The Littlest Adventurer
For the trouble this journey has caused you so far it had better be worth it. You've trekked through miles of rolling hills and dark forest on a quest you weren't even confident about in the first place. The locals around the village spoke of this castle as though it were a treasure-filled vault asking to be plundered. Tales of spires that pierced the heavens, ferocious beasts guarding every square inch of the grounds, and, even more terrifying, a dragon who rules the castle from deep within its walls perched atop his gilded throne.
It's not like you have a lot to lose as it is. The royal guard wouldn't take you. Despite your supposedly cute appearance you couldn't peddle even the stones under any traveler's feet. To make matters worse most everyone you've encountered has seen straight through your bravado and so-called confidence. Any fight you've ever been in has ended with your humiliation.
"It's like getting hit by a baby!"
"Who even lets a child like this wield a weapon, anyway?"
Those remarks among many others sting your pride even to this day, but you aim to change that. Today things are going to be different. You just know it. Now you stand with your survival knife in hand before the gates of a foreboding castle that nobody dares go near. Well, it would be if it didn't look like it could crumble if someone breathed hard enough on it.
What even is this place? The colossal wooden gate you've heard so much about was hardly bigger than any village's you've ever passed through. There were no spires or vicious guard beasts, though the castle keep did impress you at least. It wasn't small by any means, though your expectations were thoroughly dashed upon your arrival. This should be a breeze-- if there even is treasure.
Whatever, it's worth the risk. Your pride has been injured too many times to turn back now. What will everyone think when you turn up empty-handed and defeated? You'd never live it down! The village will never call you the town baby ever again! You grit your teeth and march straight across the draw bridge with your head held high. You're doing this.
You find yourself among the ruins of the old courtyard with no signs of life in sight. Skeletons of past adventurers who've failed in their mission to make it as far as you will litter the grounds. The heavy rust and wear on their weapons and armor means that they've been here a while. Bad luck on their part. They yield nothing of use to you except for a torch. Not even worth scavenging.
The smaller buildings aren't anymore eventful. Your searches of them turn up nothing of interest, though you did find a broken shield! If anything the crest caught your eye but without anything to hold onto it wasn't going to save your life if you needed it. Another building nearly collapsed before you could even step foot through the doorway. Though you wouldn't admit it your courage was starting to wear thin. The searching was a nice distraction but your quest was still at hand. You grip your knife and press on towards the keep -- the heart of it all.
It's dark. Very dark. The stench of death still lingered the further into the main hall you walked. Maybe that or it was just mildew, you couldn't tell. Every little shadow puts you on your guard. What would a little knife like yours do against something twice your size or more? The torch came in handy as the darkness started to swallow you whole. At least the bowels of this beast was living up to expectations.
A staircase leading to an upper landing of the hall sparked your curiosity. Everything else in this place might appear to be ancient but the woodwork was still very much intact! The lion ornament at the foot of the railing was smooth to the touch and very neatly polished. Someone must be maintaining this place-- which means someone must be here to maintain it...
More of your courage slips away as the realization sets in that you might not be alone after all. You hear shuffling in the distance. The musty smell of the hall's entrance fades the further up the stairs you climb. Old, haphazardly placed bricks become orderly and near immaculate. Something isn't right here. Your knuckles are pale as your grip on your weapon and torch tightens. You try your best to control your breathing, fighting back the panic building in your heart. This is your quest, nobody can take this from you. You've come so far!
Finally, a smaller chamber. Good think you aren't claustrophobic. Your torch illuminates the stone columns holding up the room's domed ceiling. A round table carved from a wood you don't recognize sits in the center of the room. It's larger than any table you've ever seen. The chairs are tucked in neatly at an equal distance around the table. You count six of them. Something even more peculiar catches your eye though. The fireplace, more specifically the smoldering remains of a log that burned not too long before your arrival.
