*I do not own Jane and the Dragon
A few days passed, and his thoughts kept getting worse. So to quiet them down he did something for her.
In the morning when she woke, there was a pile of flowers inside her room. "What in the world?"
Going up her steps that lead to the top of the tower, she pushed the small door open to find the roof covered in poppies. Blood red poppies were her favorite flowers, but they were hard to find. Kneeling down, she picked up a bunch that she planned on keeping in a vase. "Wherever you all came from, you are lovely."
After arranging them quite nicely, she returned to see poppies falling from the sky. Looking up, she saw Dragon carrying arm fulls of flowers. "What are you doing?" She asked
Landing softly, he pushed away the ones that he did not crush. "I thought you would like them"
"Well they are my favorite, but you did not have to do this. You must be tired after all that"
"Of course I do, someone around here has to appreciate you"
"I think it is a bit early to get sassy Dragon. I really do like them"
Hugging his head, she giggled "I really liked them"
Clutching his chest, he watched her face go from happy to worried. Letting out a pretentious laugh, he lied. "Must have been those cabbages from last night making a comeback"
As her worry dissolved, he suggested breakfast and she agreed. "It would be nice to get patrol done early and have enough time to relax. What did you have in mind for eating?"
"I know just the place"
A short ride later they were back to the very hill Jane hoped to avoid. "You better not scare the cows again"
"I promise not to scare the cows"
Picking the biggest and best apples he handed them to Jane. "Here you are"
"Did you do something you were not supposed to?"
"No"
The look on her face said she was still skeptical.
Laying at her feet, he sighed."I just wanted to do something nice for my favorite shortlife"
"You did not eat all the cabbages again did you?"
"No"
"Am I supposed to be worried?"
Closing his eyes, he chuckled."There is nothing to be worried about except for that cow that is looking our way"
"I think we should go back soon, I feel as though I am forgetting something"
Wrapping his tail around her, he smiled."You are forgetting to pay attention to me"
Crawling out of his grasp, she paced around trying to remember."No, I know there is something, if only I could remember."
The light poured in between the leaves of her shady place, boring the vision of the bold rider in the distance. Blocking out the sun light with his wings, his widened eyes and timid heart wanting their piece. "Jane, there was something I wanted to talk to you about"
"What is it?"
Clawing at the ground, his tail swayed back and forth nervously anxious. "If you... If you ever..."
Coming into he range of vision was Gunther galloping on horseback, looking for Jane. "Jane!"
"Over here!"
Riding up to where they were, he gave her the news "You are going to be late"
"What are you talking about?"
Avoiding eye contact with Dragon, he answered. "We have jousting practice this morning and we are about to be late"
"I cannot believe I almost forgot."
Offering a hand, he said. "Come on, I will take you back"
"That is my job" pointed out Dragon possessively
"Do not worry about it Dragon, I will ride back with Gunther."
"Alright"
Watching them ride away, he flew up to watch them until he was sure that it was jousting they were going to do. He felt envious and like someone had punched him in the heart, but that was nothing a half dozen wild cabbages could not fix.
Jousting practice was eventful since Sir Ivon got his lance stuck in dummy who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After practice Gunther left with his father on business, and there was no sign of Dragon for most of the day, so Jane figured he was off playing somewhere. After lunch she grabbed her field tactics book and looked for a shady place to read.
When Dragon returned in the afternoon he walked around looking for Jane. Her sent was all up in the air, like a sweet perfume, and he knew she was nearby. Following the sound of her breath, he found her in the garden napping away. A book on battle tactics lied nearby, still open in the section of catapults.
She reminded him of one of those girls in the princess story books, except she was real. To wake a sleeping beauty, then all she needed was a kiss from a prince. Of course he would never do that, it would mean he would have to kiss her. However, the more he continued to look at her, the more it looked like a good idea. Leaning in closer, he could hear her soft breath going in and out. It was like poison listening to her breath, his heart ached the closer he got, and he was so close as to stealing a kiss.
