text: [Themes: fantasy, socially important, historical, war]
  
  But all the preparation in the world means nothing when you're fighting a fire-breathing, flying dragon. How on earth are you supposed to kill it? If you get close enough to fight it will simply take to the skies and roast you from afar. Perhaps an arrow to the eye might bring it down, but that's a long shot.
  
  You need to get help, but from whom? There is the kingdom of Merrywed to the North and Thundershield to the East. You have long-standing diplomatic relations with the king of Merrywed, and he has previously offered his daughter's hand in marriage in exchange for an agreement of free trade and mutual protection. You are unsure that the offer of marriage still stands while you are under attack, or even if his soldiers would be enough to drive away the dragon. Alternatively, you could approach the mighty Thundershields and hire yourself a battalion of fearsome but untrustworthy mercenaries. If you are uncomfortable with asking a neighboring kingdom for help, perhaps it is best to look inward and ask your father for advice. He is no great leader, but a wise tactician.
  
  > accept the King of Merrywed's marriage proposal in exchange for protection: go to section 8b if you kept them at home to fortify the village.
  With no time to waste, you summon Garik to your chambers.
  
  "You were my father's lead correspondent in the diplomatic mission to engage with the kingdom of Merrywed. We are in a time of great peril. We have few friends, and need more if we are to successfully confront the dragon. Do you know if the marriage offer still stands?"
  
  "Yes, King Morrow. King Rolund has yet to offer his only daughter, Princess Mellow, as a peaceweaver to some other tribe. As you know, I have been now for a long time advocating that you establish alliances through marriage. Blood keeps honorable families together through even the worst of times. After the dragon attack, I immediately reached out to King Rolund to see if an alliance was still an option. Although he was somewhat reluctant, I assured him that we suffered minimal casualties in the first encounter with the dragon and that we successfully got the word out and all of our people back within castle walls. Appealing to his honor, I questioned how serious he would treat our potential alliance in a time of danger if he would consider relinquishing the offer of it. A good man, King Rolund saw my point and assured me that if you were to agree to the marriage, he would quickly send his best men to help our town defeat the dragon."
  
  An honorable man indeed. When you defeat the dragon together, you will find a way to repay the debt, though even a hundred jewels and a thousand casks of your finest wine will not suffice.
  
  "Brave Garik, I am relieved to hear that more than you know. Send word immediately that I look forward to faithfully marrying his daughter Princess Mellow as soon as the existentialist threat of the Great Beast is taken care of, and am in the meantime eternally grateful for any and all assistance that King Rolund is willing to send our way."
  
  > proceed to Section 11
  Not two days later, a lookout gives shout. "King Rolund's men approach!"
  
  On the horizon, you see a hazy mesh of red and emerald green. No less than eighty men and horses, all clad in royal guard, approach in standard formation.
  
  As the armored convoy nears, the lead rider waves and you signal for the city gates to be opened. He greets you warmly.
  
  "Good sir, are you King Morrow?"
  
  "I am. As evident by your bright clothing, I take it you are help sent from King Rolund. I am so grateful for his generosity in our time of need. The dragon is almost upon us, and we would likely be unable to weather its wrath without your aid. Your King will have our kingdoms' greatest treasures as gifts in return."
  
  "Lord, it was the least he could do for his future son in law. Imagine how distraught he would be to have to tell his daughter that her recent fiancée was roasted by a dragon. I am Sir Trueshot and these are my loyal soldiers. With the help of me and my men, we will make sure that it is instead the dragon who will meet an untimely end. I have brought with me six score of my kingdom's finest archers. They have each the biceps of two strong giants and can pull back a bowstring farther than any mechanical pulley. Your dragon will be no match for our arrows."
  
  No sooner had Trueshot introduced himself than the lookout shouted another announcement, this one infinitely more grave: "the dragon is coming."
  
  Both a day early and right on time, the dragon is heard shrieking from far away. Quickly, Trueshot's men spread out through the village – some to rooftops, other to the city wall, the rest to the castle balconies. Every cubic meter within the city perimeter was within range of a dozen marksmen. You are as prepared as you are ever going to be.
  
  The dragon, its shrieks unending, flies over in an initial pass, unleashing a torrent of fire that engulfs much of the trade quarter's wares and rooftops.
  
  While your men run around in disarray with buckets of water and women and children cry out in fear, you look to Trueshot and watch him knock a steady arrow and let it fly.
  
  The dragon is caught in the eye just as it comes in for a second pass. Caught off guard, it crashes to the ground with its underbelly exposed to the heavens. Before it gets the chance to reposition, a dozen more taught arrows shower it from the high ground, piercing it from neck to tail. Damaged but not mortally wounded, the dragon lets out a defiant screech of terror and flame that is as brief as it is horrible.
  
  Focusing your eyes from you vantage point, you see Garik crouching on the corpse of the dragon, a six-foot spear driven through its heart. Panting, he grins with the glory of avenging his fallen friends.
  
  In quick succession, the town erupts in cheer, then briefly flames before being finally put out, and all the while Garik can be seen hacking away at the dragon's neck with a broadsword. He brings you the massive, sixty pound trophy.
  
  "My lord, the beast is vanquished in part by my hand but ultimately under your leadership. I offer its head to you as proof that I would sacrifice my life to protect yours."
  
  Grasping Garik by the shoulders, you steady and proclaim "you are my most loyal servant. What bravery it is to face and lose friends to dragon's flame and pierce its heart so shortly after that your half-burned face is but still healing. I accept this gift, and will mount it above my throne as a permanent reminder of the foes our people are capable of vanquishing. But we were not alone in this endeavor."
  
  You walk over to the dragon, and rip out seven scales which were pierced or fractured by Sir Trueshot's arrows. Approaching him, you humbly offer them as proof to those in his kingdom that he and his men are truly the strongest archers in all the land. He graciously accepts.
  
  "King Morrow, I am truly glad that our people could come help your people in this time of great danger. For soon we will be one people. We will ride back to our homeland, and inform King Rolund that the danger is gone and the wedding is imminent. We will be back in a week's time with the bride and her entourage. If I may say, the city is looking a tad bit disheveled at the moment. Make yourself presentable, would you?"
  
  Grinning, he signaled his men to mount up and ride off into the sunset. For a prince, you had a big day, slaying a dragon and all that, but in a few days you will face the prospect of marriage. Less scary you should expect, objectively speaking.
  
  The End