So many positive responses to the last chapter! Over 70 faves and over 115 follows now! You guys are amazing! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review my story.
Once again, you are getting this a day early, as I work all day tomorrow. Back to normal next week, though.
CB73: I know, I am a bastard. Lol. And that's a valid point. The gods never seemed to mind sharing and adultery, did they...
young coffee god: Thanks :)
Wodenfang: Oh...so wrong and so right all at once...I love it
Eris: Thank you for the support. Hopefully this chapter will answer your question ;)
CommanderGreya: She does indeed, sort of...lol. I'm glad that you like it. You guys are making it worth all of the effort, for sure :)
Rainnnn: I would have to agree. I wouldn't feel very safe if I were Snotlout. Between Astrid and Hiccup, Snot may do well to get Gobber to fashion him some steel underpants to protect his man-bits...lol
Visions would be far too helpful if they were straightforward. I've tried to keep this story equally as unpredictable, and I'm glad that I seem to have managed slightly. Though some have been sure they knew where it was going or why...Still, I'm glad you are enjoying it :)
_
Once again, Hiccup had thrown himself head first into the unknown. His decision to blood-bind himself to his battle brother had come with some unexpected side effects. The first was, of course, the drastic change in his appearance. At first, Hiccup did not really think much of it. Simply assuming that the magic of the blood binding had advanced the imminent transformation he was already expecting.
The Council had informed him of the changes he would go through as a bonded rider. Explaining it away as the residual magic of the bond. As the ancient ritual used to connect the first bonded pairs has altered every single rider since the beginning. Usually over a great span of time. He had listened despondently as Elder Noldo explained the process to him. Having already been given the devastating news that he was now an infertile immortal. Having already realized that the one woman he had ever truly loved, could never be his.
For she would age, and he would not. She would die, and he would not. What could possibly be worse than that? He didn't much care what he looked like, anyways. Who was there to impress if he couldn't have Astrid? What did it matter if he would eventually become one of the most beautiful creatures to walk the nine realms? He didn't want the attention that would come with it. He only wanted one woman's attentions.
At least after the blood-binding advanced this transformation, Hiccup had been truly accepted as one of the elves. Now sharing in their characteristics and abilities, he was no longer viewed as an outsider. His new body was faster and stronger than his old one. His shape filling out more as he grew even taller. This body was designed for power and appeal; a physical representation of the nature essences the elves had been wrought from. Everything from his scent to his walk mimicking the allure of the natural world. Gone were the displays of humanity that he had taken for granted. Nature did not blush or cry, and nor would he. The essence of the land did not tire or rest, and nor would he.
As a human at his core, Hiccup still felt every confusing and conflicting emotion. As the embodiment of the wild beauty of life, he just would no longer show it. His flawless looks betraying no trace of reactions that were illogical. After all, elves were not like any other beings. They were not animals. They were nature spirits given physical form. He was less of a creature, and more of an arcane vessel. Hiccup honestly felt like a living statue sometimes. As eternal and unaffected as the rugged mountains of his new home. No tears of sorrow would mar his delicate features. Never again would he wear the rose colour of shame. Never again would he feel the sweaty pain of physical exertion. It was a strange and unexpectedly uncomfortable thought.
His senses had improved along with his appearance. Vision, touch, smell, hearing; nothing was sacred. Nothing had been left unaffected by the magic. His arcane abilities, which had already been impressive, were now even greater. Easily matching and surpassing that of the elven Riders. His new mind had so much more space than the old one, too. As it was also faster and more powerful, just like the rest of him. He found that he was now able to focus on many different stimuli at once and he could stay alert and awake indefinitely. This marvellous vessel that was his body now, no longer burdened by the need for sleep.
When he did choose to sleep, it was neither deep, nor restful. Always remaining partially awake as his head was filled with strange and colourful dreams. Assaulting his senses and confusing his logical mind. He had been told by the others that these dreams were prophetic, but he never had much luck when he tried to interpret them the next day. The endeavour usually just serving to frustrate him. He had never been very fond of abstract concepts.
It had been difficult to get used to his new body though. For the first time in his life, Hiccup needed to be constantly aware of how much force he put into his everyday tasks. The first few weeks, he had spent a good deal of time repairing the items that he had broken around his home. The heightened senses were almost as confusing. The world felt like it was all brand new. His greatly increased mental capacity helping to create a semblance of order in the new madness. Though it was all still very disorienting.
