Love For Within

Chapter 1: The Witch

This is so stupid! Astrid thought angrily. I could be practicing throwing my axe but no. My parents are dragging me to a stupid execution.

"Hey Astrid," a boy with blue eyes and black hair said as she joined the crowd in the town square. "You look as wonderful as today." Astrid cocked an eyebrow.

"What's so wonderful about today Snotlout?"

"Well, the execution, duh," a girl long blond hair said.

"Yeah, it's going to be awesome!" a boy that looked just like the other blond exclaimed.

"How is death awesome?" a large boy with blond hair and skinny legs asked.

"Uh, well, uh cause…" the boy tried to answer.

"Give him a couple of days, he'll come up with an answer," the other girl said. "He's slow like that."

"No, I'm not!" He punched his twin.

"Yes, you are!" She punched him back. Soon a brawl broke out between two. Astrid rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I still don't see how today is wonderful," Astrid said.

"I heard," another girl with black hair and green eyes said as she approached. "that we caught an Outcast in Berk."

"So? What does that have to do with anything Heather?"

"That's who everyone is gathered to see be executed," another girl with blond hair informed.

"That's what this is all about Camicazi? Really?"

"Why are you acting this way?" Ruffnut asked.

"You of all people should be the most excited," Snotlout said. Astrid cocked an eyebrow at this in confusion.

"You are the toughest Viking among us," Fishlegs explained.

Astrid sighed in frustration and rolled her eyes. Yes, she was considered the most promising Viking out of all her friends. She was tough, determined, focused, and deadly with an axe. Everyone knew that once she went for her axe they needed to run. Everyone except Snotlout and the twins of course. She just considered them too dumb to know any better.

"We're getting rid of another enemy," Snotlout added. "Not like I couldn't handle him on my own."

Astrid tuned him and the others out as they talked and bragged about how many of the enemy they will destroy when they get older. Astrid turned her sights to the center of town where the execution was to take place. All that was there was a tree stump and an axe leaning against it.

So death by beheading. At least it's swift and painless, I think.

Astrid's attention was turned to her left when people started to quiet down. Approaching the center was the chief. Chief Stoick the Vast. His red beard reflected off of the early morning sun but his eyes burned brighter with anger.

"This morning," he bellowed. "We will rid Berk of another enemy. This Outcast was found not far from my own house most likely to do harm to Berk. As punishment, death by beheading."

Stoick looked as if he was about to speak again but Gobber, a large Viking with a missing hand and leg, past him with the accused in tow. Astrid was taken by surprise. The Outcast was not what she was expecting. She was expecting a large Viking with unruly hair and beard and covered in scars but this…this was not that. It was a woman. A middle aged woman with long black hair and piercing blue eyes. She was tall and muscular but not hulking. But what really interested Astrid was her eyes. She was expecting them to be full of fear and anger but instead they were wide and curious. Taking in every Viking she saw.

Astrid jumped slightly when she landed on her. Astrid felt as if she was looking into her very core and that made her very uncomfortable. Luckily, she was saved when the Outcast's attention suddenly went to Stoick. Astrid turned to see what had stopped her staring.

A small boy with reddish auburn hair and green eyes was trying to get the Chief's attention. He was wearing a long green tunic with brown pants and a dark brown fur vest. The boy's eyes were shining in the morning light and Astrid would have thought they looked even more enchanting if it was not for what she saw swimming in his eyes. He was completely scared. Horrified at was what was about to take place. He was sad and pleading.

"Please. You can't do this. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was trying to find help," the boy cried out.

"Hiccup, she is an Outcast. The enemy. She must be destroyed. No exceptions," the Chief said without missing a beat.

"Just because she might be from there doesn't mean she's one of them. You remind me that every day," Hiccup said.

