Chapter 29: Aftermath
"Okay, so I don't know about you guys but I have a lot of questions right now," Astrid said as the three dragons landed in a clearing back on Berk, "Like, why are the Vendal feeding the Red Death, and why are the dragons going along with it? Plus, who trapped the Red Death with those runes?"
"Ah daenae know th' answer tae those first two questions," Merida said as she dismounted from Boudica's back, "But Ah'm pretty sure Ah know th' answer tae th' third."
"Come on," Hiccup said, dismounting as well before heading into the forest, Merida and Fishlegs following along with the three dragons, leaving Astrid behind, watching them leave in confusion.
"Where are you all going!?" Astrid called after them, before throwing her hands up in exasperation and following them.
The group made their way through the woods, crashing through the brush and hopping over rocks and fallen logs. Dodging around trees, the group made their way deeper and deeper into forest.
"Where are we?" Astrid asked as the group stumbled to a stop.
"I don't know," Hiccup replied, glancing around.
"You don't know?" Astrid questioned incredulously.
"No, I don't," Hiccup answered, turning around and looking Astrid right in the eye, "And that's exactly where we want to be."
Astrid just stopped and stared at Hiccup for a few moments, a completely bewildered look on her face.
"What the Hel does that mean!?" Astrid shouted, throwing her hands into the air in exasperation.
"Hiccup!" Merida spoke up before anyone could answer Astrid's question, parting some thick bushes as she did, "This way!"
Turning, Hiccup and Fishlegs moved over to join Merida before the three of them entered the bush, Fishlegs signaling for Astrid to follow them as he entered the brush with the dragons in tow. Astrid watched them leave for a moment before sighing and following. Pushing her way through the bush, she gasped in surprise as she came into a clearing where a circle of standing stones greeted her.
"What…?" Astrid pondered aloud, "I never knew something like this was out here."
"Astrid!" Fishlegs shouted, catching the girl's attention as he and the others made their way down the small path leading away from the standing stones, "Come on!"
Sparing one last glance at the stone monoliths, Astrid jogged over towards where the others were waiting, goose bumps spreading over her flesh as she briefly passed through the stone circle. Quickly, the group made their way down the path before coming to the small clearing where Hilde's cottage was.
"Wait, someone lives out here!?" Astrid questioned in astonishment, "How come I never knew someone lived out here?"
Ignoring Astrid's questions, Hiccup, Merida and Fishlegs walked up to Hilde's front door, Hiccup reaching out and knocking on it.
"Hilde?" Hiccup called out, knocking again as he did, "Are you there?"
"Who the Hel is Hilde?" Astrid questioned as she watched the others with a look of utter bafflement on her face.
"Zat vould be me, dearie," Hilde said from behind Astrid, causing the blonde to jump nearly a foot off the ground as she let out a startled shriek. Grabbing her axe, Astrid spun around to face the old woman with her weapon raised.
"Is zis how you normally treat an old voman, dear?" Hilde questioned, raising her eyebrow at Astrid.
"Um…ah…no," Astrid replied, lowering her axe as she caught her breath while averting her eyes, "Sorry, it's been…kind of a long night for me."
"I imagine," Hilde replied before turning her attention to the other three teens who were making their way over to them, "Hello dearies, I see you'fe brought some friends."
"Uh, yeah," Hiccup replied before turning his attention to the trio of dragons that were accompanying them, "You've met Toothless, and our new friends here are Boudica and Meatlug."
The two dragons leaned forward and took curious sniffs in the direction of the old woman. Looks of surprise and confusion passed over the two dragons' faces before they glanced at each other and then to Toothless, who nodded his head at the two of them.
"All right…" Hiccup said, looking at the three dragons in confusion for a moment before turning his attention to Astrid, "And this is our friend, Astrid."
"Astrid?" Hilde questioned skeptically as she turned her attention towards the girl in question, "Is zat vat you're calling yourself?"
A look of surprise passed over Astrid's features before she blushed in embarrassment and averted her eyes for a second time. The others glanced at one another in confusion while shooting Astrid questioning glances which the blonde pointedly ignored.
