Part Three
The Battle
Erik surveyed the land, and then peeked a glance at his restless army. He could see several dots in the distance, "But I would need vampire eyes to tell what they were," he whispered.
"Well you have them," said a voice be him, he wheeled around to see a grinning Vlad standing there, his army arrayed behind him. Looking closer at the scene he saw that not only Vlad's but his army as well laughing among each other.
"No more tricks," he roared, "for the next may be a foe." He nodded as the people quieted down.
"The enemy seems to be right there in the distance," declared Dracula. "But we are still awaiting the third party, nevertheless we shall gather our weapons and ready ourselves, for today we defend our world from the deceitful dragon Snilldar and his brutal minions, The Fryst army. But for now we will rest and await the arrival of the Knights of the Round Table and Mordred."
The armies breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of oncoming hooves, "They have arrived!" shouted one man, and before they could stop him, he charged out of the sheltering cave. There was the clang of metal and Erik leapt out of the cave, mirroring the lesser warrior. He brandished his battle-axe, which he wildly swung, making a wide circular area around him. As always in combat, his enemies looked as though they were in water. Dawdling and sluggish, he arced his act at one man then jerked it back at another slamming several attackers to the ground with the axes club-like hilt. Still, he was way outnumbered, and rapidly grew weary but he fought on. Suddenly as quick as lightning, a volley of arrows flew towards them as twenty-five to seventy-five knights sprinted onward their weapons drawn, which varied from knives to maces. Sir Mordred led them on. Gallantly he shouted at the top of his lungs "Need any reinforcements?" still yelling, Erik boomed, "No, but perhaps a long-awaited gathering of knights!" But their grins faded as they looked and saw yet another assemblage of darkly clad knights charging forward menacingly.
"Get our men ready and wake up their nerves but remember, this is only the front line!" His voice had dramatically changed from happy and carefree to back to its normal command, always sounding like he was saying, "Do you want to challenge me, because you know I'll win!"
As the men marchedfrom cover they were greeted with a wall of men of both sides. At first things seemed to be going well, with zero casualties. And this feeling lasted for a while but men fighting get tired and dehydrated. Still things could be worse, and this couldn't be said for the opposing side as they got destroyed with various tools of mass destruction. All the warriors did their share of twisting, lopping, and hiding. The last one did not go for Erik; he was incapable of not being one hundred percent destructive as everyone could tell except apparently those who challenged him such as these buffoons. However, these people were beginning to gain power as the trio and their knights lost it. Vlad pelted the army with fire and ice, but there was always more coming when he took down one, two more took his place. He felt he was beginning to make what could be fatal mistakes such as ignoring a man with a brutal lance until it was almost too late.
"Erik, go take the dragon, we will not need you if all your men are fighting!" ordered the king, for he was in charge of everything. "But… but," he stammered thinking that this was a demotion, though really it was a mightily important promotion. The battle went on with both sides growing sluggish. They swung and swung and swung, missing a stationary target more than fifty percent of the time. Right now the fryst army looked as if they had the upper hand, though it was pretty close, as always in heated battle, until it is won. A cluster of arrows narrowly missed Mordred as he used his ordinary sword; the constant swinging motion made his arm feel like lead. Despite that it was -35º, beads of perspiration formed everywhere.
Spears and arrows flew everywhere and the sun blinded Vlad, and was nauseating to Mordred and the others. Suddenly a shadow crossed the land surprising friend and foe alike. Paranoia spread across them like a ripple in the sea. "Has evil overcome?" many wondered. At that moment the ground violently shook as the great dragon Snilldar scanned the peoples faces. He was completely black with several spikes in various places. His head was size of a caravan and his body at least the size of twelve eighteen-wheeler trucks. His eyes along with the lining of his wings and claws were snakeskin green. His teeth were the size of a person from the waist down and his eyes, being the size of a coffee table, glinted in the sunlight, making him look impeccably evil. The truth rushed forward. "Erik has not defeated the dragon and he would stop at nothing but death!" Vlad and all the people grieved for the Viking. "End your sniffling," roared Erik jumping down from the black dragon slamming an enemy in to Snilldar bony spine. As he did so, His followers looked up in amazement, the sun made it so only the silhouette of him showed, making the king appear legendary.
