Work Text:
Once there was a cursed Fortress, standing at the head of a dark valley. The Fortress was built by a circle of six Sorcerer-Smiths, and tended to by armies of slaves and bound creations. The Masters, as they called themselves, distrusted and hated each other, yet they pooled together their knowledge and power to fulfil their vile goals.
The Masters had spies in lands both near and far, and they began to report the emergence of a great Hero. This warrior had sworn to end all evil within the world, and had gathered around themselves a vast army, from many races and creeds. Already numerous tyrants and foul monsters had fallen under the Hero’s blade, and now They marched towards the Masters’ own land.
Upon hearing this, the Masters grew fearful, for while their magics were mighty and their Fortress strong, they were not invincible and knew death could always be close at hand. Although the Hero was but a mortal, it was not inconceivable that They best their defences and strike them down. So they sought a way to better protect themselves.
In the mountains near to the Masters’ Fortress, there lived an Elder Dragon, a great fire-breathing drake that had seen many ages of the world come and go. The Masters were fearful of it, but they had long devised plans to capture the creature for their own ends, and so they now put them in motion. As the Dragon lay sleeping one night, the Masters’ cast a spell of deep slumber on it from afar. Then their slaves drew thick chains, carved with magic runes, around the Dragon, binding its wings together and preventing its mouth from opening. To these chains the Masters attached six padlocks, forged from demon blood, that could only be opened by six keys split between the Masters.
Once the task was done, the Masters felt protected from the Dragon’s wrath, and woke it with bolts of lightning and painful curses. The Dragon thrashed but could not break free. The Masters drove the beast before them, cackling at its pain, all the way through the mountains until they reached their valley. There, they attached more chains to the ground, so that the Dragon couldn't escape. The Masters then returned to their Fortress, and barred the door.
Soon the army of the Hero arrived, and halted at the entrance to the dark valley. They could see the menacing Fortress, far above them; but they could also see the Dragon. Although it was chained, such beasts had defeated forces twice theirs in size, and there would still be the Fortress itself to besiege should they somehow manage to defeat the beast. Many plans of attack and schemes to bypass were discussed and discarded, but the Hero only sat and listened to it all. As night fell, and the army settled for rest, the Hero stood and cloaked themselves. They crept away alone, towards the Dragon and did not return for many hours. When They did, the Hero gathered Their companions and said; “Tomorrow I will fight the Dragon.”
Though they pleaded and begged, none could or would stop Them, and so come morning the Hero strode into the valley, clad in armour and with sword by Their side. The Dragon roused itself at Their approach, fearsome despite its bondage. Upon the ramparts of the Fortress the Masters stood and watched. The Hero came within twenty steps of the Dragon, and then stopped. The two stared at each other, unblinking, and all sound seemed to leave the world.
The Dragon struck first, clawing at the Hero, but They swiftly dodged. Again and again the Dragon attacked, but the Hero was always just quick enough to avoid its strikes. The Dragon began to roar in anger, the best it could with its mouth bound, and struck with greater fury. Yet the Hero continued to avoid it, Their sword still held by the side.
Slowly the Dragon’s blows began to throw up dust that blocked the view of those watching. The clouds grew thicker and thicker, until the valley was shrouded and all that could be seen was the twisting shadow of the Dragon. Suddenly the cries of the Dragon shifted; from anger to pain, and then almost fear. Under the alarmed gaze of the Masters, and the army’s mounting hope, the Dragon gave a mournful cry. Its shadow was seen to convulse and seize, before dropping to the ground.
By the time the cloud of dust had settled, the Hero was already halfway to the Fortress. They were untouched, but their sword was coated in fresh blood that steamed in the cold air. The Dragon was revealed to be curled into a ball, almost piteously. The Hero’s army cheered, and began to advance up the valley. The Masters were panicking and wailing, horrified that their apparently insurmountable defender had been so easily slain. Yet they fell silent as the Hero struck their Fortress’ door.
“Open this gate, or face the wrath of a Dragonslayer,” called up the Hero, and although the Masters still had their magics and warrior-slaves they felt so fearful they fell over themselves to obey. As the doors parted, the army streamed inside, and under the orders of the Hero began their task. The Masters were bound in many chains of their own foul making, while slaves were freed and led out of the dark, into the light. The army raided and ransacked the stores and vaults of the castle - although they avoided that which was cursed, or made from unkind sources - for both supplies and wealth.
But the Hero only took the six keys of the Masters. As the army left the castle, their captives bound in chains of their own makings, They returned to the Dragon’s corpse and began to undo the infernal locks. The watchers, ally and foe both, were confused by Their actions. What use was freedom to a dead beast? Did the Hero merely intend to honour the Dragon, or give it some semblance of peace in the there-after?
But as the last lock opened, the Dragon stirred. The Hero retreated as the red drake shifted, chains falling away as it uncurled itself. Revealed was skin free from a sword’s bite, aside from a single bloody cut along the flank. The Dragon rose to its full height, smoke pouring from its mouth, and it looked down on its formed captors as they trembled and shook.
“How could this be!”, one of the Masters shrieked. “You slew the beast!”
“I did not,” said the Hero, “and I knew I never would have had the skill to do so. Last night I crept up to them, and made with them a deal; in return for faking our fight, and their death, I would free them from your chains.”
And the Masters cried in terror, as the Dragon’s head dropped towards them. Three it plucked up with its sword-like teeth and devoured chains and all. The others were dragged away as the Hero’s army moved back down the valley. They watched as the Dragon crawled to the Fortress, and squeezed itself inside the gate, uncaring that its walls cracked. From inside came a great clamour, and red hot fire could be seen through the windows. The Fortress shook, and collapsed from within, but even as it did the Dragon crawled its way out, roaring its triumph. On great wings it took to the air, and flew back to its mountains. The Hero watched on, then turned and departed themselves.