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.

Okay, so this story is about to end. Hurray! It did reach twenty episodes (even though I had to make the last chapters longer) and (sniff) and there will be a nice Epilogue right after, just wait for it. It won't be long, I promise.

There might be sequel like I have commented to some of you, but at this point is up to you to show me that you want it. The ideas are all here already, but again, it's all up to you guys.

Chapter 20

Though she was only fifteen she already knew what she wanted from her life. She wanted to make her family and tribe proud of her. She wanted to be a talented rider and Shield Maiden, and even healer. Though not as spoken often, she also dreamed of one day marrying. There were a boy or two that she thought were cute, but she knew that for what she wanted she would have to forget about it for the moment. There was so much she wanted to do, and never thought much of the dangers she would come across.

Halla woke up with a terrible headache. When she tried to hold her head to keep it from spinning she realized she couldn't. Her hands were tied behind her back. The sun was glaring at her face, which didn't help her headache one bit. She tried to stand from what she knew was the rocky beach, but a firm hand kept her in place. Then, as in overwhelming wave she remembered everything that had happened. She tried to scramble away from the hand, but all she was able to accomplish was fall to the side.

"You are still such a child," Lugus pulled her to a sitting position again, "if I wanted to hurt you, you would already be bleeding to death" his voice was like tendrils of silk wrapping slowly around her neck.

She did her best to keep from shivering. She couldn't let him see how much those words affected her. What was worst than having an enemy threaten you was to have a good old friend threaten you. She didn't dare to look at him afraid of what she would see. She remembered when there was a time that she felt jealousy towards Lugus. He had been so much closer to Stein than her when they were children. She knew that it was already hard for her brother to accept Lugus was the one behind the attacks towards them, but once he found about this he would certainly be hurt.

"Did the Terror eat your tongue?" asked Lugus with a chuckle. Still, she didn't answer.

"Ah!" she gasped when he pulled her head harshly by her long blonde braid. Her green eyes made contact with his azure ones. He was surprised for a fraction of a second of how much she had grown to resemble her mother. From what he had heard, she was also an exceptional Shield Maiden.

"Are you too good to talk to me now Halla?" he sneered close to her face. Then he saw the fear in her eyes. She was terrified of him. He released her trying to hold his temper. He wasn't supposed to feel like that. When saw her eyes, just like her father's, he remembered his childhood in Berk.

"Lugus?" he heard someone call his name before he turned to face the woods opposite to the beach. The man he saw was tall and sturdy, his auburn hair reached his shoulders in uneven waves and his eyes were a familiar blue. Though it had been seven years, he could still recognize him.

"Stein," he said keeping a firm hand on Halla's shoulder. He watched in amusement as several expressions crossed his face. First there was confusion, and then he showed shock upon understanding, and finally arctic iron fury, "it's been a long time old friend"

"Let Halla go," he said stepping forwards, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Or what? You will kill me?" Lugus said with a charming smile.

"Don't think I won't," he said with a firm voice, "let her go, now"

"You have grown Stein; it's actually quite surprising considering your father…" he paused, a playful smile spread across his lips. "Are you sure he is…"

"If you dare to finish that question, it will be your last," Stein said with narrowed eyes, "no more talk Lugus, and release her"

"Can't do old friend," said Lugus drawing a small sword he recognized, "because you see, it is not you nor her that I seek"

"Then why are you doing this? Why do you attack us? Why do you not let her go?"

"Why? Why? Why? Why?" he said raising his voice, "Why don't you ask your father!" he placed the sword under her chin.

"Please don't," said Stein before he drew his sword, "please don't make me kill you" Ormarr landed besides his rider and readied its spikes.

"Is that your dragon?" asked Lugus slightly curious. Stein nodded, "a Nadder, I always thought you would go for a Nightmare"

"I guess you forgot what I wrote to you," Stein said with saddened eyes, "your mother really turned you against us"

"What are you…" Lugus stopped talking; he pulled his sword away from Halla's neck, "when was the last time you wrote to me?"

Stein frowned at the question, why did it matter?

"He wrote to you until his fourteenth summer," said Halla finding her voice. She could feel it truly mattered to Lugus to know.

"You are lying," said Lugus.

"Why would I?"

Time stopped. Lugus understood then that even then he had been manipulated by his mother. He had been his little puppet from the start. He remembered how upset she would get when she found that he went to look for Stein's letters at the port. He remembered how the trader would dress better and better every time he went looking for the letters to find none. It had all been part of her plan. He released Halla's hair and stood back until he felt the sea on his ankles.

She probably didn't expect him to act on his own. He had always thought a king should take care of matters himself.

"LUGUS!" he heard a shout before an arrow flew towards him.

**** PRESENT ****

Sini ran through the large halls of her family's castle. Behind her, she heard the whole dinner table crash before his loose steps started towards her. She begged for one of the servants to have disobeyed her, and decided to stay in case they needed anything. None did. She kept herself from cursing out loud. She was going to die too like her parents. He would find a way to make it look like an accident too. The breaks in her mother's car had failed, and she had ended up in the sea. The next morning her father had been found in his room dead from an overdose of medication. All of this after they refused Livius the command of their armed forces.

