Zarvis's Captive

Zarvis was a dragon. He used to have a princess, but she ran away two days ago. Now he was asking his friend, Firebrain, who was in the business, what was available. "Depends on what brand you want," Firebrain said. "Princess, damsel, fair maiden, maybe even damsel in distress." "Aren't damsels in distress rare nowadays?" Zarvis asked. Firebrain thought about it. "Pretty rare, but I know of one," he replied. "She's locked in a giant's castle not far from here." He chuckled. "I don't think she likes dragons very much, though, and it would cost a lot to get her out." Zarvis shook his massive head. "I'd like something easier and a little less expensive," he said. "What about a princess?" Firebrain smacked his lips. "You have good taste," he said. "I have a princess myself. Name's Rosiana. Good gal, I got to admit. Cleans beautifully. But princesses are also rare. I could get you a damsel, though. I have a friend-" "No," Zarvis interrupted. "Actually, I could go for a fair maiden." "Ah," Firebrain said, perking up. "Now we're getting somewhere. Fair maidens are all over the place. Now, do you want fair as in pretty, or fair as in honest?" "Fair as in honest, I guess," Zarvis answered. "Would I have to pay extra for both qualities?" Firebrain shook his head. "Nope!" he said. "She's either pretty or not and we don't charge extra if she happens to be gorgeous. This is the easy part. How young do you want her to be?" "Oh, about thirteen," Zarvis mused. "Yeah, that's good." Firebrain made a note on his pad. "Any other specifics?" he asked. "No," Zarvis replied. "She could be a bit short, I suppose. Dark hair. That's about it." He looked at Firebrain expectantly. Firebrain was searching a list. "No, no, maybe, definitely not! No, aha!" He looked up. "I got one," he said. "Mostly honest, pretty enough, shortish, dark hair, thirteen years old, doesn't live too far away. Her name is Melissa. How does that sound?" "Looking good," Zarvis said, nodding. "When should I expect delivery?" "Tomorrow morning?" Firebrain answered. "I'll drop off the box at your cave. You owe me, let's see, fifty princess hairs." Zarvis stared at him. "I don't know if I have that many saved up," he said slowly. "Look," Firebrain said. "I'll let you off at thirty five hairs. I'll pay the rest. Is that better?" "Great!' Zarvis said, relieved. He left. * * * * * * * * * * * "Great job!" Firebrain said to himself as he started the semi-long flight to Melissa's place. "Out of fifty princess hairs, I get, oh, about twenty two of them. Pretty darn good, even though I had to help Zarvis out. I'll be rich in no time!" He landed on the roof and peeked over the edge. "That must be her," he breathed, watching a dark haired girl on the steps. Melissa was hunched over a piece of paper, drawing carefully with her pencil. Suddenly, she was picked up and carried off into the sky. "Whaddya think you're doing!" she yelled. "I was drawing...help!!!" She had just noticed what was carrying her. "We'll be there soon," Firebrain said. "And then you'll be delivered to your owner." "My what?" Melissa asked in disbelief. "Your owner," Firebrain repeated. "Zarvis bought you for fifty princess hairs. To tell you the truth, I personally don't think you're worth that much." Melissa stared up at him. "Well, I think I'm worth way more than that," she said to herself. She was silent the rest of the way. Finally they arrived. Firebrain landed in front of a cave, which was the Finders cave. They were dragons that helped other dragons get princesses and such. Still holding Melissa, Firebrain went inside and went to the Packaging room. "Hey, Smoke," he said. "I need a box to fit her." He pointed to Melissa. "Here you go," Smoke said. "Who's that for?" "Zarvis," Firebrain answered. He padded the box and shoved Melissa in. "Get offa me!" Melissa said in a voice muffled by the padding. "How'm I s'posed to breathe?" "Okey-doke!" Firebrain said. "Ready to be delivered. Uh, get Hothead to do it, I'm on my break." He left. "Hothead!" Smoke yelled. "Hooooooothead!" A young female dragon came skidding into the room. "Yessir?" she asked. "Take this box over to Zarvis' Cave," Smoke said. "Be careful, don't damage it." "Yeah!" Melissa tried to say, but since her face was shoved into the padding, it came out sounding like," Ymmph!" Hothead looked alarmed. "What's in there, sir?" she inquired timidly. "A fair maiden," Smoke