Sir Eric and the Dragon

A children's story written in answer to a challenge from a friend.

            Once not so long ago, there was a brave and noble knight named Sir Eric the Bold.  Though Arthur and his legendary knights were long gone, Sir Eric tried to follow the example they left.  He was Just and Fair in all his dealings with others, and was kind and gentle with those weaker than himself.  All in all, he was a fine example of a knight.

            One day while he was dining in his castle, a poor man came to the Great Hall bearing a message.  Ordering that food and drink be brought for the man, Eric began to read the message. As he read, he felt himself getting angry. The message told of a village on the edge of his lands having trouble with a dragon.  The dragon was burning their crops and buildings and generally making life difficult for the villagers.  Determined to help these poor people, Eric immediately made preparations to go to the village and slay the offending dragon.

            He set off the next day. The road was long and perilous, but he went unmolested. You see even the highwaymen who make their living robbing travelers on the roads knew better than to interfere with a knight on a mission. It took Eric several days to reach the beleaguered village.  When he got there, He was given the best lodgings and food the poor people could scrape together.  They told him more tales of how the dragon was making their lives miserable.  Filled with resolve, Eric told them he would deal with the dragon first thing in the morning.

            When dawn came, Eric was ready. He was dressed in his finest and strongest armor, and had a shield specially made to protect him from the dragons' fiery breath.  His sword was razor sharp and strong enough to cut through a tree a foot thick.  He was confident that he would prevail because his was a Just Cause. 

            He set out to where the villagers told him the dragon lived. After an hour of walking he reached the dragons lair.  Strewn about the outside of the cave were piles of bones from all manner of animals.  And a strong odor of sulfur came from the mouth of the cave.  Suddenly a roar shattered the quiet of the morning.  A cloud of smoke erupted from the cave quickly followed by the dragon.  In a flash, it attacked Eric with claws as long as knives, and equally as sharp.  The force of the attack knocked Eric into a tree on the edge of the clearing and stunned him for a moment. He then pushed himself away from the tree and drew his sword. 

            The dragon had not been idle while Eric did this and by now had sucked in a huge breath. Seeing what was about to happen, Eric ducked behind his shield.  Just then the dragon exhaled a jet of fire straight at the knight.  The fire kept coming for what seemed forever, but eventually gave out. To the dragons great surprise, Eric calmly rose from behind his shield and began to move toward his foe with sword held high.

            With the initial attacks out of the way, the knight and dragon began to fight in earnest. Blow followed blow. And slash followed slash.  For two days and nights they fought, with neither side able to get in a decisive hit.  Finally, on the third day, with the combatants stumbling and panting, the dragon chose to speak. 

            “Sir Knight, will you agree to a small truce so that we both may rest a bit?”

            Eric, never having heard that dragons can speak, was a little stunned.  Beside the fact that the dragon was talking, was the question that it had asked. It showed a sense of fairness that Eric thought was a gift only Man possessed.  He considered for a moment and replied, “I agree.  You have fought well and long and I would be a poor knight if I took advantage of such a worthy opponent.”

            The two moved to opposite sides of the clearing, making themselves as comfortable as they could.  When they were settled, the dragon once again began to speak.

            “Would you be so kind as to tell me why you have come to my home with the apparent intent killing me?  So far as I know I have never seen you before and have no grudge with you.”

            “I am Sir Eric the Bold and I came to stop you from preying on the village down the hill.  They told me you burn their homes and crops and take their children away for your meals.”

            At the last part the dragon looked pained and disgusted. “Please!  The mere thought of eating humans is vile to me. I only eat those animals that lack intelligence.  As for burning their homes and crops, that I will admit to.  But they neglected to tell you why I do so.  They have been encroaching on my hunting grounds for years. They kill all the game they can and drive what they can’t kill away.  They cut down the forests for their farms and foul the rivers with their waste.  Food has been getting very scarce.  A few months ago, I was very hungry and could not find any prey so I took one of their cattle.  I was careful to select the oldest and weakest I could.  Afterwards they came and tried to block the entrance to my cave.  When they found the cave of my sibling on the other side of the valley, they snuck in while she was hunting and killed her children.  When she returned, they had set a trap for her. As she entered the cave, she tripped a wire just inside the entrance causing the roof to collapse on top of her.  Once she was unable to move, they came and slew her as well.  The only reason they haven’t been able to do that to me is I am far more cunning than she was.  As you saw, I keep on constant guard.  Most of the time, A roar and blast of smoke is enough to scare them away.  Then you came.”