That same afternoon he had been crowned the new king, and his first order had been to send their marine forces to surround Berk. That night she had heard him orders to keep the ferries away from Berk and have their ships set a blockage so the Berkerians could not leave. She knew she had made a mistake then to let him know she didn't approve of what he was doing. She spent the rest of her day waiting for news from Berk. Their ships had not been able to stop them, and their jets had been useless against the White Death. When everything became quiet, her thoughts started to run.

Even if Hagnes defeated the beast, it didn't mean they would have peace. She could only see one way out of this, and she begged forgiveness to her parents for her decision. She had arranged a dinner for them to mourn their parents. She had made every servant leave so they couldn't help him. She didn't count that she might need their help. From her family's vault, she pulled a small bottle her parents kept in case of an emergency. She had poured the contents of said bottle to her brother's soup.

The silence between them was thick as she counted every spoonful he took.

"You are trying to kill me," he had said dropping the spoon. The soup was barely half done, but he already felt light headed.

She hadn't said a word but bolted from her chair and ran. He followed her close behind. Tears ran down her face. She was afraid. She knew what Livius was capable of.

**** Berk ****

It was utterly dark and stank of death. Still, she took deep breaths as she tried to make out where they were. She could tell she was still on Kara's back, but the gravity felt all wrong. She roamed the saddle bags before she found some glow sticks. Though their light wasn't strong, she was able to tell where they were.

"Oh Odin," she said as she stared at the large fangs that were at least twice her size.

When swallowed Kara had attached herself to the side mouth of the White Death; that was why gravity felt all wrong. They were close to the opening of its throat, which meant they were just out of reach of the monster's tongue. They were alive, but they were also without any route of escape. She couldn't believe she had overestimated the beast. These monstrous dragons were still much of a mystery, but one thing for sure was that they were smart. It knew what had happened to its predecessors and had counted on her acting the same way, making it possible for it to trap her, though that hadn't been its original intention.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" she cursed loudly, "fucking oversized lizard!" she didn't know what to do.

Outside Ashton, Runi, and Runa were still trying to understand what had just happened.

"No…" Ashton had to grip tightly to one of Fire Heart's head spikes to keep from falling.

"Let's kill it," said Runi with a cold tone. His sister nodded in agreement.

"Wait…" said Ashton when he noticed something odd as the beast descended back to the ground. It wouldn't open its mouth.

Kara crooned trying to comfort her rider. She wanted to tell her that not everything was lost. She felt as the young girl held tighter to her before the dragoness stated climbing her way down the White Death's throat.

"Why?" Hagnes had to ask. They wanted to get out, not in.

The dragoness crooned once more before slapping Hagnes across the head with one of her ear plates. She stopped before a hole as wide as a manhole. Hagnes started at it curious as of what it was before she saw a little puff of green gas escape it. She held her breath. She knew what that was. There was still hope left.

**** The Crown's Castle ****

Livius stood in the balcony of their parents' bedroom. He had spotted the door open and had gone in. He had searched the whole place before he saw the window wide open. Still, she was not there. He couldn't believe she had tricked him yet again. He should have known that the dinner was a trap. She would never understand why he was doing this. It was for their family's honor. If they let the Berkerians rule themselves, then they would lose all the respect from all the other islands under their command. He took a deep breath of the night air. He guessed he would have to keep looking for her.

"I am sorry," he heard before he felt Sini push him. He tried to reach for her as he stumbled back. Though it had not been the whole thing, the poison still made his reflexes lousy. His lower back hit the rail before he toppled over. He screamed all the way down. Sini didn't lean on the rail to look. She hurried out of the room making sure to wipe her finger prints from the place. When the servants went to look for her, they found the dinner table overthrown. They hurried to her chambers to find her crying in a nightgown.

She told them of how she and her brother had a discussion over their kingdom before he had bolted off. The servants didn't know how to tell her what Livius had done after their discussion. They felt terrible for the young soon to be queen.

**** PAST ****

Hiccup had never been so furious in his life as then. When he spotted Lugus close to his daughter with a sword he didn't think twice and released the arrow. It zoomed through the air towards his heart.

"LUGUS!" shouted Halla when she spotted her father and the upcoming arrow. She jumped to her feet before putting herself between the arrow and him.

"HALLA!" shouted Stein when he saw the arrow embed itself on her with so much force that it threw her back and into a shocked Lugus. They fell into the salty water together.

"No!" Hiccup landed and ran towards them just like his son but stopped short.

"Stay back!" shouted the young king. Lugus had once again the blade of his sword against her neck. She stared at them in shock as her shoulder bled; the arrow had gone through and was now embedded in her flesh. The waves lapped at them as he brought them to stand again.

"You want me Lugus," Hiccup said, "let Halla go"

"Why should I? Eh? You just tried to kill me"

"You know why," Hiccup tried to keep his calm.

"No, I don't!" he said through clenched teeth, "you said a good chief always checked the situation before acting. You attacked me without thought. You lied to me, everyone has lied to me!" he couldn't trust anyone. He hadn't even been able to trust his mother.

"Halla has nothing do with it," Stein said finally finding his voice, "she is still just a kid, please let her go"

"Kid? Kid! I was a baby when your father ripped me from my mother's arms! How long did I cry for her Hiccup? How long was it before I forgot about her face and love! You broke us! It's only fair that I make you feel the same living Hel!"

