The Fable of The Dragon Prince

Fire fumed through the trees, withering them away with its heat. Ash rained from the sky, settling on an infant boy. His cries echoed through the forest. The crashing of footsteps as a large silhouette approached the child. With every cry, it drew closer, until it was face to face with the smut-covered baby. If it weren’t for the illumination of the flames, the creature would have blended into the night. The dragon's mouth simmered; sparks danced through its teeth as it examined the child. The youngsters cries quickly turned to giggles, amused by the dancing sparks. Imitating the dragon, the baby’s teeth too began to spark. Small flames made their way through the gaps of what little teeth the infant had. Curious still, the boy reached out and touched the dragon. In an instant, the dragon recoiled, roaring in pain.

Many years before that night...

In the Kingdom of Hadley, snow fell harshly onto the castle walls, coating them with frost. It piled upon the village roofs, the smoke from the chimneys rose into the sky like plumes of incense. The usually paved pathways throughout the kingdom, now flooded in white. In the town square, a bride stood. Her beautiful gown and long white hair hid her behind the flurry of snow, but her smile was visible from miles away, shining like a beacon in the midst of the storm. Across from her stood the groom, his jet-black hair and dark robe flowing softly in the wind. Despite the merriment of the occasion, his eyes looked tired and burdened.

Hundreds of people gathered around, their faces and clothing dusted with snow. The King's Knights stood guard, their dark complexion and powerful stature rivaling that of the grooms. As the King slides a stunning jewel onto his new Queen's finger, pulling her close for a kiss, the crowd erupts into subtle applause. In a shower of red roses, the newlyweds are celebrated with a toast, their cups spill over with wine, leaving the snow bloodstained.

As dusk approached, the blizzard ceased and a tranquil silence descended upon the land. Three men sat beside a river, its softly flowing waters glimmering in the dim light outside the village reaches. A small flame burned inside an old tin lamppost, casting a warm glow over three horses that were gathered around it, their fur blankets ruffling in the gentle breeze. The sounds of music and lively conversation that had echoed throughout the village were now muffled by the river, replaced by the soft laughter of the three men as they reminisced about old times and shared stories of past loves.

King Bade clinked his chalice with Sir Adonis, the kingdom's strongest Knight. The two had grown up together, and Adonis had saved the King's life more times than either of them could count. Beside Adonis sat Datcher Tomkins, the Kingdom's most powerful mage. The three men were inseparable, having gone on countless adventures together throughout their lifetimes. As they sat together, laughing and reminiscing, they could feel the warmth of their bond, like a fire burning in their hearts. Adonis wrapped his arms around the King.

“Well done brother”, his warm breath visible in the cold starry sky.

“Your dad would be proud, she’s the most beautiful woman in the land.”

Adonis filled up Datcher’s chalice. He drank, and in a deep voice, spoke,

“Don’t be daft Adonis, he’s only marrying her for the kingdom’s sake. His true place is with us, not playing king up in that musty castle.”

“How noble of him”, Adonis laughed, punching the King on the shoulder.

“The noblest in the land, you could learn a thing or two”, Bade joked, returning the punch.

Bade laughed, but in his head, he was deep in thought. Datcher could sense this. Although Adonis would give his life for the King, Datcher always knew his heart. Perhaps it was the magic that gave him this ability, or maybe, being an elf gave him an unbiased ability to peer into the heart of man.

Bade skipped a rock over the cold river. It skidded on a chunk of ice before landing in a pile of snow, “go enjoy the party.”

Placing his arm around his friends and smiling.

“I love you both dearly, but I need to be alone right now.”

Adonis gave him a pat on the back and finished off his drink.

“You know where to find us,” Adonis said before jumping on his horse. The two trotted back to the bustling village, leaving Bade to himself.

Before King Bade was a King, and barely a Prince, his father made Adonis and him work in the fields. Datcher’s father was an old friend of Bade’s father. He was an incredible mage, fighting along his father’s side in many wars. Now old and feeble, he worked with his son in the fields. Bade and Adonis met Datcher here in the fields of the Kingdom, becoming inseparable ever since. Datcher even taught them some Elvin magic along the way.

