon was not about to get greedy and bolt her down.

The coos and hums from before morphed and grew into moans and cries. They were soft and delicate, in keeping with Shayna's initial efforts. She took great care to not get too carried away, but rather work her elf up to a slow, gradual escalation, then release the tension at just the right moment. Ellissa welcomed the expert attention. She would have spread her legs for the dragoness, but she found herself delightfully trapped in her grasp. It didn't stop the angelic beast from ravishing her oh so slowly and tenderly. Honey began to flow freely, prompting the dragon to lower her head until she was laying on the bed. She moved a paw to her abdomen where she could feel the elf's feet under her hide. There was already a visible lump in her otherwise trim figure. She could feel Ellissa's kicks and squirms, the wiggling of her toes, and the efforts to try and spread herself open for the invading tongue.

It was threatening to bring a very ancient predator instinct to the surface, but Shayna fought it off with practiced skill. She closed her eyes and simply purred all the louder. She let that trembling rumble do the rest of the work that her tongue might be unable to accomplish. There was only so much that could be done when Ellissa wasn't able to part her thighs any wider than the breadth of a finger or two. Fortunately, the vibration was more than enough. A hearty cry filled the room as the elf was made to shiver. A warm splash filled Shayna's mouth as she brought her lover to the first, gentlest, and shortest of the series of climaxes that awaited her. Before it could properly wane, the dragon pressed onward, trying to delve deeper into her elf.

Just as was true for Shayna's tail, her tongue was rather agile. It twirled about within Ellissa's quivering petals. The half-eaten lady brought both hands to her lover's mouth as if to try and push herself out of those hungry jaws. Shayna knew better than to think her elf was having second thoughts. She was just trying to anchor herself so that she wouldn't slide any deeper until she was good and ready. Why waste a perfectly good opportunity to indulge? The dragon was patient. She could wait for her own satisfaction. Hearing and feeling the elf's delight provided no small amount of gratification. Though there were urges to contend with.

Driven to do so by her primal instincts, Shayna lifted her head. It took a degree of effort that would have been beyond most others to lift so much weight, but that was in fact part of the drive. The dragoness was putting on display the strength she commanded. Ellissa gasped as she was moved so easily. She lived for that moment, being reminded of the fact that this creature she adored was an apex predator. She was incredibly gentle and kind, but given enough reason, she could take what she wanted without fear of reprisal, and virtually no power could stop her. The elf groaned and melted into the dragon's grasp. The higher she was lifted, the more gravity pulled her into the hot, damp gullet below. It brought her weight fully onto Shayna's tongue, sinking the snaking thing as far as it could reach between her legs.

A new cry filled the room as the dragon traced across the elf's silken canal, caressing and tasting every fold, every crevice within reach. Shayna wrapped her arms around her abdomen, squeezing the visible presence of her lover's legs beneath those opalescent scales. The effort provided Ellissa something more solid to stand on inside the snowy-hued beast. It meant she wouldn't sink any further, even if her arms gave out as the dragoness lavished her in oral delight. And that she certainly did with reckless abandon. Now that Shayna had her elf right where she wanted her, unable to escape, unable to fall away, she drove home and gave the woman a new reason to be suddenly without breath.

The tongue between Ellissa's legs was something she simply could not escape, nor did she want to. She even began to gently bend and straighten her knees. The result she sought was to--in a sense--'ride' her dragon's tongue. It was terribly effective. It was a well-practiced skill between the two of them after all. The bronze-skinned woman continued to pump up and down within her beloved's throat, rising faster and faster towards the next orgasm. Shayna intended no delay, flexing the fleshy organ about within her elf's womanhood, drawing away every drop of nectar she could reach.

When at last the dragoness decided it was time to make the lady scream the loudest she could, she angled her tongue and pressed against the 'front' of Ellissa's canal. There, near the entrance the angelic creature had been sampling so greedily, could be found the most tender spot within the whole of her luscious form. Shayna assaulted it mercilessly. With so much more discerning a tool than her tail, she was able to feel the subtle change in texture of flesh and focus her efforts that much tighter. A gasp--deep, powerful, and involuntary--claimed Ellissa. She threw her head back as her whole form went rigid. Her eyes bulged as her lips parted wider and wider until finally her voice came erupting forth. The shriek echoed through the room and out into the hall. Her walls caved in on Shayna's tongue in a powerful contraction. It was as if her body refused to let the loving organ escape.

A series of gentle convulsions raced up through the elf. She could scarcely contain herself. She twitched and squirmed as she practically screamed herself hoarse. The splash of honey that had come from her previous climax had been generous enough, but now it was put to shame by the great flood pouring into Shayna's maw. And then, just as quickly as the storm began, it ended. Ellissa fell limp in the dragon's jaws, huffing powerfully for breath. The angelic creature withdrew her tongue from those tender petals, doing so slowly so as to not jar the overwhelmed woman. One last affectionate lap along the smooth lips came before the dragoness swallowed once more. Ellissa's stomach slipped easily down Shayna's throat. Shayna took care to gently guide her lover's hands in so they would be wrapped up in the warm, inviting embrace that waited to claim all of her.

Another swallow pulled the elf's chest into the dragon's jaws. There, Shayna paused once more to lap softly across the supple swell of her bosom. It was a tender, delicate treat for her. She only regretted not being able to give them more attention, even when she was given all night to do with her elf as she might. No stretch of time was enough to worship Ellissa's breasts, Shayna thought. They were wondrous and precious, just like the rest of her. She had to seal them away to protect them, to claim them, to ensure that there would be no chance another could do harm to them, to Ellissa, to the elf she treasured. Every dragon had a hoard. Shayna was no exception. She had some great stash of precious gems and metals and one would be forgiven for consider such a cache to be what she prized most. But the dragoness did not value such wealth nearly as much as the woman in her mouth. The degree to which she coveted her elf couldn't be rivaled. Ellissa was her hoard, and she would guard her jealously.

The elf's head was drawn steadily into the dragon's maw. Just as she had asked, Ellissa saw the world outside framed by her beloved's jaws, her chin resting on Shayna's tongue, that glorious, pleasure-giving tongue. She wanted to kiss it. Slowly, she was pulled down further. The open jaws slipped away as pink flesh squeezed in around her, pinching off her vision of the world outside her dragon. Darkness claimed her and she sighed. The gurgling chamber that waited to house her stretched and growled around her as she slipped in. The sound of her beloved's racing heartbeat pounded away in her ears. It was a sound she knew all too well and found great comfort in. The elf sighed once more as she curled up around herself, finding her dragon's belly to be just as accommodating and kind as the rest of her, just as it always was.

Shayna closed her jaws and breathed out slowly through her nostrils. She ran her tongue across her lips, savoring the last hints of her elf's taste. Ellissa was truly divine. It was practically criminal to the dragon that she didn't get to taste her more often, but such was the way of a world so wrapped up in backward ideas like the demonization of sex. She ran a paw across her swollen stomach, feeling the young lady hidden inside it only barely shift about at all. She really had worn the poor elf out. Shayna chuckled and gazed down at her belly lovingly, unable to imagine a better way to spend the evening. Ellissa was right where she belonged. The elf was in her dragon, and all was right with the world.

"Thank you for dinner. You were delicious as always, dear." Shayna said.

"I... hoo... I can't... I feel dizzy." Ellissa replied.

"I'm sorry, love. I suppose I got a little carried away." the dragoness said apologetically.

"Don't you dare say you're sorry. That was incredible," the elf shot back quickly, "I'm just sorry I won't be able to feel it again for a while. Wow."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, then. Now, rest. We've both had a rather exciting evening." Shayna said, keeping her voice in a soft, soothing tone.

She could not help herself as she caressed her tummy. She felt a powerful motherly compulsion to continue rubbing over the elf she had devoured. They would remain together in such a fashion for the rest of the night, which would be terribly satisfying, but there was something more tugging on the edge of Shayna's mind. She had let the notion bubble up in her earlier, but now, she could actually devote attention to it. It was a pretty thought, one that she wanted so very badly to dive headlong into, but it required the agreement of her lover, and Ellissa was in no condition to hold a conversation.