"You promised me you would only come after me," Hiccup said.

"I am Camicazi's son, remember?"

Hiccup frowned. He didn't know what had happened, but this was not the Lugus he had seen grow up.

"I will give you my life here and now," said Hiccup drawing his sword against his neck.

"No!" screamed Stein and Halla.

"I don't want your life! I want to make you suffer!" death was too good for him. He wanted him to live through hell. Hiccup lowered his sword. For the first time in a long time, he felt useless. He had no idea of what he could do to save his daughter.

"Lugus!" shouted Renald, they turned to watch more Hairy Hooligans arrive to the spot. They all kept their distance knowing one wrong movement would mean Halla's death. They all could only watch in utter silence and shock at the scene before them.

"Then kill me!" Stein dropped his weapons and stepped forwards spreading his arms wide, "I am the next chief, remember? My father has been honing me for that all my life"

"Stein!" Astrid shouted before she tried to go after him, but was stopped by Tuff and Ruff, "no!"

"Don't Astrid," said Ruff embracing her friend and shielding her from sight. The brave Astrid was now in tears.

"That's enough Lugus!" Ulfar said stepping forwards, "or have you forgotten the promise you made? You said you would always think of us as family no matter what"

"You got no right to speak of family Ulfar! You betrayed your own sister!" that silenced him; he knew what he had done was unforgivable before his nephew's eyes. After he and Ruff had their son, he realized the immense pain he had brought Camicazi. No matter how much he had cared for Lugus, he knew he and Ruff were no replacement for his mother.

"We feared she would hurt you," said Tuff, "she was not well Lugus. You know that" he didn't want to see anyone die. They had seen all of those children grow together in the village. Each one of them was important to them. All of them were willing to give away their lives as long as they didn't see one of them die.

"You had no right to make that decision," he said shaking his head. Yeah, she had not been well. She had been nuts actually. All she ever cared about was hurting others, and without realizing made him a pawn of her master plan. He hated to admit she had succeeded. He could let Halla go there and then, and leave. Still, part of him wouldn't let him. He had grown the past seven years being pampered and idolized. He had become prideful, and stubborn. He was a king, Lugus of the Light.

"Lugus," Hiccup said in a calm voice, "what do you want in exchange of my daughter's life?" he was growing desperate.

"There is nothing you can give me," he said, "you took away from me my mother's love. I was but a stranger for her"

"Hiccup might have taken you away from your mother, but he gave you a family and friends here. Does that matter nothing to you?" Renald said.

"You are an outsider in all of this Renald... No, you actually hated my mother more than anyone here, yet you played along to try to win me over. You sick piece of shit" Lugus saw pain like he had never seen before cross the man's face. Though he knew it was not true in his heart, he couldn't stop the words from coming out. Renald had always been kind to him as a child. He never treated him differently; never ignored him. He had admired the ex-chief a great deal. He had never thought or been bothered by his preferences even after he found out what they meant.

"He is not an outsider," said Hiccup barely able to hold his temper.

"Hiccup! Don't!" Ulfar shouted.

"Let him," said Renald, but he could no longer look at Lugus, "if it can help somehow, tell him"

**** Present ****

There were many stories that she didn't believe when it came to her family. She didn't believe they had met giants, or fought off witches and werewolves. Now, she believed they did have a significant link to the gods, but still the idea of destiny was hard to swallow. According to Halldora her sword, shield and armor had been forged by Hiccup when he saw in a dream the awakening of the White Death and the one who would kill it. She refused to believe a day like this could have been predicted a thousand years go.

Yet, here she was looking down on a hole where she could fit perfectly, and without her knowing with the perfect shaped sword and shield to kill the White Death in the least expectable way. She had thrown in one of the light stick to have a better look at the inside of the hole. It didn't go too far in, but at the end she saw a small opening where her needle shaped sword could fit. She thought that it was just a coincidence. Using the harnesses and ropes she still had with her she made sure she was secured to Kara's saddle before she crawled in. She tried not to think of the fleshy walls as she went in. She traced the small hole before it expanded, letting out green gas. She was fast to hold her breath. In instinct, she pulled her shield from her back and put in the hole before it shrank again. It fit perfectly.

"I am going in!" she called out to the dragoness before she entered the now even narrower tunnel. She heard the dragoness growl in worry. Kara didn't like that she couldn't follow her rider in there.

As she went deeper, she realized she would be lacking air if she hadn't kept the hole back from closing with her shield. She thanked Freya when she spotted the end. It widened into a place where she could barely stand. Before her was an oval shaped wall of flesh that pulsed like a heartbeat. She saw it secrete a dark liquid that when it came into contact with the air it turned into green gas. She had found a gas gland. She dared to touch the gland as she couldn't help to be curious. She had learnt all the Dragon Manuals could offer regarding dragon anatomy, and she knew enough about the gas gland, but she never thought she would get to see one at this scale, or so up close.

"Is this where I was meant to go?" she couldn't help asking. She drew her sword with one hand as she kept the other on the gland. She knew what would happen, but would they be fast enough? She raised the blade before she stabbed the gland with all of her strength. She took a deep breath before placing both hands in the handle of the sword and pressing the engravings on the sword just like she had been told. She never thought she would have to use this. She heard the small mechanisms inside the sword shift before it shuddered. Without having to see, she knew what had happened. A lock had been released, and the sword expanded to double its size, piercing through the whole gland. The whole placed shook as the White Death roared in pain.

