Chapter Text
Coming back into consciousness wasn’t pleasant. My whole body was protesting each and every movement, even my breathing. My chest struggled to lift upwards to accommodate my lung’s expansion, my skin throbbed in certain parts, reminding me of the bruises before I even saw them. The only good thing about waking up was knowing I was still alive. Alive and in a bed that had somehow become familiar to me over time.
Of Elves and Dragons III
Author: Satashi
Shiori was there the moment the first groan escaped her throat. The bed creaked from their weight and the mattress dipped in next to her. A wet cloth gently wiped the sweat along furrowed brows and finally those ruby red eyes fluttered open.
“...Shiori?” Even that took its toll on her throat, dragging out a cough that wracked her body.
“Easy.” A hand hovered above her chest, close but not touching. “Don’t sit up. You were poisoned.”
“Poisoned?” Nerissa thought back to when she had been chased and the crossbow bolt that had torn into her shoulder. She didn’t have anything to compare it to so she couldn’t say exactly how bad it messed her up. Her friend, though, looked worried enough to make her stay still. “Do I... need a doctor?”
“You need rest.” Shiori easily reached toward the small night stand beside the bed to pick up a small, ceramic bowl. “Here, drink.”
Nerissa tilted her chin downwards and eased herself up so it could be brought to her lips. With a slight tilt, the cold, green liquid eased over her tongue and down her throat. As soon as it did, a refreshing minty taste lingered behind. “Mmn... That wasn’t bad... what was it?”
“Something to help you recover and regain some energy. I gave you the antidote last night once we got here.”
Nerissa let her head fall back onto the pillow, eyes closing peacefully. “You horde random antidotes? Don’t they go bad after a while?”
“I am a dragon, of course I can make potions.”
A sigh. Something else she didn’t know about dragons, apparently. “After this is over, I need you to tell me more about the things that are just common knowledge to you.”
“...You are going to linger after you are healed?”
The question hurt more than she thought it would. She had rushed away from Shiori the second the choice had been given. That was inexcuseable, yet the dragon looked at her as if they hoped for her to remain. “Shiori... I’m sorry I left.”
“I gave you the option to go. Do not be sorry you did what you wanted to do.”
She shook her head gently, barely moving upon the pillow. “I made a mistake because I was angry... I chose wrong in the moment but I was too... stubborn to come back when I realized I had messed up. I thought you wouldn’t accept me again.”
“You are mine,” she said the phrase so simply, as if it was just part of conversation and not a declaration. “Not as a gift, but because you want to be.”
“I want to be.” Lashes closed to try and stop the tears that began to form between them. Every moment she thought back to while away was a cherished memory. She had been too blind to see it before but now it was obvious. In only a few short weeks, this dragon had broken into her heart with kindness so natural she didn’t even see it for what it was. “Shiori, I want to stay with you.”
“Then you will stay. For now, rest. Your body will ache while my magic heals you.”
“Your magic?”
“I put strands of my hair into the potion I made for you. It should enhance the potency enough to heal you within a day, but the process won’t be pleasant."
“Your... your hair?” Suddenly she wondered if the woman before her knew what they were doing at all.
A soft sigh. “I will retrieve a book about dragons from my shelves for you. For now, rest.”
“... Okay.” Her eyes closed again and her body rested into the comfortable bed given to her. “I’ll rest. Don’t leave me.”
“I will not leave until you are awake.”
“Mmn.”
~**~
As it turned out there was a lot that Nerissa didn’t understand about dragons. The only thing she was taught in school was that a dragon’s heartbeat was what blessed the world with magic. The closer to a dragon, the more powerful magic was. Even just having a sleeping one be within a few dozen miles was enough to passively power magical lanterns.
Of course this blessing was offset by the fact that most dragons were territorial and quick to anger. They had no regard to famine or a shepherd's flock. A dragon ate what it wanted, when it wanted, and if it got angry then whatever was in its path was destroyed.
As with everything, there were outliers. Shiori explained that the color of a dragon’s scales often spoke volumes about temperament. Bronze were set in their ways, choosing tradition over anything the world tried to offer. Blues were often fast to anger and even faster to initiate battle. Reds were noble and cunning, intelligent and prideful. Blacks were particularly greedy, something Shiori got from her mother. Whites were mostly passive observers, taking interest in how different races evolved and changed over time.