Now that Hiccup was one of them, Ilweran had taken the time to explain the proper histories to him. The truth of the past that was not known to most and was never shared with new Riders. Odin did not approve of the light in which they painted him. So the stories were kept by the ancients, but never revealed. Only the elves continued to pass the knowledge down to their kin. Keeping them alive so that the lessons of the past would not be forgotten, and therefore, repeated. Of course, Hiccup already knew most of it, but it was still interesting to hear it from the perspective of a race that had actually lived through it.
In the beginning, there had been only the elves and the dragons. The master sentient beings surrounded by the natural world that dwelled with Yggdrasil and her sisters, the Norns. Though Ilweran had long ago explained that Yggdrasil had never liked that name and the way it tied her to the Allfather. A fact to which Hiccup, himself, could attest. She was not 'The Terrible One's Horse'; she was here first. Preferring instead to go by the name that the elves had given her. She was Cuithanna, or the Giver of all Life.
Her most precious creations were these two races, the elves and dragons. She had blessed them with her own hand to have the power to guide and protect this world. The dragons were wise and noble beasts, their deep wells of arcane knowledge overflowing. The elves, powerful and beautiful nature spirits with their own brand of wild magic. The elves tended to the animals and plants of the world while the dragons kept order and peace. Contentedly fulfilling the roles assigned to them by the mother goddess, Cuithanna. A bond of trust and friendship growing between the two peaceable groups. Then one day, everything changed.
When the cow, Audhumla, licked the salt blocks of Ginnungagap, neither race could imagine the turmoil that would follow. Though Skuld, the Goddess of Fate and Future, had foreseen visions of great destruction to come. She had brought these disturbing images to the attentions of the others, but it was little help. None in this world could understand the visions. Hate and war did not exist in this space.
As the shape of Buri formed, the dragons and elves were both intrigued by this new being. Bringing the strange creature into their midst. Instructing him in the ways of magic and life. Using these new skills, the man had created a son for himself. Wanting to share this world with another of his own kind.
This son was adventurous and powerful. Never content with the peaceful way of the world he lived in. The land of the void, where time had very little meaning and life simply was. Longing for more, Bor chanced leaving the void. Travelling for many centuries until he located a gate of light. Using the magic he had been taught by the elves and dragons, he opened this gate and ventured into the unknown.
According to Ilweran, what Bor found beyond this gate has been lost to time. The only thing that is certain is that after many, many years, Bor returned. With him was a strange woman named Bestla, who bore beautiful blue skin. Bor had met this daughter of Bolthorn, a frost giant, somewhere beyond the gate. After falling in love with the beautiful giantess, he had taken her as his wife. Finally convincing her to leave her home and venture with him back to the void.
The pair ended up having three sons. Odin, Vili, and Ve. It became apparent right away that these sons were different from the others dwelling in the void. Powerful, bold, and aggressive, they quickly tired of the endless monotony of this world. As they began to experiment with their magic, they discovered the gateway for themselves. Bifröst, they called it. They created new creatures and filled the worlds beyond Bifröst with them. Moulding and shaping these other realms to suite their desires. Spawning an unrest that had never existed before. There was too much life, too fast. No semblance of order to it.
Seeing the danger, the elves and dragons agreed to unite their powers against this new threat. Selecting their bravest warriors and performing a dangerous ritual to bind them together. Blessed by Cuithanna herself, as she too could sense the looming instability. She had mixed a drop of blood from each of the chosen dragons and elves into a goblet of water from Urdarbrunnr, the Well of Fate. Sealing the magic with a drop of her own sap.
As the chosen ones drank from the goblet, the black marks of binding spread across their backs. The essence of this new bond radiating through their bodies and minds. The resulting riders were stronger, faster, and more powerful than any beings that had come before them. Well suited to their intended purpose as protectors of the balance. Yet as the three sons became more powerful themselves, they spread their influence further and further, until the void could no longer support the life there. Mímisbrunnr, the Well of Wisdom, had overflowed; poisoning the waters of the land.
The beings of the void were forced to relocate to other realms. Odin and his brothers taking Asgard as their home and proclaiming their right to rule. The newly formed nature spirits known as the Vanir claimed Vanaheim. A lush world of beauty that fed their magic. The elves choosing to divide their race between two worlds, instead.