"Ahhhh!" she screamed before pulling the sword down ripping the gland in two, releasing all of the dark liquid it had been holding. Hagnes pulled her sword out and started to scramble outside. The next moment her whole body was being pulled out by the ropes she had secured on herself. She pulled her shield in the way making sure to use its sharp petal shaped ends to rip at the opening it had been holding open. She was caught by Kara that started to fly towards the now open mouth of the White Death as it kept roaring in pain. Behind them, the whole throat of the White Death was getting filled with more green gas than it could hold.

"Hagnes!" her friends weren't too far from the beast. Once they had seen the creature roar they knew it had been their doing. They were almost to the teeth when they suddenly shot close.

"No!" Soon they were surrounded by green gas.

Kara scratched as the large stake like fangs while Hagnes swung her sword and shield at it, but they barely manage to make a scratch. Kara felt Hagnes slump over her. She had passed out because of the gas.

Outside they watched as green gas expanded through small gaps on the White Death's mouth.

"It's trying to suffocate them," but they also saw the enormous beast stumble. It couldn't breathe with so much gas in its ducts.

The White Death knew the damage they had done inside it was unfixable. It would not survive, but at least it would make sure they didn't either. The massive beast opened its mouth. At once Kara took off but not fast enough. The White Death lit the gas catching them in a great explosion.

Soleil was making her way back to others after setting Philly and Cutie in a safe place. She heard the explosion before she saw Hagnes and Kara soar through the sky as fast as a missile. She knew something wasn't right away. At once, she and Princess went after them. When they found them it was at a small cove. There was a pond where now Hagnes and Kara floated almost as in peace. They flew over them to bring them out, but when Soleil saw their condition she feared the worst.

Not too far back in town Steinunn and others who had volunteered looked towards where they heard the explosion. Steinunn didn't remember well what she did after that. She didn't even remember how she made it to the cove where her daughter was now laying between death and life.

****PAST ****

*** Twelve years ago ***

Renald gathered the fishing nets on woven baskets by the port. He remained silent as the children ran around excited about going fishing with their parents and friends. He made sure to keep an eye of where Shield was. She was as usual with the boys, standing taller than any of them. She had a smug smile as she tackled Stein to the ground before Halla tried to pull her off her older brother. The three year old didn't have a chance against her. Then he caught sight of Lugus standing on the side unsure of what to do. The boy was remarkably mild and was already aware that he was somehow different. Ulfar had told him he would tell him the truth next year. It wasn't soon enough for him. Whenever he saw Lugus, he saw Camicazi. His blood boiled at the thought of her and what she had done to his tribe, family and him.

There were times when he still had nightmares about those days when she had him tied, drugged and violated.

"Time to go!" shouted Tuff before the little ones stampeded towards the boat they would be taking. Renald helped Shield get on the boat, just as all parents did with their children. Then he spotted Lugus again standing and waiting until Ulfar had sat Bork on a secured place. He couldn't help himself then and picked the five year old. He didn't weight a thing! He tried to remember of the first time he had met Camicazi, but couldn't. Still he could see the boy was a hiccup as much as she had been.

"That's tickles!" cried Lugus with a childish laugh before Renald sat him next to Shield. What was he thinking? He was only an innocent boy. Renald had been nothing like his father; he knew better than to judge a child based on their parents.

"This is the place," said Fishlegs before the adults stopped rowing. The adults showed the children how to throw nets. The children were not impressed at all. They had expected something more exciting. Renald didn't blame them. He had always been more of a hunter than a fisher. He missed the woods of his old home. The Gargantuan forest, though it had lost some of its fun after Hiccup killed old Black Bones, was still the best of places to prove one's bravery and skill. Fishing was only fun when a Scauldron showed up (though this time with the kids not so much).

The next thing they did was show the kids how to set hooks. He had to laugh when he saw their disappointed looks when told they had to stay still and silent; otherwise they would scare the fish.

He had to admit Fishlegs had a good head over his shoulders because it wasn't long before all of their lines were being pulled.

"I can do it alone!" said Shield as she pulled her line alone. He sighed; he already feared her teenage years. Then he noticed Lugus on his own as he tried to pull his line with his scrawny arms. Ulfar was busy helping Bork with his line. With a sigh, he went to help the child pull his fishing line. He had to admit his catch was big from the pull it gave. As he helped him, he looked down on the blonde head of the boy. He spotted something odd, something that picked at his memory.

"It's huge!" cried Lugus as the fish came into view. Back to reality Renald helped the child pull his catch into the boat.

"Turn around if you can't stand blood yet," he told the child, but he didn't look away as he ended the fish's life. He followed to show the child how to gut the fish, and to be careful of its scales as he removed them. Lugus turned out to have quite a gift for fishing. At his third catch, he was already cleaning them by himself.

"Ulfar says he is already showing quite an interest on the bow," Hiccup told him as they ate lunch, "not bad for a hiccup, right?"

"Brag all you want Haddock," laughed Renald, "just remember that you might want to eat your words one day"

"Burned!" laughed Tuff who was at hearing range.

