Author's Note: Hello, hello, readers! Welcome back to The First 21 Years of Grey Bergman! We will now see Grey at 11 years old! It's the day after her 11th birthday, and she officially begins training to sword fight with her father! My RP friends know that sword fighting is one of Grey's skills, so this is basically her start to where she is in BOTGD. Hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own Grey Bergman, her parents, Shadow, and secondary characters. I do NOT own anything related to the How To Train Your Dragon franchise.

Chapter 12—Age 11: Training Has Begun (January 11, 1035)

"Why are we going to the arena, Daddy?" Grey asked as she eagerly followed her father. Shadow flew overhead as they walked through the village.

"You'll see, little Valkyrie," Sven said with a smile. "This is the second part of your birthday present."

"But my birthday was yesterday," Grey replied raising an eyebrow.

Sven chuckled at his daughter's curiosity as he stopped in his tracks and ruffled Grey's brown hair. "I know, Grey," he said, "but this is something that couldn't be given to you yesterday. It would be wrong to show you this on your special day. Besides, your mother gave me strict orders to wait until today."

Grey couldn't help but feel even more confused. What could possibly be this mysterious surprise that Ingrid made Sven wait until the day after her 11th birthday? Nevertheless, she continued to follow her father with her Night Fury right beside her. "Why couldn't you give this surprise to me yesterday?" she asked.

"Because we were enjoying your birthday with your mother," Sven said chuckling. "My gods, you are just full of questions today."

"The elder said that that's a good thing," Grey said with a proud smile on her face. "It means I'm learning about the world around me."

Shadow landed beside Grey crooning in affirmation and gave her dragon-version of a smile.

"Mommy said so," Grey said simply.

Sven chuckled and gently patted Grey's head. "Sometimes, you are far too curious for your own good, little Valkyrie. I promise though as soon as we get to the arena, I'll tell you."

Grey sighed in defeat as she looked at Shadow and back at Sven. Despite how annoying it was that Sven wasn't answering her questions, it was still all the more exciting to know that a surprise was just around the corner. So, she had no choice but to keep following her father.

Soon enough, Sven, Grey, and Shadow arrived at the arena, and Grey was able to see that it was empty. There was no sign of any of the warriors training, and she followed Sven as he opened the large door allowing them into the arena. The girl's eyes widened as she and Shadow walked in, and she couldn't believe how enormous the arena was from the inside. For as long as she can remember, Grey always watched Hroar, her father, the Chief, and others train in there from the outside as she was never allowed in there, but now, she got to see it from the inside.

"This is your surprise, little Valkyrie," Sven said with a smile.

"You're…giving me the arena?" Grey asked as she and Shadow looked at Sven in confusion.

The Chief's second-in-command chuckled and shook his head. "No, Grey," Sven said before holding up two wooden swords he had hidden behind his back, "this is your surprise. Your training begins today."

Grey's eyes widened even more as a smile slowly splashed its way onto her face. "Wait, really? Y-You mean it? You're really going to start teaching me how to swordfight?"

"Of course, little Valkyrie," Sven replied with a smile. "You became of age yesterday, and your mother and I believe that it's only right for you to learn how to fight and defend yourself. As of today, you will begin training with me. How does that sound?"

Sven didn't have any time to think as Grey immediately ran up to him hugging him around his middle only for him to return the gesture. "Oh, thank you, Daddy!" she shouted with glee. "Thank you so much! I've wanted how to fight so badly! Thank you, thank you!"

Her father chuckled running a hand through her hair. "You're welcome, Grey," he said with a smile. "Happy Birthday! Now, what do you say we begin?"

"Yes! Yes!" Grey cheered.

"Now, Grey," Sven said as they stood in the arena. Both father and daughter each had a sword in their right hands.

Trainees often started and worked with wooden swords before receiving their very own and avoiding injury, and Grey didn't mind it one bit. She was excited to finally begin training and learning from her brave father to become one of the best swordfighters on the island. She made absolute sure to listen to every word her father told her when providing instructions.

"For now, we will begin by working on building up your self-defense and reflexes. When you're in a fight, you must get used to quick jabs at your face."

Grey nodded as Shadow watched from where she laid curled up on the ground in the far corner.

"Now, assume your fighting stance," Sven instructed as he assumed his fighting position. "Relax your shoulders, keep your knees bent, and more importantly keep your sword in front of your face."

Grey did as she was told, and after a few tries and further instruction and feedback from Sven, she finally smiled proudly as she found her stance.

