Disclaimer: I do not own How to train your dragon or anything near it at all… just the story
~True Love's Kiss Chapter 7~
Reunion
After hours of crawling and crawling, Camicazi finally was able to reach up to the top. She let out a sigh of relief and lied on her back as she looked up. She never thought it would be this lonely. What was she thinking? She didn't think she needed anyone that is until now. All the time she was with them, she thought they were annoying and was only a dead weight, but now she realizes she's wrong. This was wrong. No one could survive this expedition, especially when alone. They needed each other, now more than ever…
Why oh why did she even care about an alliance with Berk? She didn't need a man in her life. Power is nothing, especially when you have too much of it. Now friends, that's something she never thought of as important, much less companions. But now, she knows that she shouldn't have left. She didn't regret the choice of leaving her home for some adventure, what she regretted was leaving the knights she's been with this whole time.
She stared up and wondered if she could ever see the blue sky again, if she could feel the sun's rays on her skin. She looked around once more, and for a moment, she felt herself drift away to unconsciousness, when a sound brought her back. It was familiar, and she never thought she'd be happy to hear a bickering, growing louder and louder, "Ruff… Tuff…" she whispered and tried to move, but her muscles ached, her legs refused to move any further, and her arms were so still…
"Why don't I give you one!?" Ruffnut yelled back and tried to punch her brother when he ducked and crashed his body into hers and it was a full out rumble with each other again, and Fishlegs rolled his eyes. They've been cranky for losing sleep. For a moment, Fishlegs thought they'd be more careful with the whole poisoned thorns and danger lurking everywhere, but it seemed like wherever they were, they were still reckless and careless. He walked behind them and winced and flinched with every blow landed on the other…
"Uh, guys, do be careful," he pointed out and looked around, "Poison is everywhere." He added, but they were still fighting until they rolled off some hill, and Fishlegs panicked. Camicazi was still trying to get her limbs to move, but they were too stubborn, and the thought of lying down there was too tempting, when she heard distant thuds as if something big and heavy were moving towards her. She looked up and her eyes widened as soon as she realized the twins were going to tumble right above her…
They were rolling down, completely out of control. In the split second, Camicazi managed to roll herself to the side and catch on to Ruffnut's braid who almost fell into the fireworm pit, Tuffnut soon followed, only to have Ruffnut grab onto his foot that made him dangle upside down. "I told you to be careful!" Fishlegs shouted after them as soon as he caught up with them and helped Camicazi haul them over to safety, "Cami!" he greeted cheerfully, "It's good to see you!" Camicazi just managed a smile…
"Good to see you too Fish," she said and rubbed her arm that she used to grab on to Ruffnut, "You too Ruff, Tuff." She said and Ruffnut managed to dust off the dirt before giving her a glare and pinned her down, along with her brother…
"Camicazi!" Ruffnut exclaimed, "You have to explain yourself! Is it true that you are Bog's princess?!"
"What!?" Tuffnut and Fishlegs exclaimed together, "Oh, so that's why you pinned her down." Tuffnut added, finally realizing…
"So why did you pin me down?" Camicazi asked him gruffly and he just shrugged…
"Didn't want my sister to have all the fun." He replied plainly, "So, are you or are you not the princess of Bog?" he asked and Camicazi let out a defeated sigh…
"You got me." She replied lowly, "It was supposed to be just a simple race, don't worry I'll let Heather have Hiccup." She said and Ruffnut got off her, so did Tuffnut…
"It doesn't matter who wakes the prince up," Ruffnut said and turned away and started to walk, "What matters is we find the rest and get the prince to wake up. I'm starting to get sick of this place." She then started to lead the way, with Fishlegs following her after Tuffnut hauled Camicazi up Meatlug…
"Where's Astrid? Thuggory and Dagur?" she asked and Tuffnut sighed…
"They got separated, we got separated. So basically what turned out to be a simple mission of waking up the prince has sent us on a wild goose chase in finding each other and who gets to the sleeping prince first." He replied plainly and got on behind Camicazi, "You're the first one we've found after being broken to smaller groups." He stated plainly and lied down, "Ah, finally a break from all that walking-OW!" he yelped and clutched his nose, "Oh I'm hurt! I'm very much hurt!" he glared at his sister who now took his place behind Camicazi, "What was that for?!"
