Chapter 2

Old Grudge & Old love

Dawn over Berk many people ask when they arrive on our shores why do we live here? The food we grow is tough and mostly tasteless the people are even more so, travelers wonder why we live with Dragons we say how can we live without them? But what's on most people's minds these days is Torkkar a local of Berk who left twelve long years ago when we were all just toddlers only to return as an accomplished Explorer, a Master Dragon slayer, and bearing one hell of a problem with Mildew. It's been three days since his arrival and Torkkar's fitting in well he's built a massive home for himself atop the Villages Northern hill overlooking the sea, the plains and the forest and to the south a shallow winding path down to the village square, this houses main feature is a single Tower that stretches high into the sky at least four floors tall and at its top windows all the way round, why he built it this way we can only guess but one thing we do know is that Torkkar though he's big and powerful he's also intelligent and caring.

Astrid's been by his house everyday catching up with her big brother and she seems happy after leaving as well she always appears to show up and leave shortly before and after mealtimes, Torkkar has shown interest in Dragon training but has yet to ask for lessons or a Dragon of his own yet, I hope that today will change that. - Journal entry of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

Hiccup put down his charcoal stick and looked at toothless who was staring at something out the window "what's the matter bud?" Hiccup ask the big black puppy of a reptile who only growled and purred as an answer as he patted at the ground with his front feet as he continued to watch out the window. With a sigh Hiccup got up from his desk and walked over to the window to see what his dragon was to anxious about only to see Torkkar walking down toward the village Carrying Meatlug on his back with Fishlegs following worriedly behind him chattering off loudly behind him.

"ho man why was I so stupid? Do you think she'll be ok?" Fishlegs whined with a sigh and a grunt "How should I know I'm used ta killin Dragons not fixin'em!" Torkkar was a bit snappy in his response "what have ya been feedin this Dragon anyway? Rocks?!" Torkkar asked with a bit of annoyance "uh yes actually that's the majority of a Gronckle's diet apart from fish" Fishlegs twiddled with his thumbs as he answered "What's going on here guys?" Hiccup asked as he approached "oh uh hi Hiccup Meatlug and I had a small accident near Mildew's house I had to get Torkkar to help me get her over to Gobber's shop" Fishlegs blurted out his whole answer in one almost incomprehensible mass of words "Can I kill him now Hiccup?" Torkkar groaned again under the weight of the 'small' Boulder class Dragon "who Fishlegs?" hiccup asked back "No Mildew He probably set up those boulders to fall from the cliffs near his house a big one hit Meatlug right in the head knocked her out cold" Torkkar said as he gestured to the massive red lump on the top of Meatlug's Head. With a sigh "no Torkkar lets just get Meatlug to Gobber's place I'll let dad know about this and we'll inspect the cliff too" that said Torkkar grunted and picked up his pace nearly running through town carrying his load.

"so what's he like?" Ruffnut asked as she and Astrid walked up from the Arena "who?" Astrid replied looking confused "and where's your Brother at any way I thought he was supposed to help us clean the arena today?" Astrid asked back, with a sigh "what's your Big Brother like and my Brother got kidnapped by our father to help kill some boar's out near the farms dad figured some time apart would be good for us" Ruffnut was looking off into the distance as she spoke stretching out her arms from the hours of hard scrubbing getting scorch marks off the floor and walls of the arena "oh Torkkar? Well he's big that's for sure but he's also kind he cooks lunch for me whenever I visit and he must like to read oh and you should see his Trophy room" Astrid exclaimed "wait you said he likes to read?" Ruffnut got a nauseous look about her "ugh, Deal breaker right there" she said as she folded her arms and looked away "what the hell's that supposed to mean?" Astrid yelled annoyed, and confused "what? I was going to ask him out but if he likes to read no way am I going near that. Shame too I bet being ten feet tall and over six hundred pounds and built like Thor meant he'd have been equipped where it counts" Ruffnut replied with a devilish grin and a wink. A look of shocked realization hit Astrid "EWWW! Ruffnut That's MY BROTHER you talking about I don't want the image of THAT! In my head EVER!" Astrid screamed at her Friend as Ruffnut Walked along Laughing like a maniac.

