"Who are you?" I demanded of the two strangers in black business suits and trench coats as I now quickly got up from my seat at the desk in my cabin, putting an arm around Roana beside me.
"NASA Security," one said as they both showed their ID badges. "They need you back at the lab, right away, Doc. Some more 'stuff' has arrived on a meteorite this week. It's Code Blue for your entire team. We are to take you to an airfield nearby and fly you home."
"I'm not going home," I said firmly. "My contract was allowed to expire. I am making my life here now, with this woman. She is my mate."
"Not with what you know, she's not," the lead agent replied. "You know the terms of your security agreement and clearance, Doctor . . . it's for life. The contract lapse was a bureaucratic oversight—it's in force again as of two days ago. And as you've no doubt been informed before, you are provided with a wife, if you desire one, from within our community, cleared by us. We're sorry the first one didn't work out. We will find you another."
"But before the lady here gets really scared, and before this gets ugly," the second agent said as they both advanced into the cabin and withdrew syringes, "let's go, Doc."
"Fyrir því drekar!" Roana now fiercely exclaimed.
"What did you say?" the second agent asked.
"She said, 'For the dragons,'" I explained, "if you need a translation!"
"Wait," the lead agent said. "You're one of those people?"
"Yes," Roana confirmed, relaxing her stance somewhat and shifting to English, "I am a Dragon Berker. Lance Hyse is my mate now, and under the terms of the classified Berk Sovereignty Agreement of 1943, he is also a repatriated Dragon Berker, and a citizen under our protection."
"Mate? Is that like a husband?" the second man asked.
"It is more than that," I defended. "But you wouldn't understand."
I saw Roana glance admiringly at me out of the corner of my eye.
"Sorry, lady, the United States has first claim on this guy, based on national security grounds," the lead agent asserted.
"You are not on United States territory," Roana noted.
"We are on NATO member territory, practically as good," the lead man countered.
"This is Ancestral Land to us," Roana responded. "We have the superior claim to him."
"No, your Protected Territory is north of here, well north," the lead agent contended.
"Read the treaty!" Roana lectured. "There are two classes of land addressed—'Protected Territory' which is off-limits to all outsiders, even you . . . and 'Ancestral Lands' which is territory we never surrendered all claims to, and which is recognized by the Kingdom of Norway. You get the Defence Ministry in Oslo and NATO Command in Brussels on your secure car phones right now!"
"I'm impressed," I had to comment aside to Roana.
"So am I," she replied. "So there is at least 'little green mould' from outer space?"
"'Fraid so," I sighed. "Some of us have been keeping it alive for years now. Inbreeding . . . even among microbes . . . has been a problem, too. But you're supposed to be drugged for hearing that."
"Well, two can play at that game," she said. "Rökkr!"
"What the . . . !" the two agents now exclaimed as they turned while a snarling Night Fury now moved in behind them, blocking their escape out of the cabin.
"You have now seen one of our dragons, on our Ancestral Lands," Roana now asserted, withdrawing two syringes of her own from her leather skirt. "I have the right to drug you, too."
"Lady, we really don't need this legal maneuvering," the lead operative sighed, as he now pulled out his handgun. "We'll let you live, we'll even let you keep your memories . . . if you don't cross us. Doctor Hyse is a national scientific and intelligence asset to the United States who is coming with us. Those are my orders."
Roana sighed and looked down for a moment. "Can we have a few minutes then?" she then said, now tearing up. "To say goodbye?"
I looked at Roana, shocked that she seemed to be giving up. But she quickly slipped me a glance as she placed her syringes back underneath her skirt.
"I'm not supposed to," the lead agent hesitated. "But alright. A few minutes. Doctor Hyse could even put in a few good words for you, and you might . . . I emphasize might . . . be able to rejoin him someday. Now, if you'll withdraw the dragon, we'll wait outside," the agent finished.
"Rökkr, vera á eftir farþegapláss," she then said.
"Thank you," the lead operative responded as the Night Fury now withdrew. "We'll give you five, minutes."
"We're drawing the curtains . . . for privacy," Roana stated.
"Then it's cut to three minutes," the agent countered. "We don't want you trying anything funny. Sorry that doesn't leave much time for the fun stuff either, but that's the deal."
"Out!" Roana demanded.
"Harry, go around the other side," the lead agent directed.
"Are you kidding?" the other replied. "I'm not going near that snarling dragon!"
"Okay . . ." the lead agent sighed as he now left out front as well.
As soon as the door was shut, Roana moved and drew the curtains. She then rushed back to me.