"I wasn't sure a simple request would get through your thick skull." She stated plainly and grinned at her brother, "Have fun walking." Tuffnut let out a huff and walked beside Fishlegs, who seemed to not be bothered…
"You seem happy." He said, "Aren't you supposed to be sad or something?"
"What?" FIshlegs asked in surprise, "Oh, yes, I am sad, but I'm still clinging onto a hope that we'll survive… even if the chances of surviving are dwindling down to single-digits."
"Wait," Ruffnut suddenly piped up, "Didn't Princess Heather take boats to go here to Berk? She probably arrived in the docks already."
"Even by sea, getting to this island is dangerous." Fishlegs pointed out, "Thuderdrums and Scauldrons have grown territorial, not to mention the lack of affection from their masters can prove troublesome with a dragon." He then crouched down to avoid a low hanging thorn branch, "So pretty much the safest way to travel is by air."
"So why didn't King Alvin let her travel by air?" asked Tuffnut…
"Simple really," Camicazi butted in, "He wanted to know if we can make it through the forest, so that when Heather finally arrives and we go back to her alive, we can pave a safe way for her to travel to and meet the prince."
"Wow, that is smart." Tuffnut commented.
.
.
.
It had been a while when they found the other end of the tunnel. And of course, once they were out of the hole, the whispering death stopped and blew one last fire at them before turning back. Both Thuggory and Dagur heaved a sigh of relief and immediately wiped away some sweat from their foreheads and lied down on their backs. Whispering deaths were very territorial, and it was worse when you're up against a young one. Their spikes were out of control, and eventually, it could be more dangerous than adult whispering deaths…
What's worse, is every one hundred years, one dragon egg laid by a whispering death can become a screaming death. "Remind me again to never get into a tunnel especially when its underground." Dagur stated and Thuggory nodded before rolling over and getting up, noticing his surroundings…
"Does the thorn forest seem a bit… thin for you?" asked Thuggory and Dagur looked around and shrugged…
"I don't know… I mean, we seemed to be pretty much stuck inside that tunnel for quite some time, maybe your mind's playing tricks on you."
"It just… it seems brighter than the last time I remember…" he trailed off and shook his head, "You're right, maybe I've been in the tunnel far too long."
"Of course I'm right," he retorted, "I was with you the whole time." He then rolled over and got up on his feet as well, "Let's go."
"Where?"
"I dunno. Over there?" he gestured as he pointed down towards, what seemed like a pathway, big enough for a dragon to walk through, "Seems like a pretty obvious way don't you think?" he asked and Thuggory looked skeptical…
"I don't know… last time I went through an obvious path, thorns sprouted up behind me." He stated but sighed anyway, "Let's go anyway." He added and they both walked on the path, unaware of a pair of green curious eyes following their every move. Just as they were about to make a left turn, something grunted towards the right, and they both stopped and turned around. Something moved, as if something was making its way towards the other side. Both princes didn't know whether to follow or not, but their feet followed it on their own accord…
They walked through the path and eventually the sounds stopped, but both pair of eyes widened as they saw a lump of body on the ground, "Astrid!" Thuggory exclaimed as both he and Dagur dropped on the ground beside her and checked if she was still breathing. She stirred as she heard her name and managed to crack one eye open, "Thank gods you're okay!" he said and hugged her. She managed to nod and got out of his hold rather weakly, as she was still sleepy…
"Five more minutes…" she mumbled and drifted back off to sleep. Thuggory leaned back and let out a sigh of relief and stared at Dagur, who was looking up with awe…
"Dagur, what's up?" he asked curious and Dagur just pointed up. Thuggory got up and stood beside him before looking up and his jaw dropped as well as he stared at a balcony...
