Draco/Bowen fanfic

For the fantastic writer Westernstar, who writes the most amazing Draco/Bowen stories ever. Link here to one of my favorites.

Ashes - Chapter 1 - WesternStar - Dragonheart (1996) [Archive of Our Own]

Please read. You won't be disappointed.

My Shield

"I'm not sure this is a good idea, Bowen." The dragon remarked as he walked alongside his lover. It was an unusually warm autumn day. The colour of the leaves made the path an enjoyable walk. Draco wished it was all they were doing today, not this madness.

Bowen walked alongside Draco, holding the reins of his horse. "Why not? All morning, you were moaning about us stealing money from villages with our little scam. Which was your idea, by the way!". The Knight fixed him a look.

Draco groaned, not pleased to be reminded.

Bowen counited. "Now, we're doing something different and getting paid for it, and you still complain!" They were near their destination, and he found a suitable tree to tie his horse to.

Draco stared at him, his tail swaying left and right in annoyance. "Do you even know what you're getting into?! What did the lord of Ambershot say about the beast again?'

Bowen turned to him, shaking his head. "Not much. It's disrupting trade, killing people, and making others scared to travel on this very route we are on. The town relies on trade. He wants us to end its miserable life. No one saw what it looked like, just the aftermath of its killing."

Draco halted in his tracks, staring down at him in disbelief. " So we walking in blindly!"

Bowen let out a laugh at him. "Relax, I've killed-. " He stopped himself from continuing, choosing not to bring up his past work before Draco. He honestly hated thinking about it himself. "Things...and it's not like I'm doing this alone". He stepped forward and put his hand on Draco's chest, patting him slightly. "I got you."

Draco looked down at where his hand was. He felt his heartbeat skip at his touch and his words. His handsome features and comments got him again. He couldn't deny his Knight. "Ah, I guess, but please be careful."

Bowen smiled warmly up at him. His blue eyes shone brighter when he smiled at his dragon. " Aren't I always"

Draco raised his brow at him. "Do you really need me to answer that?"

Bowen coughed and looked off. "Argh, never mind anyway, this is the place. People have heard unholy cries at this abandoned farm estate. I think it's his home".

Draco moved in first. The place looked abandoned for many years. Despite the warm day, the air felt colder when he set foot on the old farm.

He smelled the air, trying to get a scent of what could be waiting for them. His sense spiked. The smell of rot and decay assaulted his nostrils. He had a bad feeling about this, but before he could speak his worry. Bowen was making his way to the other smaller buildings nearby. His sword and shield were in hand, ready for anything.

The Knight first checked one of the smaller homes, probably for the staff. He opened what was left of the battered door and stepped inside. The place held some hold beds, a fireplace, and a kitchen, but like everything here. It was left to rot.

"Bowen, you alright?" Draco couldn't hide the worry in his voice, and he felt relief seeing his lover come out unharmed.

"Nothing here. Let's move on."

Draco shifted his gaze to the left. "It's obvious the monster is in the old barn. The place smells foul.

Now that Draco mentioned it. The smell began hitting Bowen when he moved closer to the barn. "Ah, spirits!" He tried his best to keep his last meal done. "I think your right."

He stepped closer to the large double doors of the barn and tried to listen for any movement, but everything seemed so quiet. Bowen grabbed the handle of one of the doors. "I'm gonna go in and see what we're dealing with."

Draco rushed at Bowen so suddenly that he nearly made the Knight fall on his ass. The dragon blocked the entrance. "I'm not letting you go in there alone!"

Bowen rolled his eyes. The dragon worried too much. Still, it was nice to have someone care for him so much. "What?! I need to see. Look, I promise a quick peak so I can see the beast, then we can figure out a plan".

Draco's eyes narrowed. He didn't like not having Bowen in his sight, but it would be best if they got a basic idea of what they were about to deal with. He may have come across something before. He glared at the barn door before looking down at him. "You swear only a peak."

"Promise, handsome". Bowen winked at Draco before opening the door. Part of him suddenly regretted doing this. The smell inside nearly made him puke. He took a deep breath to calm himself and stepped inside. The door closed behind him.

Draco stepped back, but the dread feeling he had before was creeping up on him again. He paced up and down, but the few minutes seemed like hours, and still no sign of his Knight.

Draco muttered angrily. "So much for a quick peak." He was about to rip the barn doors open when his mate came crashing through them and slammed against his chest before dropping to the ground.

"BOWEN!" Draco yelled in shock and fear for his lover. His human gasped, trying to get air back into his lungs. The wind knocked out of them.

