“What do you want with me?!” I hissed as I was plopped down onto a mass of pillows. I curled my legs in close to me as the armoured brute stared down at me through his helmet. The deep cave was chilly, and I was dressed only in a light nightgown.

I glared at the brute, awaiting an answer. I barely saw his eyes blink through the slit of his helmet. As I jumped to my feet, he shoved me down onto the pillows.

“Don’t fight, love. You’ll not be harmed,” came a loud, slithering voice. Whoever she was, she stepped closer and at the sound of her snapping fingers, my guard, and kidnapper, stepped away.

“Who are you?!” I stood up again and glared into the black abyss beyond my lit-up corner of the cave.

She chuckled deep in her throat. “Someone who only wishes to talk,” she spoke as if she’d not sent someone to kidnap me, but rather an impatient parent. “So don’t use that tone with me.”

I clenched my jaw and swung my arm up at the lantern dangling above me. It wavered slightly, the flame flickering unusually for a moment. She hummed, amused sounding. “Oh, sweet little (Y/N), I know you have not the strength, nor agility, nor speed to fight or flee me. So, participate and you’ll be back home in your plush bed.”

I faltered, looking into the abyss towards her voice. “H-How do you—?”

“—Know your name?” she interrupted, amusement hanging to every word. I could almost see the grin on her face. “I know everything about you, my dear. I know your brother has recently left to become a mage; your father is one of the wealthiest nobles in Waterdeep; and you are awaiting a suitor to take your hand in marriage, something that makes you sick to the stomach.” Her voice came closer and from above.

I stared, trembling in shock and cold. “I-I don’t understand…” I looked toward her voice in the void still, my neck craning up.

A soft tut left her lips. “It’s okay. It’s a lot for a small pretty little mind to take in.” A large, scaly talon reached into the light and tapped my forehead gently, the sharp nail not leaving a mark.

“Wh-What are you?!” I stumbled backwards, landing on the pillows.

She sighed. “Humans. So easily scared.” She snapped her fingers again, and a transparent purple hue surrounded the lantern and it floated towards her. I glimpsed green scales and webbing along the top of her head. I gulped; a green dragon so close to Waterdeep hadn’t been heard of since the fall of House Brokengulf. A moment later, the lantern lit up the whole cavern, showing me the large green dragoness, posed mjestically. She looked so elegant and powerful; my heart stopped.

She grinned, large white teeth on display for me. “I am Claugiyliamatar.” I don’t know how long I stared in shock, fear, and despair but it must have been a while. She yawned a number of times and lay down, relaxing her entire body. She twirled a staff with four clouded crystal balls at its four branched ends—seemingly unamused.

I slowly fixed myself and drew in a breath. “H-How are you a-alive?” I stammered, sitting as upright as I could.

Claugiyliamatar smirked and stared at me, deep into my soul. “It’s easy enough. Spread some rumours, work on little-but-timely schemes, and hold such incredible power.” She clicked her sharp talons, and several men came out, nothing but steel bonds on their hands and wrists.

I looked down at my silk nightgown, not wanting to see that. I managed to make out that they were rubbing something on her body, some sort of oil for her scales sparkled in the light.

She hummed. “You dislike this sight? I thought you’d like seeing usually the most respected sex of society humiliated like this.” She grinned wide and touched the nearest one, lifting his head up with the tip of her talon.

I tried to focus on her face. “It’s not something I ever want to see,” I said, not intending to be so blunt but I couldn’t say it back.

Claugiyliamatar considered me for a moment. “Ah. I see. That’s why you will not be married.”

I shrugged. “I’ll deal with it when I must.” I stared at her, gathering myself. “Now. What do you want me for?”

She grinned again and waved her claw, telling the men to leave her, apparently, as they all filed out afterward. “As you know,” she started when all the men were gone, taking a handful of gold that shimmered behind her—which I had not noticed in all my shock, “I know quite a bit about you. I’ve been able to watch you with these.” She rested her claw on the four crystal balls, looking like a toothpick her massive paw—and it’d look mighty in the hand of a wizard. “With these crystal balls, I’ve watched you the longest. For the past ten years, you’ve led the most interesting life. I usually only look at others for a few weeks at most, but I could not stop thinking about you for some reason.”

A shiver ran down my spine that someone had been watching me since I was a child. She must know all my secrets… What if she shared them?

