After swimming around for nearly an hour, Sigrunn and Eret finally made their way to the bank and stepped out of the water. They lay out in the sun, the soft moss beneath them absorbing a lot of the water from their skin as the sunlight dried them off.
"Eret, may I ask you something?" Sigrunn asked as they watched the gulls flying overhead.
"Sure."
"Why you?" Sigrunn sat up and looked at him. "Of all the people in your village, why did they send you?"
"We had already had more encounters with one other than you had with anyone else, so the chief felt that you may feel more comfortable with someone you "knew" already."
"I see." Sigrunn eyed him for a moment. "I suppose that makes sense."
"It has worked out though, hasn't it?" Eret replied, looking over at her- trying to ignore the thoughts that began popping into his mind about her figure.
Sigrunn smiled at that, wrapping her arms around her knees and resting her cheek against them. "That it has." Her gaze was drawn towards his chest, though, and her brow furrowed.
"A gift from an old enemy," Eret said, noticing the shift in her gaze. He got to his feet and made his way over to his things.
"I did not mean to stare," Sigrunn replied, watching him from where she still sat.
"It's fine," Eret sighed. "It's nothing I'm ashamed of, but it's not really something that I'm proud of either."
Sigrunn stood and went to her things. "May I ask what happened?"
As Eret pulled his vest on, he replied, "I used to be a dragon trapper."
Sigrunn looked at him, her brow furrowing again. "You used to trap dragons? Why?"
"It had started as a matter of survival, but the rewards were well worth it," Eret began to explain. "The one time I showed up empty-handed, though, my employer was none too pleased and as my punishment, he branded me with this mark." Eret slid his waistband around his waist, looking to Sigrunn as she pulled her pants.
"Why did you continue to trap dragons if your failure was punished so severely?"
"As I said, it was a matter of survival. I was good at what I did and simply walking away from a man like Drago Bludvist was not an option."
"What kind of man was he?"
"He was a cruel man, one whose hatred of dragons blinded him. He used intimidation, brute strength, and fear to get what he wanted." Eret slid his wristbands on and looked to Sigrunn as she finished dressing as well.
"And what about now? Dragons have disappeared from the island, what few they were." Sigrunn asked as she reached for her staff.
"Now, I am right hand to the chief of New Berk. Hiccup and his people gained my respect and trust, welcomed me with open arms. I've done all that I can to repay them for all that they have given me."
"The people of New Berk seem like good people, but some of them are quite exhausting."
Eret chuckled at that, knowing exactly who she spoke of. "I know what you mean." He watched as she turned towards her mother's grave and disappeared behind the willow's long branches- waiting patiently as she paid her respects.
Sigrunn touched the runestone marker and spoke a few silent words to her mother, then turned back towards Eret- gently brushing the willow branches aside as she made her way back to him.
Eret cleared his throat as she came towards him. "So, anything more planned for the day?"
Sigrunn eyed him a moment. "Why? Getting bored of me already?"
Eret shook his head. "Bored of you? Never."
"I am glad of that, I find myself rather enjoying your company."
That strange warmth began to spread across his cheeks again and Eret laughed nervously. "I'm glad I could be of service." He watched with curiosity as Sigrunn looked to the skies as a breeze blew through the trees and closed her eyes as if to listen to what it had to offer. A few moments of silence passed, then Eret tilted his head as he looked at her. "Sigrunn?"
Sigrunn turned her attention to him and offered him a soft smile. "I think I'm ready to visit the village," She fiddled with the hem of her sash and looked away for a moment, feeling embarrassed. "So long as you are with me, that is."
Eret's cheeks erupted with heat and he rubbed his neck, unable to quell the thoughts of how cute she looked in that moment. "I can do that."
Sigrunn beamed at him, a bit shyly, but she was glad that he agreed to her request. "Shall we go then?"
New Berk was bustling and its people were hard at work as they usually were. It was a day like any other for them- at least that's how it started- until they were greeted by a newcomer in the company of Eret.
People stopped what they were doing and stared as Eret and this strange newcomer walked through the village together. Murmurs spread quickly and some even ran to find their chief and chieftess.
"It's the Lady of the Forest!"
"She looks so human, though, didn't you say she was a huldra?"
"Aye, but remember what Hiccup said?"
"Oh, that's right!"
Eret looked down at his companion, his brow furrowing a bit with concern. "Sigrunn, are you alright?"
Sigrunn didn't like being stared at, but given the reputation she seemed to have built with the Berkians, she couldn't blame them. "I'm alright..."
"Eret, you're back!"
Eret looked from Sigrunn to Hiccup as he and Astrid found them.
"Sigrunn, you're here, too?"
Sigrunn nodded, feeling her shyness beginning to resurface again around so many people. "I thought it was time, though I wasn't quite prepared for how large the village really is."
"How do you feel?"
"A bit overwhelmed, to be honest, but I'll be alright."
"I'm glad to hear it." Hiccup offered her a smile. "Would you like a tour?"
"Sure."