"so is she going to be ok?" Fishlegs asked as he bounced nervously "aye she's a tough one Fishlegs she'll be fine just keep her on the ground for a few days and keep ice on that nasty bump till the swelling goes down and keep rocks off the menu she needs soft foods namely meat, anything hard may just give her a pressure head ach for a while" Gobber said as he rubbed the side of Meatlug's head and put an ice bag on the bump shaking his head "I just don't get it, Why does Mildew hate Dragon so damn much if Stoick myself and Torkkar can learn to ride and live with them why can't he?" Gobber said as he walked back into him shop to get his stein fist "Gobber! You're a Genius!" Hiccup exclaimed with an enthusiastic smile "I'm a what now?" Gobber asked confused "if we can get Mildew on a tandem flight maybe he'll change his mind like my dad" Hiccup explained "I doubt that old Sheep fucker will change his mind like that Hiccup he has been the same crotchety old man since I left" Torkkar said as he sat with his back to a post his arms crossed as he looked at the sky.

Everyone looked at Torkkar like he had two heads at what he said "what did you say?" Fishlegs asked "what do you mean what? He's had three wives and now a sheep that's also a female you know he does it" Torkkar said smugly as he continued to watch the sky. Hiccup had heard enough and got right in Torkkar's face and Grabbed the giant by the beard hauled his gaze down to his own level "OK RIGHT NOW! WHAT'S YOUR BEEF WITH MILDEW!" Hiccup yelled with all the furry his small form could muster only to have Torkkar Burst out laughing in his face Launching waves of garlicky pungent breath at the smaller Viking. Torkkar stood as hiccup let go of him and looked down at Hiccup as his sister approached "hi guys what's up?" Astrid asked noting the angered look on Hiccups face "oh yer boyfriend here just proved he's a man little sister. Got right in my face bellowing Like a True Harry Hooligan" Torkkar sniffed a bit as he got choked up "ah it was beautiful" he added at the end.

Astrid kept her face looking at her brother and shot occasional glances toward Hiccup "and your still alive?!" Ruffnut sarcastically asked Hiccup got red-faced now "well for three day's now Torkkar's had nothing but insults, rude analogies, and has tried to kill Mildew twice, the second time when Mildew was coming back from the Village compost heap. I just want to know where this grudge is rooted" Hiccup rattled off and he was about to apologize "Stop right there Hiccup" Torkkar had cut him off "there are two things a Harry Hooligan man never says to another one is Please the other is a verbal apology" Torkkar said in an oddly fatherly tone "now as for my problem with Mildew that bastard had his eye's set on MY Girlfriend a thirteen years ago" the whole group gasped Meatlug jumped back with a hiccup sparking fourth an ember and Gobber sprayed his mead dousing the ember all in shock.

Torkkar sat on Gobber anvil as he began to tell his tale "thirteen years ago I had a Girl in my eye her name was Aldra the Huntress she was an orphan her whole family killed in the same Dragon raid, yet she survived and continued to hunt for the Village. We were a good match myself an accomplished young Dragon slayer and her one hell of a hunter brought down a bear ten times her size on her third day hunting after the death of her parents and brother. Yes we could be seen round the village quite often together buying weapons, new hides, selling meat and bits of Dragon. Then the day came Mildew's third wife had died and in front of us the old bastard had the gall to ask Stoick about the Little Orphan girl if she had a place to stay other than the great hall then he asked her if she'd come live with him as his third wife She screamed no and ran out the door to the woods never to be seen again and I Broke the old man's leg with a single punch to the knee. I looked for Aldra day's I searched that day turned into a year then I left Berk on my journey a long venture born of anger and heartbreak that took me far to the south I hit the shores of an island called Brittan there I met a Tribe called the Saxons and with them I raided the Empire of Rome for six years I grew to my massive size all while killing horde upon horde of Rome legionnaires. I found my Weapon the fifth year of combat in a Rome fort it was in the shape of a War maul far too big for a normal sized man to lift let alone wield, but for some one of my size the Saxons thought.

