AN: Hello friends, I'm back at the end of July as promised. Unfortunately I won't be updating this story once per week as I'm doing with my HTTYD one. That may change later this year, but for now, it'll have to be every two or three weeks.
Anyway, onto the review response:
Zyonzilla: You'll see where Windwalker is in this chapter.
Vahn N. Chrome: Err, didn't do well in some uni tests, which I'm sure it'll be a pain in my behind for the rest of the year, but, life goes on. And yes, I have heard of How To Let It Go. I find it quite intriguing too :P By the way most of those fics I've read, but thanks for the suggestions. There were a handful ones there that I had not looked before.
The-real-dragon-rider: I am the one who should thank you for writing a great crossover. Sadly this fandom has very few good crossovers. I'm very happy that, not only yours is a good one, but also that one of my followers writes for this fandom too. ABout Elsa's parents, since this is a fic centered on her and Hiccup, I think that giving the spotlight to her parents every once in a while makes sense. They do are a big part of her life.
SpicedGold: Always warms me up when I see through your review that your enjoying their interaction so much. Indeed, they have similar fears, unbeknowst to one another, and it is why I find so interesting writing them. They are, in a way, very similar to one another in the situation HTLIG set them. I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Noctus Fury: Ah pal, always refreshing to read your words. Could you pinpoint where I used the words costumes? I don't really remember using it. For the Frozen-HTTYD I looked at all of those that I haven't already read, so thanks fot the suggestions. For HTTYD-Brave ones I still need to look, since I don't often dwell on this fandom (maybe I should, who knows?), and for the HTTYD ones, some I have read, some I have not. Be sure I'll look at those I haven't. ANd lastly, I wouldn't mind more suggestions, they are always welcome. I do was a bit upset you didn't suggest or say anything of HTLIG on this review, as you usually do.
Without further ado:
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Elsa was mad at him since the moment he arrived. But, the feeling quickly turned to shame once she heard his apology. She resisted the urge to facepalm, as she forgot the fact that they were two living things that needed to eat. She didn't even bring him some food today, so she had no excuses.
"It's okay…" she said, relieving the troubled boy when he noticed she wouldn't scold him. "I just hope no one saw you," she added. She didn't want to show how sad she had been at the idea that he had definitely left, hence why she didn't say anything about him leaving the tower again.
She didn't show it, as she used the Queenly voice she was learning. It wasn't as perfect as her mother's, but it could do on most of the occasions. Still, Hiccup read it in between the fear she had for he being discovered, which he also had. Fortunately, Toothless was a clever dragon, and only pushed him to go flying once the sky was pitch black, so no one would spot them. It helped that these days night was prevalent and the sunlight lasted short.
"We went flying after the sky darkened, and it's impossible to spot Toothless in the dark. Also we landed in a distant spot in the forest, so no need to worry about that," he reassured. In fact, they landed where Windwalker was hiding. The dragon chose a good spot, and he decided to discuss their plans there as there was no risk of being spotted. Not to mention that the dragon's ice could cover their fire, so no one would see a faint light in the distance. And in the morning the only trace from his ice was a puddle of water.
Elsa's worries were relieved a little. She took notice that, apparently, the boy was experienced in staying out of sight. "Well… would you like to continue your storytelling?" she asked, hopeful that his story would once again enthrall her. Even Anna's stories weren't as fascinating as his life story was, or maybe it was just the fact that she was hearing someone other than her sister tell her a story. Elsa didn't know, but also didn't care to find out the real reason.
Hiccup's little confidence vanished. He didn't expect at all that she would want to hear his story. He blushed a little at the attention and mumbled a response. "Y-yeah, if you really want to…" he answered a bit awkwardly.
He sat with Toothless lying behind his back, pretty much like they were the day before. He was about to continue his story from where they stopped the day before when she interrupted him. "Sorry, but… do you mind if I ask a question?" she said a bit shyly, slightly embarrassed that she interrupted him. Still, the need to know the answer was bigger than what she could resist, and her curiosity had finally got the upper hand on her common sense.
He had opened his mouth, and closed when interrupted. He decided to comply since the girl barely spoke the past day. "No, I guess I don't mind. What you would like to ask?" he said softly, albeit a bit worried of what would be her question. She had barely spoken the day before, so it was surprising to Hiccup to hear that she wanted to ask him something.
