ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ

Hiccup was perched on the pillars of the Agorà with Toothless. He had lived well in Athens; it was an interesting city to say the least: thousands of people of all types and ethnicities lived in a much better organized community than the Vikings did. In those two years in Athens he had learned from every source: he had listened to the philosophers, learned mathematics and technology of which he was ignorant and was fluent in Latin, Greek, and the other main languages of the Empire.

He had to admit that the citizens of Athens were very unique. They had seen the huge black dragon fly over their heads two years earlier and were more curious than frightened. That time, when they decided to land in the town square, men dressed in white tunics watched with interest and admiration Toothless and his knight. Although the Byzantine mentality was too Levantine for his way of thinking, Athens was the most evolved and civilized town he had ever seen, but he knew he could not stay any longer.

Charlemagne's empire never missed an opportunity to expand its territories, but the horrific wars against the Saxons had been a terrible genocide and Hiccup was ashamed of having taken part as commander-in-chief and had resigned two years before. Charles had understood his reasons, the massacres and carnage also turned the dreams of the great emperor (as well as his mentor in terms of sword and tongues) and had accepted his resignation.

He felt slightly cleaner even though the smell of blood was struggling to leave him.

He shook his head and decided to think about something else, remembering his actions in that war would do him more harm than good.

He had noticed that there were no dragons in the southern lands. Perhaps because of the heat or simply because they were a punishment from the supposed gods they worshiped in the north.

"Hey, Xenos"

He looked down to see his best friend greet him from the Agora and snorted amused.

"I have lived here for two years, Isaakios, it no longer makes sense to call me in that way"

"I know but seeing your reaction is so funny, Xenos." he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"One of these days you could become a pile of ashes, you know?"

"You said that last year too and look. I'm still whole. " the Ateniese said with an amused smile.

Pretending to be serious Hiccup replied:

"Don't put my patience to the test, Isaakios."

Both young men laughed and then Isaakios said:

"Anyway Ionia was looking for you."

"That girl is worse than a hungry wolf. I have already rejected her three times this month and last time she was dangerously close to taking off her clothes. " Hiccup snorted.

"And isn't that good?" retorted the young Greek. "You've also turned away all the girls and boys who have tried to seduce you since you came to Athens. I wonder what's going on in your head. " Then suddenly a mischievous grin formed on his face and he said, "Aren't you by any chance secretly in love with me?"

Hiccup looked at him from the top of the column and said, "Believe me, I'd rather walk around the Agora and praise Homer naked than be with you, plus you know why I don't accept anyone."

"Yes, but don't you think you're hanging around a little too much?"

"That's why I'm leaving Isaakios"

Silence fell as heavy as a boulder.

After a while Isaakios spoke:

"Aah, I knew it was going to happen sooner or later."

"I'm sorry, I can no longer postpone. I haven't found a solution to "that problem" yet and, as far as I know, it may already be too late. "

"You don't need to explain to me Hiccup. To me you are like a brother, it will hurt me but I will accept it. Each family eventually splits up. "

"I promise you I'll be back as soon as possible." he said coming down from the column.

"And I'll be here waiting for you, brother"

They crossed their right forearms facing each other, a greeting they had learned from fighting together in the war across the Rhine.

"Take care Hic." he told him as his friend climbed onto the dragon.

"You too."

Having said this, he took off, moving away towards Aquisgrana.

ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ

Charles heard a bang on the window. Two quick hits and another a second later. It was Hiccup.

He went to the window and opened it.

"Greetings, Emperor," said Hiccup.

"Hiccup, my friend, I was your mentor and you saved my life on that battlefield, no need to be formal"

"Eh, old habits die hard."

The two giggled, then Carlo said:

"If you are here, it means that you are leaving, right?"

They looked into each other's eyes then Hiccup spoke:

"I have a duty to my home. Do you still have my sword? "

"Yes, I'll bring it to you right away. Get some wine while you're here. "

Hiccup gladly accepted the invitation as he looked at the room full of shelves and paperwork that had been his home for six months. Time spent with Charlemagne would have been fun had it not been largely occuped by war. Carlo had taken the young man under his tutelage, had trained him in combat and culture and had taught him politics and strategy, and he, to pay him back, had saved his life on that battlefield in Weser, which was the most that he could ever offer him.

"Here it is, sorry for keeping you waiting." Carlo said entering the room with a poorly decorated sword. It was longer than normal swords and more durable because Hiccup had also melted scales of Night Fury in the iron. The T-handle was engraved with grooves to ensure a stronger grip and a large pommel with an amber gem set at its end.

"Wow, you kept it really well."

