Two

Alicia got caught running in the back door by the mistress of the manor. She smacked her hard across her face. “Where have you been? You are late!” Rosalie Richwood stood with her hands on her hips angrily expecting an answer.

“I am sorry, My Lady. I went to take my bath in the stream, and I found an injured animal. I had to help,” she explained, holding her stinging face.

“Get busy getting breakfast ready and get to your chores. You and those blasted animals. Get it through your head, you are not a doctor. You are a slave, an orphan, trash is all you will ever be,” the woman spat.

“Yes, My Lady,” Alicia said, holding her head down to hide the tears forming in her eyes. She was used to the insults and the slaps, but that didn’t keep the words from hurting her.

Alicia had taken a fall many years ago when she was but a child of eight. She remembered that her city was under attack, and she had run. She fell onto the rocks, and she could not climb back up. That is when the dragon had picked her up and carried her to safety far away in another town.

Alicia could not remember where she was from or who her parents were. All she could remember was running, the fall, and the beautiful dragon that carried her to safety. He had the same colorings as the injured one from yesterday.

Alicia wondered if it was possible this was the same dragon from years ago. She smiled at the thought, serving the family their breakfast. Everyone feared dragons, calling them demons, but she alone knew one dragon that had saved her life.

As soon as her chores were done, she put some vegetable soup in a container and ran out to the place where her dragon patient lay. To her disappointment, he was not there.

“Dragon, dragon, I brought you some food,” she called, hoping that he was somewhere nearby. Alicia knew that he was severely injured and doubted that he could fly. “It’s okay, Dragon. I am a friend. You don’t have to fear me,” Alicia assured him.

Corithias was hungry, but he decided since she trusted him as the dragon, he would transform before going to her. He did not think his wing was healed enough to fly, so he walked around the riverbank so she could see him.

Alicia smiled and ran to the dragon, happy to see that he was getting stronger. “I did not know if dragons were meat eaters or not, so I just made you a vegetable soup without meat. I hope you like it,” she said, opening the bowl for him.

Corithias did like meat, but the vegetables were incredibly good in the broth she made. He did not know how else to thank her, so he gently licked her hand.

Alicia smiled and pet the dragon’s snout, looking into his blue eyes. She was sure of it now. This was the same dragon who saved her so many years ago.

“I know you. I remember the day you picked me up from the rocks and got me to safety. I would have surely been killed had they found me that day. I lost all memory of my city and who I am or of my parents that day. But I remember you. Thank you for saving me that day. I am glad I was able to repay the kindness,” she told the dragon, studying his face.

The dragon licked her face and Alicia giggled, kissing him on the snout. “Friends we shall be my dragon. Maybe one day, when you are well, you can take me for a ride high up in the clouds?

“This place is not kind to me. I am treated as a slave and told I am nothing but worthless trash. But I know better. I know that with a friend like you, I have good things in my future. You give me hope, my friend,” she said, resting against the dragon’s neck.

Corithias enjoyed the feel of the girl resting against him. No human had ever trusted him so much. He wished he could take her home with him. But would it be any better for her there? He wondered. His people, the dragoniths, did not trust humans. Many of their kind had been killed by humans, so he was sure they would not accept her.

“I must go before I get in trouble, friend,” she said, petting him once more. “I will bring you some food in the morning. Keep hidden from the hunters,” she directed before running back through the woods.

Corithias watched her until he could not see her again, wishing he was able to carry her away to a place where they would both be safe, wishing he could show her his human form. He wanted to hold his sweet princess in his arms and kiss her soft lips.

“What am I thinking!” He scolded himself. “She would run away in fear if I showed her my human form. No, she trusts the dragon. The dragon is her friend. That is who I will be to her…for now,” he decided, talking to himself.