Along the shores of Lake Michigan lies a little town called Ludington. Across from the lighthouse right on the coast, there is a little motel, called the Lakeside Inn. The corner room in the back has no sunlight. The window views are all of brick walls. The beds are hard and creaky, and the TV doesn't work. The only other notable thing is the bathroom. It's small, and the door locks with a peg in a hole. The mirror is broken and there are bars on the window. There's a spider on the ceiling. The light flickers. The toilet is red from rusty water, and it only flushes half the time. The shower is cut into the cement and the drain is a hole in the floor.
This is my favorite place in the whole world. I go there once a year, on labor day, and I get my best inspiration. This year was no different. The coming chapters won't disappoint.
I also went fishing this weekend. Talk about ironic!
Crack. Her neck popped with her ritual morning stretches. For once, Stoick hadn't opened the window on her to blind her into wakefulness. That could only mean he had some bad news to share and he wanted her in a good mood. She dressed, and then sauntered down to breakfast.
Sure enough, the chief was writing something at the table, with bread and fruits nearby.
"Morning," she stated, placid.
"G'morning. Sleep well?"
"Yeah." She shrugged.
"Good…good…" He sipped his tea, and kept his gaze on his paper.
Astrid tore the butt end of the bread and kicked her feet up on the table. "So, spit it out. What's up?"
He chuckled. "Ever the keen one, aren't you? Alright. The Gauls are coming in two days."
She moaned loudly and threw her head back. "Not the Gauls!"
"Yes, Blackmold wants to discuss some trading issues. They'll only be here a few days."
"And let me guess, you want me to entertain Darla the Butt-faced Troll."
"Astrid," He looked at her evenly. "She's not that bad."
"No? I heard she looked at a yak and it's milk curdled."
"Well, rumors aside, no, you don't need to worry about Darla. I have a much more important assignment for you."
—
In hindsight, she was getting the good end of the deal. But, she made sure Stoick knew she was unhappy about it.
But really, babysitting a merman? Compared to spending three days with Darla the Disagreeable, it would be like a vacation. As she made her way to the forge, she tried to think of the positives. She'd get time away from her nagging guardian, she'd get to learn more about the mermaid culture, and she might even make a friend.
The last thought was laughable, who'd want to be her friend?
Entering the forge, she found Gobber working away, but no merman, nor his barrel. This was particular. "Hey Gobber, where's Hiccup?"
"Oh, morning lass! Ah, the twins and Snotlout came by and offered him a tour of the village. Quite nice of them, don't you think?"
She smacked her forehead. "That didn't seem the least bit suspicious to you? This is the twins and Snotlout we are talking about!"
"Well…"
"Never mind, where did they go?"
"I suppose into the village. They put him on a cart and wheeled him out."
Astrid sighed loudly. "I better go hunt them down before they kill the poor boy."
Into the village she departed. As she passed others, she asked them if they had seen the pranksters and their mysterious new guest. Each time, she was pointed into a different direction. Really, these kids would be the death of her.
It had been four days since Hiccup had been captured and brought to the forge. Rumors had passed through the village. Half of them expected the whole island doomed. The others were hopeful that the Dragon problem would be solved. All in all, no one was quite sure how to deal with a mythical creature living among them. But for the most part, they kept their opinions to themselves, and away from the chief's heir.
Astrid made her way up the hill. "When I find them, I'm going to—…" She couldn't finish that sentence though, as she heard a loud scream. "Oh no!" She darted up the hill before a barrel came rolling down at a dangerous speed.
"AAAHHHAaahhhhhAHHHHHaaaahhhhAAAHHHH!" Screamed the head sticking out from the top.
"Hiccup!"
"Look out below!" Snotlout laughed from the top of the hill.
Astrid had just enough time to dart out of the way before he zipped passed and almost plowed her over. The boy zoomed through the village, making the villagers scream and duck out of the way. Astrid grimaced as she watched him launch into the air with every bump in the road.
