Declaimer: I don't own How to Train your Dragon.
AN: I edited the chapter so it would be easier to read. Please don't be shy to let me know if you notice any grammatical error. English is not my first language, and though I have been practicing it for a long time, I know there are still things I need to be reminded of.
A Little More About the Story: As the title implies, this is the story of how a certain girl finds a dragon under quite different circumstance but don't think this is just my ego trying to get high. This is her story, but is also Hiccup's. The past and his legacy are constantly, if not equally part of the story. What was done in the past, affects the present and future (though I am still debating with myself about the last one).
YES, there will be mature language and situations. Teens drinking, smoking and other (use your imagination.) I am not particularly good at writing lemons but I will show one here or there every once in a while, though don't expect much detail.
Ferdoos: thank you again for your reviews. They are always very welcome.
Lady Bombones: aunque te quiero y aprecio mucho, especialmente después de dejarme estos comentarios. No te perdonare si me llamas Emo otra vez. Gracias por todo tu apoyo y siéntete bienvenida a compartir tus ideas acerca de la historia.
EDIT****
A big thanks to Ferdoos for pointing out to me that I got Ruffnut and Tuffnut's names mixed up. It has been corrected.
Chapter 12
The light of the moon had always been comforting to him, and was not surprised when he found his child felt the same way. Stein watched with wide blue eyes as the beginning of spring reached them. It had been a winter colder than many seen the past few years, but with their warm refuge underground, they had found it bearable.
"Stein, look dragons" Hiccup pointed at the flock of Terrible Terrors returning from the winter migration. Soon more and newly hatched dragons would return soon and if sooner better.
"Da…da," Stein said before pulling on his father's hair. Hiccup laughed as he tried to untangle his little fingers.
"It's almost spring," he heard Astrid call behind him echoing his worry "Do you think she will leave us alone?"
"I doubted," and she knew too it was a silly question. Still, one could dream.
"How is Svala?" he asked as Renald's sister had been ill for a few weeks, that night it had turned to the worse.
"She passed away" Astrid said before taking Stein from his father, "Renald is heartbroken"
"And Shield?" he asked for Svala's little girl.
"She is with Ragnheid; she volunteered to look after her for a while"
"Fishlegs must be happy to have a child at home," he said with a gentle smile. The couple had been married for a short time only.
They, with their child returned to the inside of the mountain. Not far from where they had made their home inside the hollow of the earth was Svala and Renald's home. Hiccup led his wife home before going to look for the ex-chief of the Nut Crackers. He found the most Viking man he had ever known kneeling before his sister's bed with long lines of tears running down his handsome face.
"She is gone, she is gone…" he said again and again.
"But Shield isn't. She needs you," he said kneeling next to him, "you are all she got"
"You could raise her much better than me; I am but a freak,"
"Never say that again," he shook the larger man, "you raised Svala, and she was a lovely person. You have to do the same for Shield"
"I can't"
"Why the hell not?" he asked through clenched teeth, "are you really okay with having someone else raise her?"
Renald didn't answer but stayed kneeled before Svala's body praying to the gods for her sake. She was the only woman he had ever loved until the birth of his niece. He took his sister's cold hand and kissed it. More tears ran down his face.
Hiccup stood up before he got a fur and placed it around his shoulder. He would let him grieve, and be there for him as his friend. He would also be there to remind him of the responsibility he still carried in that world.
"Fishlegs and Ragnheid will look after her for a while," he said before leaving.
All men, any kind of men were not without emotion. They could hide them, bury them deep inside, but they were always there. They usually came out when things were not in their hands to change. There was nothing Renald could have done to save his sister. It was an illness that was hard to cure without the right herbs, the winter had made it impossible to find them.
As Hiccup got to bed with his wife, he hoped he was never in one of those situations.
It was the most beautiful spring they had seen in years, just as the winter before it had been one of the coldest. The fire pit burned beautifully as the woman that was once known as Svala turned into ashes; her spirit rising to Valhalla where her love waited for her. She didn't have regrets because she had known love from her tribe, family, and husband. She had enjoyed holding her child, and though she wouldn't raise her little Shield, she knew her brother would look after her, like he took care of her as a child. She was never sad because of him.
"Sister," Renald said as he held Shield in his arms. The baby girl watched the flames rise high into the sky "good bye" he didn't cry but smiled at his niece.
