Freya could have fallen asleep with Astrid braiding her hair. She sat on the floor of the other girls bedroom, while Astrid sat on the edge of her bed.
"We never get to do this anymore." Freya sighed.
"That's because you spend all your time with Hiccup." Astrid nudged her in the back.
"He needs me. Otherwise he'd never come home in one piece." Freya laughed.
"I need you too." Astrid admitted quietly. "I need my best friend back." Freya sighed.
"I'm sorry. I just... Have a lot going on right now."
"We're Vikings. What could you possibly have going on?" Astrid frowned.
"Astrid, did you ever think that maybe dragons could be good?" She asked. "That maybe there were some that didn't attack us?"
"Well I've never experienced any." Astrid shrugged. "But I suppose maybe. Freya, is there something you're not telling me?"
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Freya questioned in return. "I saw you with Hiccup last night."
"Oh." Astrid tied off the braid. "Look, Freya, it didn't mean anything, I just hugged him I didn't-"
"I'm talking about Toothless you idiot." Freya sighed, turning around. "The dragon?"
"Oh. Yeah, I don't know how to... Wait you know his name?" Astrid moved to one side of her bed to make room for Freya.
"Who do you think designed his tail piece?" Freya sat next to Astrid and crossed her legs. "Astrid, everything we know about dragons is wrong, and I know that you know that now." She started. "But there's something else you should know, about me. I can't explain it, but I can show you." She grabbed the other girls hand and dragged her out of the room.
Eventually Freya had taken Astrid into the woods. Not as far as the cove, but far enough that no one else would see.
"I need you to not freak out." She told the other girl.
"Ok. Will I have a reason to?"
"Hiccup passed out, so probably." She shrugged. "Well, here goes. My defining moment of possibly being burnt alive." She sighed. Freya started to strip off.
"Whoa, if all you're gonna do is show me your boobs then I'm not gonna freak out. I have them too." Astrid closed her eyes.
"It's... just don't freak out please." Freya filled with nervousness and her hands started to shake. She finished stripping and coaxed the goosebumps in.
"I'm opening my eyes." Astrid sighed. She jumped back two feet when she saw Freya. "Oh my gods." She breathed. Freya slowly inched up to the blonde, pupils dilated. She gently pushed her nose against Astrid's abdomen, puffing out hot air. Astrid hesitantly put her hand out. Freya cooed at her and pushed her nose into her hand. "Freya... This is incredible... I mean, it's insane, but it's also amazing." She knelt down. Freya laid down, trying not to intimidate her by being bigger. "This is why you don't do dragon training." She ran a hand along Freya's head. "You look kind of like Toothless, can he do this too?" She asked, Freya shook her head. Freya turned around. She had never flown with someone on her back before, but she was willing to try. "I don't know Freya, I'm a little scared." Astrid warily stood. Freya crouched down in response. With a nervous sigh, Astrid gave in and slid onto the dragon's back. It was smooth and warm, not rough like Toothless. Freya ran up and took off as gently as she could. Astrid gripped her neck and held on tightly. When Freya was finally in the air, she flew low until she was sure she wouldn't be seen. She looked back and Astrid had sat up, looking around in amazement. "It must feel amazing to fly." She smiled down at Freya. She nodded, diving and trailing her feet in the water below. The sun was almost at it's peak, Hiccup would have to fight the Monstrous Nightmare soon. She turned gradually and headed back to the woods. She found her clothes easily and changed back. "How long have you been able to do that?"
"My whole life I think." Freya shrugged. "I have teeth marks in my old Dolly. But I haven't turned since I was a baby."
"Does Gobber know?" Astrid frowned with concern.
"Yeah. He's been keeping it a secret to protect me." Freya scuffed her boot.
"That's probably for the best. If Hiccup's plan today pulls through, will you show everyone?"
"Maybe. They'll find out if it goes wrong anyway. Every time someone I care about is in danger, I turn. I can't stop it, it's how I turned the first time. We found Toothless and he was going to attack us." Freya explained.
"Let's just hope it doesn't go wrong." Astrid nodded in assurance.