(Astrid's POV)
Astrid stood in a mis of emotions as Setrina spoke. Shock, confusion, disbelief, surprise. Truth was, she didn't know what to think. She hadn't told the others Hiccup's secret, and she wanted to. But these people needed her to be silent. So what did she do? Choose to help these band of strangers, or to be loyal to her village? The answer was obvious to her, so...why didn't she feel sure. She decided to wait until they stopped talking to make her decision.
"Wait." The boy, Hogva, said. "If it was in Norse...how did you find the page?"
"He labeled the entries in english, for some reason. I don't know, I can never understand him." Setrina said. Astrid looked at her, and was reminded of an all to familiar face. She looked like Heather. Althoug Heather had escaped the Vikings, she had suffered some...injuries at the hand of Astrid. Although the resemblance was scary, this girl...she had a confidence to her, an inner strength. It both intrigued and repulsed Astrid.
"That's not the point." Festa said. "We have someone who can read it, so we should be able to find whatever we need."
"That...may be problem." Hogva said. Everyone looked at him simutaniously. "I only learned about twenty characters in Norse. There are some I'm shaky on, and some I don't even recognize."
"...So...you can't read this?" Setrina asked.
"Nope." He said. Setrina groaned in exasperation, throwing her head back.
"But this one can." Hogva said, pointing at Astrid. Astrid was filled with surprise, raising both eyebrows.
"Umm...what?" She asked.
"Hogva, don't be silly, there's no way she's going to help us." Setrina turned to her. "Don't you hate Hiccup?"
"Wait, I never said-" AStris started, a little surprised they thought that, but not that much.
"Look, this is probaly going to be a long trip, but you're the only one who can help us. Certainly the only one rational enough to listen to what we have to say." Festa said.
"...Well..."
"She doesn't have to come." Setrina said. Astrid looked at her confused. Why was she do persistent on this?
"Look, Setrina, now is not the time to let your feelings cloud your judgement-" Hogva started.
"Excuse me?" She said in an almost whisper, shutting up Hogva quite effeciently.
"He's got a point, Setrina." Festa said. "Look, I know you're agaisnt it, but we can't afford to go without her. This is Hiccup's life on the line."
"I know that! But if she comes, we'll just be slowed down." Setrina crossed her arms
"Setrina...is it more to it than that?" Festa said. Astrid found herself growing more uncomfortable as they spoke, feeling as she was witnessing something personal.
"...What are you talking about?"
"...Look, I know why you're against it, but she has to come. If we get lost, or miscalculate, or anything, she could be the difference between liffe and death. And not for us." Setrina looked at the ground.
"...Fine." She said in a low and defeated tone.
"Okay." Hogva said, turning to Astrid. "SO, do you need to do anything?"
"Wait, we're leaving now?" She asked incredously. On Berk, it took at least half an hour to get ready for a trip, especially if it was going to be long. But then again, these were dragon riders, not Berkians. They didn't do things like she was used to.
"Well, yeah. If you need some time, you have a maximum of thirty minutes." Hogva said.
"I never said I was going!" Astrid said, a little annoyed.
"Adn I thought we estabilidad that you have to come." Hogva said. Astrid wanted to argue, but something in his demeanor made her think twice.
"All right, just give me a second." She said, rushing to the others downstairs. Snotlout stopped her in her rush.
"Hey, babe. What's the rush?" Astrid glared a death stare at him.
"Don't do this now, Snotlout. I'm boy in the modo." She said in a low voice. To be fair, she was never in the mood. But, nonetheless, Snotlout's smirk gave way off his face and he backed off, obviously threatend. Astrid smiled to herslef, satisfied, and made her way to her chambers. She quickly grabbed her axe, given she already had her armor on, and some supplies. She was about to head out, when she ran into the chief, whom was blocking the door.
"Where are you going, Astrid?" He asked in a low tone. It was so calm and deep, it scared her. Her!
"I'm have to go with the...riders to-" She started shakily.
"Why?" He asked, interrupting.
"Uh...well..." This is going to be long, she thought.
(Hiccup's POV)
Hiccup woke up, his head felt thick and his stomach ached and burned. He overall felt crappy. He sat up and attempted to stand up. As he did, a flash of pain stopped him from getting up. He sat back down, submitting to the pain.
"Oi, don't try to get." Someone said. He looked to see Merida sitting next to him, arms crossed.
"Don't worry, I won't try that again." He said jokingly. Merida was quiet for a second.
"How do you feel?" She asked him, a little comfort showing in her blocked demeanor.
"...Good enough, I guess. How about you?" He asked out of courtesy.
"I'm not the one mortally wounded. I'm worried about you." She said. Hiccup raised an eyebrow. Why would she be worried about him?
"I'm fine, really." He said.
