Sorry about the delay – combination of work and me picking up a good book that slowed down my writing process. Hopefully it won't happen again. An uncensored version of this chapter will be available on AO3.
Return
The next morning, Weiss was only mildly surprised to find Yang was as good as her word. As soon as the sun was high in the sky, the once-again dragon led the princess out of the cave, kneeling low enough for Weiss to clamber up onto her back. Hefting her scrounged bag – filled with supplies and a pouch of coins Yang had insisted she take – the white-haired woman stepped up onto the scaled foot, using it as a step to swing her leg over the dragon's spine. After some brief slipping on scales, Weiss settled herself, and lashed the bag around one of Yang's spines for good measure. The last thing they needed was for a strong wind or a quick turn to knock the thing from her grasp.
Her thoughts had just turned to the idea that it might be a good idea to tie herself to the dragon, when Yang coiled beneath her, muscles tensing as she crouched low against the ground.
"Hold on tight."
"Yang, I thin-"
Anything else Weiss would have said was swallowed as Yang shot up into the sky, powerful wings beating furiously. Weiss clung for dear life to her scaled ride, wind whipping past her face and streaming her hair out behind her, a long white tresses flapping above the dragon's back. High enough in the air to make the princess sincerely wish she was back on solid ground, Yang leveled out, shifting until Weiss no longer had to worry about falling off.
"Couldn't you fly a little slower?" Weiss snapped, doing her best not to look down while her heart pounded in her chest. No matter how many times she did this, she doubted she'd ever get used to the sheer blood-pumping terror of flying dragonback. 'How many times?' she thought, shocked at the turn her mind had taken. 'Get used to it?' What the hell am I thinking?
"Hey, when you get wings, then you can criticize my flying," Yang humphed, twisting back around to face into the wind. "Let's see you try a vertical take-off, see how you like it."
Their trip was uneventful, forested paths making way for lush fields dotted with fluffy white clouds of sheep let out to pasture. Mountains rose and fell on their left as they soared up the coast, Yang's length shifting from side to side as she swam through the air, her wings beating steadily. Northward they went, passing over small villages, fishing boats, and farmsteads until a decent-sized town finally came into view.
Yang pulled up, making Weiss cling ever tighter to her back, well above the town before angling back and down. At a far slower pace than their takeoff, Yang drifted towards the nearest grove, careful to stay out of sight from any watchmen the town might have. The woods were thick and green, enjoying the summer warmth, and Weiss had no doubt that even if someone had seen a large golden serpent sail through the sky, the chance of them finding them in the woods was slim to none. Leisurely winding through the trees, Yang made her way back towards the town, settling on the ground just shy of the treeline, one foreleg raised to give Weiss an impromptu ladder down to the ground.
Weiss' first few steps were unsteady, her legs unaccustomed to the odd winding motion Yang made while she was in flight. Taking a moment to get used to the sudden lack of lateral movement, she stared out through the trees, watching as a long chain of travelers and neighboring farmers trickled in through the city gates. Her balance regained, she reached up and untied her satchel from Yang's spines.
"So," the dragon said, head bobbing slightly as she turned to look at Weiss.
"So."
"... well, the money should get you pretty far," Yang said after a moment, breaking the growing silence as Weiss searched for something to say. "Get a decent horse and you should be able to go wherever you want."
"Thank you for that."
Yang made her approximation of a human shrug, wings rising and falling as she cocked her head to the side. "It's not like I use most of my stuff. I can part with a small bag of coins."
Weiss snorted, remembering the sack currently resting at the bottom of the satchel. Yang's definition of 'small' would be enough to feed a village for a year or more, if not buy the place outright. Then again, for a dragon with a literal cave full of treasure, it might actually be the right word.
"So," the dragon said again, somehow managing to be over three times her size and still seem awkward. "You gonna get going, or ..."
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For you to transform," Weiss frowned, giving the dragon a look that very clearly said she expected her to be quicker on the uptake. "Obviously."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I can hardly be expected to carry everything I'll have to buy."
The dragon snorted, sending a cloud of leaves flying. "That's the only reason to keep me around?"
"What other reason would I have?"
With a shrug, a snort, and a crick of her head, Yang's eyes flashed, followed by the rest of her as she shifted down into a form that was less likely to cause heart attacks to any elderly she might pass. Heart attacks from panic, anyway. Weiss had a feeling there were a few older gentlemen who might not survive the sight of the more-or-less humanoid blonde.
"Ahem," Weiss coughed, pointedly looking up towards the impossibly blue sky.