He had his time to cry the night before, when Fishlegs brought his niece to him because they couldn't get her to sleep he was reminded of when Svala was a child. She also had a lot trouble falling sleep as an infant. He had taken the child in his arms as he had done with his sister so many years ago. The child fell silent immediately, and since then had been with him.
Hiccup was fast and only grew faster with time. Snotlout had to put up his shield before his cousin could add a new orifice to his face.
"Ah…" but Hiccup had taken his sweet time during the winter to make a few changes to his sword. Snotlout was the first to test its new attribute. The sword pierced through his shield as if it was made of cloth. The tip of his thin sword drew a point of blood in Snotlout's forehead.
"Hiccup!" he pulled back before Dylla marched into the training area. They watched as her belly jiggled as she went "how dare you hurt my husband's beautiful face!"
"Ehm…" it was the first time he had ever seen her upset.
"I am fine honey bun," said Snotlout wiping his forehead, "can't even see it"
"Hmm…" she pouted before turning away from the chief and marched off.
"That was unexpected," Hiccup said with a smirk. Dylla was the kind of woman that looked cute when she got upset, unlike Astrid that made you fear for your life.
"It's because of the baby, right?" said Snotlout not used to his wife making such fuzz for something so small.
"I suppose, Astrid was remarkably mild when pregnant" he wondered what happened to women's mind when pregnant to change them so much.
"Good, now tell me how you got your sword to do that" he said before pointing to the precise cut Hiccup had made to his shield.
*****PRESENT*****
The Monday paper didn't have much to offer in Steinunn's opinion. Still, she usually read it as she drank a hot cup of coffee in her office, like every other Monday. She was glad she didn't pick up the cup before the paper; otherwise she would have spilled it over herself. On the front page was a face she hadn't seen in a long time. Halldora was dead, she had utterly forgotten about the old lady. She had met her once, when Hagnes had been born. Varick treated her with a lot of respect, but he never explained who she was.
The old lady had looked at Hagnes and laughed before pinching the baby's cheek softly. She congratulated them both before she disappeared. From what she understood she lived in a cabin alone in the woods. Such cabin had not been able to stand the strength of the last earthquake and hurt the old woman beyond healing.
But there was much more, the old woman as it turned out was the long lost Douches of Berk. The old woman had preferred the humble and uncluttered life she led in the woods by herself. The matter of her successor had already been resolved, but no word as who it could be had been said. The Major knew that soon the Crown would make an appearance. They took noble blood matters quite seriously. As if summoned, her phone rang.
The voice that answered from the other line was courteous and gorgeously masculine. This had been the second time she had talked to the crown prince, and just like the first time she had to sit. They were coming to Berk. When had been the last time they visited? She hadn't been mayor them… she realized Hagnes had been born about that time, so she and her husband had been in their own little world.
"It will be done, your majesty" she said with the most respectful tone she could summon.
Was she loyal to the Crown? Not really. No one actually was in Berk that she knew of. They were like the black sheep of the islands. The last ones to accept defeat three hundred years ago, and even so they had never made it easy for the Crown to rule. Unlike the other islands which were governed by lords and ladies of the high-class, who lapped before the feet of the crown, they actually chose their local government and such. No one thought there was someone of high-class blood until that Monday's news was printed.
Jason finally found her leaving a funerary. So, it was true what the papers said. The previous Duchess had passed away. He had received a task from the Crown that morning to find Hagnes. She seemed like her normal annoyed self when she spotted him. Well, at least he now knew it didn't go to her head.
"Douches…" he whispered between them.
"What do you want Gallion," she said glaring at him "I am busy"
"Preparing the funeral for Lady Halldora, I suppose" she regarded him coldly, "you have my condolences"
"Get it over with already" she said stepping up to him.
"Here," he said handing her an envelope, "they want to meet you"
"You read it?"
"No, but it was to be expected"
Hagnes opened the letter and read. It was as he had said, they wanted to meet her and make a public event out of it. They also gave her condolences for her loss with exceptionally beautiful calligraphy.
"It won't be long," she said folding the letter and putting it in her pocket,"tell them I accept and will meet them Saturday night, after Halldora's service"
"Are you not afraid?"
Then he saw her smile, it wasn't a real smile. It was the kind of smile an older sibling gave to their baby brother. The kind of smile that said you are not ready to know.
