Chapitre 40
Tending wounds

They flew away as fast as they could, happy to had get back their friends. However, once they left the tower, the magical barrier allowing merfolk to breath on land ceased tow effect them. Instantly, Selina and Frost started to choke, forcing the dragons to lower to sea-level. Without thinking, Nuffink jumpe din the water with his boyfriend in his arms. Pouncer and Ruffrunner floated above them, looking down at their riders with worry.

After making sure Frost was breathing again, the blond viking noticed his sister had done the same thing, jumping in the water to support Selina, even if Zephyr had lost her totem. The jade mermaid was panting and wincing in pain, but at least she was breathing again. Much to the vikings's surprise, Nörth didn't seem bothered at all. He was still sitting behind Igvid, who was waryly looking at him while he was bending on the sside to look down at his son. His worry soon fade as he saw Frost was fine.

''Well, looks like we'll have to swim.'' Nuffink teased his sister.

She smirked back and resumed their travel. Astrid exchanged places with Zephyr so her daughter wouldn't freeze to death since the chieftess still had her totem and could turn into a golden-blond mermaid.

The dragons had to slow down to wait for the two turned vikings, both loaded with a patient and still not used enough to swim with merfolk tail and fins. After a while, Pouncer and Stormfly grabbed their riders' shoulders to carry them and drag them in the water, allowing the whole group to move faster.

Nuffink needed a bit of time to soothe the pressure he had endured, all worry and anguish slowly dissipating. Feeling his boyfriend in his arms helped him a lot. Once he was calm again, he felt like breathing for the first time after holding back his breath for too long. It was relieving, but he felt tired at the same time. He sighed in content and tightened his grp around Frost.

''You did really great back there !'' Zephyr praised her brother. ''You really scared these enchantresses, with this we're sure they won't go after our merfolk !''

''Seems so.'' Nuffink smiled.

He looked down to Frost, noticing the boy was snuggling against his chest, eyes closed and a content smile on his peaceful face.

''You're okay, now.'' The viking whispered.

He took the risk to let go with one arm to brush his boyfriend's cheek. Frost's smile grew bigger and he opened his eyes.

''Thank you foor saving me, 'noble dragon rider'.''

If he was smiling teasingly, Nuffink knew the boy was genuinely grateful. He smirked.

''Does it mean I'm your knight in shining armor, now ?''

Frost chuckled and Nuffink couldn't help bu think how he had missed that sound. He stared at his boyfriend, smiling, diving into his icy blue eyes.

Frost was saved. They were together again. The viking's heart poundered faster to this simple idea. He leant in and softly kissed the merman. He had so missed this sensation he felt shivers run down his spine. He felt Frost smile in the kiss and savoured the thin and salty lips as if it was the first time. He could have stayed like this forever, if it had not been for a teasing voice.

''Get yourself a room, guys.''

Nuffink was surprised to recognize Igvid's voice. If someone had to tease the couple, he would have think it would be Zephyr – his sister had already done this several time – but Igvid ? He looked up at her and was even more stunned to see an amused smile on her face.

Did that mean she was finally accepting his relationship with Frost ? Did tha mean she was finally moving on ? He couldn't help but smile at this. He smiled broadly and squezzed his boyfriend against him, earning a laugh in return. General good mood made the travel to the drakkar seems shorter, though all smiles dropped as they arrived.

They still had the same problem : how were the merfolk supposed to go onboard ? Frost had lost his totem, Selina's had been destroyed by the enchantresses, and even if she still had hers it would have been dangerous to turn her with her wounds. In the end, the small barque attached tot he drakkar's side gave an idea to Zephyr. While Igvid, Birdlegs and Nörth stayed with the wounded merfolk, settled on an half-immersed ice floe near the boat, the other vikings proceeded to fill the barque with water and strenghten its ties to the main boat. Once it was done, they settled their patients in it. Then came the time to treat their wounds.

The worst ones were those of the ripped off fins, which bled a lot. Astrid and Zephyr went through their material and gathered everything that could serve as bandages while Birdlegs used her own tools to treat the wounds. Each ripped off fin needed stitches, along with most of Frost's cuts. There was too much work for Birdlegs alone, so she eneded up asking help from Sneezelout and Zephyr since both of them knew how to sew. She showed them how to pinch the flesh and the gap they had to pu between two stitches so it wouldn't be too tight.

Since the three of them needed room to take care of the two merfolks, the others stepped aside, which prevented Nuffink from holding his boyfriend's hand for support. Astrid stood next to them, holding bands of fabric for them to use, while Igvid watched over the dragons. Most of the winged creatures had went to fish or simply play games near by enough so the vikings could still see them. Only Double-Dagger and Slashlout stayed onboard since they were natural less playful.

