Dragons End

Sometimes on the highest peak of Fire Mountain smoke belched out from deep dark cave on the cliff face. In this place called Life Ends Cave a dragon had resided for a long time and every generation had learned to fear this savage beast.

Many people who had previously dared to venture near the cave were said to have been consumed by the smoke and flames that leapt out from the mouth of the cave.

No one had the strength or knows how to destroy the dragon. Over the years many people had tried various things to trap and kill the beast but each time the dragon had their measure.

People all over the countryside were terrified of the dragon and the corpses of many had been scorched and left out in the open as a reminder to everyone of the evil that lived in Life's End Cave.

One day as a young man was out working in the valley he heard a voice in the wind. The voice gently spoke.

" Hear my voice and know it is I who have chosen you to do my will.."

The young man looked around and saw no one.

"Is any one there?"

He said .

Suddenly the wind twisted and turned and in the dust four pillars appeared before him. Then the young man was lifted up by the wind and was given a vision of what was to come.

A voice spoke to him in the vision.

"You who I have chosen will be given the strength to overcome the beast on Fire Mountain. You are now a knight of the realm and have at your command the elements of the earth, sky and sea."

The young man was in shock and shouted aloud.

"I must be going mad?"

A bolt of lightening suddenly fell out of the sky . Where it landed a suit of shinning armour appeared ..The young man fell to his knees and said

"What the huh.?"

A gentle voice said.

"Be not afraid and know that it is I who speaks."

The wind rushed around him like a mini tornado.

In a vision the young man was shown a battle with this beast and the final victory that was to come. Inside him he felt a tremendous surge of courage and strength. It was like a gust of wind rushed through his entire being.

The voice spoke again within the vision.

"You shall be known as Shires, a knight of the realm who was given the power from above to slay the dragon at Life's End Cave ."

Suddenly the young man as if waking from a dream opened his eyes and discovered that he stood there dressed in shinning armour.

A white horse came galloping from across the field where it came to a stop beside the knight's side. The horse carried a large saddle and strapped to the side of the saddle was a sword inside a sheaf. There was a bow and a supply of arrows and a bag with that seemed to have water, food and some potions.

Although he had never been on a horse before Shires mounted up on the horse. As soon as he did the horse turned and faced the wind then galloped across the valley and through the long grass to the untrodden fields at the paths edge near Fire Mountain.

Shires conceived that the breath of God was with him and it gently touched the long grass on the meadows. There was a presence with him. He could feel it was there, like an invisible friend.

The horse slowly made its way up the rocky path on the mountainside. He came to a forest there where he decided to stop for a rest. He placed the reins of the horse around a tree branch and then took the bag that was on the horse . Init were bottles of potions and some food and drink. As he sat on the ground he ate and listened to the birds echoing all kinds of sounds around the mountainside.

Perched on tree branches, many birds whistled to the wind that carried their melodies to the ends of the earth and from the ends of the earth and back again on the gentle wind .

On the wings of the wind the songs had touched every living creature on the land.

The morning was now at midway and the sun was drawing shadows on the forest floor. Shires realised he had to make it out of the forest before nightfall and got back up on the horse to continue his journey to a higher place on the mountain .

On the way he discovered some people there in the forest working and hunting. He spoke to them and told them of his mission. All those who heard him were inspired and filled with courage. They all wanted to follow and help him kill the dragon. Shires accepted all the help that was offered and assumed that it was all part of the mission he was on.

They set out along the mountain paths to unknown territory where they saw signs that the dragon had been there before . All around the hills, lay the charred remains of those who had ventured too far.

Shires had no fear and that was the same for all those who had accompanied him on the way through the forest. They were on a mission from God and there was nothing to fear .

Soon they left the cover of the forest to the open rocky ground . At twilight they came to a bridge that spanned a gap between the mountain paths and the treacherous road that ran in a spiral all the way to the top of Fire Mountain . The edge of the road had a thin edge of crumbling rocks that continually fell over down into the mountain lake that lay far below flimsy looking rope and wooden bridge . Shires persuaded the horse to walk cautiously across the bridge .

Behind the horse were the loyal four followers who kept together in a tight huddle . Suddenly halfway across the bridge a black mist gathered.

It just dropped down from nowhere . From the black mist a fearsome warrior emerged . He was dressed in strange scale like armour plate and on his head a helmet that resembled the face of a dragon .

The warrior began to speak aloud like thunder it echoed all around the mountain.

" I am the gatekeeper of Fire mountain . You shall not pass this way ."

Shires replied.

"I am a knight of the realm and you shall not stand in my way . So get out of my way or I might just lose my temper and do something you might regret."

The warrior laughed and said sarcastically,

" Oh yeah , like what , Mr Realm . Are you going to throw some eggs in my face or send over one of your little forest groupies to do me a mischief ?"

Shires dismounted from his horse and took out the sword from its sheaf . As he did the dark warrior produced a dagger and cut the ropes that were attached from one end of the bridge to the other . The bridge collapsed and everyone and everything on it fell at speed down towards the lake far below .

