Chapter Two is here! And once again, I apologize for my random updating schedule. School can be such a downer.

Also, please wish me luck on August 17. It's my big college entrance exam and I'm starting my Mega Study today all the way till August 16. Please pray for me, fellow Fan Fiction writers and readers. This exam is going to determine the start of my journey into becoming a writer (I'm planning on taking Creative Writing as my college course) so I really gotta pass this!

Anyways, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own HTTYD and DreamWorks has all right to it.

Chapter 2: Grieve

"No! NO! NOOOOOOO!"

Zenna woke up the next day screaming and crying. It was a miracle she didn't wake the whole village. But she did wake up her mother and father, who both came running up the stairs into her room in a panic.

"Zenna, it's okay…It's okay love…It was just a nightmare…just a little nightmare…" Henna murmured comfortingly as she embraced her daughter. "Nothing's going to happen to you, Zenna…We're here…" Edgar soothingly brushed Zenna's unruly bangs away from her face.

Zenna sniffled, wiped her eyes and eventually calmed down. But her face still showed great agony.

Her nightmare wasn't just some bad dream. It was reality.

Her brother was dead…

Breakfast was quiet and so were the family's preparations for the funeral. Zenna wore one of her brother's black tunics. The familiar smell of her brother comforted the young girl a bit, even though the tunic was rather loose on her. Honestly, it was like an oversized dress for Zenna but she didn't care. She then hesitantly picked up her brother's worn battle sticks. Running her thumb across the polished wood, Zenna wondered if they would be put on the funeral pyre today along with Elias' helmet.

"They're yours now, Zen." Edgar's voice interrupted Zenna's thoughts. The violet eyed girl looked up at her father. "Elias would want you to have them. He told us so himself." Edgar knelt down to see eye-to-eye with his daughter and continued. "Use them well, love. Carry on the fight for your brother." He said, his eyes just as sad as hers.

"Yes, Dad…" Zenna replied in a small voice.

Then her mother came down with a bouquet of flowers. Henna smiled sadly at her daughter and lovingly stroked her cheek. "It's time to go." She said softly.

Without another word, the Fiersome family left their house to go to the docks.

There was already a large crowd of Vikings gathered around. Aside from Elias, two warriors had also perished in battle last night. Some were silently mourning while others were loudly wailing. Zenna felt tears welling up again but fought them back. She couldn't break now. Not when so many people were here…

"Zen!" "Hey, Zenna!" "Fiersome!" Snotlout, Fishlegs and the Twins rushed up to the 12 year old girl.

"We heard about Elias…" Tuffnut said first.

"And it's horrible…" Ruffnut added.

"We are so sorry…" Fishlegs said in condolence.

"Are you okay?" Snotlout then asked.

Zenna just stared at them with a blank expression when Astrid came over. "Come on, guys. Let's leave her alone. She needs it." She said curtly before sadly looking at the Fiersome girl.

"I'm sorry for your loss." She said before herding her friends away from Zenna.

Zenna watched them go into the crowd, unable to cry, scream or even move. Sure her friends meant their condolences but the way they were acting…it made her feel even worse about Elias' death. To them, it was as if her brother was just a war casualty. To her and her Mom and Dad, Elias was an important piece to their family puzzle that was now missing the important piece. Zenna felt completely broken and lost. She didn't know what to do now…

'Why did it have to be you, Eli…? Why couldn't it have been ME?' she thought gloomily as she joined her parents at the front. Elias' funeral pyre was going to be the last to be sent out. Zenna glanced at the white sheet covering her brother's ashes. From what she heard, the dragon had burnt Elias so badly that all that was left of him was a pile of ashes. Zenna felt somewhat relieved that it wasn't a body under that sheet. If she had to see her brother's charred corpse, not only would she completely break down, she would probably get sick.

Zenna then felt someone's hand hold hers. Looking at her right, Zenna saw Hiccup standing right beside her. The 12 year old boy was also wearing black and had a solemn expression. Hiccup gently squeezed Zenna's hand in order to reassure her. Zenna didn't say anything but did manage a small nod. The two best friends stayed like that for the entire proceedings of the two other slain warriors. But when it was time for Elias' funeral pyre to be sent out to sea, Zenna had to join her parents in shooting the flaming arrows to ensure her brother's safe passage into Valhalla.

Hands shaking, Zenna took hold of her bow and notched a burning arrow. But when it was her turn to fire, Zenna found herself unable to move. She remained standing still, much to everyone else's confusion.

"Zenna dear…you have to let it loose now, love…" Henna whispered to her. Zenna could only stare straight ahead at the glowing dot in the distance that was her brother's ship.

"Zenna, please…you have to do this…" Edgar whispered, his heart breaking even more along with his wife's at their daughter's state.

Zenna felt her hands shake even more and her body started trembling. Tears she had tried to fight back now came cascading down her cheeks. Vikings in the crowd began to murmur. How could the brave, strong and fierce Zenna Fiersome be crying?

"Is she okay?" Fishlegs whispered. "Beats us." Ruffnut and Tuffnut shrugged. "She better hurry along…Her arrow's gonna burn up completely." Snotlout whispered. Astrid could only watch with a pitiful face.

"I can't do it…I'm sorry, Eli…I just can't…" Zenna whimpered quietly. She was just about to throw her bow and arrow away when suddenly a pair of hands gently placed themselves over hers. Zenna then saw Hiccup take his place behind her.

"We'll do it…together." He softly whispered in her ear. Zenna held back her tears and nodded weakly. Guiding Zenna's hands, Hiccup aimed for the funeral pyre.

'Good-bye, Elias…Good-bye, big brother…I'll miss you…' Hiccup thought and he and Zenna fired. The arrow hit its mark and with that, the funeral was over.

Henna and Edgar left to talk with Stoick and Gobber. Seeing how devastated Zenna was, Stoick had advised them that it was best to leave their daughter alone for a while. Everyone else quickly and quietly left.

Only Zenna and Hiccup stayed behind, watching the funeral pyres slowly disappear into the waves.

"Zen…" Hiccup began to say when Zenna abruptly turned around and began to leave. Zenna didn't want to be around Hiccup right now. She was starting to cry again and she did not want him to see her cry. Everyone else had already seen her cry today…she didn't want anyone to see her grieving in public again.

Just when Zenna was about to decide to just run home, Hiccup reached out for her hand, grabbed it and pulled her into his arms. Zenna was stunned as Hiccup held her close.

"Zen, I want you to listen to me…No matter what…No matter how hard things will be, I will never, not ever, leave you. I'll stay by your side no matter what, Zen. You won't be alone. We'll get through this together…We're gonna be okay."

At these words, Hiccup began to shed a few tears himself. Then he felt Zenna wrap her arms around his neck as he embraced her. He felt tears soaking his tunic and he knew that Zenna was crying again.

"We're gonna be okay…We're gonna be okay…" he whispered to her soothingly over and over again as he gently rubbed circles around Zenna's back. Zenna could only just remain in her best friend's embrace, silently mourning her and her best friend's loss.

My update on Riders and Defenders of Berk MAY be a week after my entrance exam. I'm really sorry but my studies are currently my top priority.