Chapter 55
Hiccup and I were settled in the cove close together, my wing over her small frame and her head rubbing against mine. It was just before dawn and that is why were there, to watch the sunrise in our special place, the place where we met and fell in love.
"You know when I was a kid I would have given anything to be like the other kids. But my Mom always told me that the gods made me as I am for a reason and that reason may not become apparent now or even in ten years but being different doesn't mean I was a mistake, it only means that there will be things that only I would be able to do and I was made just that purpose and that I was special." She said looking me in the eye with admiration shining in them.
"She was right, you have done things for all of us, dragons and humans alike, things that none of us could ever hope to do in our wildest dreams." I replied looking back beaming with pride for what she had done for both our people.
"I couldn't have done any of it without you." She said nudging me head.
"I couldn't have done anything I have without you either." I replied returning the gesture.
As we talked, the sun began to peek out from behind the trees overlooking the cove. We watched as the rising sun painted the skies a rosy shade of pink, an illuminating shade of orange and a beautiful shade of yellow. And to make it even more breathe taking, the way the light danced on Hiccup's scales made her look like a statue made of precious black diamonds.
We shared a glance and then she moved closer to me and I leaned down toward her and she started to lean towards me and we closed the distance between us. She tasted just the same as she had the first time we kissed. I could just hold on to that taste forever, but like all things it ended when we heard Stormfly and Astrid come to the cove.
"Hiccup, your father needs you in the village. The Meatheads are on their way to Berk." Astrid said from on top of Stormfly.
Hiccup changed into her human form and told Astrid she and I were on our way. After they were gone, she changed back and we took off for the village. Once we made it back, she changed into her human form again and went to ask her Dad why the other tribe was coming.
"Dad, I know the Meathead tribe is a close friend to our tribe, but why are they coming over?" she asked nervously.
"It's Thuggory's birthday and Maggadon wants to celebrate his son's coming of age day here because he knows it's your birthday today as well." Stoick explained just as unsure. "He thought it would a good time for a visit as any given we haven't had any visits with each other in some time."
"I just hope Thuggory is over his obsession with me." Hiccup said rubbing the back of her neck. "He kind drove me to my breaking point last time he was here."
"I know lass, but please this time try to just grin and bear this time if he hasn't, show them a little good faith." Her father pleaded.
"I'll do my best." Hiccup promised.
I was curious about she meant by his 'obsession' over her. After her father left to help finish the final preparations she went up to our room and sat down by her desk. I nudged her arm and gave her a quizzical look.
She seemed to understand what I was wondering and changed into her dragon form.
"Let me guess, you are wondering about Thuggory." She said raising an eyebrow.
"You know me so well." I said settling down.
"Well, when we were kids, Thuggory and the other members of the Meathead tribe would come over to visit from time to time. At first Thuggory would use me as a play thing but as we got older he sort of started to creep me out the way he would look at me, the way he would talk to me, and then it got to the point where he would start to come on to me like I was a prize that he thought he take anytime he wanted." She said shifting uncomfortably as she settled next to me.
"Well like your father said, maybe he has gotten over it and maybe after all this time he has gotten over you." I said hoping to calm her nerves.
"That's what I'm hoping for, or if not, I'm hoping that I can stay invisible until he has to leave." She said clearly still nerve racked. "I don't know who I'd rather deal with, Dagur the Deranged or Thuggory the Obsessive Crusher."
"I'm not telling you how you should approach this, but maybe your father's right, maybe you try and grin and bare it. You know I'm always here for you and no matter what, nothing could ever make me love you any less." I said nudging her head.
She returned the gesture and seemed to feel more at ease. "Thanks love."
Presently her father came up stairs. "Hiccup, there is something else. The Meatheads don't know that you can change into a Night Fury so it's a good idea that you keep it that way for now. If the Meatheads knew that you could change into a dragon it could been seen as a threat if they thought we could use you as a weapon against them." He explained.
She changed into her human form and told her father she understood. "But do we have to hide the dragons too?"
"I don't think we have to worry. For some reason the Meatheads never had any dragon problems for years so they don't seem to think too bad of them. So I think we're safe with them out and about, just as long as you can keep them under control." He explained easing her mind.