Immediately Shires commanded the wind to lift him, his horse and all his companions safely to the other side of the bridge . Then the commanded vultures of the sky and scorpions of the earthy to surround the dark warrior who realised he was in big trouble . Not happy with the outcome the warrior said .

"Who are you that commands the wind and creatures of the earth and sky ?"

.

Shires took his sword and placed it against the warriors head and replied ,

"My name is Shires . Knight of the realm . Surrender now or I shall sever your ugly head from the disgusting shoulders that give it rest . Then I shall give what's remains of you over to the vultures and insects that eagerly await my order . So what do you say . Surrender or not ?"

The demon warrior surrendered and bowed down in defeat saying .

"Spare me brave knight . You may pass this way but beware for the journey has just begun . The dragon is aware of your coming and there are many traps laid out for you along the mountain road . You don't know how evil the dragon is . He has witchcraft and all kinds of demons who can cause you great harm .Take my advice go no further . This is your last chance to turn back . Forget your mission is sure to fail ."

With that , the dark warrior ran up the mountain path but after a short distance was struck by a boulder that had toppled down from the top of the mountain .

Suddenly the dragon flew from Life's End and landed on the Mountains edge .

Then screaming in a shrieking din the dragon said ,

"Who are you to trespass on my Mountain ?"

Shires replied .

"I am Shires : Knight of the realm . This mountain was never yours . So allow me to send you back into the pits of Hades from which you came ."

Suddenly in anger flames poured out from open jaws of the beast .

Shires immediacy commanded all the rains of the earth to extinguish the flames . The dragon sent a hot blast of sulphur like gas from its nose but Shires commanded the wind to blow it back up the dragons nose .

Not impressed the dragon returned to the air .

Shires shouted after it ,

"There is nowhere to hide . I am coming to your lair and there we shall end this battle ."

All the followers began to applaud the Knight .

"What's that awful smell ?"

Said Rolac one of the group .

"Even Dragons have problems with the wind ?"

Shires replied .

They all laughed .

"What now ?

Said Rolac .

"Lets go and finish the dragon ."

"Shires replied ,

"Oh no . Let take time . We need to put together a plan .All that dragon was doing was feeling us out ."

"What do you mean ?"

Said Coma .

"I meant sizing us up . Seeing who we where and what powers we had ?"

"So he's a smart dragon ?"

Coma asked .

"Don't forget this dragon has lived on this mountain for a long time and many have failed in their quest to remove him . "

"Is it far to Life's End Cave."

Coma asked .

Suddenly a wall of fire appeared from nowhere dividing Shires from his followers . There was a tension in the air .

Coma looked around at all the faces filled with fear .

They were surrounded by flames and Shires was segregated from the group . Boulders started fall from the mountain top narrowly missing the group .

"Listen falling rocks I command you to become leaves and the valley with colour . Flames of fire I command you to become beams of light to guide our way up the mountain road ."

All along the mountain road torches appeared on the cliff edge tha winded its way to the summit .

"Ned said ,

"How on earth did you do that ?"

Shires looked up to the sky and said ,

" To be honest I don't know , but I do know that Gods help is with me ."

Ned fell to his knees and was joined by Tera , Coma and Rolac .

"Thank you God ."

They all said .

Shires joined them and they all prayed together .

After prayer Shires explained to the group the plan that he had been shown to destroy the Dragon .

"To destroy the dragon we must sever its head and throw it along with its wings into the mountain lake at the rising of the sun . The dragons feet must be placed into four separate holes on the grassy meadows beyond the forest at the foot of the mountain and the Dragons eyes must be removed and placed in a potion that I have in my possession . What remains from the dragon has to be buried in a hole deep and wide and filled with any thing that will feed a flame . So along the way collect any twigs , branches or wood that you see ."

"So how do we cut the Dragons head off ?"

Ned asked .

"We must set a trap to immobilise its movement "

Shires replied and Coma answered ,

"What kind of trap ?"

" Near the entrance to dragons cave we will dig a pit and cover the hole with whatever branches , or things we find . It must look as natural as possible like a blanket that will cover the pit . "

Rolac took his pack from his back and opened it up to reveal large twigs he had previously collected from the forest .

Rolac smiled and said ,

"It just so happens that I may have some items we need ."

"Then what ?"

Tera asked .

"Then my friends I'm going draw the dragon out from its cave ?"

"How will you do that ?"

" It's a well known fact that dragons love lamb . All we have to do is keep our eyes open for a sheep or a ram along the mountain road."

Tera took his pack from his shoulders and said ,

"I may be able to help there:" .

Tera placed parts of the slaughtered lamb she had hunted in the forest earlier that day .

"Thank you God. "

Shires said .

So what then Ned asked .

