Chapter 34 Bad Decisions and Free Housing.
Ashlyn stretches out on the armchair like she owns the place, bare feet bouncing lazily against the bedframe. She’s still in that blue gown, only now it’s wrinkled and singed at the hem, as if the fabric itself went through a war and won by sheer stubbornness. I managed to earn us some money on the travels here and buy some fresh clothes, but she didn't want any, as she would "make her own way." I think she's just incredibly stubborn about keeping the dress even though its ruined. Maybe it holds sentimental value...Who knows.
“So,” she says, tipping her head at me. “You live here now. You and Mister Tall-Dark-and-Scales.”
I groan, falling backward onto the bed. “Don’t call him that.”
“What? It fits.”
“Too well.”
She laughs, the sound bright and unbothered, filling the golden space of the room. It’s weird, this castle feels too big for me, but with her here, it feels… smaller. Realer. Like maybe I’m not living inside someone else’s dream right now.
“So,” I say, turning on my side to look at her. “Did you find your friends?”
Her grin widens instantly. “Oh, did I ever. All seven of them.”
I blink. “Seven?”
“Seven.” She holds up her fingers dramatically. “Seven very short, very awkward men who all work in the royal gardens. They’re gardeners through the week and miners on weekends, apparently. Oh, and one of them keeps bees and another writes poetry about mushrooms.”
I stare. “…You found seven dwarves.”
“I found seven socially awkward dwarves,” she corrects, preening. “And they are absolute sweethearts, always have been, even if one of them can’t make eye contact and another keeps trying to feed me turnips.”
I cover my mouth to hide a laugh. “So that’s how you knew about the wedding?”
“Exactly!” She leans forward, eyes bright. “They told me everything in our letters about the Beast King’s big romantic ceremony, the mysterious mortal bride, the whole tragic fairy tale. When the fire-breathing dragon man decided to hulk out,” she continues breezily, “I ran straight for their cabin. It’s actually quite nice, you know, could use a bit of a feminine touch, but nothing a few flowers and some curtains couldn’t fix.”
I snort. “And maybe fewer pickaxes?”
“That too,” she admits with a grin. “Anyway, I was hiding there when one of them came bursting through the door shouting that he’d just seen the dragon fly off with a girl whose hair was white as ice.” Her voice softens for a second. “Scared the absolute hell out of me.”
I roll onto my back, staring at the carved ceiling. “Yeah. Me too...Flying was kind of fun though.”
Silence hums between us, comfortable and heavy at once. She doesn’t press for details, and I don’t offer them. That’s the thing about Ashlyn, she doesn’t need the whole story to understand the feeling underneath it. After a while, she says quietly, “So instead of being eaten, you ended up with your own suite in a castle.”
“Apparently.”
“And you’re sure this is… safe?”
“As safe as I’ve ever been,” I admit. “At least I won't have to break into people's homes and steal their food now.”
“Low bar,” she finishes for me with a grin.
“Exactly.”
She stretches again, her hair catching the firelight like a halo. “Well, this place is nicer than the one I burnt down. I think I’m staying close for a while. The dwarves like me, and I like not being almost-kidnapped into matrimony.”
“That does sound like an upgrade,” I say.
“It is.” She looks around the room again, eyes glinting. “And I’m definitely redecorating their cabin. It needs colour. Life. Maybe a few throw pillows that don’t smell like moss.”
“Truly revolutionary,” I tease.
“I try.”
Gilfred chirps from the windowsill, tail flicking. Ashlyn leans over, squinting at him. “So…what do you think of the dragon man?”
“Don't even ask him. He'll only go into a rant about all my bad decisions lately,” I say.
Gilfred puffs up indignantly.
Ashlyn grins. “He’s a cute little protector.”
“Don’t encourage him. He already thinks he’s the responsible one in this partnership.”
She laughs again, leaning back in the chair, and for a while, it’s easy, just the two of us talking nonsense, pretending this is normal. Pretending we’re not two slightly-traumatised girls hiding in a dragon’s castle.
Eventually, she glances toward the door. “You know, for someone who spent half a day trying to convince me that going to a royal wedding would be boring, I have to admit, this place is gorgeous.”
I nod. “It really is.”
“Even with all the creepy wedding decorations still up?”
I grimace. “Yeah, that part’s awkward.”
“Still, beats sleeping in a damp cabin.”
“Or drowning.”
“Or marrying a creep.”
We trade a look and both start laughing again. The laughter dies down slowly, leaving a comfortable quiet behind it, and the fireplace crackles, filling it softly. Snow drifts against the windowpanes, and for a moment, it almost feels like peace.
Ashlyn studies me. “You sure you’re okay, though?” Her voice isn’t teasing this time. It’s soft and thoughtful. I've quickly learned that she's a really good friend.
I hesitate, picking at a loose thread on the blanket. “I don’t know,” I admit finally. “I think I’m just… tired. I wanted to see the world, but after seeing only just a piece of it..I'm kind of emotionally tapped out.”
She hums thoughtfully. “Well, then, maybe stop for a bit. You’ve got walls and a roof and a dragon who apparently melts ice for you. Take the win, Bella.”
I smile faintly. “Yeah. Maybe I will.”
She stands, smoothing her skirt. “I’ll leave you to rest. The dwarves are expecting me back before dark. Apparently, there’s a strict schedule for mushroom poetry readings.”
“Of course there is.” I laugh.
Ashlyn grins, heading for the door. “But I’ll be back tomorrow. Every day, actually. Even if it’s just to enjoy the perks of your new living situation.”
“You mean the castle?”
“I mean the kitchen,” she says with a wink. “I heard there’s cake.”
I laugh, shaking my head as she disappears into the corridor and the door closes softly behind her. I sit here, listening to the silence settle again. The fire pops, throwing shadows against the walls, and Gilfred crawls up onto my shoulder and lets out a tiny chirp that sounds almost like a sigh.
“I know,” I whisper. “It’s strange, isn’t it? A castle, food, safety, and a good friend?”
Outside, snow falls heavily now, blanketing the world in white. That's probably...okay no, that is my fault. I pull the blanket over my legs, sinking back into the pillows as my eyelids grow heavy, but my mind won’t stop turning. If this is what temporary housing looks like, I can get used to being accidentally abducted.