To Save a Dragon Part 4

 Continued from Part 3

           I rose early the next morning. Outside, the sun was veiled by thick grey clouds, lending the day a grim atmosphere. All the shops were closed, for everyone was gathering for the execution. I made my way up crowded streets and joined the silent throng walking toward the green where Sirocco's cage was and where the execution would be held. Stakes had been driven into the ground with rope tied between to keep the spectators at a safe distance. Those lucky enough to live near the site stood at their upstairs windows. Silence reigned; anything that was said was spoken in a whisper, for no one wished to be the one to break the stillness.

           Sirocco was still in his cage, for the king and queen had not yet arrived. We did not have long to wait. A small procession of the king, queen, and their advisers soon was visible coming from the castle. They were all dressed in dark colors and the queen wore a black, high-necked dress and no ribbons in her hair. Upon their arrival, Sirocco was brought out of his cage bound with many chains. He stood stiffly before the king.    

            "Listen, dragon, and hear your charges read," the king commanded in an imperious voice. He lifted a thick scroll, and opening it, began to read. "This dragon, Sirocco, is hereby charged with harboring ill feelings against Her Majesty Queen Daris's chief advisor and murdering said advisor out of spite. Both of these crimes are punishable by death, the sentence of which is to be carried out today." He closed the scroll with a snap then nodded to the two men who held the chain which was about Sirocco's neck. They pulled on the chain, forcing Sirocco's head to the ground and driving a metal stake through each end of the chain to keep his head still.

            A man walked up, dressed entirely in black. A long sword hung at his side, and I realized that this was the executioner. He stood beside Sirocco's neck just below his head and drew the sword.

            The king raised his hand and the executioner raised the sword above his head with both hands and waited for the king's signal. The crowd tensed. The king began to lower his hand...

             "Wait!"

           The queen, who had stood in silence, white-faced and grim, now sprang forward. The executioner slowly lowered his arm to his side with a look of amazement, and the king turned to stare at the queen. She ignored both of them and, running up to Sirocco, she knelt on the ground before him and brought her face close to his. I know not what they said, for they spoke in low voices; but when the queen finally rose, she faced the people and called out, "You are all dismissed. There will be no execution today. Guards, you may release that dragon."

            Shock rippled through the crowd. I drew in my breath. Perhaps what I had said had made a difference! The queen stood, searching the crowd with her eyes. When they lighted upon me, she beckoned me toward her. When I reached her, she laid her hand on my shoulder.

            "So here is the bold girl who was not afraid to tell me what she knew. I am afraid I don't even know your name," she said gently.

            "My name is Gwynnethe, and Your Majesty, I was terrified to speak to you."

            She smiled. "But you didn't let it keep you from doing what you felt you had to do, and that's what is important. And because of your courage, my dragon is still alive, and a few of my advisors are going to find themselves accused of treason. I will take care of that today, and tomorrow we will have a grand celebration in honor of you."

            "In honor of me, Your Majesty?"

            Now she laughed. "My dear girl, you don't save the life of the queen's dragon--and perhaps the life of the queen herself--and just walk away unrecognized. Now go and get your things from wherever you are staying and come straight back to the castle. You will be staying there for the remainder of your time in Endkelm."

            I went and got my things and told Dirk what had happened, then returned to the castle. The queen, who had changed into a red dress with white sleeves, took me all around the palace. The tension was gone from her now, and she talked and laughed freely. We even climbed one of the towers, from the top of which there was a beautiful view of the sea. The last room she showed me was my own. My things had already been brought there. The walls were covered with exquisite tapestries, and white, filmy curtains hung at two large windows. There was a thick, dark green carpet on the floor beside the bed, and several chairs were placed around which had cushioned seats of the same color. The bed itself was massive, with a canopy of the same material as the curtains.

            The queen turned to smile at my wonder, then said, "This is where I must leave you. You are free to wander about in the castle gardens. If you get lost on your way down there, just ask a guard."

            I spent a pleasant day in the gardens, with Sirocco as my guide and companion; and that night I fell asleep in my deep, cushioned bed as soon as my head hit the soft pillow.

---

            The next morning I was awakened by a maid who brought me breakfast in bed, then showed me into a room where I took a bath in rose-scented water. When I was finished, I put on the robe that had been laid out for me and went back to my room. The queen was waiting for me. She wore a gown of deep blue with light blue sleeves, and a matching circlet of ribbons crowned her hair. My eyes traveled to the bed and I gasped, for draped across my bed was a gown of silvery grey with deep purple sleeves. I gave the queen a questioning look.

            "Yes," she said with a laugh, "it is yours. I figured you would want something nice to wear today. No, don't thank me. It's the least I could do for you after what you did for me. Now try it on and see if it fits."

            I quickly put on the dress and the queen buttoned the many buttons up the back.

