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I awoke feeling groggy having not slept well despite being in my own bed for the first time in weeks, something that made me ever more annoyed with Stephen than I already was. Why did he have to show up now of all times?

I glanced over at where he was sleeping on the floor against the wall farthest from my bed. He had least had taken that hint after I moved my table and chairs away from it though I could tell he wasn’t very happy about it.

He was still sleeping, snoring softly, and I confess to watching him for several moments wondering what it was I saw in him in the first place that attracted me to him.

He wasn’t unhandsome by any means, tall, average build, with sandy blond hair and brown eyes, a nose perhaps a bit to strong for his face, but all in all not unattractive to a younger me, at least for a time.

His personality…well he had troubles being serious and I was considered to be a bit too serious by some. We clashed fairly early on and more frequently as we knew each other. I think the may reason we stayed friends and somewhat close is that we did study together quite well, his mind complimenting mine, as much as I didn’t really want to admit it.

Part of me wondered if he could help me find a solution for the current situation but I quickly put that notion aside. He was a bit dogmatic despite his lack of seriousness, or perhaps because of; it required less thought to simply believe what was taught and his reaction to Teras would be to drive him off or try to kill him.

I didn’t want to think about how I would react if he tired.

Thinking of the dragon, I had to figure out some way to talk to him nd tell him what was going on before he came looking for me. I knew he worried over me and not hearing from me would cause him to fret. Teras had enough worries and concerns in his life right now; he didn’t need to be worried over me as well.

I decided to quietly get out of bed and then bath myself in a stream that was some distance behind my hut. I’d write a note for him telling him what I was about and that had better damned well be enough to keep him from looking for me or there’d be trouble.

I wrote the note down on a spare piece of parchment and attached it to the inside of my door where I had a hook for such purposes, gathered up my bathing things and staff, and quickly and quietly went out the door, heading for the stream.

The morning was still cool though finally warming up with spring coming on, fortunately. Bathing in cold water wasn’t very appealing, and though I could warm an area of it the magic only went so far in heating it up.

I grumbled at the thought. Well, they say cold water is bracing and good for your soul, though how in the world that was I could never quite sort out.

I stopped to examine my reflection before disrobing, pausing to take myself in after the rather chaotic events of the last several days. My hair was still a dark blond color, amazingly, I thought, as it should be gray after all that had gone on. It would be in need of a cut soon; I never let it get longer than my shoulders.

My hazel eyes looked back at me, a quirk on my rather thin lips. In my youth I despaired of them, heavier lips being considered more attractive but I was long beyond that now. Mostly anyway.

I inherited the high cheekbones from my mother and the slender nose from my father. Unfortunately I got his ears as well and they stuck out a bit more than I’d like.

I glanced down at my clothing and grimaced at the dirt; I would have to pack some more when I got back to my hut. I wore my typical blue robe over a white tunic and trousers, only wearing the traditional dress when absolutely necessary. I hated dresses, they were always in the way, catching on things, and it made it difficult to walk through the woods wearing one.

I rubbed my forehead and sighed, moment of vanity over, and disrobed and as quickly as I could washed myself. Curse Stephen for showing up if he’d not been here I’d have simply heated up some water and likely have slept better as well.

That thought that I’d have slept even better curled in the arms of a dragon echoed quietly and I closed my eyes, taking a deep, calming breath. It was just the situation, Erin, I told myself. Just the situation, no more, no less. You were happy in your bed it was just Stephen showing up that disrupted it. That was all.

I looked back in the direction of my hut and decided to see if I could find Teras to tell him what was going on. I worried about the poor beast fretting about my condition and not being able to get to me.

I walked a good ways into the forest where I told him to go. “Teras?” I called out quietly. I waited for a few moments, calling again, then sighed. Hopefully I would be able to catch him at another time.

I prayed to the maker he was just off hunting and that nothing and befallen him, then grimaced. Just a dragon, I said, just a dragon, stop getting worried and concerned over a dragon, no matter how nice.

I sighed and shook my head, knowing that I didn’t believe that. Teras was a friend, no matter what species he was. For good or for ill I couldn’t deny it and was put out with myself for trying.