They say if you stare at someone long enough then their eyes would open, and it just so happened they did. He felt his heart jump and he mentally reprimanded himself for thinking such things. Her eyes were clear like the kings jewels and as wide as the moon and he honestly thought that she was very pretty. She smiled as her eyes focused to recognition, and she reached out to touch him, "Dragon, have you been waiting long?" but he flinched. He was afraid it would burn, that his large heart would dry up to a crisp.
She thought little of it and sat up, stretching her arms and legs so that she would not cramp up. Her voice still laced with drowsiness was so adorable that he was afraid his tail would give away his excitement. Grabbing his tail, he smiled "Yes, I am afraid you are late"
"I was just studying, but I must had gotten tired and fallen asleep"
"I know, I was watching you" he felt ten times stupider right after he said it.
"It looks like I would have to skip dinner then to make up for lost time"
"Why not have Gunther go on patrol today and you and me go to my cave and study Dragon runes?"
"Gunther had business to do, so we still have to do it"
"As long as you and me are together Jane"
"That sounds like a champion idea"
Soaring through the sapphire blue skies, Dragon was feeling gleeful as though he were floating through air, though that is redundant considering he is a dragon. "No one flies higher then you and me Jane, no one"
Patrol was a breeze, and there was just enough daylight to look at her journal. "We know the runes for love, dragon, birth, home, death, and life, but what does this one mean?"
"It is right after life and love, but before birth."
Looking at the line of runes, he scratched his chin. "I can hardly make head or tails of thou Jane"
Joining ride beside him, he moved back a little giving her some space."In this order, all I can decipher is two dragons, love, and something about life and birth"
His longing glance escaped her notice, so he went on about his thoughts. "I think I understand, two dragons fell in love then they mated, giving birth to new life"
"That does make sense, should I mark it down as mating?"
"Yes"
"Dragon, are you like other animals which have a mating season"
Moving away he shielded his eyes from her curious gaze, afraid she would find out.."That is a bit personal Jane" he answered too quickly
"Sorry"
"I am not like other animals because I never never met anyone like me. Have you ever felt that way before? I think this set of runes is the story about my parents. Somehow, if I could decipher it then perhaps I would know where to find them. Jane I get worried sometimes, and I worry that you will forget me. And sometimes I am afraid of forgetting who I am, and who I have become. I like myself so much better when you are with me Jane, and I cannot lose that"
"Sometimes we forget things we do not want to remember. Forgetting is a way of life for anyone, but you never truly forget the ones you love no matter how old you become"
"If I had one wish, I would wish to never be alone"
"With me you never will be"
Pressing a kiss on his snout, his breath hitched. She had no idea what she was doing to him, but it was tearing away at him.
Dropping her off at the tower, he asked "No goodnight kiss?"
"Are you getting cheeky?"
"No, just it would be nice to know you care"
"Of course I do"
As she was going to kiss his cheek, he moved his head kissing her on the lips. She thought nothing of it, but he flew off into the night feeling happier then ever. Halfway to his cave he fell out of the sky, clutching to his chest. Falling onto a wheat field, he was thankful the wheat was harvested or he would have got a mouthful from Jane. The moon was huge that night, almost like her eyes. If the sky were an ocean, then he would swim in her eyes, so that only he would be in them.
In the morning, when she opened the door, she wished it would be a clear day so that she could look at the runes again. During the night she dreamed about flying on a could, and seeing dragon down below crying an ocean of tears and no matter how much she tried to reach him.
The the rain drops falling on her head said that her wishes would be unanswered. Jester then came running with some sort of different story about a farmer and his duck.
