Disclaimer: Fairytail and its characters belong to the amazing manga artist Hiro Mashima. I own nothing but this plot.
Summary: This is a tale of a dragon and his captive princess. Their story might have been told so many times that some might have even forgotten that the real prisoner was in fact – the dragon himself. For even when the princess was imprisoned in the highest tower, the dragon was enslaved to her every call and bidding. He wouldn't have it any other way though, the dragon had surrendered willingly – for it promises sweet torture to those who yield.
- Gajeel / Levy
Dedicated to the ever wonderful RomanticVoltaire for helping this author find the inspiration to write again. And for sending muse, the deity of all arts and literature via e-mail- when this poor author couldn't find the proper words to scribble in her paper.
to Daikii8, dearest reader-san, what-ever-do-you-mean about... tendencies? (Author blinks innocently then smiles) your review made me research for naughty ideas to use for the future chapters.
and to articulate eloquence, shall i add any roguexgajeel on the future chapters? lol. this chapter is for you.
CHAPTER4: Inside the Dragon's Lair
"You know what the issue is with this world?
Everyone wants a magical solution for their problems
but everyone refuses to believe in magic."
- Mad Hatter, Once Upon a Time, 2011
She was brought as a sacrifice, yet the dragon treated her as a princess.
Knowing she was already in his abode, he abruptly put her to her feet – trusting her to be smart enough to not run from him again. The dragon quickened his steps as to avoid the girl from seeing his face.
"Follow me."He led her to a series of hallways, both spacious and flawlessly clean as the vaulted ceiling gave the impression of a fortress rather than a den of a dragon.
Columns rose from beneath the floor, each carved with ivory dragons entwining the shaft until their elongated bodies reached the ceiling. Their scales glinted harshly in the darkness of the night. Their eyes cold and unsettling seemed to watch her every move, watching her silently as their master led her to the west wing.
He glanced at his captive to make sure she was trailing behind him. To his surprise, she was younger than he expected – a fragile looking woman, short in physique, slender in build and a disheveled hair the color of sky.
For a moment, she glanced at him, trying to perceive her savior in the dim light. Her lashes fluttered, revealing dark luminous golden eyes. It was a waste those eyes were brimming with tears, threatening to fall and slid to her ivory skin.
Even in tattered clothes, she was everyman's fantasy – of all the unspoken sinful desires. Beguiling, seductive, yet her face held a touch of innocence and purity.
It was no wonder this maiden attracts danger wherever she went.
Then, he remembered the white mark on her shoulder blades – contrasting deeply with the black ink vehemently painted across her waist. The maiden was used as a mere tool as he recalled Rogue wanted her for the same reasons.
"What kind of power do you possess that has brought their attentions on you?"
Levy paused. Power? It was more like a curse. "I had wished for something that was beyond my control."
A cruel laugh rumbled from his chest, a desolate twist of smile evident on his lips. "And you expect me to fall for that made-up story?" the dragon chuckled not believing a word she said. " Wishes does not have anything to do with power or -"
"Yes it does!" Levy cried .
She had enough! For only one day, her life had turned upside down and this – this odious man had the audacity to even laugh at her expense! "I can't control the intensity of my magic! My enchantments enable me to make my hopes a reality. Everything I accidentally wished had come true in the most twisted manner I had ever thought possible!"
The girl behind him was on the verge of tears, yet he was ruthless with his words.
"Accidentally wished?" he growled. "That's bullshit! If they had really come true, you wouldn't be stuck up in this rut; you wouldn't cry and live this fucking miserable!"
The dragon stopped in his tracks. "Tell me the truth… You weren't wishing, were you? you WERE anticipating for the WORST." his dark voice daunted her, daring her to tell him he was mistaken.
Brown golden eyes widened in bitter realization at what the man was implying. Blood drained from her face as she refused to listen to every word this man uttered.
" L-Lies! I was cursed with this magic! I never asked for this ability. It was dreadful enough even for my own village to fend me off to some ogre! Oh sorry. But I didn't anticipate- " She stopped remembering her exact word when she had desperately wished to be fed to the dragon to end all her miseries:
I should have wished I'd be eaten alive
perhaps by the dragon and be done with it! '
She found herself gazing over to a pair of deep crimson orbs staring intently to her. His face was covered in the shadows but the intensity of his piercing stare was enough to paralyze her in the spot.
Any words of protest died on her throat.
"Stop. Being. Afraid." It wasn't a consolation; it was an order. "The reason why your magic always go haywire was because you're afraid of the outcome."
They had reached the furthest end of the room in the west wing. And the dragon opened a vaulted door leading to another lair. Her new prison…
"Give me any wish you can guarantee you won't regret."
