The following day we went back to the island where the blue dragon seemed to rest. I had barely slept last night in anticipation of finding her again. Hiccup met me again outside of the dining hall and we waited for Toothless to come and join us. Hiccup has said he was busy catching fish.

I asked him curiously, "So…what's girls name? I mean, do you know anything about her except that she's beautiful?"

Hiccup sighed hopelessly, "Her name is apparently Melody. My dad only got around to telling me last night. I've been so mad with him that I've been avoiding him." I nodded in understanding. Melody. What a beautiful name. She sounded like a songstress, even if I hadn't even her sing. She sounded like a lot of competition, but I never was one to back down from a fight. I could beat her in a physical battle easily. I doubted she was one of much physical strength.

I was just picturing a beautiful, lean dark-haired girl with beautiful hazel eyes when Hiccup's voice interrupted my thoughts, "Astrid? Are you alright? You look mad?" I blinked furiously, having not realised I'd gone into a bit of a fume. I'd been practically seething over this mystery maiden and I'd never even met her before? What kind of person was I? Was I jealous?
I glanced at Hiccup and muttered, "Sorry Hiccup? Were you saying something?" He smirked a little and folded his arms, "You haven't been listening to a word I just said, have you?" I smiled sheepishly, "I got lost in thought, sorry." Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Thought so. Anyway I was saying her name is Melody and apparently she's got the voice of an angel." I murmured under my breath, "Of course she has." Hiccup raised his eyebrows at me and shook his head, "Also she's got three older brothers! I mean, how scary is that? I will be intimidated by them all the time! And I'm sure since she's the chief-tess of her village she will have lots of men fawning over her and I…"
I placed a finger on his mouth and said swiftly, "Shut it. You're giving me a headache. Hiccup, she will be lucky to have you." I almost regretted my words as he blushed bright pink. I stammered, "A…and also you're a dragonmaster! You shouldn't be intimidated by someone who you don't knows' brothers. That's pathetic!"

Thankfully, before I could say anymore, Toothless appeared with a bagful of fish. I sighed in relief and hopped on him before Hiccup even had a chance to say anything. I looked at him expectantly and he finally hopped on the dragon. I wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my head on his broad shoulders. I could almost hear his heart beating. And I wished I hadn't asked about the mystery maiden.

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We landed on the speck of land where we found the blue dragon a few days previously. I hopped off Toothless, and grabbed the bag of fish from him. All the dragons rested peacefully just a few feet away from us in the cove. I didn't feel nervous as I edged forward between them. I walked right up until I was directly in front of the one that I felt a connection with.
When she opened her eyes. She glared at me in such a stormy manner that I should have felt scared out of my wits! I slowly grabbed one of the fish out of the basket and opened my hand out to her. I tried to not look at her directly in the eyes as Hiccup had instructed me not to on our flight over. He said until I can sense that she is relaxed around me, I shouldn't keep direct eye contact with her.

I waited for what felt like ages, neither of us moving. I timidly took one last step until I could touch the dragon's horned nose. She was still tense, I could tell. I slowly backed away and sighed deeply. Clearly this just wasn't meant to be.
Then the next thing I knew, the dragon came up to me and nudged my shoulder. I barely dared to look around, but I glanced at Hiccup, who's jaw dropped to the ground in shock. I gently turned my head so as not to startle her and I couldn't help but smile. The dragon was sniffing me everywhere and I felt like she was sizing me up.

I felt like I should just remain put while she checked me out. This seemed like her first interaction with a human before. Hiccup was watching this silently and I mouthed to him with arm gestures, "What do I do?" He watched me utterly gobsmacked and I waved my arms around dramatically, "Help?!" Hiccuo shook his head and said as softly as was possible, "I can't! You're doing great!"

As he said it, the other dragons began waking up and emerging from their sleep. I felt myself panicking and losing control of the situation. I still had the bag of fish in my hand and I dropped it to the floor so that I wouldn't be attacked for it. The dragons immediately surrounded me and went for the fish. I was trying desperately to escape this situation, but they weren't having it.

