Sorry, I know I promised this next chapter would be up sooner then I had been updating, and it kinda is, but I wanted to finish it sooner.

Next chapter is the epilogue.


Chapter 12: Trader

...

A few minutes after her own performance, Runa had come down from the stage and stood with the riders as they ate and drank by the bomb fire. Most of the villagers had left to retire to their houses for the night, but a few still stayed to socialize and feast.

"There you go," Runa said as she gently placed one of the Fireworms she had brought back with her to help in their performance, into Hiccup's hands. Hiccup looked down at the little, lightly glowing dragon as it crawled around in his cupped hands, feeling warmth but no scorching pain.

"Wow," Hiccup said fascinated, looking from the Fireworm to Runa. "I didn't think you could actually hold a Fireworm without burning yourself."

"Well one can. But it does take quite a few tries," Runa chuckled, another Fireworm on her shoulder. "With quite a few burns," she said as she pulled up her sleeves a bit more to reveal several tiny burn marks up and down both her arms.

"Cool," Tuffnut admired as he glazed at them, the other Fireworm already in his hands.

"Their core body temperature is normally very high. But when they are startled or feel threatened, they can bring that heat to their skin surface to defend themselves. However, because of their small bodies, doing that burns out their body heat faster. But if they are calm, most of that heat remains at their core and is not wasted so quickly, and then it is safe enough for them to be in contact with human skin," Runa explained.

"Fascinating," Fishlegs said in awe, gazing at the one in Hiccup's hands. "So do these little guys have names?"

"Of course. These three are my closest friends among the Fireworms," Runa replied with a smile. "They basically moved in to my hut with me after grandmother passed away," her smile a bit more sad. "That is Blaze, the only male," she said, pointing to the one in Hiccup's hands. "The other two are females. Magmera, or Maggie for sort," at that name, she gestured to the one on her shoulder. "And that is Flambée," she pointed to the one Tuffnut was holding.

"Flaw-bay?" Tuffnut tried to repeat.

"Flambée. It's a cooking method where you add alcohol to create a burst of flame to the dish," Runa explained. "I named her that because she likes hanging around me most when I am cooking." Runa brought a finger out to nuzzle up to Flambée's face as she nested in Tuff's hands. Flambée happily nuzzled back. Tuffnut grinned by the cuteness of the both of them.

"Well you are an excellent cook," Astrid commented as she stood on the other side of Hiccup, nipping at one of the scones the young 'witch' had made and brought for the festival before leaving her island. "These scones are really tasty."

"Thank you. I wish I had more time but I think they turned out good," Runa replied.

The riders and their new friend were quiet for a moment before an unexpected presence came up to them and said…

"I didn't believe my eyes at first glance. But by the sound of that name and that voice singing, now I know I was not mad," the new-comer to their conversation called from a few feet in front of the group. All the young adults turned their heads to see the warm smile of…

"Johann!" Runa yelled in excitement before running up to the man

"Johann?" the others asked in unison as they watched their new friend throw her arms around the trader's neck in a hug as he hugged her back.

"Bonjour mademoiselle," Trader Johann greeted the girl fondly after pulling away a bit.

"Bonjour monsieur," Runa returned with a wide smile.

"Wait, what?" Ruffnut asked out loud, looking confused as the other riders as they all looked at the two before them.

"Oh, that means 'hello miss' and 'hello sir'," Runa replied, turning her attention back to the dumbfounded riders for a moment. But she turned back to Johann as he spoke to her again.

"Well this is a sight I never thought I'd live to see. You actually…"

"Left? I know," Runa smiled, not entirely believing it herself. "These nice people with dragons found me," she gestured to the riders. "I tried to scare them off my island for more than a whole day but they stayed and… I told them everything," she shrugged.

"Wait a second, wait a second," Snotlout intervened. "You guys know each other? How?!"

Hiccup stared at them, deep in thought, until he finally remembered. "The world traveling trader that visits your island…"

"And a good friend of my father even before he met mother," Runa finished for the heir.

"You told them about me?" Trader Johann asked.

"Well not by name. I didn't know they knew you," Runa shrugged again.