"But if I wish, I think I might be asking for a terrible con-"
He cut her off before she could even finish her sentence. "Do me a favor and just for once, don't think! Just believe it would happen!"
The girl was uncertain. Her magic won't be harnessed if she keeps on hesitating so he settled for a compromise.
" If it makes you feel better, then include me in your wish." Her eyes widened at his proposal. "No matter what the outcome, no matter what the consequence, I'll be with you."
"N-no! I won't risk your life to anything that could happen!"
"Good grief woman!" he growled like the beast he was. "I AM superior than you human beings! Do you think of me as weak and susceptible to your wishes?"
She looked at her captor; his face blurred by the dim shadow of the night... How could she trust this man whose face or name she didn't even know?
Levy felt ashamed she was wary of him when he had offered his fate willingly even trustingly in her hands. Levy knew nothing of the man before her, but not long ago, they had fought and he even saved her twice. In less than a day, the man had gone to such lengths as to save her from any dark guilds and guard her with his life. The very least she could do was give this stranger her trust.
"Any wish?"she audibly whispered. "With…you?"
It was then the dragon realized his mistake. He considered taking back his word but his pride wouldn't allow him to back out from his promise.
"…Damn right. ANY wish." Gajeel didn't know those four simple words could drastically change the course of his life.
The dragon told her NOT TO THINK so Levy decided just for once, to do something on a whim just like what the dragon had ordered her to do:
She didn't think her words are powerful enough to seal their fate.
She didn't think of the grave consequence of her action.
She didn't think that her life would turn out much more than a simple fairytale.
In that split moment, nothing mattered. Closing her eyes, she wished with all her heart that if no man would claim her, then at the very least she dreamed the dragon would fall for her. And in return, she shall stay by his side as long as she lives.
.
..
…..
..
.
Then she realized that would be a BIG, SERIOUS mistake.
"O-oh no! I take it back! I think I should undo the wish! That was just so WRONG!" She clutched her hair as those expressive eyes widened in mortification. Wait! How was she to know how to undo the wish?
It was infuriating but the man told her not to think!
The dragon didn't know what made the maiden prattle like she had just wished his doom. (Apparently, she just did)
"Come on squirt, I don't think it can't be THAT dreadful. I promise not to laugh. Try me, what did you wish?"
"U-uhm… I w-wish…"
It seemed the dragon wasn't good at keeping his words. A rich boisterous laughter filled the lonely halls of the castle followed by a resounding slap and a yelp of pain.
A black panther waiting on the previous cell could only shake his head wondering what the dragon and the maiden were doing. He was busily removing the dragon's weapons ingrained firmly on the wall. Various axe and weapons were dexterously imbedded after one another on the wall until it reached that lone window above.
He didn't know if their visitor was smart or stupid enough to use the weapons as a sort of … improvised ladder. What if she fell while climbing it? He felt another presence in the room yet the feline didn't look at him. "Care to tell me about our visitor's little escapade? And what was that odious sound I just -"
Lily's voice drained the moment he saw the dragon.
Gajeel wasn't entirely listening, and for the first time, Pantherlily saw the dragon's lips curve into a smile – albeit a bloody disturbing smile. A lone fang was shown at the corner of his tugged lips.
"Stop grinning. It's very unsettling."
The dragon chuckled. "So I was told."
"The maiden told that straight to your face? How… fearless of her."
'Fearless yes.' Lily thought. 'and bold enough to defy the dragon in his own lair. This girl surely has some guts.'
"You wouldn't believe what she even said to me." The dragon said amused. "She told me that her abilities let her wishes come true for an exchange of an impending doom."
Lily said nothing but he dreaded the smile on his comrade's face.
" I asked her to prove it, risking myself to her whimsical abilities – and she wished to be with me as long as I live. Hah! Could you believe it?"
Pantherlilly could only gape, astounded by both of their foolishness "I don't know who has gone mad, you, for risking your life less your future to an unknown magic or her, for even wishing a life time with you!"
The dragon was offended. "Oi! That was rude!"
It made lily quite for a while, silently studying any changes to the dragon. Aside from the stupid smile he wore, he saw none. "So… did her magic work?"
"Tch no, I don't think so. It appears that the squirt sucks at working her magic abilities. For if it really happened, then I'd be making a fool of myself right now."
Which may be a bad thing. The feline thought. "Has she seen you?"
"No, I made sure I blended in the night. She'd be really bent on undoing her magic if she had seen the gruesome face I have."
His partner sensed his insecurities. "Come on, there could be some mortal bound to accept you."
