Kenna
Valka and Kenna left Valka's home and made their way to the Great Hall. As they followed the path between houses, more people and their dragons began to join them. Many said hello to Valka, looking at the younger woman with a confused expression before nodding their head curtly in acknowledgement. Cloudjumper followed behind, occasionally receiving a greeting or a chin scratch himself.
Kenna could feel her anxiety growing in her chest as they approached the center of the village. She could feel many eyes on her, certainly curious as to her identity. With those glances, IKenna could hear the whispers, questions of who she was and what she was doing here. She felt more alone surrounded by people than she ever did in my solitude. Kenna's heartbeat increased, banging against her chest. Her throat felt tight, and she had a very strong urge to run. As the Great Hall came into view, Kenna paused, stopping in her tracks.
Valka placed a hand on the young woman's shoulder and looked at her, concern in her eyes. "Are you alright, Kenna?"
"I don't know," she answered, her voice shaky and fearful. "I feel like everyone is staring at me. I don't belong here."
"Hush," she murmured quietly, pulling the scared young woman away from the center of the plaza, "don't you worry about anyone else here. Berkians are a curious bunch, and gossip is what passes for entertainment here."
Kenna nodded, but her throat was still tight.
"Besides," she added, "you are here as a guest of the chief, and as a friend. No one would dare purposefully make you uncomfortable."
She nodded and let out a deep sigh, attempting to calm her nerves. "Could we wait just a few moments more before going inside?"
"Of course, dear."
Kenna sat down on a nearby bench and observed the plaza and the crowd that filled it. Everywhere, people were laughing and smiling, arms clasped around each other's shoulder in joy. The dragons followed their companions, as if they had never left. Children road on the backs of the dragons into the Great Hall.
Across the clearing, Kenna saw Hiccup and a blond woman, who she assumed was his wife, head for the large doors, joined by Toothless and Moon. He was smiling and laughing, greeting vikings who stopped to thank him for returning their friends. He was crushed by one particularly large man who picked him up in a great bear hug, laughing as he was set down. She saw him scanning the crowd and he paused when he saw Valka and herself. His head tilted a bit to the side, and his eyebrows furrowed in question. Valka nodded and waved him in. He shrugged, turned, and taking the blond woman's hand with Toothless behind him, entered the hall.
Valk turned to Kenna and asked, "are you ready, or would you like a bit more time?"
Kenna looked at her and smiled softly. Her fear had abated some, and while she was still nervous, the urge to flee had died. Her hand was suddenly nudged by a warm nose. She looked down to see Moon, her great blue eyes turned to Kenna in concern. She smiled at the affection, and rubbed her head before turning back to Valka, "as I'll ever be. Let's go."
They stood and joined the crowd that was entering the meeting space. As she looked up at the great doors and ornate carvings, she heard a muffled voice shouting her name.
"Kenna! Kenna!"
She turned, looking over her shoulder. The only people who knew her by name were Hiccup and Valka, neither of which were behind her. At the same time, that voice sound familiar, like home. Kenna gazed through the crowd, curious who had called her name. From between massive shoulders and horned helmets, a head of black hair and a tattooed chin appeared.
"Eret?" she whispered, in disbelief.
"Kenna!" he shouted again, pushing his way past vikings and dragons, trying to get to her.
"Eret!" Kenna gasped, running toward him, feeling like a salmon swimming upstream against the throng of vikings. Her heart pounded in her chest, tears stung her eyes as she fought her way to get to him. She ignored the disgruntled shouts of the people she pushed out of the way, her only thought on getting to Eret.
She was concerned when she lost sight of him, scared that they had somehow missed each other, when she ran into a solid mass. Large hands gripped her shoulders and she looked up to find kind brown eyes, crinkled in happiness, a large smile across his face.
"Hi," he said in a casual tone, "fancy meeting you here."
The laughter that escaped her was soon overtaken by tears of relief. Kenna had thought that she had lost him forever, knowing that Drago would have lashed out after she escaped. She assumed he was dead, and to have him here in front of her, the wall that she had built inside of herself to keep the sadness, loneliness, and fear at bay had crumbled the instant he touched her.
Strong arms encircled Kenna's waist, lifting her up in a great hug. She wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
"Hush love,"he murmured into my ear. "It's alright, I've got you, Kenna. I'm here."
"I thought I lost you," she whimpered into his neck.
He pulled Kenna away from him and set her down in front of him. One large, calloused hand gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Brown eyes gazing into her own amber ones. "And I, you," he whispered as he pulled her lips up to meet his own.
Soft lips traced against Kenna's as strong arms wrapped around her and held her close. In an instant, everything was right with the world again. The two were oblivious to the crowd around them, staring in disbelief. Eret stroked her cheek with his thumb as his tongue brushed her lower lip. She opened her mouth slightly, letting him in as her arms rested on his shoulders. There was nothing rushed or frantic about this kiss. It was tenderness, love, and a promise of protection. They had both experienced so much pain, loss, and heartbreak, but all that mattered now was that they were together again. Kenna's stomach fluttered and her mind felt fuzzy, the only thing that mattered was Eret. Her legs grew weak and she was thankful for his secure arms around her.
The two lovers pulled apart, becoming painfully aware of the cheering that had erupted around them. The vikings around them had stopped and were now staring and clapping. Many of the men were whistling and shouting at Eret, either words of praise and admiration, or jests at his expense. With his arm around Kenna's shoulder, she buried my face in his chest, embarrassment turning her face a vivid shade of pink.
"Haven't you lot got something better to do?!" he shouted, teasing the crowd. They mumbled before making their way back towards their original destination.
As Eret encouraged Kenna to follow, she glanced up at him, noticing his tips of his ears were also reddened. She reached out for Moon, who hadn't left my side the entire time, her head brushing against Kenna's fingers. Eret was joined by Skullcrusher, who nudged the man affectionately, before the four of them entered the Great Hall, together.