Chapter Twelve

Arabella found that she did not dream this time. She wondered why, but after the last dream she was relieved. She felt well. The food and the sleep had done wonders. Her hand still hurt and her ankle still throbbed, but most of her pain was gone. Even her side where the log hit her was not painful to the touch anymore.

She ran her hand across her arm and jerked it back. Here was the source of most of her pain. Her skin was not as red as before. The blisters were gone.  She could still feel the heat radiating from her sunburn.

She wondered how long she had slept. Being inside a cave, she had no way of knowing. The fur rug felt wonderful on her feet. The softness tickled. The long fur made walking difficult on her wounded ankle. She walked out of the tent.

She expected to find the dragon enthroned on his horde. She could still see him curled up on him mountain of gold in her mind’s eye. He was not there. She thought that maybe he was still out looking for Stig and Mavie. She stepped over scattered piles of treasure that littered the cave floor. The floor was cool and actually felt good on her feet.  

Her old clothes lay in a soggy heap near the far wall of the cave. They were incredibly filthy as well. Both her white lace dresses where covered with grime. She thought that they would never be white again. She found one of her shoes, but not the other one. She suspected that she lost the other during her dunking in the river.

She picked up the over dress from the pile. It dripped foul smelling water onto the floor. She had been there long enough for the wet clothes to go sour. She wrinkled her nose in distaste at the smell. She hoped that the dragon would at least let her keep the dress she was wearing.

She held the dress with two fingers and carefully opened the pocket. She closed her eyes and made a wish. She reached in and her hand touched the smoothness of the crystal ball. Even through all her adventures in the lake, it was still in her pocket. She dropped the dress and clung to the ball.

She pressed its smooth glass against her palm. She wondered where she was going to put it. Her outfit that she currently wore had no pockets. Maybe she could find some sort of pouch that she could carry it in. She headed for the trunk. Maybe there would be something in there.

Light flashed briefly from the corridor leading to the entrance of the cave. It was startling. The light was a steady glow in the air. It was unusual to her so it caught her attention.

Curious, she changed directions. The dragon had said nothing about her not wandering around the cave. He had made no demands on her at all. She thought that it was unusual. She boldly walked down the corridor.

The cave floor went from smooth to sandy. It felt gritty under her feet. Small pebbles littered the floor. The floor near the horde had been smooth and clean except for the occasional gold coins. Here some of the pebbles cut into her feet. She wished for her shoes.

She made a short turn. Large rocks had tumbled out of one side of the entry way. They sat in a pile. Arabella thought that maybe the dragon had piled them up there. What caught her attention was the man sitting on top of the rocks.

He was not doing anything special. He was just gazing up into the starlit sky. He was dressed all in black. He had on tall shiny boots that reached to his knees. He had on a long jacket with a high collar that bushed against his chin. His pants and shirt looked like they were made of soft light-weight leather.

His hair looked blond in the dim cave light. It was cut short to his ears. The edges were ragged like he cut it himself.

He had one long leg pulled up to his chest. One hand rested lightly on his upraised knee. She could tell that he was fairly tall just by the length of his legs. He looked relaxed, like he belonged here, not like someone intruding into a dragon’s lair.

Arabella took a deep breath and stepped forward. He turned towards her and smiled. He was absolutely beautiful. Her heart started to pound. His features where slightly pointed, almost fox like. His smile seemed to brighten the cave. It was one of those smiles that revealed teeth. His were straight, white and a bit pointed. She frowned a little as she looked closer at his features. He let her study him.

His eyes were pointed at the tips. His eyebrows arched dramatically. She thought that he was not human. The eyes made her confused. They were dark lashed. They were the same blue as the dragon’s eyes. She looked into them and felt herself getting lost. She stared at him in recognition tinged with disbelief.

“Hello,” he said. “Surprised?” His smile tilted crookedly.

Arabella nodded. It was Denrisi’s voice. Somehow she realized who he was. She figured that it must have been the eyes. No human eyes could be that blue.

“I could not find your companions,” he said. “I even looked in the pass in case they went back to the lowlands. I am sorry.”

“Oh,” Arabella looked down to the floor. A thought hit her. “Did you find the bear?” she asked timidly.

“Yes,” he said. “Do not worry. He is still very hungry.”

Arabella felt a wave of relief. At least they had not been eaten. She approached the rocks. Denrisi held out his hand for her. Tentatively she took it and he helped her up beside him.

“These are for you,” he held out a handful of wild flowers. They were the same ones that grew in the high meadow.

“Thank you,” she said. She clutched them in her good hand. She sat beside him looking at the stars. Occasionally she stole a glance at him. He seemed deep in thought and she did not want to disturb him.

