In the Royal Palace, Queen Rayna, was searching for her son, Prince Arkin, who, had once again, vanished from sight. Adjusting her crown, the leader of the Draconia Daypeace, stalked the hallways. "Where is that boy? I give him three days to do whatever he wants and he vanishes on me." Taking a deep breath, she continue down the hall towards her son's private work room. Pressing her hand to the door, she waited to see a vision of the past. No psychic echoes remained, either it had been too long since he'd been here or he hadn't come by here at all.
"Arkin, I know you can hear me son. Please return to the palace. We need to go over the itinerary for our trip to the mainland next month. Arkin, my pride? Arkin wherever you are get here right now!" Raya's mindscape of her home remained empty as her boy's mental presence refused to show up. Coming back to reality, Rayna had to admit defeat as she went to her own studio to calm down in.
Prince Arkin, had escaped from the palace earlier that morning, taking off into the jungle past the safety markers and into the wilds where the mythos and normal creatures lived. Arkin knew what he was doing was wrong, but at the moment, he didn't care, that he was breaking the bargain between the Daypeaces and the jungles inhabitants. Those bargains helped keep the island stable and all the inhabitants safe from both external and internal threats.
The entire morning morning he'd been darting in and out of the jungle scaring normal animals. The flora took damage as he did low level trick flying. Bored, he went soaring high in the sky, before he dive bombed towards the ground, rapidly changing back to human, causing him to plummet through the trees. He ignored the stings and the bruises caused by the branches, changing his direction slightly as he came down diagonally heading for a tree trunk. Claws flashed as he dug his hands and feet in deep. With a mad grin, he vertical jumped from tree to tree before surfing down a wide trunk to the ground below. "Oh yeah, I'm so cool!" he shouted out loud. He started on a jog through the jungle with no direction in mind.
There was a lot of giggling going on behind a bush. No doubts some nymphs taking a bath and doing spa treatments. "Maybe I'll dare to intrude another day, now to find my own private ah here we go!" The prince stripped himself bare naked before diving into a mud pit to roll around in. He laughed and splashed in delight. Every shred of decency he had disappeared as he got ready to go challenge the mythos to contests of strength. He was unaware that his presences had been detected and his actions had created a great deal of trouble.
Two large shadows dropped from the sky as other leapt out from behind him starling the teenager. Arkin started to manifest when two swords pressed against his neck while he was kicked in the back by hoofs. Twisting around he saw two angry Satyrs, who didn't appear to be drunk at all. Arkin, gulped as he realized the ones with the swords were his Honor Guards Rikard and Ylwa. "I'm in trouble aren't I?"
"Trouble, doesn't begin, to describe the problems you caused today, young prince," Ylwa told him, as she yanked him up hard and shoved her cape at him, as she forcefully made, a tunic for him. "If you were anyone else, we leave you to face your punishment." Arkin looked confused, what punishment? His confusion only angered Ywla more. She thought Prince Arkin was a genius!
"Prince or not he violated the terms of the agreement! These parts of the jungle and surrounding lands belong to us! Your kind gave them to us to as sanctuary," bellowed the first Satyr. The second one also started listing grievances and violations of rules. Number one, was trespassing unauthorized into their section with prior approval during a major celebration in the habitat he invaded. Then there was the damage to their lands and all the prey/friends animals too scared to show themselves because of his trick flying.
Rikard nodded understanding that. He also knew that his and Ylwa presence further violated that agreement. "Understand please, its job to keep the Prince safe and prevent mishaps like this. If you must punish someone, then allow us to suffer for not doing our jobs adequately."
Arkin protested, loudly as he broke free of Ylwa's grip. "I'm the one who ran off and flew over the barrier. I knew it was wrong, but I didn't care. I just had to get away from my mom. She was driving me nuts!"
Watching the interactions, the Satyrs talked amongst themselves. Speaking in the wind, they asked everyone in the habitat, what they wanted to do about the situation. After a brief discussion, the Satyrs blew their panpipes to get the Draconia Daypeaces attentions. "Since this is the only incident of the rules being broken, we'll let you return to your homes with a warning." The Honor Guard sighed in relief. "However, in compensation for the damage and intrusion, Queen Rayna must gift us with new parcel of land, one that is at least twice as big as this one. That is no-negotiable. Do we have an agreement?"