So I entered the room and read the inscription Balmier I took it as the weapons name and I grabbed it lifted the maul up high with one hand and over the next year I figured out how to change the weapons form to suit my needs, Hammer for armored opponents, Axe for hordes of light infantry, and Sword for general Combat and sheathed carrying. Finally after steadily beating the Rome's out of Brittan I left the Saxons took up my old ship and sailed the know world bartering for exotic seeds and supplies." Torkkar finished his story with a heavy sigh and more of an audience than when he started.

"aye it's an inspiring tale Torkkar you took a horrible tragedy and spun it round and returned with a weapon forged by Thor himself!" Stoick said as he walked fourth "but even so we still can't let you Kill Mildew" Stoick said with a calm soft voice as he placed a hand on Torkkar's shoulder. Torkkar looked into Stoick's eye's and saw the hardened will of a true Chief, Giving a grunt and a huff Torkkar rose and began to walk off "Hiccup" Torkkar said standing back to "when do I start Dragon training?" Torkkar asked, Hiccup looked astounded with the sudden change of subject "um whenever you're ready I guess just show up in the morning just after dawn at the arena, uh tomorrow would be perfect we're supposed to be taking in a class of new students then" Hiccup offered Torkkar chuckled "a man my size training next to kids" he said in a hushed almost whisper as he walked off toward the forest road in silence.

"it's a hard thing ta watch init Stoick" Gobber said solemnly as he changed back to his hammer fist, with a huff "aye it is Gobber" Stoick replied with a look of depression. Hiccup noted the two elder Vikings looking like they were watching a funeral ship sailing out to sea set ablaze "what are you two talking about?" Hiccup asked "it's called the Great Challenge Hiccup it hits all Vikings at some point or another we all contemplate rushing off to a suicidal battle and most of us do but we come back home and so much changes. Depression sets in you had it too Hiccup when you woke and yer leg was missing, if it wasn't for Toothless Hiccup I'm afraid we'd have lost you" Stoick explained to them all.

Astrid ran off down the path after her brother tears in her eyes and streaming down her face as she tried to catch up to her older Brother. Torkkar slipped off the forest road and headed for the beach he spent most of his day helping Fishlegs and then told them his long tale he guessed it was late afternoon now nearing sunset. He walked along the beach slowly occasionally looking out toward the sea he stopped and sat on a large boulder and watched the sun setting over the sea as he grasped Balmier in its sword form drew the blade only to begin drawing in the sand, he began to dream about his near future about what Dragon he would have. Torkkar saw himself atop a Night Furry until he remembered he was bigger the Dragon would have him as a mount instead, He then imagined a Monstrous Nightmare with him on its back then remembered the dragons neck was too thin to support anything over four hundred extra pounds, A Scauldron he thought it was big enough but no one had ever seen one fly He'd killed a few and saw the wings, too small to fly with even on its own. Long and hard he thought going through the known dragons in his head a Whispering Death would be an awesome mount if only it had wings.

Torkkar gave a frustrated growl as he thought he then looked down at his feet and saw he'd drawn what looked like a gem with Dragon wings and remembered he'd found something like that before. Torkkar sheathed Balmier and rummaged through his belt pouches and pockets until he found it a small purple folded cloth silk he remembered the cloths name, he slowly and carefully unwrapped the object hidden inside. He held it up to the sun's dimming ray's the small flat rounded triangle shimmered like the stars, "that looks like a Night Furry Scute but it's too flat and totally the wrong color" the sudden voice startled Torkkar he looked over to see Astrid his sister standing next to her Nadder still teary eyed. Adjusting his seated position to face her he put the item in his lap "why have you been crying Astrid" Torkkar asked in his gruff deep tone "the others said you looked depressed like a Viking returning home from an unwinnable battle we all thought you were going to Kill yourself!" Astrid's voice changed as she spoke from calm to screaming upset as she ran to her brother and hugged on to him tightly. Torkkar patted his sisters head lightly and hushed her "it's true Astrid I am depressed but I've done too much to die now I've just come home to Berk I've just re-met you and Mother, I don't know what the stick up Fathers ass bout me is though" They both laughed as they imagined the Mighty Cadman Hofferson with a broom handle shoved halfway up his ass "Man what would mom think if she saw that" Astrid jokingly asked Torkkar remembered His mother Hilda how she looked when he left "I should see her soon" Torkkar said all too seriously "she looked so sad when I left, heh as big as I am Astrid I still fear my mother most of all" Torkkar confessed his weakness to his sister as he looked down at her threw his bushy black beard "so what is this thing?" Astrid asked looking at his lap Torkkar looked down to see she was pointing at the crystal object "that's a Dragon scale Astrid and an odd one too its sharper than Tempered steel but duller than Balmier and its unable to be forged with" Torkkar explained as he took the scale and with a flick of his wrist he scratched the rock they were sitting on, Astrid's eyes grew wide in disbelief "it's got to be a Diamond then!" she exclaimed as she looked at the scale "but what Dragon grows diamond scales?" she asked "I only know of one and I've beaten one on this isle Astrid it's called a Crystal Hoarder" Torkkar's eyes grew narrow and Astrid thought it best to not ask further.

