1 Marry Me!

Dragons...

What comes to mind when you think of Dragons? Do you think of them as beasts in fairytales? How about mythical beings that once walked the face of the world? Were they even real? Well, my dear friends, they are very real.

You could say that dragons can be selfish, and overprotective, however, I would call it love, a type of love that won't let anything harm you.

They are indeed fire breathing, cold beasts that contain more power than humans. Yet they are beautiful and majestic beings that range; with scales, some with fur, some large, and others small, some evil, and others good.

Dragons were fairy tale myths, that became true. The dragons lived within the world for many years, before the human race was born, and soon afterward, they came to dislike the human race because of their greed.

Something that still runs deep in people, greed. Thankfully, I wasn't too interested in greed, I was that hero that made it her purpose to make an impact.

Dragons were above everything else in status, they had plenty of strength, knowledge, and magic, surpassing humans in every way. They were the creatures that we would give offerings for peace, and luckily they accepted the offerings, and we lived in peace. However, not always in harmony.

Little did we know that dragons took the forms of humans and integrated into our society many years later. Dragons were living among us, in the different levels of class, trying to enjoy a simple life. They didn't all choose to be in the hierarchies. 

That is when the Dragon Wars started. A time when people found ways to kill these majestic beasts because when they were in their human form, they were 'weak'. This war only started because the people thought that the races were unequal, never mind that there were plenty of dragons on each level.

Children were taught to fear dragons at a young age, yet ironically they were also taught to face their fears in later years. They were sent to public school to learn about the history of dragons and humans, until they turned sixteen, where they were sent to a boarding school - a military institute that trains the children- to kill the beasts.

Eventually, over a hundred years, we forgot about the dragons, since they were close to extinction. After that tragic war, the dragons weren't heard from again for a long time, until it was time for the greater change. 

Although the dragons lived among us, there were other supernatural creatures, such as werewolves, vampires, and witches.

Since dragons were rare, those that were found were placed in kingdoms and raised to inherit the throne, one of their ways to make a change. Little did I know, that my best friend that I grew up with was in fact, a dragon.

*** In a hidden valley...

The sweet breeze of spring swept by, and my dress, a lightweight gown that had lace and silk, swished with the grass. My hair, which I pulled out the braids, was blowing to the side, with the breeze.

It was after studies that I found myself in the place, on a hill overlooking the city that I lived in. A place where I've worked hard to make a difference from the young tender age of seven. Even thinking about those times makes me smile for some reason. 

This hill was the place that I ran to when my problems became too much. It was also the place where I get to see my best friend, without him I would be a boring robot.

Ladies were supposed to be elegant, graceful, follow a man's order, yet when Elias came crashing into my life, I left that behind. Became the independent woman that I was to be.

For many years we caused mischief, where I was sometimes I was grounded for a week, maybe more, depending on what we were doing. Raised in a noble family, I was from the second-highest-ranking family in the country, of course, you might be wondering who is the first.

The country of Belfare is a rich and prospering land that many countries trade with, a fair deal between us. Belfare is the home for thousands of people, and a place that my best friend was soon to inherit, by his father.

At age twenty-two, and I was still unmarried, because, I had eyes for only one person. As the Daughter of the Great Duke, I had plenty of knowledge of the country and made sure to make my voice known to the people.

Suddenly the breeze strengthened, forcing the grass to flatten down, crushing their weak stems, strong enough that even I, had to lower. I heard the sound of flapping wings, and when I looked up I saw a huge Dragon.

I stepped back a couple of steps, keeping my curious gaze on him as he landed, noticing how he was observing me with one huge teal eye.

I bowed my head in respect of the Dragon, and he respectively tipped his head. Looking at him with bewilderment on my face for a second, I quickly let it slide.

The dragon has bluish-gray, with a hint of green, scales that sparkled brightly in the sunset. His head was huge, about the size of a child. He had horns on his head, his nostrils flaring as he breathed.

The only sounds that could be heard were his breathing, my heart beating, and the wind faintly breezing by. I continued to study the dragon since he didn't attempt to walk forward, as he just stood there watching me.

His body was longer than a car, but about the width of a car, and his wings were massive, I couldn't think of anything to compare them to, other than they looked like rubber webs. The Dragon folded them in and continued to observe me, as I slowly inched forward in curiosity.

Even though this wasn't my first time meeting a dragon, for some reason this one was strange.

Mother always said to fear dragons and to call for help if I ever saw one, yet I couldn't bring myself to turn around and leave. My feet were dragging me to the massive beast that showed no emotion, and I noticed, he had those familiar ocean eyes.

Eventually, I was standing in front of the massive beast, and the magnificent dragon tipped his head slightly as I hesitantly reached out and touched the scales on the bridge of the nose. They were cool to the touch, and I grinned. 

He kept his eyes on me as he hummed in approval, leaning into the touch. With his reaction, I couldn't help, but smile bigger. I continued to rub that spot and explore his face, for a couple of minutes.

"What are you doing?" I chided quietly to myself, I knew that I had a bad habit of doing things I shouldn't do. At that moment, the dragon shifted to the shape of a familiar man, and my heart stopped. Not in fear, but shock.

There he was, Prince Elias Flames, the man I love. I lowered my head but he held up my chin, smiling at my confusion. Elias was in his usual crown prince outfit, of fine cotton and ribbons and badges, with a tassel rope, hanging down. His hair slicked back, and he looked even finer, I smiled.

Elias has brown hair that was usually messy, those green eyes, that looked like the ocean, he has his boyish smile and a perfect face shape. His body was all ripped in the right places, a six-pack, not an ounce of fat on him. I placed my hands on his chest, as my heart was now beating frantically in my chest.

"Hmm?" He held me by my waist watching the sun lower. For a couple of minutes, we just stood there in silence, taking in the beautiful scenery. "Rebecca," He paused to graze my cheek, giving me a boyish smile that stopped my heart instantly, again.

I wasn't scared that he was a dragon, why was that? I just looked into his ocean eyes, and just hummed. Releasing me and dropping to one knee, I widened my eyes at Elias. A prince should never kneel. I reached out and he just shook his head.

"Rebecca Willow, I've shared my secret that I'm a dragon, something that is not known by many. I will love you, forever. For our friendship has led to love, and I feel like it's time that I completely confess to you. I ask for your hand in marriage, so that I can be your first for everything that comes. Will you marry me?" He asked popping out a magnificent ring.

The ring was rose gold, with a caret of real Ruby, that was round, with 14 accent diamond stones, I looked at it with awe. As the sun rays hit the stones, the ring glowed to life, and on the inside, our names were engraved on the band. Rebecca M. Willow and Elias S. Flames.

Tears trailed down my face -tears of joy- as I looked into his eyes and nodded. For a while, I've known that my heart was not going anywhere. It belongs wholly to this man. This man has taken my heart, with his boyish charms, a handsome smile, and the years of us together.

He proposed in our spot, the place where we have sneaked out of our homes, just to visit each other. Planning ideas of what to do to the council, and other plans of mischief. A place where we have shared our secrets, including the new one.

"Yes." I cried and lunged at him and he caught me with ease, with a smile on his face. Holding me close, with his chin on my beauty bone, and I rested my chin on his collar bone. His arms melded me to his body like I was going to leave, even though I wasn't.

Pulling back, we kissed, before he placed the beautiful ring on my ring finger, and we watched the remaining sunset. Sitting in his lap with his arms tightly around my waist, with his chin on my beauty bone. I leaned into him and smiled that this had happened.

I was his maiden, but he was My Dragon.