Chapter Two
Astrid looked up at the woman who had just walked in with an expression of surprise, Astrid had thought Freydis had perished when she was driven out of Berk seeing as she was only fourteen.
"Freydis...your alive! But how?" She asked before looking up at the weight and to her surprise saw a Terrible Terror, not too heavy that it would stop her standing up, but seeing the mood of Freydis, Astrid decided that the best plan was to stay down to seem as docile as possible.
Poor Freydis had been caught in the storm and was soaked to the bones causing the deep snow that had slowed her pace at the beginning of the trip to become even worse to traverse though.
Not to mention she looked very, very cold which was already putting her in a bad mood.
"How are you alive Freydis?" Astrid asked after a small silence but received a glare as an answer as the woman took of her winter jacket and dumped it in the corner, Astrid took in the woman's appearance, Freydis had changed so much, she had cut her once long brown hair short to chin level and it seemed her once small size and stature had changed too, she now matched Astrids and seemed to have put on a little muscle.
It wasn't just her physical appearance that had changed but her mental state as well.
The Freydis Astrid remembered had been a quiet girl, shy most differently as well as slightly nervous and lacking confidence.
But at the same time when given a task Freydis would see it through to the end, if anybody needed help on Berk she would have been the first to be at the scene some decided her as Caring and loyal to the people closer to her.
Now looking at Freydis and the way she moved it was easy to see that she had grown used to the isolation, the tension in her shoulders meaning that she was either afraid or angry, Maybe both. The way Freydis moved showed she had a lot more confidence in herself than what Astrid remembered but her eyes which once let Astrid read the girl like a book...where withdrawn, distant the spark that once lit her eyes was no longer there.
This wasn't the Freydis that Astrid remembered it was a different person entirely and Astrid didn't know how she felt about this new Freydis.
She looked up as the brown haired woman waved her hand and the weight that was once nestled into Astrid's back lifted allowing her to breath in relief before she slowly rose to her knee's, taking note that Freydis watched her every move like a hawk.
"I'll ask you again...why are you on MY Island?" Came Freydis's voice causing Astrid's eyes to widen slightly, Freydis would have never been so outright before and openly showing hostility towards anyone it just wasn't in her nature.
Astrid watched the Terror bound over to this now new person before flapping it's wings and landing on her arm seeming quite comfortable around Freydis despite her hostile mood at current.
"I..." Astrid started trying to plan out what she was going to say so it wouldn't agitate the girl any more, "Me and Stormfly we got caught in this storm and separated from the others, we thought this Island was abandoned all we want is to take shelter just until the storm passes" Astrid explained, keeping her voice calm and her hands held in front of her in a peaceful gesture.
"Freydis...I thought you" Astrid started but was cut of as Freydis held up her hand before heading to one side of the hut and occupying herself with the ropes.
Astrid took the opportunity to stand up and move over to Stormfly who in turn kept an eye on Freydis. "It's alright girl, I don't think she'll hurt us" Astrid said keeping her voice soft to comfort Stormfly who purred at the touch of it's rider.
Astrid watched the other woman untie ropes to what looked like a large door, shivering as the cold wind pulled the doors open and blasted into small house, turning it into a freezer just before Stormfly growled in alarm as a Raincutter dragon trudged into the house before looking round at the two arrivals before back at it's rider.
"It's alright boy" Freydis said and closed the doors behind the dragon, who laid down to make more space for the others.
Freydis climbed onto the Raincutters back before undoing a fishing net that was connected to it's saddle.
The whole thing landed on the wooden floor with loud thump along with the wet slapping sound of fish hitting the deck.
Astrid's eyes widened in realisation this must be how she had survived these harsh winters, Freydis hunted and her dragon fished just encase there was no other food around.
They worked as an effective team during the winter months which made Astrid wonder what they where like in summer.
"Your bond with OceanThorn is impressive" Astrid said, trying a different approach to get through to Freydis seeing as asking her right out about how she survived the past five years agitated the woman.
The quiet woman nodded and petted her dragon before picking up one of the fish and throwing it to the dragon causing him to swallow it whole.
"He and BeatleJuice where the only ones that didn't leave me or drive me out" she said with an undertone of hurt as she went about untieing OceanThorn's saddle.
Astrid looked down at the floor at the tone of hurt in Freydis's voice, She and the gang had taught Freydis everything she knew, how to ride OceanThorn how to gain his trust.
Freydis hadn't of been apart of the first Dragon riders but she had been trained in the second group.
And in being taught how to be a Dragon rider she had considered all of them as her friends and at in the end, friends who abandoned her.
"Frey..." Astrid started moving slowly towards the woman and reaching out her hand, aiming to place it on Freydis's shoulder in a comforting gesture, to tell her that even though she wasn't there when Freydis needed her the most she was here now.
