Unsure of what was real or a dream, Alys' mind struggled to hold onto every fleeting moment. She remembered the sun, a roaring fire, screaming, sharp pain, more screaming, the moon, and then darkness. Her eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on a small fire. Lying on a soft bed of leaves under a wool blanket, she noted she was still in the woods, though not in the clearing. Releaved to be alive, she tried to lift herself to look for Selendrile. Pain shot through her body and she fell onto her back into a coughing fit, blood splattering the ground next to her.

"Don't move."

Alys tilted her head back to see Selendrile sitting cross legged in only trousers next to her head. Her heart smiled, he was alive! Looking over his body in the firelight, she took in his wounds, which had healed already to only nasty cuts, though the dried blood still surrounded them. Sighing to herself, she was disappointed she had missed yet another day, but at least Selendrile had come back. It dawned on her that she needed to tell him how sorry she was, but she didn't have the energy to start that conversation now, she just prayed he stuck around long enough.

"What happened?" The dry sound of her own voice surprised her.

"You passed out. I set Marlin on fire and tied up Lanin. I flew us as far away as I could manage. Not very far, I was weak and you are in no condition to travel." His voice was calm and calculating, like he was discussing things he does on any regular day. Even though he came back and saved her life, she became concerned that he was still upset with her.

"Marlin's dead then? ...and Lanin?" Alys felt a little guilty about Marlin's death, much like she had felt after Atherton's, but in the back of her mind she knew he deserved it.

"I didn't kill Lanin...in case you loved him." He practically hissed the words. She wanted to laugh, but she knew her body would only revolt against her. Instead, she managed a smile.

"No, I don't love him. I never did or could, I'm happy you didn't kill him though." Lanin wasn't such a bad guy, even though he did try to kill them. She had lied to him from the start and he was probably confused and angry after finding out the girl he liked was involved with a dragon. Not to mention, Lanin had said he saw her and Selendrile together at Hallowmas. That probably didn't help his image of her. Lanin would be fine and in the end he had an interesting story to tell the town.

Selendrile began to softly caress her head, his fingers stroking her long hair. Feeling so weak, she closed her eyes for a moment before opening them to stare up towards the stars. She tiredly lifted her hand to her face and noted how pale her skin looked. Gliding her hand down to her stomach she let out a painful gasp when she felt the hilt of the dagger still in her stomach. The area was numb, she had no idea that Selendrile hadn't removed it.

"Don't touch it!" Selendrile commanded, sounding alarmed. "You can't pull it out until we get you to a healer. I don't think I can carry you again without making you worse. Now that you're awake, I will go to town to find someone to come back here. It shouldn't be too far."

Alys knew some of his words were true. Pulling the dagger out or moving her would only cause her to lose more blood, which her body couldn't afford. He had already been to town though, she guessed, unless he was able to magically conjure up pants and a wool blanket. Likely, no one must have wanted to or was able to help her, she's probably worse off than he was letting on. Delicately, she felt the dagger's hilt, tracing the engravings of the sun and moon with her fingers, reminding herself that she had 'found' THE dagger. She gave Selendrile a startled look.

He cupped her head in his hands and leaned over her, "You're going to be alright Alys."

He was lying. While his voice was steady, his eyes told her that the wound and blood loss wasn't something she was likely to survive. With nothing to lose, she reached both hands around the hilt of the dagger and pulled it from her middle. Agonizing pain waved through her, like she had been stabbed all over again.

"Alys!" Selendrile hollered, his hands leaving her head to put pressure on her bleeding wound. "What are you doing?!"

Alys let out another bloody cough and then weakly lifted the dagger for Selendrile to see. "It's the dagger. It has a moon and sun on the hilt." Selendrile's eyes widened but he never let up the pressure he held on Alys' stomach. "Marlin had it. Will you tell me why you want it now? Don't lie." She winced but managed a smirk.

Selendrile sighed. "It can turn me human, Alys. When we couldn't find the dagger, I decided it would be better for you if I was out of your life. I'm yours though Alys and I want to be human for you."

Tears were falling from Alys' eyes, washing away dirt and blotches of dried blood that speckled her face. He was willing to become human to stay with her. It was unimaginable to her that he would give up his existance as a dragon to live the pathetic life of a human, just to be with her. As painful as it was, she couldn't stop herself from letting out a laugh at the irony. He had found a way to become human to stay with her and now she was dying because of the same dagger that would have changed him. This miserable life was not for Selendrile, even if she was healthy. With all the energy she could summon, she chucked the dagger into the fire.

