[ WP ] As a dragon of innumerable age you have guarded your gold horde for millennium . Many heroes have come with long speeches on how they will slay you , the great evil , none finish . However this one is odd.He throws a coin on your stash , looks you in the eyes and says `` I have a proposition for you . ''

I stared at the knight in front of me, his sword still in his hilt and the raven clutching three arrows painted on his chestplate was the newest symbol of these foolish knights I had seen. He held up a single gold coin and I recognized it immediately. It was One of the Thirteen, a coin given to dragons of my descent long ago to buy their time. `` I have a proposition for you,'' he said, staring into my eyes; no knight who challenged me had done this. He was the first. He stood tall and rested his hand upon his sword as he waited for my response. 
 
 I moved slowly so as for him to know I was not attacking and I grabbed the coin from the pile. I pulled it close to me, examining the details, sniffing the coin for any discrepancies. And then I grinned, `` I am listening.'' 
 
 The knight nodded solemnly and took one step forward, `` I was sent here to kill you.'' 
 
 `` Yet you bring One of the Thirteen,'' I said, `` you do not draw your sword like the others.'' 
 
 The knight nodded, `` A foolish quest as my compatriots had found out.'' 
 
 I smiled, remembering the delicacy of their flesh. Every so often, human was a good meal indeed. 
 
 `` I wish to strike a deal with you.'' 
 
 `` Deals struck in times of need are almost never fulfilled,'' I said, remembering the countless times when Kings would come to me asking to destroy an enemy town or village, only to go back on the deal when I did. For such plump men, Kings were surprisingly... chewy. And foolish, One of the Thirteen was not to be wasted on such trivial things. 
 
 `` This is not a time of need,'' the knight shrugged, `` if it was the King would not be trying to kill you.'' 
 
 `` So you wish to kill the King and become King yourself?'' 
 
 The knight backed away, shaking his head, `` Not necessarily.'' 
 
 `` Then who, young Knight, for I am growing tired of your squabble,'' I lifted my head ever so slightly, `` And quite hungry.'' 
 
 `` I am sure you are, *Lord of the Skies. *'' 
 
 I raised my head, staring at the knight with one of my eyes, `` You wish to go there?'' 
 
 `` Our enemy is not you, it is them.'' 
 
 I scoffed, `` An enemy of my enemy is my friend?'' 
 
 The knight took a step forward, `` Precisely.'' 
 
 `` And you believe they are my enemies?'' 
 
 `` Why else do you sit upon a pile of gold on Earth, when you can rule the skies?'' The knight sat on one of my chests, opening up his hands, `` I know what they did to you and your people. You were cast out, exiled --'' 
 
 I rose my head quickly so I towered over the small knight. `` I was betrayed!'' I bellowed. `` Turned on by my very kin, by my very creations.'' 
 
 `` And I am promising you revenge, if you can get us there.'' 
 
 I shook my head, `` Us?'' 
 
 `` Myself and my legion,'' the knight held out his hand and turned it into a fist. `` Unite the Thirteen, as you did so long ago, and let us wage war upon your betrayers.'' 
 
 I stood upwards and then pushed my head towards the knight, `` Why are you so interested in this? Humans have no advantage in this war, and if we fail, you shall all perish.'' I pulled back, `` The Thirteen sit upon this Earth to keep them away, not to bring a war that human could not imagine across these lands.'' 
 
 `` Long ago,'' the knight began, `` when the dragons first arrived. They banded with man, brought them great tools to create, to build, and to cultivate. Foolishly, our ancestors betrayed you like your kin did, took these mighty gifts and made you run for the hills.'' He scoffed, `` Now you sit in mountains and horde treasure, now you grow fat like the Kings.'' 
 
 I showed my teeth, `` Careful knight.'' 
 
 `` I am offering the legions of man to aid in your crusade!'' He stood upwards and drew his sword, stabbing it into the ground in front of him, `` I am offering our swords to fight for you so you may reclaim your world and bring a new era of prosperity to these lands, to your lands.'' 
 
 `` You wish for the Thirteen to return to the Skies?'' 
 
 `` I wish for the Thirteen to rule again. My people live under fear from the Thirteen because our Kings believe war with you is necessary, that it was you that are killers and murderers.'' 
 
 I shook my head, `` We are *not* killers!'' 
 
 The knight nodded, `` And I agree with you!'' He knelt in front of his sword, `` It is why I pledge myself to you, so I may serve you in your quest to rule the skies once more.'' 
 
 I backed away, turning my body from the knight to contemplate his offer. It had been a long time since I had been home, since I was betrayed by my children and cast down to the mortal lands. Even longer since I had seen another of the Thirteen, my brothers and sisters who foolishly followed me and my endeavors. Would they follow me again? Would they help me reclaim our home? 
 
 Yes, I thought, if I gathered the strength of man, if they followed us as they did we stood a chance. Our creations, our children, would suffer our wrath as they should have when we first betrayed. I needed the Thirteen coins, the strength of man, and my brothers and sisters if we stood a chance. But in my heart, I knew we already had a chance. 
 
 `` If the race of man will follow us, then the Thirteen will return home,'' I turned around to see the knight still kneeling and now looking up at me. `` I need the Thirteen Coins to unite the Thirteen, and I need man to follow me to each of their mountains.'' 
 
 `` Make me the ruler,'' the knight said, `` And I will do everything you ask.'' 
 
 I grinned, he was after power after all, something I should have noticed. But he had also offered me my home again, I would not forget that. `` Return to your King, unite your legion under my banner,'' I nodded, `` And the King's blood will spill this night.'' 
 
 The knight stood and bowed, removing his sword from the ground, `` What banner shall we follow?'' 
 
 I smiled and rummaged through my gold, digging deep into the halls to find a banner from an age long gone. Upon it stood an image of a great dragon with black scales and a red line across it's chest. It was my symbol when the race of man still worshiped and fought for their Gods. I handed the banner to the knight, `` Who was the first to pledge themselves to me?'' 
 
 The knight slammed the banner down in the ground and removed his helmet with his free hand. `` Sir Robert of Silverdawn,'' he bowed his head. 
 
 `` Silverdawn? An ancient family.'' 
 
 `` With ancient tales to spread, my lord of the skies.'' 
 
 I grinned, `` Let us take back my home, Robert Silverdawn, so the Thirteen may reign once more.'' 
 
 ____ 
 
 *I really liked this prompt and I hope you enjoyed! You can check out more of my stories at /r/BlankPagesEmptyMugs! *