Some took to Alfheim, with its sheltering mountains and forests. These became known as the Light Elves. Others went to Svartalfheim. A beautiful and exotic world of perpetual night. Thus lending to their title of Dark Elves. Both groups residing in lands that were separate and protected from the rest. Here, the Riders served as their guardians as the elves sealed themselves off from the newfound chaos of the other realms.
As wars began to be fought between the Vanir and Aesir, the elves refused to take sides. War was not something they had ever experienced before, and they could not understand the purpose of these battles for power. Power over what, exactly? The senseless feud reducing much of the lush world of Vanaheim into vast and empty desert. It was only after the bitter fighting spilled over into the other worlds, spawning monsters and destruction the likes of which they had never imagined, that the elves decided they needed to act. Not to take sides. Just to preserve what life they could.
As the dragons left Alfheim, the magic of the bonding finally spread to other races. Any that were deemed worthy were permitted to join the Order. Giving their aid to the protection of the mother goddess and her children. The blessing of Cuithanna allowing the dragons to give their magic to those they chose as trustworthy. This expanded the power of the Riders greatly. Allowing them to exert enough influence over the other beings to put a stop to the bloodshed.
Eventually an unstable peace was finally brokered between the two warring races. Though this peace was also gained through trickery and deceit, leaving a bitter taste. Still, tired of fighting, the Vanir and Æsir agreed to uphold the treaty. Splitting the worship of the 'lesser races' between them. Sharing the seats of power with Asgard at the centre of it all. Over time, and with no more wars to fight, most of the dragons eventually forgot how to use their magic. Separated throughout the realms as they were, their knowledge became diluted and lost to the winds.
Everything had settled into a tense sort of quiet. The Riders no longer needed as protectors. The true histories were forgotten as new ones were spread to replace them. Stories that supported the proclaimed right to rule of those that called themselves gods. Still, it was a relatively peaceful time.
Then came Loki and his deceitful ways. Spreading unrest amongst the worlds again and spawning more monsters. The Riders returned, called to serve once again. Now joining forces with those they had been created to protect against. Aiding the Æsir in maintaining order throughout the realms against this new threat that they, themselves, had created.
The Riders were now used as Odin's own special force of assassins and generals. Tracking down supporters of his traitorous adopted son and stopping them from completing their missions. Hunting down newly bonded riders and bringing them over to the 'good' side. Keeping tabs on all the monsters that threatened the realms. Which brought Hiccup to where he was today. Fulfilling his role in this elite group of bounty hunters. Once again, he was killing for a man to whom he owed no allegiance.
The role of the Order, as Ilweran had first explained it, had sounded too much like his life in Rome. He had learned his lesson well there, and made use of it again here. Refusing to hand over control to anyone. Not even Odin Allfather. He reminded Hiccup too much of Hadrian. Using the soldiers under his command as a way to flex his muscles. Extending his control over those around him, whether they wanted it or not. So Hiccup had refused to swear fealty.
Like in Rome, he knew that he had something the Council wanted. So he bargained with them. Once again becoming a mercenary hired by the ruling class. Though Odin had been relentlessly seeking some way to bring Hiccup under his control. Constantly searching for a weak spot in the armour he wore over his heart. It was just another reason that he could not have Astrid. He would not put her in that kind of danger.
Hiccup had been careful to dispel the suspicions of the Allfather. Never allowing the other Riders to see the extent of his powers. Using as little magic as he could to get the job done and then get out. Hiding everything about himself, and hating it. Up until recently, Hiccup had been completing these missions with a sense of unease. Never sure if he was doing the right thing or not. Cuithanna had asked him to follow the rules for now though, and so he would. That didn't mean that he wasn't uncomfortable with it.
This feeling of unease had been the reason that he had made his swords. The beautiful weapons had the power to weigh the heart of the one he was tasked to destroy. If their soul was stained with evil, Hiccup killed them without hesitation. Taking their soul into Guruthos where it was condemned to eternal punishment, while Calmacil's insatiable hunger devoured the victim's heart. There could be no escape from this fate.
Though Hiccup would one day offer the trapped souls a chance at redemption. Once they had served their purpose in the army that he was amassing, he would set them free from the torment. Passing their soul over to Hel, so that she could deal with them as she saw fit. If their heart was light, however, Hiccup would help them to escape instead. It served to ease the burden of blood he still carried with him. If he could save a good soul from an unfair death sentence, then perhaps he wasn't completely lost in the darkness.
