The Knight and the Purple Dragon

5/95

(Senior Year English Class)

          Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away lived a good and kind king.  He was fair to all the people in his kingdom and well loved by all.  He also had a beautiful daughter.  She was a selfish and vain creature that cared about no one but herself and what she could get out of people.  The time finally came for her to wed but the king could find no man who would we her or that she would wed.  Men came from far and wide, having heard tales of her great beauty but often left shaking their heads at the vain and selfish creature.

          The king was greatly distressed by these turns of events and did everything in his power to find a mate for her.  He offered a hug dowry to anyone who would wed her.  The money attracted a lot of would be suitors to the kingdom but alas, none of them would marry the vain woman.

          One day a large purple dragon was sighted in the forest next to the kings' castle.  The dragon was the biggest ever seen.  As we all know beautiful women attract dragons so it was no surprise to anyone that one day the kings' daughter came to be missing from her room in the castle.  The king was greatly distressed and ordered that the person who rescued his beloved daughter would not only receive a large reward but also receive her hand in marriage.

          Many young, brave knights took on the challenge and set out to slay the purple monster but none were ever heard from or seen again.  One day a brave knight rode into the village.  His hearts only wish was to marry a beautiful princess.  The villagers told him of the dragon and the princess.  He set out immediately to see the king.

          "Sir Humphries, if you can slay the monster that stole my daughter I will reward you with her hand in marriage and half my kingdom."  The distressed king told him.

          Sir Humphries bowed and replied, "My king, I will either return with your daughter or die trying."  He then headed out in search of the monsters' lair.

          He found him in a cave not far from the castle.  He called out a challenge to the dragon to come out and fight him, for we all know that dragons can not resist a challenge from a knight.  Out of the cave stumbled the huge beast, who did not look so fearsome.  Instead he looked tired and worn.  With one stab of his lance the beast fell at his feet.

          With his last gasp of air the dragon said, "Thank God!  One more day in that cave with that woman and I would have killed myself.  You can have her and good luck!"  With that he died.

          Sir Humphries walked to the cave to retrieve the princess.  She stood there looking at him with her arms crossed over her chest, "It's about time that someone came and got me from that dreadful creature!  What took you so long?  This has been a horrible experience!  I will have nightmares for years about it!  All the steam from his breath has ruined my hair!  I haven't slept since he took me from my room now I have dark circles under my eyes and I smell like dragon!"

          Sir Humphries helped her onto the back of his horse and headed back to the castle.  The whole ride back the princess complained about anything and everything.  When he presented her to the king he was overjoyed at the return of his daughter.  He immediately started planning their wedding.

          They were married a short time later and Sir Humphries became a good and benevolent king as the one before him.  But he did not live happily ever after.  The princess never changed and if possible grew worse over the years.

          Moral:  listen to dying dragons or watch what you wish for you just might get it!