Warning: The first part of chapter brings in some of that satire that I said would be prevalent in this story ;)
"A chicken?" Eret asked, eyes bulging. "What is a chicken doing in The Dark Forest?"
"I have… no idea…" Hiccup said, lowering his bow. "Well, regardless. Supper." He was about to release the arrow, when a voice shouted out and something slammed into him.
Startled, Astrid and Eret looked down to see something straddling Hiccup, pulling the bow and arrow out of his hands. "Monster!" the person yelled. "Ingrate! Despicable mongrel! Attacking an innocent chicken!"
"I say they're savages!" another voice called out, and the four companions looked over to see another figure, almost identical to the first, nudging the chicken away with her foot.
"You're… elves!" Astrid said, alarmed.
"Get off of me," Hiccup grunted, attempted to shove the male elf off himself.
"Not until you apologize to Chicken," the male elf said.
"I'm… I'm not going to apologize to a chicken!" Hiccup protested indignantly.
"Elves live in this forest?" Astrid asked.
"Of course elves live here. We're here, aren't we?" the female elf asked, stepping forward. "Ruffnut's the name—"
"Tuffnut's the game," the male elf finished. "Just kidding. My name is Tuffnut. But the game we played—and you three played it… well, rather disappointingly. We were hoping for some grueling deaths."
"That was you?" Eret snarled. "You cast that spell on us?"
"Well, we helped it along," Ruffnut said. She stopped, eyeing Eret up and down. "My, my, you are a delicious one."
Eret returned her gaze with a disturbed one of his own. "So, if you two live here, you can get us out, right?"
"We could—"
"But we won't," Ruffnut finished.
"You will," Astrid said, crossing her arms.
"Why should we?" Tuffnut asked, and then he laughed and stopped laughing just as suddenly. "No, really, why shouldn't we? I've forgotten."
"Because it's the decent thing to do," Astrid said.
"I'm not decent!" Tuffnut cried out indignantly. "I'm the opposite of decent."
"I may be a lady, but I'm not decent either—as you will soon find out," Ruffnut said with a wink to Eret. "Who wants snake porridge?"
"Ooh, snake porridge!" Tuffnut said, rubbing his hands together. "Delectable stuff… but not as good as bird dropping stew."
"They're mad," Astrid said, as the elven twins cackled and chatted together.
"Undeniably," Eret agreed. "I wouldn't be surprised if it were a universal trait amongst their kind."
"Would you get off of me," Hiccup bucked his hips, unsettling Tuffnut and flipped him around so that the elf was pinned beneath him.
"Oh… I'm flattered but I'm afraid you're not my type," Tuffnut said sultrily.
"I'm not going to… Astrid, get some rope."
"Are you going to tie him up?" Ruffnut asked eagerly. "Oh, oh, can I help? I'm exceptionally good at tying people up!"
Astrid and Eret glanced at each other. "Oh yes," Astrid said. "We are going to tie him up. But I'm afraid we're just not good at it. So will you help us?"
"Oh would I!" Ruffnut bounded forward and Astrid retrieved the rope. Together, the elf and three humans tied up Tuffnut.
"Not tight enough, not tight enough!" Tuffnut complained.
"Oh, you are so right, brother," Ruffnut said, tightening the bonds.
"That's much better. No way I'm getting out of this," Tuffnut said with satisfaction.
"Get on your feet," Hiccup said, hoisting the elf to his feet.
"Now, you two," Astrid said, feeling thoroughly that these were the oddest two persons she had ever had the displeasure of meeting, "We want to lead Tuffnut to the edge of the woods—because he's our prisoner, and it'll hurt to have him walk like this."
"Oh, glorious pain…" Tuffnut murmured ecstatically.
"Ooh goody!" Ruffnut said. "We should poke him with sticks too!"
"Good idea, sister!" Tuffnut said. "Everyone grab a stick!"
Ruffnut bent to the ground and picked one up. "Let us go! To the edge of the forest we go!"
The twins began walking, Ruffnut poking her brother with a stick constantly.
"Do you think we can trust them?" Astrid whispered. "Or do you think they'll just lead us astray?"