These escapes were often tricky. Using a combination of his illusion magic, as well as his impressive control of the mental arts, he would fool the others into thinking that he had killed the target. Sometimes he had even been forced to work with Toothless to 'steal' the memory of the escape and replace it with one of death. It was always risky and stretched his powers to the limit before. Not anymore.
It had now been half a year since the blood-binding. Hiccup had been sure that he was used to his new body and mind. Confident that the advanced transformation had been the only side-effect of the ritual. It wasn't, as it turned out. As he experimented with his new body, he found that he was not actually as strong and fast as the elves. He was stronger and faster. Exponentially so. His reflexes were more like that of a dragon, rather than an elf or a human. So fast that he sometimes seemed to blur out of existence and materialize elsewhere, and he was careful to keep these unsettling abilities under wraps.
Just like after Cuithanna had marked him, for a short time Hiccup was almost afraid to find out what other powers he may have acquired. Then he and Toothless had discovered that they could share their eyesight. This wasn't much use for Toothless, as his vision was better than that of the elves. Hiccup had often made use of the improved sight though. Particularly the exceptional night vision that it gave him. It did have the unfortunate side effect of leaving Hiccup with the eerie slit pupils and luminous eyes of a dragon for a while. Only Ilweran had ever seen this, and it had unnerved his elven friend greatly. Though, as the true friend he was, Ilweran had never asked him about it or mentioned it to another.
Eventually Hiccup found that he did not need to use the shared sight anymore. His own eyes had gradually become equivalent to the night fury's. His other senses increasing beyond what he ever imagined to be possible. He could smell blood in the air from a great distance and tell what creature it was from. He could feel textures and see colours that he had never even known existed. Along with an additional sense that allowed him to feel the gentle waves in the air that came from magic use.
His nails and teeth grew sharper. His canine teeth slightly longer than they used to be. Almost resembling fangs now. Hiccup couldn't imagine ever fighting with tooth or claw though, so he cut his nails down short and stuck with his blades instead. Thank goodness he hadn't gotten scales or grown wings. That would be pretty hard to explain to the Council. Though he had no idea what time would bring for him or Toothless.
Thankfully his greatly expanded mind was able to somehow make sense of this chaos, as well. Taking note of each new discovery, before setting it aside and compensating for it. Pulling them out occasionally for study. Hiccup was also very careful to keep these changes hidden from all the others. He already stood out among the riders. They did not need to know that he was now part dragon as well. He was already feared enough. Especially after he had shown up at Odin's palace of Valaskialf looking like an elf.
His heightened awareness and increased magic made it far too easy to read thoughts and emotions now. Often he had to consciously block the world out, instead of straining to unlock it. He had heard every nervous thought from those around him that first day. Sensed every inkling of suspicion they had directed towards his startling new appearance. It was clear that he had dabbled in some sort of extraordinarily powerful, and likely forbidden, type of magic. They had no way to guess what it may have been though.
Hiccup had fed off their fear and suspicion. These self-professed gods should be afraid of something. They had asserted their rule for too long without checks or boundaries. Experimenting with their magic and breeding dangerous monsters with the power to destroy everything. Only to then recruit Riders to do their dirty work and clean up their messes. Trying to act as if they had not made Loki into the enemy that he was.
He had been one of them once. They had used his clever mind and arcane skill for their own gains. Taking advantage of his powers of deception, until they suddenly decided that he couldn't be trusted anymore. Then they had hunted him down and trapped him. Bound to a rock with his own murdered son's entrails and forced to suffer in a cave with only his wife and a venomous serpent for company. The faithful woman protecting him from the snake's venom as best she could, but never able to save him. It was no wonder that the man wanted revenge on those that had used him and tortured him. Wouldn't anyone?
Shortly after that first Samhain, Hiccup had taken to visiting Loki in his cave from time to time. That was how he had learned about the ring. Singled out and alienated for his heritage, Loki had created his own ring to conceal his ice giant lineage. Concealing his blue skin and allowing him to blend in with the Æsir. None but Odin knew of this ring and its magic, for the Allfather had been the one to suggest it. He had wanted his adopted son to be welcomed in Asgard during those early years. Now they were sworn enemies. Loki always looking for some way to get free and fulfill his destiny, and Odin doing everything in his power to keep the Trickster trapped and powerless.
So it was that Hiccup found himself in the halls of the Council, receiving another mission. Apparently the Allfather had seen alarming signs that there was a rider causing trouble in Midgard. He was suspicious that this rider may be a bonded one that had sided with Loki. Unfortunately Elder Noldo did not have much information on the matter. Odin had been strangely vague with details. All they knew was that the rider was based somewhere in the far North.
