The sun was already setting beyond the horizon and the last farewell rays were breaking through the dense branches of the trees. On a small clearing by the river, a fire was burning, and sitting beside it was a small girl. Anyone in the city would have easily recognised her — beautiful long chestnut hair, a purple dress with sequins and little shoes, and a small tiara on her head. She was a princess. She was warming herself by the fire, occasionally glancing around. Night was falling.
Several days earlier she had still been in the palace. Servants followed her every step and her every wish was immediately granted. Every wish except one — she was not allowed to leave the castle. Her father was a king and loved his daughter dearly; he hired the best tutors for her, bought her toys and dresses, but strictly forbade her to step outside the gates.
Long ago he had learned a prophecy that said: "You will be king and will rule for a long time, all the lands of the thrice-nine kingdom will be yours, but he will come with golden scales and take the most precious thing you have."
The King did not take the prophecy seriously at first; he had almost forgotten about it. But on the day his daughter was born, the beautiful princess, he realised that he would never love anything or anyone in the world as much as her. Then he understood what the prophecy meant. And he locked the palace doors with thirty locks and placed thirty guards at the gates. And he ordered the shutters on the windows to be boarded up so tightly that no strongman could open them.
In vain did the princess beg him to at least glance at the sky with one eye, to walk on the grass just once and feel the warmth of the sun. The King was unmoved. One day, whilst walking through the castle again, the little princess found the only unfinished window.
It was a small round window on the highest tower of the palace. She pressed herself against it and gazed with delight at the view it offered. From that day on, as soon as night fell, she would sneak past the guards to the tower and look out of the window. She liked to count the birds flying past, to listen to the sound of the endless sea. The whole world around her was so close and yet so far from her.
She looked out of the window and promised herself that one day she would definitely escape from the castle and never return. She dreamed of living in nature, in the forest or by the river. But as soon as the first rays of dawn appeared over the horizon, she would hurry to her room so that no one would know where she had been.
But her secret happiness did not last long. One night she crept to her cherished little window and was horrified to discover that its shutters had also been boarded up. Apparently one of the servants had found out about it and told the king. That very day she decided that she could no longer stay at home. But how could she escape from the castle when it was full of guards and the king was always watching her? She did not know.
The next day a ball was held in the castle to celebrate the arrival of spring. Guests came from all over the kingdom. The princess put on her favourite purple dress and tiara and tried to be polite and courteous. But her thoughts were not on dancing or on suitors. In the bustle of the celebration, she hoped to slip through the gates and run away. But the king kept a close eye on her.
During another turn of the waltz, she approached the king and told him that she was feeling unwell and would like to go to her chambers. The king was frightened and let her go. The servants were busy with the guests, waiters were running here and there, and no one noticed as she made her way to the main gates. She managed to escape.
Now, sitting by the fire in the forest, she realised that she should have prepared for the escape more thoroughly. Her dress and shoes were clearly not suitable for such a journey. And she had not brought any provisions with her. The night that had fallen frightened her even more. She had managed to light a fire — she had learned this from books — but how was she to sleep in the forest? What was she to eat? How was she to protect herself from wild animals?
She could not answer these questions. And she also realised that the king must have already sent his guards to search for her throughout the kingdom, so she had run deep into the forest where no one would find her. She did not miss the castle, except perhaps a little for the king, but she had no intention of going back.
The forest was quiet at night. The birds did not sing, the trees did not rustle. Everything seemed to have fallen asleep. The princess looked at the fire and did not even think of going to sleep. Everything around her was interesting to her. The starry sky amazed her imagination with its beauty. Here, in the forest by the river, she felt at home. The flames of the fire gave her warmth, and she watched them with joy.
Imagine her surprise when, among the tongues of flame, she saw two translucent green serpent's eyes. She was not frightened, rather she was very surprised. Something was looking at her from the fire and she did not look away.
What are you doing here, young princess? — she heard a whisper.
Who are you? And where are you? How do you know who I am? Should I be afraid of you? Do you know my father — he is the king! — she spoke, looking around and trying to understand where the sound was coming from.
