A Dragon’s Tale

Ethan sat in the captain's cabin of the Argo trying to remember everything he'd learned about electricity and lightning. He knew electricity was nothing more than the flow of electrons from one place to another, and that electrons were negatively charged.

He knew the earth was negatively charged, which meant it had an excess of electrons. In a thunderstorm, the clouds accumulate a negative charge at the bottom. This negative charge creates a powerful electrical field that repels the electrons on the earth's surface, temporarily making the earth positively charged.

Then when the charge imbalance was great enough, lightning would form as the electrons flowed from the negatively charged cloud to the positively charged earth.

Thus, if he wanted to use electricity as a weapon, he needed to... Absorb electrons? That would make him negatively charged, and then when he hit someone the electrons would flow through them as electricity. He hoped it would hit like a Taser or stun gun, but to absorb electrons, he needed to make himself positively charged.

Great, how do you do that?

He was sitting there trying to figure it out when he heard a knock on the cabin door.

*Knock, knock.* Alana's voice rang in his head.

"Come in."

She opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.

Objectively speaking, Alana wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world. From Ethan's perspective though, no one else came close. Well, maybe Taloni or Beth, but no one else.

Her chocolate-brown hair fell in cascading waves down her shoulders back. She had tied a lock from each of her temples so they met in the back of her head. The style allowed for an unobstructed view of her face, and what a sight it was to behold. Her lips, nose, eyes, and chin were models of feminine perfection, though he might be biased. Her cheeks were sun-kissed and possessed a smattering of subtle freckles.

Her frame was petite and tiny, though she had all the proper curves in all the best places. Her legs weren't excessively long, but her hips were wide and her waist narrow. Her breasts weren't very large -- maybe a full B-cup -- but they were the perfect shape and very perky.

Ethan sighed.

She cocked her head to one side. "What?"

"I was just enjoying the view." Ethan replied while looking into her eyes; they were a rich hazel color and full of warmth and kindness.

Her cheeks went slightly pink and she gave him an embarrassed smile. "Thank you."

"Oh, I meant the door." He said in a deadpan 'I'm perfectly serious' tone. "The carving is exquisite."

Alana looked behind her at the door, which was completely plain and unadorned by carvings, or anything else for that matter. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it and her smile went from one of embarrassment to an odd mix of contentment and confusion.

"You're the most unique man I've ever met."

"Thanks. I think?"

"It was a compliment. My parents always told me that the world was full of men who would try to take advantage, but there were a few good ones. You're one of the good ones."

"I'm glad you think so." Ethan said, though the fact that he didn't agree obviously showed on his face because she frowned.

"It's true." She said. "No matter what you think, it's true."

"Again, I'm glad you think so."

Alana walked over to the bed and sat down next to him. "What's so wrong with you Ethan? Why are you so convinced you're not a good man -- or dragon?"

"Beth." He said simply, recalling what happened to her.

"Everyone makes mistakes." She countered. "What if we were fighting for our lives and someone was trying to kill Rachel? Let's say I shot an arrow at the man but missed and because I missed, he was able to kill her. Would you blame me?"

"Of course not, but would you blame yourself?"

She nodded. "I see your point, but it doesn't change mine."

"True." He went over everything that had happened since coming to this world. The first day with Alana had been wonderful. After that, his life had done nothing but unravel, taking hers with it.

"I wish I could go back in time." He said finally.

"Oh?"

"To when I first came here." He continued. "It would've been so easy to lie to Hermair and say I was a dragon, not a man. If I'd only known... then he wouldn't have pursued me, you'd still have your staff farm, and we would've never gotten mixed up in all of this."

"That's not what I would change." She replied.

"Oh?"

She shook her head. "I learned what kind of man you are in those first two days. You matched wits with Drousin to save my life, and then you charged a dozen armed men to protect me -- a girl you'd just met -- and got shot twice doing it. Yes, I lost many things, but I wouldn't change that for the world."

"Then what would you change?"

The wood elf was silent for a moment before answering. "Nothing, I wouldn't change a thing."

"Nothing?"

She shook her head. "The only thing I would even consider changing is Beth's death. But even that is... tricky. Our choices define us, Ethan. Good or bad, we are forged into who we are by our actions. To wish to go back and change them is to wish the people around us were different.

"For example." She turned to face him more. "You could've lied to Hermair, but what kind of a person lies without a very good reason? Yes, it would've saved you some trouble, but it would mean you aren't the honest man I know you are. I might wish that we didn't decide to save Beth and her brother in the forest, but that would mean you aren't the selfless person you are."

