(A/N) I know it has been ages since I've published a work on this sight. Since that time I've changed a lot as a person, and as a writer. Please give this story a chance and maybe a review if you've got the time. For those that don't know, a maiden refers to a female vergin, and that is how I am using the word in this story. There is no known male equivalent in the English language.

Enjoy!

Chapter one:

The Dragon's Request

As Jasmine walked through the city gates of Del, Lief felt a sadness that almost made him ache from within. Despite the fact that she was now his betrothed, and their marriage was to take place in the spring, he still found it hard to let her go.

"It will only be for a week," she had told him. But now, that seemed like an age to him. They had spent the better part of three years in constant company, and now she would be leaving him. His only consolation was that she would be accompanied by her Father Doom, who he knew would protect her with his life. Of course, there had been that short time in Tora when she had travelled there, and not long after when they had been separated on their way to the Isle of the dead, but Jasmine had not been his betrothed then. Things had changed.

Many in the kingdom still did not know that Lief had chosen a bride, the announcement would come at the full moon meeting in Del, and then again in Tora when the meeting was held there, but still Lief believed that the shadow lord posed a threat to her. It used her as bait when it knew that I loved her, and that was enough then, Lief thought as he made his way back through the city to the forge where he still lived. At the forge, his mother was waiting for him with a meal she had brought from the palace.

"It is better for you both to have this short time apart," she said, seeming to understand how he was feeling. "You will have the rest of your lives together. Besides, Jasmine is only going to the forests where she grew up, and she will have Kree with her. If she needs to send you a message while she is away, I am sure she will."

"That does not make me feel much better about the situation Mother," Lief said as Sharn put the plate of food on the table in front of the chair where Lief sat. "The shadow lord knew that I loved her when no one else in the kingdom did. Surely it has ways of finding out that we are now to be married. What if something happens to Jasmine and Doom while I am still here?"

Sharn found herself wishing she had brought something to eat for herself as well, as she could tell that this was not going to be a short conversation. As she sat down at the table in front of Lief and handed him a knife and fork, she thought that perhaps she should have had this conversation with Lief when he had first come home after restoring the belt of Deltora, so obviously in love with that strange wild girl who had grown up in the dreaded forests of silence, could communicate with birds, animals and trees, and just so happened to be the daughter of her late husband Endon's dearest friend. Many in Del assumed that Sharn would want Lief to marry a high born girl, possibly even from Tora, but when she had observed the relationship that the two young people shared, and remembered the brief time that she, Anna, Jarred and Endon had spent in the forge, Sharn could not think of a better match for her beloved only son.

But Jasmine had not grown up as Lief had. Lief had always spent his time in the company of other humans. He had parents who set rules for him, prepared meals for him, worried for him when he disobeyed those rules, and attended to all his other needs. Jasmine on the other hand, had had very little of that. Of course, Sharn knew that if Jarred and Anna had not been taken to the shadowlands, things may have been slightly different for Jasmine. But things were as they were, and so now Sharn felt that it was her duty as Lief's mother to at least try and make him understand that his bride to be might always be more independent than he was, but that he could learn some of that independence and use it to his advantage. He was the king of Deltora after all, and running the kingdom could not just be confined to Del. Sharn knew that as time went on, there would be occasions when Lief would have to leave Jasmine as well. She could not accompany him on all his journeys, however much she might want to. Especially if there would be children involved. When she had spoken with Jasmine about this matter while they were both in Tora, she seemed to have understood rather well, despite having no idea of the difficulties of being a queen, and later, the mother of the child who would take Lief's place.

"I can survive without Lief," She had said on the fourth day, just as they were beginning to believe that he might not be found alive. "But just now, I do not want to, and that is why I will not give up on finding him. Besides, if the dreaming water shows me that he is indeed dead, I would rather know for sure so that I can grieve for him and eventually move on, rather than spending my life wondering if he will ever be found."

Sharn had been impressed with Jasmine's attitude, and even more so when she discovered that it had not changed with time or she and Lief's impending marriage and she could only hope that now her son would be just as understanding.

"Jasmine can survive without you," Sharn began tentatively as Lief picked up his cutlery and began eating. "But I can understand why you would worry. Your position as king of Deltora does put her in some danger I agree."

"I confess, I wanted to marry her when I thought I would be a blacksmith." Lief said, blushing slightly. Sharn smiled half to herself and continued.

