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The Silver Tragedy

A long time ago there was a young strapping prince who wanted to make a name for himself in the kingdom of Fargon. His father, King Heric, ordered the young prince into the silver mountains to kill a silver dragon. He said, "Do not come back Jacob, until you can show me the dragon's head." The prince had no other choice but to follow his father's orders and attempt to slay the evil dragon.

As he sat out on his long journey, the prince fell ill to the plague. His skin turned yellow, his eyes were sunken and very red. He could no longer walk and was at the point of death. As he fell down, a young woman walked up to him and said, "I will help you if you promise to help me" The young prince had no choice but to agree to the beautiful woman. She laid her hand on his shoulder and spoke foreign words. Her hands glowed and the prince was cured. He stood up and asked, "What favor do you ask of me my lady?" The woman smiled and responded, "I am lonely and in need of company from a fellow adventurer. Would you do me the honor of being my friend and escort?" The savy prince smiled and said, "For someone who saved my life and has the beauty of you, I would give you anything."

The two walked off east together. At first she told him stories of her traveles amoung the lands. He told heroic stories of honor and battle. As the days went by, they started to grow closer together and become lovers. Jacob felt happier then he had ever been as a man. He was so engrossed in this beautifull woman that he had forgotten all about the perilous dragon.

One day, Jacob awoke early to draw water from a small stream. As he looked up, he noticed the huge bouldery mountain range in front of him. Then he suddenly remembered his quest. He quickly ran to his love and said, "Now I have a chance to make you love me more then ever!" The woman asked, "How?" "I will climb this dangerous ridge of mountains and destory the most fierce creature in tha land, the silver dragon! I will shown you how valient a man you have loved so many time since we have met!" The woman frowned and said, "No. Please don't go up there. I don't want to see you die." Jacob smiled at her obvious compassion and said, "Do not fret my love, I am strong and will conquer the dragon." The woman pleaded, "Please no. You do not have be strong to have my love. I love you for who you are. Do not harm this creature to impress me. I need a man who is modest and loving, not aggressive and ignorant."

Jacob did not listen to his love and begain to climb the dangerous mountain. He drew his long broad sword and strapped on his sheild. His love yelled out to him, "Don't do this! For me, come back." He could not hear her anymore. He blocked out her pleas to prove to her he was strong. He quickly reached the top of the mountains and found the cave. He gripped his sword tight and yelled out a battle cry as he charged into the cave. Strangely, he found no dragon. In fact he found only a large pile of gold and several bones of unlucky warriors.

Suddenly, from behind him, he heard crying. Jacob swung around to see his love covering her face with her hands and crying fiercely. Amazed, he asked, "How did you get up here so fast?" Instead of answering she said, " I told you I wanted a modest loving man, not a man who is stupid enough to kill a dragon. I loved you." Jacob asked, "What do you mean loved me? I've killed no dragon. Its not here. I will leave now and never come back. I'm sorry, please don't hate me." The woman uncovered her face and said, "I don't hate you, I hate myself." "Why?" As Jacob asked his question, he suddenly noticed the silver eyes and hair. The woman begain to grow at an increduable rate. Her soft white shin turned scaly and silver. Her bosom flattened as her chest began to expand. Her neck grew out, her hair grew in, and her mouth became large and sharp razor teeth grew. Before Jacob could even mutter a sound, his love turned into the silver dragon. The dragon looked sadly at her love and said, "I hate myself because now I must kill you as I do any man who would enter my lair to kill me.

He never even raised his sword. The fire engulfed the prince and swallowed him. As his bones hit the ground, the dragon slowely retreated to the back of its lair and laid down. Puddles of silver tears surrounded the dragon. The dragon cried.

This story is by Terrence Michael Welburn. Copyright March 29th, 1999