Knights and Dragons

In a forest riddled with the rumors of death and destruction, two initiates of a Guild make their way towards the objective that may prove their worth. All they were given was a single key and told to venture into the forest in search of nothing in particular. Throughout the forest, the heavy foot falls of a man heavy laden with with full plate armor could be heard. The constant clanking and ringing of the man’s armor was sure to give away any sense of stealth they were hoping to achieve. Alongside the marauding knight, strode another man clothed lightly with a quiver strapped to his back and a bow slung around his shoulder. The Archer hated the prospect of blindly walking into a situation without prior knowledge as to what they were doing in the first place. The Knight, on the other hand, didn’t mind running headfirst into a situation. He felt his protection was in cold, hard steel. The Archer was the first speak of his discomfort, “I don’t like the feeling of not knowing where I’m going or what I’m doing.”
         The Knight turned back toward the Archer and lifted his visor, “Are you afraid of something that your little bow can not handle?”
         Sensing the Knight’s intended mockery, “No, I just do not fancy the idea of being cast out into the wilderness without a single clue of what we are supposed to be doing.” He looked up at the Knight and added, “Besides what to do I have to worry about when I have brawny buffoon like yourself to protect me.”
         The Knight’s face hardened and he slammed his visor shut. Keeping his bearing forward the Knight said, “I never asked to prove my worth with the likes of you.”
         “Nor I you,” the Archer said, “If it were up to me you would not have been chosen for an initiate in the first place.”
         The Knight stopped, flipped his visor open, and turn to face the smaller man. He came close and towered over the Archer. He was not a handsome man in any way but what he lacked in looks he made up for in swordplay. The Knight produced a frown and said, “I have worked all my life to be where I am now and I will not have it squandered by a thief like yourself. I am a Knight of Arnsdale and I do not have time to be slowed down by an insolent fool such as you. I would rather-” He would have continued but he noticed the Archer’s gaze was not on him but seemed to be transfixed on some object off in the distance. The Knight turned in the direction of the Archer’s gaze only to have the Archer spring past him.
         The Knight stood dumbfounded, “What are you-”
         “I think I’ve found what we are looking for!” the Archer shouted over his back.
         Seeing that an argument would be pointless, the Knight bounded after him. The Knight caught up only to see the Archer kneeling before an ornate chest. It was a masterful piece of work with silver trim and an emblem of a roaring dragon above its lock.
         “The key!” the Archer proclaimed as he started to fumble around in one of the pouches on his belt. He found it and raised it high to be sure the Knight could see it. The Archer stuck the key in it’s place and turned it. The Knight’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword as the chest hissed and opened. Inside was something very strange. The Archer grabbed the object and stood. “It’s just an egg,” the Knight said to his companion.
         “This is no ordinary egg,” the Archer said, “this egg belongs to a rare and ancient beast. One that few men see and fewer still live to tell the tale.”
         The Archer closed his eyes and smelled the air.
         “Soot,” he said, “and ash. Dragon. We must leave. NOW.”
         He put the egg in one of his larger pouches, started off in the direction they had come, and motioned for the Knight to follow. They barely made it a few steps when a thunderous sound was heard close by. Then another. And another. And another. They stopped. The thunderous noise had stopped. The stillness could be felt. Both men stood still. Silent.
         The silence was broken when an enormous beast with red scaled, wings, and two long curving horns burst from the tree line. The dragon was ten times a man’s height and three times that was it’s length from snout to tail tip.
         “RUN!” the Archer yelled.
         The Knight did not hesitate.
         Both men ran towards the opposite tree line with the massive creature in tow. Glancing back, the Archer could see the Knight falling behind, his armor weighing him down. Before long the dragon would be on him. Cursing to himself, he turned, notched, drew, and loosed an arrow. It flew and found it’s mark on the beast’s left shoulder causing it to reel in that direction. Seeing the creature’s weakness, the Knight shut his visor, grabbed his shield, and unsheathed his blade. He charged and sliced at the dragon’s other leg. The dragon recovered swung its claw at the Knight. The Knight dodged and sliced. He now figured the dragon would be short a few talons. The beast reeled in pain and roared. The Knight readied himself for the next attack but was caught off guard by the orange glow that was forming in the dragons throat. Realizing what was to follow, the Knight dropped to one knee and raised his tower shield so that it would cover his armored bulk. An instant later he felt the searing flames that danced by him as his shield held back the flame. The flame scorched the grass around him and licked the side of his helm. He could feel the flame getting more intense and he could tell that the dragon was getting closer. Just when the Knight could no longer bear it, the heat was gone. Instead he heard a roar of pain. He looked passed his shield and saw an anguished dragon stumbling and struggling with an arrow in its eye. The Knight was relieved to see a swift form moving towards the beast.
         The Archer slung his bow and drew his dual broadswords. He reached the dragon’s legs and began slicing, dodging, hacking, weaving, and cutting. Quick and deadly. That was the way of the Archer. He was buying time for the Knight to recover and to potentially join him. His thought was broken when the dragon suddenly took flight. Reacting, the Archer grabbed the beast’s talon and hoisted himself onto its back. He moved along it’s spine until he reached the wings and went to work. With one swift move, he separated the wing from the dragon. The excitement was short-lived as the Archer soon realized that they both were falling. The dragon hit the ground and slid. The Archer being much lighter fell on the dragon and rolled only to hit hard against a a tree. He tried to rise but unconsciousness took him.
         Trying to comprehend the spectacle that he just witnessed, the Knight was sprinting to the aid of his companion. The dragon was weak but still alive. It recovered and moved to finish the Archer. It’s throat began to glow once more but before it could launch it’s flame, an unexpected shield came crashing into the dragon’s head. The flame flew and struck a nearby tree. The Knight slashed down, effectively blinding the dragon. The Knight followed with an up stroke with his blade and drove the steel up and under its jaw. The dragon reared and ripped the hilt from the Knights hand. It roared once more, fell, and died.
         The Knight dropped his shield and rushed to his companion. The Archer was leaning against the tree trunk.
         “Are you alright?,” the Knight asked.
         “Yes, I’m as dandy as a summer lily,” the Archer replied sarcastically.
         The Knight smiled and said, “Well fought . . . brother.” He stepped closer and offered the Archer his hand.