Nuffink sat on a barrel, finding himself next to Nörth who was leaning on the rail, his eyes focused on the small barque. Or rather, on its occupiers. Unlike the other merfolk, he wasn't hurt. Still he was crossing his arms with a slight grimace, as if he was in pain. Nuffink discreetly scrutinized him. The tall and large man was imposing, he had the same stature as Stoick the Vast had. Even if the former king had human legs, his body was covered with tattoos representating azure blue scales. His hair and beard were also still blue.

The vikings didn't have clothes large enough for him but they still gave him a blanket to dress a bit. He had wrapped it around his waist, the fabric covering him from navel to knees.

Nuffink looked at him in silence, wondering again how Frost and his father didn't look alike. Well, looking closely Nuffink did manage to find some common features. Frost had the same brow line and eyebrows, the same slightly too-big ears. Nörth's eyes were a darker blue, but there was a similar joyful light within them, deep inside, and the same worried look.

After what felt like forever, Nuffink spoke.

''Frost's gonna be alright, don't worry.''

The king slightly sighed, then smiled.

''I am not worried for him. I can see how you all care for him, and I have to admit I am really relieved it's with people like you he had spent the last months.''

The king's smile faltered, and his eyes turned a darker blue with worry and surely bad memories.

''When he eloped, I thought I would never see him agains. I feared merfolk from the reff city found him out and executed him, so knowing he was safe, far away from our rival clans… It was such a relief. You know, I neevr wanted to keep him locked in all these years. I just couldn't think of another way to keep him safe, still it was painful. Fröstkel can not stay still, he is a free spirit, he is full of energy and life… just like his mother was.''

Nuffink couldn't help but smile. Because he realised that, if Nörth and Frost had not got along, it wasn't really their fault, but due to the circumstances. Now that the situation had changed for both of them, that the circumstances didn't forced the father to lock the son in, it meant they had a second chance to become a real family. The young viking couldn't wait to them bound like real father and son.

However, his optimism faltered as he saw the king wince again.

''North, are you alright ? If you are injured, I can ask Birdlegs to get a look at you-''

''No, I am fine. Selina and my son need her more than I do…''

As if to prove him wrong, the king suddenly collapsed. Nuffink blenched and pushed him on his back, with a bit of struggle considering the merman's size. That's when he saw the dark bites on the man's ribs, and the blackness spreading underneath the pale blueish skin. If the noise of the king falling had not caught the other's attention, the panicked call of Nuffink did.

Birdlegs quickly left her other patients and rused to the more pressing one, taking in the bites and dark swollen veins around it.

''Is it enchantress' venom ?'' Nuffink asked.

Birdlegs didn't know much about it but swore it was. It looked exactly like what Frost had when he had been poisoned. Said white merman managed to hoist himself on the railing and his eyes widened in horror as he saw his father on the ground, but Zephyr pushed him down in the water so he wouldn't choke.

''Father !''

He started to trash against the viking's grip but it was forcing on his wounds, Zephyr had not even finished to stitch the last ones. Astrid was forced to help her sit the merman back, but even then he refused to calm down. When the chieftess looked back at the king, she understood why Frost was so frantic. The merman's skin, usually a pale blue, was rapidly paling.

''We can prepare the antidote.'' Zephyr said, trying to reassure them all, including her. ''We have Selina and-''

''You crazy ?'' Igvid barked. ''Don't you think she has lost enough blood already ?!''

''We need enchantress' blood…'' The jade mermaid mumbled, her voice so weak it was barely a whisper. ''Any enchantress with powers would do… Frost…''

The white merman did his best to contain his panic, he flopped down back into the water and got closer to her. Both were badly wounded, but even if Frost had more injuries than her, hers were worst. She had lost a lot of blood ans lleft so weak falling asleep would be dangerous for her.

''You are an enchantress, too.'' She whispered.

''Frost lost a lot of blood too !'' Nuffink objected.

''Less than her !'' Frost stated. ''If Selina thinks it can work, I'm taking the risk.''

''You also need shell powder… and rosæ… It's a pink seaweed… growing in the sand… in the depths…''

''I'll get some.'' Igvid claimed.

The brunette ruffled Frost's hair, she seemed trying to comfort him. He was so lost in his distress he didn't noticed it, but Nuffink did ans the gesture surprised him. When he meet her clear blue eyes, she nodded and jumped over the railing. Birdlegs proposed to come with her, so both plunged.

As they were diving deeper, they started to talk. Birdlegs thought it had been too long since last time the both of them they had a chat.

''It's good you take so seriously your redemption. I'm relieved.''

''I didn't thank you, Birdlegs. You're the only one who took my defense during the Judgement.''