She smiled. "I could wish for any one of a thousand changes, but all of them would mean you wouldn't be the man I know -- and love."

He put his arm around her and pulled her into a hug. "It's amazing how much heart you have packed into that tiny body."

She smiled as she hugged him back. "Your heart isn't any smaller."

"Man, with you and Rachel tag-teaming me, you're making it hard for a guy to wallow in self-pity."

"Good." Alana pulled away from the hug and looked at him adoringly.

She had an errant strand of hair that had fallen out of place in their hug. He reached up and gently brushed it out of her face. As he did so, the tips of his fingers brushed her cheek so lightly that he wasn't sure he made contact.

She remedied that.

She adjusted her head a fraction so his fingertips made solid -- though light -- contact with her cheek. He wasn't sure, but he thought he heard a soft sigh escape her lips at the momentary contact.

She was perfect.

He was sure of that.

Despite everything that had happened, despite everything he had put her through, she was still here, still in love with him. She was without a doubt the kindest, most loving woman he had ever met. She was also courageous, devoted, clever, and incredibly beautiful.

She was perfect.

He stared into her rich, hazel eyes for several seconds before speaking.

"I love you Alana."

"And I you." She seemed to radiate happiness for several seconds before getting a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She stood up, looked at the large bay window, and then said with barely suppressed laughter. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to jump out the nearest window..."

He laughed, then stood up and grabbed her around the waist, ostensibly to stop her. She pretended to be fighting to get at the enormous bay window. When she didn't stop, he let go with one hand so he could tickle her. She shrieked in surprise and then started trying to get away in earnest. They wrestled for almost a minute with Alana trying to get away as he tickled her mercilessly.

Finally, she managed to break away but nearly fell over laughing. He was ready to go after her, but had to clutch his side he was laughing so hard at her lack of grace. They both took a few moments to catch their breath and they smiled into each other's eyes.

For a few seconds, life was perfect

Then Ethan remembered something that would likely throw a massive, battleship-sized wrench into their relationship.

"What?" She asked.

"Taloni." He said. The merry mood faded slightly but didn't leave altogether.

Her smile faltered but remained nevertheless. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bond with her. I wasn't even awake when it happened."

"I know, but the question remains: what now?"

"I don't know." He said. "She made a really good case that bonding is just as binding as marriage, maybe more so. I never planned to be married to two women, I just find myself...

"Semi-married to two of us?" she offered.

He nodded. "If I wasn't bonded to Taloni, I'd get down on one knee with a ring right now."

Alana looked very confused. "Why in Illuminar's name would you do that?"

"It's how we propose marriage where I come from."

Alana's mouth fell open. "You would marry me?"

Suddenly Ethan felt a little embarrassed, though he wasn't sure why. "Uh, yeah. I mean, assuming you were willing."

Her smile would've cracked the room in half if it was any wider.

"But what about Taloni?" Ethan asked.

Her smile faltered a bit, but only a bit. It seemed nothing could dampen her spirits. "I don't know. The Fey take bonds even more seriously than the elves do. I'm sure in her mind you're already married."

"Exactly." He nodded. "I just don't know what to do about it."

"We can't ask her to leave." Alana said. "I remember what it felt like when I left so you could marry Beth; it almost killed me. Probably because of our bond, but at times it was physically painful. If she is as smitten with you as I think-- "

"She is." He said.

He didn't understand why she was so smitten, but she certainly was.

"--then I can't ask her to do that." The wood elf smiled wryly. "I've been through it and it's terrible. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Well, maybe Lord Delmar, but I certainly wouldn't wish it on a sweet girl like Taloni."

"Yeah." He nodded. "I could feel your pain over our bond and -- Lord Delmar excepted -- I wouldn't wish that on anyone either."

"And just so we're clear, I'm not going anywhere." Alana gave him a look that dared him to disagree with her... and promised unending pain if he did.

"I wouldn't dream of you leaving." He said fervently. "If I never went another day without seeing you, I'd be a very happy man."

"Thank you." She smiled and blushed slightly. "That just leaves one option..."

"Which is?" He guessed what she was getting at, but couldn't believe she would suggest it.

"You're already semi-married to two women. I suppose you could be fully married to both of us."

"You're serious?" He raised his eyebrow.

She hesitated for a moment, then said "I am." He could feel her emotions over their bond and oddly, she did seem like she wasn't too bothered by it. Maybe a little, but not much. It was hard to tell though.

