The ancient dragon collapsed on the ground after he had sent his old friend, surely dead, crashing into the rubble of yet another destroyed dwelling. His thoughts raced back to a time when dragon and man were friends.

A long, long time ago, even for one of his kind. Man and dragon lived in peace. It was a time of when both worked together to rid the world of evil. Man was young then, and even at that time dragon kind was ancient. One of the first creatures upon and over the world. Dragonkind saw in man a creature that was innocent and not built for such dangers as were in the world at that time. They took pity at first upon this race, but soon grew to respect it’s resilient adaptive nature. But still they were innocent, and were unprepared to defend themselves from the evils that roamed in that time.

So the dragons, most of them anyway, decided that this new race deserved the chance to enjoy what they themselves had enjoyed for millennia. They took it upon themselves to protect these softbodied humans. The battle for supremacy was fierce and constant. All the while man grew more independent, more able to help themselves. The evil continued to grow as it slowly decimated the long lived dragons. For it took hundreds of years to replace just one lost dragon, while the evil that roamed the land, repopulated as fast as the newer races. Dragonkind was in trouble.

Man started to notice the sparseness of the winged ones flying over head. They began to ask why. The answer forever changed the new race. Their friends where being lost. The ones who taught them how to survive were themselves being destroyed! Man learned to fight.

Dragons had taught them magic, but not the kind needed for battle, for it was thought they would never need such a powerful and corruptive knowledge. Man began to practice. Soon they were ready to help their friends and turned the tide. But too late it was, for most of the dragons friendly to man were gone or injured so badly they would sleep for centuries. But still man battled till peace once again ruled the day.

There was a time of peace throughout the land. It was a time measured in centuries. It was during this time that City Crusher came into the world. Only he was not know by that name, but as Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita, Wind Singer in the new tongue of man. For he loved to fly, and the sounds he made as he flew sounded of singing to all who happen to be about. He became a new teacher to the still young race. For Dragons were born with all the knowledge of that of a full grown ancient of their kind.

He taught them of the ways of not only war but that of peace. They were taught not to kill man nor dragon. Twas a wondrous time indeed. This period of peace lasted for centuries again. Then the peace was broken, not by the old evils, but by Dragonkind themselves. The old ones that had refrained from helping man in the beginning had returned from their long sleep or from another part of the world, that knowledge is lost. But came they did, and man killed dragon for the first time. This was a time of great sorrow, to kill dragon, whether by dragon or man was considered evil. Dragons had to decided what to do. Should they side with the old ones, or the new race. The old ones wanted nothing more than to have Dragonkind left alone. They saw the new race as a lesser race, one that was too short lived to bother with. They wanted all dragons to unite and leave the race to it’s own destiny. They would destroy them if not.

The dragons friendly to the young race decided the only way to save them was to abide by their brothers wishes. But it was understood that a few would keep watch, and help when needed. Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita was one such dragon. He stayed with the young race and helped guide it and gave them all his love. The other dragons had entirely shunned the watchers. They were considered no longer of the ancient race. In time only Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita was left. Though he loved dearly his charges, he became over time lonely. For this race died out so quickly, how could he keep one close? The pain grew and grew in him. He was alone. Still he stayed with his children as he came to call them. But as any parent knows, when a child dies, a part of them dies too. He became callused. Twas the only way to save his own heart from breaking entirely.

Then one day he was angered by city that had taken to the ways not of the teachings, so long taught. In his dispair and anger he crushed the city to the ground. Killing all inside. He tried to make up for his deed, but the damage was done. He was now known as City Crusher! In his anger at not man, but himself. He left for his cave and there he stayed. Venturing only to eat and drink. Knights, as they became to be known, came from time to time to rid the world of this menace from another time. But City Crusher in his own defense was forced to kill the knights. This only made City Crusher’s heart ache more. And as time grew, and the pain increased, he became more anger, but this time not at himself but of man that had shut him out. Was it not he who gave up his own family for they? Was it not he who had helped them when no other would. The pain grew.

Then one day, after centuries of this anger festering, he met a knight. He spied the knight from his perch atop his mountain. Long ago, he might have merely warned off the knight as he had tried so many times unsuccessfully. But now, he raced to meet the challenge! It was time to release his anger, and this knight was the target!