Selendrile eyes looked wide and wild at the flames and then back at Alys. She tried to explain, "You're no human Selendrile. You're a dragon. I would never want you to be anything else."

"Alys..." was all he could whisper.

"Doesn't matter now anyway," she coughed with a chuckle, "I'll be dead soon."

"No." Selendrile said it conscively, as if by saying it, it was true. "I will go get someone to help you and I -" Seeing the terror in Alys' eyes, he stopped. She didn't want to die alone, without him, her eyes were begging him to stay. "Alys..." he closed his eyes tight, "I can't just sit here and watch you die."

"Please, don't leave." Her voice was weak and fading.

Kneeling down to carefully pick her up, he pulled her fragile body to his chest. "I won't leave you. I'll take you with me to find help. Hold on." Ignoring her small cries, he ran for town (for a second time) as fast as his human legs could carry him, doing his best to not shake her body too much.

The steady rhythym of Selendrile's rapid beating heart made it difficult for Alys to stay awake. Anytime her eyes began to shut and her body relaxed Selendrile would gently juggle her and beg for her to stay awake. Surprised by his begging, Alys tried harder to keep herself from falling asleep, for possibly forever. Selendrile suddenly came to a quick stop, his body jumping slightly, making Alys' wince. Turning her head to see why they had stopped, Alys was surprised to see the witch.

"Oh dear," the witch started, "things have not gone well for you, have they my dears." Her voice was full of sorrow, but there was no sense of surprise.

"Help her," Selendrile begged. Desperation dripped from his words.

"Dragon, I'm unable to. I don't think anyone would be able to at this point." The witch's voice was soft, as if she was explaining something to a child. "If only you had found the dagger..."

"We did, but good would that do for her? She's already human!" He snapped at her. Dragons deal better with anger than grief.

"You found it? You're still a dragon." She said confused.

Alys had been listening to the conversation and decided now was the time for her to pipe up. "I burned it," was all she managed to say.

The witch laughed, "You are a stubborn one! No matter, you don't need the dagger, just the moon and sun from it's hilt. They shouldn't have been destroyed in the fire."

Alys coughed violently against Selendrile's chest. He tightened his grip around her. "Will it turn her into a dragon?" Selendrile asked with an impossible expression on his face.

"No, the magic was never meant to turn humans into fey. There isn't time to explain, it will heal her though. If she lives, meet me at the cabin near where we first met. Now go! It can't save her if she's already dead!" The witch's voice became urgent as she searched Alys' glossed over eyes.

Selendrile had turned to run back towards the camp before the witch even finished her words. No longer trying to soften his steps, Alys flinched with every movement. When he reached the camp, he slowly lowered Alys' battered body to the bed of leaves, praying that it wouldn't become her death bed.

The fire was still flickering, but he used his hands to push the flaming pieces of wood aside, letting his tough skin burn while his eyes searched for anything that looked like a moon or sun. He came across the sun first, it looked like a small ivory marble with an image of the sun carved into it. Without a second thought, he swallowed the marble like the witch instructed, it burned even his specially lined fire-resistant throat. Thumbing around desperately, he came across another shape that was round like a marble. Brushing off the ashes, his heart skipped when he saw the engraved crescent moon. It was far too hot for Alys to swallow, he blew on it to cool it while running back over to Alys.

Cradling her upper body, he lifted her to feed her the marble, but hesitated because it was still too hot. Alys couldn't keep her eyes open anymore, but her chest was rising and falling with what looked like monumentous effort.

Alys remembered all the things she wanted to tell him. She needed to tell him she was sorry and thank you, but her body was too weak to say all that she wanted to. Instead, she thought telling him how she felt would suffice. "I love you." The words came out feeble and barely recognizable, much to Alys' dismay. Trying to show the passion that her final words lacked, she held out her had up to touch his cheek, but was unable to reach. Selendrile brought his scorched hand to hers and his face down close enough for her hand to reach it with little effort.

Alys' skin glistened with sweat and her lips were pale, with a small sweet smile she dropped her hand and closed her marble was still hot against Selendrile's hand, but he no longer cared if it burned her if it could save her. He pushed her head back and used his fingers to part her lips, slipping the marble in and forcing it to slid down her throat. When she didn't react to the heat of the marble gliding down her throat, Selendrile's heart sank. Pressing his ear to her chest, he heard nothing. His amethyst eyes widen in terror, he shook her slightly and begged her to open her eyes, "Alys. Alys, wake up! Wake up!"

