Chapter 21 - Flirting & MUN:
Here we go. Hiccup thought, holding his sword out in front of him.
Though Hiccup had never used a sword in his life, he felt like he could use it pretty well. He felt confident that after all the training he had received, he could use it. Maybe not that well, but he felt he could possibly start a lot better than how he did on unarmed training.
Savas and Hiccup both held their swords in their left hands, as both of them were left handed.
Suddenly Savas charged, and swung his sword horizontally from right to left, Hiccup repeated the same motion but from the opposite angle and the swords clanged as they met.
Savas's sword slid down the length and stopped at Hiccup's handle, when Savas then twirled the sword with a grabbing effect and swung so strongly and fast that he spun the sword out of Hiccup's grip and it went flying out his hand.
Hiccup went red in the face.
The trainer laughed. "It's all right. That was your first try. Using swords is very different than unarmed combat. In time, I'm sure all this…" Savas gestured at Hiccups arms and chest, "Will be able to handle it."
Hiccup rolled his eyes. What is it with people gesturing at me?
"You just gestured at all of me." He grumbled in reply.
"I know." Smiled Savas. "Now, when you are in a sword fight and your swords clang like ours just did, don't just sit there and wait for the enemy to move. Like you paused when our swords clanged, giving me enough time to slide mine down and throw yours out of your grip. Never let that happen. Always try to move your sword away from being clanged, and aim at a body part." Savas explained.
Hiccup nodded.
"Well don't just stand there! Planning to attack me with dirt?" He exclaimed. "Go get your sword!"
Hiccup spun around and ran to get his sword, and gripped it tightly before walking back to Savas.
So they started circling each other once again, before this time Hiccup decided to charge. He attacked with his sword held high and brought it down, as Savas's met it and Hiccup brought the sword off and saw Savas going for a stabbing shot. Hiccup smacked his sword horizontally into it, stopping the advance.
Then once Savas's sword was pushed out of the way, Hiccup swung it towards the right aiming for a cutting shot across Savas's chest, but then a sudden kick from Savas's left foot smashed into Hiccup's front and he was sent blasting backwards.
Hiccup's back screeched a cry in pain, and his wounds from the whippings nearly two months ago gave a flair of warning, threatening to re-open. His sword fell out of his grip as he kept sliding along the gravel red stained dirt, tell he finally came to a stop.
"Ow."
In an instant, Savas sped up to him and leaned over.
"Oh no. Are you all right Hiccup?" He spoke, leaning down and looking into his face.
Hiccup stared into Savas's eyes, and wheezed out as his chest was hurting, "I've been better."
The soldier gave a slight smile, and offered a hand. Just as Vali came running over. "Oh my gosh are you all right?"
Going red in the face once again, "Yeah I'm fine." He took Savas's outstretched hand, and he pulled him up.
Vali walked around Hiccup to look at his back. She ran a hand over his back which made Hiccup tingle with nerves, both in pain and surprise. He smiled to himself. Then saw Savas smirking at him and he stopped.
"You're not bleeding through the shirt so that's good. Are you up for the rest of training?" She asked politely, now removing her hand, much to Hiccup's regret and walking around in front of him.
"Of course I am. I'm not that hurt." Hiccup said, blushing.
Savas smiled and chuckled. "That's the spirit."
Vali smiled too, then nodded to them and walked away to watch again. Hiccup watched her go, and then he turned his vision slightly and spotted King Harun continuously staring at him, his expression unreadable.
Losing his smile, Hiccup turned away and picked up his sword, before following Savas back over to their usual training spot in the arena.
So much for hoping to start a lot better than unarmed combat. Hiccup thought to himself.
"Ready?" Called out Savas, drawing his sword and looking inquiringly at Hiccup.
"Ready." Hiccup assured. Holding his sword firmly in his left hand.