If Nerissa were to describe Shiori, it was a perfect combination between white and black. EAch pairing between dragons had their own sub genre, such as Shiori being called a history eater because of their natural instinct to obsessively collect and document those around them.
There was more about all the other colors, but the amount of information had been so staggering that Nerissa had chosen to just skip it and be informed if the situation ever came up. Although she did learn that all dragons had something in common, and that was that nothing on their body didn’t have a use.
From hair to scales and even claw clippings, everything had purpose. Any dragon part greatly increased alchemical benefits, scales were turned into impenetrable armor that resisted magic, and even saliva was used as quenching oil that made normal iron turn into mythril upon dunking them.
That would explain why Shiori was given offerings instead of being bombarded by the military. It also made Nerissa loath her kingdom even more for what they did. Sending her to Shiori wasn’t just to make sure the civilization was safe, like they proclaimed it to be... but for their own selfish reasonings.
The whole kingdom was probably lit up by Shiori’s heartbeat. Magical crystals were abundant because this land was where they lived, where their wing flaps distributed mana throughout their flight path. Before she would have resented being offered in exchange for that, but now she was just pissed off that those same people benefitted from her staying there.
She was pretty sure word would reach the kingdom about her appearing in the nearby town. She had made quite a show and the ones who chased after her had vanished. There was a giant circle in the forest now. Trees on the edge were split apart, half gone while half remained. Grass was growing slowly along the dirt but it was obvious to anyone who knew anything that Shiori had caused it the same night Nerissa had run.
Neither said it aloud but as one week turned into two, the chances of something happening increased by the day. Her shoulder healed without a scar thanks to the dragon’s alchemy but the atmosphere around it was still heavy. Any sound from outside the cave made Shiori’s wings flare and their eyes ignited in a golden glow. They also stayed next to her at all times, which was cute at first but was growing annoying when she couldn’t even sit without having to be on their lap.
Nerissa was currently reading a book while Shiori stayed wrapped around her in a smaller dragon form. Still gigantic, but small enough to not crush her bones while her head rested upon their lap possessively. It was at that moment, when they settled down into a peaceful afternoon, that it happened.
Singing.
Shiori’s head lifted from her lap and shook in a weird kind of serpentine fashion. They rose to their feet, tail crashing into the pile of gold to cleave out a tear in it that was immediately filled with raining coins.
A growl emitted from deep within their throat. It was the bad kind of growl, one that Shiori had only heard a handful of times. Before she could do anything, the dragon ran for the archway leading into their home. Nerissa chased, tossing the book aside to rush as quickly as she could. Every step brought Shiori closer to the main cave entrance, their size and form rapidly increasing until they were larger than the two-story tavern she had gone to.
They were almost twice as large as when Nerissa first saw them, scales seemingly brighter, wings extending to engulf the airspace at the mouth of the mines. They went still upon reaching sunlight, which was what gave Nerissa any hope of catching up. Outside there was a young girl, human, no older than their mid twenties. Tears were streaming down their cheeks, metal bindings keeping them in place with heavy chains ensuring they couldn’t run.
Through the sobs they continued to sing their song. Nerissa understood it all too well. A plea to be spared, probably implanted in their head by casually dropped conversation from the guards who took her. Dragons loved songs. Sing and maybe they won’t eat you.
It was that song that had infuriated Shiori, and had drawn them out in a rage. The dragon reared back and then plunged forward, mouth opening in a roar that blew the girl’s hair backwards. They cried harder, eyes squinted closed, voice breaking as the tears streamed down their cheeks.
“Shiori, don’t hurt her!” Nerissa’s words made their head turn back to her, their long neck bending in a way that was almost unnerving had she not grown accustomed to it over the days spent there. “She’s not trying to seduce you!”
The transformation was so fast it was jarring. Shiori was back in their half dragon/half human form again. Their wings were still spread in fury, their fingers spread to make sure their claws were visible. Shiori stood there, naked with only their scales to help cover their decency, and yelled at her.
“I will not have a woman come sing for you! It is insulting to think that they could entice you from me with a song this worthless!”
Nerissa stalled. “What... Do you mean?”
“Why else would they send a singer to this place!? They know you are here!”
‘Oh... Oh, she thinks...’ Nerissa’s bafflement turned to humor and collapsed into laughter.