"Tell them, I will meet them in the garden behind the town hall. Also, that it's up to them if they want to make it something public. Everyone will know soon anyways" and is in cue the earth shook again. It was until that day that Jason Gallien understood that he had never actually seen Hagnes angry. Her pupils dilated, and then her jaw, fists, and muscles clenched. She didn't frown, but her lips drew a cruel sardonic smile across her face; as if she was planning her perfect revenge.
"Are you okay?" he asked her when the earthquake stopped.
"Yeah," she said relaxing once again, "don't forget to tell them" she said before turning around and leaving.
"But…" but she was already gone. He had never seen someone be angry at an earthquake.
Hagnes took a deep breath as she was finally able to clear the debris of the cabin away from the entrance to the tunnels. Trying not to panic she went over the directions once again under her breath.
"Right, right, left, right…" she felt Kara nudge her forwards "I am going! Bossy lizard"
Hagnes went on the opposite direction of where the mountain was. She followed Halldora's instruction, and as the old woman had said to her; the deeper she went, the hotter it got. They reached a point where the walls were but naked shapeless rock. It was a place that her ancestors didn't want anyone else looking into.
She went deeper and deeper, feeling the air become difficult to breathe. Or maybe it was the uneasiness of knowing what was ahead. Finally, she reached a large gate. She had to ask Kara to help her get it open. They were hit by an incredible wave of heat which had them gasping for breath. Hagnes had to lean on Kara until she was able to breathe normally.
"Let's go," she said before they went through and down a long set of rough stairs, at the bottom Hagnes found what she was looking for; a large black metal chest. She passed the light of the flashlight all over it and felt her heart flutter at the intricate designs. It had been done by a master blacksmith for sure as she could even note the scales on the nightfuries that adorned it. She passed her fingers over them, they got covered by dust, but she didn't mind. Finally, she found the key lock before she brought out the key Halldora had given her. Still, she didn't use it. She didn't want to look at her last gift from Halldora in such a dark place.
Kara growled softly. Hagnes turned to look at what the dragoness was looking at. At the end of the chamber was a tunnel that ran beyond.
"Only go, if you are ready to face your true enemy" those had been her words.
"Wait here Kara," she said before she walked ahead.
*****PAST*****
It was a beautiful baby boy with curly golden locks and brilliant blue eyes. Whoever the father was couldn't be traced by the child's features. The gods approved then that the child was hers and hers alone. Her child was to rule everything and everyone around them.
"My lady," a servant came in, "should I bring your breakfast?"
"We will take it now," Camicazi said as she sat on her bed, her child in her arms.
Every morning since he had been born only Camicazi took care of him. She knew that even though it was not voiced, many of the Bog-Burglars were not happy that she had decided to make her son her heir. But it had been looked with approval from the other tribes. Though she felt a little odd changing one of their oldest traditions, she decided to no longer segregate the males from the females in the tribe and have them trained. Plenty of them were hardened by the strenuous work they had done since children and would make excellent warriors.
She guessed she and Hiccup were more alike that she would want to admit. They changed things around them to their own views, not giving hell for tradition. They were different, and probably if they had lived under a different situation they could have been friends.
She laughed at herself, becoming a mother changed your perspective somewhat. Still, he continued to be her enemy, and she would destroy him entirely. She would take everything that he loved and defile it, and watch as he lost that humanity he was so proud of. He couldn't kill them back then, in fear that he would lose himself; she knew it was the same for her. Something inside her was going to break, the remaining of her humanity. But, the difference was that she was not afraid to lose it. The child in her arms would guide her back, and remind her that she had meaning. Yes, all she was doing was for a reason.
"Your breakfast, my lady," said the servant putting it on a small table before bowing and leaving them.
"They are preparing reserves, it won't be long before they start to move" Jokull reported to the council and chief.
"They are as many as last time," Hiccup read the numbers.
"This time they won't take us by surprise," Snotlout said proudly before pointing at the map "we have lookouts all over the island"
Hiccup nodded, "how are the new trainers coming?"
"First-rate," responded Fishlegs, "though I imagine we won't let them fight unless is truly necessary" he added with caution.
"We are going to sink as many as possible before they are anywhere near us," Hiccup continued, "also, is not like us, but we need to send some spies"
"We are not cowards!" Snotlout slammed his hands on the table.
"We are not," Hiccup agree "but we need more information. I highly doubt Camicazi will try the same tactics as last years"
"I volunteer," said Ulfar speaking up next his father.
