Chapter 4.
"How did you manage to set a house on fire?" I laughed out the question. Hiccup joined in on the laughter and shrugged "Luckily it was during a dragon raid so no one thought it was me." I took a bite of the food he had brought me and smiled as he began talking about another situation he was in once.
I was currently on my way with Hiccup to dragon fighting class. My wounds were healing quickly thanks to Hiccup's care. I didn't know what to think of Hiccup. He was a kind person, and I liked him. He was the only thing that seemed.. normal from all of this. I couldn't help but think that something wasn't right with me being here.. Like I was missing something.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to join Hiccup in his Class until my wounds were healed, but I was sent to watch from the top of the arena. Gobber, who was the teacher greeted the kids. "Welcome to Dragon Training!"
"No turning back.." I heard Astrid say as she walked into the arena. All of them held one weapon or the other, and they all seemed excited. "I hope I get some serious burns." Tuffnut said. "I'm hoping for some mauling like, on the shoulder or lower back." Ruffnut agreed a moment later.
"Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it." Astrid said, shrugging one shoulder. "Yeah, no kidding, right? Pain. Love it." Hiccup's sarcastic drawl followed as he entered the arena. He looked up and saw me, giving a small wave which I returned, my legs dangling on the side.
"Oh great, who let him in?" Tuffnut sneered.
"Let's get started!" Gobber said above the others, "The recruit who does best will win the honor of killing his first dragon in front of the entire village."
"Hiccup already killed a Night Fury-" Snotlout began to tease but I stopped listening at the shock I got from hearing the name Night Fury. "What..?" I asked aloud, suddenly feeling very anxious and scared.
"Behind these doors a just a few of the many species you will learn to fight!" He gestured to rustling doors behind him. "The Deadly Nadder, The Hideous Zippleback, The Monstrous Nightmare, The Terrible Terror, and the Gronkle." My head stung.. I knew these dragons, I knew what they looked like. I knew what they could do and where they came from. How?
"Whoa whoa, wait! Aren't you going to teach us first?" Snotlout asked looking very unviking-like. "I believe in learning on the job!" Grobber responded, opening up the door to release a large mud colored Gronkle.
"Today is about survival. Get blasted? You're dead. "Quick! What's the first thing you're going to need?"
"A doctor?" Hiccup hoarsely asked. "Plus five speed?" Fishlegs asked next and I rose my eyebrow. That would help.. How would you accomplish getting that? "A shield!" Astrid said a moment later.
"Yes a shield, go! Your most important piece of equipment is your shield." I watched as Hiccup had a hard time lifting one and I silently cheered him on.
"If you have to make a choice between a sword or a shield, take the shield." I watched as both of the twins were taken down with one shot from the Gronkle, fighting over a shield.
"Each dragon has a limited amount of shots, how many does a Gronkle have?"
"Five?" Snotlout guessed. "No, six!" Fishlegs corrected.
I knew that also. But I didn't know how and each time I tried to think of the reason my head began to pound. Fishlegs was the next one gone. And then Snotlout, distracted by flirting with Astrid. I shook my head and watched as the last two teens, Hiccup and Astrid left. Hiccup was the next shot at and he lost his shield, he began to run after it, The Gronkle right on his heels. "Hiccup!" I yelled as he was pinned against the wall and the Gronkle prepared his last shot.
I let out a relieved breath as Gobber dragged the Gronkle away with his hook hand not a moment too soon. "Go back to bed you over grown sausage! You'll have your chance soon enough. Remember.. A dragon will always go for the kill. Always."
I stood, my heart still pounding. For some reason, I felt like I didn't believe that. I shook my head to avoid another pounding headache and limped my way down to the rest of the teens. "Did you see me out there?" Snotlout bragged, puffing his chest out sneaking a glance at me. "Oh, hey mystery girl, didn't see you there." He winked. I nodded to him and stood next to Hiccup helping him to his feet, staring at the wall that was now burned. "Wow.." I breathed, feeling the heat just standing next to it.
"Are you okay?" I asked Hiccup who nodded, looking like he was thinking of something.
"Mystery girl?" Gobber asked as he dismissed the other teens. I nodded "I apparently washed up on your islands shore the other night.."
"Oh yes!" Gobber greeted me, shaking my hand with his.. hook. I tried my best not to stare at it. "I'm Gobber, The local smith and Dragon training teacher." He cupped his mouth and whispered with a wink "Basically second in command around here."
"It's very nice to meet you, Gobber." I replied.