"Could you leave everything else behind now?" she now asked in my ear as we embraced.
I knew what was important to me. "Yes," readily said as I held her tightly. "But I just want your original letter to me though. That's the one thing I can't replace."
"Why Lance," she admired with a smile, thoroughly charmed. "Got it right here," she affirmed, showing it to me safely tucked in a pocket inside her flying jacket.
"A life with you and the dragons is what I want now," I assured.
"I'm about to give you a one-way ticket to just that!" Roana replied as she quickly parted from me and went over to turn several handles on the gas stove, while I grabbed my own flying jacket again. "Quick, into the bathroom," she then said.
We both went in and Roana closed the door.
"Now what?" I asked, in almost a whisper.
"Out the window," she quietly directed. "If you hear Rökkr snarling, it means the agents are close."
"He's quiet," I noted as I opened and looked out the small window, now seeing him.
"Go!" Roana urged. "I'm right behind you."
I tumbled out the small window into a less than graceful landing on the ground, but kept absolutely silent. Roana landed almost on top of me.
"Onto Rökkr!" she quietly urged. We both got up. Roana leapt onto him first, with me following right behind.
"Rökkr, fly!" Roana then quietly urged as I scrambled to attach my harness, while she attached her own strap.
The Night Fury vaulted us up into the air with powerful but quiet beats of his wings, as I now held tightly onto Roana. With subtle presses from her hands and legs, she had Rökkr make a tight turn in the air behind the cabin.
"Rökkr . . . cabin skylight . . . fire!" she quietly directed.
The Night Fury let loose a bluish-plasma blast aimed at the centre of the cabin from above its rear, as we then banked sharply away to the north.
KAABBBOOOOMMM!
I looked back to see the cabin exploding in a large fireball, as Rökkr powered us away into the night air. I noticed the two figures of the agents being knocked to the ground by the explosion in front of the patio, and then getting up and diving for cover in some nearby bushes.
"The agents look alright," I assured as I faced forward again and held tighter onto Roana.
"Good, at least NASA can't declare war on us then," Roana replied. "Good boy, Rökkr!" she then praised as she patted his neck.
"But what about your uncle's cabin?" I then asked.
"He and the others know what to do," she assured. "It was a propane gas explosion, which the evidence will show was triggered from the stove at the centre of the cabin. The blast hole at the skylight in the roof will be consistent with that. They will find remains inside . . . planted of course by a couple of us in the local fire brigade that will put out and investigate the fire. The remains will be so small and so charred though that they will be unidentifiable. You and I will be presumed to have committed suicide and died in that explosion. Even NASA won't really be able to contest those findings . . . although I imagine they will eventually deduce what we did. It's not the first time we've had to stage something like this though."
"But what about your uncle?" I then asked with some concern.
"He can take care of himself," she assured. "He will have been making a few calls for assistance from others in our Outside network as soon as the agents left the lobby. Even if one of them remained to watch him, a few words in Old Norse on the phone would be all that was needed to bring help. And with the explosion now, he will get the help he needs. Local police might even arrest the agents on suspicion of arson and murder . . . forcing NASA to clear them, but not immediately. We can hope anyway. But I will have our representative file a protest through Oslo though to establish your protected status and citizenship with us," she decided, " . . . otherwise you truly won't be able to leave our island, as they might try and grab you again if you venture out."
"I feel bad about losing your uncle's copy of the journal though, having left it in there," I sighed. "He seemed to really treasure it."
"Where do you remember leaving it?" Roana asked.
"On the kitchenette counter," I replied, "near the coffee-maker, when you took me for our first flight."
"It wasn't there when I packed," she assured. "Given that the bed was made when we arrived, he had likely already picked it up. Besides, we would give him another copy if it is lost."
"Think they will chase after us here?" I wondered.
"I imagine they know they cannot force us down along this coast very easily," she assured. "With a Night Fury, we can dodge and evade most any plane or helicopter they can follow us with. We can also shoot them down if we have to, but as the Americans are allies of ours, we really cannot do that. And boats? Forget about it! Once we reach our Protected Territory though, we are home free."
"Rökkr is flying us faster than usual," I noted, looking down.
"He is getting us home to safety, as quickly as he can," Roana replied as she patted his neck. "He knows what is going on, don't you, boy?"
Rökkr gave a quick bark of agreement, but remained very focused on his task of flying.
"He will just be very tired when we get home," she empathized.
"Well, I've really 'crossed over' now," I realized.
"You do not mind, do you?" Roana asked.
"No regrets," I said as I held her tightly from behind as Rökkr now flew us on to my new life. "I love you, Roana, and I already love the life we are beginning."