Since the dragoness was not interested in wasting time waiting until the elf was of clear enough mind again to discuss it, Shayna simply laid down and curled herself around her belly. She had another way to bring the motion to the table between the two of them, and it didn't require waiting until morning, as would likely be the case otherwise. She would have to let Ellissa recover, then climb out of her, then they would likely have to contend with the dealings of her family. They wouldn't get a chance to speak on the matter until the next evening. That was unacceptable.

The dragon's greed--something she was quite skilled at keeping deep under control--was allowed to leak out a little, just this once. It was in service to furthering their happiness and their time together. So even though Shayna knew it likely wasn't so easily rationalized, she allowed herself this one small slip. She would make up for it later. And besides, Ellissa loved it when she played the part of the big, mean, greedy dragon. She might absolutely love what Shayna had in mind.

Sleep claimed both ladies, comforted by one another in so intimate an embrace. A soft gurgle drifted lazily through the room as a new course of action was permitted to be followed. Either this would work out how Shayna wanted, or it wouldn't. At least she had a means of finding their way back up that road. She hoped it would not be needed.

---

The night was rather quiet. No one came to knock on Ellissa's door, even in spite of all the noise that came from her room. That had been terribly fortunate. If someone had barged in on the two while they were in the middle of their fun, it would have caused a scandal. If they had been interrupted while Shayna was in the middle of devouring her elf, that would have been cause enough to break out the weapons and try to carve Ellissa out of her. As the hours passed, the swell the elf made in her dragon's middle shrank, flattening out completely as Shayna slept. That had been by design. It wasn't what Ellissa had requested. She usually preferred to wake up right where she had fallen asleep then climb her way back out. The dragoness had other plans tonight. And those plans involved the two of them waking up somewhere very different than the elf was used to.

When Ellissa finally stirred from sleep, she found herself not in the dark, cradling embrace of her lover's stomach but rather a bed that was far more luxurious and spacious than the one she called her own. It was covered in the softest linens and a small nest of pillows, each of which offered the absolute best place to lay her head other than Shayna's chest. She was alone in a dimly lit bedroom, given only a few candles to provide any illumination. What of the room she could make out appeared to be very old world, even older than her own home. The decor was mostly wood and finely carved stone, showing intricate knotted designs wherever they could be fit. There was a certain cozy feel to the chamber, but being alone only disturbed the elf.

The lady hopped off the bed to find that she felt terribly small standing next to it. She was also completely naked. A gentle draft blew across not only her feet but her entire lower half. It made her shiver and wrap her arms around herself. Whatever this place was, it was beginning to make her uncomfortable on several levels. And yet, she had no clue at all where she might be. That needed to be remedied. Ellissa walked her way over to what looked like a window hidden behind a set of thick, heavy drapes. The material was finely crafted and covered in embroidery similarly intricate to the wood and stone carvings. It had worked into the design some sort of family crest or sigil that she didn't recognize, but it looked terribly important, akin to royalty. Carefully, the elf pushed the drapes open and peered out the tall, gothic-style window.

Outside was a sight Ellissa had not expected to see. She was up in the mountains, each peak capped heavily in snow. A vast, dark forest blanketed the valley between the craggy spires, suggesting she was very close to the north pole. How she got here in the space of a single night she could not begin to fathom, nor could she believe the display of light and color in the sky above as it danced through the cloudless atmosphere. Ribbons of blue, green, and purple shimmered and waved about amidst a deep, dark void of inky black flecked with the brightest, most luminous stars Ellissa had ever seen before. How it was that such a place could exist startled her.

"Where in the name of the gods am I?" the elf asked aloud in a quiet, awed voice.

As she stood there before the window, gazing out in wonder at the cold, alien landscape, a strange sense of comfort slowly crept up over her. Somehow, she knew where she was, though she couldn't put words to the idea. All the earlier disquieting sense of confusion and smallness faded away. She couldn't think of why she had been upset before. Now, she just wanted to explore this fantastical place. Strangely, she didn't seem bothered by the fact that she was naked anymore, except for the fact that she was still somewhat chilly. That was the only remaining issue she took with her current state. The view outside certainly explained the why to the draft, rather than some dark, mysterious, supernatural force.

Ellissa stepped away from the window and collected a small candelabra, though it was only small in comparison to the others available to her. She took great care in trying to light it by way of the already burning candles. It wouldn't do to accidentally set fire to this marvelous, palatial residence. With light in hand, she began looking about the room more closely. There were heavy wooden furnishings, many of which appeared to house not clothing but large, thick tomes bound in leather or some other rich, smooth hide. The language appeared to be terribly foreign. Whoever these books belonged to certainly spoke a radically different tongue than she did.

The brief exploration was cut short when a noise from outside the room caught the elf's attention. It wasn't anything surprising or alarming. It sounded like a person was shuffling about in another room, moving something around. Perhaps more books of the same scale and age. That was enough to prompt Ellissa to press deeper out of curiosity. Without bothering to locate anything to clothe herself with, the elf tugged on the enormous, massive door that had stood only ever so slightly ajar. A light had shined in through that crack, suggesting there was greater illumination beyond. When she managed to get the door open--which had been easier than she expected given her relative size to the massive scale of this place--her vision was suddenly washed out by the relatively brilliant light from outside the bedchamber.

When Ellissa's eyes finally adjusted to the new illumination, she stared in utter wonder all over again. The room beyond was a grand, circular, domed chamber. Lining the walls were book cases that intruded inward towards the center by several meters, leaving a complete, unbroken, circular walkway around the entire perimeter. She was on the highest of three floors, it and the one beneath only running as a circle around the room, leaving the center completely open. It was a private library of remarkable scale, far larger than any private cache of literature the elf had ever seen. The number of books this library could hold had to be in the hundreds of thousands, perhaps more. Just as was true in the bedroom, every surface that was made of wood was covered in intricate carvings. Anything stone or metal was decorated in similar fashion, but made to set it apart yet compliment.

Above, the ceiling of the dome appeared to be there, and yet not there at the same time. Ellissa could see all the expected structure meant to hold up a building of such a shape. The curious thing was they also appeared to not be there, as though the whole structure was invisible. There was some sort of powerful illusion in place that made stone, wood, and metal as transparent as glass, giving all within the dome a spectacular view of the night sky above and the heavenly aurorae shimmering silently among the stars. That alone would have been enough to capture the woman's attention and hold it there permanently, but the library held so much more she had to take in.

On the floor below, taking up the vast, open center of the room, stood several wooden tables, each one covered in papers, books, and scrolls. It appeared as though someone was busy conducting a great deal of research. There was even a potion mixing station complete with flasks filled with solutions of various colors. Another table held a number of artifacts that looked terribly important, housed in glass bell dome cloches. Everywhere Ellissa looked, she found something new to marvel at as she stepped forward to lean against and peer out between the balusters holding aloft the railing she was too short to see over. Even those were sculpted by someone of remarkable skill. What amazed and confused the elf the most was what stood in the center of the floor.

There, taking up not an insignificant amount of space, in the middle of the great domed room stood a grand hearth. The stone had been carved into all sorts of figures, all of them various shapes of dragon. That told her this was most certainly some sort of inner sanctum belonging to Shayna. A grand, inviting fire roared away in the hearth, showing that it was open through to the other side, and in fact was open on four sides. The puzzling thing was there was no smoke, and no chimney carrying it away. It was nothing more than a large stone block carved into an intricate shape where a fire blazed away but produced no smoke. As Ellissa stared almost hypnotized by it, a figure walked out from behind it carrying one of the many large books in one arm while their other paw held a quill. It was Shayna, and she was scribbling away into the tome she held.

The dragoness paused, then looked up directly at the elf. She hadn't made any sound to alert the angelic lady to her presence. Shayna had simply sensed her somehow. She was naked just as the short wonder-struck woman was, and did not seem bothered at all by the fact.

