Chapter 3
The hall erupted in shouts of questions and protests. Garknot shouted loudest of all.
"Stoick what is this?!"
The visitors from Rus seemed very confused and disgruntled. The people of Berk tried to come to Hiccup's aid. There shouts from both sides and the sound of the vikings became deafening.
"Please, just let me explain! Listen to me! Come on!"
Hiccup ran back and forth raising his voice. Finally Stoick came to his aid.
"QUIET!" He yelled striking his axe into the nearest table.
Everyone went silent, but looks of confusion were on almost everyone's faces. Ruff and Tuff looked disappointed that a fight hadn't broken out. Keila looked downright scared.
"Thanks Dad. Listen everyone please. This isn't easy to understand I know, but please just let me show you." Hiccup said as calmly as he could manage.
Hiccup started to explain how he brought down a Night Fury, and hadn't been able to finish the job. He explained how within the coming weeks he slowly learned more and more about the dragon and eventually befriended it.
The whole hall scoffed.
Hiccup continued to explain how he learned to tame dragons and eventually ride them.
He had everyone's attention now.
"They aren't what we thought they were, they protect themselves. That's all."
Whoa déjà vu, Hiccup thought.
Half the Rusians seemed interested, the other half still looked unconvinced.
Garknot started laughing, "Oh you had me Stoick you did! Stoick the Vast making peace with dragons. This boy…taming a Night Fury. That's a good one!"
"It's no joke, Garknot." Stoick rumbled.
Hiccup sighed and put his fingers to his lips and whistled as loud as he could.
Outside whining roar could be heard and the doors of the great hall burst open and a blur of black scales raced towards Hiccup and tackled him.
All the visitors from Rus were on their feet weapons in hand. Ruff and Tuff looked excited again. Stoick held Garknot back as Hiccup pushed Toothless off and used the dragon's head to pull himself to his feet.
"Hey bud. It's okay." Hiccup crooned as he pet Toothless trying to keep him calm.
Toothless's eyes narrowed and he snarled as he turned and put himself between Hiccup and the weapons that now filled the hall. Hiccup rubbed Toothless on the head and said softly, "It's okay, it's okay."
Toothless turned and purred at Hiccup.
"Put your weapons away." Stoick ordered looking straight into the stunned eyes of Garknot. The old viking stared at Stoick as if if he were trying to gauge if the chief was serious.
"Away." Stoick reiterated.
Garknot waved to his people and they all reluctantly sheathed their weapons. Hiccup looked at Garknot and tried to think about the fact that the man was at least two times Hiccup's size.
"Sir, if you would just let me show you." Hiccup carefully stepped over to the Rusian chief with Toothless following behind him.
Hiccup motioned for the chief's hand and pulled him over to Toothless. Toothless waited patiently as the chief stared at the dragon obvious apprehension in his face.
Everyone in the room held their breath. Time seemed to pass slowly as the Chief slowly reached towards the dragon and then back again.
Finally Stoick had had enough, "Oh for the love of Odin!" Stoick grabbed Garknot's hand and put it on Toothless's snout.
Garknot froze and got very tense. Toothless looked up at the chief and over to Hiccup. He started to look a little impatient. Hiccup just nodded in encouragement. Garknot scanned the dragon and felt the softness of his nose. The chief started to relax ever so slightly. Then suddenly Toothless inhaled sharply and Garknot tensed up again pulling back. Toothless sneezed, and then cocked his head to the side and looked up at the burly chief.
Garknot burst into laughter, and slapped Stoick on the back. Hiccup exhaled in relief. Everyone in the hall seemed to relax and get excited again. "Boy, I want to hear more about these dragons." Garknot boomed.
Hiccup smiled out at the crowd and searched the tables for his friends, they would need to go get the arena ready for Garknot and his warriors to come over. He found them, but he realized someone was missing. Keila had been sitting with them, but now she was gone.
Keila pulled her knees to her chest and gave a shuddery breath. She scratched the thin white scar that lined her wrist and disappeared under her sleeve.
She felt ashamed of herself. She had trembled while listening to Hiccup's story, and when the dragon came in…it's amazing she hadn't screamed when she ran out. She had thought she was going to be safe on Berk, but it looked like not only were there dragons here…they were welcome.
She started to reconsider her decision to move back to Berk.
She ran her fingers through the soil and wished her parents were still around, and that she wasn't so afraid all the time.
"Keila?"
Keila jumped and yelped at the voice. She turned around to see Hiccup holding his hands out. "Hey it's ok, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you!"
Keila relaxed, "It's okay."
"Where did you go? You missed Toothless sneezing all over Garknot." Hiccup smiled.
Keila laughed nervously, "Oh…funny."
"Are you ok? You seem a little…freaked out."
"Yeah…yeah it's nothing…" Keila brushed it off and put on a fake smile. She knew she couldn't fool him forever, he knew her too well.
"I'm really sorry to hear about your parents…they were great." Hiccup said softly.
"Yeah…" Keila leaned back against some crates and jumped when the rattled forward. A rumbling moan came from the other side. She looked up and came face to face with two huge green cat eyes swimming in a sea of black scales, a Night Fury.
Keila flung herself away and screamed, pulling out her dagger.
Hiccup jumped up between them and pushed Toothless back, "It's okay, it's okay! Toothless! You scared her! Sorry about that he tends to do that. There's really nothing to be…scared…of." Hiccup got a really good look at Keila's face and saw the terror in her eyes, her raised dagger.
"Keila…are…are you afraid of dragons?"
