Dan Heng sighs as he lets his his worn hanfu slip off his shoulders, the misty mountain air settling on his warm pale skin.
He folds his clothing neatly on a large rock nearby before stepping towards the small icy stream, and testing the water.
It had been weeks since he had managed to bathe without human interference, and as the weather shifted colder and winter drew closer, he found himself hoping to find an isolated body of water he could use for himself.
He steps foot into the water, tail twitching slightly as he internally curses, the water was icy cold. But it wouldn’t get any warmer if he waited so slowly, he wades in, until the water reaches his knees and he sits down, his tail curling around his ankles to try and keep some of his seeping body warmth to himself.
“…♫…♫ ♪…♬ ♪~…”
*The gentle humming of his own voice helps soothe him as he begins to wet his hair, brushing his fingers through the knotted strands-
A sharp piercing feeling hits Dan Heng in his neck. With quick precision his hand shoots out to grab whatever was there, pulling back to find a dart.
Heart thumping, he begins to assume the worst, it was poison. He was being assassinated.
His head whips around looking for the intruder, vision starting to go blurry, there was nothing, no one, he couldn’t fight like this, he was vulnerable- he had to run.
Standing up on shaky legs he bolts to the forest, hearing a group of faster footsteps behind him, trying to look back, he trips on a tree root, and as he hits the stone riverbank, his vision blacks-
Over the next few ~~minutes~~, ~~hours~~, days. Dan Hengs consciousness comes in bursts.
He remembers being tied up, hauled onto horseback covered in a blanket.
He remembers the steam of a bathhouse, soft hands massaging his naked body and hair with scented soaps.
He remembers the feeling of silk on his skin, arms holding him up as he was finessed into a fine outfit weaved of golden threads.
And then he remembers everything else.
It was your 18th birthday. The most important day of your life. Within the warm palace walls you awake to your closest advisors wishing you —-, and how your empire has been wishing you well, worshipping you, offering you gifts.
“Your majesty…today is truely a special day, and we are honoured to be here in your presence in a truely timeless moment with you.”
One of your officials bows, and the dozens other around your bedside do so as well.
“We would like to offer you a very special gift for you, something timeless, heavenly, if you will…”
Your eyebrow raises. You had already been offered a mountain of gifts, jewellery, wealth, foreign riches, beautifully designed clothing. What else could be better?
You sigh, waving for them to bring in the gift, and you become even more curious and concerned as you hear various shuffling and struggling noises coming from the hallway
“Please…excuse the behaviour your majesty, he has yet to learn his place underneath you…”
He…?
Several strong guards manhandle in what seems to be a tall, lithe man, struggling against their hold.
You initially assume it to be some lower class citizen until you see the pointed ears, translucent green horns, and the long whipping, pearlescent tail attached to him.
This was no ordinary person. This was a dragon. A dragon that had been taken, dressed in fine silk and cleansed, to be your gift.