"But however did you do it?" Asked Mordred in awe.
"That is a tale for another time, for now we fight!" This got a wild response, as a new confidence had awoken inside them. Snilldar, when angry can be an extremely skilled fighter and a powerful ally. The Fryst army did not stand a chance. Still, Erik, perched on top of him still had quite a hard time and because of the huge dragons instincts were to fly low, his axe was put to work slicing and dicing the men whom Snilldar had bypassed. Eventually the dragon and everyone on his side finally stopped the last evil soldier was stopped and plundered off toward the royal palace, delighted with their overwhelming victory. Once they reached their destination they were warmly welcomed in to tell their long tale. And they eventually persuaded Erik to tell the epic story of his encounter with the allying dragon. So, in his deep voice, perfect for intense story telling he began.
So here goes: "I admit that when Arthur directed me to fight the dragon alone, as the front line, I was a little nervous, I mean if half the rumors are true, then I would be reduced to ashes in a matter of seconds, and that is some thing that that I would not want happening. As I clambered up the rocks my stomach was heavy with dread, for how did I even stand a chance against the almighty Snilldar, I was just an ant in his way. I would be squashed like a bug! And for those next few minutes I felt as if the best thing would be to flee, but that would resolve in all my friends dying and me going to jail for eternity for disobeying the king, and no one would be able to justify my movements because they would be overcome by the Fryst army. So I scrambled on hoping I would catch him napping or something of that sort. However I got the complete opposite. I jumped into the cave apprehensively. Then I was puzzled, for no dragon was to be seen. I was entirely exhausted and leaned against the walls of the cave, they felt extremely peculiar, I rubbed them and was very puzzled, and suddenly a thunderous voice echoed around me, 'Stop that it tickles!' it said. Only then did I realize that there was really no cave at all, the dragon was wrapped around the cliff, appearing to be stone. My eyes darted around the room and landed on two enormous eyes, though huge they seemed to be filled with… trustworthiness, and after gazing upon them for several moments I realized the truth. "You're not at all what you're made out to be are you?" "No," he said pityingly, "I always have irritating humans poking and prodding me, and I just can't control myself, before I know they are just a pile of grey ashes." [At this I quickly adopted a surrendering pose**] Tears the size of baseballs welled up inside him and he tried to blink them out with only partial luck. Soon after, I was perched on his back and all set to go. Flying is very strange. Because of the dragons great head, I could neither see nor feel the wind. I was a little uneasy of Snilldar at first; but my suspicions were satisfied as he scorched to several soldiers charging toward an occupied Mordred. The rest I believe you are aware of.
"Yes," confirmed Dracula.
Then Arthur said "You have each told your tales, now it is time for your prize."
"No," Erik objected. " I shall spend a truly dangerous life protecting my peasants, not cowering in a palace, pretending to be a great warrior."
"I second that," declared Vlad.
All eyes migrated to Mordred, who looked indecisive, after an uncomfortably long pause he stated, "I belong here to once again serve my lowly occupation as a messenger knight."
Arthur laughed. "Not for long," he said suspiciously. "Mordred Conwell, I present you a royal Knight of the Round Table." Everyone present erupted in deafening applause.
"Do you see what you turned down?" shouted the king above the noise "A Knight of the Round Table!" All celebration stopped as the palace shook as a great thud came from upon the roof and Erik and Vlad shared a smile.
"Snilldar has arrived," Erik claimed, laughing as the dragon pressed his humongous eye against a window. "I'd better be on my way," as he strode he chortled, "My ride is here." Everyone gaped as he mounted the dragon, in comparison looking as small as a mouse as he soared off into the colorful sunset.