Yew

Pippin sat on the low stone wall surrounding the family burial ground. He kicked his feet in time to the tune in his head without noticing either the tune or the kicking. He was thinking, having discovered that this spot lent itself to thinking. It stood upon a hilltop away from the bustle of Whitwell Farm.

More than his own family lay buried here. Close neighbors and the families of farmhands were here as well in this quiet shaded ground. The stone wall, armpit height on an adult hobbit, surrounded it, with a double-door dark green wooden gate at its sole opening. Within it oak trees and yew trees stood watch over the clipped lawn . . . and markers.

A twitch of motion caught the lad's eye. He looked over at a spot where yew branches draped themselves over the wall. On top of the wall next to the flat green leaves and the bright red berries of the plant lay what looked like one of the striped and spotted lizards that sometimes made their homes in the spaces between the stones. I must have been a baby as it was smaller than the six inches they usually are. The front of its body was swaying.

Pippin tried to spot the insect it must be stalking, but saw nothing. The lizard continued to sway; losing its balance but catching it again, first to the right then to the left, before deciding to rest on its stomach.

"What's the matter, little lizard?" Pippin bent closer. "You're acting strange."

He slowly reached for the small reptile until he touched its back. Instead of darting off, it just laid there twitching its tail. The lizard didn't look quite right. Its brown was nearly red, there seemed to be extra scales or ridges on its back, while its head seemed a touch too narrow, but Pippin was paying more attention to its behavior than its looks.

"Now that's odd. You should be long gone by now, down the side of the wall and into a crack somewhere."

The lizard stuck out its tongue. There was a tiny dab of green on it.

"You daft lizard! You've eaten some yew leaf, haven't you?" Pippin picked the creature up, holding it so he was addressing its left eye. "That's poisonous, silly lizard. You ought to know better."

The only response the scolding elicited was a slow blink.

"My Ma's a healer, a healer of hobbits not lizards, though she has helped some of the animals on our farm as well. I wonder if she might know what to do with you?" He turned the animal about. "I don't see aught else wrong with you. You look a bit thin in the snout and your coloring is off, but that could be from the poison. Shall I put you in my pocket and take you home?"

A pink tongue poked out, flicked, retreated.

"I'll take that for a yes!" Pippin smiled, gave a short nod of his head, tucked the lizard into his shirt pocket, jumped down off the wall and ran home.

A while later he burst into the kitchen, causing his mother to jump. She set the platter of biscuits she had nearly dropped onto the counter as her son began talking.

"Hello, Ma. Sorry to make you jump. Did you drop any of the biscuits? That would have been tragic as you make the best biscuits. Do you know where my bug cage is? And do you have a moment to look at a lizard? I think he nibbled a yew leaf. May I have a biscuit?"

Lanti brushed a stray strand of hair out from where it had caught in her mouth. "Let's see, Pippin. Your apology is accepted for making me jump. No, I did not drop any biscuits. I don't know where your bug cage is. I don't mind looking at a lizard but I have no idea if I can help it, and yes, you may have a biscuit."

Her son grinned as he took a warm biscuit off the platter. "You didn't miss any of it, Ma!" he teased her before stuffing the whole biscuit into his mouth. He sighed and closed his eyes in ecstasy.

"I rarely do. You've given me plenty of practice. Oh! I just thought. Perhaps you should check my potting shed for the cage. It seems to me I saw it out there last time I was potting flowers."

Pippin dug about in his pocket, pulled out the lizard, was pleased to see it wasn't floppy from dying, and then set it on the kitchen table. "I'll go look for the cage, Ma. You can be looking him over and deciding how to cure him while I'm gone. Wonderful biscuit, by the way!" he added just before the door slapped closed behind him.

His mother looked down at the small animal sitting calmly on her table.

"Well, I don't reckon you're much different from the frogs he's had me "heal" over the years. Usually they've just been stunned and soon as I reach for them they hop off and all's well."

She extended her hand. Closer. Closer. Touching. The little lizard felt a bit dry and warm to her touch. A feverish reptile? He had just come out of Pippin's pocket. Yet it was troublesome nonetheless.

"Maybe you are ill, wee lad. You've not run off."

It stuck out its tongue and Lanti spotted the green speck. Slowly, she moved her forefinger toward the speck. "Hold still. Hold . . . still. I'm most likely being as foolish as my son and if you bite me, I guarantee I'll toss you across the room." With utmost care she managed to snag the fleck with her finger nail. She could have sworn the tiny creature gave a sigh of relief.

For a change, Pippin had good timing. He arrived just as Lanti had taken her finger away from the lizard's mouth.

"I found it!" he called out as though his mother was at the far end of the house. "It was on the work bench, back in the corner almost hidden behind that fancy blue pot you put the orange mums into come autumn."

"I'm right here, Peregrin. No need to holler so."

"Sorry Ma," he replied at a reduced volume while setting the cage on the table. "How is Yew?"

"It should be 'How are you?' dear."

"What? Oh! No, Ma. The lizard." He rested his chin on the table to get a lizard's eye look at the object of his question. "I'm calling him Yew, since that's how he ended up being here; eating some yew leaf and all. How is he? Can you make him better?"

Yew blinked an eye at the lad.

"I don't know, Pippin. I've studied healing people and somewhat the healing of animals we keep on our farms or as pets. I don't know that anyone knows about healing reptiles and such. He is most certainly not well. He let me pick the piece of leaf off of his tongue with my finger."

Pippin lifted his chin so he could nod, the set it back on the table. "That is odd. I was surprised when he let me pick him up and stick him in my pocket."

Pippin gave a start when Yew lifted his head and started walking.

"Look, Ma!"

"I see. Hmm. He still isn't scampering off as I expected."

They watched as Yew ambled over to the cage. He stopped in front of the sliding door, tipping his head to look up at Pippin. Pippin had put a flat rock and some grass in the cage before bringing it inside, so it was all ready for its new occupant except for borrowing one of his sister's toy saucers for Yew's water . Mother and son looked at each other, both with eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yew appears to want into the cage, Pippin." Lanti whispered.

Pippin nodded, reaching over to lift the cage door. Yew walked in, climbed up onto the rock, turned about once then laid down with his tail curled around his body.

"How unusual."

Pippin nodded again. "I . . . ah, I'm going to go ask Vinca which saucer I can use for Yew's water."

"Yes, good idea Pippin. He will need some water. I think your sister is in the parlor."

Pippin left and Eglantine bent down to look at Yew. "You really are most unusual." She shook her head, straightened up and went back to her baking. There was one last pan of biscuits to put into the oven.

**To Be Continued**

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The lizard I'm using is the Common lizard - Lacerta vivipara, which is found throughout England.

Yew trees, despite their popularity in Old World hedges and gardens, are poisonous. The only part of the plant that isn't poisonous is the red fleshy covering over its small hard seed.

Yews were often planted in burial grounds. "In ancient cosmology, the Tree of Life [which the yew is associated with] includes the process of death. And so it is with the yew in the northern temperate zone. Its links with eternal life, death and rebirth are legion in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon and Nordic traditions. Christian churchyard traditions blended smoothly with these ancient roots, the yew remained a symbol of eternity. The terminology, however, changed from 'rebirth' to 'resurrection'." (Copyright © Fred Hageneder 2005)

That evening, Yew was the talk of the supper table. Pearl thought he was cute, Pimpernel wanted nothing to do with him and Vinca said if he got out and she found him, he was hers.

"Finders keepers, losers weepers." She sing-songed.

Pippin bristled. "You take Yew and you'll regret it!"

"Children." Paladin warned.

"Yes, Da," the two youngest siblings replied while glaring at each other.

"I was thinking, Pippin," Paladin interrupted the stare down, "that Yew seems a bit big for your bug cage. That and we know lizards like to hide in rocks and such. Shall we build a new cage for him tomorrow?"

Vinca was forgotten. "Yes! That would be grand. I'm sure he would be much happier."

After supper father and son sat at the table talking and drawing plans for Yew's new home.

Yew convalesced in the bug cage in a corner of the kitchen for two more days. His healer wanted him where she could keep an eye on him as she worked. Lanti put chamomile tea into his saucer instead of water while recruiting some of the farmhand's lads to catch small bugs and worms, along with gathering various mosses and plants she knew were nonpoisonous, to try to learn what the small lizard liked to eat. The first day he drank his tea but didn't eat anything as far as she could tell. At tea time the second day he caught and ate a tiny cricket when she was refilling his tea.

"It's always good to see a patient eating," Lanti cheerily told Yew. "Although I'm not used to seeing things eaten alive. That, my wee friend, will take some getting used to." A shiver went down her spine as she walked away.

Pippin and his father worked hard on the new cage; even taking some of their meals out in the work shed.  It measured two feet by one and a half feet by one foot deep. They made the sides and cover from thin strips of wood woven together, spaced wide enough apart to make viewing Yew easy, yet close enough that he shouldn't be able to get out. Its crowning glory was the small cave in one corner. Its base was a triangular shaped piece of slate. Paladin mixed a small batch of mortar, then he and Pippin built a sturdy little structure with stones Pippin gathered. In another corner they made a small pond with the mortar they had left over. They nailed a couple of dead branches in place for Yew to climb on, covered the bottom with a layer of moss and Yew had a new cage fit for a lizard king.

The ceremony to present the  new cage preceded dinner on Yew's third day in the Took home. Lanti had declared her patient fit and able to be housed away from the kitchen so it was placed on a low table in Pippin's bedroom. The whole family was there for the unveiling.

"That's very nice." Nell stated. "I'll be getting the table ready for supper."

Pippin lost some of his bouncy excitement at her lack of enthusiasm.

"Don't droop, Pippin," Pearl said. "You know how prissy Nell is. I think it is a wonderful cage and I'm sure Yew will love it. Are you putting him in it now or after supper?"

"Why don't you get him now, Pippin? He is feeling much better and I'm certain he would like more room to move about in."

"All right, Ma! I'll be back with him in a wink."

Lanti gave her husband a squeeze around his waist. "It is a lovely cage, Paladin. I particularly like the cave. It turned out very well."

"Thank you, my dear. It was a bit tricky to keep the roof from falling in while the mortar hardened, but we did it. Pippin was a great help. Ah! Here's my building assistant with the resident of this fine cage."

Pippin set the bug cage down and opened the door.

"Be careful, Pippin," his mother admonished. "He is feeling better. He might try to run away or bite."

"Just remember, if he gets away and I catch him, he's mine." Vinca interjected. "And the cage too."

"Yes'm." Pippin replied to his mother without looking at her. He ignored his pesky sister. "All right, Yew. Time to move into your new home."

Pippin spoke softly to the lizard as he moved his hand closer. To his surprise, Yew scampered onto his palm and then sat there. He waited to see if his pet would make a dash up his arm, but Yew just sat there with an impatient look in his eye. Pippin drew his hand out of the bug cage, turned and lowered it into the lizard cage until the back of his hand rested on the mossy bottom.

Yew walked off the lad's hand and over to the cave. He eyed it. Sniffed it. Flicked his tongue at it three times, then strolled into it. For a few moments they couldn’t see him in the shadows, then his head appeared at the entrance. He laid down, curled his tail around his feet, and stared back at the hobbits staring at him.

"I think that's lizard for 'I approve!' What do you think, Da?"

"I think you're right, son. Why don't you dump those crickets out of that jar into the cage so Yew can have his supper, then we can go have ours."

Pippin unstopped the jar. "Here's your supper, Yew. Hope you enjoy it. I'm off to have my supper. I'll be back to spend some time with you after I help Ma with the dishes." He secured the cover on the cage before following the family out of his room.

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Chapter 3

A couple of weeks passed. Pippin had sole responsibility for his new pet and he conscientiously met all of Yew's needs. He caught crickets and other tasty bugs, as well as various worms and grubs to feed the growing lizard, kept the mortar pond clean and full of fresh water and changed the bedding on a regular basis.

Yew appeared to be content. Whenever anyone had a look at him, he was either walking about on the mossy floor, perched on one of his climbing branches or lying with his head on his front feet at the mouth of his cave. He also grew. He was only three inches or so when Pippin found him, now he was nearly six inches long. The odd ridges on his back were rising up higher, his head growing longer and his nostrils becoming more defined. But he was still gentleness itself when ever Pippin handled him, never attempting to bite or scratch the lad.

The happy situation developed a hitch one day. Pippin came into his room to check on Yew only to find the cage's cover ajar and the reddish lizard gone. Quickly he moved the loose grass about then ducked down to look into the cave.

"We ought not to have made that so deep," Pippin lamented. "I can't see all the way to the back. But, I don't think he's in there."

In his head he heard Vinca's haughty voice saying, "If I find him, he's mine!"

"Where have you got to, Yew?" he said with more whiney frustration than demand. "She'll take you and hide you and there are times even Ma and Da can't get that brat to give things up." He sighed. His good upbringing insisted he not berate his sister too badly. "She is a good chum at times. Much more willing to climb trees and have adventures than Nell, and Pearl might but she's rather too old for most of that, but Vinca is the most stubborn of stubborn Tooks. Now, where are . . ."

