The Lindworm’s Mistress

Thora marched into her mother’s cottage, carrying a basket of freshly picked forest plants. “I overheard some huntsmen; everyone is talking about the Lindworm Prince seeking a bride.”

Her mother, the local wise woman, didn’t look up from her spinning. “Hm, yes, I expected that the Lindworm Prince would, especially once his younger twin started looking.”

Thora scoffed, that was the issue with being a Wise Woman’s daughter; Mother really did know everything, no matter what problem you threw at her. “I suppose we’ll know when they bring in a princess to marry him.”

Her mother laughed, “Oh, no, my dear! The Queen may have had a moment of foolishness when she ate both of the magic roses against my instruction, and was punished with a baby lindworm along with a healthy son, but she and the King won’t court that kind of diplomatic trouble.”

That was the issue with growing up in a forest; lack of socialisation opportunites. "The younger Prince is courting a princess; won't the Lindworm Prince want the same?"

Wise Women should smile mysteriously; Mama was far too expressive. Perhaps that was another reason they lived in the forest - so Mama only had to be mysterious and enigmatic when there were visitors. "Princesses will do much in the name of Duty, but one would have to search long and far to find one willing to marry a lindworm, and then convince her father to agree in ways that don't involve enchantment or threats of setting a monster loose to ravage the kingdom."

Thora shrugged, "What's wrong with marrying someone a bit oddly-shaped? I'd do it. All that controlled power, the adrenaline of knowing they could devour you in an instant, but wouldn't... what?"

Mama was looking amused in the way she did when Thora had missed something obvious. The Wise Woman finished spinning, put down the wool, and reached over to pat her shoulder. "This is why you will not be a Wise Woman, my daughter. We can See the ones who not only will not hesitate to marry a supernatural being, but welcome the opportunity. Then we See how to get them there."

Pieces fell into place with a very obvious thunk. "So when the Wise Woman at the other end of the forest absolutely forbade her adoptive daughter from running away to marry that giant last month...?"

Mama nodded. "She'd spent the past year making sure Wulfhild knew what she needed in order to pass the trials set by the Giant's mother, and everything we could gather on size spells. But a monster's bride must go willingly, so she had to wait until the girl went off in a fit of contrariness."

Evenings around the fire had included a lot more details about binding bargains, as well as the extremely frank 'what to know now that you're a woman' bits of advice. "Well, since we're beyond being subtle about it, what must I do to marry a lindworm and not die?"

The Wise Woman rose to her feet. "I'll send word to the palace that a bride for the Lindworm Prince has been found, and then we'll talk. Be prepared to pay attention, this time."

"Are you sure this will work?"

Thora fidgeted as her mother braided her hair, gentle fingers combing through the strands. She was dressed in a fine silk gown suitable for any princess, over layer upon layer of chemises. ("Linen or Muslin, dearest, you will roast yourself in that many layers of silk! You can't break the curse if you pass out before the first layers are off!")

The Wise Woman tied off her braid, and rested a hand on her daughter's head. "As sure as the sun rises in the east. Just remember my instructions and don't show fear. Big and scaly he may be, but the Lindworm Prince is still a man, and you've never had any problems telling them what to do in the forest meadow."

Thora made a high-pitched noise. Somewhere outside, dogs began to howl. She hadn't thought her mother had known about those assignations with the various village boys. The Wise Woman gave another one of her infuriating all-knowing smiles. "Besides, I'll wager no one has ever tried to give the Lindworm Prince orders before. It should be quite the novelty for him."

Thora contemplated suffocating herself with one of the many down pillows available to her, but there was a knock on the door before she had to make any irrevocable decisions. "My Ladies? It is time."

Luckily, the King and Queen had been unable to find anyone willing to witness the consumation of the Lindworm Prince's marriage, or there definitely would have been questions about some of the supplies The Wose Woman had discreetly arranged for.

Several willow rods rested against the far wall, next to a large vat of milk. The Lindworm Prince slither-walked through the door behind her. "Take off your clothes, my bride."

Thora had never in her life taken orders from a man, and wasn't about to start now. "You first."

The Lindworm Prince blinked. "No one has ever refused me before."

Thora raised her chin, refusing to feel small before the being that towered above her. "Then I suggest you get used to it. If you want to see me naked, you have to earn it. For every layer I remove, you will remove one first."

She projected confidence, as if there were no possibility that the Lindworm Prince would do anything but obey her. As if there were no chance of her kicking her feet as she disappeared past an unhinged jaw and down a massive throat. Thora acted as if she had all the power, and made it her reality.

Back home, the most frequent requests for certain potions to avoid an inconvenient pregnancy came from the town brothel, and Thora had come to know some of them very well. They had been very instructive, and Thora had put that to use when she thought a young man might be worth taking up on his offer of an afternoon of fun, if only he could stop talking about himself.

The Lindworm Prince began to twist and writhe, until a layer of skin was removed. Thora removed her dress, and reached up to caress the Lindworm's scaly jaw. "Such a good boy, doing as you're told."

The Lindworm Prince preened, before catching himself and staring in dismay at the number of underlayers she wore. "That's a lot of layers."

Thora smiled. "Then you had better get started removing skins, hadn't you?"

By the time Thora stood naked before her new husband, the Lindworm Prince had no more layers of skin to remove, and had reduced quite a bit in size. Thora ran a hand over his bare skin, gentle and soothing. "The next stage will hurt, but I will not do anything without your consent."

The Lindworm Prince twined himself gently around her. "Do it, my Princess."

Thora selected the nearest willow rod that she could reach, and brought it down on the Lindworm Prince's skin. He jerked and hissed, but did not sound angry. "Is that too much?"

Her husband quivered. "No, my Princess. Do it again."

Thora did so, watching carefully for any sign that he was no longer enjoying himself. Finally, the Lindworm Prince lay limp and shaking on the bedroom floor. Thora tossed the willow rods onto the fire, which was starting to burn low, and gathered him up in her arms, bring him over to the vat of milk and bathing him carefully. "You did so well, my love. You were so brave for me. Are you ready for more?"

The Lindworm Prince hissed happily. Thora gently stroked his nose. "Use your words."

The Lindworm Prince rubbed his head against her. "I want more. I am ready."

Thora lifted him out of the vat and dried him, taking note of the erection that had appeared near the base of the tail. "Now, you may have your reward."

When the sun rose, and servants came knocking cautiously on the door, the Lindworm Prince was no more, and a handsome human prince lay in the bed next to Thora.

Little is recorded in history of the time after the Lindworm Prince's restoration to becoming a human prince, but we are told that he and his fearless wife lived Happily Ever After.