FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets

Chapter 15: Gifts and Goodbyes

Lyndis padded after Cordenth, making sure her the soles of her boots made hardly a noise as they touched the earthen floor. Her fingers traced the golden leaf clasp that held her cloak together, the urge to say the activation word and become invisible almost unbearable. Her breaths came deep and slow, trying to shake the anxiousness running through her bones. All that pent-up energy gave her a slight shiver beneath her leather armor. She crouched low, practically like the vine clad wall's shadow. For it probably wasn't wise to sneak into the Emerald Lady's palace when one wasn't invited. But here she was anyway.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Cordenth whispered, slowing his advance to a crawl as his sunflower like eyes shifted from side to side. The way his head moved up and down, glancing left and right. It was as if he expected the form of his mother to spring from the very walls.

"Yes." Lyndis snapped in a whispered hiss. Why had she agreed to this in the first place? What possessed her? But when the green scaled dragon turned back, a caring eye glancing over her she knew.

That's why.

Under her breath she cursed herself, taking another tentative step and trying to focus on the dragoness that had nuzzled her son so affectionately, not the imposing beast that burdened them with countless demands. Surely it would go something like that moment in the cave? He was her son after all, no matter what path he chose.

_ But what about me?_

Her brow wrinkled like a piece of parchment. She certainly wasn't a dragon to benefit from the same lenience. Why, she'd been stubbornly reminded of the Emerald Lady's exact words. Of how she liked to act different in front of mortals.

"Shouldn't we have brought Lyyreth?" she whispered, carefully passing a vine pedestal that held a blinking multicolored eye that seemed to be peering past her armor. She held up a hand, to blow it from her view and fight the shiver running down her spine. "Wouldn't he have wanted to learn about your father as well?"

_ _

Having a second dragon along would've been helpful...Especially if the nastier side of the Emerald Lady showed its snout, instead of the motherly one.

"He... he was too drunk to even walk properly," Cordenth chuckled, "besides...I can always recount my discoveries to him early in the morning, when the haze of drink disperses into serene tranquility."

"Must be some tranquility to word it twice."

"You need to spend more time with the Benevolent Scholar to understand why I worded my thoughts that way," the dragon smiled and guided her with his tail around a corner of the corridor. The dark hallway lit up with faint blue torches for them, casting them in an eerie cerulean glow. "Lyndis?" the dragon turned back around and stared at her with his bright yellow eyes. His frills fluttered as they started to turn a darker shade of green. "Thank you for being here for me. I...couldn't have done this on my own."

_ _

"Well you could of, just less skillfully." she replied casually, like it was no big deal for her to be risking her life. "Maybe having a few blunders along the way you big scaly thing."

"Taking after Merlia, are we?"

"Her talent with the bow is remarkable, but if there's one thing I truly appreciate about that lass, it's her ability to look gods knows what in the eye and issue a retort." Lyndis slunk after the green as they rounded yet another corner. This one being decorated by a myriad of glowing flowers that sprouted from the walls like a multicolored umbrella.. "Don't think that woman's scared of bleedin anything."

"I guess I can be Merlia for the evening." The green dragon puffed out his chest, his voice getting lower as if to sound braver. "The fearless dragon, who ever so resplendently catches the torchlight."

"Apparently you can be Veledar as well."

The dragon snuck his snout down, offering her a soft chuckle. One no doubt meant to slice through the air of unease about them. "He's not completely wrong, you know. Why else would you accompany me if not to gaze upon my fine features?"

His smile was a tad too cute for his liking. She found herself caressing the underside of his scaly jaw, enjoying pleasing distraction from her racing heart. "Well, when you put it that way, I can see no reason as to why I shouldn't enjoy my resplendent, scaly knight." She planted a kiss upon his warm cheek, a shiver of satisfaction running through them both. It left her head fuzzy, and his tail and frills wiggling back and forth.

"Lyndis, I-" the dragon's snout wrinkled with embarrassment.

"Shhh...I know. I said I'd do it, and you decided to call me on it. Now I gotta pay the piper....er...well dragon in this case." She pulled back his jaw, meeting his eyes with her own. The closer she was to him the more confident she was they would succeed. Call it a hunch or whatever, but within his yellow gaze everything seemed like it was going to be okay. Yet deep in the back of her mind doubt couldn't help but whisper it's concern. "Do you think she will fight you on it?"

"I don't think she will." The dragon sighed, hesitation flickering over his yellow pools as he glanced off down the hallways. "but if she does, I'm going to do a knight's job and protect my princess."

"I can handle myself. You know that."

Cordenth held out a paw and stopped her for a moment. They sat there in silence, with only the sound of their breaths stirring the dim, almost unnoticeable song of the forest. "I don't care if she knows about you now...It's my last day within her domain, and I think she's aware of you anyway. The look she gave me the other night in my cave... I think she discovered you were with me from the moment her paws touched the confines of my cave."

"You dragons and your fine noses." She scowled as they began passing over a carpet of shifting moss. Like thousands of tiny little plant fingers caressing her boots.

"Why are you even sneaking anyway?" Cordenth's tail flicked behind him, tapping her leg. "I thought the plan was to confront her directly about this?"

"And yet here you are. Sneaking along with me." She countered, quickening her pace and following the dragon into a darker room. One without torches to guide them, but thanks to her elf heritage that was no problem. Long as she didn't mind seeing into the darkness in black and white. What she could make out was the worn cauldron from before, stirring with darkened smoke rising from it's rim. With a brief flash lavender light shoved daggers into her eyes.

"Funny thing about that." Cordenth's voice came hesitantly, stopping to stare at the pulsating smoke before them. It looked almost like a heart beating. Slow and steady, alive with some unknown magical power.

"For me it's a habit. What's your excuse?" she laughed, composing herself and leaning up against his shoulder. She felt him shiver as the cauldron pulsed again, his muscles tensed. He no doubt had a plan brewing within that scaled head. "It's all fine...she's going to listen. How can she not? It's your father we're talking about. Her...mate, if she still considers him such."

"I truly hope you're right." His head drooped.

"Nine times out of ten. I am." She caught his snout, pulling his chin to hers. As if by a chain they stuck for several fleeting moments. Their eyes met, her heart suddenly beat ever faster and that darn fuzziness returned. His smile was like the sun, and his frills flaring in and out a magical song to be heard.

"Better odds than I had in decades." The dragon pulled back, rising his head into a confident S.

"I may not be a prophet, but I've traveled the world enough to know when I'm outmatched...and a big, future-telling she-dragon isn't going to get the better of me." She listed off several stories of herself facing off against much larger foes. Ones that just like the stone constructs had been bested by the right application of skill. Though as she went through them she got the suspicion it was her own way of coping with the plan. It was when the cauldron began to pulse again that her voice grew quiet, until the silence only remained between them. Worry bubbled through her gut, guiding her hand to his scaled hide."Where is she anyway?" She turned her head to gaze out to the darkness surrounding it, finding she could see nothing of the rest of the room. Clearly a magically enhanced darkness if it blocked her eyes.

"I don't know. Busy, maybe? What else can she do?" Cordenth slid his way to the cauldron, every step seemingly taking an eternity. Yet despite this his breaths were coming more quickly, almost a perfect mirror to her own."She is usually here... the village practically runs itself, and it's not like her prized status are going to make a run for it." he trailed off, his sight still lingering on the billowing black cauldron.

"A lair without a dragon in it? That inspires confidence."

"Should we leave then? Look somewhere else instead of waiting around here for her glorious return?"

"I...dunno," Lyndis turned around to look back at the hallway they had come from. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on edge as her dragon neared the cauldron. The winding smoke almost seemed un-natural. Like it was nothing more than an abomination in this world. The longer she stared the more her legs tried to desperately pull her away. "Please take a step back from that thing. It gives me shivers to even look at that thing." She tore herself away from the cauldron and back to her green dragon, who had slunk around the blackened material. He rose up like his mother, head cocking as he peered down to what looked like glossy, wet ink.

"Cordy?" she asked softly. He didn't reply. She asked his name again, he merely cooed in curiosity as his snout dipped a bit closer to the darkened liquid. Her throat grew tight as he neared it. Was he transfixed and couldn't look away? Who knew what kind of trap might have been placed on it?"Cordenth?" she voice burst like a warrior's cry, her step towards him resounding through the hall like. "You focken in there?"

"We could use this." He mumbled, flicking his tail behind him. "We could use it to find my father." he glanced up with a tooth filled grin. But what should have been joy for his break from the trance only brought about icy grip around her throat, for around his eyes had formed tiny shimmering, golden rings.

" Cordenth!" The booming voice of the Emerald lady cascaded through the hall, causing the green dragon bolt from the cauldron.

Lyndis found herself spinning around in a flash her fingers brushing the smooth hilt of her rapier. She gripped the metal with a deathlike grip. It took all her mental fortitude to resist pulling the weapon out and holding it aloft at the she-dragon that suddenly got the better of them. The one who looked oh so cross in this moment.

" What is the meaning of this?" The dragoness' eyes burned with an inner fire so intense they might light the air around them in lavender flames. She charged forward; lips peeled back into a snarl. " You know that only I use that cauldron. It's dangerous for anyone else to do so!" She snapped her jaws inches from Cordenth's snout, causing him to slink away like a scolded dog. " What even got into that little head of yours to try something so reckless?"

Lyndis took a few steps back as the Emerald Lady's attention seemed to be solely on that of her son. The dragoness' hisses and growls practically hiding the soft sounds of her boots. She clasped the brooch and whispered the word, "Houpe." Relief flickered about her veins like a summer's rain, the familiar cooling sensation rippling over her skin. She'd be safe at least for now.

"I wouldn't have to resort to this if you had just told us about our father!" Cordenth rose forth with renewed courage, snapping at the larger dragon. His wings flared with a rippling swoosh, and his tail adding weight with a resounding smack against the stone. "The one thing I've been asking year after year!". The resolve in his voice cracked, a deep seated pain dripping from the words. Lyndis' eyes narrowed at the Emerald Lady.

" Oh. Him," her voice lost part of its fire. She slunk back. "I have my reasons, Cordenth. The future-"

But still the green dragon advanced, taking his momentary advantage. "I don't care what you have to say about it! Every year you come up with variations of the same story. Why? Why should I fall in the same trap again? You promised!" Cordenth paused, wrinkling his snout as a growl built in his throat. "You said when we were older, we could know of him...But that day never comes...It's always another test, another task, another reason why you have to keep all knowledge of him for yourself."

"Cordenth...where is this all coming from? We have nothing but time ahead of us."

"No," The dragon shook his horned head, starting to pace. His paw's coming more forcefully with every turn. "Time has always been an illusion. You promised to tell us when we to depart and that day is tomorrow!"

The Emerald Lady watched in silent contemplation, her snout an eerie calm, almost as if she really considered the possibility that she might have been wrong.

Does she actually regret the choices she made? The rogue had to slide away from Cordenth as he neared to not be caught under paw.

"So I ask you now, for the last time," Cordenth flared his wing, flaring his frills with a snap of his sharpened teeth. "Nay.... I demand you tell our father's identity!" The green dragon swelled up his chest, scales clinking angrily to cut the silence.

pity, sorrow, and possibly remorse, all of these were etched in the Emerald Lady's face. Clear as a summer's day and lasting the duration as she inspected her son from snout to tail. Silence hung between them only broken by Cordenth's growls, slowly building the tension between them. When it had gone on for a tad too long the dragoness twitched her tail, her dipped but slightly and her voice came as a whisper.

