"So well preserved" Esbern marvelled at the giant stone carvings in front of them, running his fingers across the intricate designs, "I've never seen a finer example of early second era Akiviri sculptural relief"
"By the gods, will you stop distracting yourself Esbern? We need information" Delphine barked.
"She's right Esbern, we need to be quick. Let's have a look around and see what we can find" Hiccup added, holding his torch up towards the wall, the light bouncing off the jagged edges of the sculpted stone. It was a truly awe-inspiring sight, the wall stretched across the entire length of the room, hundreds of strange carving etched across the surface, depictions of dragons raining down fire onto groups of men below.
"Yes, yes. Let's see what we have... Look, here is Alduin!"
The trio simultaneously gazed at the section of the wall Esbern was standing in front of, right smack in the centre. Hiccup stated at the carving, the unmistakeable image of the dragon glaring down at them, and below, standing as clear as day, was a figure dressed in exactly the same armour that Hiccup himself was wearing, the axe hanging from his belt and a jagged sword in his hands.
"This is surreal" Hiccup whispered to himself, stepping back and away from the wall. His stomach was in knots, so much that he felt like he could barf any second. As the back of his legs collided with a large stone on the ground, Hiccup sat down, breathing heavily to try and ease the sickly feeling inside.
"These carvings must be hundred, no, thousands of years old" said Delphine, who was already scribbling down notes onto a scrap of parchment.
"Older still I feel. This panel goes back to the beginning of time, when Alduin and the Dragon Cult ruled over Skyrim" Esbern replied, resting his hand on a what looked like a carving of a battle, "See here, the humans rebel against their dragon overlords, the legendary Dragon War. Alduin's defeat is the centrepiece of the Wall. You see, here he is falling from the sky. The Nord Tongues, masters of the Voice, are arrayed against him"
This was not a fantasy anymore, and as much as he would try and deny it, Hiccup couldn't ignore what was written, right there in front of him in the stone. Everything he could see around him suddenly seemed so real, so material and so substantial. The Last Dragonborn? His fate had been written in history all this time. Someone, or something, had chosen him for this task, the task of riding the world of the greatest evil it had ever faced.
"So, does it show how they defeated him? Isn't that why we're here?" aid Delphine
"Patience, my dear" Esbern replied, scribbling furiously into his notebook, "The Akiviri were not a straightforward people. Everything is couched in allegory and mythic symbolism. Yes, yes. This here, coming from the mouths of Nord heroes - this is the Akiviri symbol for "Shout." But...there's no way to know what Shout is meant."
Hiccup raised his gaze back to the wall, "You mean they used a Shout to defeat Alduin? You're sure?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Presumably something rather specific to dragons, or even Alduin himself. Remember, this is where they recorded all they knew of Alduin and his return"
"So we're looking for a Shout, then? Damn it" Delphine huffed, turning to face Hiccup, "Have you ever heard of such a thing? A Shout that can knock a dragon out of the sky?"
"It's not something they Greybeards taught me, I'd need to speak with Master Arngeir, they might know about something that could help us" Hiccup replied.
"You're probably right. I was hoping to avoid having to involve them in all this, but it seems we have no choice"
"Hoping to avoid having to involve them? What's that supposed to mean?" Hiccup asked sternly.
"If they had their way, you'd do nothing but sit up on their mountain with them and talk to the sky, or whatever it is they do" Delphine replied, looking back to the wall, "The Greybeards are so afraid of power they won't use it. Think about it. Have they tried to stop the civil war, or done anything about Alduin? No. And they're afraid of you, of your power. Trust me, there's no need to be afraid. Think of Tiber Septim. Do you think he'd have founded the Empire if he'd listened to the Greybeards?"
"I'm not afraid of Alduin, or my powers or anything else for that matter. But they Greybeards may have a point, too much power is dangerous" Hiccup replied, getting to his feet and walking to stand beside Delphine.
His thoughts drifted back to Dagur. If there was one man he knew that proved that power corrupts, it was Dagur. For years it had been all the man cared about, to rule with an Iron fist, even at the cost of his own people. He would never admit if openly, but deep down, Hiccup as afraid, afraid that his powers could grow too strong, corrupt him, and turn him into a monster.
"Only if you don't know how to use it. All the great heroes have had to learn to use their power. Those that shrank from their destiny...well, you've never heard of them, have you? And there are the villains - those that misused their power. There's always a choice, and there's always a risk. But if you live in fear of what might go wrong, you'll end up doing nothing. Like the Greybeards up on their mountain."
"I told you, I'm not afraid of my own power"
"Good. The Greybeards can teach you a lot, but don't let them turn you away from your destiny. You're Dragonborn, and you're the only one who can stop Alduin. Don't forget it. You should get back to High Hrothgar, it's a good thing they've already let you into their little cult"
"Wait, you're not coming?" Hiccup asked
"To sit a listen to them sit around all day and talk about conversing with the skies? No thank you, besides, it isn't likely they'd help Esbern or me if we came calling. We'll look around the temple and see what else the old Blades might have left for us. It's a better hideout than we could have hoped for"
"Well, I guess this is goodbye then"
Hiccup held out his hand, which Delphine eagerly shook. Despite the disagreements at times, Hiccup had come to respect her. It had taken great effort, but she had shown that she was brave, honest, and loyal to a fault. When all hope had seemed lost, she hadn't given up on her companions, had fought to save her friends and protect what she loved. Hiccup could emphasise with that.
"Talos guard you Dragonborn"
"Thank you Delphine, perhaps one day we will meet again"
Delphine smiled as she stepped back. Hiccup glanced to Esbern, who had stopped writing to observe the interaction. A simple nod was all that was needed between the pair, and Hiccup soon found himself walking back towards the exit of the inner chambers, the echoing sound of Esbern's voice off the walls growing fainter in the distance.
"Look, here. In the third panel. The prophecy that brought the Akiviri to Tamriel in the first place, in search of the Dragonborn. Here are the Akiviri, the Blades; you see their distinctive long swords. Now they kneel, their ancient mission fulfilled, as the Last Dragonborn contends with Alduin at the end of time. Are you paying attention, Delphine? You might learn something of your own history"
Fishlegs followed Frolin through the front gardens of the palace. Every flower that he could see, planted in huge spiralling flower beds, was dead. The grass had turned an awful yellow brown colour and pieces of broken timber littered the ground like autumn leaves. Several tree stumps stuck out of the ground, their tips shredded and broken, their once tall trunks rotting beside them. A large group of servants and guards busied themselves sweeping up broken glass and scrubbing feverishly at a cluster of dark stains on the stone walkways.
"Is that….blood?" Fishlegs asked nervously. Frolin didn't reply, he simply nodded grimly as the pair continued through the grounds towards the palace doors, "By the gods, what happened in here?"
"We were attacked" Frolin replied, picking up a toppled plant pot, placing it back upright as they walked past, "A man came here and took over the whole city for a time, killed hundreds of men, enslaved the women and threw children from the city walls."
Fishlegs could feel himself becoming physically sick. The thought of it, throwing children from the walls, murdering so many people in cold blood, his stomach lurched violently.
"What kind of monster would do such a thing?...Unless….it was…..oh no….."
The sudden realisation hit Fishlegs like a war hammer. Only one man he knew would be so cruel, so callous and cold hearted to do a thing like this.
"Dagur"
Frolin stopped in his tracks and turned to quickly face Fishlegs, his calm demeanour had swiftly given way to one of complete and utter seriousness.
