Chapitre 26
Hearts in the shadows

When she saw Nuffink and Frost leaving the Meat Hall, laughing and holding hands, she saw red. She frowned and clenched her fists with fuming anger. Igvid had been in love with the son's chief for a few years, now. They knew each other since childhood and had been friends since the beginning.

Even if the fierce brunette had fought back these feelings at first and had neatly hidden it, partly because she didn't want to love the scrawniest viking of the village, she had ended up getting used to it. During teenage, she had hesitated to confess it to Nuffink, but it also was the time he had found out about himself and had came out as loving boys. It had upset her, but it wasn't enough for her to forget about him and move on.

So when there had been this episode with Avock, she had seen just how much it had hurt the blond, and she had blown up with anger. If it hadn't been for Sneezelout and Firestorm hloding her back, she would have murder Avock and Gritta. Then Nuffink had depressed and it had felt like she had been stabbed in the heart. The guy she loved, usually a smily, teasing and defying guy, had shut himself from the rest of the world and had not smiled for months.

She had helped him as best as she could, certain they had grown closer. However, the day he had seemed better and she had finally gathered the guts to confess her love, nothing had went like she had expected. He didn't love her back and didn't want to get in another relationship. They had fought and parted angry and resentful. And she had hold back tears on the following day, when he had publically said he was leaving Berk for exploration.

The two following years had been a mixture of torture and bliss for the Jorgenson daughter, because missing the one she loved was unbearable, thought once he was coming back on good old New Berk, she was struck with a wave of happiness seeing him again. Every, single, time.

They had reconciles with some time, they had slowly grown back to the friends they used to be, but still Igvid couldn't move on from her feelings. She couldn't help but hope that, one day, he would love her back.

Her hopes had been crushed once again, the day he had brought back a boy from the frozen lands of the north. She had tried to convince herself, but she instantly felt there was something between the two. She had tried to convince herself it was only friendship, that it was because the boy was open and friendly and that eveyone liked him, including her. She almost convinced herself, until a week ago, when Nuffink made their couple official.

Somehow, she had wanted to be happy about it, she even managed to smile seeing her friend smile, it had been so long since the last time she had seen a true smile on his sunkissed, freckles dotted face. She had so missed his smile, that truly happy smile. It was obvious Nuffink was happy, and that was why it hurt Igvd so much. Because she knew she didn't make Nuffink smile again. Frost did.

Starting from that day, she had began to hate to white-haired boy, but having to work with him at the Academy couldn't help her to hide this fact. She could bare him when he was not with Nuffink, that allowed her to think they were only friends, but once she was seeing them, her open wound and her growing hatred were crawling back to her.

So, when she saw them leaving the party to run away in the night, picturing what they could possibly do together, alone… it was the worst for her. It stole any appetite or party mood from her, so she left too. Some fresh air would certainly help her cool down. The night was chilly, breath would turn into fog and bodies would shiver. Igvid dragged her feet towards the family hutt, mourning and sulking.

Yet, while we was walking, she stopped as she heard sobs. Normally, she wouldn't pay attention nor even care, but she heard a second voice. And this voice, just hearing it was enough to give her murderous tendencies, even three years after the events. She sneaked around the hutt she was passing by and spotted, behind it, sat on a bench, Avock and Selina.

What a weird duo, she thought. If there were two people on Berk she had never thought would talk to each other, it was these two. Selina was bent forward, her face in her palms, her shoulders shaking, while Avock was sitting next to her, an arm on the backrest, he almost seemed detached.

Igvid hid behind the hutt, eavesdropping them. She kenw it was bad to do so, but she wanted to know what they were talking about. Nuffink's ex-boyfriend and the girl hitting on Frost talking together, it screamed troubles. Something was up, she was sure of it.

''Go on, spill it.'' Avock said.

''You wouldn't understand-''

''I don't need to understand, you need to take it out of your chest. So don't bother for me, I won't judge you.''

