What if the Princess fell in love with the Dragon?

Artwork by Anne Stokes.
Go to www.annestokes.com to order.

The mist is swirling on the waters of the lake, which is magically painted rose by the setting sun.  On the opposite bank the solitary figure of a unicorn appears evanescently.

            The knight skulks back amongst the huge, purple leaves of the lakeside ferns, making sure that his weapons does not touch his armour.  Secrecy is paramount.

           

The unicorn finds its way back to the courtyard of the castle.  Its magnificent stone towers reaches up into the sky of silver and navy velvet.  The magical horse lowers her head and gently jabs with its hoove at the loose cobbles in the courtyard.

            A menacing shadow falls over the beautiful white horse.  She looks up at the enormous dragon bearing down on her.  The gigantic creature’s wings does not make a sound in the ominous hour after dark.

            “Is he there?”  The resplendent creature’s blazing yellow eyes would have intimidated a lesser creature.

            The unicorn winnies softly.  “He thought I did not see him.”

            The green and gold dragon lifts its body with one sweep of the magnificent wings.  It soars through the sky.

            A light appears in the small window of the turret to the left.  The unicorn looks up and murmurs, “She is awake …”  Moonrays bounce of her white and pink wings as she opens them and effortlessly finds her way through the dark sky to the window with its golden light.

The princess’s floor length red copper hair falls in a thick braid over her shoulder as she leans out the window.  “What is wrong?”

            The unicorn whinnies.  “He is here again, my lady.  Stay in your tower. Bhaltair is keeping watch.”

            The girl looks up at the battlements where she can barely see the silhouette of the dragon.   

“When will they stop coming?”  She pulls the white woollen shawl snug around her shoulders.

            Saphira tosses her head back.  “They will stop coming once there is no dragon to rescue you from, my lady.” With that ominous pronouncement the unicorn sped away through the dark sky towards  Bhaltair.

In the shadows of the mistical island a creature with matted grey hair and filthy robes cackles softly.   Maybe it is time to transform Bhaltair to his human princely form… and would it not be amusing to transform the beautiful love of his life with her red copper hair into a fiery red unicorn.  Saphira will make an attractive blonde princess … The  diminutive figure of the old woman toddles to the edge of the water where she contemplates her features in the mirror of the water.  I was once in love …

But this time the knight did not come to save the princess from the dragon. 

When the golden rays of the sun spread its benevolent fingers over the island with its silver lake and magnificent castle, the princess saw only one of her flying protectors.  The sun’s rays bounced of the white wings of Saphira.  She delivers her rider, Bhaltair, savely into the arms of his princess.

            On the shore of the lake a bundle of rags lay abandoned amidst aromatic purple flowers and the sword of a mighty knight. On the grassy plane across the lake a fair maiden walks hand in hand with her knight, without a sword. 

            Magic was in the air.

            Only magic could transform a dragon to a prince.

            Only magic could transform a little malevolent witch into a fair maiden.

            “What potion did you use, my love?” , she asked of her knight.

            “They call it love.  Unconditional love.”