I felt some of the dragons leering at me through hooded eyes, not all of them as accepting as my blue dragon. My stormy-eyed dragon. I suddenly felt like I was prey. Hiccup was shouting at me and one of them made the leap, and pounced onto me. I was knocked backwards and onto the pile of smelly fish.
I shouted shrilling, "HICCUP! I need help!" The dragons weight was holding me down. It was green and fierce and I felt like I was going to die on this pile of rotting dead fish. I held my hands up protectively when I heard another screeching sound. My blue dragon's head was hovering directly above me. Was she…was she protecting me from this one who was threatening me? I barely dared to breathe…

The dragon lowered her neck so that I could grab onto her. She spat some fire at the offender and then once I had grabbed on, she lifted into the air, me dangling from her neck. I yelled at Hiccup, "HICCUP! HICCUP?!" I heard him shouting back, "I'm here, Astrid! I'm right beneath you if you fall." I had to hang onto that hope as the blue dragon flew us away from her nesting ground.

I clung tightly to her neck and about twenty minutes later, we landed on a seemingly deserted strip of land. I was breathing heavily and I bent down to grasp my knees. The adrenalin was coursing through my body.
Hiccup approached me and he asked frantically, "Astrid! Are you ok? I was worried sick the whole time!" He put an arm around me and I pulled him in for a hug, "Hiccup…I was so scared!" He patted my back comfortingly, and only then did I realise that my heart was pounding furiously in my chest. I rested my head on his shoulder so that I could just take a moment to breathe.

Then I heard a screeching noise behind me. I turned to see the blue dragon and Toothless were sizing each other up. Hiccup chuckled and he said, "I think Toothless is trying to be friends. You girl is just not having it." I blanched, "My girl? Surely she's not mine already?" Hiccup grinned at me, "See for yourself. Try and pet her." I got in between Toothless and blue and hesitantly held my hand out to her. She sniffed at it curiously, and then closed her eyes, leaning her head softly into my palm.
I inhaled slowly, and closed my eyes too- trying to remember this moment for as long as I could. Although her skin was bumpy and wrinkly, it still felt young and untarnished. I moved around so that I could feel the rest of her in patches. She held still as I ran a hand along her side. I whispered hoarsely, "You're so beautiful." If I didn't know better, I'd say she was smiling.

I trailed my hand along her side until I got to her legs where I could hoist myself up, if I wanted. I didn't want to push my luck just yet though. This dragon was so much bigger than Toothless! It kind of scared me. I turned to look at Hiccup and whispered, "I'm not so sure of this. She's huge!" The dragon glared at me with that same stormy expression again and she seemed rather…unimpressed. Hiccup chuckled, "Looks like she didn't appreciate your comment." I smirked and nodded, "I would be too if someone made that comment about me. I'm glad she's not a softy." The dragon nodded at me approvingly and I gaped, "Did she just…" I floundered for words. Hiccup chuckled, "Nod? Yeah."

I shook my head in disbelief. This dragon was so in sync with me that she could understand me? I whispered hoarsely, "How is that possible?" He replied in a soft voice, "Because you have a connection."

Hiccup came closer and reached out his hand so that he was close to the dragon. She sniffed him and then bared her teeth. I turned to her and scolded, "Hey! He's my best friend!" The dragon looked at me snidely and turned her back to us. Hiccup laughed and shrugged, "She clearly doesn't like me very much." I grinned, "Maybe she has good reasons why."
Hiccup scowled, "Hey! Who's doing who favours here?" I chuckled and punched him gently in the arm, "I know, I know." I went up to her and slowly reached out to pat her goodbye, "We'll see you again soon," I promised. Then I turned to Hiccup and Toothless. We promptly hopped on Toothless's back and then soared off into the sky.

A/N: Hi all! Thanks for such great feedback! Means a lot to me. And thanks to all of my followers! Hope you all have a great weekend!