48. Things that came to pass
When Eret followed Storm outside he didn't expect to find her hunched over at the bottom of the steps leading to the Meade hall. Her helmet was pulled up and she was dry heaving onto the grass while a few viking looked on. What caught Eret's attention was the wound on her cheek and the tears in her eyes.
She looked miserable, Eret would wager she felt miserable too. He approached her and gently put a hand on her shoulder to alert her of his presence. She still flinched even though he wasn't trying to be silent. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, which worried him.
When she looked at him, he knew that she wasn't anywhere near okay. He wanted to stop her when she lowered her helmet, but he didn't, he didn't want to remove any comfort that she had. The sound of Hiccup's footsteps gained Eret's attention.
The concern Hiccup felt was clear to Eret even without seeing the man's face. Hiccup stopped in front of them, he did nothing for a moment. Until finally he silently pulled Storm into a hug not caring about her blood covered armor. Eret just observed as Hiccup whispered something into her ear and pulled back.
"Take care of her," Hiccup told him and nudged her towards Eret.
Eret took the words to heart and steered the girl towards his house. Privacy would be better to her than the outside, he already noticed that she wasn't talking, and being near so many people probably didn't help.
She went without problem, it was scarily easy for him to get her to his home. She just walked without even looking where she was going and didn't lift her head when they reached the house. Eret let her inside and nudged her so she could sit at the table.
He gathered a bowl and filled it with water, took a clean wash cloth and put it into the water, letting it soak. Eret brought the bowl and set it on the table in front of Storm. He kneeled on the floor and gently lifted her head, making her look up from the floor. He removed her helmet and set it on the table, her tear filled eyes looking past him.
Eret stopped himself from saying anything and sighed, taking the wash cloth and wringing excess water out. He started to gently wipe away the blood on her face, both others and her own. When he reached the cut on her cheek she hissed. The first response he actually got from her, which gave him some relief, knowing that she wasn't completely shut down.
He cleaned the cut gently not wanting her to feel any pain. When he was done with her face, he took her hands and wiped them the best he could. She would have to clean her armor herself, but he knew she would feel better with a clean face and hands.
Eret stood up, taking the dirty cloth and water with him. He still didn't say anything as he poured out the water, setting the bowl back in its place. Then he took a seat at the table and turned to face her, patiently waiting for… anything.
"I killed him," Storm finally whispered, she looked down at her, once again, clean hands.
"It wasn't the first time, was it?" Eret asked, not knowing what else to say. Storm gave a humorless laughed and looked at him.
"Not even close," she exhaled, "It doesn't get easier though."
"That's a good thing," Eret told her, his voice soft, "Means that you're still human."
"I… don't want to talk about it anymore," she said with a sigh. They sat in silence for a moment.
"So… why does Hiccup hide?" he finally asked. The silence wasn't doing them any favors and Eret wanted answers that Storm could give.
"Because he doesn't see another way," she answered with a shrug, "He has insecurities he held on to from his childhood, and when he left they didn't go away. So now he thinks the only way his father will accept his help is if he hides his identity."
"So why did he leave in the first place?" Eret questioned. His questions relaxed Storm, she leaned on the table, her eyes clear.
"A lot of things, they build up, and the fact his father wasn't ready to accept Toothless was the last straw," she answered and gave Eret a small smile.
"Yeah, I get that," Eret agreed with a nod. "I haven't known Skullcrusher for that long, but I would do anything for that dragon."
"Yeah," Storm giggled, "Dragons grown on you easily. The fact that you took to them so easily…"
"Means I was stupid," Eret finished for her and shook his head. "I rejected your proposals of teaching me to ride dragons so many times."
"It means you're a good person, means that Drago never actually had you," Storm corrected him as she took his hand in hers.
Eret hummed and griped her hand tightly. This was the Storm he knew. Her suppressing her emotions wasn't the best, but he knew if he went digging nothing good would come from it.
"Some of the vikings have been asking questions," Eret said with a tilt of his head, looking into her eyes with a soft smile.
"What kind of questions," Storm prompted.
"About how to train dragons," he chuckled, "It looks to me that you're going to have some people asking for saddles."
"It's been what? An hour since the battle finished?" Storm asked and he nodded, "These vikings are fast."
They laughed together. It was nice to be able to let everything go. But something was still nagging Eret, something that he needed to be answered before he could continue with what they had, whatever that was.
"Storm," he started, his voice losing the care-free tone, "We have met before, haven't we?"
"Yes, we have," she answered honestly.
"I'm not talking about the times we fought on the ships," he quickly clarified.
"Neither am I," she said, "We have met before, a long time ago."
"I knew something was up when during training you used my words," Eret smirked. "I just don't remember knowing a 'Storm' when I was younger." He sighed.
"When I was about eleven," she started as she started playing with his fingers, "An allied tribe visited us. A boy came with them, he was a few years older and he looked mean – "
"I wasn't mean!" Eret interjected with a laugh.
" – but he wasn't." Storm said with a roll of her eyes, "He was very nice, his name was Eret. He was nice even to me. The visit lasted only two weeks, but during this time, the boy thought me how to fight, – " she lowered one of his fingers with every point she made, "- stand up for myself, to speak my mind, to be myself, -" she lowered his final finger and looked into his eyes, " – and he gave me my name."
Eret gasped, he finally remembered her.
"The girl I met when I was fourteen," he started not looking away from her eyes, "Was one of a kind. She was anxious, sad and lonely, she wasn't much– "
"Thank you for that colorful description," She interrupted him with a chuckle.
" – but she was the best person I have met. She was strong, but scared to show it," He continued, "On my second day there, I finally got the nerve to talk to her. I asked her what her name was, she told me – "
"I don't have a name," Storm finished for him.
" – then I asked: 'How can that be true?'" Eret went on.
"I said: 'My father didn't let me have one.'"
"I was shocked and asked her: 'I can give you one then?'"
"'If you want to'"
"And I was given a power I never knew I could have. And when I looked out at the darkening sky then back at the girl I knew that she had a power she hid, like the brewing storm in the sky," Eret finished.
"I never thanked you for that," Storm quietly said as she leaned towards him.
"Well I did forget you," Eret responded, their breaths mingling.
"That doesn't matter," she answered and leaned in even closer, their lips an inch apart. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he answered in a whisper and closed the gap between them.
[Only 10 chapters left.]
