Things are going pretty pleasant to me during holidays. How about yours? I'm waiting for the third How to train your Dragon movie right now.
Chapter 6
The crowd gathered by the seaside when the dragons landed appealing on the Island of Berserk. Riders and their chief jumped from the backs of their dragons. Stoick took the lead, and Astrid followed him with her axe in her hand, analyzing the crowd and the island for a potential danger that could threaten their chief. Snotlout and Fishlegs were arguing about whether Snotlout's flirting would provoke Hiccup, and the twins were talking trash. Their dragons followed behind them.
"This must be their heyday, just look at their armada," said Fishlegs.
"They surely replaced their seaside huts by forts and ballistae," added Astrid.
"Great advent, we were waiting for you muttonhe… I mean Berkians. Anyway, welcome to Berserk," Dagur showed up from the crowd, followed by Savage and a few soldiers.
"You enriched your armed force, right?" said Stoick, "preparing for another war?"
"Yes… no, no, no, absolutely not. We passed that time period." replied Dagur reluctantly, "Those ships are protecting our trade routes from pirates."
"No arbitrary moves," said Astrid quietly to the other Riders, "we don't want any troubles with these guys."
Dagur totally disregarded the Riders, yet he chatted with Stoick along the way to the hall brotherly. He showed lots of enthusiasm to his guests and definitely wanted them to feel unstressed.
They walked along a beach with light yellow sand and a great view of the ocean and the horizon. Meanwhile hundreds and hundreds of catapults, ballistae, trebuchets, and heavy weapons lined up beside the shoreline, and a couple of ships docked next to the beach. Some workers gathered around loading weapons onto the ship.
"Those weapons are for display purpose, right?" Snotlout asked, pointing at the weapons.
"No… Yes, yes, yes. We trade and export weapons to other tribes in the Archipelago," answered Dagur, "Those are some high-quality weapons. The catapults can launch more than half a mile, and the ballistae can destroy a ship's mast in one shot."
"Mmmm, trading weapons? Or using weapons as a currency? Never heard of that before," said Stoick.
"Chief," said Astrid to Stoick, avoiding Dagur, "we can see that those weapons are not for trade. There's something we need to elicit from the Berserkers during this trip."
Stoick thought about it for a second, then he slowly nodded his head. He was trying to say something to Dagur, but Dagur already started talking.
"We should get down to business so that we won't waste your time around here," Dagur said quickly pointing to the hall, "we have some papers to sign."
"I think why don't we follow the tradition first before getting down to business," said Stoick.
"What tradition," Dagur turned around.
"The chief of a tribe should take a tour around the land with the visiting chief. So, do you mind if..."
"I really hate that guy," Dagur said to himself, then he changed his tone, "If you insist."
"Lead the way."
Hiccup enjoyed his time in the warm bathtub, yet the water seemed to release his pain and stress from the past three or four weeks. He felt all comfortable even when the bath water contained some of his blood from the injuries.
The last time he took a warm bath was about one or two months ago, in his hut back on Berk, after a whole day of flying with Toothless and working on his project and listening to his father's "how to become a chief". He still remembered that bath, not because of taking a bath on Berk was rarely done by Vikings, but of Astrid. She joined him in the bathtub that night and they shared a short but wonderful time together.
Heather wasn't anything like Astrid, but she gave him this feeling that Astrid was around him. He stared at the ceiling of the house, which was adorned with different paintings. Hiccup couldn't name any of those paintings, but they seemed unique and expensive. One picture contained The hall of Odin and Asgard, one with the Yggdrasil and the Nidhogg, and another one with the giant Ymir.
The first thing he needed to do was find his way back to Berk, and maybe Heather would be so kind to provide him a boat or something. He tried to lift his arm but the pain from broken bones abruptly stroked his brain. He put his arm back into the water again, just to feel better.
What is Toothless doing at this time? Thought Hiccup, he never left him alone for that long. Even though other dragons would keep him company, but Hiccup was the one who had the connection with him, which no other dragons or Vikings could alter.
Hiccup found his mate, but how about Toothless? As the last Night Fury in the world, if he died, there would be no Night Furies left. Hiccup thought about this problem seriously before, but Toothless always interrupted him with his warm and tender smile.
He got out of the bathtub, quickly but gently dried himself and put on the clothes which Heather left on her bed. He didn't want to aggravate his injuries or broken bones because of some stupid moves.