"And you're okay with this?" He asked to be sure.

"Do you see another option?" she asked.

"No, but there might be one."

"I don't see it." She said. "I'm not going anywhere, and we can't send her away. I just don't have the heart; not after going through it myself. So if we're both staying..."

"I'm surprised you're suggesting that."

"Why?" She shrugged. "I mean it's not common but it certainly happens. I don't think most women would prefer being in a polygynous marriage, but they don't seem to hate it either."

"Wow, culture shock. It's been illegal for like... thousands of years where I come from."

"There aren't any laws against it here." She said. "Some of the rich nobles and lords have multiple wives since Ithlan set the precedent. It's not common, but it's definitely not rare either."

Ethan just stared at her.

His ex-fiancée had been the most jealous woman he'd ever been with. She would get upset if he had a short conversation with an attractive woman. Alana was the opposite. She wasn't jumping for joy at the idea but still suggested it for Taloni's sake.

He cocked his head to one side.

She was the most giving, selfless person he had ever met with no exceptions. She seemed to put everyone else first and herself last. She was the one who told him to marry Beth after--

"Wait." He said. "If this was an option, why didn't you say something before I married Beth?"

Alana looked at him like he had just said that dragons were cuter and fluffier than newborn kittens. "Because Lord Borden is a Lord; don't you remember what he said on the topic?"

"Right." He nodded.

Lord Borden's threat had been vague, but quite scary nevertheless.

She looked away from him as she continued. "I... I don't want to lose you though, and I just couldn't hurt Taloni. I guess -- if I had to -- I could share you."

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" He asked as his jaw went slightly slack.

"By being the kind of man who'd risk his life for a complete stranger -- twice -- the day we met."

He smiled and offered a hug and she fell into it at once. Surprisingly, she didn't seem too upset. Her hair smelled like the forest after a spring rain.

He didn't know what to think.

There was a part of him that loved the idea of course. What red-blooded male wouldn't love the idea of sleeping with two different women with the full knowledge and consent of both? Just the idea was enough to make the blood rush to his cock. And yet...

He sighed.

He wanted a partner in life. He wanted someone who would always have his back and whom he could trust completely; someone who would be there to celebrate the triumphs and help him through the defeats. He wanted to be the same for her. He supposed he would have to be that for two women.

He knew Alana was right.

Sending Taloni away would shatter her heart into a thousand pieces. They couldn't do that to her, and he really didn't want her to leave anyway.

"About the only thing I can think of is not trying to kill the dragon." He said, but there was no conviction in his voice. "Then she wouldn't be able to come with us."

"Could you really do that?" Alana asked as she snuggled closer into the hug.

He shook his head. "No, I couldn't."

She sighed. "You're a good man Ethan--" she pulled away from the hug so she could look at him. "I just realized I don't know your last name."

He summoned his best British accent. "The name is Ejder; Ethan Ejder."

She looked confused. "Wait, Ethan is your middle name?"

He then had to explain about James Bond's famous introduction.

"You come from a strange world."

"So do you."

They both chuckled.

Ethan looked around the small cabin trying to figure out how two wives would work. "This could get complicated."

"What?"

"I mean, with you and Taloni." He said evasively.

"Oh?" she had a sly smile on her face. "What specifically is going to be complicated?"

She was baiting him; well two could play at that game. "I meant as far as sleeping arrangements go. I mean, where will you be during my wedding night with Taloni?"

"Maybe I'd like to watch?" Alana said with a sensual and playful smile.

The moment the words left her mouth, her eyes doubled in size. She clapped a hand over her mouth, turned beet red, and turned so her back was to him. At the same time, he felt a flash of both arousal and massive embarrassment over their bond.

He was shocked, but mostly amused and curious. "Something you want to share with the whole class?"

She shook her head. "Nope; I'm good. Please forget I said that?"

"I don't know, that was pretty memorable." He said, though he regretted it as soon as he had. Their bond had been flooded with embarrassment, now it was completely subsuming any arousal she had previously felt.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Uh-huh." She nodded, though she didn't turn back around to face him. "I originally came in here to tell you that we've almost reached Arcanum."

"Okay, thanks."

She opened the door, stepped out, and almost turned to look at him, but didn't. He didn't need their bond to know she was still very embarrassed. The door closed and left Ethan with one burning question.

Why was Alana turned on by the idea of watching him in bed with Taloni?