Inspired by the recent National Fairytale Telling Day on February 26th, I started a thread on Facebook to come up with a spontaneous tale. Told on the spot, and added to one contributor at a time. Here’s the result.
Written by one other Facebook contributor, and myself. I had hoped for more participation, but I’m glad someone helped. It’s not long, and each entry is separated with a ## and initials of who wrote the segment. Due to privacy, only initials are used for the person who wrote each segment.
I tried to use the first entry to lay out various story elements for people to grab on to. The last segment is to wrap up loose ends. A little rough, but fun.
The Shoemaker and the Dragons
Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom lived a princes, a king, and a humble shoemaker. The king wanted the best for his daughter, but had a bigger problem with Dragons that had invaded his kingdom. Though he was desperate, all his knights were away fighting the giants. What could he do to protect his kingdom?
##KH
“I have heard the humble shoemaker is also very wise,” the king said. “I shall ask him how to proceed against the dragon.”
##KW
The messenger left the king, and took word to the shoemaker that the king demanded his presence. When he arrived, and first admired the quality and style of shoes on the shelves.
Pointing out a particularly elegant pair of shoes, the messenger said, “The king would love to have such a fine pair of shoes as that.”
“You have a good eye for quality,” the shoemaker replied. “Those are special shoes indeed. If the king will come to my shop so I can fit them to his feet.”
Remembering his mission, the messenger announced, “Nonsense. The king demands your presence at once. Gather your tools, and come to the palace to measure the king. He must have those shoes today.”
“I will do as you say,” the shoemaker said, “These shoes are costly and magical. I hope the king will be able to pay the price for them”
With that, the shoemaker closed his shop and followed the messenger to the palace.
##KH
But not before placing the magic shoes, and his cobbler tools in a knapsack which he flung upon his back. Something about this cobbler, thought the messenger himself as he stepped high to take the cobbler to the kings palace high above the village. In all appearances he seemed to be an old man, but was he really? Everyone knows that appearances can be deceiving. But his retinue was cut short when near by a herd of fire breathing dragons was burning yet another forrest with their heated breath. We must hurry to the king before the dragons do more damage to our beautiful kingdom and with that, the two broke into a run.
##KW
Commotion had broken out at the palace as the messenger hurried the shoemaker to the king. As the shoemaker entered the king’s chamber he bowed in greeting, “Your humble shoemaker reporting as requested. How may I serve the king?”
The king said, “I hear you are wise, and know how to control the dragons that have been terrorizing the land.”
“I am just a humble shoemaker,” he said. “All I have is this pair of magic shoes. Perhaps they will bring the one who wears them the ability to defeat the dragons, and restore the kingdom. Your messenger summoned me to bring them to have them fitted for you.”
“Am I to wear these shoes to battle the dragon?” asked the king. “I have a kingdom to govern. I will offer up to half my kingdom, and the hand of my princess to the one who wears these shoes to defeat the dragon.”
No sooner was the proclamation made when a scream was heard. Racing to the window, the king and the shoemaker saw the form of a dragon, with the princess grasped in its talon.
##KH
This was an unexpected development. The shoemaker had planned to ask for the hand of the princess in exchange for the shoes. He would have to act fast to plan B… as soon as he formulated one.
Fortunately, besides being humble and wise, the shoemaker was also a quick thinker. He pulled the shoes from his knapsack, and slipped them on, and quick as a wink jumped from the window and soared after the dragon. Having no idea what would happen next.
##KW
Using the magic shoes, the shoemaker was able to follow the dragon as it flew over the mountain. He watched as it flew into a cave. as he approached the opening, he saw a little man.
“It’s you!” Exclaimed the shoemaker as he recognized the curious man. “You’re the one who sold me the leather to make the magic shoes.”
“And a fine pair you have made for yourself,” the odd man said. “I see you have been pursuing the dragon.”
“Yes,” the shoemaker said. “The princess has been carried away, and I must rescue her.”
“You will need more than the magic shoes to defeat the dragon,” the small man said. At that, a shining sword appeared in his hands. “You may take the sword, but you must return with the dragon heart stone.”
“What is that?” Asked the shoemaker. “How do I find it?
“First, slay the dragon and you will find it.” the little man answered. With that the shoemaker took the sword in hand, and raced to the dragon cave.
##KH
‘After all, I’m just a lowly shoemaker.’ Said the shoemaker to himself. ‘What do I know about heart stones?’
The shoemaker landed silently at the cave’s entrance, and crept stealthily into the cave. Evidently dragons have a keen sense of smell because before he knew what was happening the shoemaker was fighting for his life. As the dragon reared up to prepare a fiery breath, the shoemaker saw his chance and thrust the sword deep into the dragons chest at where the heart would be. The dragon collapsed all at once, and the ruby red heart spilled out on the cavern floor. As the heart cooled, it condensed and turned into a large ruby.
This must be the heart stone. Exclaimed he shoemaker, scooping it into his knapsack.
“Help! Help!” A voice echoed through the cave.
“O my gosh, I forgot all about the princess. I must find her at once!” The shoemaker exclaimed.
