Percival

              Percival

Suzanne Marsh

The lot of a dragon is not a happy one, actually it was very lonely for Percival. His green scales and fire breathing antics caused a great deal of consternation among the villagers of Bestow. Percival resided in a cave beneath the earth. That was his domain, which he did not wish to share. Percival, wanted to befriend the villagers, he had no intention of hurting anyone. He had flown over the village years before and once he saw the cave; he knew he had found a safe place to dwell. He had breathed fire from his nostrils to amuse himself, until he set several thatched roofs afire. He watched as the villagers scrambled to put out the fires. The villagers want him gone; the mayor decided it was time to send for a knight to slay the beast. Knights of the realm rode throw Bestow a good portion of the time; the problem was to find one willing to do the deed.

Sir Giles of the Swallows rode into the village of Bestow early one morning, the sun was brightly shining, it was a wonderful day to be alive. Sir Giles stopped at the Blue Lady Tavern, where he ordered ale and beef. He sat quietly watching the door, when he heard a roar, the terrified villagers began screaming. Percival, merely breathed fire as he passed over head, to him he was just saying hello.

Sir Giles, upon hearing the sound raced out the tavern door onto the cobbled street. He gazed up and saw Percival’s tail. As he strode toward the tavern door, a diminutive man with ragged gray beard approached him:

“Sir knight, please sire, you must help our village, the dragon sets our roofs one fire almost

daily. We are a poor village sire, but we can pay you five pieces of gold.”

Sir Giles, sighed:

“I will take on the dragon, for I fear sometime he will burn your entire village. Have

you any idea where I can find the beast?”

The old man gestured toward Mount Helvellyn:

“We believe he hides within the caves up there. No one has ever ventured up there

to find out.”

Sir Giles nodded, he turned to his Squire:

“I will require my mail shirt and sword, be quick about it.”

The squire ran off, to fetch the required items. Upon the squires returned he led a black stallion, which Sir Giles rode. Sir Giles mounted the stallion and rode off toward Mount Helvellyn. ‘What if I do find the beast, how can I kill it? A sword is only as good as far as I can push it in. If I fail, I fail the village and myself.’ He rode on, then he felt the earth tremble, he sensed he was closing in on the cave where Percival dwelt.

The gray rocks were slippery as Giles dismounted and led the stallion toward the entrance to the cave. He found that if he stooped over, he would keep from hitting his head on the entrance. He heard the rumblings coming from the cave. There was a faint odor of something burning, as he entered a passageway. Finally, he found a dragon, not a fire breath specimen, simply a green scaly creature. The dragon turned to greet Sir Giles:

“I am Percival, my friends call me Percy.”

Sir Giles feeling rather ridiculous replied:

“I am Giles of the Swallows.”

Giles was mildly surprised that the dragon actually had a name, much less that he was friendly and talkative. Giles stared at the scaly green creature as if he had two heads, Percy began:

“Are you here to slay me? I haven’t done anything wrong sire, other than I have flown

over the village. I took a deep breath so I would not burn any of the roofs.”

Giles, began to wonder if this was a dragon, everything he had been taught as a child and adult was dragons were harmful, hated creatures, this dragon was almost likable. He had no answer for the dragon, how could he slay this dragon? He meant no harm, if he held his breath when he flew over then where was the fire breather? Giles was not sure if he wanted to ask a question such as that to the dragon. Percy offered Giles a chance to see his cave. Percy, informed Giles he had two caves that he shared with another dragon. His brother Sydney:

“Sydney is much larger than I sire, he is a fire breather, he is still growing into a full sized

fire breathing, earth rumbling dragon. Do you wish to meet him sire?”

Giles began to realize that the fire breather was guilty of setting the thatched roofs on fire and terrorizing the entire village of Bestow. However, Giles could not bear the thought of slaying Percy. They were fast becoming friends, not mortal enemies. That seemed so foreign to Giles, but here was conversing with a real live dragon. Percy perched himself on a rock above Giles as they shared a dragon’s meal of fish. The more Percy spoke the more Giles knew he would not be able to slay his friend. Giles knew he would eventually have to return to the village, he also knew he had to slay the fire breather, or the village would not be safe.

Sydney, flew quietly into his cave, wondering where the black horse, which would make a suitable dragon meal for him. He silently listened to Percy speaking to a human, he peered around the corner, it was a knight. What was Percy thinking? Dragons most assuredly did not make friends with humans, especially knights. Percy was such disgrace to dragon hood, even if he was his brother. Percy had no skill when it came to being a villain, actually he was simply too friendly. Sydney contemplated what to do. He could roar and remind Percy he was a dragon, or he could attack the knight when he was not looking. Yes, attacking would be a better way, he could keep Percy at bay simply by breathing on him.

Giles, rose up, smiling at Percy:

“Percy, I thank you for such a delicious meal, I am not going to slay…”

The roar Sydney let out rocked the entire mountain, as he entered Percy’s cave he stomped as hard as he could:

“Percival, leave at once! This knight is going to be my meal instead of the animal waiting

outside.”

Giles quickly unsheathed his sword, grabbing up his shield. Sydney began to breath fire, Giles moved in closer so he would be able to thrust the sword directly into Sydney’s body. Sydney once again breathed fire. Percy swiftly used his long green scaly tail to hit Sydney. Sydney simply laughed at Percy. Percy became angry and roared:

“Sydney, you will leave my guest alone.”

Sydney had no intention of leaving as Giles raised his sword, plunging it into Sydney’s body as hard as he could. He hoped it had gone in far enough or both he and Percy would be dead. Sydney, finally collapsed; furious that he, the fire breather was dying. Percy ambled over to Sydney, his small arms reaching down to his brother:

“Sydney, why did you try to destroy the village, if you had left it alone, you would still be here

with me, not dead on the floor.”

Percy’s green scales began to fall from his yellow eyes. Giles never felt so relieved or sad in his entire life. He had slain the dragon, and spared a dragon, it was all in a day.