Chapter VI: Annette & Balthazar, Pt 2
#6 of The Dragon & The Lady
The first 4 parts of the story (Seed, Memories, Rose, and Secret) comprise "Volume 1...
The first 4 chapters of the story ("Seed", "Memories", "Rose", and "Secret") can be viewed as comprising the first "volume" of this series. Both this chapter and the previous one are more reflective of my current writing style, and can be viewed as the start of the second volume.
I decided that since this next batch of episodes will clearly be different- more character driven and detail oriented- that they should be presented in a way that differentiates them. Both my writing style and views on the characters have changed (hopefully for the better), so I decided to continue the story under a new (and more appropriate) title.
I felt it was important to touch on some of the unanswered questions (in this case, how they met.) You can think of this as an intermission, while the upcoming chapters will continue the story. I'd also like to give a shout-out to fellow author Motley- come back soon!
THE DRAGON & THE LADY
Chapter VI:
_ "Annette & Balthazar, Part 2" _
Try as she might, Annette was never able to remember what had happened to her. Eventually, Balthazar came to the conclusion that this was probably for the best. He could also see that she was happy- so forcing her to remember something traumatic might ruin things. The Dragon ultimately decided to simply allow Annette to remain as she was- after all, she seemed content.
As the weeks passed, the woman never once mentioned her old life or spoke of the world beyond Balthazar's den. Of course, this shouldn't have been too surprising when he considered her initial behavior. Yes, this pretty young woman seemed totally content to remain with him. The Red Dragon knew that this was not normal behavior for a so-called captive. He was well aware that a number of more sadistic dragons took great pleasure in tormenting and mistreating their captives- doing all sorts of things to them. Yet Annette never behaved as if she was in any sort of danger... On the contrary, she acted more like a guest.
After her first night in the lair, Annette had insisted that she sleep beside him- explaining, with a cute little smile, that sleeping against him helped 'keep the bad dreams away'. To own his surprise, Balthazar relented- finding her impetuousness rather appealing. Truth be told, he easily grew accustomed to the feeling of having her small delicate frame nuzzled against him as he slept. The Dragon wondered just what it was about this woman that allowed her to have so much influence on him...
_ ...o.o.o... _
Balthazar had often told Annette that she didn't have to do so much work, as he didn't consider her to be a scullery maid or servant. But Annette had merely smiled and replied that she didn't like being idle. The young woman explained that she had grown up in a mercantile and trade society, and that her parents had instilled the importance of hard work in her.
It seemed that while she couldn't remember the events directly surrounding the attack on her caravan, she could easily remember much of what happened in her life leading up to it. With a bit of good-natured prodding by the Dragon, she had eventually consented to tell him about herself. The Dragon made himself comfortable and urged her to take take a seat near him. She nodded and placed a small cushion beneath herself to sit upon. She made herself comfortable and leaned against his side.
She had grown up as the only daughter of the of the Master Smithy in her village. It was a relatively small rural community of less then a hundred people- and virtually everyone knew each other. There nearest town was almost a month's travel from them, so a good part of their commerce came from trading at a seasonal market that was set up every spring. Balthazar guessed that the event was probably sponsored by a local branch of the Mercantile Guild... since the groups chief agenda was insure the productivity and growth of the 'middle class'.
Her parents had treated her well, though her father had insisted that as a woman- she was better suited to learning a more "delicate craft." Annette explained that her mother had suggested becoming a seamstress. Her father agreed and she began working under her mother when she was fifteen. By the time she turned eighteen, it was decided that she would go to stay with her aunt- who lived in another village- and learn from her. The aunt, she explained to him, was a "Master Seamstress" and it was thought an honor to learn from her.
The following spring, her father took her with him on their journey to the market- where she'd meet up with her aunt and travel with her back to her own village. She'd stay with her aunt (in this case, her mother's sister) for a year and learn from her. However... en-route to the event, something befell their small caravan. This was where things became a blur- she couldn't remember anything about what happened or even how she ended up wondering along the path alone.
When she mentioned her sudden encounter with a dark elf at night, the Dragon nodded. "You were lucky to have been found by Telos," Balthazar explained. "He's a 'Legitimate' Slave Trader, so the clientele he deals with tend to be more benevolent then others." He continued in a serious tone. "And as luck would have it... he deals in rare items on the side, and I'm an old acquaintance of his."
Annette nodded. "Yes, I know..." she began. "I don't really know what was going on with me... When that... er 'Drow', as you referred to him, found me." She paused for a moment, considering her words. "It was like my mind was somewhere else... not like dreaming, but like the absence of thought." She mused softly. "But in spite of everything that happened to me- I can be happy, because it brought me to you." She finished.
Balthazar smiled warmly at her and nodded in agreement. For the most part, she seemed to understand the dire predicament she had been in, and was aware of how lucky she was. Thankfully, Telos had found her first, and not someone else. Annette had mentioned that she guessed she likely should have been killed or that she might have ended up as a slave.
