Open Writing

SERIOUS FEMALE BUSINESS

The witch Sye, leaned over the sleeping dragon and blew gently into her ear. “Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.”

“Er, er, what?” said the dragon.

“What would you like for your breakfast, Swanfire?” said Skye.

“I’m a bit off my tucker these days,” said the dragon. “I’m thinking about going vegetarian.”

“You can’t be serious,” said the witch.

“If I’d been a bit trimmer, with, maybe sweeter breath, that bastard Bart wouldn’t have flown off with that cockroach bitch dragon.”

“Bart was the loser, giving up a princess like you for a Y generation dragon, who had probably stayed on at home and never paid board,” said Skye.

“I still feel a bit sore about it.”

“Why don’t you see it as an opportunity to remake your life? You’re not going to have any more hatchlings – you’ve done your bit for dragonhood.”

The dragon’s eyes narrowed. The beautiful eyelashes blinked. “Are you saying I’m menopausal?”

“That never crossed my mind. May you live forever, wrinkle free in happy days and naughty nights. What I was saying is that a female has to move on, life goes on. Why don’t you take control of your situation? Accept Bart for the rat he is and forgive the cockroach because she has done you a favor in taking him away – he clearly doesn’t deserve you.”

The dragon preened. “You think so?”

“Positive, sweetheart. All you are lacking is a bit of self esteem. Would you like to borrow my magic mirror for a moment?”

“What good will that do?”

“You’ll need it for the affirmation spell.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ll show you.”

Skye went back into her lodge and came out with a portable Toshiba magic mirror. She opened it, switched it on to Truth and Happiness mode, and placed it in front of the dragon.

“Ask the mirror a question,” said Skye.

The dragon looked at the face in the mirror and said,”What do you see?”

There was a ripple of beautiful music, and the mirror spoke in a golden, confident voice. “ I see a beautiful female dragon, of the ancient royal line, with eyelashes to die for.”

“Royal line?” the dragon queried.

“Of course. Long before your time, royal dragons were always selected for their fighting qualities, beauty and intelligence. That’s why nobody could ever get the better of them in battle or in the peace negotiations afterwards.”

“I suppose that’s why the orcs in the service of the Lady of the Wood took me in?”

“Spot on. They live for war and saw your value immediately. A weapon without parallel – and good looking, too,” the mirror added slyly.

“Got yer. Thanks, mirror.” The dragon turned to Skye, “What’s the affirmation spell?”

“The mirror’s just told you, darl. Every time you look in the mirror you see a beautiful female dragon. This affirms your role, gives you back the self esteem which the Barts of this world can never steal from you.”

“I love it,” said the dragon. “Now, it’s time for a drink. Let me put together something special for you.”

The dragon took to the air, glided over the forest and came back a few minutes later with her saddle bags full of native wildflower blossoms, mainly grevillea and banksia.

She filled a large basin with spring water then dowsed the blossoms in the water, swirling them around and around, over and over again.

“What are you doing?” said Skye.

“I once befriended an old Aboriginal lady who was down on her luck. She had been married to a much younger man, and this was her way of retaining his confidence in her abilities. She made him this special infusion, which, if left, becomes somewhat alcoholic. The blossoms are dripping with nectar. Try the drink now, and you’ll see that it’s sweet and delicious. A wonderful start to a spring day.”

Skye found two ceramic mugs and took a drink for herself and one for the dragon. She tasted the drink and found it cool and refreshing, full of the promise of a sweet summer.

“Swanfire,” she told the dragon, “I can see that you are not just a pretty face.”