Chapter 6: Happy Birthday and a Spill
Hayden's POV
I woke up to a disturbance of my three younger siblings jumping on top of me, hard, shouting " Happy Birthday!"
" You know there are less painful ways to wish a man a happy birthday" I said as I groan in pain.
" Yea" said Maclyn smiling. " But not as much fun."
" At least you can handle us" said Finn. " When you guys did it to me the last time, I cracked a rib"
" Oh you are such baby!" Maclyn countered at Finn. " I've had worse in the forge everyday, when Uncle Gobber was teaching me."
" How is he?" asked Irene.
" He's saying he's planning to retire soon, but he's not one for retiring. He's more 'till the very end' guy" said Maclyn.
After spending twenty minutes of them on top of me and talking, I finally force them off to get dress. I look in the mirror to see standing before me the future chief of berk.
I knew since I was born that I was going to rule, and lead my people. However, I feel that I could never measure up to my dad's, or even my late grandfathers standards. My dad told me his story of how he was in the same position when Drago killed my grandfather and he was to take his place as chief. Even so, I'm scared and I don't want people to see.
I head downstairs not to find my parents in the house, but my grandma Valka sitting in a chair, smiling at me. I immediately smile, because she doesn't come over to Berk often with having to constantly be saving dragons from traps in many parts of the world. It's a great treat for her to be here. She get hoist herself and hobbles over to me on her cane, ready to hug me.
" Happy Birthday Hayden." she said as she is hugging me and giving me a kiss on the cheek. " The big twenty-two."
" Grandma, I'm so happy to see you." I whispered. " Have you seen Mom and Dad?"
" Well, I did hear something about a big plan for a certain person" she said mischieviously.
" Oh, the classic surprise party. Like I haven't heard that before." I said sarchasticially.
" If it's one thing you got from your father, besides the freckles, It's his sarcasm." she chuckles. " Come on. You and I are going spend time together till the big party. At least what I'm instructed to do."
" Ok" I said.
She leads me out to the stables where our dragons, Chipper and Cloudjumper, are. When they both saw us, they look anxious and ready to be flown.
Chipper was a gift from my grandma. On one of her adventures she discovered a lone Stormcutter egg and decided to bring it back to Berk. I was ten years old and I didn't have a dragon yet. So when Chipper hatched, she instantly became attached to me. Though many boys in the village would want a monstrous nightmare or at least a boy dragon, I was happy to get a dragon like my grandma's and Chipper is my partner-in-crime. She has always been there for me through thick and thin, and nothing can break our bond.
After spending the morning flying our dragons and catching up on our lives, we decided to go the main part of town to get a bite to eat. While my grandma, like most people, go for bread or meat for a snack, I tend to like pickles.
My preference for pickles has been going on since I was born. Everytime I get my allowance the first thing I buy are a jar of pickles. What's funny is that my siblings, my parents, and a good chunk of the village don't have the same appreciation as me. I didn't care as long as I can eat that salty, maybe sour, crunchy vegetable.
I go over the stall that sells the pickles, which is run by grumpy man. His name is Geir, and all he cares about is making money, and nothing else. Everytime I come over, he gets very rude and scowls at me. I tend to make my business quick with him, and try not to get on his bad side, but sometimes he can make it very difficult.
" Alright one jar of pickles sir." I said with the money ready.
" I'm all out blondie." he grumbles. But there were plenty of jars behind him.
" There at least ten jars. I just want one." I said.
" It's for a friend and not for a wannabe chief like you. Now scram!" he shouted.
" Asshole" I muttered as I started walking back towards grandma. I slip on the icy path and I grab a nearby woman's cloak, taking her down with me.
I land on my face, while she lands on her butt and back. We both groan before I get myself and I offer a hand to her. She takes my hand and I help her up. When her eyes met mine, I realize who it was.
It was Kaiya from last night. From what I remembered was that she just moved here and is a young wife and mother. She seems very nice, but it's weird that she looks to be around my age and is about as tall as me. I'm tall person, about six foot two, and many girls, my age, can barely scrape my shoulders. She's has my mom's slender but muscular body type with an obviously pregnant belly. This is the first time I got a good look at her hair and eyes that looks like dad's. I can now I understand why he stiffened when he shaked her hand.
" I am so sorry." I said as I saw her rubbing her back with pain look on her face.
" It's fine." she said giving me an understanding look. " Oh gods, your nose is bleeding." Giving the same look like my mom does whenever me or my siblings got hurt.
I touch my face only to pull it back to see the warm, crimson blood on my fingers. Kaiya digs in her dress pocket to give me a handkerchief.
" Thank you" I said giving her a polite smile as I put the rag up to my face.
" No problem." she said with a smile back.
