God Speed, My Love
How Stupid Would That Be? • Hometown Sayings
Stock Photo Stories
How Stupid Would That Be?
Ranger and Shoreline heard rumors of a planet where people sat on their butts.
“How stupid would that be,” Ranger said.
“Yeah. You would never see the sky,” Shoreline replied.
They both laughed and took a selfie.
Stock Photo Stories give you the real stories behind the photos. That I might have made up.
Walt & Stan
Hometown Sayings
Ah, memories.
Story
God Speed, My Love
“Take this scarf. May it remind you of me as you travel.”
“I need no reminder other than my own heart. For it aches whenever we are apart.”
“God speed, my love. Return to me.”
“I shall.”
Sir Charles and the rest of the knights of Longview rode out of the castle. Their charge was to face the dragon of Mount Query. For decades the dragon bothered not the citizens of Longview other than the occasional sheep whisked away for a meal. But on this day, the dragon did the unthinkable. It snatched a young child from a field.
The army rode hard and swift and reached the foot of Mount Query by mid-day. The dragon was waiting.
“Why have you invaded my mountain?” The dragon asked King Stoutwill.
“You have taken one of our children. We have come to rescue her,” the King replied.
“I have grown tired of sheep. Surely, you have other children?”
“Children are precious to us. We will not leave without her.”
“You realize I could kill you all with my fiery breath?”
“It matters not. We would gladly die before sacrificing one of our children.”
Sir Charles yelled out, “Take me in her stead. I have far more meat than she.”
“You would exchange yourself for the child?”
“I would.”
“Why?”
“Because she is a child. She has her whole life ahead of her, and her loss would be unbearable to her family.”
“And your loss would not matter?”
“My wife will be heartbroken, but she will understand.”
The dragon paused for a moment and said, “I will accept your offer.”
Sir Charles dismounted and walked toward the dragon. The dragon released the girl from its talons, and the girl ran to Sir Charles. Sir Charles kneeled down and took the girl in his arms.
“Take this scarf and give it to my wife. Tell her I am sorry I could not return to her. And that I love her more than life itself.”
“Tell her yourself,” the dragon said. As the army looked on in stunned silence, the dragon transformed into a man.
“I am no dragon. I am a wizard. In times long ago, I fought with another wizard. We battled with magic for days. In the end, I defeated him, but not before he cursed me with his dying breath. Since that day, I must become a dragon to eat. Because of this, I could not live amongst humans, so I exiled myself to this mountain.
“For too long, I have watched the people of Longview laugh, and love, and cry, and live. As I did, I grew more and more bitter. I longed to have love in my life. I knew it was wrong, but I could take the loneliness no longer. I had no intention of harming the girl. I only wanted to raise her as my own. To know love and laughter once again.
“Seeing your willingness to sacrifice your own life for the girl tore the scales off my heart, and I regained my senses. I will find another mountain and bother the good people of Longview no more.”
King Stoutwill dismounted and walked over to the wizard.
“Your crime is great. But as no harm has come to the child, if you vow to never harm a human, you are welcome in Longview. Between meals, of course.”
The wizard laughed and then fell at the feet of the King and wept.
“I swear it. I shall ride off at the slighted twang of hunger.”
Sir Charles helped the wizard to his feet and said, “If you are truly tired of sheep, I can show you how to raise chickens.”
As promised, Sir Charles returned to Eleanore and returned her scarf.
Happy Monday. Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
Aww, Mark, you are such an old softie. I adored your chivalrous tale -- a noble knight, a sad, repentant dragon, no violent bloodshed, a happy ending for all ( except, ahem, the chickens...) Your three stories this week give further confirmation of Mark, the man. Philosophical, funny, and kind.
A reluctant dragon...