"With elves, you never know," Eret murmured back. "But what other choice do we have? There's no way we'll get out of this forest alone."
They walked for an hour, until they saw light up ahead. "The edge!" Astrid cried, and they emerged from the trees into the open space of The Wild Lands.
"I told you we could do it!" Ruffnut said. "How did it feel brother? To be at the mercy of humans?"
"Wonderful," Tuffnut wept happily.
Astrid and her companions stared at this in disgust, shaking their heads as the twins talked about what else humans could make them do.
"Are you sure you don't want to come back with us?" Ruffnut asked Eret. "I have a special place for you in my tree house."
"Ugh, sister—you should know by now it is illegal for you to procreate," Tuffnut said.
She punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
She turned back to Eret expectantly.
"I… I'm afraid I have to go," Eret said, a look of disgust on his face. "Thanks for… thinking of me."
"Well, whatever," she said with a shrug. She bent down and picked up her brother, lifting him up by the ropes, before suddenly dropping him. She turned, her eyes glowing white. "You…" she said softly, pointing at Hiccup.
"Me?" Hiccup looked flabbergasted.
"One day, all the lands shall bow to you."
"What is going on?" Astrid asked, staring at the elf.
"It's a vision! Ooh I love a good vision," Tuffnut said from his position on the ground.
"A vision?" Eret asked, staring from one elf to the other.
"One day you shall be King," Ruffnut continued.
"King of what?" Hiccup asked, staring at her in confusion.
"The Wilderwest…" Ruffnut whispered, and the glow left her eyes and she shuddered slightly. "What happened?" she asked in confusion, looking around.
Hiccup, Eret, and Astrid stared at the mad elf. "Well," she said, shrugging. "Time to go home. Come on, brother," she hoisted her brother to his feet, and they left.
"Come visit us again!" Tuffnut called.
"I'll be waiting for you, Eret son of Eret!" his sister called back to them, before both disappeared into the trees.
The four companions stared after them for a short while, before Hiccup suggested, "Let's put a mile between us and this place."
"Agreed," Astrid and Eret said in unison.
Hiccup woke suddenly in the night. He reached for his hunting knife, gripping it tightly in his hand as he steadied his breathing. He looked first at Astrid, who was sleeping not far from him, and at Eret, who was sleeping on the other side of the dying fire. Toothless was a little ways away.
"Toothless," Hiccup hissed, "What are you—"
He clamped his mouth shut when a figure moved in the darkness, just before Toothless. The dragon turned to give him a wide-eyed look.
"What are you…" Hiccup leapt to his feet. "Astrid, Eret!" he yelled out.
His two human companions started, waking from their slumber with a shock. Hiccup dashed forward, grabbing his bow and quiver and notching an arrow. He pointed it at the intruder. "Who are you?" he demanded. "A thief? What are you doing with Toothless?"
He could see the figure better now. It was tall, perhaps even taller than him, and lithe. It wore a sort of primal armor, and a mask with strange curled spikes extruding from it.
"Who are you?" he demanded again.
Astrid and Eret were standing not far behind him now. "Are there more of you?" Eret asked.
The figure hesitated, glancing at them before looking at Hiccup. It took a step back, then reached out.
Hiccup's eyes widened slightly as the long slender figures, obviously belonging to a female, reached for his face. He was about to slap the hand away, when the woman gasped. "Hákon?"
Hiccup frowned. "My name is Hiccup."
"Hiccup?" the woman paused. "Who gave you that name?"
"It was the name I was found with," Hiccup answered. "Who are you? And why do you think you know me?"
The woman hesitated, before slowly removing her helmet, revealing an angled face, and long brown braids. Her chin was pointed, with high cheekbones and eyes of cerulean green. Her ears were pointed, much like the fairy from his vision in the woods. She gazed at him, holding her helmet close to her chest.
"You're a fairy!" he said, startled.
She nodded, a hesitant smile on her lips.
The sting of Astrid's sword being released from its sheath was heard, and Hiccup was roughly shoved to the side as Astrid stepped up, pointing the sword at the fairy's throat. "Release my sister!" Astrid demanded.
The fairy looked confused, but showed no signs of duress.