"Oh, good. You're awake. I was wondering how long you would be asleep. Please, come down. I've quite a lot to show you." the dragoness said in a gentle voice that seemed to fill the entire chamber.

"O-okay..." Ellissa replied in a shaky tone.

In spite of all the splendors around her, the elf now could only gawk at her dragon. Shayna was enormous, easily more than twice her original height. Though nothing else had much changed about her, the angelic lady seemed so much grander and glorious than Ellissa remembered. She set the candelabra down on a nearby end table, then found a means of climbing down. The stairs were a bit much for her, so she had to traverse them with great care. As soon as she reached the bottom floor, her feet fell on a plush carpet that helped make the draft less unpleasant, and she made her way over to the exceedingly tall dragoness.

"I'm sure you have a great many questions." Shayna said.

"Yeah, you could say that." the elf replied in quiet astonishment.

The dragoness closed the enormous book she was holding, easily big enough such that if it was stood upright, it would come up to Ellissa's waist. She set it aside along with the quill she had been using and turned to focus her attention entirely on the young elf lady looking up at her with stars in her eyes.

"I have a confession to make," Shayna said with an uneasy expression, "Actually, I have a few confessions to make, but we'll start with the most relevant. I understand you have particular feelings about what happens after you've been eaten, or otherwise consumed. It's why I always honor your request to wake up right where you were when you fell asleep. However, this time, I decided to ignore that request. I digested you while we both slept."

Ellissa blinked softly a couple of times as she tried to come to grips with that particular revelation. It was no small thing to admit to, and it certainly raised a number of other questions.

"You did what?" the elf asked, fighting to keep her voice even in spite of her incredulity.

"I digested you. It happened while we both slept. In fact, we're both still asleep right now. I did this because I wanted to bring you here, to a place that precious few others have been permitted to see. This is a sort of internal landscape I've crafted for others to visit once I consume them. This is my private library. I wanted to share it with you." Shayna explained.

"I'm sorry... you have a library inside you? And the only way to get to it is to get eaten and digested by you?" Ellissa asked.

"It's a little more abstract than simply 'I have a library inside me', but that's a close enough approximation. This is a replica of a place that does exist in reality. I'm sure the real version has been changed since last I visited it, and I'm sure I've added to this version enough to make it different from the real one. Think of it as walking around inside my memory of the place." the dragon answered.

"I'm in your memory? How is this possible? This is far beyond anything I've ever heard to be possible." the elf said, still feeling oddly calm.

It frustrated her somewhat. She wanted to be angry, or excited, or unbelievably anxious. One didn't simply learn one had been digested and then not have any sort of emotional reaction to it. She could feel the reaction inside her, but it was so small and unable to make its way to the surface. She could force it up and out, but she found she didn't want to. There had to be an explanation.

"In a sense, that's one way to look at it. This is a very specific memory, of a very specific place that is very important to me. Right now, I'm still asleep in your bed in your room. For me, I'm in a dream-like state. For you, I've bound your soul to this place for the time being. I promise, you will not die or pass on to the afterlife. I won't let anything bad happen to you, I swear it." Shayna said, quickly adding the assurance she realized she should have made far earlier.

"My... soul... is bound to this place," Ellissa echoed, "Does that mean I'm trapped here? Don't get me wrong. I could think of far worse places to spend eternity. It's just... I'd really like to know."

"No. You aren't a prisoner. You're a guest. I brought you here because you are terribly important to me. I wanted to share more of who and what I am with you. You sounded so unhappy earlier in the evening. All the pressures and strain from your family had left you so angry and frustrated. You spoke as though you believed yourself to be trapped, with no way to convince them that you should be allowed to pursue a life of your own choosing. I couldn't stand to see you in such pain, so I decided to bring you here, a place where we could talk openly about whatever you might want to discuss. Time is of no consequence here. We could spend days, even weeks, perhaps even months if I'm careful, and only a single night will have passed in the waking world." Shayna explained.

"That is incredibly fascinating and I would love nothing more than to sit down and discuss this idea of spending days--or even months--in a place like this all compressed down into a single night, but I'm afraid I have to hear it first. I need you to tell me yourself; if I am not going to die, and I'm not a prisoner here, how can I leave?" Ellissa asked, able to push a strong note of earnestness into her voice.

"Yes... leaving. About that," Shayna said then turned to walk towards a large pile of cushions resting just in front of the enormous hearth, "Come sit with me. You must be cold. Let me help you keep warm. I'll answer all your questions."

The elf followed without hesitation. As soon as the large dragoness was seated, she moved to lay down on her side, beckoning her lover to seek comfort against her. Ellissa took a seat directly in front of the large angelic woman and leaned in against her. The dragon's hide was warm and soft, and very shortly after the elf was situated against her, those glorious fluffy wings wrapped around her, concealing her almost completely in their loving embrace.

"I don't know why you're so much bigger than you are out in the real world, but I have to say, I rather like this. I feel small, but I don't mind it." Ellissa said.

"The answers are coming," Shayna said gently, "First, leaving. As I said, I digested you. That means I've completely absorbed your body. You are quite literally part of me now. To permit you to leave, I would need to restore your body and return your soul to it. This isn't difficult, but it means you would wake up in my womb rather than my stomach. I would essentially give birth to you and you would be no worse for the wear. I could have you back out by morning and no one would be the wiser, save us."

"That sounds all fairly simple and straightforward. Why did you seem so hesitant to tell me?" the elf asked.

"Because... I was hoping... perhaps... you might be interested in staying with me." the dragon answered quietly, her cheeks tinged pink.

"What, stay here? In this library of yours? Forever?" Ellissa replied, feeling slightly concerned at the prospect that perhaps Shayna wasn't interested in letting her go.

"No, not forever, just... for a while. You're so unhappy with your family pushing you to live a life you don't want. I just... I wanted to shield you from it, to give you a way to leave it behind. This was how I had hoped to make that happen." the dragoness said.

"Shayna," the elf said quietly, feeling like she had to scold a small child, "That is terribly sweet of you, wanting to give me a life of my choosing, but I can't accept. I have to do what my family expects of me. I can't tell them no."

"Why not?" Shayna asked, "In all seriousness, what is stopping you from going downstairs tomorrow morning, looking your family square in the eye, and telling your parents and siblings that you aren't interested in just doing what you're told to do for the rest of your life?"

"Well, for one thing, my dragon girlfriend ate me, digested me, and imprisoned me in her magic belly library." Ellissa answered, trying to joke with the large woman she was pressed in against.

All it did was make Shayna feel worse for having done it without permission. She averted her gaze, blushed harder, and tried not to look too hurt by the comment.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly.

"Oh... Shayna... I'm not angry," the elf said, then caught herself, "Okay, maybe I am a_little_ angry, but I'll get over it. And only because you didn't run all of this by me first. I might have agreed and been completely on board if you had explained it first. But no, you just had to go be a greedy dragon. My greedy dragon."

Ellissa pressed herself in against the larger woman's form as firmly as she could. She reached out with her arms to stretch as far around the grand figure as she could possibly reach, making sure her beloved beast knew just how dear she was to the elf.

"You still haven't answered my question. What's stopping you?" Shayna asked again.

It forced the elf to sigh and relax her grasp. She slumped into a slouched posture, her head sticking out of her dragon's wings, turned to face the mystical flames that needed no chimney.

"If I'm honest, I'm scared. I'm completely terrified of them. If I went against what they have planned for me, I would probably be out on the street, disowned, my name and title stripped from me. I would be cut off without a single coin to my name. I'll admit that does hold a certain appeal, but I've never had to live without the wealth and security my family gives me. I don't think I'm strong enough to survive without them." Ellissa said.

"You'd have me with you." Shayna added quietly.

That made the elf pause. She turned to look back up at the dragoness smiling hopefully down at her. The very idea of having Shayna by her side during such a trying time made her heart flutter.

"You'd be willing to take care of a completely helpless grown-up child who has never had to do anything herself throughout her whole life?" Ellissa asked, trying to joke once again.