"That's good, because I don't think my nerves could take another run like the Berserker fiasco." she said brushing her hair out of her face in relief.
"But we still need to be careful, make sure Snotlout and the twins don't do anything stupid." He warned.
"I'll do my best." Hiccup promised.
Her father then turned and headed back out. "Guess we don't have to hide too much." She said rubbing my head.
"I still can't believe I'm turning sixteen today. Thank goodness Thuggory is turning eighteen and will have to marry someone else soon." She said with relief.
We then spent the next few hours helping the village prepare for the Meathead tribe's arrival. Some of the other villagers would wish Hiccup a happy birthday from time to time, others seemed too busy to even notice her, but she didn't seemed too bothered by it. By the time the village had finished the preparations it was almost high noon.
Hiccup and I went for one last flight around the island before the Meatheads arrived. Even though she was turning sixteen, she didn't look any different than she did last year. I was kind of glad. I guess with her being part dragon now, her aging had been slowed down. I hoped to myself that it was true, dragons can live for centuries and still be young, where as humans live for a few decades and they die of old age if they are lucky. Even if it was from natural causes, I don't think I'd ever be ready to say good bye to Hiccup.
We had just passed Raven Point on the way back when we heard a horn signaling the Meatheads were here.
"Thor give me strength." Hiccup prayed under her breath.
She changed in midair and landed on my back. It wasn't the first time she rode bare back but it was the first time she changed while she was still in the air. So needless to say it did startle me because I thought I wouldn't catch her. I guess all those trust exercises were helping after all.
We made it back to the village just in time to meet Maggadon and his son, Thuggory. I really couldn't tell which was which. Both were really tall, stout and burly. For me it all just guessing until turned to look at Hiccup and she turned away to avoid him looking at her. That's how I figured the one with long black hair tied up in a matted mess and axe strapped to his back was Thuggory.
As he looked at Hiccup and Hiccup avoided his gaze, he got a look in his eyes that I didn't like. It was the look of a predator, the same look the Red Death had in his eyes when he took control of Dragon Island. If was had that look in his eyes at my Hiccup, I knew from the start I was going to have to stay close to her until they were gone.
Hiccup and I went to meet her father and to greet Maggadon.
"Ah, there she is, the Great Dragon Trainer. Nice to see you again Hiccup." Maggadon said shaking her hand heartedly. "I have to say when I first saw you as a little girl I never would have guessed that you would be the one to bring the war to an end. Imagine my surprise when I heard that the one who had tamed the dragons was Stoick's bright little prodigy." He said chuckling. "You must so proud of her Stoick. I imagine Valhallarama would be proud too if she could be with us today, rest her soul."
"Thank you Maggadon and you are right I am pretty proud of her for what she has done for us. I couldn't have wished for a better daughter." Stoick said proudly putting his hand around her shoulder.
I could see Hiccup was getting uncomfortable. Hiccup was normally used to being the one in the background only needing to be the center of attention when necessary. Right now, she looked like she was ready to run. I nudged her arm hoping to get the others' attention.
"And who would this fine beast be?" Maggadon asked looking down at me in surprise.
"This is Toothless, my l… my Night Fury." Hiccup quickly corrected herself.
"Well beard of Thor, a Night Fury!" Maggadon exclaimed. "A real Night Fury right in front of me! I was starting to think they were a myth. He truly is a magnificent specimen, you really have quite the daughter if she could tame the most dangerous dragon in the archipelago." He said looking over me over and over again. Now I how Hiccup felt, but as long as that Thuggory boy kept his eyes to himself, I was alright.
"Thank you Maggadon." Hiccup said putting her hand on my head.
Everyone headed for the Great Hall. When the doors opened, a celebration welcomed Hiccup and Thuggory. Roses were wrapped around the pillars but from the ceiling hung banners congratulating Thuggory on his coming of age. Everyone sat around the table and started chatting with their Meathead neighbors. Everyone seemed in good spirits but the way Thuggory kept looking at Hiccup was still making me uneasy and I could tell that Hiccup was feeling the same way.
I sat close to Hiccup while her, her father, Maggadon, and Thuggory ate.
"So, Hiccup I heard you turn sixteen today, right?" Thuggory asked.
