Chapter 20: Regrets and Decisions
The sun reigned above at its highest point. The sky was as blue as the ocean with not a single cloud in sight. A gentle breeze wafted across the lands. Hiccup and Elewynn stood facing each other at the center of the village preparing for their duel as others moved along with their business.
"Are you ready Hiccup? This time I am going to get you for sure!" yelled Elewynn with her wooden sword held firmly forward.
"I am ready when you are," Hiccup returned with his wooden sword held casually by his side.
Elewynn charged while Hiccup held his ground. Careful not to reopen his wounds Hiccup deflected each one of Elewynn attacks. With each duel Elewynn was getting better. Her strikes hit harder and faster. From above, below and behind, the angles of attack Elewynn swung her wooden sword increased. The complexity of her attacks grew as well with each strike setting up for the next.
However, Elewynn's training was far from complete. So focused on breaking Hiccup's defenses, Elewynn neglected her own. With a sweep of his legs, Hiccup tripped Elewynn causing her to fall onto her back and ended the duel.
Gasping for air Elewynn's chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to regain her breath. A wave of laughter filled the air which made Elewynn freeze from her dog like panting. Its seems that the other people were not going about their business as they first appeared. Red as a tomato Elewynn pulled herself up to look at her mockers. With a glare Elewynn could see passing villagers laughing at her for once again losing to Hiccup.
"Shouldn't you give up Elewynn? You keep losing all the time," Joan asked, the little farmer girl that was hung on to her mother's apron.
"No!" Elewynn retorted back refusing to give in to all the laughter and mocking. Getting up, Elewynn quickly picked up her training sword and moved to attack position.
"Shouldn't we take a break first?" Hiccup asked watching Elewynn shakily getting back up."
"I can go again," Elewynn declared.
With a sigh of amusement, Hiccup raised his sword, ready to fight Elewynn once more.
It has been three days since Hiccup arrived at the village. His body still exhausted and was still healing from his wounds. With Toothless in a similar state Hiccup had no choice but to stay despite wanting to leave.
It was wasn't long before until Elewynn ended lying on the ground from exhaustion once more. Her sword once again not hitting Hiccup a single time. With another laugh Hiccup bent down to reach for Elewynn and help her get up, when suddenly, the loud clang of the town bell rung furiously.
"The Romans are here, the Romans are here!"
The villagers in fear for their lives scrambled as they picked up their children and ran to their homes. The village grounds quickly became devoid of any people as the sound of the village bell continued to ring.
"Hiccup you will need to leave until it is safe to return," the chief directed as he ran up to the only two people left outside. It had been previously agreed that Hiccup as a non native and who wore strange armour would stick out like a sore thumb and raise too many questions. Nothing good could come out of making trouble with the Romans.
"Can I go with him father?" Elewynn asked, more interested in staying with Hiccup than sitting at home doing chores and waiting for Hiccup to come back.
"It's best that you stay here Elewynn. I won't be able to protect you should I be spotted." Hiccup said with an approving look from the chief.
Frowning in disappointment Elewynn couldn't help but let out a huff as her father led her back to their home. In contrast Hiccup waved back at Elewynn and gave her a reassuring smile.
Spinning around Hiccup took off into deep dark forest.
In a single day the population of the humble village exploded as the army increased the population by more than double.
The Roman legion came with thundering footsteps and situated themselves outside the village as they were much too large for the small village to occupy. Servants and apprentices started to unpack supplies from carts and construct tents. Oddly enough the number of non soldiers and supplies vastly outnumbered the soldiers that they were meant to support. But oddest of all was the large number of iron cages.
Chief Geiroor couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine as he imagined what would happen to his village should the Romans decide to attack. A lone Roman with armor that identified him as captain stepped out from amongst the lined Roman soldiers and walked to the village.
Alone Chief Geiroor stood to face the Roman.
"Are you the chief of this village?" The bronze plated captain asked walking up to him.
"I am and as chief I welcome you to our humble village and we are honored to be hosts to the Roman army.
"The general within our legion is leading the charge of our main forces and other legions under his command towards the northern coast. The general has decided that your village will be the location of a new Roman fort and outpost that will house the General and his legions once he has returned," the captain rattled off.
"I assume there will no objections to our takeover of the village," the captain asked.
"Of course," Chief Geiroor said confidently. Having already expected to give in to whatever terms the Romans wanted.
