I neither one nor claim any rights to "How to Train Your Dragon"

Jarin and the Legacy of Nartara:

Chapter 20 – Home Ahead and World Behind

Stoick, Gelbrun and the others clustered together in the empty dungeon.

"Well this is an interesting turn of events," said Stoick.

Gelbrun sighed and shook his head. "I should have seen something like this coming."

Stoick folded his arms and stared at Nartara's former chief. "Something like what?"

"Well... You escaped from the dungeon when I put you there. Captain Toram did as well when he and the soldiers mutinied against me. We escaped through the dungeons when we left the town. Even though I never told Alvin about the secret passage, it stands to reason that either he or Dagur put two and two together and figured that the dungeon is not secure. That means they are being held somewhere else."

Stoick nodded. "But where?"

Gelbrun thought for a moment. "My guess would be the Mead Hall. It's the only place large enough here to hold everyone. Dagur would want to keep them in one place."

Stoick shook his head. "I don't like it. The mead hall is at the center of town. There's no way we can get close enough without being seen."

Gelbrun shrugged. "If Hiccup and the others did their job right, and I have no reason to think that they didn't, a significant number of Dagur's soldiers would have been drawn to the docks. The ones left guarding the mead hall will be so on edge, expecting another dragon attack, that we might be able to surprise them. And knowing our people, once they realize that we are attempting to free them, they will overpower the guards."

Stoick considered Gelbrun's assessment. "Agreed. We can stick to the shadows as much as possible. Once we break our people out, we'll fall back to the camp as planned."

"It's a little sketchy," Said Toram who had been listening quietly. "But I don't see any other alternative. When Admiral Jorgan's fleet arrives, we'll be needing everyone ready to fight. And we certainly are not going to give in to Dagur's ultimatum."

They had guessed what the ultimatum would be before Dagur had sent his messenger to deliver it. Hiccup and Toothless were to be given over to Dagur in exchange for the release of the prisoners from Berk. What they hadn't anticipated was that failure to comply would mean the execution of the Nartaran prisoners, one by one. That was clearly to serve as an incentive for the Nartaran people not being held prisoner to force Berk's hand. Tarina was wise enough to see it for exactly what it was. Hence, the rescue operation.

Gelbrun looked back and forth between Stoick and Toram. "Indeed. We've lingered here long enough. We had best be moving on before the shock of the dragon attack wears off..."

O O O

Within three hours of their arrival on Neverthaw, Jarin and Barr had met with Admiral Jorgan and had delivered the message from Gelbrun. The Admiral had no trouble recognizing his former Chief's handwriting and the lucidity behind the words in the letter, so he had immediately dispatched runners to call the captains together at the docks. He then had turned to Jarin and Barr and insisted that they show him their dragons. It wasn't that he doubted their word. He just wanted to see it first hand.

Presently, he and the two messengers approached the landing site, and he tensed when he saw the two monstrous nightmares crouching patiently, awaiting their riders' return.

"I trust they didn't give you guys any trouble," Jarin said to one of the guards.

The guard shook his head. "Not at all... In fact, they both fell asleep after you left them, and only woke up a few minutes ago.

A breeze kicked up and Jarin held up his hand, noting that it was blowing from the direction of the village. "The wind blew our scent towards them. They probably figured we were on our way back."

The guard shook his head. "If you say so."

Admiral Jorgan looked back and forth at the two dragons. "Monstrous Nightmares!" he said with awe.

Barr shook his head. "Majestic Flamescales, Admiral. That is their new name."

Jorgan nodded. "Impressive... Come on now... let me see you ride a dragon, and then we can get underway."

"Very well," Jarin said. "Shadowhorn come, please."

Shadowhorn tossed his head, stood up and sauntered over. The guards backed away nervously but Admiral Jorgan stood firm. "You say please to dragons?"

"Yes," said jarin. "They are not dumb creatures to be tamed and led around on a leash. They are powerful, intelligent and sensitive creatures who deserve our respect."

Jorgan nodded. "I understand. So there's some sort of bond between dragon and rider?"

Jarin nodded as he mounted up on Shadowhorn. "It is usually a bond shared between a dragon and one rider, though this one actually bonded with Chief Tarina as well. It's a mystery, but we have happily accepted it."

Jorgan sneered at Jarin. "I have known Tarina all her life. She has always been a sweet, upstanding girl. I am not comfortable with her being engaged to an outsider. And you said you were just a farmhand?"

Jarin shook his head and sighed. "Admiral, I assure you that my intentions toward Tarina are honorable. Yes, I used to be a farmhand. Now I am a trainer at the Berk Dragon Academy. And you are the first I've told this, but once Tarina and I are married, I am to become head trainer of the Nartara Dragon Academy. Being a farmhand taught me patience and perseverence, which served me in my time as a junior trainer. Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruff and Tuff, each in their own way have taught me wisdom. I don't pretend that there won't be challenges, but I am equipped to lead in the training efforts. Nartara may not have a Night Fury, but many amazing things can be achieved without one."

