Old Maid Jane
Chapter 2
It is Spring, the most dangerous season. With the obstacles of winter in the past, hostile forces are looking for goods and treasure to restock their depleted stores
The king calls Jane to his court.
The King explains to Jane "There are rumors that invaders are nearing the kingdom. You and Dragon need to find them, determine where they are headed and return post haste."
Jane submissively agrees. "Yes your majesty"
Jane runs out to where Dragon is napping on a wall
"Lets fly Dragon" urgently proclaims Jane.
"Fly" Dragon reacts with calm tone "Where are we going?"
"We are on a mission to patrol far from here. There is an army out there that may attack us." Explains Jane.
They fly and keep flying, cris-crossing over the kingdom but find no army. They head back home. As they near they see smoke, then they see the invaders, they are Vikings and they are assaulting the castle. Dragon flies low, he shoots fire at them, the Vikings fall to the ground and cover themselves with their shields, they are only singed. The invaders shoot arrows at Dragon and Jane. The arrows break on Dragon's scales or barely poke him and stick. The arrows that fly by Jane makes her scream. Dragon flies away from the invaders.
Jane yells "What are you doing! Why are you retreating?"
"It is not safe for you." Proclaims Dragon
"Your right," admits Jane "I need to don my armor and fight as a knight, to the main castle keep!"
"That is not what I . . ." Dragon is interrupted
"No time to chat, time to save the kingdom!" announces Jane
They land on the main keep. Jane quickly jumps off and leaves
Dragon says in a diminishing voice ". . . I want you to be safe."
Ivan orders in an urgent tone "Dragon! To the main gate! Dragon, now!"
Dragon flies to the main courtyard where the Vikings are about to breakdown the gate and an army of defenders wait for battle inside. On the castle walls, archers are shooting at the Vikings and defending the walls from Vikings who are climbing on ladders.
"Dragon, I want you in front so that you do not burn our defenders." Ivan says in a deep commanding voice.
The gate is breached, Dragon burns every invader till they come in so fast that he can't get them all. The battle rages all around Dragon and it becomes harder to use fire without causing harm to the castle defenders. Dragon has to fight the invaders with claws and teeth. The invader numbers increase as the defenders lose numbers. Jane emerges in the courtyard but Dragon does not see her. An invader strikes at her with a mace, she dodges his weapon. She strikes him with all her strength on his forearm armor. He is unfazed, he strikes back, Jane shields herself and screams. He strikes her shield again and again. Jane stumbles, she runs screaming, then turns and again with all her might strikes her opponent on his armored hand. He does not react. She screams. Dragon hears her. He puts himself between her and her opponent and burns him with all his fire strength. Others are caught in the fire storm, some foe, some friend. Jane curls up on the ground, covering her head with her shield. Dragon looks for her but the smoke conceals her.
Ivan announces "To the central keep! Center Keep!"
Defenders run up a staircase.
Dragon calls out with urgency "Jane! Jane!"
Gunther finds Jane, he prompts her to get up, he takes her hand and leads her to the stairs. They are half way up when an arrow strikes Jane in the upper left side, just under her armpit. The weight of her armor twists her around, she stumbles. Jane tries to gain a footing but falls head first down the stairs. She curls her body and comes to rest on a wide step. Dragon flies to her, grabs her and flies away.
Jane is lying on her back. Her shield is over her left arm. Dried rivers of blood are on her face and armor. Dragon is laying next to her, encompassing her body in the crescent of his, trying to keep her warm. Jane wakes, she feels a sudden and enormous pain. She wails.
"Your ali . . . Awake!"Dragon says with relief
Jane speaks weakly "Dragon?"
"Yes!"answers Dragon
"Oh the pain" Jane says with a quiver in her voice "it is beyond bearable."
Drool and tears cover Jane's cheek. Dragon gently licks her cheeks then with his nostrils at her face he breathes deeply and exhales warm air to dry her.
"If only I could be a short-life to better comfort you right now."Exclaims Dragon
"No man has the compassion and dedication of a Dragon. I prefer your clumsiness to the fickleness of people." Jane says as she stokes his muzzle. "How bad am I hurt?"
"You're just bruised."Alleges Dragon
"Bruised?! My left side, it hurts so much."Retorts Jane
Jane cries.
Jane whispers to herself "No I mustn't I am a knight."
"You are allowed . . . Jane." Utters Dragon
Jane declares "I am so cold"
Dragon uses the little gas he has to make a flame over Jane.
"That is much better. Is that part of my Dragon package?"Jane says with gratitude
Dragon replies quietly "You have the whole Dragon package, Jane."
Jane asks "What of the battle, Dragon, are we victorious?"
Dragon claims "Yes Jane, we won."
"Why are we not in the castle?" Jane asks "Your cave is not the best place for me to recover . . . Dragon, is the castle ours? . . . You are not being truthful are you?"
"Yes . . ." Dragon hesitates "No . . . I mean, well the castle is . . . we have lost."
"What of Sir Ivan and Gunther?"Jane says in a worried tone.
"They were dispatched between where you were felled and the keep where they tried to seek refuge."Admits Dragon
Jane asks with increasing urgency "What of Rake, Smithy . . . the king!?"
Dragon states "The castle and town have been sacked and burned. If they are not dead, they must prefer to be. Only you and I now Jane."
Jane says with deep regret "I struck an invader, but could not dislodge so much as a speck of dust. I then hid behind my shield as his blows parted my feet from the earth. I am no knight, just a child with dreams to be someone else."