"You know him?"
"I'm afraid so"
"Care to tell me why you know him?"
"Dagur the Deranged is a monster. He's terrorised my homeland for as long as I can remember, ever since I was a child. All he's ever wanted to do was kill people, especially my friend Hiccup, and if he is here, then Hiccup is in danger. I have to find him"
"Well, this 'Dagur' fellow is certainly versed in killing" Frolin replied as they arrived at they arrived at a set of large wooden doors, "A piece of advice if I may, I wouldn't mention the fact that you know that bastard to the Jarl when you speak with her. She may not take too kindly to meeting someone who is on first name terms with the man that conquered her city and murdered her people"
Fishlegs nodded as Frolin whispered something into the ear of the guard standing on duty, who quickly stepped aside. Frolin pushed open the doors and stepped inside. Fishlegs followed close behind, tiptoeing his way between yet more shattered glass and broken pottery. None of the torches on the wall were lit, making the entire room feel cold and dark, and yet more blood stains lay on the ground. Fishlegs followed Frolin up the staircase to the upper levels of the palace, approaching a large golden throne.
"My Jarl, I bring a visitor" Frolin called out as they approached. The women on the throne raised her head slightly, exposing a variety of cuts and bruises across her skin. Her hair was frizzy and unmade, her clothes tattered. Fishlegs had met many tribal leaders on his travels with Hiccup, but never had he met one who looked so down beat.
"I'm not really in the mood for visitors today Frolin, please take our guest outside and leave me be"
"Jarl Elisif, forgive my defiance, but you may wish to reconsider"
"I can….come back later…." Fishlegs muttered, taking a few small steps away from the throne.
"No, no please, forgive me. It has been a….rough week for all of us." Elisif replied, her voice croaking, "Welcome to the Blue Palace, I am Elisif, Jarl of Solitude"
"Thank you Jarl Elisif" Fishlegs replied, stepping forward towards the throne once more and bowing his head, "My Name if Fishlegs Ingerman. I need your help. I'm looking for my friend; I think he may have landed here around 10 days ago…."
"Many people come to my city, so it is quite possible your friend was here" Elisif interrupted, "But based on what has happened here, it is likely he is dead"
"I don't think that is the case my Jarl, he is a friend of Master Hiccup and Lord Thorin, they are who he is looking for"
Elisif glared towards Fishlegs, the sad expression on her face instantly melting away to one of quite rage. Fishlegs swallowed thickly as the Jarl rose from her chair, making a beeline in his direction. He could tell almost immediately that she has been crying, her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, her cheeks clearly stained with dry tears.
"A murdering heathen came here looking for them as well! He destroyed my palace, killed my people and ransacked my city! And now you stand before me making exactly the same request! If you value your life, you will make your words quick and truthful, or I will have you thrown into the dungeons!"
Just the sight of the seething Jarl stepping towards him was enough to make Fishlegs breathing rapid and shallow. He could feel his pulse pounding in his temples.
"Wait, wait, please! I'm not like the other man that was here, I am Hiccup's friend. We grew up together; we've been friends for years. His life is in danger, and I have to find him, please, you have to help me!"
"And you Frolin, you brought him into the palace!" Elisif yelled, pointing her finger like a dagger straight at Frolin. She stopped her march towards Fishlegs, eyeing up the quivering Viking like child shaking in a cold breeze. Her fists were clenched so hard together; her knuckles had turned almost white as snow, "How can we trust him, what proof does he have of that what he says is true?"
Fishlegs had to think quickly, he really didn't like the idea of being thrown into some cold, dark dungeon.
"Oh this…..I have this…"
Delving into his bag, Fishlegs pulled out a small hand carved wooden pendant, attached to a thin leather strap. The carving showed himself and Meatlug, with a crudely scratched marking that read 'Dragon Trainer'.
"All of my friends and I have these, we're dragon trainers back home, all of us"
Elisif snatched the pendant from Fishlegs still shaking hands, turning it slowly in her fingers, the look of rage still spread across her face.
"And what exactly is a 'Dragon Trainer'?!" Elisif snapped.
Fishlegs swallowed thickly, his hands beginning to tremble even harder than before. What had he just said? What was he thinking, showing them his Trainer pendant? Thorin had warned them all that Dragons were hated in this part of the world, did he really want to announce to one of their leaders that he worked with them as equals, probably not.
"We….uhm….we train people….on how…..to…fight dragons….yeah, we teach people how to fight dragons"
Elisif still looked unconvinced, her eyes narrowed as she continued to examine the pendant. Fishlegs could only stand there and wait, praying to the gods that she would believe him. After a few nervous moments, Elisif handed the pendant back to Fishlegs, motioning for the guards to stand down. Fishlegs exhaled in relief, stuffing the pendant back into his bag.
"I'm sorry about all that, but you must understand. The events of the last few weeks have made me….wary of strangers" Elisif spoke softly now, her rage and anger subsiding.
"It's….it's okay my lady, I understand" Fishlegs replied, feeling a little more relaxed for the first time since he had walked into the palace.
"You're friends' were here, but it was over 10 days ago"
"Do you know where they might have gone?" Fishlegs asked, pulling out his notebook ready to write down anything the Jarl told him.
"We provided them with passage to the village of Ivarstead, just south of the Throat of the World….but…"
Fishlegs stopped writing and gazed up at the Jarl, the sadness almost immediately returning to her face.
"My lady…..?" Fishlegs asked gently.
"…..their supply carriage was found on the main road, abandoned and destroyed, burnt to ash. There was no sign of them, no supplies, no horses, nothing"
Fishlegs felt a lump develop at the back of his throat; the shock travelled in his veins but never made it to his face. His complexion remained pale and matt, his eyes as steady as if he were shopping for shoes. It couldn't be true.
"You…..mean….they're….." Fishlegs babbled. He couldn't even form the words to say what he was thinking. Sweat was beginning to form on his brow
"Dead? No, no they are not"
The tension that had built up in Fishlegs muscles melted into nothing. Hiccup was alive.
"Oh Thank Thor…..how do you know?"
"We received word from Jarl Balgruuf in the city of Whiterun. Master Hiccup has been named Thane of the city after he killed a dragon near their western watchtower"
Fishlegs jaw almost hit the ground; he stared at the Jarl as if she'd just produced a rhinoceros from her pocket. It was as if the impact of that last remark had knocked every wisp of air from his lungs as he struggling to inhale, to exhale, to do anything.
"…..He…..he killed…a dragon?"
"You seem surprised, I thought that was what you did, remember? Taught people how to fight back against the tyranny of dragons"
"Well, uh, yes, yes of course we do, it's just that…."
"You're making it very hard for me to believe you! I asked you to be truthful with me, and I expect you to tell me the truth. Now I am going to ask you one last time, what is your business with Hiccup and Lord Thorin?!" Elisif said intently, tramping forwards once again towards Fishlegs.
"I told you already, I'm Hiccups friend, all I want is to find him" Fishlegs replied
"And what will you do when you find him? Try and kill him like so many others before you?!"
"What?! No?" Fishlegs exclaimed, "I'm here to take him home, our island is on the brink of war, we need him back to lead his own people"
"He is here for a reason, it is his destiny, to save this land from the scourge of the dragons, as the prophecy of the Dragonborn has foretold"
There was that word again, Dragonborn, Fishlegs remembered Thorin talking about it in the Great hall the night before he and Hiccup had left. He wasn't exactly sure what it meant, Thorin hadn't given them much detail, but he did remember the legend, that the Dragonborn could absorb a Dragons power. Fishlegs had thought it would have been a great gift to gain the knowledge of a Dragon, but now, knowing that it meant having to kill the beast first, made the queasy feeling in his belly even worse.