Pippin, searching the floor of his room as he spoke, had at that moment looked up. The little red lizard sat upon his mantle piece like a skillfully carved statuette of a . . .

He shook his head clear. "How in Middle-earth did you get up there, Yew?" he asked the lizard as he walked over to stand on the hearth stone. Pippin looked around to see what might have been leaning against the wall or the posts of the fireplace edging. There was nothing. "Are the posts rough enough for you to get a claw-hold on? That's all I see that you could have climbed on to get up there."

He picked his pet up around its well fed middle then held him up to look eye to eye.

"What do you think you're doing, Yew? You know what Vinca said. You don't want to be her lizard, do you?"

Yew closed the eye Pippin was addressing.

"I didn't think so. Come along." He took Yew over to his cage, set him down gently on the mossy bottom, then replaced the cover. "However did you get out? Hmm."

Pippin looked everything over carefully.

"I think you need a deeper cage, Yew. You could have either climbed on top of your cave or climbed up the bigger branch and, with a long stretch, have reached the cover."

He walked over to his book shelf, took down a fat book and used it to weight down the cover.

"That should keep you in and I'll talk with Da about a new cage."

He turned to leave his room, but paused at the door to look back at Yew. The lizard was at the side of the cage looking out. He raised his left front foot off the moss for a moment then slowly put it back down.

A chill ran through Pippin, even as he waved back. Should a lizard know to wave goodbye?

*********************

"Mother! Mother!"

"I'm in the kitchen, Pearl!"

"Have you seen my pearl pin, Ma?" the eldest Took daughter said as she came into the kitchen. "I've nearly turned my room inside out looking for it."

Lanti paused in her kneading to think. "No," she said. "But then, I've not been looking either. I'll keep my eyes open for it."

Pearl sighed. "Thank you, Ma. I'll go ask the others if they've seen it."

She found her brother in his room lying on the floor, head near Yew's new cage, reading aloud from an adventure book.

"And the mighty Baldor, hobbit of the northern border, pursued the pillaging troll to the edge of the haunted North Downs."

"You're reading to a lizard, Pippin?"

He jumped, as much as a person can who is laying on their stomach.

"You shouldn't sneak up like that, Pearl," he said, catching his breath. "Yew likes it. His eye lids droop, but don't close, and he sits and listens. When there's a really exciting part, he sways back and forth."

"All right, if you say so, Pip." She cleared her throat. "I came to ask if you've seen my pearl pin?"

"No, I haven't seen it."

"Hmm. Well, keep an eye out for it, please."

"All right, Pearl." Pippin said then turned back to his book. "Just when they broke through a line of trees . . ."

A few days later, on a cold rainy day,  it was Lanti's turn to be missing something.

"Children! Come here immediately!" She shouted from the door of her sitting room.

All four children came running.

"Are you having a game, since you are all stuck inside today," their Mother asked, her tight lips and clenched fists showing how upset she was.

This was answered with four blank stares.

Pearl broke the silence. "No. I was in my room writing letters."

"I was working on my embroidered pillow case." Nell contributed.

Pippin said, "I was playing with my farm set in the parlor, Ma."

And Vinca finished with, "And I was having tea with my dollies."

Lanti nodded as a tear started to roll down her cheek. "My . . . my wedding ring is . . . is missing." She flopped into her favorite chair and wept. The children gathered round with hugs and condolences.

"Thank you, my dears," Lanti sniffed, finally calming down. "I took it off, as I always do to wash the dishes. You know, the soapy water always makes it loose. I know I put it in that small cut glass dish, as I always do. You know, the one on the counter of the dish cupboard. But when I went to put it back on, it was gone! I looked everywhere. I even swept the floor."

"We'll all help you look again, Ma." Pearl hugged her mother then encouraged her to stand. "Many eyes see better than two!"

Her mother laughed. "Well said, my dear. That is a true saying. We'll all go search the kitchen again."

"And the dining room," Pippin added. "Your ring doesn't have a stone in it and it could have rolled a long ways."

"Pippin and I will take the dining room, Ma." Vinca volunteered and they all went off to search for the ring.

But it was not to be found. Nor was Paladin's cuff link or Lanti's sliver thimble or Nell's dainty gold pinky finger ring when they all went missing over the next few weeks.

The fourth installment of my August Challenge story.

Pippin's life was becoming increasingly troubled. Despite he and his father making a longer, deeper, cage he kept finding Yew outside of it. The lizard, now close to eight inches long, would be laying on Pippin's coverlet or on his desk curled around the silver inkstand that had been his Grandpa Took's.

Then came the day when he wasn't even in Pippin's room.

His owner was distraught. He couldn't just shout for help. That would alert Vinca and "finders keepers, loosers weepers" would come into play. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, Pippin searched the house, which was all well and good except he couldn't search his sister's rooms, nor could he be very thorough lest he look like he was looking for something. In his preoccupied state, he forgot to step over the creaky floor board outside of Vinca's room.

He froze at the screech of the board, and the sound of his sister's voice.

"Looking for something, Pippin?"

"No, just walking down the hall."

"You never step on that board, Pippin, unless you aren't paying attention."

"I was . . . eh . . . daydreaming. Mind thousands of miles away."

"Strange, I would have thought you were looking for Crimson."

"For Crim . . . Crimson!"

Pippin burst into Vinca's room.

"Get out!" she ordered. "You aren't allowed and you know it. Not unless I say you can come in and I haven't, so get out, Peregrin Took!"

"Yew!" Pippin tried to lunge for his pet, but Vinca hip-bumped him out of the way.

"Crimson. His name is Crimson and he's mine. He was in here when I came in from hanging laundry. Crimson came in here because you aren't taking care of him. You left his cage open. He wants to be with me now."

Yew, or Crimson as he was now being called, sat atop Pervinca's bed looking forlorn. He had a frilly lace doll's collar around his neck. A bright blue grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around his neck (under the collar), crisscrossed to go around under his chest and around his front legs to end tied in a double bow on his back. Another length of ribbon was tied to it like a leash the other end of which was tied to Vinca's bedpost.

Pippin had to think fast. Just demanding the lizard back would not work; not with Vinca.

"He'll poop on your coverlet."

Vinca quickly dug the old blanket she used for picnics with her dolls out of her closet. She picked up Crimson, threw the blanket over her bed then plopped the lizard back down.

"No he won't."

"He'll walk all over you at night while you're sleeping and poop in your hair."

"I'll tie him someplace else until I can make my own cage for him."

"Da won't help you. He's on my side."

"I'll do it myself and Da doesn't take sides."

Red in the face and out of ideas, Pippin's station as the baby of the family asserted itself.

"Mama! Mama!" he yelled as he ran from his sister's room. "Vinca stole Yew!"

Lanti did what most wise mothers do at this point . . . she took the object of contention, said "He's mine for now.", put Yew into one of her shopping baskets that had a lid, then told the children their father would settle the matter when he came in from helping with the pony the farrier had come to shoe.

That evening, Pippin sulked in his room, lying on his stomach on the floor by Yew's cage.

Yew was inside.

Paladin had dealt with his children before supper was served. He reminded Vinca that a pet wasn't like other possessions. It was a living thing that a person grows to love.

"It would simply be mean to let you keep Pippin's lizard, and I think you know it."

Vinca had admitted she did and Yew went back to Pippin's room, along with Pippin who was to remain there with him for the rest of the night. He would have his supper alone. Vinca shared his punishment in her own room; she for being selfish and Pippin for not being careful about keeping the cover on Yew's cage.

"I know I put your cover on. I know I did." Pippin defended himself to Yew. "I've found you out of it and I don't know how you're doing it because I know, I know, I'm putting that blasted cover on. I've even been setting that book on top!"

The lad huffed a sigh then was quiet.

"I'm stronger than I look."

Pippin was used to the voices of his imagination: this was not one of them.

"Much as it's a clever idea, the book doesn't stop me."

"Y . . . Yew?"

The lizard turned away from the lad. He waddled, as lizards do, over to the big branch, climbed to the top, then up the woven side of the cage until he was crowded up against the cover. Then he pushed, moved his back feet upwards a step, and pushed again. The process was repeated until there was a gap and Yew slithered through it. The cover fell back into place behind him, he turned and climbed up onto it and then sauntered over to the edge nearest to Pippin.

Pippin's eyes and mouth were wide open the whole time. He and the lizard stared at each other.

"You are usually so talkative, Pippin. Say something."

"Y . . . Yew?"

"You said that before. Say something else."

"You can talk?"

"Make it a statement and then you'll have it right."

"You can talk."

"Perfect! I'll have you trained in no time." Yew said haughtily, sounding a great deal like Pervinca.

Pippin's mind was spinning. He wasn't very old, not very wise, but he was an avid reader of adventure stories and fairytales. A bright red lizard was talking to him and his family was missing pieces of jewelry.

"Dragon!" he gasped.

The ridges on Yew's back quivered, opening into wings not yet fully grown. A small burst of flame shot from his mouth ending with a puff of smoke from his nostrils. He smiled at the young hobbit.

"I was wondering if you would ever figure it out."

A/N: I'll admit it was rather discouraging that so many of you figured it out after the third chapter. But then I thought, you all are Tolkien and fantasy fans and therefore hard to fool. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter anyway. :-) We aren't finished yet.

It was Paladin's night out and he felt he had earned it. A gate had broken, a fox had got into the hen house and he'd lost three hens, his best pony threw a shoe and his youngest children had thrown the house in a tizzy over Yew.

He sat in his usual booth at The Horse and Wagon allowing the cozy atmosphere, cheerful crowd and excellent ale to release the tension in his shoulders. Just before he needed to leave the conversation at a nearby table caught his ear. Talk of Dwarves in the Shire was news worth listening to. They didn't come through often but when they did, it was a way of hearing some news of other places.

"I tell ya true it was the funniest thing I'd heard in years! This group of Dwarves actin' all upset over losing some nonexistent bauble."

"Where was this again, Ansegar?"

"Up at The Great Road Tavern in Waymeet, just shy of a month ago. I was up there for the sheep market." Ansegar's audience nodded. "Them Dwarves said they had come up the North road, ya know, the Waymeet-Sackville Road as we call it, when their cart wheel caught in one o' them nasty holes in the road that Mistress Lalia don't see fit to have repaired. Just near here, near to Whitwell that is, or so they said. Near to broke the axle and sent some of their cargo flyin' through the air."

"And ya say as they said they lost something? Something valuable?" a voice urged as Ansegar's voice paused.

"Let a hobbit take a drink of his ale, will ya, Orgulas!" the storyteller finally replied. "Aye, they said as they lost a dragon's egg."

The whole table of hobbits burst out laughing. Nearby, Paladin's eyes went wide as he strained to better hear Ansegar's tale.

"Aye. Aye. Can ya believe it! All solemn they were too."

Through the next burst of laughter Paladin heard, "Must think we're all like Mad Baggins!" and "Only real dragon be The Green Dragon in Hobbiton, but it only spouts ale and pipe smoke!" Ansegar and his friends roared at the jests.

Paladin Took's mind was racing. Old cousin Bilbo's adventure. A dragon with a hoard of jewels. Dwarves saying they'd lost a dragon's egg near Whitwell. Pippin's odd red lizard.

He ran out of The Horse and Wagon, mounted his pony and galloped all the way home.

Tolley, the stable manager, was doing his last check of the day when his boss came flying up to the large sliding doors and into the center aisle of the stable. Paladin's pony was lathered and panting, his rider pale and out of breath.

"Tolley . . . good." His boss tossed him the reins as he slid out of the saddle. "Walk him. Bed him down. G'night."

"Sir?" the stable manager got no further; Paladin was already gone at a run toward the house.

"Lanti! Lanti! We've a problem, Lanti." Paladin let the kitchen door slam behind him.

"Hush! You'll wake the children!" his wife scolded from the parlor. He ran in to flop panting on the sofa. "Whatever has you so upset, Paladin? Are you ill?" Lanti dropped her knitting, went over and started to feel her husband's forehead and check his pulse.

"Yew. Yew's the problem." He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then continued in a calmer voice. "I'm not ill, though I've had a fright."

"Something about Pippin's lizard has given you a fright?"

"A tale I heard at The Horse and Wagon." He took another deep breath and related the story. Soon Lanti sank down beside him on the sofa.

"A dragon? You . . . you think . . . you think Yew is . . ."

"A dragon. Yes. It makes sense. He's not the right color for those little lizards that we see round about here. He's grown larger than they are. You mentioned he seems frightfully clever and various pieces of jewelry are missing."

"They're here."

Paladin and Lanti looked toward the doorway where Pippin stood with his hand held out. Lamplight glinted off the objects in his hand.

"What are you doing up, Peregrin?" his mother asked, but Paladin motioned to let him talk.

"How much have you heard, Pip?"

"I heard you run in, Papa." The lad was frightened; he hadn't used "Papa" for several years. "I heard you say there was a problem so I came to listen by the door." He looked at the jewelry in his hand and whispered, "I already know. Yew wasn't very happy about it, but I made him give me everyone's things. I told him it wasn't nice to take things from people who have helped him. He said that was 'surprisingly wise' coming from me and he got it all out of his cave."

