How to Train Your Dragon: Flame of the Isle
Chapter 5: Bloodlines
I could've solved this problem without combat. Then again, we as people are imperfect. With some wounds being tended to by us for both our dragons, I have found something I never thought I would in an Englishwoman, a best friend. I think our dragons feel the same way. On a more amusing note, Glenda found her helmet again. Good for her in a way
"And now I got to face the village,"
"I'm right here," I assured her, she even got a nudge in the back from Everflame. Glenda signed, holding her helmet by the brim to her chest. I walked with her to the village of Keash in County Sligo. This is my home village. The villagers, young and old, were armed with spears and scythes. They all looked ready to have Glenda drawn and quartered
"Please, all of you, let her have her say"
"That English harpy's word's a barrel of hog spit!" said the local baker, pointing the head of an axe to her. The responded cheers from the villagers meant they all want Glenda's head on a pike. I was thinking the Sheriff of County Sligo told them what happened. Glenda sighed, and took a few steps closer to the armed villagers. I was at her side to help.
"It's true, I did it," Glenda confessed,
"With my dragon, I destroyed your crops, those fields you worked so hard to tend to, it was wrong and I apologize with all of my heart for my actions, even if some say that we English have no heart," said Glenda, she put a hand on Everflame's snout to calm her, "I know you're all angry, if death is to be my punishment, you can have your way with me"
The villagers looked to each other. To them, seeing an English soldier showing remorse is unheard of. I know there is a heart in Glenda. The only things made of steel on her are her weapons and armor. Slowly and steadily, they lowered their weapons. The village of Keash forgave Glenda for her crimes. I walked with her back to my home for tea and rest
"Thank you," Glenda said to me,
"That's what friends are for," I replied
I embraced her as a friend, and sister-in-arms. We fed our dragons first, a nice healthy lamb for each of them, before we went inside. Over tea and biscuits, we talked. Glenda sipped her tea, "Oh, this is lovely," she said, I smiled warmly and nodded a single nod back to her. There is one question on my mind as I sat down across the table from Glenda.
"Why did you do it?" I asked,
"It's not something I'm proud of now"
"I was a part of a corps of the King's Royal Dragon-Riders, and I thought being English and being in the army that I had the freedom to do whatever I pleased, and after I met you and Aoibheann, it turns out I was wrong," Glenda explained, "I thought nothing of the village, I thought only of myself and Everflame, I saw myself as the ultimate weapon,"
"You're only human, so am I," I replied
"I know I could've chosen words over weapons, then again, we were both pretty pigheaded in all this," I chuckled, Glenda giggled as well, "the point is this could've been much worse, thankfully it didn't end up that way," with the tea and biscuits finished up as the evening sky was painted with splashes of pink, violet, and orange, we saw to our dragons
"How's Aoibheann?" Glenda asked touching her neck,
I gently touched her wounded neck, "She's well, it's just a mere flesh wound, Everflame's fangs didn't break the scales," I said, Glenda helped me bandage up the wounds, and I did the same to Everflame, "your other riders will be searching for you now," I added, Glenda touched her chest which was decorated with her family's coat-of-arms, and grinned
"I'm not part of them anymore," said Glenda, I allowed her to stay the night, and her dragoness rested in the stable with Aoibheann. The next morning after breakfast, Glenda was ready to go back to England. With supplies on her saddle, I received a note from the messenger riding by on his horse, "I must be off," said Glenda, I nodded lightly to her.
"Will I see you again?" I asked warmly
"Give it time, and I'll make time for a visit, and such a charming little village this is," said Glenda, this is coming from a knight that called this village a 'nest of rebels'. I suppose opinions, like people, do change. My armor clinked, and rattled as I hugged her. I felt her hand pat my upper back, and my fluffy mane of curls. With this, Glenda left for England
'Come back soon' I thought happily,
I saw her and Everflame fly off. I held my battle-axe, and rested the haft on my shoulder. I went back into my home, and opened up the letter. It was from a village called 'Berk'. I recall hearing that name from rumors. Berk is a village of dragon-riders to the east across the sea. There is a viking that wants to learn about Isle Dragons. I will see this done.
'Aoibheann will like this' I thought, smiling
That evening, some fish went to Aoibheann for her supper. I touched my forehead to hers, and stroked her cheek. She likes that. Her eyes met mine as I explained my plans to her, "You and I are going to go on a special journey," I said to her, she moved back her head and tilted it, expressing interest, "trust me on this, this will be great for both of us,"