When Arthur awoke to the sight of Alfred sitting at the table with the spell books, happily eating the rest of Arthur's favorite pickled vegetables, the mage almost had a hernia. The man yelled and shook him by his shoulders. Alfred waiting patiently until the mage exhausted his anger and then hugged the dragon close.

"Idiot! Fucking idiot moron!" Arthur squeezed him tightly.

Alfred patted Arthur's back in return not one for much affection aside from cuddling in bed, though he would swear it was just because Arthur was so much warmer than he. "I told you I would be fine didn't I. You need to stop worrying about me so much. Besides it's not like you could have seen anything in the dark anyways."

Alfred pulled back from the hug slightly to look at Arthur the mage looked far more relieved than irritated at Alfred which meant the dragon wouldn't have to spend half the day trying to get back into Arthur's good graces. "Anyways I grabbed a few extra things too like new blankets for the bed and some of the herbs and spices we had there, your chamomile is in the pantry."

"Alfred..." Arthur's slim fingers combed through the dragon's burnished gold hair, then framed his tanned face. The mage's eyes were round with yearning, sentimental worship, and hope. He closed the small distance between themselves and kissed Alfred.

Alfred's eyes blew wide in shock as Arthur's lips touched his; the last time Arthur had kissed him the mage had been but a child. Now the kiss held an entirely different meaning to both of them. Alfred didn't pull away or even press closer too shell shocked to do much else other then sit there and let himself be kissed.

As Arthur pulled away a sigh ghosted between their lips. He didn't open his eyes; he wanted the quiet to give him the precious few seconds of fantasy before returning to reality. But he had to open his eyes, which is what Arthur did eventually, waiting on Alfred's reaction.

Alfred's cheek were lightly flushed, he opened and closed his mouth a few times trying to decide what would be appropriate to say. No words came to mind so instead he lamely mumbled, "Um… Like I said your chamomile is in the pantry."

"...thank you." Arthur smiled. It wasn't what he hoped for, but he accepted it for what it was. Alfred was trying. He understood. Alfred only knew cruelty from humans, and Arthur was the first to break the cycle. Now that Alfred saw the mage as an equal, Arthur could be patient until Alfred accepted his feelings.

Alfred nodded briefly at the mage before quickly standing up, "I'm going to go hunting." He used as an excuse to get away and let his thoughts settle. He quickly grabbed his cloak and bow pausing before the door. He took one steeling breath as he marched quickly over to Arthur kissing the mage on the cheek briefly before fleeing their dwelling.

Alfred's kiss ignited a cherry red blush on Arthur's cheeks. The mage was mute in shock, only capable of raising a hand in a waveless-less goodbye when the dragon left.

Arthur touched his cheek. It tingled. He could still feel the caress of cool, dry lips. It was the first time Alfred ever kissed him. Was this progress?

Alfred wondered the forest in a daze still not quite sure he had done what he thought he did. Arthur had kissed him first so that should be fine. Right?

The dragon didn't quite know any more in some ways he still saw Arthur as the little boy who once needed his protection and guidance, but now Arthur was a grown man capable of making his own decisions. When compared to Alfred, Arthur was still a baby, but Alfred was no older than an adolescent himself when compared to his family. The dragon's train of thought wondered in circles mostly centered around: 'Did I really just kiss him?'

He stayed outside long after midday meal even knowing he should have brought a kill back by now, but he couldn't concentrate long enough to actually hunt. When he saw the sun finally start heading out of the sky he figured he had to at least bring something back for the length of time he stayed away. He ended up catching a few fish in the nearby stream likely the last few of the season as the weather became colder.

He walked slowly back to their dwelling not quite sure how to act around Arthur and not quite sure how Arthur would act around him. He hesitated at the entrance for a few moments standing there not sure if he wanted to walk in. Eventually the cool weather that had slowly been chilling him convinced him to go back inside where it would be much warmer. Really he should have been paying more attention to his temperature, but he had more on his mind than his shivering body.

When Alfred returned late Arthur gave him the same prickly look as he always did, before returning to his book. In the ensuing months everything changed yet remained the same. They kept the strict study regimen and are together as always, but Alfred was more forgiving of Arthur's rare mistakes and they spoke more. The most significant change was sleeping in each other's arms, and a few more shy kisses were exchanged.

