I had started working there as a teenager, trying to make some extra coin for my family. I wasn’t keen on it, I’ll admit. It was so hot and smoky, and it stunk so bad… at least one of my senses was always being abused when I was at work.

But the pay was nice.

And to be honest, I feel bad for him. All day, every day, chained up and forced to be the fire and bellows of their furnaces.

I know they pampered him. Subdued him with spells and potions. Offered him the best of food and trinkets to keep him happy.

But he was a dragon. A beast. A mighty animal that would’ve been worshipped and feared outside this underground city. Surely he must mourn that freedom, if he’s even aware it exists… To get out there and use his wings for once. Hunt and pillage and conquer as a wild dragon should.

Yet here he was… smelting steel for weapons and armour. All day, every day. He’d been here for longer than I’ve been alive.

It seemed beyond cruel. Even if he would eat us first without hesitation if he was let loose. That was natural, what he was built to do. Not this slaving away for us, the heart and soul of Gracklstugh.

I think that was the worst part, seeing him day-in-day-out, thinking about him every night. Bringing food and treasure to him, pampering him with the best of things throughout the day, never set my mind at ease.

“You can’t worry about it too much, sweetest,” Mother said as I limped to my seat at the table. “It’s not your place to worry over it. That’s the council’s job. They do what is best for everyone. Dragon included.” She served me my dinner and kissed my head.

I stared at my meat and spuds. They didn’t worry about him, though. He was the fuel, fire and bellows for their forging. That was all he ever was. “And what if he snaps? The first thing he’ll do is lash out at us! Even the little guys like us!”

“Obviously it won’t get to that,” Jack, my brother, said, leaning his hand on the pommel of his sledgehammer. He worked in the mines below. The mines that supplied the metal for the forges. The forges the Wyrmsmith heated. “They have their fancy mages and shit.” He got up from his seat to sit across from me, darkened fingers locked together on the varnished oak table.

Mother tended to the stove, pretending not to listen. I knew by how she purposefully, slowly and repeatedly scraped the serving spoons on the pots that she was dawdling.

I crossed my arms and huffed. Neither was listening to me. I saw daily how much more alert he was getting. How much quicker his gaze landed on me. How his tail twitched, and his nostrils flared when I placed cuts of meat in his bowl or a new trinket in his hoard. Each movement happened swifter than the day before and more often. His body shifting more with each week—stretching his too-small wings and flexing his talons as he recognised me.

Their hold on him was weakening. Did the council themselves know though?

Nothing eased my thoughts. No amount of “pampering” him daily helped. One day, he’d do more than some twitching and my bones would be his toothpicks.

Filling his bowl was always the worst part. Sometimes he was gone when I left him food, tending to the forges, and expected his breakfast or dinner or whatever after his hard work.

This was one of the times I was slower, or he was back quicker, because I felt a sweltering breath on my back and sweat immediately soaked my spine. The hairs on my neck stood on end, and I slowly turned around. The portcullis landed with a loud clang, shaking my body, and a gigantic shadow fell upon me with two ground quaking thuds.

He was there. Hundreds of tons of red scales, fat, and unused muscle staring at me with huge narrow pupils.

My blood ran cold, and my limbs trembled. My fingers dropped the giant pot of meat I had held clanged and bounced on the floor. But his eyes stopped me from hearing it. He had my full, undivided, terrified attention.

The Wyrmsmith slowly tilted his head and sniffed at me, his nostrils sucking in my tunic, and body. I stumbled onto my knees. He stared at me for what felt like a long time. I felt my lip quiver.

I was about to be his snack. And nothing was going to be left of me. No crumbs. Just my grieving mother and brother. It would be quick, at least.

“You are small,” he finally said. He voice was rather raspy, unused, but youthful.

I was startled out of my silent trembling state. “Wh-What?”

