Chapter6
Present
It had been a week since the mercenaries had arrived on berk and so far all they had done was watch the villagers. when they had discovered that berk had dragon prisoners their release was demanded and was done.
Their leader finally ordered all the warriors to gather in the field that was large enough to train them all. He told Astrid that she needed to bring herself and her officers to him once the army had gathered on the field.
Hiccup took a hard glance at the officers and saw how some were big and some were small which was good, it either meant that they were chosen for there skill or he was wrong and they all bought they're away in "Are these the officers." Hiccup said to Astrid
Annoyed at the obvious question Astrid replied in an annoyed voice"Yes, these are the ones who I rely on in the battle to help lead my men, 15 in total"
"Only fifteen? you need more than that for an army of this size."
"We can train more," she said angrily.
"Oh we will but in the meantime, we will work with what we got"
Before Astrid could say something rude back eret made his way to the field
As Eret, Heather, and Hiccup arrived at the field he was greeted by about 600 Vikings who were scattered around talking, goofing off and not paying attention
"Attention!" Eret said loudly "I am here to train you scum but before I can do this, I need to organize your lot into smaller units, so please find yourself a partner, someone you trust, someone you like and someone you can live with. It is very important that you can work with this person and that they can work with you. As of right now, you are responsible for your partner and they are responsible for you. If you fail, he fails and if he fails you fail. In battle, you are now responsible for watching each other's back. And when one of you dies it is the other one's job to go to the other one's family and tell the bad news. It's not only that you will share a tent with this person on the campaign. You will go a guard duty and you will cook and clean and live with the person. So choose your partner wisely." After 30 minutes everyone had a partner." Now that you have a partner we are going to organize you into what we call a decanus. A decanus has ten men or five groups now me and my friend here are going to go around and make decanus out of you" After about an hour of making decanus's and lining them up, they were finally finished "You all now must remember who is in your group right now there are 60 of you small units. My friend is going to give you a number and that is going to be your decanus number. Tomorrow we will begin training for real."
Flashback
"For real! " Nadia said looking at Hiccup with a tear in her eye
Hiccup just nodded his head
"Thank you so much," Nadia said as she jumped and hugged Hiccup as hard as she could
"You said you needed some new clothes soooo Let's go and gets some," he said smiling
On their way to the market, Nadia was enthralled by all of the interesting things that were around her. She even found things that were from her home country. She surprised Hiccup when some of the merchants started to speak different languages here and she spoke back fluently. After buying her clothes that she insisted she didn't need and getting jewelry that made her blush when he put it on her they went to get food and head back home to cook it
As they were walking home Nadia turned to Hiccup "Can you teach me?" she said in a quick voice
"What?"
"I want to learn how... to not feel afraid, learn how to fight like the way you did when you defeated all those men at the compound. I want to learn how to free myself if I ever become a slave again. Can you teach me?"
Hiccup took Nadia and hugged her as she hugged him this morning. "Of course I will nothing would make me happier"
Present
The next day the team had decided that they would split the army of 600 people into 3 teams of 200. Within each group of 200, they could be split up into smaller groups of 50. Hiccup decided that Eret would teach tactics and battle strategy since he had the most experience before Hiccup. Heather would be in charge of training them in what they learned and teaching them about ways the enemy fights. Hiccup to both Eret and Heather's disappointment was going to teach the Vikings how to be a professional army. On Dragos ship, a soldier was allowed to drink and indulge in their own vices as long as it didn't get in the way of drago or his other men or his responsibilities. Dragos men were disciplined and would not dare to cross him, each man on Dragos ship knew their place and would rise when their commanding officer was walking in. most importantly Dragos men followed orders, they knew what would happen if they didn't follow orders. Each day the 200 man group would rotate to a new person in order of Eret, Heather, Hiccup. Hiccup also disliked that each day the officers would follow him around for a bit while he trained the troops teaching them a chain of command and orders and other stuff
Astrid, of course, trying every second to learn as much as she could from these warriors
Flashback
"Again!"Hiccup yelled kicking Nadia to the ground.
Hiccup and Nadia had been training for weeks in the forest. Hiccup was still teaching her basic forms and techniques but Nadia was a quick learner. They were fighting with long wooden sticks since Nadia was not ready for real weapon sparring.
Nadia got up from the ground. "that really hurt" she said getting back into position
They both circled each other waiting for the other one to strike.
Hiccup made the first move. He struck high among for the head but Nadia blocked she then tried to counter with a side attack but Hiccup blocks going for a side attack of his own, Nadia was able to block the first shot to her right side but Hiccup followed up with a barrage of swings, Nadia blocked as many as she could but Hiccup moved to fast.
