Entirely The Point
I wait tensely, perched on the edge of a tree branch, watching the sky with trepidation.
I shouldn't be here. A Fairy, especially on of my royal blood, would rather die than be seen with a Dragonkin. Or at least, most fairies would. But most of the Fair-Folk aren't hopelessly in love with a dragon either.
The sky darkens for a moment, I burrow deeper into the leaves, my eyes flickering upwards in time to catch the sea-green flash of scales, listening as the forest around me grows quiet, and even the wolves cease to howl.
He vanishes into the foliage and I hold my breath, waiting impatiently for him. I came with only one mission, and I must fulfill it.
I hear him before I see him. Dragonkin aren't nearly as good at being quiet as other forest creatures, but what can one expect for someone so large? A single gust of wind from his wings alone is enough to flatten an entire field of hay.
I catch the occasional glimmer of his brilliant scales before I feel the air around me thicken with the sickly-sweet scent of magic. I hold my breath until the weight lifts and he steps out from the treeline, clad in his usual loose-fitting garb.
I unfurl my wings and let the breeze catch me as I flutter to the ground before me. He watches me, his face unreadable, but his eyes conveying the depth of his relief. I melt nearly as soon as I see him, my mission all but forgotten.
"Banphrinosa, my love," he steps forward, his arms outstretched towards me.
I step into his embrace quietly, drinking in the delicate, smoky scent on his skin. I can't really understand why our people must fight each other. The blood spilled on both sides can never amount to anything at this rate; the Fair-Folk possess magic to strong, and the Dragonkin possess strength too great. We've been locked in this never-ending conquest to rule the land for ages; so long that only the oldest among us might have a faint memory of a time when we coexisted peacefully.
"I thought you said we couldn't meet here anymore?" he asks suddenly, breaking our embrace and holding me out at arms length, "Aren't you in danger of being caught?"
My mission returns to me suddenly. I step back away from him, watching him carefully.
"Yes, of course," I say softly, "But any time I see you we risk everything. Our very lives are at stake just so we can look at each other."
His pale brows rise quizzically. "I'm aware of that, my love, but it's been this way for years. Why are you worrying about it now? Has something happened?"
My wings fold in involuntarily, as if preparing to shoot into the sky at a moments notice. He notices and his jaw tightens.
"They found you a husband."
He says it rather than ask. My eyes never leave his, in spite of the sudden weakness in my legs. We both knew this would be an eventuality; I am heir to the throne of my people, of course they would find me a husband.
His hands clench into fists and smoke begins to pour from his nostrils.
"Who?" he growls. His voice is like thunder when he's angry.
I wave my hand dismissively, earning another angry growl.
"Who it is doesn't matter," I say, "What matters is what is to be done about it."
"Yes, tell me who he is and I'll eat him alive."
"Don't be ridiculous Lasair, you'll get us both killed. You're going to marry me instead."
His jaw drops and I see the closest thing to an emotion one can possibly see on a Dragonkin's face.
"Me? Marry you?" he steps towards me, "Banphrinosa, my dear, have you lost your mind? Or did you simply forget that our people have been quite literally slaughtering each other for close to a thousand years?"
"Of course, and it's a shame," I say, straightening my back and trying to pretend to be more sure of myself than I am, "And it's for that reason precisely why we must. Do you honestly think this war will ever be won by either side? It's impossible! The only way to save our people is to force them to accept each other, no matter how begrudgingly."
Lasair steps closer and gently places his warm hands on my bare shoulders. "I do realize you're an idealist my love, and you know that it's been my heart's sole desire to take you into my mountain and keep you for myself. But there's a better chance that they'll simply kill us rather than accept our marriage, you do realize that, don't you?"
I smile up at him as the fear that's been lingering in my heart for months strengthens it's hold on me.
"Of course, there's always that chance, but they might kill us anyway simply for seeing each other."
He sighs and nods his assent.
"This is true," he mumbles, "But at least this way it's a secret. If we marry, they will know for sure."
