Dear Old Friend

There lay a crown on a hill, once dawned by a revered king. A man of legend raised by a dragon and who restored the lands. In this crown remains a letter to the dragon, the king's last words to his oldest companion.…

“Dear old friend,

“I remember the day you found me. Vivid as a nightmare yet warm like the fire in your chest. In my old age, the timing escapes me but I couldn’t have been more than three years old. All I can recall before that day is fire, blazing fire, and wet tears on a woman's face as she softly spoke the words “run, I love you”. I am sure now that woman was my mother, she was beautiful and I wish this broken world had not taken her from me. How long I wandered in the forest remains a mystery, but the only emotion in me was fear. I ran away from what, I do not know. When I could not run I walked, and when I could not walk I crawled. Nothing but a sea of trees surrounded me. Hunger barred my being and exhaustion threatened my death. In those flashes of time-worn memory, there was never a moment when I wasn't crying. A helpless babe lost and alone.

“That fateful day I did not move for fear that I would collapse and never open my eyes again. My exposed ribs and ripped clothing did nothing to prevent cold from penetrating my skin. So there I sat, afraid, alone, and dying. As I have grown older I thought about this moment frequently. Was it fate that brought you to me? A shift in the wind? Or was it the deep magic that runs deep in the very land we walk on? Or was it some higher being taking pity on me? All of these questions remain unanswered. But what I do know is this. When I heard the beats of your wings coming closer, like shouts of thunder in my chest, I was no longer afraid. Peace flowed in me as never before. A dragon, I thought as well as a three-year-old could comprehend, at least I got to see a dragon. As I drifted to sleep the last thing I remember was your mountainous silhouette falling on me.

“When I awoke, curiosity was my first childish notion. Looking around I found myself in an unfamiliar setting. A cave so massive I felt like a pebble standing next to the stalagmites the size of small mountains. At least, as a toddler that is how it felt. Wet marble and limestone caressed the walls with a glorious sheen. Pools of water dotted the floor, some were filled with luminescent algae and aquatic life while others let off hot steam. But the most impressive feature of this cave was the ceiling that tapered upwards to form a massive window, revealing the starry skies above. It was a child's dream. As I cautiously moved about the cave I realized that I was no longer hungry or weak. I felt excited and more alive than ever before. Then I saw you, a dragon, my savior. Your soft white scales rippled in the moonlight as your chest heaved with heavy breaths. The massive wings that produced fear in the hearts of man but gave me peace lay stretched across the ground. Only then did I realize how magnanimous you were, larger than the stalagmites and stronger than the mountain. You were asleep so I decided to do the only thing a small child could think of, climb up your wing. I remember the awestruck feeling I had and the cleverness I felt when formulating this plan. Slowly I crept up to your wing and touched your smooth scales. You did not wake up. Giggling to myself I started to make my way up your wing. One step at a time towards the base of your massive neck. I was so proud of myself that I failed to notice the large peering eye watching my adventure. You laid ever still and when I finally saw that eye I was so shocked that I fell right off your wing into a pool of glowing water. Gently you pulled me, the helpless child, out of the water with those steady claws. Once I regained my bearing you smiled and said the words that forever changed my life. “Welcome little one, from now on you are mine and I am yours”. It was so simple, but I did not understand what you truly meant at the time. The words that followed may have been ever more impactful to my innocent mind. “Your name is Chrestos, kind and virtuous you will be.” You gave me a name, along with meaning and purpose. To this day, that name remains my most cherished gift from you.

“As the years went by in that cave you taught me many things. How to hunt and fish, how to speak, and how to respect the nature around me. But most of all you showed me how to live free. It wasn’t until I was later in my teen years that you finally allowed me to ride on your back out of the cave. There were so many moments before then when I was so furious with your unwillingness to let me outside, I grew to resent you because of it. However, I did not understand your care until that first ride. The exhilarating force of the wind on my face as you took flight almost knocked me off your back. With a heart full of adrenaline I held on for dear life as we climbed through the window, “porthole” as I dubbed it. The moment we passed the top was the moment I forgot how to breathe. The world was so much bigger than I ever imagined. Miles of billowing trees surrounded our now small cavern, and a never-ending lake (you had to explain what the mass of water was called) lay to the west. We flew south and what lay behind us was the mountain range we called home. In the sky, weaving through the clouds, your wings effortlessly gliding in the wind, I could truly say I was free. At that moment we became one being, both enjoying each other's company in peace and sharing our deepest emotions. This is what it is to be a dragon was the dominating thought in my mind. We continued to fly south until finally the trees just stopped and endless flat plains carried on. It was then that I realized what you were protecting me from. A small village was in the distance and stacks of smoke rose from it like a dark cloud. You knew the village was empty, like how you knew I was in the woods. You never did explain how you knew these things. We flew towards the burning village and the horrific sight that awaited us. Death is the one word capable of describing what I saw. Charred bodies lay in scattered piles, the smell of flesh permeated the air. Limbs jutting out from collapsed buildings. But worst of all, the children were strewn throughout the village, and the fear still remained on their innocent faces. The whole scene took me back to the lost memories of my mother. I was angry, heartbroken, and confused. How could anyone have done this? Why? “Why did you bring me here?” I asked as tears flowed down my face. “To show you the capability of man. Humankind has the unique ability to destroy as well as create. Some use their power for the benefit of others, some use it to create chaos. As for you Chrestos, you have the power to move mountains, and I must implore you, be innocent as the dove and shrewd as the serpent.” These words of yours guided my every footstep moving forward. As we flew back to our home I couldn’t help but wonder what power you were talking about, and how I would use it.

“Many years have passed since those times. I have grown into a man that followed your wisdom. Together we created a home for many. One where mothers and their sons can enjoy the light of day without fear. I must say that this life has been one of much adventure and growth. It is all thanks to you, my old friend. So thank you, for taking in that toddler many decades ago and raising him into a man worthy of that power. You were kind and gentle, strong and steadfast, and wiser than any being I have ever known. You, Kyrios, were my greatest mentor, my best friend, and my father. I will see you again soon, in whatever adventure lies ahead.”

-Your Son,

Chrestos

As the old king laid down his crown at the resting place of Kyrios he breathed his last to step into his greatest adventure. In that hill sleeps the man and his dragon, as they fly together in eternity, both in complete harmony with one another.