"You're leaving yourself wide open," Hiccup said walking backward catching his breath.
Nadia got back into position.
Hiccup came at her again. They dueled until Hiccup got the best of Nadia and he was standing over her
"You're getting better but... you still got a long way to go"
Nadia looked up at him while lying on the ground. She then grabbed Hiccup's leg and tripped him until he was on the ground and she climbed on top of him with a fist raised.
"How is this?" she said, sitting on top of him.
For once she finally got the best of him. though Nadia doubted that it would happen again
Hiccup looked up at her. Suddenly they went from training to staring into each other's eyes.
Hiccup blushed as he looked up at the girl on top of him. Nadia soon realized where she was and she started to panic."Oh...oh, Maybe we should get up." She said getting up quickly her cheeks red with embarrassment
Hiccup got up as well"maybe we should call it a day," he said putting his hand on his head As they were heading back home Hiccup looked over to Nadia."Have you thought about where you might go once your training is done?'' Hiccup asked.
Nadia looked at him as they were walking back to the village "I thought I might try and settle down somewhere, I don't know what I want to do or where I will go once im finished"
Hiccup looked at Nadia and stopped walking and Nadia noticed and stopped as well. "Nadia ... I wanted to ask you something."
Nadia looked at Hiccup and moved in closer " of course you can ask me anything ."
"I want to ask... I wanted to see if you wanted to stay...with us...with the dragon guild syndicate, you said that you don't remember your family in Russia and so I wanted to know if you wanted to be apart of this family.'' Hiccup looked at her, his cheeks were red.
Nadia was on the verge of tears she had wanted a family for so long. All she wanted was to belong somewhere.
"...Hiccup I..."
"You don't have to," he said quickly thinking he made a mistake, "I just want you to know that... I just want you to know if you want a family then you can join us"
Nadia paused before jumping into Hiccups arms and hugging him with all of her strength
"Id thought you'd never ask" Nadia looked up at Hiccup still hugging him, her arms around his neck. Suddenly she did something she did not expect to do and Hiccup didn't expect it either.
Hiccup was looking down at her. He was glad that she was hugging him but all of a sudden, she kissed him! He didn't know what to do. He had fought armies, he had dueled the greatest champions and had never frozen but now he was petrified, not with fear but with the feelings that have overwhelmed him since the day he met her. Once the kiss was over Nadia backed away with Hiccup not saying anything
"What's wrong...was that a mistake...im sorry," she said with her hands over her mouth. Hiccup moved in until he was inches from her face,'' What are you doing" she asked"
Suddenly Hiccup kissed her. Nadia didn't know how to react by kissing back as she leaned into his lips. Her body trembled as she put her arms around his neck for support. Soon Hiccup spoke, " I was hoping that you would stay with us... with me."
"Nothing would make me happier"
Present
Training went on as usual and there was a noticeable improvement.
Astrid was trying to get closer to the leader of the syndicate and every time she came near him he would disappear or fly away on toothless.
Every night Hiccup could be found in the great hall with Heather or Eret and large amounts of wine and alcoholic drinks. Once Hiccup was drunk Heather would help him up and get him back to the house that berk gave them.
But tonight, Astrid found Ragnar stumbling to the docks.
His stance was shaking and he could barely stand, one from a distance would think he was attacked.
Astrid came over, wondering what was wrong
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" She said angrily as the man kept stumbling
"Ah commander, its la-late you shouldn't be out here," he said with a slurred cracked voice
"This is my village don't tell me where to go," she said frustrated
As Hiccup looked at the docks he soon collapsed on the ground. He then turned around on his back and looked up at the sky. The night was full of stars and constellations and his Time in Greece taught him of the different constellations and in this clear sky he saw all of them
"Hey you, I'm talking to you!" She said standing over him
"You're blocking my view," he said in a monotone nasally voice
Astrid turned to look at the sky. She saw what he was looking at and had to admit it was beautiful. The night was clear and the air was fresh
"What are you doing?" She asked moving to the side.
"Finding a place to sleep"
"Oh, what our home is not good enough for you!" She said insulted.
Astrid looked at the man on the ground and thought about how pathetic he was. This was no champion. It was barely even a man.
Before she could get a response Ragnar was past out.
"Can't just leave you here?" she said taking pity on him
As she dragged him on her shoulders she thought about where she would put him. The man awoke and when he realized what happening he spoke.
"No, can't go home." He said weakly
"Dammit," she said looking around
She then began walking home.
As she got home she laid him on her couch, she took a moment to see the man passed out in front of her. Such a dangerous person in a regular size body then what you'd expect.
