Dragons & Destiny: Kyung & Gael's Rebellious Romance

It was a blustery day in the month of March. The skies were gray and heavy with rain, which had started falling only hours earlier. The drops that pelted down on the spring-green grasses would have seemed to be of little consequence to most people—a mere curiosity at best—but for Kyung, today would prove to be a day she would never forget.

"I think I know where it is," she said.

"Where what is?" Gael asked, looking up from the map he had spread out across his lap. "The dragon's lair?" He chuckled lightly, and looked back down at the map once more before adding, "You've been saying that for the last two days."

Kyung rolled her eyes with a smile and nudged his side playfully with her elbow. "Yes, smart one," she teased, "I've been trying to find the dragon's lair for these past two days. You know that now I almost definitely found it."

Gael laughed again, but this time he had no interest in looking down at the map. He kept his gaze fixed on Kyung as he said, "Well then, where is it? You've got me all curious now." He reached over and took hold of her hand and brought it up to his lips so he could kiss it softly. "I want to see this dragon of yours."

Kyung giggled at Gael's words. It was just like him to say something like that! After they had met by chance while traveling here together six months ago, they hadn't left each other's sides since then. Gael was a scholar visiting from another land; he had been fascinated by her stories of the dragons that inhabited these mountains and had begged to travel with her while he studied them further. She knew then that she needed someone to share this adventure with her, and she was relieved when Gael offered himself up as an aid—and then more than that. She smiled warmly at him now and leaned over to place a light kiss upon his cheek before turning away from him and beckoning for him to follow her as she led them deeper into the forest.

They walked until neither of them could hear or see any trace of habitation—not even their own camp—and continued on until they arrived at a clearing surrounded by old gnarled trees whose bare branches were draped in soggy mossy strands of ivy. The trees themselves stood tall above their heads, long dead leaves still clinging tightly to their withered limbs. Kyung smiled softly at the sight of them; how many times had she been here before? This was probably her tenth or eleventh trip here alone over the last three years, but somehow each visit made her feel renewed somehow new again every time she came here. Today though...today was different; today felt more important than all those other trips combined; today she might finally get what she wanted after so long!

"Why are we stopping?" Gael asked softly as he approached behind her and placed his hands upon her shoulders tenderly. His lips brushed against the nape of her neck as he whispered into her ear, "Are you tired already? Do you need some rest?" He pressed his body closer against hers, running his hands along her arms before moving around front so he could caress her waist gently through the fabric of her dress. His fingers dipped beneath the soft woolen folds so they could touch bare skin as he asked breathily, "Do you need me to carry you back to camp?" His voice sounded strained almost desperate even as he tried not to show too much emotion because of where they were standing. How many times had they made love like this? Her back against a tree covered in mossy vines...the smell of damp earth wafting up from between their feet...but none of those previous times could compare with how this moment felt because this time...this time he knew that everything would change between them forever because once they defeated this dragon...once they proved themselves worthy...it would be impossible for him not to ask for more than just simple kisses in public places!