"Jane . . ." Dragon searches for the right words "You're the bravest short-life ever. Even without the build of a knight you have become one as far as I am concerned. Sir Jane"
Jane replies "Just Jane"
Dragon says "Sir Jane the Just"
Jane tries to end the subject: "You do not flatter me, you mock"
Dragon mumbles "It was you first real battle . . . do not have shame, nothing could have prepared you for it."
"How long have I been laying in your cave?" asks Jane
"Two maybe three days, I don't know" admits Dragon "I no longer watch the sun, I just watch you."
Jane in a dazed tone asks "Tell me the truth Dragon, was I stabbed?"
"No, an arrow found you." States Dragon
Jane inquires "Is it still in me?"
With much regret Dragon tells Jane "I tried to pull it out, the shaft broke. I tried to get your breast plat off. My claws could not . . . I could not undo the straps. I tried chewing them, but every time I did I jostled you, you bled more so . . ."
Jane interrupts "Dragon, you did your best. I can feel the arrow shaft when I breathe in. I can't move my left arm . . . my neck is stiff, I can barely move, so much pain, but I must try."
Jane struggles to unstrap her breastplate with her right hand, it slides off. Her undergarments are soaked in blood. The arrow point is poking through the upper part of her ribs. Dragon raises from is laying position. He picks up something from the floor.
With trembling voice Dragon says "I have fruit and water."
Dragon slowly presents it to Jane, his hands are shaking noticeably. He withdraws the food and water, ashamed of his shaking hands.
Jane is scared to ask but does anyway "Tell me Dragon what does my left side look like?"
"Fine." Says Dragon in an innocuous tone.
Jane says in an incensed voice "It does not feel fine. I smell blood and rot. I see blood on my nose and my right arm. Is this all my blood?"
"Jane . . . uh . . ." Dragon tries to explain calmly
Jane counters "Dragon, you were thinking of more lies. If you must talk, tell no more lies."
Dragon reacts with placidity "No, not lies . . . comfort words."
Jane struggles to see her left arm. She moves the shield with her right hand.
"Don't look Jane!" pleads Dragon
Jane is irate "It is my arm, I shall look!" Jane is stunned ". . . Oh dear, my arm is dead."
Dragon speaks calmly "It will get better."
Jane pronounces "It is rotting!"
Unfazed, Dragon tries to be positive "But most of you is still alive."
Jane glares at Dragon with disapproval
Dragon asserts "What? That is not a lie."
"Dragon listen to me, this is important and be quiet." Says Jane "This arrow has written my final chapter."
"Jane . . ." says Dragon but he is interrupted
"Remember what I said Dragon?" admonishes Jane
"No lies, be quiet" Dragon says timidly
Jane is now resigned to her fate. She extends her right hand to Dragon. He lowers is head to her shoulder. She caresses his muzzle and she talks calmly "I do not want you to avenge me. I want you to leave here. Go far away from here and especially from the invaders. Forget this day but remember me and live in peace. When the wind beckons you to fly, it will be a sign that I am still with you."
Dragon is scared and worried, he utters "I will never leave you Jane"
Jane resumes "When you find cows in a pasture, I will be there, always there for you. Moo for me Dragon."
Dragon obeys with sadness "moo."
Jane says in a firm voice "A proper moo."
Dragon tries another "Moo."(Dragon restrains a subdued chuckle)
Jane smiles "I like that moo"
"Don't make me laugh, Jane." Utters Dragon
Jane asks "Did you retrieve my sword from the battle, Dragon?"
"Yes Jane."Replies Dragon
"I need to hold it." Jane says in a serene tone
Dragon pushes it to Jane's right hand. She grasps it.
"I thank you Dragon, well done." Says Jane
Jane pulls the sword from the scabbard. She brings it up onto her chest. The point is at the middle of her chest, the handle below her waist. She rests, then breaths deeply.
"Dragon I have but one hand, you must abide by my wishes now." Jane hesitates "You must substitute yourself for my lame hand."
Jane raises the handle of the sword so that the point is in the center of her chest.
Jane firmly states "Please honor my request and bear your weight down upon the sword."
"Jane, . . . I can't."Avows Dragon
"I was not a brave knight in battle but you will not deny me an honorable and merciful death."Jane reacts with calmness
Dragon hesitates, he tries to steady his shaking hand. He grasps the handle.
"Jane, I much prefer that the point of this blade be at my heart instead." Pronounces Dragon
"It is best that I am at this end of the sword, fate has always favored my mortality over yours." Declares Jane
Dragon's hand shakes even more, Jane holds the blade tighter with her good hand.
"Dragon . . ." says Jane
Dragon looks at Jane with unfounded hope in his eyes
Jane smiles then . . . "Moo."
Dragon lets out a mournful cry from the depth of his soul, it could pass for laughter but for the long wail at the end and his tears. He looks away from Jane's face, puts pressure on the sword, it penetrates Jane. Jane cries in pain, then Dragon puts his weight on the sword, it passes though Jane's heart.
Dragon slumps over Jane then curls up with her body centered in his crescent. He lays there crying. Dragon rolls over on his back paralleling Jane. Dragon pulls out the sword, lays it on his chest. He raises the handle, centers the point on his chest. He bears his strength on it. The blade bows as the scales resist the pressure. Dragon twists the sword and it plunges into his heart.