Hiccup shook his head in misbelieve but didn't say more. Renald knew he didn't want to risk Lugus overhearing them. After they pulled the nets back, and placed the rest of their catch in the nets, they started their way back home. All of the children were already exhausted and sleeping across the vessel. He looked at Lugus sleep wondering how the child would turn out to be. He saw the scalp of the child again trying to remember what he had forgotten. He scratched his head in wonder before he froze.

"Stop…" he whispered to the others harshly, but making sure not to wake up the children.

"What is it?" Fishlegs asked looking around for danger.

Renald marched to where Lugus laid before checking the back of his head. The child already had hair when they took him from Camicazi, and he had always made sure to keep his distance until then.

"What is it?" Ulfar asked worriedly before he saw Renald find his nephews birthmark. It was about the size of a strawberry, light pink color and shaped like a four pointed star.

"Hiccup," he hurried to the chief, "check my head"

"What are you…" but Hiccup understood then and hurried to check the same spot Renald had checked on Lugus. Soon he found the exact same birthmark on Renald's head.

"It's there, isn't it?" he had forgotten about it. The only ones to comment on it had been his mother and sister.

"But how?" asked Fishlegs.

Hiccup looked uncomfortable before Renald gave him a nod that it was okay to tell them. The chief took a deep breath before he told them how he had found Renald years ago when Camicazi overthrew him as the chief of the Nut Crackers. Renald had been so intoxicated with mead and other things that he couldn't remember how many women had taken him against his will. Never once did it occur to them that Camicazi had been among them.

"Should we tell him?" asked Tuff.

"No," said Renald, "imagine what he will think when he grows up and finds out about how he was conceived"

All of them agreed. Lugus was too young to learn of his mother's cruelty.

**** Back to the Beach ****

He had looked over the child every chance he could. He had taught him to wield the bow and arrow perfectly and how to swing a sword properly. He could see a lot of his own skill on the child. Camicazi had always been a lousy hunter. He had felt pride for the boy's sharp gaze and mind. Though he was scrawny, he found ways to make up for it.

"Lugus, what have you heard about your father?" the question hit Lugus so hard he couldn't breathe. His eyes were drawn to Renald at once. The tall man still wouldn't look at him. His now long dark hair shielded his expression from him. Still he saw able to catch a glimpse of his chin and couldn't help touching his own. They were shaped about the same, but Lugus knew that in a few years, they would be identical.

**** Present ****

She was standing in the field of blue flowers. The sun was rising as she could feel its heat surrounding her.

"Hagnes," she turned to find her smiling father. She ran to him and hugged him as hard as she could.

"This is the last time I will see you, right?" she said against his chest.

"Yes," he said, "the White Death is no more. I was only allowed to see you for that."

"I miss you, I miss you so much" she said still not letting go, "mom, uncle, Gunnur, and even aunty and Soleil miss you"

"I know, I know," he said sadly, "I miss you and them too, but you and all of them have to let go for now and live. Please, promise me that"

"I promise," she said as she released him. She looked up at him with a smiling face, "thank you" and she stepped back.

Her father smiled too, glad that he was leaving her with the desire to live. He knew she would have a difficult and painful path to walk. Part of him wanted to tell her just how difficult, but didn't dare make that her last memory of him. She would know as soon as she woke up.

**** Berk Hospital ****

There were no thoughts when she woke up, only the feeling of pain, "AHHHHHH!" her scream was heard through all the hospital. The nurses in her room were by her side right away trying to hold her down as she tried to rip at the bandages on her arm and side.

"Sedate her!" a doctor shouted before Hagnes felt all of her energy leave. This time, she fell into a dreamless sleep.

Steinunn stood on the door of her daughter's room frozen. Hagnes was back to sleeping, but she would never forget that scream. She walked in when they allowed her to, and went to sit by her side. She didn't dare to, but she wanted to trace the bandages of her arms. She had hurt herself, and now the blood was sipping through some of the bandages.

Her breath shook as she tried to keep her tears at bay. She had to be brave for her. Her daughter would need all the support she could give her when she was able to wake up without so much pain.

"Major?" her assistant came in, glancing at Hagnes with deep sadness.

Though Hagnes was now the official chief, and Svart her proxy until she was well, the people of the town still trusted her, "I will be right out," she wished she could stay with her daughter the whole time, but their town needed her until Hagnes woke up.

It was only until two weeks later that she finally woke up. She was still in pain, but the greater pain came when she saw her body as the bandages were being changed. She sobbed, wailed, cried, and cursed at the White Death. She refused to see anyone, even her mother. She didn't want anyone to see her.

"Stop!" she heard screams outside and sat up straight, "young lady!" and before she knew it, a very angry Soleil was standing before her bed. She glared at her with so much resent before walking to the side of her bed and slapping her unharmed cheek.

"Don't you fucking dare push us away again!" she shouted to her face, "stop feeling pity for yourself!"

She didn't know what to say for a moment, but just felt as the anger accumulated on her chest, choking her until she couldn't stand it anymore.

"Are you blind? Don't you see what happened to me!" she couldn't stand to see the bandages be changed any more.

Soleil's face turned a deep shade of red.

"Of course I know! I was the one who found you!" her breathing started to hitch as she remembered. Then, she did something she thought she would never do, "please don't push us away again" her voice broke before she fell to her knees and sobbed against her bed.

