The Dragon (Part One) (639 hits)
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Submitted by <deisangua.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2004-03-09 11:29:56 EST
The dragon awoke to the sound of heavy footsteps far above his hidden lair. At first, the mighty beast was perplexed, for it had been centuries since he last heard the clanking of armor, the gritty scrape of metal upon stone, the cautious breath of a creature that had knowingly tread in a place that was not its domain. But the dragon's confusion only lasted a moment before it was replaced by a bemusement the likes of which he had not felt in decades.
His nostrils flared as he took one deep breath, and the icy air of winter carried the intruder's scent to him upon a sharp, bitter wind. It was man, of course, for no beast of the mountains would be so foolish as to enter the sanctuary of a dragon. Yet, with no more than a single sniff, the large reptile had already mapped out the human's mortal coil.
The trespasser was a warrior. The dragon could scent traces of old blood and metal. The man was seasoned as well, for the odor of sweat upon him was that of struggle and exertion, but not fear. The human also seemed fond of sausage and ale, but not so much as to be a drunkard.
And he had a woman - young, and fond of jasmine - waiting for him in the warm southern regions where he had been born. She had gifted him with a perfumed cloth, which he wore about his neck.
Such sentiment these humans have, the dragon thought to himself.
The beast closed his eyes, knowing he had a few moments before the warrior could find his bumbling way into the central cavern. It was not for any benefit of surprise that the dragon did this, but for desire of sleep. He had only been able to rest for fifteen years, and he was ever so tired from being woken at such an early time.
Too soon, however, the man came upon the crevassed and gold-strewn confines where the dragon lay. Through one half-raised lid, the dragon was able to see a soft white light emanating from an amulet upon the man's plated breast, and he snorted. He had forgotten how poor the eyes of humans were.
The blonde-haired warrior froze at the sound of the dragon's sharp exhale. Taking a hasty step back towards the exit, the man lifted the golden spear that he held in his right hand. His left arm rose as well, and the dragon noted a kite shield affixed to the limb. Its surface was decorated - ironically - with the emblem of a red dragon.
"Well?" the dragon asked, speaking in the tongue of the Southern lands. His voice echoed ominously in the air, and the unexpected question seemed to throw the warrior off.
The man took a quick step back, his spear wavering uncertainly before his gauntleted fist tightened around it. It only took a second for the man's bravado to return, however. He squared his shoulders, and began what sounded like a ominously well-prepared speech.
"Long have I searched, and now I have found you, foul beast..."
"Cast iron ape," the dragon interceded, unexpectedly.
The man blinked in bewilderment. The dragon lifted his left eyebrow, an impatient gesture on his part.
"What?" the warrior asked at last.
"If you plan to start with insults," the dragon grumbled, " I might as well respond in kind, don't you think?"
The human looked at the ground, as though searching for some answer there. His gaze quickly returned to the dragon, however, furtive and suspicious, and with a glint of hatred in his cobalt blue eyes.
"You have not earned the right of respect, lizard. I have! I am an honored knight of his grace, the King, and I will fulfill my quest to rid the land of your evil!"
Now, the dragon lifted his head, and a guttural laugh escaped his scaled lips.
"My evil, eh?"
"Yes, beast!" the man responded. It was almost funny to see the knight-warrior working himself up into a rage, like a frustrated imp locked in a turtle's shell. "Your days of terrorizing the countryside are over!"
"Oh please," the dragon replied, with a roll of his eyes. "It has been centuries since I last terrorized anything, and that was a colony of seals in the North, where no men go. And the last time I chewed on a human of any sort was a good bit longer ago than that."
"I refuse to believe that," the man countered.
"Why? Because there's no army of angry seals barking outside my door?"
"No!" The knight pointed his spear at the dragon as he yelled. "Because that is what dragons do! They fly over the homes of decent people, burning the fields and snatching up livestock, as well as women and children! That, beast, is truly evil."
Now it was the dragon that was taken aback. He cocked his huge, bony head at the knight in honest disbelief.
"You aren't very well educated, are you?" he asked at last.
"Aargh!!" came the man's response, as he charged forward.
User Reviews
Submitted by Justafox (user info) at 2004-05-15 15:24:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Yeah nice story dude ,
too bad YOU STOLE IT from the film Dragon's Heart.
Write your own story and dont steal anyones work, the truth always comes out....
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2004-04-14 09:24:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You have just been the victim of a drive-by ranking.
Submitted by esso_merda (user info) at 2004-03-10 17:55:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool. I'm moving to Part 2.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-03-09 15:50:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JinkyWilliams (user info) at 2004-03-09 15:39:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Keep it going, keep it going.
It would be nice if our brave warrior soul was some how redeemed through all this. He'd hack and slash and snarl and sweat and poke and prod and fall down, exhausted after being unsuccessful to make even the slightest dent. And then the dragon would begin his monologue.
Or something.
However it goes, I'll be checking back.
Stay orange.
--JW
Submitted by jonukah (user info) at 2004-03-09 15:19:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
This reminded me a bit too much of the movie Dragonhart.
"I AM the last one!"
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-03-09 14:20:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Is this an allegory? Hmm, perhaps it will be revealed in part two....
I'd give *my* jasmine perfume from the southern regions to the dragon, not to some blonde warrior.
What?
SpikeGoddess
Submitted by K.M (user info) at 2004-03-09 12:42:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by ohlookasquirrel (user info) at 2004-03-09 12:29:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Smart dragons remind me of Grendel. I am so conflicted about that book though. On the one hand, it's awesome, on the other hand, I gave a better part of my life (okay, a month) analyzing the hell out of it for english. Interesting take though.
"The human also seemed fond of sausage"
God, I laughed. I am stupid and immature.
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-03-09 12:26:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ok, that smartass dragon is only the best character ever. He was cracking me up.