            Now Eric, as I said, was a Just and Fair knight.  He was used to hearing two sides to a story and was very good at figuring out which one was the truth.  He listened to this story and thought about all he had been told of by the villagers.  He began to get the feeling that he was being used.  He remembered how some of the villagers had contradicted each other with their stories.  He had attributed that to the fear and shock from the dragon attacks. Now he wasn’t so sure.  No one had told him that there had been another dragon. No one could prove that any one had even been hurt by the attacks. Sure their crops and houses had been destroyed, but there was no evidence of injury or death.  He slowly stood and sheathed his sword.  He moved among the piles of bones.  There were bones from all the larger beasts of the wilds, and the ribs of one cow.  Nowhere could he find any human bones, either from children or adults. 

            “Sir Dragon, I apologize for my presumption.  I have been mislead and have done you a great disservice.  It is now obvious to me who the real villain is and I will see justice done.  If you will assist me, we can ferret out the guilty parties and arrange for a solution to the situation that will satisfy everyone involved.”

            The two talked all night and by morning had hatched a plan.  The dragon made a small cut where his scaly hide was weakest and Eric smeared the blood on his armor and sword.  Then Eric returned to the village alone.  He went to the center of the village and called for the Elders.  Once they were all there, he began.

            “Behold! The blood of the dragon is on my sword and armor. He will cause you trouble no more!”

            “Good Sir,” One of the Elders began. “We had hoped you could show us more tangible proof of the dragons demise.”

            “Do you call me a liar?”  He towered over the man and glowered down at him. “You are the head Elder of this village are you not?”  The man nervously nodded  “And as such, you are responsible for the actions of everyone in it right?”  Again, a nervous nod.  “Then can you explain to me why I was not told about the other dragon you had killed?”

            The man took a step backward.  “H-how…  Who told you of that?”  Everyone else in the village wisely kept their mouths shut and watched to see what would happen next.  The Elder apparently came to a decision and stood up straighter. “It doesn’t matter anyway.” He said.  “As long as they are dead.  There’s no place for those vile beasts in our world.” 

            Just then everyone heard the rustle of leathery wings in the air over the village. A shadow fell across the crowd as the dragon descended on the village.

            “It still lives!” The Elder cried.  “You told us it was dead!”

            Calmly, Eric began wiping the blood from his armor.  “No I didn’t”  He began.  “I merely said that your troubles are over.” 

            The villagers quickly moved back and the dragon landed in the square not far from the Knight and the Elder, neither of which had moved.  As he furled his wings across his back, the dragon fixed a look of pure hatred at the Elder.

            “Sir Knight.” The dragon hissed.  “This is the one who ordered the deaths of my sibling and her children.  This is the one who led the others against me.”

            “Is this true?”  Eric asked the Elder.  “Did you order the villagers to ambush and kill a defenseless creature?”

            “How can you even listen to such a creature?!” the Elder shouted.  “Such abominations should be destroyed!  They are an offence to civilized society and should be eliminated!  Wiped from existence and forgotten!”  As he continued, the Elders voice became more shrill, and spittle flew from his lips.  “They spread disease and death.  They eat children and maidens!” 

            Throughout the tirade, the dragon just sat and stared at the Elder.  Eric looked around at the rest of the villagers and saw that they were loosing their fear of it. They began to move closer and to see the madness in the Elders eyes.  The mood shifted from fear to anger, not at the dragon, but at the elder.  Eventually, the Elder sensed the shift and stopped screaming.  Looking around, he saw that he had lost the people.  He tried to run but was grabbed by the crowd and held fast.

            One of the other Elders approached Eric and bowed before him.

            “Thank you Sir, for showing us what fools we had been.  What should be done with him now that he has shown his true nature?”

            “I will take him with me.”  Eric said sadly.  “He shall be taken where he can’t do anymore harm.  There is another matter we must discuss.  You are the new Head Elder.  As of now, a pact exists between your village and this dragon.  He has agreed to protect your village from raiders and thieves.  In return, all he asks is one head of cattle from your herds per month.  It is a fair deal for both sides and you will abide by it.  Will you agree?”

            The new Head Elder nodded happily.  “It’s more than fair, Sir.”  Turning to the dragon, he said.  “Good dragon, nothing I can say or do will bring back the loss we have caused.  All I can hope is that you can forgive us.  Had we only known of his madness earlier, we would not have followed such a bloody course.  From now on, you will be honored and protected.  And if any of your kind should wish to come here, they will not be disturbed.”

            Eric turned and led the now tied madman away.  He was happy as a man can be when he is true to his ideals.  He knew that he need not worry about any trouble in this area again.  And he was right. A marvelous pact was forged that day. To this day, the dragons protect that village and it’s people. And the people of the village continue to honor and provide for the dragons.  Everyone is happy.  So you see, sometimes you can’t trust what you are told and must find the truth for yourself.