There was no choice. Later that night, Arkin had to sit through his first lecture on disobedience for the first time. His mother was furious. She was projecting her thoughts, images, and feelings loudly. The image of throwing him in the dungeon for a week while she refused to see him was the one that came out the clearest. "Do you understand what you have done? You could have caused a permanent rift between our people and mythos we share our home with!" His mother forced herself into his head showing him an image of the island on fire as an earthquake started to tear it apart. Everyone was fighting in a blood bath as the hot springs over flowed. It was a very vivid and searing image.
Tearing apart that image, Arkin showed her a week's worth of memories. Him being locked up in their wing of the castle. Being forced recite and perform protocol over and over again. Have a private music teacher try to get him to sing properly and never get a break or see his friends. "You drove me to it! I'm not just the Prince of Xanadu Mother. I'm also a one hundred seventeen year old teen who wanted to have a day to myself!"
"Enough of this!" Rayna cruelly cut their connection. Never had she felt so angry at her child before. Rubbing her temples she spoke cold and calm like. "Such an incident will not happen again. Do you understand me?" he nodded frantically. "Good, now go to your room. You're grounded for a week. The shame is almost too much to bear." She sank into her throne weeping despondently. How could her perfect child make a mistake?
The young prince was stomping angrily through the palace to his rooms. He couldn't believe the nerve of his mother. Did she not get what the problem was? "I brought her shame. Ha, that's a laugh. What does she know about being alone all the time? Nissa thinks she has it bad? At least she can talk to her Mentor. Even that kid she likes so much gets more freedom and love than me. Ugh, sometimes I wish I wasn't the prince," Arkin growled as he slammed the door to his room.
Of course, Nissa was unaware of any of this. If she knew her cousin was feeling lonely, she would have dropped everything to spend time with him. That's what family did. Uncle Aksel would make the time for her. Lately, he seemed to be almost desperate for company. No one could really blame the King.
It had been subtle at first. Arkin missing a few meals with them. Then he stopped showing up for training practice with Nissa. His friends lost touch with him and his prized workshop started to be covered in dust. He started making fewer and fewer appearances, going weeks without seeing his father and now the only ones who saw Arkin regularly happened to be his mother and is Honor Guard, on occasion if rumors were true.
At the Recruiters Building, all mentors and recruiters worked extra hard to make the training arena shine. In two days, a Rebirthing Ceremony would take place at the end of the new moon cycle. Melissa had complete her assignment and brought a girl, name Fiona from a land that the Romans hadn't been able to conquer yet, the Highlands. The lass had proven to be a quick learner and a bit of a diplomat, able to handle solving disputes among the foster children brought to her old home.
Melissa and her old mentor Minerva, had secluded the girl. Their job was to physically and mentally prepare Fiona for the Rebirth Ceremony. The remaining Mentors and Recruiters helped prepare for the ceremony and ensuring a life for the new member once the Rebirth was complete. It was a wonderful yet stressful time for all. Everyone had to work closely together and it was causing a few problems for the Princess.
Nissa was hanging a banner welcoming Fiona to the island, written in both the girl's native tongue and their own language. Tugging on, it did not stop if from slumping in the middle. "It needs to be a little higher on your end Chryssa." The other female nodded, gently tugging the banner until it was even with the Princess's end. Pulling tight, they secured the lines into their anchors. The banner hung high in the air. The light from the candles at night, would make it sparkle.
"Good eye Princess. I'm going to see if my old Mentor needs my help with something else." Nodding nervously, Nissa watched the woman carefully until she was out of sight. Taking a deep breath, she retreated inside the building hoping to find a classroom to regain control of herself.