During this time, the boys were still young. They gained a considerable reputation for themselves early on when they slayed their first dragon, protecting livestock in the fields. It is rare for a man, let alone a child, to slay a dragon. Those that do so are given a place of honor among the kingdoms.

Word spread quickly, and soon, the three boys would be spending their days galivanting around the lands, slaying monsters and dragons. Saving countless lives. As the boys grew into men, they were already legends among the kingdoms. Bade became known as the Dragon Prince, catching the eye of Princess Madison, of the Royal Lingenfelter Family. King Lingenfelter ruled deep in the Northern Kingdoms of Glacia. His domain spread throughout much of the North, making him a very powerful ally, or a dangerous enemy. Bade’s father always encouraged him to marry Princess Madison. His father was a passionate King and wished to unite the Northern Kingdoms. Bade had always refused, not caring much for the Princess.

Things changed one night, far across the lands in the east. Prince Bade and his comrades were at an old tavern, drinking and laughing with new friends, when a Knight rode in on horseback - interrupting the celebration. He carried heart-wrenching news of the passing of Bade’s father. Without the King's passionate rule and the absence of his son, tensions had risen between the northern kingdoms. Prince Bade rode straight home through many nights. Upon returning to the North, he reluctantly married Princess Madison, taking his father's throne and returning peace to the Northern kingdoms.

Dusk became night as Bade sat by himself at the riverbank. He thought of his father and how he never got to say goodbye. His father always wanted Bade to rule by his side in the Kingdom. But could see in his heart that he didn’t wish to rule. So, he let him go. Bade always had intentions of returning to see his father, but adventure after adventure, he got caught up, and his father grew older.

Bade reached into his coat pocket and took out his father’s old silver cross necklace, gifted to him at the funeral. Engraved in the metal, were his father’s initials, H.M. Bade reached back into his coat and pulled out an old letter that his father had sent to him weeks before his passing. He ran his fingers over the wax stamp on the side of the letter, his father's royal stamp. Bade had read this letter over many times on the long journey home. Tear stains had engrained themselves in the crisp paper. Now, all he had left of his father.

Dear son, I trust you are following your passion out there. It gets lonely here sometimes without your mother. I hope this letter finds you well, and you come back soon. I’ve always been proud of you son. For all the people you’ve saved, and evil you’ve ridden the lands of. But nothing has made me prouder than you just being my son.

H.M

A loud splash interrupted Bades thought. He turned to the source, spotting the silhouette of a woman across the river. Wading her feet in the ice-cold water, unaffected by its sting.

Bade stood up, forming a flame in his hand, he used it to illuminate the area. The woman had disappeared. He scanned the vast snowy wilderness beyond the river, finally spotting her heading towards the Godivian woods. Growing up, his mother had always told him to stay away from those woods. The woman’s silhouette disappeared into the vast shadow cast by the lumbering trees. Bade’s curiosity got the best of him. He reluctantly followed her. Wading through the icy water and thick snow, he entered the woods. Using the flame in his hand as a light, he wandered deeper, catching a glimpse of long black hair disappearing behind a clearing. He followed and found the woman sitting at the edge of a river. Steam rose from the water around her, warm and inviting in the cold weather. The moonlight shone through the clearing, revealing her fiery eyes and stunning features. She was wearing a short black gown and nothing else. “I see why you didn’t want me wandering through these woods mother”, Bade muttered to himself, under his breath. The woman turned to him and smiled, motioning for him to draw closer. He happily obeyed but stopped at the edge of the water. He had grown wise through his years exploring the vast world. “What’s your name?” he asked. She sat directly across from him with her legs crossed. “Alice”, she replied. Her voice was as soft as a feather. He examined her eyes, never had he seen a woman with eyes like that, they captivated him. But he knew better. “What are you?” This question caught Alice off guard. She was impressed, this man wasn’t as dull as those that came before him. Her silence tipped him off, and he cast a flame at her, which she effortlessly blocked.

“You know, for a witch, you’re quite beautiful.”

“For a mage, your magic is quite weak.”

Bade drew his sword, ancient symbols shimmered down the blade.

“King Bade, nice to meet you.”