"Of course, Berk is one of my favorite trading stops," Johann replied merrily. "Plus I do enjoy the Harvest Scare Festival here. I was actually going to come visit you again afterwards."

"Johann, you really knew both of Runa's parents?" Tuffnut interrupted, his curiosity once again peaked.

"And her grandmother," the trader replied. "Although I do believe she didn't like me all that much, ever after I swore to not tell anyone about their secret lifestyle or harm them. I understood they were different, but they were good people. As Runa has grown to being a good person," Johann wrapped one arm around the girl in a friendly, one-armed hug. Runa smiled up at him. "She allowed me to continue coming to their island with supplies for them, but I never thought she completely trusted me," Johann scratched his chin in thought for a second, then shrugged. "Either that or she just didn't like me."

"Well mother liked you and so did I. And I still do," Runa said, happy and grateful to the only male-figure she ever knew in her life.

Hiccup continued to watch the two of them, still thinking hard about this new information. "Johann, can I have a word?" he finally asked, nodding his head away from the group.

Trader Johann nodded solemnly back and walked with Hiccup, stopping a few yards away from the group, close to the stairs that lead to the plaza stage.

"I know what you're going to say Master Hiccup," Johann said after they were out of ear shot of the others. Hiccup turned back to the trader, his face stern.

"Why didn't you tell us about her?"

"Because I gave her family my word. And not just my word as a trader who won't reveal their sources of trade, but as a concerned family friend," Johann told the younger man.

"Johann, you knew Runa her whole life, that she lived among dragons her whole life, and that she needed a place to live where people wouldn't think she was wicked and could accept her attraction to dragons, and you didn't try to bring her here sooner?" Hiccup subtlety ranted. "She's been living on that island, by herself, for the past four years. That's around the same time we made peace with the dragons. She would have been more then welcome here." If Johann had told him and the others about Runa back then, they would have all flown straight to Fireworm Island, scoured the island for her, and tried to make friends with her and brought her to Berk years ago.

"You think I wasn't concerned about that Master Hiccup?" Johann countered. "Of course I tried. Even before I knew Berk would be a perfect place for her. When her grandmother died, I tried so many times to convince her to pack up and allow me to sail her to another island with a village so she could create a new life for herself, but she wouldn't. She was so afraid she would be scorned and marked as wicked, just like her grandmother back in her home village. I'm assuming she told you all about her family history," Hiccup nodded. "And after I heard you and your friends started training dragons here on Berk, I had even higher hopes she would come with me to settle into a 'dragon friendly' village," Johann sighed. "But she still refused."

Hiccup folded his arms. "So you told her about us and she still refused to come here?"

"When I told her there was an island of Vikings living peacefully among dragons; Nadder, Gronckles, Zipplebacks, Terrible Terrors, Monstrous Nightmares, she didn't think she would be welcome or comfortable living among those dragons. Let alone 'other people' for that matter."

Hiccup thought back to more she had told them that mourning. "She told us her family had also been scaring away other dragon species off their island with eels."

"That's right. She and her family lived on that island believing Fireworms could be they're only other companions outside their family."

That made sense. "So she was afraid to not only live in a village full of other people, but a village full of other, larger, dragons that weren't Fireworms," Hiccup concluded.

"That's about right, Master Hiccup," said Johann, before sighing regretfully. "I do wish I could have told you about her sooner or brought you to her myself, but I just couldn't break her trust. After her family was gone, I was the only one she had left. I feared how she would have reacted if I brought anyone with me to visit her," Johann glanced back behind to see Runa still conversing happily with the other riders, along with one or two other adult Vikings who were walking by to say hello. "I promised her grandmother, her mother, even her father before she was even born that I would always look out for her. Which I could not do if she no longer trusted me." Hiccup looked on with him. Runa looked a little uncomfortable talking with the few other villagers, but smiled and communicated back well enough. And with the other riders, she looked very at home. "But now just look at her. Now that you and your friends have shown her the truth. That she can trust and live peacefully with other people and dragons, she can start herself a new," Johann said happily. Hiccup smiled as well, watching as his father walked up to them, along with Gothi.

