Prologue
She woke to the chill of the damp cold stone beneath her. Her mind was fuzzy and her body ached. She tried to recall what happened and where she was exactly but as she opened her eyes a Flash of lightning blinded her sending a searing pain from the throbbing headache through her skull. Sitting up slowly, she looked around her as well as she could. It was dark; very dark. Reaching out blindly in front of her she tried to gain purchase wherever could to try to stand to her feet. A sharp pain ripped up her side and a quick examination yielded something cold and sticky. Blood. Her blood. She hissed at the pain as she tried in vain to see the wound.
"What… happened?" She put her other hand to her throbbing skull. "The last thing I remember… is the wedding…"
The dress she wore was tighter than she would have liked. The cut, though flattering, left the lace across her skin where it itched and irritated her. It had a long train of the finest silk the pooled below her when she sat and dragged behind her when she walked. It was heavy and warm and she wished to be rid of it... The constant tugging in her hair as her sister-in-law braided it intricately annoyed her but she could not object. It wouldn't do any good if she did.
"You look beautiful, Relena." Lucrezia took hold of Relena's shoulders and lowered her face to look in the mirror next to Relena's own.
"It will be hard to tell in all this matrimonial garb." Relena lifted up the veil, a delicate sheet of white lace embedded with tiny diamonds and rubies, a feature shared by the bodice of her gown. "This all seems costly and unnecessary."
"You're getting married, Relena. It doesn't happen every day."
"Yes, I am getting married. All for the sake of another treaty we don't actually need."
"I know the situation isn't… ideal. I was fortunate enough to have loved your brother when we wed." Relena looked long and hard into the eyes of her reflection as her sister in law squeezed her shoulders in an attempt to offer comfort. The eyes stared back; empty and unblinking. "But you must give this a chance. Lord Quatre is a kind man and comes from a long line of dragon slayers and brave warriors. and-"
"I know, and Quatre has been a very dear friend. I've known him most of my life, but I could never picture being his wife." Lucrezia heaved a sympathtic sigh and rested her hands on Relena's shoulders.
"But love can come from friendship. I'm sure that in time you will learn to love each other." As hopeful as the statement was, Relena still doubted it. It was not only the fact that they were merely friends. It was well-known to many that Quatre's heart belonged to one of the other ladies of the court. Certainly life with her friend would not be unpleasant and she knew they both would be willing to do their necessary part in fulfilling their roles in the arrangement. Relena looked deep into the eyes of her reflection and heaved her own sigh.
"I hope so."
The crash of thunder startled her. When had she fallen asleep? Had she passed out from exhaustion? Pain? Every muscle cried out reminding her of the trauma she survived. It was still dark so she couldn't have been sleeping long. Standing once more, she looked around, desperate for the ability to see… something. Anything. To make her surroundings less intimidating.
"Right, Relena. Less intimidating." She laughed as she fought off a shiver.
"You've been abducted by a…"
A roar tore through the sky as the sun itself seemed to hide. Claws, large and sharp, reached out for her. She couldn't even scream before it struck. Cold, scaly skin wrapping around her as its claw tore into her flesh. The searing heat of untamed flames was soon replaced by the frigid caress of the rain… In the haze of adrenalin and the driving rain, she dared looked up and saw the large fierce eyes of her captor-!
"A dragon!" Her hand flew to her forehead and her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she stumbled back in realization. "I've been abducted by a dragon. Less intimidating is definitely not going to be a thing!" She wrapped her arms around herself and hissed as the gash on her side complained. "I have to get out of here." Either her eyes were adjusting or it was getting lighter, but she could vaguely make out the area around her. Walls going up in a conical shape with a jagged hole at the top.
"A cave." She had read most dragons lived in caves so it made some sense to her except the beast she'd seen could not possibly slip through the meager opening at the top and there was no indication of any other entrance into the enclosure. "I remember… it dropped me. I must have fallen through that hole…" the thought brought attention to another pain and the possible source of her headache. Her fingers found a gash above her forehead where she must have collided with a rock.
"I'm going to have to try and clean these wounds somehow. If they turn gangrenous then escaping the dragon might not be necessary."
