A note to the reader:
The How to Train Your Dragon movies are great and I loved them to pieces, but the little How to Train Your Dragon book series has captured my heart. So, mind you, this fanfic is written for the book series, and the character I'm using is not found anywhere in the movie. Nevertheless, feel free to read it. Hope you enjoy! ~
Second-Best Sword
Grimbeard the Ghastly leaned wearily over the side of his boat and stared longingly at the horizon. His eyes were filed with memories he didn't want. His sword pressed against his leg, too heavy for its sheath.
The Stormblade was the most beautiful sword in the Archipelago. It was perfectly balanced, frighteningly quick, astonishingly sharp, and impressively shiny. Undoubtedly, it was the best sword a Viking had ever wielded. Grimbeard carried it into every battle, and it always gave him an advantage.
And yet, Grimbeard the Ghastly's favorite sword was not the Stormblade, but his second-best sword, the Endeavor.
Perhaps it was because the Endeavor was simpler, plainer, more humble than the Stormblade, and perhaps Grimbeard the Ghastly was tired of showy things.
Perhaps it was because Chinhilda had used the Endeavor, twenty six years ago, when they conquered the Archipelago together.
Perhaps it was because the Stormblade's flawless blade was tarnished, stained by the blood of his son, while the Endeavor remained rusty and unblemished.
Perhaps it was because the Stormblade always lunged a little to the left.
Who knew?
When Grimbeard the Ghastly finally reached his destination, when he hid his treasure and set his trap, he would write a note for his true heir. He would not leave the note with the most magnificent crown, or the biggest box of gold, or even the best sword the Viking lands had ever seen. He would leave the message with the Endeavor, his second-best sword, but his favorite, nonetheless.
Grimbeard turned his eyes from the ghastly past, and set them on the small shining hope of the future. History could never be changed, but another hero would come.
His true heir would turn away from the bloody glory of the Stormblade.
He would choose the humble blade of the Endeavor.
(Even if it was a bit rusty.)