"It was the least I could do for a war hero. Over there in Weser, they called you and your dragon Gemini of the Cataclysm. "

Hiccup frowned and said:

"You know as well as I do that there are no heroes or winners in that war. We defeated the Saxons but, at the same time, the beast defeated the human. "

"I know boy."

They hugged each other tightly and Hiccup said:

"Thank you for everything you have done for me"

"Don't worry, go now. You have a task to do. Good luck Hic. "

During the night, Charles saw his pupil and friend leave Aquisgrana on the back of a dragon.

ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ

He was on his way home. For some it would have been a wonderful experience but not for Hiccup.

His home had been like Helheim to him for years. Outcast and bullied by his entire tribe and ignored by his father. The only reasons that pushed him to return were Gobber and Astrid.

He missed her.

He had heard nothing more about her from his singular statement.

The time spent fighting the Saxons and training with Charlemagne had paid off for him. He was still skinny for the average Viking but there wasn't an ounce of excess fat on him. His muscles were greatly strengthened and he had developed a remarkable skill with the sword, facing the most disparate opponents. But it still wouldn't be enough for his village: his techniques were valid for killing men, not dragons.

But he remembered the terrible deeds that the war had forced him to commit: raids, "creative" executions (probably due to Toothless), he had destroyed villages and taken more lives than he could count, all in about a year.

When he started he was still a kid and he just fought on Toothless, but Carlo recognized his talent and suggested that he to try to change the hand with which he held the sword. Placing the sword in his left hand he felt it as if it were an extension of his arm. It was natural, as it had to be.

The problem was that in battle it was also natural to take lives. He saw the faces of those he had killed in his dreams and everyone screamed at him in their agony and despair over the consequences of their death.

Then he simply stopped having dreams.

Sensing the mood of his knight, Toothless purred lightly and sadly as they passed over a small ship.

I know, my friend. As long as we are together, everything will be fine. "

Here, his usual luck appears.

In that same instant a spear pierced his side and he lost his grip on Toothless, feeling a huge pain that reached up to his shoulder .

As he fell he thought:

"Right... here they know how to fight dragons." His vision blurred as a huge four-winged dragon grabbed him on his back and carried him away with Toothless wriggling between his paws.

ᛗᛁᛞᚷᚨᚱᛞ

"My Alpha." said the dragon in the Jötun language.

"What is it, Cloudjumper?" answered the gigantic white dragon.

"While I was flying, I saw a human riding a dragon."

The Alpha rolled his eyes and looked at Cloudjumper with the black dragon between its paws and the boy on its back. It was too late for him now, he had lost too much blood.

Then he realized that the dragon was a Night Fury.

"Cloudjumper, place the boy in front of me."

The dragon did as his king said and placed him on the ledge.

"Why did you save this human, Cloudjumper?"

"I ... I don't know. I just felt it was right, I followed my instinct and saved him. "

The white dragon bit his tongue and blew on the human frost mixed with his blood.

"If he is who I think he is, he'll survive the change."

"Who is he for you, my King?"

"The ancient prophecy speaks of it, the Hrímþursar rider of the last Night Fury. Færghrímþursar. "

Cloudjumper rolled his eyes in surprise then asked:

"How soon will he wake up, my lord?"

"After a year. Changing internal organs is a long process and must be done with the utmost care. Call Valka, she will take care of the human. "

Cloudjumper flew away as the White Beast watched over the young man.

A short time later Valka entered the ice cave and said:

"Alpha, you summoned me, what do you need?"

Speaking in dragonese, a language that Valka had learned to understand in twenty years of living with dragons, he said:

::Valka, I called you for the human you and Cloudjumper saved. Take care of him. He will wake up in a year.::

Valka then approached the boy and carefully removed his leather helmet. And he almost gave a start. He had a small scar on his chin.

"After all these years" she thought, as tears rolled down her face.

::Do you know him, Valka?::

She hugged the boy and hugged him tightly to her chest. The bleeding had now stopped and tiny fibers of ice mixed with blood were regenerating his flesh, closing the lips of the wound.

"My Alpha. This man is my son. "

With understanding, the Alpha looked at the Night Fury purring worriedly against his rider's arm and noticed that the tail fin was missing.

He then emitted another bit of frost mixed with his blood at the black dragon which slumped to the ground as his tail fin was slowly recreated.

oOo

So.
We started with different languages and it seems appropriate to me to make a legend to help understand better.

"Jötun language" (strong font)
::Dragonspeech::
"Norwegian etc." "Thoughts"

Jötun is the language spoken by "special" dragons.

I have placed historical references in the history of Charlemagne's conquest campaigns assuming that HTTYD takes place between 700 and 800 A.D.

Jötnar (ᛃᛟᛏᚾᚨᚱ): Ice giants inhabiting Jötunheim. (The dragons in this fic are Jötnar)