Chapter 30: The Trials

Eira was not having a good day. Queen Mala had summoned the dragon riders to Defenders of the Wing Island and then left them in the village as she went off to talk to Hiccup, Astrid, and Heather. She wandered around with Snotlout, examining an elaborate setup, when a Defender let slip Snotlout was here for the king trials.

Alarmed, Snotlout raced to find Hiccup, and it was all Eira could do to keep up. They finally found Hiccup, Mala, and the rest of the riders in a clearing. "Hiccup!" Snotlout exclaimed. "We have to get out of here, pronto!" His eyes widened when he noticed Mala. "Oh! Hey, babe. How's it goin'? I was just thinking about you. Looking forward to watching me die a horrible gruesome death?" He glared at Hiccup. "Did you know about this?"

Hiccup looked from Snotlout to Mala. "Mala, will you please excuse us?"

"Of course," Mala said.

Hiccup approached Snotlout and Eira. Ruffnut and Tuffnut also gathered closer.

"I'm not swimming across some lava pool just so I can become a king," Snotlout said with his arms crossed.

"No, no, no," Tuff said. "It's not a lava pool anymore."

Snotlout blinked. "It's not?"

"No. It's way better. You see, there's no way Snotlout could survive what they've got planned. He simply doesn't possess any of the physical or mental prowess to successfully complete these trials. In fact, I don't even think he knows what prowess means."

Snotlout's eyes narrowed. "Oh, yeah, really? Is that what you think?"

Realizing what was happening, Eira waved her arms frantically. "No, Tuff, stop!"

"Oh, it's a fact," Ruff said. "We've done the calculations. And they all add up to you looking like this." She held up a picture of Snotlout separated into pieces.

Eira slapped her forehead. "You two do not know what you just did, do you?"

"All right, that's it!" Snotlout said. "We're staying. You all better start practicing your bow 'cause you're looking at the future king, baby."

Eira glared at the twins. She did not get angry often, but she was angry now. "You two better watch your backs!"

Hiccup stared at the scene in bewilderment. "Great. All right, look. Heather and I have to go check on something in the Northern Markets. I need the rest of you to stay here and help Astrid make sure Snotlout doesn't get himself killed... and that Eira doesn't kill the twins."

Eira had to agree with him there. If she were the killing type, she would kill the twins. And it was not just that she feared for Snotlout's life. Perhaps irrationally, she feared he would pass the trials.

"Don't worry, Eira," Astrid said, giving her a sympathetic smile. "There's no way we're letting this happen."

Eira gazed at Snotlout, who suddenly appeared very confident and pumped up. "I would feel a lot better if you could stop him from wanting this to happen." Any other outcome would only feel like a hollow victory.

Snotlout's first test was to cross a lava pit by jumping across a series of hot coals. The Eruptodon even provided the lava. Astrid ordered the twins to intervene if it looked like Snotlout might get hurt. Eira had a different idea in mind.

"Snotlout, you can't do this," she said quietly to him as he stood before the pit.

Snotlout shot her a quizzical look. "Of course I can do it! Don't you believe in me?"

"I meant you shouldn't do it. You don't have anything to prove, especially not to the twins."

"I'm not just doing this to prove I can; I'm doing it to become king."

Eira's shoulders slumped in dismay. She should have known that this was coming. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes, I'm sure. What kind of question is that?" He pushed past her and stood at the edge of the lava put. "All right, you guys ready for some hot coal action? Well here it comes. Snotlout!" He jumped onto the first coal. His eyes widened in alarm, and he proceeded across the pit at a rapid pace. Soon, he made it to the other side relatively unharmed.

"Well done!" a Defender said.

"I thought you had this under control," Eira said to Astrid.

"He just got lucky," Astrid said. "There's no way it will happen twice."

Eira was not so sure. When Snotlout really wanted something, there was not much that could get in his way. She tried to formulate a plan as she followed the others to the second trial sight. They stopped at a large pool filled with eels.

"This will be your second of three trials, Snotlout Jorgenson," Throk said.

Snotlout leaned over the pool with a small frown on his face. "Uh, silly question, but those wouldn't happen to be friendly eels, would they? Like, the kind that make, uh, nice pets?"

"If you enjoy keeping deadly poisonous eels as pets, then yes."

"They actually do make excellent companions, Snotlout," Tuffnut said. "But as infants, they bite hard, but as adults, they bite harder."

Snotlout frowned. "Thanks, Tuffnut. Got it."

"No worries. I'm just here to help."

"If you'd like, you may take a weapon into the maze," Throk said, motioning to a wall of various weapons.

Snotlout approached the wall and reached for a mace. "Awesome. Will it help my chances?"

"No."

"Get ready to get him out of there," Astrid said to Fishlegs.

"We're on it, Astrid," Fishlegs said, already in the air with Meatlug.