"Yes, it's my birthday too." Hiccup answered nervously avoiding his eyes again.
"You know it won't be too much longer until you're of age yourself. Have you thought about whom you might want as a suitor when it's time?" he asked cocking an eye brow.
"As a matter of fact I have and he is someone I really care about." Hiccup said hoping to get him to stop and hide the fact that she and I were mates, not official yet but still we were loyal to each other as good as any.
It stung to know that we had to hide our love from the people Hiccup's father trusted but he was right. If they knew it might have been seen as a threat. So for now it was like our love was there.
"Oh I get, playing hard to get. Well I love playing games." He said putting his arm around her shoulder.
I felt a burning hot wave flash through my body. Here he was trying to court my Hiccup, and I had just about had enough. But Hiccup didn't give in.
"No, I'm serious. He lives here on the island." Hiccup said brushing him off.
"So who is it?" Thuggory asked suspiciously.
I knew Hiccup was going to have to lie and it did hurt to know that but it was for the good of the tribe so I bit my tongue. Besides, she and I could make up for it later.
"Fishlegs." Hiccup blurted out.
"You mean that husky bookworm? The one who prefers to stay out of the fight rather than facing it like a man?" Thuggory asked flabbergasted.
"Yes. He may not be the bravest but he's sweet and has a sharp wit." Hiccup said looking at me with a look of apology in her eyes.
I returned it saying it was alright. The feast went on for another hour or so and Hiccup continued to brush Thuggory away. After everyone was done we left the Great Hall.
"Hey Stoick, I was wondering if we could all see how well your daughter trains these dragons. After everything I have heard I am anxious to see how she does it." Maggadon asked with curiosity.
"I don't see any harm in it. I'm sure Hiccup would be delighted to give a demonstration." Stoick said putting his hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
I could see Hiccup was getting uncomfortable again. Maggadon was fawning over her and Stoick was putting her out there like she was some kind of trophy. I imagined when Hiccup said she wanted her father to be proud of her this wasn't what she had in mind. But I could tell Hiccup was getting uncomfortable the way Maggadon was fawning over her and the Thuggory was coming on to her. I got a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
When we got to the academy, I tried to follow her in but Stoick stopped me. "Uh-ah Toothless, not this time. She'll be fine." He said closing the door. I walked with him to his seat and sat where I could see everything and be ready to jump in when she needed me.
Stoick then turned to Astrid and asked to send in a Spiked One for Hiccup to demonstrate with. After a few minutes, the Spiked One flew in through the door and landed in front of Hiccup. Hiccup did look a little nervous but she remained calm and approached to Spiked One slowly. But something didn't seem right, the Spiked One was riled up for some reason and didn't look like it wanted to be bothered with right now. I tried to get that message across to Stoick, but he didn't even look at me.
All I could do was watch. Hiccup remained calm and made slow steps making her way to the Spiked One's tail. Slowly with each step my heart began to beat faster and faster, I was thinking of all kinds of way that this could go wrong. But Hiccup had been in worse situations before so I had to trust her to be able to handle this.
Hiccup began to speak calmly and quietly to the Spiked One and came close enough to touch its tail. As soon as her hand touched its tail, it seemed to relax and lost all hostility. Hiccup smoothed the tail spikes down and moved slowly forward to the head and gently laid her hand on its snout.
The crowd was cheered at what they had just seen. A young girl training a wild dragon, that to them was spectacle in its self. To Hiccup, it was an everyday thing, training the dragons on the island is how she and I kept the peace with the help of the other riders and their dragons.
"Well done Stoick, your daughter will make a fine chief someday." Maggadon congratulated warmly.
"Yes, yes she will." Stoick beamed.
The gate was opened and I raced to meet Hiccup. The Spiked One flew off back towards Berk without any problems. Hiccup embraced me and told me she was okay.
"Well done lass, that was one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen. I never thought anyone would have the guts to try and train a dragon but you my dear are a real prodigy." Maggadon said shaking her hand heartedly.
"Thank you." Hiccup said taking her hand back. "Well if nobody needs me right now, I think I'd better go make sure the twins aren't getting into trouble." Hiccup said walking toward me.
She climbed on my back and we flew toward the village. "Whew, I'm just glad to get away." She breathed when we made it to the village.