Another shuffling sound echoes through the room followed by the sound of clanking metal. Is that-- armor? Could there really be a dragon here? You dive under the table and cover your mouth to mask your frantic breaths. Suddenly you realize that you've dropped your still-lit torch in the process! It burns only feet from you. You could grab it and put it out, but what will you light it with again? Do you risk disturbing the fireplace and giving away your position? Wait, you came in with the torch, whoever is here surely has to know by now.
Terror-filled tears flow down your cheeks as the weight of your mistake sets in. Who's going to recognize your skeleton in the courtyard when you inevitably join the others out there now? Will anyone ever find you? You shuffle out from under the table and quickly extinguish the torch before returning to your hiding spot with it.
The clanking and shuffling is growing closer. They have to know, there's no way they don't know! What if they find you under here? What will they--
You take a deep breath. Staring down at the bricks set into the floor you try your best to regain your focus. Don't panic, you tell yourself. Everything will be fine. It's an old castle, anyway, noises are going to happen, right? It's normal, at least you hope.
A brilliant idea pops into your head once you have your wits about you. What if the sounds are actually of someone guarding this elusive treasure? If there was anything you were good at it was being sneaky. Even when you've had to resort to petty theft to get by it was very rare you were ever caught. Desperate times called for desperate measures then, why should now be any different?
As quickly as you can you slide out from under the table and place your back against the wall near the corridor the sounds emanated from. The torch isn't your friend anymore-- even if you hate the dark. It's quiet. Nothing stirs from the other end. Much to your surprise it isn't as dark as you thought.
Your methodical approach to the heavy doors at the end is a success. No creaking boards to deal with, nothing fragile to worry about breaking, it's stealth at its finest. Too easy, almost too easy in fact. Regardless you have one thing between you and the sounds that nearly sent you into a frenzy moments ago. With one hand on the door's iron ring you pull slowly, steadily, careful not to cause it to creak.
It felt like hours but you've done it. You slide through the narrow opening you've created with your confidence at its highest since you've been here! This simple act is proof you aren't entirely useless after all! And then...
"Well, what do we have here?"
You freeze in terror. The villagers were right.
"Another challenger who wishes to face their end, I see..."
Through bared teeth the lord of this castle speaks malice through his words. You stand face to face with a dragon who easily doubles you in height. The afternoon sun pouring through the throne room's massive windows highlights the beauty in his gray and crimson scales. The rings on his horns sparkle as he rises from the throne with his sword in hand. This guilded king is not impressed by your weak presence one bit.
Suddenly he roars with laughter.
"A knife? That's all you have? You humans and your 'progress', and this is what you have to show for it?"
Your fingers fumble with the handle as your hands tremble with terror. Your tiny blade is nothing against a greatsword as long as its wielder. What are you going to do now? He can kill you with one swing of that thing!
The floor rumbles beneath your feet as he marches towards you. His massive blade shimmers in the sun as each step closes the distance between you and him. It's so heavy he has to carry it on his shoulder. Holy shit, he's going to destroy you! More tears stain your cheeks as you look on in despair at the wall of death quickly closing in on you. Each step makes the floor shake harder than the last. His eyes are locked with yours. You can't look away, his gaze is too powerful for you to break away from!
CLANG!
Your knife falls from your hands and you fall to your knees. The dragon stops his approach and watches you sob in a disgusting heap on the floor. Curse it all, it had to be a setup! The village just wanted to get rid of you, that had to be it! The cruelty of it all! Sending you under-prepared and under-equipped to a place like this only to be struck down without any way to save yourself.
A steel-wrapped boot falls before your knees. Your sobbing subsides as you see the armored dragon now standing only inches from you. His sword is no longer over his shoulder, but now at his side point-down with his hand on the pommel. Your knife sails through the air as he throws it away from you, lodging itself perfectly into a support column across the room.
With all of your options exhausted the apologies and remorse blabbers from your mouth. There's begging aplenty, though whether or not he cares is a different matter. He looms over the pitiful adventurer bawling before him, but stands in perfect silence. Eventually you calm down, though your stomach is tied in so many knots that you want to throw up.
"You're but a child," he starts.
You look up at him from down on your knees.
