The Dragon And The Knight -Submitted by Elizabeth G.

The Dragon and the Knight

By Elizabeth Goodale

Flames raged through the small village as the dragon roared and tore down building after building. Everything was either in ruins, or in flames. The villagers were either injured or hiding. Thankfully, no one had died. Yet. The dragon had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The truth was, they had seen signs of it for almost a month now. Small fires in the distance, the sounds of wings overhead. No one had put the pieces together until it was too late. 

They had hoped after a few days the dragon would leave them and find somewhere else to torment, but that was not how the dragon was acting. After almost a week, it was still there, laying in the center of town in the flames and rubble. No one dared get close to it, for fear it would kill them. Three people lay dead at the edge of town, from injuries or burns. Still no one dared get close.

After almost a month, the dragon had only become more violent, destroying everything near the village, including the forest, and even drinking and then burning up the entire pond. They were terrified for their lives. Terrified that the dragon who had destroyed their home would soon destroy them too. 

The days went on, and they became used to the dragon, as horrible as it seems. They were still living in fear, but now it was more controlled. They knew they weren’t all going to make it out, so they allowed the dragon to rampage through the village and set it all on fire. They never thought it would end. Until the knight arrived.

He didn’t look like most knights. He was poor, with leather armor and a flimsy battle worn sword. His shield was little more than scrap metal, and he rode a small donkey. Not what most people would call a hero. But, it wasn’t his fancy armor, or big horse that made him a knight. It was his hope that this monstrous beast could in fact be defeated. 

At first, the dragon barely acknowledged him. If it could, it may have even laughed. But, the knight wasn’t going to stand by and watch as this dragon killed innocent people and destroyed their homes. He raised his sword and began to fight.

The battle lasted for days. Sword and shield clashed with fire and claw. The knight never stopped fighting for the innocent villagers, and the dragon never seemed to give up. The people stood to the side, their eyes filled with fear. They wanted nothing more than to see the dragon struck down and to get their home back, but the knight seemed so weak. He didn’t stand a chance, they thought. 

After almost a month of fighting between the dragon and the knight, the knight’s sword found it’s mark, piercing the dragon’s heart. It fell, dead, in the village square as the knight collapsed in exhaustion. 

After over a year, the dragon had been defeated. It was over. The fight was won. The villagers celebrated for longer than the dragon had tormented them. They rebuilt their buildings, out of bricks and stone instead of wood and dirt. They had a newfound love and respect for life, and the knight who saved them. When they asked his name, he simply said, “I am a servant of the LORD. I come to save those in need. I’m the hopeful one.” before he disappeared.

They sang and danced for years to come. The song told the story of the hero and the dragon. The hope that saved their lives. And of the love of their God, who sent the hero to save them.