"Don't act dumb, I know your kind is holding her," Astrid snarled, taking a menacing step forward, pressing the tip of the sword into the fairy's neck, but no blood was drawn.
"I'm afraid I don't know about your sister," the fairy replied. "I haven't been to The North in nearly twenty years."
The sword dropped away slightly, before it quickly returned to its place at her throat. "How do I know you're not lying?" Astrid asked. "Fairies are liars."
A dragon emerged from the darkness, approaching quickly. Astrid took a hasty step back, before returning.
The fairy let out a breath of air. "I'm fine, Cloudjumper," she said. The dragon paused, cocking his head. "I was banished, I cannot go to The North," the fairy told them.
"Banished?" Eret asked. "Why would the fairies banish one of their own?"
"I…" the fairy's eyes glanced down for a second, before glancing at Hiccup, before finally returning to Eret. "They consider me a traitor."
"Traitor?" Astrid frowned. "Why?"
"Because I fell in love with a human."
Astrid and Hiccup glanced at each other, and returned their gaze to the fairy. Astrid lowered her sword, but did not return it to its sheath. She stepped forward, gazing at the fairy with shrewd eyes. "You do look familiar," she said. "Come into the light," Astrid backed up, keeping her sights on the fairy, as she walked towards the fire. The fairy walked forward, and Eret and Hiccup followed closely behind. When the light of the fire illuminated the fairy's face, Astrid gasped.
"What is it?" Hiccup asked.
"Valka?" Astrid asked.
The fairy nodded.
"Valka?" Hiccup frowned. "Why is that name familiar?"
"Because this is…" Astrid trailed off for a moment, before speaking, her voice somewhat shaken. "This is King Stoick's late wife."
"Late wife? You mean… the queen?" Hiccup turned to look at the fairy in shock. "She was a fairy?!"
Valka hesitated, looking at Hiccup, before speaking. "Perhaps we should sit down."
"Good idea," Astrid said. They all sat, and Toothless positioned himself behind Hiccup.
"If you're a fairy, where are your wings?" Hiccup asked.
Valka sighed unhappily. "My wings were clipped," she said. "Ang—the Queen of the Fairies took them and most of my magic when she banished me."
"You said she did that because you… fell in love with a human," Astrid said. "Was that King Stoick?"
"Yes," Valka said. "I disguised myself as a human so I could marry him. I was very happy, for a few years."
"What happened?" Hiccup asked.
Valka looked at him quickly. "I grew tired of human life," she said. "You have to understand, Hiccup, time and love are different to fairies. We are not held to the same rules humans are. Love is… complicated for us. It is impossible for our love to be unconditional. I never stopped loving Stoick but… my love became… discontent. Being human was excruciatingly tiring, and I could not bear to pretend to be something I was not. But I knew that the humans would not trust me if I revealed myself as a fairy—especially not Stoick. So I…" she looked down at her hands. "I faked my death."
"But you had a son," Astrid said quietly.
Valka gave a small smile. "I know," she said. "We fairies can be… selfish creatures. Whatever happened to Hákon?"
"He died," Astrid said. "Well, he was kidnapped, and presumed dead. I'm not sure of the details, I was only a babe when it happened."
"I see," Valka said, glancing at Hiccup. "How tragic."
The three humans frowned at her lackluster reaction, and Astrid said, "But why then were you banished from your home? If you left the humans, surely the fairies would have taken you back?"
"Being with humans is not uncommon for fairies," Valka said. "Pure fairies are only female, so they often find lovers in humans. But what I did was unforgivable to them. I fell in love."
"How can falling in love be criminal?" Astrid asked.
"Fairies don't fall in love, not in the same sense that humans do," Valka said. "And certainly not with humans."
"So they banished you?" Hiccup asked.
"And clipped your wings?" Eret shuddered slightly.
"It's not all bad," Valka said, stroking Cloudjumper's face. "I found a family."
"Dragons?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes," Valka looked at him. "It appears you've done the same."
"Yeah…" Hiccup said in uncertainty. "But what are you doing here?"
"I discovered there was a dragon here," Valka said. "Toothless. I thought perhaps he was a captive of Drago's… so I came to free him."
