fae story

How the Icicle Burned the Dragon

    I, the strong and noble fae knight, was thought the most loyal knight under my king. I have a confession, I was not loyal for patriotism or to the great kings divine right or fair rule. Nay I was loyal to my heart, which belonged quintessentially the king's only daughter. I was born to love her and only her. Alas, she did not know and it was heresy for a mere knight to marry a first-born princess, let alone an only child. It burned inside me, so fervently that even the magic inside my heart was being consumed. Some days I thought it would drive me mad, or burn all that I was to ashes. I always did as was asked of me and what was right as a loyal knight so that some day, through my loyalty, I might earn a chance at my dream. Then one day, while I was away trying to douse the fire inside me away with wine and wench, I was jarred awake buy a messenger telling me to prepare to defend the land.
    "There be a dragon, arrived to destroy the kingdom," the messenger said. The fire inside me was now snuffed, I must to do my duty and defend my homeland. Nay, in truth I defended the princess and the kingdom she loved. I took the fastest horse and rode her lame. Upon arriving at the next village I took their fastest horse. I tore across our land but alas, I arrived too late. Many of my fellow knights had fallen, and the princess was taken.  After giving aid to those I could my king stood up before all to see.   My generous and desperate king swore his daughter's hand to the man who could bring her back before she was devoured. Or if one who only managed revenge he swore his treasury would be payment for the beast's head.  While the others formed bands and packed supplies. I spoke to my king “ I swear that I shall bring your daughter back alive or loose my honor, that I shall bring your daughter back alive or lay down my sword, that I shall bring your daughter back alive or Dream no more. You and the sky my witnesses, so mote it be.” All I took was the fastest steed not spoken for, and tore across the countryside again. It then rained like tears from the heavens, never before have I seen it rain so. The king's sorrow flowed down a torrent of water upon the land, the droplets tasted of salt, perhaps even the gods themselves was crying. I rode fast and hard, the trail was not hard to follow, even in the terrible weather.  A scorched path led directly to a mountain top covered in ice. I was too eager, I rode my horse to exhaustion by the time we reached the mouth of the cave. I had to manage the rest on foot.
    I entered the cave with my will strong as steel and ready to be attacked or to have my heart crushed. I found the raging beast of fire merely lying down. It saw me but did not move, it was exhausted, delay was the creature's doom. I had plenty of time to find its weak spot, a missing scale on its upper back. What luck, I had a chance! I looked into its eye with renewed conviction. It winced, and then reared up as I approached with kite and sword both bearing the mark of my king. It knew why I was there. It breathed in deeply, with sudden realization I wished for a bow and leather instead of a sword and plate. I crouched as the fire came down upon my shield with such force that the red hot metal would have knocked me over hadn't used my sword hand to keep it in place. As my arm and hand burned, cool water flowed down dousing some flame. I gazed up though the torrent steam above me, huge icicles lined the top of the cave, this was it, all or nothing. When the monster was out of breath, I flung my shield, it scored directly and hissed as the red-hot metal burned though the ice. The dragon let out a short sinister huff mocking me before his deadly strike would commence and then it roared in pain as the icicle struck true, deep into its upper back. The dragons blast shot wild, easy enough to dodge. Fire sputtered out from wound in its back shrinking the gigantic icicle some. The damn thing even tried  to claw at the ice with its short legs.  Giving me the chance to recover my sword and start my charge. The beast spread its wings and started to flee, all the while trying to regain its breath only managing to make a disgusting sucking noise from the wound. It was too fast, too desperate, I only managed to slice into a leg as it flew past me out into the pouring rain. A screeching scream echoed, as the rain burned in to its wounds. I saw my lady behind where the dragon had lain, she was unharmed, not even a scratch. Even her dress was unmarred, and she lay unconscious in the only dry clean area of the cave. I hesitated to touch her with my soiled hands, I begged her to awaken. As her eyes fluttered open, I swore the oath of true love.” I give a gift of myself to thee. Take it freely; freely is it offered, and forever thou hast me in thy keeping. I swear love unto you and pledge you my troth. Map those who watch over love watch over this oath and those who keep it, and may we never find fault in their eyes. “
    There was a flash, a boom, and then a death rattle, none inside the cave cared. We were in rapture, she returned the oath, and we kissed. I felt the glamour in my heart bring a breath of life to my oath, I knew hers did too.  The magic manifested as two blue birds one to rest on each of our shoulders.  They sang our love to one another truly, like no words could ever say.  Just as the legends said, if love be true speak these words. The blue birds would forever sing the other’s love gently in their ear.  But Should that love ever sour, our own blue bird would cry and weep for all to see the traitor to his own heart. Then she cried, we can't be, I’ll always love you, I always have, but I hushed her with a kiss, all is well, and the king promised your hand to anyone who brought you back alive. She still cried, "You don’t get it, do you? He spoke to me with your voice, that dragons rookery was your heart and his fire you’re desperate glamour." I cried, she said “My father’s magician, he will use his magic and he find that it was your glamour and your will”. I nodded in grave acceptance and we left, it still rained, the salt shot pain into me from my burns. Mere wounds of the flesh were nothing compared to my heart's. After riding, we saw him, fallen from the sky, dead, and scorched. Most peculiar of all, a sword of ice, with blood, and burnt flesh sealed inside. It was in the smoldering wound, standing straight up. I went to retrieve it, my love held my arm back. My lips spoke "This is my legacy, I will bear it with sorrowful conviction." I gripped the handle. I felt the cold burn deep inside my body reminding me of the heat that once burned there and what was left of the lighting surge though me, the pain It caused would never be forgotten when I held this sword. I sheathed it, where once my kings sword had been that's now in a saddlebag with my other things.
    The eve of our wedding the king demanded my sword and armor. I told him how it was already returned, with a knight who was sworn to tell him tomorrow. Our wedding was always compared with the most legendarily beautiful funerals. That night everything was died black, except the brides dress. All the food was salted rendered barely edible. Everyone invited attended, but there were no cheers only tears. The gift given to me by the king was the largest chest full of coin I had seen, stamped in lead. As was all the great gifts given to us by our guests, all lead. My father in law toasted a decree of banishment upon threat of death if I ever to return or delay. I looked at my bride, and began to walk away with only my wedding garb and my heavy sword. A revelation dawned on me, as long as my blue bird didn't cry I could die. She could keep living if her bird kept singing. Without consummation she could still have consecration.
    I walked away. In the pouring salty rain and over the ice that was a path. I knew it was over a months walk to the next kingdom. No one would give me quarter. It mattered not. I had to keep walking both for my king and my heart. Then I felt it; a warm gentle hand took mine. We walked together, for as long as we could in a morbid bliss.