[ requiem to a dream: a short story ]

The Dragon Slayer


A kingdom was having troubles in dealing with a dragon for so many years. Attacking at the time least expected and burning everything on its path, the beast is simply unstoppable in destroying the whole kingdom. The only way to kill the dragon, as sages found out from the ancient scrolls, is to hunt the beast on its lair while it sleeps. And the best time to do it is while it hibernates during the long period of the winter season.

Immediately before the winter started, the King gathered his best knights, soldiers, and mercenaries and commanded them to fulfill the most valiant quest. He also declared that the one who kills the dragon would be granted to win the heart of his one and only daughter.

Soon, everyone prepared for the great hunt. While some opted to stay to safeguard the kingdom, most of the young men joined the quest. Each of them brought their own deadliest weapons, strongest horses, toughest armors, best strategies, accurate maps to locate the dragon’s lair and above all, the best hope to win the beautiful Princess.

From the first full moon of the winter, they began to leave the kingdom. The days of the hunt turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The people prayed and hoped for the mission’s success even if early signs of failure were observed. Some of the men died on their way to the dragon’s lair, while others lost their way and returned empty-handed. But on the fourth month and three days of the Quest, a letter came from a knight informing the rest of the people that the most-dreaded beast was found and killed. The kingdom is finally saved.

All were very happy and enthusiastic for the return of their hero. The King called for a gathering and they prepared the most lavish feast on the day of his return, and also to finally declare the end of the Dragon’s Scouring and the start of the New Age. Most eager of them to see the knight is no other than the Princess.

Then a bird came, carrying a letter from the knight. He wrote that he desires to see his people again and above all, the Princess. He will be sending a messenger to give the King the proof of his victory--- a pair of the dragon’s fangs.

Soon enough, the messenger came with the bag containing the proof of his master’s conquest of the dragon. The messenger who had a very ugly and disfigured face always looked in the Princess’ direction, awed as if seeing a rare and precious gem for the first time. The beautiful Princess noticed him and said; “Please, stop doing that. Tell your master that I cannot wait any longer to see him. I am not that familiar with him, but I will be happy to know him well upon his return. He is the one that should be seeing me right now and not his poor, ugly servant.”

The messenger politely bowed his head, turned to the King, and offered him the pair of the dragon’s fangs before bidding farewell.

The sunset painted a mournful sky in the western horizons, but no sign of the heroic knight came. The moon and the Big Dipper passed the Northern night skies, but the whole kingdom just waited in vain. When the sun returned in the morning, the dragon’s fangs were still clutched by the King’s hands, while the beautiful Princess locked herself inside her room. The atmosphere of the kingdom is comparable to that of a home who lost a son.

The people prayed for his return and for the Princess’ happiness. The King ordered his servants to look for him but they all failed. Several months passed, and finally the familiar bird came with a letter from the knight. At the moment the King seized the letter, he wasted no further time to read it...

Good day to you, my King. I am living right now in a distant land, and I want to seek forgiveness from all of you because I lied. That ugly servant, the messenger that I sent, it was me. You might be wondering but it’s true.

You see, after slaying the dragon by the end of the first month of the Quest, I was badly wounded, and I allowed myself to heal before returning to our beloved kingdom. It took me three months, and I guess I was very lucky to survive the dragon even if its fiery breath totally destroyed my face.

I still thank God because he spared my right eye, and I was able to see the Princess for the last time. Your daughter is the most beautiful and precious thing I ever saw in my life, and it was her memory that I always cherish that saved me from the dragon. I hope all the best for her, and you don’t need to worry about her in treating me like that. The fault is mine. But serving you, her, and the rest of the kingdom has been an honor to me. I just want the Princess to be happy, happy with the man worthy of her beauty, worthy of her love. An ugly man like me does not belong to her future because I know that I can never make her smile.

It is my final wish that you allow me to settle in this new land I found. I will accept it as a reward from you. It is the Lord's plan for me to find this thriving land and I guess this will be the best place for me to heal my pains.

Thank you, and more power to the Throne.

Sir Nudarion