UNKNOWN P.O.V.
Wind whipped against my face, and I growled, hunkering down a little more into my thin cloak. He'll die, they'll all die for this. They'll all pay! I thought viciously, collapsing onto the front steps of a hall I had conquered a few days ago.
"Trenst how go the preparations?" I asked, glancing back at the silent, slight man that stood a few paces behind me.
He flashed a quick smile. "They go as according to schedule Lord Viking. In less than a week they should be ready." He reported, bowing his head in respect.
I smirked, lurching to my feet and heading inside. The fire in the center warmed my chilled bones, and I relaxed against the pillar closest. In an instant I was on the ground, groaning, my body convulsing in pain. I rode out the excruciating episode in silence, curling up.
I felt along my face, feeling the scales that tried to grow. My body heaved, the bones popping, trying to grow. It was agony. I gasped, clutching my head, the claws on my fingers tearing at the skin, causing me to bleed. "Fuck!" I cursed, trying to force my dragons blood to heal the slashes.
After a few more agonizing moments, the spasms calmed down. My bones popped back mostly into place, my legs longer and shaped like an animals. The claws didn't retract, and I grinned, raking them across the floor, watching the sparks dance across the stone.
"Lord Viking?" A deep voice asked, devoid of concern. "The spasms are becoming stronger. Eventually you will be unable to keep your own mind, or your human form. You will be lost to the beast." It was Diav, his thick arms crossed as he watched me stagger over to him.
I grinned, feeling fangs press into my bottom lip. "Diav, you are absolutely correct… about most of it." With a quick thrust, my hand plunged through his body. "My mind has always been lost to the beast." I hissed, jerking the hand away.
Diav didn't make a sound, his eyes following me as he sank to the ground. They burned with hate, which caused me to laugh.
"Do not forget, I am the only one strong enough to take them on. Do not be so foolish as to think that because you are Vikings that I will spare you." I leaned in closer so that only he could hear, "If I have my way, the earth would be bathed in all of their blood… yours, his, theirs." I grinned, gesturing around. "And I will have my way."
TINO'S P.O.V.
My body was encased in Berwald's warmth, which meant he had been cuddling me… again. I groaned, trying to sit up and out of his arms. "Berwald please…" I yawned, "I'm getting all sweaty and it's gross…" I complained, wriggling away when he wouldn't let me up.
It had been only two short days since coming here, yet I had fallen so hard for him, it was as if we had been married forever. Peter was taking well to his lessons, being able to use magic and breathe fire, even mixing the two. Berwald showered him with praise, always making sure that he kept a handle on his mischief.
I got up, stretching out my back, wincing at the long old scar. Pulling on my clothes, I noticed that Berwald was staring at me, an intense look on his face. "What?" I asked, looking him up and down.
Berwald was shirtless, countless little scars slicing across his muscled chest. The sheets were pooled at his waist, revealing his hip bones and every inch of his pale, marred skin. His blond hair was tousled, one side of it sticking up from where he had been sleeping. He was very handsome to say the least.
My face flamed red when the corners of his mouth tilted up.
Wife, I love you… would you… would you like to make it official? Berwald's unusually timid mental voice made me pause, allowing the words to sink in.
Marry him? So soon? After every- I cut off my thoughts, mentally slapping myself. I had already forgiven him for everything. I had already trusted him with the baby I had been forced to have, the baby I loved. He had shown me, multiple times, how much he loved me. I must love him too to be able to trust him so much.
"Berwald… yes." I smiled at him. "But, not yet. I would like to spend a full year here to make sure my family is comfortable… is that alright?" I asked, sitting down next to him.
He didn't say anything, the initial burst of joy I had felt from him dampened. He looked pensive, taking my hands in his and leaning close, his eyes staring into mine. "Of c'urse. We c'n wa't as l'ng as ya need ta." He murmured, pulling me into his chest.
I relaxed, "Thank you Berwald. Now let's go eat breakfast." I said, sitting up. Berwald growled softly, pulling me back, but this time into a kiss. I stiffened, surprised. His lips were gentle and rough, like they were chapped. I kissed back hesitantly, before pulling away, my eyes probably a little wider than they should be.
Berwald's face was completely red, his eyes more dragon than human at the moment. "Ja, l'ts go get bre'kf'st…" he mumbled, getting out of bed.
LUKAS' P.O.V.
I woke again, fighting free of the nightmares, so real they just might be so. Bjort was sleeping soundly next to me, seemingly unbothered by my thrashing.
It was light, so it was morning. I sat fully up in bed, dragging a hand down my face, trying to eliminate the images. Vikings, dragons, blood, everywhere there was to see. Tino, in the middle of it all, burning, but even though his mouth was open, no sound came out, his flesh slowly eaten alive, Berwald fighting to get to Tino.
Standing, I went over to a basin filled with water, washing my face with the brisk water, and pulling on a dark violet tunic over my white shirt and white trousers. Pulling on my boots, I noticed that Bjort was sitting up in bed, looking down at his hands.
"Bjort? What's wrong brother?" I asked, standing to go to him.
"Big brother… are we captives here? Are we here so Tino obeys them?" He asked, surprising me a great deal. He was only a year older than Peter, yet he was thinking such things?
I shook my head, "No. Tino does what he does because he wants to. We aren't here to force him into cooperation." I replied, kneeling down in front of him. "Bjort, these dragons, are not all bad. Believe in that." I told him, watching his pale eyes dart back and forth.
He finally settled on my own eyes. "Alright brother." He nodded, taking his hands back and going to get his own clothing on in preparation for breakfast.
…
After breakfast I followed Tino to a medic room, glowering at people over his shoulder as they tried to approach.