"Hang on, Hiccup!" She called, running after him.
There seemed to be no stopping for the boy as he continued farther and farther down the hill. Amazingly, he avoided buildings and every obstacle that would stop him. But, unfortunately, that meant he couldn't stop. Onward he rolled, passed the gate, down the rampart, over the docks, before shooting off the end and careening into the water. Astrid made it down to the docks just as he splashed into the surf.
"Hiccup!"
Laughing came from behind her as the twins and Snotlout finally caught up with them.
"Oh man! That was better than expected!" Tuffnut cackled.
Provoked, the blonde decked the male Thorson twin. "What is wrong with you idiots?! He can't swim!"
"Um, contrary to popular belief, I can." The gathered teens looked to the source of the voice, where Hiccup was hanging onto the edge of the dock. "I still have use of my arms. My tail just makes me go in circles." And he knew from previous experiences of ripping his tail that that was the result.
She shook her head and berated the pranksters. "Still, you should know better than being so cruel."
"Aw, we didn't hurt him. He'd thought it was fun! Right, merman?" Snotlout asked.
The look on Hiccup's face answered that question simply. Under his breath, he spat out, "My name is Hiccup."
"Well, whatever, it was just good clean fun."
Suddenly, a booming echo shook the deck. "Astrid!"
"Great," the girl muttered under her breath.
"What's the meaning of all this yelling? What's going on?" The large man glared at the teens.
"Ah, nothing chief." Tuffnut waved off.
But Stoick was livid. "I wasn't talking to you, Thorston!" His gaze only flicked over to him briefly. "Astrid, why were you calling out 'Hiccup'?"
Astrid stood her ground, her hand balling into fists. "That's his name."
A long few tense moments passed as the man studied the merman. His thoughts went unknown to the others.
Astrid broke the tension. "I named him. I named him Hiccup."
Nostrils flaring, he turned to her. "Of all the names—…"
"You said so yourself that he reminded you of your son! And, what, you're yelling at me for giving him a name!?"
"He's not a pet Astrid."
"I know! So you should be yelling at them! They pushed him down the hill! He didn't have anything, I thought it was at least a curtesy to call him something other than 'Fishboy'!"
He shook his head, "you don't understand!"
"Then enlightenment me!"
Stoick scowled and shook his head.
"Fine! If you want to be illogical, be my guest! I know my job, so you don't need to worry about me bothering you for the next few nights!" She snapped back.
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"FINE!" Astrid shrieked back, desperate to have the last word.
Stoick huffed. "I don't want to see you for the next three days. Pack your supplies, and get out!"
"It'll be my pleasure," She hissed in reply.
Stoick allowed her the last word as he headed back up the hill.
"Whoa, harsh," Tuffnut chuckled.
She rolled her eyes. "He wants me to take care of him while the Gaul's are here." She jabbed a thumb at Hiccup.
At the tribe's name, all the teens shuttered. "Not the Gauls!" Snotlout moaned.
"Does that mean Darla's coming?"
"Yep."
They collectively groaned.
"She smells like yak milk slathered on a dead chicken that's been left in the sun too long."
"Her voice makes my soul cry!"
Astrid sighed, "Yeah, I know, but I have to stick her with you guys. Chief's orders."
"And Darla's just supposed to accept the fact that you ran away?"
She laughed, "Yeah right, Stoick's covering for me. Saying something like I'm visiting a neighboring island or something. I don't know, but I'm not worrying about it."
"Why do you have to watch him? Can't Gobber take care of it?" Asked Snotlout.
She shrugged. "The Gaul's might want to take him and sell him for gold or something, I don't know. He's valuable, and Stoick wants me to hide him. Besides I've gotten along with him pretty well so far." She smiled at the fish boy.
"Sounds boring," amended Tuff.
Hiccup spoke up from the dock. "You all realize I can hear you, right? Please stop talking about me like I'm not here."