"It will be my pleasure to make every day as wonderful for you now as I can," Roana assured. "And do not be shy back there anymore. You are my mate, and may touch me wherever you like. I mean that."
"I'm sooo glad we left my gloves behind here," I laughed into her shoulder. Roana laughed, too as I once again slipped my hands inside her flying jacket. She then turned her head for a kiss as I let my hands roam wherever I wanted them to within that jacket.
"Welcome, my love," she said as we kissed again, deeply. "And thank you so much for making my fondest dreams come true."
"You are worth giving up a world for," I admired.
"I am sorry we did not get any of your things," she said as I held her. "But I and several neighbours will have a nice new set of clothes for you in no time. I look forward to seeing you wear as little as possible though between now and then. We must make your existing clothes last until new ones are ready," she smiled.
"You are terrible, you know that?" I smiled in return.
"The worst," she assured. "Just for you."
"I am sorry we didn't have that nice buffet with your uncle though," I sighed. "I'm still hungry. Damn those agents."
"It's alright," Roana replied. "Rökkr and I are hungry, too. But we can make it home. We will just have a small, late night feast there."
"I'll help you make it," I pledged.
"Lance, I love you," my mate sighed.
"I love you, too, Roana," I replied, "more than I ever imagined I could."
I held Roana tightly as we flew on through the night. Allowing myself to think about many things as we shared a moment of silence now, I found myself burying my head against her head and neck as I felt Rökkr beat his wings some more.
"I feel like I'm really off to Valhalla here," I sniffed, feeling almost overwhelmed as everything now just seemed to hit or sink in with me, "on a great winged beast, with a Valkyrie not only leading the way, but giving herself utterly to me as my mate. It's incredible, just incredible. And I get to live it all now, every day."
"I am glad, my love," Roana said, reaching back to caress my head and face. "I truly am."
"But my ex gets everything now," I pondered, "even without the note. My old will is still in force."
"I can see a stop is put to that, if you like," Roana smiled.
"Nah, let her have it," I decided, "except for maybe a few photo albums, and my books on Old Norse."
"We have the best books there are on Old Norse—the real things, books in English, too," Roana assured. "But I will see about those photo albums. A long-lost relative of yours will show up to your ex-wife soon, with money."
Rökkr now suddenly barked as he glanced around.
"Hang on!" Roana warned as our Night Fury now dove for the coastal forests beneath us. "The fools are trying," she then sighed as Rökkr now quickly landed and hid us among some trees on a coastal bluff while we now heard a helicopter approaching at high speed.
"I thought you said we could evade, or even destroy them in the air," I queried.
"If we fight them, we break the treaty," she replied as we warily watched the skies through the trees. "We have never done that from our side. The treaty is one of the most important things protecting the dragons. I have sworn to exhaust all other options first. Even then, I would have to argue before the elders and the village that defending you was important enough to justify risking the dragons' protection. Any of the rest of us, even Rökkr, would be expected to sacrifice ourselves first. But with what you know and can do for the dragons, I think an exception would be made for you."
"Roana, you would die here?" I asked.
"I live for the dragons," she quietly replied while watching the helicopter approach. "I would die for the dragons, and for anyone or anything that ensures their protection and survival. I have also sworn a mating oath to die for you, and our family. I mean what I swear, Lance . . . all of it."
"I don't know if I can let you do that, for me," I said to her.
"Then you are not letting me love you as much as I have promised to," she replied as she turned and put a hand on my arm. "Death is but a brief pain, a transition. Love is forever . . . mine is."
"Roana . . ." I cautioned.
"Let Rökkr and I do what it takes to get you out of this," she said, almost cutting me off.
"Alright," I reluctantly agreed. "But can I get off and stretch my legs for a moment, maybe take care of something else, too?"
"Stay on!" Roana ordered. "We could be taking off any second."
The helicopter now slowed near us and began sweeping its searchlight.
"Surrender Doctor Hyse to us," we heard in American English on their loudspeaker. "Come out now with your hands in the air."
"They must have localized on us somehow," my mate guessed. "Maybe infrared equipment."
"Well, I guess we blew up your uncle's cabin for nothing," I sighed.
"Rökkr, stay on the ground . . . warning shot . . . miss them . . . fire!" Roana quietly directed.
The dragon unleashed a plasma blast into the sky, passing near the helicopter, but missing it. Rökkr gave a quiet, angry roar as he continued watching the helicopter, seeming to want to go after it, and eliminate it.
