Part One: The Beginning Of It All.
"Throughout time there have been heroes and villains, the Dragon Slayers have been fighting the clan of Black Dragon for hundreds of years. That the I can tell you because I have watched them, I have seen warrior upon warrior fall in battle, never has there been a clear winner, this is the story of the wars, the legends told in dark corners around the world. You may ask how I know all this, and as the story progresses, I shall tell you, but for now all you need to know is that I have been watching them for many a century, and they do not know."
A lone horseman approached the castle walls; the figure is dressed in
black, a black cloak covers his body, its hood over his head, a Red Cross
On his battered shield, his sword in its scabbard, an axe in his right
hand, he stops his horse at the gates.
"I need shelter for the night" He shouted up at the gate keeper.
Barely raising his eye brows the gate keeper ignored the horse man, he was
just another night, looking for fame. And besides he was tired.
"I request a shelter for the night
"Whuh?" The startled gate keeper, realising the night wouldn't go away,
called into the main court yard. "OPEN THE GATES"
The horse man heard the gates being opened, and clicked his horse forward,
gently he entered the castle. He heard the gates being closed behind him.
A young boy ran up, and asked if the man was George Cadarn.
"Thomas, you ask that to every man who comes in this castle, and every man
says the same thing. " His father walked over, smiling he said "I
apologise for my son, he's young and wants to meet his hero. We haven't got
much here sir, my names Richard, may I ask who you are?"
The night removed his hood and smiled. "I am George of Exeter"
"Really mister? Your really him?" Thomas asked excitedly.
"Yes, I am"
"OK, come this way sir.." Richard started
"George, please" George interrupted in a friendly voice
OK George, if you would be so kind as to follow us, and I will show you your
room, it isn't much though" Richard warned.
"I'm sure it'll be fine." George smiled.
As they walked across the court yard, George was bombarded with questions,
where had he been? Why was he here? How long was he going to stay?
Answering them as best he could, George retired into the room that Richard
had shown him, and fell asleep the instant he hit the old mattress.
He woke at 5 am, wondered out of his room, through the
murky corridors, and toward the stable. As the sun hit his face, its
brilliance blinded him., half closing his eyes, he walked toward his
horse, checked his armour was still in the bundle at the its back, and
saddled up. He mounted the horse with grace unusual with his size, he was 6'2", and started toward the gates.
"You going already mister?" The young boy Thomas and his father, it
appeared had followed him out.
"Yes, I must, there is something urgent I need to take care of."
"What mister? What is it?"
Sighing, he thought for a few seconds, should he tell them? Should he fill
their world with fear? Should he, or more importantly could he? No he
couldn't. "Its something I must do, something you don't need to know about."
"But mister, please?"
"No Thomas, it isn't for your innocent ears to know."
"Thomas, go and get some bread from the kitchens, and some wine, George
will need it, it is a long journey to the next castle....."
As Thomas rushed off, Richard asked "Your going to face it aren't you? Your going to face the Great Dragon? He will kill you, we don't need
another knight falling to that monster, don't go and face him, if not for yourself, then for the people who hold you as their hero."
Sighing, George ruefully smiled "I must, the dragon has caused enough terror in this land, I have to end it. I'm sorry."
Leaving the castle behind him, George of Exeter went to his destiny,
travelling across forest and hills, he eventually stopped, climbed of his
horse, and strapped his armour on. The mail coat, his gauntlets and boots
that had been specially made, steel covering parts, reinforced leather
others.
He slipped his cloak on over his armour, and pulled on the helmet.
He mounted the horse again, and went in search of the Black Dragon.
A group of farmers heard it long before they saw it. They heard wings
ferociously beat the air around them, then they saw the shadow of the
beast, then one farmer felt its claws rip down his back, tearing skin and
rending bone, realising he was a dead man, he fell to the floor, raised
his pitch fork, and thrust it at the oncoming beast. The other farmers kept
running, ignoring their fallen friend, and barely made it inside the
castle walls.
The farmer's pitch fork did him no good, the dragon just burned him with
the fire from his mouth. then the farmer became food. And the Black Dragon had struck again. The town cried, and prayed that someone would come to kill the dragon, but to no avail. The screams of the farmer could be heard for miles.