"What about your mother? You didn't say anything about her yesterday…" She regretted asking that right after she saw the crestfallen look on his face. She should have known he didn't say anything for a reason, and cursed her curiosity that moment. Her common sense had been right after all. "I'm sorry, it was foolish of me to ask," she tried to amend, her tone slightly evidencing the shame she was feeling.
Hiccup couldn't help but be a little sad at the question. Of course he should have foreseen this since he only spoke of his father. Still, he didn't blame the princess or her curiosity. With a small smile, he tried to stop her from feeling guilty. "It's okay. I'll tell you, is just that it is a little complicated…" he spoke after hearing the princess trying to dismiss her question.
"Oh…" was all she could say. She was surprised he wasn't angry or anything that she entered a touchy subject, especially since the only thing he knew about her was that she was a princess and the daughter of the King consequently. Either he expected her to speak about herself after he would be finished with his story, or he didn't mind telling his story at all. Elsa didn't know which was the truth, but knew she would find out eventually.
"I don't know all the details, but…" he paused, thinking how he would explain it. "She was gone when I was just a baby…" he spoke, stuttering slightly as he was at a loss at how to put in words what happened.
Elsa was about to speak some words of comfort when he held his hand up, signaling there was more to hear. She gave him a subtle nod, indicating to continue. "From what I heard, when I was only a year old, there was this big raid. Some said there were dragon breeds never seen before. The four winged one I mentioned was one of those for example," he began explaining.
"One of those breeds broke into my house, and my mother went there to protect me. Nobody knows what happened, and dad wouldn't say anything. But what I know is that the dragon left the house carrying her in his paws. It was weird since she was the only Viking taken that night."
He chuckled, as if amused, while Elsa was a bit horrified that he found something funny in this situation. His chuckles didn't last long though. "People believed she died drowning in the ocean, was eaten or something like that. Even I did when I found out what happened. But after meeting him," he pointed to Toothless, "I started to doubt that. If dragons did always go for the kill as they said, why would one carry her away?"
"And… that was the only time a dragon ever took a Viking during a raid." He said that part thoughtful.
Her horror disappeared. She could see why he chuckled. Something about the tale didn't fit, looking at their perspective about dragons. "Do you think she's alive?" she asked before she could stop herself. It was possible; if every dragon was really human-like then his mother could have survived. It still unsettled her to think of the idea of being carried away by a creature that you passed your entire life believing that it always would go for the kill.
Hiccup scratched his chin as if thinking about the answer. "Well… Now I do. If she befriended a dragon like I did then it is very likely she is still alive. I don't know why she wouldn't come back after all those years though…" He paused for a moment, "Perhaps for the same reason I ran away," He mumbled, thinking that if she had really lived and befriended a dragon it would have been too risky to come back. The village would have probably cast her out and killed the dragon she befriended.
It had been one of the reasons Hiccup left: he wouldn't be able to bear the burden of seeing his friend being killed like an animal.
He only noticed his mistake when Elsa asked: "You ran away?" a mix of surprise and suspicious in her voice.
He facepalmed. "Oh boy… too ahead of the story," he muttered. She didn't know if it was to himself or to her. "Well, I did. I'll give you more details when we reach that part, but summing it up, I did because sooner or later Toothless would be found, and I couldn't risk getting my only friend hurt," he spoke, giving enough information so the princess wouldn't feel threatened.
She was satisfied with his answer, as it seemed that there were more reasons than just this, but eventually she would know as he progressed with his story. "I see…" she said. Hiccup understood that she wouldn't press on, as she would wait to hear it. A thought came to her. "Wait… Was Toothless the only friend you had there?" she asked to know if she misunderstood anything he said. Elsa was pretty sure she heard him say 'my only friend' seconds ago.
Sadly, she didn't. "Well… You could say that." He gave a long sigh. "I mean my mentor Gobber was sort of a friend to me, although more like a father figure. I had two friends until I was 6. Fishlegs got distant, but sometimes we would read if we were alone in the Hall. He is kind of a bookworm. Sure I like to read, but he was a little bit insane with the whole thing," he said, chuckling slightly at the memories of Fishlegs reciting from memory the whole Book of Dragons.
"I understand…" he gave her a puzzled look. "I mean, perhaps not as much like him but I myself like reading quite a lot," 'since it is one of the few things you can do when locked in your room' a sad voice added in her head. The smile she had after he told her he liked reading disappeared as her usual life came back to her mind.
