The Knight and the Dragon
By M. L. Stidmon
The Knight was a solemn looking man wearing the worn trappings of a warrior that had seen many a campaign. His horse was a powerful looking animal with a temperament that was barely in check. Over all, the man and beast were dangerous looking and fearsome. Just what the villagers that had watched them come to their little hamlet dreaded yet another fool to stir up more evil to descend upon them.
For two years they had been plagued by the evil privations and destructions of a Dragon. A creature thought to be long dead and banished to the age of mythology and late night stories. The Dragon was not really of the humongous proportions of the stories. But it was fearsome and did breathe streams of fire. It was all the more cunning and had eluded all attempts to drive it away, let alone kill it. It seemed that it had come to the area of the little hamlet to stay.
Calls to the Lord of the land had been answered. An expedition was mounted to hunt down and destroy the Hell’s spawn interloper. Of nearly a score of men including the Lord who came to do battle, all were themselves were either killed or routed into fearful madness. Those who survived the encounter swore that the devil himself walked the earth.
The people tried to endure as the Dragon’s attacks became less frequent and rarely upon the village itself. For the most part it prowled the hinterlands surrounding the hamlet feeding on cattle and lesser livestock. In time it became both a legend and a boogeyman to the local villains. Offerings to placate the beast were given and in return the Dragon was content not to bother the poor community.
In time Knights of lesser rank seeking fame and fortune started to come to the hamlet. Working alone or in small groups they would hunt for the Dragon to bring him to bay. But of the several attempts by these intrepid adventurers, only a couple even succeeded in finding the monster and none of those lived to tell the tale. The Dragon would seek retribution from the village due to the folly of these men. The myth and stories of the Dragon only grew.
Being that the tiny village with its hellish guest was in the backcountry of the realm with no real importance, the crown paid no attention to the stories or the plight of the locals. In fact, the crown considered all the tales of the beast to be little more than fantasies. And when naïve young nobles boasted about slaying the Dragon in the King’s court they were often times ridiculed and mocked for being fools.
The other repercussion of these foolishly brave men was that their failure would bring the wrath of the Dragon down upon the hamlet. At night the flying wyrm would come to take vengeance on the people and their property. Fires would be set, destroying the habitats and livelihood of the people. The Dragon would not be content though in destruction but would also kill. It seemed to take pleasure in going after the innocent young or fair maidens. The Dragon would also pay particular attention to any determined defenders in these retaliatory strikes, as if to crush any resistance or threat to it.
In time the inhabitants of the hamlet came to dread the appearance of armed men looking for the Dragon. They would often times be cold and callous towards these men and mislead them on purpose. In a perverse way they became guardians of the Dragon as they sought to stifle any reason for the Dragon to become irate.
The Knight reigned in his mount and looked about the hamlet from the edge of town. There really was not a lot to behold, only a few shops and houses around a center square. A single parish church with a newly thatched roof fronted the square. For the most part all the buildings were either destroyed or in some state of being rebuilt from nearly catastrophic fire damage. A light rain with heavy dark clouds added to the despondency and gloominess of the hamlet.
The Knight urged his mount forward to the church. As he went by a small hovel of a shack an old woman came out to throw a dishpan of water out on the street. Seeing the Knight she made no attempt at avoiding him and as a result the dirty water flew upon the legs of the horse splashing the Knight. She knew why he had come and she was showing her disdain for him. The Knight glared at the woman and said nothing. He maintained his terrible anger in check. He knew the feeling that the locals had of those who came looking for the Dragon. She had first stood defiant to the warrior, but under his glare she coward back inside. He had an intensity that all the others did not have.
The Knight then continued on and made his way to the square. There he met three men unloading a wagon and carrying bundles into a shop. The men paused and looked at the armed rider come riding in. One of the men looked at his companion and shook his head. The third man motioned to the other two and they moved to block the Knight.
“Where do you think you are going?” one of the villagers said to the Knight. He had made no effort to show difference and respect to possibly a Peer of the Realm. The man saw the Knight as just another fool on a suicide errand. And worst yet someone who would bring more misery upon the village.
The Knight stopped the horse and looked down upon the three men who stood unarmed but defiantly before him. Even his horse looked down upon the humans with a cool contempt. The three men of the hamlet did not waiver though. They knew the potential danger that this foolish Knight represented to them. They knew that if this fool attacked the Dragon, then the Dragon would come after them with a terrible retribution.
“We do not want your kind here,” the leader of the three men boldly said. “You should leave and go back to where ever you came from.”
The Knight looked at the men and let out an expression of contempt and spurred his horse through them. Taken by surprise the men made to move out of the horse’s way lest they be trampled, but they were bowled to the side and sent sprawling to the muddy ground.
“You’re a fool and will bring death to us all.” One of the men shouted.