"We will not let you escape with Doctor Hyse!" the helicopter's loudspeaker warned, as the aircraft now began circling slowly around us at a greater distance.
"Look, if your representatives are good, let's see if we can work this out diplomatically if I give myself to them," I now suggested. "They know I'm not dead now, and they won't give up until they get me back. Roana, I'm not supposed to say this, but as a strategic asset, I and anyone who captures me are supposed to be killed if I fall into what they consider the wrong hands. I was hoping our fake suicide would allow me to leave this all behind, but it's not now."
"Lance . . ." she sighed with distress to me.
"Sorry," I apologised. "I guess there were some more things I should have shared with you before we mated."
"No, it's not that," Roana replied. "But they can make you disappear to us, just like we can make you disappear to them. So no matter what, I will not surrender you, okay? You are my mate now! And on top of everything else, don't forget your own vow to me . . . we fight together!"
"I don't want my new family getting hurt though, alright?" I replied as we all looked up for the helicopter as it kept circling beyond the trees. "I know we vowed to die for each other, too. But to me, that includes surrendering myself so both of you are safe."
"Lance . . . I can't let go of you, not now," Roana turned and said to me as she gripped my hand over her heart while the helicopter and its rotor thumped loudly around us, seeming to be closer than ever now and blowing leaves and branches in all directions.
I looked into her distressed eyes. It was the first time I had seen anything less than strength and determination in her. "Alright," I relented. "But I will not see you two get hurt or die, not for me."
Roana and I shared a quick, passionate kiss, as Rökkr maintained a sharp watch around us. Suddenly, he let out a quick bark as he looked behind us.
"We're leaving!" my mate warned. "Someone is approaching!"
I felt something small quietly whiz right past me as Rökkr began to take off.
"Owww! My arm!" Roana exclaimed in front of me.
"What's wrong?" I asked as Rökkr vaulted us into the air again.
"Oh gods, no," Roana now exclaimed with a shock in front of me as she reached with her right hand towards her left arm. We now skimmed along the treetops as we headed north again. Rökkr now glanced back at us as he could while flying.
"What is it?" I repeated.
"Lance, I've been shot . . . with a dart," she said, now terrified as we both looked at the pen-sized dart in her hand. "It's memory drugs. Slower acting than ours, but my mind is going."
"Roana, no!" I responded.
"Lance, Rökkr . . . save me," she tearfully pleaded as she began to get groggy in my arms. "I don't want to lose who I am now . . . Can't forget you, Lance . . . We are mated . . . Don't let me lose us . . . Don't give up on me . . . Lance . . ."
She willed herself to move her face against mine and kissed me. I kissed her back as I held her tightly from behind, tears suddenly flowing from my eyes. I then felt her lips fall away from mine.
"Roana!" I cried as she now slumped forward in the saddle while I continued to hold her tightly. I grabbed the dart before it fell out of her hand and put it in my jacket pocket in case we needed it to identify the drug later. Rökkr now moaned as he looked back sadly at us.
"Rökkr, save us!" I now said desperately, not having a clue as to what to do. "I'll hold onto Roana!" I decided, reaching around her to grip the saddle bars. "But get us the hell out of here!"
The dragon then faced forward again, accelerating us and gaining altitude with all his might now. The helicopter had already altered course to pursue, and was soon almost breathing down our necks. Its roar became deafening. Rökkr glanced back towards them and then banked sharply away, before pivoting and diving down among the treetops again. Roana's body now shifted to one side as I struggled to keep her in place on the saddle.
"Careful, Rökkr!" I warned. "Roana is unconscious, asleep! Balance us, so I can hold onto her!"
The dragon grunted loudly, glancing back at me and giving a sharp nod. We suddenly came upon a coastal town. Rökkr kept right on going, flying low over buildings, and around some local radio towers, with the helicopter still in hot pursuit.
"God, Spirit, anyone," I prayed aloud, "help us, somehow!"
As the three of us zoomed sharply around one five-storey building above the streetlights, I briefly saw a little girl on a street corner looking and pointing right at us. Fortunately, her parents seemed to be looking higher and behind at the helicopter with its noise and flashing lights pursuing us in the dark of night. But worrying about Outsiders seeing a dragon wasn't my highest priority at the moment.
Rökkr now dropped us down even lower over the town's waterfront and harbour. I could have almost reached and touched the masts of some of the fishing craft and sailboats as we passed silently over them at speed. The helicopter was still pacing us from a safer height above and behind.