I suppose old teachings and habits die hard.

I opened the door to my hut to find Stephen still sleeping. I stared down at the man and briefly considered leaving without him but decided against. He’d just get upset and try all the harder to follow if not gathering others to look for me being “lost”.

I nudged him with the toe of my boot and he woke up with a start. He looked at me blearily, smiled, and said “Good morning, Erin.”

“Good morning,” I replied quietly. “I’m going to put some tea on and fix breakfast, then I must head out.”

“Sounds good to me.”

I set the tea on to boil and started making breakfast, ever so often stealing a glance out the window in hopes that I would see Teras. Hopefully he was staying hidden and would stay back until I could get rid of Stephen somehow.

We ate breakfast in silence, thankfully. I’m not sure if he sensed my general displeasure with the situation was quiet or if time had made him more taciturn. Ether way it suited me just fine. I simply wished he’d leave so I could continue on with Teras to find his son.

I put the dishes away and gathered up my travel things, the silk steel, so me more provisions, and the sewing things that I had come for, mostly ignoring Stephen, stepping around him rather than asking him to move. He fidgeted uncomfortably a few times but never made any offer to leave me alone.

I finally looked up at him. “Alright. Time to leave.”

“Okay,” he said quietly.

I walked out the door and let him past then shut and locked the door, something I had neglected to do last time, though I somehow doubted it would have stopped him from waiting for me. I clamped down on that thought, not needing any extra irritation.

We set off in the general direction of Frostford. I honestly had no idea where to go otherwise and was hoping that I could get rid of him long before we got there otherwise I’d have wasted far too much precious time. I was already upset at the time we were loosing.

As we walked I surreptitiously looked about for the dragon but he was no where to be seen. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy or upset about that, happy that he was out of sight or upset that I couldn’t see him and worried at what may have befallen him.

Stephen tired to engage me in conversation several times but my terse replies finally put him off. We finally stopped for lunch, walking some ways off the road to a small creek I knew of to rest and eat. He set up a fire while I drew water out of the creek for tea, looking about for Teras the whole time.

I put the tea on to boil and sat down on a log, brooding over the whole situation and Stephen sat on a rock not too far away, watching me. I finally looked up at him. “What?” I said with some irritation.

“I don’t understand why you’re acting this way.”

“Of course you don’t; you were always oblivious.”

He frowned. “That’s not fair, Erin. We were both young.”

“There is no ‘we’ Stephen. I wish you’d figure that out.”

“Damit, you can’t just say you up and forgot all the things we did together! You can’t just…erase that part of your life! I’m still here, I still care for you and I don’t get why you’re treating me this way!”

I held my tongue. “Stephen, I’m sorry. I’ve grown older, moved on, and my feelings have changed. I should have thought it would be more obvious when you left.”

He shook his head. “You kissed me goodbye, watched me leave. What was I supposed to think?”

“I was being polite!”

“Oh yes, a very polite kiss and ‘I’ll miss you’”

“I just thought it best, alright?”

He shook his head. “We had plenty of fights, I thought things had cooled down and you up and kiss me and say you’ll miss me. What am I supposed to think?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. That’s nice, Erin. Sorry. I spend years wondering about you, wondering if there was anything left and find out you were just kissing me and telling me you’d miss me just to make yourself feel better after some argument!”

I closed my eyes. “What else do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know!”

I snorted and shook my head, something I knew irritated him and I could see nothing had changed as his face turned red.

“I see that hasn’t changed either. Little spiteful things to irritate me, trying to make me mad. And here I thought you’d gotten older and had better control of your temper?”

“Just leave it alone, Stephen.”

“Oh yes, just leave it alone. Don’t stand up for yourself, just let it drop and pretend things are just fine, is that it, Erin?”

“Just stop!” I yelled.

He shook his head in disgust. “Yeah. Sorry I thought different, Erin. Sorry I thought that kiss meant you were sorry. Sorry I thought you actually were going to miss me. But what did I know? For all I know you kissed tons of guys goodbye and told them you’d miss them too right?”