“I do not see what is so funny, woman!”
“Shiori!” Nerissa walked toward her friend, not at all afraid of their stance or the angry glare that they had upon her. “They were sent here for you. Not me.”
“That makes no sense. I am committed to you, why would they do something so pointless as to sacrifice someone to me?”
“Committed...?”
Shiori’s chin lifted. “I have my treasure, I do not need another.”
Again, their compliments were so convoluted and distinct that it was hard not to find them endearing. At one point she had been angry to be referred to in such a manner. Now, it was almost cute how Shiori could make such bold claims while still being unable to simply state how they felt.
“For a dragon so knowledgeable, you sure can be silly.” Nerissa huffed a soft laugh, then turned to the source of their problems. The girl was still there, sitting upon a very nice pillow and surrounded by even better treasure than Nerissa had been given with. Carefully she walked forward and knelt down before them. “Sshhh... Hey, don’t be scared. You won’t be hurt.”
“I will hurt her if she tries to take you from me.”
“Ignore her, she gets cranky when our time is interrupted. She won’t eat you.” She heard another growl, this one directed harmless against her. “What’s your name?” The woman was hyperventilating, their eyes dilated and body frozen in fear. “Okay, maybe that’s asking too much.” Her eyes looked at the bindings. Bigger than what she had been equipped with. They probably thought she ran before Shiori showed up. “Darling, come break these for me.”
“Do it yourself.”
Red eyes rolled and she added sugar to her voice. “I’m not strong enough. I need my big, strong, dragon to help meeeee.” The pout at the end worked, summoning Shiori to her side - if not a bit angrily. “Thank you.”
“Shut up.” Her clawed hands made quick work of breaking the metal, in much less careful motions than they had taken with her, over two months ago.
“You can go.” Nerissa spoke before Shiori could say anything else. “Take all of this you can carry and run from here.”
The girl didn’t move, still too scared to do anything but tremble. The elf sighed once more and looked at Shiori as if expecting something. “What?” The dragon crossed her arms, pointedly ignoring her elf when Nerissa nodded at the offering. When their gaze didn’t change, Shiori grunted indignantly and snapped at the girl. “Rawr!”
The woman screamed and ran, leaving everything behind.
“...Was I that scared when I was sitting here before you?”
“You soiled yourself in terror before my majesty.”
“I did not, don’t even.” Nerissa stood up again, watching the girl scramble into the woods with pity. “I wonder if her life will be ruined like mine was?”
“I can not see how your life had been better before living with me.”
“I’m sure you can’t.” Nerissa turned to look back at the cave, mind lingering on what had just happened. Another sacrifice. This one didn’t stay, but would that mean that the king would see it as not being good enough? Would he send girl after girl until Shiori got mad enough to retaliate? What was their limit, and would it affect her as well?
“You’re sad.” Their warmth was felt against her back. An arm snaked around her stomach and she felt herself be pulled back onto the smaller woman. Their chin was on her shoulder, lips set in an adorable pout. “Stop it.”
Nerisa lifted her arm, elbow bending so she could reach up and backwards to ruffle the girl’s hair. Shiori leaned into the petting, much like they did while she scritched under their chin when in dragon form. Sometimes it made her wonder who would be considered the pet with their current relationship. They clearly considered them together, that much was obvious from day one. As for her, she was still coming to terms with it.
Falling for a dragon.
“Why haven’t you stopped being sad yet? Is something else wrong?”
A stupid dragon that was smarter than all the wise men in the castle combined. “Sorry. It is my inferior elven genes that make my moods last longer than my attention span.”
“Forgiven.” Shiori nuzzled against her neck to insist the head scratches continue.
They lingered outside in the sunlight, staying right there before a disregarded pile of treasure. She had become desensitized to material things since coming back. True, she loved being spoiled, but now her idea of a romantic had changed from being given jewelry or expensive perfume.
Now it was the way Shiori smiled at her while dragging a dead deer into the cave. It was how the dragon would suddenly get an idea and then spend hours searching through their horde to find that length of silken fabric just so they could weave it into her hair and act like they had just conquered a kingdom for her.
It was a wing lifted up to block the sun, a gaze that lingered on her when they thought she wasn’t looking. Shiori’s affection was never really expressed through words. It was true they stated it often, that she just knew Nerissa belonged with her, but it was everything else they did that made her want to stay.