We then skimmed low across the harbour as Rökkr strained to pick up speed again. Soon, we were flying over what appeared to be a navy base, with a frigate or two at the docks, and a number of military helicopters now right below us, parked on an airfield. I heard sirens and even saw several rocket flares shoot up from the ground . . . but the flares didn't seem to be directed at us.
I then looked back to see no less than three Norwegian naval helicopters quickly rise into the air behind us and the pursuing American helicopter.
Rökkr gave me what must have been a warning grunt before he banked sharply and turned around. At least he kept us balanced as G-forces shoved Roana and I down into the saddle. I cringed as he now drew in his wings and we zoomed right past the American helicopter and in between the three Norwegian helicopters in the darkness, crossing back out over the harbour and then banking out towards the ocean this time.
I looked back to see the Norwegian helicopters now swiftly move to block the helicopter that had been pursuing us, quickly surrounding it—one of them even emphasizing their point with a brief burst of machine gun fire. The American helicopter halted in the air now, and no longer tried to pursue us as we left it and the base behind.
Rökkr glanced back, giving a quick bark of satisfied triumph before resuming our northerly course towards home and powering us back higher into the air and along the once again dark and wild Norwegian coast. He had saved us. I just almost collapsed with a sigh against Roana in front of me, laughing with nervous relief.
"We did it, Roana," I sighed . . . before I remembered what had happened.
Rökkr now looked back at his human companion and I with concern as he flew on.
"What do we do for her, Rökkr?" I now sadly asked, still holding her slumped form between my arms against the saddle bars. He looked me in the eye for a moment, before grunting loudly and continuing to fly us north.
"Rökkr," I said as we flew. "I don't think I can do this alone . . . help her remember, bring her back. I can't even talk to anyone else in the village, other than you. And you can't even talk to me. How are we gonna make this work, buddy? How?"
The dragon looked back at me, barking briefly as he then looked and gestured with his head a little towards Roana.
"We're gonna do this, huh?" I asked. "What she wanted?"
Rökkr barked sharply at me and gave a single firm nod with his head.
"Alright, buddy," I accepted. "You are her dragon, and I am her mate. We are her family. And we are gonna make this work, make this happen for her . . . somehow."
Even though I had been through the wilderness of divorce and abandonment, I had never felt quite so lost as I did now. I looked at the woman I had sworn I would never part from.
"How am I gonna get you back?" I wondered aloud as I looked at her. "You're my guide here. I don't know what the hell to do apart from you."
The dragon now grunted and barked at me.
"Rökkr, I'm sorry," I said. "I don't understand what you're saying. I don't have a clue."
He now just snorted and shook his head in frustration, facing forward again, and flying us all onwards. Then, I felt something brushing against my left hand as it gripped one of the saddlebars. I looked down. It was Rökkr's ear. He looked back towards me again with calm encouragement.
"We'll figure this out as we go, huh?" I guessed.
The dragon nodded slowly as he looked at me.
"Rökkr, you're my guide now, my translator to the village, everything," I sighed. "Plus you gotta help Roana re-learn who I am . . . what I am to her."
He nodded again as I looked at him.
"I wish you could share your wisdom and encouragement with me," I sighed, "the way you have with her."
He just looked at me again, steadily, for the longest time.
"You will? You are?" I guessed again as I looked at him.
He nodded, and then faced forward, concentrating on our flight once more. For my part, I just maintained a vigil behind Roana . . . keeping her in the saddle, praying for both of us as I alternated my hands between warming one inside her jacket and keeping the other grasping Rökkr's saddlebars.
— — — — —
After a while, I saw four dark but silent masses swiftly approaching us from the front. I then heard the now unmistakable roar of a dragon. Rökkr, tired as he was, managed to answer back.
"Dragon Riders," I recognized aloud with relief. "Here to escort us home."
I didn't know how they found us along the coast, or knew to come looking for us, but I was glad they did.
The four dragons and riders then quietly swooped around us, taking up positions in front, behind and beside us with the precision of an aerobatic drill squadron.
"Árvekni!" I called out, recognizing him in the dim moonlight as one of the four as he took up a position on our right. He just gave me a quick glance and a single nod as he flew beside us. I never thought I'd be relieved to see him, but I sure was now. I saw he was without a rider though. Figures, I thought to myself with a slight smile. Somehow I just couldn't quite picture him as the type to be tolerating one of us humans on his neck.
He then issued a series of barks at Rökkr, probably asking him what had happened and how we were. Rökkr answered back with a series of barks and loud grunts as well. Árvekni then simply nodded and issued another series of barks to our group, before moving forward and taking the lead as a Nadder and rider moved to take the position on our right. Looking around, I managed to see the other riders look with concern at Roana and I in some dim moonlight filtered through some thin clouds, while their dragons flew on with determination.