Entering the nearest one, she locked the door and collapsed in a desk in the back. Her breathing was becoming rapid. Her confidence levels plunged as her Dragon Heart kept picking up random thoughts, she tried to block off. This wasn't a good thing. Absentmindedly, she started twisting her hair into a series of braids. Her fingers brushed her circlet. Taking it off, she stared at it, emotions welling up in her. She tossed the offending item away, only for it to be caught by her Mentor. "I thought I find you in here. What did your circlet do to you? It must have been very offensive if you threw it away." He held out the item as his student took back.
Captain Livis noticed how plainly dressed Nissa was. The girl was doing her best to look as poor as she could. She was wearing a dirty old chiton with no adornments, low quality sandals, and she didn't even have a peplos or himation. She actually had covered up her tattoos and wore no jewelry. Something was off and not just her clothes. Her entire demeanor was off. "My apprentice, why are you so poorly put together today? Preparations can get messy I know however you shouldn't worry about ruining your clothing; considering the palace has the best washwomen on the entire island. I hope you plan to look your best for the ceremony in two days."
Nissa shook her head as she bit her lip. "I thought it best to look very poor or not attend the ceremony at all. I just don't belong here," she whispered. Her hands were shaking. She shrank back as voices from the dorm above filtered down. Livis noted how she cringed when she heard Melissa laugh as Mentor Minerva chatted with Fiona, reassuring her the rebirth process would not hurt her. Fiona seemed really excited and looking forward to emerging from her egg as something new. "I'll just ruin the ceremony. After all, I ruined the last party when everyone got together. Aunt Rayna would be very angry if I ruined this ceremony."
It clicked in Livis's head. This was the first time since the attack four years ago that all the members of this guild had assembled once more. A Rebirth Ceremony was a wonderful and momentous occasion. No doubt, the entire royal family would be there, even the grounded prince. After all, it was the Queen or King's duty to start the ceremony. His recent conversations with King Aksel had indicated that his wife was beyond stressed and still very upset by their son's actions. If he acted up or something went wrong, the Queen would lash out in anger at anyone, including her favorite target, her niece.
"Nissa, you have a good heart and I know this is a difficult time for you." He opened up his mind and let her draw strength from him. He shared his feeling about loyalty and obligation. At the same time, she shouldn't worry so much about her actions upstaging everyone. The ceremony would be completely focused on Melissa and her recruit Fiona. "You'll only be on stage long enough to carry the egg and give your blessing. After that everything will be fine. Just relax okay? Don't worry about the other Recruiters or your family problems, just focus on the task at hand."
"I promise I will."
"Good. Now get back to work and try to not let the mistakes of the others, get in your way of forgiving them." It had been proven that they had been under a spell of some kind when they nearly tore her apart four years ago. Still it wasn't easy to trust people after such an incident. Swallowing her fear and uncertainties, she continued on with her preparations for the ceremony and hoped that she didn't do anything to ruin Melissa and Fiona's ceremony. Two nights later everything went smoothly as everything went right with the ceremony and new Draconia Daypeace joined the population.
On Berk, autumn arrived early this year. The pine trees older needles had dried out and covered the forest paths. Crisp winds blew across the island as several people worked adding an extra insulation to their houses to help keep out the cold. Stoick was in charge of making sure that the harvest was on time and the animals provided for what they needed. It was a tasking job, requiring the help from both Spitelout and Gobber.
"Now lad, I know that you're getting better at doing small repairs, but you're not ready to do all of them and make the weapons. So while I'm busy helping your dad, why don't you go have some fun," Gobber told him, as he fiddled with his adjustable hands. Hiccup groaned behind him. "Now lad, it's not like Ragnarok is going to happen if you miss a day of work to spend time with the other kids."
"The other kids hate me," Hiccup muttered to himself. A few months ago, Fishlegs started drifting away from him. Instead, of going to the beach, to explore and build rafts, he started hanging with the other kids. Sure, Snotlout, would still tease him, but he didn't get beat up anymore by the Twins. No, that right was reserves solely for him. Fishlegs would hang back until Astrid had enough of Snotlout. Then she would punch him and drag his cousin off, while shouting back at him to stop being so weak and started acting like a Viking if he didn't want to be saved all the time.