replied. "Don't waste time. Go!" "Hmm," Melissa thought. "Dragons. Who would've thought!" Suddenly she felt herself being picked up and carried...somewhere. Hothead had picked up the box gingerly and was carrying it out. When she reached Zarvis' cave, she set the box down gently and waited. The top of the box was ripped open and Melissa was pulled out. Zarvis examined her briefly and said," All seems to be in order. Here you go. There's only thirty five hairs here. Firebrain said he'd pay the rest for me." Hothead nodded and left. Zarvis went back to looking at Melissa. "Not bad," he mused. "Could be prettier." Melissa glared at him. "I'm right here!" she said. Zarvis nodded. "I'll accept you," he decided. "Now, that room on the left is for you. It's already furnished. You can get started right away, of course." "Get started on what?" Melissa asked. Zarvis stared at her. "On your duties," he replied. "You know, cleaning, cooking, sorting out treasure, that kind of thing." "Uh, okay," Melissa said. "I might not be very good at all that, but I'll try." "Fine," Zarvis said. "First, I need you to dust all the rooms in my cave. I've been without a princess for a long time and the rooms need dusting badly. Then you can sort out magical items in the second treasure room. Rings go in one pile, bottles in another, lamps in another, and so on. Next you can cook dinner. I like meat, so make plenty of it. There's a bow and arrow in your room. Use it to shoot birds and then cook the birds. I like mine medium rare. Cook yours however you want. Any questions?" Melissa raised her hand. "I have some things to say," she said. "First, I'm not shooting any birds. Second, where is the second treasure room? Third, what do I dust with?" "There's a duster in your room," Zarvis answered. "I'll show you the treasure room when you're ready for it. If you don't want to shoot birds, that's fine. I'll catch some and you can cook them. Get to it." Melissa walked into her room and found the duster. It was falling apart and wouldn't be much help. There were also a couple of worn-out rags. "I can't dust with these," she said in disgust. There was a trunk in the corner of the room. Melissa opened it and found several dresses. "I'll just have to use these," she decided. Melissa ripped one of the dresses into several squares and started her dusting. Zarvis had been right, the rooms were very dusty. When she had finished, Melissa was exhausted. She threw the rags down on the floor and plopped onto her bed. "Are you done?" Zarvis called from the next room. "Yes!" Melissa yelled back. "Wonderful!" Zarvis said. "You can start on the treasure room. Come on. I'll show you where it is." Melissa ran into the next room and followed him down a hallway into another room. It was full of interesting items. "Just sort everything out like I told you," Zarvis explained. "Don't try anything on or open any bottles! Some of these things are dangerous. Just seperate them into piles. I'm going out for a bit of fresh air. I'll be back in an hour or so." He left. Melissa looked at the mess in dismay. "I'm not cleaning this!" she declared. "That's it. I quit!" She turned around and walked back down the hallway. Zarvis had said he would be out for an hour or so. She would sneak out and try to get back home. Melissa got out of the dragon's cave easily. Getting home would be the hard part. She started walking. "Who goes there!" a voice boomed. Melissa jumped. "Uh, uh, me!" she said. A knight jumped out from behind a rock and inspected her. "All right," he said. "Who are you?" "Melissa ," she answered suspiciously. "Who are you?" "Sir Crinkel, the best knight in the land," he replied. "Have you, by any chance, seen a beautiful, fair-haired, young princess anywhere?" "No," Melissa said. "Why?" "She hath been captured by the dragon Zarvis and I am here to rescue her," Crinkel said. "Well, I just came from Zarvis' cave," Melissa said. "No princess there. Sorry." "She hath run away!" Crinkel cried. "You and I must find her! Come." He turned and started walking. Melissa stared at him. "Excuse me?" she asked. "What makes you think I'm going to help you? I'm not getting mixed up in all this." Crinkel walked back to her and drew his sword. "If thou will not aid me, I shall kill thee," he said. Melissa gulped. "In that case, I'd love to help," she said, eyeing the sword. "Then come," Crinkel said. He started walking again. "Where are we