(Astrid)
I had had this weird feeling inside of me ever since I met that dragon. Like I had finally understood something or mastered a move in my training. It felt good. And whenever I thought about that dragon this nice feeling would warm my insides. It was bad that it was supposed to be the enemy and I had denied the feeling first as a Viking should do, but I had silently wondered about it. How it would make me smile and that was something no one mastered easily. Then the day after I met him, Hiccup was supposed to kill the Nightmare. It had to be put nicely "been a nightmare". Oh Hiccup would kill me if he knew I used his sarcasm.
I was supposed to be strong and independent but when I had seen Hiccup about to be getting killed in the ring I had just acted and run into the ring. Some might have called me brave. I would call myself foolish. It was I who was stuck in the ring now, I had screamed once and was not happy with that fact. When Toothless had blasted the celling away I had no idea where to go as the dragons began fighting and I could hear them utter words at each others. It had all been a blur really, as Toothless had turned and tried to protect me from my fellow Vikings. I tried to make him flee but he wouldn't listen and he was getting more stressed by the second. Then he had leaped at Stoic and nearly killed him. He stopped though and a feeling had blossomed in my hearth at that show of mercy. But now he was in chains and Hiccup and I had both been ordered to met Stoic at the great hall. As I were a Viking I shouldn't be feeling such dread coming for me, but I did. I was afraid. I was not the Viking I should be. But if I weren't a Viking what was I then?
As it turns out Hiccup had arrived at the Great hall before me. I arrived just as Stoic opened the doors. Huge doors that almost hit me in the face. He didn't acknowledge me as he stepped out. I could see a confused Hiccup left in the hall as Stoic stormed off. Just as he passed me I could hear him call out to the village: "Prepare the ships!" I turned to get an explanation from Hiccup, but he just sat there.
Unsure what would happen if I tried to pursue Stoic about what had happened I stepped back. Afraid for myself as I wouldn't usually be. I was afraid Stoic would realize my role and have me looked in a cell or banished. I had no idea how the village saw me now. My entire life I had strived to be best and then Hiccup had taken it from me only to bring me this. All of this was his fault. His and that stupid dragon.
Stupid? Why did it hurt when I had called them stupid? As I walked to the ring to get my axe all I could think of besides to keep out of the way from other Vikings, was the fact that it had hurt when I had called them stupid. Never before had I felt a feeling like that. I wandered in my own world. Vikings raced past me with swords and axes, blood lust in their eyes. They were going to their death.
I entered the kill ring barely noticing the vast emptiness of the ring. The silence. Blood stained the air, but not much of it. Toothless entered my mind again as my body acted, not even caring about the blood I walked over or the scorch marks.
It was silent. The moisture of blood filled my nose and voices? Voices filled the air? They were silent, whispering. I found my axe and quickly stood up looking for the source of the voices. There were none. How did Toothless fare with all of this? NO, he was the core to all of this! Stop thinking about him. The voices stilled as if they heard my inner thoughts.
Toothless, this sleek black dragon that had been the core of all this trouble. It was all his fault. He had done this. He would lead the entire village to its death. But, he had brought me to the skies. He had shown me so much and maybe the dragon wasn't at fault anyway. I turned my eyes away from the skies as they had wandered there. The voices had returned and I let my eyes fall on the source. The doors in which the dragons were held behind. I tried to focus on what they were saying but before the words made sense, a crazy idea filled my mind. I left the arena before anyone could utter the name: Toothless.
I found him staring towards the horizon. Weird how the thought to save Toothless hadn't come before it was to late to do anything about it. He looked at me with sad eyes. We both knew what would happen if we didn't do anything. They would perish. They had no chance in Hel to take down that dragon. The Queen. I placed the axe on the ground and put some of my weight on it. He turned from the sea to stare at me. I had an idea, now it was only to go though with it. I told Hiccup about my plan. We were done doing something stupid, now we would do something crazy.
…
I had gathered the other teens as Hiccup made everything ready in the ring. I just hoped he didn't step into one of the piles of cold fire. The teens had been reluctant to follow me. Especially as I didn't tell them why they were supposed to follow me. If it hadn't been for the promise of something dangerous the twins wouldn't have followed. And Snoutlout only followed so he could hit on me with his "bravery". For all that I care he could go hit a wall with his face.
…
We entered the ring and found Hiccup pushing one of the weapon racks away from the doors. Snoutlout was about to go on him when I came between them giving Snotlout a glare. The whispers from before were silent as Hiccup told the teens our plan. They refused at first, but before they had the chance to leave, Hiccup had opened the cage to the monstrous nightmare. It was to late to leave now.
The dragon came relaxed out of the cage. He was frolicking towards us with a smug smile tugging at its, no his lips. Its eyes landed on me for a second before he focused on Hiccup. The golden eyes were then led to Snotlout as he tried to pick up a piece of metal. The beast sneered a threat at Snotlout which sounded almost human before Snotlout left the piece of metal and was guided towards the dragon by Hiccup.
Wonder filled the teens eyes as the dragon didn't bite off Snotlout's hand. It made a soothing sound and Hiccup disappeared to open the other cages. Dragons entered the arena and for the fist time no ill intentions were felt. The dragons kept glancing at me, but none dared to come closer. The gronckle immediately took a liking to Fishlegs and they two hit it off like there was no tomorrow. The hideous sippleback was tackled be the twins and to be honest I thought the dragon would rip them to shreds, but it didn't.
The only dragon left was the deadly nadder in wich if I remember correctly had hit hard in the head with my axe. My axe I still had on my back. The dragon didn't seem to mind as it slowly walked closer one eye eyeing me closely. The yellow eye was hypnotizing as it stepped closer and suddenly it was only a few steeps away. And then it opened its mouth and I expected a chirp or some dragon like sound, but what came out of its mouth was something different.
"Oh human, we seem to be going into an alliance so it seems it would be possible to ask now." The dragon tilted its head towards me and came closer. To say I was surprised would be to take it down a few notches as I was leaning towards more terrified. I looked to se if the other teens had talked to their dragons but no one had a conversation. Hiccup had his head in a chest looking for something. I turned towards the dragon and swallowed some spit in my mouth but I had trouble to do so. "What do you mean?" I asked. The dragon let its head tilt as it stepped closer and took one huge sniff of my sweater. "I am not mistaken I see. Lets just bring you to him shall we?" the dragon asked. It leaned away from me and there could be something like a smile playing on her lips. Before I could ask what she was talking about Hiccup came running with some rope to help us stay on the dragons while we flew.
It was not the same as flying on Toothless.
…
