Meaningful Rename: When she became a witch, the peasant woman Maureen renamed herself Grizelda to fit her new image.Then it's played somewhat straighter when it turns out Elizar's long-lost wife, who was much younger than he was, is still alive and well. King Mildred offers his fourteen-year-old daughter's hand in marriage to the one who kills the dragon, then sends Elizar, who's old enough to be Princess Wilhelmina's grandfather, to do it she avoids having to marry him by killing the dragon herself. Mayв‰ecember Romance: Averted and played straight.That's when they both realize who the other is. When she points out the birthmark on his shoulder, which is how she knew, Elizar recognizes it as the one his son had. Luke, I Am Your Father: After her dragon is killed, Grizelda swoops in and informs Brian that she's his mother.Her parents allow it when she reveals herself because they were worried about her running away. Willie ends up doing it disguised as a boy so she won't be betrothed to a random knight or hero. Loophole Abuse: The one who slays the dragon will win Princess Wilhemina's hand.

A housecat and a fox can only do so much where a dragon is involved.) I Owe You My Life: Throughout the book Willie, Brian, and Elizar each save a Talking Animal (Elizar quite by accident), who subsequently decide that the best use of their time is to help them on their quest, regardless of how.um.helpful they can actually be.

'I Want' Song: At least three in the musical.

I Call It 'Vera': Brian names his sword Dragonwhacker.

Then she reveals herself, making her parents relieved that they're not condemning her to an unhappy Arranged Marriage. Willie still insists they give her the award of their daughter's hand so that no one can use it to marry her. Later, after she slays the dragon, her parents say they're calling off the Standard Hero Reward because they love Willie too much to make her unhappy and will offer anything else. She refuses to kill a giant spider while its back is turned.

Honor Before Reason: Willie has this issue.

Heroes Want Redheads The end result, as Brian marries Willie.

Heelв‰Їace Turn: The witch Grizelda, once everyone finds out what happened.

Fiery Redhead: Princess Wilhelmina, who's very stubborn and hot-tempered.

That's when Grizelda pulls out a live newt and says she's actually using the whole thing.

Eye of Newt: The first chapter includes a large list of items to create the dragon, and the witch Phrenella is surprised that the trope namer isn't one of them.

Disgusted, she pulls a Sweet Polly Oliver and sets off to slay the dragon herself doing so wins her the right to choose her own husband when she's ready. The only person who will go is the ancient squire Elizar, whom Princess Wilhelmina calls old enough to be her grandfather.

Engagement Challenge: King Mildred promises that whoever can slay the dragon may marry his daughter.

Distinguishing Mark: Brian has a dragon-shaped birthmark.

Willie privately refuses to even consider marrying him (good thing too, seeing as it turns out his supposedly dead wife is still alive), and sets out to kill the dragon herself and thus earn the right to choose her own husband.

Child Marriage Veto: When King Mildred promises that whomever can slay the dragon may marry his daughter, he winds up sending Elizar, who's old enough to be Willie's grandfather.

But the dragon isn't a 'normal' dragon, and instead it is the creation of a witch, who wants revenge for something.ДЄlong the way, the Princess-disguised-as-a-boy runs into Elizar (who is really the Kingdom's oldest squire), his page, Brian (who has a birthmark that could explain a lot of things), a talking bear, fox and cat and the one who created the dragon in the first place.

Disguising herself as a boy, she runs off the kill the dragon herself. But even with the king offering half the kingdom, and the princess's hand in marriage to the one who kills said dragon, no one is willing to take up the job except Elizar, who is old enough to be the princess's father. Her parents are in despair, as she is not interested in anyone.ДЄnd then the dragon attacks the kingdom. It's the typical tale of a princess who needs to get married soon. The Dragonslayers is a both a musical and a children's book (1994) based off it (the latter written by Bruce Coville).

The bear and the dragon tv tropes