I strode over and slapped him. “Don’t you ever speak to me that way!”

He stood there in shock for a moment, then anger clouded his features. “I suppose I’m supposed to slink off after that right? Just walk off and pretend things are fine?”

I took a few steps back. “Just leave, Stephen. We’ve nothing more to say to each other or discuss.”

He stared at me with a cold look in his eyes then shook his head. “Fine. Fine, whatever you say Erin. Always whatever you say.”

He grabbed up his pack and strode off, muttering to himself. I watched him leave feeling a strange mixture of relief and guilt. I didn’t want to admit that he was partially right. I probably shouldn’t have kissed him and told him I’d miss him but I felt I had to do something to…make up for things.

I should have known he’d take it differently and shouldn’t have done it but it was in the past. I was immature, was admittedly spiteful, and maybe I did want to lead him on a bit so he’d feel bad but…

I shook my head irritably. Past. Gone. Done with. No need to brood on it now. I had important things to do. A dragon to take care of and a kidnapped dragon to rescue. There was no time to brood over the past and foolish mistakes.

I finished lunch, gathered up my gear, and with one last look around for Teras and Stephen, set off towards Frostford, hoping the dragon would show up soon. I reasoned that he may wait until nightfall as he did before.

By the time dusk settled and had still not seen any sign of the dragon and hoped I was right about him waiting for nightfall. I went a good ways off the trail and found a secluded spot within the trees to insure Teras would not be visible from the road when he arrived, not that there were any travelers along the road aside from myself.

It wasn’t long after I had the water boiling for tea when I heard the familiar sound of dragon wings approaching. I could feel a smile lighting up my face despite my best efforts to keep my features neutral. I turned to see Teras land a short distance away and carefully walk forward, looking about, his ears turning to catch the sound of anyone approaching.

He settled his wings tighter to his back, walked towards me with his ears perked. “Erin! You are finally alone!”

“I’m sorry, Teras. It took me longer than expected to get Stephen to leave me alone.”

He cocked his head. “He is friend?”

I grimaced. “Sort of. Was. I’m not sure how to explain it, Teras. I knew him when I was at the Sisters college and we were friends then but. . .”

He cocked his head the other way. “Not friends now?”

“No, not really.”

“Why did he come see you?”

I looked up at the dragon in some frustration. “Teras, I really don’t want to talk about this.”

He flinched and looked down. “Sorry. Was just curious.”

I instantly felt bad and reached up a hand to him. He lowered his head and nosed at it, and I pet him along his jaw. The thrummed softly and I patted him once more on the nose. “It’s okay, Teras. It’s just a bit hard to explain. We were…in a relationship once but it didn’t work out.”

His ears came up. “Oh you were mated?”

I felt the heat rush to my face. “No! Nothing like that!”

Teras rumbled. “He did not find you worthy?” he said, a soft growl suffusing his tone.

“No, it wasn’t that…” I stopped, not sure of what to say or what the dragon was getting at.

He snorted. “He should have been honored you were paying attention to him! Any male should be!”

I again felt myself blushing, suddenly understanding what he was saying. “It’s not quite like that with humans, Teras.”

He blinked. “Then how do you find mates and have hatchlings?”

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I opened them and looked at the dragon. “Teras…I’ll explain it all to you later? Okay?”

He bobbed his head as I hoped that he would forget about it and that later would never come.

“Did you eat?” I asked him, trying to shift his thoughts.

He nodded. “Yes. Caught deer.”

“I’m sure it was good,” I told him as I prepared my own meal of porridge and dried fruits that I retrieved from my hut.

Teras settled down to watch me as was his habit and I ate in silence, brooding a little over Stephen and hoping that he was still walking to whoever it was he was going and we were well rid of him.

I yawned and banked the fire and looked over at the dragon. “I’ll start working on the straps for the saddle tomorrow, once those are done we can head for the next town and I can buy a large saddle and see if we can adapt it for you.”

He hesitated “I carry you to the town?”

I winced. “Yes. Probably.”