"Ye will not!" Gobber pulled him to sit again.
"I am the only one with the experience. I can teach others too" the young man said walking up to Hiccup.
"It won't be for long," Hiccup assured Gobber, "and we won't send anyone alone" a lot of those present just to listen to the meeting looked interested.
*** Side Story ***
Ulfar was glad to be of use. All through the harsh weather of Berk, he and his father had fixed and made new weapons for the war. But now, he found himself just waiting. He was a man of action, and if he could do something he would. Hiccup asked him to have his pick of those he thought good to be spies. Thanks to the one year he had lived in Berk, he found that it wasn't difficult to pin point those who would do well. Those who were most calm, and took the time to think things through. Those were his choices, but he was also open for volunteers. It was quite a surprise to find Ruffnut Thorston among those volunteers.
"We need people who can be discreet," he said carefully, last thing he wanted was to make the shield maiden upset.
"I can be very discreet," she said with her malicious smile.
"We are only to spy, not kill" he warned her, but she only shrugged. He realized he wouldn't be able to change her mind "alright, but you better listen"
The main skill of a spy was the ability to blend in. Behave like those around and go by unnoticed. Ulfar had actually to applaud to Hiccup's ingenuity. They were to go in pairs; a male and female to behave as couples. They would be less likely to stand out that way. Ulfar gave them a quick run of the main areas around the other tribes of where they could find information. Though they were short of time, they were able to change the appearance of most in case anyone recognized them from the battle field.
The night before they were to leave he faced a challenge he had been expecting when she pushed her way into the training. He had assigned Ruffnut to be his partner because he wanted to keep a close eye on her. They agreed to meet at the beginning of the night to go over their story together. Ulfar had dyed his long blond hair black and cut it short just in case. He cut his beard short and changed his clothing to resemble that of a merchant.
Ruffnut had dressed the same way, done nothing to her hair, but had applied a thick layer of bright make up on her face.
"What?" Ruffnut asked when he stared at her in misbelief. He knew she was of the toughest shield maidens, but she had no common sense when it came to her appearance.
"Come here," he said before she followed him back to her home.
"What happened to you!" Tuffnut and his father stood back when they saw her come in.
"What do you mean…" she said with a deadly glare. Both father and son looked at each other.
"Well, you see sweetheart…" and then her father jumped out the window followed by Tuffnut.
"Come back here!" she was about to chase them, but then Ulfar stopped her.
"Where is your room?" he asked her before she blushed, but thanks to the makeup Ulfar wasn't able to see it. She pointed to a small room in the back. He sat her on a stool, ignoring the mess around them, before bringing a basin with water. This gave her the chance to evaluate the terrible job she had done with the makeup "this won't do Ruffnut" he started cleaning her face until the huge patches of blue and pink were gone, "show me the voice you will use"
"Hey cutie" she said with a low seductive voice, or at least Ulfar thought it was supposed to be seductive. It actually sounded like a Grunkle singing drunk, as it also tried to gargle a family of squirrels.
"This is not a game, try again" he said as he went over the makeup she had available "and remember, you will be passing as a merchant's wife, and not a warrior at all"
She took a deep breath, "it's wonderful to meet you," she said with a sweet voice and a small smile before she faked to gag.
"Good, now close your eyes" she did nervously before she felt his touch on her eyelids. His large hands were hard from the many years of work, but still he was able to work with the precision of a seamstress. She felt a little envious "all done" he said before she looked at the mirror in her room. He didn't apply much, but he had stuck the blue shadow on her eyes. It was less than what she had used. There was a little blush on her cheeks, and her lips had a rosy tone.
"Now, let's look at your hair… how do you feel about changing its color?"
"Mhe," she shrugged but he could see she was unease about it. He looked around the room but couldn't find what he needed.
"Brush your hair, I will be right back" he said before leaving.
She started brushing, wondering what he would do to it. She liked to keep it loose most of the time, which caused it to tangle a lot. Still, she knew it was of her best features.
"Here," she heard him say before he put a headscarf on her. He tied it before going around to look at her, "this color suits you," it was light blue silk, "but you still look too single" he smiled at her before taking it off. He went behind her again before starting to meddle with her hair.
"Do you know what you are doing?"