Astrid smirked over at him. "You want to go back in the barrel?"
"No, I'd like to have a little fresh water, please."
"Then shut up." She stated, flatly.
Hiccup sank back down to watch with his nose resting on the deck.
"So where are you going?"
"Don't know. Maybe to the cove out by Raven's Point? Its out of the way."
"When do you leave?"
"Just have to get my supplies, then we'll be off." She rested a hand on her hip. "Think one of you morons could keep an eye on him for me? Just make sure he doesn't swim off."
"I'll do it." Ruff volunteered. "I'll jump in and tackle him if I have to."
"Good, I'll be back in an hour." She glanced over to Hiccup who seemed to have a horrified look on his face. "Relax, if they do anything, they'll be answering to me." She held up a fist.
That seemed to calm him down a bit as his tense shoulders relaxed.
—
What did mermaids need in order to survive? Water, that was obvious. Though, she would have to ask him if fresh or salt mattered. Then there was food. Gobber just fed him whatever, but the boy was stick thin, what if he ate differently? Hiccup didn't wear any clothes either, so that was off the list.
As Astrid gathered what she needed for herself, she realized how very little she knew about this creature. Then again, he hadn't spoken much, but she was determined to learn about him.
It was more interesting then learning about chiefing, at least.
With a heavy laden bag on one shoulder, and a fish net on the other, she made her way down to the dock.
She didn't know why she worried. When she arrived, Ruffnut was fast asleep on the deck, while Hiccup was laying about, sunning himself. He perked up when she arrived.
"Not too bright, that one," he declared. "She ranted that she would watch me like a hawk, but then dosed off."
"Good ol' Ruff, always dependable." She stated sarcastically, stepping over the blonde.
"So," He sat up, his single fin slapping against the wood. "How are we getting there?"
"By foot, I'm going to carry you."
He raised his eyebrows. "I'm not doubting your strength, but that can't be easy."
"Nothing is ever easy. Now, c'mon." She laid the net out so he could could roll into it. It took her a few tries, but she finally got it fastened around her shoulders, with his arms draping around her neck. She looped one arm under his tail for extra support, while the other held her bag.
"Am I heavy?" He asked, concerned.
She scoffed. "Please, I could throw you across the village." She adjusted him with a little jolt and then started up the ramp.
"Do you know where we are going?"
"You heard earlier, the cove."
"Might I suggest someplace else?"
"Is it closer?"
"Yes, and better stocked."
"Well then, sure."
"My home."
She stopped. "I hope you realize I can't breathe under water."
"Oh I know!" He laughed. "It's not under water…well, sort of, but it's dry, I promise!"
"Plenty of air?"
"Yep!"
She sighed and pulled him up once again. "Alright, we'll try it, show me."
He pointed in the direction opposite of the village. "Go that way."
"Towards the Kill Ring?"
"Oh…so that's what it is…yes, over there."
"Alright."
The hike was mostly silent, as she carried him through the village to get to the crossing bridge. He would occasionally wave hello to vikings they passed. They always gave him odd looks.
"So," She began, "Did Snotlout actually give you a tour of the village, or did he just trick you?"
"He gave me a short tour, one that led up the hill."
"Remind me to give you a proper tour later."
"Thank you."
"Yeah, I mean, you'll be here for a while. It's only fair."
At this point they had reached the bridge.
"What is the purpose of the Kill Ring?" He asked, an answer already forming in his mind.
"Just like the name eludes, we kill there."
"Kill what, exactly?"
"Well, mostly dragons, each other on occasions. For duels and such."
Oh yes, killing dragons, that's what started this whole mess in the first place. "Do you kill dragons?"
"Of course! Every viking does!"
"Why?"
"Why? Well, they…" she halted, in word and stride, and considered him. "I…I don't know. They used to raid us, but they stopped, many years ago…maybe it's just a grudge…or…" she stopped her train of thought and continued walking.