going?" Melissa inquired. "To the Forest of Doom," Crinkel said. "That's where he's likely to be." "He?" Melissa said, puzzled. "Aren't we looking for a she?" "Yes, but he's going to be in the Forest of Doom," Crinkel answered. "Who?" Melissa asked. "Me!" Crinkel said in exasperation. "I love danger!" Melissa shook her head and followed him. After a while, they came to a dark forest. "Ah, there he is!" Crinkel said and ran into the forest. Melissa ran after him. "Now that we've found him, let's start searching for my princess," Crinkel ordered. "Come." It seemed like they searched for hours before they came to a small tower. Melissa peered up and spotted a head in the window. "Hey, Crink!" she yelled to him. He was searching in some bushes. "I think I might've found her!" Crinkel came running. "You will refrain from addressing me as Crink, Melissa ," he said in disgust. "Where is she?" Melissa pointed to the tower. "Melenia!" he called. "Are you there?" "Crinkel?" a sweet voice called back. "Is that you?" She stuck her golden head out the window. "It is I, Crinkel!" the knight replied. "I'm here to rescue you!" "Wonderful!" Melenia said. "I've been here for a day and a half." Crinkel circled the tower. "There's no door," he yelled. "I know!" Melenia answered. "You'll have to climb up. Here!" She threw down a bottle of glue. Crinkel caught it and looked at it curiously. "How will this help?" he asked. "Put it on your hands and feet and climb up!" Melenia replied. Melissa started laughing. "She's as crazy as he is," she thought. "Coming!" Crinkel called. He took off his boots and poured glue on his hands and feet. Melissa watched as he tried and failed to climb the wall. He tried again and again. "Hey, Melenia!" Melissa shouted. "How long is your hair?" "Very long!" Melenia said. "Why?" "Throw it down!" Melissa replied. About thirty feet of golden hair dropped on Crinkel, who fell under so much weight. "There," Melissa said. "Climb up her hair." Crinkel nodded and began to climb. Melissa winced as she saw him leaving gluey marks on the golden waves. "Almost...there!" Crinkel panted as he climbed the last couple of feet. Melenia whimpered as he pulled her hair and then helped him through the window. "Now what?" Melenia asked when Crinkel had gotten through the window. They both looked at Melissa. "Uh, let me think," Melissa said. "Well, I guess we could try this plan. Melenia could let down her hair and then jump. Hopefully the hair will cushion her fall. But Crinkel should climb back down now." Crinkel sighed. "Here I go, then," he said. He slid down the hair, which was greasy from not being washed, and was soon back on the ground. "Now, jump!" Melissa said, wondering what time it was. Melenia closed her eyes and jumped. She landed on the yards of hair and lay still for a moment. Crinkel rushed to her. "If you have killed her..." he said, pointing his sword in Melissa's direction. "No, I'm all right," Melenia said, opening her eyes. "Just a bit dizzy." She sat up and looked at Melissa. "Do you happen to have scissors, or a knife?" she asked. "I have my sword," Crinkel said. "Then please cut my hair off. It's a bother," Melenia said. It was quite a job. First they found a tree stump so that Crinkel could lay the hair on it. Then they piled up Melenia's hair beside the stump. Melenia sat down next to the stump and said," I am ready." Crinkel lifted his sword and the metal flashed. Then, quick as a whip, the sword came down and neatly cut the hair and the stump. Melenia stood up and ran her fingers over her waist-length hair. "Thank you!" she said, kneeling before Crinkel, who puffed out his chest and grinned. "Okay then," Melissa said. "Now what?" "We must rescue other maidens," Crinkel answered. "After that, I feel quite confindent!" "Oh, no!" Melissa whispered. "Do you have a problem with that?" Crinkel asked. "Well, I just kinda wanted to go home," Melissa admited. "It's been fun, but I really should be getting home." Crinkel nodded. "Then I shall take thee home." * * * * * * * * * * * About two hours later, Melissa walked up to her door. "Where were you!" cried her mother. "Oh, around," Melissa replied. "And why didn't you call?" her mom asked. "There weren't exactly any phones where I was," said Melissa. "I'm really sorry." "All right," she said. "Dinner's almost ready." As long as she lived, Melissa never forgot that wondrous day.

Copyright 2001 by Chantessy