FSE

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Author's note:

Hello again! I was browsing through Guardian Hawk's stories - yes, I like stories about orgasm denial, and they are very good at writing those - and I came across an older story they had written, called 'The Witch's Demand'. It was a nice story, but the way it ended left me feeling bad for the characters. Which is a risk when writing certain kinds of kinks - if the characters feel too real, a story can easily move from 'hot' to 'sympathetic concern'. And... even though the story was old, and even though the author had moved on from it, I didn't want things to end that way for those characters. So I wrote up something that would be a happier ending for them, so that I could have a 'headcanon' ending for them even if just for myself...

But when I shared it with Guardian Hawk, they liked the story, and gave me permission to share it. So I touched it up a little and am uploading it now.

This is an unofficial sequel to two other stories, written by Guardian-Hawk. It is NOT canon. It will not make sense without reading them first. The first can be found here: https://www.sofurry.com/view/88841

Thank you for taking your time to read what I've written! And thank you to Guardian Hawk, for writing stories for us to enjoy. ^_^

---

Kanelle glided over the flat plains for a few more minutes... but it was useless. She sighed and banked back towards her home, giving a few beats of her wings to pick up speed, then cut back to another glide. There was no sense wasting energy, not if she was going to go hungry. Again.

Winter was setting in, and the fat herds of summer had grown thin. She had been lucky to find the goat... two? Three days ago? That had kept her belly full for a time, but hunger was starting to wear at her again. If she got lucky, maybe she would manage to find another goat, or maybe even a deer, but... if she didn't, she was going to have to face a hard choice soon.

She could try sleeping through the winter, the way some dragons had been known to do, but... she wasn't happy with that option. It _would_be nice to just curl up in her cave and wait for the warmer months full of healthier prey... but... a part of her was still terrified at the thought of what she might wake up to. She had done everything she could to make her home safe, digging out a new lair in a mountain that few humans could ever hope to reach... but... they still might. If she went into the deep sleep of hibernation, there was no telling what they might do to her.

There were humans nearby, a small city that had herds of their own... but she didn't like that option, either. Stealing from them when they were facing the same troubles as her just felt wrong, and the idea of trusting them enough to barter... she didn't like that idea, either. It would be too easy for them to drug the food in some way, and she wouldn't know until it was too late. Until she woke up as their prisoner. Again.

Another option would be to move, and find somewhere else to live... but any other place she picked would face the same problems. Anywhere that had enough food to support her also had humans. Anywhere remote and safe from humans wouldn't have enough food to support her. Moving wouldn't solve anything, just delay it.

She had been lucky enough to avoid this problem the last few winters... but it seemed that her luck had finally run out. She was going to have to figure something out. And, her empty belly rumbled to her, soon.

***

Kanelle paused at the entrance of her lair as she caught the lingering scent of another dragon. Not again...

She slipped into the cave and sighed at the sight that awaited her. A dead deer rested in the center of her lair. And a fat deer, at that. Her hungry stomach urged her to eat it. She _was_hungry. And the deer was already dead... She sighed again and set about quelling the empty feeling in her stomach.

It had been five years since... since she had escaped from that witch. Since that witch had raped her, and him, all so she could have a loyal lietuenant. Since her body had been used for the desire of others, against her will. Since she had used the body of another for her own desires, as much as she hated to admit it. Her own pleasure.

And in all that time, despite all the times she had told him to leave, despite her best attempts to drive him away... Mordannis had refused to leave her alone. Oh, he gave her space, and he never pushed anything... but he always managed to find a way to let her know she was still there. Food. Presents. Little things.

At first she had just thought he was worried she might develop a clutch from what the witch had done to them, and that she might hide the eggs and lie about it - something she had considered doing if it happened, just so she wouldn't have to face him - but as the months and years wore on, it became obvious there was more to it than just that. No matter how many times she told him that she couldn't stand him, that she would never be able to accept him, even the times she had lost her temper and told him she hated the very thought of him... he had still followed after her, and looked out for her.

Like he had now, with this deer. Even though she knew he must have been facing a harsh winter of his own.

She finished devouring the deer and tossed the remains over the ledge and down the mountain. With the needs of her stomach finally dealt with she slipped deeper into the cave, walking through the narrow halls she had carved out until she reached her simple bedroom. She stretched out along one side and shifted to get comfortable, resolving to go find the other dragon after a quick nap, and trying once more to convince him to leave him alone.

After a few minutes of trying to sleep she whined in frustration. She couldn't get the thought of him out of her head. That was the worst part. Especially after one of his visits, when his scent lingered in the air. For everything they had been through, for all he had been forced to do to her... she couldn't really ever stop thinking of him. Those broad wings that seemed to stretch out forever. Those golden limbs, each so strong. Those deep eyes, shining that emerald-green. The way they had seemed so concerned for her, and the way they had also seemed so excited at the sight of her...

The way his massive member felt when he was inside her. Every beat of his heart... every twitch of pleasure... every rock of his hips against her, driving himself deeper into her, claiming that part of her as he took her as his mate, offering that part of himself up to her as he gave himself to her as her mate, and filling her with excitement and lust and pleasure and...

She roared out as an orgasm overtook her... then she sagged back down to the hard stone floor of the cave, letting her arousal-dampened paw fall away from her slit.

