Once upon a time, a very long time ago in a land called Barendor there lived a fair lady. Her name was Lady Ellen, and she was the princess of Barendor. Lady Ellen was just like any other maiden her age, only royal. Ellen enjoyed strolling among the rose garden, and taking walks by the birdbaths looking at the beautiful robins and jays. One day, Ellen got more than a walk on her noon stroll.

While walking casually through the tulips one fine spring day, Ellen stumbled upon a well, which was covered in gorgeous rubies, diamonds, and emeralds. On the very top of the well lay a very large dragon carved in glossy marble. Ellen gently touched the large eyes of the stone creature and slowly discovered a message on its wing. She spoke softly to herself,  " here within the stone a creature is born. Tamed by no man, slain by no sword. Sleeping eternally, unless to be awoken, by the sounds of its tale being spoken. " Finally when Ellen and her captor reached a very big cave in the mountains it was dark and very cold. The beast set her down and began to build and bed and proceeded to make a fire. Ellen did not want to be rude so she helped by roasting some mushrooms she had in her pocket. When she could stand the silence no longer she said,  " Excuse me, sir? Why did you take me away? Surely not to eat, for I am told that dragons eat only rabbits and beets. " Ellen paused and waited for a reply.

The dragon sat down, sighed and began his tale.  " A very long time ago when I was just a young lizard I was caught stealing from an old witch's garden. I was merely trying to sneak some beets for my lunch that day and I meant no harm. The old witch came down upon me and snatched me away from my home and family. She then cast a spell and turned me into the marble top of the well you found. "

Ellen interrupted for a moment to ask,  " Who was this wicked woman? Did you ever find out her name? " She then refrained herself from saying much more because she wanted to hear the rest of the dragon's story.

 "Sadly I could only find out her first name, Catherine. But anyway she told me to take whoever spoke the words inscribed on my wing. I meant no harm in taking you; I was cursed to do so. If I did not she told me I would be merely a decoration on the well forever. " The dragon the burst into tears and apologized many a time to Ellen.

While Ellen sat in the mountains condoling the dragon, her father King Leonardo was in a panic.  "Wherever could she be? She was merely out on an afternoon stroll. How could this happen? Page, who was in charge of her while on this walk? " He bellowed to a nearby peasant boy.

 "Lady Catherine, your Highness. " He squeaked.

 "Well, then what are standing there for? Send for lady Catherine at once! " And at that the young boy nodded and scrambled down the jade hallway to the last door on the left. He spoke to someone from behind the door and then ducked and dodged between other servants until he reached the king's throne.

 "Your Majesty, Lady Catherine shall be with you in moments. " The page bowed so low his small-feathered cap fell off and he scrambled to replace it. Soon after the page had returned a very thin and rigid looking woman strolled into the large throne room.  " Her ladyship, Catherine of Barendor. " The page waved his hands in such a way after he spoke he smacked the poor boy playing the harp in the nose.

 "Your highness, I have not heard word of your daughter since noon. She was in the tulip nursery when I last heard. We should wait I think, before we search my Lord. It is much too soon to worry. " And before the king could say his peace Lady Catherine was out of sight in her chambers. But since the king did not at all trust Lady Catherine he hired his most brave and noble knight, Sir John Connor. Sir john graciously accepted the task and rode off to save Ellen.

When the dragon had further explained his tale Ellen figured out that Lady Catherine was behind her kidnapping. Catherine had always hated Ellen, especially because Ellen had taken away her chance of becoming the next ruler of Barendor. Catherine was Ellen's fifth cousin and the most awful person. Everyone in the court had heard the tales of Catherine's evil deeds and touch with magic. There once was a rumor that she had turned one of the crown prince's friends into a toad for speaking to loudly. No one every found out whether or not that was the truth, because the prince never spoke after it supposedly happened.

Sir John found the beautiful well and remembered a story he had heard of a dragon in the mountains. His grandfather had told him the story of a ghastly beast stealing away whoever read his tale off of his wing. An evil woman who had controlled him since he was young cursed the dragon. Sir John followed his instinct and went to the mountains to see if this myth could really be true.

On his journey upward he found a path of trees that seemed to bend backwards as if pushed back by the wind or a storm. He then figured that the dragon flew up the mountain with Ellen and the force of his wings pushing back air had caused this. Soon after he had climbed the mountain he found a massive cave. He peered inside the opening to find Ellen and the dragon conversing over tea.

 "Sir John, how wonderful to see you! Come in and help us put our plan of escape into action. " Ellen said. Sir John sat down and discussed the plan with the two unlikely friends. No sooner had they decided what to do when Lady Catherine appeared in the mouth of the cave.

 "Ha! You think you stop me with a plan do you? Well, just try! Dragon take them to the peak of the mountain and leave them there. " She screeched at the top of her lungs. The dragon stood up and turned towards his two new friends then stopped. He then lunged for Catherine and grabbed her by the feet.

As he swooped out from the large opening in the cave John and Ellen ran down the mountainside and to a wide river. There they met the dragon who lifted them onto his back and gave them a ride to the castle of Barendor.

 " Oh my, Ellen? Sir John? What are you doing with that dragon? Let them go you beast! " King Leonardo shouted from his bedroom window the next morning. The dragon let Sir John and Ellen go and after giving them a hug he flew away to his childhood home to see his parents. Then Ellen and Sir John explained their escape and how Catherine was staying in the mountains for a while. And while they told their tale lady Catherine screamed at the top of the mountain knowing she had been defeated.

The moral of this story is you can't always get what you want, even if you try to cheat and lie to get it.