Soon though, we reached our Protected Territory. I could tell by the horde of airborne dragons and riders that met us in the dark in the air. The other dragons roared in greeting and salute to us. Rökkr emitted one loud grunt this time. He was too tired for anything else. He could only focus on getting us the final miles back to the village.
"Well done, buddy," I praised as I reached further around an unconscious Roana to stroke his neck.
I then looked around as most of the rest of the dragons, many with riders but some without, now surrounded us as well. They proceeded to escort us the rest of the way home, while a few remained on guard at the territory's edge, resuming a vigil that had lasted now for centuries. To my surprise, Árvekni remained in the lead. I thought he would have peeled off and remained on guard at the boundary, but I guessed that for some reason, we were worthy of the VIP escort all the way home.
Finally, our island and valley came into view. The buildings of the village were indeed well disguised from the air amid just a hint of light from a newly crescent moon as the skies now cleared. You could hardly tell they were there. Our escorting dragons heralded our approach with roars, as well as detailed barks and grunts as we drew closer. I saw a number of villagers and dragons gathering on the ground near where we would land, illuminated by a single bonfire and torches mounted on the fronts of some of the homes.
Rökkr descended somewhat unsteadily now, his wings seeming to falter a little as we started to tip to one side before he corrected.
"Hang on, buddy," I encouraged with another pat on his neck. "Almost there."
He did as well as he could though, finally landing hard in front of our house, or at least his and Roana's house, with a big thud. I did not begrudge him the quality of his landing this time. I quickly got off him and took a still unconscious Roana into my arms, while Rökkr collapsed on the ground next to us.
"You did it, Rökkr," I said gratefully to him as I balanced Roana in my arms so he could see us both. "You got us home. Well done, buddy. Well done."
Rökkr could only faintly smile as he seemed to rest his eyes for a moment while breathing heavily. I then saw Árvekni approaching us with that stare of his.
"Rökkr," I somewhat nervously nudged him with my leg, "Árvekni's coming." Rökkr didn't budge or open his eyes however.
"Árvekni . . ." I nervously began trying to explain.
Once again he just interrupted me with a few grunts of his own, surprisingly gentle this time, before he closed his eyes and bowed his head towards us. I glanced down at Rökkr for a cue of some kind, and noticed he was just giving a single nod in return, which is what I proceeded to do towards Árvekni as well. That apparent acknowledgement or congratulations done, Árvekni then turned and left. Somehow I pitied any helicopter and crew that would try to come up against him.
I then saw Chief Roald approach with a torch. I just hoped he understood Night Fury.
"Rökkr, could you tell the chief what happened?" I asked.
The dragon got back up on his legs this time and nodded to me, then making a series of grunts and murmurs to Chief Roald. The chief glanced between the dragon and I, nodding to Rökkr as the dragon grunted.
"I'm sorry, Chief," I added, wanting to say something to him anyway.
Rökkr must have translated my words, because Roald laid an understanding hand on my shoulder, before shaking his head and gently smiling. He then took Roana's limp hand, placing it against my hand that was bracing her legs, and pressing our two hands tightly together.
"You still consider her and I mates then, no matter how she wakes up?" I asked.
Roald looked at the dragon for a translation, which Rökkr provided. Roald then silently nodded at me, pressing Roana's hand against mine once more. He then waived his free hand, motioning and looking all around the village, before pointing to our hands together.
"The whole village will help her remember? Help us stay together?" I surmised.
After looking for another translation from Rökkr, the chief nodded yes. Rökkr then issued several barks and grunts at him. The chief said something to someone else, and then waited in front of me, holding up a hand seeming to ask me to wait as well. Roana wasn't exactly light in my arms, but I complied.
Another villager soon returned with what turned out to be a handheld blackboard and chalk. The chief took to writing something in runic characters, and then showed it to me.
"Have faith," I read aloud in translation. "You are not alone. We will help you, and your mate."
I looked at Roald now, and nodded in almost tearful gratitude. "Thank you," I said.
Rökkr gently barked at the chief one more time, motioning with his head towards the chalkboard. I saw the chief erase the board and now write something else before showing it to me.
"Follow dragon's lead," I read, almost smiling. "Thank you, Rökkr," I then said to him. "We're making this work here, buddy. Any more messages for tonight?"
The dragon grunted, shaking his head, as the chief then pressed Roana's hand against mine one more time, gently smiling, and gesturing towards the front door of the house that he was clearly encouraging me I still shared with her and Rökkr.
