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Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets

Chapter 10: Mutual Affection

"That was really brave of you today." Lyndis said softly, as she walked beside Cordenth. She looked around to see the dark giant trees that lined the path they were following. Once again, with every step the dragon was taking the very forest itself was creating a path for them to walk without hinderence. She felt her breath quicken for a moment as her hair stood on end, but it faded with another glance to the brave dragon beside her. She watched him pad along with slow steps. Her gaze fell to the scar of lighter scales on his chest, a permenant reminder of the harpoon that had plunged through him. She did not know how much the wound was hurting him , but he seemed to be putting on a good strong image for her. She chuckled to herself, Hes probably trying to act tougher for me.

"Well someone had to help you." He said with a small smile on his snout. "Even if you didn't need it." he swished his tail slightly to the side as he looked to her with his sunflower yellow eyes. Although in the dark she could not make out the beauty that they held.

"Hey your damn right I did not need the help." She brushed up beside him to wrap an arm around his left front forepaw. "Although the gesture was quite nice. I say it was bloody heroic."

"Heroic huh?" He held his snout up, his frills twitching. "I have not been called heroic before." His chest started swell with pride.

"Oh no, what have I done." she playfully smacked his scales, "Don't go turning into a second Veledar on me."

"Oh I don't think I would do that to us." he snorted, "I think the world can only handle one of that dragon." Cordenth resettled his wings against his back, as he resumed his slow walk. Placing each paw slowly in front of the armor in a graceful manner that left no noise.

"So why did you jump in the way for me? I mean is it just because I helped save your tail back at the temple?" She raised an eyebrow at him, and she smiled as he would not turn to her. Admit you have a crush on me o great dragon.

"W-ell you see... partially.....I mean..." he stumbled through his words. "Y-our.."

"It's okay if you have a crush on me Cordy I won't tell anyone....Besides, I think it's only natural you have a taste for princesses." She held his forepaw tighter.

"C-Crush on a half-elf?" he stammered, still not looking at her. "But I am a dragon that would be-"

'So what about the maidens that visited you in your cave?" She moved quickly to his front, and looked him square in his eyes. She just crossed her arms, and gave him a knowing smirk. She watched him still try to not look at her, as he fidgeted with his paws.

"T-They were not....Y-yes I have a crush on you ok?" He stammered, finally looked at her."You have been sweet to me, and nice, and you saved me." He swished his tail against the ground behind him. "Even if you did yelled at me that one time......plus your rather beautiful." he coughed the last bit into his claw.

"Oh really?" she replied with a happy croon. "You think I am beautiful then?"

"Well how could I not?" He lowered his snout. "I mean your radiance is stunning....You remind me of the greatest emeralds that I have stashed away...er.....Your the most interesting individual I have ever met thus far in my life." He gestured to the tree line, "You even agreed to go on these night strolls with me." His eyes widened as he looked at her. "You have a crush on me too don't you!" he exclaimed, excitement in his voice.

"Well wouldn't that be ridiculous." she laughed, "We just met Cordy....To already be pining over one another? That seems like something out of a fairy tale." She tried to sound convincing, but the look he was giving her said he wasn't buying it.

"Uh-huh." a small grin formed on his snout, as he let out a pleased trilling noise. "So what do we do now than if we both have crushes on each other?"

"Well." She said softly, "I think you rescued a princess today." She moved closer towards him, and softly caressed the underside of his jaw. She felt blood rush to her cheeks, as they were no doubt turning a soft pink.

"That I certainly did, although she did not need me to." he chuckled, his eyes locking onto hers.

"Well I think if this was a fairy tale the brave dragon would get a kiss from the princess, no?" she moved in closer to his snout, a she felt her own heart quicken. She couldn't believe what she was going to do it. Princess and a dragon? She laughed internally at the thought.

"I think I can agree with that." Cordenth moved closer towards her, meeting her lips with his snout. They pressed against one another in a brief kiss, for one moment locked together. Lyndis felt her heart swoon, flutter, and threaten to leap out of her chest. When she pulled away she gave a giggle at the dragon's expression of joy splattered onto his snout. With his frills twitching and the noises he was making, it sounded like this was a dream come true for him.

"T-that was most pleasant." He gave a playful growl in the back of his throat. "I thank you princess for your gift. I will treasure this moment always."

"Well..." she went back to hugging his left leg. "If you play your cards right we can have more moments like that." She sighed as she could feel his warmth through his scales. She felt a smile tug at her face as she heard his own heart beat racing in his chest.