“What are you thinking about?”
She opened her eyes again and trusted her weight to the small figure behind herself. “How we can be happy while being here,” she answered truthfully. “I can’t go into town to shop, you are feared by everyone around, and the royal family is sending sacrifices to you in hopes you will not show them your wrath. I like being with you, but I’m not sure how we can manage like this.”
“Then let’s go somewhere you can feel at ease.”
Nerissa tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“We find a place that suits your needs and we go there.”
“What... What about your home?”
“She is in my arms.” Again it was a statement, not a confession. A declaration of love so strong that she believed it to be truth without any form of doubt. Simple and direct with no room for doubt.
“You would leave everything you made here just because I said I wanted to see about being somewhere else?”
“We can take what we want with us. This cave is a convenience that I honed to meet my needs. I can do that again anywhere. I have been alive for over four hundred years and have moved more times than most can imagine, and will continue to do so for centuries to come.”
It made sense, in a strange way. She had also moved from place to place over her hundred-some years of life. From town to town, always on the road, bouncing from one tavern to the next to spread her name. It wasn’t until the past few years that she had a true home, and even that had been taken from her.
Now that she thought about it, home would be anywhere as long as Shiori was with her.
She sighed, this time fondly. “Home is in my arms, indeed.” She placed her own atop of Shiori’s around her waist. “In that case, what do you think about the Bloodflame Kingdom? I hear that the current queen allows any race within their walls... although we might have to live outside of the city, as I don’t think you’ll... fit.”
“Then we shall go and meet their queen to see if she is good enough for you.” Shiori nuzzled up against her cheek affectionately, then the next thing she knew they were shifting their body again.
Nerissa’s balance was lost, her body fumbling for a few steps. She pitched her weight to steady herself, turning to scold her friend for doing that but stopping when she realized they were growing larger and larger. Shiori towered over her in their full draconic form. For just a second she flashed back to seeing them for the first time. It had been exactly like this, on that spot before the cave.
Back then she had been so scared, terrified of losing her life to those sharp rows of teeth. Now she stood before them and had the confidence to reach her hand up to caress their snout. Shiori nuzzled against her palm, those glowing yellow eyes slowly closing.
They were laying down, chin and neck resting against the dirt to expose their back. It took her a moment of staring to realize what was being offered, then the panic came back in a new kind of terror. “You want me to ride you!?”
Shiori looked at her impatiently. The tender moment was gone and now the dragon was once again regarding her with the kind of patience a lover showed their partner while working through an argument. They stayed like that, unmoving, waiting. In their own way they were stating that they wouldn’t move from that spot until Nerissa did as they wanted.
She almost didn’t. Out of pure self preservation or fear, she wasn’t sure. But she trusted Shiori enough to put one foot in front of the other. She climbed their neck, moving to position herself just before their shoulderblades. She could sit there, between two of the spikes running down their spine, almost like a seat.
Shiori’s body lifted and her hands snapped to the bone spur to grasp onto for her life. Wings beat beside her, lifting them on the third pulse. Her heart sank into her stomach with a sick, queasy feeling as they ascended. It went so much faster than she had expected, even if she had seen them lift off before.
In one breath they were above even the tallest trees and before she could inhale again they were level with the top of the mountain. Suddenly it was much colder than before, it was harder to breathe, but the sight below made her forget all about it for the moment. The mining town nearby looked so small like this. What was once a place that would take quite a while to walk through now appeared as if a small hop would skip it entirely.
Her dragon hovered underneath her for several heartbeats to make sure she had her balance, then began to fly to the west. Wind blew around her so hard that it made her hair stand out behind herself and her ears sting with the rush of air blowing against them. Instinctively she leaned forward and hugged onto the spine. Her head lowered slightly and she shifted to be as low as possible while still being able to peek over Shiori’s shoulder to see the landscape sweeping by underneath herself.
Travel to the bloodflame kingdom would normally take days by carriage. Nerissa knew traveling all too well, the time spent on the road something that had become familiar to her. It was mostly quiet with small chatter between people who shared the trip. Sometimes people brought cards, other times instruments. She had sung during most of the trips, entertaining everyone along the way and making friends.