And so sword training continued for the rest of the day till noon. By this time, Hiccup discovered that instead of bruises and aching joints that he always finished with in unarmed combat, he now had to deal with small cuts, abrasions and little punctures too from the sword. By the time Vali had signified that training was over and everybody to leave the arena, Hiccup had many of them.
Afterwards, he got the usual ruffle of hair from Savas and he told him that the private lessons were going to continue, and his first one for sword training was this afternoon at three o'clock. As usual, the lesson would go for three hours and finish at six o'clock.
On his way out, he at first got a sweet smile from Vali that made him blush and secondly something unexpected.
Tim, a fellow trainee who according to Vali was coming second best in training with his trainer Halvar, walked up to him as soon as he exited the arena.
"Hello Hiccup." He spoke in his deep voice, though Hiccup often found it remarkable that his voice and appearance is so masculine, compared to his extremely childish looking face.
"Oh, uhh Hi Tim." Hiccup greeted back to him. He grew a little nervous, unsure of what Tim wanted. He gave a very intimidating presence with all that muscle mass, despite his young face.
Tim smiled at him. "Hey, I just wanted to say that you are amazing at training. I've watched you and your strength is insane!" His eyes nearly bulged out of his head in excitement as he looked down at Hiccup.
"Oh…" Hiccup smiled back, his face going red. Clearly not expecting a compliment. "Uh, thanks."
Tim was practically jumping up and down on the spot like a child, Hiccup was surprised that an earthquake wasn't occurring with all that muscle banging against the ground. "I mean you were like, Bam! Wham! It's awesome bro! I mean, I've worked out since I was really young and I can't even seem to get anywhere near your level!"
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck and scraped some dirt with his feet. "Thanks. It's just…" Dragon strength? He thought. Hmmm, what do I say?
"Determination and practise I guess…" Hiccup hypothesized.
Tim laughed. "Whatever kid. Anyway, you're awesome. I'll see ya around." With that Tim spun around and bounded off.
Hiccup remained stuck to the spot, dumbfounded. He was beginning to find all this attention very strange and different. Things seemed to be changing for him as he changed himself.
He wasn't sure if he liked it or not. Back on Berk, he was always scolded, frowned upon, teased and cast aside. Here as he showed his strength in training, he was now getting well liked, cared for and had begun making friends in a place that he despised because of what it did.
Hiccup shake yourself out of it. You need to remain focused. Hiccup shook his head to himself.
Remember your mission. I need to unite the Six and conquer the evil and corruption that plagues this world.
You can't make too many friends here, because you need to realise that one day, you'll have to come back here and free all the dragons and slaves. You may even have to bring war and fight the very people who once liked you.
What if Tim, Erp, Savas and King Harun found out who you were and what you planned to do? They would cast you out, punish you for trying to stop their ways. Here, dragons are slaughtered, captured and eaten! Slaves aren't much better off! It will not be an easy task to change this!
You need to keep to your plan, so when the time comes you can escape Myrka, become free and stealthy once again.
Hiccup shut his eyes and opened them again, thinking. "Now what to do?" He muttered to himself. Training isn't till tomorrow. And my additional session with Savas is in three hours. What can I do now?
He then heard footsteps approaching from behind him and he spun around to face Vali.
"Hi Hiccup." She said warmly, Hiccup looked into her dark green eyes and nearly got lost in them. Then his eyes trailed down and he noticed the Skrill dragon mark on her arm, before he looked back up to her face again.
"H-" He cleared his throat as his heat rushed to his face and ears. "Hi."
She smiled again and walked right up to him. "So, what are you up to? It's a beautiful day." She stretched her arms upwards towards the sky and made the groaning sounds Vikings do when they stretch.
As she did this, her shirt rode up and Hiccup caught a glimpse of her creamy skin on her stomach, before he realised what he was doing and he turned quickly away to look at the cloudless sky.
"Uhh, yeah it is." He cleared his throat again.
She finished her stretch and looked down at Hiccup again, her eyes running all over his body.