"**I...can not give you what you want. Knowledge can be a great burden for those who are not prepared to bear its weight. I'm sorry, Cordenth."

**

"Now you listen here!" Lyndis sprung into being, thrusting a finger towards the dragoness. She felt the invisibility spell fade away from her, and gulped when lavender eyes focused on her instead. They narrowed, a heavy snort left the dragoness' snout, and her voice rising with an irritated hiss.

" My, the fire in your voice can ignite this whole lair." She rose as if to bring to light how much bigger she was. Her snout wrinkled as the rogue didn't shy away, holding her wavering hand aloft like a sword. " What reason brought you to me, little Lyndis? Besides shouting my ears off,"

"I...I'm here to help someone I care about..."Lyndis stammered as the Emerald Lady took forceful step towards her. "Your son... The one you love is sitting over there...waiting for a shred of decency from the mother that brought him into this bleedin world. That dragon," She waved back towards Cordenth, not taking her eyes of the larger ness. "Is demanding you share something that he cares about...And it's not a lair full of riches or a horde of slaves to worship at the tips of his claws. No. All he wants is to know the fate of his father. What could be so bad, or so life threatening, that he has to remain ignorant of that focken fact?"

The dragoness froze under the half-elf's unfaltering conviction, her eyes still tethered to her as if by an invisible chain. Her tail swished painfully slow as her frills flickered on either side of her head. Her growl was like a darkened song, one which made the rogue's heart threaten to leap from her chest. Gulping down the tightening of her throat she continued to berate the towering dragoness, for the sake of the smaller dragon that watched her from the side with both hope and worry glinting in his yellow eyes.

"He's your son, so you're going to shift back into the role of a responsible parent and tell him exactly what he needs."

" Or what, little one?" The Emerald Lady tilted her head, peeling back her lips to reveal her glistening teeth.

Lyndis pulled out her rapier and thrust it aloft. "Or we're going to jump from sharp words to even sharper blades before you can utter another one of these pride-infused fake threats. Maybe an ole round of bar-room negotiating will knock some sense into you."

---

"That's how you negotiate in Drenedar? You're going to what, try to pry my scales apart with that tiny needle? Or is your grand plan to tickle me to death?" The dragoness pulled her head back, laughter brimming her words. "Dear Lyndis, take note from someone who has seen legendary rogues perish under the claws of dragons half my size. If you want your threats to carry any weight, you'd better pack a much greater weapon under your royal skirt."

"Oh, it's not my skirt nor my lineage you should worry about now. If you want us to really go down that route, I'm sure there's plenty of chinks in that green armor of yours." She made a few stabbing motions, trying to hide how tight her hand was upon her hilt right now. "We can find out together."

" You insolent, pompous little wretch. How...How dare to even have the audacity to threaten me?" The Emerald Lady gasped. She went from a cloudy sky to full on raging tempest as she took another step forward. " Talk to me in such a way, insult me in my realm." Beads of saliva flew from her snapping jaws, causing Lyndis to side step away. " To tell me how to raise my own children!"

"Mother!" Cordenth roared, charging between them with his wings outstretched. "Step away from her this instant!" He snapped at his mother's neck. She recoiled as if bitten by a cobra.

" Hrrrrr...so that's how it is. The little whelp grew teeth," the Emerald Lady's piercing eyes between the pair, hesitation brimming within. She resettled her vast wings against her back a heavy sigh escaping her maw. "So both of you make demands of me then...Regardless of what can happen?" She tilted her head to the side as she raised a paw. It was glowing with a brilliant purple light, the magical aura dripping of it like it was made of water. " No matter what I could do to you?"

"If it means standing with your son as he looks for his father?" Lyndis gave a half smile as her good sense screamed at her to stop. "Then hell yes." She held the rapier out further. "Now dragon!" She puffed her chest out proudly like Cordenth had done. Like this would be her final moment on this earth. She could even see the snarl that was forming on the dragoness' snout. "Tell Cordenth what he needs to know!"

"These brazen demands will only send you to an early-" the Emerald Lady raised a paw only to be stopped by Cordenth's roar in defiance.

"You hurt her mother, and I promise to you on all that I hold dear that I will strike at you with all my strength. I will keep on doing so until my claws bleed and my strength shrivels." Cordenth stepped around Lyndis, tail curling around her like a warm promise, "And you will cease to be my mother. I will curse your name to the nine hells, hoping you join Tiamat in damnation when your end finally comes."

Silence fell between them, just like the Emerald paw of his mother. The fire in her eyes died away, like snuffed out by a fierce wind. Her head drooped, she sat upon her hinds, and even the boom of her voice had faded. Within the flutter of a hummingbird's wings the Emerald lady was gone, and all that remained was a caring mother. One who didn't want to lose her son.

"That...is an outcome we'd both like to avoid." The Lady's wings pinned to her back, as she seemingly shrank before the two. Lyndis even thought she saw twinkles of half-formed tears within those lavender pools. "I never expected you...any of you to yearn so much for someone that... I'm sorry. I said too much already. Please try to understand the nature of your demands. You're forcing me into a choice that no mother should endure."

"Oh, come on! What's with all the doom and gloom? We're talking about a dragon here, not the end of the focken world!" Lyndis shouted, only for Cordenth to silence her with a hardened look. He wanted to hear.

" The future is fickle. It bends and turns like a leaf trapped in an endless storm, every little breeze capable of leading it in yet another direction. I cannot foresee all these possibilities, and if things don't go the way they should...then try to imagine this was the only way to keep you two from meeting your end far before your time," She gave another deep sigh as she rose her head and turned her gaze to her son. " I can satisfy your curiosity... As for you, Lyndis-"

"Yeah?" Lyndis sheathed her weapon with a well-deserved smile."I don't suppose you're going to slam me with the exact time of my death for crossing boundaries.".

" You're certainly brave."

"I bloody know that." She glanced to Cordenth, giving the dragon a smirk. "Someone needs to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves, even if they happen to be dragons."

Cordenth's snout wrinkled, his tail wiggled defiantly. "Hey, that's not how-"

"Don't argue." Lyndis slide over, leaning on his onyx chest, proud to have finally obtained what she wanted. "We won this round mate."

The dragoness let out a pleased rumble from her throat shifting her eyes to her son. " Certainly a good pick." Her softened laugh ended with a lingering sigh, a sadness about her eyes as her neck lowered slightly. " Cordenth. I've watched you grow over the years...From the little green hatchling that snapped at my snout first moment you saw me. So fierce you thought you were." her eyes began to grow larger as her voice became softer. " I saw you glide on your own for the first time, and explore my vast domain for days upon days, year after year... And now we have reached the moment of your life I have dreaded ever since you hatched," She rose her head to stare into the distance, like she was trying to capture the image of her treasured memories. " I thought it would not pain me as much as it does in this moment... But here we are, trapped by the ever-tightening walls of an outcome I cannot change, wishing for tomorrow to never come." Her eyes traveled back, and Lyndis almost fainted at what she saw next.

In the Emerald Lady's eyes were tears. Not fake magical illusions, but honest tears that were dripping from her misty eyes. " For tomorrow, you and your brother leave me forever."

"N-no. Don't say that, mother..." Cordenth slowly moved closer to his mother, inching his smaller snout towards hers "You almost make it sound like we will never see each other again."

The Emerald Lady said not a word as tears rolled down her pebbly cheeks and splattered softly on the ground below. She quickly snatched up Cordenth with both of her forelimbs and pulled him tightly against her. Her wings wrapped around them both as she draped her head over her child. " I love you. More than the whole world... Your father..." She pulled away to look at him snout to snout. " Is none other than Croesus. So, you see? You were never truly apart. He has watched you grow your entire lives." She rose a claw to caress Cordenth's cheek softly, " We thought it best to not tell you until you were ready to leave."

So that's where he gets his eyes from? A gryphon? Lyndis' did a double take. How is that even po-

"How is that possible?" the green dragon echoed her thoughts through his wrinkled his snout, curling his neck into an S. "You hate anything that isn't a dragon."

"I don't hate them." Emerald Lady sighed. " Resentful? Yes. I think of them as directionless hatchlings that cannot see behind their basest desires. Children that don't know any better than what they are told. Yes. They have many flaws and often need to be guided to be effective, yet they also bear qualities I've learned to live with...maybe even admire in a select few individuals."

Cordenth simply blinked, looking away with a slight fluffing of his wings. "Croesus..." He whispered softly. "He's been here the entire time...." His weight shifted from paw to paw until he was glancing to his mother with wide eyes, desperate to soak in the answer she would give. "But he's still a gryphon. How could you and he make it...you know, make it work?"

"I shifted him into a dragon for a while. It is, after all, the only way for his seed to take proper hold. That is how you two came to be." She ran a claw softly along her son's emerald cheek. "Every time I look upon you I am reminded of his splendor. He is such a striking dragon..."

"Why hide this from us? Why wait so long to tell me?" Cordenth narrowed his eyes, splayed his wings and pulled his snout away. His voice was filled with confusion, sadness, and pain, all intermixed into one. "Why? Especially when we've been asking all this time! All the years you could have told us!"

" Because I knew you would leave. There would have been nothing to keep you two here within my domain, and any such attempt would have ended in more pain than you deserve." She tapped her tail on the floor, limbs quivering as breath seemed to come harder for her. " This was the only way that I could ensure your safety. The only outcome where you two survived." Before the green dragon could say another word, the dragoness surged forward to nuzzle at him with a soft whine that seemed all too unlike the strong dragoness Lyndis had come to know. " This adventure you plan to go on with your brother?"

"It's not set in stone. I might reconsider a couple of things." Cordenth snaked his head back to look to Lyndis with a soft smile.

" Your brother will need your strength for a time."

Cordenth sighed, locking eyes with his mother. "How could we even trust you? After all the lies you spewed throughout the years?"

The dragoness silenced him with a deep hug and a dozen or so nuzzles, combined with affectionate licks across his snout that made Cordenth whimper and growl happily. Cordenth leaned further into her touch and offered her soft trills.

" Alas, you will simply have to trust me. Just like all the other times...Even if you don't like it." She licked him a final time along the bridge of his snout. " Please know that I never enjoyed keeping you here or hiding things. It broke my heart each day to see you two so miserable and cross with me." She sighed, her eyes traveling from the familiar form of her son to the hard stone of the smoking purple cauldron. " The future is a very fickle thing. It requires precision, and a deft touch, and often great sacrifices that must be made. Even from those that contain our greatness."

The Emerald Lady held her son in silence for a time, before turning her snout towards Lyndis. "Now what to do with about this?"

The way the dragoness was staring at her with a grin made the half-elf's hair stand on the back of her neck stand. Lyndis found herself involuntarily taking a step back.

" What to do...What to do." the dragoness' tail flicked behind her menacingly as she strode over with a strut in her step, her son seemingly forgotten. Her eyes that had been filled with fondness were gone, only to be replaced with the ones of a predator, a predator who was moments away from victory. " You have captivated the attention of my son's affections. Speak the truth now, girl. No reason to sneak around this."

"Y-yes! And I'm almost sure you bloody knew it ever since you strolled into his home!" Lyndis shouted, her legs tensing, ready to flee.

"Mother! What are you going to do to her?" Cordenth went to snarl.