The castle… they finally found the castle.
They failed to see a dragon, hidden in the shadows, creep up near them, hoping they'd climb up and wake up his master. It's been four long years, and he missed him so much. During the years and the infiltrations, they didn't know they were guarded by the villagers dragons. He didn't want anything bad to happen to his master while he slept, but he knew this girl, and she got this far without running into trouble. She was tired, and he thought it'd be best if he granted her access to the safest path…
She was the first to arrive, and for once he felt at ease because he knows, this girl…
She was his salvation…
The same goes for the kingdom.
.
.
.
She woke up, but everything was different. Something was different, and she didn't know what. She felt some rustlings below her, and she looked down. She wasn't wearing her armour, she was wearing something white. It hugged her body, and it flowed smoothly as she moved. It was a simple dress, and her hair was neatly braided. Everything was so bright, and the forest was alive and beautiful. She looked around for a weapon, her axe most specifically, but there was nothing…
She felt vulnerable, yet safe at the same time. She was walking when she heard a tune, not too far away. Someone was humming, and it seemed familiar, as if she heard it from a dream. She walked through the trees, the leaves fluttering around her quietly. It was probably autumn already, seeing as there were more falling brown leaves. She saw him, up ahead, his back turned to her and he seemed to be spinning the spinning wheel as he hummed, "Excuse me…" she called out and he stopped and looked at her with his emerald eyes. Her voice got caught in her throat…
"I know you," he piped up smiling at her, "I've walked with you once upon a dream." He stated and approached her excitedly, "That look in your eyes," he whispered as he neared her, she backed up slowly, "It's so familiar…"
"I think you have the wrong person." She said and started to walk away when he grabbed her wrist gently…
"I know it's true." He said and turned her to him, "That visions are seldom all they seem." She wasn't going to lie, he made her nervous, and the fact that he did seem familiar made it worse for her. His auburn hair was a bit rumpled, as if he had just woken up, and he wore a white puffy shirt and black pants. His emerald eyes looking into her sapphire ones. He cupped a hand at the back of her head, touching her golden locks…
"You know me?" she asked, "You've seen me?" there was a flutter in her stomach as he looked at her, "Then do you know what I'll do?"
"Yes, 'cause if I know you, I'll know what you'll do," he whispered back, drawing her closer, "You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream." He answered and slowly closed the gap between them. She felt her eyes flutter close before she felt as if someone was calling her…
Astrid!
There was no kiss, she felt as if her back was stiff, and there was no gentle touch, but just a cold breeze.
"Astrid!" Ruffnut yelled as she finally landed right next to her. Astrid snapped wide awake and looked around her. She was in her armour, and her head throbbed by the lack of energy. She was glad Ruffnut was there, but it was such a tight hug, and Astrid could barely breathe…
"Ruff…can't… breathe…" she wheezed and Ruffnut immediately let her go and slapped her cheek, "What in Thor's name did you do that for!?" she demanded as she touched her stinging cheek. Ruffnut just huffed and stomped away from her. She let out a sigh and approached the other blonde, "I'm sorry." She said, "I shouldn't have run away from you guys."
"It's okay." Said Ruffnut, "I just can't believe you found the castle first." She said and gestured to the others who were now cooking something, "Thuggory told me that he and Dagur found you lying unconscious."
"Yeah, I momentarily remembered them." Astrid said and leaned back on the castle wall, "Should we head back or what?" she asked…
"Or what." Camicazi replied as she walked over to them, with a bandage wrapped around her arm to her shoulder. She sat down beside Astrid and sighed, "I'm sorry for all the secrecy." She admitted and Astrid smiled for a moment before throwing a punch on the uninjured arm, "What's with you and violence?!" Camicazi hissed as she rubbed her shoulder and Astrid scoffed…
"It's not violence," she said, "It's communication." She then stood up and looked up as the others were finally nearing them, "Boys, you go and search the area for any doors," she then stared at Ruffnut, "Ruff, you come with me going up."