            "It fits perfectly!" the queen exclaimed. She pulled a chair over to a small table where a few things were laid out. "Now sit there, and let me do your hair."

            I sat still, fingering the material of my dress, while the queen worked with my hair. I could not help but marvel at the fact that the queen herself was helping me to get ready for the day by dressing me and doing my hair. I felt something pressed onto my hair and being secured in place, then the queen took me by the hand and led me to a mirror which hung on the wall. I drew in my breath. I hardly recognized myself. The queen had rolled my hair back from my face and secured it in a bun at the nape of my neck. Atop my head sat a circlet of silvery grey and deep purple ribbons, the ends of which hung down my back. As I turned around before the mirror, amazed at how I looked, I noticed that my dress had the same sort of train that the queen's dresses were adorned with. Seeing the colors in the mirror suddenly brought to mind something that, oddly enough, I had forgotten.

            "Agren doesn't even know!" I exclaimed.

            The queen turned to look at me. "Who is Agren?"

            I smiled. "My dragon, and the real reason that I came here. We flew most of the way here and when we were close to the city, I made Agren hide. She is still in the grove of trees where I left her. I wish she could have been here today, but I'm sure there is no time to go and get her now."

            The queen nodded wisely. "There isn't any time to fetch her now, but before you get too upset, have a look out that window."

            I stepped to the window. Looking down into the garden, I drew in my breath. "Agren!" I cried out happily. She lifted her head at the sound of my voice and smiled.

            I turned to the queen. "How did she get here?"

            "I spoke to Sirocco yesterday. He told me all about Agren, though he never told me her name, and I sent him off to get her. She spent the night in the dragon stable."

            "May I go down to her?"

            "Yes," she said, "but wait a moment! I think you'll want to put these on first."

            I was already halfway across the room, but I turned back. She was holding

out a pair of deep purple slippers. I blushed, glancing down at my bare feet. I thanked the queen warmly for everything, then hurried my way down to the garden. Agren and I talked for a long while until a guard came to fetch us for the ceremony.

            We entered the courtyard from the left side. Two chairs had been placed at the top of the castle stairs, and the king and queen sat in these, the queen on the right and the king on the left. The courtyard was filled with the entire population of Endkelm. Agren and I were positioned to the left of the stairs, across from Sirocco. The sun shown overhead and the brightly dressed crowd buzzed excitedly. I could not help but think how different it was from the gathering the day before.

            The king rose and the crowd hushed. "We are gathered here today to honor someone who selflessly made an effort to save the lives of Sirocco and the dragons of the Kingdom of Endmere. In so doing, she also saved the lives of the queen and myself. So let us honor her. Gwynnethe, step forward."

            I walked to the bottom of the stairs and gave a deep curtsy.

            "Come up here."

            I walked up the stairs.

            "Kneel."

            I knelt.

            The queen rose. She hung a gold medal about my neck, saying, "In honor of your brave deeds, Gwynnethe, I present you with this medal. Rise, Dragon~Friend."

            I rose to my feet, bowed, and turned to go down the stairs. The crowd let out a hearty cheer. I hurried to Agren's side, embarassed. The king opened a scroll and read:

"To the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Endmere:

Take Heed!

By the suggestion of Queen Daris

and through the royal power of King Luchen

the law concerning the forbidding of dragons

 has been revoked.

=Effective immediately= "

            The king sat down, and the ceremony was over. The queen descended the stairs and came to me.

            "The name of Dragon~Friend was Sirocco's idea. Now, will you fly with me?"

            "Oh, yes, Your Majesty, but I can't fly in this dress."

            She gave me a smile. "Ah, but you can fly in that dress just as easily as I can in this one. Watch!"

            She reached behind her and did something. Her skirt became much fuller. She turned around and I saw that the train had simply been part of the skirt pulled back. She walked behind me and released my skirt as well.

   "I have all my dresses made with very full skirts. The train makes the gown more elegant, and it also makes me able to ride Sirocco whenever I want," she explained. "Now let us fly!"

            Holding my now voluminous skirt in my hands, I followed the queen to where the dragons were waiting. During our short discourse, Sirocco and Agren had been saddled. We mounted, then looked at each other.

            "Ready?" asked the queen.

            I nodded. "Ready."

            Sirocco took off first, creating a rush of air with his great wings. Then Agren leapt after him, and we were flying. As I looked down at the castle below us, I couldn't help but laugh.

            "What is making you laugh?" asked Agren.

            "Oh," I said, "I was just thinking about how, when we get home, they'll ask what I did, and what was the most exciting part of the adventure; and do you know, I think out of everything that has happened to me, the thing I'll always remember--the most exciting part--is flying with the queen."

            Agren just laughed.

The End

To Save a Dragon is an original short story by me, Rebecca Kletzing. I hope that you have enjoyed reading it. Please do not copy or use any part of this story without my permission.