Monica sighed too. "I'm not overly given to having heart-to-heart talks with scaly monsters."

The dragon snorted in what she thought was amusement. It was the first sign of humor she had seen the creature display. "Do you think I talk to a lot of humans?"

"Well...no," Monica admitted. "I imagine a lot of people flee in terror before you can get in a word."

The dragon let its head drop down, resting its chin against the ground. "You are more right than you know, princess." It paused, adding, "But you still have not answered me."

"I..." Monica began.

"Princess??" a voice called. "My lady??"

She glanced deeper into the forest, spotted a moving form, and then looked back towards the dragon. It was gone. A panting, dishevelled Luther ran towards her. His black hair was tousled and hung in spikes over his eyes.

"M-my lady!" he gasped, skidding to a stop and resting his hands on his knees. "What are you doing out here? So close to..." he gave the Crevasse a dirty look as he panted.

"Surely you don't share in the ridiculous rumors of the villagers, Luther?" Monica asked calmly, with another glance to confirm the dragon's absence. 

"No...m'lady." Luther hesitated. "Not entirely, at least. But you must admit it is far from the castle, and it isn't good for a princess like you to be alone."

Monica shrugged her delicate shoulders. "I've been coming here for years, and I haven't been kidnapped - or eaten - yet."

Luther frowned, and he seemed about to continue his scolding, but she cut him off. "Why did you follow me?"

"My lady, I admit that I have been suffering some distress after you kindly allowed me an interview. While I cannot directly go against the order from your father prohibiting a fire, I have ordered the maids to attend you," Luther declared.

Monica's eyes widened. "Oh, you didn't have to!" she exclaimed. "I've done without them for years."

"Humbly, princess, it isn't whether or not you need them that matters. It is simply improper for a king's daughter to do duties that her father is hiring servants for." Luther brushed his hair out of his eyes and straightened up into his normal rigid posture.

Why is he bothering to do this now? I've been neglected for years. Has he really been unaware of my situation all this time? Monica wondered. She was not really sure of the servants' hierarchies within the castle, and she began to realize that the man she had been blaming might not have been the problem.

"My understeward had assured me that you were being well taken care of, along with your sisters," Luther said, his eyebrows drawing low over his eyes. "If I may, m'lady, I would like to have you join me in an interview with him."

"I'd...I'd be glad to," Monica said, not even really sure what she was saying. Luther was not the head servant for her wing? It had been someone else all along? Oops. She had been unconsciously blaming the wrong person for her troubles. "Thank you for checking on me, Luther."

"It was my pleasure, m'lady," the steward replied, looking askance at the chasm beside them. "Now please, do come back with me to the castle. It is simply not safe for you to be out here."

Monica stared into the deep, deep canyon. She was thinking of the dragon, and its words. Perhaps it was better if she left it alone for today. She could return tomorrow when she was better prepared to answer it, and the question it persisted in asking. She half-smiled to herself. Already, she was growing an interest in the massive creature. An idea for a research paper on dragons had caught her fancy. Maybe a story was not the only way to catch a prince. Princes probably loved scientific, informative essays too!

"My lady?" Luther asked, seeming concerned.

"I was just thinking." Monica smiled absently at the steward and strolled past him into the forest.