"Runa, this is Gothi. Our Village Elder and the best healer on Berk," Stoick introduced the old women to their new-comer. Gothi smiled warmly and nodded her head respectfully to greet the younger women.

"Bonjour madame," Runa curtseyed with also a respectful bow of the head to the wise elder. Until her head snapped up, upon realizing this women most likely didn't understand that greeting. "I-I mean, Hello Ma'am… Um, Elder Gothi," Runa quickly stuttered to correct herself, before rushing back into a curtsey pose and keeping her head down. But the girl dropped the position, feeling an old, fragile hand take one of her hands that was holding out her shirt. Runa dropped her other hand and stood normally, looking down to the village elder, holding her hand with a gentle and welcoming smile. Runa smiled sincerely back.

"I've honestly never seen her this happy before. Not since before her mother passed at least," Johann smiled with a mix of sadness, but still joyful. And relief. Relief that he would not be leaving her alone again the next time he says goodbye to her.

Hiccup still believed he could have gotten through to her if they had met her years ago, but he knew there was no point if fussing about it now. She may have had to indoor those few years after her grandmother died alone, but she made the best of it then and now she would never have to be alone again. He and the other riders would make sure of it.


After having their fill at the buffet, all the riders also retired to their old houses with their families for the night. Hiccup offered Runa his bed in the loft of the chief's house to sleep in for the night while he slept downstairs.

The next morning, Runa decided to make breakfast for the chief and his son in their very own kitchen. And of course, she over did it and made more food than two young adults and a Viking chief could finish. So Hiccup invited Gobber and the other riders to help.

Everyone from the bomb fire loved her scones from the other night, and her cooking the following morning was even more enjoyable. Runa was indeed one of the best cooks to prepare food on Berk.

When it was determined that those at the Haddock's table could eat no more, the riders decided to show Runa around the village, now that there was day light. They brought her to the Great Hall first, to share the left-over food from their rather large breakfast with the Vikings there that morning. And of course everyone was elated to have more of their wonderful new-comer's cooking. Runa did appreciate the positive feedback and compliments, but she wasn't used to being around so many people and being given so much attention; positive or otherwise.

After leaving the Great Hall, the riders walked Runa down to the docks, to bid Trader Johann a good morning. After that, them and their dragons were all needed in the village plaza to help clean up from the festival; putting away tables, cleaning out the bomb fire pit, and taking the stage apart. During which time, Runa got to see the center of the village in the light of the day.

When everything was straighten out in the plaza and they were free to go, the riders took Runa to their primary place of business on Berk; the Dragon Academy.

"And this is where we work to train dragons," Fishlegs announced as they walked through the tunnel gate and into the arena. "Also, were we used to fight, and otherwise, kill them," he added sheepishly, but Runa was too preoccupied looking around, up at the doming chain net over their heads.

The riders all watched Runa walk around the space of the arena, her three Fireworm companions on her shoulders.

"So Runa, do you like Berk so far?" Hiccup asked her from across the floor.

Runa turned back to her new friends. "Well, it is pretty nice here. I don't know," she said with a shrug as she started walking back to them slowly. "I mean, you guys are great and your dragons are lovely, but I just think it's going to take a while for me to adjust to living in an actual village with so many people," she said honestly as she stopped in front of them before smiling. "But with all of your help I think I'll be okay." However, after saying this, the riders all looked down with 'not happy' looks on their faces. Runa's smile dropped and was replaced with confusion upon seeing this. "What?"

"Well Runa, it's just… we're not staying," Hiccup spoke up, looking a bit guilty. "We're leaving tomorrow morning," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What? Why? I thought this was your home," Runa asked desperately. She didn't want to live in a village of strangers and without her only new friends.

"It is, but we have to return to our outpost on another island," Astrid stepped in. "We made it as our base of operations while we hunt for an escaped prisoner and search for new dragons."

"Oh," Runa looked down, taking in what the other girl just said. "That does sound pretty important," she admitted. Runa sighed before looking back at the riders. "Will I be staying with the chief or do you think Elder Gothi would take me in?" she asked, trying to smile.

