The Dragons Lair

THE DRAGONS LAIR

I struggle through the long, thick grass. I glance behind me- am I
being followed?

No, it must be my imagination running on overdrive. I struggle on
through the weeds, and the grass. Nettles sting my skin, bringing up
intense blisters. But I do not care... I promised I'd go to him... that
I would be there...

The spooky aura of the woods makes me feel... alive. I note the crows
nesting in the trees, the hedgehogs foraging for food. In the distance,
I hear traffic from a new motorway. From here, it sounds almost
meledious. The only other sound is the rustling of me wading through
the grass, up to my waist. The occasional cracking of me stepping on
small twigs and branches...

I carry on my trek for almost an hour... I am being called... he is
calling me... I must not let my friend down. I must carry on.

I hear someone elses breathing and spin around... I see some people
here to cut down trees... they are wielding chainsaws... and I drop to
the floor. The must smell of the grass and moss is intoxicating... like
my stepfather after he's been drinking. The fumes are addictive, sweet
and make my head swim. But despite wanting to stay here and become
drunk on this aroma, I must carry on...

Eventually I arrive in the small, dense clump of thorn bushes which are
so familiar to me... to the untrained eye they seem impassable. But I
know of a small, secret tunnel. It's a tight squeeze, but a few
scratches aren't going to stop me... I will be there soon my
friend...

As I crawl through the tunnel on my belly, I glance up to see a small
nest. The small bluetit I call Veronica is here again. Every year she
returns here to raise her chicks... it's very protected here and I know
why she always returns here. She glances at me, but doesn't move. My
teacher was wrong- birds are intelligent. She recognises me, knowing I
am not a threat. Suddenly, I see a small chick poke its head over the
side of the nest... is it saying hello? I smile, a smile which says,
"Hello there friend." Then two more chicks glance over the side of the
nest. "Well done Veronica!" I whisper softly. I nod, as if to say, "I
must go now." And Veronica flies off... on the hunt for some food for
her ravenous chicks.

It takes a half an hour to navigate the rest of this thorny maze... I
have been here far too often to forget my way. I clamber out over a
small ledge and fall to the ground. This is it... this is the
clearing.

The clearing is as magical as I remember it to be... surrounded densely
by thorns and trees... There are flowers growing here. Primroses,
bluebells and even tulips I planted here last year... they have grown
amazingly well. I know it's because this area is sacred... and
holy.

At the far end of this clearing is my doorway. My destination has
almost been reached. The plinth is still there, the sacred altar to a
mystical world. To my friend. I feel him calling me... the feeling is
far greater here. It overwhelms my senses... I am oblivious to
everything...

The I feel arms get flung around my waist!

My younger brother. "Why did ya liv me behand?" he demands. I shake my
head... I did not want him to come... this is my friend. How could he
understand? How could he begin to fathom the meaning of this
place?

He carries my bag. Of course! I left it behind in my haste to get
through the thorn bushes. I nod. "Wha da silant tweetmant?" My brother
asks. I do not reply... words here mean nothing. I never need them. My
friend and I have deeper communication than speech.

I stop at the altar... I grab my bag and get out my stepdads crowbar...
I raise the loose slab at the base to reveal a rune... which I
instinctively press.

The plinth moves back slowly to reveal steps leading down. "It dark!"
My brother gasps nervously. I do not care. This darkness is no threat
to me. I feel at home with it. I grab my bag and sling it over my
shoulder... and begin to descend the steps. My brother follows...

At the base of the steps is a torch... exactly where I left it last
time. It never goes out... it's always alight- waiting for me. I remove
it from it's rusty holder... the torch flickers. As if to say, "Welcome
back!"

My brother grabs my other hand. He is scared, this territory is
unfamiliar to him. But thi is where I feel at home. The tunnel leads
into darkness... but I know that I am close to him... he is waiting for
me...

My brother and I trek through the tunnel. The occasional torch lights
the way... burning for all eternity. Their light casts great shadows...
this mood made me feel cold at first but now it makes me feel alive.
The tunnel twists and turns... but eventually, it leads into a large
chamber.

"Oh my...." my brother gasps. I smile. "I am here." I call, in my
mind.

In the center of the chamber is a large skeletal figure- a dragon,
sadly it's former days of glory buried in the myths and legends of
several hundred years ago. It is curled up... as if it was sleeping. It
is a sight to behold... even now, it never ceases to take my breath
away. There is a ramp leading down into the chamber which I descend. My
brother follows, dumbstruck, speechless. But words are meaningless
here.

I light the torches surrounding the skeletal remains. The light shines
towards a large wall, wth hundreds of images carved into it - a grand
mural. A masterpiece. It must be hundreds of years old, but it's still
vivid and perfect in every detail.

I turn and kneel in front of the dragon... I invite my brother to do
the same. "Hello..." my bother whispers very quietly, scared, as if the
dragon would spring to life any second...

I place my hands on his gigantic paw... as does my brother. As I do, I
lose control of my body... it has become useless, merely an object
which carries the true me in the top world. I am suddenly transported
back to those days... but today seems to be different... the dragon has
looked upon me strangely. I explain that my brother means no harm, but
it seems it's not my brother that is the problem.

I wake in this new world, clad in leather armour, carrying a small
sword. My brother wakes a few feet away in a small smock... he is
unable to find the words to describe this experience.

Suddenly, I notice a large crowd nearby. I glare at them. They glare
back.

"Hand over that beast!" a Priest cries out.

"NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!" I wail out angrily, drawing my sword. I will die
for my friend. I would die a thousand deaths for him. I would crawl
through the deep waters of hell, cross a pit of lions, swim with
sharks- anything! But the dragon steps forward. It looks back at
me.

"Thankyou, friend. But this is my time." It says in the deep, magical
voice I have come to know and love. "Please, don't hate these people...
one day they will tell tales of me! I will die knowing one day you'll
come back for me!"

I stand there as the crowd darts forward. The dragon does not fight
back, the silver blades of swords glint in the sunlight. The crimson
blooms of blood shower the emerald green grass. The dragon collapses
after a while... and looks at me and my brother.

"Thank you... friends..." he sighs with his last breath.

I cry out in a rage- "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Suddenly I find myself dressed normally, with my brother, in a small
area. A great light stands before us- it's him!

"My friends!" The dragons spirit calls. "This is destiny... we are
friends for eternity. The time has come for you to move on however, but
know always I am here if you need my guidance."

"Why...." I call, through a stream of tears. "I want.... to be with
you... here... forever! I want you to be my friend... forever!"

The dragon nods. "We are friends... for eternity. You are the same two
people who fought for me all those centuries ago. When you die, your
spirits will finally be laid to rest... now I have told you this truth,
you will join me here... until then my friends, I beseech you to live
your lives for me. You are no longer children to the world..."

And in a split second we are back in the great chamber! I am numb... I
am unable to convey what I feel. My friend has told me to move on... my
brother grabs my hand and leads me away from this place... back to the
clearing.

The moonlight hits my face and my brother flees... he is scared...
confused by what the dragon said to us. But now, in this evening wind,
I hear him again. "Do not feel bitter... we will meet again. Until then
my friend, farewell."

Suddenly the world seems different... people are not perfect any
more... the world is a violent, cruel place. He was right. We are no
longer children. We have learned several truths. But the one which I
know will remain with me always... life is short. True friendship- is
eternal. The moonlight welcomes me back to reality... I have waived my
right to continue my childhood blissfully ignorant. I have learned many
things... but I know this is not goodbye to my friend.

"Until we meet again."