"He said?" Lanti asked, amazed.

Pippin looked up at her. "Yes. You remember, don't you Ma? In Cousin Bilbo's story, well, in all the stories with dragons in them, the dragons all can talk. That is how they trick people into doing things."

She nodded.

"I was in my room, like I was supposed to be, and telling him I didn't understand how he kept getting out because I knew I was putting the cover on and he said, 'I'm stronger than I look.' I thought I was hearing things and I was scared. Then he showed me how he could get out."

"All right, Pippin," Paladin said. "Bring the jewelry here and then go back to bed. We will deal with this in the morning."

Pippin poured the ring, cufflink, pin and thimble into his father's hand. "I don't think he'll hurt us." He said as he turned to go. "I told him the story Aunt Esme told us about the dragon that helped the faeries and that Merry has the dragon's scale that fell from the sky.*" Pippin stopped at the door and looked back at his parents. "Yew seemed very impressed. He sort of bowed to me, asked to be put back in his cage, went straight into his cave and went to sleep. Good night."

Paladin and Lanti sat staring at the empty doorway quite unsure of what to do or what might happen next.

A/N: See my stories "Count The Stars" (read first) and "A Dragon In Buckland" at Many Paths to Tread or at Stories of Arda.

A/N: I really apologize that this has run so long and still is not finished. I am having trouble finding time for reading long stories lately and I'm immensely grateful to all of you who are reading mine. I had no idea this would take so long to tell. Chapter 7 will be my story for the September Challenge, so look for it there first.

Again, thank you all.
Pearl

Chapter 6

The next morning Paladin awoke in a burst of panic.

They knew! His farm hands had to know. Three of them; Toby, Isenbar and Antigar had been in the tavern last night. Isenbar had been at the very table where the story of the Dwarves and their missing cargo had been told. Paladin had left before that group had broken up so he didn't know if Isenbar had mentioned Pippin's lizard or not.

They all knew that Pippin had brought home a lizard; of course they did. Their own sons had helped catch bugs and worms to feed the beast. Several of them had come in to see how things were going with building the first cage . . . and the second, bigger, one. Some of the lads had even been into the house to see Yew.

Had his farm hands made the connection?

With trembling hands, Paladin got dressed and went out to the farm yard. One look at Tolley told him everything.

"Good morning Mr. Paladin," the stable manager said making it more a question than a statement. Tolley's expression matched his tone.

"Eh, yes. It is a good morning, Tolley." Paladin tried to sound his usual self.

"Aye, sir. A good morning." Tolley's questioning expression deepened. "Mist seems to have come to no grief from throwing his shoe."

Some of Paladin's gloom lifted. "Oh, good! I was concerned about that. Eh . . . ah, Tolley?"

"Sir."

"I need you to let the hands know that my children will not be out to do their chores this morning. We . . . eh . . . have a wee problem this morning that the whole family needs to . . . eh, discuss. I'm keeping them in for that."

Tolley's eyebrow drew up on his forehead. "Aye, Paladin. A wee problem."

Paladin took hold of the stable manager's arm, dragged him into the tack room and closed the door.

"Enough of your questions and quizzical looks, Tolley, what have you heard and what is everyone thinking?"

"Two well hung-over hobbits and one who claims he kept his wits about him all say they heard a tale at the Horse and Wagon that gave them a laugh until they were walking home together. On the way home it seems that the least drunk of them, that being Antigar, started asking the others if they might be wondering about Pippin's lizard."

A hole into the abyss opened in Paladin's stomach and all of his innards felt like they were pouring into it.

"Antigar said that he had mentioned, as they walked along, that it was strange little Pippin's lizard had needed a bigger cage so quickly. And, now that he was thinking about it, wasn't it an odd color for one of those wee lizards that scramble about the hedgerows and stone walls?"

Tolley paused, looking his employer over carefully.

"Mind you, when Antigar was relating all this in the bright light of the morning, he said it was amazing what a few beers would do to your thinking, 'especially as you're walking home under a full moon'." Tolley leaned in to whisper into Paladin's ear. "I think if you let it be, 'twill fade into naught by noontime . . . to all except me. I always did believe old Bilbo's stories."

Paladin pulled away in shock, but Tolley was holding up his hands, palms out.

"No, no, my old friend. No need to take a fright. I know how to keep my mouth shut. But I'm thinking that you and your family have a lot to talk about this morning. I'll make sure the children's chores are seen to and that the talk is allowed to die off."

Paladin's sigh shrank him an inch in height. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. "Thank you, Tolley. I owe you." He took a deep breath, sighing again as he shook his friend and employee's hand. "I owe you."

One more firm shake and Paladin left to face his family . . .

. . . and the dragon.

The three girls sat upon the sofa, arranged oldest to youngest, with a space left between Pervinca and the arm at the far end. Paladin sat in his favorite chair and Lanti in her rocker. A stool from the kitchen sat in the middle of the room. Paladin's news of the night before had been related to the lasses over first breakfast, so everyone knew the reason for the family meeting.

Long minutes passed with no one moving or saying a word. At last, Pippin appeared in the doorway carrying Yew. He walked to the stool, set the dragon down upon it then sat on the sofa between the arm and Vinca.

Still, no one moved or spoke and none of them were sure of why, other than they were waiting for something to happen.

Eventually, Yew turned to face Paladin. He bowed his head until his snout touched the top of the stool.

"Paladin, head of this household, master of this farm, I give you my greetings and my deepest respect." Yew said without lifting his head.

"Er . . . Thank you, Yew of the dragons." Paladin tipped his head in return.

Yew raised his head to stare straight into the hobbit's eyes. Because of the tale Pippin had told him of the dragon and the faeries, he was looking for something, but it was not there. Slowly, he looked around the room into each of the children's eyes, then last into Eglantine's. He returned his gaze to Pippin for a moment. The lad was the only one with a touch of something fae in his eyes, the rest did not have it. He then looked back at Paladin, waiting for the hobbit to speak.

"You speak very well, Yew. Eh . . . How long have you been able to? Speak that is."

"A few days. I have practiced aloud to myself when alone in Peregrin's room."

"You're a fast learner."

"Yes. Although dragons live a long life, we must grow up quickly. We acquire the in-born knowledge of our kind at an early age, so I have discovered, and speech is part of that acquisition. If we did not, we would be fewer in number than we are. I am still easy prey for a hawk, eagle, fox, wolf or other such creatures. In fact, it will be several months yet before I can fly or produce enough fire to truly defend myself. If other gifts and abilities did not emerge quickly, my kind would be hard put to survive."

Eglantine cleared her throat; Paladin nodded in reply.

"Yes, yes. I can understand all of that. It also brings us to the reason for all of this." He waved his hand to indicate his gathered family. "I fear we can't keep you, Yew. Oh! Is it all right to continue calling you Yew? Do you have a, eh, dragonish name that you would prefer?"

Small puffs of smoke came out of Yew's nostrils as he chuckled. "Bedwyrculhwch,*" he replied with a bow, "Though I doubt you can pronounce it properly. Yew is quite honorable; a strong tree with deep meaning in the mystic realms. There is no shame in being called by such a name. You may continue to address me as Yew."

"Thank you for returning my pin." Pearl quickly put in. She wasn't sure if her father had intended to let his children say anything during this meeting with Pippin's dragon. She thought how odd that sounded: Pippin's dragon.

"And my pinky ring," added Pimpernel.

"You didn't take anything of mine," Pervinca said in a voice more subdued than was her wont. "So I can't thank you for returning anything, but I will . . ." She paused to swallow. It was so hard to be humble. "I'm sorry I put a doll's collar on you and tied you with a ribbon."

Yew nodded to each lass in turn. "My apologies I give to you all, and Miss Pervinca, I accept yours." he turned to Eglantine, "I most entreat your forgiveness, Mistress." He paused to take a deep breath. He found it so hard to be humble. "As my wise young rescuer helped me to see, it is unkind to take things from people who have helped me. Especially to you, Eglantine, mistress of this home, mother to these fine young ones and healer of all the creatures of Arda, I owe a great apology. Your medicinal administrations did not save me, in that I had not eaten enough of the yew leaf to kill me, but, I surely would have been eaten by a predator, in my weakened state, had Peregrin . . ."

"Pippin," the lad interrupted.

"had Pippin not brought me home and I would have suffered ill effects longer had you not seen to my needs. You were most kind to me as I have grown aware that most females do not like lizards."

"You are most welcome, Yew." Lanti replied. "And I forgive you for taking my wedding ring and thimble." She shook her head as Yew looked back to her husband. It was unbelievable; she had just spoken to a dragon.

Paladin cleared his throat. "All well and nicely said, but it brings us no closer to a solution to all of this."

Yew turned to face the master of the house.

"What do we do with you now?"

*****************

*A/N: Yew's dragon name is made out of two names from Welsh legends: Bedwyr and Culhwch. I've no idea how to pronounce them.

Chapter 7

All the Tooks and Yew jumped at the sound of someone pounding on the front door.

Eglantine rose from her rocker. "I'll see to the door," she said as she left the room.

"I think we'll wait and see who is at the door," Paladin quickly said. Visions of irate farmhands storming the house to complain about there being a dragon in their midst curled in his mind like a dragon's smoke.

His wife returned to the parlor alone (much to her husband's great relief) holding a large envelope and an open card in her hand.

"It is an invitation to Cousin Bilbo and Frodo's birthday party. You remember, dear, when last we saw young Frodo he had said they were planning something particularly special this year seeing as he is coming of age and Bilbo, bless him, is turning eleventy-one."

"Cousin Bilbo and Frodo's birthday!" Pippin blurted out. "I wager that's where the Dwarves were headed, Da. The ones the hobbit in the tavern said lost the dragon's egg. That's why they were in The Shire! Cousin Bilbo often has Dwarves visit him. They might want their dragon back, Da. That would solve our problem."

Yew was getting perturbed. He ruffled his wings and blew a blast of fire . . . well, more a spurt of fire, which set a corner of the invitation smoldering, then spoke up.

"I am not a commodity to be traded back and forth. It was not their egg to begin with as I am sure they do not keep dragons about for pets, nor did some dragon kindly give her offspring away. Most likely I was stolen. Stolen by those wretched thieves! I am not their dragon any more than I am your dragon, and I shall not be given over to the likes of some wandering band of Dwarves!"

Lanti pinched out the singed corner of Bilbo's elegant invitation as she hurried to sit in her rocker.

"Now, now, Yew." Paladin held both hands up, palms out, motioning the dragon to calm down. "There's no need to go breathing fire at us. You've given me no chance to say what I think of all this."

Paladin took a deep breath. He wasn't sure he knew what he thought of it all, but at least he had bought himself a few moments to think about it.

"You are entirely correct, Yew." Paladin began. "There will be no further talk of giving you to anybody. I also doubt that the Dwarves stole you as I can't imagine any of them being able to get anywhere near a dragon's nest. I have met some of Bilbo's Dwarf friends and they are not at all quiet. I'm thinking it much more likely that, for some reason, the nest had been abandoned, or that somehow you - actually your egg - got rolled out of the nest and lost to then be found by the Dwarves."

He paused to sip his tepid tea and think some more. Yew was still glaring at him as small, clearly irritable, puffs of smoke huffed from his nostrils.

"I wouldn't give you to Dwarves anyway as there is no love lost between their kind and yours."

"Thank you," Yew said as his wings relaxed and his smoke stopped puffing.

"However," Paladin hastened on, "that still leaves this family with deciding what to do with you. As you just informed us, you are still too young to be set free into the wild. We will not do anything that might bring you to harm, so simply setting you back where Pippin found you is not a solution."

Yew nodded.

"You need, eventually, to be in a place with mountains so you may find a cave big enough to be a comfortable home. But Hobbits don't live near such mountains, nor do we travel to where they lie. None of which helps any of us."

Paladin sighed.

"Da?" Pearl spoke up.

"Yes?"

"When we saw Frodo during the summer, he mentioned to me that we really had to come to the Birthday Party as Gandalf is supposed to be there. He is to be doing fireworks as he used to in the Old Took's days. Mightn't Gandalf know what to do with a young dragon?"

"Gandalf?" Yew asked, looking from Paladin to his daughter and back.

"He's a wizard!" Pippin hopped off the sofa and over to his former pet. "He is frightfully clever and he knows everything about everything. He travels all about in Middle-earth and knows all sorts of interesting people and places."

He bounded over to kiss his oldest sister on her cheek. "A wonderful idea, Pearl! A perfect idea!" He ran over to his father. "Really, Da, it is perfect. Gandalf will know what to do."

Paladin was nodding his head.

"Yes. I do think you two have hit upon our solution, that is, if Yew agrees."

All eyes were on the little red dragon perched upon the stool in the middle of the parlor.

Yew's mind was now the one spinning. In the shadowy depths of his in-born wisdom a knowing stirred. Wizards? Wizards. Yes . . . wise beings that dragons never managed to entrap with their wiles. Not known to hunt dragons, but not known to be their friends either. Well, from what he had learned thus far from his own knowledge and from the stories Pippin had been reading to him all along, no one was actually friends with dragons. His kind didn't even seem to get along with each other, which had Yew wondering how they ever managed to have broods.

