Bethany stared out the castle window as two figures rushed inside. Her heart leapt at the thought of a prince actually coming to save her. She had been locked in this tower since she was a child, having no contact with the outside world. Many suitors had come and failed to save her. Then they stopped coming. Bethany would sit by the window and watch, praying someone would come. Years later her prayers had been answered. Rushing around the room, Bethany began to gather some of her prized possessions when a crash from the first floor made her stop. It was the dragon. She had almost forgot the reason why suitors had stopped coming. Anyone who had made an attempt to save her had been crushed or fried by the dragon before they could even reach the stairs. Bethany sank to the floor, tears springing to her eyes. She had been ecstatic to see that someone had remembered her, but now her hope of escape drained from her like the blood had drained from all the previous suitors.

Another loud crash and a roar from the dragon were heard below. Bethany’s hands flew up to cover her ears. She had heard too many deaths, and didn’t want to hear any more. Everything grew silent. The door to the tower suddenly swung open, and a young boy stepped in. Bethany jumped up.

“How did you get up here?” she asked, too amazed to believe it.

“Stairs,” was the only reply she received as a way of explanation. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Wait, aren’t you going to kiss me?” The boy stopped and looked at her like she was insane.

“Why would I kiss you?”

“Cause you saved me. That’s how it works doesn’t it? The prince who saves the princess gets to kiss her and marry her and live happily ever after.”

“You don’t want me to kiss or marry you.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not a prince.”

“So? You are a boy aren’t you?”

“Not exactly.” The boy removed the hat he was wearing and a his hair fell well below his shoulders. Bethany stared.

“You’re.. a girl?” The girl nodded. “But how did you get past the dragon?”

“The prince who was coming to save you was a close friend of mine. I loved him, but he wanted to save a princess, and I decided that I would help him. So I took this disguise and convinced him to let me come along. He had no idea it was really me. He died fighting the dragon.” Bethany didn’t know how to respond. The girl turned from her and began walking out the door. “Let’s go.” As Bethany followed her out the door, she couldn’t help but think, Now who am I going to marry?

A/N: This is a piece I had in mind for a while. I really want to make it a longer story, but for the purpose of this project it is flash fiction.