It was just one more reason she hated that witch. He was such a handsome male... and her body remembered him, and how he had made her feel. If only they could have met some other way... if only they could have escaped, before they had been forced to... to...

She stared down at her paw in sudden anger. A sudden sense of betrayal, this time from her own body. She had never touched herself like this before the witch had... had... and now, those feelings and desires had been awakened in her. The desire for a mate. The desire for one male to mate with her in particular. The desire to experience the pleasure she now knew her body could bring her. Now she couldn't resist touching herself to indulge those urges. To experience that pleasure again.

To imagine that powerful male satisfying her again.

I hope you suffered in those final seconds, Helena, for what you did to me. What you stole from me.

There was no way she could sleep like this, not now. Not with how angry and worked up she was. She growled and rolled to her feet, then stalked out of her lair. A quick bath in one of the cold mountain springs, then she would give Mordannis another piece of her mind for doing this to her.

***

"Hello?" Kanelle paused outside the entrance to Mordannis' den. It hadn't been hard to find - she had been here several times before, after all the other times he had brought her gifts and she had been forced to confront him. He had made a lair at ground level, far closer to the human city than she would ever consider living at... but she only smelled distant, old scents of humans. It should be safe enough for a short visit.

There was no answer, though. That was strange - most times Mordannis was awake when she visited, especially so soon after he left her a present. It was several hours of flight between their lairs, and it_was_ getting late in the evening... but still. This was unusual.

She peeked her head warily into the lair, suddenly nervous. Had something happened? Were there traps, had another human tried to capture him?

"Can't move... stings... don't leave me like this..."

The voice drifted from deeper in the lair, and she felt a sudden sense of alarm. Was Mordannis alright? She still didn't smell anything, and she didn't see any signs of a struggle. She slipped carefully into the lair, pausing to check for signs of any traps as she went. Nothing revealed itself, and nothing jumped out at her, so she continued carefully onwards.

She arrived in Mordannis' bedroom and paused at the sight of the golden dragon. There was no one else in the room. He was curled up against one wall and fast asleep, but it was obviously not a peaceful one. As she watched his legs twitched again, and his claws left heavy furrows against the stone.

"Mordannis?" Kanelle took a cautious step forward, but the other dragon only whimpered and twitched more in his sleep. She paused beside him and reached out to gently shake him, and wake him from his nightmare...

"Let us go!!" The golden dragon roared, jumping to his feet in response to Kanelle's nudge, and he lashed out with his wings and claws. Kanelle jumped back just in time to avoid the sleepy attack, and she stepped back towards the hallway to give the other dragon space.

He stood in the center of the room and panted heavily for a long moment, eyes unfocused and bleary. He finally blinked, then blinked again... then his eyes focused on Kanelle. A tinge of a blush ran beneath his scales, and he quickly sat up. "Kanelle. Hello." He looked down at the floor and noticed the scratches in the rock, then glanced back up in sudden alarm. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No." Kanelle frowned. "What was that?" Deep down she already knew. She'd had that same nightmare. But... she hadn't known that he had it, too.

"It's nothing. Sometimes I just have trouble sleeping, that's all." He shook his head, then focused back on her. "It's good to see you again. Did you enjoy the deer?"

She sighed. "Mordannis..."

"Wait." He held up a paw, and his eyes brightened a little. Those bright green eyes... "I have something for you. Here, let me show you it."

Kanelle started to sigh and object, but he moved towards the hallway. Towards her. Memories flickered through her mind, and she felt torn between flinching away from his golden scales and reaching out to touch them. She stood frozen, torn between her instincts, and he slipped past her and left the room before she could stop him.

She sighed and followed after him.

The golden dragon ducked down another hallway, then entered another cavern. Kanelle's eyes widened a little at the sight - she had been too focused on her own safety these past few years to worry about treasure, and had lost everything she had gathered before when the witch had captured her... but Mordannis had clearly kept up his own hoard. Piles of coins filled one corner, most of them gold or silver, and gems poked out from the pile. A sword even hung on the cave wall, and Kanelle made out three gleaming stones embedded in the hilt.

"Here, look at this." Kanelle's attention turned from the treasures and back to the male, and she inhaled at the treasure he held up for her. It was a jade statuette - a green dragon, curled around a fountain. A fountain whose water was made from a beautiful blue sapphire.

"Where did... how...?" She stared at the sculpture. It was pretty. And... it was obviously her.

"The human city. They have jewelers there. I helped guard a few merchant caravans from bandits, and in exchange they were willing to make this." He held it up a little higher. "Do you like it?"

"It's pretty. But... how can you trust them?" She looked away from the statuette and back at the golden dragon. "After what that witch did to us?"

A flicker of pain shone in those emerald-green eyes. "It... it's hard. And most of them I can't. But not all of them are like her. There are a few I've learned to work with. The ruler of the city has passed laws to treat me fairly; they value my help. As long as I don't start anything, anyone who tries to hurt or cheat me is punished. Severely." He grew quiet for a moment and stared down at the ground in silence... then he held the sculpture back towards her. "Please. Take it."

"Mordannis, you can't keep..."