In light of the remarkable revelation Alfred and Arthur found that the core of their relationship had not changed. Rather, now that the truth was actualized it was given the freedom to flourish and grow. Before, the both of them were too engrossed in their own vanities to allow the natural course of their relationship to flow. Arthur willfully denied himself the luxuries of Alfred's smile and indulgences of his presence. The mage was preparing his heart for the inevitable and couldn't afford to let himself slip into old habits. Arthur remembered his younger self lying next to the dragon on the floor, just watching him sleep. When Alfred suffered his nightmares Arthur soothed away the phantoms with gentle prayers. It was before Alfred broke his heart and rejected him. When did Alfred change his mind? When did Arthur's torturous fantasies become possibilities?

Years went by in the blink of an eye for Alfred and in what felt like moments Arthur was 23 and far more powerful than a mage of his age ought to be. Arthur had begun to seriously research into removing Alfred's collar now that the dragon had made his thoughts of their relationship clear. They had both grown more comfortable in their relationship though they never put labels on it the both knew they were special to the other. The kisses became more commonplace until Alfred didn't blush anymore whenever Arthur would kiss him out of the blue.

They were closer than they had ever been in the time they had been together. Whether it was the bond that brought out these feelings or it was the bond that was strengthened by them was unclear, either way Alfred was happier than he had been in a long time.

Alfred rolled out of bed one morning noticing Arthur was already awake pouring over an old textbook while Alfred slept. He didn't think much of it as he walked over to the blonde slumping over the other's back as he took comfort in the other's warm skin. He always tended to be cuddlier when he was half asleep. "What are you reading?" Alfred questioned the grogginess of sleep still heavy in his voice.

"The last incantation..." Arthur trailed off as he transcribed a passage from the tome. On a loose parchment Arthur scrawled the blunt, harsh edges of dragon-tongue.

The young mage set the quill back in its ink pot, setting both hands flat on the table and staring forward. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and exhaled with the exhaustion of finality. "It is finished. The spell to your freedom." His heart skipped saying it. Though the mage fashioned the spell himself, laboring for months on end, putting it into words made it truly real.

Alfred felt his heart leap into his throat at Arthur's words it was almost too good to be true. The spell was finished? Alfred could finally be free again? Alfred felt the warm press of happy tears build up in his eyes, he buried his face in Arthur's neck hugging the blonde tighter to his chest. Words escaped him, how was he supposed to properly communicate his gratitude to the man he once considered a clingy child who Alfred now would willing give his life to protect. "Thank you," was all he managed to convey with his voice.

"It was my promise." Arthur carded his fingers through Alfred's burnished hair, looking down at the finished spell.

"Even still I'm grateful that you worked so hard to help me when you could have decided to follow your family's path just as easily." Alfred gently kissed Arthur's shoulder before getting up. He smiled down at Arthur his eyes slightly glossy, "Do you want to try it out before or after breakfast?"

Alfred's kiss sparked shivers down the mage's spine, the soft wind of Alfred's breath caressing his skin. Even through his tunic Alfred affected him. "L-Let's not wait." He stood on shaky legs. Snatching up his satchel and shoving the parchment inside Arthur tossed it over his shoulder. "Shall we?"

The walk to the field was brief as it was not far from the cave they lived in, they had remained there as it was the easiest for Alfred to hide and defend (even if he still was not pleased with the cold weather). Alfred quickly moved to stand in the center of the field excited to finally have the collar completely removed. As Arthur began to set up for the spell Alfred quickly began to remove his clothing leaving himself in nothing but a blanket loosely wrapped around his waist.

The acrid tang of sage broke into the air. Arthur lit the dried herbs and allowed them to smolder as he paced in a wide perimeter to set their ward. Small flowers bloomed in the wake of Arthur's footsteps, setting the marker of their protective circle. He chanted as he walked, blessing the area and forbidding evil from interfering with the ritual.

The young mage lit four candles, one for each cardinal direction, and set them in quadrants at the edge of the ward. Then he unfolded his mother's old sash. There were four items inside: a stone, a shard of glass, a skein of water and another candle. These were to represent the four elements. The final object he set next to himself: a black steel ceremonial dagger encrusted with Arthur's family crest.

Kneeling before the makeshift altar and lighting the small candle signifying fire, Arthur said, "Ready when you are."

Alfred smiled at Arthur; he closed his eyes and took a deep breath grounding himself to the earth. He silently nodded to Arthur relaxing to prevent any magical interference from himself as the ceremony began.