##KW
Finding the princess in the darkness, the shoemaker announced his presence to her, “Princess, I am the humble shoemaker, and your servant. I’ve been sent to rescue you.”
She took his hand and raced as quickly as they dared through the pitch blackness in the cavern. Then a larger dragon seemed to come out of nowhere before them, and with a bellow, the shoemaker and princes were flung back into the cavern. The last thing the shoemaker heard when his head hit a rock, and skidded up against the beast he just defeated was the clattering of the sword as it flew from his hand.
Roars from a circle of dragons filled the chamber, mixed with the sound of voices. “It’s the sword of the elf.” Another said, “Cease him, he must be punished.”
“Stop!” Screamed the princess. “Don’t harm him. He’s only a humble shoemaker.”
The silence in the cave could almost be felt. Then low growling, mixed with hushed voices. “She heard us.” Another said, “Only a chosen one can hear our true voices.” Still another said, “But he has the sword. How did he get the sword of the elf, if he isn’t one of them?”
“I promise you,” the princess said, “He is only a humble shoemaker from my village. I know him.”
“Ask him then,” one voice said, as the shoemaker began shaking the cob webs from inside his head.
“Ask me what?” He replied.
The dragons fell silent again. “There are two of them.” The low growls continued in their ears, while the voices continued being heard in side the heads of the princess and the shoemaker, “There has never been two chosen ones.”
Seeing her chance the princess spoke up. “Sir dragons. I am deeply sorry that one of your numbers has been slain, but why have you been burning down our beautiful forests? Why are you trying to harm our kingdom?”
“Princess,” the voice from the largest dragon said. “It’s the giants. The knights are losing their battle, and your kingdom is unprotected. We were only trying to keep the giants at bay.”
##KH
“Are you sure?” Asked the groggy shoemaker. “I could swear I saw you dragons breathing out fire on the forest.”
##KW
“Yes,” the large dragon replied. “We usually stay out of sight, but with your knights out of the land to fight the giants, we have had to guard the kingdom in the open. Spies and scouts for the giants have been infiltrating the forest, and it was up to us to keep them at bay.”
Another of the dragons growled, and as they circled around, their breaths of fire gave the dark cavern a glow. A voice was heard, “Now explain yourself. How did you come by the sword of the elves. And those shoes. Where did they come from?”
“I am a shoemaker. I made the shoes myself, and was going to the palace to fit them for the king.” Was the answer. “The hide was sold to me at a costly price by a strange little man who said it held magical properties.”
“Indeed it does.” Said a dragon, who could be seen nursing what was now a stump where a talon had once been. “Dragon hide would give the wearer the speed of a dragon, and shield him from the blows of nearly anything.”
“Anything but the sword of an elf,” the shoemaker added, suddenly realizing who… no… what that odd man was.
He continued, “I saw him again outside the cave entrance. The same man who sold me the hide. I didn’t know he was an elf. I didn’t know the dragons were guarding our kingdom, I only came to rescue the princes.”
“You killed one of us,” snarled a dragon.
“Enough!” Commanded the large one. “The young one was told to stay clear of the palace. He rebelled against orders to guard the forest. It is unfortunate, but through our loss, we have discovered not just one, but two of the chosen.”
“What does that mean?” Asked the princess. “Chosen for what?”
“Only special humans have the ability to hear our true voice,” the great dragon said. “To all others all they hear is our growls and roars.”
Another of the dragons added, “As a team, the chosen and a dragon fly into battle, and are invincible against giants, and all other intruders to the realm.”
“But I don’t have magic shoes, or a weapon,” said the princes.
“I can make you shoes,” the cobbler said. “I used the rest of the hide the elf sold me, to make this knapsack. My tools are inside. I can make you some slippers right now.
“Do you have the heart stone?” The great dragon asked.
“Yes,” the shoemaker said, “Its here in my sack as well.”
“Gard it, and keep it near,” the great dragon said. “It has healing properties to give the one who holds it the strength and courage of a dragon. When you become wounded, or injured, it has healing properties.”
The shoemaker had already begun busily cutting the hide from his knapsack, and sizing a pair of magic slippers for the princes, when an alarm was sounded.
“The knights are being driven back!” A sentry dragon announced as he rushed into the cave. “The giants are coming!”
The final stitches were in place as the slippers were slipped onto the feet of the princess. The shoemaker ran to pick up the elf sword.
“Quick, get on my back,” said one of the dragons. And the princes climbed up to sit behind his great head.
“Shoemaker! Climb on!” Commanded the one with the missing talon. “Time to battle some giants.
Dragons took to the skies, fiery breath blasting, and working as a team the princess the shoemaker, and their dragons almost single handedly drove the giants back to their land, with their numbers heavily diminished.
Rallying around the band of the knights, the princess used the heart stone to heal and strengthen the battle weary survivors. The dragons returned to their stealthy vigilance in the forest, as the shoemaker made his way back to the king with the princess to claim the price that was promised him.
The chosen ones were wed, and using their inner voice could call on the dragons any time danger loomed. Together, as a team, and beast lived for many years to come… happily there after.
##KH
See you again next year. We’ll have to do this again, and hopefully with more participants.