"My lady, his duty is to his people. I'm sorry, but when I find him, I must take him back"
Elisif just stared at him, a steely look in her pale blue eyes. He wasn't going to back down, not this time, he had a job to do, and by the gods, he was going to do it, no matter what, or who, was in his way. He didn't really care about the prophecy; it was Hiccup's life that concerned him. Elisif sighed, slowly returning to her throne.
"You seem to care a great deal about him, I can appreciate that" Elisif smiled weakly, "It is likely that he travelled to High Hrothgar, high on the Throat of the World"
"Thank you Jarl Elisif, how do I get there" Fishlegs asked, pulling his pad and a fresh piece of charcoal from his bag, ready to write down his route.
"Take a barge south to Dragons Bridge, from there you can secure passage to Riverwood in the East, the people there can guide you the rest of the way"
"Thank you my Jarl, I really do appreciate your help" Fishlegs bowed quickly, cramming his pad back into his bag before turning to leave.
"One last thing Master Ingerman…" Elisif called out, brining Fishlegs to a halt, "…be careful"
It was almost noon when the other chieftains and their commanders had gathered in the Great Hall, each of them eager to begin the peace talks. Astrid sat in her usual chair, a small goblet of wine on the table in front of her, a golden coloured Moselle; made from fruits that trader Johan had brought back on one his many visits to Berk. It was very soft and rich, one of her favourites, so much so, that he had used the seed to plant her own vines in her garden.
Her eyes drifted to the ever vacant seat next to her, the chief's seat. The chair was carved of a fine oak, crested decorative metals and smooth stones, forming an elegant coat of arms at the top in the shape of a Night Fury. She slowly reached across, resting her hand gently on the armrest. She missed Hiccup more than anything; her heart broke a little more each day they were apart. She missed his kindness and good natured soul, his muscular arm that she dreamt were wrapped around her.
"Astrid, he will be back soon, you'll see"
Astrid snapped out of her daydream just as Valka finished speaking, resting her hand on Astrid from the seat the other side of Hiccup chair.
"But when? He's been gone for nearly 2 weeks now" Astrid sighed, slouching down in her chair, "He said he would have been back by now, and now Fishlegs is gone as well. How do we know something hasn't happened to them?"
"Hiccup is strong and brave; he can take care of himself, especially if he has Thorin with him. And Fishlegs, I've never seen such a bright young mind as his. He may not be the greatest fighter in the world, but he is smart. They'll both be okay"
Astrid forced a weak smile as her attention drifted around the Hall. She wished she could share in Valka's optimism, but it was impossible. The ever present knot in the pit of her stomach had not gone away since Hiccup had left. All she wanted was to have him back, to be able to wake up next to him and this all be a horrible dream,
The allied chiefs were busying themselves giving orders to their men, mostly about protecting the Hall. A few Hooligan women milled in and out of the kitchens, carrying flasks of Mead and Wine to the tables. Her gaze fell on the dragons, gurgling amongst themselves in the farthest corner of the room. Her heart felt heavy as she watched Toothless and Meatlug, sulking away from the other dragons, no doubt missing their riders just as much as she did.
"Astrid!"
Her daydream was interrupted again by one of the village messengers, scampering across the Hall.
"They're here"
"Good, send them in"
The messenger nodded before running back towards the doors. Astrid straightened herself in her chair, taking a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm her nerves. The doors of the Hall swung open, revealing Drogo and the Berserker lieutenant, flanked by their soldiers. They sauntered into the Hall with a swagger that made Astrid cringe.
"Well, who would have thought of this?" Drogo boasted, his soldiers laughing behind him, "The great Hooligan tribe, inviting us into their hall, to drink their mead and wine and surrender, oh how the mighty have fallen"
Astrid bit her tongue to stop herself from spitting her own snarky comeback, they had to stick to the plan, make them believe they'd won, and to do that, she needed to keep her cool.
"We didn't call you here to surrender Drogo, we called you in the hope that we can make peace and avoid this war" Valka responded calmly, slowing rising from her chair.
"Surrender, make peace, it's all the same to us" The Berserker lieutenant replied.
"Welcome Chief Drogo and representatives of the Berserker tribe. Please, sit" Astrid said in her calmest and most welcoming voice.
"I will, in fact….I'll sit there thank you very much"
Drogo marched around the table, plonking himself directly into Hiccups chair, lifting his legs and resting his muddy boots on the table. Astrid clenched her fists, her teeth grinding against each other in silent rage.
"HAVE YOU NO HONOUR!" Gobber yelled, rising from his own chair and glaring at the Murderous chief, "YOU WOULD SOIL OUR HALL AND DISRESPECT THE SEAT OF OUR CHIEF!"
"You're Chief isn't here, I don't see why the best chair in the room should go to waste" Drogo sneered.
"Gobber, calm down" Astrid pleaded, trying to supress her own anger, "It's just a chair"
Gobber narrowed his eyes at Drogo as he slowly sat down. Astrid watched as all the other chiefs took their seats around the table, the only sounds in the room being the scraping of chairs on the floor and the clinking of goblets and tankards as they were filled. Taking a deep breath, she rose from her seat.
"Thank you all for coming. We are here today to discuss peace negotiations between the island of Berk, its people and allies, and the island of Berserker, its people and its allies. I hope we can all agree on reasonable terms that will prevent this war, and save thousands of lives. I propose a working trade between…."
"Oh stop you twaddle will you!" barked the Berserker Lieutenant, "I didn't come here to listen to your weak and feeble attempts to save your own skin. There is only one thing that will stop this war, the complete and total surrender of Berk"
"That is never going to happen, do you understand?!" Valka snapped back, almost knocking her chair over as she stood. Everyone around the table started shouting, bickering with one another. Some of the soldiers drew their weapons, squaring up to another. Astrid looked between them; the only one not reacting was Drogo, who sat callously in the chair beside her, casually swigging his mead, laughing at the chaos around them.
"ENOUGH! STORMFLY!"
The Nadder, alerted by her masters' call, bolted across the room, leapt into the air and slammed down onto the table, roaring flames into the air, sending the goblets and tankards scattering across the floor. The room instantly fell silent, the dragon flames whipped out into nothing in the air.
"I WILL NOT LET THIS BREAK OUT INTO VIOLENCE!" Astrid yelled, "THIS IS OUR HALL, AND YOU WILL ALL TREAT IT WITH THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES! IF YOU DON'T, THEN THIS NADDER WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS ROOM IS THE LAST THING ANY OF YOU EVER SEE!"
The Berserker and Murderous soldiers looked up at the dragon, some of them angrily, but most of them look terrified. As strong as they thought they were, they knew that they'd be no match for a dragon. Slowly, everyone returned to their seats.
"I will not allow these peace talks to turn into chaos. I invited you here all in good faith, that we could behave rationally and find a way to prevent this stupid war"
"And we already told you, the only terms we will accept is your complete and total surrender. Lord Dagur has made it very clear wants he wants" the Lieutenant sneered.
"We're not here to surrender to the likes of you. Berk will never surrender" Gobber spat back.