"Good, I'm glad. Because I have a few questions...Hiccup." She said. He winced. Now she knew. He guessed it was only expected. Pretty soon, his father would find out. He sighed.
"Like what?" He asked. It would be better to get this over with.
"Why did you become a dragon rider?" She asked. He looked at her. Such a strange question, and it had an obvious answer.
"Because I wanted to help people." He said.
"And?" She asked. Hiccup was confused. What else was there?
"What do you mean?" He asked her.
"There has to be more than one reason for someone to become a dragon rider. What is it?" She asked.
He knew there was more than one reason he left, but he didn't want her to think less of him. But if he lied, he would lose her trust and friendship. But then another thought occurred. Why did he care what she thought of him? He wasn't a friend, or even an acquaintance, but just a total stranger. So why did her opinion matter to him so much? He didn't have an answer, everything was so confusing, and for the first time in a long time...he truly wasn't sure. So he just stared at her, trying to come up with a believable excuse, or something to worm it's way around her question, but came up with...nothing.
"I don't fell comfortable talking about it with you." He said, facing away in, for some reason, in shame. And it was the truth, he was uncomfortable, but it was more than that. It was...something. He didn't know what it was. It was...confusing. Merida looked down in embarrassment and sadness.
"Right, sorry. It's just...I wanted to get to know you better. Since you are supposed to protect me." She said. She was sad. He didn't like to see people sad. His own sadness, he could handle, but someone else's was unbearable. Should he tell her? Should she know? Would it be for the best? He sighed. Either way, it was going to get to her eventually. Might as well come from him.
"I used to live with Vikings." He started out. Simple, but shocking. A dragon rider living with Vikings? "I was, as you would say, a bit small for my age. Or any age. I was the runt, weak. Because of that, I was ridiculed, humiliated. But because of my father, I was allowed to stay. I don't know why they didn't just kick me out in the first place. And I was so eager to change their minds, but each day seemed like a new form of pain. My father told me to suck it up, that real Vikings don't cry. I didn't want to be more of a disappointment, so I pushed it all down, but I guess it was just building up. And with nothing to get rid of it, it was just a matter of time until it exploded. But one day, I met Toothless, and he made me...happy. For the first time in my life, I had a friend, someone who I could trust and be myself with. Then, the village wanted me to do something that I couldn't do, not now that I had met Toothless. So I ran away. It was only by coincidence that I found the others. So I became what I am now. A dragon rider."
Merida stayed silent. Hiccup had never told anyone this, not the way he was telling it now. Why was he telling this stranger? What was it about her that made him trust her so much without knowing anything about her? Any way, it didn't matter. It's not like she could-
"I understand." She said. He looked at her in confusion and surprise. "Well, some of it. They tried to make you do something you didn't want to, didn't they? You didn't want to be like them, at some point. Didn't want to do things their way." Hiccup chuckled.
"Something like that." He said.
"'m not going to pretend like I understand all you've been through, but...just know if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. At least until the others get back." She said. Hiccup chuckled, then froze.
"Wait...what?" He asked.
"...The others left to go get some ingredients for the antidote to your...poison." Hiccup stared at her incredulously, then put both hands on his face, groaning into them. They went to get the ingredients to the Stromcutter poison, but the main ingredient was in it's nest! They couldn't get it without being injured, because he was the only one who could read it.
"Who all left?" He asked, his hands still on his face.
"Um, Setrina." Of course. "Festa." Obviously. "Hogva." Wait, he was back? "And Astrid." The last name shocked him.
"Wait...the blonde viking Astrid?" He asked, but of course that was the only Astrid around. Why would she be helping them? Well, at least they could read the map.
"Yes...Hiccup? I have to ask you...how do you talk to dragons?" She asked. Hiccup shrugged.
"It's there own language. Dragonese. A series of dragon sounds that translate into words and sentences. It takes years to learn, especially if you speak any human language frequently."
"Oh, all right. I was kind of hoping I could find a way to talk with Arrowedge, but I don't think I could spend years learning a language." She looked down, blushed. Hiccup was confused.
"What about your archery? I heard you're the best around, and it took me months before I could even graze a target." He said.
"Well, not to brag, but I kind of had a natural talent for it and learned to hit a bulls-eye in four months. It's no big deal."
"I'd say it's a really big deal. You must be really talented." Hiccup saw Merida smile a little wider at the praise, and felt himself get a little happier becuase he made this stranger happy.
"...So, I've, uh, been having quite a lot of trouble learning to get on Arrowedge. Could you help me?"
"Wait, is that your dragon's name?" He asked.
"Oh, is it a bad name?" She asked worriedly.
"No, it's a good name, especially if your dragon likes it. Anyhow, I could teach you to ride her. It's not as easy as riding a horse, but I'm sure you can get it down." He said. Merida immediately looked offended.
"Who told you riding a horse was easy?" She said, arms crossed.
