Dragon Stew (part 2)

Continuing our saga of Princess Jenny and introducing James the dashing knight.

One day, James, a very handsome, strong, and brave knight came to stay at the town below the dragon’s keep. James was not in the town long before he wondered why everyone there seemed so sad and why it was that there never seemed to be any sunshine in the sky. One step outside of the town and the sun would blind you with its brightness, but inside the village, the sky was dismal, dark and gray. He started to ask around and soon learned of the fate of their beloved princess and vowed he would rescue her and perhaps win her love. James set off to the castle, arriving shortly after midday. He was lucky as Windsor, having heard a very good story and having eaten a huge lunch of squirrel and possum stew, was napping away and happily dreaming about dinner – which we hope would not be barbecued knight.

James had heard about the unkind fates of the knights that had come before him. He thought it best to speak to the the princess first before becoming Windsor’s dinner. James was very smart and having read many a book of his own, guessed that the beautiful Princess Genevieve might be in the highest tower of the castle. He stood under the window and softly called her name.

“Princess. Princess”

But there was no answer.

“Princess Genevieve, Princess? Jenny?”

He asked again but there was still no answer. Thinking that he had to attract her attention somehow, he picked up some pebbles and threw them up at the open window.

“OW!” cried Jenny when one of the small rocks struck her in the head. She came to the window to see who had caused her an injury.

“Ah, there you are Princess,” said James. “I have come to rescue you from the horrible dragon’s clutches. How shall I do it? Shall I run at him with my sword? Shall I climb up your hair and rescue you? Shall I get him to prick his dragon paw on a spinning wheel? Or perhaps find a fairy to put him to sleep?”

“No, no, no!” cried Jenny and stomped her foot in impatience, “Like any of those would ever work anyway. Those are all the wrong stories! If you try to go at him with your sword, you will become a flambéed knight. My hair is not long enough for you to climb, and it would give me an awful headache anyway. He does not sew, and I don’t know of any fairies in this part of the world do you?”