Alyssa Ulrickson
Drama
Scene 1
The KING and QUEEN are standing at one end of the throne room.
GUARD walks through the doors.
GUARD
Sir, Prince Earnest of Ritu is here.
KING
Perfect! Send him in at once.
GUARD walks away and through the doors. GUARD comes back through the doors, this time with PRINCE.
PRINCE
Greetings, Your Majesties.
QUEEN
Thank you for coming to Ashfall on such short notice.
PRINCE
I got a letter that said something was urgent?
KING
Yes. Our daughter, Princess Eleanor, has been taken hostage by Andor the Devourer.
PRINCE
The dragon?
QUEEN
Yes. We are hoping you can rescue her.
PRINCE
Surely there’s a reward for her rescue. Not many people would go up against Andor the Devourer for nothing.
KING
I promise that if you return with my Eleanor, you will have her hand in marriage.
QUEEN
You must save her!
PRINCE
I will. I promise you.
KING
Rescuing her is risky. Many knights and princes like yourself have tried, but all have been devoured by Andor.
PRINCE
I’m willing to take that risk. Where are they located?
KING
The old Opalia castle, just outside the Riverbrook Woods.
PRINCE
I will head there at once. Ready my horse!
PRINCE and GUARD run off stage.
KING
I really do hope he is the one to rescue her.
QUEEN
All we can do is pray, my love.
Scene 2
PRINCE walks into an old castle where he sees PRINCESS and DRAGON on the other side. PRINCESS is reading a book while DRAGON sleeps. PRINCE draws his sword, ready to fight DRAGON.
PRINCE
Princess Eleanor! I have come to rescue you!
PRINCESS
(Not looking up from her book.)
No, thank you.
PRINCE
Fear not! For I—wait, what?
PRINCESS
(Sighs and sets down her book.)
There’s no need to rescue me.
PRINCE
But, isn’t Andor the Devourer holding you hostage?
PRINCESS
Andy is not holding me hostage.
DRAGON
Ellie is staying of her own free will.
PRINCE
Andy? Ellie? Whatever. The King and Queen have sent me to rescue you.
PRINCESS
My parents only want to rescue me so they can marry me off. I wouldn’t be surprised if they promised you my hand in marriage for rescuing me.
PRINCE
And if they did?
DRAGON
You wouldn’t be the first to come with that promise.
PRINCE
Princess, you sound like that’s not what you desire.
PRINCESS
My father has always been old-fashioned. He believes that the only place for a princess is to marry a prince, either to build a relationship with another country or for money, and to bear heirs. That is not the life I want to live.
(Beat.)
PRINCE
(Puts sword away.)
So, what is the life you want to live?
PRINCESS
I want to be a librarian.
PRINCE
A librarian?!
PRINCESS
Yes. I’ve never had any interest in ruling a kingdom or marrying a prince, only in stories of people who did those things. I’ve always loved reading, even when my father forbade me to read. I would sneak to the library at night to not get caught. On my way to visit another country, my guards and I got attacked by bandits and Andy saved me. After explaining that I didn’t want to go back, he brought me to this abandoned castle to stay with him. There’s a fantastic library here filled with books that tell stories or hold the knowledge of others.
PRINCE
I wish I had the luxury to leave my responsibilities behind like you. Seeing as I’m the only heir, that would be impossible.
PRINCESS
Well, what did you want to be?
PRINCE
I’ve always wanted to be a baker.
DRAGON
(Look over at Princess.)
Well, that’s a new one.
PRINCE
When I was a child, I would sneak to the kitchens to watch the palace bakers. They would make the most beautiful cakes and the most scrumptious muffins. Once, I went to the kitchens and watched as they made a cake for my mother’s birthday. The head baker was in the middle of adding the decorations when my father found me. He removed me from the kitchens, exiled the baker who would let me watch her, and forbade me from ever going down to watch the baking again. I’ve always wanted to be the person who made those beautiful and delicious treats.
PRINCESS
No one’s stopping you from doing that.
PRINCE
What do you mean?
DRAGON
You know, I’ve never actually devoured anyone who came here to rescue Ellie.
PRINCE
What?
DRAGON
The only reason I’m called Andor the Devourer is because I was always eating when I was a young dragon.
PRINCESS
It’s true. All of those who come to “rescue me” have left to follow their dreams. We say they got devoured so they can escape from their current lives and live the way they really want.
PRINCE
Really?
DRAGON
Yes. And we can do the same for you, if you so wish.
PRINCE
And no one will know the truth?
PRINCESS
The only people who will know are the three of us.
PRINCE
Well then . . . I’m going to learn to bake!
PRINCE starts to walk off stage.
PRINCE
(To himself)
I’ll have to change my name. I have always liked the name Jack.
PRINCE finally walks off stage, leaving PRINCESS and DRAGON.
PRINCESS
I’m happy he’s found what he wants to do most in life.
DRAGON
We’ll have to send a letter to your father letting him know I “devoured” another one.
PRINCESS
I’ll write to him in the morning. Who knows? Maybe this next time he’ll send a female knight or a princess. Just to spice it up a little.
Scene 3
It is now fall. The KING and QUEEN are in the throne room. GUARD walks through the door with a letter in his hand.
GUARD
Your Majesties, a letter.
KING
Thank you.
GUARD hands the letter to KING. KING opens the letter and sighs.
QUEEN
What does it say, dear?
KING
Eleanor said that Prince Earnest was devoured by Andor.
QUEEN
How many is that now? Thirteen?
KING
I know, but we mustn’t fret. Guard!
GUARD
Yes, Your Highness?
KING
Send a letter to Prince Edward of Andalasia asking him to come here at once.
GUARD
Yes, Your Highness
GUARD walks off stage, leaving KING and QUEEN.
KING
Have you met the newest palace baker, dear?
QUEEN
I have yet to meet them.
KING
It’s very strange . . .
QUEEN
What is?
KING
Well . . . the new baker looks like one of the princes who went to save Eleanor.
Alyssa Ulrickson is a junior majoring in history with a minor in political science and a collection of Funko Pops. While she is from Billings, her favorite place is Luccock Park, outside of Livingston.
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