"You wouldn't believe the number of Bog-burglars who would ask me to do their hair" he said trying not to bite his tongue. He actually missed doing Camicazi's, which was about the same tone of blond as Ruffnut's.
"Great…" she said sarcastically, but she couldn't help to gasp when he finished. The front of her hair had been braided in four sections and then pulled back to wrap around an intriguing bun, this exposed her neck and ears. She looked much more mature, and couldn't help to note she had an exceptionally beautiful collar bone.
"And then…" he said before putting the headscarf on her again. He fixed it so that it had two ends that went on either side of the bun "now you look like a merchant's wife" but then he looked at her clothes, nope; he still needed to fix that.
"Show me your best clothes,"
"These are my best," she said still looking at the mirror in wonder. Her head had never looked so elegant.
"I might have something for that," both turned to find Ruffnut's father; Rocknutt at the door carrying a chest with him.
"But…" Ruffnut was speechless.
"Ya ma'm would like you to have them, especially if they can help you" he shrugged the same way his daughter did.
"Thank you," said Ulfar taking it from him. Then he noticed Tuffnut standing in the kitchen watching him with calculating eyes.
It was only until late at night that they had found the perfect robe and shoes. After he finished putting some jewelry on her, he couldn't help feeling lucky. Ruffnut was indeed beautiful, but when she dressed up a little she looked astonishing.
"I look like my mother," she said looking at the mirror with yearning, "I can't believe it."
"You look beautiful," the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them, "I mean, it will be perfect for our cover. No one would think even once you are the same Ruffnut that can smash skulls with her bare hands"
She smiled at her reflection. She was still Ruffnut, the magnificent shield maiden of Berk which meant a lot to her. But, she realized she could be something else if she wanted to.
"You better get some sleep, we will be leaving early" he said before leaving her to her thoughts. Just as he closed the door to the Thorson household, he met with a rather impatient looking Tuffnut.
"Took your sweet time," he said with a scowl.
"I was not aware you were waiting for me," he said trying to side step him, but the twin wouldn't have it.
"Do you like my sister?" he asked at once.
"She is nice," he said, "but not my type"
"So it's true…" Tuffnut snickered.
"I will bite, what is true?"
"That you have the same taste as Renald"
"I do not have the same taste as chief Renald," he said trying to hold back his temper.
"Then why did you say she was nice, when clearly you couldn't get your eyes off her"
"Because I was helping her with her cover, you know… since we are going to spy on another island" he said before he noted the male twin think about it; making the pieces fit together.
"Right, right" Tuffnut said dismissively, but then he looked slightly upset "so you are not interested on her at all?"
"Why are you being so persistent?"
The twin shrugged the same way his sister and father did, "I guess I was hoping you would be interested on her. She hasn't received any proposals for a while"
"Maybe because she injured all who did," he had heard the stories going back a few years.
"She didn't," Tuffnut said, "I did"
"A little overprotective, aren't you?"
"But you seem like a nice guy," he said fast, "you are patient with her, and even can make her look like that"
"So you want me to be interested on your sister, or not?" he dared ask.
"I don't know," he said sitting on the steps to the door, "it's her life but… I guess I want her to be happy. She might not say anything about it, but I know she is not happy being the oldest shield maiden without a husband"
"And here I thought you weren't observant at all" he had noted the shield maiden become lonelier as more young women from her age group married.
"It's a twin thing," he admitted.
"It's a brother thing," he said sitting next to him, "I know what you mean. You want her to be happy, but just don't know how to go about it"
"You are talking about your sister,"
"A lost cause," he looked down at his hands, thinking "I do like her; Ruffnut, I mean. But, I don't know her well enough"
"I see," well, there went that idea, and he was in serious shortage of them.
"Maybe," he added making the twin look at him in surprise, "if I get to know her better during the mission, I might change my mind"
"Are you serious?"
Ulfar shrugged, darn! It was contagious, "yeah, I suppose" if she didn't get them killed.
***** PRESENT *****
Thursday night had arrived in not time. She had been so busy making arrangements that she barely had time to sleep. Still, when she noted Conall didn't try to invite her to another party she worried. She had been extremely distant since the incident with Runa, barely showing any interest in going out. It was unfair for him, she realized. So she decided to drop unexpectedly in that night's party. The wind was a little cold as she walked towards the party, meaning their warm season was about to end. Well, it was good while it lasted.