The light was, indeed, increasing and she spotted a small pool of fresh water. Her dried lips and parched throat demanded the use of it immediately. Kneeling down, she cupped her hands within the cool liquid and raised the water to her lips. Once her thirst was satisfied, she made quick work of finding the cleanest part of her dress and tearing off enough to use as a rag to clean her wounds. A hiss of pain escaped her as she tried to rub the grit and grime off of the gash in her side. It didn't seem to be deep, nor was it actively bleeding, a fact for which she was grateful. She repeated the process with her forehead and a few other spots she found before her stomach gave a low, disgruntled rumble. The pond before her showed no signs of fish, but even if it had, she had no idea of how to go about catching one. Princesses were not typically taught how to hunt and fish and forage.
"And it's highly unlikely the dragon will bring me a meal. I'm more likely to end up its own." She looked up at the hole above her. "Looks like that's my best chance is through there."
"You'll never get up there." The sudden sound of another voice startled her. It was distinctly male; a low tenor. She looked around in desperation.
"Hello? Is someone there?" She stayed perfectly still and silent hoping, praying to the gods that she hadn't imagined that voice.
"Even if you somehow managed to make it to the opening, the dragon would find you."
"Where are you? Can you help me get out of here?"
"I can't." Relena felt her heart sink away from the slim hope it had managed to find.
"You're a prisoner of the dragon as well."
"Yes."
"I see."
"Here." She turned toward the sound of the voice and saw a hand sticking through a small hole in the wall of the cave. It was holding something. She approached slowly. "The salve in this shell will clean and heal your wounds more efficiently. It's made from a blue flower on this island." Relena took the shell from the stranger.
"An island?"
"Yes." He retracted his hand and then put it through again, this time with a fish in a thick leaf. "Eat this." His words might have seemed like a command, but Relena was too tired to care. Again, she reached over and took the fish.
"Thank you." He said nothing but his hand disappeared through the hole again.
This man intrigued her. She moved forward and tried her best to see him through the opening. Her breath caught in her throat. He was incredibly handsome. His chiseled face was angular with small nose and pointed chin. His hair was a dark color, hard to make out in the dim light but it was wild and untamed. On his chest was a mark; slight and unclear in the darkness. His eyes were what really caught her: deep blue pools of mystery swirling with a hint of danger. Wild and yet tame. His body was lean and muscular and she felt a blush burn her cheeks at her brazen lack of decency. Turning away from the hole, she took the fish and ate it slowly. There were no seasonings or spices as it would have had back home, but it was at that moment, the most delicious fish she had ever consumed. That done, she turned her attention to her wounds.
Grabbing the shell, she scooped up some of the strange smelling blue paste and touched it to the gash on her forehead. She expected a stinging sensation, but instead it was cool and soothing and almost seemed to numb the pain. Scooping more out, she smeared it gently and generously over the wound in her side before raising her skirt a bit to sooth the various wounds.
"Your skin is so pale." The voice from earlier remarked with seeming surprise and curiosity. Her face heated as she realized she'd forgotten he was there. She immediately replaced her skirts.
"How dare you watch me?" She found herself covering areas that were still more than fully clothed. "Have you no sense of decency?"
"I watch the birds and the fish. They don't mind."
"Well I am neither a bird nor am I a fish and civilized people do not watch one another at such times in such ways!" She could almost feel his amusement and she noticed somehow she could see him smiling.
"What makes you think I'm civilized?" His voice was a bit deeper now. There almost seemed to be a rumble to it that both frightened her… and excited her. She cleared her throat and decided to change the subject.
"I forget my manners." She walked forward. My name is Relena Peacecraft, Princess of The Sanc Kingdom." She offered her hand but he did not take it.
"A princess?" His voice sounded mildly surprised. "Explains the dress." She decided to ignore his dismissive tone. Alone and marooned on a dragon's island, her title meant nothing.
"What's yours?"
"Hn?"
"Your name. What are you called?" A thick silence followed. For a moment she wondered if he was ignoring her.
"It's been so long since I've used it. I've forgotten…"
"How could you have forgotten? How long have you been alone on this island?"
"As long as I can remember."
"But that's-"
"I'll find a way to get you a fire." She heard his footsteps as he began to walk away.
"Wait!" But it was too late. He was gone. Relena sighed and shivered before she picked the salve back up and finished tending her wounds.
[Author's Note: This story is inspired by and loosely based on the movie "I Am Dragon". Creative liberties are being taken as I always put my own spin on things to give you a different experience. I do recommond checking out the original. Thank you and enjoy the journey!]
