A Royal Couple

Duke Desmond of Ditchburn was madly in love with Princess Penelope, and annoyingly haunted the castle day and night, making a nuisance of himself, forever intruding on her privacy. Alas, his love was not returned as Penelope was quite happy with her own company and walking alone in the meadow picking a myriad of fresh flowers to grace her room.

One day as she was walking downhill towards a babbling brook, contentedly munching on a biscuit, welcoming the warmth of a Summer afternoon, she found herself face to face with a dragon.

“Oh my” she exclaimed, “I hope you bear me no ill will and can be my companion rather than consume me with your dragons breath”.

The dragon found this comment rather distressing and weepingly replied ” Why must people always stereotype, why are your first comments a slight against my species, I prefer to call it my sacred flame, dragons breath is such a crass statement to make to a dragon you have just met”.

Princess Penelope was immediately contrite and passed the dragon a handkerchief to wipe away his tears.

“ I’m so dreadfully sorry to have offended you dear dragon let’s be friends, I know we got off on the wrong foot just now but I vow to make it up to you somehow”.

The dragon accepted her apology and allowing the Princess to climb on his back he flapped his wings, took off and soared through the sky towards the castle.

Duke Desmond of Ditchburn was standing on the castles rampart when he spied the dragon flying out of the sun straight towards him. He went as white as a sheet and screaming for all his worth he ran for his life tripping over his curved sword, righting himself, jumping on his horse and galloping off to Ditchburn, never to be seen again.

Princess Penelope sighed contentedly she was rid of an unwelcome suitor and had gained a loyal companion. What a wonderful day it had turned out to be.