"And that's entirely the point, my love."
I shouldn't be here. A Fairy, especially on of my royal blood, would rather die than be seen with a Dragonkin. Or at least, most fairies would. But most of the Fair-Folk aren't hopelessly in love with a dragon either.
The sky darkens for a moment, I burrow deeper into the leaves, my eyes flickering upwards in time to catch the sea-green flash of scales, listening as the forest around me grows quiet, and even the wolves cease to howl.
He vanishes into the foliage and I hold my breath, waiting impatiently for him. I came with only one mission, and I must fulfill it.
I hear him before I see him. Dragonkin aren't nearly as good at being quiet as other forest creatures, but what can one expect for someone so large? A single gust of wind from his wings alone is enough to flatten an entire field of hay.
I catch the occasional glimmer of his brilliant scales before I feel the air around me thicken with the sickly-sweet scent of magic. I hold my breath until the weight lifts and he steps out from the treeline, clad in his usual loose-fitting garb.
I unfurl my wings and let the breeze catch me as I flutter to the ground before me. He watches me, his face unreadable, but his eyes conveying the depth of his relief. I melt nearly as soon as I see him, my mission all but forgotten.
"Banphrinosa, my love," he steps forward, his arms outstretched towards me.
I step into his embrace quietly, drinking in the delicate, smoky scent on his skin. I can't really understand why our people must fight each other. The blood spilled on both sides can never amount to anything at this rate; the Fair-Folk possess magic to strong, and the Dragonkin possess strength too great. We've been locked in this never-ending conquest to rule the land for ages; so long that only the oldest among us might have a faint memory of a time when we coexisted peacefully.
"I thought you said we couldn't meet here anymore?" he asks suddenly, breaking our embrace and holding me out at arms length, "Aren't you in danger of being caught?"
My mission returns to me suddenly. I step back away from him, watching him carefully.
"Yes, of course," I say softly, "But any time I see you we risk everything. Our very lives are at stake just so we can look at each other."
His pale brows rise quizzically. "I'm aware of that, my love, but it's been this way for years. Why are you worrying about it now? Has something happened?"
My wings fold in involuntarily, as if preparing to shoot into the sky at a moments notice. He notices and his jaw tightens.
"They found you a husband."
He says it rather than ask. My eyes never leave his, in spite of the sudden weakness in my legs. We both knew this would be an eventuality; I am heir to the throne of my people, of course they would find me a husband.
His hands clench into fists and smoke begins to pour from his nostrils.
"Who?" he growls. His voice is like thunder when he's angry.
I wave my hand dismissively, earning another angry growl.
"Who it is doesn't matter," I say, "What matters is what is to be done about it."
"Yes, tell me who he is and I'll eat him alive."
"Don't be ridiculous Lasair, you'll get us both killed. You're going to marry me instead."
His jaw drops and I see the closest thing to an emotion one can possibly see on a Dragonkin's face.
"Me? Marry you?" he steps towards me, "Banphrinosa, my dear, have you lost your mind? Or did you simply forget that our people have been quite literally slaughtering each other for close to a thousand years?"
"Of course, and it's a shame," I say, straightening my back and trying to pretend to be more sure of myself than I am, "And it's for that reason precisely why we must. Do you honestly think this war will ever be won by either side? It's impossible! The only way to save our people is to force them to accept each other, no matter how begrudgingly."
Lasair steps closer and gently places his warm hands on my bare shoulders. "I do realize you're an idealist my love, and you know that it's been my heart's sole desire to take you into my mountain and keep you for myself. But there's a better chance that they'll simply kill us rather than accept our marriage, you do realize that, don't you?"
I smile up at him as the fear that's been lingering in my heart for months strengthens it's hold on me.
"Of course, there's always that chance, but they might kill us anyway simply for seeing each other."
He sighs and nods his assent.
"This is true," he mumbles, "But at least this way it's a secret. If we marry, they will know for sure."
"And that's entirely the point, my love."
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