It took a moment for Yang to realize what Weiss' newest problem was, the recognition followed by a long-suffering sigh. "Again?"
"Yes, again." Still not looking, Weiss pulled an extra set of clothes from the bag and handing them to the transformed dragon.
With a growl, the blonde struggled her way into the tunic, tugging at the folds until they fell somewhat into place and muttering under her breath the entire time. "Stupid humans ... weak excuse for a skin ... couldn't just have scales or fur. No, you all had to be special. Need bloody drapes to make yourself presentable."
"You done?"
"No," Yang grumbled in frustration. "Can you fix this thing, please?"
Turning, Weiss found her struggling to keep the shoulders of the garment in place, the broach that kept the folds in place currently clenched in her teeth. Sighing, Weiss reached over and fixed the chiton before pinning it into some semblance of order.
Satisfied that Yang wasn't about to get them arrested for public indecency, Weiss marched out of the trees, leaving the now-clothed dragon to trail behind in her wake. It was a short walk – the tree line wasn't too far from the road – and soon, the two women had joined the rest of the farmers and travelers making their way into the city.
Thirty meters from the town gate, Yang's stride suddenly lengthened, and within seconds she'd closed the gap between them. Not noticing or ignoring the little start Weiss made at finding her so close, Yang craned her neck down to Weiss' level, her mouth about an inch from the princess' ear.
"Just so you know," she said, sotto voce. "The last human town I spent any time in chased me out after someone found out what I was."
"We're here to shop, not terrorize the countryside," Weiss hissed back. "You'll be fine."
"Oh, I know I'll be fine. Thought I'd give you a heads-up before someone shouts 'Grab your torch and pitchforks!'"
Rolling her eyes, Weiss followed the line of people heading through the front gate, nodding politely at the bored guardsman as she passed. The uniformed man barely acknowledged her, looking thoroughly uninterested as he stared down the line of people.
It was a short walk from the gate to the agora. Following the flow of the crowd and the slowly growing chatter, Weiss drifted along the well-travelled path, through rows of houses packed along the street. Sun-dried clay walls and thatched roofs gave way to plastered stone, clay tiles marking the wealthier homes deeper inside the city.
A few heads turned as she and Yang passed, the color of Weiss' hair and the other woman's height making them stand out from the rest of the populace. No one seemed to give them more than a second glance, however, and soon they were in the thick of the market, listening to the sound of a hundred conversations as shoppers bartered, bickered, and bought. The air was thick with the odours of spice, meat, and animals, layered over wood fires and unmistakable scent of wine. The agora featured everything a town of middling size would need, either brought and sold by the farmers who dotted the surrounding countryside, or traded for by travelling merchants bringing what cheaper dyes and fabrics the residents could afford. Merchant stalls sat between colonnades, their owners hocking thick wools and dyed linen, while criers announced sudden sales and rushes on various goods, filling the marketplace with a constant chatter that left Weiss shaking her head to clear it. Fired clay pots and jugs lined shelves beneath the shoddy awnings, the potter rubbing shoulders with a wool-seller on one side and a scarred fish-monger on the other.
It was the shop next to the fish-seller that Weiss headed to, nose wrinkling at the smell of mackerel that had definitely sat for too long. Beneath the tattered awning sat sections of wool, several of which the she handed off to Yang before turning to negotiate the price with the bright-eyed shopkeeper. The lengths were heavier – and significantly warmer – than the costumes that made up most of Yang's stash, just the sort of thing she'd need were she on the road for any length of time.
Paying slightly more than she'd hoped, they moved on to the next item on Weiss' list. Six lengths of linen joined the growing stack in Yang's arms, two a pale blue, the others left undyed. Still in the garment shop, Weiss crossed her arms and glared until the blonde rolled her eyes and looked away, giving the Princess some semblance of privacy while she picked out cloth for several breastbands and loincloths that immediately went into the satchel at her side. An amphoriskoi of Mistrali wine joined the steadily growing collection, settled securely between the reams of linen piled in Yang's arms, then placed carefully among the rest of their purchases when Weiss found a small hand-cart for sale.
The sun was high overhead by the time Yan's stomach started growling. Ignoring the idea to pop off for a bit and see what the region's sheep tasted like, Weiss dragged the bronze-skinned blonde towards yet another vendor. Soon the two women found themselves on the outskirts of the agora, chewing on maza flatbreads mixed with cheese, Yang eating with considerable gusto for someone who had complained that anything that couldn't run didn't count as a meal.
"So," the dragon said as she chewed, at least showing the decency to cover her mouth as she spoke. "Have you decided where you want to go?"
