As the people of New Berk grew accustomed to life on the Monolithic Island, rumors began to spread throughout the village that a huldra lived in the remote parts of the forest and since the Berkians had yet to fully explore the island, the rumors surrounding the now dubbed "Lady of the Forest" were taken to heart. But as the rumors began to grow, they garnered the attention of the chief and chieftess.
Chief Hiccup called together those who had seen The Lady of the Forest, finding that every encounter had been merely glimpses of a beautiful young woman with ashy blonde hair that appeared out of nowhere within the forest and disappeared just as quickly. It seemed like this Lady of the Forest was more curious about them being there than anything else and hadn't shown any hostility towards anyone.
"Chief, there's something you should know."
Hiccup looked up at the tall and broad-framed man. "Eret, what is it?"
Eret, Son of Eret, sighed and rubbed his neck. "I've seen her, too. The day you went after Toothless and the Lightfury when Grimmel had taken them? I thought Grimmel had sent someone to the island while you were all distracted with the fight, so I went to check it out. Someone was watching the camp and took off into the woods, but when I finally caught up to them I found a young woman that fits these descriptions."
"What did she want?"
"I don't know. She disappeared without a trace before I could find out."
"You lot are lucky that the huldra didn't ensnare you," the blacksmith, Gobber, said. "They lure you in, seduce you, trick you into marrying them, then-" He drew his hand across his throat.
"I don't think she's a danger to us," Eret added, looking from the blacksmith to their chief. "I'm certain that she is human, despite the rumors."
Hiccup thought on the information presented to him, tapping his chin lightly with his finger.
"What do you want to do?" his wife, Astrid, asked of him.
"Well, she clearly knows the island better than we do," he started. "We assumed it was uninhabited by other people, but it looks like we were wrong. I think we should try to find this Lady of the Forest and establish contact with her. Maybe if we gain her trust, she'd be willing to at least share what she knows about the island."
"So what do you suggest, Chief?" Eret asked.
"Let's put together a couple of teams to search the island," Hiccup started, standing.
As the days went by and the Berkians had settled into their new home, the Lady of the Forest found her curiosity growing. These people did not seem like they were a threat to her, they even seemed like good people. But she was still unsure of how to interact with other people after spending so many years being alone, so the most she felt comfortable doing was watching from afar.
She checked in on the happenings of New Berk and its people once or twice a week, but any time someone spotted her she seemed to spook them, so she'd retreated back into the forest. The frequently it happened, though, the less frequent her visits became.
One day while she was out gathering some herbs and berries, her owl companion, Bera, called out to her and she crouched down in the brush- scanning the area. Voices sounded nearby and she slunk back into the shadows as a group of Berkians stepped through the trees- the man she had encountered before among them.
"Are you sure that she's near?" Hiccup asked.
"I've heard that owl's call before. She's here somewhere." Eret replied. "Lady of the Forest, we mean you no harm," he called out, scanning the area.
A few moments passed quietly, then they heard a woman called back, "What is it that you want?"
"We only wish to talk."
Eret glanced at Hiccup as he said that, unsure if this young woman would oblige him, but when a rustled sounded ahead of them, he looked over and spotted her standing next to a tree with a woven basket at her hip.
"State your business."
Hiccup stood with Astrid and the others, seeing the Lady of the Forest standing next to a tree but still somewhat hidden behind the shadows of its branches. He stepped forward, his hands out to show that he was no threat to her, then said, "My name is Hiccup, I am the Chief of New Berk."
"What brings the chief into the forest?"
"You seem to have made quite the impression on my village and seeing as how we seem to be neighbors, I thought it was time that we introduced ourselves."
A moment or two of silence followed, then the Lady of the Forest stepped forward out of the shadows. "I am called Sigrunn."
Eret had gotten a decent enough look at her the first time he had encountered her, but this time she was much closer and he could really get a good look at her.
The Lady of the Forest was just a human woman named Sigrunn with long ashy blonde hair, blue eyes lined with dark lashes, a small band of green drawn across the top of her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, freckles dotting lightly dotting her skin. She wore the same clothing colored in greens and browns like the forest around her with a few pouches tied at her waist. Greenish-blue beads hung at her ears and a green crystal hung around her neck. She didn't wear any shoes, but she did have foot coverings that let her heels, toes, and the balls of her feet peek out. A wooden staff was tied at her back with a sash that crossed over her chest and she held a woven basket filled with herbs and berries at her hip. Above them, an owl called out again and hopped down from its perch to sit atop her shoulder.
"This is Bera," Sigrunn said, reaching up to give the owl scritches. She glanced at each person as Hiccup introduced them- Astrid, Fishlegs, Snoutlout, the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and finally Eret. "Well met."
"How long have you been on the island?" Astrid asked. "We thought it was uninhabited."
"I was born here," Sigrunn replied. "My mother was brought here by a dragon many years ago when she was found wrecked at sea near the cliffs."
"How long have you been alone?" Eret asked.
Sigrunn looked at him. "Ever since my mother died when I was young." She smiled when Bera nuzzled against her cheek. "At least when it comes to other people. Bera here has been keeping me company for a few years now."
A rustle came from behind the Berkians and an older woman joined them, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Sigrunn.
"Mom? You OK?" Hiccup asked.
Sigrunn looked at this new woman as she slowly approached her, a mixture of sadness and recognition clear in her eyes.
"Tell me, child, was your mother named Ranghild?"
Sigrunn nodded. "Ranghild Haggirson, why do you ask?" She was surprised to see the woman's eyes tearing up and a soft smile appear on her lips.
"My name is Valka," the woman introduced herself, "your mother was my best friend."