Part 3:
And so there we all stood, with a most cautious eye,
The dragon Joacquil, plus Hardy and I,
The king was a-coming, to rule and to judge,
And with minimal odds that his anger might budge.
As news spread came others, all stations and walks,
Large crowds did form fast, looking eager to gawk,
Out next came a chair, plush and purple in tone,
Fine-stitched and upholstered, his spectacle throne.
Then at last he did show, the great head of our lands,
Queen Basilica close, his crown in her hands,
The king was much older, ’twas not his first marriage,
We guessed he chose her for the curve of her carriage.
Behind strode their children, of whom I’ll allude,
Daughters a-thrice did comprise their full brood,
Now with each Royal there, we began the proceeding,
The king had but cast me a single glance fleeting.
He was still fairly virile, despite advanced age,
Not quite a full fool, yet hardly a sage,
Deep eyes of dark blue, and what else of this fellow?
His vanity made him dye gray hair soft yellow.
He fixed a gaze on me and talk did commence,
‘Sir Winthrop, pray tell, what do you bring hence?
I beckoned an egg that might sit on my shelf,
I beckoned an egg, you bring dragon itself?’
The dragon Joacquil, plus Hardy and I,
The king was a-coming, to rule and to judge,
And with minimal odds that his anger might budge.
As news spread came others, all stations and walks,
Large crowds did form fast, looking eager to gawk,
Out next came a chair, plush and purple in tone,
Fine-stitched and upholstered, his spectacle throne.
Then at last he did show, the great head of our lands,
Queen Basilica close, his crown in her hands,
The king was much older, ’twas not his first marriage,
We guessed he chose her for the curve of her carriage.
Behind strode their children, of whom I’ll allude,
Daughters a-thrice did comprise their full brood,
Now with each Royal there, we began the proceeding,
The king had but cast me a single glance fleeting.
He was still fairly virile, despite advanced age,
Not quite a full fool, yet hardly a sage,
Deep eyes of dark blue, and what else of this fellow?
His vanity made him dye gray hair soft yellow.
He fixed a gaze on me and talk did commence,
‘Sir Winthrop, pray tell, what do you bring hence?
I beckoned an egg that might sit on my shelf,
I beckoned an egg, you bring dragon itself?’
‘Before I explain, certain things must be known,
I renounce mine title, and all oaths to the throne,
I stand here as Winthrop, with no posting stronger,
For all that’s transpired I can serve you no longer.’
The crowd gave a gasp, the king’s mood it did fester,
‘Then what shall you be, our brainless court jester?
The duty you promised, the pledges you spoke,
The oaths you have sworn are not yours to revoke.’
His anger pushed upward, as if wind to a kite,
He demanded again, ‘Explain yourself, knight,’
I said, ‘Sire, the eggs are not mine now to give,
And shall never be yours, despite how short I live.’
‘I’ve still only questions, it seems not quite clear,
Why recant your title, why bring this beast here?
Questions cause torment, as do lies and fibs,
Questions can bring a sharp spear ’tween the ribs.’
We stared at each other, the threat so beguiling,
It seemed rather clear we’d have no reconciling,
My blood runs too hot, my tongue all wild cat,
No wonder I fail at the role diplomat.
I renounce mine title, and all oaths to the throne,
I stand here as Winthrop, with no posting stronger,
For all that’s transpired I can serve you no longer.’
The crowd gave a gasp, the king’s mood it did fester,
‘Then what shall you be, our brainless court jester?
The duty you promised, the pledges you spoke,
The oaths you have sworn are not yours to revoke.’
His anger pushed upward, as if wind to a kite,
He demanded again, ‘Explain yourself, knight,’
I said, ‘Sire, the eggs are not mine now to give,
And shall never be yours, despite how short I live.’
‘I’ve still only questions, it seems not quite clear,
Why recant your title, why bring this beast here?
Questions cause torment, as do lies and fibs,
Questions can bring a sharp spear ’tween the ribs.’
We stared at each other, the threat so beguiling,
It seemed rather clear we’d have no reconciling,
My blood runs too hot, my tongue all wild cat,
No wonder I fail at the role diplomat.
The words I had hoped forth were still yet to emerge,
I searched and I pondered, now each seemed absurd,
Without backing down, I sought his appeasement,
Before I could speak, a new voice on the breeze went.
‘Good sir,’ called a girl, most warm and polite,
‘I’d question your dragon, if you think that I might,’
‘Child, no,’ cried the king to his first oldest heir,
‘Do not speak with dragons, just tricks do they share!’
‘Very well, kind father, but from you might I beg,
Did you true send this knight to go steal you an egg?’