Wyrmsmith sat down his huge body, my body leaving the ground and landing back down. loose coins and trinkets hopped in their piles and slid off. He smiled at me. “I know you! You bring me tasty food and sparkly treasure!”

I nodded, trying to get myself stable. “Y-Yeah. That’s me. Just… doing my job to keep the mighty Wyrmsmith happy and well-fed.” I bowed; arms outstretched on the ground. My leg went numb from the pressure it was under.

He tilted his head again, the chained collar around his neck jingling. “Well… thank you for serving me. The meat is always so tasty and tender.” He nodded, chain clinking again.

I looked up at him and straightened up onto my knees. He had similar shackles on his ankles. They were all connected to the ground of his nest, but the length of the chain let him cover enough distance to get to the forges and back. If he tried to fly though, the length of the chains wouldn’t be short enough to stop him from destroying the Pillars and burying the entire underground city further.

“You do us a great service, Wyrmsmith,” I inclined my head.

He hummed and leaned his head down as far as he could, holding it a few feet above my head. I tensed. It was all over.

“Themberchaud.”

I looked at him. “Huh?”

“That’s my actual name. Themberchaud.” He smiled innocently.

“I’ll remember that for next time.” I had no idea why he was telling me. Maybe I was the first person he’d talked to? The first to listen to him?

Themberchaud looked around. “Here. Take this.” He offered me a filigree bracelet with a ruby set in it, sitting in his giant scarlet paw. “It’s special!”

I stared at it. I’d never seen something so beautiful… so expensive.

And he was offering it to me.

I turned my head up to look up him. His eyes were wide, innocent, persistent. “Take it!” He nodded eagerly and dropped it in front of me.

I snapped my head down to look at it, my mind and face numb. “Thank you.” I smiled at him and bowed, picking up the bracelet carefully.

Themberchaud’s tail tapped on the ground in delight and his clapped his huge meaty hands. “Wonderful!” He moved himself aside and scooped me up in one hand. He hobbled over to the tiny door I came through. “You’ll come visit right? Talk to me again?” she turned me to face him.

His big golden eyes looked so sweet, so lonely. “Of course. If I’m allowed to linger a bit, I will,” I smiled. Deep down, my heart ached for him. I knew that feeling, that wanting for a friend. A connection. “We’ll talk as soon as possible, Themberchaud.”

He beamed and placed me by the door. I heard some footsteps come close to the ledge overlooking Themberchaud’s nest. The mages had returned to make sure he was sedated. I limped forward and closed the barred door behind me. “I’m (Y/N) by the way,” I whispered, though the mages couldn’t hear me.

Themberchaud nodded. “It was wonderful to meet you, (Y/N).”

As I made my way home, I stared at the bracelet. It’s special! kept ringing in my head. How was it special? Why did I deserve it?

Should I sell it?

That thought kept whirling around in my head. All my money issues could be dealt with in one go. I could be independent for once in my life. Be seen as a whole person in society and to my mother. I would only ever be her disabled child. Now I could be free of that. Be my own person.

But those eyes. Those big, wide, hopeful golden eyes…

I clutched the bracelet to my chest and stopped by our house door. I couldn’t sell it. It meant something to him.

For now, I would keep it and hide it.

Mother was frantic about me when I stepped in. Slamming me with a dozen variations of: Why are you late?! Where have you been?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!

I shuffled to the clothes rack, hanging up my cloak. “I just took a different way home. I’m a grown woman, Mother. I’m fine—”

“And what would have happened if you fell?! We wouldn’t know where to find you!” She grasped my shoulders and stared at me.

I wriggled, her thumb digging in just under my collarbone. “Mother please! I just wanted some time alone!” Backing out of her hold, I stumbled as my leg gave in. I rested on the doorframe and held out my hand to stop her from fusing. “I’m fine!” I repeated, standing up and moving past her and Jack before either could grab me.