"Please. I want you to have it." The gold dragon looked up from the floor and met her gaze. Those green eyes focused on her, and she swam in the sight of them. The hurt. The hope. "I saw your lair. You deserve something nice for your home."

Kanelle sighed. She could press the issue... but she had a feeling that even if she did, the statuette would just show up in her lair one day. Short of smashing the thing there was no way she could keep him from giving it to her, and... it was pretty. Far too precious a thing to destroy. "...okay. Thank you."

Mordannis brightened, and Kanelle felt her legs grow a little weak at the sudden happiness that shone in those emerald eyes. "You're welcome." He handed her the sculpture and sat up, and his golden scales gleamed on his tail as it curled against the pile of coins. "How have you been, Kanelle?"

She watched him for a long moment... then shook her head. "Thank you for the gift." The green dragoness turned, and walked from the male's lair.

***

Kanelle stared at the statuette. It was pretty... but it only seemed to underscore how empty her lair was otherwise. And for the first time she really noticed just how cold it was. Her lair was hidden away, and as safe from humans as she could make it... but...

It wasn't much of a home.

She hated this. How had Mordannis done it? Didn't he feel the same hurt she did? He had seemed just as victimized and hurt by the witch as she had, but... how come she was stuck like this, trapped in those memories and unable to move on, when he was... living?

Had he not been as much of a victim as he had seemed? Had he secretly enjoyed it, and just put on an act?

But then... she had secretly enjoyed it, too. As much as she hated to admit it. It had felt good. It had been hard to hold back. And even after all the years of trying to remember, she still wasn't sure which of them had finally given in to the desires they had felt.

She still didn't know if he had held out, and _she_had been the one to give in and cause their first mating.

It was just too much... she wished she could just take it all back. If she could just go back in time and change her mind. Give in. Cooperate with the witch, mate with the handsome male, have a clutch. Let the cursed woman take one. Then she could go on with her life. Maybe live happily with him. And her other hatchlings. Even forget it all happened, like the witch had offered, and just believe the lost hatchling hadn't been strong enough to break through the shell. Or died after. Any of the possible false memories the witch had offered, anything that would help her...

Anything that would help her forget.

The green dragoness stared down at the statuette, and saw the glimmer of an idea in the water-like surface of the sapphire.

***

"You want a job?" The human stared up at Kanelle with an expression of disbelief.

The dragoness did her best not to sigh. This whole situation strained belief. She had no idea who was more afraid of who - the humans of her, or her of the humans.

She didn't have any idea of how to go about interacting with humans, and hadn't wanted to ask Mordannis, so she had just flown to the city, landed at one of the farms, and waited. It hadn't taken long - several of the humans had come rushing out of the nearby buildings, far too many of them wearing armor and wielding weapons... but one of them had cautiously approached, and had questioned her.

He clearly hadn't understood her, but at least the humans hadn't attacked her.

"Yes. I understand you pay another dragon to do certain jobs; I have something I would like to purchase, and would like to earn money to purchase it." She looked back at the field around her. "I understand from a friend that you will pay him to do work for you."

"You're friends with Mordannis?" The human seemed thoughtful and looked back over the dragoness. "I don't know that we have any work that needs a dragon's help, or anything to properly pay you with..."

One of the other humans spoke up. "There's that tree stump in the Miller's farm that we haven't been able to get out."

"And the Connors haven't finished their plowing. The ground is starting to freeze; a bit of fire to soften it up would be a huge help." Another human spoke up from the crowd. "Not to mention the firewood this fellow could help haul in for us. It's supposed to be a cold winter this year, if the mages are right. I bet he could just pick up a whole tree and bring it to us no problem; it'd go a huge way towards keeping us warm when the cold sets in."

"She." Kanelle looked back at the speaker.

"She?"

"She."

"My apologies. Still think you'd be a huge help to us though, if you'll forgive my mistake." The man bowed a little towards her.

Kanelle just stared at him in confusion. Respect? Concern about her feelings, enough to apologize? From a human?

The first speaker still seemed unconvinced, and shook his head slowly. "What do you expect to pay her with? If we had money to hire help, we would've hired someone already and wouldn't need her help."

"Use your head for something other than propping your hair up, for once. She's not really after money, she's looking to buy something. Ask her what it is, and then see if one of the nobles will help out. They want to make sure we're all alive come summer, and able to pull in a healthy harvest to pay their taxes with. If a little bit of money for some trinket for the lovely lady gets them that, they'll be happy to help make sure we can fill up their coffers later." The human looked back at Kanelle, and she had to stop herself from taking a step back as the rest of the group joined him in staring at her. "What is it you're after, lass? Maybe we can work something out."

Kanelle hesitated, looking back at over the crowd. Most of them just seemed bored now, or amused at the back and forth between the two speakers... but... they still had those weapons. Could she really trust them?

She took a deep breath and tried to work up her courage. She was a dragon. She could kill them all with a single breath if she wanted to. They should be afraid of her, not her of them. She didn't need to worry.

She took another deep breath anyways, then met the gaze of the second speaker. "I am trying to find a spell."

"A spell, eh?" The man crossed his arms and looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, before glancing back at the other humans. "We should bring you to one of the mages then, I guess."

***

"Are you sure you won't come inside? It's much warmer there."

Kanelle stared at the wiry man on the other side of the street from her. "I'm fine here."