The Knight rode on without comment and without looking back. He then made his way across the square to the church. He ignored the men as they shouted after him. He paid them no mind. It took a dog to bring him to yet another stop as it yelped and snapped at the horse’s hooves. The Knight looked down at the dog. It was a typical mangy mutt with a bad temper. The Knight had a light javelin and took it in hand. The dog kept barking and growling oblivious to the intentions of the Knight.
“Please don’t kill my doggy,” a little boy cried as he ran up to the mounted Knight. The Knight stayed his hand as the boy made to control the dog. The boy was all the while pleading for his animal’s life. The Knight pursed his lips in irritation and rode the horse on to the church.
At the church, the Knight stopped before the doorway. A hitching post was conveniently placed in front and when he dismounted he tied the horse’s reigns to it without paying attention to the business of the hamlet. He did not bother securing the war-steed so well trained it was, he looked about to see that from a distance people had come out of their homes and shops and were pointing and talking about him. He could tell that his presence was not welcome and his response was only indifference. He took out a green bundle from a saddlebag and turned to go into the church. Before he entered he saw that a small crowd was gathering on the far side of the square. He paid it no mind as he went inside.
The interior was even gloomier and damp than outside. A poor parish church, there were no glass for the windows, only open shutters. A few pews were at the front of the nave near the sparsely adorn altar. The Knight made his way in and down the nave to the altar. No one seemed to be present in the apparently empty church.
Once before the altar the Knight stood for a moment and looked up at the simply carved cross. He stood there unmoving like a statue for sometime. He then unsheathed his sword and knelt down. With a light clinking from parts of his armor he took to his knees in a humble posture before the altar and the cross. He moved his sword in front of him with the point down. Bowing his head he began to pray.
It was not long after that the Knight had started to pray that a priest came warily into the sanctuary.
“Sir Knight, may I be of assistance to you?” the priest asked nervously. He had seen many a fighting man come to pray before God before setting out for the Dragon. He very much understood the need for divine help, because shortly the hamlet and the outlying farms would also be needing it.
The Knight ignored the priest as he continued to pray. The priest hearing the rising commotion out side from the villagers began to truly worry. He knew that the villagers were not pleased with the arrival of the Knight. There had been recent calls for driving any foreign armed men who came looking for the Dragon using force if need be. The priest had heard the hotheads of his flock even talk of death and heads on pikes as a warning. He had tried to reason with them and talked about peaceful approaches to dissuade any would be Dragonslayers. Few would listen.
The priest looked out the door and saw the mob of villagers coming across the square. There was much shouting now. Men and boys and even women carried staffs and sickles and other make shift weapons. The priest was now very pale with fear. For the villagers wanted to protect themselves, but to assault a Knight could also bring terrible retribution upon the hamlet, but compared to the Dragon that would be nothing. The crowd came before the church and started shouting for the Knight to come out. None came into the church not daring to cross over the threshold of violating God’s house by shedding blood. They contented themselves by standing out side and demanding the Knight to come out.
“Please, Sir Knight. The villagers call for you,” the priest said now cringing in fear that some of the more unreasonable would violate the church and come in and confront the Knight within.
The Knight continued to pray silently.
The priest seeing that the Knight was not heeding him went out side to try and calm the mob down. The priest beseeched and implored for calmer heads. He promised to talk to the Knight and explain the ramification for going after the Dragon. Some had then threatened to come into the church. But finding some small measure of courage the priest was able to warn them against violating the sanctuary within. The priest then went back inside.
The Knight finished his prayer with a “amen” and crossing himself. He got up and sheathed his sword. He then unfolded the green cloth and held it up. The Priest gasped as he beheld the simple surcoat with the gold emblazoned interlocking triple circles on the front of it. The Knight unbuckled the sword belt at his waist and carefully set it down. He then slipped the surcoat over his head and smoothed it very meticulously, before putting the sword belt on again. He then picked up his gauntlets that he had set down on a nearby pew and put those on. He looked at the priest as if seeing him for the first time.
The priest shrank from the Knight seeing the heraldic device on the surcoat. He had heard of the Green Knights but had never seen one before. They were a secret order of the Knights of the Trinity. Ever since the downfall of the Templars, the church sanctified few Holy Orders of Knights. The Green Knights though were both revered and feared. The stories of their exploits were both epic and mythical. Usually the stories were about a single man unselfishly overcoming impossible odds. The priest had always treated their accounts with skepticism. Now he was beholding one of these legendary Knights in his very own church.
The Knight smoothed back his long dark hair and said to the priest, “Have faith Father.”
Then the Knight walked down the center of the church pass the speechless clergy.
Outside the Knight paused at the doorway and beheld the angry mob. Some were shouting curses and threats, while a silence began to descend upon the crowd. Villagers whispered into the ears of their neighbor as realization of who the Knight was spread.