"I would like that very much Lyndis...you .....My name...It's Cordenth."

"But I already...." she began softly, than understood what he was getting at. Veledar had just taken his name on his defeat.....Cordenth was giving it to her. "Thank you Cordenth." She hugged him tightly, "I will treasure it...just like this moment." She let out another pleased sigh, as he covered her with his neck in an embrace.

"Thank you Lyndis, I am glad you came into the forest....Even if it was my mother dragging you from the sky."

"I am to Cordy, I am to." She laughed, "Lets just forget about the second part of it. Deal?"

"Deal." Cordenth stretched his neck up, looked up into the sky for a moment. "I have an idea..." He turned his head back towards her with a smile. "Would you like to go for a quick fly?" He gestured to his wings, as he began to unfold them, his frills twitching.

"Are you sure your okay with me riding you?" she put a hand on her hip. "It literally took Arcturus over a month, and Veledar almost dying for the dragon to warm up to the idea." She felt excitement start to build in her chest once again, as the memories of Veledar's flight surfaced in her head. Except this time, the flight was just for her.

"Well you and I just shared a kiss, I imagine riding on my back is not that big of a step." He chuckled, his scales rustling. Cordenth than lowered himself closer to the ground. "Here climb up."

Lyndis gave her shoulders a shrug as she grabbed hold of the dragon's shoulder, and pulled herself up, and swung a leg over around his neck. It felt similar to how she had ridden horses back home bareback, although he of course had the frills lining his neck. Thankfully they folded down for her, otherwise it might be a tad uncomfortable for them both. She felt his muscles tense as he stood back up carefully. She fell slightly forward and wrapped her arms around his smooth neck. "Please be careful. There is no saddle back here."

"Don't worry Lyndis." Cordenth replied with a smile, "I will be as gentle and as graceful as one of your little kitty cats." He spread his wings wide in one motion, easily covering the path she was on.

"Were are we going?"

"You will see my princess. I assure you it will be worth it." Cordenth shook his wings slightly, as his tail swished behind him. "Now hold on Lyndis!" He flapped his wings, and practically pounced into the air. With his next wing beat they were at the canopy dodging branches, vines, and other flora that passed them. Than with another pounding of his wings against the air they were above the forest.

Lyndis clutched at his warm scales as the icy night wind battered against her. Her entire body shivered as it felt like someone was rubbing icicles all over her skin. She hugged him tighter as she closed her eyes. She felt him dip a wing and start a turn, than beat against the air with his wings. She just tried to focus on what little warmth she was getting from his scales, and try to not think about herself falling.

"How are you?" he asked several minutes later. "Oh....I'm sorry.." His voice turned soft, "I did not mean to frighten you." She felt him flap once again, making her tighten her grip on him.

"It's not your fault." She uttered, "It's just not having a saddle." She imagined her knuckles were white at this moment, from how tight she was holding onto the dragon, and from the wind. When she felt him level his wings and enter a glide she chanced a peek with her eyes. She looked down from the back of the emerald scaled dragon to see a patchwork quilt of dark green spread out all around them, as Cordenth glided without a sound. She felt him flap his wings once slightly, just to keep up the glide. He arced his head back to her,

"How are you feeling now?"

Lyndis took a deep breath of the cool air, letting it rest in her lungs for a moment. She could feel her heart slowing as the fear of the flight was soon fading away from her.

"I promise you won't fall. On my word as a dragon."

"I trust you." she replied, her gaze shifting from the handsome dragon to large section of the ground that looked like the nightsky had simply decided to start there. Stars twinkled within it's form, and even had a small section of the moon. It spread out in a large circle, lined with trees, that seemed to halt the waters advance onto the forest.

Cordenth dipped a wing, causing her to clutch at him tightly again. However this time she did not close her eyes. He swooped down closer to the water, mindful of the incoming trees. Despite how numerous they were he never touched a branch, or even let a leaf grace his scales. With a mighty backwing the dragon slowed his descent, and landed on his hind legs, than falling to his forelimbs. "Well here we are." he chuckled, trotting over towards the water. Once there he lowered himself practically to the ground. "Well here is our stop dear Lyndis.......How was the flight?"

"We'll it wasn't too bad for my first bareback flight on a dragon." she smiled, hopping off of him. She landed on the softly, her boots leaving a small indent in the ground. "The guy flying was kind of cute, so it made up for the fright he gave me." She nudged his scales softly with one of her elbows.

"Cute am I?" The dragon kneaded the ground with his claws, as he swung his head up high, and swished his tail.

