Thursday 6 April 2017

Dragon Diaries - E is for Eardwulf - A to Z Challenge 2017 #AtoZChallenge

Dragon Diaries

elcome to my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2017:


So, what does that mean? Well, each day, I'm going to tell you about a dragon - a dragon inspired by a name that I generated randomly using a name generator (I haven't looked up the derivation of any of these names, I have just run with how they make me feel, their sound on the tongue).

I'll tell you all about my Dragon of the Day, and share some flash fic about their lives. Any genre, any character, any look - prepare to be surprised and (I hope) entertained by my dragonly inspirations :).

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Previous Posts

E is for Eardwulf

Eardwulf’s claim to fame is that he was immortalised in the illuminations from the Book of Kells. He was only a young dragon then, travelling the world looking for adventure. An arrow through his wing had forced him to crash land at the Columban monastery, where the monks, who were not so Christian as to deny their celtic history, made him welcome.

In thanks for their hospitality, Eardwulf had offered to keep the stones warm in the scriptorum and he had made friends with the scribes there. When Brother Caedlin had asked if he could draw him, Eardwulf had been flattered and readily agreed. There had been a certain amount of poetic licence involved to fit his majestic body around the beautifully written manuscript pages, but Eardwulf had been more than happy with his proud brow and regal gaze.

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No Respect!

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“Tell me again, old man,” Jareth asked, leaning in and puffing irreverent smoke down his nose towards Eardwulf, “just how famous are you?”

Eardwulf sat back, snorted and raised an eyebrow at the impertinence.

“You should learn some respect, young one,” Eardwulf intoned knowingly and looked back into the fire. “You stand to learn much from your elders.”

“And just what can I learn from you? How to name drop?” the discourteous little oik laughed.

Eardwulf reared up to his full height, sweeping back his wings and sending out a wave of air over all those lying around the fire.

“I’ll have you know,” he boomed, “I bear the scars of each one of those names and I have earned the right to remember them.”

“Woah there, old man,” Kierlan reared up from the other side of the fire, his huge dark body glistening in the firelight. “And shut up, Jareth, if you know what is good for you.”

Eardwulf huffed, smoke billowing from his nose, but he did settle back down, folding his wings back around his body. He ignored Jareth, who was sniggering into his shoulder.

“Thank you, Eardwulf,” Kierlan replied, a little grandly for Eardwulf’s taste, but he nodded generously back to the second most senior dragon in the group.

“Did you have to pose?” the question came from the darkness just outside the firelight followed by a feminine giggle.

If it had been a male, Eardwulf would have snapped into the shadows and given the other young whippersnapper a clip behind the ear, but instead he sniffed his disdain.

“Madam, Brother Caedlin was too much of an artist to require a pose.”

“So he just made it up then,” someone else yelled and Jareth clacked his jaws loudly, shaking with laughter.

The laughter spread and Eardwulf stood up again. This time, he refused to give them the satisfaction, so he glowered around at the gathered company and intoned righteously, “You are all heathens, you would not recognise great art if it hit you in the face.”

With that, he turned and stalked away, ignoring the pathetic sniggering behind him.


~

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22 comments:

  1. Sometimes good things come from what might seem like bad situations- his hurt wing, became something more. Thanks for sharing.

    (AC)
    My theme is secrets
    Decadent Kane Visiting from the A-Z Challenge
    Paranormal Romance Author

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's a bit of an old bluffer now, but he once did have grand adventures :)

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  2. Hi Sophie - good old Eardwulf forever remembered and will be for many a long year from the book of Kells ... he does at least sound a sensible dragon who enjoys his life ... cheers Hilary

    http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/e-is-for-extinct-animals-and-endangered.html

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    Replies
    1. Even if he is a bit of an old duffer at times :)

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  3. Poor grumpy old Eardwulf. How dare they disrespect him like that!

    Believe In Fairy Stories: Theme - Folklore & Fairy Tales

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  4. I've always liked stories about dragons hanging around doing mundane things, like chatting with monks or warming the hearth. They don't all just go around hoarding treasure and burninating villages!

    E - Jumbo the Elephant

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  5. Oh poor Eardwulf! I love fantasy books.. Glad I chanced on your blog today. Good read:)
    Celebrating 'Women & their work' all April: E for An Education for all

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  6. Poor dragon just can't get any respect. :) At least he got a nice portrait for his trouble, even if the other dragons don't appreciate art.
    Discarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction

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  7. Those pesky disrespectful dragons. I think Eardwulf handled it well by walking away rather than getting into more bickering. They were probably jealous!

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  8. Beautifully described - such a nice dragon keeping the monks warm whilst they created his portrait in their book.
    Highlands Days of Fun

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    Replies
    1. He's certainly had experiences in his life :)

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  9. Aww, poor Eardwulf. They don't appreciate his magnificence. ;)

    A to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs

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    Replies
    1. Exactly, the need to learn some respect for their elders ;P

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