"Do you hate the dragons?"
"I don't know, I never gave it much thought…" She cracked her neck. "You have a dragon, though, don't you? The black one from the ship. You trained it."
"Yes, Toothless is a good dragon. I can prove to you that dragons are peaceful creatures."
"Well, you might convince me, but I'm not so sure about the other men in the village."
"We'll worry about that later." She heard him smirk.
By time they passed the Kill Ring and headed toward the cliffs, it was already high noon.
"You can set me down here, Astrid. Take a break."
She shrugged him off and he landed on the ground, along with her bag. She swung her arms around and cracked her back. "That was enough exercise for the day." She chuckled.
Hiccup stuck two fingers in his mouth and made a long slow whistle.
Eyebrows furrowed, she stared at him. "Are you—did you just call him?"
"I did."
"No no no no, I will scale the sides of this cliff before I—…" Her tirade was cut off as a long roar echoed over the cliffside.
"It's not that bad, Astrid, you just have to let him warm up to you."
The infamous whistling that signified the presence of a Nightfury rang in her ears as she fell to the ground.
Hiccup whistled again and a dark shadow zipped passed.
"Your dragon is a Nightfury!?" She asked, astounded.
"Yeah!"
And without another word, the dragon touched down in front of the duo in a blink of an eye.
"Toothless!" The merman shouted.
The dragon didn't even notice the blonde as he heartily nuzzled the boy, huffing his hair and licking him.
"I missed you too, bud!" He heartily scratched under his chin. "But I can't stay for long…"
Toothless let out a low, slow whine.
"I know bud, but it's okay. I'll be with you the next three days!"
Toothless gave him a gummy smile and a sound lick.
"Okay okay!" He wiped his face, laughing. "But, we're taking her with us." Hiccup glanced over to his chaperone, who was still on the ground.
Toothless became more focused as he slunk towards her, and gave a large whiff. He shook his mane and twitched.
Astrid looked up to him carefully. This beast was smaller then most dragons, but it made up for it with his jagged teeth which were clenched in a growl. Toothless, what a stupid name. His pupils narrowed into slits as he studied her. Daunting as he was, the girl could plainly see he held much affection for the boy that was pulling himself onto his back.
She gulped, "G-Good dragon." She raised to her knees. "N-N-Nice dragon…"
Toothless blinked a few times, then his pupils widened, giving him a kinder look.
Hiccup scratched his side from his spot up on Toothless' back. "What do you say, Bud? Think you can carry her too?"
It would be an insult to assume the dragon couldn't handle the weight of this puny human. He huffed and lowered to the ground, allowing for Astrid to climb up.
"I—I don't know…" She fiddled with her hands. "It's a dragon after all."
"Astrid," he pinned her with those inhuman eyes and she was ready to listen to anything he had to say. "You've shown me your world, now let me show you mine." He held his hand out for her.
Nodding once, she took up her bag and climbed up on the dragon.
Hiccup laid across his back, his tail locking into a loop by Toothless' hind legs. He used hand grips behind his ear flaps to hang on. Astrid was forced to straddle his waist, right were his scales began. She held onto his shoulders and breathed. "Okay…"
"Toothless, let's take this nice and slow."
His wings unfurled gracefully around them.
"Oh, you don't want this bag to get wet, right?" Hiccup asked.
"I'd prefer it not to."
"Okay, let me hold it."
At the same time she relinquished her bag, she felt the dragon tensing beneath them. He seemed to push down farther into the earth as his back end swayed.
"Hang on!"
Screaming. She was definitely screaming, but she couldn't hear herself over the wind that rushed past her ears. "I thought you told him to take it slow!" She shrieked.
"Seems like he had other ideas!"
She peeled an eye open to see the ground very very far away from them. Dread eclipsed her soul. This merman was going to get her killed. How much higher was the beast going to go? Her stomach rose into her throat as he began a decent, much like a nosedive to the water. Onward she screamed as they rose into a corkscrew.