"Not yet," the princess admitted, biting daintily into her own meal.
"... I hear Vale's nice this time of year."
Weiss shook her head. It had been the first place she'd thought of, and she'd discarded it just as quickly. "Too close. Too likely that someone might recognize me."
"And that's a problem?"
The princess sighed, and pulled her food away from her lips. "Being recognized means questions, namely about how I'm supposed to be dead. I'd rather not deal with my father trying to track me down."
Yang's head bobbed in agreement as she took another bite of her lunch.
"You should have gotten a donkey," she mumbled around a mouthful of dough. "I can't imagine that you're going to carry all this stuff."
"About that" Weiss started, turning to look at Yang. "I-"
A deep, reverberating clang cut her off, sounding again and again. Within moments, citizens and visitors alike poured out of the market, fleeing to the safety of their homes or the relative sanctuary of darkened alleys. Shopkeepers rushed to close their stalls, awnings and stands left abandoned as coin and goods alike were quickly packed away and carted off down the streets.
"What's all that about?" Yang asked, taking another bite of her food.
"The warning bell." Weiss said, meal already abandoned as she rushed to her feet. "We need to go."
Still chewing, the dragon shrugged and followed, grabbing the handles of their cart and driving it down along the street. The trek back to the gate was faster than Yang remembered, the streets clear but for a few people darting behind their doors. Whatever had caused the watch to ring the alarm had the citizens spooked, shutters slamming shut behind them.
Weiss spoke over her shoulder as they ran, coming around the last turn before the city wall. "If we can make it to the gate before they close-"
Rounding the corner, Yang dug in her feet and brought their cart skidding to a halt, both women looking in dismay at the well-guarded and closing gates. Members of the city watch milled around the top of the wall, bows drawn as they searched for targets, their fellows on the ground moving to brace the gate while another argued with a group of merchants who had apparently shared the same idea as Weiss.
Not slowing in the least, Weiss trudged down towards the still half-open gate, slipping on the stone before quickly regaining her footing. Within seconds, an armored watchman came trotting up to the both of them, ill-fitting helm rattling on his head and spear in-hand.
"Sorry, ladies. We need you to head back up the street. Probably best if you get yourselves somewhere safe."
Azure eyes tracked past the soldier, glaring up at the gate that dared interfere with her plans. "What happened?"
"We've had reports of a beast outside the walls, miss, but-"
"What kind of beast?" Weiss cut him off before he could finish.
"I shouldn't-"
"What kind of beast, soldier?" Finally, Weiss turned to face him, her glare broking no quarter. The man's spine straightened into military precision, set off either by her tone or the imperious scowl.
"A dragon, ma'am."
Yang could barely keep from laughing, watching the obviously green recruit badgered into submission by the diminutive princess. Either Weiss' upbringing or her general personality gave a particularly regal tilt to her chin, her tone making it painfully obvious that she expected an answer and that he was going to give her one.
"I don't see any sign of a dragon."
"No, ma'am, but a few farmers saw something in the air this morning, and one of our scouts found signs of it in the forest."
Yang fought to keep from wincing. She should have been more careful, even if the odds of anyone checking the woods had been slim to none. Still, it wouldn't be too much of a problem, so long as they didn't put two and two together and realize that the dragon's tracks only went so far before inexplicably changing to those of a woman.
Oblivious to her reaction, Weiss pressed on, the watchman actually retreating as she stepped forward. "And your best strategy for countering a flying monster was to close a gate? Not one of you stopped to think that it could just fly over?"
"... it's standard procedure."
"How is that an excuse for it being a poor idea?" Flummoxed by the petite woman berating him, the soldier mouthed speechlessly, drawing an eye roll from the princess before she marched through the closing gates, Yang hot on her heels. Seeing a chance to get out of the city, the merchant caravan poured out of the city after them, the watchmen seemingly far more interested in closing the city than ensuring the safety of anyone foolhardy enough to walk out after a dragon sighting.
Caught at the head of the procession, Weiss led them both over to the side of the road, watching as the faster-moving merchants passed, covered carts still laden with good pulled by increasingly obstinate mules. The leader smiled as he passed, bobbing his head at the young woman who had managed to badger her way past the town watch, before leading the cart drivers who looked enough like him to be his brothers off towards the horizon, the bright-eyed faces of two young boys staring out the back at the two women.
"We got lucky," Weiss said as soon as they were out of earshot, moving over to help Yang with their own small pushcart. "If they'd noticed our tracks from the forest-"
"They might have realized that the big bad dragon had already waltzed into their city," Yang finished, a rueful grin creeping across her face. "It would have been fine. At worst, I'd just transform, grab all this junk, and carry you off before they stopped gaping."