Not out loud, at least, Igvid thought. It wasn't a secret she didn't held the Reval son in her heart, she was openly hating him and giving him the cold shoulder, so she would always point out any flaw he could have, especially hypocrisis as soon as she could hear him talk about Nuffink in a good way.

She cleared her thought to focus back on the conversation, waiting for Selina's reply. The outsider girl seemed reluctant to talk, but she still did.

''I met someone. Someone… Really different from the others. He's jsut so… full of life, of joy, and… He doesn't value people for titles or what other thinks of them, he value them for who they truly are, regardless of the rest.''

''Seeing it makes you so sad, I assume he doesn't love you back ?''

''I knew you wouldn't understand !'' She snarled, burrying her face back in her hands.

Igvid looked at Avock, who stared at the girl while frowning, he seemed vexed, though it wasn't long before he calmed down. He even sighed.

''I do understand. I know how it feels. I was really close to a boy, Nuffink, but I made a mistake and that hurt him really bad. We broke up, and it's only when I lost him that I realised how much I actually cared about him.''

Selina's head popped up from her hands, her eyes wide in surprise.

''You… You're still in love with him ?''

He only nodded as a reply with a faint smile, a pained smile. Igvid gritted her teeth. She just couldn't believe it. Not that she couldn't phatom someone being in love with Nuffink – on the contrary – but she couldn't believe Avock had, for one day, felt anything about Nuffink if it was for cheating him with Gritta for so long. How could you see someone else than the one one you love ?

She pushed aside her swirling thoughts and hatred when she saw something change in Selina's eyes. The girl with strange colored hair wiped her face and smiled broadly, suddenly grabbing Avock's hands.

''That case, we can help each other !''

Suddenly uneasy, Avock quickly pulled out. The girl was too friendly and touchy, Igvid knew she woudln't have like to be touched like this either.

''What do you mean ?'' The dark blond viking asked, frowning.

''If we can separate them, you get Nuffink, I get Frost. It's two-side benefits.''

Igvid was so shocked she squeezed the wood of the hutt's wall, her knuckles turning white. She squeezed so hard she thought she could break either the wood either her fingers. Suddenly, she was afraid Avock would accept the deal.

Yet, much to her surprise, he chuckled nervously and declined.

''Are you crazy ? That's not what I meant. Yes, I still love Nuffink, but it doesn't mean I would break his heart again to get him back. Anyway, he has been pretty clear he wouldn't take me back.''

Igvid rose her eyebrows hearing this. Did Avock talk to Nuffink, trying to win him back ? How ? When ? And Nuffink had turn him down ? Well, at least it proved the chief's son was wise and wouldn't repeat his own mistakes.

She quickly quiet down her mind to catch up with the conversation, she missed something but understood Avock was trying to convince Selina not to go after them.

''… Believe me, it's not worth it. You should rejoy Frost had found happiness instead of trying to make him yours at all cost.''

He patted her shoulder and left. Igvid focused on Selina's reaction, looking at the other viking leaving, pouting. She seemed thoughtful, she seemed troubled, she even seemed… afraid ? Igvid mondered why, and she had to admit she didn't like this. So, when the girl stood and left too, the brunette viking was even more distrustful. Usually she didn't like outsiders, but this girl… She was planing something, she was plotting behind Nuffink's back. Igvid had every reason to distrust her.

The Jorgenson heir debatted for a moment, thought it didn't took long for her to make a decision. She decided to spy on Selina. Following her in the evening didn't turn out very useful, only giving away where the girl was spending the night, in a host hutt. Watching said hutt during the night wasn't more useful. It was obvious that, if Selina was to do something, she would wait for the following day. Despite of that, the dark-brown haired vikign refused to sleep. She had to make sure nothing would happen during the night, even if it was going to keep her awake in the chilly cold breeze and boredom.

