Zephyreus t1_j8pbrqt wrote on February 15, 2023 at 11:53 PM

THUNK

The clatter of claws on the roof of the tower jolts me awake.

My eyes barely have time to adjust as the rope ladder thuds onto the floor next to my bed.

“C’mon, you know the drill.” Says a stern, woman’s voice from above.

“Can I at least get dressed first?” I call back up.

“Ugh, fine, but make it quick.” She says as she stalks away from the trapdoor.

I throw on the clothes and travel sack I set aside before going to sleep. I haven’t quite figured out her exact schedule yet –or if there even is one- but I think I’m getting pretty good at predicting her regular abductions.

I dutifully climb up the rope ladder, storing it, and closing the trapped door behind me.

She looks quite striking, perched atop her dragon in full battle armor, silhouetted by the moon.

She holds her arm out to me, but this is no formal dance invitation, more like beckoning a reluctant toddler to bed.

I make sure to give her black dragon, Titania, a few good scratches under her chin, earning me a lick and a face full of beef breath in thanks.

Titania kneels so I can easily climb up behind my kidnapper, ignoring her proffered hand.

She clears her throat, “You fools, is your security so lax that I may abscond with a royal without any resistance? You may never see your dear prince ever again…my dragon hungers!”

Her magically amplified words echo around the castle, but garners no response.

She spares me half a glance.

“Hold on.” She says as I wrap my arms around her waist.

Then, with a single word, Titania spreads her wings and we shoot off into the night sky.

I suppose I should back up and explain how I got into this ridiculous scenario.

My name is Jayne, you may have heard of me. I’m the second prince, third-in-line to the throne of our glorious nation. And my abductor is none other than Tarrah, the region’s dragon lord (but don’t call her the dragon lady, she does not like that).

She got tired of raiding and pillaging, so, after running short on gold a few years ago, decided to kidnap and ransom me back to my parents.

In less than a day, my brother –The Lord Protector himself, general of the army- arrived with a small retinue and a tidy sum from my parents. She treated me pretty well, despite chucking me in the dungeon, and I was surprised to learn she was only a few years older than myself.

I’m not sure what dragon lords usually spend their money on, but Tarrah liked to gamble. And gamble she did…poorly, running up an impressive gambling tab. A few months after my first kidnapping, imagine my surprise when I was plucked out of the saddle by a fucking black dragon during a routine ride.

My parents response was less than prompt this time, but they paid up after a few days. Gods know that if my older brother, or heavens forbid my sister –the “future Empress” (like I don’t get tired of hearing that about a thousand times a day)- who was abducted, they might have stormed the dragon lord’s keep immediately.

The third time was mere weeks later. This time was a bit of an ordeal, as Tarrah decided to ambush the ship I was traveling on. Titania singed the sails and Tarrah demanded me for ransom. I don’t think she finished her sentence before I was tossed into the water.

By this point, my parents were pretty fed up and sent my brother over again. This time, he had a much more sizable force at his back. It looked like they might actually have come to blows, but after seeing one full force breath from Titania, cooler heads prevailed.

They engaged in a few hours of negotiations, resulting in my parents agreeing to send a regular stipend to Tarrah in exchange for not interfering with the national economy. Note: they did not include any provisions protecting ME, at all.

I didn’t see Tarrah for about half a year. Then she abducted me from my bedroom for the first time, much in the same way I was this time.

That fourth time, it was weeks until I heard from them. And even then, they just sent a carriage with a token honor guard to pick me up.

Since then she’s showed up at the castle or wherever really to abduct me and whisk me off to her keep every few months or so. My parents only send someone to pick me up when they need me for some state function. I suppose I could walk back, but the nearest village is miles away and I’ve never been the most athletic person.

Tarrah claims that she gets bored, so she kidnaps me for her own amusement, sometimes concocting convoluted schemes to do so. However, I’m not so sure. One of her favorite pastimes is disguising herself and going to a random tavern or alehouse to hear the songs sung and tales told about her –often adding in her own embellishments.

