Fred moves in 3/4

Jennifer Jane climbed up on his back and wished for a wide path leading to the giants' pool.

"Well I never noticed that before," said Dekron as Jennifer Jane pointed out the way through the trees. As she expected, the path led past the giant. He didn't see them go by as he'd just remembered a joke that Barnacle Bill had told him during his last visit. He was crying helplessly with laughter as Dekron trotted round the pool. They walked along the bank of the river flowing from the pool until the trees thinned out. There in the distance was the magic fog which allowed seafarers to visit their wished for destination. Dekron flew into the fog as instructed.

"Clarence's cave please," called Jennifer Jane, hoping that the wish would work for flyers as well as sailors.

The dragon flew out of the fog into bright sunshine and to her relief she could see the familiar hills and the cave overlooking the river.

Clarence had obviously heard the approach of a strange dragon and he came out of his cave breathing fire. He relaxed a bit as he saw Jennifer Jane but kept a wary eye on Dekron just the same. "Hello young Mary May, what can I do for you today?"

“This dragon's name is Dekron the Destroyer. He's come from the other world by mistake. My name is Jennifer Jane as you jolly well ought to know by now!”

"Dash it so it is, jolly bad memory for names old gel, nice meeting you Dekron but I'm afraid we don't use 'terrible' names in this world."

"My real name is Fred," said Dekron the Destroyer rather sheepishly.

"Pleased to meet you Fred, my name's Clarence. How can I help you old chap?"

Jennifer Jane explained the situation.

"While I'm thinking about your problem," said Clarence, "you'd better have a bite to eat, you look a bit off colour to me."

"Could I really," said Fred, "I'm usually blue but I haven't eaten anything for weeks now and my flame's gone out."

Clarence came out of his cave holding half a dozen tins of food. "Some of mine and some that Megan keeps here for the times she comes to visit me," he said, "you'll be able to see if you prefer cat food or dog food and there are some crunchy bits in each tin which should start up your flame again.”

Fred popped them in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. Then after a while he spat out six empty chewed up tins. Jennifer Jane didn't think very much of his manners but supposed that was what dragons did in the other world.

"Not at all bad," said Fred, looking happier than Jennifer Jane had seen him so far. "A bit like little round knights in armour."

He burped contentedly and a small flame trickled out of the corner of his mouth. "Much better," he said "and I think my colour's starting to come back as well."

"I've had an idea," said Clarence who'd been thinking quietly while Fred was eating "but I'll have to see Megan and Cyril first. I'll tell you how to take Jennifer Jane back home and then Cyril will come over tomorrow morning. We'll soon have you fixed up all tickety boo."

Clarence gave him some directions in dragon talk and then Fred flew Jennifer Jane back to the clearing in her home woods. It took a lot longer to get home because he had to fly the whole way, since the magic fog was at the wrong end of the journey.

Fred was much happier as he said goodbye.

"See you tomorrow morning," said Jennifer Jane but he'd already laid down and started to snore.

When she got indoors her parents were both reading,

"Supper's in the oven," said her Mother.

"Did you manage to sort out Abigail's problem?" asked Dad, while Jennifer Jane tucked in to her supper.

"Not yet," she replied between mouthfuls" but a friend of mine thinks he has an idea and will let me know tomorrow morning."

The next day Jennifer Jane set off for the woods as soon as she and her Father had finished the washing up. Her parents watched her walk along the garden.

"Well she seems safe enough and she always comes home happy," said Mary "but I'd love to meet her friends again, I'm sure they really are witches."

"You'll be telling me next that the fairies and dragons we met were real as well," said Dave with a laugh.

"I'm certain that Abigail flew off on a broomstick even if it doesn't sound possible and that makes me wonder about the rest of them."

Dave just shrugged his shoulders and went out into the garden to do some digging.

The next morning, Cyril had already arrived and was chatting to Fred when Jennifer Jane got to the clearing.

"Good morning Fred, good morning Cyril."

"'Morning Jennifer Jane," replied both dragons.

"So what's Clarence's plan?"

"We go to the magic fog and ask to meet Clarence," said Cyril. "that'll save a lot of time because we're going to go rather a long way, up to Scotland in fact."

Fred was looking a lot better too, he'd turned a very nice shade of blue and because he was bigger than Cyril he said he'd let Jennifer Jane ride on him to go and see Clarence. Jennifer Jane wished for the wide path to the magic fog and they all set off. This time the giant did see them as they walked round his pool.

"'Morning Jennifer Jane, 'morning Cyril, 'morning ...er?"

"His name is Fred," said Cyril "and he's from the other world, but he's going to go and live in Scotland."

"Oh well, hello Fred, goodbye Fred," said the giant and this tickled his sense of humour so much that he started crying with laughter and didn't see them walk away along the riverbank.

Once in the fog, Jennifer Jane wished to see Clarence. When they emerged the scenery looked very familiar, although she'd never been to Scotland before. It was very like the area where Megan lived in Wales. She supposed that anywhere a dragon chose to live would be much the same. After all, these days they just wanted peace and quiet and a cave where they could guard their treasure. Clarence and Megan were waiting for them just outside a medium sized cave mouth.

"You're looking a lot better today Fred," said Clarence as he introduced Megan.

"Pleased to meet you Fred," said Megan, "nice place you have here. Clarence found it for you, I hope you like it."

Fred went in to inspect his cave and came out again bright blue and beaming with pleasure.

"It's wonderful," he said, "there's more treasure in there than I've ever seen before in my life. Is it really all mine to look after?"

"Very historical this cave is," said Megan, "it's the cave that Robert the Bruce hid in before the battle of Bannockburn. His followers left him and the Royal treasure behind, then went off to lead the English away from their King."

"Robert the Bruce saw a spider trying to weave a web across the cave mouth," continued Clarence "and after several attempts it succeeded. Then when the English came by they thought no one could be hiding inside because of the web across the entrance. Robert the Bruce was so impressed by the spider's perseverance, that when he left the cave he had one more attempt to beat the English and that time he won."

"Forgetful though," said Megan, "left all the treasure in the cave he did and it's been here ever since."

"I expect he was excited by winning the battle and couldn't remember where the cave was," said Jennifer Jane.

"Very likely," said Clarence and Megan together.