"A young whelp who can't fight his own battles. Tell me, why are you here?"
Through fluttering breaths you explain yourself. You tell him everything. Everything the villagers have said to you, your failures in fights you've had the misfortune of ending up in, how you were looked down on for being weak and child-like when trying to join the royal guard, there were no secrets held. He absorbs your frustrations through the words you choke out between bouts of crying and sniffling.
Your explanations turn into complaints that then turn into laments over who you are. Your fears, regrets, nothing is held back. Yet in light of all this the dragon still listens.
As you continue on about how much your life has not gone as you'd hoped you hear the sword being returned to its giant sheath on his back. Is the dragon really showing you mercy? What about all of the others who've come here before? The thought barely registers before you are distracted by him lifting you to your feet. As you stand up another horrifying discovery hits you.
"Hm, one who knows to fear his betters, I see," the dragon remarks as he observes the soaking patch directly between your legs.
Even though he's already seen it your hands still try to hide your shame. Your humiliation burns on your face as your cheeks turn from pale to a shade of pink. You really are pathetic. Adventurers don't piss themselves in the face of danger. Then again, are you really an adventurer? Or are you nothing but a child who can't stand up for himself? Your head hangs in disgust.
"You do not need to feel dishonor, young one. Your mistakes could be costly, but be thankful that today you live to learn from them."
His words are-- comforting. Even if he's right you secretly wish that you had heard them more often. Something stirs within you, though you can't pin down quite what it is. It feels like-- a parent, comforting their young one when they need it. You've been on your own from such a young age that you've never truly experienced it before.
The dragon fetches something from his pocket. He places a small pouch containing a sum of gold into your palm before closing your fingers around it. His gentle demeanor sparks happiness within you. Somehow through his battle-hardened exterior he truly cares.
With the gold in your pocket the dragon sends you on your way. Before doing so however he leaves you with a cryptic request. One that brands itself onto your mind the minute it's uttered.
"Become who you are, not what others wish of you. Your presence here is not unwelcome."
What does he mean by that? Become who you are. That sentence hangs over you as you start back towards the village. The journey ahead of you is long, but something tells you not to go back. Now you find yourself at the crossroads in the forest that lead to two places. Ahead of you is your original destination. The road to the left however leads into a nearby city where nobody will know who you are. The village is your "home", or at least what you've been calling it as you make ends meet with the local inn. The city however...
Though it added some time to your trek you finally arrived at your new destination. The square is bustling with life where music is heard and the aroma of food and spices fills the open air. Nobody will recognize you here, it's perfect. A nearby tavern has an open room, so you decide to head there and sleep for the night. It's cheap but it will suffice for now.
That night the dragon's words swirl around in your mind. Sleep comes easy as you ponder what they mean. You felt something as he spoke to you. Visions of toys and a nursery dance in your head as you dream of returning to the castle after being tuckered out from playing out in the field. It is a much more welcoming feeling this time around, almost as if you truly belong there. The sound of crinkling also lingers in your thoughts as you begin to rouse from your slumber.
You sit up in bed and rub the sleep from your eyes. Those dreams still hung fresh in your mind as you once again questioned what the dragon's words truly meant. Only then did you now start to realize what he was talking about. Why were you always called the "village baby?" He couldn't mean...
All of the storefronts lining the street had their various wares on display. None of them interested you, though. The local armorer was busy helping with a shipment when he'd asked if you were looking to buy. Normally you'd oblige, but not this time. It just wasn't right, and now you were pretty sure why. Weapons just weren't appropriate for someone like you. What is going on? Were you bewitched?
One storefront stands out that catches your eye. The t-shirt and teddy bear emblazoned on the sign beckoned you as it hung over the sidewalk. Rows of children's clothes in many different sizes lined the inside of the shop. Everything from animal-prints to prints of knights riding horses to even prints of dragons and unicorns. These weren't for you-- were they?