A deep longing stirred within him. He needed to see the mountains, to live among the peaks, to be master of his own realm. He saw himself lying resplendent on a magnificent hoard. The vision faded. He sighed with a puffing of smoke.

"Yes. I will go with a wizard. You may take me to this Gandalf person."

The Took family, in unison, sighed with relief then they all heard a loud rumble. Pippin blushed a deep pink.

"I'm hungry, Ma." He said with a smile.

Eglantine looked at the mantle clock. "My goodness! It is noon already. Where has the morning gone?" Setting her knitting aside, she got up and motioned to her daughters. "Come along, m'dears. We've a starving Pippin to feed and they are more ferocious than a dragon." She winked at Yew as she passed him.

"Indeed, Mistress Took. I have noticed that and make sure I stay out of his way at such times." Yew smiled his sly dragon smile and then turned to Pippin. "Come, young master Took. It is time for my lunch too. Have we any of those fat white grubs?"

With that, the meeting was at an end.

TBC

Chapter 8

It had been a busy morning at Bag End, in fact, whole days had been nothing but busy since the replies to the Party invitations started to pour in. Bilbo was flicking quickly through the envelopes when something different caught his eye.

Gandalf the Wizard

Guest of Mr. Bilbo Baggins

Bag End, The Hill

Hobbiton, West Farthing

He recognized Paladin Took's handwriting and curiosity immediately began to nibble at his thoughts.

"What in all The Shire would Paladin Took be wanting with Gandalf, I wonder?" the old hobbit said aloud to himself.

"Paladin wants Gandalf for something?" Frodo asked as he carried a tray of meats, cheeses and bread into the dining room from the kitchen.

"I assume so as he's written to him."

"How odd!" Frodo peered over his uncle's shoulder.

"Yes, well, we'll just set it at Gandalf's place at the table and he will get it when he comes in for luncheon." Bilbo set the envelope in front of the oversized chair at the guest's end of the table.

"If he comes in for lunch." Frodo noted.

"Hmm. Good point, m'lad. Good point." Bilbo ran a finger over the lettering. Oh, the temptation he felt to steam it open! "Ahem!" he cleared his throat and took his finger off the paper. "Yes. Well, he'll get it at supper then, if not sooner. He doesn't miss supper."

The Wizard rarely spent all day at Bag End, though where he wandered neither of his hosts knew. But he always said there was nothing to be compared to a Hobbit supper and could be relied upon to show up just as the last loaded serving dish was coming out of the kitchen. Soon, Bilbo and Frodo were busy opening the party replies, ticking off names on their list and had quite forgot about Gandalf's letter.

Gandalf came back between afternoon tea and dinner.

"There's a letter for you on the dining table," Frodo informed him after the wizard stuck his head into the study to say hello.

"A letter for me here?" the old man huffed. "How strange."

"Yes, 'tis strange. It is from my cousin, Paladin Took. You've met him once or twice I think." Bilbo looked up from the guest lists.

"I have indeed." Gandalf nodded. "He's the one most likely to end up being Took and Thain, if I'm not mistaken."

Bilbo chuckled. "However do you remember such minutia, my dear Gandalf? That is indeed the case although I know Lalia is still hoping Ferumbras will wed and produce an heir of his own."

"Hmph," Gandalf huffed in reply, "I'll go have a look at my letter."

"You'll let us know what is happening with my cousin, won't you?" Hope of finding out what was in the letter came through in Bilbo's tone.

"Hmm," was all the answer the master of Bag End received.

Gandalf took the letter to the privacy of his bedroom, it being most comfortably outfitted for the perusal of such a curious piece of mail. For, indeed, most Hobbits, other than those in Hobbiton, didn't even know he was there. Not that rumors hadn't spread like wild fire, but such rumors of important visitors always accompanied any large, festive, event and most Hobbits put little store in them. They were more interested in whether or not Lalia Took or Otho and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins would be at the Party. It was always good to know who one needed to avoid.

Gandalf puffed his pipe as he began to read. Soon his mouth went slack and he nearly set fire to his robes as the pipe fell from his lips.

"A dragon!" he gasped in wonder. "Those Tooks do have a knack of getting into interesting situations."

The next morning, right after first breakfast, the wizard mounted his horse and headed off toward the Dwarf encampment tucked away in the Bindbale Wood. A good number of Dwarves had gradually come into The Shire over the last month, bringing some supplies for Bilbo's Party, but mostly they brought the various items he had ordered made as gifts for all of his guests. Although Hobbits were accustomed to Dwarves travelling through their lands, they would not have liked the idea of nearly twenty of them settling in for several weeks; so they were keeping out of sight in the woods. Every couple of days a wagon would set off for Hobbiton bearing the items Bilbo had ordered. It would unload and appear to make its way east on the Great East Road as if heading back to the Lonely Mountain. Once clear of Hobbiton and the farms that surrounded it, they would cut north and go back to the woods.

By mid-day Gandalf's horse trotted into the clearing. He handed the reins to a hostler and proceeded to the tent where the contingent's leader was housed.

"Gandalf! Friend! This is a surprise. You weren't supposed to be returning to our camp. The Party is in just a few days." A large, well dressed, Dwarf addressed him.

"Dori, we, or shall I say you, have a problem," the wizard replied. "We need to speak in private."

Dori's eyebrows shot up. He motioned for his kinsmen to leave then addressed his guest.

"There. Privacy. Now, what is of such urgent need that you changed your plans?"

Gandalf sighed. "Did some of your parties travel up the North Road to enter The Shire?"

"Yes. I thought it best if we did not all come parading up the Great East Road as though we were invading. Hobbits, dear as they are, are a touchy lot. We hold Bilbo in high esteem, as you well know, so we did not wish to cause any troubles to befall him because of our numbers."

"Yes. Yes. A good decision, Dori. I'm needing to know about the cargo of that wagon."

"There were two that came that route, Gandalf. One driven by Frόr and Narvi, the other by Ibun and Lόni."

Gandalf held Dori's eyes with his. "I need to know about the one that carried a dragon's egg."

Chapter 9

For a moment there was silence and then the Dwarf threw his head back, laughing so hard that he shook all over.

"Dragon's . . . egg!" he wheezed then laughed some more.

The wizard was not amused. "Yes, Dori. A dragon's egg."

Dori took a few moments to collect himself though he was still smiling broadly 'neath his moustache. "Of course there was a dragon's egg, Gandalf. They are a common toy of Dwarf children under the mountain and of the children of the Men we trade with. There are so many of the stories the young ones love which have a dragon in them that they enjoy having one for their play battles.

We find a rock of a suitable shape, refine that shape, smooth it without polishing it as we know of no creature that lays shiny eggs. Then it is cut in half cross-wise not length-wise, the two halves are hollowed out, and a beautifully carved toy dragon of a size to fit the egg is placed within. The halves are bound together with moderately strong glue and there you have it - a dragon's egg."

Gandalf thought for a moment. "Are the shells of these toy eggs decorated in any fashion?"

"Not in a gaudy fashion, no. Since our intention is to have them be believable as dragon's eggs. We often put faint gold spots or striping upon them, but it is very natural looking. Why do y . . . Oh!"  A gleam of understanding shone in Dori's eyes. "The accident! Frόr and Narvi's wagon hit a nasty hole in the road and tipped. They found everything except on of the dragon's eggs. The lads said they were near some Hobbit farms. Did someone find it?"

"You are certain those were the only types of dragon's eggs that wagon carried?

"Of course, Gandalf. But if you would be better satisfied, I will call Frόr and Narvi and you may ask them your questions."

Dori rose, went to the doorway of his tent, spoke to the watchman and then returned. In a few moments two dwarves entered and bowed to their elder and the wizard. After the customary greeting, Gandalf asked them about their missing cargo.

"We looked about most cautiously, Gandalf," Frόr explained, "but we found no trace of that one egg."

"You carried more than one?"

"Yes, sir. An even dozen."

"And it was exactly like the others?"

"Of couse," Frόr answered.

"No," Narvi replied at the same instant.

The two dwarves looked at each other.

"It was."

"It wasn't!" Narvi turned to Dori.

"Sir, that egg was of the most superb craftsmanship." He turned back to his friend. "Remember, Frόr? I pointed that one out to you because I hadn't been able to see the seam on it."

Frόr's eyes widened. Gandalf leaned forward.

"That was the one that went missing!" Frόr gasped. "You ought to have mentioned it to me. I thought it was one of the others."

"No seam?" Gandalf's voice was quiet but intense. Both young dwarves blushed.

"No, Gandalf, sir. Nary a sign of it could I see." Narvi said.

"Nor I," added Frόr. "We were wondering how some wee hobbit lad or his father was going to get it open, since these were all for Bilbo's gift-giving."

"Was that the only difference between that egg and the others?"

"Well," Narvi voice quivered. "There, ah, were a few things that . . . well, ah, seemed somewhat . . ."

"Somewhat what!" the Wizard boomed causing the dwarves to jump.

"It had no gold upon it," Frόr blurted. "No gold and it was somewhat reddish, although there is granite that shade, indeed it was speckled like granite often is, but it well . . ." He pause to lick his lips. "It felt a bit different as well. Softer than the others. Not - not soft, soft, if you understand me, sir, it still felt like the other dragon's eggs, just softer."

"We mentioned it when we stayed at The Great Road Tavern in Waymeet," Narvi put in. "On the chance someone might find it. We tried to explain it was a toy, but by then the Hobbits were all laughing merrily at us and not heeding anything else we said."

"Yes," added Frόr. "They were all nudging and winking at each other whilst saying "Dragon's egg' over and over."

Gandalf closed his eyes as he sat back. "Softer." He murmured. "That is all. Thank you Frόr and Narvi. You have been a great help."

The two looked to Dori who nodded his dismissal and they left the tent.

"Are you satisfied?" he asked the wizard when they were gone.

"Satisfied? Yes, I'm satisfied that none of you knew."

"Knew?"

"Have you ever seen a real dragon's egg, Dori?" Gandalf waved his own question away. "Don't answer, I know you have not. Few people have, but I am one of those few. They are heavy and solid feeling, with a look about them like grey, green or red granite, depending on the color of the dragon who laid it. Yet, there is a softness to the surface, as though you should be able to push upon it and leave a small dent even though you cannot."

Dori's eyes grew ever wider as Gandalf spoke. "You're telling me that we had a real dragon's egg on that wagon?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I'm telling you."

"Impossible! Whatever makes you think such a ridiculous thing?" The laugh in Dori's voice was forced; he was doing his best not to let the truth sink into his mind.

Gandalf sighed. "Because, my dear friend, I learned yesterday, via a letter from Paladin Took of Whitwell Farm in the Tookland, whose property is not too terribly far from the North Road, that his son has a little red dragon for a pet."

Silence filled the tent. The flames on the small hearth crackled merrily as though enjoying the thought of a dragon in The Shire.

"Some wee hobbit lad?"

"Yes, his name is Peregrin, though he is usually called Pippin. He is a cousin to our own Bilbo the Burglar."

Dori sighed. "I see," he said then sighed again. "You said at the start that I had a problem. Am I correct, then, that you are wanting us to rid The Shire of its new dragon since we brought it here? We shall happily disconnect its head from its body."

Gandalf sat in silence, deep in thought. In many ways Dori's proposal was the logical one. Truly, did Middle-earth need another dragon? Especially one of the Fire-drakes? Not, he reminded himself, that there were many left at this point in time, yet, did anyone really need to have one lurking about? They stole livestock, they burned farms - and farmers - and they raided villages to loot them of their riches then burned them as well. Hadn't he helped Thorin and Company return to the Lonely Mountain knowing full well they intended to kill Smaug? And

yet . . .

"No," he said in a low tone. "No, Dori. When I said that I thought you had known the egg was real. You did not. It is not your responsibility. Paladin wrote to me asking my help and my help he shall receive." Gandalf rose to take his leave. "I thank you for the answers to my questions and for your offer to deal with the matter, but I feel it is something I need to see to."

"Well, good luck to you then, my old friend. May we meet again soon."

Gandalf urged his horse homeward. He didn't want to miss supper.

Chapter 10

Dear Paladin,

I will admit it was a surprise to receive a letter while here at Bag End; even more of a surprise when I read its contents.

Thank you for explaining where and how "Yew" was found by young Peregrin along with how you discovered what he is. It was a most intriguing tale. As you surmised, the dragon did hatch from the egg that fell from a Dwarf's wagon. What I have been able to find out is that the Dwarves had no idea it was a real dragon's egg. They brought into The Shire a dozen toy dragon's eggs (they are to be birthday gifts from Bilbo) and somehow the real egg was part of that dozen. Therefore, I count no blame against them in the matter.

I do think your daughter, Pearl, and young Peregrin's idea about my helping was a fine idea and I am willing to do so. Bring Yew with you (That sounds strange, doesn't it?) to The Party three days hence and I will take him off your hands.

