After with a fight with a werewolf, it wasn't only Ragnar that had collapsed, but Fishlegs as well so they had to tender him as well.
"Had no idea that he had that kind of strength inside of him," said Snotlout stunned.
"Yeah, and was with all that berserker thing?" Ruffnut asked.
"No clue," said Hiccup and then turned to Eret, who was examining the two of them. "How are they?"
"Well, they appear to be exhausted that's all," he said, but his face was grim. "However, I would say that Ragnar is in worse shape. She's been out here for months only using the moonlight to rejuvenate him, it's not as potent as sunlight."
Astrid had retrieved the silver arrows he'd used against the werewolf. "I might be amazed that he had silver arrows on hand."
"Why did he use them sooner?" Tuffnut are scratching his head.
"Because the werewolf was moving too fast," said Eret. "The silver arrows are extremely rare how he managed to get his hands on them got no clue, but clearly didn't want to waste them. He was probably going to attack the werewolf when it got closer towards him."
"Then we showed up creating a nice little distraction," said Heather.
"Do you see or hear anything close by that could be threatening?" Hiccup asked, looking towards.
Heather shook her head. "Everything appears to be clear, but with so much wildlife and so many thick trees, it's going to be hard to tell. There are just werewolves in these forests, but actual wolves which makes it hard to be certain."
"What about any other nasty creatures?" Astrid asked.
"I have said everything seems clear, for the time being, that is," said Heather.
"So what do we do now just wait until they recover?" Snotlout asked.
"I don't see we have any other choice," said Hiccup. "Now I suggest that we get this place fortified in case we have any other nasty surprises."
"Where exactly are we?" Astrid asked, looking at Heather.
Heather gave a small smile. "This is where we played when we were kids, we had so many adventures back then hunting from goblins and battling trolls."
"Whoa, you did that as little kids?" Tuffnut blinked.
"No, you muttonhead, they were playing pretend," said Snotlout rolling his eyes.
"Now feels like a lifetime ago," Heather sighed.
Hiccup denied their position they were in open ground and of Ragnar and Fishlegs were out cold. We also had no idea where the Eye of Odin was located or how far Johann was retrieving it.
Heather's head immediately peaked up. "I hear someone approaching us."
Everyone immediately reached for their weapons.
"Any idea who?" Astrid asked.
"He looks to just to be an old man with a walking stick," Heather frowned.
Sure enough, stepping out of the words was an old Dark Elven man hobbling the wall with a walking stick. His long hair was silver-grey, and he had more wrinkles than one could count.
"Oh, I didn't expect to find anyone here much less any humans," he said.
None of them lowered their weapons, it just seemed too suspicious to be true.
"Who are you?" Hiccup asked.
"You can call me Tahorn and I merely a humble hermit, I mean you no harm," he said gently.
"We just had another well you excuse as it were a little cautious," said Hiccup.
The old man and turned towards the dead werewolf on the ground. "A werewolf you say, they don't usually come this close to the city." His eyes then turned towards Ragnar and Fishlegs. "It would seem as if your friends have taken a hard hit."
"They're just exhausted," said Eret.
"Really are you a skilled healer?" Tahorn asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, no, but I more qualified than anyone here."
"And the truth is our medic is the one who is out of commission," Astrid added just to Ragnar.
"Ah, a Light Elf, one can only assume that he is a demigod if he is able to survive without sunlight," he said, examining Ragnar closely.
Hiccup didn't like where this conversation was going, there is no way to tell whether this hermit was one of the Purists. True he looked harmless, but that would stop them from sending a message that one in any condition to move either Ragnar or Fishlegs to safety.
"Relax I am not with those hooligans," he said, reading Hiccup's mind. "Though I don't expect you to take my word for it, considering the situation. However, I can help your friends if you allow me."
Hiccup looked at Astrid who looked at him back in the two of them had a silent conversation.
'It's too risky,' said Astrid. 'We don't know anything about him except that he could be dangerous.'
Hiccup looked at her with the uncertain look. 'True, but we can't leave them like that we have no way to know when they'll wake up.'
This silent conversation could have gone for a while, but then Heather spoke up. "How will you be able to help?"
"I know better of healing magic that can help," he said.
"But only Light Elves have that kind of power not many of them have that gift," Heather pointed out.
