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“Oh dear.”
Aziraphale hadn’t realised just how big the dragon was. Perhaps if he could sneak past the sleeping creature, he could find a room to hide in. He had food for days, and surely Crowley would dash to his rescue immediately when he got word about Aziraphale’s predicament?
He probably would’ve succeeded in his endeavour — if a blasted dry twig hadn’t gotten in his way. It must have moved when he wasn’t looking, because it hadn’t been there a moment ago. He was quite certain.
“Who dares disturb my sleep?”
“Umm…” Frozen on the spot, Aziraphale just stared as the black dragon unfurled, its large yellow eyes zeroing in on Aziraphale in an instant. “Hello…” He made a little awkward wave. “I’m Prince Aziraphale. I do apologise for the intrusion.”
The dragon blinked, seemingly surprised to find a human in its lair. “Why are you here?”
“I…” The truth was embarrassing, but it was all he got. “I was hoping I could stay for a while…?”
“Why?” The large snout came closer. “Did something worse than a dragon scare you into coming here?”
“No! No. That is to say.” Aziraphale cleared his throat. “No, not exactly.”
“Mhmm. That still doesn’t explain why you’re here, little one. Aren’t you afraid I might eat you?”
Aziraphale could see a glimpse of sharp teeth and swallowed. “A little bit perhaps. I hadn’t planned on you finding me. At least not this quickly.”
The dragon huffed a laugh, small puffs of smoke coming from its nostrils. “I could smell you from the moment I woke up. But I must say, you stink more than I thought a prince would. Does your home not have baths, little one?”
“I uhm… I rubbed my clothes with manure and other things I’d rather not think about. To hide my scent from the dogs as I snuck out.” He had thought it would help to hide his presence from the dragon, too. Fat load of good that did him.
“I see. I’ll ask again, Prince, and you better answer me this time.”
“Alright.” He sighed. “You will find this ridiculous, I’m sure, but I was going to pretend that I was your captive.” He held up a hand and continued quickly. “My intention was not to cause you any harm! I was going to reveal the ruse once my knight arrived. Truly. My intention was for you to never be made aware of this, if at all possible.”
The dragon was silent for several long seconds. “Your knight, you say? What if he never shows?”
“He must!” Aziraphale squeezed the leather strap of the backpack in his hands. “I refuse to believe that he wouldn’t come if he knew my life might be in danger.” Tears threatened to spill, and it was humiliating. But he might as well come clean. What did he have to lose? “I can’t bear the thought of never seeing him again."
“You…you love this knight?”
“I do.” He lost the battle, wiping away the wetness on his cheeks. “And I carried a hope of him loving me back. But then he disappeared. No one knows where he is.”
Another long moment of silence. “Do you think he knows that you love him?”
“I don’t know.” The leather was digging into his palms, he was gripping it so hard. “I never told him, but I thought he did.”
“Little one, how were you expecting him to find you if you don’t know where he is?”
Yes, that had been one of the many flaws in his plan. “I left a note for someone I trust. The plan was for them to spread the word of my fate, letting word of mouth be the way of informing my beloved.” He let his head fall forward. “I do realise what a gamble that is, but it is my last resort.”
“Quite the elaborate plan, simply for the sake of one unworthy knight. Surely you have other prospects to consider?”
“I do not!” Aziraphale’s head shot up as anger replaced sorrow. How dared this…this…stranger place judgement over his darling Crowley? “My mother wants me to marry the despicable Lord Hastur, whom I would refuse even if I didn’t have my knight in my heart. That is, however, the only reason for my haste. Even without the overhanging threat of a forced marriage, I would do anything to get my knight back. My Crowley.”
“Crowley, you say?”
Aziraphale felt like his heart stopped and started beating at double speed simultaneously. “You know him?” Hope bloomed in his chest like spring blossom. “You know my Crowley?”
“You might say that. I will show you but only if you promise to close your eyes. It’s a secret.”
Already turning his back to the dragon for good measure, Aziraphale nodded eagerly. “Yes, I understand. Anything that might help me find him.”
He could hear the dragon move in the rubble, and then it went completely silent. The next thing he knew, he felt something touch his shoulder.
A hand.
“Hiya, angel.”
“Crowley!” Aziraphale spun around, and sure enough. It was his knight, although not in shining armour, but in peasant’s clothes. “How…?” Crowley couldn’t possibly already know where to find him. “And where did the dragon go?”
“He’s right here. Please don’t be afraid, but… it was me. I’m the dragon.”
“What?”
“I’m the dragon.” Crowley looked tense, apprehensive. “I completely understand if this changes how you feel about me.”
The shock had stalled Aziraphale’s mind for a moment, but everything was finally sinking in. “Of course not, why would you think that?”
“Because I’m an abomination?”
“You are not an abomination…! Is this why you left? Were you…cursed? Not that that excuses anything, I would’ve helped you if you had told me.”
Crowley shook his head. “No curse. I was born this way. I left because I knew you could never be mine. You are a prince, and I’m just a simple knight.”
“I would’ve run away with you, had you but asked me.”
“I could never deprive you of a life of luxury, angel. That would be too greedy, even for me.”
Aziraphale had been too surprised to register it the first time, but now he melted on the spot hearing the endearment again. “How can you expect me to give you up when you call me that?”
Crowley smiled. “Aziraphale, you will always be my angel.”
“Do you love me?” It suddenly occurred to Aziraphale that he had declared his love for his knight unknowingly.
“With all my heart, little one, and in all my forms.”
“Then we will figure something out. Perhaps we can seek shelter with my uncle. He married a man of the people too, after all.” Oh. Aziraphale tried not to think about what he had just implied.
“I think that’s an excellent idea, my Prince.”
“Good, that’s settled then. Now could you please come here and kiss me?”
Crowley’s laugh rang through the open space, and it sounded as light as Aziraphale felt. “Gladly, angel, there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”