"Wait." Arthur didn't know when he'd ever see Alfred in human form again, so he kissed him now. The mage cupped the dragon's cheek as he leaned close, savoring the taste of Alfred's lips. He wished to stay like this forever, but he had vows to honor. With sad reluctance he drew away.

Arthur chanted in the old tongue. "Naal dun do rah Zu'u kod dii suleyk wah kelnat undeserved nol thur ahrk aarot." Arthur slowly drew the steel across his palm. Hot blood bloomed from the wound, curling into the life lines. "Zu'u stin daar dovah nol kogron do daar naag arhk aargron do niil siifuriik. dovah do faal Yun'lein brod fen kos stin wah lahney laas ol nii fend kos lahney." The mage swathed the collar in his hot blood, grabbing the moonstone. On contact the jewel glowed the same blood red from within.

"Nii los drehlaan!" The silver snapped; Arthur snatched the collar off Alfred's neck, rendering the collar in two.

Alfred startled as the collar broke off his neck, after 364 years of that collar upon his neck it felt strange to have it finally off. Even stranger was the tingling sensation that came over his skin, it felt like the comforting licks of flame engulfing him.

In an instant everything around him seemed to shrink, Alfred could feel the rush of magic flow into his veins and the fire within him stir, reawakening after so many years of an enchanted slumber. With his eyes still closed he began to move his body stretching extremities he had not used since he was a child.

Arthur stepped back and watched as Alfred took his true form. The mage gaped as Alfred grew to his real size, reptilian wings spreading as wide as the sky and a powerful tail unfurling in magnificence. His scales were neither white nor gold as he imagined, but a sleek bright blue polished to an azure glow in the sun's reflection. Arthur did not realize he was crying, transfixed as he was on the true nature of the dragon he loved for years.

Alfred's eyes slowly blinked open as he glanced around at his surroundings if he held his head up he could see over many of the trees only a slight few being taller than himself. He glanced back at his body taking in his wings and tail, they were in near perfect condition only slightly weakened from disuse.

As his fascination with his body slowly began to wear down Alfred finally glanced at Arthur. "Well how do I look?" He asked quickly before noticing the shimmering tears on the mage's cheeks. He brought his head down lower so he could look Arthur in the eyes. "Why are you crying?"

"I...don't know." Arthur shook his head before clearing the tears from his face with his sleeve. "I dreaded this day for years. But I'm so happy now. You're free." The mage held Alfred under his muzzle and gently bumped their foreheads, closing his eyes and smiling. "It worked."

"Of course it worked I trained you myself." Alfred nuzzled his muzzle against Arthur affectionately, "Even still thank you. I could not have achieved this on my own."

"You're beautiful," the mage sighed in wonder as he gazed upon the dragon. "And...enormous. I cannot believe you will continue to grow. No wonder dragons once massacred villages. They can't keep up with their diets."

"Speaking of diets I'm starving. What's say we head back and start breakfast?" Alfred pulled his head back out of Arthur's arms he took a deep breath slowly releasing it while transforming back into his naked human form. He popped his neck as his form settled certain features like his reptilian eyes and pointed ears still giving away his true identity. "Going to have to get used to that."

Arthur gave Alfred privacy to dress as he cleaned up the altar. They returned to the cave where they had a celebratory feast marking Alfred's freedom and the culmination of almost two decades of Arthur's training and mastery of spellcraft.

"What next, Alfred?" He imagined the dragon was set on reuniting with his kin.

"We go find my family," Alfred answered immediately. "Though truth be told I have no idea where to start looking. Any rumors I heard about dragons were so farfetched I doubt they could be true." Alfred relaxed into the dining room chair his body felt loose like all the knots in his muscles had finally been released. He looked over lazily to Arthur, "I suppose the best place to start is where I was hatched as I was raised there before I was taken from my family."

Arthur nodded, still fixated on Alfred's dragonian features. "I suppose you need not worry about wing atrophy," he said absently. He went to make tea. "Check the looking glass, Alfred. Is it normal for dragons to change to human form?"

Alfred cocked his head in confusion at Arthur's question, but stood to glance in the mirror as Arthur suggested. Rather than the average appearance of a human being Alfred looked different. His ears were pointed giving him an elven appearance, his eyes glowed rather brightly in the dimly lit cave, his pupils were reptilian slits, and Alfred noticed the barest hint of scales still on his skin. The dragon grimaced at his appearance; it had been a long time since he had to maintain his appearance himself the collar had done all the work for him for centuries.