Alys didn't respond, her body was cold and limp. Selendrile released a hand from under her to run it through his hair. Trembling and unsure of what else to do, he hugged Alys' body and swayed. He wanted to be angry, he knew how to deal with anger, but he had no outlet and couldn't build the energy to scream. Instead, he was in utter despair. For the first time, he was too late to save her.

Selendrile saw the sky fading to a soft pink, dawn was coming soon, but he gave it no mind. Leaning down he gave her a soft kiss on her pale lips, hugged her close and waited for the end. Only, the end never came. He lifted his head to see the sun coming above the trees, he comfirmed he was still in human form and that he wasn't dead. After a moment of disbelief, he thought back to the sun marble he had swallowed and concluded that was the reason for his lack of death and transformation. He groaned to himself, the one time he wanted dawn to come and finish him, it didn't.

A poke at his chest startled him and he looked back down, astonished to see Alys' hazel eyes staring back at him, equally amazed.

"The sun's up. You're not a dragon." She stated confused, her voice still hoarse.

"You're not dead." He beamed at her.

She looked down at herself and then looked back up to him. "Looks to be that way," she grinned.

With the frousity of a dragon, he crushed his lips to hers in reply. Once they seperated, Alys flinched, still a little sore. Selendrile's gave her an apologetic look and a quick, "Sorry." He held her in his arms and they sat for a while, letting their eyes take in one another, appreciating that they were both alive another day. Finally, Alys decided she needed to talk to him, starting with a thank you.

"Thank you for saving me, again."

"You saved me too," Selendrile pointed out.

"Only after you saved me. You saved me twice." Alys looked down at the blood on her dress. The wound had healed rapidly, leaving only a small scar. Selendrile's eyes followed hers and his fingers lightly traced over her the scar through the hole in her dress, his ameythst going dark. Alys continued, "Why did you come back?"

Selendrile raised his eyebrows, surprised by her question. He sighed, unsure of where to start and how much he should say. "Like I told you, you should live a normal human life, without me. That's why, I said things...I didn't mean. I didn't want to hurt you but I needed to, because you need to leave me. My selfishness got the best of me though and I came I back because I needed to let you know I would change for you, if I could."

Alys gave him a warm smile and touched his cheek like she had wanted to before. "I never wanted you to change Selendrile, though I will admit, it would make this easier."

Looking into her eyes, Selendrile finished what he felt compelled to tell her. "Before I met you, I had never felt alone and now... I can't live without you."

Giving him a peck on the lips she replied, "Well for now, you won't have to."

Once Alys felt like she the energy to move, they began to walk to the cabin in the woods near where they first met the witch. Alys had never seen Selendrile in human form in the sunshine before. Every part of him was even more beautiful in the warm sunlight than it even had been in the moon or firelight. She was glad he didn't become human, he was too lovely to be anything but fey. As they walked, Selendrile caught Alys staring at him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head without missing a step. Blushing but enjoying the newly affectionate Selendrile, she almost hesitated to start asking questions.

"So you can be human during the day now?"

"Looks like it," Selendrile said with a shrug.

They continued walking, "What else changed?"

"You're alive, for one," Selendrile pulled her tighter into his side.

Alys rolled her eyes at him, "But what ELSE has changed? I'm healed and you're human during the day...Can you still change into a dragon?" Alys gave him a concerned look.

Selendrile was far less concerned, being human wouldn't be so bad, with Alys by his side. He shrugged his shoulders again and gave a devious grin, "Well, let's see."

Next thing Alys knew, Selendrile was feet away from her transforming into his magnifigant golden dragon form. He stood before her, waiting for her to react, to see if she was actually disappointed he wasn't human. Slowly, she walked over to his lowered head and stroked the side of his face, "Well, that answers that. Let's fly to the cabin, I want to talk to that witch." The dragon nodded in response and helped prop her up onto his back.

Flying was one of Alys' favorite things and she was even more thankful Selendrile was still a dragon. If she would have missed flying, she couldn't imagine how much Selendrile would have missed it. Her mind wandered back to all that had happened and how different things would be now, though she didn't know how different. Remembering the witch's words, Alys knew she wasn't fey, maybe all the moon marble had done for her was save her life. Of course, she was glad it saved and healed her and also gave Selendrile the ability to be human during the day, but she still hoped for more. More of what? She didn't know, but she hoped the witch would be there to give them answers.