“You have lived with an evil for to long,” proclaimed the Knight. “I know that many have come before me and you have suffered for it. I’m here to rid you of it.”
The Knight then moved to mount his horse that was nonchalantly standing where he had been left. The Knight straightened himself in the saddle as he took the reins. Then some of the villagers called up to him.
“You will bring ruin to us.”
“The Dragon can not be killed.”
“You will die and then so will we.”
The Knight looked at the crowd as one would look at a whiny child while trying to remain patient. “You are right, I may fail. Then the Dragon will be angered. But you must have faith that God is with you and I. Giving into your fear is bowing in supplication to the devil.”
The Knight then urged his mount through the crowd and out of the tiny hamlet. Nary was a word said. Most thought doom was upon them. Some though, saw a ray of hope. And prayed in rejoice.
As the Knight passed through the last of the shanties and out on the road that led to the north he came to a woman with two small children trying to hide behind her dress. The woman looked at the Knight with a hard look of contempt. The Knight looked down at her with a blank expression.
“It was men like you that caused me to be a widow,” the woman called out to him.
The Knight looked at the woman, understanding what she met. He took a deep breath and let it out as he remembered when he was knighted by the Pope. The Pope had said to him that for penance he would be a Knight of the Order of the Trinity, to serve and defend the innocent from the evil of the world, to go where commanded unquestionably, to serve God. He looked at the woman one last time and nudged the horse on without a second thought about her. He was doing what he had to do. An evil needed to be confronted and destroyed. It was a lack of faith on the villagers’ part that made the evil serpent torment them for so long. But it was not for him to judge them. He was sent here as part of his penance for failing God and for his own sins.
When he was instructed to come here to confront the Dragon he had been told to look for the rocky prominence north of the hamlet. He made his way down the sparsely used road. On either side were the burned remains of farms and fields long abandoned. When he came to a grove of ash trees he got off his horse and got out a hatchet. In no time he had cut and shaped two lances. Then he remounted and continued on through the desolate countryside.
It was late in the day when he turned a bend in the road in a lightly wooded forest and came to what looked to be the Dragon’s lair. In front of him was a high rocky hill strewn with boulders and rocks. There was no sign of men at first until as he rode closer he came upon the skeletal remains of a soldier.
The Knight looked at the remains in distaste. Who ever he was he had been killed while fleeing or so it would appear. He spurred the horse on towards a pile of rocks that looked to be the entrance to the lair. As he approached the black cavernous opening he reined in the horse. There were more skeletal remains of soldiers. Arms and armor and the equipage of fighting men were strewn about. The Green Knight said yet another prayer.
There was no sign of the Dragon, only the dark hole in the side of the hill with a rocky overhang shadowing it. He could not see very far into the lair, but he could smell a foul rotten smell coming from the darkness. He figured he was at the right spot and dug into a saddlebag withdrawing a small bell. He then tossed the bell into the opening.
The bell was loud as it ranged and banged about the stone walls and floor. The Knight couched one of the ash lances he had just fashioned at the ready. On his other arm was the large shield. He set the visor of his helm down and waited. It was not long when he heard scraping sounds of something moving from within the lair. He then heard the bell being picked up and rung. He tensed, as he knew the time was now for the confrontation. Then he saw the eyes.
With out hesitation he spurred his large warhorse into action. The horse reared on its hind legs and bolted forward as it charged at the opening of the cave. The Knight quickly leveled the lance down at the opening where he saw a dark image emerging from the shadows. He adjusted his aim as the horse carried him the last remaining yards. And then he was at the entrance. The lance pierced the beast in the chest as the horse and rider followed up crashing into the entrance and the Dragon that was there taken surprise at the audacity of the charge.
The Knight was thrown from the horse as the Dragon instinctively snapped at the steed. The Dragon was in pain as it then turned to the lance that had punctured its chest. Removing the pole arm the Dragon let out a bellow of pain. While the Dragon had been distracted the Knight had been quick on his feet anticipating the serpent’s reaction. The Knight had been able to withdraw his sword and with shield raised up attacked the Dragon ferociously.
It had been the Knight’s intention of getting the Dragon off balance and keeping him that way. Up to this point the Knight had succeeded. The Dragon retreated further back into the lair as it tried to regroup and seek out an advantage. It was bleeding from a dozen serious wounds and was not sure of what it was facing. All the Dragon knew for certain was that it was in pain and being unmercifully assaulted. The Dragon tried to blow fire but was off balance and could not gather sufficient breath; only small puffs of flame were spewed out. The Knight therefore was able to duck behind the shield and keep from getting engulfed by the liquid fire.