"The Roman legion will be moving forward after a short break and leaving mostly everything else behind. Any thievery will be caught and severely punished," the captain said.
"I understand captain. I will instruct the others to stay away from your camp," Geiroor replied.
With a grunt the captain turned and started to head back to his legion.
With a massive sigh, the chief let out the partial air that he was holding within us gut. Mimicking the captain the chief turned around and made his way back to inform the village and their future. From the pit of his stomach chief Geiroor couldn't help but feel like the days of a simple and isolated village would soon be over.
OoOoO
Closing his eyes Hiccup's instincts told him that Toothless was hiding out in the cave north of his location. Without hesitation Hiccup started to make his way there. The forest was dense with wildlife and the sounds of their activity echoed within the forest before escaping from the beams of light that managed to break through the dense forest.
But as Hiccup walked deeper in, the sounds of the forest grew quieter and quieter. The chirps of squirrels were less and less, the sound of cracking twigs from moving animals grew less and less and the flaps and cawing of birds became non existent. A break in the forest at the foot of a small hill showed the cave he was looking for.
Entering the cave Hiccup found Toothless asleep. The ferocious Nightfury shamelessly slept upside down with his tongue sticking out. Looking at the state that Toothless was currently in it was hard to believe that other animals could be so scared of him.
With a bemused look Hiccup picked up a stick and started to poke at the sleeping dragon.
"Time to wake up buddy, I'm here now." Hiccup said. With a sneeze Toothless blew a puff of blue fire that splattered across the cave wall. Eyes opened, Toothless quickly swivelled upright and shook his head to get the blood flowing once more.
Looking and seeing that the intruder was Hiccup, the Nightfury tackled his dragon riding partner onto the ground and let loose a fury of licks.
"Good to see you too buddy," Hiccup laughed as he tried to avoid the loving he was getting from Toothless.
"That's enough now buddy," Hiccup said. Placing his hand on Toothless' snout, Hiccup shoved his partner back. Wiping the the saliva from his his face, Hiccup took a look at himself and could tell that he was completely drenched. Returning back to this villages completely covered in dragon saliva would definitely be suspicious.
"Great, now I have to take a dip in water somewhere to get all of this off," Hiccup grumbled and scolding his dragon. Toothless, in the face of an scolding Hiccup, returned an amused gargle, with cutesy wide eyes and complete obliviousness to Hiccup's predicament.
With a sigh Hiccup couldn't be mad at his best friend.
"So how are you doing buddy? Healing up well?" Hiccup said as he started to walk to the end wall of the cave.
Running past Hiccup, Toothless shot the ground with a blast of fire and sat himself at the back end of the cave wall in the shape of a crescent moon.
With a grunt Hiccup sat himself in the middle and leaning his back against Toothless. The ground and Toothless' body all contributed to a warm and cozy seating.
"What are we going to do Toothless?" Hiccup asked his head leaning back and blankly looking upwards lost in thought.
"I thought that I could stop the blood shed. But the other vikings just want to fight."
"I could keep trying like I did with my dad. But Dad and I were stuck on an island fighting for the same goal of protecting our people but with different ideas. And now I can keep trying with the other viking clans but apparently they don't share the same goals as we do. And now I have given them the ability to fly far away with dragons. I can't keep chasing them until the ends of the earth."
Toothless remained unresponsive but simply listened to Hiccup's words. For Toothless being a mighty alpha dragon, he could command dragon's to his wills. But Humans were different however. Toothless would have to simply trust Hiccup on this matter.
"So many lives and villages lost. Against people who are helpless to fight back. And more wars to follow soon after. Possibly forever!" Hiccup rattled off and his arms thrown into the air before dropping lifelessly back down. "I am starting to wonder if I am making the right choice."
"What am I supposed to do as the bearer of the Gem of Fire and Ice?" Hiccup wondered.
And so the dragon and rider hid in the cave, hiding away from the world and the present to contemplate the future.
OoOoO
Later that night, the Roman legion having long marched on. Only a handful of soldiers and non soldier were left to watch over the vast amount of military and construction supplies.
Under the cover of the night Hiccup returned from his meetup with Toothless. Hiccup circled the village from the shadows to scout any possible threats and partly curious as to what Romans looked like. It did not escape Hiccup's notice the number of large metal cage that the Romans had brought with them.
Slipping in from behind, Hiccup entered the Village Chief's home to be greeted with Elewynn, Chief Geiroor and his wife Idaluna.