"I understand why you might not want to think of her being able to survive without you, but she can do it, and she will do it if the need arises, and I think you know it Lief. You know in your heart that Jasmine can survive without you, but you do not want her to be able to, because you feel that you cannot survive without her. But I believe you can."

Lief said nothing.

Later in his room, with his mother's words still weighing on his mind, Lief lay in his bed and thought. He thought of Jasmine in the forests of silence with her father Doom. Doom had wanted to travel to the forests to learn what had become of his daughter and his old life after he had left them. He had just wanted to see, he had said, but Lief knew that it was more than that. He knew that Doom wanted to connect the pieces of his shattered life together so that they would make some kind of sense to him. He also knew that Doom wanted an opportunity to grieve his late wife, Anna, and for he and Jasmine to share the final farewell that they had been denied so long ago.

He thought of Jasmine in the forests, back where she felt she truly belonged. He wondered if it had been wrong of him to ask her for her hand in marriage, for being his wife would mean that she would have to live in Del. Once or twice he had entertained visions of running away with her to the forests of silence, away from everything in Del, but he knew that could never be. And now, Jasmine was in the forests. Despite the fact that she was betrothed to him, Lief knew that she could turn from the agreement if she wished. She was also still a maiden, and he was still an innocent youth, which meant that the only thing that bound her to him was her word. Then a thought came into his mind that was certainly not his own. For an instant, Lief did not know exactly where it had come from.

But then, "King of Deltora, I wish to speak with you." It was the voice of Fidelis, the Topaz dragon, calling him in his mind. "Come to me at once. I am just outside the gates of your city. Make haste, I do not like your guards, and this is very important."

Lief lay there stunned. What could the dragon want at this hour? Surely no humans had been attacking it. Lief had made it law that no human was to attack any dragon in Deltora, and had made sure that notices had been distributed throughout the kingdom telling the people that dragons would not attack them if left alone. This law was punishable by imprisonment, so Lief could not think why anyone would decide to break it.

Even so, he dressed quickly, took his sword, put on his cloke, and walked out of the forge and into the night. When he reached the city gates, the guards on duty held up their lanterns, saw who it was, and immediately stepped aside. As far as they were concerned, Lief was the king of Deltora, and so could come and go from Del, (or anywhere for that matter) as he pleased. Usually, this mentality annoyed him because he wished to be treated as any other citizen when not carrying out official duties, but tonight he was grateful. He did not want the guards asking questions, finding out that he had been speaking to the dragon in the dead of night, and then reporting it back to Barda. At least not until he knew what the dragon wanted. He saw the dragon at once, its golden scales standing out in the otherwise dark winter night.

"I am sorry for rousing you from your sleep, King of Deltora, but as I said, this is important."

"It is no problem, Dragon," Lief Replied. "I was not asleep in any case. What is it you want from me? Surely my people have not been harming you, I have made it law that they are not to do so."

"No, your people have not harmed me, but I have something to ask of you." The dragon said. For a moment, Lief wondered what it might be.

"Name it," he said finally.

"Well, King of Deltora, it seems I may lay an egg within the next few weeks," the dragon began.

"Why, that is wonderful!" Lief exclaimed, suddenly feeling happier than he had felt since Jasmine had left.

"Where is your female, King of Deltora? Is she back in the house where you live?"

The dragon's questions caught Lief completely off guard. For a moment, he did not know how to answer.

"No, she is not at my home just now," Lief said, hoping he was right in assuming that the Dragon was speaking of Jasmine. "What is it you…" He stopped there. For all of a sudden the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and when Lief looked up, he did not like to meet the Dragon's golden eye. "She is in the forests of silence, in the first wood I think, which is your territory." He said carefully. "But just as I have made it law that the people of this land are not to harm the Dragons, I also ask that the Dragons do not harm humans."

"Oh no, King Lief, I do not intend to harm your female, I only want her hair to line my nest. As I just told you, I will be laying an egg in the coming weeks, and dragons need the hair of maidens to line their nests, as you well know. She is a maiden, is she not? Unless you have already taken her for a mate, which would be understandable." As Lief nodded to confirm that yes, Jasmine was a maiden and therefore not his mate, he realised that the Dragon had just used his true name, which meant it was intending to use the power he had given it on the night they undid the final plan of the Shadow Lord. It really did want Jasmine's hair, and it seemed there was nothing he could do to stop the Dragon from getting it. It did not escape his notice that the Dragon had also guessed at the nature of their relationship. This made him worry for her even more.