Hey, hope the wait wasn't too long. I tried to get the chapter out faster this time.
I do not own How to Train Your Dragon.
Enjoy!
Astrid looked around the cavern they had been ushered into. There was only one way in and out and she knew for a fact that there was another dragon on the other side of the entrance to stop them from leaving. The walls were made purely of ice, just as the rest of the Fortress.
What surprised her was that it wasn't cold. Her scales may have helped her to feel the cold less, but she usually felt colder around ice than she did now.
She stood watching the entrance, waiting for the dragons to come back, wondering about what they would do, worrying about what would happen. They had been left there for a long time. She glanced at Hiccup who had curled up in the corner.
"How are you so calm?" she asked him with a confused look on her face.
"Because I know we're going to be okay," he explained. "All we need to do is explain to their King that we didn't know the island was in their territory, that we apologise and will never do it again."
"You made that sound really easy," Astrid glared at him. She was about to carry on when the red Monstrous Nightmare entered the cavern followed by a couple of dragons that they hadn't seen before, an older looking green Gronkle and a pink and white Deadly Nadder.
"These are the dragons we found," he said with a slight nod of his head in their direction.
"And they claim that they weren't aware that the island was in our nest's territory?" the Gronkle asked with narrowed eyes in their direction.
"That's what they claim," the Nightmare replied.
"Well, I don't see what the problem is," the Gronkle muttered. "Take them to the King if you must, but if they didn't know, they didn't know. That's not their fault." She went to leave when the Nadder stopped her.
"Wait," she said sniffing the air around Astrid and Hiccup. "Do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" the Nightmare asked.
"They smell faintly like humans," the Nadder growled.
"They are with the humans!" The Nightmare exclaimed, his wings flaring with anger.
"We are not with the humans!" Hiccup exclaimed standing up in a defensive position. "We are hunted by the humans! Why would we be with them?"
"That doesn't explain your scent, Night Fury," the Gronkle stated, a sharpness in her voice that hadn't been there before. "Take them to the King. He will decide." With that they were ushered out of the cavern and lead down a series of tunnels.
"What do we do?" Astrid whispered as low as she could so that only Hiccup could hear her.
"Hope this doesn't end badly," Hiccup replied. Astrid could hear the worry in his words. If only could have hidden their human halves' scents, then there would have been no problems. They might have even been flying on their way home by now.
Soon enough the tunnel opened up to reveal a huge cavern. Astrid stared up in amazement at the dragons that lined the walls. There were so many kinds she had never seen before. They were led to a ledge and were made to stop at the edge, the other dragons taking up position just behind them.
And then up from the crevice below rose the largest dragon Astrid had ever seen. He was white with hints of black and dark grey here and there. He had spikes along most of his body and two large tusks. His ice blue eyes bore into them as they both bowed before him, along with all the other dragons in the open cavern.
"Sire," the Gronkle started. "These two were found trespassing on our territories. What worries me, Sire, is that their scent smells vaguely of humans. I believe them to be Changelings." As the word left the older dragon's lips, a gasp travelled across the cavern. The other dragons began murmuring among themselves. The King, though, just sighed loudly, a puff of frosty air escaping his nose.
"Greenwise," the King spoke, his voice loud and echoing around the icy walls. "Have them shown themselves to be aggressive in any way?"
"No, Sire, but-"
"Other than trespassing, have they committed any other crimes against this nest?"
"No, Sire."
"Young ones," he then said turning to Hiccup and Astrid. "Were you aware that you were trespassing?"
"No, my Lord," Hiccup replied with a respectful bow of his head.
"And what of these Changeling accusations? Are they true?" Astrid held her breath waiting for Hiccup's answer, but they both knew that they couldn't lie to the King.
"I will not lie, Sire," Hiccup replied with a bow of his head. "They are true."
A collective gasp filled the cavern. Dragons who were close to them took a step back. Astrid felt horrible that these creatures feared them, just for what they are. She was completely surprised when the King spoke again.
"Quiet," his voice boomed over the whispering crowds. "Do you have allegiance with the humans, young ones?"
"Of course not!" Hiccup exclaimed receiving surprised whispers from the surrounding dragons, who had clearly not been expecting this response. The King growled and the whispers stopped abruptly. "Our nest is attacked by humans quite regularly. We had lost many because of them." His voice softened at the end and Astrid noticed a few of the dragons casting them sympathetic looks.
