Damsel

I asked, “What’s wrong, Liliana?” Her face immediately changed from heartbreakingly sad to ferociously angry. She narrowed her eyes and retorted, “Oh nothing’s wrong, dragon. I’m perfectly happy living in this cave for the rest of my life. I don’t even miss my family at all! I can’t wait until you decide that I will make a tasty lunch. Don’t worry about me.” Her sarcasm stung but I didn’t show it. Slowly I said, “My name is Azulon.” Then, I walked away leaving her to wallow in her own self pity. I didn’t want her to be sad but according to the Elders, there was nothing I could do.

Liliana
I hated you. I hated that you cared enough about me to ask me what was wrong. I hated you for carrying me away from the forest. And I hated that I couldn’t hate you enough. I lay by the pool, blind with my fury. But, it all melted away when you sat beside me and gave me a beautiful necklace. The beads were shiny and you called it moonstone. I forgave you right then and there. I knew that had it been one of the suitors that were always ogling at me during dinner, I could’ve cared less. But the sincerity that showed in your eyes did the trick. Or maybe it had been the next thing you said to me. “Would you like to go flying?” I nodded vigorously and smiled. I was scared of heights but somehow I knew this would be different. You smiled back. Then, you groaned in pain and suddenly, you were standing in front of me as a silvery-blue dragon. Your eyes were the same sky blue. You rumbled happily and you gestured towards the shelf that was nearest my room. I sprinted to it and saw what you wanted me to get. It was a sort of saddle but much much bigger and made more elegantly. It was hard to see at first, but then I realized it blended in to its surroundings. I grabbed what I could see and carried it back to you. Your voice echoed in my mind as you murmered, “You should probably wear something that you don’t care about. Also, you’d best put on a cloak. It is chilly today.” You turned to face the mouth of the cave and I went to look in one of the wardrobes. I opened it and found a simple lavender dress that I thought would bring out my eyes. I put it on and then saw the most beautiful cloak I had ever seen. It was white velvet with intricate swirling designs on it. It was like comparing the leaves in autumn to a pig with this beautiful thing and my plain green cloak. I tied the strings to keep it on and danced over to you. I looked down to examine my cloak again but like your saddle, it had turned invisible.
You had put the saddle on already and patiently waited for me to get on. I tried to climb up your side but you were far too tall. You flashed me a coy dragon smile and then your tail twisted around and shoved me onto your back. I held on to the saddle horn for dear life and you leapt into the air. The cold took my breath away for a moment. I pulled my cloak around me closer and laughed with pure joy. You were so graceful, circling through the air like the hawks that flew over the castle grounds sometimes when my younger brother was hunting. You flew over your mountain and started going deeper into the Dragon Land. We flew further into the mountains for a while but suddenly, you turned around. “Why did you turn around?” I asked. You answered in my mind, “It would be too dangerous to go to Celestinia for you.” Now, I wanted to see what this Celestinia was even more. “Please take me.” I whispered. You growled and mumbled, “Maybe next time.” The sky was steely gray and wispy white clouds circled above. I shivered and you twisted your head around and blew hot air at me. It warmed me up immediately. I looked down at the ground below us. Lakes that were probably huge looked like water droplets and trees looked like toothpick slivers. It reminded me of the dreams that I used to have when I was younger. I had dreamed about flying for as long as I could remember. It had been just like this, me, looking down at the world below. Until I was ten, I woke up crying, sad that my dreams had ended. My parents never knew though. They thought I had terrible nightmares. Not that they had done anything about them of course. We flew over the foothills. They were snowy and desolate. I took a mental note that if I was ever going to escape from you that I would have to wait until spring or dress warmly. We left the foothills behind and the air began to feel dry and sharp. The desert stretched below us. You must’ve read my thoughts or something though, because we turned back and I didn’t get to see the rest of my escape route.
After about half an hour, we were back in the lair. As soon as you turned back into your human form, I ran to my room. You looked suspicious but really, you hadn’t needed to worry. I was only going to do some research. Although the sky was overcast, my cave was light and warm. I grabbed the book, A Complete Guide to Dragons and Their Habitats. I opened it up and looked for something about Celestinia. There was nothing. But, I did find a section about dragon coloring and personality traits.