"Ah, but you see my dear we are distant cousins from the same origin, so we all have the potential."
Hiccup looked at Heather. "Is this true?"
Heather shrugged. "No one knows to be honest how the elves came to be, but many believe that we came from the tears of Ymir when Odin and his brothers slate him."
"Your mage from tears?" Snotlout scoffed.
"Last I checked your people came from maggots, so I don't think you in any room to talk," Heather snapped.
"Yes, and the Jotuns came from his sweat," Eret added.
"I don't know which is more disgusting having your ancestry traced back to maggots or sweat," said Astrid.
"So where did the divisional Light and Dark Elves began?" Hiccup asked.
"Right from the start you see we Dark Elves came from the tears in his left eye about the Light Elves came from the tears in his right," Heather explained. "Ever since then we've been feuding cousins ever since, that said we have never waged war against each other for the reasons I explained earlier."
"But back to the matter in hand," said Tahorn as he bent down towards Ragnar and Fishlegs. "I can help them if you give me a chance."
Hiccup looked down at Ragnar and Fishlegs, and it was abundantly clear that they couldn't let them stay like this. Time was not on their side, and their position wasn't exactly defendable.
"All right, but no funny business," Hiccup warned.
Tahorn nodded and placed his hands on top of their heads, his hands then started to glow. Then a few seconds later, he withdrew his hands, and for a brief moment, it looked as if nothing had happened. However, before anyone could turn their blades on Tahorn, both Ragnar and Fishlegs regained consciousness.
"What happened?" Fishlegs asked, rubbing his forehead.
"The last thing I remember was killing a werewolf," said Ragnar.
"And you did," said Hiccup smiling at them. "But then the two of you fell unconscious if it wasn't for Tahorn here who knows when you would have woken up."
Fishlegs looked at Tahorn and smiled. "Thank you, we can't thank you enough."
"Oh, I was happy to help," said Tahorn.
Ragnar gave him a suspicious look, but then he turned his attention back on Heather. "Heather, I never thought I'd see you again."
Tears began to form in Heather's eyes. "Nor I."
Then without warning, Heather pulled Ragnar into a deep hug and began crying into his shoulder. Ragnar looks completely taken aback and slowly began to wrap his arms around her.
Astrid looked at Hiccup. "I guess my suspicions were unwarranted."
Hiccup shrugged. "Given the circumstances, no one could blame you, I mean Heather doesn't blame you does she."
"Trust is a very difficult thing to learn," said Tahorn looking at the two of them. "Trust cannot be created can only be forced overtime, and it can be a very powerful weapon, but at the same time can easily be blunted and broken. So in the end, all you can do is follow your instincts and allow your conscience to guide you."
"I'll try to remember that," said Astrid.
Ragnar finally broke free of Heather and in turn towards Hiccup. "I think we should start trying to find the Eye of Odin."
"Ragnar, you just woke up," Heather pointed out.
"We can't waste any more time," said Ragnar looking at her. "The Purists are making a very big move, and if they find the Eye, they cement their allegiance with Johann. They're from what I can tell both sides are starting to get a little impatient with one another so this may be our only chance to find the Eye before any of them."
"He's right there is very little time to waste," said Hiccup and pulled out Balder's shield. "You said that you knew how this thing works?"
"Yes, but it has to be you that guides us," said Ragnar.
"I thought the shield was supposed to guide us?" Snotlout frowned.
"It will, but only if Hiccup channels his power into it."
"And how do I do that?" Hiccup asked.
"Just simply focus on the Eye, and the shield will do the rest," Ragnar explained.
Hiccup frowned there was no way it could be this easy. "It can't be that easy, or you would have told me in my dreams."
"Ordinarily you would need several days in order to master the technique, but that's time we don't have. Fortunately, my father was the god of fertility, I'll be able to enhance your power, and hopefully, it should be enough to guide us."
"Hopefully?" Astrid questioned.
"To be honest, I've never done anything like this before even safer certain if it will work," Ragnar admitted.
"Can't anything go our way just once?" Snotlout grumbled.
"I'm afraid there is no easy way," said Tahorn. "This is your only hope you just need to believe in yourselves."
Hiccup sighed. "Okay, let's give it a try."
"You won't succeed with that mentality, you either do or do not there is no try," said Tahorn.
"Who is this guy Yoda?" Tuffnut asked.