"Oh yes, very cute indeed.....Now why did you bring us here Cordy?" She looked out towards the twinkling lake, that seemed to be a perfect mirror for the star filled sky above.

"Well.....If you know the right time of night." He turned his head towards the bright moon above, "And you know the exact right spot." the dragon led her towards the waters edge and sat down softly on his haunches. Lyndis took a seat beside him, as the dragon resettled his wings against his back.

Lyndis smiled as she felt his tail curl around her slowly, as if he was trying to do it without her noticing. The damned dragon was trying to be romantic! "You know some might think your trying to be romantic Cordy." she chuckled.

"How so?"

"Really now?" She gave him a smirk as she cocked her head. "The night sky to gaze out onto, the beautiful lake." She pointed to his tail that was slowly getting closer and closer. "How you are trying to wrap your tail around me." His tail suddenly flopped away from her with a rustling of grass.

"What...no..." he smiled and turned away from her. "I would....never." He than snaked his head back down towards her. "Although if I were..." he snapped his head to face the lake, as it seemed to suddenly explode with lights.

Multiple balls of light suddenly shot up from the lakes surface of all different glowing colors. They flew into the air, and spiraled around like little serpents swimming in the water. They would turn, rise, fall, and swish around. Where ever they were heading they would leave a thin trail of glowing lights, that would linger in the air for several moments before vanishing. They swirled around, getting closer and closer towards them, as the lights seemed hell bent on painting everything in sight with their colored trails.

Lyndis felt her jaw drop slightly in as she took in the beautiful swirling, glowing lights. "Cordy.....this is....."

"Yes?" she heard him smile, as he thumped his tail closer towards her.

"T-this is beautiful!" she reached out to touch a trail of light, as one of them spun right passed her. When she touched the trail of light it left a cooling sensation on her skin, and felt as though she had just passed it through a cloud of mist. "I have never seen anything like this..." she turned to face the dragon to find him looking right at her.

"You really like it?" he asked softly.

"Cordy I absolutely adore this."

The dragon leaned in as the lights seemed to swirl around them, curious about what she and Cordy were up to. She felt her heart beat faster, as her breath got short. In the glow of the lights, his scales were the most beautiful thing that she had set her eyes on.

"You know....as beautiful as the lake is... There is something even more beautiful in my eyes."

Lyndis fought the chuckle that built in her throat as the corniness of the line, but with him looking at her ever so fondly she let him have it. She let out a small giggle for him, and reached out to caress the underside of his snout. "You know....Green was always my favorite color."

"You mentioned that before." The dragon said softly as he parted his lips, and dove in for a kiss upon hers.

Lyndis felt everything else around her melt away. The sounds of the forest dulled, the lights faded, even the slight chill was driven away. All that she could focus on was the dragon right in front of her. Her head felt all fuzzy and warm, a she seemed to melt into his kiss. Why it was so intense she had no idea, but she loved every second of it. They held the kiss for several more pleasured filled moments of bliss as she rubbed his jaw, and he caressed the back of her head with a paw. She pulled away finally and they just stared into each others eyes. She felt her face grow warm as she watched the stars twinkle every so beautifully in his.

"I am really, really glad you came into the forest." He said, giving her a smile.

"I know you said that already." she laughed back, still caressing his chin. She watched his frills twitch slightly on the side of his head. "I will say again Cordy.....That I am glad too." They stayed like that for quite some time, pressed up against one another. She smiled as he wrapped a wing around her and looked to the stars above.

"Would you like to retire once more to my cave?" he lowered his snout after a time. "I did not mean to steal you away all night."

"Its alright." she ran a hand across his pebbly scaled face once more, threatening to get lost within his brilliant yellow spheres once again. She thought back to the previous night, and the feeling of safety, warmth, and how loved she had felt when he had held her tightly against his chest. "I would love for you to take me back to your cave."

"Not worried about any funny business?" he raised an eyebrow, chuckling in the back of his throat.

She gave him an amused grin as she playfully smacked his cheek. "I'm sure you will be a complete gentledragon."

"I can be quite....mischevious." he replied quickly, licking her right across the face with his dark pink tongue.

"Hey!" she pushed his snout away with a giggle as he let out another deep chuckle.

"See?" he licked again.

"Cordenth!" she screeched, not even fighting him anymore. It was not unpleasant, just different. "W-what was that about?" she laughed as the green dragon retracted his head away with a smirk.

"It's the dragon way show affection. I figured since we did the kiss thing, and you wanted to know about dragon things last time....that you would want to experience that as well."