They both tried to follow and talk at me as I stormed to my room. Mother continued to pester me through the door. I refused to respond, looking at the bracelet Themberchaud had given me. Its ruby, on closer inspection, looked like it had a dragon’s eye engraved in the metal. It was as though Themberchaud himself was watching me. I kind of liked it.

I slipped it on, and it tightened to fit around my wrist perfectly. I frowned. “Oh? That’s… weird?”

Before anything else could register, my mind went to a completely new image. Like a dream you’re aware of. First, I saw warm golden light, then I saw a large red shape come into view. A blob. A strangely shaped blob…

The red “blob” come into focus. It was Themberchaud. Sitting rather proudly in front of me, but he was the same size as me.

“You’re big now!” he grinned. “You’re wearing it! That was quick.”

I stared at him, very confused. I tried to look around. It looked like his nest and hoard, but a lot smaller. “Uh… hi?”

Themberchaud tilted his head. “You seem tense.”

“It’s my first time… experiencing this.” I gestured around me.

He nodded. “Yeah. Me too. This didn’t work as I thought it would. But I like it. Now we can talk whenever!” His tail tapped excitedly. “I’ve not had anyone to talk to.”

I looked down. “Alright… But maybe it won’t be all the time? I enjoy time with you Themberchaud but… I… things are complicated at home and I’m not free all the time, you know?”

His gaze and little wings dropped. “I understand…”

I bit my lip. “But! I can talk now if you like? I could use a conversation.”

Themberchaud tapped his tail on the ground, his wings perking up and flapping excitedly. I wondered what he looked like to his onlooking “guards”. Was he a chubby dragon chatting to thin air?

He chuckled, picking up on my thoughts. “No silly! I’m asleep right now. A nice nap after your delicious delivery.”

I nodded. “Ah. Okay. That makes sense. So, what do you want to talk about?”

We talked for hours. He had a deep interest in pottery and seeing how things were forged. He’d not seen it much, though. I promised him one day I’d try to bring him some pottery sometime. Themberchaud seemed pleased at that. The house was dark and cold when I woke up. All our lanterns had been put out and the fire in the range was now a smouldering stack of red coals.

I grabbed a quick snack to eat, a midnight sandwich to ward off my hunger until morning.

We talked for the next few weeks. Each day I saw him, I knew the magic to sedate him was getting weaker. He was more alert, even when the mages were holding the spell. He pretended otherwise, per my instructions.

“They need me though!” he huffed and crossed his chubby arms. The mages had dropped the spell while they changed shifts, letting his mind and body be free. As free as he could be in this underground nest, chained to the floor.

I bit my lip. “Yeah, but… Thember if they know you’re alert, they might use a worse spell. Or… they might kill you.” I looked down.

He sighed and pouted. “Well, that’s not fair! I’ve worked for them since the day I’ve hatched!” He slammed his tail on the ground, and I stumbled. The Pillars shook and dust fell from the ceiling.

“E-Easy Thember,” I soothed. “Don’t cause a panic or they’ll definitely make things worse.”

Themberchaud huffed again and nodded, letting his body ease. “So, do I keep acting dead inside?” He lowered himself down and offered a paw to use as leverage. I held on and stood up, leaning on his digit.

“I don’t know yet. Try to for a bit longer and we’ll try figure out something… Maybe we can try get you out of here and free?”

He perked up and lowered his voice. “Free?” he echoed; pupils wider than I’d ever seen before.

“Yeah. Free. There’s not really a much better option.” Marching footfalls came from above. I sighed, exasperated. “We’ll talk later, okay? I’m sorry.” I made my way towards the door.

“Bye, (Y/N),” Themberchaud whispered, following me before I closed the door and gave him a small wave.

My (physical) least favourite part of coming to work—apart from the stench, heat and sweat—was the stairs. Walking was a daily struggle, hobbling really. So, you can only imagine how much of a nightmare stairs are. And they were narrow, steep, helix stairs to get in and out of Themberchaud’s nest. The worst kind.