The following day was more eventful, more than Igvid would have like to. Selina woke up in early morning and went for a footing in the woods, then she trained by throwing daggers, lifting small logs to build up her arms muscles… Igvid didn't like the closeness to her own morning training sessions, well save from throwing daggers instead of axes. It looked like Selina had spy on her and watched her morning training with Gorth and, occasionnaly, Zephyr and Nuffink.

That's when Igvid remembered she was supposed to meet the Visiroth son before break-fast. She didn't warn him she wouldn't attend their training. That didn't matter, what she was doing right now was more important. After the visibly tiring training for Selina – Igvid even felt tired watching how the girl needed practice and was weak – they went to the Meat Hall.

Igvid sat at the table close enough to keep looking at Selina, but far enough so the girl wouldn't spot her. She didn't know by which miracle she had expected to be left alone, still Sneezelout joined her and started to talk loudly. He always did, but that didn't mean she liked it. He asked her why she hadn't come back home that night. The only answer Igvid gave him was a punch in the head, trying to quiet him, growling that she was not in the mood, and the little brother started to complain and moan in pain.

He was just as loud as before but, at least, he had stopped talking to her, so she could focus back on Selina. Said girl didn't seem to pay any attention to the commotion around her, she was quietly eating what looked like a soup and some bread. Igvid knew it was not discreet to just keep staring at her, but she wanted to make sure not to miss when the girl would leave.

Thought she sddenly couldn't see the girl anymore as a shadow stepped in front of the viking. Igvid lifted her head and met the blue-green eyes of a broad viking friend of her. Gorth glared down at her, crossing his arms and frowning his dark eyebrows.

''You didn't come for the morning session.'' He said, voice calm but full of reproaches.

It was only when she heard him accuse her she started to feel a bit guilty.

''Sorry, I couldn't warn you I'd miss it. I have something to deal with, I won't make it to the Academy either, today.''

''Is everything alright ?''

Igvid was surprise by his sudden change of tone and mood. He even uncrossed his arms, looking at her, concerned. Usually, her tall friend would have been pissed off by her missing and would have scold her like a little child, repeating how irresponsible she was. Actualy, Gorth had thought like this when he had come to her. But he knew Igvid. He knew how fierce she was, how she wouldn't admit her wrongs, and never before did she had apologize for not showing up. She would give some explanations, more or less acceptable, but never an apology. But, right now, she just did the opposite, apologies but not explanation. Sneezelout noticed it too and knew something was up, though he didn't know what.

Gorth stared at his friend for a moment, trying to find out what was wrong with her, but her clear blue eyes wouldn't tell him.

''Nothing wrong, I expect ?''

She frowned.

''I don't know yet, I hope I'm wrong about it. I'll tell you once I know more.''

''Okay…'' The big guy hesitated. ''Then we'll leave you alone. You coming, Sneezelout ?''

The younger Jorgenson quickly stood to follow but Igvid hold him back by grabbing his dreadlocks.

''Don't mess around while I'm not here, brat.''

''Of course I would ! For once you're not after me !''

She shook her head, holding back a sigh, and let go of him.

Now she was alone again, she focused back on her target. Luckily, Selina was still there. She had almost finished her meal, so Igvid didn't have to wait long before the girl left. Following her during the whole day turned out to be as boring as tiresome. That girl was zoning aroung the whole village and talking with the vikings, asking questions about their habits, what they liked to do… Igvid quickly grew bored hearing people talking out their life, especially Gobber who spent hours and hours telling the girl how to tend a smithy. Selina seemed interested and was asking a lot of questions. Of course, the black-smith was gladly answering it.

Igvid almost doze off at least four times. For her part, she didn't care about the smithy. Sure she loved her axe, but she didn't care about how it had been made. Maybe it was because she had grown tired of hearing Zephyr talk about her crafting devices and inventions ? It was even worst hearing her talk about it with her father, both Haddocks seemed to speak another langage, as if they were coming from another world. Igvid was more of the warrior type, punching and fighting was her language. She managed to wake up properly when the blond-green haired girl finally left the smithy. Igvid followed her into the woods and saw her fishing some truit, but she barely cooked them with some spices and herbs before eating it raw. Igvid thought she would puke seeing this.