"Drago?" Astrid asked, startled.
"How do you know Toothless' name?" Hiccup asked.
"Like most non-humans, fairies can understand the speech of the creatures of this earth," Valka said. "Although we are unable to control dragons. Like us, they live by their own set of rules. Our magic has little effect on them, except to speak their tongue and know much of their thoughts. I may not have much of my powers anymore, but I still have that."
"I don't understand how your husband never knew you were a fairy," Eret said. "How could you have pulled that off for so many years?"
Valka sighed. "It was difficult, and I'm afraid the price was too high for it to last."
"King Stoick is a reasonable man," Astrid said. "Surely he would have understood."
"The fairies have garnered a foul name of late," Valka said. "You should know well that they are often despised by humans." She looked at Hiccup, her face earnest. "If I could go back, I would have revealed myself. I wouldn't have left."
"Okay," Hiccup said. "Why not go back now? The king is still alive."
Valka shook her head. "It is too late. That world is gone from me now."
A prevalent silence ensued.
"Do you know how to enter The North?" Astrid asked, finally.
They looked at Valka eagerly, but the fairy just shook her head. "I'm afraid the only way three humans and a dragon can enter is if they are invited—and cloaked, by a fairy. I do not have the magic to do so anymore—and you'll be hard pressed to find one that will help you. There are not many who'd dare go against the queen."
Eret exhaled loudly. "Well," he said. "That certainly complicates things."
"We'll just have to capture a fairy," Hiccup said.
"Easier said than done," Astrid muttered.
"Why are you going North?" Valka asked.
"We're all cursed," Eret said. "Or know someone is cursed."
Valka looked at Hiccup, her eyes wide. "I suppose you are… you all have curses laid down by fairies… except you," Valka turned her gaze onto Astrid. "You feel the effects, but the curse was for another, was it not?"
Astrid nodded.
Valka returned her gaze to Hiccup. "What curse was placed on you?"
"Not a fairy," Hiccup said. "The witch Excellinor cursed me to… never find happiness."
Valka gazed at him with an unreadable expression, and Astrid finally said, "We have an early day tomorrow—perhaps we can continue this conversation in the morning—granted you don't murder us in our sleep."
"You have nothing to fear from me," Valka said. "Please, sleep."
"Not sure how much sleep I'll be able to get," Eret muttered. "But I would welcome it."
They settled down to sleep, save for Valka, who positioned herself cross-legged before the fire. Hiccup closed his eyes, trying to fall back to slumber, but found he was unable to do so—for he could tell, though his back was to her, that the fairy was watching him.
It was cold, and he was whimpering. With a start, he opened his eyes, to find that it was not he who was whimpering, it was Astrid. She was still asleep, and shivering. He glanced at the fire to see that it was dying—only a few embers remaining. He glanced over to look at Valka, but the fairy was gone—as well as her dragon. He sighed and stood, leaving the campsite to fetch more firewood.
Being a hunter made him adept at moving quietly and skillfully through the darkness, and he could see well, even when the moonlight was hidden behind the clouds. He bent down to grab a large stick, and straightened, only to gasp and drop the wood in his arms when he saw a set of glowing blue-green eyes watching him.
"Do not be afraid!" Valka's voice was heard, and she stepped into the moonlight, revealing herself. In this light, nothing but the moon, she looked every bit a fairy.
"I thought you had left," Hiccup said, quickly picking up the wood he had dropped.
"I just went for an evening flight," Valka said. "Fairies don't need sleep."
"I see," he continued walking, searching for more wood.
"Hiccup," Valka was following him. "I know there is a question on your mind. Speak it."
Hiccup stopped, and turned to face her. "Can you undo the curse on me?"
She looked disappointed for a moment, before she said, "Only the fairy that cast it can undo it."
"Oh," he continued picking up wood.
"There is fairy blood in you," she said at length, and he almost dropped the wood again.
He turned to stare at her. "What?"
"Fairy blood," she repeated.
He raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me I'm—part fairy?" he almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded.
"It's not a jest," she said, stepping closer to him. "I can tell. You are part fairy."
"That's ridiculous," he said. "I'm human. I don't have pointed ears—I don't have wings—I don't have magic—my eyes don't glow. Need I go on?"