"Well, no one, it's just that horses don't fly, breath fire, or get an attitude if they go without fish for five minutes." Hiccup glanced at Toothless, aiming that last comment at him.
I have a very large stomach, my hunger is untameable. Toothless warbled. Hiccup rolled his eyes. Merida harrumphed.
"It's still not easy as you think to ride a horse." She said. He could tell she was getting angry, and really wanted to avoid another slap.
"I believe you." He said, choosing his words carefully. "I'm not as skilled as you when it comes to horses, and I doubt I know as much about them as you."
"Aren't you supposed to be some kind of genius?" She asked, a little rudely. Perhaps she was still angry over the whole thing about dragons over horses.
"Of course, but only on dragons, herbs, weapons, stuff like that. I don't know much about anything else. Couldn't ever cook a decent meal to save my life." Hiccup remembered the one time he had attempted to cook a small lunch, almost burning down his home, and getting an earful from Setrina. Still, the burnt food was still better than her cooking, but he would never tell her that.
"Well, I guess I'll have to teach you that. Call it a...trade, of sorts." She said. Hiccup chuckled at the strange word, but nonetheless stood up. He was still in pain, but not so much as he couldn't stand.
"Well, if your going to ride a dragon, your going to need a saddle." He said, already putting together the blueprints in his mind.
(Setrina's POV)
Setrina felt another wave of irritation as Astrid asked the same question that she had asked three times in the last hour.
"Are you sure?" Setrina bit back a groan of annoyance.
"Yes, I'm sure Astrid. Geez, I thought vikings were supposed to be tough. Are you scared of a little height?" She asked, annoyance clearly shown in her tone. Festa flew up and close to them.
"Actually, if she fell from this height, she would break all her bones, sever her spine, cause possible parallelization-"
"Not helping, Festa!" Setrina said through gritted teeth. Astrid, spooked by Festa's gruesome words, squeezed Setrina's waist tighter. Setrina groaned from the pain her abdomen was in because of it.
"Can you not squeeze so tight?" She yelled at her. Festa laughed. Setrina snapped on her.
"OH, ha-ha!" She said mockingly. She turned forward. "Wait until we get down!" She said venomously to no one in particular. Setrina was in a bad mood, because despite all of their work, they had only gathered half of the items they needed, and it was almost sunset. If they didn't hurry, they would have no choice but to camp for the night, or turn back and wait out the night in Scotland. They needed to get this finished, tonight. Hogva rode up besides them.
"I've been thinking, and I realized something...Hiccup is the only one besides Tyna who can speak fluent Dragonese. So if he dies, and the...queen or whatever decides to attack, we may have no choice but to kill it."
"It won't come to that." Festa said.
"What if this cure doesn't work?" He asked. Setrina felt anger rise up in her.
"It's gonna work." She said with the most confident voice she could muster. The cure has to work. It just has to. He cant' die. Not know. Not ever. She continued to reassure herself as they flew, and she noticed that Astrid's hold had gotten visibly looser. She glanced back and saw Astrid's eyes were now open, looking around. Could she be...enjoying this? Well, looks like Hiccup was wrong. Maybe they could change. She followed Astrid's eyes and looked around as well. She had forgotten the simple pleasure of just gliding in the sky, the colors of the sunset illuminating everything around. She had always thought that, if she ever were to get the guts to ask Hiccup out, she would do it on a ride like right now. When she had gotten the cure for him, maybe he would start to see her more than just his friend. Maybe...
Now was not the time for hoping. If any of that was going to come true, she had to help him first. In her mind, it was her turn to save his life.
"Um, not to tell you how to do your job...but is that dragon supposed to be following us?" Astrid asked, worry evident in her voice.
"What?" Setrina asked, confused. She turned around and saw a Monstrous Nightmare trailing them. It was covered in metal armor. "Festa, who is that behind us?" Setrina called out.
"I don't know. It looks alone." She said. Setrina looked back at the dragon wiht suspicion.
"How long has it been following us?" She asked, though she was sure they didn't know, but it was protocol.
"With that armor, I don't think it could fly for long, so it must have started recently." Hogva said. Setrina looked back, watching the dragon.
"Bloosvist." Astrid whispered, so quiet that she almost missed it. Setrina looked at her with confusion.
"What was that?" She asked. Astrid looked at her, fear in her eyes.
"Go faster. Faster!" She said frantically. Setrina looked at her, confused.
"What are you talking about?" She said, confused. Just then there was a three-part chorus of:
"LOOK OUT!" Setrina looked forward to see a Gronkle a foot away from her. It fired.
(Hiccup's POV)
Hiccup banged away on the metal, the heat suddenly getting to much for him. He moved out of the blacksmith's shop and wiped his brow. Suddenly, a putrid smell peirced his nose. He took a sniff.
"...Something's burning."