"You know, I think training has done wonders for you. You're really bulking up quite quickly, do you feel like you've changed since you started training? Are you enjoying it?" She asked politely.
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck nervously, before replying, "Uh yeah I do, and I kind of feel stronger and healthier since I started. And yeah it's fun, I like learning this stuff."
She put a hand on his shoulder. "That's great. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. I'm sure you'll be nearly unbeatable and really strong by the time you've finished."
Hiccup really didn't want her hand to leave his shoulder, he liked it there.
"Maybe yeah." He said back.
She laughed, and said, "You didn't answer my question earlier. What are you up to today?" She re-affirmed. Smiling affectionately.
"Oh…" Stammered Hiccup. "Uhh, not sure. I've got a few hours till I need to be somewhere. I'm not sure what to do. What about you?"
Vali's face changed to a curious expression, "tell you what, if you're not busy, would you like to see something you're not really allowed to see, but I'll show you anyway since we're friends?"
Hiccup perked up. "Yeah! Though can I quickly change clothes? I kind of...smell in these from training." He sniffed his arm and the scent of sweat was truly there.
She chuckled, "Go for it. Meet me back here when you're ready."
"Okay."
With that, Hiccup sped off back to house one hundred and ninety five. He raced up the stairs and changed into a long sleeved shirt he had lying around, and some other brown trousers. Placing his black shirt with all the other black clothing into the basket.
He had never run anywhere in his life this fast. And he couldn't understand why either, he just really wanted to be near Vali, this feeling kept growing inside him that almost seemed to be something other than friendship, an attraction.
"Wow! You're a really fast runner!" Spoke a stunned Vali as he raced up to her and skidded to a halt.
"Thanks." He replied, wiping his head a little and panting.
"Okay, follow me."
Hiccup nodded as Vali turned around and headed back towards the arena.
As they walked over to the entrance that the recruits usually go through, they passed Erp who was walking towards the town.
"Hey Erp!" Hiccup called out cheerily.
He turned and his face brightened immediately when he saw him and Vali. "Hiccy! And Vali my lady. How are you both?"
"Very well thank you Erp Staus." Vali greeted back, "Sorry no time to chat, we must be off."
"I'm good! See you later Erp!" Hiccup said, smiling as he nodded and left.
When she approached the gate the recruits always enter she took a key out of her pocket and unlocked the lock restricting the gate, and she pushed the gate up all herself.
They passed through and she locked it again.
She walked casually down the steps towards the stained gravel in the centre of the arena, before she turned and headed to an opening of the arena inside.
Vali walked straight up the entrance, and was just about to knock when she turned to him.
"Now, when we go inside, you must follow every instruction I give you without question. Civilians aren't allowed in here, but I'm letting you in because I want to show you something to be prepared." She explained, her tone quite serious.
Hiccup nodded understandingly. "Yes ma'am. What is it I'm preparing for?" He asked.
She smiled. "You'll see."
Vali knocked three times on the large door inside the arena, and suddenly they heard a voice from the other side.
"Who is it?" Said the voice.
"It is I, Vali. Daughter of King Harun. With a guest." She shouted back at the door.
Immediately, the door began raising upwards slowly, revealing a darkened like tunnel leading evidently underground with two soldiers standing side by side just on the other side of the door.
Just above the entrance was a sign that read, 'Myrka's Underground Network.'
They saluted her, "Greetings Vali. You know civilians aren't allowed in here?" Questioned one of the soldiers.
She turned to the soldier with a nasty look on her face. "I know that scum! This guest will only be here once and will most likely become one of us soon through training. He is allowed this one supervised visit with me!"
The solder took a couple steps back and nodded out of fright.
Vali regained her composure and began walking forwards as the soldiers shut the gate behind them. "Sorry about that Hiccup."
"It's okay, but uhh, I shouldn't in here." He replied. Hiccup quickly turned around and saw the writing written on the other side of the sign as they walked past it, and it read, 'Arena.'