"Goodnight, Chief," I acknowledged as I turned with Roana in my arms towards the house. "I'm sure you'll be checking on us in the morning."
Roald looked to Rökkr one more time, and nodded to me again as the dragon finished grunting. The chief then gently patted me on the shoulder as I went up onto the porch of our house, as someone else opened the front door for me.
"Are you our neighbour? The one who made our home so nice for us to come back to?" I asked the older woman who opened the door for me. I then looked back as Rökkr grunted a translation. The woman then smiled broadly and nodded, gesturing inside as she did. Once again, a nice fire was going inside, the Mead Tea and even fish were all ready for Rökkr, and a nice midnight smorgasbord was laid out for my mate and I.
"Roana and I want to thank you so much for all you've done . . . during our courtship," I sadly smiled.
The woman smiled back as Rökkr translated for me, apparently also grunting for someone to bring the chalkboard to her. It may have been awkward, but Rökkr and everyone else realized it allowed me to understand what others were wanting to tell me. The woman soon scratched out some runes on the small board and showed it to me.
"You court her now," I read, translating the runes. "I help."
I could only tearfully smile and nod as I looked at her. Gods this was a wonderful village and people to me now! What Roana had told me on our mating night was true . . . everyone really helps in Berk, and I was experiencing it all, firsthand.
The neighbour woman then ushered me inside, as I was followed by Rökkr, before she waived goodnight. But then, she was replaced by the doctor . . . Roana's ex-boyfriend.
This could be really awkward, I thought to myself as I continued holding Roana in my arms for a moment. Standing at roughly my height and thin build, he appeared to be around my mid-thirties in age . . . just redheaded though, with a trimmed beard—looking a bit like the painter Vincent van Gogh in a way. The doctor gently smiled, inviting me with a gesture of his right hand to lay Roana on the floor bedding in the living area. I just nodded as I proceeded to gently set her down on the mattress and quilts, even though Rökkr seemed to normally sleep on those. Rökkr laid himself down beside her, wanting to watch over her as the doctor performed his examination. The village physician first checked her pulse at her neck, felt her forehead, and then briefly waved a penlight across her eyes as he gently opened each one, and listened to her upper chest with his stethoscope. He then rose and spoke a few words in Norse to Rökkr without even looking at me. Rökkr merely nodded back, making some murmurs as he did. The doctor turned, briefly nodding at me, at least remembering to shake my hand, and then he left, shutting our door as he went.
"That's all?" I wondered aloud, looking towards the door after it was closed. "You don't want the dart, discover which drug it was, or even take a blood sample from her?"
It was the first less-than-neighbourly encounter I had experienced in New Berk. But then, he was her ex-boyfriend. He perhaps was uncomfortable, too, and likely wanted to make sure she was just knocked out and call it good. Rökkr had likely told them all they needed to know to alleviate their concerns anyway. I probably wouldn't have done much better with my ex-wife while being watched by whomever she ran off with either.
Rökkr then gently barked, drawing my attention towards him.
"Well, Rökkr," I then sighed. "It's just us now. Doctor tell you anything important?"
Rökkr just shook his head no with a grunt.
"How about I bring your food and tea to you?" I then offered. "You've worked very hard already for us today and tonight."
The dragon grunted, but then got up and went off to the cooking area by himself. I proceeded to watch, somewhat amazed, as the dragon first dipped his own bucket in the tea cauldron with his mouth, and then proceeded to wolf his fill of fish right off the cooking table, before carrying his tea back to his bedding. He then laid himself down and motioned for me to go and get what I wanted while he sipped the tea from his bucket and watched Roana.
"So you're telling me she pampers you a little, bringing it all to you after flights, and having me do so, too?" I surmised.
Rökkr kind of shrugged and nodded.
"But you like it that way, and I shouldn't spoil it for you," I then guessed.
He barked gently and nodded, seeming to smile, before motioning with his head at the saddle still on his neck.
"I gotcha, buddy," I smiled, as I went to remove his saddle, then giving him at least some of the pleasurable rubbing and itching I'd seen Roana provide him, before finally going to get a snack from among the smorgasbord myself.
Soon, both Rökkr and I had satisfied our appetites, and I had put the leftover food out on the porch for anyone else who wanted it. Now though, it was time for a decision.
"So, Rökkr," I asked, "should I leave Roana clothed as she is for sleeping, or change her into her nightdress? Which would freak her out less when she wakes up without her memories, the recent ones anyway?"
Rökkr gestured towards the screened area where she and I had slept, and where her nightdress was.
