A Dragons Tale….

“Have you a spare moment to listen?”, the gruff voice said impatiently. It took me aback for a minute, even had my head swivelling this way and that, but there was no-one about. Then suddenly, just in front of my office desk, a large figure began to form.   It was a Green Dragon, and clasped in his right front claw was a small red pipe,  a smoking pipe at that,  which to my mind was not quite the norm.  He went on “Have you perhaps the knowledge of the nearest Dragon Lair?”…I stared open-mouthed, and finally answered “ You know, this is a no smoking area… and to be honest I have no idea where the lair could be…Have you tried asking in reception?” whilst thinking  “Now that’d give Imogen something to do other than polishing her nails!!”

He coughed, a large throaty cough, and a small spurt of bright yellowy/orange flame shot from his mouth,  which gave me rather a jolt as I wasn’t sure if the desk was fireproof, but I carried on regardless… “and I’m sure it’s against office policy to be shooting flames about.”    He begged pardon, and stared at me rather slyly, then lumbered over to my side of the desk. I had a thought to back away slightly, but this was my office and no-one,  especially a Dragon,  was scaring me.  So I looked up and met his eyes,  a rather long way to look up,  but I managed it without blinking, and saw to my surprise that his eyes were rather sad-looking.  Before I could stop myself I asked “Is everything ok? Maybe I can help in some other way?” and his sharp teeth suddenly appeared in a smile, I hoped it was a smile, which seemed to change his appearance from totally overpowering to just about friendly.  “Now that you ask, I think you could do me a favour, but you have to know the consequences before you answer my question.” ..I gulped as I was still staring at his teeth, and what a fine set of sharply point attributes they were, then at his claws which were still clutching his red pipe, now unlit as no smoke was issuing forth at all.   “Consequences?” I echoed..”What ever do you mean?”

He shifted position slightly and following my gaze to his pipe, he said “Oh dear,  I wasn’t concentrating'”  before I could object, he’d relit the pipe by spurting a small length of flame, and wispy smoke curled it's merry way to the ceiling once more., “Now, that’s a handy talent“ I thought, as he took a quick pull at the stem and blew small designs with the smoke,  at first a simple circle, then a flying bird, then finally a three-masted ship in full sail appeared in mid-air. Whilst I gasped at it’s intricate beauty, I was totally unaware of his gaze, his smile and finally the fact that we were both on the deck of the ship, with the sapphire blue expanse of the open seas before us.  “What on Earth" I spluttered, whilst totally overcome with heady excitement,  I was conscious of his gaze again and knew what I had to ask..     “You said something about a Question?”.. “Ah yes, so I did, “ he growled slightly, almost menacingly, “Do you wish for a different Life, Lady?, Do you wish for adventure and more? Think on, you must answer true.”   I opened my mouth to answer, but thoughts were swirling round my brain, each one as stupid as the last, “What about the balance sheets, what about the error in the figures,  What about my job,  what about ... nothing, what about adventure?”  and I finally found my voice and croaked “ I do” which sounded like a marriage vow, so I added quickly, “Yes I do wish that”

“Then let it be so,” He waved his pipe in a circle and muttered a few softly spoken indistinguishable words.. and the smoky form of the ship gained substance until there were firm wooden planks beneath my feet. “I..I..don’t even know your name” were the only words which came to mind. He coughed on his pipe, spluttered whilst roaring “WHAT? don’t you know that’s bad form. You must never ask my name. I will proffer it should I so wish, but no Dragon will ever give his true name, lest he be caught and overpowered by a spell. You may call me Fyrespike, “

‘Twas thus I met Fyrespike, and when I wish adventure, I only have to breathe his name. I still have no knowledge of his true Dragon name, but maybe one day he’ll trust me enough to share.….

but for now you must excuse me, these accounts won’t do themselves …take care fellow travellers…

LadyP©2010

Keep Your Nerve..

Ah yes, this was the place, the number on the door was correct, this was where the 'happening' was going to be held...It looked a gigantic dark building... Knock on the door, go on....knock...So said the voice inside her head, whilst her hand, almost of it's own accord, raised itself, lifted the large brass Lions Head, and let it drop..."Bang" it went, almost startling her in it's loudness... She took a step backwards, almost ready to run should the knock not be answered...Her nerves were bad enough as it was, thinking of what lay ahead tonight... But no, the doorknob started turning, then the massive door creaked open, to reveal a shape, a very large shape blocking out the light from within... "You knocked?"  the voice queried..."Yes" she squeaked nervously, and managed to ask..."Is this the Martins Residence?"...

The figure moved slightly so she now had a better view from the light shining from the lamppost on the street, ...My goodness, he was tall...6' 6" if she was a good judge..... "You're slightly early?"...the man almost accused..."Weren't you informed of the change to the starting time?" She stared, open mouthed, "but surely?...it can't be much later than this?"...They needed to start now, as soon as possible...or else it'll be much too late... He kept his darkly brooding eyes staring directly into her startled gaze, almost considering her statement, then, as if making his mind up, suddenly stepped aside and beckoned her to enter the abode.... She could hear the excited voices within, eager voices, voices suddenly high pitched, almost squealing...Voices which chilled her to the bone... Her heart beats quickened, it was nearly time, she had been readying herself for this moment, this stage in her life, almost before she could remember. She need to do this, and yes, she had tried to once before, but her nerve had given out. He ushered her into the first room off the massive hallway, it was a sumptuously decorated room, empty though, except for the one table, topped by lighted mirrors and a couple of chairs set near the wall, just to the left of the large un-curtained double windows...

'Do you have everything you require?'  his deep voice questioned behind her...She jumped, as her thoughts had turned inwards, thinking about what she had to do, 'Yes, thank you, ' she replied,  always polite, always ready to respond to friendly overtures. Although, looking at him, friendly wouldn't have been the first word she'd have come up with to describe him. She placed her bag on the chair, turned to look at him and firmly repeated ' Yes, thank you, I'll be fine, I have all I could need'.... He gazed at her for a couple of seconds, even that was almost too long a time.  He seemed to soften his attitude slightly, looking down at her from his lofty heights, was that pity in his glance?  'You'll be fine'...Then abruptly left the room, almost as if regretting his kind words...

She sat in front of the lighted mirror, attending to her makeup, then finally put on her costume, all the while thinking as if almost trying to comfort herself...'It won't be like the last time, I mean it's not as if they could kill me or anything...now could they?' The sudden appearance of the figure at the door startled her again and the voice stated blandly..."You ready ?...They're all waiting for you,"

She straightened, stretched her arms out wide and took a steadying deep breath, trying hard to calm herself. She followed him to the door of the next room, where they halted a second or two, listening, as the voices seemed even louder, frantic almost, surely they wouldn't harm her?...

'In you go' he said, as with a push to the small of her back, he almost threw her past the opened door,  threw her to the mercy of................

a room full of screaming children, various ages by the look of things, as her startled gaze tried to figure out where to stand..., “ Heaven help me, “  she thought, “being a Children's Entertainer really took it out on your nerves...Ah well....The show must go on.....”

LadyP © 2010