The Time the Dragon Cried. Part 3
After Dinner, and escorting Astrid home to her parent's house. Hiccup went to the Great Hall, he had been the last two nights sequestered himself reading the past Chiefs scrolls and books. Trying to find an answer to the Shark. Sitting by the roaring fire in one of the large chairs, he poured over the scrolls for hours. Reading the words of those from the past, hoping to gain wisdom. Rubbing his tired eyes, he finally found what he sought. Smiling he leaned back and closed his eyes to think. Falling into a deep troubled sleep instantly.
Astrid first found Toothless sleeping outside of Hiccup's home and after looking in the house she knew where he was. Seeing him asleep in one of the chairs she went to him. Thinking back when she had decided that she wanted to marry him. Begging her father to bargain with Stoic for his daughter to marry Hiccup. She knew then that Hiccup would never presume to believe that she would consent to marry him, if he had Stoic bargain her father for marriage. So, she took it upon herself. Shaking her head, she bent down and licked his dry lips. Then gave him a gentle kiss.
Hiccup knew who had just kissed him, and feeling a little rambunctious. "Ruffnut, I told you not to kiss me like that, Astrid would get jealous." He smiled as he opened his eyes to see Astrid frown down at him putting her hands on her hips.
"You had better be jesting with me! Or I may have to kick your ass." Astrid stated glaring down at him as he laughed. "What you don't think I can't kick your ass?"
"No, I think you could easily." Hiccup smiled up at her until she flopped onto his lap and stared at him. "You look terrible, have you been here all night?"
"Is it morning?" Hiccup asked seeing her nod. "Then yes I have been here all night. But I found what I was seeking."
"Really." Astrid looked at the scroll he had on the table.
"My Fathers, Fathers, Fathers, Father. Ragnar tells of a time when the Dragons stopped raiding. The villagers believed that they had finally driven off the Dragons. But after three fishing boats and one trading Longboat disappeared, he saw the threat one day. He describes it as a monster with a fin as big as a sail and deadlier than any dragon. He also discovered that it only hunted in the deep-water channel." Hiccup told her as he looked over the scroll. "I have checked the charts that surround Berk. I agree. It seems that this monster cannot hunt or swim anywhere else this close to land. So, it follows the channel."
"Does not the channel flow where you saw it first, and was not the fishing boat that you saved fishing in the channel?" She asked as she looked at the chart.
"Yes, I will have to ask Eret and my mother, but I bet that where the Sea Shocker was attacked was in the channel." Hiccup replied.
"Did Ragnar mention how long the monster stayed?" Astrid saw the concerned look on Hiccup's face.
"It just seems that after some time the Shark left, following the currents from the channel. He just mentions that one night the Dragons started raiding again." He said as he put the parchment down and knew that there was no point in researching any more. "I will have to tell the villagers and make sure no one goes near the channel."
"No, what you are going to do is go get some sleep. I will tell them. I am not going to go to the Honeymoon Hut with someone that falls asleep as soon as we get there." Astrid informed him as she looked at his tired and haggard face.
"Fine I will lay down until the sun hits the Horn (two hours)." Hiccup stated. Seeing Astrid shake her head, it was not enough in her mind.
"No, until after the sun has risen beyond the mountain (six hours)." She ordered.
"Midday meal then (four hours)." He almost demanded.
Astrid exhaled and nodded. "But I get to wake you."
"As long as it is how you just did I guess it won't be that bad." He said as he looked up at her and saw her start to redden, then she smiled.
Slowly walking to his house Hiccup saw Toothless, the Night Fury jumped around excitingly. "Sorry bud, I have to get some sleep. Maybe later we will go flying." Hiccup did not know how but the Dragon seemed to understand as it lumbered off to its overhang to wait for Hiccup after his nap.
Astrid relayed the information and even told those creepy brothers, Grevak and Grask. She did not like talking to either of them, mainly because of the smell but also because both leered at her whenever she was around them. Because she felt uncomfortable even being near them she had Storm-fly with her. Not that she was worried about them doing something but at least Storm-fly smell blocked out their pungent aroma. Riding away she looked back seeing them laughing and pointing at her, she could imagine what they were discussing and she shuddered.