Astrid's eyes softened and saddened for he was right. Hiccup was the Chief's son and therefore had a certain standard to meet. However, Hiccup was nothing like a Viking should be. He was small, weak, kind, imaginative, intelligent, sarcastic, and very out spoken with his emotions and thoughts. Everyone thought him odd and a nuisance because he was so different. Now were Vikings strong, uncaring, idiotic beasts? No, not all of them. Stoick was quite smart for an average Viking. Gobber was considered the most caring even though he had a funny way of showing it. But Hiccup took all the wrongs of a Viking to the extreme. If the town and her parents didn't have expectations of her, she would rather spend her time with Hiccup.

"This is different," Stoick said. "She's the enemy. You're a Hooligan. A Berkian."

"I still don't see the difference," Hiccup argued back.

"Hiccup," Stoick said. "Get back behind me."

"But this is - " Hiccup started.

"NOW!" Stoick interrupted loudly causing everyone to freeze in fright. Hiccup, more than anyone. But he soon looked more defeated than scared as he down cast his eyes and slowly moved to where his father pointed. Astrid saw him say something quietly to himself and to her it looked like he said 'wrong' but she couldn't read lips.

But what if he's right? Astrid thought. Could she just have been looking for help?

"Outcast," Stoick bellowed again drawing her attention back to reason why everyone was here. "Any last words before we send you to your death?"

What the Outcast did next put shivers down her spin. Instead of having a pleading look to the Chief she had a mischievous smile. She had a plan that she knew was going to work and she was ready to put it in motion. She stood up straighter and addressed all of Berk.

"You are all dimwitted and blind. You see someone for their labels and their skins. You never see who they really are and you don't bother to the take the time to learn." She turned to Stoick. "Your boy is right. What is the difference between him and me?" She turned back to the rest of the village. "I'm not what I seem Hairy Hooligans. I'm not an ordinary woman. I am a witch." Collective gasps could be heard going through the crowd.

"Well, that just gave Stoick even more of an incentive to kill her," Fishlegs muttered.

"Yeah, she really isn't helping her case," Ruffnut added.

"I came to judge you. And you have all failed. Well, except one. But you all need to be taught a lesson." She turned back to Stoick and pointed at him. "This I can assure you Chief Stoick. By this time tomorrow morning one of your own will be gone." Everyone gasped at this threat. Mothers held tighter to their babies and men stood to protect loved ones.

Astrid turned to Stoick to see his face but it was neutral. If he was intimidated, he didn't let on. Her attention then went to Hiccup who looked even more defeated than before but he had such fear in his eyes. More than everyone gathered together at the moment and this confused Astrid to no end.

The woman then turned to the rest of the village and began to chant.

"Berk's salvation, in your hands it will reside,

For it will be your enemy on the outside

Only when one with the strength to see beyond the skin

And learns to love for the beauty within

Will Berk's salvation be restored.

May the gods be in your favor,

For when the sun sets on the fifth year

And you have not succeeded, your salvation will die.

The remaining time you should savor

With the one that you secretly hold dear

For if you fail, they will forever bid good bye.

You brought this upon yourselves

With your shallow ideas and eyes.

The truth, you abandon like books on shelves

Change your eyes or your salvation dies!"

When she finished, she looked sternly at Stoick. They had a starring contest that seemed to go on for ages when it was barley a few seconds.

Astrid was the first to break out of her shock of what the Outcast said. She looked around and saw the fear on everyone's faces. Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, Heather, and Camicazi looked as if they had soiled their pants. She then looked at Hiccup expecting the same reaction but instead saw him try to make himself smaller. When he finally looked up he had fear and pity in his eyes.

Pity? Astrid thought Pity for the woman? The woman you just cursed someone? Or pity for the one she just cursed?

"Proceed with the execution," Stoick yelled. He then stepped forward and addressed the Witch. "If you really are a witch, who did you just curse?"

She smiled knowingly at Stoick and said with great assurance, "I've made my choice Stoick and I'm not going to tell you. It would ruin the curse. You'll just have to figure it out."