Although Hiccup was still sheepish of looking into Elsa, in fear that he would blush at the sight, he looked at her just in time. He saw she was having an internal struggle, despite trying not to show. Maybe because he used to have lots of these every time he was called Useless he found easy to spot on others. So he decided to continue his story; it would hopefully be enough to distract her from whatever struggle she was having at the moment.
"And…" he said slowly, although with emphasis. Seeing Elsa snap out assured him he could proceed with his story. "There was also Astrid. We used to be very close until she lost her uncle because of a dragon. Then she began training hard and got distant, as she saw my clumsiness as a distraction." He finished with a longing sigh.
It was troubling. He had just won Astrid's friendship back to lose it again. It was his choice to leave, indeed, but circumstances didn't exactly help. For a brief moment Hiccup wondered what would have happened if he went to face the Nightmare. He recalled the warmth of her hug, or the heat on his face when she kissed her cheek. He wondered how she was, if she had to kill the Nightmare or how she was taking her now role as heir.
"I see…" Elsa said just so he wasn't met with silence. She hated not knowing what to say in these situations. She knew the feeling of losing a friend, but not a parent. "It seems your tribe lost many lives to dragon raids," she pointed out softly while trying to distract him. She could clearly see the longing, sad expression on his face, and felt sad as well.
Hiccup hummed in agreement, showing a sad expression. "Something is making the dragons steal our food. Toothless fishes once and is already set for the rest of the day, so, to me, it looks like the food they take isn't really for them. They take lots of sheeps and yaks. Its way above what a dragon normally eats," he pointed out, knowing she didn't know anything about dragon habits.
Elsa's interest peaked. For some reason, she wanted to know more about the creatures. "Do you know what it is?" she asked. She didn't know what could need so much food, and given the bigger it is the hungrier it also is, she couldn't imagine the size of whatever made the dragons steal food to eat.
"Sadly no… I left to think things over. Maybe someday I'll return to there and solve it. But even if I stopped the raids there does still is the issue of Vikings not trusting dragons and vice-versa," he mumbled, more to himself than to answer Elsa.
The idea of coming back seemed less appealing by the minute. He didn't notice the sad look Elsa had. "But I don't think it'll be anytime soon," he said, discussing with himself. He, again, missed Elsa's face light up a bit.
"Now that I'm thinking, I never quite told you how I shot him down, did I?" he mused. When Elsa shook her head, he decided to explain. "So, I told you of Gobber, who was a mentor and like a father to me. He is my father's best friend, and the village's blacksmith. I became his apprentice when I was very young," he summed up.
"As I got older, and he finished teaching me everything he knew, I started to use my knowledge to built weapons to kill dragons. One day, I built a weapon that would shot a bola, since I can't throw one. It was the only one that worked without directly destroying the village," he said sadly. It was funny; the only time he was successful he ended up scarring his friend for life.
Then again, if he had failed, he would still be trying to kill dragons by now.
She saw the weird change in his mood and decided to ask about it. She thought it would have something to do with the idea that he killed one. 'The boy seemed to be determined on killing a dragon, so what made him change?' The question was ringing inside her head. "Shouldn't you be happy that it worked?" she pointed out-asked.
Hiccup frowned a little, but he understood the question. "Yeah… you and everyone else would think that. It worked on him…" he pointed to Toothless. Her expression softened, but before she could say anything, he added in. "It's not the fact that I shot him down. Let me continue telling you my story and you'll see why," he added, a lingering guilt holding onto his voice.
Toothless gave up on getting Hiccup to understand that he didn't mind losing a tail to know him. He understood it was a burden his hatchling would always carry, no matter how much comfort he gave him.
Hiccup did think of if he should tell her about Toothless inability to fly alone. She didn't report him so far, as there were no guards trying to kill them or drive them off until now. He decided to keep Windwalker as a secret, in case something goes wrong. He would keep at least for awhile. Maybe in the future if he fully trusted her, and she was comfortable enough with Toothless, he could show the other Fury.
"So…" he began his storytelling, "Later that day, after I returned from my little meeting with him, dad made me agree to join Dragon Training. To learn how to…" he got on his feet and switched to his father's voice. "Stop being all of this," he gestured to himself the same way his father did.
