*Note- this was written for my seven-year-old, who does not like to slay his personal Dragons.*
Seth tightened his belt, securing his
heavy sword. It was too big, but it was only for practice. At least
his helmet and shield were the right size. He tramped through the
woods toward the dam. He stopped at the bloated dragon in a boiling
river.
“I knew you were up here, Dragon,”
Seth said.
Dragon's nostrils puffed out steam.
“How did you know?”
“The water downstream is bubbling.”
Seth settled on his favorite boulder.
“Ugh. It's this build up. It's so
uncomfortable and hot.” Dragon lifted his claws, dripping water
over his scaly neck.
“Dear me,” Seth said, “you're
nearly twice your regular size! Your head is bright red. You look
like you've a terrible fever.”
“It's my flame-spurt all backed up.”
Dragon scratched his swollen middle. “You've got to build up your
flame, if you want to use it for anything bigger than a marshmallow
roast. But I let mine build too much.”
“It has been awhile since we roasted
marshmallows.” Seth frowned. “Can't you just... let it go a bit
at a time?”
Dragon's tail was floating on the
water like a huge, purple bubble.
“I should have.” Dragon sighed,
his cheeks glowing deep orange. “It's terribly embarrassing.”
Seth scratched his head.
“I can see the rest of you is a nice
shade of green again. Can't you leave the river now?”
Dragon splashed with his tail. “Why
should I?”
“Well, it's my birthday, Dragon. I'm
seven years old! Sir William asked me to be his Page. He'll make it
official as soon as I've done a Brave Deed.” Seth puffed out his
chest.
“What an honor! But why do I have to
leave the river for that? The dam has even sprung a nice little leak
that's showering my head. It's lovely.”
“Won't you go visit your Mum for a
few days as a favor to me? Please?”
Dragon huffed. “I can't fly while
I've got this terrible build up. I could light the entire countryside
ablaze with a sneeze. Mum says that my Dad burned down a forest when
he was my age, because he misjudged a burp. And you still haven't
said why you want me to go.”
Seth blushed. He kicked at the mud.
“Well, the farmer just down from the river has the nicest daughter.
I'd like her to come to my birthday celebration. But she can't,
because of you.”
“That's silly. I wouldn't stop your
friends from coming to your party.”
“But you are, Dragon.”Seth
groaned. “The hot water is making their plants wilt. She has to run
cold well water over the seedlings so that they won't burn up. She
can't stop until the river is cool again.”
Dragon hid his face behind his wings.
“Oh dear. I'm sorry, Seth. But I simply can't leave. I wish I
could.”
“Maybe you could move a bit farther
upstream and the plants wouldn't wilt so badly.”
“Well, would you check to see if the
dam is strong enough to hold me? This blasted thing is spitting water
at me so ferociously, I can't see a thing.”
The trickle had turned into a
waterfall. Pieces of earth and rock were pealing off the dam.
Something was wrong!
Seth scrambled up the hillside and
looked at the top of the dam. There were hundreds of logs slamming
against it.
“The dam is swollen almost as bad
you! It looks like balloon!” He cried.
“What!?” Dragon shrieked.
“You've got to fly away, Dragon.
Now! The dam is going to break.”
“I can't! I'll turn everything I
pass into ashes.”
Seth looked at the logs and back at
Dragon's swollen tail. Then, he had a thought. “Dragon, how many trees did your
father burn when he was your age?”
Dragon sputtered. “Well, the whole
forest.”
“That's a lot of logs.” Seth grinned, “I have an idea.”
Seth explained his plan. He climbed to
the top of the dam.
“But what if the timbers on the dam
catch fire?” Dragon worried.
“I'll have to use my helmet to wet
them down and my sword to push the burning logs away. Now go! I'm
ready.”
Mist rose round them as the Dragon
unfurled his wings. Seth braced himself.
Flames erupted from Dragon's throat.
The logs pushing against the dam started burning. Water evaporated in
clouds off of the reservoir.
Smoke and steam stung at Seth's eyes.
The logs threatened the dam again and again. Each time, Seth pushed
them back with his sword.
Finally, the logs crumbled into ashes. Dragon perched on the dam beside Seth. “Oh, what a relief. I feel so much
better.”
Seth smiled. “Yes, you're all green
again. And you look your proper size.”
“I'll be sure to have marshmallow
roasts with you more often. Oh, I feel so good! I think I'll go for a
nice fly and see my Mum after all. Happy Birthday, Page Seth! I'm
off!”
Seth watched his friend flap away.
“Hello! Who goes there!” The farmer called from the bottom of
the dam.
“Oh, it's me, Seth. Sir Williams
Page.”
The farmer squinted and shouted. “Are
you alright? I saw a fire breathing dragon up here!”
Seth slid down the hill on his shield. “That dragon is my friend. I saw the
reservoir was clogged with heavy logs. He helped by burning up the
old logs before they broke the dam. Have a look.” He pointed to the water trickling from
the hole.
The farmer inspected the dam. “Why, you're right. If this had
gotten any larger, it would have been a disaster. Lad, you've saved
my farm! How can I repay you?”
“Oh, sir, won't you bring your daughter... I mean your whole family to my birthday celebration?”
The farmer smiled. “It would be an
honor. I'd like to tell Sir William about the Brave Deed you did
today.”
Seth straightened his belt, his sword
felt lighter on his hip. He felt brave.