''That's what friends do.''

''I wouldn't have blamed you for turning your back on me after what I've done. Noone wants to be friends with a murderer.''

''You're not a murderer, Igvid.''

She swam closer and put a hand on the brunette's shoulder, who looked back at her quizzically.

''You weren't yourself, you were angry and hurt. In worst case you would have just fought. What happened is a accident. I know you're not a murderer, and the way you act towards Frost prove it.''

''How are you sure it's not just me feeling guilty ?''

Birdlegs' smile grew bigger.

''I know who you are, Igvid. You may be grumpy and stubborn, but you're willing to do anything to protect your dear ones. Just look at the misunderstanding with Frost, it's proof enough. You didn't warn Nuffink of what you saw to hurt him or break his couple, you did it because you wanted to spare him another deception. And, in the end, I know you like Frost too. If it was just you feeling guilty, you woldn't be this nice with him.''

Igvid remmained silent for a moment. Guilt was filling every inch of her inside, and even more so hearing her friend's words. It was true she liked Frost. She had to admit it. Actually, the only reason she had hated him was because of the misunderstanding with Selina. Even when she had learnd Nuffink and him were together, even if it had hurt her and made her want to hate everything in the snow-haired boy, she never really did. She liked his joyful and friendly personality, his child-like antics and wonder. He was different from the other vikings, but in a refreshing way.

The recent events reminded her of her former opinion about the boy, before Nuffink had made their couple official. The boy had not changed from when she liked him. She was the only one who had changed her behavior.

''They really are in love.'' She sighed.

''Yes, they are. And I know that, one day, you'll find someone to love too.''

''I don't know about this. I've spent so long thinking about Nuffink. And with this murder attempt, I don't see how someone would want me.''

''You just have to look around you. Trust me, they are tons of guys interested in you.''

''Don't be silly.''

''I can give you names.'' Birdlegs chanted, a foreign teasing smirk in her soft face.

Igvid arched a brow at her, suspicious. Seeing the smirk on the blonde's face, Igvid knew she had something in mind.

''What do you mean ?'' The brunette insisted.

''Well… Let's just say I know someone who talks so much about you he could write a whole book describing your litterally deadly beauty… and add a second volume to describe how your personality matches it perfectly.''

Igvid came to a halt as she was stunned. She tried to guess who her friend was talking about. She had not noticed anyone who could be interested in her. Not that she had been paying much attention before… Who the Ingerman daughter was hanging with to the extend she could hear so much praising ? When the explanation came by itself, the brunette's blue eyes widened.

''Is it one of your cousins ?''

Birdlegs bursted into laughter. Said laughter were louder than her usual ones, visibly hanging out with Frost had cured a bit of her shyness.

''I swear, Runolf is driving me crazy by talking about you so often.''

''But we never even talked to each other.''

She would have remember. It wasn't like Birdlegs' cousins were discreet. These two twin brothers were terrible troublemakers and even bullied other kids when they were younger. They had picked on Nuffink once and the brunette had beaten both of them. If her memories were correct, she even had broken the nose of one of them. But she was sure none of the both had ever talked to her since then.

''That's because you intimidate him.'' Birdlegs smiled.

The brunette took it as a compliment but was too stubborn to admit it. Actually, she was flattered, but she didn't want to think about this right now. Not only because they had to quickly find the ingredients to cure Nörth, but also because it was too soon for her.

Despite that, she mentally thanked even more Birdlegs for talking to her. She was feeling lighter. So she gently elbowed the shorter mermaid, earnign a smile in return.

''Can you do me a favor ?'' Birdlegs asked. ''When you are ready, go visit him, okay ?''

''I make no promises. For now, we have an antidote to prepare.''

''I'll ge the shells and you search for the seaweed ?''

''Okay.''

They spread up to cover more ground. Birdlegs soon found dead shells in the sand and started to pick them up. But the pink seaweed proved more difficult to find. Birdlegs caught up with Igvid before they finally spotted all whole grove by the foot of a big stone pillar. They rushed to it but froze as they heard voices. They didn't wait to see who was coming as they hide into the gove. That's when they saw two merfolk coming near by. Seeing their broad frames, warm colors and the fact their tail and hair were the same colors, they knew these two mermen were from Santaklaussen.

It would have been impossible for them to not notice the civil war at the city, but still they seemed peaceful. That meant the princes had put an end to the fight, right ? The vikings hopes everything was back to normal there. Listening closely, they managed to hear their conversation.

''… and do you know when the coronation will take place ?''

''I have no idea, but I can't wait for it. Prince Cörail will be a great king !''

''I still can't believe the former king had successfully hidden the hybrid all these years. But, somehow, I'm relieved they escaped. I always thought this story was too sad.''