Dragon was not especially fond of rainy days, but the happy palpitations prevented him from sleeping in. He sped away to the castle, droplets of rain falling off his scales though the coldness touched deep down in his bones. Everyone except Dragon took shelter in the throne room, playing games or listening to stories waiting for it to clear up. Dragon took shelter under the canopy near the throne room entrance. Coming over with a slice of pumpkin pie, she knew it would never be enough for his monstrous appetite but it least it would a happy taste. "I brought this for you"
He took it willingly, soon forgetting he ever ate it. "Sorry about your plans Jane"
The pitter patter of the rain splashed about, like dancing water sprites. "I do not care much for the rain, it is much too wet in my opinion" he chuckled
"There is no rush, we can look at the runes another day"
"What if the rain clears up, do you want to go?"
"You know I would, that is if it stops"
Sure enough it did stop, but it started up again halfway to his cave. He sped up, and lighted a fire as soon as they got there so she would keep warm. Short lived sometimes looked as if their skin would shake off their bones from shivering too much, and of course that could not happen.
Walking over to to his pile of things, his searched through his treasure chest, pulled out a fur coat and placed over her shoulders. "I got this after the time your fingers went numb last winter."
"This must have been expensive"
"I only traded a few of my things for it"
"Like what?"
"Remember that bag of bones thief we found a few years back? Turns out his short sword was valuable. It was not like anyone was going to miss it, I mean he was already dead"
"Dragon"
"What?"f
"You might have sold a relic"
"I did it for you"
Passing her fingers over the soft fur, she felt truly thankful. Pressing a kiss on his snout, she whispered. "It is wonderful Dragon, I really appreciate it"
"Jane there is something I have been meaning to tell you..."
"I know what it is"
"You do?"
"You fell in the wheat field last night. The farmer came to the castle early this morning, but it seemed he was not completely displeased. Apparently you loosened up the earth so you saved him a bit of work"
"Oh"
"Is there something else you needed to tell me?"
"Nope, I think you hit it straight on the head."
The rain fell down harder and she thought she might have to stay the night. "That rain will not let up"
"Sorry Jane"
"That is alright, a little rain cannot hurt me"
Taking out her journal, she traced over the newly deciphered rune, wondering if she could truly understand. "I thought about what you said yesterday, and I feel the same. I never felt the inclination to marry and procreate like other girls. I guess we are the same in a way, just trying to find our place in this world"
"You... Just like me?"
"Like they say, we were cut from the same cloth. I guess that would make you and me like brother and sister"
"Except I am much more handsome, and look nothing like you"
"And you sing much better"
"And you are prettier"
"Thank you"
"Very very pretty"
"Thank you Dragon"
Picking her up, he rocked her in his arms, he smiled widely as he could. "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever met, that is what I really wanted to tell you"
"That is really sweet of you"
Her shining bright eyes, were melting his heart, and he wanted to say it. Her sweet little smile made him change his mind, and he wondered what he was doing. "I should put you down now"
"That would be a good idea"
The thunder of his heart was pumping way too fast, so he clutched at his chest. He felt a little ill, could he blame it on the pie or on thy girl who stood before him?
She reached out to touch, but he moved away from her tender fingers that could keep his heart at bay. "What is the matter?" She asked a with hint of worry.
"I..I am not sure, it is a long story"
"Is there something you need to say?"
"How should I tell you?"
"You have been acting strangely lately, and sometimes you will not look me in the eyes and I need to know why"
"You would think it is stupid"
"Nothing you could say would be stupid. Go on, it is alright"
Opening his mouth, he felt that lump in his throat again, stealing away all his words. She could see the struggle in his eyes and decided it could wait. Caressing his snout, he nudged her in return as a sign of his affection. He could not tell her, not until it was time. But the way she looked at him made him feel full, full of all the affection he wished he could give. "Jane..I.."
Hugging his snout, she apologized. "I am sorry Dragon, if you do not want to tell me then I am sure you have good reason for it."
Pulling away, he confessed "You are all that I have, and you are the only thing worth giving up everything for. I am not eloquent Jane, I cannot come up with lovely verses to express what I need to say. But I will say it the only way I know how, I love you Jane. I always have, but it took me till now to realize it."
"What did you say?"
"I love you"