"This is the arena, where we train our young warriors. I think there's one on Berk as well, right?" Dagur pointed at the huge open field surrounded by different buildings and fences.
"Yes, we used that one for dragon training, but it got abandoned later on," said Stoick the Vast, "By the way, any dragons on this island?"
"Unfortunately no. Those creatures are too wild and hard to control to us," said Dagur as he led his guests around the island.
"Did you send someone?" asked Stoick to Astrid while Dagur was talking to Savage.
"Yes, chief, I sent Fishlegs and Meatlug to search the island for potential war-preparations. You know him, he is trustworthy," replied Astrid.
"Good."
When they walked near the edge of the forest, the forest emitted a loud scream that absorbed every single guest's attention. A few Terrible Terrors escaped from the forest at full speed.
"What was that?" asked Stoick as he withdrew his axe, "Wild dragons? Invaders? Do you need our help to deal with it?"
Stoick held his axe in his hand and started marching into the forest with the Riders following behind him. Dagur ran toward them and stopped them before entering the forest.
"Nothing. My soldiers will deal with it. Really, nothing to worry about." said Dagur calmly.
"Ok then," Stoick said, "I hope your men are well-trained."
In the great hall, Dagur and Stoick sat on a bleacher that Savage prepared for the meeting. Stoick was reading the treaty that Dagur just finished composing before their arrival.
"This one is not eloquently written… Mmmm… What does "weaponry privilege" mean?"
"It means that we can use any kind of weapons, including battle rams," replied Dagur.
"But we never had any weapon limits before. We are Vikings…But it doesn't bother me, so I don't care," said Stoick.
"Oh, and an integral part of the treaty is that Berk and Berserk will develop a friendly trade route together as a sign of peace." Dagur pointed out.
"Good, I like that idea," said Stoick as he signed his name below the document and handed it back to Dagur.
After Dagur signed it as well, the two chiefs stood up and shook their hands. "I hope your assistant will start working on the things mentioned by the treaty," Stoick gestured to Savage.
"Of course, he will do that immediately. Am I right Savage?" asked Dagur.
"Yes, Sir," said Savage respectively.
When they were in the air with their dragons, they flew into the clouds where the Berserkers couldn't see them. Fishlegs and Meatlug were already waiting for them.
"Any signs? We didn't find anything on the island, except those heavy weapons," said Astrid.
"Yes, Meatlug and I found two suspicious things," Fishlegs showed to them the map of Berserk with two red circles on it, "We ascertained a hidden house at the shoreline north of the island, and a rock building deep in the forest. The building is surrounded by heavy troops, looks like they are protecting the building or something."
"I knew it. I knew they were concealing something during the visit," said Astrid.
"Astrid, you lead Fishlegs and the twins to check out the house. I and Snotlout will go to the building." appointed Stoick.
"But I want to be with Astrid before Hiccup comes back." murmured Snotlout.
"Watch your mouth, Snot-hat, I heard it," warned Astrid, "you know the rule."
"Fine, fine, no flirting whatsoever during the trip or I go under the ocean."
It was just a mediocre and lonely wooden house away from the community. No splendid decorations nor catapults, just four men stood beside it. The three dragons approached from the sky as quiet as possible.
"That's the house," said Fishlegs, "I'm sure it's not abandoned."
"We can smell the house isn't abandoned a mile away," said Tuffnut.
"How?" asked Astrid, "How do you smell a house?"
"If this house is abandoned, we would smell the dirty rotten and molten fish smack already," said Ruffnut.
"Don't even mention that." interrupted Fishlegs.
A figure emerged from the window of the house. A Viking with brown hair and two green eyes.
Even though that Viking was ambiguous from Astrid's height, but she immediately recognized him. The Viking whom she spent most of her time with and the Viking who changed the way of life on Berk. She was the only one who had the right to say to him "that's my boy". Well, except Stoick.
"That's him," shouted Astrid as she and Stormfly dived down toward the house with her axe swinging in her hand.
"Who?" asked Fishlegs, but Astrid was too far away to hear his voice.
"Just her fiancé," said Tuffnut, "If you want to watch some 'physical flirtings', follow her."
Astrid didn't devise any plans with Fishlegs, so Fishlegs believed that she would use some simple "break in - kick their ass - save the loved - get out" method.
Ruffnut turned to the ocean. She blinked. "Dagur and his ships coming in hot!" she shouted, while pointing at the sea with her spear.
At least a dozen battleships closed in with catapults and ballistae on their open decks. Fishlegs looked at the forest, more than twenty heavy armored Berserk soldiers started marching toward the house where Astrid just landed.