" Oh hush now, Cordenth... I am not angry...Just, intrigued," She chuckled in the back of her throat. " Amused, to see one such union take root before my very eyes. Contrary to what the tavern songs have you believe, it doesn't happen often for a lesser bipedal creature to attract the fondness of a dragon. Not in the same way Arcturus has done with the red one, or how she did it with you."

"It's not like that. We're just...very close friends." Cordenth stammered.

"Are you now?" She held up a claw, tracing a thin white line in the air. It glowed briefly as it lingered there, suspended by creeping mists.

What kind of magic is this? Lyndis watched the light follow the dragoness' claws as they swayed from side to side.

" You are more than just a simple tomb raider. You, Lyndis Kuxion, have saved my son's life, and perhaps more than that." She glanced back to Cordenth who was staring to Lyndis with a look of concern on his snout. " You've enchanted my son with your own charms." She turned her attention once more to the rogue. " I think you need to embrace a new perspective. A broader view that will show you a tantalizing taste of what your future has in store for you. A gift, as it were." She pointed her talon right to the half-elf's chest, the magic spreading from her claws like a charging cobra.

Like a rabbit her heart pounded against her chest, all her instincts on high alert. She spun round, words caught in her throat as terror wrapped it's tendrils around her. She got only a few steps before the but crackling of pulsating energy enveloped her like a cocoon. Her body felt sluggish, her eye lids fluttered. Like she'd drank too much elven frost wine back home. The spell surged to life around her, bombarding her vision with a brilliant white. Panic rose up within her, but she had no way to voice it. Whatever spell this was stopped even that. Through it all she could hear Cordenth's savage snarl.

"Mother! What have you done!" The green dragon's voice seemed to quake the floor beneath Lyndis' boots.

Lyndis collapsed to all fours with a loud, bone twitching crack. Then again it rippled across her, feeling no pain when she was certain there should be. She tried to move her move, recoil, shift, but found as if she were being held down by the very air itself. What was going on?

" This isn't pain she's experiencing. Not in the traditional sense. I have given her a gift... Just watch." The Emerald Lady's calm voice silenced Cordenth's concern, and even in a fleeting way put an end to the racing of Lyndis heart.

Her breaths slowed and she focused, as another series of cracks struck her very being. It was then she could sense that her bones were reshaping themselves. Her spine was shooting downward so were her limbs. "What is going on?" She shouted as her teeth grew larger and sharper.

Cordenth simply gasped, his voice coming softly in disbelief. "Mother...you didn't..."

She did what? Panic resurfaced again as twin limbs sprouted from her back like trees. Her arms trembled, her spine shook. However, like moments before, there was no pain to accompany the sensation. Her mind was desperately reeling, wishing she could see. Then as everything began to settle, the light began to fade. Colors burst into her vision, blurry and out of focus. Within a few blinks of her eyes her vision returned to her. What...What in the blazes happened to me? She rose her head to look at the Emerald Lady. The dragoness still had a pleased look on her face. "What happened?" She groaned, glancing to Cordenth who wore a dumbstruck look on his snout.

Lyndis pushed herself up, going to stand but stopped when she looked down at her arms. Instead of hands she saw snowy white scaly limbs that ended in blackened talons. Dragon talons... WHAT? The panic that had started to recede suddenly came flooding back into her mind like a storm. She looked down to her chest to see that it had the same pristine scales. She peaked behind herself to find white, fluffy feathery wings. No...No...No.. She grabbed at her face to find that it was now an elongated snout not unlike Veledar's or Cordenth's; snouts she caressed plenty of times. She traced along it to the top of her horned head. I'm a....

"Dragoness." Cordenth gasped as she stumbled backwards in a daze.

"What did you do to me?" Lyndis screamed, falling to the ground with her tail thumping on the ground.

" That's a most obvious question, my dear." The Emerald Lady looked at one of her claws before spreading and refolding her wings. " I turned you into a dragon of course."

"You...You can't just turn everyone you want into dragons. That's just...it's so..." Lyndis struggled to find the words perfectly to capture her haze and brimming fire. But that would have to wait. She bolted away from the pair and scampered down the empty hallway. She pushed from her mind the question on how easily she was navigating on four limbs, choking it up to instinct or the spell the dragoness had used on her. She eventually came crashing through the vine covered main door, stumbling into the chilly night air. The serene night could provide a measure of relief...if it wasn't so accursedly loud. Lyndis grasped her head as the overwhelming sensations experienced by her new form made her skull ache.

"What's happening? Everything feels so...raw."

A growl of misery escaped her trembling jaws. Lyndis couldn't stay in one place even if she wanted to. She sprinted past the frozen statues, the smell of mold stinging her sensitive nose. Frantically, her claws dug into the earth as she entered the forest, the sounds of birds above almost deafening to her. She eventually collapsed onto her stomach, claws trying to cover where her ears had been. How is this even real? She knew that dragons could change into other forms, but make others change their forms as well? She felt a cold snake worm its way into her body as she had never felt so powerless before in her entire life. She'd been controlled before, back when she still lived with her parents. But this? This was control on a whole new level that left her quivering in terror.

Please let this be a dream. She clenched her eyes tightly shut. She waited, and waited, and when the sounds and smells failed to fade away, she opened her eyes again to her inescapable situation.

_ _

Of course it's real. She held up one of her forelimbs, inspecting the four-digit limb and poking carefully with a claw at the segmented scales on it. I'm a dragon. She felt her tail twitch by itself and drag along the earth. This is my life now, cold and overwhelming, a prison of scales from which I cannot escape.

Her vision began to get blurry at such a dreadful prospect.

I should have never left my homeland. Lyndis held back a sob as despair crept its way into her chest. She turned her now-long neck to inspect every inch of her new white scaled body. Her fears were confirmed as her eyes traced along every scale, every feather on her wings, every curved talon that sprouted from the tip of each finger. There was nothing left of her old self. Not a single inch that she could hold onto. At least I still have my mind. She latched onto that precious thought like a piece of driftwood floating in the sea. Everything else was shaped to meet the Emerald Lady's extravagant wishes.I was a pawn.

She felt tears start to form in her eyes as she thought back to her beloved Cordenth. At how warm, fuzzy, and loved the dragon had made her feel. Was that even real?

She felt herself bare her teeth out of instinct under the flash of anger that electrified her form. Or was it all just another manipulation by her? To get what SHE wanted?

She glared up to the star filled sky, sniffing as the first tear flowed down her scaled cheek, dropping down to the ground below her. How can I do the rest of our quest like this? Do we even have enough time for me to learn to use my magic in this form? Another thought came to her head as she narrowed her tear-filled spheres. Or was this a way to keep me here?

Then it dawned on her, and her eyes widened. The perfect choice.... for a mate! She remembered the dragoness' words about dragons ruling Drenedar. She meant MY dragons...my hatchlings. She felt her stomach tighten as she clutched her sides, expecting to throw up. She continued to sob into the night air, her wings quivering punctuating every sound. But soon came a concerned voice, bringing about a brief reprieve from her thoughts. Cordenth emerged with tentative steps, eyes still brimming with warmth.

"Lyndis...are you alright?"

"What do you want?" she snapped at him, her words coming out in an angry hiss.

"I know you're all shades of mad...confused...overwhelmed... but this doesn't have to be a curse. You're still you, only...with a few added scales and feathers."

"A few? Yeah, right. She could tell him exactly what she thought about her stupid scales and chicken feathers. But then their eyes met, his bright spheres full of kindness and understanding. And suddenly, whatever tempest of emotions that were swirling around in her started to die.

She felt her nerves settle down for a moment as he took another step towards her. She took a deep breath to find his scent pleasantly overpowering. The smell of dragon mixed with pine made her mind start to settle, her nerves slowly winding down. It was like his mere presence and smell could relax her into a state of complacency. That of course couldn't help fight off the wicked whispers in the back of her mind. Did...Did she enchant me to like her son?

"Lyndis?" the gentle dragon swooped in to wrap his warm wings around her. "It's okay. We'll get through this...together." He nuzzled the length of her neck with his. Green scales rubbed white ones in a pleasing sensation that rippled across her form.

"Cordenth." she tried to shove him away but found herself unable. She was nuzzling right back, it may have been the only thing keeping her from collapsing again. "Your mother...look what she did." She could feel herself start to mist up again, powerless rearing it's ugly head once more.

"It's okay."

"Why would she even do this?"

"Do you not like being a dragon?" He tilted his head to the side and offered her an affectionate kiss on the snout.

"I did not ask for this!" She pulled her snout away snarling, "Imagine, for just one second, Cordy, that everything about yourself was focken gone in an instant! If your tosser of a mother wanted to prove she was in control of the bleedin situation...Good focken job!" Her eyes leaked as she lost herself within his bright spheres. "I can't even keep my true form without her permission." She squeezed her eyes shut and intertwined her neck with the green dragon she cared for. At least he was a comforting center in this terrible mess. She wrapped him in wings, pulling tighter as her voice shrunk. "You see past her pretentious gift, right? Tell me you see the truth of it, the plotting."

"What is that?" he replied, nearly in a whisper.

"She manipulated us the entire time...Me... You... She wanted you to be with me." She bared her teeth as she repeated the dragoness' words. "For your kingdom will be ruled by dragons, and you will welcome them with loving arms." She pulled back from the embrace to place her snout right on the green dragon's own. "She expects me to bear _your_young, Cordenth..."

"T-that...That can't be it." his frills started to turn a dark shade of green. "She'd never go that far. Never."

"What we have...is it even real? Or did she enchant me to start falling for you?"

"You fell for me?" Cordenth backed away in surprise.

Did I just say that? She turned her snout away, feeling heat rise to her face. She tried to not think about how he made her feel, and how at ease his presence set her at. But that is silly...We have only known each other for... Gods, it really is like one of those stupid stories you read...

"You don't have to be ashamed about it." Cordenth snaked his snout closer to hers and offered an affectionate lick across her snout. "And it has to be real.... I just know it. There is no way a spell can make my heart leap the way you make it do...and even if it was a spell, I would not care." he placed a gentle claw on the underside of her snout. "Because I care for you."

"Thank you." she smiled, his gaze a honied sun that brought warmth to her weakened heart. She felt her wings quiver when he pressed his snout to hers in the mortal gesture of a kiss. She closed her eyes and just let herself melt into his embrace. She let out a long, happy sigh of relief. Would it really be that bad to spend my days with him?

"And if I thought you were beautiful before..." Cordenth purred in his throat, causing her to chuckle. "You are even more so now."

"Did you not like my previous self?"

"It's...complicated. Before, I found you attractive for different reasons...now you match what dragons initially consider attractive in our own kind." he nuzzled her again, ridding her mind of any confusion she might have had with his words.

Lyndis said not a word and only returned the gesture with a pleased croon escaping her maw.

Cordenth kissed her again, his tail winding around hers. When they broke away, she found her mind was still doing loops as her heart beat erratically. "Now, if you will follow me to the sky." He wrapped a wing around her and started to guide her through the forest. "I would like to go dancing with you."

"How will I be able to?" He guided her over a fallen log, "I've not flown before."

"I trust you'll know what to do just fine. Like you're able to navigate so well on four limbs." Cordenth removed a low hanging branch away for her with a wing. "The spell she used should be giving you a basic instinct on how to move. I am hoping that applies to flying as well."

"Won't I ruin our dancing if my wings start to trip on each other?" she brushed up against him, his coming purr a lovely song that filled the air.

"It should not throw us off _too_much. So, don't worry your scales about it."

