To the farmstead

As we approached the farmstead, the door burst open and a man rushed out wielding a pitchfork, “GET AWAY BEAST! I’M WARNING YO-YO-,” his yells fell silent and his face paled as I entered the light properly.

“Wait dad! It’s alright, he’s a friend!” Astrid would call out from her position on the driver’s bench.

“What? Astrid? What are you doing! You see that it’s a dragon?”

“Yes dad. I can see that HE’S a dragon. Aethergard saved us from some bandits on the road and these two decided we just HAD to bring him home.”

“Um…sure we can do that. Uhh, I guess thanks are in order for saving my children. I’m Esgard.” the man would mumble out before turning back to the house, “Helen! The kids brought a…uh guest, we’ll be eating out back!”

Inside you could hear a woman pause and then start muttering as she bustled around the interior. Esgard led you around the back where a table and chairs were put out. There there was a woman carrying plates of food from the house and putting them on the table.

“Why can’t we just eat inside like normal people, but no Helen, I built this table with my hands and we’re going to use it. Nevermind if it rains while we’re eating. Let’s see, idiot husband. Sword brained daughter. Bookish Son. Dragon. Laytherwyn…dragon?”

At this she would actually notice you coming around the corner. “Esgard. There’s a dragon coming around the corner.”

“Yes dear, it seems he saved our children from those bandits. You know the ones that I’ve just been imagining to be skulking around?”

“Hush…and he’s got flowers growing on him. Well, that’s new.”

At this she just decided to go along with it and everyone settled down for dinner. Your plate seemed to never empty as you wolfed down pork loin after pork chop with both Wyn and Harlan attempting to outdo each other. Conversation flowed and all seemed to be put more at ease, laughing as the children described their journey into the nearby city, Esgard even going inside and bringing back a bottle of wine, waving off his wife’s admonishments.

“The children have had a harrowing day and there’s much to celebrate, now I won’t hear of it.”

Soon though, dinner was finished and Helen had brought the plates in. Esgard stood and turned towards you, “I’m afraid we don’t have a doorway large enough for you to fit inside, but there is a barn over there. It’s not much, but it’ll keep the rain off you.”

“That will be more than fine, you are most gracious,” and with that he led you to the barn before turning back towards the house. The barn itself was simple, but sturdy with piles of hay. You circled around the inside before settling down.

It was a few hours later as you were about to head to sleep when you heard a creaking sound as the barn door was opened.