"By Odin she has turned into a something to admire." Grevak said to his brother. "It is a real pity that her parents refused the bargain for her hand." Smiling showing his crooked yellow and green teeth.
"Yes, it was, Erak and Helga should have taken yours or mine. That boy is hardly a man yet." Grask commented also watching Astrid ride away. Staring at her firm ass. "He won't know how to make her except her place." Exhaling Grask turned from his brother and pointed towards the docks. "We better go see what Sorsor wants, he says he knows how to get rid of the Beast." Walking down the path with his brother they both kept thinking about Astrid.
Sorsor gazed out at the sea frowning, Hiccup was wrong. A Viking should conquer whatever confronts them. A Shark is just a big fish and every fish can be caught and killed. He had heard what Astrid had told him, that the Shark stayed in the channel. As he began to formulate a plan he was joined by his two closet allies. Grevak and Grask. All three had just started to fight Dragons. But before they could make a name for themselves the Dragons were excepted and treated as companions. Sorsor then decided that the only way for his name to be honored and remembered would be to kill the Shark. His two friends agreed. What he did not tell them was that any glory would be his, after killing the Shark he would demand that he become Chief. Then he would approach Erak and Helga and bargain for their daughter. After all Astrid was the fairest young woman on Berk and should go to the one that has the most honor. Not some, one- legged weakling. Returning his attention to the two nitwits that almost followed him everywhere.
"So, do you have a plan?" Grevak asked as he looked over at his brother Grask.
"Yes, we will need a lot of dead fish and every harpoon that we have stored at the forge, along with several casts of rope. Did you hear the Beast stays in the Channel so if we stay on the edge we should be able to kill the Beast?" Sorsor stated smirking.
"I think I understand, if the Shark cannot move then we can kill it at leisure." Grask implied as he thought about the glory that they would receive from killing the Beast. He might even be able to bargain for Astrid, he could not understand why her parents did not him excepted before, as he scratched his knotted beard. Sure, he only bathed once every quarter, and washed his clothes only when they needed it. But that should not be an issue. Smiling he looked over at his brother and saw that Grevak was thinking the same thing. Perhaps they could share her.
Astrid returned to Hiccups house and after scratching Toothless at his sweet spot, she walked into the house. In less than a week she would be moving into the house. She had no plans on taking over the kitchen. After all she could not cook, which was weird because her mother Helga was one of the best cooks on all Berk. While Astrid could burn boiling water. No, the kitchen would be Hiccup's domain. She had in the past few weeks had moved several of her own items into the house. Some of her favorite weapons, some of her clothing and even a cooking pot her mother insisted that she have. It belonged to her mother's mother, Ingra. Stepping over past the table she beamed down at Hiccup, he slept so soundly and she at first did not want to wake him. Leaning down she touched his face and kissed him. Seeing his eyes open sleepily. "It is time for the midday meal, as promised. I also told the whole village about the Shark and Ragnar."
Exhaling Hiccup sat up. "Good, I was going to take Toothless flying. You want to come?"
"Yes, it might be nice to soar around and perhaps we should go and see where the Shark is and if you are right." Astrid said seeing Hiccup nod. If the Shark stayed in the Channel then it would be easy to spot and find. It might even have moved on by now.
Flying across the open sea, the young couple looked down. Both Dragons were several hundred meters above the channel and Hiccup did not dare go lower. He had seen smaller Sharks jump almost twice their length out of the water and something that big might also be able to do it. Seeing the mighty Beast, he felt vindicated. It swam along the deep channel. Not being able to see the bottom of the channel Hiccup circled the massive Shark. Seeing Astrid do the same. He felt relieved it appeared that the Shark was heading away from Berk following the channel. But then without warning it turned and started back to Berk.
"Why did it turn?" Astrid said loudly seeing the giant fin slicing through the water.
"I do not know, I was hoping it was leaving." Hiccup replied frowning. "It almost seems like something is drawing it back."