"Change her," I confirmed. "You're sure about that?"
Rökkr nodded as he looked at her.
"I'd love to understand your reasons," I sighed. "But as you said via the chalkboard, follow your lead . . . so I'll do it. But you'll explain it if she gets upset that a stranger has changed her."
Rökkr snorted and shook his head.
"You won't explain it?" I asked.
He snorted and shook his head again.
"Okayy . . . I'm not a stranger?" I then checked.
He nodded firmly this time.
"You mean I still just be her mate, even right now?" I guessed.
Rökkr nodded firmly, almost insistently.
"But buddy, she probably won't know who I am when she wakes up," I sighed.
He seemed to shrug and tilt his head.
"So that may be true," I deduced aloud, mentally connecting the dots. "But I just continue being her mate anyway, and she accepts that, because that's what her true self wants . . . and you'll tell her that?"
Rökkr nodded again.
"So should I sleep next to, or apart from her?" I asked. "Next to?" I repeated.
Rökkr shook his head.
"Apart?" I asked.
He shook his head again.
"A little apart?" I continued.
This time he nodded.
"We're figuring this out," I gently smiled as I looked at him and Roana. Rökkr grunted and nodded.
Soon I had both Roana and myself changed for bed, with her wearing her white nightdress and me wearing the blue tunic and white night pants she had given me. I bedded her down next to Rökkr with a quilt and soft pillow, and dragged the mattress and quilt over that she and I had shared during our one and only mated night so far.
"I sure hope this works, buddy," I sighed as I settled into my bed next to hers.
Rökkr snorted and shook his head disapprovingly at me.
"Okay, okay," I corrected myself. "It will work, because we will make it work, together, right?"
He now nodded, as he shifted himself against Roana, ensuring she would feel a familiar presence when she awoke. He then grunted, gesturing between me and Roana again.
"What?" I asked. He just looked at me. "Sorry," I then added, "that question is not enough for you to tell anything to me by."
He then clearly gestured at me, and then moved his head almost right against Roana's head.
"You don't mean kiss her goodnight?" I replied, a little incredulous.
Rökkr gave me a firm nod.
"More for me than her, I guess," I sighed.
He snorted and shook his head.
"For both of us?" I guessed again.
He nodded this time.
I moved over and propped myself on my elbow next to Roana's sleeping form for a moment, just looking at her, and then running a hand along her face. The dragon now reached across her and gently nudged against my shoulder.
"Rökkr," I said, almost overcome now by sadness, "it's like I'm saying goodbye to her . . . to what she and I were. Because she likely won't remember it, any of it . . . or us."
He gently snorted and shook his head next to me.
"Not saying goodbye?" I sniffed.
Rökkr quietly nodded.
"Saying hello?" I mused as I looked at and caressed Roana again.
He just nudged me.
"I don't know how," I replied.
Rökkr quietly moved his head briefly down near her face again, looking at me.
"Right," I sniffed. "The goodnight kiss. Well goodnight, Roana," I said as I gently kissed her lips. "I don't know what we'll wake up to in the morning," I added, touching my forehead against hers. I couldn't say anything more.
I arose to see Rökkr just looking steadily at me.
"What, not the right attitude?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Rökkr, she could . . . no likely will . . . be meeting me for what to her is the first time tomorrow," I sighed. "I don't know how to deal with balancing that against trying to still be her mate. Our short but rich history together made us who we have been."
He gave me a single nod.
"Yes, but go forward anyway?" I queried somewhat incredulously. "How?"
Rökkr grunted and tilted his head, both towards Roana and somewhat towards himself.
"We all just will?" I asked.
He just nodded and turned to blow out the candle illuminating us.
"That's not exactly an answer, Rökkr," I sighed as I lay down near Roana in my own bedding for the night.
He grunted in the darkness, before taking a big yawn.
"But it's the answer I have to work with," I said as I lay upon my pillow.
I heard a single grunt again.
"You guide Roana like this?" I asked.
I heard another single grunt.
"You dragons are hard core," I sighed.
Another single grunt.
"Night, Rökkr," I sighed with some frustration.
A final single grunt.
I didn't know what to feel now . . . what to hope for. I just turned on my side and reached out for Roana for a moment. I felt her arm, and then traced my fingers down to her hand, holding it for a moment. It was warm, but it didn't respond to me.
"Not like before," I sighed. "But before is what you said you wanted. Goodnight, Roana."
I wanted to say 'I love you', but I didn't know who I was saying it to anymore . . . who I could say it to. I just clutched my pillow and closed my eyes.