It was finally summer. Hilda, David, and Frida were still in touch, though, ready for more adventures to come. Hilda was leading the way as her friends followed. "Summer in Trollburg," she exclaimed, jumping over the hill. "Now, anything is possible and we have the whole area to ourselves." Given Trollburg's remote location, it was only about 20 degrees Celsius even in the summer. Hilda heaved a sigh as the cool breeze wafted across her face.
Alfur, the elf who traveled with Hilda, crawled out of her hair and pointed down at the cliff below. "Who is that, Hilda? She seems to be doing something strange."
Hilda looked down. She saw a red-haired girl planting some kind of garden. But she wasn't sure what was growing in there. Some sort of brown, bulbous vegetable. Hilda's curiosity got the better of her, as she waved to her friends. "David, Frida, there's someone at the bottom of the cliff. Let's check it out."
"Who is it?" Frida looked down.
"Not sure," Hilda answered. "I think I recognize her from Sparrow Scouts though. We should introduce ourselves."
While Frida was happy to trot alongside Hilda, David just looked down, a bit worried. "Um, Hilda. I don't think this is a good idea. I mean, we shouldn't intrude..."
"It's not intrusion. It's visiting," Hilda called back upwards. "Don't you want to meet her?"
David said nothing but trudged alongside Hilda to the bottom of the cliff face.
-
When they got to the bottom, they saw the red-haired girl with a trowel and earmuffs on. She was positioned behind a wheelbarrow with pots of some purple-ish flowers inside. Hilda wasted no time greeting her. "Hello, there," Hilda was friendly and approachable. "I must say you have a lovely garden."
The girl said nothing. Still digging.
""Um, Hilda. Notice the earmuffs," David pointed out to her.
Hilda snorted, stomping her foot in impatient fashion. "The nerve." Then, the girl noticed them, stopped what she was doing and removed her earmuffs. "Pardon?"
"Oh," Hilda perked up again. "I was just saying you have a lovely garden."
"Thank you," The girl replied.
"I'm Hilda," Hilda began. "These are my friends David and Frida," she motioned to her traveling partners behind her.
"I'm Samantha," she introduced herself. "And this is my special garden."
"Garden?" Frida's curiosity peaked. "So...I think I saw you in Sparrow Scouts. Where I am one of the top bage earners in the troop. Are you with them?"
Samantha nodded. "Yes, I am a Sparrow Scout too." She showed off a small badge to Frida. "I got this gardening badge for growing it here."
Frida was shocked. That badge was one she didn't have. So she sat down as she looked at the vegetables and flowers being tilled. "What are those purple ones in your pots? The ones you seem to be planting."
"Mandrakes," Samantha told them. "But you might want to wear these first," she passed three pairs of earmuffs to the gang. "They shout. And they can knock you out if you listen for too long."
They all put on their earmuffs, but Hilda was still shaking. She had not had the best luck with gardening; last time she tried she disturbed an underground colony of Vittra. Nonetheless, she felt compelled to work with Samantha in planting her garden. Just as Samantha had warned, the mandrakes let out a whine when removed from their pots, but the earmuffs protected Hilda. Even if she did cringe a little upon hearing the whine. Their cries ceased when they were planted in the garden and clustered together.
Before long, they had finished with the mandrakes. "That was weird," David shook his head. He looked around the garden to see even more flowers and plants growing. "So why are you growing this garden, Samantha? Is it a family business?"
Samantha smiled as she explained it all. "I intend to make medicine from them. And perhaps even a few squashes and pumpkins for the fall."
Just then, a ripple from under the ground came to them. It slammed through the dirt and swallowed a beanstalk from near the fence. Out of the hole popped a snout, then a head, as the sound of a creature bellowed staring at Samantha.
"What is that thing?" Samantha yelled.
"I don't know," Hilda wailed. "I think it's...some sort of ground dragon."
"What? A Dragon?" Samantha was at a loss for words.
The dragon tunneled away, moving towards other plants in the garden. Samantha just stood there in shock.
-
It was over. Samantha's project was ruined.
"Cheer up," Frida tried to remain optimistic. "We can make things work. Just try something that dragon's don't like. Like...milkweed. Does that work, Hilda?" Hilda nodded to confirm.
It didn't help cure Samantha's depression over the incident. "But if the dragon is wrecking things, I can't plant here anymore."
Right then, a tiny creature appeared from Hilda's ear. "Nonsense," he piped up.
Samantha screamed and jumped back. "Hilda! That flea just spoke!"
Hilda giggled. "He's not a flea. It's Alfur. The special elf who travels with me all the time."
Elves and Dragons. Now Samantha had seen everything. Trying to be polite, she knelt to talk to the elf. "And why do you say that?"
"As an elf, I know every dragon is negotiable," Alfur responded. "We just have to convince him this garden is not for eating and he will leave."
"But he's eaten so much already," Samantha motioned to the dragon. "He will be impossible to move."
Alfur was already busy writing something down on a slip of paper too small for Samantha to see clearly. "We can make something up in negotiations. I'll write something he's sure not to refuse."
As Hilda rushed over to the dragon, Samantha just looked on in confusion. "Okay...if you say so."
Hilda took the lead and waved at the dragon. Pointing to her shoulder, the dragon glared at tle little elf, steam making the poor creature cough in despair. Alfur motioned his tiny paper in the dragon's face. "Excuse me, Mr. Dragon. I don't think you should be eating this garden right now."
"Why not?" The dragon sneered. "She has the best pumpkins and flowers in all of Trollburg. I love coming down here to snack." Samantha shuddered, thinking of all the other times he must have visited, and she didn't even know.
"Well, if you read the fine print, you will see." Hilda held up a magnifying glass. "This garden contains the rare white berry root." Alfur pointed to an arbitrary plant which was NOT what he was describing. Samantha knew he was lying, but said nothing. She hoped and prayed the ruse would work, closing her eyes in hopefullness.
"So?" asked the dragon.
"So, that plant as it says on this paper anyone who owns it will be allowed to dictate who comes and goes. So you need Samantha's permission to eat from here."
The dragon looked to Samantha, practically begging with his eyes. Samantha sighed, "I'm sorry, but this was for a special project. I need to be in good standing with Sparrow Scouts." She pointed to the other side ot the cliff. "But over there are plenty of gardens you can try. I'm sure they have the same or better plants than I have here."
She held her breath, but found the reptile much more agreeable. Though it was large enough to try eating her, it did not try that. "Fine," was all he had as a response. Grumbling, the dragon shuffled off and left the garden, never to return.
-
Samantha's garden had been saved. She was jumping for joy, happy to know her special project would remain for at least a little bit longer. "Thank you!" Samantha cheered in delight as her new friends saved the day. "Oh, what can I do to repay you?"
"Not much," David shrugged it off. "Your kindness is all we need right now. You are very welcome."
"Okay," Samantha smiled and waved. "Goodbye. It was nice meeting you today."
The three of them waved and were off, each allowed a free sample from the garden as they walked away. Before they left, the ever polite Hilda turned back around. "You...You can join us for adventures if you want."
"I'd love it," Samantha cheered and hugged Hilda. Good times were just getting started for them.
Samantha would soon join Hilda's group again. They would have many adventures and fun diversions. Samantha's knowledge of rare plants would help them immensely in taming rare creatures and finding cures for rare illnesses.
They were glad to have another friend on their side.