Hagnes froze and stared at her cousin, the one that had tortured her for so many years, the one that pushed her away too, and yet here she begged her not to commit the same mistakes of the past. She knew they were both at fault for the vast gap that had grown between them. Neither tried to mend it until now; Soleil had been the bigger person this time.

"I am sorry…" she whispered as she broke into tears too, "I am so sorry"

That day Soleil rolled her out of the hospital in a wheelchair. She had told Hagnes that she needed some fresh air. When she made it outside through the back door of the hospital, her eyes landed on her friend. In front of them was a dragoness that looked at her with excitement. She had missed her rider so much as she had missed her.

"Oh Kara," her voice was a whisper before she started to get up.

"Hagnes!" at once Soleil tried to sit her again, but Hagnes was faster. She stumbled towards the dragoness before she fell to her knees before her companion. She wrapped her arms around Kara's neck ignoring the pain the action caused.

"Oh Kara…" she scratched the dragoness as she crooned trying to comfort her. She wanted to tell her it was not a big deal. Hagnes pulled back before she looked closer at Kara's face. A long scar ran from the dragoness temple, over her right eyelid, to her lips and ended suddenly on her chin. Though the doctors knew nothing about dragons, they had been able to help Kara with her healing. Her eye had gone undamaged, but Hagnes still felt terrible about the scar. She swore she would never let anyone ever hurt her friend as long as she lived.

**** A month later ****

Jason Gallion walked through the large halls of the Crown's castle looking for the young queen. Many asked him why he had decided to side with the Crown even after the awakening of the dragons. Sincerely, he had liked the dragons quite a bit, but they weren't for him. He had been at loss for a few days as of what he should do, then when the news reached them that Sini was the new queen he knew exactly where to go. He found the young queen in a playroom sitting on a comfy chair by the window as she read the news.

"Did you know Hagnes forbade any non Berkerians ships to enter their waters?" she asked him simply curious.

"Yes," he said as he looked down on the paper. It showed Hagnes before a press conference. The left side of her face was covered with gauzes from her cheek bone down to the side of her neck, "there have been attacks on boats by wild dragons. They were able to divert the wild dragons, so there were no casualties, but they don't want any international accidents in case they are not able to reach them on time"

"Does she look taller to you?" asked Sini looking closer at the black and white picture.

"I would say she matured even more," said Jason.

"Is that even possible?" Sini laughed very lady like, "has she communicated with you?"

He shook his head no. Among his many tasks for the Crown, one was that he was a sort of ambassador between Sini and Hagnes.

"Then why have you come?" she asked, keeping her voice even.

"To let you know that all rumors of your brother's death have been dismissed," he said with a gentle smile, "he simply had too much to drink after his discussion with you, and one thing led to another"

"You know I will kill you if the truth ever comes out," she lifted her sapphire blue eyes to meet his dark brown ones.

He smiled as he bowed to her. She was reminded of her brother's smile; it sent shivers through her body, "I don't doubt it your majesty. I know you are an exceptionally talented person on whatever you set your mind to" he straightened up.

"You are dismissed," she said before he turned and left.

Sini waited until the door closed behind him before she allowed an expression of fear to cover her face. It wasn't because Jason reminded her at times of her brother, but it was how aware he was that she was not an innocent little girl. It was true that if she set her mind to do something it would get done even if she got her own hands dirty. As she made her way to her chambers she would catch glimpses of herself on a mirror or two in the way. That day was a good day because she only saw herself, but there were days when the person looking back at her through the glass was her brother.

It was good not to have to remind yourself that you were not as much of a monster as he had been.

**** A year since the White Death ****

Hagnes stood before the mirror of her room as bare as how she had arrived to the world. It was the first time she had seen her whole body since the White Death. She traced the now pink burn scars on the right side of her face. If she had decided to let her hair grow again they would be almost invisible, but she refused to hide anymore. She had kept using bandages well after they were no longer necessary. Her eyes traveled to her neck, then inevitably to her right arm. The doctor had told her she was lucky to have retained her nerves after the severe burns on her arm. That angry pink skin was sometimes so sensible that she wished she hadn't been so lucky. The whole arm and part of her hand had been burned too. At times, she thought it didn't look better than a sausage.

She moved her arms and cringed a little. From the side of her breast, all the way down to her hips, and part of her tight was also burned. She knew that if she was able to look at her back she would see where the flames licked her almost to the middle of her back. She knew it was much better than a year ago, and the doctors had told her the tone would change with time, but she still couldn't help hating it. She knew she and Kara had been lucky to escape only with burns and scars, but a part of her was prideful. She didn't like anyone looking at them with pity.

She heard a knock on her door before she hurried to wrap her bathrobe around herself. She glanced at her clock. She thought her mother would still be at the center of town setting up the celebration.

"Yeah?" she opened the door, but she didn't find her mother, but Ashton standing before her, "how can I help you Ashton?" she tried to suppress her shock.

"We need to talk Hagnes," he said.

"Sorry, can't. I have to get ready for the party," she said before she tried to close the door. She found his hand pushing it open, "let go" she said seriously.

"Not until we talk," he said stubbornly, "I have waited long enough"

"Waited for what," she said turning her gaze away from him. She knew what he was talking about she just couldn't accept it.