This time she realized that they would be there before the sun crested above them. A few bells of the clock was all it would take to get from one country to another, avoiding all the taxed roads, without fear of bandits, or even needing to pack food.
Shiori was amazing. They could carry her effortlessly upon their back, hunt for her, protect her, as well as be okay with changing where they lived just because she mentioned it. Her hand reached down to stroke a soothing line along their back. She could feel the muscles flexing under the scales, could feel their heartbeat pulse upwards into her body.
It felt warm. Enough to fight away the biting cold of being so high into the air. Nerissa leaned down more, finding the most comfortable, safest spot to be without endangering herself too much. Both arms spread out to hug her dragon as best she could, clinging to them and finding handholds between scales and ridges along their back.
Time passed in amazed wonder. They flew over vast forests, large lakes, towns, and even banked to the side to avoid a mountain so large that it made their own back home feel small by comparison. There was even snow atop of it. An absurd sight to Nerissa, as it was only the tail end of summer. She had heard about snow kissed mountains before but to fly next to them, at the same height, was something she would always remember.
The castle town came into view much later. It was vast like the one she was familiar with but the density of it was so much less. Houses were spaced out around it in a circle, making a ring of homes and shops around the large stone building in the middle. Out from there, another ring of walls was being made much farther out. Expansion. The kingdom was new but it was growing at a rate that demanded more space.
Shiori slowed down as they approached, going into a steady glide. They circled the area, observing it. In between the two rings of walls she saw masses of orcs chopping trees. Goblins were seemingly laying bricks for roads, and even dwarves were hauling in cut stones from uncovered wagons. It truly was a land where everyone could intermingle freely.
Nerissa assumed they would land before the gates leading into the main city proper. From there they could walk through the city to see if it was a place they would like to be near. Maybe get some food, take in the sights, and make a decision together. But Shiori was impatient and all too late did Nerissa realize that when they said they wanted to see if the queen was worthy of having Nerissa live there, they were serious.
Her dragon leaned so far to the side that she had to grasp at their body tightly to keep from sliding off. It cut their path into a tight circle, looping the castle while descending downwards. She looked down in fear, realizing that Shiori was aiming for the giant courtyard within the castle walls.
Countless knights were there, amidst training dummies and sparring pits. To make it even worse, there was one person that stood out among the steel covered infantry. A woman with blazing crimson hair, donned in white steel and a cape. Their sword was drawn and held at the ready, a giant thing made of enchanted metal. Fire licked along the blade in preparation for battle but they didn’t attack. The scarlet queen herself stood at the ready, one hand raised to settle the commotion surrounding them.
And Shiori casually landed a dozen or so feet before them as if they were greeting an old friend.
Nerissa didn’t want to dismount. They were surrounded by guards, trained knights of the royal court. Mages were nearby, archers had bows drawn with arrows nocked in the resting position, and her mount was lowering their neck as if to imply that she just hop off before all of them.
She didn’t, and Shiori grew impatient. A slight shake of their shoulders made her dislodge and be forced to slide down their side lest she tumble to her face on the grass below. Her feet hit the lawn and she took several fast steps to try and disperse her speed. It was too much and she knew she was about to fall right in front of everyone.
But a hand reached out right in front of her and instinct made her grasp at it with both arms, hugging it to make sure she didn’t get a face full of grass.
“Dragons are impatient creatures, aren’t they?”
She huffed something of a startled agreement, got her footing, and looked up to see who had saved her. To her horror she saw the scarlet queen. She was holding onto their arm for support and the action made everyone around them go on high alert because she had touched royalty.
“M-my queen!” Nerissa fumbled back several steps. The woman before her was a legend. A knight of the highest order, leader of an army that had conquered the Mad King and overtook their land. Before they turned thirty they had cleaned up the area, stopped famine with their knowledge, became a queen, and now was one of the most rapidly expanding nations in the area.
And she had just fumbled on top of them.
Her knees bent, going into a kneel while lowering her head. Before she could get halfway down the scruff of her dress was grasped and she was yanked back up. Shiori set her back to her feet, standing, and glared.
“You do not kneel to anyone, Nerissa.”
She could practically hear the bowstrings being drawn tight now. Shiori walked past her, toward the knight, and stood before them. They were naked, wings spread wide, clawed hands and feet on display and those monochrome scales reflecting the sun’s light from overhead.