"Don't vorry, dearie," Hilde whispered, reaching out and patting Astrid on the arm sympathetically, "Zey don't hafe to know if you don't vant zem to."
"But how do you know?" Astrid asked in confusion, taking a hesitant step away from Hilde and not truly lowering her axe as she did so, "I've lived on this island my entire life and I have never heard of anyone living out here. Who are you?"
"My name is Hilde," the old woman replied with a smile, "And I'm just a simple voodcarfer."
"Bullshit you are," Astrid snapped, her annoyance rising as she narrowed her eyes at the older, "Like I said, I've never met you before in my life and I doubt these three would come running to you with dragons in tow if you were just a woodcarver."
"Fery perceptife of you," Hilde commented with a smirk, "Vhy is it zat your little friends hafen't brought you around before?"
"I'm just finding out about all of this," Astrid explained, "Like I said, it's been a very long night."
"Which is why we wanted tae come tae ye, Hilde," Merida spoke up as she approached the older woman, "We need tae talk tae ye."
"Vat do you need to talk vith me about?" Hilde questioned as she lead them all into her house, Astrid taking it all in as she stepped inside. The three dragons waited outside, sniffing around the area around Hilde's home in curiosity.
"We found…the Nest," Hiccup explained, "The dragons' Nest."
"Zat must hafe been exciting for you," Hilde replied, but Merida noticed her tense up slightly.
"It was more terrifying than anything," Hiccup continued, keeping a close eye on Hilde as well, "We found something in the Nest."
"Vat vould zat be?" Hilde asked as she turned her back to the group, busying herself with some items on a shelf.
"The Vendal have apparently moved in to the Nest along with the dragons," Hiccup continued, glancing at Merida, who looked back to him and gave him an encouraging nod, "It seemed like they were taking care of something."
"And did you find vat zat somezing vas?" Hilde questioned.
"Yes," Hiccup said solemnly, "The Red Death."
Hilde dropped a cup that she had been holding at the moment, causing it to clatter against the ground.
"Zat must hafe been surprising," Hilde said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It was," Hiccup stated with a nod, "But what was more surprising was the fact that he could talk and he told us that you had sealed him there."
"You talked vith him, did you?" Hilde questioned, turning to face the teens again, watching them with her mismatched eyes, "You're lucky to be alive."
"We are," Merida agreed, "But 'at's beside th' point Hilde. Whit is gaein' on here? How are ye involved in this?"
"It is a long, and…terrible shtory," Hilde explained, a faraway look in her eyes as she spoke before snapping back to look at the teens, "Vat is important is zat you know zat I vas indeed zee one vho sealed avay zee Red Death."
"But the Red Death hasn't been seen in generations," Astrid spoke up, clearly confused, "For that to have been you, you'd have to be…"
Astrid paused before a look of astonishment came over her face as she regarded Hilde.
"How old are you?" Astrid questioned, narrowing her eyes at Hilde.
"Old," Hilde answered with a tired sigh as she sat in one of the wooden chair, "Very old."
"But how could you be that old," Astrid pressed, still trying to put everything together, "Are you…"
"A witch?" Fishlegs finished, giving Hilde a pointed look.
"I zink you know zee answer to zat question, Leser," Hilde replied with a wry smile, "I zink you'fe known for quite some time."
"To answer your question zough, Krieger," Hilde continued, turning her attention towards Astrid again, "I hafe been called many zings in my time and vitch is indeed one of zem."
"O-Okay," Astrid said nervously, playing with the handle of her axe as she leaned towards Fishlegs, "What did she just call me?"
"Krieger," Fishlegs repeated back to her, "It means warrior in Old Norse, I think."
"Why would she call me that?" Astrid questioned.
"It's kind of her thing," Fishlegs explained, "She's good at reading people and gives them names based on that. I think it's part of the whole…magic thing she's got going on."
"Okay," Astrid said while slowly nodding, "What's yours mean?"
"Leser means reader," Fishlegs elaborated, "Merida's is Jaeger, which means hunter, and Hiccup's is Reiter."
"What's that one mean?" Astrid asked.
