From Friend to Legend

Psst! There’s a story behind my unusual ‘band of brothers’

Image by Pexels on Pixabay

The spark

A few years ago someone told me — “here’s a prompt you might want to write up:” A princess approaches a dragon and asked to be kidnapped.

Unusual indeed, and the idea ran around in my head. First of all I used it in a drabble, and the resulting story won me a prize. For anyone who doesn’t know, a drabble is a story told in 100 words exactly .

It described a dying dragon, brought back from the brink by the timely actions of the king’s daughter. It transpires that she’s the opposite of a damsel in distress.

“I want you to kindnap me.”

A princess with a plan, And so my story began

Expanding the idea

Succumbing to reader pressure, and my own desire to continue the story, I fleshed it out.

What was the princess’ motivation? True love thwarted. A cruel ruler.

Could the dragon do this alone? Was he vulnerable? Had he any allies, or someone who owed him a favour?

Being a writer, family and friends sometimes ask: “Am I the inspiration behind a character in your story?”

Mostly the answer is ‘No!’ But I confess, without using too much about one individual, I borrow elements. I might create a character by borrowing strands from how a person looks, or moves, the way they speak, or a personality trait — such as their sense of humor (or lack of!)

It’s something writers are advised to do: write what you know.

I’m assuming they also mean ‘who you know.’ I use actors on TV or in films, or fictional people portrayed in books to build elements of my characters. Visualising a bully from the school bus, or a snarky, venomous teacher, helps me add realism to the antagonist in a story.

So whether I liked them, or we crossed swords, it’s not unusual for fragments of people I’ve encountered to show up in my fiction.

Draw me like one of your French girls

I met up with an ex-colleague for lunch — a cockney barrow-boy turned successful buyer. His quips and jokes used to have me crying with laughter, but he’s had hard times too. During our catch-up, I was enthusing about writing fiction, and he said:

“You should write a story about me.”

I laughed, then I saw from his face, he was serious.

“You know I write fantasy fiction?” I clarified, trying — and failing — to picture him as the romantic lead.

He was still keen, so I took his challenge, which has proved just as inspiring as a topic prompt or a gif.

This hardworking guy has a fun personality — he’s always cracking jokes. In the last few years, he’s found and married the love of his life, and I’m thrilled for him — he was going through a messy divorce when we worked together. He has a bonkers work ethic, but recently he pushed himself too hard: didn’t achieve the work — life balance. My chum needed a heart bypass and stents fitted.

With my drabble, I already had a ‘fairy tale’ setting, although the princess had asked the dragon to please kidnap her. I began to visualise my friend, who I named Roberto, as a blacksmith; traditionally smiths are portrayed as hard-working and reliable.

I gave him a special skill: forging swords that were sought-after, because they made whoever wielded them hard to defeat. But Roberto has integrity — he will not sell them to warmongers.

Of course he has a beautiful wife.

In a time when blacksmiths and legends were rife, Princess Thoraminta saves a dragon’s life.

What resulted was The Claw, the Curse and the Crown, a mini-series of 6 episodes. I expanded the plot in darker, more transgressive directions but still within the fairy tale setting. It’s Thoraminta’s story, and Roberto is not in every scene. But his supporting role is pivotal to both the dragon, and his new friend, the princess.

Buckle up for the adventure! All published chapters are here:

[embed]The Claw, the Curse and the Crown - Fantasy Mini-Series Princess Thoraminta rescues a dragon in distress, wishing to escape her controlling father. Even a fierce dragon…posy-churchgate.medium.com

Thanks to my editors at Transgress: The Vampire Life Áine Cailín & Two Irish Vamps for hosting / publishing the series. Check out the fiction there.

© Posy Churchgate 2025, All rights reserved

📬 Find me elsewhere:⚕Ream | 🌴Substack| 📚 FictionWithoutFrontiers | ⚓Wattpad | 🌀Bluesky ⚔X

Teasing Times News ⏰Submission Guide ✍More Teaser Tales 💼