"so do you think they'll be ok?" Hiccup asked his father as they both sat at their meal table "yes Hiccup they'll be all right Astrid's a strong girl and Torkkar, hell I think even the Red Death would give him a wide birth if he were Really in a foul mood" Stoick said with a chuckle Toothless grunted as he looked up through the window patting at the floor "what's he up to Hiccup" Stoick asked with a quizzical look on his face. Hiccup rolled his eyes and got up to look out the window "it's a women dad, one I've not seen around before" Hiccup looked puzzled as his father got up to look.

"well it's getting late Astrid we should get some food then some sleep" Torkkar said as he wrapped up the scale Astrid silently agreed and hoped off her brother knee and walked over to her dragon. Torkkar approached slowly and confidently at Stormfly's face the Dragon reacted with fear quickly flashing her tail but Torkkar was unimpressed and kept to his approach. He was standing at Stormfly's side in no time and simply smiled at the Dragon and held out his hand grasping some Dragon nip grass then proceeded to rub Stormfly's snout. "Amazing" Astrid said only Hiccup's been able to approach a Nadder like that.

Torkkar with a smile "so what do you think of him?" he asked "of Hiccup?" Astrid asked caught off guard by the question she began changing color, Torkkar said between chuckles "Yes, Hiccup who do you think I meant Fishlegs!" Torkkar burst out laughing Astrid smiled at the thought of Fishlegs trying to woo any other girl but the sad realization hit her in their generation there were only two female options Herself and Ruffnut. With a shiver at that thought "well how can I put this Brother… Hiccup and I are… well… Dating" Astrid finally blurted out, Torkkar stopped laughing "you serious…" he asked Astrid simply nodded "well looks like I'll need to talk with that guy before training" Torkkar said as he began walking back toward the village.

Astrid and stormfly hurried to catch up to Torkkar 'man for a near Giant he sure can move fast' Astrid thought as she ran. Torkkar herd a snap in the forest and stopped dead in his stride he turned to see a flash of white fur as a Massive Bear exploded out of the brush on a dead tear for his sister, with no thought Torkkar hurdled himself between the two and caught the bear by the forelimbs as it reared up to attack. Astrid Screamed as Stormfly Jumped back and Hauled Astrid with her Just as Torkkar's left foot smashed down where her head would have been. Now locked in a struggle of strength and easily holding his own Torkkar Threw the bears right side back and Punched it square in the nose sending blood and teeth flying, the Bear roars as it spun its face back round to meet Torkkar's gaze then Torkkar rammed his head into the bears chest with audible cracks from the animals collar bone. Seeing her Brother's efforts against such a foe Astrid mounted Stormfly and moved round behind the bear and commanded a burst of flames and the Beasts backside, This sent the Bear Yelping for the sea fur flying off with blobs of melted skin littered the beach as Torkkar Drew his blade and stood between his sister and the bear as it came back for more.

Just as the bear was on the sand again an arrow screamed from town and pierced the Bear threw the head ear to ear Torkkar looked up "Aldra?" he quizzically asked Astrid look at him then back to the women standing in the early moon light atop the town side cliff even stormfly cocked her head in wonder of this stranger.