Some of the crowd had followed her deeper into the city. The two humans she had spoken with had led her to a tower closer to the center, and had explained the situation to a woman inside... but Kanelle had absolutely refused to go near the tower.

She knew all too well what sort of things could be waiting for her inside.

So despite the many requests to go through the large door, she had sat down on the far side of the street from the tower, where she had a clear view of the sky, and refused to budge. People had come and gone from the tower, and finally this man had come to speak with her.

"If you're sure. Now what's this I'm being told, about you looking for a spell? Are you up to some mischief we need to be worried about?" The man looked at her with a suspicious eye, and she bristled.

"I am seeking a spell to erase memories. Make someone forget."

"A memory spell? Tricky. And dangerous. Who are you trying to make forgetful, and about what? Palace guards, perhaps, to make them forget to guard the treasures?"

The green dragoness stared coldly back at the man as her patience frayed. "Have you ever heard of a witch named Helena?"

The man frowned. "Helena? Nasty piece of work. Used her magic to exploit people; cursed crops and charged for magical assistance, created enchantments to enslave all manners of creatures. Preyed on people who didn't know any better and couldn't defend themselves. Heard she tried some scheme to get a loyal lieutenant or something, and bit off more than she could chew. Finally got what was coming to her. Probably eaten by some demon she had summoned and tried to enslave, knowing her. Why? You didn't work with her, did you?" The old man squinted at Kanelle again, and his frown deepened. "One of her minions?"

A growl rose in the dragoness' throat. The crowd took a sudden step back, and she heard murmuring start from them. She ignored them and focused on the mage, trying to dampen her temper. "Helena enslaved me, and tried to impregnate me so she could steal one of my hatchlings and raise it as her own. I want a spell that will cause me to forget all about her." She hesitated, then continued. "And the other dragon she captured, who she forced us into mating with each other."

The man stared back at her for a long moment... then looked at the crowd. "I think we should take a walk. Alone."

***

"I'm sorry. It's not uncommon to get people asking about magical spells so they can cause trouble. We have to be careful about what we give away, and to who." The man walked slowly through the outskirts of town. Kanelle could tell he was struggling, and possibly in pain.

"I see." She followed nervously after the man. The crowd had dispersed, which made her feel a little better... but she was still uncomfortable around someone she knew could use magic. She stayed a full length away from him, and kept her wings spread in case she needed to take flight.

"What you seek..." The man sighed and stopped walking. "It can't be done."

Kanelle stopped too, and glared at the man. "Helena told me it could be. That she could change my memories, so I wouldn't know she had taken an egg from me. I would just have a false memory instead, one of the hatchling dying."

The mage turned back to the dragon and shook his head. "Memory spells are complicated. And something like what Helena described could be done. Replace one set of painful memories with another. Cover up one loss with the memory of another loss. But... that's not what you're asking for." He looked up at the sky, and squinted up at one of the clouds. "Memories... are only part of your problem. I can work up a spell that will cover them up, or replace them with something else, and that will cover up the pain in your head, but... that isn't the part of you that is hurting, is it?"

The dragoness looked back at the man. What was he babbling about? "What do you mean?"

The man brought a hand up and pointed at his head. "Magic isn't some quick fix that makes everything better. If I erase your memories, you won't have any memory of Helena anymore, or what she did to you. Your head won't know what happened, and any time you try to think about it, or wonder why you're upset, you won't have an answer. Magic can do that part."

The man lowered his hand, and gradually brought it to rest over his heart. "But even if those memories are hidden, the hurt won't go away. The wound you have won't heal. The magic can't do that. That's why Helena had to offer you false memories of a lost egg, and not just erase the memory of the egg entirely. Because deep down, in your heart, you would still feel that loss. Still feel the pain of what had happened. Even if you didn't understand why."

He let his arm fall away and looked back at the dragoness. "Just like you will still feel the pain and hurt even if I hide these memories. You'll still be in pain. But you won't know why anymore. It will be even harder for you to heal."

"Heal? From the things she did to me?" Kanelle stared at the man in disbelief. As if she could ever do that. Especially with Mordannis always bothering her. Though... "What about making someone else forget? About me?"

The mage hesitated. "The... male dragon, the one that Helena tried to use... to...?"

She nodded shortly. "He won't leave me alone."

There was sudden concern in the mage's voice. "Is he bothering you? What has he done?" The man looked back towards the center of town. "Didn't Helena capture him, too? I thought you were both victims?"

The green dragoness stared back at the mage... then lowered her wings. "Brought me food when I am hungry. Left me presents and treasures. Given me space, but showed up to give me help when I needed it. Reminded me he's still there."

"I... see." The mage waited, watching her.

"It doesn't..." Kanelle shook her head. "I can't deal with him. He's... every time I think of him, I just remember... that place. What he did to me. What I did to him. What she forced us to do to each other. I can't... I can't stand him! And... and I can't stop thinking about him, either. I just... I just want him to leave me alone. If he forgets about me... then he will. I won't have to think about him anymore."

"Miss..." The human wore an expression of sympathy as he held out his hands. "I don't pretend to know what was done to you, or what you're going through. It's obvious it hurt you deeply, and is no small matter. But..." He shook his head sadly. "That's not how healing works. Not for wounds like this one. Driving him away won't help you heal. It will just make you feel guilty. It will just make the hurt worse."