"Hiccup your back just in time," Chief Geiroor welcomed, "Have a seat and have dinner with us, the Roman Legion have moved on towards the northern coast."
"It's good that your back now Hiccup," Elewynn also added cheerily as she ran to pull out a seat for Hiccup. "Mom made me do all the chores and it was so boring. Lets go spar again after dinner!"
"Elewynn you are being rude to our guest," Elewynn's mother chastised, as she placed more food on to the dinner table.
"Sorry mother," Elewynn said taking her seat next to Hiccup.
Steaming hot food on the table, the head family and their guest started their dinner.
"I've been wondering about today. Something doesn't feel right." Gerioor said to Hiccup and as everyone continued with their dinner, "This much resources for a far northern borders of the empire,"
The Roman Empire has been rumoured to have grown too large for its own good and beginning to be in decline," Idaluna mentioned.
"We saw the cages did we not?" It is clear the Romans seek to claim dragons. If the Roman were somehow able to tame the dragons, the beasts would make it much easier for the Roman to maintain and continue their territorial expansion." The Chief speculated.
"We should tame our own dragons!" Elewynn declared, "That way we can fight the Romans and fight the vikings. Nobody will ever bother us again!"
"As nice as that sounds Elewynn," Her mother said, "Dragons will only bring trouble. We don't have the proper resources such that having dragons would only attract attention. Attention that would simply destroy a small village such as ours.
"You are awfully quiet over there Hiccup. Is there something you wish to say?" Gerioor asked.
Hiccup jerked his head up in response. With his head down Hiccup was barely present at the dinner table until his name was called.
"I was just lost in thought," Hiccup said, thinking about what best to say with all the different thoughts that was running through his head. "The Vikings and the Romans. It just seems like those with power, always seem to want to fight."
"Sounds like you've been isolated from the larger world. As a species we have been fighting throughout our history and I don't see that changing in the near future." The chief said.
Before Hiccup could respond, a great chill went up his spine and the flood gates of his adrenaline was released. Knocking over his chair Hiccup bursted out the doors of the chief village to the outside.
High up in the skies dragon flew towards the unsuspecting village.
"We need to leave now!" Hiccup shouted back to the family. Standing up from Hiccup's initial outburst, The Chief ran to the back to grab his sword. Explosions blew up everywhere as the dragons flew by shooting fireballs at everything they could. One of the fireball landed right in front of Hiccup and the blast wave knocked Hiccup into the air sending him flying backwards.
Hiccup!" Elewynn yelled as she and her mother ran to pick up him up.
Rumbling beneath the ground, mini earthquakes shook the furniture around as plates and cups fell from the table tops and shattered on the ground.
"Stay inside and don't leave," the Chief shouted as he ran past the group and towards the door.
"Dad let me go too I can help!" Elewynn yelled as she started to make her way to her room to grab her sword. But she was stopped short as her mother grabbed onto her.
"Let me go," Elewynn cried back to her mother.
"Stay here," Dad yelled back once more as reached the entrance door.
A Nadder bursted in through the roof and caught Chief Geiroor by surprise. The Nadder wasted no time as the dragon nabbed the father by the tips of its beak and dragged him out.
"Dad!" Elewynn cried out as she broke free from her mother's grasp and started to chase after her father.
"Elewynn wait," her mother yelled and chased after her daughter to the dangers waiting for them outside.
Hiccup was left still exhausted and still too wounded to fight but he was left with little other choice. Hiccup chased after the two with the Chief's wife following closely after. Red overwhelmed Hiccup's vision as he stepped outside. Fireballs went flying left and right and had spread to the entire village.
Screams and waves of indiscernible noises filled the air except for one constant sound.
"Get out! Get out now!" the vikings yelled out. The dragons and vikings alike dragged out the villagers from their homes. At the very center of the village, the local resident were unceremoniously pushed towards. The Roman soldiers that had staying with the supply camp were not as lucky. Those who were clad and bronze burned red hot by the fire breathing dragons before turning black and into a burnt crisp.
A spike of pained surged throughout his body as he was hit from behind, was forced to ground, and was dragged towards to gathered group along with Idaluna. Lifted from the back of Hiccup's shirt, the chief of Berk was tossed into the circled crowd.
"Quiet," the head viking yelled. The loud voice echoed and the entire village was silenced. The dragons stopped their rampage and the other vikings stopped their pillaging.