Claugiyliamatar smirked, as if she knew what I was thinking. “Always the worrier. Relax pet, I will tell no one. I just find you interesting. You’re so clever and strong, keeping those fears and thoughts to yourself all the time. And those big plans that you long to unfold. You’d be quiet good at hatching schemes like that. You’ve been running one for the past eight years. It’s impressive having not told anyone. I’ve not told anyone either of course, that’s you plan to hatch.” She inclined her head.

“Thank you?” She made it sound like a compliment, but it was specific too; it made me uneasy. She knew my biggest secret, and now I had to play along with her game. She really did have “incredible power”.

“Not even the drama of Silverymoon has me as entertained as you. You quite like deceiving those close to you, don’t you, Lady (Y/N)?” My jaw tensed at the accusation. I hated hiding things, but I had to. No blessing was ever going to pass my way so I could be truthful, not without grieving.

“Oh, don’t be like that. I only play! Let’s talk. We’re quite similar you know?”

I frowned; how could we be similar at all? She was the master puppeteer; I was hiding truths to survive.

She picked me up, remarkably gentle, from my nest of pillows and placed me on the ground some feet away. “Come along. My servants are gone. No nude men around.” She chuckled, deep in her throat again making her entire scaled body shake.

That relaxed me a little, and I walked with her, her steps slow to let me walk alongside her.

“If things go your way,” Claugiyliamatar started, “you very well could end up with the estate. Lots of riches. One of the most powerful people in all of Waterdeep. And a woman, a single woman with complete control of her fate. How exciting!” she grinned. We walked down a narrow—well narrow with her in it—tunnel, lit at intervals by golden sconces. They looked enchanted, a faint green hue to the flames. Up ahead, I could make out a larger room awaiting us, filled with piles of boxes and some chattering.

Claugiyliamatar was the first to step in, her large head snaking in long before her claws crossed the threshold. Several of her agents, all identical to the one that caught me, stood to attention, armour and weapons shining in the flickering lights of the cavern. I looked around warily, wondering if my kidnapper was among them. They all looked the same, with a green dragon painted onto some part of their armour.

She looked down at me. “They will not harm you. They’re completely under my command.” She smiled smugly.

I looked at her, then the circle of agents standing around the cavern, each face hidden. I nodded slowly and peered at the nearest pyramid of boxes. On the document nailed to it was OIL, something absolutely vital to the people of Waterdeep. I spun at her. “What is this?!” there had been reports that supplies were growing low, surely, she wasn’t hoarding them?!

Claugiyliamatar hummed. “A bit of a scheme I have going. Don’t worry. It all will be returned soon enough.” She flashed her teeth at me with another grin, and I scowled at her. she sighed. “I promise. You’ll get your vital… stuff—” she gestured vaguely at the piles of crates, “—back soon enough. I just need some money to pay my lovely henchmen.” She tapped the nearest agent’s helm.

I clenched my jaw and left it, figuring a fight would only make my predicament worse. “If you say so.”

She inclined her head. “I thought you’d like such a ploy. Wo—Females like us, gaining and holding power. Surely that makes you excited?”

I stared at her. “We are not alike! I lie to survive in a world that’d punish me greatly for the truth. You lie and scheme for fun! To have a power trip!” I crossed my arms and huffed.

Claugiyliamatar went to open her mouth, and a voice came from the side. “How dare you talk to my mother like that?!”

I looked at them, wondering who in Faerûn would call this dragon mother. She was a tall girl, with the most luscious brown locks and shining dark eyes. A shiver ran through my spin. And she slammed her staff down in front of me and it glowed purple, her emotion charging a spell. Her eyes bore into my soul, and I leaned away. She couldn’t have been much older than myself, maybe even a year or two younger.

I blinked, overwhelmed with a mixture of wild emotions. Who was she? Who was her mother? And how was she so pretty?

“Evangeline, please. She’s my guest,” said Claugiyliamatar, gesturing to me and keeping her claw between us to keep her away from me. “The lady I’ve been watching for so long. I’ve just been showing her around. And frankly, that was quite the compliment.” She smiled at me.

Evangeline looked at her as she spoke, then at me. She stepped back, her staff dying down. She drew in a breath and nodded. “I apologize for my… rash entrance,” she avoided my eyes.

I was frozen for a moment before nodding slowly. “It—It’s alright.” I cleared my throat and regained myself. I looked to Claugiyliamatar for an explanation.