He bobbed his head and said nothing further about flying which was a relief. I was never sure of what to say to his assurances that he wouldn’t drop me, rather not hearing the word drop come from his mouth at all when discussing carrying me.

I started to unroll my sleeping roll and stopped, feeling Tears’ eyes on me. I slowly looked over my shoulder at him and saw him laying on his side. He looked away from me for a moment, then looked back and almost shyly opened his arm and wing for me.

I hesitated, just staring at his arms, then looked back up at him.

He swallowed nervously and his ears drooped. “You…do not have to…”

I looked down, as unsure as I’d had ever been in my life. After a moment I looked up and smiled at the dragon, feeling the heat rush to my face and he made a low trill and opened his arm and wing again.

I went to him.

Morning came and I found myself in the ever more familiar position of being wrapped in a dragon’s arms and wings once more. I had to admit that it was far more comfortable than I would have ever believed possible and there was…security there.

I quickly decided not to examine those feelings any further. That small voice whispered “Someday” but I decided today was not that day. I could try to…come to grips with this later.

I gently pushed against the dragon’s wing and Teras yawned and opened it, his arm squeezing me gently before letting me free. I gave him a brief pat and went to perform my morning ablutions.

I returned and stirred the fire to start the water boiling for tea then turned to Teras. “Would you like some tea as well?”

“Please?” He said, looking at the pot eagerly.

“Of course,” I replied with a small chuckle.

While the water boiled I prepared my breakfast, then poured some tea in a bowl for Teras while getting a cup for myself. I ate, feeling at peace while the dragon lapped his tea up, thrumming quietly the whole time.

After I finished I pulled the silksteel out of my pack and unrolled it. I suddenly felt the warm air of Teras’ breath wash over me and I looked up to see him peering down. I sighed and shook my head, then pushed against his chest. “Get back, you; you’re in my light and I can’t see.”

He rumbled. “Sorry. Was curious.”

“More curious than a cat!”

He looked a bit puzzled by the comment, then shook his head and made a soft chuffing sound, then settled down to watch me. I drew the silk out and ran it through my hands, taking the measurement of it as I pulled, then looked over at Teras, squinting, trying to get an estimate of his girth.

“I think I’ll have enough. Here, let’s measure you. Roll to your side?”

He nodded and rolled, keeping his wings tucked tightly to his back, and I lay the silk against him, taking a rough measurement, then doubling it. “I think it’ll be enough, Teras. I’ll just need buckles and the horses saddle to attach it to.”

“And then you can ride me!” he said eagerly.

I shook my head. “Yes, Teras. Then I’ll be able to ride you. I just hope I can handle it.”

He nuzzled me very carefully as he had learned. “You will be fine.”

“As you say, Teras. As you say.”

Teras set me down well outside of the village we had visited before where I had spoke with the Sherrif. The village supplied miners and loggers in the area so it would more than likely have saddles for the huge draft horses they used. I only hoped I would be able to adapt them to Teras without hampering his flight.

I entered the saddle maker’s shop and an older gentlemen looked at me with a look of surprise, then remembered his manners and touched two fingers to his forehead. “Sister, how may I help you?”

I smiled at the man. “I know, not the place you would expect a Sister to show up, is it?”

He chuckled nervously. “No, can’t say as though I’ve sold many saddles to the Sisterhood.”

“Well then today will be a first and perhaps an unusual request at that: I need a saddle for a large draft horse.”

The man blinked and then rubbed his head and thought. “I do have a few of them but they are terribly heavy, Sister…” he trailed off looking at me doubtfully.

I lifted my staff and smiled. “There’s things I can do to reduce the weight.”

“Oh, well, I hadn’t thought—” he broke off and shook his head. “Well then, if you’ll step over here I’ll show you the saddles.”

There were only a few saddles available and only one of them looked like it might fit the dragon. I looked it over and hoped it wouldn’t interfere with his wings or breathing once we had it in place.

“I think this one will do, kind sir,” I said and pulled out my money pouch, “I will need some buckles, rings, and tack as well.”

The man looked at me doubtfully but took the money. “Are you sure you won’t need help carrying it?”

