| Aerin Fire-Hair, the Dragon Slayer The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley |
| It was said in the kingdom of Damar that the queen was a witch that had spelled the king into marriage (this was not so). It was also said that when her daughter was born, she turned her face to the wall and died of despair that she had not borne a son (this was possibly true). Aerin-sol, marked by the rare color of her fiery hair, lived in the shadow of these tales, alienated by all but her cousin Tor, who was next in line for the throne. When she was eighteen, she discovered the making of kenet, a fire-proofing ointment. Then she began slaying dragons. The dragons- small dragons, such as were left in Damar- gave her the name of Dragon-Slayer. But then the Black Dragon Maur awoke, and Aerin, alone, went to challenge him, and was badly hurt, though she slew her foe. In the time following she did not fully heal, until she found her way to Luthe, the mage. From his house she went on, seeking the source of the evil that troubled Damar and had woken Maur. This she destroyed, recovering the Hero�s Crown, which had been lost long ago. This she brought to Tor, who would now be king, since her father was killed in the last great battle that was won. She and Tor married, and ruled Damar together for many years, but Aerin, since the healing of Luthe, was no longer quite mortal, and surely lived on in the thoughts of Damarians long after. She was seen in a fire by Harimad-sol, Harry Crewe, many many years later. That story is told here. |