So this chapter was obviously a bit rushed. I started it the same day the previous chapter was uploaded, and finished it only a few hours later. Still, I think the quality is okay for something I made so quickly. Hope you enjoy~

"Why should I trust you? You killed all those people, how am I different from them?" Tino asked.

"Y' 're m' w'fe." The dragon responded. It took Tino a moment to piece together its broken words, but when it finally clicked he felt his cheeks heat up.

"Hey, I'm a man! Even if you were human I wouldn't be your wife!" He shouted. Oh how embarrassing! Did he really look that feminine? Well… the dragon was pretty blind that could be the reason. Yeah. Hehe.

"Oh." The dragon blinked. "Wh'ts y'r n'me?" It asked, settling down on the floor.

Tino was quiet for a moment. What was going on? It really wasn't going to kill him, was it? All it wanted was a conversation. "Uhm… Tino Väinämöinen. Do you have a name?" He got into a more comfortable position in the floor as he waited for an answer.

"B'rw'ld 'xenst'rna."

"What?"

The dragon cleared his throat, making the knight cringe. "Berwald…. Oxenstierna." He spoke so slowly in order to fix the broken speech that Tino actually found it annoying. It also wasn't the name he was expecting. It sounded so… normal. Other than accusing him of being his wife and being a dragon, Berwald acted normal too. It felt strange to Tino and it only made him more suspicious.

"How can you speak? Where did you learn?" Tino asked.

Berwald was silent. He made no effort to say anything. His jaws were clamped shut. Tino was quiet too. He was waiting for a response, and if the dragon didn't give one then he had a good reason to believe that something was up.

"I knew it! You're trying to come up with some lie right now aren't you?" Tino shot to his feet, poking Berwald's nose in triumph. He had no idea how or why he had done that without getting his hand chomped off, but it seemed to have some effect on the dragon. Oh. Wait. He was laughing. Berwald was laughing at him. Tino felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment for the second time. "Don't laugh!" He shrieked in frustration. That only made the dragon laugh harder. His milky blue-green eyes closed and the corners of his mouth turned up in the faintest of smiles. "Stop it!" Berwald's laughter slowly came to a stop as he realized the knight really was getting angry at him. He let out what could be a sigh and stood up to his full height, his horns almost brushing the ceiling.

"Br'ng s'me hum'n cl'thes 'nd I'll 'xpl'n 'veryth'ng." Tino took a moment to piece it together. 'Bring some human clothes and I'll explain everything' was what he came up with. Got it.

"The only way I can return to the kingdom is if I bring something with me. Otherwise I will be called a coward for returning without killing you." Tino explained.

Berwald nodded toward his enormous collection of gems and gold. Tino could pick anything. The knight understood this gesture, and picked quickly. What he picked up was a jewel encrusted goblet. He could tell it was more decorative than anything but it would work. As he was turning to leave, Berwald stopped him with a swift movement from his tail. The dragon leaned close to the knight's ear.

"You will come back to me." Berwald didn't speak slowly, but the way the words sounded made them clear as day. It sent a shiver down Tino's spine, and all he could do was nod.