Winter's green eyes lit up when he saw the large junk of meat still clinging he bone! His shifted to happy hungry teal color and he gratefully accepted the food and began blissfully munching away barely even noticing Aladia's absence.<br/><br/>Crom although seemingly carrying on and drinking, he was still only on his first cup of mead, he wasn't without some intelligence any way. He watched the princess carefully, noticing her interacting with the dragon as soon as she turned around he looked away and acted like he was pouring himself more mead in his horn.<br/><br/>"hmmmm....You be wanting him to be taking the creature out of the cage then," he grunted obviously he didn't like the idea all that much. "I suppose if I let him out, we be getting a better warning than if you spring him out on us unawares," he mused out loud. "I do be noticing how the creature be taking to you, and if manner of woman be capable enough to tame a dragon, it be you." he chuckled then and then kicked open a worn out chest, with a few chains as well as one or iron neck collars with locks keys all jumbled up with a bunch of random other odds and ends. "Besides, it better you be tending to the dragon than chopping off my crews bits!" he chuckled as he handed her over the key to the iron cage.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>Winter had just finished stripping the last bit of venison from the bone. When he glanced up he saw Aladia standing in front of his cage holding out the metal circlet in her hand... Showing him that she was going to put it around his neck... The young male swallowed hard and hesitantly stepped forward, lifting his chin allowing her to fasten the metal collar snuggly around his neck before locking it into place. When the heavy iron barred door was unlocked, the first thing that went through the young dragons mind was to bolt! However he wouldn't get far with the metal collar around his neck. However the warm images and the warm safe feelings of being snuggled in bunch of furs were also quite appealing, and it melted away all thoughts of an immediate escape attempt.<br/><br/>Although he couldn't make out all the words, the woman was obviously beckoning him to come along. It sounded beckoning and the images she put in to his mind made his green eyes light up and he smiled as he quickly followed behind her. The men hopped at her every word, and surprisingly, they didn't hit him or throw anything at him, they actually seemed a little bit afraid! Winter of kept close to Aladia, his hand going out to  touch metal collar, curious how to get it off as well if he could try to slip away. However the mysterious woman with long red hair, didn't all him out of her sight for a single second!  But to her credit she did exactly as she had promised!  Winter recognized the tent, she led him into where his bound hands were cut free and he stuffed into a plain loose fitting brown robe. He didn't like them at all, they felt so strange! but he didn't protest or put up a fight, as he was quite happy to and content curl up into the pile of warm furs.<br/><br/>The hunters stopped and turned all in stunned silence as the young dragon, howbeit currently in human form, hurried along following in the fiery tempered warrior princess's wake like a lost puppy! They not only were shocked to see him wearing a robe, but his eyes were now bright green and he was smiling and he seemed to understand her... everybody seemed to be wondering the same thing... could she control the creature if it shifted back to its true form? and if she could, may the gods have mercy on them all their manly bits!<br/>Crom however being the brute that he was, was a clever brute and he stroked his beard thoughtfully. The rusting gears churning in his head, he was starting to see a golden wonderful opportunity! A wonderful, lucrative that the princess herself might like to cash in on... perhaps they could both get what they wanted. That same night, he sent his men riding hard off into the direction the nearest village.... there mission.... buy or acquire breakfast! Eggs and bacon, milk, butter, bread, biscuits, and tea and whatever else a princess probably could want to for breakfast... after all, it might just be a good investment, if she agreed to the little business deal he was about to propose.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>Several times throughout in the night, Winter awoke, bright yellow eyes curiously glancing around the tent, when he thought Aladia was a sleep, he slipped out of the robe and poked his head outside the tent flap and froze when he saw four men with crossbows standing watch and looking directly his way. The young male quickly scurried back to the safety of Aladia tent and dove into warm pile of furs and went back to sleep.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>In the morning Aladia would awake to the smell of eggs and bacon being cooked over the camp fire. Hearing Aladia rise from her bed roll. A bright white tangled mess of hair  popped out from under the pile of furs. Winter smiled guiltily up at Aladia as he reached over and pulled the robe back over himself, as he had taken them off without permission while she hadn't been looking. Winter eagerly followed her out of the tent. Outside the tent, breakfast was prepared set out on blanket and waiting for her.<br/><br/>The big hairy red bearded man was first to greet Aladia and proudly gestured over toward the breakfast sitting just outside her tent.<br/><br/>"I do be knowing you ain't too keen on going to the palace, what do you say, if I could help you?  