The afternoon ended up not being much more interesting, the girl waltzed along the cliffs, looking at the landscape. The only aniation of the day was when she had to run from a couple of Hiddeous Zippleback she had disturbed unintentionally. Igvid at laughed at her even if the event had almost made her loose her tracks. Almost. As a dragon rider, the brunette was always making sure she was in a good shape and her training was perfect.

Until then, nothing was off in the outsider's behavior, nothing said she had bad intentions, so Igvid let go of her distrust in the evening. Maybe she was just getting paranoid ? After all, Selina couldn't be that bad if she could hear Gobber rant about his smithy for hours. Igvid was now reassured, she'd rather spend a day following the girl for nothing than discovering a danger she wouldn't be able to handle by herself. She was about to get back home to think about the eplanation she would give her friends the following day, however that's when she saw the girl leave the hutt.

It was dark outside, it had been for a while now, everyone was back home, probably asleep, save from the two patrolling vikings of the day. Selina had no reasons to get out… unless she did was planning something. Distrustful again, the brunette followed her. Selina didn't went fare but her behavior was suspicious. She was eyeing around her, as if making sure she wasn't followed. So Igvid sneaked even more discreetly, but that made her loose the girl in the woods.

The viking searched with panic and irritation, she was mad she had lost her target at the worst time, then she heard noises that caught her attention. At first they were faint, barely audible. It sounded like laughter and some splashing sounds. She followed the noises and got out of the forest, heading towards a beach. She spotted frames int he water so she quickly backed to hide behind the nearest tree. It was the last hidding spot she could find since the beach was all clear.

Because of that, she couldn't get closer without being seen. She squinted her eyes, trying to see better, not to avail. She could only hear the laughter and splashing sounds, and see the frames on the beach and in the water.

A dragon was running along a rock formation that looked like a dock, following something white swimming in the water. The dragon was dark and difficult to see in the night, but he had some white on his body, making him easier to distinguish. Igvid recognized a Night Light, thought she couldn't see if it was Dart or Ruffrunner because of the distance. The playful behavior looked more like Dart.

As to the two framed in the water, despite they were far and smaller than a dragon, Igvid recognized them. Both had weird colored hair, enough to make it stand in a crowd. Selina and Frost. The brunette frowned, wondering what they were doing here.

Worst part was the fact that, no matter how she looked at them, they seemed to be naked. She couldn't see clothes lying on the sand, but neither on them. Unless they were wearing clothes the same color as their skin, which was unlikely, they were naked. She didn't like what it meant, and she wanted to doubt it, mostly because they seemed to be only playing like children, and they were laughing like this… but still. What were they doing here, in the middle of the night, swimming naked ?!

Igvid wanted to storm on them, caught them in the act and ask for explanations, but she couldn't move. She was… frozen. She was shocked. She felt just exactly like when she had found Avock with Gritta. She had always hate the Reval son, she had always known, somehow, that he wasn't a good guy and had almost been relieved hearing Nuffink had broken up with him. Well, before seeing just how much it had hurt her friend.

She had hoped Frost would be different, better, but it seemed she had been wrong. He was just exactly like Avock, seeing someone else behind Nuffink's back. The brunette was starting to think her friend was cursed, that he was attracted to doochbags. He had terribly bad taste in love… and that hurt her even more because she knew that, if she was lucky enough to be with him, she would have never done something like this. She couln't even picture how these boys could think of looking at someone else while having Nuffink by their side.

One thing for sure, Igvid couldn't let her friend go through this again. If Frost couldn't understand how lucky he was to have someone like Nuffink and rather have some… snake like Selina, that was his problem. But there was no way Igvid would let him break Nuffink's heart again and drive him back to depression. No way, the viking had already suffered enough.