Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, I don't own Suik3.

Dedicated to my friend Lily

Dragon Flower

First: The Dragon

There were whispers that went around the castle, saying that she did actually breathe fire. Reed and Samus certainly looked like they had barely escaped an inferno every time her temper ignited. Lady Chris could somehow remain unscathed, but that was perhaps she and the lady in question had met once before at the Zexen Ball. Though only from afar, he had seen her when she was not in a bad mood. She appeared almost pleasant from that safe distance; of course that was withholding the fact that she was stuck-up and spoiled and impossible to talk to without hearing a complaint. It was no wonder so many people did everything in their power to avoid her.

"Let me ask you something, milady. How can you stand it?" He regarded his beautiful captain curiously. She stared right back at him, perplexed.

"Whatever do you mean? How can I stand what?"

"Lilly Pendragon," he elaborated.

"Oh. Well, you know... we're friends. She's actually not that bad once you get to know her." He exchanged doubtful glances with his fellow knight. "She is! At least, she is around me..." She trailed off, frowning uncertainly. "I suppose seeing how she acts around Reed and Samus makes her seem worse than she really is."

"Milady, she acts like that around everyone."

"Forget it. You wouldn't understand unless you knew her." Shaking her head, the lady knight stood up and exited the bar. Borus took a pull on his beer.

"Personally, I would rather not know Lilly Pendragon any better than I already do."

"I agree with you there, my friend."

But he hadn't always thought that way about her. Before he had gotten to know what she was really like, he had secretly fancied the redhead. Luckily he found out before he did anything about his infatuation. He still found her beautiful, much to his annoyance, but her personality completely ruined that image. She certainly didn't seem to care that she frightened people and her complete lack of concern for anyone else whittled down possible friendships to only the brave few. Anyone who she didn't deem important enough was simply not worth her time, and they all preferred it that way.

The side door leading to the castle burst open to reveal Ace. He paused for a moment to catch his breath.

"The Dragon's coming!" he warned the patrons. "And boy, is she mad!!" He hurriedly exited out into the courtyard. A deep foreboding silence followed his announcement. Everyone tensed in preparation, focusing on their individual drinks. The side door swung open again.

He couldn't help it; he glanced up. Her hair rippling like fire, her fair face creased in displeasure, Lilly Pendragon stood in the bar with her hands on her hips. Her violet eyes scanned the patrons. No one dared to breathe. Even angry, she was still beautiful... Whoa. Don't think like that. She's the Dragon, remember? He shook his head to clear it. His initial infatuation with her insisted on lingering, long after he had lost interest in her. No, that wasn't true. He thought a lot of women were pretty that he wasn't the least bit interested in.

"Reed! Samus! Where are you?" Those poor guys. Can't they do anything right in her eyes?

"They... aren't here, Miss Lilly," said Anne meekly. The girl turned her head to regard the Karayan barmaid. The patrons all suddenly became fascinated by the contents of their glasses. Anne held her ground, though shaking slightly. "I honestly haven't seen them at all today."

"Oh. I see. Sorry to disturb you all." The room was silent as a tomb as she exited out to the courtyard. A collective sigh of relief followed her departure. He was the only one gaping at where she had disappeared.

"Whew. She sure can get riled up," noted Borus, shaking his head. He glanced over at his dazed friend. "Percival, are you all right?" The dark-haired knight turned to his blonde friend, still trying to recover from the shock.

"Did she just say 'sorry'?"

------

"It's not like I mind you comin' ta see me, Reed," said Kathy as she groomed one of her horses. "I just wish you would stop usin' my stable as a hiding place." The blonde man smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, Kathy... You know, if we hadn't hidden here, you and I would never have met." The cowgirl blushed, grinning over at him.

"All right, you win." She kissed him on the cheek. Samus pointedly ignored the two lovebirds and was being ignored right back. "So what's she mad at this time, anyway?" Reed and Samus exchanged weary glances.

"The trade caravan from Tinto is late," explained Reed. "And naturally, it's our fault."