To an extent she was right, but the Red Dragon knew of other fates that might have befallen her. He decided there was no point in bringing them up now, but he knew that if she'd been found by bandits, she probably would have been raped... Or, if she'd been found by a different slaver, she could have ended up being sold into prostitution or be made into a sex slave... She certainly had the looks needed for it.
_ ...o.o.o... _
Despite her very glamorous appearance, Annette didn't shy away from work- cleaning, polishing, even carrying jugs of water around. She had also fashioned a broom to sweep the various chambers in the den. She was quick to clean and tidy things and seemed especially keen to make sure that whenever Balthazar left, he came back to find things spotless.
After she'd been with him for a while, Annette had approached the Dragon and requested sewing tools, along with lengths of various fabrics and materials. Balthazar effortlessly agreed and arranged for the things she asked for. It was a small task for him, but it seemed to mean a lot to her. And as expected, she was overjoyed when they arrived- thanking him profusely. He smiled to himself as he watched the expression of happiness on her face.
The girl quickly set about working with the fabrics. Her motions and posture were flawless as she worked the threading needle- stitching patterns interns and creating grace and form in what was previously shapeless fabric.
As he watched her, he realized something- he wanted to know more about her. Not just where she was from or about her past. He wanted to know about her likes and dislikes, what made her smile and laugh, and so on. Balthazar wondered if what he was experiencing was infatuation. Unfortunately, he didn't have anything that he could compare what he was feeling to.
_ ...o.o.o... _
For Annette, the process of realization was a slow one. She had admired and adored Balthazar from the start. After all, he was a Dragon- a powerful and majestic creature. But there was something deeper as well... something more pervasive. She slowly began to realize that her devotion was turning into romantic infatuation.
This realization was particularly hard for her. She had told herself over and over again that his many acts of simple kindness was already more then enough... more then she was worthy of. Yet, she still found herself longing for him- wanting something more. She realized that she was attracted to him. She longed for him... to be with him. In the end, she resigned herself to the fact that her desires could never be more then a fantasy- she could never really hope to gain his affection in that regard. She she concealed her own desires and longings, and maintained an air of cheerfulness around her Dragon Master.
However, Annette was young- and not nearly crafty enough to completely hide the conflicting emotions she felt in her heart. And despite the young woman's best efforts, Balthazar was able to easily pick up the brief moments of unease and even sadness in her as time went on. She never said anything, but her could see it in subtle ways- in her body language, in her eyes and in her expressions. He wasn't sure what is was, but he knew that something was troubling her.
_ ...o.o.o... _
Annette would try to stay busy, tidying up around the lair, when she suddenly became still- feeling someone's eyes on her. She slowly turned around and came face to face with Balthazar- who had somehow slipped in right behind her with her hearing a sound. "Is something wrong, you seem troubled?" The Red Dragon asked her calmly.
The startled woman placed a hand over he chest and and managed to compose herself. She shook her head before meeting his gaze- the Dragon's magnificent dark red eyes connected with woman's brilliant sky-blue ones. "Oh no, I'm fine Balthazar... But thank you for for your concern." She replied quickly (while attempting to cover a faint blush) and retrieved her make-shift broom that she had dropped moments earlier. The Dragon continued to watch as she silently swept away a thin layer of dust from the smooth stone floor.
Annette was wearing a fetching sky-blue dress that hung from her shoulders- this garment, however, was stitched far more intricately then the first one he'd given her. As a result, it tapered just enough to conform to curve of her hips and up just below the swell of her breasts. Overall, it flattered her body while still giving a degree of modesty as well. Underneath, she had on a simple cloth body-wrap for an undergarment. She had shoes, but often remained barefoot, as the surface was smooth and cool.
Balthazar glanced away and was silent for a moment. "Do you want to leave?"
The Dragon's sudden question caught her off guard. "No, I want to stay here, with you..." She replied timidly.
He regarded her. The Dragon could tell she was holding something back. "There's more to this, tell me- something is bothering you, what is it?" He asked in a calm even tone.
Balthazar hadn't meant to upset her like this, but he had to figure out what was troubling her. It was no good for her to keep her feelings bottled up just for his sake. "I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong." He reasoned. "Tell me what YOU want, Annette- not what you think I want to hear."
Annette felt her eyes start to tear up- she was on the verge of tears now. "Balthazar, I... I want to stay at your side." She started to say amidst tears, her speech broken. She looked up at him. "...Balthazar, I... I love you."
_ ...o.o.o... _
The moments following her confession were rather blurry. She guessed that he must have said something back. Annette did remember stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his long neck and holding onto him...
She moved up and kissed the end of his snout. She blushed at her own actions as she took a step back and smiled. She figured she must have slipped her clothes off shortly after this point. She advanced towards him, the Dragon saying nothing as she ran her hands along his body. Balthazar simply watched as she caressed him. The girl felt reassured by his actions, and gradually became bolder in her exploration of his form.