George rode over the crest of the hill, and saw the dragon feasting on
a body. He kicked his heals back at his horse
"DEATH OR GLORY" He yelled as he rode the horse onto the waiting dragon.
The dragon turned and watched the night come. Another foolish knight
seeking my death, he will fail, along with the rest He thought.
The dragon blew fire at George, completely burning the ground where George was, leaving only a charred remain of George's horse. George had managed to jump clear, and raised his shield, and drew his sword, its name was Repentance.
The dragon faced him, it towered above George's 6'2", a massive 8'5".
The dragon swung his huge clawed hand, George managed to protect himself
with his shield. George thrust repentance toward the dragons chest. George felt the resistance of the dragons scaly skin, and then his sword pierced the chest, he with drew it, green blood on its blade, and thrust again, but the dragon, knocked the blade away, and stabbed at George's neck, ducking behind his shield George backed away.
The dragon assessed his victim, knowing he was different, knowing that this
black warrior was somehow different, more deadly than the others.
George advanced again, this time throwing his shield at the dragons eyes,
and getting out his axe. The dragon swiped away the shield, but didn't
notice George's axe coming down on his other hand, until the great pain
seared up his arm. He lifted his left arm, but his hand stayed on the
ground.
"Dearly shall you pay for that" Growled the dragon.
"So it speaks" roared George as he stabbed at the Dragons chest again.
From the castle, they could see the fight, the black clad warrior fighting
the black dragon, neither getting the upper hand. The towns people looked
amazed as gradually the warrior was beating the dragon, something that
would have taken a group of twenty men to do, but this man, this black
dressed warrior was doing it by himself. As news spread throughout the
town, more people were crowding the walls, eager to see the fight. They
cheered when the dragon lost his hand and when ever George stabbed the
dragon. Nearly an hour after the battle had started, the dragon slashed
the warriors chest, sending mail armour ever where, and the townspeople
new the warrior would die.
"I didn't need it any way, it was only slowing me down." Growled George as
he sliced with his axe, at the dragons thigh.
The dragon amazed that the man had survived this long, and that he had
actually managed in hurting him, the Great Dragon, just growled.
Again and again the dragon tried to skewer the human, but again and again
he managed to dodge.
Suddenly without warning, George threw the axe at the dragons eyes, and as
it slashed open his skin, a mighty cheer came from the towns people.
As the dragon realised he couldn't see, he felt George's blade pierce his
skin, deeper than before, and the dragon fell.
George pulled out the sword, and stood above the dragon.
"Tell me who are you?" The dragon murmured.
"I am George of Exeter, George Cadarn and now George the dragon killer."
came the reply.
"The darker the Fire, the darker you soul" The dying dragon said.
"What do you mean?" George asked, desperately wanting to know.
"Let me live, and I will show you" The dragon said, in an almost human
voice.
"No, my head tells me to kill you. So does my heart."
With one slice of Repentance, the dragons head rolls away from the body.
From the town a cheer so loud sounded that it could have been heard in
Scotland.
"What happened? Why do I feel weird?" George wondered allowed.
"You have gained the power of the Soul Fire. This is what the dragon had,
and what you now have. Remember, the darker the Fire, the darker your
soul." A voice from every where yet nowhere sounded.
Sinking to his knees, George examined his battered sword, picked up his
axe and shield, and looked around.
He had killed the Great Dragon, he had done it. What would he do now?
As if in answer to his question, the voice spoke again. "George of Exeter,
your 'reward' for slaying me, is to make sure that the Soul Fire is not used
as a tool for evil. I have spent nigh on a thousand years making sure the Soul Fire hasn't been abused, waiting for someone, or something worthy enough to take the mantle of Guardian, from me. My wait is over. The mantle is now yours, I am sorry to give you such a burden, but it is the way of the gods. Goodbye George Cadarn."
George Cadarn, George the Dragon Slayer or the Volvagia disappeared that night, and he wasn't seen
for years.
From the town, they couldn't work out why the mysterious warrior had gone. Later, the towns folk found out he was called George. Tales of his bravery were told throughout the land, soon becoming myth and legend.
"So Began the Legend of George and the Dragon. This I know, because I was there."