Draco helped to sit him up, startled. He was about to ask what happened, but Bowen was panting, pointing to the barn's entrance. " t.t..them"

Draco had hardly time to check if Bowen was hurt when a high-pitched scream erupted from the barn. Draco used his wing to protect Bowen from the debris when the doors burst open. Then he saw them, and his eyes widened in horror.

It had been over 100 years since he last saw one. They were Manticore's! Terrible creatures he thought were long dead. They had the most bizarre appearance. What stood out first was the heads. They resembled human apart from the hideous, long, sharp teeth they carried. Their bodies were lion-shaped with claws to match and tails just as deadlier. They were covered with venom-filled spikes that they could quickly launch like arrows. He saw it before.

Luckily, Dragons were immune to their venom. It doesn't stop it from being super painful, though. However, humans weren't immune. He had seen this himself and cared not to witness it again. "Bowen, get behind me! And don't argue!"

Finally coming to his senses, Bowen scrambled to his feet and did what the dragon said, but he tightly held his shield and sword.

The biggest Manticore that Bowen dubbed Red Eyes because of its color. Ludged at Draco, howling. The dragon dodged its attack before biting down hard on its back. He lifted it before tossing it away.

The smaller one rushed at Bowen, but Draco quickly used his tail, smashing its face and sending it into one of the smaller houses. The impact was enough to destroy the building, which crumbled atop the beast.

Draco let out a pain-filled roar. Red Eyes had recovered faster than he thought and had climbed up on his back. Claws and fangs dug into his flesh as it attacked.

Bowen hurried forward and stabbed his blade in one of its legs. The creature shrieked and lashed out with his tail, but Bowen blocked it with his shield. The force nearly made him fall back, but he stayed upright and stabbed his sword forward once again. The blade went deeper into his flesh.

Red Eyes's grip on the dragon loosened from the agony. Draco felt it and shoved the beast off him. He turned around, built up his power, and fired at it. He was burning it terribly and sending it slamming against the barn wall. Draco brought his fire out again without giving it a chance to recover and boiled it until it no longer moved.

"Ahhhh!" A horrendous pain came at Draco's back before being hit by another and another. He lost his balance and fell on his side.

"Draco!" Bowen rushed at him and could see along his back several large spikes embedded within him. Draco grunted and gritted his teeth as he tried to get up, but the spikes stung so bad he couldn't move without feeling an eruption of pain consume his body.

Bowen came around and held Draco's face. So worried for him. "Draco! Talk to me! P-

A new scream turned Bowen from his lover. He saw that the smaller Manticore had recovered from being buried under rubble. It fired three spikes at the injured Draco, hoping to strike his underbelly.

Without hesitation, Bowen put himself in front and used his shield to stop them. The force knocked him back against Draco, and he fell to his knees.

Bowen panted slightly, his body shaking from the adrenaline rush, but then he glared at the beast. Rage filled Bowen's heart, and his ice-blue eyes stared daggers at the monster. "You are dead!"

"Bowen, NO!" Draco yelled.

His lover didn't listen; instead, he charged at the beast. Draco wouldn't let him face this alone and fired another flame blast. The creature tried to stop itself as it rushed forward but collided with the blast instead. Its human face burning, its eyes melted away by the flames.

Bowen ran towards it as the creature thrashed and dropped to his knees near it. He used his sword to cut its throat. Blood poured from the wound. Then Bowen stood up, stabbing the beast at its body before siling its tail off. He kept stabbing it until he no longer saw the beast move.

Once it stopped. Bowen pulled his blade free from its corpse. "Bastard," he muttered. Glad it was over.

Hearing a pained groan drew him away from his kill. His eyes turned back to his hurt dragon. He rushed to him, but the dragon wasn't pleased.

Draco snapped at him the moment he came closer. His amber eyes burned into his. "Why did you do that? Charge at the beast like that. It could have killed you!"

"I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing when I could help you!"

"Getting yourself killed isn't helping me!" He snapped, his voice filled with anger, but his eyes were filled with worry, betraying his thoughts.

The Knight let out a breath. He never wanted to upset Draco, but he did what he thought was right and was not apologizing for it. He had to make him understand. They could talk about it later, though. He needed to help him right now.

He was just about to help Draco when a voice behind him stopped him.

"I thought it was you!"

Bowen spun around fast. A man stood outside at the farm estate entrance. He had a bald head and a large scar from his left eye to his lip. His one good eye stared at Bowen with delight. His hand gripping his weapon, a large battle axe. He wore brown robes, but his belt displayed sharp teeth, much like dragon fangs in Bowen's shield, like trophies.

Bowen stepped forward but just a short distance from Draco. It was when he drew closer that he recognized the man. "Stone?"