"No, it's okay as long as you're with me." She assured. Then they walked onwards not saying a word, the atmosphere became quite quiet as they walked through a narrow, short and dark tunnel. With flaming torches on either side being the only source of light, apart from some at the end of the tunnel.
As they approached, Hiccup noticed a sign just before he was about to walk into a certain area, and the sign read 'Armoury.'
"As you've no doubt have guessed," Began Vali, "this is the Armoury." She gestured around herself as they entered a large room that contained shelves upon shelves of weapons. Hiccup noticed weapons ranging from various shapes and sizes. Starting from types of swords, thousands of them.
Next were shields, made of wood or steel, or both. Vast numbers of them. After that came bows, arrows, spears, axes and finally, portable catapults lying flat on the ground. Not to mention thousands of body armour, helmets and protective soldier gear.
"Impressive." Hiccup complimented. "It's amazing you can fit all this stuff in here. It's a long tunnel that's quite low in height but spreads out a huge distance. Does this whole area go under Myrka for a bit I suppose?"
Vali nodded. "Yes, goes quite a long way. But this is not what I wanted to show you, keep following me."
Hiccup did so and kept on following her. Wondering what she was going to show him.
As they kept walking, they came to three separate tunnels, all of which had a sign just hanging beneath the ceiling stating where they led to. The tunnel on the left said, 'Exit & Battle Stations.' The tunnel going directly ahead said, 'Forge.' And the last one on the right said, 'Dungeons.'
Vali turned right, and went down the right tunnel as Hiccup followed.
Hiccup was now getting nervous, he wasn't about to be thrown into prison again was he?
The light from behind them became dimmer and dimmer, as the tunnel began to slope downwards, descending deeper into the earth. There was limited light now, only a few torches by the looks of it ahead of them.
Though once again, Hiccup was extremely grateful he had gained Night Fury eye sight, as he could see very clearly.
A horrible smell entered his nose, the scent of some rotting flesh and blood. He covered his nose with his hand, as the stench grew stronger.
They walked continually, until finally they entered another opening, and they met a guard standing with a torch just next to the entrance.
"My lady." The guard bowed to her.
Vali said nothing, and as they strolled past, Hiccup looked at the guard, and he narrowed his eyes at Hiccup suspiciously, watching his every move.
Hiccup dug his right hand into his pocket, while keeping his left wrapped around his nose, and walked alongside Vali.
Now they were walking past lots of cells, prison cells that were almost in complete darkness. Hiccup only got a small and quick look inside, and for the most part, he only saw the odd skeleton. Most of the cells were empty.
"Don't worry Hiccup. I'm not putting you in a cell. I'm going to show you something inside one." She smiled and kept going.
"What is it?" He asked desperately.
"You'll see."
Finally, they reached the end and here there were at least five closed steel doors running along a wall. Two guards stood outside one and bowed to Vali as she approached.
"My lady, do you want to begin production?" Asked one of the guards.
She shook her head. "No, I only want to pay it a visit with my friend here." She gestured at Hiccup.
"Very well." Replied both guards, and they were about to open it.
"Wait! Don't open it yet." Vali interrupted.
She turned to Hiccup, and grasped his shoulders whilst looking at him right in the eye. "Okay Hiccup, this will give you a big fright I'm sure. But see how much you will be able to analyse for training purposes. Unless if you fail training, which I doubt, what's in here will be irrelevant. But seeing as though I'm near certain you will win it, I'll show you."
Hiccup nodded to her.
She continued on, "I am about to show you the dragon you will have to slay before the Myrkian Army, King Harun, all of Myrka's Vikings plus myself. Here we go." And she waved to confirm to the guards to open the door.
He barely had enough time to digest that fact, before he was shoved into the cell, while Vali stood next to him, and there in front of them both, lay a muzzled and chained dragon that Hiccup recognised instantly. It was Toothless.