The store clerk pays no attention as you browse the shirt rack. None of them fit your tastes except for the cute dragons holding letters of the alphabet. Even though you nearly died by one they are still your favorite. There's even one in your size. You inspect it over yourself in the mirror. It is cute, though, you can't deny that.
After finding a couple of shirt options you make your way over to the sleepwear. The options here shared a similar theme to the other shirts you browsed earlier. Knights, dragons, castles, all things a young boy would like. As you browse you can't shake the feeling of someone watching nearby. Great, now the city's going to know just how childish you are, too.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir, I'm afraid our store doesn't have anything in stock for hatchlings or the like. No-- no offense, of course!"
The shopkeeper is talking to someone behind you, but why did she bring that up? You turn around and are stunned by who is standing in the doorway.
"Hello there, little one."
Your jaw is almost on the floor as once again you stand face to face with the dragon whose castle you were just trespassing in not even a day prior. What is he doing here? Why is nobody panicking?
"I'm sorry for the abrupt intrusion, but I had some shopping to do for a little one of my own. Nice to see you again," he greets you with a sly grin.
You stumble over your own greeting as he makes his way over to you. The shopkeeper seems completely unphased by the scene playing out in front of her. She looks down at the ledger she was working on and continues to write in it. The dragon puts his arm around your shoulder and asks what you've got in your hand. Embarrassed and still somewhat surprised you show him the shirts and pajamas you've picked out.
"Don't you think you'll need something to go with those shirts?" He asks as he guides you over towards a rack with a wide selection of pants and shorts.
To your relief a good portion of them are in your size. The dragon picks out a couple of pairs of pants and shorts each. He ushers you towards the changing room and helps you try out a couple of your outfits you've picked out.
As you try on your bottoms he notes that maybe you should have a size larger. The size fits you well, why do you need to go up? He doesn't give you a clear response other than, "you have to have room to grow," whatever that means.
Your pajamas come next. They too are a great fit, even if the dragon has to be sure himself by checking how stretchy your pants' waistband is. He gives his nod of approval and leads you out to finish your purchase. You pass by a rack with pairs of animal-print briefs and take one in your hand. The dragon takes them back from you and returns them.
"These aren't for you, little one."
As you approach the counter with the coin pouch in hand he instead retrieves money of his own to buy your clothes. This small gesture sets your stomach aflutter. A sheepish smile forms across your face and your head slightly sinks as he takes the bag in his hand and guides you out the door. That not-so-unfamiliar feeling is brewing deep within you once again as you make your way to another shop a few doors up.
You utter your shy thanks to him for buying your clothes as you enter a shop lined with toys of all different kinds. It's vibrant atmosphere and brightly colored walls alone is enough to spark your excitement. There's so much to choose from! Where will you even start?
"Hold on now, little one. This is coming from your allowance, choose wisely."
Y-- your allowance? You heard it and promptly ignored it. There are toys to be played with. Action figures, stuffed animals, building kits, you are in a frenzy trying to decide what you want. The confused looks from other patrons in the store don't even phase you as you quickly take as many things as you can in your arms. Meanwhile the dragon shakes his head and chuckles. That's another lesson you'll have to learn apparently.
"How about this," he starts as he retrieves a stuffed dragon from a nearby shelf, "if you want this, you'll have to earn it, understood?"
It's an easy agreement. Look at all of these cool toys you have now! How hard can it be?
After helping you pay for everything the dragon hands you the stuffed animal he got you. It's fitting in its own weird way. It never leaves your arms as he guides you up the street to one last shop. This one is a little more interesting than the previous two.
A furniture shop? You shoot him a puzzled look as you question why you are there. Once again he gives you a vague response that doesn't amount to much. His cryptic ways are intriguing in the sense that you want to uncover the mystery. He has no trouble keeping you close by as you try to figure it out for yourself.
Most of the furniture in the store is standard stuff you've seen just about anywhere. Chairs, tables, sofas, it's nothing new. Some of it is nicer than others but it doesn't look like what the dragon is focused on. His focus is set on a smaller section towards the back of the store where the color of the walls begin to change to a much lighter blue with the occasional cloud mixed in.
