A/N: Finally, it's here! I've been writing this for ages and I've only gotten to finish it now. :) Well, this is the first of approximately ten parts (things may be added as we go along) of the follow-up to Alfred the Racist Dragon. It will contain backstories, slices of life, and other things, mostly set during the (first) two years that Arthur and Alfred spent together. Of course, not everything will be part of the timeline, but I'll try to keep it in there as much as I can. :D

I've looked over this chapter and I'm honestly not satisfied (but then again I never am) so please leave me a review! I'd love to know what you think, on which points I can improve, and whether I did a satisfactory job or not. :)

Link to Alfred the Racist Dragon if you aren't familiar with this universe: http://www. fanfiction. net/s/5800141/1/ Alfred_the_Racist_Dragon

Day 45: Letters

It hadn't taken Arthur long to realise that Alfred's usual form was the reptilian one, to his discomfort. He didn't think he'd ever go quite accustomed to living with a dragon, but he did his best to keep himself composed and not lose his head like he had that day he was first captured. Even after so many weeks of being in such close proximity, he couldn't help but stiffen every time Alfred came too close, no matter what form he was in. As a dragon, Alfred naturally could strike fear into the hearts of the coldest man, and as a human- well, it struck a different kind of fear into Arthur's heart.

He forced himself to relax when he heard the sound of clinking metallic scales, imagining Alfred stretching up as usual from his place on the floor beside the bed as he woke from his slumber. The tell-tale thuds of heavy footsteps approaching made some loose items in the cave squeak and tremble against each other, and Arthur scrambled to keep the assorted bric-a-brac from falling and breaking on the stone floor. He wondered how Alfred had managed to keep his entire treasury intact without him- and quickly shut down that train of thought as unwanted memories of village stories about kidnapped virgins entered his mind. He didn't want to think of himself as one of those poor souls.

He calmed down considerably when Alfred finally entered his line of vision. Despite not being quite used to living with a dragon, the sight of Alfred in his natural form was quickly becoming welcome. It was easy to see that he wasn't going to sneak behind him and terrify him with a sudden roar (like he had done once before, after which Arthur had hurled numerous items at his head) or simply accidentally crush him beneath giant feet. Arthur fancied sometimes that he was starting to see human expressions on Alfred's face- a particular snarling face was actually happiness, and narrowed eyes meant he was in an uncharacteristically dark mood. It was charming, in its own way, though Arthur hated to admit it.

A cloud of white smoke filled the cave, and Arthur gave a tiny smile as Alfred the man stood before him again.

"Good morning, Arthur!" he greeted brightly, bounding up to the teenager and grinning. He seemed to have forgotten the fact that he was completely naked.

"Put some clothes on, would you?" Arthur replied, scowling. "It's improper for a young man to be prancing about unclothed like an idiot."

Alfred scoffed. "Yeah, well, we're not exactly in proper society are we? So I can do whatever I want!"

"However, you-"

The sound of a growling stomach interrupted the impending argument, and Arthur blushed. Alfred brightened considerably.

"All right! That means it's time for breakfast. I was thinking of something different-"

"Really, now?" Arthur interrupted, half-hopeful. He had noticed the dragon's strange addiction to cows, and seeing as cows had made up their meals for just about 40 days, he didn't think it would stop soon. "Something other than beef?"

"Hell no!" Alfred exclaimed, grinning again. "I was gonna raid that other town's pasture. They have some pretty appetizing-looking black-and-whites over there."

Arthur could have screamed. Instead, he settled for an irritated, sarcastic, "Well, I was hoping for something a bit lighter."

"Oh!" Alfred's eyes widened in understanding, and Arthur perked up a little. "I don't know if I can fire it up well, but would you like rabbit, then?"

Just as quickly, the flame was extinguished. He had always loved rabbits. "Er- never mind. Cows are fine."

"Excellent." Arthur couldn't help but feel he had been had.

As Alfred prepared to leave, he slumped down onto the bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling as he tried to decide what to do. Despite his captor being nothing but accommodating and kind- aside from the cows dispute- his protectiveness, and dare he say possessiveness, did not leave much for Arthur to do during the day. He practised with his rapier sometimes, but without a partner or even dummies it was boring and repetitive. He was no longer ashamed to admit he missed his brothers, and even the Great Wizard Gilbert, but he was starting to believe that he'd never see them again, even if Alfred had promised visits-

A gentle hand on his shoulder startled him out of his thoughts. "Hey, what's got you so glum?" Alfred's voice was uncharacteristically soft.

