Scales lashed into stone by years of bitter cold. Movement non-existence to as not be there. Just another drift of snow piled high season after season. Yet it stirred. It shifted. Snow fell. Twin eyes opened, staring at a world not seen for time unknowing. A heartbeat, thumping in time to the wind. The wind a herald. The call whispered over distance. Slight. Tiny. Growing. Pulsing within. Tugging. Must go. Must answer. Wings not used since left to guard twitching. Talons shifting, scraping. Movement paused. Memory rising. Caution echoing. Excitement tempered. Stamped down by discipline, by loyalty, by knowledge. Duty undone. Unable to leave. Unable to respond. Twin eyes closed. Waiting. Always waiting. Waiting for the call to grow. A snowdrift once more. The wind shifting, moving on.
Eydis paused as the wind rattled the Great Hall doors. They opened and Stoick, Spitelout, Gobber, and Brynjar walked in. The doors closed. One of the dragons, Meatlug by the sound of the shot, relit the fire the wind racing into cavern blew out. Eydis and several others hurried to bring the four men some warm mead. They took the offered tankards and drank heartily. Silence reigned.
"Storms be over," Stoick informed everyone. "We be free ta leave the Hall. If ye find yer house damaged we'll get it fixed right up. Everyone take care as ye leave. Storms may be finished with us now, but the snow be piled high and the steps be frozen."
Eydis turned away as many around her began to shuffle to the doors. By the set of Brynjar's shoulders, she knew their house was undamaged. She would let the others head out before her. Let them check their own homes out. She had more on her mind right then.
When she had paused just before the doors opened, she had watched as Baneson moved from on side of the Hall to other. Stoick had placed him in the jail for three days but the storms had lasted longer so once his time was done, Stoick had the lad released.
During that week, the Vikings had passed the time with song, stories, and games. Hilda, Baneson, Padrig, and the helmsman prevented the dragons from really taking part in the unintended festivities. Hilda and the helmsman seemed to realize the dragons were not as they once thought. Padrig seemed to understand the dragons offered no harm if left be. Baneson, however, seemed bent on sitting and glaring at Hiccup, which caused all the dragons to still be on edge. Even hearing the story of how Hiccup and Toothless changed the world did nothing to soften the glare.
Eydis had kept her eyes upon Baneson, depsite feeling anger and guilt rush through her. Eydis watched the nasty lad to ensure he left Hiccup alone. A silent way to repay what she owed him and to try to lessen her guilt. Guilt renewed with each telling of the story. Guilt add upon by Baneson confirming what Fishlegs had told her.
Of all the memories she had relearned after Gyda returned, one stood out above all others. Hearing Stoick tell his own son that the lad had been the worst Viking Berk had ever seen. It had not been just anger at Stoick that prompted her to slap him. She had been angry at herself as well. Hiccup had been cast aside and left to be forgotten. She had cast him aside and while she had strived to do all she could to repay him, learning he had been told to stay away from meals in the Hall except once a day drowned her in guilt.
She had been a mother. She had been his mother's best friend. She stood by Valka even though her desire to be kind to the dragons afforded the woman few friends. Eydis knew she should have seen the signs. She should have paid more attention.
Eydis also knew she had not been the only one to drown in guilt after Baneson's public confession. Those in charge of cooking and feeding the tribe made sure Hiccup received a double portion at each meal. Her future son-in-law took the food with grace and dignity most would never show. Eydis was no fool though. She could see the cooks' actions weighed upon Hiccup. Anyone who still had stupid beliefs Hiccup would prove a poor chief should hear Hiccup whisper his worry to Astrid that the double portion would cause someone else to have less.
"Chief Stoick, did ye see Trader Johann at da docks when ye walked da village?" the helmsman from the Shivering Shores asked, drawing Eydis' attention.
The man sounded worried.
"No," Stoick said. "Should I've?"
Eydis watched the man frowned.
"Johann be at Shiverin' Shores," the helmsman said. "He said Berk be his next port of call. He should've been right behind us."
Eydis watched as Stoick's brow furrowed. If what the helmsman said was true, Johann should have made port not long after they did. Eydis knew not how the seas fared with the storm, but four days was a long time to be overdue.
"Dad," Hiccup said, walking from where he and Astrid had been sleeping, leaned against Toothless and buried under all the hatchlings and young stuck in the Hall as well.
Eydis noted her daughter did not seem pleased even as she followed Hiccup over to his father.
"Toothless and I can go search for Trader Johann."
Intrigued, Eydis walked closer in time to see Stoick lift an eyebrow.
"Son?" the chief questioned.
"Toothless is a Night Fury, dad. His speed will help us cover much of the distance between here and the Shivering Shores."
"And ye back up?"
Hiccup tilted his head. "Sharpshot's going."
"But not Astrid?" Stoick asked, sounding as surprised as Eydis felt.
Ever since the betrothal had become official and know throughout the tribe, Hiccup and Astrid were only really apart when they slept in separate houses. Eydis watched though as Hiccup's eyes flicked towards Baneson, who stood next to Padrig and Hilda awaiting their turn to leave the Hall. Hiccup looked back to his father and Eydis had to lean closer to hear his whispered words.
"The dragons see Astrid as my queen. They will obey her should the need arise. Baneson may now know the story, but I don't think he cares or wants to accept it."
Eydis watched as Stoick sighed.
"Okay, son," Stoick said. "But don't go all the way to the Shores and don't be out long."
"Sure, dad," Hiccup said before turning to Astrid and placing a gentle kiss upon her cheek. "I'll be back soon," he told her.
Astrid glared at Hiccup. "You better," she warned him through clenched teeth.
Eydis hid her smile behind a hand over her mouth, even though she was grateful this minor exchange lifted her spirits some. Watching Hiccup and Astrid navigate their courtship and betrothal did nothing to erase the guilt Eydis felt, but these small moments with them did server to temper it.
Prince: If they ask her or if something drastically changes. She did that in Two Worlds: One Family when Dogsbreath exiled himself.
Kirika: Hehe, well, as you can see from the beginning of this chapter, things are stirring.