"You'll come to my name day celebration, right?" Igraine asked, stalling for what was the millionth time that day.
Hiccup gave her a smile though she could tell he was as sad as her as they walked toward her dad's ship. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Igraine."
They stopped just before the docks before their parents could take notice of them and for some reason, Igraine couldn't meet Hiccup's gaze and apparently neither could he. She felt a pang in her chest as she recalled all the time spent learning from each other. A smile played on her lips as she recalled Hiccup's proud face when she drew up her own invention in his sketchbook but they wouldn't have the time to make. He chuckled a bit, no doubt recalling her shocked face when he successfully knocked her on her backside using the shield she taught him. But now it was over and Igraine had to return home, lacing every memory and action between them with sadness.
"I'm going to miss you." Hiccup broke the silence. They shared a bitter sweet smile before he pulled her into a comforting hug.
"I'll miss you, too." She murmured, burying her face in the crook of his neck. They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither wanting to let go, until Igraine broke the silence. "Hiccup...are we...?"
The teenage dragon rider was silent for a second, putting Igraine on edge, before slowly answering. "Do you want...?"
"Um," Igraine blushed. "...y-yeah..."
She could feel Hiccup's barely suppressed grin as he pulled back enough to see her face. "Then I guess we are." Igraine's smile was quickly covered by Hiccup's lips, not that she was complaining. Their second kiss of the week was short and brief, but it still made Igraine soar while Hiccup grinned like a goofball. "Who knows, maybe I'll come visit my girlfriend before your name day."
"Now you're just gunna use any excuse to call me that, aren't you?" Igraine giggled, rolling her eyes in an endearing manner when Hiccup nodded. "You're adorable...But I'd like a surprise visit from my boyfriend anytime."
Hiccup poked Igraine's side, enticing a giggle from the lovey dovey girl before Gunthrum hollered at them, "Igraine, come on, lass! We have to go before the tide changes!"
The new couple shared a sad look despite their smiles and slowly walked hand in hand on to the docks where the adults tried to discreetly give them questioning looks. "Yes, we're dating. Mom and Gobber won." Hiccup chuckled at Igraine's exasperated face. Gunthrum and Stoick muttered to themselves but individually fulfilled their bets; Frea received a kiss while Gobber got bragging rights. "Oh, hey, is it okay if I ride Sparky back? He gets antsy around water and it's not that long of a trip."
Frea nodded with a serene smile. "Certainly, my dear. Hiccup, it was wonderful to get to know you." Gunthrum helped her in the boat.
"Stoick, nice seeing you." Gunthrum and Stoick gave each other a manly hug which involved back slapped before Gunthrum turned to a nervous looking Hiccup. Her intimidating father narrowed his brown eyes and pulled Hiccup close, pointing a warning finger at his face. "Hurt my daughter again and I will gut you like a fish."
"I wouldn't dream of hurting your daughter, sir." Hiccup said, surprisingly confident despite leaning away from him.
"Good." Gunthrum ruffled both of their heads before boarding the ship. "Stay on us, Igraine."
"Will do." She waved as the boat set sail. Before mounting Sparky, she shared a quick peck with Hiccup, received hugs from Gobber and Stoick, and was surprised to get friendly goodbyes from Hiccup's gang of friends. "Hiccup, when you come for my party, bring your friends." Igraine grinned.
"I will." Hiccup winked at her while she agilely mounted Sparky and slipped her feet into the strap on top and held on to his front spike. "Be safe!" Her boyfriend called as Sparky took off into the air.
They shared one look before she was too far off and in that one look, Igraine warned him about Astrid. His eyes softened, silently easing her worries before giving her one of her favorite toothy grins and waving. Sparky flew, following the boat that flew her tribe's sigil, a wolf howling at a full moon with a rune symbol on it in honour of Skadi. The sun warmed Igraine's cheeks and before she realized it, her and Sparky had drifted away from the boat towards some ice glaciers.
A bad feeling began stirring in Igraine's stomach as she slowly turned Sparky around in search of her boat only to hear Sparky let out a roar as a net tangled them together and they fell like stones towards the ocean. In a panic, Igraine let out a shrill scream while she struggled against the tight rope that intensified when she felt warm blood flow down her arm and a sharp, agonizing pain shot up her right leg. Nothing she did helped their predicament.
Sparky twisted in the air but not even the powerful Skrill could stop their descent and soon they crashed into the icy water, both struggling to break free. Igraine gasped in for air only to get a lungful of salty liquid, causing her brain to scream for oxygen to no avail while panic began to settle in. It wasn't just her panic, though. While they sank deeper into the ocean and Igraine was on the verge of passing out, she could feel another, more primal sense of panic on the edge of her mind. She tried to reach out to it but was dragged under by the lack of air, her eyes fluttering close as her body relaxed against her limp dragon.
Author's Note: Short chapter, I know. But, again, I couldn't resist the cliff hanger. Hope I don't pull a George R. R. Martin and kill her off! Just kidding! Or...Am I...? 3 Alizarin