There's another reason he's capitulated, and it's that he remembers what she said to him in the Dragonpit, something she herself can't possibly remember: A dragon is not a slave. Some people must follow orders as they're given, sometimes lives depend on it, but she isn't one of them outside of COST, and this isn't one of those situations. It would be wrong to try to assert himself here, under the circumstances. And given who each of them is, they'll never quite have all of each other. She'll always share him with the North. For as long as they're both alive, he'll share her with her people.

Still, some things are for them alone -- like this. She tucks herself against him, whispers sweet words into his ear, rests and breathes. She seems to be falling asleep, something that sounds possible here, where the walls of the stall are so close that they could almost hold the two of them up, then says she doesn't know if she'll be able to sleep.

"You sound as if you're half asleep now, love." He leans down to kiss her once, twice, then reaches over and shuts the water off.