"Hah! Such a polite liar! I like you. What's your name, girl?"
"I'm not sure." I told him, looking at the dirt covered floor. "Oh.." Gobber muttered for a moment and peeked up. "I could give you a name if you'd like!" I blinked "O-Oh?" I asked, unsure if I should accept that or not. "Aye! Let me get a look at you.." He walked around me in a circle, closing one eye and then opening it with a nodded "Mhm." He nodded occasionally.
"I know the perfect name for you!" He decided, coming a full circle around me. "Your name should be Fable." I looked at him and thought for a moment. "Fable?" I repeated the name. I did like it, it sounded pretty.. "Yes, Fable! Because you showed up mysteriously on our shores with no memory, or even a name! No ship, nothing but your cloths on your back. Kinda like a story, so Fable."
"I-I like it." I said nodding, smiling. "Wonderful! Soon as you get that leg healed up, I'll be glad to teach ya. For now though, I gotta get back to Smithing!"
"Can I come?" I asked before even realizing it. For some reason it felt like I should have asked him that. "Oh." He scratched his beard with his hooked hand and nodded. "I don't see why not!"
I followed him out of the arena. Hiccup had disappeared and I didn't know what else to do, so I was glad that Gobber was there. He led me to his blacksmith and began to show me some things, like how iron is the easiest to meld.
I stayed with him for a good portion of the day because it was nearing sundown when he took a break of a hungry stomach and it was around time to meet back up with the other teens in the great hall.
They were already there waiting and Gobber grabbed his meal along with mine, giving me some type of ricey tasting drink which I found pleasant. The food was chicken and I ate it excitedly, it was like all I had eaten for the past year was fish!
"Okay, class. Where did Astrid go wrong today?" Gobber asked, already finished with his meal. I saw the door open and a very wet Hiccup came in followed by some distant rumbling. "I was too slow and I missed my target." Astrid answered. "It was sloppy and it threw off my somersault dive."
"Yea, we noticed." Ruffnut drawled.
"No, no. You were great, that was so.. Astrid." Snotlout said, looking at her dreamily. "No, she's right. You have to be tough on yourselves." Gobber said and I looked over at Hiccup as he picked up a plate of food and sat at the table across the way.
"Where did Hiccup go wrong?" Gobber asked, gesturing at him. "Uh, he showed up." Ruffnut snickered with her twin. "He didn't get eaten." Tuffnut added. "He's never where he should be." Astrid glared in his direction.
"Thank you, Astrid." Gobber gestured at her with his hand giving the others a look. He slapped both of the Twins helmets "You need to live and breath this stuff." He said holding up a rather thick book. "The Dragon Manual. Everything we know about every Dragon we know about is in this book. Read it. No attacks tonight." He said as another rumble from thunder was close by.
"Read? Before we're dead?" Tuffnut exclaimed "I don't think so." He was followed by Ruffnut and Snotlout. "I've read it like seven times." Fishlegs said before shuffling away shyly. Astrid also stood, pushing the book away. "Read it."
I was interested in the book and I pulled it over, opening the cover of the book. The first thing I saw was a drawing of some grotesque looking beast and I furrowed my brow. Was it even real?
"Can I join you?" I looked over my shoulder at Hiccup, who was still wet from the rain. I nodded and scooted over. He took the place next to me and started reading the book.
"Dragon classifications. Strike class, Fear class, Mystery class. Thunderdrum. This dragon inhabitants seas. When startled the Thunderdrum produces a sound that could kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous, kill on sight." I touched the drawing of the dragon and felt my heart squeeze. Nothing should be killed out right for no reason. Hiccup looked at me and I sighed, removing my hand.
The next was a dragon called Timberjack, a huge dragon with razor sharp wings that could cut through pine with no trouble at all. Extremely dangerous, kill on sight. And then a water dragon called Scaldroun, which could spit poisiones boiling water at it's foes. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight.
Lightning struck not too far away making me and Hiccup jump as the doors swung open from a gust of strong wind.
Changewing was the next dragon that Hiccup flipped to. Even newly hatched dragons can spray acid. Kill on sight. Gronkle, Zippleback, The Skrill, Bonenapper, Whispering Death. "Burns its victims, barries its victems, chokes its victims, turns it's victims inside out, extremely dangerous, extremely dangerous, Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Kill on sight..." And then he paused on a blank page. "Night Fury."
I froze at the name again and my head began to pound, I began to breath deeply, doing my best to ignore the pain. "Speed unknown Size unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon. Your only chance, hide and pray it does not find you.." He trailed off with a thoughtful look on his face.
