In Jane's, and now also Sofia's, tower.

"Ugh..." Sofia groaned, clutching her chest, right above the heart. "If only I could eat fire, to sustain my magic." She whispered. She lay on the hammock.

There was a sound of hammering, metal on metal.

"The blacksmith?" Sofia asked herself. "He would have to use a fire..." She got up and went outside, she stared across the courtyard, where the blacksmith was working hard, hammering a piece of metal into shape. How can I get past him...? She went down the steps into the yard.

She couldn't see Dragon anywhere, or the two squires. They must've retired for the day.

She went to the blacksmith's shed.

"Sofia!" Smithy smiled when he saw her.

She bowed her head. "Smithy?"

"That's what they call me."

She peered over his shoulder to see the roaring flames of the furnace. "I have a very strange request..." She asked in a low voice.

Smithy frowned. "Yes?"

Sofia bowed. "Please let me eat some of the fire from your furnace!"

"Eat it?"

Sofia met his eyes. "Yes, I can't really explain but if I don't eat some, it could be bad news for me." She clutched her chest again as a dull pain throbbed.

Smithy, still frowning, stepped back. "Uh... go ahead."

Sofia walked to the fire and took off her black leather gloves. She dipped her hand into the flames and pulled it out, a flame was on her palm. She took a deep breath and pressed the flames to her mouth and sucked at it, eating it whole.

She let out a sigh of relief as she felt the burn in her heart and her breathing ease. "Thank you..." She whispered.

Smithy couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. "May I ask... how did you do that? More importantly... why?"

She met his gaze. "I'm scared to tell anyone here."

He saw her eyes glistening with tears again. For some reason, it made his heart ache. "You can trust me..." He said in a quiet voice.

She sat on a stool. "It's complicated and a very long story." She sighed.

Smithy sat in front of her. "I've got all day."

Another shaky sigh. "I am a dragon." She said.

Smithy's eyes widened.

She chuckled. "Well... sort of. I was a dragon until I was put under a curse that turned me into a young human. I still have dragon magic. Just not the body of one. Also, I can't fly." She added. "Eating fire sustains my magic, when my magic deteriorates I become weak and the pain can become unbearable."

Smithy sat, taking it all in. "So how old are you... or your dragon self?" He asked.

"As a dragon, I am almost one thousand years old. As a human I am nearly eighteen." She replied. "I was kind of reborn into the human body. I don't have much recollection of my dragon years."

"So, the mark on your arm?"

"I was branded by the one who cursed me."

Smithy reached out and took her hand in his gloved one.

Tears were streaming down her pale cheeks. "Please... don't tell anyone yet. I think Dragon is already on to my secret, but I don't know how everyone would handle this."

Smithy took a breath. "We are all family here. We have a resident dragon here already, what's another one?"

Sofia met his eyes. "You're not scared of me?"

Smithy laughed. "Terrified... if I were your enemy."

She cracked a small smile.

"You're prettier when you smile." Smithy blushed. Why did I say that aloud?!

She looked away. "Thanks, I guess."

He cleared his throat. "So, can you breathe fire?"

She giggled. "What dragon can't?" She looked to the furnace and blew. Beautiful blue flames came from her mouth and went into it.

"Please don't burn down my sheds like Dragon does." Smithy said.

She saluted. "Yes, sir!" She felt so much happier now that she had told someone. "Thank you." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You're a true friend. I've never had one of those."

"Well, you're sure to make a lot of friends here." Smithy was a bright shade of pink now.

She nodded. "I think I'm going to like it here." She stood up. "Expect me to visit often." At that she waved and walked out into the courtyard.