"We better get back to Berk and warn everyone, have the fishing boats come ashore." Astrid stated pointing Storm-fly back east. Thinking about the seven or eight smaller boats that were fishing the bay. Seeing Hiccup and Toothless follow her.
Sorsor watched as the brothers heaved dead and cut fish into the water. They had anchored one boat length away from the channel. He had been right, other Sharks swam around eating the bloody fish that they pitched overboard.
"Look." Grevak said pointing to northwest as he indicated a huge fin heading towards them.
"Get the Harpoons ready, tie them." Sorsor ordered as the two brothers moved to obey. The plan was working. As soon as it came into range they would start spearing the Beast. Checking the lines, he saw that all were attached to one of the tall pillars that sat several boat lengths away. When the huge monster came within range, the three started to throw the sharp spears into the water. Several impacted and held. "It is working, keep throwing. The more we have in it the better chance we have."
Hiccup and Astrid saw the fishing boat moored by the channel and three of the villagers throwing harpoons into the massive Shark. "What in Odin's name are they doing?" Astrid said as she watched the fools. "That is not going to work."
"You get to shore, I will try to stop them." Hiccup ordered seeing Astrid frown at him.
"Just do not do anything that puts you in danger." Astrid replied as she angled Storm-fly towards land. Looking back at Hiccup with general concern. She planned to rally the riders and go back to make sure that he did not do anything brave or stupid.
"Come on Bud, we have to help them, before it is too late." Hiccup said to Toothless, but it was too late. The Long Boat sized pillar started to crack and break as the Huge Shark started to pull on the lines. Before Hiccup could get in range to tell them to cut the lines the stone crumbled, large chunks of rock fell. Yelling as loud as he could he tried to warn the three. But it was too late, a huge splinter of rock fell onto the boat.
Sorsor saw the chunk of rock that fell onto the boat, splintering the wood. "Jump." He screamed as he himself leaped over the side seeing the brothers following him. Looking out toward the channel he saw the massive fin, it stayed within the channel. Thinking that he and his comrades were safe, he smiled. Until one of the smaller white chested smaller version angled towards him. Before he could utter a word another long as his crushed boat, clamped its jaws on him. Screaming with anguish. Sorsor tried to pull his sword and stab the beast, but it swam toward the channel. Wanting to close his eyes, he kept them open as the Larger Shark engulfed him and the other Shark. Then blissful dark surrounded him.
Grask and Grevak lunged with sword and ax, trying to drive the other Sharks away. Hiccup had Toothless shoot fire balls in hope of driving the large number of white chested Sharks away.
"Get to the pillar." Hiccup yelled as the two men looked up at him. Moving slowly because of the water the two attempted to get to the safety of rock. Twenty to Thirty Sharks swam towards them. Hiccup could see the panic on the two brothers faces as they slashed and cut at the approaching death bringers. With a scream Grevak was pulled back by a smaller one and then lost his left arm bellow the elbow. The blood drove the others into a frenzy. Before the Sharks could close in the other Dragon Riders arrived and another boat. Blasting the water until it steamed the Riders pummeled the water driving the Sharks away. Gubber and two others dragged the two brothers aboard the boat and Grask started to wail.
Through pain etched voice. "Where is Sorsor?" Grevak asked Gubber seeing the older man look out at the huge fin swimming north through the channel.
Back on the Berk, Hiccup almost fell getting off Toothless. His friend steadied him with his black head until Hiccup could stand without shaking. When Astrid approached she just put her arms around him.
"The Fools, no one deserves to die like that." Hiccup said almost in a whisper. "Why did not they listen to me. Sorsor would be alive and complaining if he just obeyed." Closing his eyes, he tried not to remember seeing Sorsor being dragged out to sea and then swallowed by the Beast.
"I do not know, but it is not your fault." Astrid replied knowing that Hiccup would blame himself. "You did everything you could." Watching as Gubber and two others plus Grask carry Grevak to the healer. Both brothers glared at Hiccup as they passed him. Grask stopped and snarled at Hiccup.
"This is your fault, if you had driven or killed the Beast before then we would not have done what you should have done." Grask said as a crowd gathered, hearing him accuse Hiccup of not doing anything.