At the top, I was met by one of the councilmen. I barely knew any of them. This one was the oldest, which didn’t say much as most died young living down here. Dust fucks up your lungs.

“Are you the Wyrmsmith’s feeder?” his curly grey and black beard bounced with his words. I believe he ran the mines too or owned them or something. He looked like he worked there, with his huge shoulders, chest, and thighs.

I nodded, bowing my head. I lingered my gaze on his red-dragon scale belt and bracers. My jaw tensed.

“You’re granted permanent leave.” He crossed his arms.

I snapped my head up. “B-but—!”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be paid for the next month or until you find work.”

I chewed my cheek. “Yes sir,” I muttered and bowed my head as I turned away. I walked, dread weighing down on my chest. Once I was out of sight, I leaned on a wall, trying to draw in long breaths to stretch out my chest. We needed to act fast. I needed to save him.

The following days were slow. No amount of communicating with him helped in any way. Neither of us new the tunnels. There were very few ways out, none of which was big enough for Themberchaud. He’d bring down something if he tried to walk down the streets, through the slums or close to the Deepking’ Hold.

I searched everywhere. Every map of Gracklstugh, every natural light source. Nothing worked. I even tried the Shattered Spire and the docks. It was the opposite side of the city and, of course, would be useless to us… but I needed to try.

I figured I’d stay a while, curled up the most hidden snug there was. I knew Themberchaud needed me.

“You’re a lot farther now,” he said quietly. He looked defeated, curled up on his plush pillow.

I tapped his head. “I’m trying everywhere I can. There was some hope… but it’s pretty useless now. Unless you fancy flattening all of the slums and Darklake,” I quipped dryly, sitting beside his giant head.

He turned his eye towards me. “It could work?”

I chewed my lip. “We’d kill thousands…”

“They’ll kill me!” he roared and jumped to his feet. He was much quicker in his dreams.

I avoided his stabbing glare. “We’ll figure something else out! we have to.” I leaned my chin on my knee. “I nee—”

“(Y/N)! Answer me?!”

I was brought back to my body; shaken against the oak bench I’d curled up on. I swatted away my interruption and looked at them drearily. “Huh? Fuck off!”

I heard a warm chuckle as they sat beside me. My mind returned, wrapped in cotton wool. It was Jack… of course it was Jack. “You had me worried!” he sighed in relief and kissed my head. Warm light, the smell of beer and the light chatter of the tavern washed over me.

I allowed it and stretched my arms up. “What’re you doing here?” I rubbed my face to ease myself into it all.

“What are you doing here?! Especially with your—”

I shot him a glare, “I’m perfectly capable of walking, brother dearest. And if you must know I was in the area looking for work.” I turned my head away and huffed.

I saw his gaze drop from the corner of my eye. “I know you’re well able to. I just… is it so bad for your brother to worry.”

I slowly exhaled. “I guess not… Why are you here anyways?”

Jack shrugged. “After work drinks. You should get home though. We both should.”

I glanced at the clock above the bar and nodded. It was rather late, and Mother was sure to flip her shit. “Yeah,” I sighed. “Let’s go.”

He shuffled out of the booth and offered his hand to me. I slid after him and held it as I anchored my cane on the ground. I knew I’d need it with all the walking today. Standing up, I winced. My leg was burned and faltered under my weight. I leaned on the armrest of the couch, not wanting Jack to worry. “After you,” I forced a smile and gestured towards the door.

When I turned my head to him, his face was deep in a frown. Jack’s gaze drifted down to my legs. One rested on the curved leg of the table. He dipped his head slowly, fingers digging into the wooden handle of his hammer, and strolled out alongside me. He stopped outside the door, dodging some tipsy tavern-hoppers.

I grimaced at the stench of them and stepped aside as Jack went down an alleyway. A loud thud and creaking of wood on stone came from him down there. Before I could look, Jack shoved a large crate out onto the street. He tapped a large hand on it. “Up.”