The large man laughed. "You do remember. That was some job we did a few years ago. Taking down the family of dragons was glorious."

Bowen felt his stomach turn in disgust, his grip tightening on his sword. He hated being reminded of his past work, especially in front of his dragon lover. "What do you want?"

Stone stepped closer. He was taller than Bowen and built more. He grinned, but his eye fixed on the injured dragon before him. "Well, I was also hired to eliminate these beasts, but I turn up and find you here. The monsters killed and a down dragon to boot. I say this is one hell of a day to celebrate."

Bowen just stared at him, confused. "What are you talking about?

Stone chuckled. "Look, I know you did most of the work, but I figured you cut me in for old time's sake. Since you killed those beasts, I'll have fun with the dragon here". He raises his axe, making his way towards Draco.

Bowen didn't move. "Back off now!"

Stone came to a halt. "What! Come on, let me have this. It'll be quick and painless. I don't want the hassle of a fight. I'll end its life, and we collect a lot of gold". He tried to move forward again, but to his surprise, Bowen brought up his sword.

"You take another step, and I'll kill you."

"Bowen.." Draco's pained whisper called him, worried for him.

"Trust me," The Knight whispered to him.

Stone stepped back, startled. "What is wrong with you? A..are you protecting this beast!"

Bowen frowned. "He has a name, and you bet your ass I am!" He brought his shield up.

Stone couldn't believe it, thinking the man must be going mad. "Have you lost your mind! You kill their kind."

Bowen never took his eyes off Stone. "Enough! You're getting Draco over my dead body!"

Stone thought he had enough shocks for today. " Y..you named him!"

Bowen smiled as the fond memory returned to him momentarily before focusing on the foe before him. "I did!"

Stone shook his head in dismay. " I'm sorry to see such a slayer of high regard lose his mind. Well, I guess I have no choice. After ending your miserable life, I'm taking his". He points his axe at Draco.

Bowen put himself in a fighting stance, fury overtaking him. "YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING HIM!" He roared.

Stone didn't waste a moment and charged at him, swinging his axe, but Bowen dodged it and brought his sword to him. However, Stone managed to move back from being cut by it.

They fought as Draco tried to move, but the damn spikes made it difficult. Every time he tried to stand, the pain of the spikes brought him down. He wanted to set fire to Stone, but he couldn't take a chance of Bowen getting caught in his blast, so all he could do was watch as Bowen fought to protect him.

Stone kicked the Knight back, making him fall to the ground. He raised his axe high and brought it down, but Bowen rolled away before it could end him.

Bowen stood again and returned to the fight, slashing and stabbing his sword at his opponent. Stone hissed, feeling his sword had cut his hip, but it wasn't enough to end his life. He lunged forward, grabbing Bowen by his tunic before head-butting him hard.

Bowen saw stars, his forehead bleeding as blood started seeping into his right eye. Stone laughed before tossing him to the ground, smirking as he did.

Bowen felt his hand let go of his sword as he hit the ground and rolled. When he stopped, he shook his head, trying to get rid of his blurred vision.

Stone chuckled as he approached him with his axe, ready to kill him. "Thanks for the fight, friend, but we always knew how this would play out."

Bowen looked forward and saw something before him: the tail of the beast he had slain.

"I don't know what that dragon did to you, but putting you down is mercy killing." He raised his weapon".

Bowen growled, grabbing the tip of the tail, and spun around. The spikes on the tail stabbed Stone in the gut. The poison effect was instant. His face drained of color, his eyes turning white. Strength in his body failed him as his axe left his hand. He sank to his knees and then down on his side, dead.

Bowen panted and grunted as he crawled over, grabbing his sword. He used it to help him stand up, wiping the blood from his forehead. He already felt a pounding headache, but he didn't care. He had someone else to check on.

Bowen was a little unstable on his feet as he returned to his mate. "D.. Draco," He staggered over him and rested a hand on his face. "You..you alright."

Instead of answering his question, Draco yelled instead. "Do I look alright!". He tried to stand once again.

Bowen went to walk behind him. "lay on your side; I'll remove them."

"I don't need your help! " Draco snarled.

His anger took Bowen back. "Oh really?! How are you going to get them out? Ask them nicely to leave your back?"

Draco growled. "I'm not in the mood for jokes, knight!"

"Well, I am! You are being ridiculous. Now stay still while I remove them". Bowen walked behind him and took his time pulling each one out.

Bowen didn't like the color of Draco's wounds. He needed to treat him.

"Think you can fly? I'd rather we get someplace more secure while I look over your injuries."

