Revising The Past

“So, let me get this straight,” Visenya said, her tone incredulous. “You're saying that you can actually shape-shift into a massive, hundred-foot dragon?”

Lucian nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. “Well, roughly a hundred feet. But I'm still a young dragon, an elite one at that. So, I'll only get bigger with time.”

Visenya's eyes widened in disbelief. “Bigger than a hundred feet?!”

Lucian smirked. “Yes.”

Visenya let out a sharp exhale. “I feel like I hit my head and woke up in some kind of fantasy land.”

“I know this is a lot to take in." Lucian empathized with her disbelief.

“To say the least,” Visenya cut in. “I always knew there was something magical between us, but I never imagined living in a world with shape-shifting dragons. Wait, am I a dragon too?”

Lucian shook his head. “No, you're not.”

Visenya's eyes narrowed, realization creeping in. “So, it was you who set the bed on fire, then?”

Lucian raised an eyebrow, amused. “Me? No, darling. That's not how my fire works. That was all you.”

Visenya's worry became evident, fear clouding her eyes. “What's happening to me, Lucian? I'm scared... What if I can't control it?”

Seeking to console her, Lucian enveloped her in a comforting embrace. “Hey, both you and I are fireproof. You're not a danger to me or yourself.”

"But I could still burn this entire castle to the ground," Visenya's voice trembled with concern.

“I won't let that happen,” Lucian asserted with fixed determination.

“How are you going to stop it, Lucian?” Visenya questioned, her doubt evident in her tone. “I nearly set our bed on fire.”

"But you didn't. We put it out just before it could get out of control. It's no big deal," he reassured her.

"That isn't the point," she replied, breaking away from him and anxiously pacing the room. "Maybe I should see a physician?"

"You don't need a physician," he said firmly. "I told you that we would figure this out together. What happened right before you noticed the fire? Were you upset about something? Did you have another nightmare?"

She nervously drew her lower lip between her teeth, trying to recall the events leading to the incident. "I don't remember... I just sort of woke up to it."

"Perhaps, it was just a bad dream. I can make you some tea before bed to help you sleep better," he suggested.

"You don't understand, Lucian," she said, her voice filled with trepidation. "It's not just the nightmares or the strange things that happen when I'm upset. I can feel this power inside of me, growing... itching... scratching at the surface, desperate to be free. It frightens me."

Lucian took her hand in his, bringing her nervous waltz around the room to a graceful halt. With a gentle embrace, he pulled her close, delicately brushing the strands of hair away from her face as his fingertips traced the warmth of her cheek.

"If I have to fly you to the farthest corners of the world, away from civilization, just so you can unleash whatever it is that you feel stirring inside of you, then I will do exactly that. And I will be right there beside you, every step of the way," he declared, his voice filled with undying devotion.

Her frown transformed into a radiant smile as she intertwined her fingers up the back of his neck, tenderly running them through his hair. "I don't know what I would do in this world without you," she professed, drawing her lips closer to his.

"I want you to always remember you said those words to me," he whispered against her lips, just before they embarked on a deep, passionate kiss that left them yearning for more.

"Lucian?" She gently broke away before crossing that point of no return.

"Hmm?" He hummed, savoring the lingering taste of her on his lips.

"I want to see you... as a dragon," she revealed, her eyes filled with curiosity and longing.

"Are you sure?" He questioned, concern etching his face. "I don't want you to be afraid of me."

"You are my sanctuary. I could never be afraid of you," she affirmed, her voice filled with unshakable trust. "I feel safe whenever I'm with you."

A touch of sadness clouded his face so quickly that she barely noticed it. "I want you to remember those words as well," he told her softly.

They walked outside together, their hands intertwined, as her heart raced with anticipation. He came to a gentle stop, planting a tender kiss on the back of her hand, before releasing his grip.

"Stand right there," he instructed, taking a step back to create a safe distance. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"

"I am," she replied without hesitation, her eagerness shining through.

"Alright..." he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, a colossal, red dragon materialized before her, causing her to gasp in utter disbelief. Her jaw nearly dropped to the ground as her wide-eyed expression gazed up at him, filled with awe and wonder.

"It's still me," he whispered through their mind-link.

"I can hear you in my head," she marveled, her eyes gleaming with amazement.

"Are you afraid of me?" He asked, his tone tinged with insecurity. "I know I must look ghastly to you."

"No..." she shook her head, her voice brimming with fascination. "I think you're absolutely magnificent."

Those words tugged at his heart, flooding him with a rush of bittersweet memories. "You've said that before," he romanticized, slowly lowering his massive head down to her level, his bright, golden orbs locking onto her gaze.

"Then it must be true," she smiled admirably at him, gently stroking her hands along his snout.

"Do you want to... go for a ride?" He offered, a hint of zeal in his voice.

"What? Like... on your back?" She asked, her curiosity piqued.

"That's usually how we do it," he explained, his tone light-hearted.

"Usually?" She repeated, her eyebrows raised. "Have I flown with you before?"

"Many times, yes," he informed her, a fondness in his tone.