They emerged from the forest to a clearing bathed in the ivory glow of the moon. It was a great faded green field, dotted with dark crimsons and blues. Lyndis eyed the ground and spied sign of movement and sections of upturned earth. Did this clearing form just for us? She looked to Cordenth, warmth filling her heart at his calmness, and hoping none of it was projected by a spell. Did you make this clearing? Or did your mother? She hated the idea that she would be guided once again by the dragoness into her son's waiting limbs.

"Don't worry." he said softly, moving his nose to be inches from hers. "Everything you see is my doing. There will be no more meddling by her tonight."

"How can you bleeden believe that?" Lyndis tilted her head to the side, flicking her tail against some grass.

"I swear on my very scales, Lyndis...the half-elf who makes my heart flutter like I'm a hatchling all over again."

"But how can you be sure? When she can snatch my very form from me?"

"She called it a gift for a good reason." he replied with a nuzzle against her neck. "Trust me... I yelled at her when you scampered off from that room."

"Some gift this is," she replied, snarling internally. Leave it to that dragoness to ruin a childhood dream. "Permanently though? How will I-"

"It's not permanent." Cordenth cut her off as his frills fluttered and turned a darker shade of green once more.

"What?" she gasped. "How long will I be a dragon for?"

"It will only last until tomorrow, she said... That's when she plans to turn you back to your original form. Mother wanted me to tell you to enjoy your gift."

"Well... this changes everything." Lyndis sighed, her anger for the dragoness starting to fade away. The dread that gripped her heart scattered into the winds, released with a heavy sigh. She glanced to the green dragon before her, and her world narrowed down to his handsome scales.

"Cordenth." she smiled, nuzzling against his cheek. "Thank you for everything...I would have never thought I would meet someone like you in this place." She pressed her lips to his and offered him another kiss that made her heart beat faster, causing him to counter with a pleased trill in return.

"You want to go dancing now?" he coughed. "Before this kissing leads to...other things."

So your mind did go there, after all. She giggled as his entire body shivered with an unsaid want. She slid along the length of his body, rubbing her scales against his own. "I would love to go flying with you, o', handsome dragon...and don't concern yourself with the...other things just yet." she chuckled returning to his snout to kiss him once more. On her own her throat rumbled, as the delightful sensation trickled across her scales. All thanks to the dragon she loved. Loved._Her eyes widened. That thought certainly surprised her. However, with the next nuzzle he gave her, she felt that thought scatter away. _I don't care. This is the only night when I can do these things as a dragon.

"Now, I will take you into the sky." he turned to gesture to the stars above with a sweep of his forelimb. "We will hold each other and fly as one."

Lyndis gazed out to the twinkling sky. Due to her enhanced vision, the star-dotted sky looked more vibrant than she had ever known previously. The flickering stars looked t like diamonds in the sea of black.

"That sounds beautiful." she spoke softly, already imagining the wind caressing her face with each beat of her ascending wings. She found herself surprised that her voice was filled with such fondness, a fondness she had never known for anyone else before this moment. She found herself melting into him as the dragon surprised her with another slow kiss. His tongue even found a way into her maw, and swirled around her own like a wet, fleshy snake.

"I think...if you want to go flying...we need to stop these romantic gestures." She gasped, pulling away with a half-smile. "Or we will never leave the ground. Is that what you secretly want, Cordenth? For us to remain trapped within each other's embrace?"

"That doesn't sound that bad." Cordenth chuckled. "However, I would very much like to show you the dragon dancing before you are forced to turn back to your mortal form." Green scales rubbed against white ones, before the sound of his wings carried him to the sky.

Without another word, she cased after him. Her wings acting as though this was the easiest thing in the world. Yet where she merely acted, he was like a dance, swoops and swirls she had no hope to preform just yet. As she watched in silent admiration the handsome green curled around, soon taking his place beside her with a heartwarming warble. He bid her up and she followed, softly locking limbs with one another.

Together they rose, spinning far above the forest of despair, the wind rushing past her scales mimicking the warmth radiating from her heart. When she thought they were high enough her brought her down, spiraling over the vast green quilt, the rest of the world seemingly melting away. All her senses were whisked away with every beat of their wings, finding herself closer against his black scaled chest with every silent moment. It was breathtaking, exhilarating. An exciting adventure that had no equal. She glanced passed his stalwart expression towards the shimmering stars and the void that seemed to stretch on for infinity. Like he knew she was staring he peered down at her, a smile creasing his scaled lips that practically made her rumble her approval.

"That...was incredible." she gasped, spreading her wings wide as he guided her to a steady glide over the treetops. Overcome with the tingling of her scales her eyes closed, basking in the enchanting night.

"I am most glad you enjoyed it." he said ever so softly, almost hidden with the wind's caress. His wing tips brushed against hers, his warm smile bringing one out on her snout.

"Truly a once in a lifetime experience." she angled her wings and starting to enter a turn, not minding the pleasant burn about her cheeks. She hadn't felt this in a long while. Like nothing could go wrong, simply let herself drift away. She sighed softly. Quests awaited for them both, ones that would keep them apart for quite some time. She glanced to him, eyes twinkling ever so enchantedly in the moonlight. "Shame It has to be for one night. I'd have liked more time with you my enchanted knight."

"Then we are of two minds." He drifted downwards, gesturing and guiding her to a flower filled clearing. Lavender flowers sprouting like little islands among the thick sea of green and scattered greys. She landed beside him like a practiced pro, gently trotting admist the grass while her wings pinned to her back.

"Good for a first landing no?" She strutted around, swaying her tail happily. "Bet every dragon around would be envious!" She turned as he landed with a trot, head drooping after he gave her a long stare.

"It was." Cordenth snorted, nuzzling her neck with a soft whine. His shiver an icy claw across her chest. "It makes the journey ahead ever the harder."

"Because you're leaving me?" Silence hung heavy in the air before Cordenth nodded without a word.

"Hey," she stopped and pressed a talon to his nose. "You keep that brother of your safe, then you come flying to find us." She offered him a quick nuzzle, hoping she did it right as she rubbed her scales against his. "Hows that sound? Tickle your scales?" Her next breath of him made her scales shiver. It was like his scent was even stronger now. She felt her talons twitch as her blood start to quicken, and her cheeks start to turn red.

"That it does." he pressed against her with a soft pleased croon. "It will be tough though."

She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning against the dragon who was oh so warm. If she was not mistaken, she heard his own breath quicken as he held her closely against him. "Now...Since I have this form... I think I should learn how to fight in it." she opened her eyes and quickly bolted away, crouching low and entering what she thought might be a playful stance. She waggled her haunches and brought her snout close to the ground.

"You really want to _wrestle_then?" he turned his snout away from her with a snort, his frill a dark shade of green. "Why spend our time exerting ourselves?"

"What if we are attacked?" she gasped, leaping at him, only for him to bound away from her. "And I am left as a defenseless dragoness?"

"Defenseless?" he smirked, evading another one of her bounding pounces. "You are hardly that."

He had her there. When her paws tasted air again, she cursed herself for not being able to maneuver her form better. "You're not even trying to wrestle me back!" she laughed, chasing after his tail.

"It's...well, it's not that I don't want to-"

"Got you!"

Cordenth turned around as she finally caught his scaly hide. He was spun to the ground and pinned to the grass beneath her. He just looked up to her, blushing as he did so. "W-well, it looks like you won." he snaked his snout up to offer her a loving lick, one that she returned without a single thought.

"That's not fair. You let me pin you." She settled down onto his body, kneading her claws softly onto his scales and laughing to herself when he groaned slightly. "You just love the idea of a powerful dragoness pinning you beneath her, don't you?"

"N-Not really." the dragon clearly lied, his eyes shifting away from her.

"Aha!" she tapped his snout with her talon, her tail thumping behind her. "I knew it." she offered him another quick lick between his beautiful eyes. "You like being pinned!" she teased.

"Yes." he hissed in laughter.

"It's okay." she sighed, settling her head next to his and taking another deep breath of his scent. It swirled around in her head and made her feel all fuzzy and warm. If she did not know any better, it reminded her of-

Her eyes widened as a lustful call traveled about her. An overpowering desire that left her next breath lingering too long on the air.

He's arousing me. Just by his mere scent?

_ _

She took another sniff before giving him another quick lick under his jaw. When all of it simply increased, she was certain. The handsome dragon pinned beneath her was making her all hot and bothered, and if the way he was squirming and blushing beneath her, he was as well.

"What's the matter, Cordy?" she asked coyfully, tapping his snout with a talon. "You look a tad uncomfortable right now."

"It's just...you smell....really deligtful right now." he groaned, flopping his head back onto the grass.

I wonder why? She chuckled to herself as she pushed herself off the dragon and gazed out to the field of green around them. Noticing that there was a collection of fireflies now dancing in the night air over the slivers of grass. "Would you want to retire to your nest for the evening?" She arched her back to the dragon that had pushed himself back onto all fours.

"Tired of the flying and the wrestling, are we?" he growled playfully as he strode over to her.

"Sort of." she brushed against him, playfully smacking him with her tail. "But I kind of want to spend the night cuddled against you, held within your paws." Lyndis closed her eyes. She could already picture his gentle and tender embrace as he traced her scales with his own paws.

"T-that can be arranged." she saw him gulp when she opened her eyes. "Lyndis?"

"Yes?" she asked, spreading her wings wide in preparation for flight. She could already feel the anticipation building in her scaled chest. It would certainly be hard to go back to flying without wings of her own. Was that what you wanted, Emerald Lady? For me to simply not want to go back to myself? To stay with your son for the rest of my life?

"I know you would probably be against wearing one of my mother's scale necklaces, but maybe... one of my own might work."

Lyndis tilted her head to the side. The idea seemed strange to her as worry crept into the back of her mind. "So you can spy on me or something? Just like your mother does to her subjects?"

"No... It would be a way for us to stay in touch." Cordenth's frills turned a darker shade of green as he looked briefly away. "It would even allow us to combine our dreams together, and feel as though we are right beside each other no matter the distance between us."

"So I could spend every night feeling like I was wrapped within your paws?" she asked, the worry fading away to be replaced with excitement. "Because that would be bloody fantastic!"

"Yes." He nuzzled her softly. "That is exactly what I am saying."

"Then I would love to have one of these scales of yours. Do you already have one made up or something? Or is there some sort of ritual that needs to be done?"

"We can make one up when we get back to my cave." He spread his own wings after offering her a quick peck on the tip of her snout. "Just try to keep up, Lyndis." he bounded into the air with a smirk, his tail playfully smacking her across her nose.

"Oh, you'll see just how well I can fly when I catch you, Cordy!" she shouted out in glee as she pounced after him, her wing-beats swiftly carrying her into the air. She caught up to him easily enough. In the back of her mind, she suspected that he was not _actually_trying to get away from her.

"Got you!" she roared once she touched the back of his scales with a claw as they flew over the forest canopy. Her eyes scanned the tapestry of green for the waterfall, the one that Cordenth called his home.

"Oh no!" he gave her a fake groan, turning his snout to smile at her. "What should I do, mighty huntress? How could I possibly avoid your wrath?"

"Give me all your treasure!" Lyndis hissed playfully.

"I think that might be crossing a line."

"Nonsense! You were powerless beneath my paws back there." she repositioned herself so that she was flying right by his side, practically wing-tip to wing-tip.

"Only because I was playing with you." he angled his wings once the waterfall came into view and the two dragons started their descent towards it. "If we were actually wrestling for real, I would end up on top."