"You honestly think you can win the war. Our forces outnumber you 2 to 1. Face it, this war is already over, the sooner you accept that, the less of your people need die"
"Shut your mouth right now!" Valka yelled, her finger nails scrapping across the table.
"Yeah, Berk will never surrender!" shouted the twins in unison. Drogo chuckled to himself, pouring himself another goblet of mead, lifting his gaze to Eret, Heather, Ivarr and Mogadon.
"And you three, you're really going to risk your armies for this place? Why not side with us, we will win a great victory, and you can be by our side when we do"
"We'd rather die that join you Drogo!" Eret snapped, his soldiers cheering behind him.
"You're an evil twisted man Drogo; someone has to put a stop to you and your tribe. You've not won this war yet!" Heather added, causing her own soldiers to whoop and holler behind her. Mogadon and Ivarr rose from their chairs, staring down the Murderous chief, making it quite clear where their allegiance lied.
"It's a pity, you've got some good fighter in your armies, it will be a shame to see them all slaughtered"
Astrid watched helplessly as the Chiefs argued. She couldn't take it anymore, listening to them talk about death and war; it was time, time to execute the plan. She looked quickly to Valka, who's gaze met hers, and a simple nod was enough for her to go for it.
"Enough Drogo, you and you're….." Astrid paused as she looked at the Berserker Lieutenant, "….and you, I don't even know your name!"
"Malik, son of Mazar" the Berserker replied
"Well….Malik, clearly these discussions are going nowhere, so why don't we talk about something else, why don't we talk about the spy that Drogo sent into our village last night, the spy who tried to steal the Elder Scroll, who was going to give it to Drogo so he could use it to betray you, let's talk about that shall we!"
The room fell instantly quiet. Malik slumped back into his seat, whilst Drogo actually got up from his, walking around the table and standing with his men by the main entrance of the Hall.
"Very clever Astrid, very clever indeed trying to turn us against each other. What did you think would happen, that we would instantly start fighting, throwing our armies in disarray whilst you all scamper away. That might have worked in past wars, but the thing is….."
Drogo clapped his hands together, two of his men hauling open the doors to the Hall. The late afternoon sun blinding her temporarily, Astrid could just about see the outline of someone standing in the doorway, flanked by two Berserker guards. She could hear the sound of chains clanking on the floor. The captive was ushered into the room, the doors closing behind him, only then did Astrid see who it was, and the gasp from Valka confirmed her fears.
"Nikolas?"
"yes, poor little Nikolas" Drogo sneered, walking menacingly around his prisoner, "Couldn't even do one job properly, steal the scroll and bring it back to us. But what does he do? Agrees to be your little spy, to betray me and betray us. When he returned without the scroll I knew something was going on, and after a small….interrogation…"
Drogo quickly spun round, slamming his fist into Nikolas stomach. The cracking noise was almost deafening, defiantly caused some broken bones. The boy almost keeled over, holding his stomach as he coughed, small spats of blood dripping onto the floor.
"STOP IT, STOP IT RIGHT NOW! HE'S JUST A BOY!" Astrid screamed, leaping from her chair so fast it went spiralling across the floor.
"A BOY WHO HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS!" Drogo roared, slamming his fist into Nikolas rib cage once more. The boys cries of pain made Astrid's bones shake, even more that the loud protests from everyone behind her.
"STOP, LET HIM GO!"
"And if I don't…" Drogo hissed, slowly drawing his blade and pointing it straight at Nikolas throat.
"LET HIM GO!" came the combined voices of almost the entire room. The scream tore through Astrid like a great shard of glass. She felt her eyes widen and pulse quicken as the blade hovered perilously close to Nikolas exposed flesh. Her heart was thudding like a rock rattling in box. The scream came again, desperate, terrified.
"Release him…and we can discuss surrender…." Astrid said calmly, just loud enough the Drogo could hear her over the commotion going on behind her. The Murderous chief smiled, lowering his weapon and stepping aside. Astrid watched as Drogo pushed Nikolas forward; with so much force it nearly knocked him to the ground. She could now see the young boys face, his eyes were swollen over and bloody spit drooled from his jaws. He was standing like a scarecrow, all lop-sided and hunched over, his exposed arms covered in bruises.
Gingerly, Nikolas began to walk towards Astrid, his boots and chains scraping on the floor as he limped. Astrid reached out her hand to him, when suddenly; a horrific slicing noise shattered the quiet in the room. Nikolas bolted upright, his eyes wide in horror, his breath becoming instantly short and sharp, a horrible gurgling noise emitting from his throat.
The blade protruded from the centre of his chest, the steel coated in a thick layer of blood. The room filled with collective gasps and screams as Drogo pushed the sword further into Nikolas back, dark crimson spurting from the wound, covering the floor in front of them.
Astrid charge forward as Drogo withdrew the blade. Nikolas collapsed to the floor, Astrid catching his body before he slammed into the ground. His head flopped backwards, his eyes fixed and vacant, locked onto Astrid's, both of them bathed in his blood his head lay in her lap. Astrid placed her hand over his still chest, the blood seeped from the gaping hole through her fingers, flowing like a river onto the floor. She picked up his other hand, which had instantly turned cold and pale.
He was dead.
"YOU BASTARDS!"
"YOU KILLED HIM!"
The anguished cries from behind her made Astrid's blood run cold. She couldn't bring herself to look away from the cold dead eyes of the boy in front of her. It ha happened again, just like Alvin, another life wasted, and for what, an insane struggle for power. Astrid slowly closed Nikolas eyes, lowering his head to the ground, his mouth hanging open. He hands were covered in his blood; her fingers trembled as she got back to her feet, her gaze falling on Drogo, the dripping blade still in his hand.
"How could you….you….killed one of your own" Her voice was surprisingly calm from the shock of what she had just witnessed.
"You told me to set him free" Drogo replied, whipping his blade on his already blood covered breaches, "And I did, I set him free from this world. This boy planned to betray me, and won't let anyone get away with that. So, he had to die"
"YOU DESPICABLE SON OF A WHORE!" Snotlout bellowed, drawing his axe and pointing it straight at Drogo, "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
The shouting continued to fill the room, combined with the sound of weapons being drawn. Astrid just stared back at Nikolas body, shutting out the commotion around her. He looked so peaceful, almost as if he were asleep, like all the pain he was in had finally washed away. She didn't know how long she had been staring at the body, but the sound of shouting soon returned, but not the sound she was expecting.
"FIRE!"
The messenger stood in the doorway, panting and out of breath, his clothes stained with sweat.
"What!?" Astrid asked, walking quickly across the room to meet him.
"THE ARMOURY, IT'S ON FIRE!"
He didn't even bother to take in the breath-taking sunset scenery around him. The orange glow reflected of the blankets of thinning snow all around him, the light streaming through the trees, the sun trying to prise the last of its amber limbs over the rooftops. His eyes were steady to the horizon, his face aglow with the last orange rays before twilight would beckon the stars into the sky.
Hiccup rode through the gates into Riverwood, the images from Alduin's wall still resonating through his thoughts. He had secretly always hoped that all the prophecies and ancient lore he had heard since he had arrived in Skyrim could have been talking about someone else. Maybe the gods had got it all wrong, and he was not the fabled Dragonborn. But the truth was, it was him, and like it or not, he was going to have to see this thing through. If he quit now, the whole world would be in danger, not just Skyrim, but Berk, the entire archipelago, all his friends, his Mother, Astrid and Toothless.