I be having an interesting business proposition for you, if you be so kind to hear me out," he announced as he sat himself on a large fallen log that was positioned across from her but just far enough that he would allowing her a good amount of space to eat privately and tend to the dragon without any interference or distractions from the rest of the men in the camp.  Winter was drawn by the smells of the eggs and bacon, but he also noticed the men hanging back! His bright green eyes sparkled excitedly, as he glanced carefully in all directions and then at Aladia to see if she was still paying attention to him... while the big hairy mans was talking to her.<br/><br/>"Afterwords you will be free to leave with your dragon no strings attached," he announced  and quickly added. "But before you run off, please enjoy the breakfast, you be not a prisoner, I be talking to you as a future prospective partner in crime." he grinned.<br/>"You do be impressing me, I likes to think we can work together. My crew can provide you with provisions and shelter, and protection, not that you need it. I be knowing you be perfectly capable of chopping off any mans bits who might try to give you trouble.... unfortunately most bandits, they don't know you like we do, and they will try anyway." he chuckled, and took a swig of grog from the mug he was holding.  "As much I am sure you enjoy a good fight now and then, traveling with crew of armed men such as us would reduces the hassle. After all you be needing to take care of that creature, not foraging for supplies and chopping off man bits... Simply put, I be able to supply you with provisions and support that would allow you to be able to train and bond your dragon with zero harassment.... which will serve both our interests I can assure you," he announced proudly, pausing to stroke his long red beard and take another gulp of his grog.<br/><br/>"That brings us the best bit of this little arrangement.... I be knowing you don't want to be going to that stuffy palace, and I don't be blaming you. But I have a plan see." he chuckled and tapped his big thick index finger smartly on his nose with and then held up his hand in an elaborate sweeping gesture, "Picture if you would," he began.  "You and your dragon! the people rejoicing that their princess has returned! Their fearless warrior Princess riding on top of her dragon! with us! As your loyal escort marching behind you, bringing you safely home you would be a legend! nobody would be able touch you!" he said grinning, "Naturally we be getting a handsome reward and pardons for our great service to the kingdom." he added quickly. "A rather...Large... reward!  ," he suggested placing emphasis on the word 'large' . "Naturally we be giving you an equally fair slice of the gold, which will be discreetly paid outside the city, once you and your dragon take off seeking adventure and the like," he explained. "Just think, before you take off, you could have your dragon fitted with a custom saddle from the finest craftsmen in the palace, with saddle bags for your supplies, and you be supplied with your choice of riding clothes, I imagine it be quite cold flying up in those clouds," he suggested, grinning as he took another swig of his grog.<br/><br/>"So that be my humble business proposition, you be gaining a bit of coin as well for your adventures." he said at last. "IF not you be free to leave whenever you wish. Just don't forgetting Old Crom Redbeard, whenever you be queen and all. I will be bragging about you in the taverns, about how the Dragon Princess herself threatened to chop off all our bits!" he chuckled. "Besides a story like that will at be worth a few rounds of free drinks at the very least," he said with a grin.<br/><br/>Winter bit his lower lip, as he slowly began ebbing away from Aladia... and then flung off his robe, and bolted! Hopping over a large barrel full of grog and ran streaking through the camp sprinting for the trees! However Crom's men where quick to cut him off!  Winter shrieked in panic his eyes went black with terror and turned running back the same way he came with the bearded men hot on his heels carrying large nets so they would not harm him!  But it was not necessary, as Winter snatched up his robe and scurried safely back to Aladia knowing she would protect him.<br/><br/>Crom chuckled, and quickly motioned for his men to back off, "I being knowing  a thing or two about dragons... once they get a taste for roasted meat, they either start attacking, raiding or stealing from humans. We aren't the only hunters in these parts and the way I sees it,  IF you let him go free your dragon won't be lasting very long on his own. Secondly if you stick with us... your dragon will learn to avoid hunters as well as to trust and obey you.... As you can see how he stays close to you while we be around, might be a little harder to keep track of a young dragon while you be busy foraging for supplies and chopping up man bits," he commented.<br/><br/>Winter shifted nervously his scared black eyes glancing around the hunters and quickly pulled the stuffy human robe over his head and huddled a little closer to Aladia.<br/><br/>"Go ahead, yell at them, they'll all run away like frightened ninnies to make you look good," Crom suggested to Aladia, speaking loudly so that all his men over heard him, "Won't you? you lot of fat cowardly Lummoxes!" he barked.<br/><br/>Winter blinked, his eyes shifted to bright yellow and he glanced up at Aladia inquisitively, "Lummmmmmoxes." he repeated in a soft deep growling sing song voice, as the word sounded quite strange to him, he didn't know what it meant it just sounded funny.<br/><br/>Crom's jaw fell open and he stared at the dragon and then at Aladia in shock...."It talks,"