"That's what I've been doing, isn't it?" Shayna fired back with a grin.

"Well don't_you_ have a bloody cheek?" Ellissa asked with a laugh.

The dragoness offered a giggle in response, pleased that the tension from earlier had eased down and they could be more relaxed with each other, enough to joke.

"All joking aside, you wouldn't be alone. I would be with you every step of the way. I didn't bring you here just to try and show off how greedy I can be. I said this place is important to me. I don't share it with just anyone. You're the first person I've brought here in a very, very long time. If you do decide to confront your family and make a bid for your freedom, and they decide to throw you out and disown you, I will be by your side. I'll be with you when you tell them to let you do as you please. I'll be with you should they throw you out. I'll even be with you on the street, fending for yourself." Shayna explained.

It gave the elf reason to remain silent and nestle down in her lover's embrace. She felt so comfortable and secure there. It was strange how much stronger that feeling was here in this strange, wonderful place than it had been back in her bedroom, which prompted her questions to return. They would get asked soon enough, but the damned beautiful dragon was trying to get her to commit to a course of action.

"I'm... still not sure. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, even if I have you with me." Ellissa said.

"Take however long you might need to decide. We have as much as you might need," Shayna said, "Just... try not to take more than a few months. After that, it makes it difficult to leave."

"Wait, why does it make it difficult?" the elf asked.

The dragoness sighed and decided she should start detailing some of the more important aspects of the library. If Ellissa was going to be as important a part of her life as she had suggested, then it was only fair that she be as much of an open book to the elf as she could be.

"As I said, your soul is bound to this place, and this place is a part of me. That means your soul is bound to me. The longer you stay, the stronger that binding becomes. If you stay too long, our souls will merge and I will never be able to remove you from my being. There are ways to ensure that doesn't happen, but they can only be done while we are separate. I would have taken such a precaution earlier, but it's a fairly lengthy and involved process and I wasn't sure how you would feel about all of this." Shayna said.

"I could end up permanently bound to you? So then I would be a prisoner?" Ellissa asked, sounding intrigued yet concerned.

"In a sense, yes. You would be a prisoner. However, I could arrange for you to see through my eyes, experience the world through me as if you were living all of it yourself. Then, when I sleep, we would both return here and appear as separate beings," the dragoness answered, "Please believe me when I say this is not the path I intended for us."

Ellissa remained quiet for a few moments, making Shayna grow nervous. Eventually, after running the notion through her mind several times, folding the idea about in her thoughts, she finally spoke again.

"That sounds kind of romantic if you ask me," the elf said, "Inseparable, together for however long it is you end up living, still able to be together like this, but sharing a body in reality. I don't know if I'm quite ready to take that big of a step, but it's a pretty thought none the less."

"I'm glad you think that. I was worried you might be scared or angry. I don't like the philosophy of 'better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission'. I never really have, even though I do sometimes violate my opinion on it." the dragoness said.

"Yes, sometimes it is better," Ellissa replied, "So tell me why you're so much bigger here, or at least... why I'm so much smaller. Is it because I'm not as powerful as you? You must have far more magic at your disposal than you let on if you can make a place like this inside you."

Shayna chuckled and dipped her muzzle down to kiss the top of her lover's head.

"It's nothing to do with how powerful either of us happens to be. This is how large I actually am. I just disguise myself as a more acceptable size around those smaller than me. Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue if I walked down the street while showing my true size?" Shayna asked, "It would be utter pandemonium!"

"I'm sure it would be, but that is something I would love to see! My big, strong dragon terrifying the locals as she walks her imposing self through the streets! You could demand everyone worship you! And if they refuse, you just eat them!" the elf cried and laughed.

Shayna didn't find it as amusing, but she didn't want to scold her lover.

"I... have tried very hard to avoid being the object of worship. I come from a very high born family. My status is very well known in my home city, even throughout my country. My father is of enormous importance, to say nothing of how very much taller he is than me. I wanted a life of freedom for myself, just as you do, so I decided to leave home and explore. Eventually, I came to your plain and found it to be interesting. No one knows who I am here. I can move about without worrying about anyone falling over themselves to 'show the proper respect' for my station." the dragoness explained.

"So... we're kindred spirits, you and I." Ellissa said.

"We are indeed." Shayna said with a nod.

"Then I would be an utter fool to let you escape." the elf said, a grin spreading across her lips.

"Me escape?" the dragoness asked in confusion, "I think you have that the wrong way around, dear."

"Oh no, I don't. You think I'm trapped in here with you," Ellissa said before turning around in the large woman's arms to look up at her with a mischievous grin, "Actually, you're trapped in here with me. You can't kick me out unless I agree to it, can you?"

"Of course I can," Shayna said indignantly, then immediately softened her tone, "But... I would prefer to have your permission first, as a courtesy at the very least."

"Well there you have it! Now, how real is this little world of yours? What all can we get up to here? And why is it I feel so much more in control of myself?" Ellissa asked, "I should have been absolutely out of my mind with anger, anxiety, and sheer terror when you told me you had digested me."

"That is part of the effect of where you are. You're with me, inside me, touching my soul. You must take great comfort in my company because being part of me like this is allowing you a much stronger sense of inner peace." the dragoness explained.

"So, you're affecting my mind just because I'm in this place? Could you control my thoughts if you wanted to?" the elf asked.

"No. And before you ask, I can't sense your thoughts any more than you can mine," Shayna explained, "Perhaps in time, should we grow closer, but as of right now, we are still very much separate."

"Very interesting indeed," Ellissa said, grinning all over again, "So you can't read my mind right now... meaning you can't tell what it is I'd like to do."

"I don't need to sense your thoughts to be able to guess." the dragoness replied and returned the elf's grin.

The two leaned in and kissed one another. It was terribly awkward compared to how they were used to sharing such affection out in the real world. Shayna's larger size made for an interesting hindrance, but Ellissa certainly wasn't about to back down from such a challenge. There was so much more of the dragoness to explore, and she intended to explore all of it if she could. By Shayna's own admission, they could spend days or even weeks in this library of hers with hardly any time passing back in the realm of the physical. They could engage in all sorts of interesting--and perhaps even taboo--practices. Ellissa had a few she wanted to try.

Any further explanation of what the library was, be it the false one they were in or the real one it was modeled after, could wait until they had settled down again. Neither wanted to do much talking anymore. There were so many other, more interesting things they could do together to pass the time, and they intended to try them all if at all possible. The aurorea above continued to shimmer down on the pair, even as the light bathing the library began to fade. The elf took note of it, but paid it little mind. She assumed it was a matter of mood lighting. She didn't care about the ambiance at the moment. She had a large, beautiful dragoness all to herself without fear of anyone interrupting. She had so many things she wanted to do to her before either of them could wake up the next morning.

---

Shayna shared further details with Ellissa, though the conversation quickly turned towards matters of a far more intimate nature, which was to be expected. The elf had been given an entirely new world of possibilities to try while she visited the dragon's 'inner sanctum'--as the young lady rather amusedly liked to call it. A subtle tinge of regret colored the conversation but not nearly enough to sour the mood. Shayna found herself wishing she had introduced her beloved to this sooner. Ellissa was far too enamored with testing the limits of her dragon's abilities to concern herself with 'could haves' and 'would haves'. One did not simply drop the idea of physical transformation and magical alteration--such as reducing one's height from four and a half meters down to one and three quarters meters--into a discussion and not expect to have follow-up questions to answer. Shayna patiently satisfied her guest's curiosity, finding the young lady's enthusiasm endearing and contagious.

"So, with enough practice, you could turn yourself into anything?" Ellissa asked.

"Hypothetically, I suppose. Though there are limits. I try to avoid making myself very big or very small." the dragoness answered.

"How big!? How small!?" the elf cried, suddenly deeply interested in seeing her lover demonstrate if possible.

Shayna sighed and chuckled. The young lady was absolutely irrepressible. That was one of the reasons why she loved her so much.

