In the beautiful kingdom of Rosethorne, where the seasons were always fair, there lived a King and a Queen in the magnificent Yearlong Castle. It was so called because its wall made a great ring with four towers, each colored for a season. White, Green, Yellow, and Orange for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. At it’s center stood a splendid golden tower that was taller than the rest and stood for the sun. The royal families quarters were at the top of the golden tower.
The king and queen of Rosethorne were beloved by their people, and their son, Prince Eric, was splendidly handsome. With thick dark hair and piercing blue eyes, he was the talk of all the ladies in the land and many wished that they could wed him. But Eric had fallen in love with the blacksmiths daughter, Samantha. She was a medium height slender built girl who was quite beautiful, with blonde hair and deep brown eyes, but she was not of noble birth. The king forbade the union and Eric refused to marry any other and so it was until the night of the storm.
The storm had come in quickly and blacked out the sky, but for the moments when lightning flickered across it. With the storm had come the black dragon of the Scrag. The Scrag was the mountain at the eastern edge of the kingdom, said to be the tallest, but avoided by all but the brave or foolhardy. The dragon normally kept to the scrag where she was believed to live in a cave at the top, but on the night of the storm she flew under the black skies and clutched to the side of the golden tower. Reaching inside the prince’s chambers she snatched him and flew away, the townsfolk taking fright at the sight of her flying off with a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder.
The king quickly dispatched his best troops to the Scrag to save his son, but they did not return. He then commanded that whoever could rescue his son would be awarded fifty pounds of gold and a title, and went to grieve the capture of his son and the loss of his men.
It was then that the blacksmiths daughter requested an audience with the king and it was granted. Samantha approached the king in his receiving chamber. There he sat upon his golden throne in the grand hall of the golden tower, sick with grief, his queen beside him. Knowing his son’s love for Samantha, he looked upon her with kind eyes and asked why she had requested an audience.
Samantha looked to the king and the queen and the old men who flanked him and served as his council. “You have said that whosever rescue’s Prince Eric will be given 50 pounds of gold and a title.” Her voice came out boldly and echoed across the hallway.
“Yes…” The king responded, clearly confused.
“Then if I rescue Prince Eric, will you grant you’re blessing for us to wed?” The old men in the hall snickered and jeered at her suggestion that she could defeat the dragon, but she paid them no mind. It was the king who’s opinion she cared about and he was clearly taken aback by suggestion, though he was thinking about it.
“I suppose,” he responded slowly, “you would be a noble, so I could not protest it.”
“Then I will rescue Eric from the dragon. I planned to anyway, but now you have made an agreement with me here in front of all these men. Thank you your majesty.”
Samantha turned to walk away but the king protested, “You cannot kill that beast, it will be suicide.”
She turned to look back at him. “You just leave that part to me.” And with that she turned and left the great hall.
Samantha had grown up hunting with her father, and he had taught her to use a sword as well. She was not an exceptional swordsman, but she was an incredibly accurate archer. So after leaving the palace she went to her home where she grabbed her bow and quiver, a small sword, and some provisions for the trip. She loaded up her black and white donkey with the provisions, kissed her grey haired father, who had long learned not to argue with his daughter, and told him she would be back soon.
With that she left the small village that stood outside the castle and headed east into the wooded thickets and hills that lay between the Yearlong Castle and the Scrag. Riding the donkey and traveling alone she made good time, and for the first three days her trip was uneventful. On her fourth day she encountered a man standing in the road. He was filthy, covered in mud and smelling of dung, as well as unshaven and shaggy. “Evenin lil miss.” His attempt at charm was as putrid as he was, “wass a lil thing like you doin out ere alown.” His gaze traveled up and down her body in a way that sickened her.
“There’s a toll on this ere road.” His eyes no longer pretending to have any decency, “I’m sure you can work out payment one way or another.” His thumbs looped inside the front of his pants as he cracked a wicked grin.
It was all the warning Samantha needed, she snatched the bow from her back along with an arrow and had it knocked all in one quick motion. She now had the man in her sights, but as soon as she loosed the arrow she sensed the movements where the others had been approaching from the sides and behind. She kicked the sides of the donkey as the arrow stabbed into the mans eye socket, killing him instantly. Arms reached for her and her mount but they fall short as the donkey began to run.