"Thats quite alright." her laughter turned into a chuckle once again. She traced his green scales as the dragon crouched low for her and gestured to his back.

"So come on, the faster you get on my back, the faster we can be snuggling against one another in my cave."

"Whispering sweet nothings to each other I'm sure." She swung her leg up onto Cordenth as she once again took her position on his back.

"That does sound appealing." he crooned,spreading his arms wide and wiggling his haunches. "Ready princess?"

"Certainly my loyal steed. Take us into the air!" She thrust a finger outwards, while holding him tight with her other arm.

"I am much better than a steed." he wrinkled his snout, giving his wings a test flap on the air.

"The best I am sure." she rubbed his scales reassuringly. "Now...Please..if you would be so kind O brave and vallient dragon. This princess would like to accompany you back to your cave, and cuddle against you until morning." She sighed, already picturing that in her mind.

"Sounds good to me!" Corenth flapped his wings, and pounced into the air. He pounded his wings against the air, and brought them high above the treetops. He angled his wing membranes, and brought them into a quick turn before once more spreading his wings wide into a glide. He closed his eyes and let the currents guide them for a moment or two.

"Cordenth?" she asked, her eyes gazing out to the forest, the river, and the vast horizon.

"Yes?" he tilted his head back slightly to gaze at her with a solitary eye.

"I..I think this...all of this." she gestured to the forest quickly. "Looks much better on the back of a handsome dragon." she smiled, as he opened his maw wide in happiness.

"Why thank you." he gave another trilling noise, as he brought them closer and closer towards his waterfall cave. "You really know how to make my scales feel all warm and tingly. I feel as though it would even make my scales go red."

"Feeling bashful dragon?" She leaned against his neck, sighing in comfort at the feeling of wind brushing against her, and his steady wingbeats.

"Only when a princess offers me such pleasing words." he angled his wings, and started to circle the roaring waterfall below. He back-winged moments from the ground, touching down softly on the rivers edge.

She jumped off the dragon's back. Slightly disappointed that the flight had been so short. She walked in tandem with the green dragon, curling a arm around his left forelimb as they walked. "So..who was your father?" she asked, as they stepped onto the rock. "I noticed it's just you and your mother in the forest."

"Ah...well....we never met him." Cordenth's frills drooped slightly. "Although mother said he loved us very much."

"Cordy..." she patted him softly. She had not meant to hurt him of course. "I'm sorry for bringing it up...I should have known better."

"It's alright." he nuzzled her with his snout softly. "Perhaps I will find him one day, and it will be the happiest day of my life."

"I hope you do one day."

"Would you help me?"

Lyndis stopped with the dragon outside the mouth of his cave. "You know what?" she smiled. "After we go to Entis and get Veledar's book back....I would love to go find your dad with you. Did your mother ever mention where he would be?"

"Not really." he wrinkled his snout. "But I will make her tell me." he growled in the back of his throat. "She will not be keeping that from me any longer."

"Well when you do Cordy." She caressed his snout, planting a soft kiss on his lips. "I will be there to off my rapier. Should only be fair."

He broke away and gave her a soft pleased rumble from his throat. "I would like that very much." he wrapped his wing around her, causing her to sigh and lean into the warmth. "Now come princess." he deepened his voice. "Into the dragon's lair. Mwahahaha." he pressed forward and guided her into his cave.

"Oh no!" she gave a fake cry. "Not the dragons lair!" she pressed herself closer against his scales, as he brought her passed all the treasure to his bedding once more. Her eyes went back to the chest of undergarments,and she pushed the dragon away. "I must however be properly dressed if I am to join you of course."

"Oh course." he held his snout up with a grin. "It is the proper thing to do after all." he swelled his chest up, resettling his wings against his back.

"Your just a fountain of proper and regalness arn't you?" she traced his neck with her hand, causing him to close his eyes gently and purr softly at her touch. "You purr?" she giggled.

"Only when I am touched my pleasingly." he mumbled, his tail slightly fidgeting. When she let go he strode over to his bed and once more laid down.

She picked out a darkened brown dress, one that appeared to be slightly frilly. She laughed internally as she held the thing out infront of her eyes. She had always loved the frills of clothing, although she would never tell anyone that. She moved it aside to look to the dragon, that was looking right at her. "Hey you said you would not peak!"

"That was last night!" He looked away.

"It's okay if you want to." she laughed, stripping herself infront of the dragon. She felt her heart beat faster as she heard him give a pleased rumble as she undressed. "See something you like?" she paused, about to put on the nightgown. She laughed as the dragon thumped his tail onto the stone, giving off another rumble.