I was about to question it, but I obliged, in too much pain to risk walking. Jack carried me home while I held his hammer. The street lanterns guided us home. As he walked, the streets lacked faces, chatter, and animation. Only drunkards, night watchmen and evening workers on their way home.

I rested my head on Jack’s shoulder. “Do you need a break? I can walk now.”

He shook his head. “I’m well able to carry you home.” He gave me a smile over his shoulder. “So, why were you actually on this part of the city?”

I stared at the patterned carved and burned into the hammer’s handle. An endless knot I’d given it on one boring evening. I couldn’t do this alone. “I need your help with something big.”

*~*~*~*

The bells rang loudly. The Pillars trembled. The stone above was cracking.

And Themberchaud was bellowing. Louder than I ever could’ve imagined.

I writhed; my ears were under so much pressure that the Pillars wouldn’t be the only things collapsing soon.

Mother pulled me close. Jack was far away now. I hoped he was okay… that Themberchaud would be okay.

Then came the fire. The brightest, yellowest light I’d ever seen. An agonising screech of metal followed, and then his mighty shadow. It was projected onto the ceiling above his nest and stretched out onto the walls of his cavern, blocking out whatever light he’d started.

A pit opened in my stomach as I saw Themberchaud clamber over the walls of his enclosure, knocking a Pillar with his huge shoulder. As it crumbled onto him, he looked back, rock bouncing off his back.

“Come on! Get out!” I muttered and squeezed my arms to keep myself focused.

He did his best to run and jump, racing his big body out of the cavern and towards the Shattered Spire. But to get there, he’d have to pass through the slums. Thankfully everyone was evacuated and standing in the south-eastern cavern. He came to a halt at the first line of houses, something flying off his back and flopping to the ground. It was Jack, sweating and exhausted.

Themberchaud looked around nervously as he heard the mages’ calls from his nest. As Jack shuffled towards us, Themberchaud snapped his head to look and spotted me as I reached to help Jack.

“I need you,” came his loud voice. I was about to look at him when he wrapped his paw around me. “Please,” he begged in a hushed tone.

I chewed my lip and glanced at my family in the tunnel, then at the largening shadows of the army of mages. “O-okay. I’ll guide you out.” He shoved a bag into my hold and put me on his back, narrowly missing one of the red spikes on his back.

Themberchaud lurched forward, trying to hop over the house in front of him and damaging it. “Sorry!” he called and went to trot down the streets, taking out chunks of every building his past. “there’s a chain with a dragon wing on it!” he panted. “Put it on me!”

I looked in the bag, getting nauseous from his movement. I kept slipping on his unkept scales. Fiercely, I held onto the spike in front of me and looked into the bag. Several pieces of gold and silver jewellery were in the sack, each with some sort of ruby or Citrine set within it. I rummaged around to find a gold necklace with a dragon wing-shaped pendant. I looped it around his spike and Themberchaud spread his wings.

I gulped and leaned forward, about to yell. But he cut me off. “Hold on!” he flapped his little wings and, somehow, he was off the ground. I gripped his large body as best as I could, feeling him swoop to the side and hearing his heaving breath. 

Themberchaud seemed to know where he was going. By the time I was able to lift my head, we were near the docks, the biggest natural light source the city had. His wings moved quicker, forcing himself upward.

My entire body was light, excited. I was barely able to breathe but my heart kept its extreme pace. My stomach was right beside it.

I shielded my face, the white light from above blinded me… until it enveloped us. I slowly lowered my hand and looked around. A massive water body spread out beneath us; Darklake I presume. It was all so open, the Evermoors rolling around us. It was chilling to have another but sky above and air around me. I’d always lived below the surface.

Themberchaud bellowed with joy, skimming his claws on the water below.

I looked back at the docks, barely even noticeable by now. I swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat.

I had to help him now… maybe I’d see my family again.