My Dragon, My Tower, My Home

My Dragon, My Tower, My Home

           I stay in this tower so I do not hurt the others. This tower is my home. It has been for as long as I can remember. Countless princes, knights, and peasants have come by searching for a supposed dragon and the beautiful girl in the tower. I tell them I do not want to leave when they promise me riches beyond compare or a nice life as a housewife. No is always my answer, but not everyone listens. Many have died trying to forcefully take me. That is always when the dragon comes out.

The dragon helps me live peacefully. She frightens away all that would harm me and eats the ones that just will not listen. Her presence comforts me. I know that I need only feel threatened and she will come to my rescue.

Another man came today, but no empty promises accompanied him. He was silent the entire time, but I was a bit wary when he started climbing my tower. A mask of confidence covered his face, but, just as he was about to come inside, the dragon roared. He fell, yelling curses at my tower and my dragon. I was not wary anymore; I was angry. How dare he insult the beautiful creature that keeps me safe and sound inside my home? The dragon growled slightly, but had yet to attempt to strike.

I picked up a book and sat down hoping he would go away. Less than happy, I started getting lost in tales of talking animals and friendly people. To my disappointment, I heard him once again attempt to scale the tower. Annoyed, I grumped at my dragon to get rid of him. My dragon blew a puff of smoke out of the tower window. Once again, the man fell off of my tower and shouted another string of curses. He had a mouth that would make a sailor jealous.

The man ran his fingers through his hair and looked up at me. I was seated in the window watching him, hoping he could take a hint and go away. His face lit up in a broad grin, perhaps thinking I was watching to motivate him. I glared back silently wishing him away. This man was more persistent than the others. Usually after a good growl or a big puff of smoke, they would run home with their tail between their legs. Only a handful made it up into my tower, but they were quickly devoured by the dragon.

The man started showing off on the ground, flexing, smirking, and telling me to come down. I rolled my eyes, left the tower window, and went back inside. He obviously was too dense to leave now. I chuckled slightly as the dragon paced restlessly. If he actually made it up my tower, he would quickly find himself eaten. The man once more started ascending the wall that separated him from me, but, before he was even half way up, my dragon started beating her wings. She stuck her head out the window and the man dropped off the tower for the third time. This time was different however. He seemed genuinely terrified and went to hide behind a couple trees. It did not deter him though. He stayed hidden for hours while I read to my dragon.

 It eventually got late enough that I decided to rest for a bit. I slept restfully knowing that the man was frightened and he most likely would not try again until morning. Sadly, my rest was disturbed by quiet bumps. Confused, I looked around my tower for the source. Nothing was there. I walked over the window and had to stifle a scream. The man was attempting to get up the tower again. He was quietly making his way up to me. To my dragon. To my home.

Looking up, he spotted my face and winked. I felt sick to my stomach. The sight of me seemed to renew his energy. His slow crawl up the wall was getting faster. It was my turn to feel terrified. I backed away from the window in disbelief. None of them ever tried to get up my tower while any normal person would be asleep. He was smart, but he had to be gone. I yelled at him to leave while he still could, but my protests were met with silence or a snort. He did not believe me. I frowned slightly, watching him climb. His knuckles were bloody and he had a couple bruises, but no pain was evident in his focused expression.

My breathing quickened as he neared the top. He was going to take me from my home. One of his hands fell from the crevice it resided in and hope bloomed in my chest, but he slowly regained his grip. I looked around quickly like a caged animal trying to find an escape, but that window was the only way out. It made my tower safer because it also meant there was only one way in, but right now it was being occupied by the man. I could not let him find out. He would kill me. I started shaking as one hand found its way onto my window ledge. Another hand quickly made its way up there. A big push and he had entered my home.

I told him to leave. That he was not safe, but if he left now he would be fine. He laughed at me. A big, hearty laugh that made me boil with anger. Noticing that there was not a dragon in sight, he gently tried to coax me to come with him. He told me I would be a queen. That I would have anything I wanted and more. I told him I was not interested, but he started slowly walking towards me as if I might spook. He told me of the beautiful land he came from and how gorgeous I was. Invading my personal space, he reached out to grab my arm. His face contorted in surprise as soft skin hardened into dark scales. My eyes, once a light blue, darkened till they were almost black. He quickly figured out where the dragon was, but met his end before he could even yell out.

Many knights, princes, and peasants have come in search of the beautiful maiden guarded by a terrible dragon. They risk life and limb to try to rescue her in exchange for her hand in marriage. Little do they know that appearances can be deceiving.