Hagnes noticed someone familiar as she closed on the house where the party was, "Hagnes?" in front of the steps was Ashton sitting, his cheek swollen. Hagnes stood there for a moment frozen. She had forgotten, or at least tried to forget about Ashton those past few days. The same fluttering feeling in her stomach returned "you shouldn't go inside" he said breaking her away from her thoughts. The sound was up all the way, which meant the party was good.
"Why the hell not" she realized she was upset at him.
"You… you just don't want to know, believe me" he said standing up.
"I will be the judge of that," she said side stepping him and then going in before he could stop her. He followed her inside where everyone froze when they saw her. Even the music stopped, which she knew wasn't a good sign. Some people snickered while others looked at her with disdain. Only Runi and Philly looked at her with worry. Runa didn't even look at her.
"You have to go," Philly approached her fast.
"What? Why?" it couldn't be that bad, Runa and Soleil had been torturing her for about half of her life.
"Hagnes…" but Runi didn't have a chance to continue. A giggle, followed by a deep moan was heard through the house; that was why the volume had been so high. Though it was a moan, she knew that voice quite well.
"Hagnes!" she heard Philly call out to her as she raced up the stairs and followed the adulterer sounds. She didn't know what she was doing, she knew she should turn around and leave, but just couldn't. Her kick almost threw the door off its hinges. They hadn't even bothered to turn off the lights. Everything was in the open; there was no way to deny what had been happening. Conall looked at her with shock before regret, and the finally disdain covered his features. Soleil simply smiled at her.
"Hello cousin, I hope you don't mind sharing"
Hagnes felt her stomach clench. He wasn't even trying to deny it, or hide, or anything! He was still at top of her, and almost looked ready to continue with what they were doing!
She felt sick. She graved a near trash bin and threw up on it.
"Oh, c'mon Hagnes; you should know better than to act so innocent" Soleil said as Conall got off her.
"What the hell are you talking about?" she asked, gasping for air.
"You know what I mean," she said looking behind Hagnes, where Ashton stood.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb!" Conall shouted surprising everyone, "you acted all innocent, but in reality you were fucking him all along"
"What?" but this time there was no confusion in her voice, there was only rage. She understood that Conall had been stupid enough to fall for Soleil's trickery, but she wouldn't allow anyone to call her a whore. She caught Conall evaluating her, wondering if she genuinely didn't understand. He was but another pawn, a extremely stupid one!
She took a deep breath, forcing her logic and dignity back and then spoke in a calm tone "would you be so kind as to fill me into what is happening?"
"This," Runa had joined them before she showed her what she had shown Conall a few days ago.
A few days ago
Conall put down his phone, he wondered if he had done something to drive her away like that. Hagnes had refused to go out all week. He sat by himself at the beginning of another party, taking in the momentary peace before things got downright crazy. He noticed Runa looking at him from afar as she fiddled with her phone. Soleil hadn't arrived yet, which meant the other girl could relax for a moment. He knew it was no joy ride for Runa to be near Soleil, especially since Runi stopped hanging out with her. Runi assisted parties but only when he, Hagnes, Ashton, or Philly were there.
"Hey," she said sitting next to him.
"What evil plan do you have for tonight?" he asked her with a calm smile. They wouldn't get him, no matter what.
"I don't want to do it," she said looking at her hand; she held her phone in a death grip.
"Is that so? Can't be worse than what you did to Hagnes in the locker room" he added mockingly.
"It will work, even you try to deny it" she said before she turned on her phone and started looking for the video, "I saw them…" and she let the video play.
She had been following Hagnes without her knowing, waiting for time for her to slip. The video showed Hagnes going into the café where Ashton worked. From the corner of the front window, she filmed as they started a conversation. The gentle brush of fingers as he handed her a cup of coffee, and awkward smiles they gave each other. Until then, Conall was not impressed. He knew Ashton liked Hagnes, but had never made any bold moves. But even if he did, he trusted Hagnes. Then, in the same video he watched as Hagnes pulled him into the back room. He wondered what happened. Maybe they had noticed Runa outside.
"Wait," she said before fast forwarding the video until Ashton came back from the back room. His hair was a mess, his face red, and his eyes had a glassy look.
"And Hagnes?" and watched as Runa slipped to the back of the shop where Hagnes was coming out the back door. Her hair was just as messy, and her face was red. Then, when Runa increased the image, he saw a red mark on her neck and swollen lips.