"Hagnes, I still love you," he said before his other hand reached for her cheek. In instinct, she slapped it away and then glared at him.

"I don't love you," she said.

"You are lying," he said stepping up.

Hagnes cursed that he had gotten even taller that past year. She had only grown a little, so she had to look up to glare at him. It wasn't very effective.

"That's my answer," she said.

Ashton didn't believe her for a single moment.

That past year had been terribly difficult for everyone, but especially for her. She had taken her role as chief as soon as she came out of the hospital. She had set living arrangements for those who had lost their homes. Several families still lived in her house. That day they were also celebrating the start of a new project that would house everyone, including the dragons. She had reorganized their government and educational system to include the creatures. She had given day and night to the people of Berk, and without a doubt she would continue to do so. They had barely time to talk, and he knew it would have been an indiscretion if he had asked for her answer before, but now she was just evading him.

"And I don't believe it," he said.

Hagnes didn't know what else to tell him. She looked up at him and begged him not ask her for the truth.

"If you are worried about," he tried to reach for her again but stopped when he saw her flinch.

"I don't need your pity," she said.

"I don't pity you," he said before he drew her to his arms. He had wanted to hold her for so long, "you are the bravest person I know. I could never pity you"

Hagnes struggled to get free, but he wouldn't budge. She couldn't let him get stuck with her. Not like this.

"I love you," he said again, "I will always love you"

Hagnes dared to look up at him. His eyes said it all. He loved her more than life itself.

"No, you can't…" she said before his lips connected to hers.

At once, her whole body trembled as a burning sensation ran through it. Her scalp was on fire as he tangled his fingers through her hair drawing her even closer. He released her for a moment to breathe before he locked his lips with hers again. She stopped struggling. All those thoughts that said she didn't deserve him were thrown to the back of her mind.

"Hanges…" he breathed as his lips trailed down the tender flesh of her neck. She cried out, but she wasn't sure if it was because of pain or something else. She closed her eyes as he started to undo the knot of her robe. She couldn't stand to see his face when he saw what her skin had become. The robe fell, and she heard his breathing stop. She was ready to pull the robe back up when she heard a rustling sound. She opened her eyes to find him undressing, his eyes never leaving her body.

He loved her delicate curves; her hips, waist, and breasts. He could see himself holding them all as he explored her body. He was thankful that her figure wasn't exaggerated. He knew that the way she was, he would be able to embrace her perfectly. He loved the way her short auburn hair allowed him to look at her whole flushed face. He loved her plump lips, knobby nose, the small freckles on her cheek bones, and those penetrating green eyes. He loved her small feet, lean but strong legs and arms. He loved everything about her body, even the scars. They were the marks of her sacrifice and love for them. They were beautiful in their own way. They wrapped around her like the remains of a veil, or like the exact flames that created them almost reaching places he wanted to explore. He wanted to touch them too.

"Ashton…" he lifted his sky blue eyes to her forest green ones. They reflected desire she never thought anyone would ever feel for her. She couldn't look away from them as he removed his clothing until he was as bare as her.

After that, Hagnes didn't know where to look. She kept glancing around the room until she saw his feet. She stopped there. They were nice feet, though she had already seen them at the pool party a year ago. His calves and knees were still the same; very strong though there was no longer a soccer team. She skipped his middle; she just wasn't that brave yet, until she was able to see his chest. She wasn't surprised when she saw how marked he was. There had been a lot of manual labor that past year. Her eyes traced his collar bone before going up to his lips. She saw him lick his lip making her breathing stop before she looked at his eyes. When his hair had been loose in waves before, it was now short. His boyish face was gone. She could only see a man before her.

He walked up to her until he was looking down on her.

"Would you give me your true answer now?" he said in a whisper before she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her. She nodded before he pushed her to her bed just behind them. Their bodies were fully against each other as they kissed trying to make up for the previous year.

They didn't know where was up or down anymore. Their lips and hands explored each other finding those places that brought the other to gasp, or moan. Hagnes thought her whole body was burning when she felt his hardness against her stomach. Her insides made little flips faster and faster as she thought of what would happen soon. Ashton couldn't believe she had ears just as sensible as his. They whispered to each other about what they had dreamed to do to each other through the whole past year and before. She found herself clasping to his hair and scratching his back as he latched to her breast and pulled on it.

He traced the borders of her unflawed skin to the scarred. She begged him not to do it, but he didn't listen. He was envious of those scars. He wanted to hold on to her like that forever too. He bit into her tight making her cry out his name. Hagnes didn't dare look as he spread her legs. His breath was over that hidden place before his warm fingers intruded.

He watched her as she moaned senseless things. She wanted him to do it. She wanted him to stop. She wanted to break him. And she wanted him to break her. At those last words, he had almost lost all control of himself. He drew his body at top of hers until they were face to face.

"It's okay," she said breathlessly before he entered her slowly. She felt herself being stretched out with some pain in the way before he was fully sheathed. She was able to keep her eyes barely open so she could see his expression. His lips were parted as he tried to keep himself still until she was comfortable. Then he spoke words that made her body clamp on his.

"You will always be mine," it was not a promise. It was the truth. He would never let her go.

