[Intro – crackling fireplace, distant lute strum] Mugs clink beneath the rafters Candlelight paints the rafters [Verse 1 – gentle acoustic guitar, soft foot tap rhythm] Old man leans on his oak cane Eyes like embers tell the tale Of a knight with a dented shield Who chased a dragon through the veil [Pre-Chorus – rising fiddle melody, quiet drum thud] The road was long, the night was cold His sword was sharp, his heart was bold He followed tracks of ash and bone To a cave where the shadows roamed [Chorus 1 – full folk ensemble, warm harmonies] Tavern tales and dragon scales Heroes rise and legends fail Magic weaves through every line In the stories that outshine time [Interlude, Instrumental Solo] (Instrumental Solo) [Verse 2 – acoustic guitar with mandolin accent, softer vocals] The dragon woke with a smoke-filled roar Breathed fire that lit the stone floor The knight didn’t strike, he knelt instead Said “I’ve come to mend what was bred” [Pre-Chorus 2 – faster fiddle, steady snare tap] The dragon’s eyes softened from red to gold Said “You’re the first who didn’t hold A blade to my throat, or a curse on your tongue You see the beast, but not the one” [Chorus 2 – layered vocals, brighter fiddle] Tavern tales and dragon scales Friendships bloom where fear prevails Magic weaves through every line In the stories that outshine time [Bridge – sparse guitar, intimate vocal tone] The knight and dragon walked as one Broke chains that had been tightly strung The tale spread wide from coast to coast Of how kindness won the most [Final Chorus – full ensemble, triumphant harmonies] Tavern tales and dragon scales Hope prevails when courage fails Magic weaves through every line In the stories that outshine time [Outro – fading guitar, final mug clink] The fire dies, the tale winds down But the magic lingers all around