Annette found his already hardening shaft. She smiled- her face blushing darkly as she admired the sleek organ. She reached out and brushed the tips of her fingers against the warm flesh. Her actions were rewards by a faint rumble from the Dragon as she circled her fingers around her delicate length. Part of her told her that this was madness, but another (more primal) part urged her to go on. She could certainly tell that Balthazar didn't seem to mind.
She collected her thoughts and began to gently stroke his hard length- her small hands sliding up and down his shaft in slow, deliberate motions. Gradually, and by gauging his murmurs of approval, she found the right rhythm. Annette smiled to herself as she continued stroking his now slick cock.
Unlike the rest of him, his cock was smooth and soft in her small hands. She could feel the veins running along it, as well as the thick vein that ran along the underside. She leaned in closer, even going so far as to brush her soft cheek against his shaft. After a moment's hesitation, she brushed her lips against the underside.
Balthazar grunted in pleasure as she nervously ran her tongue up along his hard length- the sensation of her soft tongue moving along his sensitive flesh was maddening. The blond paused briefly when she reached the tip. Annette then kissed the end of his shaft and then took the head into her mouth. He could feel the inside of her mouth as it enveloped him, and the motion of her tongue as she swirled it slowly around the tip. She began moving her hands again- stroking his aching shaft ad she gently nursed the head.
Balthazar growled and suddenly felt a shiver surge through him. Annette could feel his cock pulse, but didn't know what to make of it. She was surprised by a sudden heady taste as something entered her mouth. She pulled back- only to have the dragon's seed splatter messily onto her face. She watched in amazement as another jet of the thick seed landed on her breasts. Balthazar looked on in shock and embarrassment, at the sight of the beautiful blond kneeling before him with his own essence marring her- a quizzical look on her face as she took it in.
She reached up and wiped some off of her cheek and tasted it. She blushed darkly and smiled at him impishly.
...
The Dragon watched in silence the whole time, captivated by her every move. She'd taken his member into her mouth and had made him come. Then, to his amazement, when he climaxed on her- she didn't seem revolted. Quite the opposite in fact! Not to be outdone, the Dragon decided to return the gesture. He rose up and took hold of her hips- being careful not to mar her in any way- and hoisted her up.
Annette proved easy to lift. She was curvaceous and busty, but not heavy by any means. Of course, he had to be sure and treat her "delicately". To dragons, virtually all humans seemed delicate. The Red Dragon held her above him- spreading her legs wide for better access to her delicate flesh. The girl's slit was covered in a fine mound of blond hair- the same as the rest.
She blushed yet again, under the Dragon's appreciative gaze. He lifted her up, over his head- he could see that she was aroused, her slit glistening from her juices. He smiled to himself and then lapped at her now slick outer lips with his long serpentine tongue, causing her to moan with pleasure. The sound of her soft cries of pleasure was music to the Dragon's ears and he continued tending to her mound.
After a few moments of this, Balthazar was satisfied that she was ready for him to try something else. He gently slipped his long tongue into her slit- parting the delicate outer lips as it entered her passage. The girl gasped in a mix of pleasure and embarrassment as she felt his tongue lap at her sensitive inner walls. He continued to "thrust" his tongue into her for a while, resulting in her arching her back and crying out his name.
He smiled as a cruel thought came to him. He abruptly slipped his tongue out of her. Balthazar suddenly thought of something that she'd really enjoy!
Annette immediately noticed the sudden absence of his skilled appendage. A flustered expression graced her face, and she was about to protest when Balthazar snaked his long tongue around the ultra-sensitive nub at the peek of her slit. The blond's eyes went wide at the sudden sensation as the Dragon toyed with her clit. She practically screamed in pleasure as he continued teasing her. She gripped the spiny ridges on his head to steady herself as she lurched forward from the new pleasure that was washing over her.
She didn't didn't really understand what he was doing to her, but she knew one thing- it felt better then anything she could have ever imagined. It didn't take long for a chill to run through Annette. Tiny sparks began firing off inside her in quick succession. She threw her head back and cried out. Balthazar lapped at her juices as she came- her nectar dripping down onto his long snout...
Annette soon passed out, shortly after her orgasm- collapsing into a deep sleep beside him. The Dragon lay beside her, watching her nude sleeping form. Balthazar smiled to himself. Things were going to be alright...
(- End of Chapter VI -)
This flashback arc only really covered the first couple of months of their time together, yet it still covered a lot about both Annette & Balthazar. The depth of the narrative ended up being being pretty wordy.
I debated about whether or not to include the sex scene in this narrative. However, I ultimately decided that the "consummation" of their relationship was clearly an important part of their relationship. The only real challenge then was working out how to transition into it. I think I handled it pretty well- I knew from the start that I couldn't cover every single detail (it would have been overkill). I ultimately chose to leave some of it to the imagination of the readers.
I'm also really happy with how Annette came across in this- she's really become a proper character to me. Balthazar was fun to write for as well- as I was able to 'get into his head' a bit more in this chapter.
-Seres B. North