"Astrid, I don't think this is the best approach," Eira said.

"Of course it is," Astrid said. "Do you want him to get hurt?"

"No, but what if he doesn't? You're assuming too much."

But Astrid could not be swayed. Eira watched anxiously as Snotlout jumped into the pool. The eels attacked him as he trudged to the other side. He appeared to have almost made it when a giant eel popped out of the water and leered over him.

"The mace!" Astrid called. "Use the mace!"

Snotlout swung the mace at the giant eel and managed to evade it. However, he was pursued as he ran to the exit. Fishlegs and Meatlug swooped down to offer him a ride out of there, but he would have none if it.

"Get out of here, Fishface," Snotlout said. "I got this."

"No, you definitely do not got this," Fishlegs said.

"Just listen leave him alone, Fishlegs!" Eira called. "He can do this!" She ignored the odd look from Astrid. Perhaps in desperation, she thought that maybe if she support him he might actually listen.

"Oh, Thor!" Fishlegs cried as the giant eel knocked him off Meatlug.

"Okay, that's it," Snotlout said in anger. "I am so sick of these freaking eels in this freaking maze." Somehow, he used his mace to beat back the eel, and then he grabbed Fishlegs and Meatlug and hauled them out of the pool. He stood there dripping wet and panting heavily.

"What just happened?" Tuff said, eyes wide.

"The impossible," said Ruff.

Eira ran to Snotlout to check on him. "You did it!" She smiled at him in relief. "That was amazing."

Snotlout grinned at her. "I told you you had nothing to worry about!"

Eira's smile fell. He had no idea how wrong he was.

The third trial was set to take place the following morning. For now, the Defenders gave Snotlout and his friends a feast. Eira has no appetite and only picked at her food. Her friends were hardly in better moods. She followed Astrid and Fishlegs as they approached Snotlout's table.

"Snotlout, you cannot do this," Astrid said. "You've been lucky so far."

"Incredibly lucky," Fishlegs said. "In fact, I've never seen a run of luck like this. Ever. It's inexplicable."

Snotlout scoffed. "Lucky. Really? That's what you two non-believers think? You are so not supportive." He waved to a nearby Defender. "Um, excuse me. Escort them back to their tents. They aren't feeling well." He pointed to Astrid and Fishlegs, and the Defender led them away.

"Snotlout, don't do this," Astrid protested.

But Snotlout appeared completely uninterested. Eira sighed and headed to the tents after her friends. From there, they split, and Eira entered the tent that she and Astrid shared.

"I'm sorry, Eira," Astrid said in dismay. "I tried. He's just too stubborn."

Eira shook her head. "You never had a chance with that strategy. If you tell him he can't do something, he'll only want to do it more. You have to first show you support him to gain his trust.

Astrid sighed. "You know, you may be right." She paused and looked at the other girl hopefully. "That means it's all up to you, Eira."

"What? What do you think I can do?"

"Talk to him. Convince him to end this madness. You already showed you support him. Maybe he'll listen to you."

Eira frowned. "Maybe... But I'm not sure what to say."

"Tell him the truth. Tell him you don't want him to be king."

Eira's eyes widened. "I can't do that!"

"Sure, you can." Astrid placed a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "Eira, it's okay to tell other people what you want sometimes. If you don't ask for something, you'll never get it. And don't you think Snotlout might appreciate it if he knew he was wanted? You need to tell him how you feel. It might be the only thing that can break through to him."

Eira took in a deep breath. Her friend was right. She too often feared expressing her feelings, but this case might call for it. She worried Snotlout would not take her seriously. She feared she would lose him. But if he went through with this and succeeded, wouldn't she lose him anyway? She had to try everything she could to get him back. "Alright, Astrid. I'll do it."

Snotlout enjoyed the attention he received too much to call it a night. But all good things must come to an end, and he needed his rest for his third trial tomorrow. He had just dismissed his Defender guards when he saw Eira approaching. He offered her a bright smile. "Hey, Eira! Here to congratulate me again?"

Eira gave him a smile that seemed more guarded than usually. "Actually, I was hoping I could talk to you. It'll only take a minute."

"Of course. What's on your mind?"

Eira fidgeted with her fingers and looked anywhere but him. "I... I don't want to seem selfish, but I have to tell you how I feel."

Snotlout suddenly felt uneasy. "Feel about what?"

Eira took a deep breath and finally looked him straight in the eye. "I don't want you to compete in the third trial, Snotlout. I don't want you to become king."

Snotlout was too stunned to know what to say at first. But she looked at him expectantly, and he had to come up with something. "But I thought you supported me."

"I do support you, but that doesn't mean I like it."

Snotlout frowned. "Why not? Don't you think I'll be a good king?"