You're greeted to the sight of cribs and high chairs set up on display throughout the floor. It's not like you're exactly that big of a person, but you can't help but notice that they would be perfect for your size. The dragon quietly notes down some options in a notepad he'd pulled from a pouch on his belt. A short while later he mentions that he'll have to send for a delivery and takes your hand to leave.
Once outside you ask what it was he was looking for. It's not like you don't already have an idea but rather are looking for confirmation.
"Just a couple of things I wasn't able to get yet, don't worry," he responds.
A horse is hitched nearby as you and the dragon enter the square once more. As confusing as it is at first notice that he doesn't have wings! How did you not catch this before? You ask about it and learn that sometimes they're born without them. He happens to be one of those kind. You then ask him about what had happened the day before, and why he risked going to a city to find you at all. Once again you receive another cryptic answer in the form of, "you'll know in time."
The journey back to the castle is much faster this time around. Not having to constantly check over your shoulder helps-- and so does the horse. You arrive at an entrance you hadn't seen before. These gates situated at a different point in the castle walls almost directly across from the courtyard entrance you had first entered.
Torches lined the stables; a nice contrast from before. You sneeze as the thick scent of hay hits your nose. After hitching the horse the dragon calls you over to help carry your things. Your stuffed dragon joins your toys in the bag as he hands it to you. Just as you turn to head toward the stairs at the far end of the room you're suddenly lifted up under your seat like a father carrying his toddler.
Corridor after corridor the two of you pass through. The size of the castle alone is hard enough to keep up with, but the labyrinth of hallways and rooms is almost impossible. You finally reach the chamber whose table you'd hidden under after what felt like hours of being carried. The fireplace was lit with a pot of soup cooking on the spit. It smells like chicken noodle, your favorite!
You both continue through the throne room towards a set of doors in the back. Through these is the lord's bedchamber, which is even more impressive than you'd expected.
"Let's get you settled in here."
The dragon's bed is much larger than any you've ever slept in before. Truly it is built for a king. Its comforter is made of a beautiful velvet with patterns of gold and green. Underneath it the sheets appear to be made of silk in the same green color as well. Everything in the room is crafted to perfection and made of the best quality money can buy. Even the giant curtains donning the same style of window as the throne room were free from dust.
As you admire the amazing craftsmanship of the room you suddenly notice a crib similar to one you were looking at earlier near the bed. A mobile featuring various forest creatures slowly twirls above the headboard. The dragon lays out your clothes hiding the cartoon-style barnyard motif on the comforter.
Behind the crib something is stacked neatly on a dresser nearby. The dragon chuckles as you approach to inspect it.
"We want to make sure our little adventurer stays protected, don't we?" He teases.
As he steps in front of you he retrieves a diaper from the top of the stack. You stare at it frozen in place. There are no protests from you. The dream the night before with crinkling, it all makes sense now. Toys, a nursery, every last detail you can recall. It feels right. All good adventurers need some protection, right?
The dragon lifts you up under your armpits and lays you in your crib. He wasted no time in putting your clothes away. Your eyes meet his as he kneels down close to your face. It feels wonderful. Laying in your crib, no worries, no danger, just you and your dragon.
He explains that, like everyone else, he saw through your facade. It had been a long time since he'd had a little one of his own. The part of your meltdown where you told him that you didn't have a real home stood out to him the most. He admits that it isn't hard to tell that you'd never had a chance to grow up and explains that it's why you're looked at the way you are. He wants to change that.
You ask about the skeletons in the courtyard and why they were there. As it turns out the castle wasn't originally his, but they serve as a deterrent for anyone who may try to do what you'd done the previous day. As for how long they'd been there he didn't say.
He hushes you before you can ask anything else. Everything is okay now. When he shows you the pacifier he has in his hand you gladly allow him to slide it into your mouth. Your thoughts grow quiet as you suck on its nipple. His soft gaze relaxes you into a trance-like state. It's what you've always wanted, even if you didn't know it.
"Good little one," he coos repeatedly while stroking your hair.