Gobber didn't know this. He patted the boy on the back and told him that he could find the others in nearby clearing, practicing with their weapons. Clutching his little dagger, Hiccup hurried to find them. "Please, if any God is listening, please help me today. I need a little help to make my dad proud. I'm so lonely without any friends. Please help me."
He reached the clearing taking in the action. Astrid had her axe and kept throwing it at a homemade target. She smiled each time the axe sunk deep into the target. Snotlout clapped his hands awkwardly, considering he was holding a war hammer. "Not bad for a girl. You might actually make it as shield maiden if you try harder."
"Shut up, Snotbreath, or I'll shove, that hammer, through your mouth!" Behind them, the twins had stopped trying kill each other with their spears. Fishlegs had gotten tangled up in his bow and lost all his arrows. The twins cackled calling out bets.
"Two nights of extra yak milk that Astrid actually follows through with her threat," Ruffnut whispered.
"No way, I bet Snotlout, takes her down first for three nights of extra yak milk and your best spear. Deal?"
"Should we really be betting on this?"
Before the fighting could get real serious, Hiccup tripped over a branch and fell down, scraping his hand. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise and annoyance. Seeing an opportunity to put his cousin in his place, Snotlout grabbed the dagger from the ground and planted his foot on the little boy's back. "Well, what do you know? Useless shows up with his itty bitty weapon."
Refusing to cry, Hiccup felt that power inside him grow again and he used it to buck his cousin off. "Knock it off Snotlout!" he shouted, surprising the kids. Retrieving his weapon, he turned to the group. "I need some practice with my weapon. Can I join you today?" The twins laughed upon hearing that. Fishlegs looked at him as if he had a death wish. Snotlout was getting ready to hit him as Astrid leaned against her axe and looked at him. "You call that a weapon?" My granny could lift an axe until the day she died. How do expect to kill anything with that?"
The boy frowned and then lunged at Astrid. For a split second she didn't react causing him to gain a step on her before slamming her handle into his abdomen taking him out. He fell to ground in pain, curled up in a fetal position. Big, rock filled, dirt clods, thrown by Snotlout, hit him in the spine causing his body to spasm. "What's the matter Useless? Are you too much of a mama's boy to get dirty? Oh that's right you don't have a mom! Ha Ha." The others glared at Snotlout angrily. They might not like Hiccup or think him a traditional Viking, but one should never insult the memory of a family member, especially that of chief's beloved wife and devoted mother. He set something off because something blurred past them, tackled Snotlout to the ground and drew first blood by slicing into Snotlout's torso. There was a girly scream followed by a crunch before the little six year old was tossed across the ground.
"Pound the little twig to dust!" Snotlout shouted nasally. Hiccup had managed to break his cousin's perfect nose. The little boy was crouched close to the ground, almost on all fours, his eyes narrowed. He flexed his fingers, shoulder blades and shook his behind.
"What's he doing, some stupid war dance?" Ruffnut pondered.
"Who cares, let's see who can strip him fastest!" Tuffnut retorted. Soon the twins were on top of him as they banged their heads and threw their punches. Hiccup roared and hissed, slashing at them with his little hands or stabbing them with the knife. As the fight intensified the others joined in. People were getting bitten, nicked, and slashed. Hiccup let out a cry and went down unconscious. There was a big lump on the back of his head, and he was covered in bruises and cuts. His cloths were torn as Snotlout and the twins used sap to cover him in marks. Astrid said that was enough and they needed to go. Fishlegs looked back, hesitating. Should they really leave the Heir in the middle of a clearing with deadly predators? Astrid called for him to come and Fishlegs left.
No one came looking for Hiccup, not even his father, when night fell. The man assumed Gobber had dropped him off or that he was spending the night with one of "friends." It was getting colder as the village went to sleep. The sounds of nocturnal threats filled the air as the boy grew weaker from his injuries. Finally, the moon reached highpoint, shining its gentle light down on the boy, when the spirit of Old Wrinkly appeared.