Hiccup agreed without hesitation. This would make for the perfect opportunity to create his own ring without drawing attention to it. Of course he could have travelled to Midgard on his own, but questions would be asked if anyone caught wind of it. This way, he would be there on Order business. No one would see any reason to be suspicious of his actions. Once he was out of the upper level, he was free to do as he wished. Thanks to Bríghid's amulet, Odin had never been able to scry Hiccup anyways. A fact that never failed to anger the Allfather.
After gearing up in his armour and cloak, he met up with Ilweran. The two of them opting to have Heimdall send them through Bifröst, purely for ease. It did make the trip much quicker, jumping between the realms almost instantly. Despite this, Hiccup usually preferred to travel through the void. It may be more dangerous and take much longer, but it was nearly impossible to track someone through the land between levels. The strange magic of the void disguising the movements of those within it. Hiccup and Ilweran had been through so many times now though that they hardly noticed the pull of the energies anymore.
As they came through the gateway over open ocean, Hiccup looked around at the world he used to know. It had been over two years since he had left this realm. Only returning for brief stints of time if the Order needed a job done. This place now seemed especially strange with his new eyesight. The ocean and sky holding colours that he had never known were there. Ilweran gave him a few moments to take it in before gesturing towards the north.
"Shall we get this over with? I am quite certain that I know where this mysterious rider is. Just as I am quite certain that I know who this rider is. If I am right, our task here will be simple and our intervention will likely be unnecessary." This was the most Hiccup had heard Ilweran say up to this point.
Looking at his friend in shock, he asked, "what are you saying? If you know who this rider is, then why did you not tell Elder Noldo? Why bring us on a fool's errand?" Of course Hiccup knew that Ilweran also had his own reasons to want some unquestioned time in the human realm. It just wasn't like him to keep something like this from Hiccup, or trick his way into a mission. Ilweran was the good boy. Sort of.
Ilweran simply smiled and winked at him. "We all have our own little secrets, do we not. I have someone that I would like you to meet. I have been meaning to visit my daughter anyways, and it is easier to do so without suspicion if the Order are the ones sending me here. Now come on, let us not sit here over open water all day. We will attract the sea monsters." Then the blonde man laughed as he spurred Tintallë forward. His shout of "race you" echoing back to Hiccup over the sound of the waves.
"Like they have a chance," Toothless growled as Hiccup chuckled. His blood brother had a point. No dragon could beat a gigantic, bonded night fury. They would have to hold back just to make it a race. Laughing as well, the pair took off after Ilweran and Tintallë. Easily catching up to the huge white monstrous nightmare.
Seeing them on her tail, Tintallë turned and sent a stream of fire at Toothless. Trying to slow him down. Tucking his giant wings in, Toothless effortlessly spun under the flame. Rolling over on his back and shooting a tiny blast of his own that exploded in front of the nightmare. Tintallë's smaller wings and larger body made her have to perform an awkward mid-air twist that almost unseated Ilweran. Toothless shot another blast then, causing the nightmare to complete the roll. Ilweran coming loose from his saddle and falling towards the ocean with a shouted curse.
Quick as a flash, Toothless flipped around and dove. Catching the falling elf in his forepaws before swooping up to gently place him back on Tintallë. Hiccup and Toothless laughing themselves silly the whole time as Ilweran attempted to fix his tousled hair. "That is what happens when you challenge a night fury. You should know better than to fight dirty, my friend. Toothless is the King of the Skies after all," Hiccup teased as Ilweran laughed and patted Tintallë affectionately.
"Do not look at me! It was not my idea to fight dirty!" Tintallë gave a throaty chuckle as she shot a small burst of flame towards Toothless again. A mischievous glint shining in her huge, yellow eyes. As Toothless grumbled at her, the two riders burst out laughing. The hours of flight passing in a blur of pleasant banter between friends.
Hiccup had always been surprised by how well he and Ilweran got along with each other. Becoming friends almost immediately after Hiccup arrived in Asgard despite the centuries of difference in their ages. Then becoming as close as brothers over the years Hiccup had been living on Alfheim. He respected the half-elf greatly and they would usually find themselves paired up for missions. This worked well, as Ilweran tended to keep his silence about the more unnatural abilities that Hiccup sometimes displayed. Just as Hiccup had kept his silence about Ilweran having a daughter on Midgard.