"Yes..very much so."

"You look like your gazing at me like some form of meat." she plunged her arms into the nightgown, and let it fall to her feet. "Should I be terrified?"

"No." he opened his wings invitingly for her. "Unless you think I'd wish to taste such a fine specimen."

She froze when he spoke that, right about to take her place within his limbs. "Did you just?" she laughed. "Cordenth I did not know you had such naughty thoughts lurking within that horned head of yours." she slid between his limbs, and pressed her head to his chest.

"I rather like the taste of princess." he chuckled, running his tongue along her face once more.

She let out a sigh at his affection. She pressed her face closer against his chest as she felt him wrap a forelimb around her, and pull her tighter. "Your..so comfortable Cordy."

"Than never leave my embrace. I will more comfortable than any bed you will ever know." she sighed once more as he wrapped his wing around her. That's when she suddenly felt him pull her tighter, and jerk his head up.

"Corden-"

"Shhhh." he snapped back in a whisper. "Be quiet...please."

She shut her mouth, and hugged the dragon. Her mind tried to pull at the reason he was shushing her, but thankfully she did not have to wait long.

"Cordenth." came the voice of Emerald Lady from the entrance to the cave.

"Mother." the green dragon replied. "What brings you to my cave?"

"Little one...you took a harpoon to the chest today. Is it so strange that I come to make sure my son is feeling better?" Lyndis peeked out from the hiding spot beneath Cordenth's wings to watch the large dragoness slowly pad her way into the cave. Without the purple mist, without the snarls and narrowed eyes. She looked rather normal, and for a moment she believed Cordenth from the other night.

"You said it was my choice, you sounded like you did not care."

"I know little one." Emerald Lady slunk her way closer, and nuzzled Cordenth with her neck. Than offering his snout a few licks along his scales. "But I had to act that way infront of the mortals."

"Why mother?"

"If anyone knew you and my brother were my softspot in my scales." She nuzzled him again, making him give a pleased croon. "They would use you and your brother against me...Cordenth.....I would never want to lose you...you and Lyyreth.." She lowered her voice, and her head. "are the world to me.."

"T-thank you..." Cordenth nuzzled her neck back. "I love you mother."

"I love you too Cordenth...never doubt that...no matter how it looks infront of the mortals."

"Okay." he replied sheepishly, as Emerald Lady looked around, and sniffed the air a few times.

"What is that...hmmmmmm." A smirk grew to her snout, as she reset her wings against her back. "I will let you of course get back to sleeping. It will be good for you to heal after all."

Lyndis hugged the dragon tighter, hoping his wings would keep her hidden from the dragoness. It felt like this was a dream, the Emerald Lady acting so affectionate. She would have never believed it, if she did not just see it with her own eyes and ears.

"Good night mother."

** "Good night Cordenth."** Emerald Lady made her way to the cave entrance with a swaying tail, only stopping once to look back to her son with a grin. "Who knows Cordenth..maybe you will be a king one day."

"Me? King?" Cordenth asked softly, as his mother left without another word, chuckling in the back of her emerald armored throat. He lifted his wing, and curled his head down to look at Lyndis. "Sorry for hiding you."

"Are you ashamed of liking me?" she asked softly, still not releasing the dragon.

"Nonsense." He nosed her gently, causing her to laugh as he snorted air onto her. "I just....don't want her to meddle with things is all."

"How did you come from her? You seem nothing like her." She looked to the cave entrance, tying to picture the Emerald Lady.

"We did have her servants to help raise us. Perhaps they had more impact on our development then she did?"

"Maybe."

"Lyndis?"

"Yes?" she looked up to the dragon's snout as he looked down onto her.

"Your little mission tomorrow. The one with the fort?"

"It's not exactly little Cordenth." she wrinkled her face.

"Regardless. I will be going with you tomorrow, I'll even drag Lyyreth along."

Lyndis smiled up at him, not exactly surprised but still touched. "Your willing to..." she ran her hand along the scar on his chest. The scar he had gotten saving her. "Risk your life again?"

"Can't have the brave princess go into battle without her emerald knight."

"Your my knight now?" she laughed.

"Why not? I have armor, I am rather handsome, and I saved my dearest princess today!"

"When you present it like that..." she kissed his snout gently. "I would love for you to come by brave and valient knight."

"Good." he snorted, resting his head beside her and pulling her against him deeper into his warm embrace. She closed her eyes and sighed, as she felt him wiggle his tail and breath in content.