"Make it stop! Please!" She cried.
Hiccup, whom she was wrapped around, leaned up. She only had time to peek and see him throw her bag, before they did a summersault.
"Hold your breath!" He warned.
"What?!" But it was too late. They broke the surface of the water, and dove into the dark depths. Just as she was about to run out of air, they surfaced. Astrid coughed and gasped for air.
"You okay?" She heard Hiccup ask.
In reply, she punched him in the shoulder. "You said it wasn't under water!"
"Only the entrance is! See!?"
Astrid pushed off of him, landing in the water, then found the wood lain shelf to pull herself up. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cavern, she began to study his hovel. Light filtered in through nooks and holes in the walls, and reflected off of treasures that lined the shelfs. Weapons decorated the walls, hanging from nets. Anything you could imagine was in the cavern, making it a foreign paradise of riches. The home of a merman.
"Wow…" She breathed.
Hiccup eased himself up onto the shelf as well. "Make yourself at home! What's mine is yours! Most of this stuff probably belonged to your people anyway." He shrugged.
Toothless ignited a fire, then curled up near it to sleep.
Astrid stood, taking it all in, before the wind howled through the crevices and sent chills up her spine. "Ugh, I'm soaked! Where's my bag?"
"Up there." Hiccup pointed to a ledge under a opening, just big enough for a person to crawl through. "I threw there so it'd stay dry. It's the only other way to get in here, but it's too small for Toothless, and I couldn't pull myself up."
She nodded in understanding and began to look for grips to climb. "I need a change of clothes."
"Ah, okay. And while you're doing that, I'll just…I'll set up a bed for you."
She grunted as she pulled over the first ledge.
Hiccup pulled out another net that had not been used and hooked it between the rocks, much like he had done with his own hammock. Then he lined it with what furs he had, stretched and misshapen as they were.
When Astrid finally climbed back down, he was reclining in his own hammock, rocking slightly. She surveyed his work and was pleased.
"Nice." She amended. "It'll beat sleeping on the ground."
He grinned.
She shuffled through her bag before pulling out a pair of leggings and a shirt. "Don't look," she commanded.
This confused the boy. "Why?"
"Why? Because I'm changing!"
"And?"
"And I don't want you to see me naked!"
He furrowed his brow. "Why?"
She smacked her forehead. "Are you stupid or something?!"
"We've already established the fact that I am not, in fact, stupid."
"Then why—?" It suddenly occurred to her that Hiccup himself was naked. He didn't understand the concept of clothing, so calling him stupid when he was simply ignorant was rude and unfair. Her anger dissolved and she spoke patiently. "Humans only bare themselves to loved ones, like parents or mates."
"Oh…" He nodded, seemingly understanding. "Then excuse me!" And he flipped on his bed.
He faced the rock wall, the soft sounds of wet clothes falling on the floor was the only sound. "So, the Gauls?" He asked.
"Ugh, they're our allies. Most of them aren't so bad, but Darla…she's the worst!"
"Darla?"
"The chief's daughter, Darla the disagreeable. The chief insists on bringing her with him everywhere, even though she's awful. She's mean, and rude! Not to mention she's the size of Stoick and smells like the raw backside of a swine!"
"How pleasant." He drawled.
"And—…" She shifted in her shirt. "She's obsessed with finding me a husband."
Hiccup turned slightly, just to see her form out of the corner of his eye. "Why you?"
She laughed. "'cause she's too ugly to get one on her own."
"So, you'll have to get married at some point, right?" He asked.
She sighed, picked up her sopping clothes. "I have no desire to, but as the chief's heir, I know I will, but I'm holding off as long as possible." She was quiet for a while before sighing, "I hope he lets me pick my own."
Hiccup turned fully, noticing she was now dressed. "It must be hard, having that responsibility."