Hiccup had only met his daughter twice. Both having been while he was still human, and each memorable in their own right. Minden, named for the place in which she was born, was a beautiful and free-spirited creature, with the white-blonde hair, tanned skin, and amber eyes of her father. Standing just over 6' tall with the willowy figure of the elves, she also looked deceptively fragile at first sight, though she was far from it. Gifted with enhanced strength and speed, and trained to fight by her father, Minden was equally skilled with both blade and wit. She and Hiccup had sparked up a friendship almost immediately following that first introduction.
When Minden had learned of Hiccup's past as a mercenary in Rome, she had assumed that she had finally found a sparring matchup that would be relatively equal. Unfortunately for her, she hadn't banked on Hiccup's excess of arcane ability, and his aptitude with enhancement magics. Despite that first defeat, Minden still took every chance she could to spar with Hiccup. All in the hopes of catching him off guard and beating him one day. When she had shown romantic interest in him at first too, Hiccup had been careful to deny her advances as politely as he could. Not wanting to offend her or Ilweran, but not wanting her to get the wrong idea either. Though she still tried to take his clothes off at every opportunity, at least it was simply in good fun now.
Hiccup couldn't help chuckling at the thought of what she would say when she saw his new face. Right now he was casting an illusion spell over himself to mask his elven features. Keeping one part of his vast consciousness focused on maintaining it. It was safe to show Minden though. She already knew everything. Her father was an elf after all, and so was she. As such, she usually liked to spend her time in the south though. Her and her dragon both preferring the warmer weather there. He couldn't really understand why they were flying in the opposite direction, expecting to meet her.
Her mother had died when Minden was quite young. Barely even out of her childhood years. This had left the beautiful, blonde girl with two options. Allow herself to be married off to one of the men in her village on the mainland, or set out on her own. She had chosen the latter. Having had only sporadic interactions with her father while growing up, and with no easy way to contact him at the time, Minden had simply packed what she could carry and then disappeared into the night. Eventually finding and befriending a lost and injured hobblegrunt dragon that she named Borealis.
After nursing the dragon back to health, the pair had set off to find a new life. Travelling around throughout the southern lands. Selling their skills as hired mercenaries, much the same as Hiccup had. Ilweran had eventually tracked them down again when he returned to Midgard, but as Minden was not a bonded rider, she was not permitted to leave with him. So she had stayed in the south and made her own way. Using Ilweran's familiar Ana as a way to contact each other whenever the need arose. It wasn't great, but it's the best that they could manage.
Hiccup had often thought of sending his own familiar, Lintiëram, to Astrid with a letter. Just to let her know how sorry he was. He always talked himself out of it at the last minute though. If she had managed to move on, he didn't want to remind her of the hurt. If she hadn't moved on, then he didn't want to get her hopes up. It simply wasn't good for her. So he had kept his silence and his distance.
As they got farther north, the waters grew more familiar to Hiccup. The painful ache of memory growing in his chest as he realized how close he was to home. How close he was to Astrid. Though the sadness was pointless, as he knew that he would never return there anyways. He couldn't, so he should just let it go. Still, the part of him that was human did not want to forget his previous life and those he had left behind. They were an important piece of what was good inside of him.
The air began to get colder as they neared their destination. The great speed of the bonded dragons making the distance pass in a blur beneath them. Thankful that his new body did not feel cold in the same way his human one had, the Riders pressed on. Eventually having to use their magic to keep the ice from building up on the dragons' wings as they flew above the clouds to avoid any ships. Who in Helheim would ever want to live up here? It's even colder than Berk, Hiccup found himself wondering.
Figuring they were far enough away from travelled shipping routes, the Riders banked back down below the cloud layer. Hiccup had never been this far north before. Having only traveled east and south from Berk during his time on Midgard. Looking over the expanse of chilly water ahead of them, he spotted a strange structure made of some eerie blue-green material. It appeared to be a rocky island covered in solid tongues of ice. Reaching towards the sky as if they were trying to escape the sea.
Ilweran suddenly banked Tintallë downwards then as he took them in close to this odd mound. When they got nearer to it, Hiccup realized that it really was made of ice. The strangest ice he had ever seen. "What do you think bud," he asked Toothless. The large night fury following Ilweran and Tintallë towards an opening in the side of the rock face. Toothless just warbled uncomfortably at him as they swooped into the tunnel behind the nightmare. Both huge dragons having to keep their wings tight to their bodies to get through the passageway.
