The Knight, The Princess, and the Curiously Absent Dragon

In which a knight rescues a virtuous princess from a curiously absent dragon.

There's the tower. In fact, I see the princess- there, in the window. So where's the dragon?

Aidan surveyed the long swath of grass to the tower. Patches of scorched ground swept along the lush green carpet, reminding Aidan of a 'tiger' a magus had brought to Duublyn a few years ago. It had ended up attacking a woman, so Aidan had killed it. Looks like this is where most heroes are killed. There's a skeleton. Ew. Idiot. Didn't they see the burned grass?

He slid in-between the stalks of the grass circling the tower. The good thing about a clear sky?

No where for the dragon to hide. Aidan would almost certainly see it first. He grinned. And the benefit of that is? You get to run first! Very clever Aidan. Sir Blanchard was right about you. You are very clever.

There!

A garden, surrounded by a low wall, led up to a door in the tower. Huh? Even a princess could get over that wall. Why hasn't she tried to escape?

The distance between Aidan and the garden wasn't great. I could get there very quickly. Now, the trouble is, can I get to the door in time?

He glanced around for the dragon again.

I don't see it anywhere. Who knows, maybe it's out hunting! Wouldn't that be convenient! I wouldn't even have to fight it! Oh, I am very clever.

He broke cover and ran. He nearly tripped over a mirror in the grass- why was there a mirror in the grass? But he kept running. He clambered over the cobblestone wall. He crouched on the other side, looking for the dragon.

Still nowhere in sight.

Wonderful. I am very clever! He crept to the door and tried it. The door, a solid block of polished mahogany, was easily pulled open. No, it most definitely wasn't too heavy. He wasn't even tired. The panting was definitely from the running.

Yeah. Anyway. Princess. Beautiful, virtuous princess to save, marry, and rule with... and make lots and lots of babies.

He stepped inside. He glanced around.

The tower was a beauty. A spiral staircase snaked along the sides, up to a wooden ceiling that probably made up the next floor. Mahogany paneling, carved and painted in lovely scenes, covered the stone walls. I wonder if the princess did this? Beautiful, virtuous, creative princess. Oh, yes. I am very clever.

He started up the stairs. What will the princess say about me? 'Oh, my hero! Even if thou weren't my savior, I would love thee with the power of a thousand suns. Wed me, and we shall rule justly, and well, and be remembered as the greatest monarchs Irlan hast ever seen. Thou art tall, and golden, and I loved thee on sight...”

Well, that might be a bit much. He grinned. Still. I'm looking forward to this.

The first set of stairs ended in another door. He shoved it open. This must be my lady's sitting room. A reclining couch, curved to match the round sides of the tower, sat nearby. A chair and a box of sewing supplies made up the other side. A loom filled one entire side of the room, a lovely green silk cloth half-made. She must make her own clothing. Lovely, wonderful princess.

He started up the second set of stairs. This one was much shorter, leading just up to the much lower ceiling. He opened that door and stepped inside.

The princess's bedroom. Her bed, a wide, soft-looking bed filled at least two thirds of the room. He grinned. That must be a comfortable bed. I'd use it with her, but marriage is first. Maybe after I am crowned King, I can send an army to take this tower and carry it to the castle. Yes. It will be a wonderful wedding present to my princess. He ran up the stairs, grinning. This is the last room, I'm sure of it! He paused in front of the door and checked his reflection in his armor. It was blurrier than usual. Blasted squire. I hope he got eaten by the dragon. How can I rescue a princess in dull armor?

Well, it's good enough. Still shines beautifully. He ran a hand through his hair- golden-brown, and the pride of his lady mother. He was a bit suspicious about that, though. His lady mother had black hair, and his father brown. Still, no way he could be a b*****d. No. Not the wonderful, clever Sir Aidan.

He opened the door.

There was a soft gasp.

A woman in a lovely shell-pink dress was standing by the window, her hand on her heart and her eyes wide. She had lovely, lovely chocolate hair and dusky skin. He smiled. Oh, she is lovely! I am very clever. Of course I get a beauty. He knelt. “Your Highness.” He breathed, looking up worshipfully at her. “I am at your command.”

She walked forward, swaying as she walked like a beautiful willow. Oh, I am very clever! She knelt, too, and clasped his hands. She had lovely hazel eyes. Hazel eyes were rather plain, but the rest of her made up for it.

Oh. She had a very tiny waist.

I am very clever.

“Knight, please rise.” She begged, drawing him to his feet. “You are here to rescue me?”

He nodded, smiling. “Yes, your Highness. If I might know your name?”

“Princess Cam.”

Cam. A lovely name, the kind he'd expect of a goddess, and suited her so well. Lovely Cam.

No. Cam wasn't a lovely name at all. Oh, well. You couldn't have everything. And he was still very clever.

“And yours?” She asked.

“Sir Aidan Tigerblood.” He replied. “Named as such for killing a tiger that attacked a young girl.”

“How brave.” She breathed. “Sir Tigerblood, will you take me from my prison?”

“Your wish is my command. Come on then, Princess Cam! I hope you don't mind running!”

“Oh, no. I keep my legs fit.” She smiled demurely. “They're much nicer that way.”

He blinked. That didn't sound very virtuous. Well, she probably meant something else. He just had a mind that looked at all possibilities. After all, he was very clever.

He grabbed her hand and kissed it, and, still holding it, began the run down to the foot of the tower. She really must have been fit, she kept up very well. A bit of a pity, that, now he had no excuse to sweep her off her feet.

She kept pace with him all the way to the wall. She stopped short, and bent down. She took off her shoes and tossed them over. Lovely, practical Princess Cam.

Oh, he was definitely very clever. Who else could get such a marvelous, beautiful, virtuous, clever, creative, practical woman? And she was a princess!

They climbed over the wall and ran to the edge of the forest.

“Haha! We made it!” He cheered. “No need to kill the dragon. Lovely creatures, dragons.”

“Except when they kidnap you.”

“Well, yes, they're a bit troublesome then. But if it brings me to my lady, I will not begrudge the dragon.”

She smiled at him. She had a lovely smile. So petite and charming. “You are kind.”

“Come then. Mh horse in nearby.”

Arphedaelusicus, his horse, was nowhere in sight.

“Arphedaelusicus!” He called.

A white horse- no, a unicorn wandered into view, pure white with a long, long horn and a beautiful mane.

“Oh! You ride a unicorn?” She asked, shrinking back.

“No. Why are you afraid?” He smiled. “Come pet the unicorn.” He walked up and stroked it's head. The unicorn whickered, nuzzling his hand.

“You are a virtuous man.” She whispered.

“Yes. Which is why we'll work so well together! The virtuous princess and her virtuous knight!”

She took a tremulous step towards the unicorn. It reared away.

“Woah!” He took a fast step away. He turned to stare at her. But if she's virtuous, why... oh, by the Gods! “You're not virtuous!”

Author's Note

Hahaha. Aidan was very fun to write. Clever people are fun to write. The curiously absent dragon was fun, too. And ooh, Princess Cam.

Reviews

[Arcana]

Very crappy review, Jacob. xD