''Don't be dumb, they deserved it ! The enchantresses are evil !''

''They aren't the one who turned back against their own king. I mean, he had spared a life, it's not a crime.''

''Well… If you put it like this…''

''Maybe the king was really in love with this enchantress ?''

''I suppose we will never know.''

Hidden in the middle of the ppink seaweed, Birdlegs and Igvid looked at the two mermen and waited for them to pass and leave. They smiled at each other. Maybe there was a chance for the clans to make peace, in the end ? It would certainly take time, but if merfolk from Santaklaussen were starting to think like this… Maybe ? They waited for the mermen to disappear from their sight to get out.

Since they ddin't know how many seaweed they needed, they decided to take as much as they could. Once they couldn't carry any more of it, they went back to the drakkar. Zephyr and Sneezelout helped them getting their cargo on board and get out of water, then they went back to the barque. Nörth's condition had worsened. Astrid was trying to keep him pined on the ground, were he was wringling and trashing with muffled groans and hiss. Weirdly, all this noise was not waking up Selina, while Nuffink was hugging Frost, making him look away from the horrific sigh of his father's agony.

''We have the ingredients !'' Birdlegs informed.

Zephyr went to the hold to get a bowl and some tools to prepare the antidote.

''Selina is unconscious, do you know how to make this cure ?'' Frost asked, worry seeping from his voice.

''We saw her do it. We got this, Frostie.'' Igvid reassured.

She took a handful of seaweed and smashed it before throwing it in the bowl. Birdlegs used the hilt of her dagger to crush to shells and turn it into powder. She put some in the bowl, which Zephyr brought to Frost. If Nuffink glared at his ssiter, clearly against this, Frost didn't wait to act. He removed the bandage on his right forearm and pressed a non-stitched cut to reopen it. Drips of purple blood fell into the recipient, then they saw blue sparks flash with the mixture.

''Is it supposed to do this ?'' Frost wondered.

''Huh… I don't know…'' Zephyr stuttered.

She still mixed it and was satisfied to see the result looked like what Selina had given to the white merman. Astrid was still holding the trashing king, with some help from Igvid, but it was getting more harder so the chieftess told them to hurry. Zephyr jumped and ran to them, followed by Birdlegs.

The thrre vikings took a hold of each limb to keep the merman as still as they could while Zephyr bent the bowl to pour the cure in the patient's mouth.

''Drink this. It's the antidote for the venom.'' She cooed to him, trying to calm him.

Nörth seemed half conscious and managed to swallow. The pain was knocking him out, even if he was still struggling, the vikings doubted he was actually aware of his surroundings.

''Wait,'' Astrid stopped. ''aren't we supposed to suck out the venom first ?''

''Too late, he drunk it all…''

''Let's hope Frost's magic will suffice, then.''

Astrid, Birdlegs and Igvid blenched and let go of him as she suddenly slumped back. He layed there, completely motionless. It was really bad, so Birdlegs pressed her ear against his broad chest.

''Is he… ?'' Frost sobbed, still held by his boyfriend's arms.

''No, he's breathing.''

She sat up and sighed, relieved, before looking at her friend. His face was screaming anguish and fear of loosing his father.

''He must have fallen asleep. You know, because of the cure's aftermath.''

''He's getting back some colors.'' Igvid informed.

It was Frost's turn to sigh with relief. He almost fell against Nuffink's chest, who noticed the boy had dozzed off. It was a good thing, he needed rest with his wounds and all this stress. The viking laid his merman and took care of the reopened cut.

The three of them were now out of danger, allowing the vikings to finally calm down and take some rest too. Astrid stood and gave intructions to prepare their departure.

''Zephyr, Sneezelout, Igvid, help me. We'll weigh anchor and get back home.''

''Wait, what about their totems ?'' Birdlegs asked.

The chieftess stopped, then looked back at her son. He was anxious again. However, Birdlegs had not asked her questions with worry. On the contrary, she seemed to have a solution. So Astrid gave her a questioning look.

''We could ask advice from the witch ? She helped us a lot, it's thanks to her we got them back. We can't just leave her behind.''

''You're right, Birdlegs. But as long as Selina is unconscious, she can't lead us to her and-''

''But the beluga can.'' Igvid stated. ''She's the one who lead Selina there. Sure we can't understand her, but she can understand us.''

''Fine.'' The chieftess nodded, then she put her fists on her hips. ''Zephyr, Birdlegs, watch over our patients. Sneezelout, Igvid, watch the ship and dragons. Nuffink and I won't take long.''

''Got it, chieftess.''

''No, I want to stay with Frost.'' Nuffink protested.

''Don't worry, he's not gonna vanish.'' Astrid promised.