Night had just fallen, and Mestoph was in his room writing in his journal. The candle by which he wrote flickered in the slight wind that passed through the quiet room. A relaxing end to a long day, he thought.

A rustling could be heard from outside. Mestoph paused, listening. The door swung wildly open, banging against the wall as Dar rushed into the room, out of breath.

Mestoph stood up quickly, "What's wrong?"

"It's back, Mestoph!", Dar exclaimed.

Quickly, and without another word, Mestoph grabbed his sword and shield, then rushed outside, Dar following closely behind. Taking the telescope from Dar's hands, Mestoph looked up into the sky. What he saw was not how he was hoping to end his day.

Gracefully flying through the air, an Azure Dragon swiftly made its way towards the small Shire that it had been attacking for over a week now. Mestoph took several moments examining the dragon. From this distance, it seemed to be smaller than stories have told, perhaps a dragon which has not yet attained adulthood, but when he saw the flash of lightning come from the creatures powerful jaw, he knew that it was dangerous enough.

"Call together the Tempestarii and the local militia, Dar. We will be needing their-", Mestoph stopped as his eyes befell another creature coming through the darkness, the likes of which he had never seen before.

Walking slowly up to the shire was what appeared to be a scarecrow, but this scarecrow was definitely out of the ordinary.

"What is it?" asked Dar.

"I will go off to face the Dragon myself, Dar."

"You're mad!"

"No, Dar" Mestoph said as he pointed to the scarecrow. "There is a creature heading towards the town. I don't know what it is but is nearly here, and will be in striking range much sooner than the dragon. I will go to face the dragon now, the rest of you take care of that thing. Once you do, post the militia on watch and bring the Tempestarii to me to aid me. I will be fine until then."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Mestoph replied.

Dar furrowed his brow at Mestoph, "You truly are insane, do you realize that?"

Mestoph smiled slightly, "Don't worry, Dar. I have a plan. Just remember to come and get me when you are finished here, alright?"

Dar sighed, shook his head, then was off to gather the others. Mestoph looked around, making sure that these were the only two menaces, and then quickly headed off to the house of a local wizard named Jesper.

After a few moments of stressfull knocking, Jesper opened up his door. "Oh, it's you. What do you want?" he asked.

"A dragon is heading this way, and I need your services to help me with -- "

"Come in!" Jesper interrupted.

Mestoph entered the elabourately decorated home, emerging a few moments later with his shield enchanted. With greater confidance now, Mestoph looked to the left where the scarecrow had entered the town, meeting the Tempestarii. He turned to the direction of the quickly closing dragon.

"I hope you're watching over me today, father..." Mestoph whispered, and then quickly headed off into the woods.

It wasn't long before he could see the underbelly of the great beast nearly overtop of him. It was flying low, just over the trees. He climbed up one of them, his shield strapped to his back, and he threw a stone at the dragon to get its attention.

Missing the dragon entirely, Mestoph had thought he would have to double back to try again, but then the dragon saw him, and came swooping down to the ground. Mestoph jumped down from the tree and readied his sword and shield.

"This is as close as you will get to the Shire, dragon. You shall harm the inhabitants no more!" shouted Mestoph.

A great laugh roared from the belley of the creature. Mestoph examined it closely, it's blue scales shimmering in the moonlight, its great pearly teeth, and its obsidian eyes. The impressions it made in the new snow were larger than a warboard, and Mestoph was afraid.

"Do you think you can stop me human? A frail, little creature like yourself?" the dragon laughed again, "Look at you! Hiding behind your little shield. I will devour you slowly, and make you suffer for your stupidity."

The dragon opened it's mouth and took a deep breath. Mestoph steadied himself and wiped the beads of sweat from his head. With a mighty crack the dragon had hurled a lightning bolt at Mestoph, who then flew a few feet back into a tree. The dragon looked at Mestoph, who was relatively unharmed, and its eyes widened.

Another deep breath and another bolt of light shot towards Mestoph, but again Mestoph stood unharmed.

"This is as close as you will get to the Shire, dragon." Mestoph repeated himself.

"It would seem that my breath is ineffective against that shield, so I shall just have to rend it from your pitiful body!" the dragon exclaimed, just before leaping at Mestoph.

Mestoph jerked to the side, narrowly avoiding the charge, but managed to connect a good swing to the side of the dragon. Blood dripped from an uninspiringly small wound in the creature's side. The dragon stared at its side for a moment, and Mestoph stood, watching.

With the speed of a demon, the dragon swung wildly at Mestoph, hurling him several feet into a tree. Mestoph slumped to the ground, his leg broken, the dragon looming over him.

"Looks pretty bad, human. It's a shame you won't be able to learn from your mistakes..."

Mestoph gritted his teeth and rolled out of the way as the dragon lunged for him. "I don't die so easily lizard!" With a strength he didn't know he possessed, Mestoph swung at the dragon, his sword biting deeply into its arm.

As the blood trickled down it, the dragon staggered back. Mestoph got up, propping himself up with his sword. He made his way towards the stunned creature. As he approached, the dragon attempted to strike him with another lightning bolt. This, too, hit the shield, and sent Mestoph crashing to the ground, fighting to stay conscious through the pain.

The dragon lumbered towards Mestoph, who lay in the snow. It stood overtop of him, looking down. It slowly raised its massive foot and as it did Mestoph focused himself and struck out, cutting off a toe. The dragon screamed, and as it did, Mestoph sliced at its belly, wounding it further. He swung again, and again, pouring all his anger and energy towards it. With one final swing he raked the chest, blood and scales flying off.

His energy depleted, Mestoph could do nothing but stare at the dragon. It stared back at him, and slowly fell to the ground. The blood seeping from its body stained the area, and Mestoph stared blankly into the distance. As his vision left him, he saw the foggy vision of his company members rushing to him. Mestoph slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Hours later he awoke to a friendly face.

"How are you feeling, Mest?" asked Dar.

"Could be a whole lot better." he replied.

By Mestoph
Friday, December 06, 1996