"I'm only fifteen." She stated. "I still have a few years." She straightened her back and looked around. "Can I use that spear?" She pointed to the corner.
Startled by the abrupt change in conversation, he simply nodded. Astrid took the weapon and wedged it between two rocks near the fire, then she draped her clothes over it to dry. Effortlessly, she leapt into her hammock, making it sway to and fro, and then pulled at her braid to untangle it.
"Ugh, I hate my hair! It's always tangled!"
Hiccup didn't understand. "I think your hair is very pretty." He said honestly.
She rolled her eyes. "You don't have to deal with untangling long hair! It's the worst!"
"Actually, you cut my long hair off…remember?"
She stopped and stared. Oh yeah, she had. "Then you know my pain, do you have a comb?"
"Comb?"
"Yeah, to brush your hair?" She mimicked the action.
"Oh!" The merboy reached over to the rocks where the fork was stuck and handed it to her.
"This is a fork."
"Yes?"
"This is for eating."
He frowned.
"Hold on, I think I have one in my bag." And she got out of the hammock. "Truly, a man is not supposed to see a woman's hair down unless he is married to her."
"Again with the rules?"
"I'll be lenient on this one. I don't care." Finding what she was looking for, she took a seat back on the hammock and began to smooth her hair as the merboy watched, his head resting on his arm.
"So," He began, hesitantly, "You and Stoick seem to have a…strained relationship?"
"Don't even get me started." She threw her head back. "The man is a terrible father. I only put up with him because I agree that Snotlout would be an awful chief."
"So…how did this all happen?"
"Well, Stoick had a wife and child, a boy named Hiccup, you knew that though, from your name."
He nodded.
"His wife left on some journey and never came back, and Hiccup was offered as a sacrifice to the gods, and then my parents died a few years later, from sickness, long story short, he adopted me."
He sat open-mouthed for a few long moments. "He offered his son as a sacrifice?"
"Yeah, I don't know all the details though. I was pretty young when it happened. I don't remember it."
He huffed, he wouldn't be getting his answers from her.
"What about you?" She wondered.
"Well…I had parents, like everyone. But then, one day, mom left…and shortly after, dad decided he didn't want me. So…then I found this cave and life goes on for the little orphan merboy."
"Can't you go live with the other merfolk?"
"Uh, I don't really…fit in with them." He huffed his hair out of his eyes.
Astrid tied off the end of her braid, then nodded. "I know how you feel." She draped one leg over the edge of the bed. "I follow the rules, I live the viking life, but in the end, I feel like I'm different from them."
"You're smart." He acknowledged.
"Thanks, but that's not what I meant."
"You're beautiful."
She laughed, her face tinting strawberry. "Again, not what I was thinking of." She sighed. "Just…I don't know. You know that feeling though, right?"
He didn't really want to mention that he was being excluded for completely superficial reasons. "Uh, yeah, it's the worst." He huffed his hair out of his face again.
"I didn't give you a very good haircut, let me fix that." She sat up and took a knife from her bag. He flinched back, as any man would when a woman came close to his face with a knife. She tugged on his hair and sliced through it, and he relaxed.
As she trimmed his bangs, she asked, "Where did you find these things? Are these all from our ships?"
"No, no!" He assured. "I found most of these treasures from sunken ships. The mermaids don't really approve of saving human items, so I take them! I like learning about human culture. It's very…interesting."
"Well, I'll teach you anything that you'd like. After all, I'm stuck here for a few days, so why not?"
He grinned.
"But, you have to tell me when and how you got them, deal?"
"Deal."
She finished with his bangs and he turned around. "So, what about that shield up there? The long one with the wings on it?"
"Ah! That was a ship wreck with all sorts of treasures! Although, the ship was half burned…"
And so, Hiccup recounted his adventures to her as she cut his hair. They told stories, and both learned together about the vast world around them. When the sunlight faded, Astrid crawled into bed, and fell asleep to his sonorous voice.