After mere painstaking seconds went by the lead viking spoke once more.
"Now which one of you is the head of this fine village," despite stereotypes the lead viking spoke with an air of confidence and poise, not typical of the brutish viking race.
"I am," Elewynn's father said standing up. Immediately the chief was forcibly grabbed and pushed towards the commanding viking.
"Did you really think that your pitiful army would be enough to stop us?" The viking laughed as he lifted up a Roman helmet for all to see. The remaining Romans amongst the captured group all gasped as they saw the helmet.
The distinct features of the helmet clearly showed that it belonged to their general. The others vikings all cheered with great pride as they showed off their most recent spoils of war. The vikings were vastly larger than the Romans but that did not stop them from strapping pieces of bronze armour strapped onto bodies. In less than a day, the vikings has wiped out an entire Roman army.
"If you desire our material goods than take it but please let my people go," Chief Geiroor said.
"Unfortunately for you more blood needs to be shed on this day," the commanding viking happily yelled.
Hiccup couldn't accept what was happening in front his eyes. He knew he had to try something to save these innocent people who were in danger because of him.
"Stop this now! Enough blood been already shed," Hiccup yelled out.
From behind once more, for his outburst Hiccup was grabbed from behind and forcibly tossed in front of the commanding viking next to Chief Geiroor.
"What's this? A little boy that wants to cry to his mommy. But sadly for you I'm not your mommy," the commanding viking jeered.
"You have nothing to gain from anymore killing," Hiccup said, "why do these people have to die?"
"Listen up boy. My gain is that I want to. I can because I have the power to take what I want and nobody else has the power to stop me. That is the difference between a man like me who has power and a little child like you that has to cry to get what he wants,"
On his knees, Hiccup could only stare up to the the commanding viking. His own eyes stared into the eyes of the cold blooded viking killer that showed amused indifference as he was about to commit a massacre.
The viking raised his right arm spurring the surrounding dragons into action. The dragons opened their mouths, glowing hot red, as they prepared to send their fireballs straight into the huddled group of villagers.
Hiccup didn't understand why this was happening. Peace was obtained for the entire archipelago. No longer would they have to worry about the deaths of their loved ones or worry about starving to death during cold winters. And yet, these viking are choosing to pillage and kill for what? Gold? Food?
And all of this was happening because Hiccup gave them dragons. If it wasn't for him, the vikings would still be on the archipelago. Countless of villages, so many people had already died. And now the villagers of this peaceful village was about to be massacred. Elewynn and her family was going to die.
There had to be something that Hiccup could do, someway for Hiccup to fix all of this. Anger welled up inside of Hiccup, his hands shaking in rage. Anger at the vikings who refused to change, anger at himself for not foreseeing this.
"Stop!" Hiccup cried out. His voice echoed in the vast open space and cut through the cries of the villagers and the cheers of the vikings. Silence subsequently filled the destroyed village as the other dragons closed their mouths and returning their fires back into the void.
"Hey what's going on," a viking yelled as he pulled on the metal reins of his gronkle that stood frozen.
Hiccup's eyes bright red, kneeled amongst the huddled group of villagers. All eyes were on him as his commanding voice had pierced through the soul of the villagers.
But Hiccup wasn't done yet for the lead viking was right.
Hiccup was still too injured to fight but that didn't matter anymore. Lifting himself up to a standing position with his knees.
"I can't allow any of you to live," Hiccup sadly said, regretting what he was forced to do. These vikings were going to kill and they would continue to kill as their solution to everything. There was only one way to get them to stop.
The dragons responded as they freed themselves from their reigns and turned on their riders. Caught by surprise the viking were quickly slaughtered. Viking fell from the sky while others were tossed aside or burned to death.
The villagers could do nothing but watch the carnage that was in front of them. By the time it was all over there was only one vikings left.
The viking commander fell backwards as he saw his viking brethren get slaughtered by the dragons. Taken by complete surprise the viking was helpless but to stare blankly.
From the viking, Hiccup had learned one thing. Dragons were simply too powerful. He had too much power. No man should have this much power and Hiccup had given the vikings this power.
Walking closer to the viking, Hiccup towered over the fallen viking. It was at this point Hiccup and the commanding viking made eye contact. It did not escape his notice from his peripheral vision as two Nadders stood behind Hiccup. It became clear to the viking that the dragons were not in fact murdering everything in sight but stood in waiting for the command of Hiccup.