"I need to talk to you." I muttered after a little while. Tino blinked, nodding. I went out into the hallway, and kept going, knowing he would follow. I stopped at my own door, gesturing for him to follow me inside.
"Tino, something is wrong." I said without preamble.
Tino looked a little stunned, taking a small step back. "What do you mean wrong?" He asked, his hands fiddling with the hem of his own green tunic.
"I mean, 'something bad is going to happen' wrong. I can feel it and…" I paused, doubting myself for a moment. Could it have been only a dream? Or was it a vision? "I might have dreamt the future." I continued, gazing into his eyes steadily.
Tino paled, "You too? Blood, so much blood Lukas!" He began to tremble, tears rolling down his cheeks. "How are we to stop this?" He asked, grasping my hand.
"We have to inform Berwald, that will give him at least time to prepare. We have to make sure you aren't there so that you won't burn either, no matter how much they may need you." I explained to him, watching his face darken.
"Lukas? What do you mean? I have to be there, that's the whole purpose for me to have this power. Lady Freya gave it to me so that I could help." He was frowning, his jaw set in a way I knew all too well.
It would be senseless arguing with him, so I would have to trick him.
"As you wish Tino, I know that look all too well. I hope you will reconsider, but if not, I will not argue." I told him, turning away.
"Thank you Lukas." He said, beginning to walk back to where I had found him in the infirmary.
I watched him go, the wheels in my head turning as to how I was going to save my cousin from death. Stubborn fool… he won't listen to reason. I'll have to tell Berwald. He certainly won't let Tino be there.
And with that, I marched down the corridor, following after Tino. After a while, I found a random servant doing something, and asked where I might find the dragon master. Armed with directions, I headed towards the main hall.
The doors were grand, and closed. I peered at them, trying to figure out whether or not I would have to open them myself, and if som if I actually could. I didn't need to worry however, as they swung open when I reached for it. The room was mostly empty, except for a small group of five people, clustered around a large table in front of a throne.
Berwald looked up when I entered, a frown on his face as usual.
"Ja?" He asked, clearly confused as to why I was here.
"I have something very important to discuss with you Master Berwald, I beseech thee that you put it on your priority list." I bowed my head respectfully. Hopefully he would listen. "Privately." I added.
"Wh't is it? 'S it Tino? Heh 'lr'ght?" Berwald sounded concerned, and was half-standing already.
"He won't be if the moron doesn't listen to reason." I glared at no one in particular, crossing my arms over my chest.
"L'eve us. Weh w'll cont'nue aft' weh sup." Berwald commanded, waving his advisors away. They all stood, vacating their seats as he waved me forward. "Wh't's wr'ng?" He asked when I was but a few feet away.
"Last night, I dreamt a scene of the future. Tino dreamt it too, so that's how I know it wasn't just a nightmare. A horrible battle was being waged here, and there was blood everywhere. Tino was standing in the middle of it, burning. I watched as you tried to get to him, but there were too many Vikings in your way." I explained to him, watching as his scary face got darker and darker.
"V'kings?" His voice was quiet. "Nd ah c'n guess, Tino d'esn't c're, nd w'nts ta be in th' f'ght anyweh?" Berwald surmised, folding his hands in front of his mouth and resting against them.
"He's stubborn and will do anything to be in that fight. We have to make sure that he doesn't. So either lock him up, send him away, or knock him up again." I answered, pressing my lips into a grim line.
Berwald's eyes widened a fraction at my last suggestion. But he nodded slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Alr'ght. Ah'll do wh't ah can." And with a respectful nod, I was dismissed.
BERWALD'S P.O.V.
A slow and steady beat of panic washed through my body. Lukas told of a battle, between Vikings and Dragons. A battle fought here. There was only one person who was alive that could possibly know our location, and how to get to it by humans. But how was it possible? Tino had wiped his memories completely, making sure that he wouldn't remember anything!
Had something gone wrong with the spell? I shook my head of these thoughts, making my way to my wife. It was almost time for lunch anyway, so I could grab her and then plan.
Matthias is coming for me, and I have to make sure that Tino is gone before he gets here. Either that, or I could force her to hide in a secure place in my stronghold… I sighed, figuring how well that would go over. At the very least, Peter needs to be somewhere safe and away from all of this.
Berwald, you can't make me leave or stay holed up somewhere. Tino's mental voice surged through my head, startling me so badly I almost stumbled against the wall. I won't go. This is my destiny, to help you fight! She cried fiercely, reading into my emotions without me having to say anything.
Tino I'm just concerned… Lukas saw you burning alive. How am I supposed to react? I demanded, concern and tenderness washing through our link.
I know Berwald, but I need to do this. Her voice was firm, and I could almost physically feel the steel behind her words. She wouldn't budge on this, she would find a way no matter what to get in that fight. I would just have to do my best to protect her.
Thank you Berwald. She told me when I finally came to a conclusion.
You will be trained in other ways of fighting too though. I added, trying to submit to the compromise. Tino agreed easily, acknowledging the wisdom of it.
I couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling in my gut though, as I headed back to the council chambers.
A/N: Whoa... it's been way too long since I updated this story. I am so sorry everyone. I am continuing this story, I promise, and you'll get your happy ending, eventually (evil laugh is evil). Recently I've been swamped writing other things, school, etc. It's just been so hard focusing on just one story to work on, so I rotate and write little bits here and there.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it. You get cookies. Or cake. Whichever you would like.
Please let me know what you thought of the chapter, I know it isn't as long as I usually make them, but i just decided it was best where I cut it off.
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First person to tell me wtf is up with Matthias will get a special shout-out for next chapter!
Thank you for reading!