The dragon's breath was the hottest thing I had ever felt. Sweat poured off of my body and vaporized before it had time to hit the ground. A living desiccant. Once. twice, thrice I swung the bastard sword. To my horror instead of cleaving the iron hard scales on the third stroke it broke. Shattered into four pieces.
The dragon laughed and I ran. It followed leisurely.
"Come back small mortal" it hissed.
Up the cavern passage I ran, slipping on the guano and cursing my luck. There, behind the crystal wall my last chance. I took the broken hilt and scribed a line in the surface, then another. With all my strength I struck the crystal with the pommel of my erstwhile sword and ran on.
The dragons laughter hid the rumble. The crystal spalled and ruptured and tons of water poured fourth from the glacial pool the crystal had restrained and quenched the dragons fire and then his life.
I freed the maiden from the pillar of iron and demanded drink. She took me back to the inn and there I drank. Dark smooth and cool. Stein followed stein. I quaffed all that they had.
Then I kissed her sweet lips.
The innkeeper was so impressed. Never had he known such a quaffer.