"That's because you were raised as a human," she said. "Fairies are forbidden from raising male offspring."
Hiccup shook his head, deciding he had enough firewood, and began the short walk back to the campsite.
"I'm telling the truth," Valka said. "Why do you think you have such an affinity for flying? Why you can move so well in the dark? I'm willing to bet you are skilled with your bow—it almost seems as if the arrow hits your target with little effort, does it not?"
He stopped, turning to look at her. "Those don't mean anything. What makes you so sure I'm part fairy?"
She opened her mouth, but closed it after a moment's hesitation.
"Exactly," he said. He continued along, until they reached the camp. He placed the wood on the fire, but the embers had completely gone out. He glanced at Astrid, who was shivering violently.
"I can teach you how to light a flame," Valka said from behind him.
"I know how to light a flame," he said, opening a pouch on his belt and taking out his flint and stone. After a few failed attempts, he sighed in frustration.
"Let me teach you," Valka said. "You should learn about your heritage."
"I'm not—" he stood quickly, spinning around to face her, but stopped when Eret murmured something in his sleep. "I'm not a fairy," he hissed.
"If you let me show you, you will believe," she said. "You need to light the fire—I can show you how."
He exhaled slowly, glancing at Astrid, before looking back at the fairy. "Fine," he said. "We'll see who's right."
She smiled, taking his hand and drawing him around to face the fire pit. "Focus on the wood—don't close your eyes!" she said, when he did so, "A fairy's magic is strongest in their eyes. Look at the wood, imagine a flame in your mind, growing from a spark to a roaring fire."
Hiccup glared at the wood, before sighing. "It's not working. I told you—I'm not a fairy."
"Try again," she urged. "You want to believe you're not a fairy so badly you are blocking your magic. Think harder. Remember that you need to warm Astrid."
Hiccup glanced at the sleeping woman, before returning his gaze to the wood. He licked his lips, and focused on it. In his mind's eye, he could see the spark—and see it grow into a large flame—he gasped, staring as a fire leapt up around the wood, hitting him with heat.
"See?" Valka laughed quietly. "I told you. And it's warmer than a normal flame—and shall only go out when you tell it to."
Hiccup took in a few deep breaths. "How did… did you do it?" he asked, turning to look at her.
"No," she shook her head. "Such magic is beyond me now—except when I am truly desperate."
"I'm really… part fairy?" he stared at the fire, aghast.
"Yes," Valka said. "Now, if you allow me, I can teach you all that I know—I can teach you how to grow your wings—how to fly—how to create water—how to cast spells—"
"No!" Hiccup turned to look at her, removing his arm from her grasp.
"No?" she looked confused. "Why not?"
"I've seen what fairies and magic are capable of," he said. "It cursed me—they kidnapped Astrid's sister. It turned Eret into a man-eating monster. They are heartless and cruel. I don't want to be one. Magic… it does more harm than good. I want nothing to do with it."
"Hiccup…" Valka tried to put her hand on his arm again, but he shook it off.
"I don't want anything to do with you, either," he said. "I don't know why you came into my life—maybe you're a part of my curse. But whatever your connection is to me—however we may have known each other once, I want nothing to do with you."
Her hand retreated to her chest, held in a loose fist. "Very well. One day, you will seek me out," she said quietly. "You'll know I am only looking out for you."
"Go," he said, his voice deadly quiet.
She nodded, turning and walking away from the fire, until she reached Cloudjumper and climbed onto his back. She glanced back at Hiccup, her eyes glowing in the darkness, and her dragon leapt into the air, disappearing into the night sky.
He watched her go, before looking back at the fire. He wanted to put it out—to make a real fire, but she was right. It was warmer than a normal flame. He glanced at Astrid, and found that her shivering had subsided greatly. He felt himself grow calmer. He wanted to comfort her—perhaps he should move his mat next to hers—no… she would never stand or that. She was a lady—he was just a commoner. A commoner with no family.
He returned to his mat and closed his eyes, willing himself to fall asleep. When it came, he found he dreamt of flying, but not on a dragon's back.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thanks so much for reading!
See you soon!
