Dragonborn: Mated to the Dragon king

Aria settled in the caravan, alone and lost in her thoughts. She gazed out the window, taking one last look at the place she once called home. Now, she was moving into a new one, or rather, a lair; the enemy's lair.

The caravan began to move, and as it rolled through the town, Aria noticed the townsfolk had gathered cautiously outside their homes. Their eyes followed her as the caravan passed by, filled with emotions she could hardly bear to witness. Aria could see on their faces gratitude, sadness, sorrow and mostly despair. The king's eleventh daughter had willingly sacrificed herself to save them all.

As they journeyed toward the outlands where the dragons waited, Aria's thoughts wandered. Today was her birthday, yet here she was, offering herself to the dragons. A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. What a gift.

Curiosity began to creep in. How did dragons live? What do they eat? Did they feast on raw human flesh or prepare it like one would a meal? Did they live in sophisticated dwellings or did they live in filthy caves?

Aria tried to see the positive side of this journey. In the short run, she would finally have the answers to these questions. In the long run... well...

Her thoughts were interrupted when the caravan came to a stop, and one of the guards who accompanied her announced their arrival. The door opened, and a guard helped her down. Aria straightened her dress and looked up. A short distance away stood her father, his guards, and—!

Her eyes grew wide at what she saw; Three massive dragons standing in the distance, radiating raw power. The dragon she and Livia had encountered in the forest was nothing in comparison to these.

Her chest was filled with a flood of emotions. Amongst them were terror, awe, disbelief, and surprisingly, a flicker of excitement.

King Rodric turned to look behind him and saw his daughter. He approached Aria, his sorrowful eyes meeting hers briefly. Rodric noticed how beautiful she looked, and that she hadn't worn the customary white robe, but he didn't care about that.

"Aria..." he muttered and she feigned a smile.

"Don't worry about me, Father. I'll be fine." She assured him, but Rodric was not convinced.

He was deeply afraid for her life and well-being. He had seen glimpses of the horrors humans endured under the dragons' rule, and it was certainly not a bed of roses.

Rodric said nothing. He swallowed his urge to cry and took her hand. They exchanged deep stares, as though communicating with each other's eyes before Rodric took her to Emrys.

"So, this is Aria..." He uttered with a sinister chuckle.

The three dragons behind him let out a low growl as they lowered their heads to scrutinize her. Aria felt her body grow cold. She had never been this close to a dragon before, let alone three. And who was this strange-looking man?

Aria did not know of the Dragonborn's ability to take human form and shift between forms at will. She had initially thought that Emrys was a human with privileges amongst the dragons. Perhaps, a former slave who had gained favor in their sight.

But when she met his eyes...

Aria immediately realized that he was no human. His eyes blazed with a fiery amber shade, and his hands were a bit larger than that of a normal human male, with sharp, retractible claw-like nails! She hadn't noticed this at first glance until she took a good look at him.

He was eerily handsome and incredibly tall with sharp masculine features, but beneath that facade was a monster within.

"You have become quite infamous amongst our kind."

"Are...you a dragon?" Aria asked in a quiet tone, ignoring his words.

Emrys chuckled deeply and his amber eyes emitted a subtle glow as he began to take on his dragon form. Aria watched with wide, terrified eyes as what was once a man now become an enormous beast.

Emrys, now in his dragon form again, let out a loud hiss of smoke that filled the air. This was followed by a deep, guttural laugh.

"Yes, little human. I am a dragon. Emberclaw!" the dragon spoke with a raspy reverberating voice.

He unfurled his large wings, and without warning, grabbed Aria in his clawed hand and took to the skies. Aria, startled by what had happened, let out a loud shriek and struggled to free herself, but to no avail. Emberclaw's grip around her form was tight and unyielding.

The other dragons followed, their powerful wings slicing through the air as their roars filled the heavens. It was so loud that Aria had to shield her ears tight.

"Aria...!" King Rodric cried at the top of his lungs. He was terrified to see his daughter go in such a manner.

"Father...!" Aria cried back desperately, as she was being lifted higher up in the skies.

As they ascended higher, the king and his guards below shrank until they disappeared beneath the clouds. Despite her fear of heights, Aria felt no fear of falling because she was certain the dragon would not let her go.

Aria's eyes widened in awe as she took in the vast expanse surrounding her. It was a breathtaking sight, unlike anything she had ever known. For a brief moment, her wonder overshadowed her fears, and as she gazed around, she caught sight of Eldoria in the far distance.

Although she was terrified of the height, Aria wasn't afraid of falling because she knew the dragon would not drop her. She looked at the vast expanse around her in awe. It was unlike anything Aria had ever seen in her life. As she looked around with wonder, forgetting her fears for a moment, she suddenly caught sight of Eldoria in the far distance.

From that vantage point, it was a breathtaking marvel. The clusters of buildings and the intricate patterns they formed from above were mesmerizing. Her eyes soon found the palace; the tallest and grandest structure in the entire kingdom.

That was her home, the place where she had spent her entire life. The sight filled her with a deep sadness, knowing she may never see it again. Though Aria strained her neck to keep it in view, it began to ache, and the palace gradually disappeared into the distance...