Draco snarled. "Of course, I can blasted fly!"

Knight had enough of this and got in front of his dragon. His fingers gripped against Draco's jaw, making him look at him. "What has gotten into you?! I'm trying to help, and you're acting like a child! I didn't think you could since you are over 300 years old, but love, this isn't a good look for you. Now, what is it!"

Draco glared at him for a moment before letting out a breath, his gaze looking towards the ground, looking upset. "I...failed you".

Bowen just stared at him. " What?"

"Today. I couldn't do much. I had to sit and watch you risk your life killing that beast and defending me. I couldn't do anything."

Bowen looked at him and couldn't believe he just said that. "Oh, you silly dragon...". He leaned forward, kissing him. "You and I are gonna talk about this but later. We need somewhere more private first, okay. I don't want to take a chance of someone else coming across us. Now come on. Let's go".

...

Later that night

Draco managed to fly them to a forest but high up in the mountains, far from prying eyes. Bowen got his supplies and tied the horse to a tree when they touched down. Draco laid down watching him but seemed oldy quiet.

The Knight started a small campfire and made a herbal mixture to treat Draco's wounds. When he felt ready, he stirred the mixture and removed it from the fire as it brewed. He carried the bowel in his hands, walking towards his mate. "Okay, just relax, Draco. It'll be over before you know it.

He went behind him and put his hand into the mixture. The blue liquid covered his hand, and then he rubbed it on the wounds. He felt Draco's body quiver instantly and heard him trying his hardest not to sound in pain.

Bowen hated doing this, especially seeing how the dragon's body trembled, but he would rather cover every inch of these wounds, ensuring they would heal.

When Bowen walked to the ones at his neck, he saw Draco still looking upset and troubled.

Bowen sighed but leaned forward, kissing his cheek before continuing to cover the wound in his mixture. "Now you wanna explain to me what the attitude was about?"

Draco didn't turn his gaze to him and sadly muttered. "I don't need to repeat myself. You saw it yourself,"

"Enough, Draco! You defended me against those beasts; Hell! You warned me it was a bad idea in the first place, but I did it anyway."

"But stone..."

"Never mind about him. He is dead. I killed him. We move on."

Draco turned his head this time to face him, his pained expression breaking Bowen's heart. "I couldn't help you defeat him. I couldn't protect you. He nearly killed you while I sat!"

Bowen spoke firmly. "Yeah, you sat! With a dozen spikes in you! You were hurt. I'm not helpless, Draco. I am Knight, if you forget. I can handle myself."

He continued rubbing him until he finished the mixture. He didn't like arguing with Draco, but he had to make him understand.

"Look, I'm sorry for yelling, but please, Draco, You are courageous and have protected me many times. I appreciate your concern for me, but you must understand something".

Draco rasied his brow at him.

" I love you." He felt Draco's body stiff like he lost his breath at his words, and he noticed a dark red color coming to the dragon's cheeks. Bowen smiled and continued. "But we're together now, alright? Being in a relationship is about trusting and being there for each other. I will never stop protecting you, no matter the danger. You have to trust my skills. You are not invincible, Draco, as much as it pains me to say it. I know from experience you can be killed". He pressed his body against Draco's and rested his head against his neck.

" I don't want to lose you. I know it's scary, but I'm a fighter. It's not up to you to do all the defending just because of what you are. I am here for you always. I am your shield. You are my sword. We fight together".

Draco stared wide-eyed at Bowen. He wished he could put into words what he thought right now, so he put it into action instead. His heart burned so warmly by his beautiful knight words as he brought his human close, his lips kissing his as he turned over on his back, having Bowen on top of him.

Sitting on his lover's neck, Bowen protested, too worried for him. "Draco! Your back, you should let it-

Draco kissed again, taking his sweet time, savoring every taste of his beautiful lover, who made his heart sing with love. He never had anyone who made him feel so special. Not any dragon could do what Bowen just did for him. He felt so emotional, trying badly to fight the tears, but failed miserably. His heart and body ached for Bowen, wanting him now.

When Bowen sat up again breathless, he saw Draco's eyes. More bright, and could see the tears in them. "Oh no, your back! I'll get-

"No, it's not that." His claw gently rubbed Bowen's hair. He always loved touching it. " Oh, Bowen, my heart has been damaged for so long. I never thought I would genuinely feel happy again, but you. You beautiful angel healed it. You are my heart".

Bowen touched Draco's face again, staring loving into his eyes. Nothing mattered to Bowen right now than being here with Draco. "And my heart is yours, you sappy Dragon." He laughed.

Draco chuckled and flicked his tongue at Bowen's cheek. "My brave Knight."