She owed this to her student no to her friend, Astrid placed her hand gently on the woman's shoulder but froze when she felt Freydis's muscles stiffen.
Astrid couldn't see how Freydis had briefly closed her eyes before taking a small breath, even though it was a small gesture the feeling of another human's touch and the gentle heat emitted from Astrids hand gave a her a small feeling of euphoria but that quickly ended and turned into resentment which caused Freydis to turn and grab Astrid's arm with such force it shocked Astrid.
"Do not put your hands on me!" She growled looking into Astrid's eyes as the Raincutter behind her let of a growl.
Astrid nodded, "Frey I..." She started but yelped as her arm was harshly thrown down, Astrid drew in her arm and held it close, she didn't mean to offend Freydis but it looked like she was doing a good job without trying.
Freydis shook her head and took a step back to OceanThorn who grumbled happily, "You drove me out! Don't try to try and comfort me like it never happened!" Freydis snapped and turned to her dragon, fussing over him.
"You can stay until the storm passes, then you leave" She ordered bluntly as she kept her back towards Astrid before heading over to the empty fireplace and stocking it up with dry wood.
"BeatleJuice can you light this?" She asked and watched as the terror jumped down and opened its mouth which lit up from the inside then shooting out a ball of fire.
Astrid watched as the fire sprung to life with a comforting roar and a power that warmed the room comfortingly.
She watched Freydis pet her Terror a pang of sadness washed through Astrid like a tidal wave, all these years alone had had a negative effect on Freydis with humans but seeing her interact with her dragons gave Astrid some hope.
She loved her dragons and it seemed they thought just as highly of Freydis noting that Oceanthorn watched her carefully preparing some sort of stew out of the smoked fish that had been strung above the fireplace before looking up at Stormfly as she trotted over to Astrid.
"Take some fish to feed your dragon, Stormfly wont be happy otherwise" Came Freydis's voice slightly muffled as she was preparing stew.
Astrid nodded and picked up three whole fish and turned back to Stormfly, "Here you are girl" She said and held them out to the hungry dragon, looked like Freydis cared more about dragons than humans, maybe that was the way to get through to her.
Stormfly happily gobbled up the fish in one go before setting down and curling up on the floor and resting, it was then Astrid realised just how hungry she was when the smell of fish stew hit her nostrils her stomach growled loudly causing her to blush.
Freydis heard Astrids stomach growl and glanced over at the woman, "Don't you eat?" She stated and glanced over at OceanThorn before standing up and climbing onto his back to get to a high shelf before sliding back down with two bowls.
Scooping the bubbling stew into one she held one out in Astrids general direction signalling this one was for her.
This took Astrid by surprise seeing how Freydis was when she discovered Astrid in her house but regardless Astrid got up and carefully took the hot bowl from Freydis before sitting down, "Thank you" She said before sitting down, the stew smelled good but she would have to wait until it cooled before eating it.
Astrid watched as Freydis sat down with her own bowl and sat it carefully on the ground making sure not to spill her portion of stew deciding to break the silence Astrid opened her mouth to speak.
"So how did you find this island?" She asked waiting for Freydis's answer.
The girl looked up trying to read Astrids expression but ignored her question opting to ask one of her own.
"You said there where others, who?" Freydis asked well more like demanded the information, she didn't like people knowing where she was, and having a conversation with somebody who had actual social skills was a bit taxing seeing as being on her own she didn't have the option of engaging in conversation.
Astrid thought for a moment wondering wondering if she could tell the truth or not but decided that lying would only anger her more.
"The others, you know, Ruff and Tuff, Snotlout, Fishlegs and Hiccup" She answered and watched for Freydis's reaction when none came she decided to add something else, "We where scouting for new islands like this one to discover more types of dragons...but the storm came an I got separated" She explained, seeing that the answer satisfied Freydis Astrid relaxed.
Freydis picked up her bowl and started sipping her soup, why where the others out here? It was miles away from Berk and did Astrid even know the way back.
Thinking of Berk brought back memories but she hastily pushed them back into a dark corner of her mind.
Finishing her soup Freydis set to wooden bowl aside and stood up before moving behind OceanThorn who had fallen asleep and tossing an extra blanket over to Astrid before changing into dry looser clothes and emerging out from behind OceanThorn and heading over to her floor bed.
Climbing in she closed her eyes, it felt odd with somebody else and a new dragon in her home but the quickest way to wait out the storm was to sleep and besides Freydis found the sound of the rain hitting the roof quite soothing and let it lull her into a sleep.
Astrid took the hint of Freydis getting into bed and grabbed her blanket that was ever so gracefully threw which left it sprawled out in the middle of the floor before pulling it over herself then leaning her head back on Stormfly and closing her eyes. Astrid fell asleep pretty easily considering the days events.