The night was clear and cold. A fat moon hung in the sky just over the peaks. The snow on the peaks shone white. It lit up the landscape below. The trees were very tiny below them. The moon’s brilliant light shone off the lake. A breeze started to blow over Arabella’s skin. She shivered violently.

“Cold?” Denrisi asked.

Arabella nodded. He shifted and wrapped part of his coat around her. His arm lay gently curved around her back.

Arabella thought of pulling away, but she felt incredibly safe. She thought that it felt like she was tucked under a dragon wing. She stopped fighting with herself and leaned into his warmth.

“How come you are a man right now?” she asked.

“All dragons can shape shift into human form,” he said. “Mine is a little bit uncontrollable right now though.”

He smiled regretfully to himself.

“Something happened a few years ago that has caused me to change into a man whenever the moon rises,” he closed his eyes for a moment. Arabella noticed that he was not smiling any more. He looked like he was in pain.

Arabella laid her flowers on her lap and reached for his hand. He was surprised by the gesture, but clasped her hand anyway.

“I used to be able to change at will,” he said. “Now I will not be myself until the moon sets. But then I can not be a man unless the moon is in the sky,” he looked shyly at her.

“Is there any way to fix this?” she asked.

“I do not know,” he said. “It is really inconvenient. Image flying along and then discovering you are human. It is a long way to the ground. This was the reason it took me so long to find you. I could only search for you while I was in my natural form.”

Arabella sat in thought for a moment. Denrisi looked at her. His eyes traveled over her face. His hand moved and he lightly touched her curls.

“Why does this happen? Tell me about it; maybe it will give us a clue,” she said.

He signed heavily like he was tired of discussing the subject.

“Three years ago I was attacked by another dragon,” he said.

“Wait, that was the same time when you spoke to me through the crystal ball,” she said.

“Yes,” he looked at his boot tips. “I was so intent on making the connection with you that I let the other dragon sense me. It was a battle of magic, not a physical battle. My wounds are to my magic, not to my body.”

He sighed sadly again.

“If he had damaged my body I would have healed myself by now,” he looked at her. “In fact, I would have healed you the rest of the way by now.”

“Oh,” she let go of his hand and clutched her flowers. “Where you the one, I mean, did you undress me and tend to my wounds?”

“Yes,” he said.

Arabella blushed fiercely.

“You were human then?” she pulled away from him.

“Yes,” Denrisi dropped his arm. “Arabella, you were hurt and wet. I had to.”

“I know,” she said. She swallowed hard.

Denrisi placed his hand under her chin and gently forced her to look at him.

“There is no one else around,” he said. “Please Arabella. I will never cause you pain. I just want to help you.”

Denrisi took her hands in his.

“What is this?” he asked. Her bandaged hand was still in a fist. She turned it palm side up and opened her hand. The crystal ball sparkled at him. He took it from her.

“May I borrow this for a bit?” he asked. She nodded.

“It seems to be broken,” she said miserably.

“It is not broken,” he held it up to the moonlight. “It just needs recharging. This is how you and I spoke while you were journeying. It is extremely old; nearly as old as I am.”

“And how old is that?” Arabella looked at the moon through the crystal.

“That, my girl, is an impolite question to ask a dragon,” he smiled at her.

“Well give me a hint,” she smiled back at him.

“Centuries,” he looked pleased that she was smiling at him. “Magic makes things last longer than usual.”

“Oh,” said Arabella frowned. “I guess that counts me out. I can not do magic.”

“Hmm,” he hummed. “I can. I am magic.” He winked at her. She still frowned.

“I gave up on magic three years ago, I nearly drowned,” she said sadly.

“You are magic too,” he leaned close to her. “I can teach you to swim,” he said. “I may be a dragon of the air, but I can swim; a bit.”

“Really?” she asked. “You would not mind teaching me?”

“Arabella,” he looked at her. His expression was extremely serious. “I would do anything for you.”

Arabella discovered herself blushing. She covered her face with her hands.

“Look what you did,” she said accusingly. “I am embarrassed now.”

“Ah but you are so pretty when you are embarrassed,” he laughed. She thought that he was enjoying himself too much.

Her stomach growled.

“Hungry?” he asked. “Let me dine with you,” he did not wait for an answer.

He leaped off the rocks. Arabella slid into his arms when he reached for her. He pulled her to him. There was a long pause before her set her down.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “It is strange to have someone else here. I have lived here, alone, for over a hundred years.”

“That is a very long time to be alone,” she whispered.

“Yes, I fear I have lost my manners,” he said. “You go ahead. I have to do something first.” He smiled at her.

When Arabella entered the passageway she glanced back over her shoulder. Denrisi was already gone.