The princess snorted, amused at the blatant egotism. They continued on, pushing the cart along until the dusty road sloped and turned, coming around a copse of trees and taking them out of sight from the wall city. As soon as they were reasonably hidden, Weiss ground to a halt, lowering the back end of the cart to the ground and leaning against the chipped wood.
"Sorry you couldn't get something to help you pull this stuff," Yang said, following her example and resting her tired feet. "I'll fly you to another town, see if we can get what you need there."
"Actually," Weiss spoke, looking down at her hands. "Yang, I ... I don't know where to go. This whole day, I've been trying to think of some place to run to, some city or town where no one will recognize me, a place to start over, but ..."
Yang watched as the white-haired girl stared down into the dirt, shoulders slumped forward as she curled in on herself.
"If you want," she started, reaching out and giving the shorter woman an unsure pat on the shoulder that mirrored the one Weiss had given her the day before. This whole 'human comforting' ritual was new to her, but if the princess had thought it appropriate to give to a downcast dragon, it should have the desired effect on the other girl. "I can just fly north. Or out to sea. Give us a day and you'll be far enough away that no one you knew will ever find you."
"Not that, I ... I wanted to ask," Weiss muttered, having trouble forming the words. With a breath, she stood away from the cart, turning to look up at the dragon. Chin raised, she stared right at her, the flush in her cheeks the only remaining sign of her discomfort. "Yang, would you let me stay with you? Just until I figure out what to do."
It was a long moment before Yang answered, knots twisting and turning in Weiss' stomach as she waited.
"If that's what you want," the dragon said eventually, biting at the inside of her cheek as she paused. "Then, I'm fine with it."
"You're sure?"
"I mean, it's a cave, so it's not up to royal standards, and we'll have to figure out a way to get you food, since I can't see you eating sheep raw, but ..." Yang shrugged and rubbed at the back of her neck. Rather than looking reluctant, Weiss almost thought she saw a spark of something at the thought. Eagerness? Excitement?
"I'd be okay with having a house guest for a bit."
Relief washed over her, and she moved back to sit against the cart, staring off into the sky and waiting for her heart to stop pounding.
"This is the part where you want me to carry all this stuff home for you, isn't it?" the dragon asked, her voice wry, a smile teasing at her lips.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble."
With a snort, Yang reached down and peeled the tunic off her in one quick motion, struggling to get it over her head and freeing the mass of blonde tresses that flowed off her back. This time, the princess hadn't thought to look away, and found herself caught off-guard as the blonde suddenly bared herself before her. Feeling her face growing hot, she busied herself with something in the cart, trying her best not to look distracted as she took the clothes Yang passed her.
It was early evening by the time they made it back to the cave, delayed by the need to avoid the caravan heading back down the road, and Yang's attempt to avoid being seen by anyone else on their way back to her home. Weiss stayed pressed against her back the entire ride, her recent purchases clutched tightly between Yang's forelegs.
When they landed, the sun had just started to set, brilliant orange radiating out across the horizon and dueling with the blue expanse of the sky. In the dimming light, Weiss hopped off the dragon's back, finding the shift from flying to standing considerably easier than her previous attempts. I suppose I am getting used to it, she thought, untying her satchel from Yang's back and stepping towards the cave mouth.
Familiar by now with the twists and turns of the tunnels, Weiss led the way back towards the main cave, dropping her bag near the fire pit and sinking onto her knees. Sweeping more of her hoard to one side, Yang plunked the cart nearby, pushing a small chest behind one of its wheels. Satisfied that it wasn't going to roll off down the cave, the dragon gripped several of the logs she'd set aside, dropping them in the stone-ringed pit and setting them aflame with a quick puff of her breath. Weiss moved closer to the flames as Yang settled down on the other side, smoke trailing up and out towards the cave entrance.
"Aren't you going to change back?" Weiss asked, staring across the flames at the supine dragon, currently stretching as she tried to relieve some of the tension from flying for hours with the cart's burden in her arms.
"Well, this is my home," Yang quipped, rolling over onto her stomach and stretching her wings across the floor. "There's not really a need to."
"... please?"
The lilac-eyed face pulled itself off the ground, cocking to the side to stare at her, shadows flickering across her snout in the fire-light. "Is this that much of a problem for you?" she asked, one foreleg gesturing vaguely at her scaled body.