As she got some blankets for him she realized that she had just invited a man into her house. Under normal circumstances, this would be inappropriate but she knew it would be fine for now
As she walked back in with the blankets she found Ragnar still asleep his prosthetic still attached.
"Wow you were tired," she said before going and turning out the fire and letting the candle burn some more.
As she went to bed she could not help but think of how interesting this person was. She thought of how this person came to be associated with drago.
Next day
Astrid had gotten up early in the morning first to use the bathroom and then to get food for Ragnar.
As she was walking back to her house with bread and meat she saw a girl sneaking around. The girl was around 5ft tall and wore a mask. She had silver hair and she had a very small frame. It was still kinda dark but the sun was coming up Astrid dropped the stuff she was caring and ducked behind a corner of a house
"Dammit I don't have my ax," she whispered. She did have a knife with her but if that girl was a trained Assassin out to get Ragnar she would need help. Most of the guards were around the perimeter of the village a few guards would patrol but if she could make enough noise she would alert more guards.
Before Astrid could do anything two guards approached from the right side
"Hey you show yourself," they said holding up a lantern at the girl.
The girl said nothing but backed away from the door.
"Take off that mask." One of the guards said. Then the guard reached down to grab the girl's arm to take her away. When he took it in a flash the girl had punched the man in the throat. The man backed away in pain grabbing his throat choking on the collapse windpipe. The next man dropped the lantern and held the spear at the girl.
"Stop intruder, intruder, intruder!" The man started screaming.
Astrid was running towards them to help but before she could get there the second guard thrust his spear at the girl. The girl dodged to the left grabbing the spear with her hands on her right side. She moved down the spear until she was in the range of the guard and she kicked him in the head. The guard dropped the spear and backed away.
This fight had lasted only 15 seconds
Four more guards had arrived and Astrid had finally gotten to the fight. One of the guards tossed Astrid a sword and the five of them surrounded her. The girl took out two stick-like things, she then flicked them to the sides of her and they expanded. She took the expanded sticks and attached them to the ends together until it made one long staff. As Astrid and the guards stalked the girl about to attack Astrid noticed that the girl's mask was painted one-half pink the other had black, it was intriguing to see the expression in such a warrior. Soon one of the warriors attacked with an ax but the girl dodged to the right using her staff to hit the weapon out of the man's hand then she jumped kicking him in the head knocking him unconscious. Astrid signaled to one of the guards to go and get help while the rest of them would try to stop her.
The two remaining guards attacked together. Astrid slashed with her sword but the girl blocked with her staff countering hitting Astrid in the head forcing her to back away. The other guard attacked with a hammer but before he could get in range the girl had tripped him with the staff. The girl was about to hit the guard with her staff but Astrid tacked her to the ground. Astrid tried to get hold of the girl's arms to hold her down but when she tried to reach for them the girl effortlessly put Astrid in an arm lock. Before the girl could break Astrid's arm the guard from before tried to stomp on the girl but she rolled out of the way. The unconscious guard was awake and the guard who was punched in the throat had rushed back into the fight.
The girl saw them run towards her and with two more in front of her and with her weapon away from her she needed to think. She ran at the two guards who had gotten up since they were the ones without weapons. One of the guards tried to punch her out she easily countered grabbing on to the arm forcing the man to the ground with a wrist lock. She didn't have time to do damage though because the next guard was there and he tried to kick her off but before he could the girl had grabbed his leg in the area and moved him to the ground. This Time she was able to jump on the man's groin. He screamed in pain.
She turned to see that more guards and villagers where here she had nowhere to run. She quickly made her way to her staff and Astrid tried to stop her but before she could the girl had thrown two knives at Astrid which she only had a split second to deflect with her sword. Now the girl had her staff.
"You're surrounded on all sides. There are almost 30 villagers here and more on the way. Put down your weapon and come peacefully"
The girl only looked at Astrid for a moment then turned her head to the sky
"Ssssshheeeee" she made a loud deafening whistle with her hand. Suddenly two nadders came crashing down and stood at the side of the girl. The dragons where wearing armor and one was blue and one was green. The girl started twirling her staff to show Astrid that she was ready for a fight.
Astrid was about to give the order to attack when she heard a door slam shut
"ENOUGH!" Ragnar yelled walking out of the house. "What in Thor's name is going on here can't a guy get some sleep around here. And why are there dragons, stormfly, earthquake in the air now"
"Sir what's going on?" Asked a guard
All of you back to you posts
Astrid grabbed the food she dropped and began to walk to Ragnar but he noticed that he had grabbed the girl by the back of her clothes and Astrid realized she had tried to escape. Astrid made her way over to the two and when she got there she couldn't have expected this.