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Once upon a time, there was a kingdom known as Agustria. It consisted of multiple dutchies, including the southern dutchy of Nordion, where the gallant Sir Eldigan and beautiful Lady Lachesis lived. Eldigan was next in line to inherit the dutchy, while Lachesis was relegated to marrying a nobleman she knew not. This disgusted her. So many noble men were boors and pigs. She wanted a true knight; someone courageous and brave. But marrying for love was no easy feat. She had resigned herself to this long ago.
It happened that one day, a fearsome dragon attacked the Agustrian capital. The newly-crowned King Chagall found himself face to face with the beast.
“Bring me the fairest maiden in your kingdom, else I burn it to the ground,” said the dragon sneered.
King Chagall hastily agreed and rushed back into his chambers. Agustria had the finest women in all of Jugdral; how was he to choose one? What if the dragon did not find his offering satisfactory? Either way, he knew he would draw the ire of that loathsome Sir Eldigan for such a horrific act.
Bah, who cared for him! Such a horrific, self-righteous wimp. What moron gave all their wealth away, or kept suitors away from their sister?
Just then, a malicious thought popped into Chagall’s head. He wrote to Sir Elliot, who had been trying to court Lady Lachesis for years. The lust for revenge stirred in his heart.
Two nights hence, I will meet you halfway to Nordion with my men. We will storm the castle and kidnap Sir Eldigan and Lady Lachesis. If Lady Lachesis objects to your proposal, then we shall sacrifice her to the great dragon.
And so, two nights on, Sir Elliot and King Chagall lead their men into Nordion. They broke down the gates and ambushed the unsuspecting soldiers inside. Eldigan awoke from his slumber and penned a quick note to his two closest friends. He gave it to a messenger, who narrowly escaped the fray.
Sir Eldigan, Lady Lachesis, and all the Cross Knights were bound and brought to the courtyard. The soldiers poked at them as they passed by.
“And so the mighty Lionheart has fallen,” said Chagall. “And his precious sister, sentenced to death by a fearsome beast. Unless…”
Sir Elliot hooked his finger under Lachesis’s chin. “Tell me, o fair maiden, will you take my hand in marriage?”
Lachesis spit upon his boots.
Chagall raised a fist into the air. “To the dragon it is!”
The men cheered as the prisoners were taken away.
Just a day later, Sir Eldigan’s two friends and their platoons arrived at Nordion Castle. Sir Sigurd of Grannvale just happened to be stationed nearby. Sir Quan of Leonster was visiting him alongside his wife, who happened to be Sir Sigurd’s sister. It was fortunate they were so close.
Sir Eldigan’s wife, Lady Grahnye, emerged from the castle cellar alongside her infant son.
“They took them to Agusty,” she sobbed. “Please, you must rescue them. Lady Lachesis is to be sacrificed to a great dragon!”
The two platoons raced off without any hesitation.
Now, it just happened that Sir Quan had a squire under his charge named Finn. Despite being the youngest of the group, Finn was one of the strongest fighters they had. He was also fast upon his horse. As Lachesis’s sacrifice grew ever closer, Quan tasked Finn with saving her. He branched off from the main group and rushed up the mountainside where the King and his entourage waited.
Lady Lachesis was tied to a stake near a steep cliff. Sir Finn rushed to her side, the soldiers gawking as he passed. Some raised their weapons, but Chagall laughed.
“You fools!” Yelled Chagall. “A single soldier cannot take on a dragon! Once it gets here, that man is dead!”
Just as he said that, the dragon soared up from the canyon and perched upon the cliff’s edge. It bared its teeth and spread its wings.
Sir Finn froze in fear. How could he defeat such a monstrous creature? Could he fend for himself until the others arrived?
“Untie me and hand me your sword!” Said Lady Lachesis. “I will help you fight.”
At that, the royal entourage began to laugh even more. But Sir Finn took his lance and cut Lady Lachesis’s bindings. She slipped down and grabbed Sir Finn’s sword.
“Time to die, foul beast!”
Sir Finn and Lady Lachesis charged the dragon. They stabbed and jabbed and swirled their weapons. The dragon slashed back at them with sharp claws and bit at them with jagged teeth. Lady Lachesis maneuvered underneath its belly and thrusted Finn’s sword into its gut. It reared up onto its back legs. Finn jabbed his lance into its foot, and it stumbled backwards into the ravine, plummeting to its death.
King Chagall and his men were so frightened at this sight that they turned tail and fled.
“Thank you, good sir,” said Lachesis. “What is your name?”
Sir Finn gave her his name, and explained he worked under Sir Quan.
“Well, Sir Quan is a lucky man to have you,” Lachesis said. “You risked your life for a complete stranger. You are more noble than any king!”
They descended the mountain together, getting to know each other along the way. At the base they found King Chagall and his men rounded up by Sirs Sigurd and Quan. Sir Eldigan sat proud upon his horse.
“Brother!” Lady Lachesis ran to embrace her brother. “You are alive! You must meet the brave knight who saved me.”
Sir Eldigan shook Sir Finn’s hand. “Thank you for saving my beloved sister. Quan has trained you well.”
“Brother, I think I have made up my mind.” Lachesis turned to Finn. “Sir Finn, will you accept my offer of courtship?”
Sir Finn was surprised by this notion, but accepted nonetheless. The two eventually married and lived happily ever after.