Arthur sighed. "It's nothing. It's just... I still want to go home."

It had been murmured softly, resignedly, but perhaps Alfred retained his dragon form's heightened senses because the grip on his shoulder tightened before he spoke. "I'm sorry. I just- thanks for being honest with me." A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Like I said before, you're pretty brave for a human."

A snort. "Well, you're a surprisingly not-terrifying dragon."

Alfred laughed. "I do have my moments, though. Say," his hand had not yet left Arthur's shoulder. "I, uh, I'm stopping by a village on the way, to pick some things up. I know a guy there, and if you, you know, want anything passed on to your brothers I can have him send it over. 'Course, the guy doesn't know I'm a dragon so maybe you could, like, not give me away? Seal a letter or something?"

Arthur stared at him with wide eyes, hardly daring to believe what he was hearing. "You- you're letting me write to them?"

"Yeah." Alfred's eyes crinkled up in a characteristic grin, and Arthur could have kissed him.

He dashed around the cave, picking up a quill and an inkwell, and ripping out a piece of blank parchment from an old book- at this point, he was past caring about it.

Dear brothers, he wrote, then crossed it out with a frown. To my brothers. I assume you are surprised at your sudden receipt of this letter. It is, indeed, from your youngest sibling. I am not dead, obviously. The dragon has been quite merciful and has decided to keep me here- for how long, I don't know. He has been very kind, and has treated me well. There is nothing to worry about.

He didn't know quite what to say after that. He had never really talked very much with his brothers, and saying such civil things to them was a first. He decided to end it quickly, with a short sincerely, Arthur- and a rushed note of his name is Alfred before sealing it with wax. He took a pinch of purple powder from a nearby jar- how exactly did Alfred get a hold of these ingredients?- and sprinkled it over the seal, taking a silver knife and making a small incision in his finger. He allowed a few drops of his blood to cover the powder and the seal, which sizzled before turning a dark brown. No one would be able to open it except those of the Kirkland line.

Speaking of which, he had to find a way to contact his tutor. But he didn't want to take advantage of Alfred's kindness, even if it would be the smart thing to do.

"All done?"

Arthur put his quill down and flashed a quick smile at Alfred. "Yes," he replied, a little giddy at the thought of making contact with society again. "Just tell the messenger to drop it off at Kirkland Castle. I take it he knows the way?"

"I'm sure he will," Alfred said with a grin. "Toris is really good."

"That's excellent." He handed the letter over, jolting a little when their fingers brushed against each other. Alfred let his hand linger a while longer than necessary, causing them both to flush lightly, then he snatched it away as if burned.

"Well then," Arthur said a little imperiously, as if writing the letter had revived some of the haughtiness that came with noble blood. "Off you go. And don't take too long- I expect a freshly cooked meal when you get back."

"Yes, milady!" Alfred said, giving a mock bow and laughing as Arthur took a swipe at him, which he dodged gracefully. Then he positioned himself to face the mouth of the cave and transformed back into his dragon state, stretching a little and brushing the top of the cavern. He gingerly picked up the letter, tiny in his giant claw, and bared his teeth to Arthur in a quick smile before taking off.

Arthur watched him go, feeling ridiculously like a housewife, but silently appreciating the view of the magnificent golden creature flying in the morning sunlight. It was awe-inspiring to see the powerful leathery wings beat against the air, forcing gravity itself to bow to the dragon, and despite himself, Arthur felt for the first time a certain pride in knowing that so much effort was being made for him and no one else.

"After all," he mused, talking to himself, for in the empty cave, no one could hear him. He would never admit anything like this to Alfred. "How many other humans have such pleasant dragons to talk to every day?"

He whirled around, placing his hands on his hips and surveying the mess Alfred had made of the cave in his short time awake. He set to work, clearing things up and organising the vast treasure as he waited for the dragon to arrive.

After all, if his job was to be the more domestic side of their strange partnership- because he wasn't a housewife, not at all- he was going to be damn good at it.