Cordially,

Gandalf

********

Paladin made sure that he and his family arrived at the Green Dragon in Hobbiton late enough in the day that it was dark. It made it easier for Pippin to sneak the travel cage he had made for Yew up to their rooms. None of the servant lads noticed, it had been a long busy day and they were eager to be done with this lot. The Tooks breathed a sigh of relief as they finally shut the door to their suite's sitting room.

One challenge down, one more to go: getting the dragon to Bag End.

The next morning the family strolled toward The Hill, casually making their way around so they could approach Bag End from its back garden.

"You can stop right there!" a voice rang out.

Gaffer Gamgee stepped out from behind the lilac bushes. Bilbo had asked his gardener to keep an eye on the garden just incase people tried to sneak up to the house that way.

"Good morning to you, Gaffer!" Paladin cheerfully replied.

"Oh, 'tis you, Mister Paladin. You and the whole family."

"Yes. We've brought some of Mrs. Took's raspberry tarts. Cousins Bilbo and Frodo adore them, you know."

"Aye. Those are a right treat." The Gaffer smiled at the memory of Lanti's tarts, but his dour expression quickly returned. "I'm not s'posed to let anyone up to the hole."

Pippin noticed Bag End's windows were open onto the garden. "Cousin Bilbo! Frodo!" he called as loud as he could. "It's me, Pippin! My Ma brought raspberry tarts!"

The back door flew open and Frodo came running over to his cousins.

"It's alright, Gaffer. They can come in. Thank you for your diligence."

"Doing my job is all, young Mas . . . Mister Frodo." The Gaffer gave the newly come of age hobbit a wink.

"And doing it well," Eglantine said with a smile, handing the gardener a tart as she walked by him. It kept him from noticing that her rather large purse was occasionally wiggling.

Bilbo pounced on his cousins when they entered the kitchen.

"Where is it? Where is it? Bad enough we had to endure old Gandalf being gone the whole day after your letter arrived. I shan't wait all day to see it."

"Hush!" Paladin whispered, looking at the open window. "You know, Cousin Bilbo?"

"Of course I know, my boy. This is my home. I know everything that is happening inside these walls. Now, let's see the dragon."

Frodo rolled his eyes at his guardian's claim to know everything that went on inside Bag End, but his attention quickly switched to his Cousin Lanti as she lifted her purse to the table. She untied the drawstrings, opened the mouth of the bag wide and then lowered it.

A small red dragon's head poked out of the opening. As soon as the fabric was low enough he placed his front legs on the edge, pushing it down quicker, and strode out.

Frodo gasped.

Bilbo huffed. "It looks like a miniature Smaug."

Yew's eyes flashed. He raised his front end up, reared back and blew a sizeable blast of flame at the old Hobbit, who fortunately was still agile enough to leap back out of the way.

"Yew!" Pippin scolded.

"I am not a miniature anyone." Yew was his haughtiest. He looked Bilbo squarely in the eye. "I am Yew and I'm as big as I should be for my age."

Bilbo's look gave back as good as the young dragon gave.  He bowed respectfully without lowering his gaze.

"You are correct and I should not have given an offence to a guest in my home. Bilbo and Frodo Baggins of Bag End extend a welcome to their home to Yew of the Dragons."

Yew then remembered that Pippin told him that this cousin had once met a full grown dragon.  He should show courtesy to one who survived such a meeting and was also kin to the Tooks. He had puffed himself up to look more formidable and now sighed, without a flame, returning to his true size.

"I had, for the moment, forgotten that you have seen one of my kind full grown. I am sure I do look miniature by comparison. I am relieved that I did not singe you, Good Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins of Bag End." Yew turned his gaze upon the tall being in grey robes entering the crowded room. "Are you the Wizard who will find me an appropriate home of my own?"

Gandalf wasn't sure what he had expected but Yew wasn't it. He was smaller than he had pictured, considering the size Dori's gestures had shown the toy dragon's eggs to be. It was obvious that this was indeed a young Fire-drake, the wizard had seen Yew's response to Bilbo from the dining room.

"Yes, I am Gandalf the Grey and I will do my best to see you settled somewhere comfortable for a Fire-drake." As far as possible from any people his thoughts added.

"Where? Where will you take me?"

"I've not made that decision yet, Yew. I wished to meet you first. You seem a reasonable sort and I will happily help find you a new home. Shall we consult Bilbo's maps together?"

"That would please me greatly. If you are willing, may I ride upon your shoulder, Great Wizard?"

The "great wizard's" eyes twinkled with mirth. What was there not to love about a mannerly dragon? "You may indeed, and calling me Gandalf will suffice." He walked to the table, let the young dragon climb up his arm and then they left to peruse the maps in Bilbo's study.

Chapter 11

As the hem of Gandalf's robe swished out of the kitchen, Pippin tugged on Frodo's waistcoat.

"Yes, Pippin?"

"I need to talk to you about something, Frodo. Can we go to your room?"

"Of course." Frodo turned to Pippin's mother. "Cousin Eglantine, Pippin and I will be in my room if you need us."

"Alright. Pippin?"

"Yes ma'am."

"You behave yourself in there. I know your cousin has some things that aren't for little lads to be playing with."

"I'll be good, Ma." Pippin smiled his winning smile and dashed off down the corridor with Frodo close behind him.

After shutting the door, Frodo turned to Pippin. The lad stood in the center of the room twisting his hands together.

"Whatever has you so anxious, Pip?"

"I know you didn't mean anything by it, Frodo, I really do. Neither you nor Cousin Bilbo. I mean, after all, you didn't even know about Yew until just a couple of days ago. How could you have as Dad didn't send his letter till then. But it really is an awful mess and you need to make amends. I think it is part of why Yew spouted fire at Cousin Bilbo."

As usual, Pippin had started somewhere in the middle of his tale. Frodo took a deep breath to slow himself down. It usually helped to calm the child if those around him stayed settled. He thought through what he'd said.

"Make amends for what, Pip?"

"Why, not inviting Yew to the Birthday Party!"

"We should have invited your dragon to the party?"

"Well, yes. Although, like I said, it would have been difficult to seeing as you didn't know he was with us when you sent the invitation for my family. But you really should have sent one with Gandalf's reply to Da. Poor Yew. He rode the whole way here with all of us going on about how much fun it's going to be and all and he knows he's not invited. I would hate that, Frodo. Hearing all about the fun everyone's going to have and not even being invited. Wouldn't you?"

"Well, yes. Of course that wouldn't be ple . . ." Frodo stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened as a thought came into his head, then they narrowed. "Pippin, you aren't thinking of taking Yew to the party today, are you?"

"Oh no, Frodo! No. Of course not." Pippin responded - yet, now that his older cousin mentioned it, it could be fun to do just that. He'd have to work on that later, first things first. "But he really shouldn't be left out like this. I mean, it's bad enough to not be able to go to a party you have been invited to, but how much worse to not be invited at all?"

"So, you are wanting me to make an invitation for Yew."

"Yes! You write ever so well and I think it would make him feel so much better."

Frodo sighed. He saw in the lad's eyes that there would be no talking him out of it.

"Does it matter what it looks like?"

"Of course it does!" Pippin huffed. "He saw the one the family got, all with lovely gold writing. Dragons like gold, you know. I'm sure he noticed."

"Alright, you stay here, Pip, and I'll get the gold ink from Bilbo's study." He rolled his eyes as he went to fetch the ink. The things he did for that child. But then he laughed. Doing things for his cousins was always fun.

He eased open the study door. Gandalf was bent over the desk. Yew sat upon it amongst several of Bilbo's maps.

"There is nothing there," the dragon said, tapping at the map with his foreleg, "and you say we shall go even further to the east. You would send me where there is nothing at all?"

"No, no, Yew. It is the way of things that certain peoples live in certain areas and, most of them at least, have little desire to go too far a-wandering. Even the Elves have not gone to those regions, so their maps show nothing there. But I and others of my kind know what is there."

"And that is where you will take me?"

"Yes, I think it will be best. There are several ranges of mountains with many caves there as well as forests, lakes, and rivers. You shall have no lack of food."

"But if there are no people, how will I obtain a proper hoard."

Frodo wasn't sure he wished to hear Gandalf's answer to that question.

"Excuse me," he said, pushing the door open the rest of the way as he walked into the room. "I need something off of Bilbo's desk." Glancing at the desk as he reached for the gold ink, he saw Yew's foot resting on the empty parchment east and to the north of the Sea of Rûne.

As he got to the door he heard Gandalf say, "There are people there, Yew, but they know nothing of dragons."

Thinking that rather dangerous, sending Yew to a place where the people would not even know how horrible dragons could be, Frodo closed the door and went back to his room where he would be writing a party invitation to a dragon.

Life certainly could be interesting.

Yew said nothing for a moment, his head extended over the blank portion of the map swaying with his eyes closed.

“Are you playing games with me, Wizard Gandalf?” The dragon fixed his gaze upon the wizard, hints of flame flickering in their depths. “Why would you send me some place where people would be unsuspecting and defenseless against me?”

“I’m not sure you are prepared for the answer, Yew.”

“Humph! Because I am young? Because I am small? I am most knowledgeable.” Yew puffed up, looking ready to blast the wizard at any moment.

Gandalf grinned beneath his mustache and beard. How like Pippin this young fire-drake was! The lad could take nearly anything – except being considered too young or too small.

“No, Yew. It is not because you are young or small. It is because you may not wish to hear my opinion on this matter.” Gandalf stretched. His back ached from leaning over the maps. He walked around to the front of the desk and sat down in the Man-sized chair Bilbo kept in his study. “Paladin Took related the whole of your story in his letter.”

“The whole of my story?”

“Yes. I have great hope that you have become different than others of your kind by virtue of being raised by Hobbits. Although all fire-drakes know how to be mannerly, they only behave so when it is to their advantage. You have shown manners even when it is to your disadvantage. And, note this well, Yew of the Dragons, you surrendered your hoard without hurting young Peregrin. That is a most unusual thing for a dragon to do.”

Yew’s mouth opened and closed as though he had an answer to this, but he did not.

“Quite!” Gandalf smiled broadly. “You are, as you’ve claimed, an intelligent young dragon. There is it, my fiery friend, not only did you not fight to keep your treasures, but you have on several occasions apologized for your actions and behaviour. It is my belief that you will be able to give your kind a new reputation. Not that you are the first dragon with such tendencies. I’m certain Peregrin has told you the tale of “The Dragon and The Faeries”, has he not?”

“He has, yes. How one of my kind helped those of another race and is forever honored by them.”

“Indeed. See, there is precedence for your actions and I think that the love and kindness of the Took household has brought it out even more clearly. I think you, my little dragon . . . eh, pardon me, my dear dragon, will be able to raise your kind to that same status among the people of the realm in the distant east.”

Yew pondered this revelation. The thought appealed to him. It would be pleasant to be honored instead of feared, to be respected out of affection instead of respected out of terror. But that still left one growing concern.

“What of my hoard? I need to have a hoard and I am only aware of one means by which to acquire one.” The dragon’s head drooped. “I doubt they will revere me if I am stealing their wealth. And would they not defend it? I shall most likely have to kill them to obtain my hoard and that certainly will not endear me to them.”

Gandalf laughed until he caught Yew glaring at him. “No. That most certainly will not endear you to them. But, there are other ways to acquire wealth.”

“Such as?”

“Reward for services rendered. Gifts given out of respect, honor, gratitude or affection.”

“You jest! No one gives away their riches for such reasons.”

“Hobbits give gifts to each other all the time to honor or remember special occasions or to show honor to an elder. Many other races do the same. Bilbo himself was greatly rewarded for assistance given to some dwarves.”

“Humph! Dwarves!” Yew crinkled his face in disgust. “And here I thought he was noble yet he has dealings with dwarves.” But the young dragon’s curiosity got the better of him. “How did he assist them and what sort of reward?”

“He helped them reclaim their mountain realm from . . . an enemy.” Gandalf refrained from saying they had vanquished a dragon. “In return for his deeds he was given a small chest of gold.”

Yew’s eyes lit up at the word gold. “But only a small chest? ‘Twill take me forever to obtain a decent hoard at that rate, for I shall someday be quite large and will need a hoard to match my size.”

“It was only one small chest because that was all Bilbo would accept. Most Hobbits don’t put much value on having great stores of gold or jewels. Not that certain families aren’t extremely well off, the Tooks being foremost amongst them. But for most Hobbits their riches have no hold on their hearts.” Gandalf leaned foreword and tapped on the eastern edge of the map. “If you do well, if you properly endear yourself to the people in these realms, you will assure yourself, and any dragons you sire, of a magnificent hoard.”

Yew stared at Gandalf’s finger resting on the map.

“Mountains. You are certain there are mountains and rivers and forests and game I may feed upon in that place?”

“Certain. It is a vast area and there are no other dragons there.”

Yew grinned at the wizard. “Then how will I manage to sire any offspring?”

Gandalf returned the grin. “I think arrangements can be made. Wizards are surprising and resourceful sorts.”

Yew nodded. “I am in agreement with your proposed arrangements. What token do you offer in trust?”

Gandalf pulled something out of the pocket of his robe. Gold glinted from between his fingers as he uttered words over the object. Then he opened his hand and looked at Yew.