Samantha’s donkey was named Maurice, and he was smart, she knew he would follow the path, so she grabbed her bow and spun around backwards to see who was pursuing her. There were three men already jumping on horses and two more that she could see were on foot. They were all filthy and unkempt.
The donkey bouncing beneath her, she took her time to aim and carefully picked off two of the riders. One had been hit in the shoulder, the other in the gut. Blood sprayed out of the wounds as the men fell from their mounts, and the horses came to a slow stop. The one remaining rider was gaining on her, but the men on foot were already far behind. She loosed two more arrows but the last rider managed to evade each time as though he could sense the arrows. The third shot went low and Samantha cringed when she realized she’d hit the innocent horse in the head. It’s body going instantly limp it tumbled forward, somersaulting over itself and throwing it’s rider before landing on top of him and coming to a stop. The man didn’t move, and there appeared to be no more pursuers. Samantha spun back around and looked forward, pushing Maurice to put distance between herself and the remaining bandits.
For the next three days she saw no one unusual and passed unremarkably through several small villages. She had finally reached the base of the mountains. Four more days ride and she would be at the Scrag. It was on the night after the second day, while she was sleeping, that her donkey and supplies were stolen. She had only the bow and quiver that she had been sleeping next to, the thieves hadn’t dared come that close.
They were sloppy thieves though, goblins by the look of the tracks, eight to ten of them. The path was easy to follow, and Samantha hoped she could get Maurice before they ate him. Goblins were notoriously stupid and they saw no value for creatures beyond meat.
The path wound and crossed a small stream, but eventually Samantha spotted their lookout. He was about four feet tall, with a lime green skin, and black eyes. Her arrow sailed true and clear, entering the side of his head from the temple. She was down to only four more arrows, it wouldn’t be enough, but they had snatched her sword. Carefully, she crept to where the lookout had been, and removed the arrow, it was intact, so she stuck it back in the quiver. She repeated this twice more with the lookouts on the other sides of the small goblin camp, and then she approached where the remaining ones were sitting around a small fire and sharpening her sword. They were likely getting ready to kill Maurice, who stood next to the fire as well.
Reaching down, she grabbed a handful of rocks and threw them into the bushes away from her donkey. The green ugly things all jumped and ran to the noise while she crept up behind her donkey and jumped on him. Just then, one turned around and saw her and let out a screech. The others were quickly taking up pursuit, but it was too late, she was away before there was anything they could do and she resumed her path towards the mountain.
Snow had begun to fall as she reached the base of the Scrag, and by mid way up it was up to her donkey’s knees She was clad in a leather outfit that was normally plenty warm, but the chill still cut through her. She took a blanket that had been in the pack on the donkey, thankfully unharassed by the goblins, and wrapped it around herself, continuing onward into what appeared to be the beginnings of a blizzard.
There was an ear piercing shriek and she looked up to see the dragon, black wings spread against the overcast sky. Watching carefully, she followed its path for as long as possible, and soon, she was fairly certain she was at the entrance to its cave. She back tracked and tied the donkey to a tree, then returned to the cave entrance and sat to watch for the beast.
For the entire next day Samantha watched as the beast came and went from the cave. Sometimes it would return with a slain cow, or ox, other times it would bring a cart or bags. It was nearly forty five feet long if you included the tail. Her black wings looked slick as though they were covered in oil. Her head had two mighty bent horns curving backwards, and her teeth were razor sharp and inches long. After watching her all day Samantha had determined she was not a beast at all, but highly intelligent. She had a look in her eyes that said she understood her place in the world. But that didn’t prepare Samantha for what happened next.
As dusk was setting she was watching the dragon which had just returned from a hunt. It had a mighty elk clutched between it’s back claws and it threw it on the ground before landing next to it and diving in with its front claws and mighty teeth. In the middle of devouring the beast the dragons eyes met Samantha’s and both froze. Then, a hissing rumbling voice came from the creature’s bloody snout.
“What are you doing here human?” She was a dragon, but her voice still somehow sounded feminine. Samantha had always believed the dragon’s were intelligent, but she had never expected them to be able to talk.
Shaken by being noticed, but also intrigued that she was asked a question, and not simply attacked, Samantha answered. “I came to rescue Prince Eric from you.” She was scared, but she managed to speak clearly.