He sat back in the saddle, trying to quell the tears in his eyes and the lump in his throat. The thoughts of Berk made him long for the home he had left behind leaving. After everything that had already happened, Hiccup was beginning to fear it would be a home he wasn't going back to. He could have died several times since he had left, from the Dragon attacks, nearly being executed by the Imperial soldiers, and Dagurs' relentless pursuit. Reaching into his pocket, Hiccup again began to fondle to small red box, the ring still cased safely inside.
"Soon Astrid, soon I will come home, nothing is going to change that, not dragons, not this stupid civil war, and defiantly not Dagur. I will see you again, I swear to the gods I will".
His quite whispers to himself were interrupted as the familiar site of Gerders house came into view as he trotted up the main road through the village. The last few locals still working at this hour were closing up their shops and heading for home, each of them giving him a respectful wave as he rode past. A group of Whiterun soldiers stood watch on the city streets, at least giving Hiccup comfort that Balgruuf and Irileth had kept their word to protect the village.
Gently, Hiccup pulled up on the reigns and came to a halt outside the front door of the house. A few candles flickered in the windows, the unmistakeable smell of fresh bread wafted through the chilled air. Hiccup hopped down from his saddle, his prosthetic crunching against the snow. He couldn't help but notice the irony that the village looked so peaceful, so at ease, despite the growing threat of everything that was happening around them. Any other time, it would have been a nice place to visit, but now, it was just another place that he had to protect.
After tying up his horse next to a fresh bale of hay in the yard, Hiccup knocked on the front door, which was quickly answered by the young boy Hiccup had met when he first came to Riverwood.
"Hey, I remember you, you saved Uncle Ralof, I heard you killed the dragon in Whiterun, you're the Dragonborn!" the young boy exclaimed excitedly.
"It's good to see you again Frodnar"
"You remembered my name, that is so cool!", Hiccup chuckled softly at the boys' enthusiasm.
"Frodnar, leave him be" came Gerders voice from the kitchen, followed soon after by Gerder herself, emerging carrying a large steaming loaf of bread in her hands, "Please, come in Hiccup"
"Thank you" Hiccup replied, stepping into the house and closing the door behind him, "How is he doing?"
"He is still a little weak, but faring far better than this morning. The herb medicines seem to be working against the infection. I would say he will be ready to ride by morning"
"Thank you so much for looking after him; I don't know how I can repay your kindness"
"It was my pleasure, I owed you after you saved my brother from that dragon, I am happy to help in any way I can" Gerder smiled, cutting into the soft loaf, the smell wafting through the air was almost intoxicating, "We would love it if you would stay for supper"
"I appreciate the offer, but I can't stay, I have to get back to High Hrothgar, there are some things I need to….discuss with the Greybeards…..Is he awake?" hiccup asked, motioning towards the closed bedroom door.
"No, he is sleeping right now; it is still not wise for him to travel, his body is still recovering from the infection, but he is welcome to stay here as long as he needs to"
Hiccup nodded, his gaze turning to the bedroom. Slowly, he walked across the room, and with a faint creak, pushed the door open. The room as warm and cosy, a gently scent of lavender from the flowers by the window floated in the air. A small fire crackled under the stone flag fireplace, the window cracked just so to allow some cooler air in. An empty bowl and plate lay on the bedside table, crumbs sprinkled across both them and the floor, and lying in the bed, his chest slowly rising up and down under to white wool covers as he slept, was Thorin.
Hiccup looked down at his brother. His skin had returned to its natural colour, a cluster of fresh bandages wrapped across his arm. His hair was still wet and stuck to his forehead, but Hiccup knew this was normal when the body was fighting infection. He had more than enough experience with infection when he lost his own foot after the battle with the Red Death all those years ago.
"Thorin…..Thorin…." Hiccup whispered, "It's me…..it's Hiccup…."
Thorin stirred slightly, but his eyes remained closed, wrapped in profound sleep. Hiccup yearned to wake his brother, to tell him all about the things they had found in the temple, the prophecy, his plans to learn the mysterious shout from the Greybeards, everything. Hiccup gently placed his hand on Thorins forehead. The warmth still radiated from Thorin, but it had certainly come down significantly since that morning.
"….Sleep well…..I'll be back for you…..I promise….."
Hiccup slowly back away from the bed, taking a last glancing look at Thorin as he closed the door softly behind him. Gerdur ushered Frodnar from the room, much to the young boys chagrin, leaving the two of them alone in the front room.
"Hiccup…..I have to ask….." Gerdur said nervously, taking a seat at the table. Hiccup cautiously walked over, pulled out the other chair and sat down opposite her.
"What is it Gerdur?"
The young woman reached across the table, laying her hand lightly across his. Instead of flinching and pulling away, Hiccup placed his own hand across hers. Her eyes showed that she was worried, they were downcast, staring straight at the table between them.
"Is it true….are you really the Dragonborn? We heard stories from Whiterun, from the guards who came to protect us that you killed a dragon, absorbed its power. If all that is true, and with the dragons returning, I fear for the safety of my family. Can you promise me that whatever sort of ancient war you are caught up in, that my family will be safe?"
Hiccup squeezed her hand gently, Gerdur raising her gaze to meet his.
"…..Yes, it is true, I am the Dragonborn, and yes, I did kill that dragon. I had no choice; it would have burned the city to the ground, then come here and done the same. I will do everything that I can to protect Skyrim, you and your family, but…..I can't promise anything…." Hiccup was doing his best to speak with a soft voice, not to panic Gerdur further, but he could feel his words trembling in his throat, "….I've seen the devastation these dragons can cause, and I'm just one man, I can't be everywhere at once…."
Gerdur slowly closed her eyes, lowering her face once more, tears trickling down her cheeks. Hiccup was at a loss for what to say next. He didn't want to lie to her, tell he everything was going to be alright, only for a dragon to appear out of nowhere and attack.
"Listen to me Gerdur, maybe there is something I can do to help you"
"….There….'sniff'…..is….."
"There is somewhere you will be safe, you and your family, high in the mountains….High Hrothgar"
"But, the mill, our business, and we aren't permitted to travel…."
"I know, I know…" Hiccup interjected, "…but it is the safest place from the dragons. Your lives are far more valuable than your business, which can be rebuilt. The Greybeards have taught me a lot over the last few days, and they are still more powerful than I am. No dragon would attack the temple. Once I arrive there, I will speak with them, they won't turn down a direct request from me. Once Thorin is ready to travel, he can guide you up the 7,000 steps"
Gerdur almost immediately leapt from her chair, sprinting round the table and flinging her arms around Hiccups neck. Hiccup was rather shocked by it, holding his arms away, not sure exactly what he should do.
"Uhh…okay Gerdur, you can…..hmm…let go now"
"Thank you, thank you so much Hiccup" Gerdur sobbed, tightening her grip slightly around Hiccups shoulders. The young Viking slowly brought one hand down, tapping her back gently. Gerdur finally broke the hug; her tears had slightly stained the fabric of Hiccups tunic, "But what about Ralof, he's off in Solitude, fighting with Ulfric and the Stormcloak's, what if he comes back here and we're gone?"
"I'll send a Raven to Solitude when I get to High Hrothgar, Ralof can join you there if he wants to"
"I can't thank you enough Hiccup, your kindness to us is truly touching" Gerdur smiled, "Let me pack you some supplies for your journey, we should be able to be at High Hrothgar by noon tomorrow", Gerdur hastily began gathering fruit and bread from her pantry, and a large flask of water, placing them into a fresh leather satchel and handing them to Hiccup.