“In token of our agreement I give you this necklace, Yew of the Dragons. I have spoken such words over it that will cause it to grow as you do. As long as you hold to our agreement, it will never become too small. Our agreement is this: that you shall be a help, guardian and benefactor to the peoples of the realm to which you are sent. You will not hurt them for any need of your own, other than self-defense or the defense of those whom you promise to protect.”

Yew pulled from his side one of his shimmering red scales then laid it on the desk before him.

“In token of our agreement I give you one of my scales as it is all I have to give, not yet having a hoard. I will go with you to this new land. I will work out a way to become a guardian and benefactor to the people there and I will not harm them except to protect my own life or the lives of those I have sworn to protect.”

Gandalf draped the necklace over Yew’s neck till it was settled nicely against his withers and upon his chest. Yew picked up the scale and handed it to Gandalf. He opened up a small, plain wooden box and dropped the scale inside, then put the box back into his pocket.

“Done and done!” they said in unison.

“Now,” Yew said, sounding a great deal like young Pippin, “When do we leave?”

Yew had to curb his enthusiasm. Bilbo’s party was that evening and Gandalf’s plans were to remain at Bag End for a week, maybe longer, to help Frodo with his settling in.

The dragon could not attend the party even though he had been presented with a lovely invitation. Twice, late in the afternoon, Pippin was sent back to Bag End to return Yew to his cage. It hadn’t turned out to be as easy to hide a foot long live dragon in his waistcoat as the lad had expected. At least he hadn’t been able to hide it from his family or Bilbo and Frodo.

“I hate to have you missing all the fun, Yew.” Pippin said on their way up Bag End’s front walk for the second time. “I will bring you some food. There is a good deal of meat roasting and there will be sweets of every kind, but you’ll miss the gifts and all the entertainments.”

“Perhaps they wouldn’t be to my liking anyway, Pippin.”

“I do think you would like Gandalf’s fireworks, their being something fiery and all.” Pippin paused as he reached for the knob in the middle of the round green door. “I know! I know how you can at least hear the music and see the fireworks!”

Pippin ran into the house then into the parlor. He plopped Yew down on the sill of the large window that directly faced the party field then opened the window wide.

“There!” he said with a satisfied nod. “You’ll be able to see and hear most everything and especially the fireworks.”

“Were you not supposed to put me back in my cage?”

“Yes, but then you’d be in my room and facing the wrong way.”

“What if someone comes? How do we explain there being a dragon in Bilbo Baggins’ house?”

Pippin thought hard for a moment.

“You have very good hearing and can see well in the dark, can’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Just keep sharp. I’m sure you’ll hear or see anyone who comes up to the gate. Pretend you’re a statue of a dragon and don’t move. Cousin Bilbo has all sorts of unusual things here and no one would be surprised to see a dragon statue. Some will even think the Dwarves gave it to him for his birthday.”

Yew shivered. Dwarves! There were some inside Bag End. He could smell them. But they seemed to have things to do, or knew their place because they stayed in some of the other rooms. He looked out over the Party Field and sighed. The scents of the food wafted through the window, making him salivate. He really had been hoping his young friend’s plan to have him be at the party would work.

“Yes,” he said at last. “I can do that. ‘Twill be better than nothing at all as long as you don’t forget to bring some food to me.”

“I won’t forget, Yew. I’ll bring some up as soon as they serve, I can always manage to get in close to the head of the line, and then I’ll bring some more when we’re all nibbling the bits and bobs that are left on the platters and filling up the corners.”

The plan worked well. Yew loved the fireworks, especially the dragon, though it was most disappointing that it exploded instead of just flying away into the distance, and he was well fed with a full plate of food shortly thereafter as the dragon firework had been the signal for supper. He was busily cleaning himself off when something deep and instinctual made him stop stock-still.

Something dark was coming. A quick vision of a mighty dragon tortured and in chains flitted through his mind as the gate opened and closed. Though he could neither hear nor see anyone he could smell the scent of Bilbo Baggins. He ignored his instructions to not move from the window, hopping down from the sill and more slithering than walking he moved toward the front door.

The door opened as he peered around the corner into the front hall. It opened and closed with no one there!

Yet . . .

The scent of the old Hobbit was stronger.

He was there! Without a pop or a poof of magic, Bilbo was suddenly, simply there! The sense of darkness Yew felt vanished as the Hobbit appeared. Yew’s dragon eyes caught the slightest glint of gold leaving Bilbo’s finger and slipping into his pocket. He slithered back into the parlor and under a low-seated chair. It seemed best that his host didn’t know he wasn’t in his cage.

Yew heard Bilbo moving about the hole but didn’t dare to leave his hiding place. After a while the front door opened and he watched the grey robes of Gandalf go swishing by. Yew scampered out and trailed along hoping to stay out of sight behind the flowing cloth. Gandalf went straight into Bilbo’s study.

“Hullo!” Bilbo said. He was standing beside the fireplace looking startled. “I wondered if you would turn up.”*

“I am glad to find you visible,”* Gandalf replied as he sat down in the Man sized chair near the desk. Yew followed along, staying behind the wizard and ending up under the chair he sat in.

The wizard and hobbit talked of things that had happened at the party. Gandalf caught Yew’s attention when he mentioned a ring, a ring that the old Hobbit had been keeping a secret. Yew thought about the flash of gold he had seen just after Bilbo appeared in the front hall. From what Gandalf was saying that ring had something to do with Bilbo being invisible.

Yew listened closely as the conversation continued and gradually changed into an argument. Bilbo was talking like a dragon defending its hoard while the wizard kept talking calmly.

“Well, if you want my ring yourself, say so!” Bilbo eventually cried out, a challenge sounding in his voice. “But you won’t get it. I won’t give my Precious away, I tell you.”*

“It will be my turn to get angry soon,” Gandalf said as he rose and took a step forward. “If you say that again, I shall. Then you will see Gandalf the Grey uncloaked.”*

A great power filled the room. Yew flattened himself to the floor wondering if even a dragon full grown would project such strength. The moment passed and the flood of energy subsided.

They talked a bit more and it was decided that Bilbo would indeed part with this ring of his. Gandalf told him to simply leave it on the mantle. But Yew heard a muffled tink. Gandalf moved quickly and the dragon could see him stoop to pick an envelope off the bricks of the hearth to set it upon the mantle. Bilbo twitched a bit. Anger clouded his face for a moment then passed into a smile and a chuckle before he and Gandalf walked off into the hall. Bilbo’s voice was cheery, his words lighthearted. Yew heard him whistle and the smell of dwarf grew stronger as doors opened and closed and three of the nasty creatures went into the front hall and out the door with Bilbo. He heard the Hobbit softly sing a song and as he sang, Yew used the opportunity to scamper back into the parlor, climb to the window sill and watch as Bilbo finished singing and went off with the dwarves into the darkness.

“Good-bye, my dear Bilbo,” he heard Gandalf say after a few minutes had passed. “Until our next meeting!”* Then the door closed, Gandalf walked past the parlor down the hall and, Yew thought by how long it took, went back into Bilbo’s study.

Frodo came in a while later, calling for Bilbo. He went straight to the study. Yew over heard most of the conversation Frodo had with Gandalf.

“So,” he muttered to himself. “The young hobbit gets the mysterious ring. I wonder if he knows what it can do?”

He heard Gandalf bid Frodo good night then the wizard went to his bedroom and Frodo went back outside and to the Party Field.

A/N  Bits followed with an asterisk – the dialogue is from “A Long Expected Party” in The Fellowship of the Ring although the descriptive prose is my own and not quoted.

The next day was an odd one, even for Bag End.

Gandalf left before Frodo arose, Yew heard him go. Frodo awoke considerably later as did the rest of the hobbits in Hobbiton. Yet, by midday there was a sizable crowd in the front garden of the Hole in The Hill. Some, like Paladin Took, were genuinely concerned about dear old Bilbo’s welfare. Others were merely curious. The rest were wondering what, if anything, was in it for them.

They all were expected and a weary Frodo greeted them at the door; letting in some while others came in anyway. As the crowds grew, Merry volunteered to help his cousin police the various relatives and acquaintances who filled Bag End. Fortunately, Paladin had been one of the early comers and had brought Yew’s traveling cage in case Gandalf wanted it for their journey. At Frodo’s request, he had taken care of Yew, putting him in his cage and placing the cage in Gandalf’s room. Frodo had already placed a sign upon the door that read: “Gandalf the Wizard’s room, enter at your own risk!” in hopes of keeping the curious out of there. The crowd would thin out by the end of the day and Pippin would get to visit his former pet tomorrow when the hubbub was over. Actually, Yew was more a friend now than a pet,.

After all, Gandalf’s plan was to stay at Bag End for at least a week to help Frodo make his adjustments to his new position in life.

Yew was not thrilled with the arrangement. He wanted to know everything that was going on, not be doubly locked up.

“Well,” Paladin said as he set the cage in a corner of Gandalf’s room where it couldn’t be seen from the window. “I can understand your feelings, Yew. But it is this or you have to pretend to be a statue all day.”

Yew tipped his head to one side. “Pippin told you about last night, eh?”

“Yes,” Paladin chuckled, “and I think it was a wonderful idea. To be honest with you, I wasn’t happy that you were missing out on the party either. I’m glad my lad came up with a workable solution. But today is different. The focus of the crowd is here at Bag End and it would be unreasonable to assume no one would notice you.”

Yew nodded his sad agreement and was shut away for the day.

Early in the evening the door to Gandalf’s room burst open. Yew jerked awake.

“. . . were going to stay a week.” Frodo was in mid sentence as he and the wizard entered the room and Gandalf began stuffing his few belongings into his small satchel.

“I had planned to stay that long but now I’m not. Some . . . things have come to my attention and I need to be off at once. Besides, I’ve the feeling I’m not exactly welcome in the Shire just now.”

He turned to leave but stopped, as he caught sight of Yew’s cage on the floor in the corner.

“I’d forgotten about you,” he sighed. “We are leaving right now, my reptilian friend.” Gandalf picked up the cover Eglantine had made for the cage that had a slot in it for the handle to poke through and started to cover the cage.

“What! No!” Yew twitched his tail and puffed out a small, angry, flame. “I’ve not said goodbye to Pippin. You can’t just march off with me and not let the poor lad say goodbye to me, He’ll be heartbroken.”

Gandalf eyed the dragon and a tender smile grew behind his beard and mustache. “You’re right, Pippin will be quite crushed.” He covered the cage then picked it up to the level of his face. “We will make a small side trip for farewells,” he addressed the cage’s occupant through the cover. He turned to Frodo. “Now, I really must be leaving.”

Frodo had to trot to keep up with the hurrying wizard. Gandalf and Yew went out the door and out the gate into the gathering gloom of the late Winterfilth night. The new master of Bag End shivered, he did not like how burdened Gandalf seemed to be.

Wizard and dragon arrived at the Green Dragon under the cover of full darkness and a few well-aimed pebbles brought Paladin to the window of the Took’s sitting room.

“Who’s out there?” he called.

“Hush!” Gandalf sharply whispered. “I cannot come into the inn without causing a stir, and that is best avoided. My plans have changed and I need to leave the Shire at once. Yew insisted that he and Pippin have their good byes before we go.”

“Oh my! Yes, certainly. We would all like that I should think. Give us a few minutes and we will meet you behind the stable.”

Ten minutes later the entire Took family arrived behind the Green Dragon’s stable. Once there, Paladin cracked open the shutter on the lantern he brought with him.

“Sorry for the delay, Gandalf,” Paladin said. “We got spotted by some friends and had to not appear to be in a hurry or we’d have had their curiosity up. As it is I hope they believed we were only taking a walk to look at the stars.”

“Better that you avoided suspicion, my friend.” Gandalf patted the hobbit’s shoulder. He drew the cover off the cage as Pippin pushed forward and dropped to his knees beside it. As soon as the cover was off the lad threw the latch and opened the door. Gandalf wondered how the dragon felt about being hugged and rocked in front of everyone, but in the dim light he could see Yew’s eyes were closed and a smile graced his mouth.

“This is all so fast!” Pippin moaned “We were supposed to have a week of visiting and being with Frodo and Merry, and instead you have to go right now and Merry hasn’t even got to see you!” He continued to hug his friend.

“I know, Pippin.” Yew’s voice was soft and soothing. “I too had been looking forward to a longer farewell and to meeting your favorite cousin. I had much I wanted to say to you and now it must be only that I will never forget you, nor your family, and all your many kindnesses to me.”

“We won’t ever forget you either, Yew. Thank you for all the stories you’ve told me about dragons. Be careful. Have a good life wherever it is Gandalf is taking you.” The child was sniffing every few words. “I hope you end up with a very nice cave and a lovely large hoard.”

“And you, my friend,” Yew opened his eyes and looked at the rest of the Tooks, “and all your family, live long and happy lives, here in your gentle Shire. Pippin,” he pulled his head back to look the young hobbit in the eye. “Have adventures. I think you will see some of the wide world. Be careful when you do and may you come back safely home to your family.”