"And if you were on top, what would you do to me?" she laughed, watching his frills change color as he blushed all over again. They landed with a quick back-wing, and he had yet to answer her. "That must be one tricky answer to form." She brushed against him with a laugh, delighting when he closed his eyes and shivered. "Still think I still smell good, do you?"

"Delightful." he gasped, and when he opened his eyes they appeared to be in a haze. "It's really hard right now to... grawwh It must be the spell."

"What must be the spell?"

"Mrawh, nevermind...let us go create that necklace for you." Cordenth quickly wrapped a wing around her and started to guide her along the smooth rock path that led deeper into his lair. She noticed with her next few breaths that the dragon had started to produce a musky sort of smell. Not an unpleasant one by any means, but one that made her own body shiver more in delight, and her already wet nethers dampen some more. It was hard for her to not think about how handsome Cordenth looked right now in the moon light. How his scales would carefully clink together, his muscles moving back and forth. For a moment she pictured him holding her carefully with his claws and gently moving her tail out of the way as he lined up his dragon-hood with her-

"Well, there it is." Cordenth smiled. He somehow brought her to his cave, crafted whatever he needed to, and brought the scale that was connected to a thin chain of gold.

I was so lost in my lust I was...

Lyndis shook her head, trying to regain some semblance of herself. Trying to unwind herself from the lewd thoughts of the green dragon having his way with her was quite a difficult endeavor. Would that be so wrong? She heard her mind whisper to her, causing her to give out a small pleased sigh. No...No it would not...

"How... how does it work?" she stammered out, hoping that the dragon had not noticed her momentary delay.

"It's really fairly simple, actually." He took a step forward, holding up the scale before her eyes. It appeared to be one of his own. "We just both have to touch it, and I say the activation words. Then whenever you slumber and wear it, the necklace will try to connect our dreams...If I am sleeping at the same time of course."

"And no matter the distance." she smiled. "I will always have you by my side."

"Precisely." Cordenth nodded as she reached out and grabbed hold of the necklace like he was doing.

Lyndis looked up into the dragon's eyes and took a few more deep breaths. Taking in more of the scent that was driving her currently wild with need became as important as drinking, eating, or even breathing. It was all she could muster at this point. Anything that did not involve her throwing herself at the dragon. The thought popped into her head for the briefest of moments that possibly the Emerald Lady had done something to her with the spell. Made her desire her son more than ever. _But I already found him handsome...and attractive..._She gave a pleased sigh as she traced his scales with her eyes.

"Ready?' She asked softly.

He returned her words with a nod.

His eyes never left hers for even a moment as he began to speak in a language of hisses and growls. It seemed that, despite her new body and enhanced senses, she still could not understand their language. He moved his other claw in small circles, a faint glow radiating from his digits. The light remained in the air for a few seconds with every rotation or movement that he did, and the entire time Lyndis felt her nerves start to stand on edge.

She felt a small little warm sensation on her spine. It slowly radiated out towards her wings, running through her limbs and condensing in her claws. When the warmth reached her head, she let out a small gasp of pleasure that quickly turned into a trilling noise with the closing of her eyelids. For the next few moments it was like her entire body had been plunked into a warm bath that was washing away all the hardships of a long day. Her tail quivered in delight, and she found herself struggling to keep upright.

"Lyndis!" Cordenth caught her softly within his limbs just as her weakened body started to topple over.

She opened her eyes softly, blinking them a few times to look at the concerned green snout of the dragon she cared about. She imagined that if they had longer, she might eventually come to love the green bastard as well.

"Thank you." She blushed, gently breaking from his embrace and standing on all fours once again. She shook her body as the warm feeling had started to fade away, much to her disappointment. She frowned slightly, wishing that it would have lasted for just a few moments longer. However, that desire too faded when Cordenth held up the green scale before her eyes. It looked the same as it did before on first glance, but as she focused on it, she came to realize that it was faintly glowing. "I already loved your scales." she gently took the golden chain from him and dangled the piece of jewelry before her. "I will cherish it always." She broke her vision away to offer the green dragon a kiss and a nuzzle.

"You're welcome." he returned her touch and ran a claw along the backside of her neck. His talons traced her scales in just the right way to make her let out a small pleased rumble from her throat.

"I can rumble?" she laughed in surprise as the dragon had started to guide her through his treasure and towards the bed of soft blankets. "Since when can I rumble?"

"All dragons can, you silly scale-wearing half-elf." he chuckled, running his enticing hide against her gently. "You just have to know the right spot to touch is all."

"What spot can make you rumble like that?" Curiosity lingered in her words as they settled down onto his bed, pressed up against one another. His snout was mere inches from hers, his frills fluttering on either side of his head. "Is it...here?" she rose a claw to stroke the soft membrane of his frill, giving a pleased croon when the dragon closed his eyes and sighed under the gentle ministrations of her touch.

"T-that is a good spot." he flicked his tail behind him, the scaled limb brushing against hers. "However, it can't make me rumble."

"How about here?" she did the same thing that he had done to her, tracing her talons on the backside of his neck. She tried to mimic the exact same thing that he had done and watched his pleased reactions as she worked. When she finally got down to the base of his neck Cordenth gave a low rumble, his tail intertwining with hers.

"Yes, t-that's the spot..." he moaned softly, his snout curling into a smile.

"You're adorable. You know that, right?" she snaked her snout close to his and gave him a quick slimy lick on his cheek.

"I try to be." he replied through groans, as she had not let up with her touching for even a moment. "I.... will have to get you back for this you know."

"I can think of a few ways on how to defend myself against whatever revenge you're plotting inside that cute scaly head." she replied innocently, ignoring the ample amounts of lubrication that squelched gently every time her folds contracted.

Cordenth lightly brushed her claw away from his neck, and instead moved his snout towards hers. With hardly any effort he pushed her down gently onto his bed, his tongue licking along the scales of her neck. The slimy pink eel brushed against her scales in just the right way that made her tingle and gasp with each passing.

"C-Cordenth." she moaned out, eyes closing shut as pleasure radiated from his ministrations. Her body was telling her she needed the handsome dragon right now. To have him grab her flank tightly within his claws, and passionately mate with her without a second thought. "T-that feels so good...."

"Mrrrhmmm." the dragon rumbled out, licking down her neck and onto her chest. "I can tell." he snorted, working his was down from her chest towards her belly. For a moment Lyndis thought he was going to snake his tongue down towards her ever-moistening tunnel, but he stopped half-way there and made his way back up to her snout to offere her a deep passionate kiss. She felt her mind start to melt under his passionate attention, as she caressed him with her claws.

With their maws locked with one another, she took a deep breath, and the musky scent that she had smelled before multiplied. It smelled so good that it lit the rest of her increased senses on fire. She NEEDED him now. When she felt something hard and wet brush against her scales, she knew that he needed her just as much. "Got you a bit worked up under the tail it seems,' she gasped as he broke their kiss.

"S-sorry." he replied sheepishly, blushing as he pulled his head away from her. "I... could not control myself..."

She silenced him with another kiss as she dragged his snout closer towards her, and they settled onto their sides. "Shhh...You have nothing to apologize for... I like the way you lick me, the way you smell...so what if your cock decided to join the party?" she nuzzled him gently with a laugh.

"How could it not, when I have such a beautiful dragoness in my bed? She is nuzzling against me like a gentle sea of pleasure and carries the sweetest of scents." he replied. "I thought it was the spell...I did not think you would want to...you know, since it all happened so suddenly."

"Cordenth." she grabbed hold of his snout with her forepaw, giving him another passionate kiss as she pulled herself tighter against him. "If you wish to mate with me, just say so."

"I...how could I not?" he replied.

"Hold on...Could I get pregnant in this form? Become trapped as a dragoness for the rest of my life?"

"No. It has to be the right season to bear young, and you are not in heat." Cordenth moaned, his claws guiding her until he was draped over her. "You do not have to worry about that detail right now."

That was the phrase her oozing entrance wanted to hear. Without another thought, the lustful dragoness curled her neck back to offer the dragon a flurry of passionate licks. Once his parted maw allowed her tongue to sneak in, the licks led up into a long, passionate kiss.

"Mrrrhhh...you're starting to get better with each passing second. If we were to meet for the first time, I could hardly guess your real form." The green male growled warmly as he stared into her eyes.

"Then what are you waiting on, Cordenth? You have a princess in your cave." Lyndis rose to all fours and padded a short distance from the bed. Without a tinge of shame, she moved her tail out of the way to expose her dripping nethers to the hungry eyes of her partner. She let out a soft sigh as she turned her neck to give the male the best 'come take me' look she could muster with her snout.

"I'm wet...and waiting," she said with a soft lust filled growl in the back of her throat. Her eyes went to the green dragon and watched his own golden eyes stare directly at her. Need burned within him. Like he had been traveling for days, and her soaked vent carried the blessed water he needed to survive. Cordenth gave a pleased rumble from his throat as he rose to join her.

Lyndis clenched in anticipation as she spied his dripping, dark pink maleness, a firm rod of flesh jutting out from a field of onyx scales. Droplets of his pre-seed met the ground, pattering against the stone as he padded over to her.

"That I do." he said softly. "And when she is so inviting, how can I not sample her?" he grabbed her flank with a forepaw, and snaked his snout towards her waiting lips, giving them a swirling lick with his tongue.

Lyndis gasped and kneaded the floor with her talons as the dragon's thick tongue made her feel like electricity was running through her nerves. "Grawwwhhhh...what a gentle-dragon you are." she crooned as he dove his tongue into her passage and began to lap tenderly at her silky fluids.

"Mrrrmmhmmm." he replied in the same suave way he licked. After more than a dozen strokes though his need for her picked up like a brewing storm. No longer pleased to just cleanse her folds of their own juices, the male pressed his snout against her tender flesh and began slurping hungrily at her pussy with his tail wagging behind him in delight.

Lyndis groaned and twitched under lovely ministrations, her eyes briefly glancing to his cock, a pole of flesh that never ceased throbbing and dripping before her. Part of her wanted to return the favor by wrapping her snout around the delicious-looking organ, but it was disappointingly out of her reach. With the next passing of his tongue over her clenched folds, Lyndis let out a passionate moan, and rose her hind quarters for the horny male.

"Mrraaahhh...Cordenth.." she moaned in ways only a dragon could, tensing all over when his tongue probed other deliciously sensitive parts of her sex. When it brushed against her clit, the sheer sexual bliss made her legs quiver as her portal clutched his slippery tongue with a thick evacuation of her own fluids.

Lyndis gasped over the terse squirt and shut her eyes. The pleasure started to build up beyond her ability to control. Her wings fluttered in an increasingly frentic dance, and her claws never ceased scraping their sharp tips over the stone. She had had oral sex before, but this... this was something else entirely. It felt like a curtain of gentle flames brushing over her scales, traversing her tense limbs before collecting into her constantly clenching folds. Lyndis knew what was soon going to happen. With baited breath and lust-filled growls, she just let the dragon work her body into a needy, dripping frenzy, that sent pleasure radiating through her.

"D-don't you want to wait for..." she moaned out with a swift twitch of her tail as the green dragon's constant brushing of her pleasure button practically had her begging to be mounted; to receive his hard, dripping maleness into her needy body and quell the primal need burning in her loins.

"Patience." he mumbled between slurps, obviously not wanting to stop teasing her with his tongue.

