Okay, it’s time for my favourite segment;
Storytime with Maddy!
*Badum-tiss*
As all great stories begin;
Once upon a time lived an old dragon who surrounded himself in the finest cloth the world could offer; perfect silks and fine linens and vibrant cotton. But even surrounded by such beauty, the dragon was not happy, because he was utterly alone. What good is beauty without someone to appreciate it, after all?
Once upon a time the old Dragon had lived with many other dragons, but he was said to have committed a great and terrible deed, and was cast away- forbidden from ever returning home.
His punishment was an invisible collar around his neck, which chained him to the wall of a cave much too cold and much too brightly lit for his comfort. Even worse, his cave was high in the mountains near a village which the Dragons had once terrorized and tormented. The only comfort in his lonely life was the field of Iris outside his cave, where he ventured out to eat the few things he could find.
The villagers hated all dragons, you see, but they dare not kill the strange old Dragon that lived so close to them.
Because even a dragon chained, has claws.
The Dragon lived as peacefully as he could for a very long time, until one day he heard the sounds of drums and and roars- and watched as the villagers drove the Dragons away for good. The old Dragon was stunned as a band of Knights quickly filled the village to ensure that the dragons never again returned.
Now, the Dragon had never liked Knights- but they were much too noble and much too honourable to kill the old chained Dragon, so he watched warily, but settled in his cave and didn’t dare approach them first.
All the Knights were striking in their own way, but the Dragon’s eyes soon feel upon movement in his field of Iris where a nimble and lithe man collected herbs and fungus for his strange bag. The man- a Healer, was special for he protected life with all the will in his bones.
The Dragon watched the Healer with all the incrediousness only a Dragon can muster, when faced with a puppy that ignored all sense of self-preservation. When faced with a creature that dare enter the lair of a Dragon.
Soon the Healer grew tired, and moved through the field to sit and eat his meager meal, before heading back to the village to heal the sick and wounded he had left behind. But the Old Dragon was crafty, and very sneaky, and much too curious and lonely.
Draped in the finest fabrics, he descended into the fields beside the Healer and smiled with all his teeth.
“Good Morning my dear healer!” The Dragon called with ill-disguised enthusiasm, “A fine day if I ever saw one. i hope you’ve found all that you need.“
"I’ve heard of you!” The Healer cried in even-worse disguised fright and enthrallment, “The wily old Dragon left behind after all his kind were driven out! Surely you’ve come to eat me!“
"Me?” The Dragon feigned innocence, “What an imagination! I am but a simple couturier; imagine how I would be if I made a habit of eating all my customers! I’ve come to offer to create a fine Healers tunic for you-I can see that you are clearly in need of my services.“
The dragon pointedly looked at the healer’s tunic in exasperation.
The Healer gaped in shock but nodded, “I’m not in need of a new tunic yet.”
“Ah!” the Dragon smiled knowingly, “But you will! And when you do so desire a new tunic- visit my cave and I will make you a fine tunic indeed!“
The Healer soon fled back to the village. But the Dragon was very crafty indeed, and soon whispered to the moths that shared his cave-
"Dear moths, you dare not eat my fine fabrics, but i know of a place where you an feast to your hearts content!” And he sent the moths down to the village, while he toiled day and night to create a tunic made of perfect copper and blue for the Healer that had captured his attention.
Sure enough, soon the Healer returned to the field of Iris, and the dragon adorned him in the fine tunic, with a glean in his eye-
“Why Healer, you best join me for lunch tomorrow- I can see you are in desperate need of new shoes!”
And the Healer one again responded, “I’m not in need of new shoes- why they are fine and hearty, and have a long life ahead of them!“
Again, soon the Healer returned to his village, and the crafty old Dragon whispered to the mice-
"You dare not touch my fine leathers- but I know of a pair of boots that you can eat in bliss!” And he sent the mice down to the village, while the crafty Dragon spent the night crafting soft leather boots for the Healer to wear on his rounds.
Sure enough, the next day the Healer returned to the field of Iris, looking quite puzzled indeed.the Dragon smiled indulgently and quickly placed the new boots on the feet of the tired Healer, with a glean in his eye.
“My dear healer! Perhaps you could allow me the pleasure of lunch again tomorrow- I dare say that you are in need of a new hat!”
“My hat is fine!” The healer fussed.
But sure enough the healer returned to the village, and the the Dragon whispered to the birds to swoop and steal the hat of the Healer, while the crafty old dragon sat in his cave and quietly made a new fine hat for the Healer.
The next day the Healer returned to the field of Iris, looking quite flustered, while the Dragon indulgently placed the new hat upon the Healer’s head.
“My dear Healer!” the Dragon soon cried again, “Would you so do me the honour of allowing me to replace that old healer’s bag that clings to life in front of me?“
And the Crafty dragon continued on and on, asking the bees and the flies and the spiders and snakes to help him to ensure the return of the kind Healer day after day after day.
Until one day, when the Healer arrived quite calmly and sat at the edge of the Dragon’s cave while the Dragon used his silver tongue to convince the Doctor to allow him the privilege of replacing his old trousers.
"Actually, my dear dragon,” The Healer looked puzzled, “I have a favour to ask of you- would you be so kind as to make me a huge warm blanket for winter? I’m afraid i’m quite cold at night and shiver terribly- it appears that moths and mice have eaten away at it, and the birds have stolen threads and the spiders have ruined it with their eggs!“
Horrified, the Dragon quickly promised to make the largest warmest blanket that had ever existed that the Healer could have before darkness fell. And soon the Healer returned to the village, and the Dragon spent hours and hours sewing the biggest warmest blanket for the kindly Healer in preparation for the Healer’s return before nightfall.
Sure enough, the Healer returned as the night was falling; clearly shivering and cold in the cool air. Soon the Dragon ushered him into the cave, to wrap the huge warm blanket around the healer-
"My dear Dragon!” The Healer slyly responded, “It seems so very odd that as soon as you offered to replace my tunic, the moth would eat it so-“
"The village is well-known for moths.”
“And that as soon as you offered to replace my boots, the mice would chew straight through them-”
“Well, mice are well known for their love of leather.”
“And that when you offered to make me a hat, the birds would steal it, and the spiders would infest my bag and the bees would pollinate my socks!”
“We do live on a rather lively mountain, dear Healer-”
“My Dear Dragon,” The Healer replied in exasperation, “Perhaps you would consider becoming my Lunch companion in the meadow, instead of taking your feelings out on my possessions?“
"Why, my dear healer, what a novel idea!”
“But until then,” The healer replied innocently, “I’m afraid it’s much too dark, to walk home safety tonight- Considering the moths and the mice and the birds and the bees and the spiders that share our lovely mountain- perhaps you could share this fine blanket with me tonight?“
"Why my dear healer,” The sneaky old Dragon responded in surprise, “How very sneaky of you. I’d be utterly delighted.“
…
And they all lived (mostly) happily ever after.
The End.
(For now)
