Enemy in the sea
Let's hope (not) for war
Seven weeks passed by and Ingrid had finally figure out all the sentence from the dragon eye. She started using her own imagination at first but then she looked more closely at the letters and started to compare each everyone. She still didn't understand why her father had just translated words and not just every letter there was. But she couldn't ask him, so she was stuck with the words that was writing in the book.
"This doesn't make any sense." Leif said and pointed to the six sentence on the paper. "'Ground green as the sky' the sky is blue."
"Yeah, but blue is already writing in the last sentence and that was in the book." Ingrid organized the papers that laid across the table. Paper with notes and the same words writing over and over again and words that could have been the words they were looking for.
Leif took the paper which held the other six sentences that was writing on the right side of the dragon eye map "And 'North west east south' that doesn't help at all." Ingrid snatched the paper from her brothers grip.
"That part was already translated for us so that one is not wrong." she said and placed the paper on top of the paper that was translated.
"Should I call for a meeting?" Olav asked.
Leif turned to him. "Yes, but-"
"Be discreet because we can't let Berk know about it, I know." he said annoyed and walked out of the room.
Ingrid sighed. "It feels like he's still angry at me."
"You apologized to each other, didn't you?"
"Yeah, we did," Ingrid said and pushed the papers that she later would throw into the fire, to the side. "But we have never fought like that and it feels different somehow."
"You're probably imagine things, Ingrid. He told me he isn't angry at you and also, that was two months ago, let it go." Ingrid looked at him and gave him a unsure smile.
"You're right. We're siblings, we fight and then we pretend nothing is wrong."
"After we've apologized." Leif pointed out.
Ingrid chuckled. "Yes, after we apologize."
The door opened and in Olav, looking surprised. "The chief have called for a meeting." he said and Ingrid and Leif looked at each other in confusion.
"What do you mean Drago is coming?" Stoick asked and looking at his father for answers.
The Haddocks, Gobber and the old gang were standing in the great hall around the fireplace.
"The A-team saw Dragos ships coming this way," Hiccup started and could feel anger rising from him. "They could be here in three to four days and we have to prepare for anything." he frowned and could feel eyes staring at him. He was used to people staring at him, but this felt different.
Berk would never forget what Drago did to them years ago. Starting a war, capture dragons and having a bewilderbeast at his command. The worst; the bewilderbeast listen to Drago and took control of Toothless, which lead to the dead of their former chief, Stoick the Vast.
Hiccup could never forget the fear and his father's hands on his left arm as he pushed Hiccup out of the way of Toothless plasma blast. The warm air that surrounded him and then the sight of his father laying dead a few meters from him and Toothless, walking towards him ready to fire and then seeing him breathing heavy as he had finished what Drago wanted him to finish. Hiccup was going to jump away. If only his father hadn't come and rescued him, he would still be alive today, even if Hiccup didn't really know what he would have do to snap Toothless out of the forced control.
"You never know with Drago," Eret said and made Hiccup get out of his thoughts. "But I don't think he wants to chat with us. He'll either strike with everything he has or he… well that's what he'll do. Probably in the night while everyone is asleep."
"Maybe they aren't headed this way," Fishlegs said and all attention went to him. "Maybe they're just passing by."
"Either way we need to be prepared for anything." Astrid said and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Astrid's right," Hiccup agreed. "We need to be prepared for anything but we will not take the first shot. Even if Drago is a madman and have done unforgivable things, we will not attack first and start a fight, which could lead to a war. I'm not taking the risk to lose anyone on Berk. But if he attack, we will attack back."
They nodded to their chiefs plans in agreement. Even if they wanted to take down Drago for good, a war was not what they needed.
The chief turned to Eret and Snotlout. "Tell the village that the chief is calling for a meeting. I want everyone in the great hall immediately." Eret and Snotlout nodded and walked out of the great hall to do what their chief told them to do.
"I could give that old fistface a hammer in his face," Gobber muttered and slammed his fist in the table. "And then I would throw him to the bears! Let him come and fight, so I can finish him."
Valka laid a hand on her old friends shoulder. "I would gladly help you get revenge on my husband, but Hiccup is right. We can't afford to go into a war. Even if we have the alpha, Drago have probably gathered an army and we can't risk Berk and its people."