"Oh Stoick, are you to vast to realize, your own child is in danger?" The spirit muttered as looked over his precious grandson. I knew he would be a great chief, but I warned Valka, she would have to teach him how to be a good father, he thought. Knowing there was nothing he could do, he got up and looked around, knowing he needed to get help for Hiccup. He wouldn't survive the night alone. Still, he was hesitant to leave the boy alone. Just then two more spirits appeared. Both of them were warriors who died young trying to bring peace between the mainland and the archipelago Vikings. "You'll keep my grandson safe?" They nodded. With a kind smile the wrinkly spirit flew off towards Gothi's hut.
Gothi was not a happy person when she woke up to find a spirit knocking over all her potions and tools. She tried to whack the spirit until she realized it was her old friend. Sand spilled on the floor as Old Wrinkly wrote his message for help out. Gothi left at once, not bothering to wake the village. She could do this by herself and embarrasses the village tomorrow. An hour and half later, Hiccup was comfortably resting on a small patient cot. He was cleaned, had bandages around his wounds, with some ice to bring down that bump. Once, his grandson was okay, Old Wrinkly smiled and left. Watching the boy sleep and call out for his mother or friend, Gothi knew a very stern talking to her Chief was needed.
As soon as dawn arrived on Berk, a series of loud bangs woke up Stoick from his sleep. The chief was not happy, covering his head with a pillow trying to block the sound out. Finally, he got up and tore the door off the hinges as he asked, "Alright, who in their right mind, is waking me up so…oh Gothi?" The chief looked very embarrassed to yelling at his wise woman. The look she was giving him, made him feel like a little boy again, and that he should be hiding under his bed. Raising her staff, she whacked the chief on his head approximately five times, before roughly yanking him by his ear and to her hut. When they arrived he saw Gobber rubbing his pinched ear trying to get some feeling back. "Oh hi Stoick. Guess you also got the early morning wake up call."
"Gobber, do you know what this is about?" He started rubbing his head again as Gothi struck them both and for good measure hit them on the behind. Using her staff, she dragged them both inside and steered him towards the cot where Hiccup still slept. His injuries were still visible as Gothi rubbed some paste on the opened cuts to help them heal.
"HICCUP! What happened to him Gobber! I thought he stayed with you last night or one of his friends."
"I was with you all day yesterday remember? Did you really think I keep him at the forge all day? I told him to go train with his friends. I saw the kids come back from practicing with their weapons. I didn't see him and thought he went home."
Gothi rolled her eyes before writing very unkind words about the both of them in the sand. At least they had the decency to accept their mistake. She wrote about what happened last night and threaten, to give Stoick a potion, that would give him boils for the rest of his life, if he argued with her about what Hiccup had done while slowly dying. "He's a child Chief, your child! You're responsible for him. I wouldn't be surprised if Valka is crying in shame about your actions in Valhalla!"
Stoick was ashamed of his actions. He should have made sure where his child was last night, instead of assuming something. Anything could have happened to him and if he died last night, He wouldn't be able to forgive himself. He gently picked up his son and carried him home to tend to him. Gobber quickly exited leaving Gothi to prepare for a special arrival in a few months.
Months later Nissa was creeping towards Gothi's hut. Today marked the last trip she would be allowed on Berk until Hiccup's sixteenth year. Imaginary friends tended to vanish around the ages of five to seven. "Even if it breaks my heart, I must do what is right for my brother. I'll still be there for him in his dreams." If she was leaving Hiccup for nine years, she wanted to make his last birthday with him something he would remember for years to come. That's why she needed to "borrow" a few things from Gothi.
The teen climbed the poles that supported the hut, listening for sounds of the old woman. Hearing nothing, she reached out with her Dragon Heart. Still nothing. Carefully, she worked around until she made it to the main platform. Pulling her traveling cloak tightly around her face, she walked into the hut. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she tripped a wire as sleeping powder covered her causing her to fall asleep.
She came to about an hour later chained to ground, in a seiðr magic circle. Around her was the mark she had given Hiccup and on the other edges was Berk's. Standing there, looking at her was sharp witted and slightly confused Gothi. The old woman's eyes went over every inch of the Princess's body. "I shouldn't have underestimated your abilities as a seiðr Gothi. After all, you're the only person ever to discover a recruit's mark."
Gothi's eyes narrowed as she mouthed out the word dark spirit. Nissa shook her head, pulling the chains to show real blood flowing. In the magic circle, Nissa was cut off from her magic abilities and couldn't risk manifesting. Instead, she tried something else. "You wish to know the truth about me and I have somethings that I know you need answers to. My tribe has some secrets I can't share, but I can reveal things about Hiccup."
Gothi pointed at her heart and then to Nissa's brain. From her early observations she had had learned how the two friends communicated. The girl nodded asking if Gothi would be more comfortable in her own mind. The old woman nodded and soon a link was established.
Gothi's mindscape appeared to be a series of cliffs, with lots of medicinal plants along with peace and quiet. Nissa appeared next to her taking in the fresh breeze in the mindscape air. "You can express yourself in here, without breaking your vow of silence, for only your mind speaks."
"Who…are…you? Where...do…you come from? What is your interest in our heir?"
Nissa showed Gothi the island of Xanadu, carefully keeping the secret of her kind, making it appear that the people and dragons worked as one. That her tribe was blessed by the dragons with very mild forms of their gifts that lasted for different periods of times. Emotions of love, live, kindness and peace rid the wise woman of suspicion, fear and mistrust. While neither one shared everything about each other, they both did gain a basic understanding with one another.
Gothi saw past some of the secrets and realized how deeply Nissa relationship was with Hiccup. Her love for the boy was the deep family bond between siblings that nothing could break. She saw the reason the girl had come this time and why she had come to Gothi's hut in the first place. "You care for our heir very much. You would never harm or force him to join your people when he turns sixteen?"
"It's his choice entirely. The only reason that would change is if I was forced by our queen to go back on our code. I hope you can understand why we have bonded so closely."
Gothi nodded, two sets of Gods had worked to create old souls who recognized one another. The magic inside Hiccup was that of dragons, one that Nissa understood well. She could help him reach his destiny, an era of peace with no more bloodshed, no more wars, and families never having to sacrifices members again. Real peace. "It will not be an easy path for the child. He's determined to be the son Stoick wants."
"My tribe has a saying. What we want is not always what we really need. If you can help me with this last visit, I promise to do what I can from afar to help." The wise woman nodded. The session ended as Nissa was cut free. Wondering how she was going to explain this to Captain Livis, she started working with Gothi to plan out the best celebration ever.
Hiccup doodled in his book, as he looked outside his window. The snow had stopped coming down a few days ago. The temperature was still very cold as he got out of bed and closed the shutters. Rubbing his hands together, he headed downstairs. "I hope dad remembered to get me something to help keep me extra warm during this time of year. It's not like I have his girth to keep me warm."
He got downstairs and looked for Dad. Stoick was carving a duck by the fire. Hearing his son's tiny footsteps, the chief set down his carving and looked at his son. "Hello son, is something the matter?" Ever since that day he forgot about his son he'd become very protective of him. Maybe a bit to protective at times.
"Hi Dad, I just was wondering if you had any extra mittens or scarves, I could use. I'm a little cold," Hiccup admitted. The boy was shivering slightly and was trying to rub his hands together to make himself warm.
"Nothing in your size, I'm afraid. Maybe your aunt can take in some of Snotlout's old things for you. Stay by the fire and don't move. Understand?" Stoick demanded as he draped a heavy fur blanket over the boy. Hiccup gave a muffled reply and watched as his father left him alone again. He wiped a few tears away from his face. "Yeah, I'll stay put like a good little boy. Not like Aunt Freya will bother making me anything to keep warm, not even on my birthday." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small blue pebble that Gothi had slipped him the other day, when she had come to check on his health. Gobber told him it was a wishing pebble, he could have one wish come true on his birthday.
I want to see my mom again, but if I bring her back for a day, I'll just make Dad sad again. I don't think the villagers would take kindly to it either, even if it's just a wishing stone he thought. Gazing into the fire he was reminded of last year. How his power had given Nissa life temporarily. The way she had faced all those dragons with little concern for herself. "She was amazing. She was so brave and made me feel safe and loved. I know what I want." Clutching the little pebble, he whispered his wish. Then he tossed the pebble into the fire watching it spark as it sent his wish to the Gods.
"Well I was wondering when you were going to make your wish little brother," Nissa voice rang from behind him. Hiccup twisted around and for the first time, since he was a small baby, saw Nissa without slightly misted eyes. "Big sis! You're here and alive!" He ran up and jumped into her arms as she twirled him around, tossing him up in the air and catching him. "I'm so happy that you're here today!"
She ruffled his hair, commenting that turning seven was an important milestone in his young life. She commented on how much he had grown and it was true. He was two inches taller than he was last year and had added five pounds. Hiccup smiled at that. "Do you think I'll be like my Dad soon? He's really hoping I'll change."
"Little brother, I really can't picture you looking anything like your father. Besides, there's nothing wrong with how you look. I can picture you all grown up with a lean muscular figure and a handsome face," Nissa replied tickling him. He laughed as they both fell to the floor rolling around the blanket. Hiccup managed to "pin her" as she surrendered. Giving up, leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek causing him to blush horribly. As he wiped it off she asked where Stoick was. Hearing his explanation she asked when he would be back to celebrate.
"I don't know when, it might be awhile since Snotlout old clothes are bigger than me. I hope he's back soon. I want to know what he made for me." Hiccup would be happy with any kind of present. Or, even a special dinner, anything to show that, his dad, remember that, today was his birthday. Looking at his father's chair he recalled a recent memory.
"A year of working at the forge and you still haven't gotten any bigger? What's wrong with you son? Isn't Gobber giving you tough enough assignments to work on?"
"Dad, Gobber has given me tough assignments. I'm helping him with the…"
"Ugh, I wanted you safe, but at the same time getting stronger. From now on, you're going to spend an extra hour at the forge with Gobber understand? It will help you get stronger and then there won't be a repeat of what happened a few months ago." From the tone of his voice and the way he said it, Hiccup could tell, his father had shifted the blame, to him, instead of taking responsibility.
"Do you understand?"
"But…"
"Understand?"
"Yes."
Nissa, who had been touching Hiccup's hand at the time, absorbed the memory. It's so ironic. Aunt Rayna and Stoick, if they ever met, would hate each other at first sight, despite how much, they have in common. She let out a little laugh. "Sometimes the Gods love to play tricks. So you wished for me to be real for today, so what do you want to do."
"Can you model for me please? I want to make the best picture of you as I can!" He snatched her and stumbled to the ground. Nissa scooped him up into her arms, hopped a few steps, as they entered the room. Setting him at his desk, she pulled something out of her traveling cloak pocket. "Here, these are for you." The seven year old could only stare in awe as he removed the lid to the small box and saw different colored charcoal sticks.
"Where did you…how did you…?"
"I have my ways little brother. These colored sticks are very rare and hard to find, almost as difficult as ink to get. Use them on special occasions only so they last as long as possible." Hiccup didn't need to be told that. He loved the box. There were colors of the rainbow, including two rare purple and indigo ones. A few were different shades of brown, black. There was even a white one! He would treasure this gift for his entire life!
The morning flew by quickly. Hiccup spent two hours painstakingly drawing and coloring in a fabulous picture featuring his big sister. Then it was his turn to model as Nissa added to the picture. She made so the siblings were holding hands and standing inside a lovely heart, labeling each other. "This is the best sketch I've done yet and the first in real color, not squished flowers."
"Why don't we go downstairs to see if your father's back with your new scarf or mittens? If he is, maybe he liked to join us for lunch?" Nissa frowned. She knew he wouldn't be back, at least not until Hiccup was asleep and she was hidden under the bed for the night. That was the favor she asked of Gothi, feeling guilty the entire time was her price, for having Hiccup to herself for a day. The wise woman had been right. The guilt would eat away at her for a long time.