The dragon's frown deepened. Trust and acceptance was a sensitive topic to him "Lies. Even my father couldn't even stand to be with me."
"I'm taking no chances. When I met her bounded in the stake, didn't you see she fainted the moment she laid her eyes on me?"
His partner slapped his back, cheering him up. "You take my joke too serious. She fainted from fatigue!"
Amidst his anxieties, the dragon felt a surge of … he didn't know what it was called but it made him grin. A light hearted feeling he had never experience settled on his chest. For her to bravely say she'd spend her lifetime with him – it almost give him security that he would never be left alone again.
However, the dragon wasn't prepared for what fate has in store for him. The princess- or rather the witch didn't need to wish for her desire to materialize. For the fates had already intervened earlier– her wish had already occurred the moment he met her bounded to the stake.
The moment he had carried her in his lair, the instant he had ran when he knew she escaped, the time when he had claimed her all for his own had already stirred something deep inside him.
In that moment and the future to come, with or without enchantment, the dragon would find himself willingly spending his life granting every single yearning she'll ever want.
The sun was beginning to rise in the horizon marking the beginning of the day. The first glorious rays of the morning squinted in her window giving her room an ethereal radiance.
Never had she thought she'd still be alive to witness another the morning. She had to thank the dragon for that.
Then her gazed went to her throbbing palm. Her conscience gnawed on her as she remembered lapping the odious man only to yelp in pain. What is this man made of? She idly wondered. She had not expected to feel a skin as callous and hard as… steel plates. She shuddered at the thought.
Either way, she needed to apologize to him. Maybe the man didn't mean to laugh but it was a blow to her pride to be ridiculed after her first confession.
The muted creak of the door opening made her alert. "Who's there?" it closed for awhile without seeing any people enter the room
"Don't fret maiden-"someone with a deep baritone voice spoke. Pantherlily was about to continue when he stopped in his tracks.
It might just be the rays of sunlight, but the vibrant light basked her skin in an ethereal radiance making their visitor look like a tattered angel with her garbed in nothing but torn bed sheets. Now, he knew what this maiden possessed that brought the black steel dragon to his knees.
The angel's brow furrowed looking where the sound came from. The moment her gaze went down, she squealed in delight seeing a black kitten by the door.
The dragon owned a talking cat? She couldn't believe her eyes!
The tiny soldier wasn't prepared to be swooped in the cherub's loving arms. He yelped as she raised him higher. "Lass! Put me down!"
"Ah! Are you an exceed?"
The cat was impressed that the woman knew of his race. "So you know of exceeds? That was unexpected. I'm Pantherlily. You can call me Lily for short. I think I didn't catch your name, fair young maiden."
"O-oh! Silly me, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Levy… Levy Mcgarden." She exclaimed; a faint blush adorned those alluring cheeks of hers.
Lily shook his head, already imagining how the dragon was smitten. "It seems you'll be staying with us for awhile. Can I get you something you'll need?"
Levy was surprised. "Oh, but wasn't I brought here as a prisoner?"
The feline could only smile back in retort. "Miss Levy, I advice you look around your surrounding– I believe a prisoner wouldn't be offered the finest accommodation in a dragon's abode."
As she turned her head, Levy have to take a step back, her breathe caught in her throat -unable to look away.
This was certainly no dungeon…
There in the center of the room and basked in the glorious light of day, lay a Victorian bedchamber elevated from the floor. A luxuriant Arabian carpet, the rich color of mahogany– serves as a pathway to a grand staircase where the bedchamber was to be found.
Wrought iron grills took the figure of a winged dragons looming over as if to witness forbidden acts of love made only in the bed. Carved and molded to perfection, the column rose almost to the ceiling where it took the form of four mystical creatures, their bodies entwined and twisted in a delicate complex pattern.
Made with the finest stainless steel- forge and welded in the fiercest of fire, it ensured her this chamber will NOT break – in under any circumstances. It was built solely for satisfying a man's – no, a BEAST'S darkest fantasies.
She instantly blushed at her overactive imaginations.
Yet as she looked at the divan in the stylish platform, she couldn't help but imagine them sharing a night of blissful passion in it. Woven with the highest kind of silk, the bed lured anyone who came near of temptation and wicked pleasures throughout the night. The sheets, dye in the sultriest tone of red were spread all over the expanse of the cot till it flowed to the floor. Thin layers of velvet draperies hung low providing an inviting entrance to the bed.
It was faint, but it was unmistakable. The Dragon's lair reeks of lust, of hunger -of all the unspoken desires tempting her to come and lay beneath those silken sheets.
- Promising her of more pleasures to come once the night has settled in.