He stopped his mussing for a second, was that an explosion? Nay City Crusher thought, and returned to his long and almost forgotten past.

Smiling, he remembered the fight as if it was only yesterday. Twas a battle not unlike that which had just happened. Pain entered his thoughts again at the thought of what he had just done.

The battle was glorious! He flew from his mountain. Roaring and spouting dragon fire. But the knight refused to alter his path! More the better, he thought to himself. He flew to within yards of the mounted knight and dropped to the ground. Extending is wings, he was enormous, even for one of his kind. Still the knight refused to run!

"City Crusher" hailed the young knight, "I have come to stop thee."

"You can not hope to win." City Crusher hissed with fire from his nostrils. "Look at me!" he demanded. "Am I not a terrible sight to thee!" he finished with a burst of fire at the knights feet.

"Nay M’Lord City Crusher" the knight answered in what could be taken as pity. "You are but the last of thy kind, and that tis what be terrible"

"I am the last of my kind!" City Crusher roared. "For I was cast from my own kind to become the father to thine!" he roared again. "And how am I paid back ye ask? By knights on shining horses come to take mine own life!" With that City Crusher attacked with all his might!

The battle raged on for what seemed hours. Neither giving ground. All the while, this young knight spoke to the dragon of the past, and the old ways. Never halting, even while in this death match. On he reminded City Crusher of the time when man and dragon were friends. Eventually the battle slowed as City Crusher fought as hard to hear as he did the knight. Twas good to hear another's voice not spoken in anger. Finally he stopped all together when he heard the name Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita , and listened entranced to the long thought forgotten tales.

The young knight’s weapon mastery did not fail him, even though exhausted from the long fight, he stopped the trident mere inches from a killing blow when he sensed the dragon cease to fight back. Never ceasing his tale of the way it was. City Crusher subdued by this young knight, Crusher had lost the will to fight on.

"You have beaten me sir" he stated. "I deserve death, make it quick" he again stated. No malice or anger, only that of final resolve.

"Nay Crusher, ye deserve life!" the knight shouted, the first time he had raised his voice. "For your loving care for my race, for your teachings, which even today are learned, for you protection when none other would. Thee deserves life."

City Crusher was startled, he knew not what to think. How was it that this knight could forgive that which he a dragon could not!

"Then what of me sir knight?"

A promise only, your solemn word. That is all I ask of thee." Spoke the knight while looking into the eyes of this ancient protector of man.

"Name it sir knight" spurted the dragon, hoping for a way to redeem his evil deeds.

"I know you are able to sleep for vast periods of time." He paused for reassurance from Crusher.

"Tis true sir knight" agreed the dragon.

"Then I ask only that you return to thy cave and sleep for 100 years. Till this generation and the next be gone from his world before you reenter it." he stated, ending with a tone of more to come.

"Done good sir, for I am tired of this world and it’s pains."

"Lastly and most important….Thee must never attack man again…Never… On your Solemn Oath." The young finished, still staring into the bottomless orbs of this ancient giant.

"You have it sir knight. 100 years shall I await. And never again to attack man." He stated while drawing himself up to his full height, chest thrust forward. "You have my solemn oath"

"And I promise to look in on you from time to time to ensure your safety, whilst you sleep. And company for when you are not." Still looking into the eyes that he was sure spoke the truth. "My solemn oath you have Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita." The knight solemnly stated while raising his hand to his heart and then back towards the dragon, fist unclenched.

Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita lowered his great bulk to the ground and began to leave for his punishment, one that might just get him back where he truly wanted to be, with his children. But he suddenly stopped and turned back towards the knight.

"Might I know thy name sir knight. That I might say a prayer for thee." Asked Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita.

"Melazar, Knight of the Round Table. Truth Keeper and friend to Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita." He stated flatly. "That is how I am to be called, my friend."

Till Swords part my friend" Melazar saluted, and rode off, never looking back to ensure the dragon would keep his promise. For he was as sure as his own being could be that he would.

"Melazar" Ki’teleth Tel’hedrita said, memorizing each syllable. "I shall keep my oath to thee. My friend" this last part nearly brought the great dragon to his knees. Never again had he thought to utter those words, "My friend" he said again to ensure the were real, and set off for his long sleep.