They flew for most of the day and Selendrile landed by the lake that was near the cabin. Hoping down from his back, Alys shot Selendrile a look and then took off towards the water. She looked down at the water's edge at her reflection, expecting to see something different, she was slightly disappointed to see her regular self staring back. Using the cold water, she scrubbed at the dried blood and dirt that subbornly latched to her skin. She sat back into the cold grass when she had finished and let the sun soak into her freshly cleaned skin. Selendrile came from behind her and placed the wool blanket over her shoulders, he had changed to human form and donned his breeches. Alys was still not used to seeing him human in the sunlight, she watched him carefully as he went to the lake to clean his own skin. His beautiful smooth skin was even more golden in the sunlight and it played off the rippling muscules of his back. Feeling eyes on him, Selendrile turned to look at Alys, who immediately blushed for being caught staring at him yet again.

"You look different in the sun," she muttered. "I like it." Her blushed deepened.

Selendrile gave her a devious smirk and came to kneel down over her. Feeling his warm breath on her face, she lifted her face to meet his, leaving a gentle kiss on his lips. Much to Alys' dismay, he pulled away and stood up, holding out his hand for her.

"We need to go see the witch. I want answers before we..." Selendrile took a long glance over Alys' body and gave another devious smirk, but he didn't finish his sentence.

Alys took his hand and gave him a smile in return, "Let's go see the witch then." They made their way to cabin, hands laced together. The witch was waiting for them on the path, a few hundred feet from the cabin. She was laughing gleefully when she saw them.

"You made it!" She chuckled. "I'm glad to see you both are well. I'm assuming you have some questions for me."

Before Alys or Selendrile could speak a word, she continued. "There really isn't too much more to tell than what you likely already figured out. Dragon, you are now able to be human whenever you so chose. And my dear girl..." She paused and gave Alys a motherly smile. "You've been healed, as I'm sure you already know."

"Is she still human?" Selendrile interjected.

"Yes, she is very much still the fragile human she has always been. Like I told you before, the magic wasn't meant to turn humans into fey. She has changed though." The witch continued to explain, "Your lives are tied together, she is still fragile and weak, but if she stays in good health, her life will continue long beyond that of a normal human."

"What do you mean?" Selendrile asked confused but the excitement could easily be detected in his voice.

The witch was becoming annoyed with his interruptions, but continued. "She will age at the same rate as you age, dragon. Her life will last the same hundreds upon hundreds of years as yours."

Alys gasped. She would live to be hundreds of years old, if she managed to stay well that is. Selendrile squeezed her hand and began to drag her towards the cabin. The witch only chuckled as they rudely walked past her, taking a guess as to why Selendrile was so eager to get Alys alone in the cabin. Not catching onto this, Alys turned back, confused. She pulled her hand away from Seledrile's and turned back to the witch, leaving him standing a few feet away waiting for her. "Thank you for all that you've done for us but...how did you come to know all this and why did you helped us?" Witches were not known for their kindness, not unless they wanted something.

The witch continued to chuckle, "I've been in a similar situation. I wasn't as brave as your dragon though." The witch's eyes glistened and Alys saw a sparkle she had not seen before.

The witch may have not been a witch after all. Alys imagined her as a young, beautiful faerie in love with a human man. By her words, she hadn't used the dagger to change either, though she probably didn't have it in her to destroy it like Alys had. Sympathy began to pinch at Alys' eyes, but she fought it back, not wanting to upset or insult the faerie witch. "Thank you," was all Alys said with a large smile, before turning back to walk to the cabin with Selendrile.

Once they were inside the cabin, Alys turned to talk to Selendrile about her new extended lifespan but before she had a chance to open her mouth, he had himself pressed against her lips, his hands around her waist. The kiss was heavy with devotion and Alys had a hard time standing. Leaving them both breathless, he rested his head against her collarbone and let out a sigh. "I'm yours Alys and now you're mine."

Wrapping her arms around his back she pulled him closer to her. "Yes, you're stuck with me for a long time it would seem," she teased. "What are we going to do with all that time together?"

Selendrile lifted his head to give her a smirk. Leaning close to her ear he whispered seductively, "I have some ideas."

Alys giggled before their lips met again, starting the beginning of a very long life together.

A/N: THE END.

I'm a sucker for happy endings...the other option is Alys died and Selendrile is alone and we can't have that! Either way, hope you enjoyed my first fanfic. I feel like it got better as it went on, the first couple of chapters make me cringe and will probably get a rewrite at some point. I already have an idea for a new fanfic so I might work on that...maybe. Can't get enough Selendrile. Yum.

Review please! Thanks for reading!