"Rider," Fishlegs answered, to which Astrid turned to fully face him and quirked an eyebrow at the taller boy, "Yeah, now you see what I've been dealing with lately."
"Sae 'at's whit happened tae th' Red Death?" Merida asked, "Ye sealed him away?"
"Yes," Hilde replied with a nod, "And I hafe no doubt he's looking for me still."
"Not just him," Hiccup stated, "Mor'du and the Vendal are looking for you too. They're helping the Red Death, but for the life of me I can't understand why."
"Mor'du has much to gain vith zee Red Death's release," Hilde stated plainly, her eyes having a faraway look in them again, "As do ozers."
"Others?" Merida questioned in confusion, "What others?"
"Zere are zose vho vould make zee Red Death zeir ally," Hilde explained, looking intensely into Merida's eyes as she spoke, "Rising schadows zat hafe not been seen in an age."
"What should we do?" Hiccup asked, a worried look on his face.
"Zere is only one sing zat can be done," Hilde replied, turning her attention to Hiccup, "Zee Red Death must be slain."
"Slain!?" Fishlegs shouted incredulously, "You want us to slay the Red Death? Not even Siegfried the Great could do that. Not even you could do that and you're the one who sealed him away!"
"Yes," Hilde relented with a nod, "But you all hafe sings zat neither I nor Siegfried had."
"What?" Hiccup questioned, "The dragons?"
"Not just your dragons," Hilde explained, "Your skills, your knowledge, your training. You hafe been training all your lifes to fight dragons, somesing not even Siegfried himself could boast. Reiter has created sings zat no one efer has before."
"Nothing that can stop something like the Red Death," Hiccup argued, feeling nervous as the others turned to look at him.
"You'd be surprised," Hilde pressed, "You and Jaeger possess zee noble bloodlines stemming from kings and queens of old."
She paused as she shot Astrid a knowing look.
"And you are not zee only ones with ancestors of note," Hilde commented without elaboration, Astrid looking at her shoes as she ground a piece of dirt under her toe.
"And in addition to all of zat, you hafe zee power of two peoples behind you," Hilde finished, looking at Hiccup and Merida again.
"As much as I'm sure my dad will love to kill the Red Death, I don't think that he will be willing to work with other dragons to do it," Hiccup stated, clearly unconvinced, "We come to him with this, and he'll kill Toothless and the other dragons and banish us. If he doesn't decide to just kill us too."
"You schould hafe more trust in your fazer," Hilde said, a concerned look on her face.
"Why?" Hiccup questioned, growing irritated, "Everything he's ever done tells me what he's going to do."
"Then we waenae jist tell him," Merida replied, "Like Ah said afore, ma father trusts me an' ma mother trusts ye. When it comes right down tae it, it might nae matter whit yer father thinks."
Hiccup looked unconvinced but couldn't think of a way to argue.
"Hic, ye know as well as Ah dae 'at saemethin' has tae be done," Merida pleaded, turning to Hiccup and reaching out, taking his hands in hers, "Th' Vendal are gaein' tae dae everythin' they can tae release th' Red Death. They'll come fer Hilde tae get her tae release th' seal. Mor'du said they already know she's here on th' island. He will burn it tae th' ground if it means getting' tae her. Ye know he will."
A concerned look crossed Hiccup's face as he thought of what Merida was saying.
"And it's not just the people of Berk who have something to lose," Fishlegs spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to him, "It's pretty clear that the dragons in the Nest are being enslaved. The whole reason they have been raiding us and gods know who else is to feed the Red Death. You saw how our dragons reacted when we got close to the Nest. I think the Red Death is somehow controlling them."
"Like the queen in a beehive," Astrid stated.
"Exactly," Fishlegs replied, shooting Astrid a smile to which the blonde replied with a smirk before he turned his attention back to the others, "And that goes all without mentioning what Mor'du does to the dragons that don't bring back enough food."
Hiccup looked lost as he thought over what they all had told him.
"Hiccup," Astrid spoke up, leaning forward against a wooden table as she looked intensely into his eyes as he turned to look at her, "They're right. The Red Death, Mor'du, the Vendal. They have to be stopped. For our sake, our people's sake and even the dragons' sakes."
