Author's Note – This is set in chapter 69 – Awaiting.

Forging

Adney, daughter of Gamling, woke up early in the morning, as was normal for her. There were always duties and chores to take care of, especially while her father and grandparents were away in the service of the King.

Her little brother certainly couldn't be relied on for much. But he had duties to attend to.

She threw off the wool blankets, dressed herself, tied her hair up in a bun, went over to her brother's bed, and gently kicked him awake.

"What was that for?" he grumbled, pulling his blanket over himself.

"For you being a lazy bum. The sun is already up, so you should be up working."

"Five more minutes," he yawned.

"Now. You have horses to tend to."

"Alright, alright. I'll get to it, mom."

She scowled and spun away from him, having no remaining interest in staying there to make sure he did what he was supposed to. She woke him up and told him to get to his duties; he had to do the rest.

She went outside and took a deep breath of the clear morning air as the sun crept over the horizon.

But she was not the only person awake at this hour.

Her gaze inevitably went to the wings gliding above Edoras or returning from the pits dug out on the plain. The dragons, the Night and Light Furies as they were called, also kept to their routines. They woke up with the sun, took care of what was needed, and went about their tasks, wherever those would take them. They also enjoyed gliding in the morning or afternoon winds, or just lazing about under the midday sun.

There was a beauty in seeing those sleek, dark shapes spinning high above. In a way, the sight of the dragons gliding on the wind reminded her of the graceful stallions and mares galloping or trotting across the plains. Both were wild, free, and beautiful.

But the dragons were different in that they could talk. She had no doubt as to what they were and that they were good creatures. Speaking with Burning-Star, Moonbeam, and her limited conversations with Hiccup Haddock's adoptive dragon-parents, Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer, had convinced her that the dragons were kind and nothing like the stories of old dragons such as Scatha.

It was still true that they were dangerous and very different.

On a whim, she paused before heading up to the Meduseld. Would he be awake already and busy at work in his smithy?

Haddock was a very confusing man. He was entirely kind, respectful, and decently clever, but he was also... not entirely as confident as he ought to be. At least he had seemed so in the past.

If he had taken her hints under the stars, had held her, and had kissed her, well, not much more would have happened back then... but at least he could have shown her that he was also interested! So many of the young Rohirrim men trained to be soldiers, which was fair of them. Soldiers would always be needed. However, they were less concerned with making and building than she was.

Shaping newly-poured molten metal, tempering steel, and repairing equipment was, in her opinion, just as important as anything related to combat. After all, it was only through efforts such as hers that the warriors were provided with equipment. Further, every people needed those who would build what was new.

Haddock was far more like her than any other man she had ever known. He was not only more skilled in the forge, though she would not admit that to him, but he also was very concerned about making the future a better place for the dragon pack.

He was forging a new future for the pack and for Rohan.

Further, he had finally admitted having... feelings for her. He did that a couple weeks ago after he returned to Edoras.

She arrived at his smithy, from inside which she heard the pounding of a hammer upon steel.

"You in there?" she shouted.

The pounding stopped, and he stuck his head around the corner.

"Depends who the 'you' is. I am here, if you are looking me," he smirked with one of his endearingly cheeky smiles.

"Well, I guess I'll settle for you."

He rolled his eyes.

"Really feeling the affection this morning. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome. What are you up to?"

She was a little hungry and hoped that he would join her for some gruel up at the Hall.

"Come check it out," he waved at her.

She entered his smithy and saw the table he was working at. The table was covered in scraps, thin wooden beams, leather, nails, joints, and hinges.

"What's all this for?"

He stuck out his left leg, showing off the wooden peg.

"Remember how I got this one at Minas Tirith? Well, this isn't a perfect fit, and I think I can do better."

"So you're making yourself a replacement."

"Yes, I've got lots of ideas. For one, I've included in the design a compartment for spare parts I could use to fix Toothless's new tailfin if it ever breaks."

"Good idea."

"I've also made a molded foot that will fit snug in most boots or shoes, but it's attaching the prosthetic to my stump that's trickier."

She nodded.

"I understand. I've seen a few older men who got permanent pegs attached. They said it was beyond dreadful."

Haddock crossed his arms and frowned at the table and the random items on it.

"No kidding. There was someone from my first home. His name was Gobber the... nevermind that part. Anyway, he lost an arm and a leg. There were plenty of other Vikings who lost a limb and had to get a... replacement. Some of them never stopped hurting. That was probably a combination of their prosthesis not being good fits, and also the injury itself."

"Does... does yours hurt much?" she softly asked.

He shrugged.

"A little, but that's probably because this isn't a great fit."

He paused, glanced at her, and winked.

"I could use some help in here, if you want."

The significance of his offer immediately struck her. He could only be asking about her helping him with forging his new leg which he would hopefully use for many years.

That made this a very special and meaningful request. Breakfast could wait.

"Gladly."

She lost herself in the mindless monotony of cleaning Silver Reed's stable. Such idle tasks were ripe with opportunity to let thoughts wander.

Haddock was very special. Not only was he part of the dragon pack, but she recalled how he could speak with the King and get the King to listen.

Her father being one of Theoden King's top commanders was why she and her kin were permitted to live in Edoras, which was the King's personal estate. She had met her King several times, as Theoden King took an interest in the well-being of the families of his most loyal commanders.

But she could not claim any special understanding with her King, nor could she obtain an audience with him. Not that there was any need to.

Her life was very boring. Cleaning stables, tending the house as if it were her own, and duties in the forge took up most of her time.

In all her life, she had only lived in one small village, now burned down and abandoned, and Edoras itself.

Haddock's stories of adventures to the Shire, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Dale and Erebor, and the wilds beyond were thrilling and captivating. However, his stories also reminded her of how little she had done in all her years.

No adventures. No glory. Only simplicity.

Why was he interested by her? What did he see in her?

Silver Reed whinnied and shoved the saddle on the ground with a hoof. That was the mare's way of saying she wanted to go out for a while.

"Yeah, girl. We should go on a ride. Might help with everything."

Haddock returned with the ax she gave him to help sharpen. More of the Rohirrim had started returning with notched or blunted weapons, either their own or from the King's supplies. There was too much for the remaining smiths in Edoras itself to handle.

Staying busy was also important as it gave her more time just to be around him. Sharing activities was sure to help.

"Got the ax finished."

He held it out, showing a clear, gleaming blade and swung the ax around with all the grace of a drunkard.

"Impressive. Want to hand that over before you lose another limb?" she teased.

"Good idea. The ax was never really my weapon anyway. Never could figure out how to properly swing it."

He set the ax aside and stared curiously at the weapon.

"What?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing. That isn't your ax, is it?"

"No. Why would it be?"

He shrugged and glanced away from her.

"It's just funny that it looks very similar to someone else's I knew... back on Berk. Astrid was a true shieldmaiden in training. Probably the most dedicated of everyone, man or woman, in my year. She'd bring her favorite ax by every month or so to have it sharpened. Gobber always had me take care of that for her."

There was something about how he said that which was revealing. He said this Astrid's name with no fondness but with clear familiarity. And there was how he was looking away from her as he spoke.

"Astrid?"

"My childhood crush. She was everything I was not: brave, brash, strong, successful, honored, a warrior, a true Viking."

"She sounds like a very impressive... woman."

He shrugged.

"She was that. I offered to introduce her and Toothless, but she ran off instead. She didn't want to be told that everything she knew about dragons was wrong. She didn't want to let me show her. We had to leave after that for our own safety."

"Do you... ever miss that place and anyone there? I mean, your blood-father is still there."

He put his hands in his pocket before facing her. His gaze was calm and unyielding, and he did not look away.

"True, he is. The blacksmith I learned from is also still there. I'll admit that I'm a little curious what happened to them or what will happen in the future, but that's not my place anymore. I don't yearn for anyone from the past. Do you have anything else that needs sharpening?"

She pointed to a handful of spears by the door.

"I'll get right to it."

"Thanks."

He grabbed the spears and swiftly departed.

She had no doubt about anything he said. There was no indication that any of his affections lay elsewhere, least of all toward someone in another world he would never see again.

But he had to have known that there was a significance in mentioning Astrid. He had not openly compared her to this Astrid, whom she could not know aside from what he freely told her. Maybe he could tell her more in the future.

She grabbed a blunt sword to get back to work at the grindstone.

While she thought nothing but well about the dragons, being around them was usually concerning, or at least it had been in the past. She had watched from a safe distance as they ate the slain horses outside of Helm's Deep. Their large, sharp teeth were impossible to miss in other situations, though it was remarkable how they could pull their teeth in to completely hide them. Why any creature would need to do that was strange.

Everything about them spoke to how dangerous and destructive they were, or could be.

But dragons were certain to be part of her family through Haddock before too long, so being around the dragons far more would be helpful because she would get far more comfortable around them.

Burning-Star was pleasant enough, but she didn't know anyone else from the pack that well.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door to the barn. The door slowly swung open, and she stared into deep green eyes. But this was not Burning-Star; rather, it was Burning-Star's father, Far-Flight.

Okay, don't mess this up...

"Adney, how are you?" Far-Flight rumbled, visibly surprised.

"I am well. How about you and yours?"

Far-Flight stepped aside, revealing Sky-Dancer dozing behind him. The dragons commonly did that late in the afternoon.

"We are well. Sky-Dancer is resting. Breath-Of-Sky is... somewhere else; I do not know where," he shrugged.

"He's with my brother and a couple of his friends. They were playing a game of riddles," she explained.

Sometimes she wondered if Wynfryth was going to be a special dragon-friend like Hiccup was to Burning-Star, but only time would tell. Her brother and Breath-Of-Sky were already seeking out each other's company in their spare time.

"I am not surprised. Why did you come to our den?" Far-Flight asked.

"No particular reason. I just wanted to spend more time with you and... get to know you better. It feels like I should get to know my future in-laws."

He blinked several times.

"In-laws?" he asked.

"Yes. You and Sky-Dancer."

"What does that mean?"

Maybe dragons did not have in-laws, or maybe they called that family relation something else.

"It means you and she will be like... second parents to me after the marriage. Hiccup is your son, so you would be... another father to me, and she would be another mother."

His eyeridges lifted in thought.

"Why do you call second-parents 'in-laws'? What laws are they in?"

She frowned, confused.

"I don't understand the question."

"Yes, you will be kin to us. We dark wings have the same life-way. If bad happened to our son, we would shelter you under our wings as one of our own kin, which you would be. We would do that because it is good, not because of a... rule made by the pack."

She thought about it and saw where he probably was confused.

"Well, we humans have laws, life-rules, we all agree to. Some of those laws involve married people. 'In-laws' is just another way of saying part of the extended family."

Far-Flight hummed and eventually nodded.

"I think I understand. Do you want to come in our barn-den and bond with us?"

She was very pleased at his suggestion. Getting to know them better was the whole point of her being there.

"Yes, thank you."

She followed him into the barn while he nuzzled Sky-Dancer awake before laying down at her side. Sky-Dancer yawned widely and toothlessly before facing her.

"Adney, warm flights to you," Sky-Dancer purred.

"And to you, Sky-Dancer," she chuckled as she sat down crosslegged before them.

"What is funny?"

"Oh, it's just the way you dragons speak. I find it humorous and refreshing."

"What way do we speak?" Sky-Dancer chuckled, her laughing like a deep rumble.

That was, in her opinion, a very amusing sound. She also liked it a lot.

"How everything is about... flight or fire."

"It should be. We find your human way of talking confusing sometimes. You have words we do not understand."

"I know. Far-Flight and I were just discussing that."

Sky-Dancer chuckled.

"Is there a reason you came to us?"

"I wanted to spend some time with you and get to know you better."

They both looked confused at first.

"Spend? That is your buying and selling in trade?" Far-Flight asked.

"Sort of, but not really in this situation. I want to use time with you to get to know you, and let you get to know me."

They glanced at each other and purr-rumbled.

"What do you want to know about us?" Sky-Dancer asked.

"How about what your families were like? Your parents, brothers, sisters, and anyone else."

They both started in surprise. Further, they did not immediately answer. Maybe they had troubled family pasts, in which case they would not want to be reminded that...

"Only if you want to talk about it," she hastily added, worried that she had offended them.

"We do. We were only considering how much to tell you. There is much we could say. My sire was an Alpha, a... King as you say, for many dragons in a hidden world," Far-Flight mumbled.

"And I had many adventures before I met him. We also have questions for you, as the intended-mate of our son," Sky-Dancer added.

Spending time listening to them and being able to answer their questions was precisely what she wanted. There was no better way to spend a late afternoon, given everything else in her life.

Sky-Dancer curled her tail around and patted the ground by her shoulder, in an evident invitation to rest there. That made it a special offer. From what Hiccup had told her, the dragons only rested like that with those they considered family.

That was a very good sign.