At this rate...I'm going to-

She felt her body tremble as she could feel the sensation of her climax quickly approaching with each stroke of the dragon's slippery eel of a tongue. "I'm going to...C-Cordenth...I can't hold it in..."

"Let it go." he growled in pleasure, tightening his grip on her flank and redoubling his efforts. "I want you to loosen yourself all over my snout."

Right after he whispered that last word, he pressed his fleshy tongue against her clit and continued to work her over the edge of precipice.

Lyndis squeezed her eyes shut. It hit her like a wave that completely broke apart the feeble walls of her resistance. With a roar of pleasure, the dragoness thrust her head towards the cavern's ceiling and unleashed her passion in the same thundering way she climaxed. Her bright roar radiated off the cavern walls and let anyone in the vicinity know just what was going on between the pair. Her body shivered as her pussy clenched around the dragon's wiggling tongue, drenching him with her liquid excitement over and over again. Her climax radiated through her body for several more moments of pure bliss as she scratched lines into the stone below her, gasps, growls, and moans of blissful pleasure accompanying the sharp squirts summoned by her rapidly spasming walls. With his eyes closed under the streams of translucent fluids cascading down the sides of his emerald snout, Cordenth sneaked his tongue as deep as he could inside her virgin passage, sampling her sweetness from the very source. Lyndis loved how good his tongue felt inside her. Whenever her spasming vagina caught hold of it, she'd growl just a pitch higher as her aroused mind invariably led her thoughts towards a hot session of copulation. A tongue might've been a mediocre replacement for a cock, yet just having something inside her made the virgin dragoness climax all the harder.

Cordenth rumbled happily once her first orgasm started to die down. He lapped at her folds a few more times causing his dragoness' moans to heighten as his tongue teased along her now hyper sensitive folds.

"That must've been some release to keep you tense like my mother's possessions," he flashed his teeth at her with a coy smile.

"Cordenth...don't kill my mood." Lyndis stumbled a bit on her weakened legs.

"Oh I wouldn't dream of that," the male swiped her fluids off his drenched snout. "It's just that...I've never seen a dragon shudder the way you did. You must've really, really liked it."

"Y-yes. You've been the best thing that ever happened to my draconic genitals. Mrawh...I want more, Cordenth. I yearn to feel the entirety of you pulsate within me."

"We should take a small break...to catch our breaths."

Lyndis snarled at that notion. She let her intention to be mounted known to the silly dragon by smacking him with her tail just as he prepared to step back.

"Arrh! Where did that come from?"

"From the same place you teased with that infuriatingly skilled tongue of yours, so either you see yourself inside me, or I'll take what I want."

She must've been quite convincing, for the green male immediately moved in to nuzzle the irritation off her snout.

"It's not my intention to keep you wanting."

"Then why pause?" Lyndis sneaked her tail between his legs, forcing a hiss out of his throat once her tail connected with the hard flesh of his naked erection. "I know you want me." Lyndis licked him lovingly across his snout while her tail moved up and down along his cock. "Arrhh...I want you so much I can climax just by inhaling your heady scent."

"That's exactly the problem, my dear, beautiful dragoness." Cordenth mounted weak thrusts against her teasing tip. "I want you so much that my passions might spill a bit too quickly."

She would've laughed if her burning folds weren't practically begging for him to sink inside their cushy embrace. "Don't worry your cute snout about that, my dear. Just mount me...and if you happen to release too quickly, we'll just go for a second round."

His silence almost led her to believe he'd decline. Then she moaned softly as she felt him change his hold on her, and rise up onto her back.

"Are you sure about this, my princess?" he asked softly as he lowered his head next to hers, flicking his tongue at her cheek while, below her tail, his drippy maleness rubbed the lips of her slick passage with his tapered tip.

She offered no coherent answer as the mere tip of his perfect cock started to send rippling waves of delight down her spine. Lyndis barely resisted the urge to push herself back and force it inside of her. If his cock is better than his tongue... I'm in for the ride of my life.

"I'm ready for you, my valiant dragon." she brushed her snout fondly along his, feeling his lips wrinkle as he pressed himself slowly into her lips with a steady, yet firm push. She broke away with a gasp as his cock spread her folds with wonderful pressure, causing her whole body to light up in pleasure. Cordenth hissed. He pressed himself further and further into her sodden depths, his gleaming fangs dripping saliva just like she leaked out her lust.

"Graaarrrhhh." she moaned out when the first of his ridges made its way into her. Every ridge that popped into her rubbed her insides in just the right way to make her quiver with utter delight. "Cord..." she groaned as he sheathed himself inside her depths with a short growl.

"Rrrr...ready to be mated?" he moved his head over to the back of her neck to playfully nip at her nape with his teeth, causing her to groan.

Her body clenched around his throbbing maleness, feeling his strong heartbeat pulsate through his firm breeding pole.

"Take me." she huffed eagerly, then gasped as he pulled all the way out to the tip, only to plunge himself back into her depths with a forceful thrust that made her struggle to maintain her footing. She cried out over his lustful growl. Cordenth repositioned for better balance, picking up the pace of his thrusts. "Gaahh...Grr.." She closed her eyes and gasped as he hammered her g spot over and over again, reducing her to a writhing wet mess that cried out in bliss with every thrust. Cordenth obviously knew what he was doing in spite of this being his first mating with a she-dragon. Lyndis roared out louder and louder, then all but froze when he sunk inside her deeper than ever before. Her muscles clenched to trap him inside her moist caverns, allowing her to feel the rushes of blood that made his penis pulsate as if it had a life of its own. He had ridges lining the entire length, lighting up avenues of pleasure she hadn't known. They popped in and out with every thrust, her body clinging to them desperately to keep them inside.

"More." Lyndis hissed to her mate. "Keep on...thrusting."

"I don't think...I can go on much longer." Cordenth huffed in response.

Despite the constant mind-shattering stimulation provided by the member that battered her entrance, Lyndis wanted more. Her wish had been granted when Cordenth's forepaws grabbed her even tighter. His emerald tail intertwined coiled harder around her own to secure her in a loving embrace. He let out a pleasured purr from his throat as he worked her body up to another pleasure filled high.

Lyndis could feel the rushing waves of a second climax approach her with thundering steps. The pleasure wrapped itself around her mind like Cordenth's sinuous tail, whispering to her to surrender to the dragon that was claiming her as his own.

"Oh, Cordenth..." she moaned softly, looking to him and seeing how her moans were spurring him on to press his way harder into her. His cock felt amazing plowing like that through her flesh. Like her pussy was shaped to welcome in every ridge, every bump, every feature. It wrapped his maleness like a glove, clenching, stroking, and squeezing him like it desperately wanted the seed it held. When her climax came, her lips began to flutter, and her pussy clenched down onto his maleness as she let out a roar of pleasure.

Despite the milking of his cock, Cordenth found the strength to nip at her neck.

_For how long can he keep this up?_Cordenth lingered inside her for longer periods between his thrusts, transfixed by the milking motions of the desperate dragoness. Every time Lyndis hoped his life-giving seed would burst into the depths of her thirsty cavern, and each time he pulled out, he grew just a little bit more disappointed, up until she ascended into her second orgasm. Like before, powerful spasms caused her steaming fluids to splatter down Cordenth's cock, causing the male to snarl, hiss, and push himself harder inside her. The ground became such a wet mess that his legs often skidded along the film of translucent fluids, but he didn't stop.

He...could not stop.

Every breath was mixed with the carnal smell of their mating, none more overpowering than the sweet miasma of her recent orgasm. The musky scent of his pre-seed caused her already lust filled senses to climb every higher with each thrust, and smack his scales on her own.

"Lyndis." she felt him shudder as his member seemed to grow in size, stretching her already sensitive folds even more as a hard ball of flesh at the base of his cock battered against her entrance, demanding entry to her temple.

He has a knot. Focken hell. How could I forget about that? There was no time to deliberate. Her heart swooned as his next forceful thrust was accompanied with a bite around her neck to hold her still. Her nether lips widened enough to grant him a slight foothold. She roared out in half anguish, half pleasure as he thrust harder and harder against her needy body until, with one powerful push, she accepted his knot in its entirety. Once her mate plopped inside, her lips locked firmly behind the hard flesh, filling her body with shudders of ecstasy.

If the last two orgasms were waves of pleasure, this one was like a hurricane of the highest order. It felt as if his cock was a key to unlocking a realm of delight she had never known before this magical moment. Her tunnel rippled and gripped his cock tight once more, the intense spasms working Cordenth so over the edge that his climactic roar broke into weakened moans of pure bliss. Quick and hard, his convulsing member started to unload rope after rope of warm sticky dragon seed into her waiting depths.

And Lyndis loved every spurt of that life-giving fluid. Upon sensing the peak of her mate's pleasure, her pussy aligned its rhythmic contractions with his spurts, milking the moaning male for all he was willing to give her, warming her insides to no end. Her orgasm left her gasping, moaning, and dripping rivers down onto the cavern floor. She closed her eyes and focused on his heartbeat, the warmth inside of her, and the constant squirts of cum that continued to pool inside her gooey depths.

"That..." Lyndis gasped out, still quivering in tingles of pleasure as his cock continued to spurt small trickles into her, and her pussy continued to squeeze at his length with lazier spasms. "That was..." Words were hard to form in her mouth as she continued to clench at his flesh and moan her approval. "That was incredible,"

"You're the whole reason for this." he growled tiredly, resting against her back with a smile. He nuzzled her tenderly as he ran a claw along her scales gently. "I couldn't hold myself back even if I tried...You practically squeezed the life out of me! I hardly believed a female had the power to overwhelm me with so much pleasure. You've been great, Lyndis. No. Better than great."

"Praise me more and I might just feel like a deity."

"I'd not waste a breath before bowing down at your claw tips." He laughed, licking her neck as another spurt of cum slithered its way inside her.

"You know, I've...never...taken a knot before." she growled with amusement, returning his smile. She let out a deep breath as she felt him shift again, her insides fluttering and continuing to caress his maleness with constant, suave squeezes.

"And?" he smirked, nuzzling her with his neck. His pleasant touch had Lyndis press further into his touch, giving him a pleasured croon from her throat.

"I don't think I could go back to _not_having one to finish me. But... how long will we be stuck like this?"

"Most likely long enough for us to regain our energy for another romp." he chuckled, starting to awkwardly move with her as she padded her way back to the bed.

She moaned, groaned, or gasped with every pleasurable step on the stone. Hot blood flushed her cheeks as she felt her fluids drip onto the ground. Her pussy clenched again around the knot locking her to Cordenth. "Enough energy for another round?" she gasped, carefully laying with him onto the soft furs of his bed. "I don't think I will survive another pounding from you." she giggled, leaning back on the warm dragon and offering him a passionate lick on his snout.

"We don't have to if you're satisfied with what I've already offered." he smiled back, returning her lick with his own. "I think we are both sated for the night, and I certainly am not here for just a good mating."

"Let's see how I feel in a bit, my wonderful, handsome dragon." she closed her eyes and squeezed his cock with her pussy again, causing her tail to twitch. "I... have a feeling I might want all you can give me."

"That sounds nothing short of delightful, my delightful princess." He rumbled, settling down his snout next to hers, and giving her a pleased snort.

They did end up having another mating that night, it started out practically when the dragon had softened enough to pull out of her sodden hole. He had kissed her, made out with her, and was soon thrusting back into her willing body. Once more she was left a writhing beast calling out his name as her body milked him down to the last drop. It ended up just like the previous time as he shoved his knot once again into her body, shooting another large load of dragon essence straight into her waiting depths. They collapsed onto his bed shortly in the wake of such exertion, gasping for breath and nuzzling one another.

