A Young Knight. A Tale by Sara Parrish

My Cousin, Sara Parrish, is turning ten years old this month. She is an amazing writer and has allowed me to be the first publisher of one of her stories. She has also chosen that in the below version of her story entitled "A Young Knight" have the main character (formally named "Tim"), be called "Simeon." I wish that I had a more official avenue to publish her work through, but this will have to do for now.

Thank you Sara!


A Young Knight
A Tale by Sara Parrish

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Camelot lived the Cherry family, poor but fair. There was mama, papa, and Simeon. One day King Arthur called all the brave young men to his court. Simeon was not yet eight, but he decided to go to the King's court. When the knights of the castle saw Simeon, they sneered and laughed at Simeon for coming, but King Arthur said all young men, so of course Simeon was invited.

Simeon and King Arthur waited to see who else would come, but no one came for two hours. King Arthur got tired of waiting, so he finally said, "I hereby decree Simeon this mission." So off went Simeon on his farm horse to slay the dragon of the forbidden deep, dark forest.

Simeon was riding along when he reached the entrance of the deep dark forest. Simeon was busy looking at the darkness that he wasn't watching where he was going and knocked down a woman with a basket of apples.

"Sorry, dear woman," said Simeon.

"You better be," said the woman for she had no manners.

"Here, let me help you," said Simeon.

"Why thank you," said the woman.

When all of the apples were picked up, the woman said "Since you have helped me in my time of need, I will help you in your time of need."

"Thank you dear woman" said Simeon, for he was very happy to make a friend on such a dangerous mission.

Then Simeon went off again. He rode through the dark forest for a while until he finally came to the dragon's castle. Simeon tried to open the gates, but they wouldn't budge. Then something caught his eye; it was a note and it said:

"Solve this riddle or play your fiddle. Why do you die if you look in the dragon's eye?"

Simeon didn't have a fiddle so he had to solve the riddle, but what was the answer? All of a sudden, a beam of light went in front of Simeon. The light was a ghost and the ghost said, "Remember the dear woman's promise. Now she is keeping her promise. Read about the dragon in this book. Solve the riddle and go slay the dragon."

With that, Simeon read, "The fire mark on the dragon's eye can kill someone if they look at it." After reading that, Simeon solved the riddle and went to the castle to slay the dragon. Just as soon as Simeon sneaked into the castle, he saw the dragon and the dragon saw him. Simeon drew his sword while the dragon clapped his jaws together. Both of them kept striking until Simeon just plunged his sword into the dragon.

The dragon gave the most horrible screech and fell dead to the ground.

So then Simeon returned home as a hero. For his reward, King Arthur knighted him and gave him all the gold he wanted. So now all know Sir Simeon as a very brave knight.

The End.