“She is my daughter. The first so far. And quite a sweetheart, don’t you think?” she placed a very gentle digit on Evangeline’s shoulder, who inclined her head in acknowledgement.

I nodded, not really understanding or agreeing. “She seems lovely, and uh, very loyal,” I lied and tried to make it sound like a statement.

“Mother saved me from mage hunters. She’s helped train me since I was brought here.” Evangeline smiled lovingly at Claugiyliamatar, and the pieces fit together.

I nodded again, trying to seem genuine. “Ah, I see. How lovely for you both.” I smiled a little.

Claugiyliamatar nodded. “Come along the both of you.” She turned towards the passage and walked again. I strode to follow her, Evangeline very close to me and watching my every move—though with her staff I was sure I had little to no chance at doing anything against either of them. The mighty dragon lay by her hoard of gold and statues and gestured to the nest of pillows. “Come sit. I must get down to business.” She sounded excited, giddy, almost.

I sat on the pillows, tucking in my nightgown to be lady-like in this environment. Evangeline sat beside me, a bit too close. I found my face heating up and my arm tingling where her top touched my skin. I shuffled as subtly as I could to the side and played with my hair nervously.

I saw a smile curl up on Claugiyliamatar’s face and I tried to settle myself. “What did you want me for?”

“As I’ve mentioned, I’ve watched you for years.” She gestured to her for crystal balls. “But now. I want to talk to you in person. Tell me about life in Waterdeep.”

*~*~*~*

She was persistent. Very persistent. She wanted to know everything about life in Waterdeep as a noblewoman. She seemed a bit saddened at the fact I would be married off soon, that I’d have no choice in who they chose.

We met on a weekly basis. First, I’d meet Evangeline by the gates, then she’d walk me to the lair. The first time I was “far too dressed up”, which made her laugh. I liked her laugh. But after multiple trippings and tearings, I settled on never wearing a dress when going to Claugiyliamatar’s lair again.

“Do you enjoy living with Claugiyliamatar?” I’d asked her, holding onto her shoulder as I got off a boulder that breached the rolls of brambles. I held my skirt to avoid any more tears, but by this point, it was so filthy and torn it was barely a skirt anymore.

Evangeline stood still as I lowered myself down. “I do. And I’ll return the favour to her with time.”

I looked at her, set on the ground. “How so?” I followed her as we set off on the worn path again.

“Oh, you know,” she shrugged. “Mother wishes to be a lady like you, but remain a mighty dragon as well. She tried to get a wizard to help her before, but he almost tricked her into being his mind-controlled admirer. That’s where I come in. I’m going to try give Mother what she wants.” She smiled at me.

I blinked, thinking. What if Claugiyliamatar had more than just Evangeline in training? And what if Evangeline wasn’t strong enough to make her fantasy a reality? “That’s very sweet of you,” I settled on. They seemed to care for each other.

Evangeline smiled, embarrassed. “I just think she deserves some kindness. She works very hard to seek enjoyment. I don’t understand why she likes you but, it’s good to see her happy.”

And she was proven right. The regular meetups sparked the idea to have Evangeline pose as a male suitor, using her mother’s gold to impress my parents. The idea was pleasant on the surface, but what if it worked? That was a very elaborate lie. And until my parents died, we’d have half of the estate when married, and need to keep up the act.

“Think about it!” Claugiyliamatar said. “No need to marry a man. We’ll barely need the estate, so you’ll have it all to yourself with your fake husband!” She sounded so enthusiastic. I looked at Evangeline and she matched her energy. My heart fluttered a little in hope, but I couldn’t get ahead of myself.

“What’s in it for Evangeline?”

They both looked at me, then at each other, hesitant. “Well… she’d have access to proper training! Surely your estate must have plenty of books on magic. Your family is full of mages.”

I looked at Evangeline. Claugiyliamatar sounded like she was lying. “Would you really want to be tied to me for the sake of magic? You can’t date or marry anyone else. Separating would have to wait until my parents and other close family die or move away.”

She hesitated again, something felt off. Claugiyliamatar gave her a look and Evangeline shook her head. “I’d be more than happy to be wed to you, my lady.”

I faltered, and a smile formed on my face. I was almost sure she was flirting or proposing something big.

“The biggest scheme I’ll ever pull, right under the nobles’ noses.” Claugiyliamatar chuckled loudly. “How exciting!”