Before Bade could think, Alice had appeared in front of him, gripping his neck with impressive strength. Her eyes danced around investigating his. Bade choked on his words as he tried to speak, “strange wa...way to introduce yourself” This confused Alice. Bade took advantage of the moment, shoving her to the ground and drawing his sword inches from her throat. The moonlight reflected off the silver blade, illuminating her face. She reached out and touched the sword, turning it to ash. Bade looked at his sword, then back at Alice. She cast a spell, pushing him back, bombarding him with spell after spell. Using the limited magic knowledge he knew, Bade was barely able to defend himself. “You’re pretty good with your hands” Alice smirked. Bade winked at her. “Wait till you see what I can do with my…”, SPLASH, Bade stepped too far back and fell into the shallow river. He instinctively reached out and grabbed Alice’s hand, taking her in with him. The river shimmered in the moonlight as the water rippled around them. Steam danced throughout the river. They were still for a moment, then Alice kissed him passionately. Moments later, she had lost her gown. Bade kissed her up and down. Ravens flew from the rustling trees, startled by Alice’s screams, soaring into the moonlit sky.

Years passed after that night. Every night, Bade lay in bed beside his beautiful wife Madison, but he could never sleep. Bade would sneak out to see Alice every night. With each passing day, his heart grew fonder of her. They would lay awake all night talking. She would tell him of her desires and aspirations, what made her happiest, and what made her saddest. About how her family was cursed by a witch, and she was the result. How they abandoned her in fear of shame from their friends and family. She could never trust anyone, but she felt safe with Bade. He could make her laugh until she couldn’t breathe and smile even when she was upset. Bade would talk of running away with her. Alice would always make him stay, but for her, he would abandon his entire kingdom.

More months passed, the weather became warmer, and flowers sprouted up in the kingdom, vines dangled down the stable walls where King Bade stood, preparing his steed. Adonis and Datcher prepared their horses by his side, equipping them with enough food and water for a long journey. “What do you say we stop by old man Deaver’s Tavern on the way?” Adonis asked, wiping the sweat from his brow. “I’d say lead the way!” Bade smiled, securing the saddle onto his steed.

The men had traded in dragon slaying for diplomatic meetings. They were journeying to the East to discuss new trade routes with King Bucklyn. With the weather warming, griffins had become more active along the old eastern routes. It was a few days journey, but they knew how to find fun where it hides. Old man Deaver brewed the best ale in all the East. They would stop by on their way to King Bucklyn’s castle, it was the only way they could deal with his incredibly boring personality. The three mounted their steeds and were preparing to leave when they noticed Alice standing in the entranceway. She was wearing a long black coat with a hood covering most of her face, still unable to hide her beauty. “That’s a lovely surprise”, Adonis muttered. “Give me a moment.” Bade said hopping off his horse and taking Alice's hand, leading her behind the stable.

“What are you doing here? They can’t see you, they’ll…”

“Bade, I’m pregnant”

Bade was stunned. He didn’t speak, Alice continued.

“Well, I was pregnant. I had him a few days ago. I was going to tell you earlier, but you hadn’t come visit for a while…”

Bade was quiet.

“…Bade, are you okay? I’m sorry I didn’t know what to…”

“He?” Bade replied with a slight grind on his face.

“Yes.”

“Does he have the curse?”

“I’m not sure.”

Bade took off her hood, he was smiling from cheek to cheek.

“It doesn’t matter.”

This brought a smile to Alice’s face. Bade was everything her father wasn’t. Kind and loving, with a strength that only grew from the noblest of hearts. Bade placed his hand on her chin,

“let’s run away.”

“What?”

“We’ve talked about this before.”

“I know, but you’re a King, you can’t just…”

“I want to raise him with you, not in secrecy like this.”

Alice’s eyes lit up. Bade had never seen them in the daylight, they shone even more beautifully than before.

“I love you, Alice.”

She leaned in and kissed him. Unable to contain her joy.

“I love you too.”

“I’ll be back in a few days, meet me by the river. Take this as my promise.”

Bade unclipped his father’s necklace and put it around her neck. She kissed him one last time before running off.

