Alright everyone I hope you enjoy this long chapter don't forget to R&R and thank you for your support and incouragement.
The next morning Astrid woke to Wingless's call to get up. Quickly doing as she was told she dawned her armor and walked out. Pedal bounded by almost knocking her over Toothless hot on her tail. Wingless laughed from behind her. "Their taking a day for themselves. You have an appointment with Way after breakfast." Looking back at her he winked then scrambled up the ropes leading to the top deck. Turning she decided to forgo breakfast and try to find Way. She had never been to the ships doctor and alchemist but from what she had heard of him there was next to nothing he couldn't do to a body.
After an hour of searching she found the room with a large wooden door nocking a few times it opened outwards of its own accord. If it wasn't for the darkness she had become accustomed to in her part of the ship the dimness of the room would have been difficult to see in. Slowly making her way thought the room she came upon an old man with thinning white hair and a wispy goatee. "Excuse me are you Way?"
He looked up at her with a kind smile. "Yes that I am now if you would sit." Gesturing to an ornate chair.
Doing as she was told she watched as he mixed different things into a bowl grinding them together. "So Wingless talked to me about learning draconic?"
"Yes he spoke to me about starting you with that though if your going to work on his ship you may need to have his full vocabulary."
"What do you mean?"
"Well he knows several different languages, draconic, troll, ork, goblin, and a few different bestial languages."
Wide eyed she watched as he handed her a glass of sweet smelling liquid. "So I take it you see him a lot?"
"Yes he is an apprentice of sorts I guess you could say though there is no replacement of centuries of experience. No drink that."
Drinking the concoction she started to feel a bit dizzy and disoriented as the old man picked up a large book and sat on a stool in front of her. She focused on the book and a cold tingling sensation flowed across her head from her spine. He began to make sounds such as a dragon showing her the first page which said home in Norse. He continued to go through words quicker and quicker eventually starting over. Again several hours later she was talking to him in the growls and tones of dragons as the tingling subsided replaced by a severe ache. He nodded at her as she held her head handing her a set of white pills. "Here take these and go sleep it off on that bed I'll wake you in the morning." In to much pain to argue or even speak she did as he instructed. Sitting on the bed she downed the pills and had just enough time to lay down before she was out cold.
Snotlout sat at a desk in the Captains quarters scrawling out a letter to Stoic of their progress when the call of a another ship reached his ears. Running out onto the deck he found they had run across Trader Yohan waving to the bewildered main he jogged over. "Yohan what are you doing all the way out here?"
"Why looking for you my boy. I just left Berk and the Hoffersons asked me to deliver this too you." Pulling a letter from his jacket.
"Alright could you take this to Stoic when you go back?"
"I can do that. Now if you don't mind I think those men are interested in some of my goods." Hurrying off to try and talk some sailors into trinkets. Walking to the prow where he had taken to standing during most the voyage he opened the letter.
It read. 'Snotlout, I am infuriated by that useless traitor's actions. Should you succeed in retreaving Astrid your father and I have agreed to have the two of you inguaged. Please bring her back safely."
A smile spread from one ear to the other as he read that his dreams had finally come true now Astrid would have to marry him. Looking out at the shape of the Dark Titan he watched as two dragons flew in the skys above like birds playing. "Hiccup I swear by Odin's beard and Thor's hammer I shall slay your dragons, take you prisoner, and make Astrid mine." A gleam of righteousness in his eyes he made his way back to the quarters he shared with the others as the sun set.
The next morning Astrid woke starving and having a hard time placing yesterdays events. Why's voice drifted from across the room. "Ah your awake good. Would you ask Wingless to get me some more dragon grass the next time he finds some we're running low."
Giving him a confused look. "Um sure. Why am I sleeping here?"
"Oh that's right I almost forgot." Switching over to Draconic he said. "Good morning"
Astrid blinked as she understood the low grumble and growl then returned the greating in the same language then the memories returned of yesterday. "So that's what's going on then."
"Ah good. Now then I have to take care of Slate here in a moment so you need to run along."
"Alright." Stiffly she made her way out of the chambers and back to Wingless's quarters. There she found him sharpening the blades from his gauntlets. In Draconic she half snarled. "Thanks for the warning." Then punched him in the arm.
He gave her a confused look. "What are you talking about?"
"How Way teaches."
"Oh that. Sorry. "
Shaking her head at him she tried not to laugh. Looking at him it was hard to emagin what he had been like all that time ago. What she wasn't ready to admit though was he was starting to grow on her. Despite his hard act towards most everyone he was a kind soul. Taking a breath she started to turn and go. "Oh and Way wants more Dragon grass."
"Alright." He said as he started to return to his work. Walking out she saw Pedal sunning in the bottom of the shaft leading to the top deck. In draconic she said. "He there I can talk now."
Giving the girl a board look. "Its about time."
"Well I'm glad I can understand you now. I'm sorry if I did anything to annoy you the last times I flew with you."
"You didn't Toothless and I were just having some fun with you two."
"What do you mean?"
The dragon stood and smiled. "Come lets talk in the sky."
Returning the smile she climbed into the saddle. Pedal went down the hall to Wingless's Door. "Astrid and I are going for a flight."
"Have fun tell Slate or Dad I said you could."
"We will."
Pedal ran back down the hall and launched herself up the shaft to the top deck landing right in front of Ironside. "Wingless wants me to take her for a solo flight."