"I wouldn't dare make myself any larger than your family's mansion, or any smaller than say... a butterfly. It becomes far too difficult to hold either such shapes the further you go in either direction. Beyond those, it isn't possible to hold it at all. And I have no reason to make myself any larger or smaller." she explained.

"Can you become other things? For instance, could you disguise yourself as... a cat?" Ellissa asked, her intentions becoming immediately transparent.

The elf had absolutely no poker face when she was riled up as she was.

"I could, but I won't. You have to confront your family. You can't just hide me as your pet." Shayna said in a gently scolding tone.

Ellissa rolled her eyes in response to being discovered. She slouched in the dragon's arms and kicked her legs weakly to illustrate her frustration.

"Ugh! Fine! Then how about plan B?" the elf straightened back up, "Turn yourself into a handsome, young elf man so I can tell my family you're courting me."

Shayna frowned again, not particularly in love with that idea either.

"I'm sorry, dear. I don't think that's a good idea. Putting aside the idea that I have to hide who I am, essentially give up my identity, and play a role just to be with you, let's say it does work and they accept me and I start to court you officially. I would need to somehow conjure a family, a household, a place of residence, even a role in the community in order to dismiss any possible suspicion that I'm not who I say I am." the dragoness explained.

Once again, the elf lady sighed and slumped. This time, she just crumpled against her lover. She felt as though she were ready to give up on figuring out how to make the entire magical transformation notion work out such that she wouldn't have to defy her family. Ellissa closed her eyes and leaned there against her dragon, savoring the experience. She wanted to soak it up and hold it, burn it into her memory for fear she might never again get such an opportunity.

"You're right. It would be cruel of me to ask you to do something like that. Forget I said it," the elf muttered, "Besides, even if we did manage to succeed that far, they would expect us to marry and have children. I'm fairly sure they would start to wonder about us if we didn't 'fulfill our obligation'."

"Yes, they would find it terribly suspect if I couldn't impregnate you," Shayna said with a sigh, then let out a quiet chuckle, "But I've no doubt in my mind seeing you in such a motherly state would be terribly lovely."

Ellissa furrowed her brow and lifted her head to look up at the angelic woman wrapped up around her as though she were a teddy bear. She didn't mind playing that role in the slightest.

"You think I would look good if I were with child? You would like to see me fat?" she asked, sounding somewhat indignant.

"Not obese, pregnant. A slender frame like yours with a beautiful curved tummy--I think that would be a joyous sight to behold. Don't you? Have you ever thought about having children and what it would be like?" Shayna asked.

"Well of course I have. There is a certain appeal to it, but we're lacking certain details that would make such a thing possible, no matter how much I would love to bare young for my beautiful dragon." Ellissa said.

That made the taller lady grin even wider. She craned her neck down to bump her nose against the top of the elf's head and give her a tender kiss.

"So you fancy being a dragon's breeding slave, do you? Only to ever be used to produce offspring for the ruthless, greedy monster holding you prisoner?" Shayna asked, fully intent on teasing her girlfriend as much as she could.

It wasn't as though Ellissa could get away easily. She was at the dragon's mercy, trapped under all the teasings, jokes, and tickling gropes Shayna would rain down upon her. But then why would she ever want to leave that?

"Here I thought you didn't care for such things, but very well. If I must, then I must. If I am to be used as a breeding vessel, let it be for the fairest dragoness of them all!" the elf cried out, lifting a hand to rest the back of her palm dramatically against her forehead.

She fell limp, bending backwards against Shayna's embrace to mimic fainting. It was terribly amusing to see, but it prompted the dragoness to try something she might otherwise have decided against for fear it might be too 'exotic'.

"If you wish to be a breeding vessel, then so be it! Let us see that belly of yours swell with life!" the dragoness announced in similarly dramatic fashion.

She then reached down to place a large palm against her elf's abdomen. With a subtle flexing of ethereal muscle, Shayna went to work weaving a new spell. It was a variant of one she had used several times in the past to great satisfaction and amusement. Slowly, Ellissa's stomach began to stretch and expand. The sensation was quite remarkable. There was no pain, but rather a tightness, not unlike the sense of eating too much but lacking the discomfort that usually came with it. The elf gasped and brought her gaze down to the dragon's palm, eyes wide, breath catching in her throat.

Within moments, she was in possession of the very curve Shayna had described. It was just large enough to demonstrate the dragon's powers, but not so large that she looked any further along than a few months. Ellissa stared in wonder as Shayna removed her paw, running her fingers down across the gentle, motherly swell. Her own hands came forth quickly to cup against the dome, marveling at it. She could not help but obsess over it, constantly stroking and exploring her new belly.

"You... how... I'm pregnant! I didn't think it was possible!" the elf cried in astonishment at long last.

Shayna chuckled and kissed the top of her lover's head again.

"It's only an illusion, a very convincing one, but an illusion none the less. It would not stand up to much scrutiny other than examining it with one's eyes and perhaps feeling over your tummy. Anything deeper than that and it will become quite obvious you are not with child." she explained.

"But... you can make it look as though I really am just your breeding vessel?" Ellissa asked, letting more excitement slip into her voice than she might otherwise have wished to reveal.

Shayna just blinked softly at the question. It was somewhat unexpected.

"You... are actually interested in that?" the dragoness replied with her own question.

Ellissa's cheeks turned bright red and her eyes opened as wide as she could open them. Quickly she averted her gaze and shrunk in her lover's embrace to try and hide herself in a futile effort.

"I mean... that's... not what I intended to say. I just thought... perhaps... for the sake of our... entertainment-" she tried to explain, finding it difficult to get the words out.

"Oh, you simply like the idea of playing it as a game, not pursuing it in earnest. I suppose... if it is something you are truly fond of, we could explore that as an addition to our usual practices." Shayna said, trying to be as gentle as possible and leave any and all tone of judgment out of her voice.

After all, to judge Ellissa for such a fancy would be terribly hypocritical of her. The dragoness has indulged in such matters several times before. To see her elf appear to want to dive headlong into it so quickly and readily caught her completely by surprise. She even began to wonder what else she could encourage the young lady to try.

"It's just... sometimes... I have these... thoughts, daydreams, passing fancies if you will. I imagine running away with you, but making it appear as though you've kidnapped me. Then I start to wonder what everyone else might imagine you're doing to me. The rumors would circulate and grow wild and preposterous. Eventually, there's talk of you using me to breed somehow... I... I have a difficult time not dwelling on those thoughts." Ellissa confessed then mashed her face in against the dragon's hide.

She tucked her head under Shayna's bust, hoping it might conceal her a bit better. She was unbelievably embarrassed by putting her lusty interests on display like that. All the dragon did was chuckle and give her a gentle squeeze.

"So you are fond of the image of the two of us, me having somehow made you heavy with whelps or eggs? I see nothing wrong with that, though I confess the idea of being a prisoner, used for nothing but breeding doesn't sit well with me. I would rather it be a choice we both agree to, a decision we both make to have children together. It's far more romantic and less... a vision of questionable consent." Shayna said with a coo.

"A dragoness that is concerned with matters of consent," Ellissa replied, unable to help but grin, "You are a rare thing indeed. From what I know of your kind, most would just take what they desire without regard for things like consent."

"You've only heard of the less reputable dragons then. A goodly many of our kind wouldn't dare to behave so boorishly," the angelic lady said, sounding as though she had taken offense, but not from the elf's words, rather that others had spoken to the elf in so misguided terms about her kind, "But no matter. You were curious about going further than this?"

Shayna gently caressed over her lover's enhanced middle. It brought a softly shudder from Ellissa as well as a noted hiss of an intake of breath. It was clear that the dragoness had struck a very keen nerve with this addition, one that the elf wanted struck again many times. Her cheeks flushed brightly as she moved to rest one of her own hands atop the dragon's paw, wanting to hold it cupped against her stomach. There was a deeply gratifying quality to the contact.