The riders waited for Hiccup to give her an answer. The heir thought for a second before a brief grin flashed onto his face. "Actually Runa, you won't be staying with either of them," he told her.

"Oh," said Runa. "Then where would…"

"Runa, why don't we tell you a little about our outpost," Hiccup interrupted her right before guiding her over to a few crates on the other side of the arena floor, the other riders following. He sat Runa down on one of the crates before sitting down himself on another next to her, the other riders stood around them. "It's called the Dragon's Edge."

"It's posted on a beautiful island that's about a day's worth of flying from here," Fishlegs added.

"The island itself is pretty big but the outpost we built is smaller than this village," Hiccup continued.

"We all have our own huts," Astrid also added.

"Except us," Tuffnut interrupted, guesturing to his sister and himself. "We share a somewhat bigger one." Ruffnut nodded.

"We have stables for our dragons, a few watch towers, another dragon training arena," Hiccup said.

"But with a dome," Snotlout added.

"Yes," Hiccup quickly acknowledged his cousin's input. "And a special meeting house that overlooks the whole outpost. We call it the Club House aka, the Eye of Dragon's Edge," he finished, letting Runa respond.

"That all sounds really nice," the new girl half-smiled, looking down, still unhappy that her new friends would be leaving her here while they go live at such an amazing place doing amazing and exciting things.

Hiccup leaned in a bit closer to her, trying to see her face. A small smile on his lips. "Nice enough to want to live there yourself?" he asked.

"Well I guess but…" Runa replied without fully processing what the young heir had just asked her. After stopping herself mid-speech to really think about his question, she turned back to look at him with a shocked expression.

Seeing she was a bit confused, Hiccup continued with a serious face. "Runa, we do a lot of things ourselves to care for Dragon's Edge. We protect it and each other. We clean our own huts and dragon stalls. But we don't have time for other things like taking care of livestock or a garden," he listed.

"Or cooking," Snotlout once again added.

"Yeah, none of us are very good cooks either," Hiccup agreed with his cousin. "And you said it yourself, you don't feel all that comfortable around so many people yet, but you are comfortable around us, right?" he asked for clarification, gesturing to himself and the other riders around the two of them.

Runa glanced all around her to see the friendly looks all the riders were giving her before turning back to Hiccup. "That sounds about right," she shrugged.

Hiccup smiled. "And not only that, but you're a healer. If one of us gets hurt or sick, we could use a healer already there with us instead of flying a whole day to get Gothi," he continued. Hiccup glanced down for a second. "So, I guess what I'm asking is, do you want to come back to Dragon's Edge and live there with us?" he finally asked her. "We'll build you your own hut right by the Club House, that's where the kitchen is."

Runa didn't respond right away, instead, she stood up from her crate and took a few steps away from the other as she processed all this and to think. "Would I have to be a dragon rider like you all?" she asked, still half-turned away from them.

Hiccup stood too, glancing at the other riders briefly before answering. "Not necessarily. I mean, you already have a way with Fireworms, but we could teach you more about other dragons. So you could be a trainer," their leader offered.

"Would Magmera, Flambée, and Blaze be welcome?" Runa reached up to pat Blaze on her left shoulder.

"Well a dragon trainer's got to have companionship with their dragon of choice," Snotlout said, crossing his arms comfortably.

"And I would be expected to cook, garden, tend to livestock, and heal when need be?" Runa turned back more to face them.

"And maybe do some sweeping around the walkways and platforms a little," Fishlegs added.

"Do you have any sheep?" she asked hopefully.

All the riders shared a quick look with each other, knowing the answer was 'no.' They only had a female yak for fresh milk, the boars for the Boar Pit, and a few wild chickens. "We could bring a few sheep to the Edge if you want," Tuffnut blurted before anyone else could just flat-out say 'no.' Runa smiled warmly at the male Thorston twin before quickly glancing to the side, still thinking.

After giving her an extra few seconds to think it over, Hiccup stepped up and asked. "So, what do you say?"

Runa looked back at the riders with a straight face. Then, that straight face slowly turned to an excited smile.

"When can I start?"