A warm smile broke Astrid's features as she paused.
"You've convinced me," Astrid pressed gently, "I think you can handle your dad."
Hiccup looked at Astrid for a few moments, before turning his attention to Fishlegs, who smiled and nodded at him. Nodding back, Hiccup turned his attention back to Merida, who smiled at him, giving his hands a reassuring squeeze.
"Alright," Hiccup relented, squeezing Merida's hands in return, "Alright, we'll do it."
His friends nodded and smiled at one another.
"But we have to do this the right way," Hiccup continued, a serious look on his face, "If we don't, this could all blow up in our faces and we will have more than just Mor'du and the Red Death to worry about. And I don't know about you guys but that already seems like a ridiculous amount to worry about."
His friends chuckled at his joke and nodded their agreement.
"Thanks for clearing some things up for us, Hilde," Hiccup said, turning his attention towards the old woman, "I hope you're right about all of this."
"I know I am," Hilde replied, smiling at Hiccup as she reached out and placed a hand on his arm, "You are destined for great sings, Hiccup. You just hafe to trust in yourself."
"I think that's the first time you've called me by my real name," Hiccup commented with a chuckle.
"We all hafe many names, Reiter," Hilde replied enigmatically, "All of zem are correct in zeir own vays."
Hiccup wasn't sure what to say to that, so he merely reached out and patted Hilde's hand before turning back to his friends.
"As it is, we won't be able to do anything about the Red Death and the Vendal until Merida's parents arrive from the Highlands," Hiccup stated, "So right now, let's just worry about getting Boudica and Meatlug back into their pens."
"Do we really hae tae bring them back?" Merida questioned, looking saddened by the news.
"We don't want to raise suspicion until we can explain all of this to our parents," Hiccup explained, "I don't like it either, but two dragons suddenly missing from the arena will raise a lot of suspicion."
Merida sighed in resignation but nodded in understanding. Standing up from her seat, she turned and smiled at Hilde.
"Daenae worry, Hilde," Merida said, a look of determination in her eyes, "We wonae let 'at monster get his hands on ye."
"I feel safer already," Hilde replied with a smile, "Now, zee hour grows late and I beliefe you four hafe places to be."
Nodding, the four teens quickly exited the house while bidding Hilde good night. As the teens were rejoined by the trio of dragons outside, a thought occurred to Astrid.
"Hey wait," Astrid said, a look of confusion on her face as she began to turn back around, "How do we-"
Astrid stopped mid-sentence as she finished turning around, finding that Hilde's house had completely disappeared, and one of the monoliths that made up the standing stone circle was looming in its place. Astrid stood stock still for a moment as she stared at the monolith.
"…What," she said blankly after a moment.
"Yeah," Fishlegs stated as she walked up behind her, looking at the monolith as well, "That was my reaction too."
"I don't think I like magic," Astrid said, slowly turning to look at Fishlegs.
"Join the club," Fishlegs replied as he turned around and began following the others as they made their way back to the village, Astrid taking a moment to stare at the monolith some more before turning around and jogging after the others.
"You three bring the dragons back to the arena," Hiccup said, indicating towards where the village was, "I'm going to go bring Toothless back to his cove for the night."
"Alright," Merida replied, reaching out and taking Hiccup's hand before pulling him towards her so she could quickly peck him on the lips, "Be careful."
"You too," Hiccup replied with a smile, before turning and leading Toothless into the woods. Merida watched him go for a moment, before turning to face Fishlegs and Astrid, who were looking at her with matching smiles on their faces.
"Whit?" Merida questioned in confusion.
"You two are so adorable, it's a little bit sickening," Astrid commented as she crossed her arms and chuckled.
"Now you can see the other thing I've been dealing with lately," Fishlegs said, indicating towards Merida, prompting Astrid to chuckle again.
"Ye know, me an' Hic arenae th' only adorable anes around here," Merida commented, giving Astrid and Fishlegs a knowing look before walking past them towards the village, the two dragons following behind her. As they left, Astrid and Fishlegs glanced at each other before quickly looking away again, blushes coloring their cheeks as they both moved to follow Merida back to the village.