The king did not bellow, not as I’d expect,
He exhaled and smiled and spoke quite correct.
‘Sarabella, my dear, we’ll talk in our quarters,
But yes, that is true, I did give such orders,’
‘Oh father, dear father, to steal her own child?
You of all know how much that is reviled.’
‘You’ve gone quite too far,’ the king said now flatly,
‘As you will,’ she replied, neither angry nor sadly,
Her poise was expected, she might thus be queen,
But on this day a girl of twelve or thirteen.
Perhaps her potential, or respectful demeanor,
Gave the king some due cause to reflect on the scene there,
‘Curiosity, daughter, is fine trait for your station,
I’ll grant you one chance to help quench fascination.’
She curtseyed politely and spoke next with wonder,
‘Madame Dragon, please tell, why help with this blunder?
You’ve said nary a peep, you stand almost pleasant,
Why assist this good sir, who now aims to be peasant?’
I searched and I pondered, now each seemed absurd,
Without backing down, I sought his appeasement,
Before I could speak, a new voice on the breeze went.
‘Good sir,’ called a girl, most warm and polite,
‘I’d question your dragon, if you think that I might,’
‘Child, no,’ cried the king to his first oldest heir,
‘Do not speak with dragons, just tricks do they share!’
‘Very well, kind father, but from you might I beg,
Did you true send this knight to go steal you an egg?’
The king did not bellow, not as I’d expect,
He exhaled and smiled and spoke quite correct.
‘Sarabella, my dear, we’ll talk in our quarters,
But yes, that is true, I did give such orders,’
‘Oh father, dear father, to steal her own child?
You of all know how much that is reviled.’
‘You’ve gone quite too far,’ the king said now flatly,
‘As you will,’ she replied, neither angry nor sadly,
Her poise was expected, she might thus be queen,
But on this day a girl of twelve or thirteen.
Perhaps her potential, or respectful demeanor,
Gave the king some due cause to reflect on the scene there,
‘Curiosity, daughter, is fine trait for your station,
I’ll grant you one chance to help quench fascination.’
She curtseyed politely and spoke next with wonder,
‘Madame Dragon, please tell, why help with this blunder?
You’ve said nary a peep, you stand almost pleasant,
Why assist this good sir, who now aims to be peasant?’
Joacquil did bow, and addressed her as ‘Lady,
I offer good day, and much peace do I bade thee,
This affair does confound me, puts doubts in my mind,
But Winthrop shows virtue unknown in your kind.
I come not to quarrel, but seek mutual ways,
To safeguard my eggs in all far future days,
Furthermore, I’ve come ’round, with strong resolution,
To spare this fine knight from the king’s retribution.’
The king stiffened quick, ‘A threat do you bring?’
‘With deference,’ she said, ‘Just a hope, oh good king,’
‘And now thus you come here, so talks we might enter?
As if I could smile on a knight turned dissenter?’
He continued to scold, as if shaming the lawless,
‘The decree of a king is decisive and flawless!
The will of a king is all times rightly valid,’
‘Even death,’ I did ask, ‘for the spill of a salad?’
With that he did soften, to our great surprise,
And it almost did seem he’d perhaps sympathize,
‘As to that decision, much drink might have blurred,
Such good accurate judgment got lost or obscured.’
I stood shocked to hear Rodrick admit his own error,
Yet the action just seemed then to fill him with terror,
‘But I am still king, I rule all dominion,
Those eggs shall be mine, I care not your opinion!
I’ll grant Winthrop mercy, since he’s aptly served,
But that dragon? Forsooth! Shall not be endured,
She came here most wrongly, a-flaunting her presence,
Thus she shall be punished, bled down to her essence.’
He signaled the troops with a wave of a finger,
And given their scowls it seemed best not to linger,
But encircled we were, without walkway or ledge,
Hundreds of swords aimed now at her neck’s edge.
I ripped mine blade free and it flashed overhead,
‘Gardyloo!’ I did cry, mine last word to be said,
Though doomed full to suffer, I blamed not fate’s wanion,
Regrets came just one: I had failed mine companion.
I offer good day, and much peace do I bade thee,
This affair does confound me, puts doubts in my mind,
But Winthrop shows virtue unknown in your kind.
I come not to quarrel, but seek mutual ways,
To safeguard my eggs in all far future days,
Furthermore, I’ve come ’round, with strong resolution,
To spare this fine knight from the king’s retribution.’
The king stiffened quick, ‘A threat do you bring?’
‘With deference,’ she said, ‘Just a hope, oh good king,’
‘And now thus you come here, so talks we might enter?
As if I could smile on a knight turned dissenter?’
He continued to scold, as if shaming the lawless,
‘The decree of a king is decisive and flawless!