"Thank you, just one last thing, don't tell anyone else where you are going, it isn't just the dragons you need to worry about"
"What do you mean?" Gerdur asked, her voice slightly higher with concern
"There are dangerous men out there; they've been coming after me for a long time. Don't leave Thorins side; he will keep you safe on the journey"
Gerdur slowly nodded, the concerned look on her face did nothing to help Hiccups own worry. Slinging the satchel of food over his shoulder, he turned and walked towards the front door of the house.
"Hiccup!" Gerdur called after him, just as he had placed his hand on the door handle. Hiccup turned back to face her, the small smile returning to her lips, "Good luck"
Hiccup smiled in return, and after a quick farewell nod, stepped out of the house.
The doors burst open as Astrid sprinted outside, skidding to a halt on the steps outside the Great Hall. The armoury was located just outside the village, on the cliff tops near the harbour. She could already see the smoke and the flames flickering above the rooftops, and hear the faint cries of terror from other Hooligans fleeing.
"You…." Astrid glared at Drogo, the same smug smile across his face, it made her feel physically sick, "….YOU DID THIS! YOU SON OF A BI…."
"Now, there is no need for that kind of language my dear, after all, we are all civilised here, and besides, we have an agreement, four days left by the way" Drogo smirked, leaning against one of the main pillar outside the hall. Astrid felt the burning rage hiss through her body like deathly poison, every word stung only fuelling the fire that burned inside of her.
"ONE OF THESE DAY DROGO, ONE OF THESE DAYS THIS WILL ALL CATCH UP WITH YOU, AND I WILL BE LOOKING DOWN ON YOU AND SMILING!" Astrid shriek, her face beet red.
"Of course you will, but that may be difficult when you have no weapons" Drogo laughed, looking off into the distance at the smouldering armoury. Astrid wanted nothing more than to run up and punch that smug look straight off his face, to drive her axe into his body and watch the blood flow. She never knew she had such a capacity for hatred, to feel such loathing to another human being, but Drogo, he was at a whole new level.
But at that moment, she accepted that it would have to wait. Astrid spat violently onto the ground in front of Drogo, before turning and leaping onto the back of Stormfly, blasting into the air in the direction of the smoke. They sped over the rooftops; the panicked cries of other Hooligans fleeing the flames rang out below her. She could already see the flames, roaring as the engulfed the armoury, dancing and spitting from the crumbling structure. The air smelt of burning, the thick smoke was choking, no wonder the villagers were fleeing Astrid's eyes moved from face to face in the gathering crowd, their horrified expressions and ash covered clothing was like a scene from a battle.
A few of her Dragon Rider trainees had already arrived, using their dragons' powerful wings to try and fan the flames, but to no avail. Companion soldiers were ushering people away from the flames, using their Astrid glanced quickly over her shoulder. Heather and Eret where in hot pursuit, followed by Valka and her friends, all of the guiding their dragons towards the black smoke billowing toward the sky.
"STOP, YOU'RE MAKING THE FLAMES BIGGER, WE NEED TO GET WATER NOW!" Astrid cried, hauling Stormfly in the direction of the harbour. They rode as fast as the winds and her dragons wings would carry them, swooping down towards the sparkling blue water below. Luckily for them, the fisherman had already finished their morning trip, leaving their barrels empty on the docks.
The pair hurtled downwards, Stormfly snatching an empty barrel in her powerful claws, skimming the surface of the water. The spray stung against Astrid's skin, but she didn't slow down, filling her barrel quickly before tugging on the reigns and guiding her dragon back up towards the flames. The other riders caught onto her idea, each of them now carrying a barrel back up towards the village.
The flames continued to grow, reaching maybe 30 feet into the sky. The radiant heat was intense, scorching Astrid's skin, the smoke twisting in a fiery inferno. Ash and soot circled around her, her usually brilliant blonde hair quickly turned black. The coughing was instant as were the tears that washed over her eyes.
"NOW STORMFLY!"
The dragon cawed loudly as they flew over the flames, dumping the content of the barrel. The water hissed and steamed as it collided with the fire, extinguishing only part of the flames. Astrid and Stormfly swopped round again, gliding above the other riders as they deposited more and more water onto the armoury. The flames slowly began to subside, shrinking back down as Astrid landed, sliding from her saddle and patting Stormfly gently on the neck, receiving a grateful grumble in return.
The last few barrels of water were dumped onto the smouldering wreck, and the flames gently fizzled out. The walls of the armoury had long since crumbled, and in their place stood thick beams of wood, blackened and charred from where the flames had licked at them. The ruins were still smoking; Astrid could see the faintest glow of embers as she walked around the creaking threshold. Black dust hung in the air, nothing had escaped the fire, glass littered the floor where the windows had broken and the metal of their weapons and armour lay blackened and twisted on the ground. Astrid crouched down and touched the chars on the floor, still warm to the touch, her skin becoming charcoal grey.
"Our weapons, our armour, all of it, gone" Astrid scowled, flinging a burnt piece of timber deeper into the wreckage. Heather, Valka and Eret landed their dragons just behind her, each with the look of dismay across their face.
"This can't be happening, how are we supposed to defend ourselves with no weapons?" Valka asked in shock, her boots crunching over the burnt grass.
"I don't know" Astrid replied, getting back to her feet, whipping the mixture of sweat and soot from her brow. Eret stepped up beside her, placing his hand gently on her shoulder.
"I will send a Terrible Terror message back to the Lava Lout's, emptying our armouries and bringing any weapons we can"
"I can't ask you do that Eret, you need those weapons to defend your own people if the Berserkers attack"
"Astrid listen to me…" Eret said firmly, stepping in front of Astrid, placing his other hand on her shoulder, "…I still owe you and Hiccup a great debt. You helped me turn my life around. If I hadn't met you, I would still be worthless Dragon hunter, yet here I am, leader of my own tribe, a man of quality. I owe my allegiance to you, to all of you, and I will do all I can to one day repay that debt"
Astrid smiled at Eret, squeezing his forearm softly. She was truly grateful to have allies like him, brave, loyal and fearless.
"I'll do the same Astrid" said Heather, walking up to her friends' side.
"And I" echoed Ivarr, motioning one of his soldiers off to get the messages ready. Mogadon on the other hand didn't even bother to say it out loud; he simply waved one of his soldiers away to prepare a similar message.
"Thank you, thank you all" Astrid said, a small smile crept on her lips. She turning her gaze to the darkening skies and thick grey clouds rolling in from the north, "A storm is coming, salvage what we can, we'll store in the great hall. I want extra patrols around the entire Island"
The Companion soldiers marched across the charged ground and broken timber, and began digging through the wreckage of the armoury, pulling out the few swords and axes that hadn't been destroyed by the flames. How could she have let this happen, all the time their enemies had been one step ahead of them, and every time she though they were getting an advantage, it was snatched away.
She looked back up the hill towards the Great Hall, but Drogo and his men had vanished, no doubt back to their ships. Astrid could feel the despair building up inside her, the lump in her throat was almost choking her. Hiccup would never have let this happen. She needed to get away from it, all of it, just for a while. Astrid walked towards Stormfly, her dragon cooing happily as her rider climbed into the saddle.
"Astrid, where are you going?" Heather called out, walking briskly trying to catch up to her.