"Who's Yoda?" Tahorn frowned.
"Never mind that unless just do it," said Ragnar.
Ragnar placed a hand on Hiccup's shoulder, and a few seconds later, he felt a surge of power flowing through his body. He then did one dragon instructed and concentrated on the Eye of Odin, but so far, nothing happened.
"Nothing is happening," said Ruffnut.
"Give them some time," said Heather.
Hiccup kept on concentrating on the Eye as hard as he could and then suddenly his shield began to glow.
"Hey, something's happening!" Snotlout yelled.
Hiccup looked at his shield, and as he moved his arm, he noticed that it faded in and out. He then started moving his shield when it got brighter and when he moved it slightly the light dimmed.
"The shield is guiding us towards the Eye," said Hiccup.
"Not very subtle is it," said Astrid.
"So long as it works, but there is a good chance that Johann and his men will spot it," Ragnar agreed.
"Then we had better get moving and fast," said Hiccup.
"I wish you the best of luck," said Tahorn.
"You're not coming with?" Astrid asked.
"I'd only slow you down, besides this is your quest, not mine."
Hiccup wasn't entirely comfortable leaving Tahorn behind was still the off chance that he was working with Johann and the Purists. However, time was against them, and they didn't have time to argue, so they moved out, leaving him behind.
"You sure it was wise to leave him behind?" Astrid asked.
Hiccup shrugged. "Probably not, but he wasn't wrong about him slowing us down if we took in with."
"Just who is he?" Ragnar asked. "I get the impression that he is not just a simple hermit."
"He helped you and Fishlegs when he didn't have to so I really don't care who he is I'm just thankful that he helped," said Heather.
Snotlout then turned to Fishlegs. "So what was all that back there? If you had that kind of strength all along, why don't you show it more often?"
"You saw what happened back there," said Fishlegs. "Using my powers as a berserker wears me out, and I have no control over it."
"You could at least mention you are a berserker, that would be good to know," Eret pointed out.
"My ancestry does go back to the berserker tribe, but it's just not me," said Fishlegs. "I mean I'm not a fearless warrior that jumps into the head of battle without thinking."
"Still if it weren't for you we would have been able to defeat that werewolf," Hiccup pointed out.
"But I almost lost control could have easily turned on you," said Fishlegs. "I only unleash my berserker power, because Ragnar was in trouble, a few seconds later and I could have turned on all of you."
"I think you're strong then you think Fishlegs," said Hiccup.
"Besides berserker's don't turn on each other they stand for each other," Heather explained.
"And how do you know so much about berserkers?" Fishlegs asked.
"Because my grandmother was a berserker back in the Viking Age," said Heather.
Fishlegs stared at her. "You do?"
"Actually I also have berserker heritage," Ragnar added.
"So we have three berserkers here?" Snotlout stared blankly.
"Actually our Elven blood pretty much arose are berserker tendencies," Ragnar explained. "But that didn't stop our parents from telling us the stories of the berserker tribe."
Fishlegs looked at the two of them. "I wish I was so lucky."
"Fishlegs there's nothing to be ashamed about having berserker blood," said Astrid. "True berserkers were bloodthirsty and hard to control warriors, but they fought harder than anyone else, and their strength is legendary."
"Yeah, I wish I had berserker blood," said Snotlout.
Fishlegs still didn't look quite as convinced, and Hiccup really wished there was something he could to convince him that his heritage was a blessing.
"Let's just focus on the task ahead," said Hiccup as he raised his shield.
"We sure that thing is pointless in the right direction?" Snotlout asked.
"You're asking the wrong guy, we just have to hope that we are," said Hiccup.
Snotlout groaned. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Quick complaining, Snotlout," Astrid scolded. "We knew it wouldn't be easy from day one."
"I'm still slightly more concerned about this sacrifice needed to access the power of the Eye," said Fishlegs. "I hope that we don't have to sacrifice our lives."
"We don't need its power; we just need to keep it out of the hands of Johann," said Hiccup gently. "If we succeed, we won't have to sacrifice anything."
Hiccup then noticed that Heather looked very solemn and began to wonder whether she was keeping something from them. However, at this point, they were pretty much working together he couldn't risk spreading mistrust, he just had to hope that whatever Heather was hiding was nothing that would betray them.