"I am as surprised as you," she said before watching him leave the party.
"We didn't do it," she said firmly.
"I already told him that," Ashton said nursing his cheek, of course Conall hadn't listened, "I told him you rejected me"
"Likely story," said Soleil, "who would have said you had it in you, cousin"
"Believe what you want," said Hagnes standing straight and proud, "you chose to believe her without coming to talk to me. That was your choice" she wouldn't cry, she was not going to cry! "It was lovely while it lasted Conall" she offered him a smile. That was her true smile, that sad little thing that always took away his breath. She was telling the truth.
"Hagnes…" but she had already turned around and left. He tried to dress as quick as he could to catch up to her.
"You don't really believe her, do you?" Soleil said in misbelieve, but he didn't answers because he did believe her.
He found her sitting downstairs with Philly and Runi. She was laughing at the whole pathetic situation.
"You don't care?" he couldn't believe her.
"Not anymore, I have more urgent matters to worry about" she responded as a fact.
"You don't care for me?" he had always loved the way she was straight forwards, but this was killing him.
"Not anymore," she repeated, "I am a cold hearted bitch if you haven't realized" her tone was controlled.
Conall didn't have the words to ask another question. He had made a mistake, but maybe… maybe he had done a right out of this wrong. She was cold as a winter night, but he didn't say it out loud. He looked at her calm expression one more time before he left.
"Well, that was anticlimactic," said Soleil coming down the stairs from where she had watched the whole ordeal.
"What will be next cousin?" Hagnes said with curious tone.
"You are crazy, you know that, right?" Soleil flinched. No one could, or should be able to stroll through life with that curious expression after being cheated on. Did she not feel at all?
Hagnes snorted a laugh she tried to hold back, "I am crazy?" she looked at her with her large green eyes in wonder, "you are the one who slept with a guy to just get to me, and tried to make my life hell for the past eight years. And I am the crazy one?" she asked looking at everyone in the room. No one was crazy to answer.
Soleil felt her face redden when she saw a few people shift uncomfortably.
"Fuck me and my fucking logic, oh and my boyfriend too, right?" Hagnes shook her head as in misbelief, "cousin, you should see a specialist. This obsession of yours of trying to hurt me is extremely unhealthy. You should concentrate on what you are good at, whatever that is" she rolled her eyes at her, something she had never seen Hagnes do.
"You…"
"I what?" she said standing to face her with the same calm smile.
"You are insane," she was able to get out, though she had been frozen by her calm eyes.
"Oh my, what a monumental words coming from you; okay, let's define insane, Soleil" she smirked devilishly before she continued, "to be insane, one must not be able to distinguish between right and wrong, and behave as if one was not responsible for one's actions. Behaving like a shameless whore, breaking hearts, betraying friends, destroying lives, ruining relationships, hurting people not just physically but to their cores to the point of despair, and then laugh as if it was all a game… that's being insane Soleil" she walked closer to her watching as her face turned redder and redder "that's you" she whispered a breath away from her.
Everyone was silent as they watched the two cousins face each other. After a minute, Soleil returned to her normal tone before a cruel expression covered her face.
"You think you are untouchable, don't you? Little, perfect Haggy" she tucked a dark strand of her long dark hair behind her ear, "I don't need to make your life miserable. You have done that all by yourself" Hagnes was not impressed, or at least she didn't appear to be, "you treat everyone as if they were beneath you because you are just that fucking smart, but you are nothing but the shadow of a stupid little girl who can't get over her father's pathetic death" Hagnes tried to show a smug smile but failed, "I remember that day too. The day your father died. You were so stupid to run after him crying. Daddy! Daddy! He also behaved like as if he was so smart, but he only spluttered nonsense about dragons, and whatnot. He was such a sad little man"
"Don't talk about my father," Hagnes said with a hint of anger in her voice.
"Did I stroke a sore point?"
"You didn't know my father; he…"
"But I did!" she interrupted her, "your father was crazy; obsessed with his stupid research that no one cared about! Who cares about the past! We live now! And he couldn't see that. I always wondered why he ran back to the car, you know? Can you tell me Hagnes, what was so urgent that he had to run back to his death?"
But she couldn't answer that, her father had gone back for his pack. Her father hadn't been sure he would survive, so he needed to leave her something behind to follow with. It was his pack where he kept all the information about Halldora's location, about what he had found out about the White Death. She couldn't tell this to Soleil.