The dragon hissed at her. “Eric is mine, I am the greatest female in the land, he should belong to me!” She almost lunged at Samantha who instinctively took a step backwards.
“He is a Prince, and he “belongs” to no one.” The dragon hissed further but Samantha didn’t let up. “How would you like it if I locked you in a cage and wouldn’t let you go?”
“The men who came before tried to kill me.” The dragon was clearly angry at the human who had interrupted her meal and questioned her authority. Human’s had only ever attacked the beast, but she’d learned enough of their language through eavesdropping. She’d even heard tales of the prince.
“But I haven’t.” Samantha stepped toward the dragon. “LET ERIC GO!” She shouted the command at the dragon and the beast lunged toward her, quickly pinning her to the ground.
“YOU INTERRUPT MY MEAL MAKING DEMANDS, THREATENING ME WITH A CAGE!”
Samantha tried to gulp but her throat was dry. Finally she managed to speak again. “I wasn’t threatening you, just trying to make a point. I love him and he loves me. He will never be happy with you, but you can free him if you truly love him.”
The dragon hissed, “I AM THE GREATEST FEMALE IN THE LAND!”
“You are,” Samantha had found her boldness again. “But you are a dragon. Let Eric go, come back with us to the keep so that we may pay honor to your greatness. Let us be friends and not enemies.”
The dragon loosened its grip but it was as though it was peering into Samantha’s soul. It’s deep black orbs of eyes impossible to read, it finally spoke again. “They will simply attack me…”
The dragon was interrupted, “Let us go first, we will have the word of the king, and he will listen when he sees his son safely returned. That is all he cares about.”
The dragon continued with its depthless stare for a few moments, and then released the girl, standing up, and turning to the cave, it muttered, “A moment.” With that the dragon disappeared into the cave for a few minutes before returning, clutching Eric in one great front claw. He looked slightly emaciated, but otherwise fine. The look on his eyes when he saw Samantha was one of love and amazement. As soon as the dragon released him they were clutching and telling how much they loved one another.
The dragon interrupted. “About that place of honor…”
“You will have it,” It was the princes turn to interrupt. Fly us to the top of the golden keep, no archer will be able to hit you, we can enter from the roof and I will tell the king that you mean no harm.
“You really think he will listen after I killed his men?” The hissing voice was hesitant.
“I heard what happened, they attacked you when clearly you are capable of reason, my father will see it too.”
With that, the dragon seemed to give in. “Um…” Samantha interjected into the awkward silence, “what should we call you, I mean…” She paused, “It doesn’t seem right to just call you dragon.”
The hissing took on an almost purr like quality. “I believe that’s the first time anyone has ever asked me my name. It’s Abigail.”
“Well Abigail it’s nice to meet you!” Samantha took a bow, “You already know Prince Eric, my name is Samantha, is there any chance you could give the Prince, me, “and” my donkey Maurice a ride back to the golden tower?”
“I can.” Abigail seemed to have decided to trust these two humans in spite of all that had happened, and they were willing to trust her too. “Climb on back.” The dragon lowered her neck, providing a path for them to climb and sit side by side between her wings clutching the great spikes coming from the top of her spine. Soon they were off, and Maurice was gently scooped up in a talon, much to his disapproval. Before long they were back at the palace, and the prince and Samantha honored their words, and told the king that the dragon meant no harm and was attacked. The king was aggrieved for his men, but so grateful for his son to return, that he accepted the dragon’s offer of alliance.
The king also honored his word to Samantha, and so it was that Eric and Samantha were married in a grand ceremony atop the golden tower, where their new friend Abigail was happy to be in attendance. Thus ends the story of how Samantha was granted the nobility to one day be queen, and how Rosethorne acquired its greatest flying ally, a magnificent black dragon named Abigail.
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Afterthought from the author: I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading this piece. If you have, please know that thumbs ups and comments are always welcome and absolutely make my day. Thank you sincerely,
Joshua Harestad
Short Stories
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Your descriptions are really crisp and vivid in this piece, which makes it that much more enjoyable to read. A lot of people like enter their piece around dialogue, but you do a good job of using it sparingly and effectively. Very nice!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it sincerely! Cheers!