To everyone’s surprise, including Yew’s, Pippin kissed the dragon on the top of his head before gently placing him in the cage and latching the door. He stood up slowly, like an old hobbit might, then went to stand by his mother, leaning into her side as though he were younger than he was. Lanti put her arm around him and he didn’t shrug it off.

“Good bye, Yew,” each Took said in turn.

Paladin let out his breath in a sigh. “Thank you, Gandalf, and may you farewell on this journey. We are in your debt.”

“I am glad to be of help with your most unusual problem. My blessings upon your family.” The Wizard went down on one knee in front of Pippin. “I promise to take good care of Yew. I am not sure that I will be the one taking him to his new home as something of great importance has arisen that I need to attend to. But, I will see if I can find one of my fellow Wizards, a good-hearted soul named Radagast the Brown who has a deep love for all the creatures of Middle-earth. He will take better care of Yew than I could anyway and he is familiar with the lands we chose for him to live in.”

“All right, Gandalf.” The lad was still teary and sniffing. “If you think that other wizard will take good care of Yew, then I’ll trust him too.”

Gandalf hugged Pippin tightly. He did like this little hobbit lad nearly as much as he cared for Bilbo and Frodo. He covered Yew’s cage and stood up.

“Farewell then, my good Tooks,” he said as he picked up the cage. “We really must be on our way now.”

He strode off with the dragon, a soft chorus of “Goodbye” and “Farewell” wafting along behind them on the night breezes.

 “So, you are not going to honor our bargain, Wizard?” Yew finally broke the long silence that marked the beginning of his journey with Gandalf.

“Hm, what? Oh! My apologies, Yew, I was thinking. If you mean our agreement that I would take you to your new homeland, then, if you wish to be precise, no. I will not. But only in as much that I personally will not be escorting you. I have made arrangements, as you heard me tell Pippin.”

“I gave my trust to you, not some other.” The cover was off Yew’s cage since they were well off the road and away from any Hobbit farms or villages, so Gandalf saw the dragon’s irritated flicker of flame.

“Actually, Radagast is better suited to escorting a dragon into the distant east than I am. I fear my tasks here in Middle-earth call me more often to duty than his do. Also, as I told Pippin, Radagast is more in touch with the plants and beasts of the world than I am. I had begun to think it might be better to send you on with him even before my plans changed.”

“You changed your plans when you had to deal so severely with the old Hobbit, Bilbo. Is my guess correct?”

Gandalf swayed to a halt, held the cage up and quirked an eyebrow at the dragon. “Your guess? Come now, Yew. I know you used my robes to hide behind when I came back from Bilbo’s party so I know you heard our . . . discussion. What guess have you made?”

“His ring is evil. It did not come from the one who created my kind, yet it bears the taint of him. I had a brief vision of Glaurung in his torment after he escaped and was recaptured by Morgoth. And then, there was Bilbo himself. I had never heard a Hobbit sound so . . . well, dragonish. Not even Pippin’s sister Pervinca. If he could have spouted flame he would have.” Yew drew a deep breath, letting it out with a hissing sigh. “I feel grave concern for Frodo. I hope he takes your concern and advice to heart.”

The wizard nodded slowly as he lowered Yew’s cage and set off again at his rapid pace. “I hope the same, Yew. I hope the same. I didn’t say very much as Frodo is a born worrier and I really know so little with any certainty. Nevertheless, I hope he heeds what I did say.”

They fell once more into silence.

Their trip was a rushed one with only brief pauses for refreshment and none, by the wizard, for rest, although Yew was able to sleep in his cage. Sooner than most would have expected to be possible they crossed the Brandywine Bridge. Less than a mile further east they came to a clearing to the north of the Great East Road. There they made a sort of camp and Gandalf finally rested.

The next morning a rider arrived at the edge of the glade. Yew could see him even in the shadows at the edge of the wood. He was like to Gandalf but dressed in brown instead of grey. There was no bridle upon the horse’s head nor were the rider’s feet in stirrups, but then, Gandalf did say this wizard was a friend of the creatures of the world and Yew knew he would prefer not to have such things placed on his own head and back. This bode well for his having to travel with the newcomer.

“Hail, Mithrandir! Gandalf!” he called.

Gandalf rose to greet his friend. “Yes, yes. Come out of the woods, Radagast.”

“I acquired a horse as your message instructed and came as quickly as possible. You say you have a dragon you need transported?”

“I do indeed.” With a sweep of his arm, Gandalf stepped aside, revealing Yew sitting comfortably atop his cage.

“Oh my!” Radagast’s eyes grew huge as he slid off his horse. “Truly, you have a young firedrake.” The new wizard bowed low before Yew. “Radagast the Brown at your service.”

“Yew of the Dragons at yours,” replied the dragon as Gandalf had instructed him just that morning. There was no need to add ‘and your family’s’ as wizards had no families.

“Yew? After the tree?”

“Yes. I was discovered by my young savior, upon a stone wall near a yew tree. Actually, I was ill from having eaten some of the tree’s leaves. But then, I was yet a hatchling and ignorant of the danger.”

“It is a strong name. Full of ancient magic. And your dragon name?”

Yew wondered at this. It was an unusual request as few other beings could pronounce dragon names nor cared to know them.

“Bedwyrculhwch.”

“Ah. A strong, goodly name. It bodes well for your future in the distant east.” Radagast nodded then turned to Gandalf. “I’ve already broken my fast. I could take Bedwyrculhwch and leave now if you’d like. That would free you to attend to the urgent errand you mentioned.”

Yew’s eyebrow ridges rose at the brown wizard’s correct pronunciation of his name.

“Thank you, that would be of help, yes. I have lost some time in waiting for you to arrive. You had best get into your cage, Yew.” Gandalf added to the dragon.

“No need!” Radagast held out a large, soft leather bag. “I have used this to carry some of my large avian and reptilian friends when I have found them injured and in need of care. It has an opening at the top that is a nice size for a head to poke out of and it slings comfortably over my shoulders. All who have ridden in it have all proclaimed it most comfortable. And, when we are moving at a walking pace, Yew may ride upon my shoulder.”

Gandalf looked at Yew who nodded in return. The wizard bowed.

“Does this arrangement meet your approval, Yew? Will you go with my brother wizard to a new realm in the east?”

“I will,” Yew declared, returning the bow. “It is as you said. Radagast, it is clear, is a noble wizard who is well-versed in dragon lore. I will entrust myself to his care.”

“Do well in your new land, Yew of the Dragons. My blessings rest upon you and your escort.” Gandalf picked Yew up, placed him in Radagast’s carrier, and then closed it with the leather ties.

Yew popped his head out of the opening in the top. He looked down at the travelling cage Pippin and his father had made for him and spoke to Radagast. “Do you know how to carve wood, good wizard?”

“I do indeed. Why do you ask?”

“Please, take the branch that is in my cage along with us and make something out of it. I would have something of my friend other than memories alone.”

Gandalf removed the foot long branch and Radagast tucked it into a pocket sewn to the inside of his cloak.

“Wizard Gandalf.” Yew bowed his head to the grey wizard. “May your task go well. I hope you will be able to watch over the Hobbits I have met. They are a goodly folk and deserving of your care.”

“I will.”

“Fare you well, Gandalf!” Radagast said as he wheeled his mount around and rode off at a canter.

*    *    *

Radagast and Yew had a long journey ahead of them. Long and uneventful, for the evil that was returning to Middle-earth had no concern for them and had not yet come to strength. The Brown Wizard knew all the most secretive paths. His tasks in this world often needed to be hidden from the eyes of even the Elves as he quietly tended to needy creatures and plants . . . or strengthened them to bear up against the destructions of The Darkness. Therefore, they passed unhindered through all the lands of Middle-earth.

After many months wizard and dragon rode into the eastern realms, and there adventures unfolded that would set Yew and his descendants apart from the dragons of the western realms.

There, their story will continue.

*     *     *

A/N:

Yew’s Dragonish name is, as mentioned in an earlier A/N, the slapping together of two Welsh names Bedwyr and Culhwch. I chose Welsh names because Welsh looks odd to us English speakers and because a red dragon is the symbol of Wales.

Bedwyr is of unknown meaning, but one of King Arthur’s knights bore the Anglicized version of Bedwyr – Bedivere. He is said to have thrown Excalibur into the lake after the king died.

Culhwch – “Means "hiding place of the pig" in Welsh. In Welsh legend he was the lover of Olwen the daughter of the giant Yspaddaden. Before the giant would allow Culhwch to marry his daughter, he insisted that Culhwch complete a series of extremely difficult tasks. Culhwch managed to complete them, and he returned to marry Olwen and kill the giant. This tale appears in the Mabinogion, a collection of tales from Welsh myth.” (from the website “Behind the Name)

I liked that a knight had been named a form of Bedwyr and that, despite the actual meaning, a Welsh mythological hero was named Culhwch.

With great appreciation I need to thank Dreamflower for doing beta-reading and editing on the last chapter, this, and the last chapter. I think she’s done some others as well and I forgot to thank her. I don’t always use a beta and have a nasty habit of forgetting to say thank you when I do.

Please know, Dreamflower, that I’m extremely grateful for all your help.

*     *     *     *

“Tell us again, honorable elder, the story of why our part of Huaxia* is so important,” the children of the village begged the old man, their excitement battling with the need to show proper respect.

Hè Wushù Xian* laughed, as he often did when around children. “If you will listen with open minds and proper attention, my little ones, I will most happily tell you the great tale of the beginning of all Huaxia culture.”

The old man thought again how his age and weathered features helped him to be accepted in this land where outsiders were rarely welcomed. With his long grey hair and beard he looked like their own eldest ones, and because of the wrinkling around his eyes, their roundness didn’t show. He sat down upon a bench in the village’s public garden, settling the long sleeves of his brown robe upon his lap, and when the children took their places around his feet, he began the tale of Yinglong*.

*     *     *

“It was near to the end of a long age of the world that the first of the dragons came to these lands. Yinglong, the oldest of all dragons of and father to all the other dragons of Huaxia came from a distant land in search of a new home. Bright red he is – is not was, for eldest dragons do not die unless they are killed and though some of his children have been killed in battles, no true child of Huaxia would ever kill a dragon. Red like the purest ruby is Yinglong, with eyes that glow like the flame within him when he is angered, and mighty wings has he that carry him far above the world so that he may keep watch over his children and his chosen people.”

“What land did he come from?” a tiny boy asked. His brother and sister nudged and scolded him and he quickly corrected himself. “Dà Hè Wushù Xian, what land did he come from?”

“No one knows for the stories do not start with his birth, only with his coming to us. But, it is said he was young, not yet a mature dragon, when he arrived and called the mighty Wu Tai Shan mountain his home. I have heard that he was only eight chǐ* long when first he flew into the Taihand Mountains.

It is said that Cuiyan Peak is his doorstep and where his feet first touched our land. That is why the green rocks there look like writhing dragons. He drinks from the pool on Yedou Peak, highest of the five peaks of Wu Tai Shan, and it is said he talks with all his mighty children in the reflections of the water. Jinxiu Peak is his garden and the flowers bloom there for his pleasure. When his thoughts pull his mind eastward, he stands upon Wanghai Peak and gazes across the ocean and when his meditations are to the west, he sits upon Guayue Peak.”

“If he is full of fire, dà Hè Wushù Xian, then how can some of his children live in the water?” asked a maiden.

“Ah! That is a good question. It is said that a lady dragon of another sort, one who bore no fire in her belly, was fleeing from a land in the west and that Yinglong found her near to death at the foot of his mountain. He carried her to the pool of Yedou Peak and the waters of the pool healed her. She pledged him her life and they mated. Afterward, she was changed into a male dragon and became the Shenlong, the spiritual dragon who is master of the wind and rain. Some of their children, called the Dilong, are wingless, except when they are mating, and without fire, loving the rivers, streams and lakes of the earth. They are the female to Shenlong’s masculinity. Others of their children are a blending of their parents. But all that happened long after the story I am telling.”

“But . . .” began another eager child.

Hè Wushù Xian held up his hand. “No. I will never get to the story if I answer so many questions. You must all let me tell Yinglong’s tale.”

The children looked at one another and then, fearing the loss of their story, settled into quiet attention.

“For sixteen years, it is said, the red dragon hid upon his mountain peaks. He grew until he was his full size of eighteen gōngchǐ* long. To strengthen his wings he flew as often as he could on the darkest, moonless nights for he did not wish to frighten the people in the valleys or on the fertile plain below, so among them he had no name. Yet, he was curious about the people and often he would hide in the dark of cave openings low upon the mountain and watch them as they went about their lives.

In his sixteenth year, it is said, things were happening away to the far west that could have spelt ruin for all the world. An evil had arisen and the taint of it crept far and wide.

The Yellow River, which blessed the plains every year by flooding and leaving behind its fertile silt, became angry. As the taint of evil grew its flooding became dangerous. People were swept away and the lands were damaged by waters too strong to let the silt settle.

In the late winter of that year, when the dragon came to one of his cave openings, he heard the sound of a man moaning in great distress.

“Will the gods do nothing to help us? Is there no one they can send to our aid? For surely the river will be angrier this year than it was before. For the storms of winter were cruel to us, and the snows deeper than we have ever known. Soon the melting season will be upon us. The cruel snows will melt and feed Yellow River’s anger and we will surely all be destroyed!”