Your arms raise as he helps you remove your shirt. He sets the diaper at your feet before undoing your pants and sliding them off. Your love of dragons is apparent as he slides your dragon-print briefs down next. The clothes you wore land gracefully in a pile on the floor as he tosses them aside.
The animals on your mobile pass over you in a hypnotic rhythm as the dragon prepares you for a change. You can't take your eyes off of them as he lifts your legs and slides your diaper under your butt. He pulls it up between them and helps readjust you before taping it around your waist.
"All done," he says as you reach for the little deer that prances above you on a string.
His knee is soft as he puts you in his lap.
"What does the sheep say?"
He guides your attention to one of the cartoon farm animals dancing across the front of your diaper. You both laugh as you let our your best "baaa!" and drop the pacifier from your mouth.
"That was my fault," he apologies as he plops it's rubber nipple back into your mouth, "let's try to keep this in from now on."
All you can do is giggle through the pacifier as he retrieves a bib from the same place your diapers are stacked. Its cute knight-cutout design makes you feel big and brave! You roar like a lion while lightly gripping the nipple with your teeth. A grumbling in your stomach earns you an, "uh oh," as the dragon ties the bib around your neck.
"Come on, let's get you fed. You must be hungry after all that."
Back in the fireplace room he sits you on one of the chairs and fetches two bowls. You squirm in excitement as he tilts the ladle to fill them with your favorite meal. Shortly after he fetches a big spoon for him and a feeding spoon for you. The alligator-shaped handle makes you excited for dinner!
The dragon lifts you up and sits in your seat. He places you on his lap and wraps one arm around your waist to keep you from falling. Hints of herbs and spices waft up from the bowl as he scoops some up to feed to you. With a quiet pop your pacifier leaves your mouth as you wait for your meal.
"Alright little one, open wide," he says as he brings it closer to your mouth.
It's delicious! Maybe a little hot, but it's the best soup you've ever had. You bounce with excitement and can't wait for more. He tells you a little story as he feeds you that makes you giggle when he puts the spoon in your mouth. Good thing you have your bib, his storytelling is making quite the mess on you. He wipes your mouth with it with each new bite until your bowl is finally empty.
"Look how full we are," he praises as he pats your tummy.
You're such a good boy eating all of your food! Your dragon is pleased to see how big you are being able to eat it all. He continues telling you a story as he eats his own soup to which you listen with your undivided attention. It's a tale of a knight who has to save the princess from an evil wizard and you can't wait to find out what happens as he tells it. Once he finishes eating though the story will have to wait.
You pout knowing that you won't get to find out if the princess is saved. It's okay though, he reassures you that you'll find out one day. For now though it is getting dark and it's almost time for bed. Your eyes start to feel heavy. The pacifier is like your new best friend as he returns it to your awaiting mouth.
The dragon carries you to the kitchen to fetch your bottle before returning to his bedchamber. Once there he sets you back in your crib and helps you put your pajama top on. He points to the different barnyard animals on them and makes their sounds as you giggle along.
Before long your eyes begin to fall shut. With one last stroke of your head he finishes tucking you into bed and places your stuffed dragon in your arms. The crib bars lock in place and he leaves the room. Your butt crinkles as you curl up with your favorite plush before quickly drifting off to sleep.
"Good morning, my little adventurer."
The bars of your crib slide down, gradually waking you up. Your soaked diaper squished between your legs as you sat up in your crib. Quickly noticing this the dragon retrieves a fresh one from the pile and removes the tapes on your current one.
"Someone was thirsty last night," he says as he retrieves the empty bottle you don't remember finishing from your pillow.
He finishes taping your new diaper on and carries you over to a spot on the floor where your toys from the day before are neatly laid out on a blanket. Even with pants your diaper is very obvious from the crinkling sounds it makes as you crawl around on the floor. There's so many toys to play with, which means more adventures to have. This time, though, under the strict supervision of your new dragon. After all, you have a lot to learn and room to grow. He wants to help you do just that.