"Tuff, Ruff, you two try to delay Dagur, and I'll go down and help Astrid." said Fishlegs, "Let's go, girl, and teach those Berserks who is the boss."
On one of the ship's open deck stood Dagur with his axe. "Ready the catapults and the archers," he pointed at the Riders, "take down those Riders, but I don't want bodies, I want prisoners."
When Stormfly landed beside the house, Heather's four guards picked up their weapons and tried to protect the house against Astrid. But Stormfly took them out easily with her dragon fire and spine shots.
"Good job, girl," Astrid patted Stormfly on her head, "Stay here and look out for other Berserkers, and I'll go in and meet my boy."
When she broke open the door with her axe, a girl in the room already held a double-sided in her hands. Astrid stroked her shoulder with her axe, but the girl blocked Astrid's axe with her own. Then she threw a punch right into Astrid's face, forced her to back up.
"Shit!" cursed Astrid. She picked up a chair near her and kicked it toward the girl. She cut the wooden chair in half with the axe, but Astrid's foot met her face and knocked her out before she could dodge away.
Astrid brought up her axe and pointed at the girl's neck, ready to split her neck in half.
"Stop! Astrid, don't kill her!" someone shouted from the bedroom. Hiccup ran out from the room. He protected his broken arm with another hand and brought Astrid's axe down. He knelt down beside the unconscious Heather and checked if she was still alive.
Astrid stood there, she couldn't figure out what just happened. When the familiar sound came into her ears, she shivered a little.
"Hiccup? I spent more than a week finding you and you were hanging out with her? On this piece of shit island?" Astrid shouted with furious, brought her axe up again, "Are you serious? You are... "
She could say no more. Hiccup stood up and covered her lips with his. His kisses were hard and thirsty, like a dragon who never tasted fish or a Viking who never drank water. Astrid froze for a moment. Then she felt the anger and furious melt away slowly through his lips. She dropped her axe on the ground and put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her.
"Forgive me, Astrid," said Hiccup, "I'll explain later."
"Ok then," Astrid held on to his arm, "Let's get out of here first."
"Ahhh…"Hiccup let out a painful cry, "Don't touch my arm…"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Astrid said carefully and released him. She ran her fingers along his arm gently, so that she could feel the broken bones of his, "Who did this? That girl?" She pointed at Heather.
"No, someone else," said Hiccup, he looked at her face, "But I missed you, every single day after I left you."
"Me too," Astrid hugged him, "I missed you too. I couldn't live without you, I couldn't bear the loneliness and the trivial work on Berk. Come, I will get Gothi when we get back."
She kissed him again while her hand held onto his jaw.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Fishlegs shouted from outside, "I don't want to interrupt, but I and Meatlug are risking our lives out here protecting you two from the fearless Berserkers, and I think they called for backups. So you better stop that nonsense. We need to go, right NOW! You can continue on with it when we get back to Berk."
Another group of Berserker soldiers appeared from the forest, and a few arrows landed beside Fishlegs' feet.
"That was close," he said, "Meatlug, take out those archers!"
A fireball shot out from Meatlug's mouth and landed among the archers, and the explosion knocked them down to the ground. Some of the archers caught fire on their uniforms.
A big piece of rock landed a few feet away from Fishlegs and created a small crater. A catapult on one of the ships launched it. Fishlegs could see green Zippleback gas flown among the ships and frequent explosions with soldiers screaming in pain jumping into the sea. At least the twins were trying their best.
Astrid helped Hiccup climb up to Stormfly's back. With a broken arm that wasn't an easy job to Hiccup. Astrid jumped on as well, and Hiccup held on to Astrid's waist with one hand just in case he fell off from Stormfly.
"Take us out of here, girl," she said to Stormfly, then she turned to Fishlegs, "Let's go! Leave the Berserkers! We are not here to fight!"
"I'm coming. Wait up," said Fishlegs while he climbed onto Meatlug.
Rocks and arrows flew in the air around them, Fishlegs could hear the whistle sound when the arrows flew pass him. He saw the arrowheads were covered with some greenish substance.
"Watch out, dragon root arrows!" shouted Fishlegs, "I don't have to worry but you two should hide into the clouds."
"We will, but be careful as well. I know that Meatlug is immune to dragon roots but you aren't," replied Astrid.
Which character do you want to see next? Leave a comment below and tell me your thought, thank you.