"I thought so," she laughed "I think he was tired of living" she was satisfied by the many gasps around the room, "maybe he did realize how meaningless and sad his life…"
She didn't get to finish. Hagnes had punched her in the mouth with all her strength. Two teeth covered in blood flew out of Soleils mouth.
"Ugh!" Soleil moaned covering her mouth with her hands and she rolled in pain.
"You don't know shit about my father," Hagnes said with a calm tone, which even surprised her, "he was a kind and wonderful person. Better than you ever will"
Then she was able to hear the patrol sirens. A neighbor had the good sense of calling the cops.
She didn't try to escape; she was too numb to care. It was only when her mother arrived to pick her up from the station that she was able to feel again a little bit.
**** Later that night **** (Back to where we started)
"Hello girl, did you miss me?" she asked before patting the sleepy dragon.
Hagnes sat by the dragoness exhausted physically and emotionally. She couldn't believe she had punched Soleil in the mouth.
"Kara, you won't believe what happened tonight," she said before telling everything to the dragoness that tucked her under her wing. At the end, Hagnes realized she was crying. Though it was far from comfortable, she buried her face on the dragoness scaly stomach as she crooned trying to comfort her rider, "I am so afraid" she sobbed. She was the insane one, she had seen what she had to face and had not run away. Her petty fight with Soleil was nothing compared to what was going to start the following days. It was the beginning of the end.
****PAST****
Hiccup had mixed feelings after reading Ulfar's report brought to him by a Terrible Terror. He and Ruffnut had gone off to the island of the Meatheads, where the largest of the armies was being held. He and Ruffnut were passing as herb merchants and had been doing a good job at keeping their guise up. Ruffnut had a few ruffles with other wives who questioned their yet childless marriage, but besides a few slaps and scratches she was somehow fitting in. He was glad they weren't running any risk, but still the fact that they had barely been able to get information about what Camicazi planned worried him.
However, they were able to report on a matter just as valuable. One would have thought the Vikings of the other islands would have their doubts about following Camicazi to battle once again. Last time they hadn't been anywhere near to conquering Berk, what would make it different this time? Words, gossip, rumors; that's what had changed it all.
According to Ulfar, all Vikings under Camicazi were in high spirits do to the birth of her progenitor, a boy with golden locks and sapphire blue eyes. It had already been rumored prophesies about the boy. He would be more handsome than any other man around; no one would be able to resist him. Princesses from faraway lands would seek him. He would be a formidable warrior like his grandmother had been. But, more important than all was that it was said he would have a bright, if not brighter mind than his mother (as he would not be held hostage by emotions like women.) And the fact that he was a boy was of immense acceptance to all Vikings following Camicazi.
He turned to watch his little Stein on a rug as he tried to fool the dragon looking after him to crawl away. The boy had more energy than both of his parents together that it took them, and a dragon to be able to keep him safe. His father would have been so happy. Hiccup could already tell he would be a hard to the bone Viking, but of course he would make sure to stimulate his mind as well. He knew he wouldn't be able to kill Camicazi's boy (not until he was a man, at least), but the mother was something else. Was this the beginning of a long chain of hate, like the tales of faraway kingdoms? He didn't like the idea of such hate being part of his legacy, but it was no longer up to him to decide.
He heard Stein giggle as he tried to catch Toothless tail. The war had to end soon. More than anything, he wanted his son to be safe and to be able to enjoy his childhood. He didn't want him waking in the middle of the night to hear the battle outside his window. He didn't want him to grow without any of his parents or those near him.
"Time to go to bed Stein," he said picking the toddler after getting up from his pelted chair. Ulfar's letter rested by a small table nearby with the other reports he had received. Stein's reddish hair ticked his nose a little as he pulled him to his chest. It would turn darker as the years passed until it resembled his. He wondered if his son would have more luck than him and be able to grow a full Viking beard like his father had. Stoic's beard had been envied by many from their island, and from afar too.
"Hmmm!" Stein struggled on his father's arms, wanting to return to play with the dragon.
"Alright, alright…" he placed the toddler down, "just don't tell your mother"
He sighed as Stein passed his little hands over Toothless snout, testing the peculiar texture of the scales. It hadn't occurred to him until then; he wondered what type of dragon would Stein choose when he grew.
*****To be continued… ******
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