The dragoness snorted. Why was she even talking to this human? This was all just a horrible idea. She had wasted her time, and now she was being lectured to. As if he knew anything. "Then what will! If you won't help me with your magic, if you won't help me forget, then what do I do?"

The mage looked back up at her with that same expression of sympathy. Of sadness. Hurt for her sake, and that he couldn't just make it all go away. "Form new memories. Spend time with that dragon doing other things. Accept the hurt, instead of trying to bury and escape it, and soothe it. Create new memories with him that you will remember instead. Give yourself a chance to trust him again, and to know him as the creature he is apart from that one horrible event. Accept his help. If it's true that he went through it with you, then he may be the only one who can truly understand your pain. The only one who can truly help you with it. Give yourself a chance to have the comfort he can offer." His expression shifted and he looked deeper into her eyes. "Give yourself a chance to forgive yourself for what you were forced to do."

A growl started in her throat. "It's just that easy, is it? Just pretend the sight of him doesn't make my scales crawl, and that the thought of him doesn't make me want to vomit? Just act like nothing happened?"

"No." The man shook his head. "It isn't_easy. It's incredibly hard. And it will hurt. It will be difficult, and every moment with him _will remind you of what happened. I'm not pretending that won't be the case, or that it will solve all your problems, 'just like magic'." He brought his hand up slowly, and held it over his chest. "But he isn't the one that wronged you. That person is dead. He's a victim, just like you are. And even though it is difficult, and even though it will hurt, and even though the thought of him will make you want to vomit, and the sight of him will make your scales crawl... it will also help you heal."

Kanelle just stared at him.

"Little steps. Take your time. Leave when it's too much, because yes, there will be a lot of times that it is. I'm not telling you there won't be. I'm not telling you it's easy. I'm just telling you that it will help you heal. Slowly. One day." The man let his hand fall from over his heart, and he turned away from the dragoness.

"I also begin to suspect how hard it must have been for you to come here. I understand why you didn't want to come into our tower, and why you won't let me near you. Why you looked so nervous with the crowd earlier. And... my advice for you is the same there, too. A human did something horrible to you. It's understandable you're bothered by us. And that sometimes, you won't be able to stand the sight of us, and need to be away from us." The man began walking again, slowly.

"But we are not Helena. She's dead. And if anybody_here tries to do something like she did to you, we _will stop them. Nothing like that will ever be tolerated, either against you, or Mordannis, or any other dragon who comes here. You will be treated fairly, with respect and dignity, so long as you do the same to us. That is the law here. And we really could use your help. The farmers were excited at the idea, and were really hoping I would have what you wanted. I'm sorry that I don't." He tilted his head back at her in acknowledgement. "But we would be happy to provide you with other things, if you would be willing to put up with us. Money, jewels, other magical items, within reason. In exchange for your help." He paused again and glanced back at her. "If you would like to make some new memories of us, to help heal the hurt we caused."

Kanelle stood in the middle of the street and stared at the mage, at a loss for words.

***

"Thank you for your help, Kanelle. This drought has hit us hard. I can't begin to tell you how much you've done for us; our crops would have withered in this summer heat without you." The farmer beamed up at the dragoness as she finished landing in the small dirt field.

It was tricky, but she managed to lower the heavy block of ice to the ground. She tucked her wings in enough to slip out of the leather strap that had allowed her to fly it down from the mountain, then descended to the ground beside it to unwrap the leather straps from around the ice. "I'm happy to help."

And, as much as it surprised her... it was the truth. She was happy to help the farmers. She had been doing so for months now, and it still managed to fill her with a strange sense of pride and happiness. It was a simple enough task to carve blocks of ice out of the snow on the mountain and bring it down for them. It was an easy task to dig out an annoying stump with her great strength, or flame a field to soften the ground, or carry things from one part of town to the other.

And the crazy old mage had been right. The more she worked around the humans, the less they scared her. She wasn't sure if they knew the details of her past, but they all knew she had been hurt. The farmers all gave her space, and never said anything on any of the numerous times she couldn't take any more and had to leave. They were always patient with her. They never brought up her sudden absences or complained if she left a job undone, and simply asked if she was willing to help more when she worked up the courage to return.

They paid her well. They treated her well. She had a purpose.

She was happy.

It was still hard to be around them sometimes, and she still had points where all she could think of was what Helena had done to her, and she had to leave... but those moments had grown less and less frequent as the months had gone on. She was healing.

She paused from untying the straps around the ice as she heard more wingbeats. She looked up and saw Mordannis descending into the field. The farmer frowned at him, but the golden dragon landed on the far side of the field. "Hello Kanelle. Can I help?"

The crazy mage had been right about Mordannis, too. It had been hard... incredibly hard, harder than she thought anything could be... but... she had started to make new memories of him, and they had helped dull the pain of the other memories. She could look at him without that feeling of terror now. Usually.

Kanelle nodded slowly, and reached back to tug at the end of the strap. "Thank you." Mordannis moved to the other side and began to pull at the straps there. Giving her space. Still looking out for her.