The tables had been turned and now Hiccup was the one with power. Hiccup could easily use his power to tell the viking what the true difference between what a man and what a child was. How a real man of fortitude uses power compared to a child.
But what would be the point in talking with a dead viking?
Without a word Hiccup watch as the two Nadders burned that last remaining viking. A scream filled the air as he was burned alive.
With the final viking dead, the dragons all roared and filled the air The people all screamed and covered themselves in fear of being next. However, their deaths would not come this day as the dragons opened their wings and took to the skies. And amongst the confusion Hiccup took his chance to slip away.
With a strained breath, Hiccup quietly moved pass the stunned villagers and made his way into the forest.
OoOoO
Hiccup's mind was still raddled as pushed himself deeper into the forest. Out of combat his Berserker strength waned. Groaning in pain, Hiccup leaned himself against a tree.
"Wait Hiccup!" A voice cried out to him. Turning around Hiccup saw Elewynn emerge from the shadows of the forest and throwing herself at Hiccup.
Following shortly behind Elewynn were two more figures. The three people who he got to know very well in the past three days had all suddenly appeared before him.
"Elewynn, Chief Geiroor, Idaluna. What are you doing here?" Hiccup asked as he saw husband and wife following of the child that had wrapped herself around his waist. "The village is in chaos shouldn't you be there to take control?"
"My brother will keep things together until I return," Chief Geiroor responded, "You saved my daughter's life again, not only that but you saved the entire village. I don't know how you controlled the dragons like that but it does not matter. I am incredibly grateful for what you did for us today."
"You are still badly wounded. We might not have our home anymore but it would reflect poorly on us if you don't stay and let us take care of you until you heal properly." Idaluna added.
Hiccup shook his head. Hiccup would have loved to stay. Despite their short time spent together, Hiccup felt a certain connection to the family and to Elewynn herself.
"It's time for me to go, I have something very important that I still need to do," Hiccup said.
"Will you come back someday and teach me that trick you did with the dragons?" Elewynn asked.
"I'm sorry Elewynn but that is not a promise I can keep. I don't think i'll be ever be able to come back here." Hiccup replied.
"Then don't go and stay with us." Elewynn cried.
Elewynn's word echoed deep within Hiccup thoughts, it was his final test on whether or not he had the strength to carry out what he was about to do. To stay and keep the way things were. If Hiccup moved on with his plans, there would be no turning back.
The Gems of Fire and Ice, the portals to and from the legendary Asgard. Only one of them was key to his plans and the other would be needed to be hidden away forever.
Kneeling down to Elewynn's height, Hiccup reached to his neck and pulled out the Gem of Ice and placed the gem around her neck.
"Your pretty gem," Elewynn gasped as she remembered how protective Hiccup was with the gems.
"I need you to do me a favour Elewynn. All of my efforts to keep you, your family and everyone else safe from dragons would be undone should the Gem of Ice fall into the wrong hands. That is why I need you to protect this gem for me. Can you do that for me Elewynn?" Hiccup asked to which Elewynn nodded vigorously.
"Good," Hiccup said smiling, "So long as you protect the Gem of Ice, so too will the Gem of Ice protect you and all that you care for,"
"I have a gem now now and you have one" Elewynn said, "I guess now we will always be connected."
"That's right Elewynn and the Gem of Ice will protect you in my stead. So this isn't a goodbye." Hiccup said as he wrapped his arms around Elewynn and pulled her into hug. Their shared moment was only for the briefest time but Elewynn would remember the feeling forever. Elewynn broke free from Hiccup's embrace and took a step back.
Clutching onto the Gem of Ice Elewynn watch as Hiccup walked away.
OoOoO
Walking into the deepest part of the forest where even the sun could not reach. Dozens of eyes of all shapes and sizes watched him from the darkness. From above Toothless dropped down with a great thump from the tree he was resting on. His eyes still in catlike slits, still in animalistic rage. Following in command of their alpha dragon, from out of the shadows the other dragons came out.
"How are you feeling bud," Hiccup asked as he gently glided his hand across the top of Toothless' head and to his back.
Toothless could only grumble in response.
"I know bud," Hiccup said as he lifted himself onto Toothless' back, "But we will make it right." In one swift motion, Toothless swivelled and opened his wings and took to the blue skies along with the other dragons following. It was time to return home.
In a blink of an eye, the tune in next week and find out what Hiccup will do.
As always reviews and comments are greatly appreciated.