She knew the night had already drawn around them as she felt his back get a little cold. Still, she could care less. She started to move before he picked her tempo. Their foreheads touched as they entered into a blissful trance. There was no time, nor space. Only their bodies as they climbed into painful ecstasy. It felt like an eternity had gone by when he was able to open his eyes. He realized the positions had changed. Her head rested on his chest as she moved her light body as fast as she could. Her breath came out in little gasps before she pulled herself up. She held to his shoulders as she looked down to him. Her eyes were clouded with so much longing that he knew those eyes alone could bring him to peak.

He grasped her hips tighter before throwing himself towards her core with all his strength. Their hearts leaped as she threw her head back with a cry. He pulled himself to sit as he kept going so he could hold her trembling form. She came first, digging her nails into his back and her teeth to his shoulder. His eyes rolled back as the sensation of her body trying to milk him along with the pain of her teeth and nails. It was fire and ice mixed into one.

He flipped them over, keeping her legs wrapped tightly around him as he lost all sense of self.

"I… I love you!" she cried out finally brining him over the edge.

**** PAST ****

Halla stumbled away until her father had her in his hold. She sobbed against his chest as a child would.

"Why didn't you…" Lugus started to ask.

"Do you really want to know how it happened?"

"I already know," Lugus said, "I heard some of the Bog-Burglars brag about it, but I didn't know my mother…"

"I didn't want you to hate her," he said.

"But you gave me away willingly then?" he wanted to feel anger, but was unable to. He realized all the kindness Renald had shown him was because he truly cared about him.

"I had the chance to see you grow, and I believed one day you would return. Though, I never imagined anything like this," his smile was pained. For a moment there he thought Hiccup would kill his boy.

"I screwed up, didn't I?" Lugus couldn't help to laugh painfully. He had lost Stein's friendship because of this, and probably the trust the Hairy Hooligans once had on him.

"You are not to blame," said Renald, "if I had told you the truth, made you realize that even through those circumstances you were wanted here, then this wouldn't have happened"

"What do I do now?" Lugus looked at him lost.

"Hiccup," Renald said turning to face the chief, "I will be leaving with Lugus"

"What about Shield?" Ruff asked.

"She is free to come with us if she wants to," Lugus said remembering the old crush he had on her as a child. He felt like such an idiot for liking his cousin, though they had only been children.

"Hurry and tell Shield," Hiccup told his son before he got on Ormarr and went back to the village.

Renald gave his back to his friends. He had learned to love Berk, but knew that now his path was next to his son. It was not long before Shield and Stein reached them. The young woman stared in misbelieve at her uncle and cousin. She could see the resemblance; still it was hard to swallow.

"I am staying," she declared, "I want to stay"

Renald nodded in understanding. Shield had always been very independent, but also smart beyond her years like her mother had been. They watched them go to a small boat not too far. They pulled it into the sea before rowing away. Shield watched with dry eyes. She hoped Lugus found what was missing next to his father as she had found a wonderful father in Renald.

Hiccup stood by the sea well after the sun had sunk. Astrid came to stand by his side.

"How is Halla?"

"A little shaken still, but there was no trouble removing the arrow"

"I could have killed her,"

"But you didn't," she reminded him, "she did it without thinking too, no one is to blame"

"Did I do the right thing Astrid, taking that boy away from his mother?"

"I don't know," she admitted, "but there is no point of thinking on it anymore. Now he has his father, Renald will guide him to be a good king"

Hiccup thought of all they had lost since the start of the war. Still, because of his decision to seek peace he had made Lugus' life difficult and confusing. It wasn't fair for the boy. He knew he wouldn't want something like that for his own kids.

"Hiccup, you couldn't have known how things would go," she was able to see his thoughts in his expression, "what happened, happened. We can only move on from here"

"Can we really?" he asked, "I don't see how…" then he felt her punch his shoulder. He stared at her in shock. It had been a long time since she had done that.

"Then I will drag you kicking and screaming if I have to," she said before placing a kiss on his lips.

He couldn't help to smile. Through all those years of craziness since she found him and Toothless at the cove she had stood by his side through all. He thanked whichever god was responsible as they got on their dragons and returned back home to their friends and family.

**** PRESENT ****

Kara and Fire Heart watched as their riders sat on a large patch of grass with other Berkerians. Above them, fireworks exploded into millions of little stars that then faded out. The dragons had never seen something alike. The whole town was there enjoying the one year celebration show. Many were in tears thinking of what they had gone through that previous year. They would never forget that night.

Hagnes closed her eyes as she laid her head on Ashton's lap. She was exhausted, but she still listened to the fireworks explode above. In that moment, though she had gone through hell and back, she realized she felt complete and more alive than ever. The following years she knew would be filled with hard work for everyone, and the responsibility would lay with her more than anyone. She was afraid, but she was also glad that she was there to help.

"What are you thinking about?" Ashton asked her as he struck her hair. Her smile was as calm as he had ever seen.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. The deep sadness that had been buried in her beautiful eyes a year ago was gone. There was only light now. She lifted her head before he bent his down and they kissed softly. Life was good; that was what she was thinking.

**** The End? Nope, Epilogue Next ****

AGAIN, IF YOU WANT A SEQUEL (BOTH OF HICCUP AND HAGNES) YOU GOT TO TELL ME!

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

(-Takes a deep breath-)

THE HANDS OF THE GODS WILL BE UPDATED NEXT WEEK!

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