The farmer watched them both warily - Kanelle wasn't sure if the humans knew what had happened between herself and Mordannis, or if they just thought the two dragons were territorial and didn't get along, but they all knew that the two dragons had issues. The humans were always a little on edge whenever they were both together. She wasn't sure if they were scared about becoming casualties in a sudden fight between two dragons, or if they were worried one of the dragons would end up driving the other way. It was actually a little amusing. And it helped take her mind off uncomfortable memories.

With Mordannis' help it only took a few minutes to finish unpacking the ice. Kanelle looked at the farmer, and the heavy pick held in his hand. "Can you take it from here?"

He eyed Mordannis for another moment but nodded. "Yes. We'll get this chopped up and moved where it's needed. I'll have plenty of help. Thank you again."

"You're welcome." Kanelle nodded at the farmer and stepped away from the ice.

Mordannis stepped towards her, but stopped a few lengths away. "I saw you flying in. I caught a deer earlier. If you'd like, I would be happy to share it with you. If you're hungry from carrying all that weight?" He looked back at her, and she lost herself for a moment in those bright green eyes.

She was hungry. And they had shared meals before. It was still hard... but... she enjoyed his company. "I'd like that. Thank you."

His golden scales gleamed as he smiled at her. He turned and jumped into the air, and Kanelle spread her wings to fly after him.

***

Lunch was pleasant. Her half of the deer had been more than enough to fill her up, though it hadn't escaped her notice that Mordannis had let her have the larger half. Her stomach had the pleasant sensation resulting from a good meal, and her muscles burned lightly from the earlier work.

She stretched out on the floor of Mordannis' lair and rested her head on her paws. She watched the golden dragon as he finished cleaning up the remains of their meal.

He was still just as handsome as the moment she first laid eyes on him.

That had been a horrible moment... but... she had memories of other moments now. Better ones. She was slowly seeing him as more than just a tool Helena had used to violate her. As more than just someone she had violated.

Mordannis caught her staring and smiled back at her. "How have you been? The humans seem to be very happy with your help, from what I've heard." His emerald-green eyes shone, and she let herself get lost in them for a moment.

"They have been. The drought has hit them hard, and I've been able to fly ice down from the mountains. It's helped them keep their crops watered, without having to rely on the mages or other expensive magics. They don't think they'll manage to save everything if it doesn't rain soon, but they're hopeful my help will let them save most of it." She knew Mordannis wasn't too interested in the farmers - he considered it boring, and much preferred to help in tasks that saw a more combative role, like working as a guard or helping to hunt down bandits. She let her eyes drift down the male's body, and let her mind wander with her gaze.

"I see. They're treating you fairly? Paying you well?"

More small talk. She let her gaze linger on his wing. So broad... "Yes. They don't have much, but they always make sure to pay me for my help. I think the nobles have been responsible for most of what they give me. I have some gold now. A few trinkets." She imagined back to the tiny pile slowly growing in her bedroom. It was nothing like what she had seen in Mordannis' treasure room... but it was hers. She glanced towards the hallway that she knew led to that room, then looked back at the gold.

The handsome, sweet gold. With those beautiful emerald eyes. Those strong arms and wings. That large...

"Mordannis?" Kanelle looked up at the dragon, and felt a blush heat up her face. Her voice sounded nervous and quiet even to her. She hoped the other dragon couldn't see her blushing through her scales.

He paused from sweeping dirt over the stain on the floor and looked back at her. There was concern in those eyes. Worry for her. Worry he had pushed too far. Worry he had hurt her. Worry that someone he loved was in pain.

She felt her heart ache a little as she saw those emotions in those gorgeous green eyes.

"Yes? Is everything okay?" He stepped away from her and looked towards the entrance to his lair, giving her a clear path to the outside. "Do you need to go?"

She closed her eyes for another moment. That sweet male... if only they had met some other way... any other way... "Mordannis..." She repeated his name again, trying to work up her courage. Trying to fight back the fear. "Will you show me..." Her voice trailed off as her throat went dry.

It was quiet in the lair for a moment. The gold dragon waited, not interrupting her as she fought through her desires. Her fears. Her hurt. Helena had stolen so much from her. She had turned her first time mating into rape, and stolen what should have been special moments from her. Had stolen the chance of a relationship with a wonderful male who cared about her. Had stolen even the pleasure of sex, by irreversibly tying those memories to it. The memories of what was done to her. The memories of what she had done to him.

Time to take some of that back.

Time to heal.

"Will you show me what sex is supposed to be like?" She blurted out the words all at once, too scared that she would swallow the question again if she didn't. She trembled for a moment, suddenly worried. All the memories flooded back. Being tied up and helpless. Being forced to take him, regardless of how she struggled and pulled at the chains. Being forced to go still and not even allowed to struggle anymore, for fear of setting him off and causing him to thrust... or of triggering her own raging instincts and urges, and causing herself to press back against him. Of that hideous witch, urging them both to violate the other, all so she could steal one of the offspring that would result...

A soft warmth pressed against her cheek in a gentle nuzzle. She opened her eyes slowly to see that golden face. Those tender green eyes.

"Are you sure? I know... if you need time... or still want to wait for someone else..." Mordannis trailed off, offering her any excuse.