"It is normal, but I'm out of practice." He snapped his fingers in an attempt to hide his features better, but not actually succeeding. "We may have to wait until I can get this under control. Not exactly a good idea to travel around looking like this."

"I rather like it." Arthur handed him a sweetened brew to warm him up. He motioned for Alfred to join him before the fire. He was tired. Unlike other schools of magick, blood magick drew from the caster's very soul.

The dragon sat behind Arthur cuddling close with the mage between his legs. Alfred rolled his eyes muttering, "You would." Only Arthur would like how strange Alfred looked at the moment, not quite human, but not entirely dragon rather a hybrid of the two. At the very least Alfred was glad he was able to magic away his wings as they would make sleeping in a bed more difficult.

Arthur stretched back against Alfred's chest. Their fingers entwined as they sipped their tea in comfortable silence. "It's easy enough to avoid suspicion," the mage reasoned, "we can leave tomorrow. Are you afraid we won't find them?"

"Not so much that we won't, just that it will take another hundred years to do it, even if they are in hiding they aren't idiotic enough to hide in one place for the rest of eternity." Alfred sighed and placed his chin on Arthur's shoulder watching the flames dance about.

"If you make yourself known. Let them come to you." Arthur tipped his head to rest against Alfred's. The fire set him in a lazy daze. He was as eager to find Alfred's kin as much as he was. His feelings for the dragon made him want to put Alfred's needs before himself-he /had/ been doing that for a long time. All he wanted was for Alfred to be happy.

"And lead the remaining bad portions of your clan right to us?" Alfred gently shook his head, "No, I waited this long to see my family again I'd rather do it safely."

"I forget. We can outlive them." Arthur smiled, eyes blissfully shut. He was dozing off. "Tell me about them. Your family." In this age dragons were nearly non-existent. There were rumors of foreign breeds across the world, but the ones of Alfred's kind were thought to be wiped out. He hoped it wasn't true.

"Well you already know my family is royal. My father is the ruler of all dragonkin in these lands making myself a prince. My older brother is the crown prince though he only hatched a few days before me. My mother comes from a foreign land across the sea; she is as proud and strong a dragon as my father. I have a few cousins and other relatives on my father's side; my grandmother is the only elder dragon of her generation that, as far as I know, is still alive." Alfred gently nuzzled Arthur's neck as the mage yawned sleepily, "That's all that comes to mind unless you have a specific question you wish to ask."

"Did they hate the Kirklands?" Dragons were old and their memories ran deep. As did their grudges. They knew it was Arthur's ancestors who betrayed them and abducted their son. Arthur didn't know if redeeming his family's name was possible with them.

Alfred hugged Arthur closer to his chest. "If your actual question is will they hate you then the answer is not likely. You're my bonded so clearly you can't be that terrible. As for the rest of your family I can't promise anything. I don't remember much of my life before I was taken, I was barely 20 at the time, but from what I do remember my father was trying to settle things peacefully rather than start an all out war. My kidnapping did not likely help the situation."

"Perhaps our bond will mend the broken ties. I will do what it takes. My brethren are dead to me." The mage cuddled closer, bringing his knees up and turning his head to nuzzle the dragon's cheek. "I love you, Alfred. I always have."

Alfred simply hummed in response it was unlikely his family would or even could forgive the entirety of the Kirkland clan after all the humans who had once been their allies betrayed them and kidnapped their own to be kept as pets.

To Arthur's loving words Alfred gently kissed Arthur's nose. "I know." Though he did not say the words back Alfred's soft smile and lightly crinkled eyes spoke what his lips did not. "Come on let's get you to bed. You have to be exhausted from the blood magic today."

"How long are you going to make me wait? What's taking so long?" Arthur glared at Alfred, arms crossed and tapping his foot impatiently. They were in the same clearing as before, Alfred's massive dragon form taking up nearly all the open space with his wingspan. They had been here all morning, Alfred attempting to fly again and again without success.

"Would you shut up? This is a lot harder than it looks." So far all Alfred had successfully managed to do was hover unsteadily for a few moments before landing with a thud on the ground. "Contrary to popular belief we dragons aren't born knowing how to fly. I was still a baby when I was taken I was never taught so excuse me if it takes a bit of practice."

Alfred crouched down crouched down spreading his wings before pushing of from the ground and pressing down with his wings quickly in succession managing to get a few feet off the ground before he unsteadily landed again.