"Is that all?" The two men nodded their heads sadly. "Well! A bunch of fuss over nothing, I say." They nodded their assent. Footsteps alerted them that someone was approaching the stables. Before Reed and Samus could dart into hiding, the lady of Tinto was in view.

"Kathy, have you seen--" She paused, her eyes lighting on her two servants. "Never mind. I found them."

"Now, Miss Lilly..."

"Don't you 'Miss Lilly' me!!" she snapped. They cowered in fright. "The caravan is two days late!! It's never late! Are you both absolutely sure you haven't gotten a letter from my father or anyone?"

"Yes, honest!" they chimed in unison.

"Send a letter, then! Do I have to tell you everything?!"

"Yes, milady! Right away!!" They scurried off to do her bidding. Lilly marched after them, still seething. Once the trio was well out of sight, Kathy rested a shaking hand on the horse's neck.

"Poor Reed! That Miss Lilly sure is a tough taskmistress."

------

Later that day, Lilly went over to the cafe to get some lunch. The place was practically deserted, with only Mamie and her two duck assistants. Rhett and Wilder sort of reminded her of Reed and Samus in a strange sort of way. She went up to the counter to order her food. Mamie approached her nervously, like she was a wolf ready to bite anyone that came close. Lilly frowned, biting her lower lip. Pieces of conversations she had heard drifted painfully back to her. Miss Lilly certainly is frightening when she's angry... The Dragon was rampaging today... How on earth can Reed and Samus stand her? ... It's no wonder everyone avoids her; she bites people's heads off for the smallest things! She fought for composure, holding her head high.

"Wh-what c-can I g-get for you, M-miss Lilly?"

"Hot tea, please." Mamie passed her a cup. Lilly paid for it, and found a table near the lake. She stared at the cup thoughtfully, but did not take a drink. "The Dragon," she repeated softly. "None of them understand, except for Chris. They don't bother to get to know me... They think that's all there is to me." Hot tears sprang unbidden to her eyes. She blinked, pressing her lips tightly together as the tears trickled down her cheeks. She was glad there was no one around to see her cry.

---

Percival saw Lilly alone at the cafe and froze in his tracks. He stared at her for a moment, then stared again. Was she... crying? Her shoulders were shaking, and it certainly did appear as though tears were gleaming on her cheeks. It was as though he was seeing her as a human being for the first time since... well, since he met her, really. He drew close to her and gently rested his hands on her shoulders. She immediately stiffened under his touch. She spun around in her seat and glared at him, the familiar fire of anger burning in those still-misty eyes.

"What?" she snapped. Strangely, he didn't recoil from her. He knew she was merely lashing out because he had caught her crying, something he was fairly certain she never let anyone see.

"Don't cry, Miss Lilly," he soothed. "Here." He pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to her. She stared at him as if he had just squawked like a chicken.

"What are you doing? Aren't you afraid I'll yell at you?"

"I'll take my chances." She continued to glare at him suspiciously before snatching the proffered handkerchief and dabbing her glistening cheeks. He rubbed her shoulders soothingly; she jerked out of his grasp, rising hotly to her feet.

"Don't do that!!! Don't act like you're sorry! I know what everyone's been saying about me, and you're no different!! You don't know a thing about me, so don't pretend you care!!" She threw the used handkerchief at his face and stormed off.

"Lilly, wait!" He reached out to stop her, but only met with the strands of her hair. She disappeared into the dark dungeon, slamming the metal door behind her. He stood there staring, his fingers tingling in the memory of her hair. Slowly he bent down and retrieved his handkerchief. He sniffed it, greeted by the scent of her tears. You don't know a thing about me, so don't pretend you care!! She had been right; he didn't know a thing about her.

But she was wrong about him pretending to care. He had been honestly concerned about her. Seeing her in that moment of brokenness, the image she had worked so hard to fool everyone had been destroyed. He finally saw her as the woman she truly was. She deserved to be loved just like anyone else. She thought no one would want to be close to her, and he was determined to prove her wrong.