They only came to the queen’s shoulder. The woman didn’t look threatened at all, instead smiling with amusement. The flickering blue flame before their chest was soft and calm, their sword being moved to be sheathed at their back with some kind of binding spell.
“What do we owe the pleasure of greeting a history eater?” They asked of them while raising their other hand once more to make everyone lower their weapons.
“My treasure wishes to move into this kingdom,” Shiori stated as a fact. “I wish to ensure she will be safe here, thus I come to the queen to have her word of protection.”
“...I see.” The scarlet queen turned back to Nerissa, arms crossing just under their breasts and that flickering blue flame hovering atop it. “And does the lady agree?”
Shiori’s eyes widened. Their wings flared out and one step was taken toward them. “Do not insult me by insinuating she is not acting of her own will!”
The queen didn’t react, eyes staying upon the elf. “My lady?”
“I- I am here of my own will... It was my wish that brought Shiori, er, the history eater, here.” As if on afterthought, she lightly bowed her head in respect. “I apologize on her behalf for the brash behavior. She is very protective of me.”
“Do not bow your head!”
“Bowing is a sign of respect,” Nerissa told her softly, lifting up to look into those angry golden eyes. “It is not of submission. Be at ease, Darling.”
“Dragons do not ask others for aid normally,” the queen voiced their thoughts aloud, fingers rubbing at their chin in thought now. “I sense that she is more than capable of protecting you. Are you bringing danger to my doorstep?”
“No,” Nerissa answered when Shiori looked ready to yell.
She stepped in front of them and reached backwards to take Shiori’s clawed hands so she could pull them around her waist. The position always made them settle down and this time was no different. Their chin rested upon her shoulder and strong, protective arms wrapped her in a hug. Wings settled, drifting to make a half cocoon around the elf to shield them should any arrows decide to loose.
Nerissa took a small breath to continue. “My kingdom, to the east, pulled me from my home to be used as a sacrifice to Shiori after she moved into the mountainside. She spared me and took care of me when I couldn’t return. I lost everything I ever had, and she provided me with all I could ask for. We were fine living there alone but... The royals there sent another sacrifice and we realized they would continue to do so. We just want to live in peace, without all that... hassle.”
Again the queen hummed, running the words over in their mind. For a moment Nerissa was positive they would tell her that her story needed to be confirmed but. Instead of that, Shiori spoke from beside her ear, voice low in a growl.
“She is part of me. If she speaks, then it is true.”
“I see. Children of the ivory end ebony clans do not speak falsehoods, so I will believe you. I would ask for return favors for sheltering you.”
Nerissa tried her best not to gawk at the woman before her. Not only were they not afraid of Shiori but they were demanding things in return for their citizenship. The legends of their bravery had not been exaggerated upon it seemed.
“I will draft a proposal for you officially, but for now, I offer sanctuary within my walls on the promise that you will not hunt for food upon my lands. You will remain in your dragonkin form within my walls, and I would consider it a favor if you donated loose scales or other discarded and no longer needed parts to benefit my kingdom.”
“You wish to use my body to fuel your army?” The arms around Nerissa grew tighter.
“I merely request your aid, and will never require it. Clippings and malted scales are more than enough. I do not wish to impose requirements on your person. That is illegal here.”
Nerissa spoke this time in place of Shiori. “If it is something naturally shedding from her, we agree.”
A soft growl. “Nerissa...”
She looked to the side at them. “We already spoke of your shed scales in my bed. If we can give them in exchange for favor, then I want to.”
“...Fine.”
Nerissa faced them again. “Until we work things out officially, we may stay?”
“I will ask that you stay in the castle. I will have a room prepared for you both, with amenities for the history eater.” The queen stepped forward, hand raised to offer it in a gesture of trust and good will. “My name is Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame. Welcome to my kindgom...” They trailed, smiling.
“Nerissa. Just Nerissa, I don’t have a family name.”
“Her family name is Novella.” The dragon once again stated their intentions as if they were already set in stone. “She is mine.”
“Yes, yes, I’m yours.” She gently pet the arm still holding her in a protective hug. “Thank you, Queen Elizabeth.”
A smile. “You are most welcome, Lady Nerissa of the Novelllas, and I welcome you both to the Bloodflame Kingdom.”