She felt a fluttering in her chest at the sight of those eyes. A smile broke over her face and she nodded. "I'm sure. Please... I want..." She hesitated, thinking back over everything one more time. "I want a new memory with you. Of you."

The gold smiled and nuzzled at her cheek again. "Come with me."

He stood and walked through the hallway, leading her to his room. She rose to her feet and followed after, feeling her heart pound as she did. She could barely believe what she was thinking. What she was about to do. She watched the golden dragon walk before her and focused on the motion of his hips. The powerful wings held at his back. The strong tail swaying behind him.

The handsome male that had been in her fantasies these past five years.

Mordannis stopped inside his room and sat up, turning to watch her. She felt herself blush more at his attention, and knew what he must be thinking. What his eyes must be lingering on, and what thoughts were filling his head. The same thoughts that had filled her head so often, of the two of them mating...

"Are you sure?" He asked again as she walked into his room, and she nodded. She closed the distance between them and nuzzled at his chin.

That had been the first time she had touched him in five years. The first time she had willingly touched him. It sent a thrill down her spine, and caused a warmth to grow in her. His scales... his scent... She nodded again. "Yes."

"Lay down. On your back." He stretched out a wing and motioned at the floor.

She tilted her head in confusion. They had done that once - when he had broken the collar on her neck, and they had escaped - but... this wasn't the position she had expected. Their first time had been... her rear had been in the air, her tail held to expose her vent, and he had been over her. She had assumed he would want to mount her the same way. Or maybe like the other time, where he had been on his back, and she had... but this?

"I'd like to see your eyes. I-if that's alright?" The gold looked down sheepishly, as if embarrassed.

Kanelle smiled. "Oh." She gave him one more nuzzle and moved to the center of the room.

More thoughts came back to her. More memories... more doubts... more fears.

But she was a dragon. She was stronger than any fears. She was stronger than Helena. She would not let that witch steal any more of her life.

She rolled onto her back.

The cool stone pressed against her as she stared up at the ceiling. She watched it for a moment... then tilted her head down to look at Mordannis. The gold dragon was watching her, those deep green eyes trailing over her body... taking in the sight of her face... her wings... her chest...

...her legs...

She smiled, and slowly spread her legs. Her tail twitched in an instinctive fear, a sudden worry, a deep panic that told her to pull her tail up, and hide herself, before he... but she fought that urge back.

This wouldn't be like that. This wasn't Helena. Not this time. This was Mordannis.

The caring male that had been so patient with her. That hadn't given up. That had worried about her all this time, even through his own hurt, and had done anything he could to try and help her. Even when she had hated him for it.

This was her mate.

She spread her legs and held her tail away, and let him look.

A shiver ran through the male as he gazed at her body, and she saw his arousal manifest between his legs. It had been years since she had actually seen it... but it had been in her dreams. Nightmares and fantasies. It stood out proudly against his golden scales, extending from his slit... and extending, and extending, and extending. Had it truly been that large? She had never really stopped to just appreciate it back then. Too embarrassed to even think about it... too concerned with escape... too disgusted by the entire idea..

Now she only felt excitement at the idea. It was so big... and... it was his...

She wanted to feel it. Wanted to feel him.

He caught where her eyes were lingering, and she saw a hint of a blush beneath his scales. He stepped towards her and brought his paws down to her hips, lifting her rear up slightly. Angling her. Putting her in position.

Another surge of panic went through her. A feeling of being manipulated, of being helpless... but she fought it back. She wasn't helpless. Not this time. He was moving her, yes, but she was _letting_him do that. She could move her arms and wings. She could fight back, if she needed... ooo....

Her thoughts derailed as she felt something warm suddenly rub over her vent. She realized she had gasped, and she glanced down towards her legs. She felt heat rise in her face at the sight. That massive tool... his cock... rubbing against her. Sliding over her scales. Her nethers. Pleasuring himself with her body. Pleasuring her body with his.

He stopped, and she looked up at him. At those beautiful green eyes. "If... if you need to stop, at any point... no matter when, just tell me. I'll stop."

Kanelle felt her heart flutter. Because... she knew he would. Deep down, she knew it. If something happened, if she couldn't stand it anymore, if her fears and memories got the better of her, and she needed him to stop... he would. Right then and there, no matter how close he was. No matter how frustrating it might be for him. He would stop, and give her space, and let her recover.

He knew what she had been through. He had been through it, too. He wouldn't risk hurting her. No matter what it meant for him.

His golden wings stretched out around him. His green eyes focused on her, and she swam in the sight of them.

She stared up at the dragon, and realized he was the only dragon she could ever truly feel safe with. Ever truly trust. Every part of his body radiated strength. Concern. Protection. Care.

Kanelle nodded up at the dragon. "Thank you."

He nodded... then she felt his cock slide against her once more, pulling back...

...then he was inside her.

She gasped in surprise at the sensation. It had been so long... other than her claws, she had... but he was so much larger than her claws, and warmer, and thicker... He filled her so completely, brushing against places inside her she had never managed to reach. Places that delighted in his touch. He held himself inside her for a moment, and his green eyes met hers, watching her. Savoring her expression.

Then he moved again.

He was slow at first, as if scared he would break her. A gentle motion, his cock sliding through her and caressing every inch of her passage. A slow rocking against the floor, her scales protecting her from the rough stone. She began to purr at the feelings, savoring the sensation spreading through her. The strong male above and within her. The sense of safety. The pleasure.