The chamber was made solely for the purpose of making love in the most erotic and sensual form. If she thought the previous lair with all his silver treasure was a form of hell luring him with the darkest enticements, this new den can be considered a piece of heaven on earth- a shrine giving tribute to the goddess of love.
She felt faint.
If she knew that being held captive in the dragon's den could be this… this temptingly inviting – would she come here in her own volition?
Holding the tiny piece of fabric around her body tighter, it gave her security as if the lone piece of clothe was enough to protect her from the dragon's abode. A mixture of dread and delight run through the course of her veins. Her eyes caught the smug smile on the feline's lips, satisfied to see her admiration. "Do you like it? This place has never been grazed by anyone – mortals or creatures alike."
"A-are you telling me -?"
"The dragon had designed this room for years- centuries even, and you are the first to use it." And maybe the last. Lily thought.
Levy didn't believe a word he uttered! She couldn't! With the wide expanse of the divan, she assumed he had a harem of beautiful maidens at his disposal- to call upon them whenever he wanted to seek pleasure. Oh no, her knees went weak as realization dawned upon her.
She was brought as a sacrifice…
HIS FIRST virgin sacrifice.
She gulped.
"I-I am the… the f-first?" she felt inclined to know why he'd go to such lengths of creating such a… s-sanctuary for pleasure.
The small panther gave her a teasing look. "Why don't you just ask the dragon? His name is Gajeel by the way."
It was enough to made her blush all to the roots of her hair.
The ray of the sun cast a soft glow in a barren lair, yet the man in the lone room could be seen furrowing deeper into his pillow, the hard muscles on his back rippled with every move... Wearing nothing but a pair of loose fitting trousers, sweat had drenched him to the point that made his body glistened in its glow.
A roguish smile curved on his lips that could put any rakehells to shame.
Try as he might, he couldn't remove image of the little nymph from his head. Closing his eyes, he wondered if those brown doe-like eyes would widen in delight when she saw all the detailed work he'd done all over the years.
It was, after all, passed down to him by his father.
Dragons were possessive creatures. Metallicana had prepared the finest iron chamber he could build when he fell in love with an exotic raven haired beauty… However, the mortal's lifespan was short she started to wither before he could even finish it. As the years passed by, she became distant; her thick ebony locks turned silver white till there was nothing left of the allure he once adored.
Even when her beauty was harshly taken away by the hands of time, the dragon still loved her , telling her to wait till he finished his last and final gift to her. Alas, she didn't live long enough to see the work of the iron dragon.
Gajeel was the lone proof of the passionate yet forbidden union of the mythical creature and the mortal.
The iron bedchamber was abandoned for several years until Gajeel decided to restore it. Even after the dragon was gone, Gajeel continued the work left by his father… He would not make the same mistake as Metallicana did. He would take care of what was his – or what WOULD SOON be his.
His thoughts came back to the vile-tempered, blue-haired angel.
He snorted. More likely a witch.
He didn't believe her wish capable of coming true. Did she think she could make him succumb to such feeble enchantments? He has the blood of a dragon- making him superior than these mortals.
Nevertheless he would make sure the girl would keep her promise of staying by her side as long as she lives.
In a little while, the feline and the woman were sitting on the bed-steps, talking about their lives as if they were old friends. The cat found himself liking the girl for they shared common interests in history, ancient magic – and respect for a certain metal-scrap of a dragon.
He wondered if it was really respect or adoration as evident on the furious blush on her face.
"Ga-jeel." She tested the strange name on her tongue. It was so foreign yet she loved how her voice produced those two syllables. "What about him? Do dragons shape-shift into human only during the night or whenever they want to?"
"Since you ask too much about Gajeel – I'll let you borrow some books which can be helpful to you."
Hearing those words made levy gasped so much in delight. "Books? Lily, are you telling me the dragon collects books? What kind of literature does he read?"
Seeing those striking golden eyes widen in delight, the cat couldn't bring himself to refuse the maiden.
He didn't know how much time has passed but the sun was about to set. Lily couldn't believe he had spent a whole day with her! The cat had told Levy her savior was a descendant of a European dragon. He was the notorious beast even his own kin had dread – thus earning the name Kurogane Gajeel.
Much to his surprise, it didn't deter Levy from knowing more about him.
Aside from her insurmountable love for books, he hadn't gathered too much information aside from her magic but he needed to notify even the smallest observation to the dragon. "Well then Miss Levy, I shall be going now."
This made her frowned. "Going now lily? But I had so much fun with you! Won't you stay with me for a little longer? Please? "
The exceed smiled as the girl in front of him nearly whined. "As much as I love your company, I have to report to the dragon." He has taken a liking to the girl, aside from being smart, she's a good conversationalist.
