The sound came closer and before long shadow loomed in front of Sarah, silhouetted against the light of the sun. She breathed in sharply her fear and bit her lip to keep from screaming as a massive dragon propelled itself to her position.

It was solid black, like obsidian, the shiny scales catching the light of the sun to glisten with a beautiful, ominous light. Treacherous looking spikes lined the tail, swinging perilously through the air with every great beat of its reptilian wings.

It released another roar, this one so dreadful it seemed to rip the very fabric of sound itself. Huge jaws unclenched to reveal a set of razor sharp, massive teeth that no doubt would have little trouble biting a two-story bus in half were they still in her world.

Sarah felt her knees tremble but still she stood her ground. She refused to run, reminding herself that this was a creature she had created with her own mind. Surely, she knew it better than a wild animal or beast.

She was a moment away from being devoured, closing her eyes tight for the blow, when the strangest thing happened. There was a soft gust of wind and a heavy thud, as if a great weight were being settled followed by...nothing.

Sarah peeked one eye open, followed by the other to stare in awe. The dragon had landed at her feet and was...bowing to her!

Indeed, its great, massive head was settled on the ground before her, its wings folded back in a gesture that seemed almost polite.

A deep rumble reverberated through the air, vibrating the ground she stood on. Sarah wasn't sure, but she thought she understood the sound to mean, 'Your Majesty.'

Feeling she should not forget her manners, her hands found the edges of her gown and fanned them out before her as she bowed into a low curtsy. "The pleasure is all mine, dragon. I am called Sarah. Might I have the honor of your name?"

The dragon rose its long neck, towering over her but Sarah felt it was not in a superior way. Closer up as she was, she could see that the scales were not black, in fact, but shone with a shimmering, rich indigo only revealed when the light reflected off them just so. The eyes were a brilliant yellow, the pupils a single black slit encased in the intense color so that they almost seemed to glow.

Another low growl sounded and she grinned her delight at understanding while Hoggle stared incredulously at the conversing pair before him, peaking out from behind his chosen tree. Since when did Sarah not only understand, but speak the tongue of the dragons?

"Meridwen of the dragons, I am pleased to make your acquaintance," she drawled lightly. "My friend and I were just making our way to the Goblin City in the hopes of gaining audience with the Goblin King. Perhaps, if it does not inconvenience you too greatly, you wouldn't mind doing us the honor of accompanying us to the throne?"

A hissing sound, interspersed with various growls and snarls was all Hoggle could make out from the creature and all the more he felt that Sarah's life was in peril. But she stood there unmoving, unafraid and answering from words it was apparent that only she could distinguish! He wondered to himself if the Labyrinth had given her this gift when it deemed to make her its Queen or if it were an ability she was merely born into. To his knowledge, not that it was great, there had been no Fae Queen to possess such an ability before her.

His eyes took in the scene before him and it was only then that he appreciated what he saw for its beauty. Sarah stood tall and graceful, garbed in a gown of the deepest of emeralds, her black hair unbound and flowing to her hips. Golden flecks of light reflected off her raven hair where various leaves were scattered. A dainty golden crown sparkled to match, jeweled with an Emerald that matched her dress.

One long, delicate arm had outstretched as the massive, dark dragon bowed before her again and he watched, awestruck, as she reached out to fearlessly and lovingly stroke the brightest of its whiskers as affectionately as if she were coddling her favorite pet.

Then she was calling his name, waving him over to her with a smile on her face and amusement clear in her voice. And he came to her in spite of his fear of the dragon because he could not resist doing as she bade and the joy her approval would bring to him.

Reviews are my fuel : P