I rubbed at my temples. "No." I whispered. "What?" Hiccup asked looking at me. "That's.. That's not right." I mumbled the pain in my head growing as I tried my hardest to remember anything, the reason why I knew these dragons, the reason why I knew the size of a Night Fury and how fast it was and how- I was snapped from my thoughts at the look Hiccup was giving me. IT was mingled with concern and bewilderment. "Have you.. Have you ever seen a Night Fury?" He asked me.
"I.." I tried to speak but couldn't, feeling anxious and sorrowful like before. "I-I don't know." I pointed to the book. "It's wrong."
"How do you know?" Hiccup pressed, standing up he raised his hands to try and help me, seeing both of my hands move to my temples. "I can't remember!" I wailed, my voice verging on sobbing. "It's okay.." Hiccup whispered, placing an arm over my shoulder awkwardly. "It's okay." He repeated, leading us to his home through the rain, carrying the book in his other arm.
My head refused to stop throbbing. Hiccup led me to his bed and laid me down, covering me with furs. I didn't go to sleep, but I rested there. My mind whirling with questions no one could answer.
The next morning I woke feeling better. I slept longer than usual and it looked like Hiccup left for his class without bringing me and I wasn't sure to feel bad about that or not. I had probably scared him off last night with my little break down.. though I remembered the feeling of comfort I got when his arm held me and laid me to bed. I could feel myself blush and I shook my head at this feeling silly.
So, with nothing to do, I moved to sit on the front stairs to wait until Hiccup was finished with his class. The Vikings and other villagers were busy with their day-to-day business, though some of them even waved to me, making me feel a bit warm inside not sure why, but I liked the feeling.
I sighed as time ticked by.. I grabbed a log and a dagger and started widdling away and soon lost track of the time. I had soon made what looked like a small dragon with a wide head and long slender body with a finned-winged tail. I didn't know what it was but I blinked, feeling very attached to the little figure. "What's that?"
I jumped and nearly dropped it. "Snotlout!" I breathed, my heart stuck in my throat. "Uhm, nothing." I mumbled, tucking the figure into my pocket. I tilted my head 'Wasn't Hiccup having a class with him?' I thought with a small frown. "Hello Snotlout." I greeted with a small nod. "Sup?" He asked leaning on the porch trying to impress.
"I am only waiting for Hiccup to return from his classes." I replied not really looking at him but scanning through the busy village. "Well Class ended about two hours ago so," Snotlout said standing up. 'Two hours? Where could Hiccup be?' I thought to myself.
"So why don't you hang out with me for awhile?" He proposed. "We could grab a bit to eat." I scanned the crowed once more than shrugged, if Hiccup was busy with other things than why should I care. "Sure." I stood up from the porch carefully, not putting to much presser on my injured leg.
Snotlout grinned and offered his hand. I looked at him unamused and he laughed and put it back down. He lead me over to the mead hall. I had never been in it before, Hiccup usually brought me food rather than us going out to get it. It was big and lit up by candles, the sun shown through the windows making it warm and pleasant. The smell of freshly cooked food wafted in my sensitive nose and I nearly melted at the smell, my stomach growling.
"Sit here," Snotlout offered pointing at the closest table. "I'll grab us some food, what would you like?" He asked me. I shrugged and he grinned "Up to Snotlout then. Okay, be back in a bit."
Snotlout returned a few minuets later, He set the food down in front of me, the smell was amazing and made my mouth water. The plate was full of cooked, fish along with bread and cheese and some type of berries. I smiled at Snotlout for the first time and he seemed almost taken back. "Thank you." I said and took a bite of the salmon, it tasted smoky but very very good, I almost founded myself liking.
The plate of food was quickly empty, I looked up from the plate seeing Snotlout holding a mutton up to his lips staring at me shocked. I smiled shyly "I've never seen a girl eat so fast before."
"Well, you've never met a girl like me then!" I joked, grinning. Snotlout and I talked about random things while he ate, I learned that he was in fact Hiccups' cousin and his father was brother to the chief. I found out that he dreamed of being chief one day, and a few other interesting facts. "Well, ready for desert?" He asked me and I smiled brightly with a nod.
He stood up again and came back a few moments later with a sweet cake, setting it down in front of me. "Eat up." He said with a wink taking a piece for himself. "So why not tell me about yourself?" He asked, a mouth full of food. "No one really knows about you besides Hiccup and he never talks."