It didn't take them long to get back to the village and with the late hour and half the guards asleep at their posts, it proved easy to get the dragons back into the arena.
"Alright girl, Ah'll see ye real soon, okay?" Merida cooed as she stroked the top of Boudica's head, the Nadder purring in reply as she allowed herself to be lead back into the pen. Meanwhile, Fishlegs was scratching Meatlug's belly, the Gronckle kicking his legs in excitement as he lay on the floor of his pen.
"Alright Fishlegs, we shud close them up," Merida said, prompting the young man to exit the pen and close them both up, sealing the dragons in. Fishlegs and Merida smiled at each other before turning to face Astrid, who was sitting against a wall of the arena. Looking up at them, Astrid pushed herself to her feet as she sighed wistfully.
"This…is officially the craziest night of my life," Astrid said as she regarded Merida and Fishlegs with a small smile, "I rode a dragon. We found the Nest. Hel, we found the Red Death himself! And we know it's him because he told us!"
Astrid laughed a bit to herself, before her mood became noticeably somber.
"And then I…I killed someone," Astrid said, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked down at her feet, "Three someones actually."
An uneasy quiet fell over the trio as sad and lost looks crossed each of their faces.
"We…we didnae hae a choice," Merida argued, rubbing one of her arms with her hand, "If we didnae kill them, they wud hae killed us."
"I know," Astrid insisted, raising her eyes to look at Merida, "I know. It's just…I can't tell anyone about any of it. I have to keep it a secret, because if I don't then three dragons might be killed."
"And the banishment," Fishlegs spoke up, "Don't forget about the banishment."
"Right, that too," Astrid said, giving Fishlegs a small smile, "But all I'm trying to say is, I have to keep all this…mostly amazing stuff secret for reasons I would never have gone along with a few hours ago. But now…now I'm okay with it. Now I see what you guys see and I appreciate the opportunity you guys gave me."
"We didnae really give ye choice in th' matter," Merida pointed out.
"Yeah," Fishlegs agreed as he scratched the back of his head, "We kind of…kidnapped you, I guess."
"That's true," Astrid said with a nod as she stepped towards Fishlegs, "By the way."
Astrid lashed out, punching Fishlegs hard in the stomach, causing the large teen to double over in pain as air wheezed out of his lungs. Merida watched with wide eyes as Astrid pulled back and leaned over so she and Fishlegs were at eye level.
"Thatwas for kidnapping me," she said sternly.
Fishlegs wheezed some more as he turned to look at Merida, who could only offer a helpless shrug in reply. At the same time, a nervous look crossed Astrid's face as she brushed some of her bangs to the side. Reaching out, Astrid cupped Fishlegs' chin and turned his head back to face her. Before Fishlegs could say anything, Astrid leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Fishlegs eyes shot open wide in surprise as Astrid held her lips against his for a moment before pulling away again, Merida watching the whole seen with a mixture of shock and amusement.
"And that was for everything else," Astrid continued, blushing as she stood up
Fishlegs didn't reply, a look of shock frozen on his face as he stayed doubled over, despite the pain in stomach having long left him.
"So, um…I'll…I'll see you guys tomorrow?" Astrid mumbled, her face turning redder by the second.
"Sure, Astrid," Merida snickered, biting her lip to keep from laughing out loud, "We'll see ye tomorrow."
"Okay," Astrid mumbled before quickly spinning around and running towards the exit of the arena, "Bye!"
"Bye," Merida replied, grinning as she waved to the fleeing girl, before turning her attention to Fishlegs, who was still frozen in place with a look of shock on his face. After a moment, he let out a long wheeze that sounded like a mixture of pain and shock.
"Ye okay, Fishlegs?" Merida questioned, placing a hand on Fishlegs' shoulder.
"Yeah," Fishlegs replied as he stood back up, placing a hand on his hips, trying to seem nonchalant as his face turned red, "Yeah, I'm okay."
There was a pause as Merida regarded Fishlegs with a bemused smile.
"Merida," Fishlegs said after a moment, "Can I ask you something?"
"Gae fer it, Fish," Merida replied, her grin never abating.