"And I don't freak out?" She questioned, a mix of surprise and amusement in her voice.

"No, I think you actually enjoy it," he chuckled, his confidence evident.

"Well..." she hesitated, a slight nervousness in her voice. "If you say so."

"You don't have to..." he started to say.

"No," she interrupted adamantly. "I trust you."

He lowered his wing for her, observing her carefully as she gracefully climbed onto his back.

“Hold on tight and no matter what, do not let go,” he instructed, his words filled with caution.

“Alright…” Her voice trembled as he stood up to his full height and gracefully lifted off the ground.

She sucked in a startled breath, clenched her eyes closed, and buried her face in his leathery skin.

“Now, how will you ever see the view with your eyes shut?” He playfully teased, a hint of mischief in his voice.

She cautiously opened one eye, allowing her gaze to wander and behold the soft, aureate glow in the sky as the sun began its majestic ascent. Slowly, she opened her other eye and straightened her posture, eager to fully immerse herself in the breathtaking panorama that surrounded her.

In that moment, she realized that her fears were unfounded, and this experience was far from the daunting ordeal she had anticipated. “Wow…” Her tone overflowed with wonder and delight. “It’s so… beautiful.”

There was only one place Lucian longed to take Visenya, and although he risked triggering unpleasant memories from the past, he saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rewrite their story.

He flew her to the same mountain he had taken her to over a decade ago, landing right at the very spot where they had shared their first kiss. This time, he let her gracefully climb down from his back without any tricks or games, no showing off, and certainly no arrogance to ruin their beautiful moment.

Lucian gently took Visenya's hand, guiding her to the breathtaking view ahead. The sky painted a mesmerizing tapestry of vibrant colors, as the sun slowly awakened from its slumber. Lucian sat down at the edge of the mountain, cradling Visenya in his lap, as he showered her neck with tender kisses that spoke volumes of his love and devotion.

"This must be the most breathtaking sight I've ever laid my eyes upon," she exclaimed.

"It's alright," he replied, gently sliding her robe off her shoulder, his lips continuing to leave a trail of tender kisses.

"Just alright?" She questioned. "Are we looking at the same enchanting view?"

"No," he whispered, his finger caressing her chin, guiding her gaze to meet his. "I'm looking at you... and you, my love, are the epitome of breathtaking beauty."

A rosy blush tinted her cheeks as she shyly responded, "You have quite the way with words this morning."

"I can't help it," he confessed. "You're the woman of my dreams... a dream come true."

He meant those words with every fiber of his being. Regardless of what fate had in store for them, he wanted her to know how he truly felt about her. He needed her to understand the depth of his love, a love she should have known all along.

His sentimental words turned her into putty in his hands, as she leaned into his kiss, unable to bear the distance between their lips any longer. She turned around to face him, gracefully wrapping her legs around his waist as he hiked up her silk robe.

In the midst of the kaleidoscopic sky, Lucian made passionate love to her, and as they both reached climax, he could have sworn he glimpsed a silhouette of a blazing eagle hovering behind her. However, it vanished in the blink of an eye, and he dismissed it as a figment of his enraptured state.

She rested her head against him, her hand gravitating to her favorite spot along his chest. A contented smile played on her lips as she pondered if she had ever been this happy, if she had ever felt so complete in all her life. Her gaze met his, her beautiful smile so radiant that he couldn't help but mirror the sentiment. Seeing her this way brought him immeasurable joy, and he longed to spend every day for the rest of his life basking in the glow of her breathtaking smile.

"I love you, Lucian," she whispered, her voice filled with pure adoration.

She didn't just say it with her lips; she expressed it through her doting eyes and unguarded heart. Time seemed to stand still for him, his heart doing somersaults inside his chest as he swallowed down that unfamiliar lump in his throat. It was only when those beautiful words left her lips that he truly grasped how much he yearned for her love and affection.

"I loved you first," he finally confessed.

He held her for a while as they savored the view and relished in each other's company. Then, he flew her back to the castle, playfully chasing her towards the grand doors of the castle, until he inevitably caught up to her and hoisted her over his shoulder like a caveman. Laughter filled the air as they engaged in their boisterous play, punctuated by his sporadic tickles that left her squirming in his grasp.

"Visenya?" A voice called out, interrupting their merriment.

She swiftly turned her head, catching sight of the mysterious man standing at their doorstep. Lucian came to a sudden halt, his stance solid like a formidable wall. Visenya began to wiggle out of Lucian's hold, though he was reluctant to let her go at first.

He gently placed her down on the ground, firmly holding her hand, as he and the unidentified man locked eyes and burned a hole of pure hatred through one another. But as the man's gaze returned to Visenya, something shifted. His expression softened, and tears appeared to well up in his eyes, leaving her curious about the cause of his distress.

"Visenya..." the man uttered once more.

"Do I... know you?" She asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

The question clearly caught the man off guard, evident from the perplexed look on his face.

"What do you mean?" He responded, his eyes wide with disbelief. "It's me, Visenya... It's Caspian."