However, as a true soldier- he knew his trust and loyalty belongs to Gajeel.
Twiddling with her fingers, she looked at him with those large golden eyes. "Umm, Lily…?"
The panther looked backed at her- and had to take a step backward. Oh no…
She wore a mischievous grin that was slightly disconcerting since it didn't fit her too damn innocent face. "Don't tell anyone, even Gajeel okay?" she whispered and wrote a certain word in the air. "This is my way of showing my gratitude for everything you've given me."
The word glowed as it materialized in all its glory and even just for a moment, time seemed to stop. Panther Lily could only stand in silent awe- eyes wide and mouth agape as the word slowly descended down like a form of salvation to him.
Lily wasn't able to report anything back to the dragon.
It was already dark, and the dragon was waiting for his comrade's report. Lily should have been back three hours ago. How dare he make him wait! Or maybe his cat has turned his back on him? That traitor! Just the thought of it made him snarl like the creature he was. He'll track them down if ever they escaped from his lair! With a furious snarl, the dragon made his way to the maiden's room.
He expected the worst… a letter of betrayal, a room devoid of any occupant - but this… Gajeel couldn't believe the sight that greeted him!
How could he even blame his cat for turning his back on him? There was his cat– prowled in a pathetic heap, face alight with a naive smile as she materialized the word CATNIP and MILK. The witch's power had already lured Lily into a blissful state. What the fuck-? There were even words like KIWI and MICE and bloody hell, was that a word made of yarn? His vision darkened more when Levy patted Lily's belly and the cat actually PURRED in happiness.
The Pantherlily he knew does NOT purr! HE GROWLS! Damn it!
The human had seduced his cat in the same manner she had seduced him! Unforgivable!
He had to turn away and put this – this jealousy aside as her hands leisurely glided on the cat's fur how the bastard took it ALL in oh-so-wondrous delight he fucking mewled.
He will get Pantherlily for this! Or maybe the maiden! Either way both of them will suffer from his wrath! Even blinded with rage, he wondered how it would feel like to experience even a moment of her wondrous touch against his skin…
Damn...
NO! He will not yield to any of her enticement – that would only mean he succumbed to her wish!
This girl was more trouble than she's worth! Since the night has settled again, he wasn't afraid of stepping in the room. Gajeel snarled indignantly as he stomped across the lair and grabbed his cat from her embrace like a jealous child would claim his toy.
"Don't cast your enticing spell to my cat, WITCH! "
A pillow was thrown squarely at his face with more force than she intended. All thought of apologizing and befriending the dragon disappeared in an instant. That last word was enough to make her expression change in a matter of seconds.
"A witch?" Levy echoed in disbelief, as if to confirm she had heard him correctly. "You also accuse me of being a witch? Fine! At least I made Lily happy even for a moment! stupid Gajeel!"
And before he could retort anything, another pillow was hurled at him – followed by a book which hit him squarely in the head.
"Wait a damn minute – " BONK! How the heck did she know his name?
Ironandpen's corner: Oh Gajeel, even Lily had introduced himself before you could even do.
Tsk. Tsk. So, dear readers, do I change the rating or what? Haha! I enjoyed writing the detailed interiors of the bed chamber. The challenge a friend has given to me was to make an erotic scene without any sensual participation from any of the characters.
That's the reason why this chapter took so long but I hope it was worth the wait!
To my beloved reviewers: (in no particular order)
Aurora528(Another chapter as you requested, I fear there are no "sexy fights" but there's an alluring bedchamber promising of naughty chapters to come!),
Ferrii, evilsugarnazioverload, Aralys, DIjoi
pikinanouart (No sexy gajeel here - but i'll make sure he'll have his ... seductive moments on the next chapter!) ,
Elie Lou(nope, i'm creating my own fairytale! ^_^ and I can't wait to see your drawing!),
AngelKnightKaoru(i used another tenrou reference - levy screaming "stupid gajeel!" ^_^),
RomanticVoltaire(As you requested, European dragon and a victorian bed chamber - wait an ELEVATED Victorian chamber with a grand staircase. Lol. we could be an interior designer!),
Ulcaasi (I hope this chapter made Gajeel a bit... livelier?) ,
Articulate Eloquence(Your reviews never fails to make me smile!),
Badme, TwistedKorn,
Daisukii08 (S&M tendencies? request granted dear reader! ) ,
Nightelement, Heretoread, Era-of-Tearing Rain and all readers who take time to read this piece of work.
This chapter wouldn't be done without your constant support. ^_ ^ Thank you, thank you, thank you for your encouragement, your gentle nudge to keep me going and for allowing this author a chance to share her story with you.