The dragon looked out and saw a man, bent with worry, sitting upon a rock that he had cleared of the snow that blanketed the entire Taihand Mountains and the plains below.

“It is my belief that you will be able to give your kind a new reputation.” The red dragon heard a voice from his past speaking to him. “If you do well, if you properly endear yourself to the people in these realms, you will assure yourself, and any dragons you sire, of a magnificent hoard.”

He decided the moment had come.

“I may be able to help.”

The man heard the smooth voice behind him and jumped in surprise. He turned, but saw nothing there, only the dark mouth of a cave.

“Who said that? Show yourself!”

“Shall I?” asked the voice in the cave. “You might wish you had not asked for that, little Man.”

The man shook with fear, but he was stronger of heart than his earlier moaning indicated. “I ask for it. Show yourself and speak plainly with me since you say you may be able to save my family and all who live upon the plain of the Yellow River.”

“Then step aside, little Man, so that I may come out of my cave.”

The man stepped aside.

A huge red snout appeared at the entrance of the cave, and the man’s trembling grew worse.

A huge head, covered with scales followed the snout, and the man’s legs failed him and he fell to his knees.

A long neck followed the head, and the man fell forward upon his face and lay quaking with his fear.

He did not look up until the silky voice spoke again.

“I am out of my cave, little Man. I would have you look at me if we are to work together to help the people of the valley.”

The man raised his head to behold a huge red and gold beast. Its head was like a horse or a camel, it had the limbs and body of a lizard, while rising from its back were the wings of a bat. How could such a creature have so soothing a voice? He looked again to its head. Its eyes were soft with concern.

“W-what are y-you?”

“I am a dragon, little Man. The only one of my kind in this realm.” The dragon paused with a tipping of its head. “I weary of calling you ‘little Man’. Have you a name? Oh, and do sit up.”

The man rose to his still wobbly legs instead. If he was going to do business with this creature, he should stand before it, that and it was difficult to give a proper bow of respect while sitting.

“I am called Yu, master dragon.”

Yu bowed deeply. He had not expected to hear laughter in response. He stood straight and glared at the dragon.

“You laugh at my show of respect?”

“No!” came the reply, mixed in with more laughing. “No, my good Yu. It is only that in all this realm how strange it is that the first being I speak to has the same name as my own. I also am Yew.”

As he said his name the dragon gave a bow of his own. “I am at your service and that of your family.”

Yu smiled. “This will not do. It will be too confusing if we are both called Yu.” He pondered a moment then said. “May I presume to give you a name?”

“You may, but I will not accept it if I do not like it.”

“Yinglong,” Yu declared. ‘Long’ in our tongue has meant ‘lizard’ but now it will mean ‘dragon’. ‘Ying’ means ‘responsive’. You are the response from the gods to my cry for help. I name you Yinglong, the Responding Dragon.”

The dragon bowed again. “I accept this most noble name. I and any offspring I produce will respond to the gods and to the people of this realm.” Yinglong lifted his head. “Shall we now deal with your problem?”

*     *     *

Author’s Notes:

“Huaxia  -  In the narrow, original sense, Huaxia refers to a group (or confederation of tribes) of ancient people living along the Yellow River who formed the nucleus of what later became the Han ethnic group in China.”

Since this area and people are the ones involved in the earliest stories of dragons in China, it suited my story well. However, the rest suits my purposes well too.

“The term gradually lost the original specific ethnic designation and came to be used as a generic term for the Chinese nation itself, as well as for Chinese culture in general.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huaxia

*  *  *

Hè Wushù Xian = Brown Wizard – This is what I got when I typed “brown wizard” into a translator. More precisely it reads, Brown Witchcraft Teacher.

*  *  *

Yinglong (or Yinglung) is regarded as the oldest of all eastern dragons and the father of all the other Oriental dragons. The story related here in “Yew” is based on the Chinese myths about how he became involved with the Chinese people with additions of my own. Information about Yinglong was gleaned from several websites. And . . . according to most recounting of the legends, the person he helped was indeed named Yu. I thought that was a wonderful coincidence. J

*   *   *

*The measurements are loosely equivalent to:

  Chǐ = 1 foot

  Gōngchǐ = 1 meter which is slightly over 1 yard

“Our problem, most noble Yinglong,” began Yu, “is that something is wrong with the Yellow River. It is, at most times, our friend and benefactor. Because of its yearly flooding our soil is most fertile. But last year the storms of winter were angrier than is usual and the flood brought damage, not blessing. This particular winter, as I’m sure you know living as you do upon Wu Tai Shan mountain, the winter was angrier yet. The snow lies deep not only on the Taihand Mountains, but covering all the plain below. Surely when it melts everything will be swept away.”

Yu paused to draw a deep breath and release it in a weary sigh. He looked expectantly at Yinglong.

“Can you help us, noble Yinglong?”

“I will meditate upon this, friend Yu. Meet me here tomorrow when the sun is her highest and I will let you know what solution is shown to me. I give you this order; do not tell anyone of our meeting. The time will come, I am certain, for the people to know of me, but I deem it is not yet.”

They bowed to each other and Yu returned to his home upon the plain and Yinglong went into the cave and so up to the peak of Yedou to meditate beside the deep pool.

This was a problem indeed for the young dragon. His nature was fire – and fire and water are opposite natures. What did he know of the workings of water? He stared at the water in the pool. It, he knew, bubbled up from below. Yinglong’s eyes followed the edge of the large pool till his gaze fell upon the small channel where water trickled away down the mountain side. That was why the pool stayed always the same, never rising higher nor sinking lower. When the melting time came, the waters of the snow did not flood the pool, the trickle of water merely grew larger. The pool remained the same.

Yinglong smiled.

The solution was before him.

At midday, Yu arrived at the small plateau before the mouth of Yinglong’s cave to find the dragon curled in the sun and waiting for him.

“Hail, noble Yinglong!”

“Hail, friend Yu. I have your answer.”

Yu was amazed, but only for a moment. Of course the dragon would know what to do – he was sent by the gods to help, they would tell him what to do as he meditated.

“What have the gods told you?”

Yinglong smiled. It had not been the gods but his own two eyes that had brought the solution. Yet, he was able to reason and that, perhaps, was a gift from the One.

“Yes,” he said to Yu. “I have been shown the answer. We need to make channels in the earth; pathways for the water to follow so it cannot go wherever it will and wreak its havoc. They must be dug so that the waters of the Yellow River will rise only a little before they find the channels and are carried away. In this way, the water can be spread across the plain and allowed to pool only where the people wish it to so that the rice may grow.”

Yu eagerly nodded. “Yes! Yes I can see how that would work.” He bowed low. “Great is the wisdom of Yinglong.” He straightened. “How do we do this great deed? It will take a long time for the people to dig such trenches.”

“I will come and meet your family, relatives and neighbors so that I may do this great work. You will show me where you want the channels to run then I will mark them by dragging my tail across the snow and soil. When all the trenches are marked as you wish, I will use my mighty claws to dig them.”

“It will be done, noble Yinglong! I will go back to my home and will spread the word that all are to meet in the village square tomorrow after the sun is fully risen above the peaks of Wu Tai Shan mountain, and that all will meet the one who will save us from Yellow River’s wrath.”

“No. Say instead that you will meet at the eastern edge of the village, facing the mountain. There is not room enough for me in your village and I would not do damage to any of your buildings.”

“So it will be.”

They bowed and parted company until the appointed time.

“Who is this you are bringing us out in the cold to meet, Yu?” asked one of Yu’s cousins. All the people of the village, and many from outlying farms, were gathered beyond the last of the buildings on the eastern side of town, bundled up against the cold.

“You shall all see him soon. And do not fear him as he is most kind and wise.”

“You say he is a dragon and as big as a house?” asked Yu’s wife. “What do you mean, he is a dragon?”

“I explained as best I could, wife. You will have to be content. Everyone will see him soon enough.”

As the words left Yu’s mouth, one of the children pointed to the sky over the mountain and cried out, “Look!  Is that Yinglong, ge Yu?”

All eyes followed the child’s pointing finger. Something was flying around the highest peak of Wu Tai Shan mountain. As they watched, it flew straight toward them, growing larger and larger as it came until with the gentlest of thumps Yinglong landed before them. Small children hid behind their parents. Older boys jostled for a better look as the mighty beast bowed its head to the crowd.

“People of the plains of the Yellow River, I greet you. I, Yinglong am at your service and that of your families.”

As one the people returned the dragon’s bow.

The dragon raised his head and spoke. “Yu came upon my mountain to seek the gods and get help for you all against the anger you feel is coming from the River. I heard him and I am able to help you.”

He explained the plan for the channels to guide the flood waters and then gave them further instructions.

“Go out to your lands. Mark the ends of the channels with red flags. I will come and mark them off with my tail, this way we will be sure they are placed as you need before I dig them out. When all is set, I will dig out all the channels with my claws. You should then follow along and make sure the sides are packed firm so they will hold when the floods rise and the water flows in the trenches.”

So it was done. The people placed the flags, Yew marked then carved out all the channels and the people shored up any weak places in the sides of the trenches. When the snows of the angry winter began to melt, and the anger of the winter flowed into the anger of the Yellow River, the waters rose with fury. Beginning in the headwaters it roared down towards the plain, its energy shaking the earth. But the monster’s teeth were pulled from its jaws. The rising water found the bottom edges of the channels and, as water will, rushed to fill this low ground. With each new branch off the river’s course much of its anger was siphoned off, until the Yellow River’s anger was tamed and the plains received the blessing of the river instead.

The people rejoiced, and made images of Yinglong to hang in their homes. They made murals and statues to gladden their villages. And, most important to the dragon, they gave him gifts of gold, gems, silver, fine woods and food. Soon Yinglong had the greatest hoard of any dragon in any realm of the world. And he continued to bless the people.

Hè Wushù Xian smiled at his audience. “And so we continue to this day to honor the great winged dragon, Yinglong.”

The children clapped and cheered.

“Dà Hè Wushù Xian?” one of the older boys spoke up. “What of our Glorious Ancestor Huangdi? Did not Yinglong serve him?”

“Ah, yes! A well asked question. The Yellow Emperor was able to win his greatest battle because the mighty Winged Dragon, Yinglong, came to his aid.

Chiyou came from the east seeking to make the plains of the Yellow River his own. Gongsun Xuanyuan, whose family dwelt upon the Xuanyuan Hill. His family was rich and he was most respected and the people called him Huangdi, Yellow Emperor, because of his deep love of the yellow land of the fertile plains.

When Chiyou began attacking farms and villages, word of it came to Huangdi. The people told him that the warlord had giants and evil spirits with him. Huangdi gathered up his warriors and the strongest of the farmers and set out to war with Chiyou.

Chiyou, using magical powers, conjured up a fog. With his forged swords and the fog, his army slew many of the Huaxia forces. Huangdi brought forth his compass chariot and was able to find the way out of the fog. Chiyou followed. He lost the protection the fog had given him and the fortunes of battle turned to favor the noble Huangdi. Chiyou was captured, but he used his magic to slay any who tried to kill him.

Yinglong appeared in the sky above the camp.

“I have no need to fear this villain’s magic!” he cried out from on high. “I know its source and it has no power over me.” Diving down, he clutched Chiyou in his fearsome claws. He landed before Huangdi and rent his enemy in two before him. “I offer you the blood of  your enemy as proof of my service to you and your people from this time forth and forever.”

From that time forth dragons became associated with our emperors and only the Imperial dragons are drawn with five claws like those of Yinglong who brought final victory to the Yellow Emperor.”

Again, Hè Wushù Xian’s audience was most appreciative. The old man stood and bowed.

“Da Hè Wushù Xian?” a small girl spoke.

He held up his hand. “Only one more question will I answer this day. You all have chores to do,” he said with a wink.

The children groaned as the girl asked her question.

“Why do we never see Yinglong, or any of the other noble dragons?”

“It is one of the many gifts that were later given to all of our noble dragons by the grateful gods, to reward them for their service. All dragons can make themselves invisible, and most of them can also change their shape and appearance. The dragons of Huaxia still watch over us, that is why we still honor them at our festivals.”

Hè Wushù Xian smiled at the children. He loved them so.

“Now, my young friends, you must go to your homes and your families. Do your chores and your studies as you are told. Honor your parents and keep in your hearts the ways of the dragon, Yinglong.”

“Yes!”

“We will!”

“Thank you, da Hè Wushù Xian!”

The children bowed and scattered to their homes. The old one walked with a speed and grace that belied his years toward Wu Tai Shan mountain.

He had an old friend to visit.

THE END OF THE STORY OF YEW

*     *     *

A/N:

The myths of Huangdi and the Battle of Zhuolu Plain against Chiyou are an important part of Chinese culture, and yes – Yinglong’s role in that battle is part of the mythology. As far as I could find, the legends say that Yinglong was the only one who could slay Chiyou; how he did it is my addition. The Yellow Emperor is still regarded as the father of the Chinese people and of their ancient culture.