"I need to clear my head, can you handle everything here? I won't be long"
Heather slowed to a stop, nodding slightly. Astrid gripped the reigns of her saddle, and with a swift kick, the pair launched into the air. There was only one place she could go to be alone, a place only her and Hiccup knew about, a hidden cave, under the vines that grew on the western cliffs above the beach. She had lost count of the number of times her and Hiccup had snuck away from their parents at night, sitting in the cave and watching the sunrise.
Warm thermals pushed the pair gently upward in a seemingly never ending spiral. How could she ever land, why would she ever want to land? It was peace itself in the skies, seeing the view usually gifted only to the birds and the dragons. She glided on, above the white cliffs, over the heather and on toward the cave entrance. As the wind tousled her hair and whipped it about her face, she longed to extend time, to savour the moments, flying was the only time when she ever felt truly free.
The cliffs came into view; the Lava Lout garrison lay below. Luckily for her, most of the patrols on the beach seemed pre occupied with training drills, so she was able to glide towards the cliff without being spotted. Astrid looked for the familiar spot in the vines, a small gap that hid the entrance. Quickly she spotted it, guiding her dragon quickly towards it. The vines whipped against her as they flew through them, landing gently on the soft dirt.
Astrid climbed from the saddle, hopping to the ground, giving Stormfly a well-received scratch under the chin. The Nadder sauntered to the back of the cave, blowing a few short flames onto the ground before curling up. Within moments, the dragon was snoring quietly. Astrid sat on the ground next to her, resting her back against Stromfly's scales.
Her mind was full of horrible images, Drogo's sick smile, the sight of the armoury on fire, and Nikolas lying dead on the floor of the Great Hall. Poor Nikolas, she had brought him into her plan, he had risked everything to help her, and now he was dead. She could still smell the blood, seeping into her gaps between the stone flag flooring of the Hall, it would take weeks to get rid of the smell. It was her fault, she had caused it, because of her, an innocent boy was gone from the world, and there was nothing she could do to bring him back. As she closed her eyes, the same thoughts looped around in her mind until.
They we're about to go to War.
War.
She remembered all those years ago, watching her father go off to battle with the other Hooligan warriors. She could have only been five or six years old, standing on the docks in the bitter cold, clutching her favourite stuffed toy in one hand, her mother's hand in the other. She remembered standing and watching the sails of the ships as they disappeared over the horizon, tears rolling down her cheeks and listening to her moth say calming things, like 'Don't worry sweetheart, daddy will be home soon'.
Most times that turned out to be true, she would rejoice upon seeing her father step onto the docks, running into his arms and refusing to let go. Until the one time…that it wasn't true. The day when her father never came home. She had shut herself in her room for over a week, sobbing continuously. If she couldn't stop what was about to happen, how many other Berk children would cry themselves to sleep, knowing that their fathers were never coming back. No, that wasn't going to happen.
She wouldn't let it.
The thundering of hooves split the silence as Hiccup galloped through the bleak landscape; the leather reins rubbed soon-to-be blisters between his fingers. It had been a long ride, almost three and a half hours since he had left Sky Haven Temple. By now the afternoon was rapidly moving into evening, the late sun beating down onto the snow. At least it was starting to feel cooler. Despite the storm the previous day, the weather had been surprisingly warm; large patches of snow had already melted, giving way to small flowers blooming at the road side.
As the rode on, Hiccup saw Ivarstead approaching in the distance, and he saw something he didn't expect. The village was lit up like a Snoggletog tree, almost every colour he could imagine. They quickly reached the village gates, and after securing his horse and giving it some well-deserved food and water, he began to walk towards the village square.
It was a festival. Along the usually darkening road shone hundreds of lamps; illuminating with their flickering candles. The light was cast every colour by tinted panes of glass, sparkling brilliantly against the snow on the ground. Everywhere he looked there were folks in their winter garb, thick woollen coats, mitts and scarfs. Most of the children were carrying a lamp of their own making. He could hear the townsfolk singing, their voices carrying beautifully into the evening light. For the first time in days, he actually felt happy, happy that people could still celebrate and have fun despite the war and the threat of the dragons looming.
He walked further into the village, between the locals in their costumes, as colourful as a summer garden, bold yellows, magenta, cyan and emerald green. There were sequins sparkling in the glow of the lamps and feathers of every colour. Wherever he looked, there were painted faces and masks, stilt walkers marching down the middle of the crowd, waving as they went. The music was the heartbeat of the crowd as they swayed and danced in time to the beat. Food sellers weaved through the mass of onlookers, the aroma of their wares perfumed the air.
Then, on the far side of the road, he caught sight of a familiar face, her mahogany hair twirling as she danced.
"Imogen!"
The young girl spun round to face him, her eyes alight with joy. She was wearing a stunning dark blue dress; her hair tied up into a bun with a single rose weaved intricately into the weaves.
"Hiccup!"
Imogen sprinted through the crowd towards him, almost knocking one of the stilt walkers over completely. Hiccup laughed as she ran to him, flinging herself into his arms. This time, he had no hesitation in returning the hug. The last time he had seen her, she was being dragged through the dirt by Dagur, used as a pawn to try and get to him. Hiccup was relieved to see that she was safe and well.
"It's so good to see you again!" Imogen exclaimed excitedly, releasing the hug.
"And you Imogen. Wow, look at you, you look amazing"
"Oh…thank you..." Imogen replied, brushing one of her bands behind her ear, her cheeks already beginning to blush, "…I never got a chance to thank you for saving me"
"You wouldn't have needed saving if it wasn't for me, I'm sorry"
"You're not responsible for the actions of other men"
"But he is after me, and he used you to try and get to me"
"But you rescued me, I owe you my life"
"You're welcome. Anyway, what is all this?" Hiccup asked, motioning to the celebrations going on around them.
"It's the Festival of light, the end of spring and the start of summer"
"Well it looks like you certainly know how to throw a party" Hiccup laughed, stepping aside to avoid some excited children skipping past them.
"Well we weren't going to let a little snow storm stop us. Here, dance with me" Imogen clasped onto Hiccups hand, pulling him towards the sound of the music.
"Oh, no, I can't dance, I really shouldn't….."
His protest fell on deaf ears as Imogen lead him towards the spot where the other locals were dancing. Kicking her right leg forward with pointed toes, Imogen pivoted in a revolving whirl of sharp precision and accurate grace. Hiccup felt rather embarrassed at his own dance moves, which looked a lot more like an awkward jig than any kind of dance. Imogen laughed as Hiccup attempted to follow the beat, grabbing his hands and leading him along with her. The lights were twinkling with every step as Imogen spun in delicate circles, her dark dress billowing out. Gradually, Hiccup felt more relaxed, moving more in time to the music, his useless dancing giving way to show some degree of skill, although nowhere near to anything that Imogen was doing.
The song ended, the locals applauding the musicians loudly, Hiccup was out of breath, he had never danced like that before, and Vikings weren't particularly fond of it. He remembered the vain attempts by Astrid and his mother to improve his skills, which had resulted in him being on his backside more than on his feet. But he had enjoyed that, after he past few days it had been nice to relax and have a little fun. Imogen smiled as she took his hand once more, leading him to the front of the crowd. She bounded up onto the stage, picking up a lute and facing the crowd.