Elsa gave him a sympathetic look. From what she understood, Hiccup's nature was a risk to his village. And thus his father as chief wanted him to conceal his true self so no harm would come to others. It was almost ironic how she found herself similar in a way with Hiccup, although her father was very different from his, according to his story. Her father was understanding and was supporting, while his sadly wasn't.
But, she couldn't deny seeing similarities between her father, and Hiccup's.
"So I begrudgingly complied, before he went out to search the nest. The next day we face our first dragon and I got in trouble, as usual," he said sarcastically. "Fortunately Gobber was there to prevent me from being crisped like a chicken," he added, sarcastically again, earning a glare from Toothless.
He didn't know the hatchling was almost burned by the Gronckle, otherwise he would have taught the flying rock a lesson before leaving that island.
"But," he drew a finger up, as if what he was going to say was very important. Elsa was feeling a little sleepy since it had passed a couple of hours, and jerked awake at the sudden emphasis. She was still paying attention to his story, but a few times she felt the drowsiness winning inside her. "Before he left the Arena, he told me: a dragon will always, always go for the kill," he said, imitating his former friend's voice.
"And that made my curiosity peek. Because the simple fact that I was there after freeing Toothless showed this was not true. And then I did what many would consider a death wish back there: I went looking out for a dragon, a Night Fury no less," he spoke as if it was an epic tale of adventure. Toothless huffed with pride at how he was mentioned, much like he did yesterday.
Hiccup laughed at the antic. "Yeah, yeah, be proud of yourself overgrown salamander," he said poking the dragon's face. Toothless, in return, snorted and laid his head facing the wall, his back turned to his rider. Hiccup, of course, continued laughing and teasing his dragon. "Oh you're pouting big baby boo," he said, leaning his face very close to his dragon's face.
…until Toothless used his tail to trip him down. Elsa's small laugh was cut short at the sudden move, before starting again, a little louder than before. Before Hiccup could even sit, Toothless pinned him down using his head, just like he did on the day before. Elsa found oddly familiar the scene, before her eyes widened as she realized what the dragon would do next.
They both stared at each other before Hiccup's eyes widened, as he came to the same conclusion the princess did. "Oooooh, no no no no no, we have a princess here," he pointed to Elsa, who was laughing, in a Queenly way, at the interaction.
"Don't even think-" Hiccup was cut short by innumerous licks. Toothless spared no saliva and made sure every inch of Hiccup's face was covered with it. A Night Fury's pride was not something to be toyed with, and his hatchling deserved a punishment for doing so.
Once Toothless was finished, he got up, freeing Hiccup in the process, and gave a nod, as if satisfied with his work. Hiccup was annoyed, mumbling things like 'useless lizard' and 'big scaled baby' and 'slobbering dragon' before he tried to clean himself. The grim and annoyed look he had on his face only made Elsa laugh more.
When he turned to see Elsa still laughing he shook his head, although he couldn't deny feeling good. It was probably the first time a girl at him laughed without being mean. "I see my demise amuses you greatly," he spoke sardonically, although lightheartedly.
Elsa's laugh slowed down as she evened her breathing, but her smile didn't falter. Her face was flushed, mostly because of the lack of air and also because a little blush crept as she heard his sarcastic remark. For a second she had thought he was a bit angry, before recognizing the sarcasm. "It's just that…" she took a breath to continue speaking "You two act like you're brothers. Like Anna and I used to do…" she commented sadly. In a flash of light her eyes widened and she covered her mouth, as she realized what she just told him.
Hiccup was… confused, for lack of better words, at her reaction. He didn't find anything out of the ordinary the princess having a sister. "Well that's cool. I never had a sibling, probably because my mother was gone before her and dad…" he blushed, realizing what he just insinuated, though Elsa was too worried at the fact she just told him of Anna to hear him.
He awkwardly cleared his throat and steered away from what he was saying before, "What do you girls do together?" he spoke with sheer curiosity. Sometimes he wished Toothless was his brother, since the dragon was always there for him since they became friends.
Elsa turned away, eyes shut. The memories came back to her with full force and the temperature dropped. Hiccup, being all in leather to withstand colder temperatures, did notice, but thought that it was caused by a cold wind. Nights were usually cold in Berk, and he had noticed that in Arendelle it was somewhat similar.
