A Village Tribute

[Virgininneed]

Gwen had long gold hair and bright green eyes. She was short and thin but had an hourglass figure. She wore a green dress and was only eighteen years old.

Every year the king's men came for a tribute, ten young men and ten young women were selected to be brought to the capitol for one purpose. To feed a dragon the king kept as a weapon for times of war. In return, the dragon demanded humans for food. Tributes were sent every year from all around the kingdom. The dragon selected the ones he wanted to eat and the rest became servants to him.

It was useful during war, because all of their enemies feared the dragon. But the collection of the tributes left the villages in fear. This was the first year Gwen was old enough to be selected as tribute. She lived alone, her family having died a few years ago from the plague.

Soldiers went from house to house finding whoever they deemed suitable. She heard a knock on the door and slowly opened it, her hand shaking. Gwen looked up at the soldier nervously, and he nodded. Her hands were tied and she was led to the center of the village where nineteen others waited. The female tributes were put on horses before soldiers climbed behind them, while the males walked. The soldier behind her spent the ride squeezing her breasts and touching her.

But any tributes who argued with a soldier were treated badly no matter the circumstances, so she dared not fight back. Luckily, the village was near Roshank, the capitol, and the ride took less than a day She was helped off of the horse and led with the other tributes to see theking.

Many of the tributes were crying, but she stood tall, completely silent. As he did every year, the king entered throne room and began to give a speechh on why tributes were necessary. "Future of the kingdom... all heroes... brave souls... a necessary loss..." She barely listened as the king spoke and stared past him.

Then she saw him. The prince, who in her opinion should also experience the same fate as others his age, was looking right at her. Their eyes met and it was difficult to look away. He could have been six to ten years older than her. The looked at each other until the speech ended and she was led away.

Soldiers led the hundreds of tributes up the mountain where the dragon resided. Some were weeping, others praying. They finally reached the cave at the top. A large, golden dragon came out and looked at them. Immediately he went to five huddled together and swallowed them whole. Her eyes widened and she felt the urge to run.

Then the dragon began to make his slection. His voice boomed and the majority were led into cages to be devoured later. She waited at the very end of the line and only looked up when the dragon came to her. She glared at it defiantly as it told the soldiers to take the new slaves to their quarters. Then it looked back to her. She stepped back quickly, accidentally falling over the edge. But the dragon caught her and carried her inside. She looked back and the soldiers were leaving. She stared ip at her new master as it took her farther, into a tunnel going deep into the mountain.

They reached a large cage, but it had a bed with silk sheets, and wine and many other things. It was no servants room. The dragon tossed her inside, used a spell to lock the door, and left her there. As he made his way back to the tunnel, she ran to the bars of the cage. "Wait! What do you want? Let me out!"

 

[Virgininneed]

still open to one guy

 

[Grntmb]

Laird was what most people would think of as a prince, and he knew it. He carried himself with pride, but upon seeing that girl the dragon took away his heart of stone began to crack ever so slightly. His mother had told him that he would feel it in his heart when the lady that he would share the rest of his life was found. How could he let the dragon take her away? He didn't have much time after seeing her, but he had to think up an idea, and quick, as he had no idea when the dragon may end her life.

Then he remembered an old myth, that his father's sorceror had told. He should go to him, and find out. He went, and he asked, and the only answer he was give was the word "love". Love? What has that got to do with getting her out? That was just silly nonsense and he demanded more of an answer, but all the sorceror would say was love.

This was uselesss, he thought. He got some tools and a magic cloak that masked his scent and sight from all dragons. He kept going further and futher into the dragon's cavern, but so far no girl of his heart. Finally he saw this cage, but it looked nothing like a jail with all it's finery! "I've come to resuce you! Don't say a word or the dragon will hear you." He kept at it with all the tools he had, but nothing budged. He had to talk with girl so he motioned for her to come over to the edge so he could whisper in her ear. She came over, and as he was putting his mouth to her ear his lips brushed her hand and he heard a click. It was the lock of the cage! Without a moments notice he motioned for her to get under the cloak with them. Together they took the long journy back out of the cavern and finally out of sight as well. Taking the cloak off of both of them he expected that the girl would be all smiles, but what was this look on her face?

 

[Virgininneed]

Gwen watched as the dragon left without a word, leaving her alone in the dark cave. There were no lights and she could barely see a thing. She sat in a corner of the cage with her arms wrapped around her legs. Finally alone, she allowed herself to cry. Her future was so unclear and it was possible she would die at any moment. She was scared, but around others she refused to show it. She went to the bed and wrapped herself in a blanket before resting her head on the pillows and falling asleep.

Sshe woke up hearing a voice from outside the cage. "I've come to resuce you! Don't say a word or the dragon will hear you." Gwen sat up and watched the man trying to break the lock. She couldn't see his face in the dark, but was relieved. She saw him motion for her to come closer, so she approached him, shivering. Suddenly she heard a click and she was free!

She got under the cloak and went with him out of the dragon's cave. When they reached safety she looked up as he removed the cloak. Her eyes widened as she saw the face of her rescuer. Shock, fear, and anger raced through her. The royal family was a reminder of the oppression peasants felt. While some starved he would be eating a nice meal with wine.

"What do you want?" she said looking up at him. He may have saved her but she didnt trust him at all.

 

[Grntmb]

Laird could instantly see the mistrust of him in her eyes. What was he to do? After all he surely just saved her from death, and all she could do was react as if threatened by him! How was he to approach this woman who was more than likely to become his wife without making her even more mad? Well, the honest approach always seemed to work the best in the past. That is what he was going to do.

"I want nothing but your company dear lady. I saw you for the first time when the dragon was picking everone, and when our faces saw each other for an instant at the same time I knew by the way my heart beated that you and I were destined to become husband and wife as it had been told to me by a wise man. Would you like me to take you to the castle so that you can recover a bit after this ordeal?"

 

[Virgininneed]

"I want nothing but your company dear lady. I saw you for the first time when the dragon was picking everone, and when our faces saw each other for an instant at the same time I knew by the way my heart beated that you and I were destined to become husband and wife as it had been told to me by a wise man. Would you like me to take you to the castle so that you can recover a bit after this ordeal?"

"I don't even know you!" she said shocked. She wasn't sure how to respond, and stepped away from him. She stared at him wondering if he was joking, but he looked serious. "Why should I trust you? You're family are letting all of these people die. I saw people from my village eaten by that monster today! What do you know about me? Have you gone outside the palace to see what life is like? I can't marry you. i'm sorry, but I won't save myself and let the others die. I won't leave unless everyone else goes too." She looked up at him waiting for his answer.

 

[Grntmb]

"I don't even know you!" she said shocked. She wasn't sure how to respond, and stepped away from him. She stared at him wondering if he was joking, but he looked serious. "Why should I trust you? You're family are letting all of these people die. I saw people from my village eaten by that monster today! What do you know about me? Have you gone outside the palace to see what life is like? I can't marry you. i'm sorry, but I won't save myself and let the others die. I won't leave unless everyone else goes too." She looked up at him waiting for his answer

"But you don't realize that these people are losing their lives so that at least some of our people can stay alive. If we did not let this ritual happen everyone in the land would be eaten and we'd be no more. Would you prefer it be that way? Do you not see that I care about you, and would do anything to protect you?" He was getting a bit frustrated that she was not seeing what he was talking about right away, but he hoped that soon with a bit of time she'd see that it was not just random murder of the people, but something that had to be done to save the whole of our people!