The Knight appeared to have gained the upper hand in this mortal contest with the unholy monster, until he stumbled. He did not fall but for a split second he was distracted enough to allow an opening for the Dragon. The Dragon seized the opportunity and lashed out with its serpentine like tail at the Knight. The Knight was knocked to the ground flat on to his back knocking the wind out of him.
The Dragon was maddened by the assault and the pain it was suffering. But it was a methodical beast that took pleasure in inflicting pain and death. It reared up on to its hind legs and spread out its wings in an intimidating manner. The Knight looked up fearfully at the beast. The Dragon took a deep breath as it prepared to once and for all destroy the seemingly hapless Knight before him. It was already thinking of the terrible retribution it would visit the humans in the nearby countryside and hamlet. It eyed the man with a loathing hatred before spewing out its liquid fire exhalation. The Knight though was quick and just as the Dragon was letting out the fire stream to engulf him; he rolled to his side bringing up both the shield and sword. The sword bit deeply into the torso of the wyrm startling it and sending flame all about the lair. The shield was up and sheltered the Knight from being engulfed in sticky burning liquid.
The Knight did not stop and was still moving as it brought the sword in a wide sweeping arc over his head and buried it to the hilt into the chest of the Dragon. The Dragon backed away in pain induced rage. It tried to focus a stream of fire on the Knight, but the man was too quick. Now unarm he had his poniard out and stabbed futilely at the Dragon as he looked for a way to withdraw his embe dded sword. As for the Dragon it was trying to get away from the Knight as its own self-preservation was now all that it thought of. It wanted to retreat and heal and then come back with a vengeance. It wanted to destroy the humans it hated so much. However it had to get away. The Knight though was persistent and kept after the dragon as the wyrm retreated deeper into the cavern.
The Knight kept close as he looked for an opening to grasp the sword, while poking the arm length blade of his poniard in soft spots. The Dragon twisted and turned in its fury as it tried to ward off blows and escape. Then it presented the Knight with an opportune moment to grab a hold of the sword hilt. With the strength of the man’s grip and the wrenching of the Dragon the sword came out. The Dragon paused in pain as the sword slipped out with a geyser of foul smelling blood. The Knight then stabbed the dragon in where he thought the heart of the dread beast was. This time the Dragon bellowed out in a most deafening roar. Small puffs of flame came from its mouth like flecks of spittle.
The Knight was able to retain his sword as he backed away from the mad thrashings of the dragon. His shield was up as he stood with legs braced, as the dragon seemed to be going through death throes. Then the Dragon focused upon the Knight and its eyes narrowed in absolute hatred. Never before had it been fearful of these humans. Now it was.
The Dragon was bleeding profusely from several major wounds. The fight in it was not out and it made to take another deep breath. But the cunning beast lunged and snapped at the Knight. The Knight though had anticipated trickery and side stepped the Dragon’s effort. With a mighty downward cut of his sword the blade bit deeply into the neck of the Dragon, lopping off the head as it gnashed its teeth. The Knight backed away as the headless body of the Dragon writhed about the cave floor in unconscious spasms. Fire seemed to pour from the stump of the neck as if blood. The serpent’s body was soon burning in its own fire. The Knight gasping and choking on the rising cloud of noxious smoke grabbed the head of the wyrm and headed out of the cave that had once been the lair of the Dragon but would now be its tomb.
His horse was standing nearby and he whistled it over. Using his cloak he wrapped the severed head in it. Then he mounted the horse and rode back to the hamlet. He was tired and sore from bruises received by the dragon. He had several burnt areas on his face and other exposed body parts. Black soot was smudge over his armor and surcoat. His hair was wet with sweat and hung in strands about his head.
As he came down the lane to the hamlet he passed the same woman who had both pleaded with him and berated him. She stood again with her children in fear thinking the Knight had failed. The Knight nodded to her and smiled. She was taken back and shocked by the response and with her children in tow walked behind the Knight into the Hamlet.
The villagers had not dispersed when the Knight had left, but had taken the time to prepare for the coming of the Dragon. They were all thus mostly congregated on the square as the Knight rode into the Hamlet. The mob was armed with what weapons they had. The Knight went over to where the crowd was at looking at him with hatred but remaining silent. The Knight looked at the people with out expression.
When the horse came up to where several of the men were standing to the fore of the crowd it stopped. The Knight then took the bundle of the cloak and its content in both hands.
“If evil is allowed to go uncheck then you will be enslave by it. Evil must be confronted and defeated. Sometimes you can use reason; otherwise it is just to use the sword. In the end though, you must have faith in God in confronting evil. With faith in God all evil can be overcome.”
The Knight then unwrapped the head of the dragon and tossed it to the ground at the villagers’ feet. As the Knight left the village, there were calls of rejoicing and thanksgiving. The Knight left the village with out looking back. His penance was still unfulfilled.