"I think I would like to explore what all we can share while we're here," Ellissa said, feeling more than a little timid about revealing herself like she had, so to cut through her tension, she offered a terribly silly notion, "Can you imagine what would happen if I confronted my family looking like this? I walk in, holding hands with my dragon girlfriend and announce to them that I'm carrying her whelps. The scandal of it all! The whole house would never live it down!"

The elf cackled, just imagining the sight. She refused to put words to the fact that she found the idea terribly enticing. Even if it was merely an illusion, it would make a terribly strong impact, one that would certainly garner one of two reactions. Either they would be dumbfound into silence, or they would resort to screaming incoherently. Both sounded fun to watch.

"We could arrange for something like that if you wish." Shayna said.

Ellissa blinked, her laughter coming to a crashing halt in that instant. She looked up at the dragoness with huge, sparkling eyes.

"We could? It isn't something that is limited to this place?" she asked.

"I would need for you to remain part of me for longer, beyond waking up in the real world. But yes, it would indeed be possible. We could craft whatever illusion or appearance you might wish to inflict on your family if you think it would make them listen. Or if you think it would be terribly amusing." the dragoness answered.

"Well why didn't you say so earlier!? Let's get to brainstorming! I want to render them completely speechless!" Ellissa cried, then paused for a moment in thought, only continuing once she had lowered her voice and her gaze, "I think if I had you helping me like that, able to shut them up so I could get a word in before they try to denounce anything I've done, I might actually be able to face them."

"Then that is how we will make it happen: together, two minds, two souls, bound within a single body. I will give you whatever strength you need to stare them down." Shayna said, squeezing her arms around the elf more tightly.

"And then, when that is all said and done, and I've walked out on them, we would separate back into two bodies, and go exploring?" Ellissa asked, finding the squeeze to be terribly lovely.

"Who said we had to separate? That is completely up to you. I would be more than happy to share my physical form with you for however long you might wish to. So long as we separate from time to time so we do not end up permanently bound together." the dragoness said.

"It would save on the costs of living if we were one instead of two, and we wouldn't draw as much attention. There are not many places in the world where a couple like us would be accepted," the elf replied, "I think staying together would be a wise idea for the time being."

"Then let us go over what all changes we should make to how you would appear when you go before your family tomorrow. I'll be sure to make the necessary adjustments while we are still asleep." Shayna said.

---

The conversation then turned to determining how far into the realm of outrageous they should push the elf's physical form. A great many suggestions and concepts were discussed, even demonstrated. Ellissa proved to have quite the profoundly repressed appetite for many of the things Shayna could show her. When their work was complete, three days had passed within the realm of the dragon's hidden world. It was a glorious three days of exploration, discovery, and bonding that both wished could have no end. But while time was of little concern in Shayna's 'inner sanctum', time had its demands in the waking world.

With a great deal of reluctance, the pair agreed that it was eventually time to take the leap. Shayna demonstrated for Ellissa how to return back to the world outside. Her library slowly faded into darkness, feeling not unlike drifting off to a comforting sleep. Then light broke in on the elf. She grunted and groaned, lifting an arm to try and shield her eyes, draping it across her face. She was terribly uninterested in waking up. For a moment, she intended to go back to sleep in the hopes of enjoying another dream like what she hazily recalled.

It had been a terribly enjoyable experience and Shayna had been quite the tutor. Instantly, Ellissa's eyes flew open at the thought of her dragon's name. Shayna! She had gone to sleep hidden away in the dragon's belly the night before! She wasn't in that belly any longer! What had happened? The elf rolled onto her back, feeling terribly odd in the process. She ignored the sensations, still too groggy to make much sense of them. She stared up at the ceiling and pondered. She had fallen asleep in Shayna's stomach then dreamed she was in some sort of ornate, beautiful library somewhere in the far north, but it wasn't the far north of her world. It was a different world, or that was what Shayna had said.

Ellissa pressed herself to try and recall more. As she grew more and more awake, the memory of her time in the library cleared up, permitting recollection of all three days. In a flash, she remembered what they had agreed to upon returning to the waking world. The elf tried to bolt upright in bed, but found herself burdened. Of course she was, that was part of what they had arranged. A hand moved to her abdomen, finding a generous swell pushing her tummy outward. Her navel had popped out into a tiny little peak on top of the smooth orb of a mountain rising above her. A goofy, giddy smile spread across her face as she felt over the bulge.

"Good morning, my sweet little one." she said to her tummy.

The dome shifted, stealing the elf's breath away. She tried to squeeze her legs together and shuddered, suddenly questioning if this was going to be such a great idea after all. She wouldn't be terribly able to speak as forcefully as she hoped to if she was apt to collapse into a moaning heap. Hopefully she would regain her ability to stay composed. Still, it was very nice for her belly to say 'good morning to you too'. She could feel the angelic dragon's mind whispering just at the edge of hers, struggling to come to full wakefulness with her.

"Is it finally morning?" Shayna asked.

When she spoke, Ellissa spoke. They were sharing a body, just as the dragon had said they would. That meant they would have to learn to hold an internal dialog if they were to avoid looking like a woman who had lost her mind and started talking to herself.

"It is. Very bright, very sunny, and we are very round." the elf replied to herself.

"Yes, very round. It's not too big is it?" Shayna asked.

The dragoness could have stood to see the grand, motherly swell perhaps twice as big as it was, but Ellissa had cautioned her about excess. They compromised on the idea that their shared form be somewhat reserved while contending with the elf's family, then once they were away from the mansion, they could perhaps try a few additional augmentations. As it was, Ellissa appeared to be well past due. Her stomach was quite vast, refusing to remain still as her 'whelps' squirmed and churned under her skin.

"Mmm, I think it's almost too big," the elf said, trying her best to not flop back down and resort to pleasuring herself, "Almost."

The words carried with them a sentiment that informed the dragoness of how much her other half was relishing their shared state of being. She could have welcomed the same size as her lover, but that would come later. This would be fine.

"And the other additions? Does everything meet with your approval?" Shayna asked.

"Other additions." Ellissa echoed, somewhat mystified by the question.

Slowly, the elf sat herself up, grunting a little as she did so. It was more difficult than she remembered it being back in the dragon's library. She felt heavier, which might have something to do with the fact that she was awake and not in some sort of illusory dream world. Slowly, she worked her way to the edge of the bed and climbed off. As soon as she was on her feet, all the new weight pulled down on her in all the ways it was supposed to. Her back was tugged forward, creating a curve that would not have been their otherwise. Ellissa inhaled sharply as soon as she felt her hips take on the job of supporting such a great burden. It should have been uncomfortable. Instead, it felt indescribably marvelous.

A quiet groan slipped out of the elf. Both her hands moved to cup along the underside of her tummy, helping to hold it up as she waddled her way towards her mirror. She wanted to see for herself just what all sorts of 'other additions' Shayna was referring to. She was sure she had agreed to them, and had even seen them before waking up, but she was finding she still wasn't entirely awake just yet. The trek over to the looking glass was agonizing. Each step made the young lady want to stop and just fawn over her new figure, even plunge a finger or two between her legs. How could it feel so good to be pregnant? She had only ever heard how uncomfortable the experience was.

"Steady, dear. There will be plenty of time for fun after you've done what we woke back up to do." Shayna said, trying to gently coach her beloved.

"I know. But damn is it tempting," Ellissa replied, making her way over to the mirror at long last, "Okay, let's see what other additions you're talking about."

The elf gazed at her reflection, startled by what she found looking back at her. She recognized the face easily enough. It was hers. That had not changed. Her hair had, though. Instead of the dark locks she had known all her life, she possessed strands of what looked like pearl. It shimmered in the light, glistening with an opalescent, shifting hue. It was subtle, but visible. This was Shayna's hair. She had been given her dragon's mane. It was positively radiant. Poking out from the startling locks of hair sprouted two short, ivory-hued horns. They were reminiscent of Shayna's as well, though smaller and much more rounded than hers.

