I was sitting out in the castle gardens trying to forget about the previous night's ransacking by reading a book, when I heard some of the other maids gossiping about the new bachelor in the court; a knight who was on a quest. What that quest was they never got to because the went off on some tangent about how handsome and manly he was.

Rolling my eyes I paid no further attention and went back to my book. I didn't notice when they stopped conversing and began to titter softly behind their fans and bat their eyes. So, when a voice said, "Excuse me miss, but I seem to have gotten lost in this castle and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to point me in the direction of the barracks," I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was about to admonish him for sneaking up on me when I looked up. I think my jaw might have fallen to the floor.

There stood the most handsome man I had ever seen, though I do admit I hadn't seen many handsome men in the court so I was slightly biased. He was red haired and had flashing green eyes above a wickedly mischievous grin.

"Oh. Of c-course I can show you," I stammered out, blushing, "It's that way," I pointed my finger vaguely in the right direction.

Looking abashed he asked, "Could you show me the way? I'm afraid I'll get lost again," and then he grinned, "I might have to scare the wits out of another fair maiden."

I flared in anger, "I wasn't scared!" I got up in a huff and stormed off in the direction of the barracks, the handsome knight on my heels.

"I didn't say you were, malady," he laughed. I ground my teeth in renewed anger. I was having enough problems at night to deal with a sarcastic, looks-too-handsome-for-his-own-good knight. I walked around a corner and pointed to a door.

"That leads out to the training grounds and the barracks," I said as I continued walking, "Now, good day to you sir." I left him in the hall.

That night, a ball was held in Sir Richard's honor, the new too-handsome-for-his-own-good knight. The magician forced me to go, very much against my will, wearing a very low cut, full skirted dress in the deepest crimson red I had ever seen; it showed off my black hair and grey eyes, at least that's what the grubby magician said. The dress also came with a mask because of the ball being a masquerade; it was the daintily redoing of a dragon face complete with intricate scales and eye ridges in matching red and gold of the dress. Smiling at the irony of the disguise, I placed the mask firmly on my head and walked into the huge ball room. Couples were twirling grandly across the floor; the King and Queen were sitting on a raised platform on the opposite side of the room. I walked down the two stairs and to a vacant chair near the wall, just because I'm forced to go doesn't mean I have to like it.

I sat there watching the dancers in simmering annoyance, hopefully keeping prospective courtiers wishing a dance away. I kept all away but one, a man dress in a silver and blue outfit with a mask of matching colors that looked like that of a dragon warrior. Great the dragon attracts the dragon warriors, I should have known.

I sighed as he offered his hand and asked, "May I have this dance, Lady Dragon?" I knew that voice! I knew it, but for the life of me I couldn't place where I'd heard it. I was about to tell him no, when I look up into his eyes. That was a huge mistake for I instantly recognized him to be none other then Sir Richard, and for some strange reason I just couldn't say no. I gingerly placed my hand in his and he whisked me around the floor. I felt like a spell had been placed on me, and believe me I definitely know what that feels like, fore I could not look away from his green eyes as they looked into mine. I didn't even realize that almost all the people had stopped dancing themselves to watch us twirl about the floor to a fast pasted waltz. When it was done we stood one arm flung away from us, our other clasped between us, breathing hard and still staring at one another.

When I heard everyone applauding, I flushed, curtsied to Sir Richard and their Majesty's and fled. As soon as I was out of the ballroom and in a garden overlooking the lake, I took off my mask and placed it on a near by bench. I faced the lake and rubbed my eyes in pain. I could not let myself fall for him nor him for me. I was a dragon-girl controlled by a malicious magician who was bent on destroying the good King and Queen and rule himself. I couldn't; I dared not, fall in love and add the extra burden on myself when I should be finding a way to break my curse.

I heard a crunch in the gravel behind me that made me freeze like a frightened deer. I was caught at a masque without my full disguise. The price of being found so is a kiss to whom ever finds someone unmasked. "Let it not be who I think it is," I chanted in my head as the person came up behind me. My mask was put over my face by unseen hands and I was gently turned around by the same set. It was who I had feared; Sir Richard. I look away from him hoping he wouldn't ask what I feared, what I didn't need.

He lifted my chin so I was forced to look at him. "I'm owed a kiss I believe," he said quietly and I flush in slight annoyance, want and fear. He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine and they burned against his touch. When we parted I was trembling at the look in his eyes, the want and desire. I backed slowly away from him as he reluctantly let me go. I turned and fled once again.

As I heard him pursue, I flew like a frightened rabbit straight into the hedge maze. I ran quickly into the center remembering all the times I had seen it from the sky to help me their faster. Not hearing him pursing me any longer, hopefully I had lost him back in the hedge, I screamed out my frustration of an un-normal life and in my rage I opened a path to my change. I forced myself through it and flung myself into the sky, wings propelling myself higher into the night.

I didn't notice the knight far below me farther back in the maze looking at me in horror, thinking the lady he had been pursuing was now lost to him.