Jorgan sniffed. "Head trainer of a dragon academy may be an impressive position to hold. But I do not see how you are worthy of the hand of a Chief"

Jarin stared directly into Admiral Jorgan's eyes, his expression hard. "Have a care, Admiral. I am not a confrontational man. I prefer to approach challenges with a fair mind. But you have judged me without even understanding the nature of the relationship Tarina and I have. She is wonderful. Honorable. Virtuous. I have had no desire to change anything in that regard. When she came to berk, she did not come as a Chief's daughter, but as one seeking a respite from a dark life, one which I am sure you know about all too well, or you would not be speaking so protectively of her."

Admiral Jorgan held Jarin's gaze for a few moments, then turned aside with a sigh. "As you say. She has had a hard life. When Gelbrun went mad, suddenly his precious girl was worth nothing more to him than an object to pour out rage and frustration upon. That's yet another reason I left. I could not bear to see a family I had pledged to serve tear itself apart. I had no mind to continue helping it happen by feeding a madman's hunger for insatiable revenge. He had killed three Monstrous Nightmares and had just begun tormenting a fourth one... one with black horns that were thicker than most.. one that..."

He trailed off as he took a closer look at Shadowhorn. "Thor in a thunderstorm," he said. "It's him." there was no mistaking those horns. Shadowhorn was watching him with interest as he approached and reached out a hand to touch the scale-grafted bodywrap. "He wears this to cover the bare hide his torture left exposed?"

Jarin nodded. "Hiccup, son of Stoick the Vast, came up with the idea. Berk had this idea of using dragon scales to ward structures from dragon fire, but as many structures were damaged from physical forces as were damaged by fire, so it proved to be impractical. They kept the scales in a vault in case they found a practical use for them later. As a result, Shadowhorn is as close to whole as he can be."

"Impressive," said Jorgan. "Still, I would not want to be Gelbrun and come face to face with this majestic creature."

Jarin smiled. "That already happened. I found Gelbrun curled up on the ground crying like a baby, with Shadowhorn here crooning to him." he looked pointedly at Jorgan. "Shadowhorn forgave his tormentor, when he had a perfect opportunity to kill him. He chose to forgive. I am not so sure I could do so as easily."

"I know I couldn't," Jorgan said quietly, with a touch of shame in his voice.

"Anyway," Jarin said, "Are you ready for your ride?"

Jorgan took a step back. "My ride?"

"Yes," said Jarin. "You wanted to see dragon riding. Well there's no better way than to experience it. Climb on behind me."

"I'm not so sure about this," Jorgan said. "I'm a man of the Sea, not of the Air." In spite of his doubts, he climbed on Shadowhorn's back behind Jarin.

"Okay Barr," Jarin said, "Mount up. We're going to fly around the island and then land on the docks."

Barr saluted and climbed up on Brokenclaw's back.

They took to the air, and made a circuit of the Neverthaw. Admiral Jorgan felt like a child experiencing a thrill ride in a half-barrel down a steep hillside, but without the hillside and a powerful and graceful living being in place of the barrel. He realized he was wrong about Jarin. Any man who could so confidently train and ride one of the most dangerous dragons in existence was made of strong stuff, as worthy of a Chief as anyone could be. A Dragon Academy in Nartara would be a wonderful thing. Nartara would soon have its navy again, and it would also have an air force to support it.

After circling the island, Jarin and Barr brought their dragons down toward the docks. Jarin motioned for Barr to land, and a moment later both dragons touched down gracefully

Jorgan dismounted immediately and turned to face Jarin. "That was the most impressive experience I have ever had that does not involve riding out a raging storm at sea," he said, "Thank you."

The sailors and officers were staring wide-eyed at the dragons and doing their best to keep their distance. Admiral Jorgan managed to keep the smile off his face at their shock of seeing him hop off one of the giant lizards, and he drew himself to his full height, carrying himself in that way the comes with more than fifteen years of command. He had sent word ahead of his little dragon ride that he wanted to meet with all of the ship captains on the docks, and they were arriving presently. As soon as they were assembled, he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Alright, listen up!" he began. "Nartara is under blockade from the Berserker fleet. Gelbrun has abdicated his position to Tarina, who is now the Chief. We swore an oath to return to our home island when the wind changed, and changed it has. A new day is dawning. The dragons you see on these docks are part of the future. They are not the evil creatures we once believed them to be, but were in fact snared by a form of mind control by a creature that the people of Berk call a Red Death. The son of their chief, with the aid of his Night Fury friend, brought the beast down a while back. That is why there have been no more raids on Neverthaw all this time. Berk and Nartara are now allies, and that relationship will soon be solidified by the marriage of our Chief Tarina to this man, Jarin. I was skeptical at first, but I now truly believe that this will be a very good thing, and as a result, Nartara will finally regain its honor and prosperity, and we can once again server her with pride.

"Captains," he said, looking around at those assembled on deck. "Return to your ships and make ready to set sail for home. When we gain sight of the Berserker fleet, Jarin and his companion will do as much damage as they fly back to rally with the Dragon Riders from Berk who will help turn the tide in this battle. Are you with me?"

Shouts of affirmation were raised by all assembled. This was a day that every man present had been waiting for since Admiral Jorgan led the Nartaran fleet in its mutiny against Gelbrun the Mad.

Home was ahead and the world was behind.