"Well then when the dragons gets a smell of the lamb cooking he will make his way towards the pit . We will of course all be hiding until he falls into the pit where I am going to await with my sword where I will surprise him with the God given strength I have been given to render the beast's head a separated existence from its body . As soon as that happens , I will remove the feet and wings and what follows next is where you four come in . Immediately you have to throw into the pit lighted torches that will consume the remains of the dragon ."

"Wow that sounds so simple ."

Tera said .

"It may be simple but take it from me that's how the beast meets it end."

Shires said .

Tera asked .

"Is it ok if I call the dragon names when its burning in the pit ?"

"What do you mean names like what ?"

Shires asked .

"Aw like dragons breath or cross eyes or fork tongue , you know something like that ."

Coma continued ,

"What about yellow belly or snake bait or chicken poo."

Tera started to laugh and bang her hands on the ground like a hammer .

Suddenly a strange noise was ringing all around them .

The noise brought a green mist with it and as the strange green mist began to creep over the rocks and craggy edges Shires explained ,

"There's nothing to fear except fear . What the mist will do is to show you things that don't exist . For a little while everything you see will be an illusion . Just remember not to panic or fear as it will feed upon your fear and get stronger . If you are able to ignore the mists deception it will pass by and disappear .

So be strong , it will soon pass us by ."

Within the mist Tera was in the grip of a huge serpent while Coma had become trapped inside a cage with a wild lion . Shires was tied up in a pit with vipers crawling all over him . Ned was suspended on a rope over the side of the mountain with his grasp on the rope slowly failing . Coma was covered in a blanket of spiders that crawled all over her body . After a short while with no fear to add density to the mist it passed away along the road .

On the way up the mountain road, other things were sent to drive them back or even over the edge of the mountain . Demons driving horse drawn carts ,

Made their way up and down the mountain road .

As they approached God sent powerful angels to protect Shires and the four who were drawing ever closer to Life's End Cave .

Finally at the summit near to the dragons cave Shires dismounted the horse .

What happened next unexpected . The horse reared up and its hooves changed into four huge claws and that instantly the horse started to dig .

It was unbelievable the force and speed that the horse was digging and in no time at all there was a pit dug out . Shires took some potions from his bag .One of the bottles had a liquid paraffin like substance that was used to start a fire .

While the four began to cover the hole with branches a twigs m Shires took some twigs and lit a small fire . He took the lamb from Tear and cooked up the beast a promise of lamb in an instant .

The time was right , before the blanket was placed over the hole he made his way with his sword and a bag down into the pit where he waited for the dragon to fall .

As the smell of the lamb was at its tastiest , Shires commanded the wind to carry the aroma into the Dragons Cave .

Then he told his four companions to become invisible and commanded the mountain mist to enshroud them .

The was dragon stirred from its deep sleep by the smell of lamb cooking . As it made its way out from the cave it soon found the place where the lamb was but it also found the pit and went crashing down as soon as it stood on the tangles of twigs and branches . Like lightening Shires leapt into action .

He took a rope with lead balls from his bag and threw them around the dragons legs . As the dragon fell in a heap to the ground Shires took one massive swing with his sword and severed the dragon heads from its body .He tossed the head out from the pit followed by the wings and one by one he cut off each of the dragons feet then threw then from the pit .

Then the brave knight climbed from the pit his friends started throwing lit torches into the bottom of the pit that had been soaked with paraffin and other inflammable fluids .Within seconds flames were leaping from the pit and the four companions began to dance and sing and call the dragon names .

Shires gouged the eyes from the beats head and pit them into a bottle of potion that was shown to him in the vision , then he handed over a dragons foot to each of the four who wrapped them up in their packs to be buried further on down at the foot of the mountain .

That night they slept near the mountains edge and in the morning as the sun rose the dragons wings were thrown along witht he head into the lake

Then they made their way back down the mountain road .

As they did the dragon reappeared from the lake .

But in that instant Shires explained ,

" Don't worry my friends , the dragon is dead . Lets get home ."

As the last illusion disappeared the group of dragon slayers wiped away tears of laughter fro their eyes .

Rolac said ,

"Brave Knight we are so grateful for you coming to save all of us from the dragon .

Tera added ,

"No longer we will have live in fear . You have rescued us all from the dauily terror we have endured for all our life . Thank you ."

Shires dismounted and fell to his knees thanking God for the victory over the beast . They all prayed giving thanks to God for the victory .In the middle of their prayer a gentle wind moved over the mountain and there within the breeze there came a whisper ,

"You and your families will never have to fear again the threat of destruction by the beast on my Mountain . Live in peace and harmony from this day on and remember I am who I am and I am never far from you ."

When they reached the foot of the mountain they buried the dragons feet in separate holes in the ground . As they did four tall trees immediately grew .

The trees stood to remind everyone that God can do the impossible .

Now and then people still talk about the brave Knight who was last seen heading back up to the mountain on a white horse surrounded by wild animals and birds . The knight was never seen again and the world without a dragon is a better place indeed .

The End

By Paul McCann