"Well," I started taking a bite of the sweet cake and nearly shivering at the sweet taste covering up the more smoky taste of the fish I had before.
"This is amazing!" I breathed, after swallowing. Snotlout laughed "Glad you enjoy it." He said with a small nod. "Well?" Snotlout asked and I blinked setting down my piece.
"I don't really know." I murmured. I didn't notice Hiccup slipping in and spotting us two. He moved to a table close to us, until he tripped over nothing, apparently only then I noticed. I looked down at the sweet cake, my appetite lost. "I can't remember anything past waking up in Hiccups bed." Snotlout stared at me with a straight face and blinked. "N-Not like that!" I sputtered, blushing deeply. "He.. I woke up and he was there with water.. That's all I remember."
"So you can't remember anything at all?" He asked and I shook my head. "Bummer.. Do you have a name I can call you?"
"Gobber gave me the name Fable." I told him and he repeated it. "That's kinda a wimpy name, I mean how are you go-.. Never mind." He went silent at my look and I grinned, shaking my head.
I stood up rubbing my stuffed belly "would you like to go for a walk with me?" I asked him. He stopped mid bite and stood up quickly with a nod.
We walked outside, I saw that Hiccup watched us leave but I didn't bother to do anything. I didn't wish to talk about my past anymore.
The sun had started to go down by the time we stopped walking, coming to a place in the forest a small clearing that leaded to a gorge. I liked it, it was a small lake covered up by trees and would have been completely missed if Snotlout hadn't nearly broken his neck tripping over a rock into it.
I walked up to the lake looking into my reflection, the moon shown brightly behind me nearly causing my eyes to glow.
"Pretty romantic, isn't it?" Snotlout asked. I looked at him and nearly laughed at his look. I nodded once and looked back at the water. "You don't talk much." Snotlout commented.
"I have nothing to say." I replied turning to face him and nearly jumped back, he was much closer now a bit too close for my comfort. "I could change that." He said with a cocky grin and I let out a small chuckle, grinning at him. "I am sure you could."
"Why not give me a chance?" He asked taking another step closer, he stood directly in front of me now. "I didn't reply and looked back to the water. He moved to stand next to me and looked up "It's going to rain soon, we should be heading back." I followed his gaze and saw thick rain clouds moving their way in. "You go ahead, I'll go in a minuet."
"Are you sure?" He asked a bit unsure. I looked at him and nodded "Yes, I'll be fine." He nodded and stared at me for another moment "I had fun, thank you." I said to him starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. He nodded again and left only saying "You're different from the other girls." I blinked and watched him leave.. "am I?" I whispered to myself and sighed.
This place reminded me of something that I didn't remember.. like everything else. So much had happened in the past few days of me being here. I liked it here, I liked Hiccup and the teens and Gobber. I had a name now, Fable. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something important.
This place though, gave me such feelings of longing and nostalgia – it killed me not to know why. And so I stayed, sitting there until the first drops of rain began to fall.
I walked into Hiccups house hours later, a bit exhausted and a bit wet. "You were out late." I jumped at the voice. "Hello Hiccup." I said with a small smile, moving to my bed next to the fireplace kicking off my boots.
"Enjoy yourself?" Hiccup asked I looked up him with a small shrug. "With Snotlout? You seem to be getting a long just fine with him." I stared at him for a few moments before raising an eyebrow. "Yes, the dinner was enjoyable."
"And what about the last four hours you spent with him?" I froze. Was he jealous?
"I.. yes." I replied awkwardly. Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Would you at least tell me when you plan to run off with other guys?" He asked in a huff. My eyes widened "Run off with other guys?" I asked In a hiss standing up outraged. He seemed taken aback "Fable- I didn't mean-"
"Quiet." I hissed again, slipping my tunic off. Hiccups' face heat up in a dark blush. I rolled my eyes and slipped on a night shirt. "For your information while I was waiting for you to come back Snotlout asked to go out to get a bite to eat. Since I was alone with no word from you I took him up on that offer."
"Oh." Hiccup replied. "Oh." I said and rolled my eyes again "Where were you this afternoon?"
"I was.. I.. I can't tell you." He said hesitating. I narrowed my eyes at him feeling a bit hurt and shook the feeling off. "Would you just go, Hiccup. I need some rest." Hiccup didn't say anything as he left. I sighed and laid down on the bed, sinking into the fur blankets feeling upset. Why did that bother me so much? Why should I care what Hiccup thinks? What had gotten into me?
