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When Dragons and Men were still at war, there arose a mighty King who found the secret to forging Dragon’s gold. The King’s Dragon’s Gold armor and weapons helped him conquer many lands. And word spread far and wide. At the peak of his power, a fearsome Ground Dragon, a Wyrm, tunneled beyond the castle walls and stole the youngest Princess of the King.
The Wyrm offered to trade the Princess for the stolen treasure trove, but the King refused. For a long time, the King sent Champion after champion, and had his Royal Goldsmiths forge engines and devices to kill the Wyrm and free the Princess.
A Royal Goldsmith who had long admired the Princess, begged the King to let him save her. The King refused to send a low born smith. He demanded more arms and sent more champions. The Goldsmith toiled and plotted and planned as he worked, vowing to save the Princess or die.
When hope was all but gone, the Goldsmith left to the Dragon’s keep. He arrived at night and heard the weeping of the Princess and the soft breathing of the sleeping Wyrm. As the night passed, he prepared to save the Princess.
In the morning, the Wyrm awoke to the smell of smoke and the ringing of hammer falls. He emerged from the cavern and saw the smith at work and laughed. The Goldsmith continued working. The Wyrm watched for a time. The Goldsmith had no weapons, no shield and no armor. The Wyrm grew curious.
“What is this craft you are working at?” the Wyrm asked.
“A crown.” he answered.
“For who?” the Wyrm asked.
“A great lord.” he answered.
“A great crown, for a great lord.” the Wyrm laughed.
When the Goldsmith finished, the Wyrm appraised the crown and put it on his head.
“This is good. As a reward, your death will be painless.” the Wyrm said.
“And without honor? No!”
“Very well.” He unfurled his claws and raised them to strike.
“Strikes for strikes. First, I will strike thrice, then you will strike thrice. He who lives, wins.”
The Wyrm laughed and agreed.
The Goldsmith shot an arrow far above the Wyrm’s head. Dust sprinkled him. A second arrow flew high. The Wyrm looked up. A thick cloud fell into his eyes and mouth. The Great Wyrm choked and sputtered on Dragon’s golddust collected from forging the host of arms that had failed to kill the beast. The Goldsmith had tied bags of it over the mouth of the cavern for just this purpose.
The Wyrm swiped wildly and staggered forward. The Goldsmith struck the third time, piercing the Wyrm’s eye with a golden tipped arrow. The Wyrm was slain.
The Princess and Royal Goldsmith returned to the King with the Crown of Doom. With wisdom and courage, the Goldsmith had won the Princess’ heart. The King gave him his daughter’s hand, a title and a small island to rule for the mighty King.
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MJ Muñoz 