Her eyes trailed downwards to see that it wasn't just her hair and additional cranial ornamentation. Her chest wasn't as she remembered it. She had familiarized herself with those pert swells quite intimately once she learned of the notion of carnal indulgence. They had gained in size just as her stomach had. What had once been a bust that she could easily conceal in her arms was now large enough that each breast could easily fill both of her hands. They were significantly heavier as well. As she studied the new plump orbs, she noticed that a thin trickle of something white dribbled from her nipples. Either Shayna's illusion of pregnancy was that thorough, or she had slipped an additional effect in to make it that much more convincing.

"I'm... I'm giving milk!" Ellissa gasped.

"Oh, yes. Sorry about that. I can tone that down if you wish. I had forgotten that was going to be so pronounced. You seemed so fond of it last night in the library." Shayna explained.

"No! Leave it!" the elf said with a giggle, "I'll bet no matter what I wear, I'll leak through it, and that will definitely get noticed. And getting noticed is what this is all about, right?"

"Well, you are going to get noticed, that's for certain!" Shayna said with a giggle.

There were other changes beyond just the woman's hair, stomach, and chest. There was a long, graceful limb that dangled down from the base of her spine. It was virtually identical to the dragon's, though it wasn't quite as long. As it drooped, it reached roughly to the elf's calves. She wouldn't need to worry about it dragging on the ground as she walked at least. There was also the addition of a pair of wings, covered in soft and fluffy feathers just like Shayna's. There was a distinctly angelic quality to her appearance now, mixed with what her family would no doubt consider to be 'the influence of the devil'. All Ellissa could do was grin and bounce on her feet with glee.

Of course, as she did so, the weight of her belly jiggled, bringing her to moan once again. It also gave her chest a good jostling as well. The thin, light trickle of milk gently seeping down her front suddenly became a pair of small geysers. Ellissa yelped in surprise, or at least that was the intention. The noise ended up mixed into her throaty sounds of elation from the gravid tummy being tossed about. She cupped her hands against her nipples, trying to somehow contain the eruptions. All that did was coat her palms in sweet, ever so slightly sticky milk.

"This is going to take some getting used to." the elf said.

"Yes it will, but I can help. Here, walk around your room, get a feel for the weight and how it changes your balance." Shayna said.

"How is it that it feels so different trying to move with all of this now that we're awake? It didn't seem quite so difficult back in your library." Ellissa said, turning to begin waddling about the room.

"A number of factors are the cause. For one, the nature of my library is different than the nature of reality. You might have noticed that you felt lighter... before we started playing around. The force that pulls you to the ground is stronger in the real world. For another, I made sure to supplement your strength while you were in the library, at least after we started changing you." Shayna explained.

The elf nodded and began to breathe slow and even as she moved about the room. It wasn't that she was suddenly winded from carrying around so much added weight. It was actually a way to keep herself focused in spite of the powerful sensations ripping through her. When the dragoness in her mind took note of the difficulty she was having trying to remain composed, Shayna stepped in and began shoring up her willpower, even adding a sort of insulating effect so that the signals from her body seemed a little farther away.

Their shared practice was going well, even if it had only lasted a few moments before a knock came at the door. The elf jerked her head to the wooden barrier keeping her hidden for the moment.

"Mistress? Are you awake? Who are you talking to?" asked a voice from the other side.

"No one! Just thinking out loud to try and organize my thoughts!" Ellissa replied quickly.

Shayna withdrew gently, refraining from using their shared voice to speak any longer, at least until they were through the challenge that lay ahead of them. Instead, she only thought what she wanted to say, letting those thoughts bleed over to her elf's mind.

"My apologies, dear. I should have been keeping quiet. Hopefully, that clever explanation of yours will keep anyone from suspecting anything."

"You've nothing to apologize for," Ellissa whispered to herself, "Though I'm going to have a right tricky time keeping myself from speaking to you while I'm around others. It's going to take a great deal of practice before I can successfully hold two conversations at the same time."

"Then don't try, at least for now. Focus on the people that aren't in your head. I will be here watching and listening."

Ellissa nodded and resumed wandering around the room, slowly gaining more confidence in her gait. Soon, she felt brave enough to try a graceful twirl as though she were dancing. She was delighted with the result, both that she could stay on her feet without feeling unsteady as well as the fact that the twirl itself brought a whole new rush of stimulation from hips to chest. Oh she was going to have a glorious time experimenting with her new figure.

Eventually, it was decided that the elf had practiced enough. Though it was tempting to flop back on the bed and use her new tail in the way Shayna had the night before, they agreed there would be plenty of time for such play after 'the big event'. Ellissa attempted to dress herself, though she had nothing that would fit as it once did. Among the two obvious changes to her figure, her hips had bowed outward further than they once were, and her rear had gained a not insignificant degree of size. It did make sitting down more comfortable. How could it not when she had such additional cushioning?

After struggling a fair bit, the elf managed to squeeze herself into something that would help keep everything at least somewhat contained, then she eyed the flowing robe her dragoness was almost always dressed in. Without giving much thought to whether or not it would fit, Ellissa began slipping herself into it. Shayna encouraged the idea. Soon, she was wrapped in the warm, soft, surprisingly airy gown. It felt wonderful. The gravid lady suddenly understood why her beloved preferred it to traditional attire. She resolved to fold something like it into her wardrobe if ever the opportunity presented itself.

Downstairs, Ellissa's family had gathered for the morning meal. There was a great deal of discussion about the absent young lady and how she was running out of leeway. Her mother and father were not entirely in agreement upon the extent of the young lady's obligations to the house, though they did agree there_were_ obligations. Her siblings only chimed in from time to time when they felt they could offer something meaningful.

"I understand your concern for finding a suitor for her, but I worry that pushing her like we are will only make her fight us all the harder." the lady of the house said.

"She has long needed to learn that her duty to our name comes before her personal desires. If she took a more active interest in what is expected of her, then perhaps she might find she has more freedom to pursue those obligations than she realizes." her husband responded.

"She may be the eldest, but she certainly acts like a child," said the oldest of their sons, "I hear her talking in her room from time to time. When I asked her who she's talking to, she told me she was talking to a friend of hers, a dragon. Can you believe it? She says she's befriended a dragon!"

"You must have only spoken to her about it some time ago. I asked her just a few weeks ago and she said the dragon was her girlfriend!" cried the young elf's sister, "I'm sure she was only saying it to shock me and make me regret asking her anything on the matter. She succeeded! I was so horrified at the notion I couldn't bring myself to speak to her for days!"

"Everyone settle down," their father said in a loud, clear voice, "I'll not have such talk at the table. And do not speak a word of any of this to anyone else. I'll not have rumors spreading. You know how the public likes a good scandal."

"Yes, real or imagined, such a thing would move quickly through all the noble houses, then likely it would end up filtering down to the lower houses and then the common folk. I would very much like to avoid the constant work needed to stop anything of the sort from going beyond this room. As your father says, do not speak of it again." their mother said.

"I think it might be rather interesting to befriend a dragon," said the youngest, "They're wise, powerful, and many of them can fly, often at great speed. I should like to meet one someday."

"Enough of this foolishness!" the father snapped, then sighed as he realized his mistake, "Please forgive me. I did not intend to raise my voice. All of this talk of dragons is terribly trying. They have no interest in us. We shall take no interest in them or any of their kind. That is the end of the matter."

"I wouldn't be so quick to judge, father. It greatly depends on which dragon you speak to. There are several who have great interest in fostering relations with the rest of the world. One in particular has taken special interest in me." Ellissa said, prompting all heads to turn to gaze upon her.

Everyone stared as soon as they drank in the sight of the eldest daughter of the house. She was not as any of them expected her to look. Her wings, hair, and horns were the most eye-catching, but her stomach was the most troubling. Slowly, both her mother and father rose out of their seats, the latter sputtering as he fought to find the words he wished to use, the former lifting a hand to her mouth as it hung agape.

The elf lady's siblings remained seated but were similarly startled. The youngest of them, a boy who was no older than twelve, could not help but smile wide at the sight of her wings and horns. As soon as he caught sight of her tail, he giggled loudly.

