In the Dragon's Lair

 Danna's POV:

 I slowly opened my eyes, but when I saw the dark rock wall, I immediately sat up wide awake. The moon was shining above me. The characteristic metallic smell of wet stone hit my nose. Instead of thick drapes and white walls, I was surrounded by moss and vines. This isn't the castle! My face froze into a grimace as I remembered the events of the afternoon: I had been kidnapped by the dragon! My stomach cramped and I dug my nails into the moss: I have to get out of here! I thought, when the darkness stirred.

The dragon's head was elongated, with antlers growing from it. The dragon was too big. The space was too small. My heart was pounding in my throat. I couldn't escape. I wasn't raised for this! I took a deep breath and forced my trembling legs to hold me up.

"What do you want from me, Lord of the Forest? Are there not enough wild animals in your woods that you must attack the king's daughter?" I raised my chin, my teeth chattering.

Time passed, but the dragon did not answer. He did not come closer, just stared at me with those piercing eyes, as if he could see through even my most closely guarded secrets.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked again, as beads of sweat ran down my spine.

"Ah, the brave princess who is about to be married to a distant land," purred the dragon in his mountainous voice. "But I too need your pure blood."

"That's impossible!" I replied without thinking. I looked into his eyes in outrage. As we stood there, the realization of what I had said slowly dawned on me.

"Really?"

"You chose the wrong princess!" I licked my lips but held the dragon's gaze. "You know how it is: a chivalrous groom, soft hay, the safety of the corral..."

"You have strange tastes: sweat and urine?" The dragon looked at me from under his lowered eyelids.

I swallowed hard, I couldn't give up now. "Y-yes, we couldn't help ourselves, and well, he has a nice muscular body and..." I involuntarily bit my lip. The stable boy really was beautiful, until he opened his mouth.

"That's really interesting," said the dragon, raising his non-existent eyebrows.

"I warn you, my love has surely set out to find me, and if she finds me, then..."

"He will cut me down?"

"Yes!"

"The stable boy?"

"He's very skilled with a sword!"

"I'm sure he is!" snorted the dragon.

"What do you mean?" I blushed with shame. The dragon's pupils narrowed to cunning slits. I was caught! I felt the air freeze around me as his huge head came closer and closer to me. I could almost feel his sharp teeth sinking into my flesh, but the dragon just smiled, barely an arm's length away from me.

"The stable boy must go. He doesn't have what I or even you need. You feel it too, don't you? He lacks the wisdom of the forest, the depth of the river, not to mention the vibration of magic," gurgled the Lord of the Forest.

"What do you mean by that?" I... I thought you wanted my blood, I said, smoothing an annoying strand of hair from my face, trembling, but not daring to hope yet.

"Yes, I want your blood, your bloodline! I want you to pledge your loyalty to the forest, to protect, respect, and love it, you and every one of your descendants! If you do so, you may rule over the greatest kingdom.

"But that is my father's kingdom," the icy realization crept into my chest. "And my brother... my brother is the heir to the throne!"

 The dragon's POV:

 Night fell quietly on the cave. Princess Danna lay unconscious on the softest moss pillow. I could hardly stay still. Anticipation danced on my nerves like agitated ants while my spies roamed the forest, but they had not yet reported that the search had begun. The princess had been missing for hours, along with her horse, and no one had set out yet. How strange.

When she finally woke up, the moon was already shining into the cavern. She sat up with a start. The light glinted off her black hair, coating her long locks with silver. The Mirrians used to have hair like this. It's a pity that she is the only one who has it now. It's time to greet her; after all, she has to return to the castle by morning.

I stepped forward, but as soon as she saw me, she froze. I could smell the pungent scent of her fear as it evaporated from her, yet she stood up with her head held high.

"What do you want from me, Lord of the Forest? Are there not enough wild animals in your woods that you must attack even the king's daughter?"

Her eyes fluttered nervously, but she held my gaze. Perhaps it wasn't just her hair that resembled the Mirrians, perhaps it was her? Could it be that the forest was waiting for her?

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked again.

"Ah, the brave princess who is about to be married to a distant land," I said, surprising myself with my own purring voice. "But I also need your pure blood."

"That's impossible!" she replied without hesitation. What do you mean?

"Really?"

"You've chosen the wrong princess!" she looked at me defiantly, and I became increasingly certain that my decision was the right one. The girl must have sensed her fate, because she nervously licked her lips before continuing. "You know how it is: a chivalrous groom, soft hay, the safety of the corral..."

"You have strange tastes: sweat and urine?" I looked away, feeling nauseous. Her tastes could use some refinement.

"Yes, we couldn't help ourselves, and well, he has a nice muscular body and..." She bit her lip. Perhaps she senses that I'm not really interested in hearing more.

"That's really interesting," I said, trying to sound friendly

"I warn you, my lover has surely set out to find me, and if he finds me, then..."

"He will cut me down?"

"Yes!"

"The stable boy?!" I'd cut that dandy down too, but maybe it's not such a big deal that it can't be fixed with a little mauling...

"He's very skilled with a sword!"

"I'm sure he is!" I snorted.

"What do you mean?!" She blushed. Oh-ho, what's this? Could it be...? Hope blossomed in my chest. My mouth curved upward as I leaned closer to her. I wanted to see her every feature!

"The stable boy has to go. He doesn't have what you or I need. You feel it too, don't you? He lacks the wisdom of the forest, the depth of the river, not to mention the vibration of magic," I gurgled.

"What do you mean? I thought... I thought you wanted my blood," she said, smoothing a strand of hair vibrating with magic from her face, her hand trembling.

"Yes, I want your blood, your bloodline! I want you to pledge your loyalty to the forest, to protect, respect, and love it, you and every one of your descendants! If you do so, you may rule over the greatest kingdom.

"But that is my father's kingdom. And my brother... my brother is the heir to the throne!