"Thank you for your honesty, young Night Fury," the King smiled. Astrid had a feeling that he already knew all the answers before he asked the questions and that he was just trying to prove a point.
"Greenwise," he continued addressing the Gronkle again. "They may be half human, but we cannot forget the half that is dragon. Now, you must be hungry. Cloudjumper!" A large Stormcutter stepped forwards from the right. "Please take these two young dragons to get something to eat before their return journey to their nest."
"Of course, sire," Cloudjumper replied with a bow. He started off towards a tunnel to their right, Astrid and Hiccup moving to follow him with thanks and respectful bows to the White King who merely smiled fondly as they left.
The followed the large Stormcutter as he weaved in and out of tunnels taking left turns and right and Astrid felt thoroughly lost by the time they found themselves in a small cave filled with things that she felt were odd to see in a dragon's cave.
In the far corner, furs and pillows were strewn across the floor. There was also a small desk leaning against a wall with a small stool covered in books and paper. She even glimpsed a small pot set over some coals. Her curiosity was answered when the dragon in front of them shifted into a human form. Hiccup snorted and shifted forms too, Astrid following his lead.
"You're both very fortunate that the King is so kind towards Changelings," Cloudjumper muttered while moving over to his desk trying to organise the papers strewn across the top.
"You're a Changeling too," Astrid spoke, more to herself than anything else. Really, this day was becoming more and more stressful as it went and it wasn't over yet. Cloudjumper just smiled before carrying on what he was doing.
"Where are you from?" Hiccup asked leaning against a wall watching the man that stood before them.
"An island not too far outside this nest's territories. But I haven't been there for a very long time. I suppose it doesn't really matter anymore." He moved away from the desk towards the corner where the pot sat over the coals. A flick of his wrist and the fire was started up again beneath the pot. He took out a spoon mixing whatever concoction was inside.
"I'd still be interested in knowing," Hiccup prodded. Astrid felt like hitting him. If Cloudjumper didn't want to tell them, then that was up to him. Cloudjumper obviously saw the expression on her face.
"It's ok," he laughed. "I don't mind. It's just that I've been gone so long that I'm sure if I returned I wouldn't even recognise it anymore. I grew up on Berk. Though that was a very long time ago."
"Berk?" Hiccup asked. Astrid watched as he stood up straight from the wall with full interest.
"Yes," Cloudjumper replied with a fond smile. "Do you know it?"
"That's where we're from," Hiccup replied. Cloudjumper's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?" he asked moving to stir the pot again. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen," Hiccup replied taking a step closer as if to analyse the man more, as if he recognised him somehow.
"Well, I left about twenty years ago, you wouldn't have been born then. Do you mind if I ask who your parents are? I'm just curious since you look quite familiar."
"My father is Stoick," Hiccup replied, still looking intently at the man in front of them.
"Ah," Cloudjumper smiled. "I assume he's taken over from his father by now. That makes you the Chief's son. What about your mother? Who ended up marrying that hard head?"
"My mother's name is Valka," Hiccup replied, not taking any note of the comment about his father.
"Val?" Cloudjumper asked, stopping everything he was doing, his whole demeaner drooping in surprise. "She married Stoick? Wow, I did not see that coming. They hated each other when we were younger. I do see the resemblance now. You really are a mix of both of them."
"You know my mother?" Hiccup asked curiously.
"Of course," Cloudjumper replied. "She's my sister."
Ok, so this is probably a predictable kind of cliff hanger but oh well. I'm pretty sure I was faster in updating this time! Yay me! Sorry about the length too. This ended up being a lot shorter than I had expected.
Odddollar: Thanks. I know. To be honest I really don't like how this story has turned out but I'm in it now and I will continue to the end. I do have a plan though but I'm afraid it doesn't involve them going back through the portal. Thanks for your input though.
thearizona: So the King only had a short appearance, but he will be back. And thanks for the understanding.
twilight sparkle: The White King falling for Astrid…. Not sure I've ever read that in a story before, never occurred to me either… Not sure about it. Anyway, thanks for the review!
So thanks for the reviews and the follows and favourites! Always happy for reviews to let me know where I can improve, also with other ideas. Really enjoy reading people's opinions.
Until next time!