The will of a king is all times rightly valid,’
‘Even death,’ I did ask, ‘for the spill of a salad?’
With that he did soften, to our great surprise,
And it almost did seem he’d perhaps sympathize,
‘As to that decision, much drink might have blurred,
Such good accurate judgment got lost or obscured.’
I stood shocked to hear Rodrick admit his own error,
Yet the action just seemed then to fill him with terror,
‘But I am still king, I rule all dominion,
Those eggs shall be mine, I care not your opinion!
I’ll grant Winthrop mercy, since he’s aptly served,
But that dragon? Forsooth! Shall not be endured,
She came here most wrongly, a-flaunting her presence,
Thus she shall be punished, bled down to her essence.’
He signaled the troops with a wave of a finger,
And given their scowls it seemed best not to linger,
But encircled we were, without walkway or ledge,
Hundreds of swords aimed now at her neck’s edge.
I ripped mine blade free and it flashed overhead,
‘Gardyloo!’ I did cry, mine last word to be said,
Though doomed full to suffer, I blamed not fate’s wanion,
Regrets came just one: I had failed mine companion.
But just then dear Hardy, if forgotten by some,
Did draw his bow hard and stood no longer mum,
‘I’m with you,’ he whispered, and we moved back to back,
Though it seemed we’d still lose in the pending attack.
Joacquil said, ‘Truly, they don’t seem to fear us,
You two are quite sweet, my brave daring heroes,
I’d council you both, jump fast on my hide,
Away from this scene I will gladly now ride.’
‘You’ll never break through, I’ll not see you wrecked,
Let us two hold firm,’ mine voice did object,
‘I’ll be wounded,’ she answered, ‘no doubt I’ll be pained,
But better than see the dirt with your blood stained.’
We bickered a bit, over who’d start or run,
As if both of us sought to attain martyrdom,
The king ordered soldiers at once to proceed,
When a break in their ranks caused us all to take heed.
Although few could slip through such a rigid formation,
A king’s daughter – ho-ho! – caused undo hesitation,
No soul dared to grab the young girl on the sprint,
For fear a rough hand could cause bruise, scratch or splint.
And she ran through the troops, her path unabated,
When reaching our spot, she then hesitated,
‘Sarabella, get back here, you’re in trouble deeply!’
Ignoring her father, she glanced at us meekly.
Though saying no words, she stood at attention,
‘Young princess, you’re here,’ Joacquil did mention,
‘Tell me child why, to us did you wade?’
‘Fine dragon,’ she stammered, ‘might I be of aid?’
The king burned with hate, the queen’s brow now stood knit,
A tough situation grew more delicate,
Already with dragon to shepherd to safety,
I now had to think of this young royal lady.
Would she prove boon? I had no hints yes,
Rogue knight and a dragon, now with a princess?
I steadied mine breath, tried to quiet mine frights,
Oh mothers, perhaps not let your babies be knights.”
Did draw his bow hard and stood no longer mum,
‘I’m with you,’ he whispered, and we moved back to back,
Though it seemed we’d still lose in the pending attack.
Joacquil said, ‘Truly, they don’t seem to fear us,
You two are quite sweet, my brave daring heroes,
I’d council you both, jump fast on my hide,
Away from this scene I will gladly now ride.’
‘You’ll never break through, I’ll not see you wrecked,
Let us two hold firm,’ mine voice did object,
‘I’ll be wounded,’ she answered, ‘no doubt I’ll be pained,
But better than see the dirt with your blood stained.’
We bickered a bit, over who’d start or run,
As if both of us sought to attain martyrdom,
The king ordered soldiers at once to proceed,
When a break in their ranks caused us all to take heed.
Although few could slip through such a rigid formation,
A king’s daughter – ho-ho! – caused undo hesitation,
No soul dared to grab the young girl on the sprint,
For fear a rough hand could cause bruise, scratch or splint.
And she ran through the troops, her path unabated,
When reaching our spot, she then hesitated,
‘Sarabella, get back here, you’re in trouble deeply!’
Ignoring her father, she glanced at us meekly.
Though saying no words, she stood at attention,
‘Young princess, you’re here,’ Joacquil did mention,
‘Tell me child why, to us did you wade?’
‘Fine dragon,’ she stammered, ‘might I be of aid?’
The king burned with hate, the queen’s brow now stood knit,
A tough situation grew more delicate,
Already with dragon to shepherd to safety,
I now had to think of this young royal lady.
Would she prove boon? I had no hints yes,
Rogue knight and a dragon, now with a princess?
I steadied mine breath, tried to quiet mine frights,
Oh mothers, perhaps not let your babies be knights.”