It Started With a Sword

Chapter 7

Fear flashed across Lyla’s face at the dragon's comment, and she grasped the hilt of her sword. Before she could do anything, Scott pulled his out of its sheath, pointing it at the dragon. “Listen, dragon, if you do anything to harm Princess Lyla, you’re in trouble. I’ll…well, I don’t know what I’ll actually do, but it won’t be nice.”

The dragon rumbled in laughter. Put your sword away, human prince. I’m not going to do anything to harm your princess. You were very brave in coming to find me and trusting me not to harm you. Because I am so impressed, I can only promise to not attack your kingdom. Though I must assure you, I was not planning on it anyway. I enjoy my home here on this side of the river, away from your civilization.

Scott lowered his sword, and Lyla let out a deep breath, obviously relieved. “Thank you, Sir Dragon,” she said, Scott nodding to show his agreement.

Suddenly the quiet clearing was disrupted by a loud shout. “Dragon, get away from my daughter!” an anxious King Stefan bellowed from across the clearing, sword drawn and pointed at the dragon.

“Father! It’s alright! The dragon was only talking with us. Well, we were talking to the dragon. But he’s friendly, don’t worry.” Lyla said, talking quickly. She ran up to her father and pushed his arm, the one that was holding the sword, down to his side.

He only frowned at her. “Are you sure, Lyla?”

The dragon answered for her. Yes, she is sure, King Stefan. You have a very wonderful daughter, I’m sure you are aware. I mean none of you any harm.

“I…you speak English!” the king exclaimed, looking shocked.

Lyla, Scott, and the dragon all laughed. Yes, I do speak your English, the dragon told him, nodding his scaly head.

“So you promise not to hurt us? Or attack the castle?” the king persisted.

I promise not to hurt you, and I promise that your castle is safe. In all seriousness, I had no plans to attack the city in the first place. I quite enjoy my quiet life here on this side of the river, the dragon explained with a noise that sounded like a sigh.

“Oh,” King Stefan stated, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I just assumed, with the threat of dragons in other kingdoms, we would have the same here in Alydar. I deeply apologize, Sir Dragon, for wrongly assuming that. I see know that you are a very personable dragon. Again, my deepest apologies.”

Apologies accepted, the dragon told the king. Although I hope you do realize, if you had come here on your own with all your knights and swords, I might not have been so gentle. You have these two children to thank for that.

“Yes, I suppose we do,” King Stefan replied, nodding thoughtfully at Scott and Lyla, who just shared a smile.

The two kings spent the next hour talking with the dragon, sending the knights back to the camp. Scott eventually lost interest in what the dragon was saying – a bunch of histories of Alydar – and wandered around the clearing by himself, leaving Lyla with the two kings.

Suddenly he spotted a flash of white out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look at whatever it was, finding himself staring right at a unicorn, of all things. It looked him straight in the eye as it stood a few yards away, shaking its white mane.

“Hey, Lyla,” Scott called, as quietly as he could without scaring the unicorn. He wanted to do anything but scare it; the gold horn attached to its forehead looked somewhat deadly.

“Where are you?” he heard Lyla call a few yards away from him.

“Over here,” he called back, silently willing the unicorn to stay put for a while longer.

He heard rustling behind him. “Found you, Scott – oh, look a unicorn! You actually found a unicorn!” Before Scott could say anything more, she tiptoed up to it and began stroking its mane. “You’re so beautiful,” she told it, smiling at Scott. The unicorn snorted, sniffing at Lyla’s hair. She looked at Scott once more, winking at him. “See, told you unicorns were real.”

 Scott could only laugh.

And the end! Like I said, it's short. Kinda bad. I hope it wasn't that horrible to read!

And please comment and vote! Honestly, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks so much for reading this story! :) xx