Arthur glanced at the luggage slumped by his feet. It was all they had in the world to bring with them. The mage had dumped them on the floor after a half hour of Alfred's exasperating failed attempts. "Shall I push you off a cliff? That's what avian do." His frustration was beyond the guilt that might have pained him.

Alfred growled, steam coming from his nostrils as he steadily grew more annoyed with both Arthur and himself. "I suggest you leave me be before I decide to turn you into a bird yourself then you can show me how easy it is to fly."

Arthur furrowed his strong eyebrows. "Don't you dare." It wasn't beyond Alfred to make good on the threat. He had transfigured the mage before. Though a ward could easily absorb or bounce it back, all the same he wasn't keen on the idea.

Alfred glared back at Arthur huffing in anger before trying one more time failing just as he had every time before. As his feet hit the ground Alfred cried out in frustration, sorrow, and anger combined before he lay down in the grassy clearing burying his head under one on his wings so he wouldn't have to look at Arthur.

Arthur sighed and crossed the clearing to Alfred. The mage nudged away the dragon's wing only for the dragon to cower further. "Don't do that." He tutted the way his mother used to, coaxing Alfred's head out from under his massive wing. He stroked Alfred's forehead to soothe him. "We will have you fly."

"How? It's not like either of us have any idea what we're doing. I mean I know the basics, but it doesn't seem to be helping I can't manage to get more than ten feet off the ground. We might as well walk and give up on flying." Alfred bemoaned his large blue eyes blurring slightly with unshed tears.

"Perhaps I may help." The mage patted Alfred's head and stepped back, pulling off his gloves. Extending his hands toward the dragon he incanted a spell.

"Su'um do gol dii for... gelok mok wah lok."

It started as a cool breeze. Then it changed, becoming violent. Your howling gust invaded through the trees exploding the leaves off their branches. It headed straight for them. Arthur was almost knocked off his feet as the gust twisted around and underneath the dragon, boosting him upwards.

Arthur recovered, cupping his hands to his mouth and yelling after him. "Flap your wings, Alfred!"

Alfred did as Arthur told him and began pushing against the wind with his wings the gust of wind propelling him higher than he had managed to get alone. As the gust suddenly died out from under him Alfred looked down at the ground far below him, in a moment of weightlessness he hovered in the air before his wings cramped up from the strain of being used more today than Alfred had ever done in his life. A cold splash of fear coursed through him as he began to fall back down. In a moment of pure panic he threw his wings out as far as they would spread and instead found himself gliding rather than falling.

His eyes which had been closed tightly slowly opened, he looked down as the meadow below him Arthur a small speck standing in the middle of it. He could feel a small laugh bubble up in his chest as he glided around the skies, a happy burst of fire came forth from his mouth as he celebrated this small success. He continued to glide until he was just above the trees and quickly realized just before he crashed into a few trees that he had no idea how to land.

"Alfred!" Arthur sprinted to Alfred's crash site. He found Alfred stuck up in the trees struggling to untangle himself out of the branches. The mage looked up in astonishment, then hilarity. He burst out laughing, grabbing his sides and falling to the ground.

Alfred flailed around helplessly in the tree, if he was in human form his cheeks would have been bright red. "Stop laughing this isn't funny!" He cried out as Arthur laughed. "I actually am stuck. This is your fault for throwing me up in the air so soon."

Managing to recover some equanimity Arthur got up. He dashed away a mirthful tear, still riding on the last bought of giggles. "Yes, of course. I take full responsibility. Don't try to burn down the trees just yet." As nimble as a squirrel Arthur climbed the tree and began cutting branches. He opened up room for Alfred to wiggle out without falling.

As Alfred finally managed to get free he found himself trapped an unable to move due to all the trees. Having no other choice he quickly reverted to his human form where the bruises that covered his body were already disappearing. Even after plenty of practice, since Arthur first removed the collar he still could not quite manage to completely normalize his appearance after remaining in his true form for too long. His ears possessed a light point his eyes appeared reptilian, at the very least he managed not to retain random spots of scales.

"It's going to be late soon let's just go back to the cave for the night." Alfred was irritated with himself for having not succeeded in flying right away having thought he wouldn't need practice before they left. "We can keep trying until I manage to fly and not crash alone before I try carrying you on my back."

Arthur hummed in agreement and stroked Alfred's cheek. "Take heart. You will fly in no time at all."

A/N: Hey guys sorry for the long absence life has been really busy lately. Anyways here's the next chapter hope you enjoyed. :)