Freydis woke early seeing the sunlight reflecting of the snow outside, making the cold substance have an appearance of crystals.
She was groggy and pushing back the covers and rubbing her eyes she then remembered the two uninvited guests who had arrived last night, a quick glance in their direction showed that both where still sleeping.
Beatlejuice the terror was curled up next to her purring in his sleep giving off the occasional twitch, running her hand down his spin with a small smile Freydis then got up and started to change but looked round when she heard Astrid move behind her.
"Morning" Came Astrid's groggy greeting as Freydis pulled on her blouse and her winter jacket before her trousers, "Looks like the storms blown out" Astrid commented trying to make conversation.
Freydis sighed and nodded her head, "Yes it appears so" She replied bluntly and went about opening the larger doors to let Oceanthorn out who had moved to wait beside them.
"I will take you off this island to the edge of it's waters, you will have to find your own way from there" She stated undoing the last of the knots and opening the doors letting the Raincutter dragon "See you in a minute boy" She said before closing them again and tightening the ropes.
Freydis pulled on her boots and laced up her jacket, looking up she could see Astrid looking over at her, "Don't think me letting you stay here means anything" Freydis snapped and got up before heading out of the door.
Oceanthorn was waiting for her and let a grumble before lowering himself into the snow, Freydis thought that was a sign for her to get into the saddle until she was met with a painfully cold wave of snow.
"Thorn!" She cried before chuckling and picking up a snowball and hurtling it towards the pesky dragon who ducked and let of a throaty dragon laugh before Freydis climbed into his saddle. "Your a pain in my ass" She told him as she was lovingly scratching his neck, "You and BeatleJuice" She Joked unaware that Astrid had seen the whole thing and was now on Stormfly's back.
"Well then are we going?" Astrid asked before Stormfly beat her wings and propelled herself into the sky with relative ease.
Oceanthorn did the same but being a bigger dragon his wings unsettled the fresh snow causing a cold mist to rise, Freydis didn't mind though as he was soon up in the air and level with Astrid. Freydis looked down seeing the tree tops just below her then looked at Astrid.
"Lets go" She said and nudged Thorns side causing him to gently start moving forward before picking up speed causing the wind to move though Freydis's brown hair.
She loved flying but knew she had to get Astrid off her island, this was her home and she had no right to be here but something deep down in Freydis's gut twinged causing her to feel a little remorse at the fact she would be alone.
But that was her punishment that was why Berk had outcast her, to be completely devoid of human company was a punishment in it's self.
Astrid watched the barren winter landscape race by underneath her, the snow adding a touch of morbid beauty to the land but it still baffled her how Freydis survived these winters on her own it must have been hard more so that she was on her own.
Astrid had been so lost in thought that she nearly failed to notice that Freydis and Thorn had stopped she was glad that Stormfly took better notice and had stopped herself to avoid a mid air collision.
She looked over at Freydis who seemed more at ease on her dragon than on two feat and decided to say something.
"Frey...I can't imagine how hard these years have been for you but please...If you need anything just use Beatlejuice to send me a terror mail and I will help you anyway I can" She said so desperately wanting to help this woman but knowing that Freydis probably wouldn't accept but the offer was there regardless.
Getting nothing in return Astrid took that as her cue, "C'mon girl lets go home" She said and smiled as Stormfly raced forward eager to get back to Dragons Edge, though despite her happiness to be getting back to a proper bed she knew that Freydis would most likely occupy her thoughts causing a few restless nights.
Freydis stayed silent on Thorn's back for a minute or two actually debating Astrids offer but shook her head, she didn't need Astrid or anybody else for that matter, THEY drove her away it was THEY'RE fault she was like this, if Astrid and the others had done something or anything to stop it she wouldn't be out here all alone she would be on Berk with people.
But then thinking again on the matter Freydis didn't want to go back to Berk or anywhere with people. People where unpredictable and cruel at least out here with her dragons there was a measure of safety.
Freydis was just about to tell Astrid that that she didn't need her help, that they betrayed her by letting her be driven out and that she was a liar but when she looked up Astrid was long gone.
Astrid had left her without any warning and suddenly the feeling of being utterly and completely alone crashed down around her again, leaving her trying to catch her breath in the silence.
"I don't need them, I don''t need anybody" Freydis chanted to herself over and over again to try and block out the ringing in her ears form the sudden silence and until she caught her breath.
Wiping her eyes Freydis could feel that her cheeks where hot and her face red dispite the freezing cold before scratching Thorns neck again, "Lets go home" She said so quietly it was almost lost in the wind but Thorn seemed to understand and gracefully swooped lower and did a wide arc to turn and head home, sensing that his rider would need both his comfort and BeatleJuce's for a while.