"Your dragon friend made you part dragon yourself?" he asked excitedly, "Can you fly?"

"I'm not sure. I'd like to find out. I've only had my wings since I woke up this morning," Ellissa said, smiling back at her little brother, "Anyway, I only came to say that I can't stay for breakfast. I've a great deal to attend to. Those 'obligations' you continue to insist I focus on will have to pass to the next in line. I've no intention of marrying into another house just to maintain some silly notion of power structure."

"Ellissa... what has happened to you?" her mother asked, sounding horrified, "You... you're with child!"

"I've been claimed as a mate by my dragon. She has decided that I should belong to her and no one else. I must admit I find the notion terribly exciting, especially since no noble would dare have me now that I look like this." the winged elf said, completely ignoring the comment about being pregnant.

"You've... been claimed?" her mother echoed in shock, "By a dragon? When? How?"

"The when and how are not of any great concern. It is done and it was by my choice. She offered me a way out of a life I didn't want and in exchange, I am given one I could only dream of. This is how I choose to be going forward. I understand it isn't what you wanted for me. What you failed to realize is what you want and what I want are incongruous. Since I realize that such a revelation would bring shame upon the family, I would understand if you would prefer to cut all ties and make it clear to the other great houses that I have been disowned. However, if you care more about my well-being and wish me to remain a part of your lives, even in some small way, I will provide you an opportunity to contact me. We can move forward from there. For now, I intend to leave." Ellissa explained.

That stunned her parents back into silence. Her siblings were equally shocked, all except for her youngest brother. He leapt out of his chair and ran around the table before throwing his arms around his big sister's waist. He didn't remember her having so much waist to throw his arms around, but he didn't care in that exact moment. He was only concerned with the idea of his sister leaving and never returning.

"You can't go! We haven't finished reading the book of fairy tales you gave me for my birthday!" he cried.

Ellissa sighed and moved to crouch. It was a slightly awkward stance for her to take. She fanned her wings out behind her for balance and kept he legs spread wide with her knees bent. They were forced that way by the great swell of her tummy. She lifted a palm to cup against her little brother's cheek and smiled back at him.

"I'm sorry, Ian. I have to go. Mother and father would never permit me to stay, not as I am now. They would not be able to bear the shame of all the gossip. It's terribly important to them; how the rest of the town sees them." the elf lady said, speaking gently while simultaneously delivering a cutting remark about her parents.

"Well_I_ don't care about all of that! You're the only person I can talk to about anything! What will I do after you've gone?" Ian asked, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks.

"You'll find friends, people like you who aren't afraid to defy what is considered normal," Ellissa said, then grinned broadly, "Who knows? You might befriend a dragon yourself!"

The two shared another hug, then released so that Ellissa could stand again. She looked to her mother then her father for any sign that they might have something to say. Just as she and Shayna predicted, they were unable to speak. With a sigh and a stern look for them both, she turned to leave, heading for the rear door. She didn't get terribly far before her parents, and even her siblings, began to chase after her.

"Ellissa!" cried her father, "You can't just leave! Where will you go!?"

The winged elf stopped and turned her head only just far enough to see the older fellow from the corner of her eye.

"Given that you'll likely strip me of my name and title, as well as any claim I might have to any of your house's wealth and power, does that really matter?" she asked.

"It does matter," her mother said, "You are our daughter. We love you. How can you so easily throw us away like this?"

Ellissa turned herself around fully to look the older elf woman in the eyes. Her expression was hard and she was fighting to hold back any sign that she was beginning to tear up.

"Easy? You think this is easy for me? I had to seek the help of a dragon to give me the strength to do this. It isn't easy. Not in the slightest. I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I cannot ignore the fact that the life you and father have planned out for me is not the life I want. I never have. I cannot stay up on a pedestal, remaining locked away in some ivory tower, never to see or experience anything except for the sterile, safe glimpses of the world beyond. My dragon is offering me the chance to be whatever I choose. That is something neither of you can provide me." she said.

"But at what cost?" her father asked, "Look at you. You're barely the same girl I raised. Your hair, those horns, those wings, that tail... and you're pregnant! This dragon is using you as a breeding vessel and little else!"

"She isn't 'using' me. I expressed the interest and she accommodated. This-" Ellissa paused to run a palm over her swollen stomach to ensure everyone knew what she was referring to, "-was my choice. She didn't even suggest the idea. I made the remark and she informed me it was possible. And there is the problem you and I have, father. You still see me as a little girl when I'm not. I am a grown woman. I've lived under your roof and your rules for long enough. It's time I went out and explored places where your authority cannot reach."

"So... we will never see you again?" her mother asked.

"You might," the gravid elf said, "But it will be on my terms, and it will be your decision to make. I will be in touch, and I will make sure no one knows of this 'shame' so you will be able to conjure whatever story you wish to tell everyone about me."

"Where will you go? I will write to you every day but I need to know where to send my letters!" Ian cried.

Ellissa smiled at her little brother and sighed. She hadn't expected to have so strong an advocate in favor of her remaining, or at least staying in touch.

"I will send you a letter letting you know how you can reach me. It won't be for a while. I'll need to find somewhere that I can settle and call home. Don't worry about me. I have my dragon watching over me." she said.

"Don't take too long. I'll still write every day. When I know where to send my letters, I'll send them all. I'll make sure to keep you up to date on the family." Ian said.

"Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you," Ellissa said, then gazed over the rest of her family, "Does anyone else have anything else they wish to say?"

"What_can_ we say?" her father asked.

"You could tell me you want me to stay, that you don't care what the rest of the noble houses might say or think, that all you care about is my happiness, however I might find it. But... you're not able to say that, are you?" Ellissa asked.

"Be careful, dear. You don't want to cut too deeply. Otherwise they may be glad to be rid of you for insulting them."

The elf closed her eyes and acknowledged Shayna's concerned warning. It was only by her dragon's warm presence around her very soul that she felt strong enough to do any of this, just as she had said. At her core, she was shivering, unable to comprehend how she could do or say any of this without utterly shattering.

"I have responsibilities, Ellissa. The status, the house, it all comes with certain expectations I must meet. If I fail to do so, then we lose that status. That may seem trivial to you, but it does mean something. It means we can exert ourselves on those who rule and govern when they are bound for a path that will lead to ruin. It has required your mother and me to make certain sacrifices." the older fellow explained.

"I understand that. You may think I don't, but truly, I do. I simply do not see them to be nearly as important as you do. And I wish to be rid of the squabbling and the bickering and the gossip. If we cannot find some way to compromise, then I'm left with only one course, and that is to go find my own way." Ellissa said.

Her father frowned, not in anger, but in gentle grief. There was no salvaging this.

"Then we are at an impasse." he said.

"So we are," Ellissa replied, "I will contact you when I have settled down somewhere. Don't worry about me. Shayna will watch over me. She would never let me come to harm. You might be surprised how good she is at protecting others."

"Your dragon's name is Shayna?" Ian asked, his eyes suddenly large and filled with wonder, "It's a beautiful name."

"Yes it is." the winged elf agreed, "If that is all, I should be on my way before your neighbors have a chance to catch sight of me leaving."

No one said anything else. They were all still utterly shocked or bereft of any means of convincing her to remain. Ellissa turned once more and made her way out onto the veranda. Her family followed and watched as she opened her wings, fanning them out as far as they would stretch. They weren't as large as Shayna's, but they were still quite impressive. The swollen elf began to run, building up a head of steam before leaping off the ground. Much to her surprise, she did not fall back to earth. The dragoness watching through her eyes helped guide her through her first flight. The mansion fell away quickly, shrinking as Ellissa soared into sky above.

Perhaps one day she might return. Perhaps this would be the last time she saw her home. No matter what might happen, she would never be without Shayna's company ever again. How could she bare to separate herself from the angelic being who had given her the courage to fight for her independence? The world sprawled out before the two joined as one. Their adventure had only just begun. It was exciting and frightening, filled with unknowns. They would explore the possibilities together.

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