She quickly learned that he didn't like her to touch him. With time it had gotten a little better, but he still shuddered slightly when she placed her hands against his scaly back or sharp cheeks. It broke Marianne's heart though she did her best not to let it show. This particular night as he returned her home after a wonderful evening of flying through the brightly lit Dark Forest from the full moon, she had resolved firmly with herself to do something.
"Well," he said shyly after they landed on the palace balcony that led to her room, "Good-night."
He bowed courteously to her and turned to leave. She stretched out a hand and gripped his wrist. "Bog." He stopped in surprise and she watched his eyes flicker to her hand on his arm warily. She reached her other hand and barely touched her fingers to his chin, raising it to make him look her in the eye. "I love you."
His eyes widened in surprise. She stepped closer to him and held him fast when he began to step away from her. She quickly hid the hurt, but he saw it. A torn, pained look came over his face.
"Why won't you believe me?" She whispered softly, full of sorrow. Why couldn't he see that she loved every part of him?
"Marianne, I…" He struggled, swallowing loudly. She waited. He sighed heavily, as if the weight of the entire world were on his shoulders. He gently broke free of her hold and she bit her lip against the tears that began to blur her vision. He saw and groaned, clenching his hands into fists. "Marianne, please don't… I couldn't bear to…" He cut off with a disgusted shake of his head and suddenly it all came flooding out of him.
"You are too good, too pure and absolutely beautiful to be with a creature like me. You deserve so much more, my darling Marianne, not this ugly, deformed, disgusting-" He cut off and tears slid down her face, but that isn't why he'd stopped. Her hand was still raised and his cheek began turning a slight red. He eyed her in shock.
"Stop," she cried, trying to keep from shaking, "calling yourself those things. They aren't true and I will hear no more." He still merely stared dumbly at her, hand covering the cheek she had just slapped. She sniffed and threw her arms around his neck. He immediately stiffened and tried to draw back, but she shook her head and held on tighter.
"Don't push me away anymore. I love you. All of you." She whispered through tears and felt him shiver beneath her. "You are not ugly or disgusting. You are strong, kind, brave, caring, wonderful and I. Love. You." She buried her face in his chest and felt his shuddering sigh go through her body. She cried harder as his arms –finally- wrapped around her, hesitant at first, then firm and warm, pressing her to him.
"Oh Marianne…" He whispered, voice heavy with emotion. "I love you so much." She laughed through her tears and pulled away enough to meet her lips to his. He kissed her back and didn't flinch as she placed a hand to his thin cheek, the other arm still wrapped around his back.
When they finally pulled away he offered her a tiny, shy smile, but it was real and she grinned back.
"See you tomorrow?" She asked softly and he gently brushed her hair back from her eyes.
"Definitely."