He nodded acknowledgement. "Don't be too ruff on her now."
"I'll try not to." Crouching low she launched herself skyward at an alarming speed before angling off. "So what's bothering you?"
"I don't know what I am anymore. I was a Viking and I'm being a Pirate right now but I can't decide which I should be."
"Why not just go where the currents take you and deal with things as they come to bare. That's how dragons are."
"You know that sounds nice but how can I do that?"
"Just be you. Where you call home doesn't define you but who you call home. I go where Toothless goes because he is my mate so we both follow Wingless."
"I see what you mean. But I don't know if he wants me to follow him." A sadness crept into her voice as she finished. With the tail end of the ship still in sight Pedal veered off to a nearby island and landed on its soft beach.
"Wingless is a complicated creature. He is a s cautious and reckless as he is smart. That man has risked his life and limb for several dragons and crewmates but won't let many of them get close to him. You are the only one thus far that has managed to get his attention as easily as Toothless. Weather or not he feels the way you want him to is up to you but I can tell he wants you around."
Hugging the dragon Astrid said. "Thank you Pedal this means a lot to me."
The two spent the rest of the after noon sitting in the sand talking. It had been years since either of them could just talk to another woman or well female without worry.
In the distance unseen by the dragon and rider Snoot lout saw one dragon and rider land on the far side of an island not far of course from their current heading. Running to the captain he quickly said. "I saw a dragon and one of the riders land on the island just west of our heading."
Smiling to Snotlout. "Good take one of the smaller ships and try to capture them.
Nodding Snotlout ran off yelling for the Vikings to come with him as he grabbed a lose ratline and swung over to one of the escort ships and relaying the captains orders.
It wasn't long before they had pulled up on the far side of the shore from the dragon and rider. They spend the next few hours sneaking up on them. From where they were they couldn't really see the rider but the dragon wasn't the nightfurry. After another hour of positioning themselves the twins ran out a weighted net between them and threw it over the dragon as it turned. The rider rounded on them pulling a face guard on from her belt the drawing her axes. Snotlout stepped forward. "You are under arrest Pirate now come peacefully or I'll have to force you."
"I can't she said calmly."
Pedal looked to her. "It's time to decide where your home is."
Taking a deep breath Astrid twirled her axes looking at the Vikings she had grown up with. "Leave I don't want to hurt anyone."
Snot lout snorted at this. "Ha. Get her." Men charged her only to get cut down when they missed. The twins were next each taking a blow to the head with the blunt side of the axes knocking them out. Finally Snotlout stepped up. "Your good pirate." She remained silent as she squared off to him. He charged forcing her to use both axes to parry his sword then there was a sharp pain in her head and she blacked out. Pedal roared and started spewing smoke. Pulling a rag from his pocket and covering his mouth Fishlegs threw the unconscious rider over his shoulder and ran off with Snotlout who had the twins under his arms.
Wingless nearly fell out of his chair when Tootless came to his door and Roared. "The Girls are in trouble Pedal is Roaring for us." Jumping up and forgetting his gauntlets that lay in pieces he picked up a long saber and slung it on his back before jumping on Toothless. Rocketing to the place the calls echoed from they found Strike biting through a net surrounded by dead Englishmen. Looking at them Wingless could tell who had killed who. Pedal now free bounded to Toothless nuzzling with him then looked to Wingless. "That Snot boy took Astrid and is working with the English. I don't know where they took her. I'm sorry Wingless its my fault I should have brought Strike or paid better attention."
Putting a comforting hand on her head. "It's ok Pedal you did nothing wrong." Sliding from Toothless's saddle he locked the tail fin in place. "Can you and strike look for the ships I'm going to take Pedal back, make sure she's ok and tell dad." Nodding the two dragons launched into the air. Mounting Pedal they did the same returning home.
Astrid woke to see the sun begin to set. Looking at the ropes that tied her to the mast she saw Snotlout sitting on a barrel in front of her. In an attempt to sound cool he exclaimed. "Ah you're awake I see. So tell me what do you know of the prisoners aboard your ship." She just sat in silence confused. Growing irritated he bent down to her still masked face. "Ok I'll make this simple for you. Your mate Wingless took my wife to be Astrid a gorgeous blond headed Viking with a bad temper about your size. Now tell me where she is or I'm going to have to get rough with you." She tried to hold it in, she really did but it was too much. After a moment she began to laugh at him harder and harder. Snarling at her he punched her across the face then whined in pain as he found the metal under the leather making her laugh even harder. Furious he ripped the mask of her face and was about to punch her with the other hand when he looked straight into her glaring eyes. "Astrid."
"Yes Dumb ass it's me." She growled then kicked him in the nuts. "That's for hitting me in face." As he bent over she kicked him in the face. "And that's for trying to hurt Petal."
Glaring at her he roared. "I saved you."
"Who said I wanted to be saved." She screamed back
A confused look came onto his features before anger took over stomping up to her making sure not to give her another clean shot. "Now you listen here. Your parents have promised to enguage us should I resque you. Now I suggest you cooperate."
"Or what? You'll flit me to death like you always do."
"I may have to use force." A dark steeliness came into his voice and she didn't like it. Shutting up she looked at the half confused and scared faces of the others. Looking to the sky she watched for the outlines of one of the dragons and hoped they would find her and Pedal soon.