Her purr seemed to encourage him, and he began moving faster. She felt the paws at her hips grip her tighter, holding her in place... which allowed him to thrust deeper. Faster. Each motion was firmer, more deliberate. A rhythm. One building inside her, each slap of his hips against hers filling her with his cock and adding to her pleasure. Compounding it. Building more, and more, and more...

She stared into those deep green eyes as she began to pant, becoming overwhelmed with pleasure. She tried to press back against his thrusts, tried to pull him deeper into her, but it was hard to get leverage with these angles. She was having trouble focusing enough to keep up a motion, anyways. It was much easier to just relax. To just enjoy the feelings he was giving her. The sight of him above her. The feel of him within her. Mordannis was... he was... they were...

His motions grew erratic and his rhythm slipped. He moved faster, hips slapping against hers, cock filling her again, and again, and again. Hot. Throbbing. Thick. It was all she could think about. Nothing else mattered. Not her cries filling his room, or his grunts of strained concentration and pleasure. Not his broad wings stretching above her, or her own wings quivering on the cool floor. Not even his beautiful eyes.

Her mate was with her. They were both on the edge, both about to... both...

Kanelle roared as her pleasure grew to be too much, and she felt her body seize up as the bliss of an orgasm washed over her. Every muscle tensed... every nerve fired in pleasure... every part of her body...

Mordannis roared a second later, and she felt him throb again inside her. A pulse of warmth... then another... then another. His hips continued to buck back and forth against her, but he held her hips in place.

The pleasure stretched out for endless moments, overwhelming her... then it finally began to fade, into a soft, happy haze. She blinked, slowly coming back to herself.

That lovely green eye looked back at her. She felt him inside her still, but the throbbing had stopped. He had spent himself in her.

Had mated with her.

He had stretched out beside her at some point in her orgasm, and he watched her now. She could see it in his eye. Pleasure. Concern. Worry for her sake, fear that he had done something wrong. Hope that she was okay. Safety. An urge to protect her, to help her heal, however she needed.

Love.

She felt a weariness in her, and felt a sudden relief. She rolled on her side to meet him, and snuggled close against his chest...

***

Kanelle woke at some point in the night with a start. The memory... trapped... forced up into that position, shown off like a piece of meat to try and arouse some strange male, pushed against her will into teasing some male into mating her... The collar, those chains everywhere, and then... t-that male inside her, despite everything, nothing she could do about it, and her body wanting it anyways...

"Shhh. Shh. It's okay." She was dimly aware that she had screamed. The sound was still echoing off the stone walls of the lair. But not her lair. Someone else's.

No.

His lair.

She felt a strong wing wrap around her, and felt a tug close to someone warm. A strong presence beside her. A protective one. The one who had helped her escape from that. The one who had helped free her.

Her mate's lair.

She was safe.

She curled up against Mordannis' chest and sobbed.

His gold scales filled her vision... and panic started to rise in her. She felt the memories rise up again, the old terror, the knowledge of what those scales had done to her...

He brought his paw to her back and rubbed over it, holding her in the canopy of his wing. "You're safe now. She's gone. She can't hurt you ever again."

The green dragoness sobbed again, caught up in the memories, locked in the terror like she had been so many times before...

But this time, she let Mordannis comfort her. She let a new memory form, and sank into the support of the golden scales of her mate.

***

Kanelle stared up at the sky. It was cloudy today. There would be rain soon. The farmers would like that... It had been three years since she had started helping them. Three years since the drought, three years since...

She was still healing, and still had a long way to go... but she had gotten better.

They both had. Some nights she woke up crying. Some nights he woke up screaming. That was still there. There was every chance it would always be there.

But they were there, too. For each other. They helped each other through those nights when they came.

The sound of wings reached her, and she looked towards the sound with a smile. She spotted the golden wings and moved to the side, giving Mordannis room to land before their lair. He landed heavily, and she saw why - a heavy cow was held in his grip, and he gave a half-hop to land behind it.

"A cow?" She tilted her head at the sight. "Did you manage to find a wild one?"

"One of your farmer friends needed money, and was willing to trade cattle for coin. Gold is always nice, but this is much tastier to chew on."

Kanelle smiled at her mate. He was putting on a show of being unconcerned, but she could tell he was proud to have brought a special meal for them. He liked surprising her.

That was fine. She liked surprising him, too. "I was just thinking how I could eat an entire cow. Which is strange, given how well I ate just yesterday." She smiled and tilted her head, watching those green eyes. "It's almost like I'm eating for two. Or three. Or four." She waited a moment, feeling her heart flutter as those pretty eyes widened in sudden realization. "Or an entire clutch."

Mordannis stared at her, surprise obvious in his face... then it changed to a bright, vibrant smile. "You mean...?"

She nodded at him, and leaned closer to nuzzle at his chin. "That's right... you're a dad now."

He craned his neck up, looking over her for another long moment... then he reached for her and pulled her close, holding her against him. His chest rumbled in delight, and she melted against him, purring happily against him.

"I'm going to need to bring back a lot more cows, aren't I?"

She giggled, and nodded against his chest. "Yes. Yes, you are."