"Ready for slumber, my beautiful dragoness?" He purred softly. His tongue flicked across her neck once more, with the tenderness reserved for the most loving of mates.

"With your cock buried inside me?" She leaned into him and just savored his continued spurts. "That sounds...lovely." she closed her eyes with a pleased rumble and pressed her cheek against his.

"Sweet dreams." she heard him say softly between his sensual licks, and when he finished showing her just how much she meant to him, he settled his snout next to hers.

"Good night." she mumbled back, flicking her tail behind her as she felt sleep begin to take her away.

* * * * * * * * * *

When she awoke the next morning, the sun had already started to shine its golden rays through the waterfall. Inside the cozy cave, Lyndis let out a yawn, blinking her eyes as she still felt the green dragon she adored holding her within his embrace. She let out a pleased sigh as she snuggled up against him. Enjoying the closeness he provided, and the steady thumping of his heart.

_ _

I'm glad that wasn't a dream.

"Cordenth." she said softly, gently pushing his snout with her paws. "We have to go see your mother so that I can be turned back to normal."

"Do... do we really have to?" he groaned, opening one eye lazily. "Can we not stay like this all morning? Snuggled close my beautiful dragoness?"

"No, lazy scales," she broke free of him, standing to all fours and shaking her scales. Filling the air with soft clinks. "I have an adventure to go on...and you have a quest of yours to see finished." She arched her neck to smile as Cordenth pulled himself up from his bed.

"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose there's not much of a choice in it." he wrinkled his snout.

"Hey." she brushed up against him gently and grabbed the small necklace he'd given her. "We have this, remember?" she held it out to him and offered him a comforting lick over his snout. "It will be like we have each other EVERY night."

"That will be the only thing keeping me warm through the lonely nights." he sighed, returning her affections before he started to guide her through his treasure room. They were soon out into the crisp air of the morning, enjoying the sun upon their scales.

"Will we be able to do anything...lewd? She asked, pushing against his shoulder as she sighed at the morning sun's warmth.

"That can certainly be arranged if you want." Cordenth purred.

"How could I resist a strong, charming dragon such as yourself?"

"You know how to make my frills turn green." He laughed. "But same goes for you... the enticing princess of my dreams."

"With this amulet, that will _literally_be the case." She spread her wings wide, the feathers making the green dragon's eyes go wide. "What's the matter?" She smiled. "Did you not see them in the night?"

"I did not see them _this_clearly. They are.... beautiful... stunning... a marvel to look at."

"Oh Cordy." she blushed, "Such the gentleman."

"Gentledragon." he corrected her, unleashing his wings and leading her into the air with a chuckle rumbling inside the depths of his throat. With his next wingbeat, he'd brought her through the trees, passed the clearings, advancing towards the vast palace of vines that the Emerald Lady called hers.

Lyndis looked down to the forest of despair. In this light, and with the dragon she cared for flying beside her, it truly felt less scary. For she'd found him, Cordenth...A treasure hidden among this forest...

_ _

a secret gem I never wish to part with.

Part of her imagined herself within the forest, in the company of her emerald knight...Ruling over all of it.

She shook her head softly as they neared the Lady's palace. Her eyes drawn to the green dragoness, who was standing at the front of the vast structure, the sun practically sparkling off her emerald scales. Beside her was the gryphon Croesus, his white feathers looking practically pristine.

" Well, if it isn't the two love-birds returning to their perch." The large dragoness said with an amused tone as they landed with bumpy trots. " How was your evening, Lyndis?" she sniffed the air, a coy smile coming to her snout. " Enjoyed it down to the last minute, have you?"

Damn her....is there anything I can hide from her keen nose and her infuriatingly perceptive eyes?

"We have mated, if you are so keen to know." she held her head up and glared at the she-dragon. "Contrary to my initial reaction, I rather enjoyed being a dragon."

" And if I said you had to stay that way for the rest of your days?" The Lady flashed her fangs in challenge.

"I..." Lyndis' thoughts stumbled...It wouldn't be a bad life, to fly wherever I want, use magic more powerful than any mortal can ever dream of. To be with my Cordenth every day for the rest of my long, beautiful life... "It is an enticing prospect...one that I must decline. There are certain duties I must attend before I am ready to commit myself to eternity."

"Wisely put. Perhaps this one night has elevated your mortal mind more than I initially foresaw. Though I must ask. Is relinquishing the many gifts bestowed upon you by this dragon form the best way to accomplish your goals, Lyndis?"

---

"No," the white dragoness said without the shadow of a doubt. "Yet it is the only way I know how, with a rapier in my hand and a cloak to shadow my every move."

"Very well. Step in my shadow when you are ready to revert back to your mortal self."

"Thank you...for giving me the choice." Lyndis sat down onto her haunches, her tail flicking rather impatiently behind her. She placed a talon to her chin, thinking her last night over. For the most part, it had been a most enjoyable experience. One that not many men, elves, dwarf or half-elves would ever be graced with. In that regard, Lyndis considered herself lucky to have seen the world through the eyes of a dragon, brief as it might've been.

"Lyndis?" Cordenth brushed along her side to stand next to her. "Is something bothering you?"

"No...I was just thinking about our time together," she moved her eyes away from his to stare up at the sky, for she could not keep her emotions in check when she remembered the moist feel of his sweet licks, of the incredible pleasure he made her feel. "When I think about all the years we have ahead of us, one night seems all too brief. Makes me wish we had more time to...you know..." She released a long sigh that caused the Emerald Lady to burst into a growly fit of laughter.

" I have once tasted the pleasure that continues to live in your memory. It is...intoxicating, to say the least. Consider yourself lucky, Lyndis. Few are given the honor to experience what it means to be a dragon." Her laughter died down as she lowered her snout towards the pair. " And I am pleased you have experienced it in the embrace of my son. He's still green as the world around him, but he has learned much from you, even if he might never admit it."

---

"Mother! That is certainly not the right way to state how proud you are of me." Cordenth hissed.

"I am, my son, in more ways than you can currently imagine." The dragoness said, then focused her amethyst gaze back upon Lyndis. " I will turn you back to yourself, yet know that if you ever set forth in my forest...this is the form your body will take."

"How is that possi-" Lyndis snapped her mouth shut as the Emerald Lady continued to smile. Of course...this is her domain. "Very well. I can agree to that."

" Good." The Emerald Lady held up a claw and preformed the same movements that she had done last night. The same white magic flew from the very ground to wrap around Lyndis once again, and in a matter of moments, her scales and wings gave way to her two-legged self.

"Aaaand I'm back in business!" she exclaimed in joy as she spun around to inspect every inch of herself. She made sure to count all her fingers and run hands through her hair. Everything seemed to be in order, nothing missing at all.

"Cordenth!" She turned to the green dragon, running to him and offering him a tight hug against his onyx chest. "Thank you...Thank you for everything you've done for me last night and beyond. There's no good way to express how happy you made me feel."

"No...thank you, Lyndis." he pushed her away gently and pressed his snout against her lips.

" Grrr...enough with all that honey. This ridiculous amount of sweetness makes me want to skip to the future." The Emerald Lady rumbled, turning away from them. " Farewell Lyndis...and Cordenth?"

"Yes?"

" Watch over yourself and your brother...He already said his farewells to me."

"I...I know I haven't said it as often as I should have, but I love you mother." Cordenth bound over to her and nuzzled her affectionately. "I'll even...miss you."

"Don't say that," the dragoness pulled him closer to her with a large forepaw. "If fate flows in smooth tides, we might see each other again...even if that day can never arrive soon enough." She curled neck around his with a sigh. " I will love you no matter where your wings will take you... Fare you well, my son." She caressed his face softly, and pushed her nose to his. " And know you are always welcomed to return to my forest, " her eyes slowly went to Lyndis for a moment. " including her. I'd be delighted to have you reunited again, in shadow of my wings."

"Thank you." Lyndis gave a slight bow, finding that part of her actually was proud she had earned this _honor_that the dragoness had bestowed onto her.

All the good merriment was not to be denied Croesus. The gryphon and Cordenth exchanged knowing looks. The green dragon approached without a word, snaking his snout down. The gryphon met it with a pleased chirp, his body shaking almost as much as his voice. "For so long I wished to-"

The dragon silenced him with a nuzzle, filling the air with a radiant purr. "I'm just glad you've been here the entire time." They embraced with their wings, pulling each other tight. Frills trembled, ears splayed, the air filled with soft chirps and rumbles. When they broke away the gryphon was holding onto Cordenth's jaw, his ears up and twitching.

"And as always I'm proud of you. You keep that brother of yours safe, your wings clean and your scales polished." The gryphon continued to fuss and list of several more things for the green to keep in order. "And most of all, stay safe. You're always welcome to return."

Cordenth nodded, licking his father across the beak as his eyes misted. He chuckled weakly, his frills fluttering. "I'll try to remember all of that."

" Now onto the matters at hand, I suggest you go get her things from where she left them. And find your brother too. They headed out towards the forest's edge. closest to Entis. I told them to await your arrival." The dragoness turned away from her son with pain slithering along the length of her snout. " Go. Fly! Do this before I find myself trying to force you two to stay."

"As you wish, mother." Cordenth strode to Lyndis, wiping his eyes with a wing. He crouched low for Lyndis, giving the rogue a comforting smile. "Care to hop on, princess?"

"Why would I ever pass up the chance to fly?" She punched his scales playfully before climbing up his scales, swinging a leg around his neck. She settled into position as his frills folded against his back so that her weight was not making him uncomfortable.

"Ready?" he asked, arching his neck to gaze at her.

"Of course!" She cried, wrapping her arms around his scales. "To the sky, Cordenth!"

"Right away!' Cordenth pounced into the air on the flap of his wings. "Farewell, mother! Father, I shall return one day!" he roared out when they were above the trees. The dragoness and gryphon offered a combined roar and squawk of farewell in response, a sound that dimmed with every beat of his wings that brought the two of them, half-elf and dragon, closer to the village that contained her things.

* * * * * * * * * *

Lyndis had quickly gathered her things from the inn, slinging the leather pack over her shoulders. She grabbed the golden leaf clasp, wiggling it into position. Her hands wandered over her pouches, mentally reciting all her gear. She didn't want to forget anything. Course, as she peered around the room she knew in her heart.

_ _

I'll never forget this place...

She made her way out into the hallway, practically sprinting down the stairs and heading out the door. She offered a quick wave to the innkeeper before her eyes fell to the waiting green dragon that had won her heart. The good. She thought back to him, the warm nights, the dancing, and the parties.

"Come on. Everyone is waiting on us." he smiled, crouching lower for her,

"Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening. "I almost forgot!" She slung off her pack and placed it on the ground, rifling around in it to procure a large blue scarf with white diamonds stitched into the cloth. She spun around and held it up to the dragon. "You were kind enough to give me this green sash, so I figured...why not have something that reminds you of me?"

"That's....Thank you!" he replied happily as she wrapped the scarf around his neck and tied it tightly. "It's lovely, Lyndis...I will treasure it." he smiled, showing off his sharp teeth.