Finally it opened up into a large cavern on the inside of the island. It was extremely dark, but that mattered little. Hiccup's new eyesight cut easily through the gloom. Allowing him to see that they were in a large room that had tunnels leading off of it in every direction. Suddenly he felt a presence approaching from one of these tunnels. A presence that he immediately recognized as the bright amber spark of Minden's guarded mind.
The slim woman came running into the cavern just as the Riders jumped to the cave floor. A golden eagle flying along behind her. "You made it! I got your message with Ana yesterday," she exclaimed happily as she launched herself at Hiccup. He caught and hugged her. Laughing and spinning her around before setting her back on her feet. Then she stepped away to hug her father. "It's so good to see you two!"
They both returned the sentiment, and Minden turned to smile at Hiccup again. "Welcome to the Sanctuary," she proclaimed brightly. "A protected home for dragons that have been rescued from hunters, trappers, or for any dragons seeking shelter." Then she turned to Ilweran. "Val should be back any time now. She just went out on a scouting mission. The hunters in the North Sea are getting more active, and we want to know why." Ilweran nodded and glanced over at Hiccup, but before he could say anything they both heard the sound of wings approaching the cavern.
"That should be Val now, I would think," Ilweran said with a smile. As one, the group turned and looked towards the entrance. A moment later, a handsome tan stormcutter sailed out of the dark tunnel. Opening its four wings wide to gently land before them. A rider in a strange suite and helmet hopping down from its back. The new rider reached up to remove their helmet, revealing a striking face with bright green eyes and long auburn hair. A spark of something twinged unexpectedly in Hiccup's mind. Almost like a memory.
The woman was older, likely near his own father's age, but still very beautiful. Her face narrow and delicate, with slanting almond shaped green eyes over prominent cheekbones. She was also very definitely a human. Hiccup figured this was probably the dragon rider that Odin had seen. If they were rescuing dragons from hunter ships, that would definitely lead to some disturbances. Hunters rarely gave up their trophies without a fight, after all.
Ilweran was right. This mission would be a quick and pointless one after all. Perhaps he should see if Minden wanted to accompany him to Rome. She was always up for a little adventure and violence. Ilweran greeted the woman warmly then; shaking Hiccup from his thoughts. Clearly they already knew each other well enough.
Then Ilweran turned and gestured towards him. "Valka, I would like to introduce you to Hiccup Haddock. One of our newest bonded riders." Wait, what?! Valka? That was my mother's name...
Hiccup turned his full attention on the woman now. Taking in the uncomfortably familiar green eyes, dark auburn hair that almost appeared brown, and aristocratically high cheekbones. All too similar to the features that he, himself, used to see in the mirror to simply be coincidence. The woman was looking back at him with equal parts shock and shame. Her eyes roving over his face as she too realized exactly who he was.
She reached out one hand towards him, almost as if she wanted to confirm that he was real. Opening her mouth as if about to speak, but no words came out. Hiccup himself was frozen in shock. His mother was alive! She had been alive all of these years, and living in a dragon sanctuary no less?! So many conflicting emotions were flashing through his mind that it was all a blur. Happiness, anger, sadness, guilt, surprise, and horror. All of it tinged with a strong sense of abandonment. His face displaying nothing of the storm swirling within.
Then the woman dropped her hand back to her side as she met Hiccup's eyes for a moment. Searching them for some hint of recognition or acceptance. She would never find it. Looking back at Ilweran, he shoulders visibly drooped as she sighed. "I know who he is," she confessed. "This man... Is my son."
_
Behold... The creation myth of the Norse! (With some artistic licence taken, of course) :P Also, Loki is traditionally Odin's adopted brother in true Norse mythology, but I have to agree with Marvel for once. He is much better as Thor's brother.
Wow, lots of stuff to process in this chapter. Hopefully that cleared up some of the questions that people had been left with. Such as:
- Why does Hiccup look like an elf?
- Why isn't he more dragon-like instead?
- Who is Cuithanna? If you missed it, Cuithanna is the name the elves gave to Yggdrasil.
* Basically it is 'Giver of Life' vs 'Terrible One's Horse'. Which one would you prefer, really...lol
- Can Hiccup hide his appearance with magic?
- Who is the man in the cave?
Hiccup, meet your child-abandoning mother, Valka. How do you guys think he's going to react to this surprise? I know how I would, in his place...