Gobber sighed. "You're probably right Val. But if a war breaks out," he looked around the people before him. "We'll be ready."
Valka smiled at her old friend.
"Why would Drago come back here if he knows Toothless is the alpha?" Heather wondred.
Astrid shrugged. "Maybe he will take revenge and will take another shot at destroying us."
"Isn't he like 70 years old now?" Magnhild asked and narrowed her eyes. "Either he still can fight or he's too old and won't be on the battlefield."
"Oi! Your uncle Gobber here is 75 and can still swing a axe." Gobber defended himself.
Magnhild gave him a smile and threw her hands up in defense. "I'm sorry uncle, Gobber."
The great hall door open wide and the people of Berk came walking in. The meeting was going to begin and the news of Drago would come as a shock and anger to them.
The dragon eye laid forgotten after the meeting. Berk were preparing for war, well they hoped that it wouldn't lead to a war. But if there was a war, they would be ready for anything Drago threw at them. Berk wanted revenge on their former chief and would willingly throw themself into a war if it means that they could throw a punch or two at Dragos way. Their chief had told them to not attack if Drago's ship would be seen in the horizont, they could only attack if Drago attacked first. Berk obeyed at that order.
The training arena was in the time occupied by the teenagers. Thora sharpened her axe while her dragon Ray laid behind her. Brant was doing pushups and his monstrous nightmare Nightmary laid her head on her riders back, making Brant struggled at the extra weight. But he evetenly facepalmed right into the stone floor. Frida was throwing her spear at the stone wall and tried to prick the gaps in between the stones. Her singetail, Signe getting the spear and ran back and forward like a dog playing fetch.
"Come on, Finn!" Magnhild pleaded. She was almost standing in the middle of the arena, facing her brother who stood six meters from her.
Finn shaked his head. "No way am I shooting an arrow at you."
"Aw, come on! You're already holding an bow and an arrow," she gestured to the his hands. Finn felt like dropping them if that's the reason she's asking him to shoot at her.
"No." he snapped.
Magnhild sighed and turned to her other brother. "Stoick, can you shot at me?" Stoick looked up from where he sitting by Egil's saddle. His eyebrows was raising in surprise of a question like that.
"Why do you want an arrow shooting at you?" Olav asked and Magnhild turned around to him.
She placed a hand on her hip and looked proud. "Because I want to practice with my shield."
"It's done?" Olav inquired.
"Yes, it is!" Magnhild said proudly and activated the shield on her right tan cloth bracers that were more gronckle iron than leather.
The shield was as big as her head and looked like a miniature of her father's shield. But it didn't have a night fury painting on it, it was completely plain. After many hours of thinking, she had put the activated button low on her hand, just in reach for her right hand to activate it.
Leif and Olav looked at it with admiration and Magnhild stood proud.
"Maybe I can throw my spear at it." Frida suggested and took the spear from Signes mouth. Frida smiled at him and patted his head.
"No!" Magnhild closed the shield and it was back looking like a arm bracer. "I'd rather have an arrow shot at me than a spear."
Frida shrugged. "Suit yourself." she threw the spear and it went to its target, right in between two boulders, but it fell down after being there for three seconds. Signe were fast to get it for his rider.
"Will anyone shot an arrow at me?" Magnhild shouted and looked around the room.
"Fine." Brant answered and went to Finn to take the bow and arrow from him.
Finn snatched back the bow and arrow away from Brant and clenched his jaw. "No one is shooting an arrow at my sister."
"Finn." Magnhild whined.
"I second that." Stoick said and threw a hand in the air.
Magnhild groaned and turned to her dragon. "Temple," he squawked in response. "A single sharp shot at me." she tried but Temple just tilted his head to the side and looked at her like he didn't understand why at her.
"I promise you wont hit me." she tried to take the shot, but Temple just looked at her.
Magnhild threw her hands up in the air and let them slap her on her sides. Seriously? Here she was; telling people that they could shot her at her will and no one wanted to?
"How do you expect me to fight Drago's army if I can't train using my shield?" she grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest.