I wait.

I wait for the human man who says he is my husband to return. I sit on silken cushions, the wealth of men all around me; my babe suckles at my breast.

I need not do this, the servant women say. I am queen now, I need not waste my time on such a lowly pursuit as feeding my own child. There are wet nurses for that sort of thing, they say. I laugh them to scorn. Let him be fed on dragon's milk, I think. Perhaps it will make him stronger. Perhaps not.

I contemplate the child in my arms. It would be so easy, I think, to kill him. A twist of the neck, and his small life would be gone. But I will not. It would show my hand too soon. The humans believe that I have accepted who I am now; what I am. They are wrong.

I admit that I was stupid. The humans tricked me with their flattering words, their promises of gold. They bound me with their magic, cast me into the cursed spring, trapped me in the shape of a human.

I was to be wife to the human ruler. They wanted my blood, my abilities, to pass on to their offspring. I fought, at first, but soon realized that it was not the way. I was new to this human body, new to the human world. I needed to learn to live in both before I could make my move.

I am still dragon. We have long memories, and we are patient. Sooner or later I will have my chance.

The man, my husband, steps into the room and directs a smile at me; one that does not reach his eyes. He has been over-seeing the training of some of the youngest of the boys, he tells me, as if I care to know. I simply watch him, my face revealing nothing.

Soon my own son will be taken from me, to train in fighting as is the custom for males here. I cannot bring myself to care. He is only human, after all. My only thought is escape, and perhaps revenge on the humans that tricked me. I consider this for a moment. Yes, revenge would be very sweet.

I will not harm the babe, I decide. He has done me no wrong. And perhaps it might be to my advantage, at some later time, to have kin within the human court.

The man, my husband, watches me for another moment, then sighs and walks away. Silently, I watch him go. Someday, I will find the way to rid myself of this human body. It is simply a matter of time.

I am dragon, and I am patient.

I wait.