It had been almost a month since they stumbled on dragon tracks. Dagur had been over the moon, he still was, over the discovery. For days it was all he would talk about. Iris finally told him to stop or he'd never touch her again. That had snapped him back to reality.
On that subject, their relationship, at least she thought that's what it was, was moving slowly but steadily. She no longer felt like her face would catch on fire if Dagur grabbed her in a surprise hug. She felt comfortable leaning against him while studying or working on a project in the living room and welcomed the feel of his arm around her. Jon didn't approve but Vivian had calmed him down for the most part about it.
The more intimate act of kissing was done far from her parents' gazes. Sometimes Dagur would help her with the barn chores which would end with him pressing her against the wall as they kissed. Other times she'd feel brave enough to sneak attack him with a quick kiss while he continued brushing up on his language skills. He'd always curse as she'd run away before he could respond.
Another thing they did that her father would blow up over if he ever caught them was cuddle. Nothing ever happened. However sometimes Dagur would come into her room and crawl into bed with her. The first time she almost punched him in the face out of shock when he appeared next to her bed but he had been able to dodge. He told her he'd been having strange nightmares and asked if he could just lay next to her. Obviously she couldn't say no.
Which was why she was currently laying in her bed, facing the red headed Viking who had his arms loosely around her. He was snoring softly, something she found adorable. It was still early, too early to get out of the warm bed and into the cold room. So she took advantage of the time to blatantly stare at him. He was far too attractive for her to not stare.
Very slowly she reached up and ran her finger along his scar. The book never fully explained how he got the scar but he told her. He had been imprisoned, that much she knew but didn't say anything, and while imprisoned his jailors had decided to toss him unarmed into a pen to fight with a feral dragon. He had won but had been injured, the most serious on his face.
"You've been through so much," she whispered. "No wonder you have nightmares."
"I don't have any when I'm with you," he said, his voice rough with sleep.
His voice startled her. She didn't expect him to be awake already. Usually he didn't want to get out of bed. She had to pull the covers fully off to get him to get up.
"Go back to sleep," she said quietly. "It's still early."
"Mmm good idea," he grumbled. His arms tightened around her and he snuggled himself into her with his face burrowed against her neck. She could feel his breath against her skin and his beard scratch against her skin.
"That tickles!" All he did was chuckle, not moving an inch.
Grumbling wordlessly to herself, Iris wrapped her arms around his neck. She ran her fingers through his hair. It still surprised her how soft it was. She'd half expected it to feel rough like his beard.
Her thoughts wandered to the dragon that was apparently running amok in the forest around her home. It had been a few days after they discovered the tracks that they heard something horrible in the forest. The sound of fighting and roaring filled the cold air one night. Wolves howled and squealed among the strange roar. Iris had shivered in Dagur's arms even after the sounds had stopped. The next day her dad and Dagur went to investigate only to stumble upon a gruesome sight of wolves torn apart. No one willingly went outside that day.
After that day they saw no sign of the dragon. Except for the remains of the wolves that had been sniffing around the homestead there were no signs of animals being killed. Jon had taken Dagur a couple of times to inspect the area around them, including the pastures, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. It was strange.
One thing Iris didn't mention to anyone was the feeling of being watched. It didn't happen often, only twice, but it still made her hair stand on end. If any of the dogs were near her they would growl and bolt to their dog houses. So much for loyal protectors. She couldn't blame them though.
As excited as she was at the idea of seeing a dragon, the thought of actually coming face to face with one terrified her. If they were anything like in the book, they were powerful terrifying creatures that did not like people. Unlike Hiccup, she didn't have any dragon nip or eels on hand. Who knew if the whole hand thing even worked on dragons in the real world, her world, whatever it was. For her luck she'd get eaten! Lately her luck wasn't too bad though, it brought her Dagur.
Soon the snow would begin melting. Spring would come and she could show Dagur the beauty of her world outside the boring snow. She liked snow but months upon months of it was tiring. Green was honestly her favorite color and the reason she loved spring.
"Moolinda is due to calf later this month," Iris said to herself. "End of April. They'll be strong enough to go outside once spring comes."
"That name will never be not funny," Dagur chuckled, sending shivers down her spine.
"It's a lovely name," she said with a sniff. He just chuckled. "Dagur? Do you really think the Night Furys from your world came here?"
"It would make sense. There's only one left in my world and my brother Hiccup is his rider. I think you'd get along with Hiccup." He pulled his face away from her neck to lay his head next to hers. "He calls his Night Fury Toothless. He can do this crazy thing where he rertacts his teeth, like cat claws!"
"That is cool. What will you do if it really is a Night Fury and there's more?"
"I dunno. Maybe try to tame one? Learn how they got here? It could be a clue to how to get back to my world." She stiffened at his words which he noticed immediately. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I should get up." She started to sit up to crawl out of bed but Dagur pulled her back down.
"Oh no you don't. Tell me what's wrong."
"I said its nothing. Its dumb."
"Nothing you say is dumb. Funny maybe but not dumb. Is it about me finding a way back home?" She didn't say anything. "Iris I'm not going to leave. I promise. There was a reason I was sent here and that reason was you. I won't turn my back on you."
"But if you had a chance-" He cut off her words with a firm kiss.
"I'm here now with you. I don't want to go anywhere else that doesn't have you. I swear it."
She blushed at his words. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and she knew he was speaking the truth. It warmed her to hear him say that but it also hurt her heart. He was giving up everything, if there even was a chance to go back, to stay here. Would she have been able to do that? She didn't want to think about it.
"Thank you." She placed a kiss on his forehead before resting her forehead against his. "That makes me feel a lot better. I do need to get up though and milk the goats. Unless you want dry oatmeal." He shuddered at the thought.
"Gods no. Go save the goats from their tasty milk!" He picked her up and lifted her out of the bed to the otherside of him. "I'm going back to sleep."
"In your own room then. Get up! Shoo."
Groaning Dagur got up and slowly walked to her bedroom door. He looked back, looking absolutely pitiful. Iris laughed and opened the door to push him out. He took a few steps before suddenly stopping. He wouldn't budge.
"Dagur what are you-oh. Um." Staring at them in shock was Jon, standing at the end of the very short hallway that lead to her and Dagur's rooms. She edged around Dagur to stand between them. "I know what you're thinking Dad and its not-"
"You don't want to know what I'm thinking," Jon said darkly. "You. Get dressed and get outside. You're well enough. We're going hunting."
"Dad-"
"Okay," Dagur said firmly. She looked back at him, panicking. "Its alright. I don't die that easily."
"You better hope not," Jon growled. Without a second glance he stalked off to the kitchen where she heard Vivian ask him what was wrong.
This was not going to end well.