"Excellent, little Valkyrie," Sven said. "Now, when we begin the fight, allow your body to move around in ways that could help save you and only focus on blocking on any attacks."

"Okay, Daddy," Grey said with a determined smile on her face.

Not long after that, Sven came at her with gentle, yet direct swipes at her, and the girl tried her hardest to block every single one of them. Her movements at first were choppy and halting as she occasionally looked down at her feet to avoid tripping.

Her father clearly saw this and called for the fight to stop. "Don't look at your feet, Grey," he said. "You must focus on what your opponent is doing. When in real fight, you must look to see what they're doing next, but it's never going to be perfect. It's full of jabs and movements, and we'll have to work on your footing. Look at my chest and use your eyes to watch my arms. Let's begin again."

Grey nodded quickly before assuming the position again. She was only one day into training, and it was already easy to see how hard training to fight with a sword really was. She had spent most of her life watching the warriors train in the same arena, and she couldn't help but admire just how easy it was for them to move around and knock down their opponents with little struggle. She couldn't help but wonder if that would be her one day.

Sven clearly saw this and smiled as he knelt down to her level placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's only your first day, little Valkyrie," Sven said gently. "You'll get better, I promise. It just takes time, that's all."

Grey smiled and nodded realizing that her father was right. This was only her first day, and with time, she would get better. This was only her first day, and with time, she would get better. "Okay, Daddy," she replied.

"Now, let's go again," Sven said as she stood up and assumed his position.

Grey nodded feeling slightly more confident as she followed Sven's lead. When they began again, Grey tried her absolute best to remember what her father told her about looking at his chest to keep track of his movements, while she tried to move and block his jabs.

"Much better, Grey," he said over their wooden swords clashing together. "Keep going!"

It wasn't long until that round finished when Sven suggested they could take a short break.

"Are you sure?" Grey asked breathing heavily. "I can keep going."

"It's always good to take breaks when training," Sven replied as he walked over to where Shadow sat and pulled two canteens out of the bag handing one to his daughter. "Besides, your mother would have my head if I trained you with no breaks."

Grey giggled as she and her father sat down before finally taking a drink of the cool, fresh water. "Will I really get better?" she asked Sven after a moment.

"Of course, you will, Grey," Sven said with a smile. "I know it's hard, but it will take some time. I know it may not seem like it, but you started to get the hang of it in the second round."

"Really?"

"Yeah, your eyes were on my chest, and your blocking improved. Your foot movements were great as well, and we will keep working on it. So long as you listen and work hard, you will get there."

"It's just…I see you, Hroar, and all the other warriors, and you're all so much better than me."

"Because we've had years of practice, Grey," Sven replied. "We're much older and had more experience than you. I'm 37, and you're 11. That's 26 years of experience between us." Sven chuckled. "Let me tell you, sweetheart. If you saw how awful I was on my first day, you would laugh."

"Why?" Grey asked curiously.

"Well, my father—your grandfather—took me to our arena," he began. "Now, remember, little Valkyrie, this was before we moved to this island, but your grandfather took me to the arena when I was your age. We trained for hours that day because I just kept messing up. Grandpa kept tripping me, and then we had to start over again."

Grey listened to her father's story with great intent. Unfortunately, both her mother and father's parents—her grandparents—passed away before she was born…a little longer before that, so she never had the chance to know them. Any stories about Sven and Ingrid's parents were always something to be excited about, and Grey especially loved hearing how they would've loved her and spoiled her. It sounded like she would've loved them as well.

"Anyway, I started to get very frustrated that I was tripping and messing up," Sven continued, "but Grandpa calmed me down and simply told me that when it comes to training, you have to trip a few times to perfect the art of sword-fighting."

Grey couldn't help but stare at Sven with widened eyes as he finished telling his story. She had seen her father work with a sword before when he trained in the arena, and it was hard to imagine her father, Sven Bergman at her age and being bad at sword-fighting on the first day. However, it gave her some newfound confidence. If her father was like her on the first day, then there was a chance for her to get better too…to one day become as great a swordfighter Sven was. With that, she looked up at Sven and hugged his arm smiling at him.

"Can we go again, Daddy?" Grey asked. "I want to get better and fight as good as you."

Sven smiled as he pulled Grey into a hug. "Of course, my little Valkyrie," he said. "We will keep working until you do."

Author's Note: Annnnnnnd that's all for now, boys and girls! I really hope you all liked it! Up next, Grey is 12 YEARS OLD and begins flying with her dragon, Shadow for the very first time! Don't forget to leave a review, thanks, guys!