"It's not that. It's just... Snotlout, have you really thought about what you would be giving up if you went through with this? You would have to stop being a dragon rider and leave Dragon's Edge... and me."

Snotlout remembered what Astrid had warned him about weeks ago. Perhaps there was some truth to it after all. "It's not like I'm choosing to leave you behind. Maybe I could ask Mala if you could stay with us."

Eira smiled sadly and shook her head. "No, that wouldn't work. I need to stay with Berk. Besides, you would be too busy with your kingly duties... and your wife." She paused. "Mala is great and all, but are you sure she is the woman you want to be with? Do you even love her?"

Snotlout's throat ran dry. He did not want to talk to her about this. He did not want to admit he was willing to settle for the first woman who showed interest in him. He did not know if he could find that again. "I - Who needs love anyway? Being king will make it worth it."

Eira cast her gaze to the ground. "I see. Well, if this is truly what you want, I will support you. But I just want you to know that it hurts me, and I wish you wouldn't leave."

Snotlout had nothing to say to that. He felt ashamed that he had never even considered anyone else's feelings, especially hers. He had to admit, it puzzled him that she cared so much.

"Good night, Snotlout," she said quietly. "And good luck."

He did not stop her as she walked away from him. He suddenly felt terribly confused, and he hated it. He needed to focus! But her words cut him deeply, and he he found he did care what she thought. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. Was he making the right choice?

"Hiccup!" Astrid said in relief as he and Heather landed near her. "Thank Thor."

Hiccup frowned. "Please tell me Snotlout is still alive." He looked around at the scene before him. Mala sat on her throne while Throk stood nearby with a bow and arrow. The twins were giving Snotlout a pep talk while Eira looked on in dismay.

"Oh, he's alive. And, if he passes his next trial, he'll be king."

Hiccup looked at her in alarm. "I thought you guys were supposed to make sure-"

Astrid crossed her arms. "We were, but Snotlout's ego put a kink in our plans."

"What does that mean?"

"It means everyone here overlooked the fact that Snotlout's mind is incredibly powerful," Eira said as she walked over to them, bitterness lacing her voice. "Just like anxiety can cripple him, when he believes he can do something, usually he can."

Hiccup gave her a sympathetic look. "Did you try to talk to him?"

"Yes, but I guess it didn't take."

Hiccup was not so sure. There was something off about Snotlout as he approached Throk. He looked back at Eira, and Hiccup caught confusion on his face. Eira stared back at him with sorrow in her eyes.

Throk cleared his throat. "Are you ready, Snotlout Jorgenson?"

Snotlout snapped his head back at the Defender. "Uh, yes! What do ya got?"

In response, Throk lifted his bow and aimed the arrow at Mala.

Snotlout shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, you really think it's smart to be pointing that thing at the queen? I mean, it's gonna look really bad if you slip up and let go of the arrow."

"That's why you'll be taking the arrow for her," Throk said. "Your final test. Race to Queen Mala and allow this arrow to pierce your flesh instead of hers. If you survive, you will be her king. If not..."

"Thoughts?" Hiccup said.

"His luck is about to run out?" Astrid offered.

"This is madness," Eira muttered.

Snotlout look from the arrow to Mala to Eira. Hiccup could see the hesitation on his face, and he silently pleaded with him to make the right choice.

"Come on," Tuff said. "Let's get on with it, please. I must see something soon."

Snotlout still had not moved, but Throk went ahead and loosened the arrow anyway. Eyes wide in alarm, he held out an arm in a belated attempt to delay him. "Stop!"

Throk looked back at him, but it was too late. The arrow sped towards Mala, but in one swift movement, she caught it before it struck her. "What is the meaning of this?" she said, her expression unreadable.

Snotlout winced. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" He turned to look at the dragon riders staring at him dumbfounded. "I could have taken that arrow if I wanted to, I just... didn't." His eyes fell on Eira. "I don't want to be king. Not right now at least. Because right now, I have somewhere else I need to be." He smiled, and Eira smiled back at him.

"Wow," Astrid said in astonishment. "I never thought I'd see that."

"I guess Eira did get through to him after all," Hiccup said. And that was very good news for all of them.

"I see," Mala said. "Very well. I respect your decision, Snotlout. But for your bravery and valor, tonight you will be my guest of honor."

Fishlegs smiled at Snotlout. "King for a day. Not bad, Snotlout."

"Off with his head!" Snotlout demanded. Everyone stared at him, and he laughed. "I'm kidding. Or am I? Who knows? Let's eat!"

"We need to tell Eira about Dagur," Heather whispered to Hiccup.

"I know," Hiccup said. He watched as Eira gave Snotlout a side hug. Snotlout put his arm around her, and they walked off together. He hated to interrupt such a happy moment. "But maybe that can wait until tomorrow."

A/N: I believe that one turned out pretty well. Let me know what you think! :)