Bade returned to the stable and hopped back on his horse. His head was raised a little higher than before. Adonis and Datcher smiled, they’d known him long enough to tell what that meant, “Can’t wait to hear all about her my friend”, Adonis said as they rode off, galloping through the streets of the village. Townspeople stopped what they were doing, waving to the men as they rode by, watching them as they rode off into the dawning sun.

Days passed by and the men returned home. Madison stood in the village to greet her husband. Her father, King Lingenfelter, stood beside her. Bade dismounted his horse, embracing Madison with a kiss before greeting her father.

“I could have sent a messenger; I hope you didn’t come all this way to hear about the eastern trade routes.”

“I didn’t come here for that son… Madison sent for me. She tells me that a witch had been seen abducting the children in the darkness of the night. Since you had enlisted the kingdom's best Knight and Mage with you on your journey, she asked that her father come down and handle the problem, to which I happily obliged.”

Bade’s heart stopped. He glared at Madison. How could she have known? What did she do? A ringing in his ear began.

“I was so scared Bade, I’m glad you’re finally back. I had missed you so dearly and worried for the safety of our kingdom. My father was happy to help us.”

Her words grew more muffled as she spoke. Bade looked to King Lingenfelter, who stood proudly. He had become a fool to his daughter in his old age. Bade glanced towards the Godivian woods, smoke rose over the trees where he had arranged to meet Alice. The ringing grew louder. King Lingenfelter grew worried in the silence. “I do hope I didn’t overstep.” Bade could hardly make out his words through the piercing ringing in his ear. Glaring at them as he stumbled backward, unwilling to accept any of the dark thoughts that crept into his mind. He had to find out. Bade turned and grabbed the strains of his steed, leaping into the saddle. Madison grew nervous. “Bade where are you going? Please stop!” she shouted as she darted in front of his horse. But it was of no use, Bade promptly galloped around her, rushing towards the smoke. He darted through the village, splashing over the river and through the overgrown fields into the darkness of the woods. Adonis and Datcher hastily followed, trying to keep up with him. Bade easily navigated through the woods as he had done countless times before to see Alice.

He approached the river to find a band of Glacian soldiers situated around the site. They had torched the area, trees turned to ash, some still softly burned. A handful of dead soldiers lay scattered around, Alice had fought back. Bades eyes darted around to find her, still with hope, but that hope was swiftly crushed. Alice's body lay beside the river, staining it red as it flowed by.

The soldiers noticed King Bade and stood up to greet him. He ignored them, stumbling towards Alice, every step felt heavier than the last. Bade could no longer control his shaking, his heart froze as he waded across the warm river and kneeled beside Alice. An old soldier stood proudly beside her lifeless body. “This is the witch that was terrorizing the children, Sir.” Ignoring the soldier, Bade caressed Alice’s face, giving her one last kiss. “Sir?” the soldier said, confused. Her eyes no longer shone as they had before. The smile that lit up his entire world, replaced by a bloodied lip.

The ringing became unbearable. Bade drew his sword, striking the old soldier, killing him instantly. The other soldiers stepped back, drawing their swords. Bade ruthlessly slaughtered soldier after soldier with power and precision. Adonis and Datcher, loyal to a fault as they were, joined in his aid. Within minutes, every soldier had fallen. The three men stood in the madness, breathing heavily, their royal armor now bloodstained.

Datcher spoke first. “Bade, these men were innocent, I know you loved her but…”

“They killed my son!” Bade interrupted.

Moments passed. The trees burned quietly around them. Adonis and Datcher stood in silence, compassionately looking at their friend. The joy they had seen on his face, only days ago, had vanished. Bade stared back at them as if waiting for a response. “We understand”, they said. “Good”, Bade muttered, mounting his horse and riding back to the village. They had seen this look on his face only a few times before. Bade was passionate like his father, but unlike his father, he didn’t care much for diplomacy.

In the village, townspeople went about their days. King Lingenfelter stood with his soldiers waiting beside his daughter for the King's return.

“He seemed saddened by this news.” King Lingenfelter said, looking concerningly at his daughter. “Who was this woman we killed? You claimed she was a witch?”