Seemingly good dragons:
Gold dragons- Highly intelligent and like to spend their time in hot desert regions. They are very talkative but very selfish. Relatively large, approximately thirty feet long. They will offer advice as long as you keep them up on worldly events.
White dragons- Live in cold, snowy regions. Not interested in the plights of man and don’t choose sides in such “petty fights”. However, if one finds himself lost in the mountains during the blizzard, a white dragon may save him. Or not. Approximately twenty feet long.
Brown dragons- Shy, and keep to themselves. They can be the kindest of all dragons to humans. They have an extreme love of rubies. Approximately fifteen feet in length.
Silver dragons- Live on cold mountain tops. Lovers of literature. Approximately twenty five feet long.
Evil dragons:
Black dragons- Beware! Extreme hatred towards humans. Their weapons of choice are their mind reading abilities and can breathe white hot fire. Very big in size.
Red dragons- Most do not like humans although I have found a few exceptions. Be careful of their razor sharp teeth and claws. I have found that most red dragons are quite lazy.
Green dragons- Enjoy toying with their meal before they eat it. This could involve riddles, philosophic questions, or other violent means of “playing”.
(You may have noticed there aren’t definite sizes for each of these dragons. That is because I have never gotten close enough to one to measure it)
Undetermined:
Purple dragons- Vain and proud. I have heard that the ruler of the dragons is a purple one. I have no supporting evidence however.
Blue dragons- These dragons act very aloof but are actually fascinated with humans. The few I’ve met keep small hordes of human artifacts.

I was disappointed in my failed search for information about Celestinia but I knew that this information would probably be helpful to me in the future. Then, I realized that you had all the wardrobes and books because you were blue and silver. I was happy to have a better idea of what you were. Just then, I heard you call my name. I climbed down and skirted around the waterfall. You stood by the pool. “What?” I asked suspiciously. You looked at me and your piercing blue eyes softened to a darker shade of blue. You answered, “I was wondering if you were hungry.” Before I could answer, my stomach growled loudly. You chuckled and then presented a plate of sweet meats and rolls from behind your back. My mouth watered. It wasn’t quail eggs and roast venison like I had at home but I was too hungry to be picky. I wolfed it all down and knelt to drink from the pool. It was sweet and ice cold. You shuffled your feet. Then you mumbled, “The one you have been promised to is organizing a search party.” You looked surprised at what you had just said and studied me carefully. At first I was annoyed that it had taken Kenneth two whole days to realize I was missing. But then, my heart soared. That is, until I saw the savage look of possession on your face. I shivered and whispered, “Will you let them take me if they find me?” Your eyes changed to gray and you shook your head. “Why?”
“The Elders told me to keep you. I don’t want to offend them. You will grow to like it here.”
Rage boiled up inside of me. It was like my whole life was being controlled by one person or another. First, my nursemaid, raising me to be a proper woman. Then, my father, promising me to Sir Kenneth. Now it was some senile old dragons. You gazed at me coolly and I couldn’t take it any longer. I climbed up into my little cavern and put on my white cloak and put the books and jewelry box in my green cloak which I tied into a bundle. Then, I leapt off the mouth of my cavern and narrowly missed the waterfall. I stormed over to one of the bathing pools and emptied and rinsed out a perfume bottle. I dipped it into the drinking water and put the lid on. You watched me the whole time, looking worried. I also took a slip dress and some calf skin gloves. Then, without a second glance at you, I began the long descent down the mountain. The rough rocks bit into my hands by the time I reached the foothills below, they were already starting to scab. Bitter cold wind buffeted me and my lungs ached. I looked back up and saw you standing at the mouth of your cave, watching. I rolled my eyes and trudged through the snow.
My feet were red and raw by the time I reached the desert. The air was still bitter and cold. I heard voices. I couldn’t tell if I was hallucinating or if it was my search party. They screamed my name over and over again. I yelled, “I’m here!!” Then, I collapsed on the sand out of exhaustion and hunger. But, like shoes, I’d forgotten food too. I drank thirstily from the perfume bottle. I hoped the water would hold me over until I found Sir Kenneth. The voices called my name again. I waved my hand in the air. Then, it was quiet.