Toothless, however, did notice the unnatural source of cold, and a dragon far away gazing at the tower did too. Since Windwalker didn't sense any alarming reaction that would show they were in danger, he continued hidden in the forest, although more alarmed. Whoever it was in the tower could control an element, and he found it very unsettling.
"I don't want to talk about that…" she whispered. She was hugging herself, while playing the mantra in her head. Hiccup sat silently, observing Elsa with a shamed gaze. Once she had enough controls over her abilities she looked at him again. She sighed, feeling a little ashamed of herself. It was not his fault, and she shouldn't have shut him out, even if it was only for a moment. "I'm sorry-" she was interrupted by Hiccup's voice.
"Don't be. Please," he said and added when she looked at him as if not buying what he was telling her. "It's a touchy subject, I can tell. You don't have to tell me anything that makes you uncomfortable. If anything I'm the one who should apologize. I was just curious," he spoke softly, giving her a warm smile.
Her shame didn't go away. If possibly, it only increased. "But… you're telling me everything about yourself. It's only fair you know something about me," she protested, not wanting Hiccup to blame himself for her sadness.
In fact, she was a bit conflicted. A part of her wanted to feel relieved that he wouldn't press on, and another would protest that he didn't. She couldn't understand how he was so willing of sharing his story without hoping to hear hers in return.
"I know," his soft tone never leaving his words, "But I'm willing to tell you about me. You didn't seem willing to speak about it." He didn't mention directly her sister, as he didn't want to upset Elsa again, but Elsa understood what he meant by 'it'.
"Even about your mother?" she asked, still a little ashamed.
Hiccup sighed. The girl meant well, but he noticed she could be quite persistent. "Yeah, even about her." His tone wasn't annoyed, or harsh. It was soft but also firm. Elsa recalled her father using that tone whenever she felt afraid or sad. "It made me think things over. Things I wouldn't think otherwise. Like the possibility that she's alive and that she's out there riding the back of a dragon," he explained, trying to unburden Elsa of her guilt of not sharing her story.
Elsa looked into his eyes, full of understanding. She thought of her father, how he was selfless and caring, things she always admired, and saw those same qualities on the boy. "How are you so forgiving?" she asked somewhat amazed, and more to herself than to him.
Hiccup, however, heard her question and decided to answer it, even though he noticed that, by the tone, she wasn't expecting an answer.
"Well…" he was about to answer when a noise interrupted him. A yawn, coming from an apparently tired princess, who was covering her mouth with her hands, while her cheeks were blushing a little in embarrassment. He quickly corrected what he would say. "Why don't you come tomorrow to hear it? You should go sleep. I can see that you're tired," he suggested
In fact he was right. But Elsa didn't feel like sleeping. Sometimes she could be as bullheaded as Anna, though most of the times she paled in comparison to her sister. She was about to argue when another yawn escaped her mouth, further proving Hiccup's suggestion to be a good one. Feeling even more embarrassed, she eventually complied, not wanting to feel even more embarrassed. "I think you're right… goodnight Hiccup," she said while leaving the tower.
"Goodnight Elsa," he said to her retreating form. If she heard it, she didn't show. Perhaps she didn't hear since she looked very tired. Hiccup leaned on Toothless' back and sighed in concern. His dragon cooed, sensing his rider's distress.
"I know Toothless, but I can't stop it. Something happened between them. I can see how sometimes she speaks as if she understands me way too much. The only one I've seen do this was Windwalker, and we both know why," he said, recalling the origins of Windwalker's hatred for Vikings.
Toothless huffed in protest. "I know you understand me, but you probably never lived shut out like me or him. And it does look like she seems to live like that as well, or lived at least," he explained before closing his eyes and passing a hand through his hair. He sighed, slightly saddened and troubled as he thought of Elsa.
"I wish I could help her, but she seems to be so closed off from me. And I have the feeling she does that not only with me. I won't force her out, since she probably doesn't trust me enough for that. I don't fully trust her either, that's why she doesn't know about Windwalker," he explained to his dragon with a sad tone. To Toothless it was clear that Hiccup wanted to fully trust her, but the situation deemed this, so far, improbable of happening.
Toothless cooed to comfort him, before wrapping his wing around his rider. Although south from Berk, Arendelle was still quite cold at night, and even more during the winter. Hiccup smiled at the gesture and was thankful for having a friend as loyal as Toothless. He mentally bid goodnight to his dragon and Windwalker before they soon drifted off.