I lifted my staff and concentrated for a moment, then made the appropriate gestures and declensions to lighten the weight of the saddle. I lifted it over my shoulder with ease though it was still bulky. I wished I could shrink it down but I wasn’t sure that was even possible. Even the lightening would only last for so long.

“I think I can manage it,” I said, smiling at the man.

He put two fingers against his forehead and nodded, then shook his head with a small laugh. “Never know what a Sister can do with that magic of theirs. Quite versatile aren’t you? Let me bag up some buckles and roll up the tack for you.”

I repeated the spell on the tack and buckles, then tied them to the saddle and hoisted it over my shoulder once more.

I smiled at the shopkeeper once more. “A blessing from the Maker. And a blessing upon you and your house as well.”

“Why thank you Sister!”

“You’re most welcome, kind sir.”

I made it back to the rocky outcropping Teras and I had rested at before to find the dragon lying on his back sunning himself. I could hear him thrumming from where I stood some thirty feet away. I grinned at the sight and quietly approached the dragon.

“Teras,” I said softly.

He opened his eyes and abruptly rolled onto his feet, fortunately away from me, and looked down in panic. “Erin!” he exclaimed and looked around wildly before calming down.

I couldn’t help but laugh at him and he looked away with a slight twist to his neck in a gesture of embarrassment. “The sun was warm,” he muttered. “It felt very good on my wings and belly.”

“I’m sure it did, Teras, but I worry what would have happened if someone with ill intent had gotten as close as I did. I’m sure your belly is more vulnerable.”

He shook his head. “No. Is armored just as well as the rest of me,” he said and stretched up before me, running a claw down his belly making it click over his scales.

I blushed and looked away. “I’m sure you’re right, Teras. Now drop down and lets look at getting this saddle on you to make sure it fits.”

He dropped down turned his head, watching eagerly as I hefted the saddle into place. Amazingly enough it fit almost as if it were made for him and I thanked the Maker for such mercies. It wouldn’t take long at all to fashion straps from the silk steel and perhaps even have enough left over to make a safety belt for myself, something that would certainly make riding him more palatable in my mind.

I pulled the saddle down and scrambled up on the dragon’s back to get another measurement, then used magic to cut the silksteel to length and started sewing and attaching the buckles.

It was well into night when I had finished and Teras stood over me the whole time watching and occasionally looking at himself and then at the pieces as if trying to figure out how they would fit.

I smiled up at the dragon. “There. I think I’m done. Ready to try it on?”

He nodded eagerly and lay down flat so I could put the saddle back on him. I used the lightening spell once more and tossed down the tack, then housed the saddle into place. I set about lengthening the silk steel straps.

“Ok, stand up for me so I can go under you with the straps.”

He stood and I moved under the dragon and buckled the main strap in place, then had him lower his head so I could buckle the other around his neck and then attach the two of them together. Between the two of them it should keep the saddle firmly in place and keep it from rolling.

“I think,” I said as I tightened up another buckle, “that I will see if there is some magic that can hold it to you back easier.”

He blinked. “Oh. I can do that!”

I stopped and looked at him. “What?”

“I can make it stay with magic.”

“…for how long, Teras?”

He lifted his wings slightly. “Until I cancel the spell.”

“So you’re telling me I just went through all this trouble for nothing?”

He blinked and lowered his head. “They look nice against my scales?”

I stared at the dragon for a long moment, then burst out laughing. He lifted his head and started making a rumbling noise that I assumed was laughter and nuzzled me gently. I patted him on the nose and smiled.

“Well, I got some practice in and I can always hang pouches and then like from them so it wasn’t a total waste.”

He nodded then perked his ears. “We fly?”

“Tomorrow, when the sun is up, Teras. I’m nervous enough about flying, lets not compound that by trying it at night as well.”

He sighed and then nodded. “You are right. Morning, then.”

I removed his saddle and waited for him to lie down and open his arms for me. I settled in and watched his wings wrap around me feeling safe and secure once more. I reached out and pet his nose and rubbed his cheeks until I finally drifted off to a peaceful sleep.