“Don’t concern yourself father, he’s only saddened to hear that he wasn’t able to deal with the problem himself. You know how proud he can be.”

King Lingenfelter turned and saw Bade riding in on his steed, Datcher and Adonis rode beside him in tandem. “I suppose”, He replied, clearing his throat, “Well, here he is now.”

King Lingenfelter stood with arms crossed behind his back. He had always deeply respected his son-in-law. The Dragon Prince, married to his only daughter, the thought alone was enough to make any father proud. However, Bade no longer cared much for King Lingenfelter’s daughter. Bade showed no signs of slowing down as he approached the crowd. He charged towards King Lingenfelter, drawing his sword. Lingenfelter had no time to react as Bade pierced it through his heart. The townsfolk ran inside screaming. A mother picked up her son, covering his eyes. Soldiers drew their swords to defend the Queen, but were quickly brought down by Datcher’s magic. Madison stumbled to the ground in shock. Becoming hysterical as Bade approached her. Slowly dismounting his horse, he knelt beside her. Looking into her eyes with a piercing gaze.

“Why, Madison?”

Madison took a moment to compose herself through the tears. “Do you think I didn’t notice you sneaking out every night? How daft do you consider me?”

Bade looked her up and down. He could feel the pain he had caused her, but his rage had taken over his soul and he didn't care. “She had my child Madison!”

Madison’s eyes widened, too blindsided to compose any logical response, “I love you, Bade!” Was all she could muster up. “I did this for you, we were supposed to have children! And raise them together!”

Bade’s black hair fell over his fiery eyes. “I never loved you, Madison.” He struck his sword into the ground beside her head. She screamed and more tears began to pour down her face. Bade turned to her before walking away. “But I could never kill my beloved Queen”

Days passed, and news of King Lingenfelter’s murder had traveled to his Northern domain. Madison’s brother, Hatto Lingenfelter, quickly took to the throne. He sent for Madison to abandon Bade and return home, bringing any who wished to live. The next morning, Bade awoke to an empty Kingdom. Only Datcher and Adonis, and a hundred of Bade's most loyal soldiers remained. Thinking they had the upper hand, the Glacians attacked the next night with overwhelming force. But Bade fiercely protected those loyal to him. With an unmatched ability in combat, the Dragon Prince and his comrades cut down every man sent to oppose them. The Glacians’ numbers were great, and Bade’s exhaustion became ever more evident as the years went on. Madison would write to him, urging him to surrender. No one else needed to die in this war. But she was already dead to him. With every passing year, the lands of the North crumbled further into war-stricken oblivion. All those loyal to Bade eventually perished. Bade, Adonis, and Datcher were all that was left of The Hadlyian Kingdom. Forced to abandon their castle's crumbling walls, the three men took refuge deep in the Godivian woods.

They rode on horseback through the frost-covered forest. War had stolen their youth. New scars ran down their tired faces. They approached a clearing. A vast field of snow and ice spread for miles around. In the middle, an old temple lay in ruin. The horses huffed and stood up on their hind legs, refusing to go any further. “Easy boy,” Bade said, patting his horse. Datcher reached down, running his hand over the snow, “this is cursed land; they won’t go any further.” So, the men left their horses at the edge and ventured further. As they approached the old temple, a pillar began softly humming. Bade placed his hand on an ancient symbol embedded in the pillar and it began to glow red.

“An old Elder Shrine. It recognizes your royal blood, but its magic is long gone.” Datcher said, continuing further into the ruins.

“Look at this!” Adonis shouted, he had made his way up the old stairs of the temple and was kneeling beside a dead body. “That's one unlucky looter.”

Datcher ran his hands down the claw marks on the man’s chest. “Looks like werewolf. They’ve grown more common during the war.”

Adonis began to laugh. “Datcher, my old friend! You’ve lost your touch after all these years!”

Datcher looked at Adonis, confused.

“That’s a dragon, my friend!”

Bade brushed Datcher aside to get a look. “Adonis is right. It’s fresh too.”

A smirk grew on Adonis’s face. “What do you say, my brothers? Let’s take a break from this old war and slay a Dragon, like old times.”

