Dragon's Curse

I am Sir William of Tabor

I was a knight in my father King Phillip's kingdom

When I was twenty my quest was to get the emerald stone

Deep in the dark forest of Weeping Willow.

It was said that the emerald stone would make you live forever.

I should have known it was too good to be true.

Once a month I change from human to a mythical beast

A dragon whose scales are purple ,red and green

I cant control it and though I am conscious I feel a hunger

A hunger I try to control.

I am escorted once a month at night by the night guard of the castle into a cave where

I am placed in shackles and chains

My father feels bad about chaining me

Yet I know that alternative would be worse.

I could kill or they could kill me.

It began 5 years ago when I was twenty

Father sent me on my quest.

I found the emerald stone.

Instead of immortality I found its curse

You would live forever as a dragon.

My mother Eleanor has tried white magic

And now I am able to be human during the day

At sundown I change.

I go in secret and no one in town except the Guard know

The men in the guard are faithful to my father.

The moon is queen of the night and I can hear my breathing as a feel the heaviness of my dragon like

Body.the scales itch , I scratch my claws feel sharp and I feel some relief

My mind is trapped by the pain as the scales and the claws are coming out.

I dig my hoofs in the cool sand in the dark cave. Next to me there is an enchanted mirror

where I see my human form.
It is there that I see the moon and the sun reflected.

The dragon and the human

My mother has told me that I need to find a cure

Because soon the draft she gives me will not be effective

Malora, the wicked enchantress who cursed me ,

The one who let know the lie about the emerald stone

Lives on mount of Weeping Willow .

I will go there and find a cure or die.

I am in love with Lady Bianca of Castile

Her dark eyes and long dark curls and her gentle ways compel me to try

To regain my humanity

The sun is rising the day is coming

A blue light surrounds me

The spell is ending for this month

Painfully , I feel the scales fall and the claws disappear

On the mirror I see my hollow dragon's eyes regain their human form

Next I see the dragon nose shrink andthe hoofs become feet and the claws hands

The dragon's body , a human body,

I hear the guard approach

They enter the cave and undo the shackles and chains

They give me unfermented wine and something to eat

I dress in a chemise , linen tunicand trousers

I am tired and in pain

I put on shoes and a cloak

It is the year of our Lord 1268 and father welcomes me with a small banquet in the great hall

Lady Bianca looks beautiful in a lavender gown ,her head encircled by crown of white and pink roses.

Lady Bianca's brother Armado , looks at me with distrust

"You go with the guard every month deep into the forest looking for any spies,

What assures me that you are not wooing another lady in secret, and they are covering

For you?"

"He is incapable of deceit." Lady Bianca said with conviction

I looked at her honest eyes, beautiful and full of love. For me.

I felt ashamed yet I could not say the truth. I would be death for me if anyone found out

and I was still in human form and death for anyone if I was in my dragon form.

I said, "I would die before harming Lady Bianca "

I would go on my journey and find the antidote or die

I owed it to Lady Bianca and her trust in me.

"I will let you die before any harm comes to my sister" Armado said coolly

I know that I should be very careful. Not draw attention to myself

Yet Armado is adamant " I propose we have a jousting match and see if you have

Any skills, skills to protect my sister."

The day of the Joust I found an enemy in Armado

An enemy who would not quit until one of us dies

Since I won the joust I hurt his pride and that was

A mortal wound.

He left weak but he said,
"I will find you no matter where you are and I will kill you.

No one can be better than me , I am a true knight-

You cheated me of victory. You will pay."

Lady Bianca said, "Brother , please forgive any offense.

Don't place my love ,my lord William on pain of death,

The tears that fall down her cheeks make no difference,

Armado ,leaves with his squire and I feel no fear just resolve

I will not harm him for Lady Bianca's sake.

If possible I would rather die than cause her pain,

The road to Weeping Willow mountain is rocky and there are chasms on either side

At the very top is Eldor , the castle of Melora,the wicked enchantress.

I have until the next change

I have on my full armor and mother has given me my elixir which keeps me human

Until the next change.

A mindturner spell has been added so if I do become a dragon I can control my thoughts.

A few men of the guard have come with me risking life and limb.

My provisions include clothes,and food and food for Ekwin my white horse.

I am on my way to Eldor one step closer to victory or death.