"Maybe I should, get Stoick back here, I can always mist him later," she mumbled to herself. Seeing Hiccup's disappointed face, she knew she had to bring Stoick back. "Can you cook?" Hiccup nodded saying he could make a few things. "Do something basic and I'll get your father." The hopeful look he gave her encouraged her.
She trudged through the snow, hopping about to leave a confused trail. Heading to Jorgenson household, she heard the cranky voice of Mildew coming. Quickly she dived into the snow and tunneled away. "Stupid winter, stupid village. In my day, we respected our elders huh Fungus? Oh that Stoick is going to get a piece of my mind! How does he expect an old man like me to keep up with all my winter chores without help? Stupid weak chief."
Emerging from her snow tunnel, Nissa brushed the snow off and stood at the back of the house. Strange, the fire is really low. It should be burning brightly if Freya is hard at work. Peeking in the back window there was no one in the hut. "What in the name of the Gods? Where are they?" There was enough psychometric essences left, giving her a few scattered images.
Stoick coming over and asking for help. The brothers drinking hot mead as Snotlout impressed the men with his new four pack. Freya suggesting they got to the Great Hall for a warm meal. "That was hours ago and their still not back. If he's still in the Great Hall I need to get him."
Stoick was in the Great Hall. Doing Chiefing work, handling petitions and checking over the remaining stock of supplies. Spitelout was on right with his son in tow. Spitelout's voice carried loudly as he went on about planning the yearly boat trips to other islands for treaty signings. Snotlout kept butting in and knocking the table over. Gothi was nowhere in sight, however, she did see Freya, her knitting basket, abandoned, as she talked happily with the other mothers.
Nissa saw red and felt red. How dare they do this? Did Stoick even remember the reason he went to see his brother in the first place? Did the chief really think an energetic and hungry seven year old was going to wait all day on a blanket for him to come home. She slipped out of the hall narrowly avoiding Mildew and Fungus. Outside, she cast a low level light spell, partially melting the snow, then letting the cold refreeze it, until the entire town was sealed in the Great Hall. "Serves them right. It will take all night to get out once they discover the problem."
When she returned without his father, Hiccup just sighed. "Guess Dad ran into some chiefing problems. Still want to party?" Nissa nodded as they continued to party. Between the both of them, they had a small feast and she made him a small honey cake. Later, they played some games and told stories to each other. Finally it was time for bed.
Nissa tucked him in and brushed his hair. She smiled at him, her heart heavy. It was pure agony that she wouldn't be coming back for a long while, especially when he needed her so much. Refusing to break his heart on his birthday, instead she asked, "Do you want me to sing a song to help you sleep?" The birthday boy nodded sleepily wanting to end his birthday on a good note.
Nissa decided to sing a song she recently practiced. It was called, "I'm Right Here, by Miley Cyrus."
"I'll be right here when you need me. Anytime just keep believing and I'll be right here. If you ever need a friend, someone to care and understand. I'll be right here.
All you have to do is call my name. No matter how close or far away.
Ask me once and I'll come, I'll come runnin. And when I can't be with you, dream me near. Keep me in your heart and I'll appear.
All you gotta do is turn around, close your eyes. Look inside. I'm right here.
Isn't it great that you know that? I'm ready to go wherever you're at. Anywhere I'll be there.
All you have to do is call my name. No matter how close or far away. Ask me once and I'll come, I'll come runnin. And when I can't be with you dream me near. Keep me in your heart and I'll appear.
All you gotta do is turn around, close your eyes. Look inside. I'm right here.
Whenever you need me. There's no need to worry. You know that I'm gonna be, right here.
Ask me once and I'll come, I'll come runnin. And when I can't be with you dream me near. Keep me in your heart and I'll appear.
All you gotta do is turn around, close your eyes.
Look inside. I'm right here. Oh yeah yeah, I'm right here."
Hiccup was fast asleep as she kissed him good night. "Pleasant dreams little brother. I hope fate allows us to meet again sooner than nine years from now." Securing the house, committed everything to memory before manifesting and making the journey back to Xanadu for what would be for the last time in a long while.
