Once Upon a Time

A brave and handsome knight, mounted on a white charger, has been battling a mighty dragon. He's defeated it: the dragon lies, gasping wisps of smoke, at his horse's feet. A single, final blow from his sword would dispatch the beast.

But the knight doesn't kill it. What is he waiting for? He circles the dragon, which, being immortal, cannot die until the fatal blow is delivered. Every so often the dragon recovers enough strength to spit a few gouts of flame from its nostrils; the knight stabs at it, and it subsides.

If the knight abandoned his quest now, and rode off home to his kingdom and his reward, the dragon would recover and live to ravage another day. If the knight stabbed the weakened beast to the heart, it would die. But he does neither; merely circles, endlessly, giving the creature an occasional poke with his sword. Days pass; weeks; months. Perhaps years?

Meanwhile, back at the castle, a certain fair princess isn't getting any younger. The status of her virginity is anybody's guess.