She thought as climbed onto his back and settled into a comfortable place. She remembered the early threats spat by the Emerald Lady, the deaths of so many villagers, and revelation of the fort. She gripped Cordenth's scales tighter as he took them back into the sky, towards the forest edge, where the rest of her friends awaited. He bound over the treetops in a glide, and she felt dread starting to build in her chest. For a moment, she considered heading out with Cordenth instead, telling Veledar that he had to find a new rogue, for she had fallen for the green dragon beneath her. That simply saying goodbye to him would be too much.

But I can't do that to them._She sighed, remembering her reason to get into the city. _The best rogue ever! Her words echoed in her mind, causing her to frown. Was she still the same youthful girl that left her home in search of adventure? Or had she evolved into something more? The Emerald Lady spoke something of that nature. Was she right?

Lyndis lowered her head to Cordenth's scaled neck to listen to his steady heart as the forest's edge came into view. If only we had a few more hours. She peered down from his scales when he turned to see that her friends were gathered around Lyyreth, already mounted on bay colored horses. They seemed to be chatting away with the green dragon, with Veledar throwing his head back in a chuckle.

"An dats da time I beat dose bears inta submission. Shoulda seen da look on da face of dat gryphon!" Merlia smacked her knee as Cordenth back winged and landed with a thump. "Course we celebrated in da way gryphons do, if ye know wat I mean," the dwarf gave the others a wink.

"Oh, at last. Nice of you lazies to finally join us." Veledar exclaimed, holding his snout high with a grin. "Thought you were just going to forget about our grand quest. If that were the case, I would have had no option but to hunt you down and collect the fee you owe me."

"Oh yes, that extravagant fee that I must pay you in spite of the fact you hired me to get your oversized ass past the gates of Entis." Lyndis laughed, shaking her head as she dismounted the green dragon. "I guess some things never change...not even when you happen to be the richest dragon in the land."

"Oh, wealth is not always measured in gold. Some dragons collect shinies. Other...distasteful individuals prefer mortals to decorate the insides of their lairs. I am a learned enough dragon to know that favors can be just as expensive as a bag of gems, so you'd better start counting them up."

"And fall asleep? Your stories about who owns what already do a good enough job at that." She yawned dramatically.

"As I already explained the fee structure, dear Lyndis, you should not have a problem paying material worth anyway...considering you're a princess after all...I thought you would have remembered." The red dragon sighed, his blue eyes going to the green dragon's scarf. "But I guess fooling around with Cordenth here made you forget your commitments to your first dragon."

_If you only knew what we got up to._She stifled a giggle as she and Cordenth shared a quick glance to one another.

"Dey did it!" Merlia shouted, spitting out some water that she had just taken from her waterskin.

"Excuse me. What's the cause of you almost choking to death?" Lyndis frowned.

The dwarf pointed straight at Lyndis, and then to the proud looking green dragon. "You and he? HAH!" she smacked her knee as she laughed loudly. "Ye'll have ta tell me about dis dragon ridin' later, lass! No leavin out da juicy bits on me!"

Lyndis once more looked back to Cordenth with a coy smile. "Oh, that. Well, if you fancy dragons like that, I will be sure let you know of all the juicy bits." She laughed, causing Cordenth to fidget and snort in reply.

"If you're all done talking about assumed interspecies intercourse, we should all be off towards our respective destinations, " Lyyreth spoke up, striding over to his brother. "I was just wishing them good luck in their quest before leaving. Thanked them for allowing us to start a new, exciting chapter in our lives."

"Good. There's one more thing left to do." Cordenth looked to Lyndis, blue scarf flapping in the breeze flowing from the forest. He lowered his snout and pressed it passionately to her lips.

"I will see you again." she said softly, her hands caressing his head.

"You can be sure of that." he replied just as softly, his eyes filling with sorrow. He gave her one last, long lick across her face that made her laugh. "I love you, Lyndis.", his tail thumped behind him.

Wait what? She was taken back for a moment, running her hand along his chin. She was about to deny or not answer, but she remembered the past few days. How he made her heart flutter so with his mere presence, and how she had enjoyed speaking to him each night, cuddling, and feeling so safe and secure. It might be crazy... but I cannot wait to continue this thing we have together. "I love you too...Cordenth."

"And now I am ready!" Cordenth happily shouted after he gave her another quick kiss and released a loud trill. The green dragon then turned his attention to the rest of the group and lowered himself into a bow before Veledar.

"Mrrawww, please, don't strain your shoulders too much," the red dragon gave a pleased croon, his frills twitching happily as he reciprocated the gesture of respect. "Not even Lyyreth offered a bow...hey." Veledar snapped his snout to Arcturus, who had shoved him on his shoulder.

"Shhhh." the paladin placed a finger to his lips.

"Thank you for helping us get on with our lives." Cordenth spoke, ignoring the red dragon. "And thanks for showing us the way." The green dragon rose back up. "I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart that you are all my friends, and I wish to give you _all_my name."

"Mine as well!" Lyyreth added with a snort, smiling as he did so.

"And I will miss you all deeply." Cordenth turned to Lyndis with a slight frown. "Some of you more than others."

"We will miss you as well." Arcturus smiled, patting his bay horse beneath him. "This world of ours is not as big as we often expect. Perhaps it won't be that long until we meet again."

"I certainly hope that is the case, honorable paladin of Bahamut." Cordenth spun around and unfurled his wings wide. "Coming, Lyyreth?" he asked, arching his head as he waggled his tail and tensed his muscles. His brother said not a word and quickly moved to brother's side with his own wings flared and ready to take flight.

"Lyndis?" Cordenth looked to her one last time. His eyes filling with fondness and sorrow at the same time.

"Yes?" She gazed back to him, dreading the next few moments more than ever before. She ran to him with her arms wide and allowed the green dragon to pick her up in his paws as he arched his snout close to hers.

"Be safe, my dearest emerald, and know that my heart will yearn for the day we see each other in flesh once more."

"You be careful, my emerald knight," she smiled fondly, her heart feeling as though it were being pulled on either side. An ache that there was no cure. She ran a hand up to caress his pebbled face once more as he pressed his snout against hers in a kiss. She closed her eyes and let the emotions swirl around her, For that brief moment, all that existed was his warm, scaly touch. Nothing else mattered except the sound of his breaths, and the feeling of his warm scales pressed against her. They broke the kiss to stare into each other's eyes for a long, silent minute. "Guess I will have to settle with you being the dragon in my dreams." she laughed with blurry eyes, tapping the green scaled necklace around her neck.

"That I can be." he licked her, his own eyes starting to drip the same crystalline tears. He set her down, gave a quick nod the others, then bound into the sky with a mighty flap of his beautiful wings.

Lyndis watched the dragon she loved climb higher and higher into the sky, only increasing the pain that started to weigh down her heart. The first of her tears fell from her eyes when he was passing above the forest, unleashing a loud roar of goodbye. She let out a small cry as Veledar returned their roar with one of his own.

"I'm actually going to miss them!" Veledar suddenly exclaimed almost the moment that he had roared. "I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO MISS THEM!"

The bull Asterion snorted beside her, drawing her attention to the man who was holding the reins to the horse she was expected to ride. His voice was rough, like gravel rubbed to her skin. "Here is your horse, half-elf, it is best if we head out right now."

She looked to the leather saddle and the soft fur of the proffered mount. It had no scales. No frills to caress. No proud wings to take her into a realm she could only stare at.

"You're right. Best not keep the party waiting," Lyndis wiped the tears from her eyes and slung herself up on the horse, her eyes stopping to stare at the fluttering green sash around her waist.

"Come on, you big lazy lizard," Arcturus suddenly spoke loudly as he gestured to his neck. "Just change your size and hop up."

"Grrr...do I have to?" grumbled the red dragon, already placing one of his white talons to his snout.

"Not unless you want to get caught." Arcturus laughed, patting his shoulders again. "Or do you wish to know how the insides of a real dragon cell look like?"

"Fine, fine. You have me convinced. Bahamut's grace...I have been made smaller.... much less resplendent...what's a little time on the road going to do?" Veledar snorted, his voice dripping with irritation.

"Come now. You're resplendent in any size you take. Besides, dearest dragon, you don't want all of Lumara to dazzle at your beautiful scales."

Veledar stopped the spell he was going to do to offer the paladin a pleased croon. "See? You should say such pleasing things all the time." He snaked his head close to the paladin with a mischievous grin before offering him several affectionate licks across his face. "You're going to make my wings turn pink."

"Yes, I got you...got your pride covered. Just don't forget to put this on your favors owed tab," "Arcturus laughed, pushing gently against the dragon who was offering him such loving affection.

"Look out lad! He is trying ta kiss ya!" Merlia shouted, joining Asterion as she rode a small tan furred pony. "Now we best take you lot, and Ulga here." the dwarf patted the pony. "And be off ta dat city of yours."

"Oh, stop your cackling, you small-footed harpy. I was merely showing my paladin here how much I appreciate a wisely spoken word." Veledar snorted at Merlia before turning his gaze back to Arcturus. "Thank you, by the way." The dragon let loose a pleased rumble from his throat. "I find you most resplendent as well... when you're wearing the armor of course. It's the closest you'll ever get to our scales."

"True. Unless you find a way to turn me into a dragon. Then you'd have to be the one singing praises to me, hah!" Arcturus laughed as his face started to turn red like it usually did in such moments.

"Wouldn't mind to." Veledar muttered with a sneaky glance to the side, as if he was embarrassed to say that out loud, not realizing a half-elf could hear him anyway. "To wrestle with you down in the grass or fly up in the skies, to feel the rustling of your scales rubbing against mine when we settle down to rest...nope. I would not mind that one bit."

"Veledar?" Arcturus patted his shoulders one more time, causing the dragon to shudder all over.

"What? Did I say that out loud?"

"Loud enough to even make me blush," Lyndis snickered.

"Oh, it's just part of a story I read a long time ago. Think nothing of it." The red dragon fluttered his wings as if that could brush away the heat of embarrassment that slithered into his scales. "It's just something that came up when you two lovebirds mashed your faces together." He said, pointing an accusatory claw at Lyndis.

"So, if I say I mated Cordenth, are you going to follow my example?" the half-elf gave him a cocky smile in return.

"I...you...what?" the red dragon all but froze. "You did what?!"

"She's just being silly," Arcturus intervened. "Now stop your cuteness and hop up onto my shoulders."

The dragon obeyed without delay.

_You have got to be kidding me._Lyndis wrinkled her brow when Veledar cast the same fond look that Cordenth had offered her. She crossed her arms in irritation at the two as Veledar shrunk down and settled around the paladin's neck.

"Go forth, my metal-clad steed! Carry your glorious overlord to Entis!" The tiny dragon roared.

"I am not your steed, and you're definitely not menacing enough to be my overlord!" Arcturus chuckled back as he pulled his horse past Lyndis' own.

"That is a matter of opinion." Veledar tapped the paladin with a paw.

Lyndis willed her horse to follow the laughing knight and cheerful dragon across the fields of green. She closed her eyes and let the wind caress her, bringing back the smell of adventure. In this case it smelled like cut grass and dragon mixed with horse. After a while, Lyndis allowed herself to return back to the present. As they were climbing a hill, she could make out the tiny dot in the distance. Entis. The city of light, as some called it. She knew this was their destination. The reason that pushed her to join the red dragon's quest. Glory and fortune awaited her...

But something yet more important made her glance back towards the forest of despair. Her eyes found the tiny dots of the dragons she'd came to know and appreciate, and for another long, heavy moment, Lyndis found herself wishing she had gone with them instead. Someday we will meet again Cordenth... and I pray that day will come soon.