"And how are you supposed to go up?" asked Fishlegs and Astrid stared at him, "Oh, right." They all turned to Meatlug, who was the only dragon at their disposal. Camicazi decided to stay behind to watch over their belongings, that and because she was far too tired to move. The others divided into two groups, Tuffnut and Thuggory, while Dagur was with Fishlegs. Ruffnut and Astrid mounted up on Meatlug, and she began to fly up gently…
"You love him don't you?" Ruffnut asked, as soon as they were a good deal high up above. Astrid stiffened at the question. She didn't know she was obvious, until of course this quest had started. She had been selfish, when she shouldn't. She had no right. "Why are you even doing this Astrid? When you know you're going to get hurt?"
"I'll do anything…" she replied softly, "Anything to see him up and about again." She finally replied and Ruffnut stared at her. "What?" she snapped at the other blonde…
"Nothing." Ruffnut said and sighed, "How do you feel about him being a prize for some rich kids?"
"What?"
"I mean, this whole quest is because of them. And they don't have the dedication you do. You're more deserving of him than they are with him. I mean, I don't know why Heather does all this, but I do know Camicazi does not want to get married, and she's giving up."
"Maybe Heather likes Hiccup."
"Maybe… but not as true as yours."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Astrid sighed as they were nearing the top, "Look Ruff, they'd both have to be of royalty. She's perfect for him. What do I have to offer to him?"
"I may sound cheesy with this," Ruff said and jumped over to the balcony as Meatlug finally reached it and pulled Astrid along with her, "Your heart is all you can offer. Don't worry though," Ruffnut reassured her and winked, "Your secret's safe with me." Astrid smiled and engulfed her friend with a hug. "Alright, you go look inside, I'll be here with Meatlug." She said and pushed Astrid inside, "Have fun with the sleeping beauty." Astrid just rolled her eyes and walked into the room.
She looked back and Ruffnut was already popping in her mouth some of the rations they had left. Astrid turned back and stared at the room. It was huge. She looked around and saw a desk, filled with papers and charcoal pencils. She scanned the drawings of sceneries, sunsets and even the starry skies. She also saw a drawing of an island, which was probably Berk in all its glory, before the curse was enacted. She took a step back and there was something behind her. She turned and saw a spinning wheel, and suddenly, flashes of the dream she had came to her…
She stumbled back, but regained her balance as a wave of pain throbbed in her head. She looked to the bed and her heartbeat was racing. She looked behind her and Ruffnut was still not paying any attention to her. She approached the bed, willing herself to not shake as she moved the curtains away to let some light in…
There he was, sleeping like a baby. She gulped, he looked familiar, but no, he couldn't be the one in the dream…
A dream was a dream and that was all there was to it…
That visions are seldom all they seem…
That was what he said, but what did that even mean? She sat down beside him and took a hold of his wrists gently. She pressed her fingers on the inside of the wrist and felt a familiar rhythm going through the body. He was alive… asleep, but alive. Maybe a kiss didn't have to happen to wake him up. She nudged him gently, "Hi- Prince Hiccup?" she asked gently, but his eyes were sealed shut. She tried again, a bit harder than before, but no movement. She sighed and knelt down beside his bed, taking a hold of his hands, "You're going to wake up." She whispered, "You're going to have to wake up… because if you don't…" she gulped and shook her head, "No, you're waking up… I know it." She kissed his knuckles and laid it gently on his side before turning around and saw Ruffnut staring at her in a bored manner…
"Can we get out of this place already?" Ruffnut whined and Astrid laughed for a moment and nodded as they mounted on Meatlug and they flew away…
Back at the room, with the sleeping prince, his hand twitched for a moment before going still once again…
And so that's that! What happened to Heather by the way? Hm?
See ya next time! :D
05222014
