"Knight and Dragon" by Frances Monro

Once upon a time there was a knight who used to beat his wife, even though he claimed to love her. 

A dragon came to the land where they lived and terrorized the district, eating cattle and burning byres and cottages. The knight left his home and rode out to to do battle. The dragon was stronger and angrier. It killed his horse, broke his sword and smashed his armour. The knight was left lying wounded, bleeding to death.

That night his wife went out looking for him. She found him lying broken and alone on the cold hillside. She took him home and nursed him back to health. She forgave him for hitting her because she loved him. But when he got better he started hitting her again. One day the dragon attacked without warning, roaring out of the sky, threatening to set their cottage on fire. Still weak from his wounds, carrying his spare sword, the man staggered out of the house to fight the dragon once more.

In his wounded state it did not take long for the dragon to defeat him again. It stood over him, flame pouring from it"s mouth, ready to blast him to Hell. Then his wife ran out of the cottage and stood between them, protecting him from the flames. The dragon stared at her. One long, endless look, it"s eyes full of flame.

Then it turned and flew away and was never seen again. Perhaps some day he will stop hitting her.