➸◈⑨◈➸

                                                                                           The Garden

            No one knew except for me and Erlan, and it was special in that way. We would give each other gazes and know exactly what the other was thinking. But it wasn't all joy because something was still bothering Erlan and it wasn't me knowing about his big scaly secret.

            It was early morning, so early the sun hadn't risen, and the last star of the night was still visible. Someone knocked on my door and it made shivers go down my spine. Who could want my presence this early? Was it father? He had never ever done that before. But I know it could be someone I had been wanting to visit myself. I had been reading a book which Erlan had suggested all night. It was quite a book if it had managed to keep me up all night and I couldn't wait to retell everything to Erlan, even if he had been the person to recommend it to me.

            “Erlan?” I asked with absolute certainty.

            And as expected came an answer. “Yeah?”

            I rushed to the door with my candle to meet the wizard's beady eyes. Ever since I had found out about the wizards' skill to turn into a dragon-like creature, I had been curious and intrigued, but it did bring a bit of suspicion. Why had he hid it as a secret and how had he come to this skill was still a mystery, so I believed I had every right to be suspicious of him. It did fill me up with guilt though to ask. “Are you alright? Your eyes . .”

            The wizard erased his gaze.“ Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, I’m fine, I just came because I couldn't sleep and . .” What a coincidence, I thought to myself, but an idea shot through, and I grabbed my prince's hand, pulling him throughout the hallways.

            “The library is too dark of a place! I know somewhere better we could go!” I said between breaths. What surprised me was Erlan’s complete obedience, letting himself be dragged throughout the palace. No candle had been lit, and no soul was awake, but for me it came naturally to run through the dark palace, for I knew every corner. I looked over to see two shiny eyes following me. The way his eyes followed mine made me sure he saw perfectly fine in the dark. We came before an entrance that led to the small garden where I spent all my mornings. Erlan would love it here, just as he did the library!

            “The gardens?” He asked with a whisper. I smiled back at him. It was a bit brighter here, but I couldn't see as well, but it seemed no problem to the wizard. I was still holding his hand, but it was he who brought me around every tree before he found a fitting place for a princess to sit.

            “It’s where I come every morning before breakfast. It’s a special place for me,” I said, settling beside him on a tree root that had found its way to the surface.

            “I see why you like it!” He whispered again. “Oh? And why is it?” I teased him, but I had underestimated him.

            “The colour, it's much more colourful here than any other palace in the castle,” he was still whispering, his watchful gaze over the small flower beds. Suddenly, little sprouts popped up and flowers bloomed. I could see them because they glowed in the dark as colour usually did. I gasped. “A present for you, Astra!” Erlan squinted his eyes with excitement. How had he known there were flowers sleeping under the autumn leaves? I looked at him with curiosity, but the wizard flinched back. Why was he still fearful?

            “Erlan, I love your magic!” I hoped to enlighten him.

            “You know the scales aren’t magic,” he said with a whisper. My compliment had upset him.

            It was somewhat frustrating. “Well then, I love your magic and your scales!” The wizard blushed. “And your snout and your feathers, your claws and wings,” I said, so surely, I even convinced myself.

            “It’s what I wanted to talk about,” he said with a growl in his voice and soon after, there wasn't a young man beside me but a scaly beast. I listened. “I couldn't sleep because the beds were too small,” he whined like a kitten, and I laughed. The dragon smiled and pushed me lightly with his muzzle. He was warm as a summer morning, and it made me sleepy.

            “Is the garden a good place for you to rest?” I asked with a yawn. “It might be cold, though . . And the ground might be dirty and rough,” I yawned again, observing the place Erlan had chosen with a little bit more of light that was slowly showing up in the horizon.

            I saw Erlan move his dragon ears and suddenly little flowers came from the ground and soft dry moss formed around us as a giant bed. “It's just fine,” he said with a wink and rested his head in my lap. The moss was impossibly soft, and the flowers made such a sweet aroma that it made me believe in fairy tales again.

            “Is that all that was bothering you?” I asked, petting his feathery ears down.

            Erlan winced; his eyes closed. “I’m scared you’ll find me scary, and I’m scared your father will find out about me.” Erlan Dolos was a gentle soul. I didn't fear him, but my father? What would the king do if he found out? Surely, he’d see past that and remind himself of his wise and gentle advisor.

            “When I’m scared, I come here, it’s where I feel closest to my past mother,” I whispered.

            Erlan sighed with sorrow. “I love this place, because you are closer to me.” I put my hand on his soft neck feathers and I knew what he meant. I was closer to him as a person than I had ever been to the wizard. But as I recognized his blissful smile and his starry blue eyes, I also saw his feelings. This was my prince in his true beauty.

            “I love you the way you are!” I said with a whisper, but it seemed to have fallen asleep, his eyes tucked close, and his four legs wrapped warmly under him, with his wings keeping him and me warm like a blanket.