Their eyes lit up at the thought, it had been years. Bade grabbed Adonis by the hand. “My dear friend, those are but the sweetest words my sorry ears have heard in years.”

Suddenly, Bade awoke. He found himself leaning against the pillar of the old temple. Completely alone, as he had been for a while. His dear friends had died weeks ago protecting him from the onslaught of Glacian forces. Bade was prepared to die with them, but they had made him promise that he’d keep the kingdom's name alive. If not for them, then for his father’s sake. He had reluctantly agreed and fled deep into the Godivian woods by himself. Bade had been hallucinating their presence for days now. Recreating their adventures in his mind. Never had Adonis not been by his side. Fierce as he was, he amused him with his jokes and tales of promiscuity. Or Datcher, keeping him sane with wise words and brutal honesty.

Bade peered out into the blank wilderness in front of him, the wind danced off the snow, sending it cascading in all directions. He noticed the silhouette of a young man walking towards him. Thinking he must still be hallucinating, he stood up and walked closer. As the silhouette drew near, it grew larger, appearing less human the closer it got. Squinting his eyes to see better, it was no longer a young man that walked towards him, but a dragon, black as coal, galloped his way; kicking up mounds of snow in its wake.

“Holy shi…”, suddenly, scorching flames hurled towards Bade. He jumped out of the way, drawing his sword to immediately counter the creature’s next attack, slicing through its scales. The dragon roared in pain but didn’t falter. Bade ditched his heavy sword and sprinted towards the cover of the trees, ducking behind a large oak just in time. Flames soared past him, burning his cheek. Sparks flew from Bade's fingers as he desperately tried to remember a spell Datcher had taught him long ago.

“Vidiouslovo…no, Vidiumlatay… Dammit!” Bade shouted, turning away from the cover of the oak to face the massive creature barreling towards him, “vidiumlatano!” A massive surge of energy burst from his hand, sending the dragon crashing through the trees, tearing up dirt and roots as it landed. The snow settled and Bade prepared for another attack. But the dragon only limped forward, badly injured from the crash. In the blink of an eye, the ferocious beast transformed into a young man. He had long black hair and strong features, but the most stunning part of him was his eyes. They shimmered in the daylight, captivating Bade. The boy reached out his hand, mimicking Bade’s spell, casting a surge of energy toward him. “What the…how?” Bade muttered, having just enough time to muster up a shield spell before the surge sent him flying backward into a tree. He lay on the ground gasping for air. The boy trudged over to Bade, his human form had taken the brunt of the dragon’s injury. Bade positioned himself up against the tree, unable to stand on his shattered legs. He formed a large flame in his hand, warning the boy not to come any closer. The fire danced through his fingertips, sparking and crackling. The boy stopped for a moment, mesmerized by this ability. He too held out his hand. Fire cascaded down his fingertips, crackling and sparking in every direction. “What are you?” Bade muttered to himself, snapping his fingers, turning the flames in his hand into a symphony of multicolored mist. This was a simple spell Datcher had taught Bade as a child, used for hypnotizing mice. They had used it to scare Bade’s mother on occasion. There was no way this dragon child would know the spell. The boy snapped his fingers, imitating Bade, and the flames in his hand turned to a vibrant mist. He cast it at Bade, but the mist only dissipated around him. “Good trick,” Bade said, still trying to catch his slowly fleeting breath. At this point, the boy stood inches from Bade, peering at him; not saying a word.

“What’s your name son?” Bade asked. Still, the boy said nothing. There was a familiarity in his eyes that Bade couldn’t quite pinpoint. “I said, what’s your name son!” Bade grabbed the boy’s shoulder, startling him. He seized Bade’s neck, fire rushed from his arm into his fingertips choking Bade with blistering heat. Instinctively, Bade reached for his dagger, piercing the boy through the heart. The flames withered away as the boy collapsed into Bade. Bade shoved his body to the snow, taking a moment to catch his breath. His heart stopped when something caught his eye. There on the boy’s neck was a silver cross. Through the blood stains that dripped down the necklace, he could make out the initials, H.M engrained into the metal.

There, in the icy wilderness. The Dragon Prince sat alone, slowly dying, spending his last moments next to his son.