"No," Weiss replied instantly, somewhat shocked at how quickly the denial had come, equally surprised to find that she actually meant it. Deciding to figure out exactly what that meant at a much later date, she cleared her throat. "I mean ... I want to ask you something and it would be easier if you were my size."
Giving her sideways shrug, Yang blinked, her scales and wings fading as she shifted down into the form of a young woman, looking resigned as she pulled the nearest length of cloth from a chest and wrapped it around her shoulders like a blanket.
"So, what is it?"
Weiss didn't answer at first, rising to her feet and making her way around the ring to where Yang sat, feet tucked up under her knees. Smoothing her skirts, she sat down beside the other woman, pulling the length of her hair over one shoulder before turning to answer.
"Just ... I realized that I had been somewhat rude earlier and I wanted to apologize." Determined to speak despite the minor injury to her pride, Weiss locked eyes with the other woman, wanting her to see her sincerity. "Thank you for saving me, Yang."
The dragon sniffed, but Weiss caught the edge of a smile flickering across her mouth. "It's okay. It's kinda my fault you were there in the first place."
"Thank you for that wonderful reminder," Weiss drawled, drawing a short bark of laughter from the girl seated beside her. Leaning over, she placed her head against Yang's shoulder, feeling the dragon's impossible warmth through the thin protection of her more-or-less human skin. "Yang, I would rather not be sacrificed again."
The dragon nodded, but didn't pull away, apparently content to let Weiss rest against her. "Fair enough. I was planning to move on anyway. Figured if I stuck around, they might try to kill some other innocent woman that I'd have to rescue."
"You're not listening." Reaching up, Weiss took hold of the taller woman's chin, tugging gently until the dragon turned to look at her. "I don't want to be sacrificed again. You said you had ... a way to prevent that."
The dragon blinked for several seconds before recognition dawned on her features. Weiss took solace at the sight of the dragon's face going red, glad that she wasn't the only one completely embarrassed.
"You're sure?"
"I'm not repeating myself." Pulling the dragon down to her, Weiss pressed her lips against Yang's. The kiss was short and chaste, a brief moment before she pulled away.
It took a second for Yang to open her eyes, blinking as they adjusted. "Just wanted to know you meant it," she said, clearing her throat as her voice tried to crack. "I was mostly teasing when I offered, so I didn-"
Weiss cut her off with another kiss, pressed against the soft expanse of her cheek. "I'm not teasing." She kissed the dragon again, her hand wandering up to stroke through golden tresses, reveling in the inhuman warmth of her skin before the taller woman pulled away.
"One last time, you're absolutely sure about this?" Yang asked, hands clenched as she fought to keep them at her sides. "I don't want you to think I expected anything by letting you stay he-"
"Yang, I'm doing this because I want to." Weiss paused for a moment before deciding to be completely honest. "... maybe a little to get back at my father, but this is something I want."
"You know," Yang grinned, blonde brows waggling suggestively as she relaxed, hands winding around the princess' waist. "It'd serve him right. He did leave you to get eaten out by a dragon after all."
"Eaten by a dragon, you oaf."
"Maybe, but I think I like my idea better."
"Was that good for you, Princess?"
"... I'm not really a princess anymore," Weiss said breathlessly, ignoring the horribly inappropriate question as Yang snuggled up against her.
"Well, I'd pick some other pet name, but it took you so long to accept I wasn't gonna eat you ..."
"Shut up, Dragon."
"Mmhm," Yang purred, infuriating grin still plastered to her face, and pulled her closer. "Make me, Princess."
Again, sorry for the delay. Next chapter should be back on the Thursday afternoon schedule.
Glossary:
Agora – a town square-like section. Sometimes used as a marketplace
Amphoriskoi: a small amphora, or jug
Maza: a type of food made with coarse barley flour, often cooked into flatbreads
Chapter 5 Preview:
A branch snapped, and Weiss spun, hand already on the blade at her side and wishing that she'd thought to ask Yang if she had a bow. It was probably a deer – which would have been a welcome addition to the dwindling supply of food she'd bought – but she'd heard of wild boar living near the mountains, vicious creatures with nearly foot-long tusks that were more than capable, and usually quite willing, to skewer anyone and anything that annoyed them.
A second cracking footstep echoed through the glade, and Weiss turned to find a towheaded man pushing his way through the branches. Looking up, his eyes widened with shock at the white-haired figure, sword held at her side, clothes drying on the line behind her.
"By the gods. Weiss?"
Please review – it's been great getting to hear people's reactions so far, and everything from criticism to a short, quick comment about whether you liked it or not is appreciated.