But whatever the reason, she nabbed me yet again.

Zephyreus t1_j8pbt55 wrote on February 15, 2023 at 11:53 PM

Before too long, the all-too-familiar sight of the Dragon Lord’s Keep enters view.

We land with hardly a jolt, Titania kneeling again to accommodate me.

“You know where everything is, see you in the morning.” Tarrah calls down, then takes off again to get Titania settled in for the night.

I greet several of her staff and attendants on the way to what is now, strangely, my bedroom.

I guess Tarrah felt pity or guilty or both but during my fourth stay, she let me out of the dungeon and let me stay in one of the guest rooms. I later convinced her to let me stay in one of the larger rooms, presumably for a family member, but I never heard about nor saw any of Tarrah’s family.

I unpack my travel sack and settle into bed, appreciating that it is both larger and softer than mine at home. I drift off to sleep thinking about what books I want to add to my bookcase here, which has been steadily growing over time.

One of Tarrah’s attendants rouses me from my sleep the next morning, several others help make me presentable for the day, yet another luxury not afforded to me in my own fucking home castle.

“Morning Tarrah.” I say to the dragon lord as I enter the main hall.

“Good morning Jayne, I pray you slept well.” Tarrah says, sitting back down as I settle in next to her.

“Yes, and you as well.” I reply, mouth starting to water as my eyes take in my breakfast.

All traces of formality have evaporated between us at this point and I dig into my meal. Delicious as always.

“Say Tarrah, I gotta ask you.” I say while sipping my after breakfast tea. “Why do you keep kidnapping me? I know it’s not for the money and don’t say it’s because you’re bored.”

“I- “ She starts, then clamps her mouth shut as her eyes narrow. “You’re feeling awfully comfortable, aren’t you? Asking me a question like that. You do remember whose keep you’re in right now, right?”

“What are you gonna do? Throw me in the dungeon again.” I say, throwing caution to the wind.

Her eyes narrow again and I wonder if she is planning on doing just that.

Then she settles back into her chair with a sigh.

“No, I suppose not.” Tarrah says.

A few moments pass before she finally decides to answer.

“Well, I- GODS, are you gonna make me say it?!” She says, slamming a fist against the table, making me jump.

“Well, it turns out that it’s pretty lonely being a Dragon Lord, and you’re one of the few people that doesn’t treat me like some sort of demon or…or a freak.” She says after collecting herself.

“What about the other dragon lords?” I ask, having never met one.

“Those guys, oh, they’re all assholes.” She says with a wry chuckle.

“And your servants?” I ask.

She fixes me with a level stare.

“You know as well as I do that the employer-employee relationship isn’t ever really a genuine one, not when money is involved.” She says with a growl.

“Ok, so you said I’m ‘one of the few’ just how many other people are you abducting on a regular basis?! I don’t recall ever seeing another prisoner or person who wasn’t in your employ.” I say, changing tack.

“Oh, well…I mean, you’re the only one I’ve ever really kidnapped, let alone more than once…” She says, averting her eyes.

“Wait…what?” I say, mind now reeling.

“Let’s just say that it’s difficult to meet people, in my profession.” She says, still not looking at me.

“Hold on, are you saying that you like me?” I say, wondering if I am, in fact, still dreaming.

“Argh, I told you not to make me say it…YES, I like you! I like spending time with you! And Titania likes you too, which is more than enough proof for me.” She says, finally able to look me in the eyes again. “So, I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to live here all the time.” She finishes, looking away again.

I’m so in shock that the only thing I can think to do is take another swig of my tea.

“Are you, are you asking me to marry you?” Are the next words out of my mouth.

“What if- what if I am?” She says, heat returning to her voice as she fixes me with a hard gaze.

“I mean, to be honest, I like you a lot too Tarrah. And Titania! So, I would say yes, well after getting to know you a little better.” I say, feeling my face flush.

Tarrah grins. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Oh yeah, did I mention this is the story of how I married a Dragon Lord?