"This song is for the people of Ivarstead!" she called out receiving a hearty applause from the crowd. Hiccup smiled as Imogen struck the first few chords, and then began to sing;
Brave the snow, through the pillars of the pale
Rest your feet, come and listen to the tales
Raise your mug, to the legends of the frost
Through our songs, they will never be lost
Tales that will never be lost, kept in the legends of the frost
Tales that will never be lost, kept in the legends of the frost
Once and always, a part of history
Long remembered, warriors be
Distant thunder, echoes of the past
Through our voices, forever to last
Tales that will never be lost, Kept in the legends of the frost
Tales that will never be lost, kept in the legends of the frost
In our hearts, the memory live on
Bless the father, mother and the son
Legends come, legends fall
Dragonborn, protector of us all
Tales that will never be lost, kept in the legends of the frost
Tales that will never be lost, kept in the legends of the frost
So raise your mug to the legends of the frost
Through our songs they will never be lost...
A cacophony of applause and cheering, whooping, hollering, clapping and stamping of feet erupted as Imogen finished the song. Hiccup applauded loudly as Imogen took her bow, placing the loot back into its stand and hopping down from the stage.
"Wow Imogen, that was….incredible"
"Thank you" Imogen replied, whipping small beads of sweat from her brow.
"You've really got a talent for music, you should play to one of the Jarls, I'm sure they would take you as their court musician"
"You really think so?" Imogen asked, taking two small cups of water from one of the food vendors' carts, handing one of them to Hiccup.
"Yeah why not, you've got a knack for it, they'd be lucky to….."
All of a sudden, the serenity of the festival was broken by the sound of women screaming. Hiccup span round as the crowd charged towards them. He could see smoke rising into the air on the far side of the village, the guards already running towards the commotion.
"Hiccup, what's going on?" Imogen asked, peering over his shoulder to see what was happening.
"I don't know. Get inside, bar the doors, do not come out until I say so" Hiccup ordered, drawing Nethersbane and running after the guards. The other women and children were being ushered into the buildings around the village, the men grabbing whatever weapons they could find and heading in the direction of the smoke. Hiccup barged his way through the crowd, holding Nethersbane down at his side to avoid cutting any of the terrified villagers speeding past him. The guards had assembled after the Mill at the far end of the village, Hiccup motioning his way through to stand at the front of them. Then, he saw what was causing the panic.
"Dagur"
"Well Hello Hiccup, surprised to see me here, it was a very clever trick you pulled to turn my men against me" Dagur cackled, standing with a torch in his hand beside the already raging inferno that was once someone's home.
"Leave this village Dagur, these people have done nothing to you!" Hiccup spat back, raising Nethersbane. The guards each drew their weapons, standing firm beside him.
"They seem like they are protecting you Hiccup. In my eyes that makes them your allies, and any ally of yours, is an enemy of mine" Dagur scowled, drawing his own weapon. Hiccup looked to them men behind Dagur, at least 30 of them, each armed to the teeth.
"I see you found yourself some new lackeys to follow you around everywhere. What's the matter Dagur, afraid to handle things yourself?"
"I wouldn't say found exactly, more like….hired. This is Jatho, their leader so to speak" Dagur smirked as Jatho raised his hand. The men drew their blades, a collection of rusted swords and exes, but no less dangerous.
"I won't let any more people die because of you Dagur, let's you and me end this, once and for all!"
Dagur laughed manically at Hiccup, his sickly laugh filling Hiccup with distain.
"Oh Hiccup, ever the noble one aren't you, always on the side of the innocent and the weak. Why on Earth would I fight you myself when I've got 30 men here who will slaughter every single person in this village? And once they've had their fun, then I will deal with you"
"You're insane Dagur" Hiccup scowled, gripping the hilt of Nethersbane, the lather on the handle squeaking in his grip.
"I would say I was more…Deranged, gents, take a walk"
Dagur lowered his hand as the men charged forward, their battle cried echoing across the valley. Hiccup raised his sword, quickly glancing back to the city guards.
"HOLD YOUR GROUND!"
Dagur's mercenaries drew closer and closer, the light from the flaming building glinting of their swords. Close and closer, until they slammed into the line of guards. Hiccup swung Nethersbane hard, slicing across the chest of the man directly in front of him, who collapsed to the floor, screaming in pain as he clutched his grievous chest wound.
The sound of steel clashing filled the air, men shouting in agony as their flesh was pieced and torn. Hiccup blocked blow after blow of the other mercenaries advancing upon them, cutting and slicing towards them as hard as he good. He struck a few good blows, the mercenaries collapsing to the floor. Crimson-red blood stained the ground as men wailed and screamed.
Then, a sudden gush of pain jolted throughout Hiccup's body. His arms lost tension and his legs began to weaken. He stumbled to a knee, the cut on his arms staining his shirt a titan red. He glanced up, and saw Dagur and Jatho smirking in the distance, both of them reloading their bows. Hiccup hauled himself back to his feet, steadying himself before charging towards them, barging another advancing mercenary aside. Dagur raised his bow again, took aim and fired. The arrow whipped towards Hiccup, but this time his aim was off, as it zoomed past Hiccup's left shoulder. Jatho fumbled with his arrow, trying to get it onto the bow string, but he was to slow. Hiccup charged towards them, Nethersbane in hand.
"DAGUR!"
Jatho charged with the hooked blade upheld, going to his foreswing and following it with a backswing. Hiccup dodged the first and met the second with Nethersbane. Jatho stumbled back, but the blade remained in his grip. Another arcing shot sliced the fabric of Hiccup's shirt at the midsection. Hiccup swung back, but Jatho met the strike with his own blade, smirking as their weapons tangled.
Jatho began to push Hiccup back; he must have out-weighed him by 20 pounds or more. His face was so close; Hiccup could almost smell his breath, a horrible stench of meat and bad mead.
"Dagur will give me a nice bonus for this" Jatho smirked as he pressed his blade down hard. Hiccup pushed back, but the hooked steel was drawing dangerously close to his neck. He had to do something, or this could be his last fight. With one sudden move, Hiccup slid to his knees, Jatho stumbling forward. With one quick strike, Hiccup plunged Nethersbane into Jatho's leg, the mercenary howling like an animal as he collapsed to the floor, tried to stand, and dropped again. Hiccup stood over his foe, pointing the tip of Nethersbane straight at his heart.
"DO IT!" Jatho bellowed, clutching his leg as the blood began to flow. Hiccup paused, as much as he wanted to; his entire body seemed to be fighting against him from striking the final blow. It was not in his nature to kill another man, if he took this man's life, he would be no better than Dagur.
"No, I won't kill you…." Hiccup sighed, slowly lowering Nethersbane, "…but I will do this"
With all his might, hiccup punched Jatho straight on the jaw; the horrendous sound of bones breaking sent a chill down his back. Jatho jolted from the blow before slumping unconscious to the ground, Dagur watching as his best fighter was beaten and hired thugs being cut to ribbons by the guards.
"RETREAT! RETREAT!" cried Dagur, turning and running back towards the forest. His surviving mercenaries quickly abandoned whomever they were fighting, following him into the thick canopy, "THIS ISN'T OVER HICCUP, NOT BY A LONG SHOT! NEXT TIME I WILL GET YOU, YOU'LL SEE"
And with that, Dagur disappeared into the trees. Hiccup sucked some much needed air into his lungs, it had only been a short fight, but it was enough to make his muscles ache. The pain in his arm was still there as he gingerly inspected the wound. It wasn't a deep cut, a few bandages and he would be fine.
"I look forward to it Dagur" Hiccup whispered to himself, sheathing Nethersbane as he stared after the fleeing mercenaries, "I very much look forward to it"