"What just happened?" Fishlegs questioned.
"Well, Ah think we hae our answer tae how Astrid feels aboot ye," Merida replied, reaching up and patting Fishlegs on the back as she began to lead him out of the arena, "Now, we shud be getting' back home."
"Right," Fishlegs agreed, walking with Merida for a short distance before speaking up again, "Merida, why are girls so weird?"
"Fishlegs, Ah'm a girl, an' even Ah daenae know th' answer tae 'at question," Merida replied with a chuckle before they exited the arena, closing the gate behind them.
Later,
Hiccup quietly snuck into the house, closing the door gently behind him. As he made his way towards the stairs, he saw Merida curled up near the fireplace, a fire burning low before her.
"Hey," Hiccup greeted her as he walked over and sat down next to her.
"Hey," Merida replied, smiling at him before cuddling up next to him, prompting Hiccup to put his arm around her shoulders, "Ye get Toothless back okay?"
"Yeah," Hiccup answered, "He didn't seem happy when I left though. I think everything that happened tonight has put him on edge."
"Ah daenae think he's th' only ane on edge," Merida replied, taking one of Hiccup's hands into one of hers as she looked up at him.
"A lot happen tonight, Mer," Hiccup answered, "We found the Nest, we discovered the Red Death and found out he had been sealed away by our friend who is apparently a centuries old witch."
"Ah daenae think 'at's th' only thin' 'at's botherin' ye though," Merida stated, reaching up and turning Hiccup's face so that he was looking at her, "Ye killed people tonight. We all did."
Hiccup remained silent, sighing softly as he adverted his eyes from hers.
"I…I didn't even mean to," Hiccup whispered, "He was running at me then suddenly he was impaled on my sword. I didn't even do anything. The other one, I was trying to parry his attack and I ended up just…slicing his hand off. He…He bled out right then and there."
"Ah understand, Hic," Merida stated, leaning her head against his shoulder, "Ye're ne'er th' same after it happens. It's hittin' the others hard too."
"It doesn't seem to be affecting you much," Hiccup observed.
"Because tonight wasnae th' first time Ah killed someane," Merida elaborated.
"What do you mean?" Hiccup asked in confusion as he looked down at her.
"Ye remember 'at Vendal raid 'at happened when Ah first came here?" Merida questioned.
"Of course," Hiccup replied, a concerned look on his face.
"Well, Ah killed ane o' th' Vendal when Ah was runnin' away from Mor'du," Merida explained, a faraway look in her eyes, "Ah…Ah stabbed him in th' throat with ane o' ma arras. Ah watched him bleed oot right in front o' me. Ah watched th' light die in his eyes."
"That couldn't have been easy," Hiccup said sympathetically.
"'At's th' scary thin'," Merida replied, looking Hiccup right in the eyes, "It was all too easy. Ye saw it taenight, they're there ane moment and th' next they're gone."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Hiccup asked.
"Because Ah didnae want tae," Merida replied with a sigh, "Ah wanted tae jist ferget aboot it."
"You can't just…forget about things like that, Mer," Hiccup stated.
"Ah know 'at now," Merida agreed with a nod, "'At's why Ah wanted tae talk tae ye aboot this. Ah wanted ye tae know Ah'm here fer ye, jist like Ah know ye're here fer me."
"You didn't have to tell me that," Hiccup said as he held Merida closer to him, "I've known that for a while now."
"Good," Merida said, before she reached up, grabbed Hiccup's head and pulled him into a kiss, "'At's sae ye daenae ferget it."
Hiccup smiled as he settled down, resting his head on Merida's as she leaned back on his shoulder, watching the dying fire together.
"Speaking o' kisses," Merida spoke up, a grin spreading across her face, "Ye wonnae believe whit happened in th' arena after ye left."
A/N: Bit of a transition chapter here, lots of talking and character interaction. I hope you guys liked it! Also, this story has now passed eight hundred reviews. When I started this story a year ago, I never would have believed this story would end up being as popular as it is. Thank you all so much! You're the best fans a lowly fanfic writer like me could ask for! As always, feedback and critiques are always welcome, so please review! Later!
