The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

"We must all show great constancy," Caspian was saying. "A dragon has just flown over
the tree-tops and lighted on the beach. Yes, I am afraid it is between us and the ship. And
arrows are no use against dragons. And they're not at all afraid of fire."
"With your Majesty's leave-" began Reepicheep.
"No, Reepicheep," said the King very firmly, "you are not to attempt a single combat
with it. And unless you promise to obey me in this matter I'll have you tied up. We must
just keep close watch and, as soon as it is light, go down to the beach and give it battle. I
will lead. King Edmund will be on my right and the Lord Drinian on my left. There are
no other arrangements to be made. It will be light in a couple of hours. In an hour's time
let a meal be served out and what is left of the wine. And let everything be done silently."
"Perhaps it will go away," said Lucy.
"It'll be worse if it does," said Edmund, "because then we shan't know where it is. If
there's a wasp in the room I like to be able to see it."
The rest of the night wa dreadful, and when the meal came, though they knew they ought
to eat, many found that they had very poor appetites. And endless hours seemed to pass
before the darkness thinned and birds began chirping here and there and the world got
colder and wetter than it had been all night and Caspian said, "Now for it, friends."
They got up, all with swords drawn, and formed themselves into a solid mass with Lucy
in the middle and Reepicheep on her shoulder. It was nicer than the waiting about and
everyone felt fonder of everyone else than at ordinary times. A moment later they were
marching. It grew lighter as they came to the edge of the wood. And there on the sand,
like a giant lizard, or a flexible crocodile, or a serpent with legs, huge and horrible and
humpy, lay the dragon.
But when it saw them, instead of rising up and blowing fire and smoke, the dragon
retreated - you could almost say it waddled - back into the shallows of the bay.
"What's it wagging its head like that for?" said Edmund.
"And now it's nodding," said Caspian.
"And there's something coming from its eyes," said Drinian.
"Oh, can't you see," said Lucy. "It's crying. Those are tears."
"I shouldn't trust to that, Ma'am," said Drinian. "That's what crocodiles do, to put you off
your guard."
"It wagged its head when you said that," remarked Edmund. "Just as if it meant No.
Look, there it goes again."