Well that could have been worse. I guess. Julio and Norbert were polite house guests. But the other three. All I can say is, well just look at what’s left of my family’s barn:

This is what I get for housing three full grown dragons in the barn. Though maybe they were just upset about having to stay in the barn.

It’s finally time to go through the interdimensional portal for the awards ceremony itself. Shardas, The Dragon and Vollys fly though first while Julio, in his human guise, and I walk through pushing Baby Norbert in a pram.

As we enter the back stage area, we catch snatches of arguing. “I said, I don’t want to wear it.” Whines a prepubescent voice with an English accent. As we enter the giant green room where finalists and hosts wait. I see a boy who almost looks like he deserves the name Eustace Scrubb. He is holding a fancy gold cuff and staring down a large menacing dragon. I can only assume that this magnificent fire wyrm is Smaug the great and powerful.

Smaug points a menacing claw at the child and says, “This is an award for Dragons, and if you are going to cohost then you must be a dragon.”

Eustace sighs and slides the cuff onto his forearm. “If I’d known when they made me official cohost, that I’d have to do this every year then I never would have agreed to it.” Once the Cuff is firmly in place Eustace Scrubb starts growing scales all over his body. In seconds the transformation from boy to dragon is complete.

“That’s my cue as well.” Julio says before he too transforms into a fierce green dragon.

Smaug and Eustice step out on stage and introduce the finalist one by one. Fist Shardas, then Vollys, The Dragon, and Julio. I follow quickly with Norbert in the pram. Eustace takes the large envelope and slides a claw across the wax seal.

“And the Winner for 2024 with 23% of the vote…”

All of the finalists puff out their chests in anticipation.

“Norbert from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” He looks up from the card. “That can’t be right. I’m sure the book was called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone.” I chuckle as I realize that of course Eustace would have read the British version.

Julio rushes over and steals the poster sized card away from Eustace. “Does it say what place I got?” He scans for a moment. I expect him to be disappointed but he actually looks cheery. “Second place again, and I didn’t even have to share it.” He shoots a smug grin over at Shardas.

He comes back to the Pram and picks up Norbert. “And if I have to lose to a baby at least it’s a cute one. Come on Norberta, Let’s get your award.”

“Wait, did you just call him Norberta?”

Julio looks down at the baby dragon. “Yes this dragon is female, I thought that was obvious.”

“Ah, okay. I guess I hadn’t thought to check that.”

Eustace is clearly getting flustered now. “i don’t understand why everything is wrong. The title of the book is wrong the gender and name of the dragon are wrong. Why is this happening my first time on stage?”

“Ah well,” says Julio. “If the baby is disqualified then does that mean I get the award?”

Smaug roars. “No one is disqualified. If the readers voted for this dragon, then this dragon is The Most Magnificent Dragon.” Everyone quickly calms down.

Julio hands Norberta to Eustace and Smaug gently lays the Silmaril around her neck.

With the ceremony over I see the other three finalists turn to me.

Vollys speaks up, accusation in her voice. “So you allowed the first and second place dragons to stay in your house, while the three of us were relegated to the dirty barn.”

I hold up my hands. “It wasn’t like that, I didn’t know the results ahead of time. I promise, it’s just what was most convenient. I mean Julio can literally turn into a human, how could I not let him sleep int eh house?”

The Dragon starts morphing. “Julio is not the only one who knows such a trick.” When he is done shifting I see a towering humanoid that resembles something out of the Slenderman horror franchise.

I think this is my cue to leave. I run back through the interdimensional portal and shut it behind me.

I hope you enjoyed the Most Magnificent Dragon Ceremony. Be sure to check out all the other Silmaril awards happening this week and next.

Award Ceremonies schedules

Most Magnificent Dragon: Mon. Sept 16 – cobonham.com (You are here.)

Most Faithful Friend: Tues. Sept 17 – https://imperialscribis.wordpress.com/

Most Nefarious Villain: Wed. Sept 18 – https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/blog

Most Devoted Couple: Thurs. Sept 19 – https://catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com/

Most Silver Tongue: Fri. Sept. 20 – https://tpssarahlightshadows.wordpress.com/

Most Epic Hero: Mon. Sept 23 – https://bardonpilgrimage.wordpress.com/

Wisest Counselor: Tues. Sept 24 – https://samsbookshire.blogspot.com/

Most Epic Heroine: Wed. Sept 25 – https://djedwardson.com/blog/

Most Wayward Soul: Thurs. Sept. 26 – https://mackenziekwrites.com/blog/

Most Mischievous Imp: Fri. Sept 27 – https://www.jenelleschmidt.com/blog