So many questions... can't you see me? — the someone said again.
Are you looking at me through the fire? — she asked timidly.
A clever princess, — the someone praised — you are not afraid of me at all?
Why should I be afraid of you? I don't even know who you are. Show yourself to me.
I will frighten you, young princess. And you will not want to talk to me.
Let's find out! You came here for a reason, so what do you want?
I want to help you and lead you out of the forest back to the city. Night is not the time for forest walks. But I can feel that you are upset. What happened?
Thank you for your help, but I will not return to the city. There is nothing for me to do there; my father will lock me up in the castle again and perhaps I will never see the sky again.
Then what do you intend to do?
I don't know. I want to see you, show yourself, where are you? I promise I won't be frightened.
You are a brave princess. Well then, look. Only step back from the fire.
The princess stepped back. The fire began to grow and the flames began to take shape. The bright flames transformed into a real dragon. He was not enormous, but he seemed mighty and strong. His scales gleamed with gold and two bright green eyes looked straight at the girl. When he spoke, a deep whisper filled everything around.
Here I am.
A dragon! — was all the princess could say. Her eyes widened, she stepped back, but realised there was nowhere to run.
A dragon, — the creature echoed her words.
For several minutes there was silence in the clearing. Nothing remained of the fire, only the moon lit up the forest. Its light was reflected in the dragon's scales in strange glints.
Let me help you leave this forest, girl. Do not be afraid of me, I do not wish to harm you. People think that dragons are dangerous, but they do not even notice us in every flicker of flame. But you were able to see me, you looked me straight in the eye and were not afraid. You called me forth.
I called you forth? — came a thin voice from the darkness.
Of course. You asked me to appear. What were you thinking about when you looked at the fire?
About the sky, about the wind. I was thinking about nature and how beautiful the world around me is.
And you were able to see in this world what is hidden from the eyes of ordinary people.
I will not return to the palace, — said the princess, finally recovering from the shock.
Are you sure? — the Dragon hissed insinuatingly — then tell me, what do you want?
I want... I want... — the princess did not know what to say. She had one secret desire, ever since the day she first saw the night sky from the window in the palace. But how could she ask a dragon for this? Would he agree? And was it not dangerous?
You want to fly, don't you? — whispered the dragon, meeting her gaze.
How did you... where did you... — the girl was embarrassed.
I can see it in your eyes, little princess. It's all right, don't be afraid. I will help you.
What do I need to do?
Sit on me, just hold on tight, we will fly very high.
The princess did not need to be asked twice. She dreamed of flying. She dreamed of seeing the world from above, dreamed of rising higher than the highest tower in the castle.
As soon as she mounted the dragon, he soared into the sky. They flew over the edges of the trees, the wind blew her hair and in an instant it caught her tiara and carried it far, far away. She did not care, she felt free.
Higher! Higher! — she cried to the dragon.
And he climbed higher. She could see the river, she could see the towers of the castle in the distance. The night sky and the clouds. It seemed that a little more and she would be able to reach the stars. It was an incredible flight. When the dragon set her down on the ground, she cried bitterly. But not from fear, but from a desire to feel so free again. She did not want to walk on the ground, she wanted to fly.
Hush, hush, little princess, — the dragon comforted her. If you wish, I will teach you to fly.
Really? — she asked with hope in her voice, wiping away her tears.
Yes, but it will not be easy. You will have to come with me to my world.
I am ready, Mr Dragon.
You can just call me Draco, if you like.
All right, then I am no longer a princess.
What should I call you then?
Just call me Lily.
Pleased to meet you, Lily.
Pleased to meet you, Draco.
And so began the friendship between Princess Lily and the golden dragon Draco. That night their paths crossed and who knows what awaits them next. The King, having lost his princess, was beside himself. Every day he called the guards and ordered them again and again to comb the city. But they never managed to find her. He could only hope that perhaps one day she would return home of her own accord... perhaps one day.
