Chapter 4
Dread Events
The isle of Berk home of the Harry Hooligan tribe Vikings the world calls us but to each other we say we're all family. This fact has been proven too us countless times from the tribes founders to just a few days ago when one of our own returned united with his sister and younger cousin and now trains us in combat as we train him with Dragons. Journal entry of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.
With a loud scream and a splash Hiccup went crashing into the cove Torkkar laughed "YES! Chalk up another one to me Toothless" Torkkar said as he pated the large black Dragon whom rolled his eyes and scratched a seventh line on a rock where he sat. Aldra walked over to Hiccup and helped him up then whispered in his ear "slip round his back then latch on he's vulnerable only there" Hiccup nodded as he walked out of the water grabbed his sword and took his stance "sure you don't want the shield this round Hiccup?" Torkkar asked "Let's do this" Hiccup yelled back Torkkar shrugged and took his own stance held his left hand out and drew Balmier with his right, Aldra looked at Morgan "same result?" she asked "I don't know something changed in Master Hiccup" the small Viking was young but smart and observant she saw the change in Hiccup now he had a plan.
Aldra smacked her daggers together their ringing singled the start of the match, Torkkar was first to move rushing Hiccup "Balmier, Fus [foo-ss]" Torkkar yelled and his weapon responded by shifting to its Battleaxe form Hiccup jumped to the side letting Torkkar's attack hit the dirt "Balmier, Ro [roe]" He called his weapon shifted again into its War maul form a massive hammer Torkkar swung to the side at Hiccup switching his grip to his right hand, Hiccup leapt forward and ducked letting the haft pass over his back "Balmier, Dah" the weapon shifted back to its Greatsword form as Torkkar brought the blade up high flipped his grip so the blade aimed down and drove it toward Hiccup, seeing his chance Hiccup dove between Torkkar's legs then climbed up his back and poked Torkkar with his sword "GAME!" Aldra yelled Hiccup dropped off and looked exhaustedly at Torkkar who smiled at him.
"well done Hiccup you learned how to face a far superior foe today" Torkkar was pleased with Hiccup's progress "Thanks but having to say your weapons name then its form in the old tongue is a bit of a handicap" Hiccup offered his point and they all laughed. Morgan walked up and hugged Torkkar's leg he looked down to see his little cousin looking up at him smiling. Hiccup suddenly fell with a crash everyone looked to see his false leg shattered into hundreds of small bits and pieces "what the hell?" Hiccup exclaimed as he surveyed the damage "looks like your leg can't handle intense training like today well lucky thing I'm here" Torkkar boasted Hiccup looked up at him "yeah and what are you going to do fly us outta here with your Dragon?" Hiccup said jokingly. Torkkar imagined his little dragon no bigger than an apple trying to fly them all out of the cove then shook his head "no I'm going to dig us a proper path out of here" Torkkar said as he drew his blade walking to the coves steep walls. Aldra help Hiccup mount up on toothless while Morgan and the hatchlings gathered the bits of Hiccups leg.
Torkkar studied the wall slowly running his hand over the rough surface "what are you doing love?" Aldra asked as he continued to search "I'm looking for this walls weakness" Torkkar replied. Hiccup scoffed at the idea "what weakness it's a solid wall you'd need the whole village with pickaxes and an entire growing season to cut a path through these walls" Hiccup said feeling pretty sure of himself "and so was I Hiccup but you beat me in our sparing match just like I'm about to conquer this wall" Torkkar spoke as if he was an old sage 'how could he speak with such wisdom at such a young age' Aldra thought she knew he was only two years older than she was but he now knew so much and to top it off he had been the fastest learner in their group Hiccup taught Torkkar more about training Dragons in the last week than bother herself and Morgan combined.
Torkkar stopped searching suddenly he bit his lip and spat the blood on the rock just above his finger "Balmier, Ro" he said and took his hammer and swung with all his force on the point of blood a huge pressure wave was released from the impact blowing their hair back along with dust and bits of grass. When the breeze died down the wall was crushed into small rocks and a few boulders that formed a gentle slope up to the forest floor Everyone even the dragons stared slack jawed at the power Torkkar unleashed. As he sheathed balmier back in its sword form he turned around to see the stares "what?" he asked. Hiccup was first to speak "how did you do that?!" he exclaimed eyes still wide in disbelief "that's the power of Balmier a weapon forged by Thor himself in hammer form I can harness the power of lightning and earth that's how I smashed the rock wall as well as my own strength amplified with those two elemental powers." Torkkar explained as they all walked up out of the cove headed for the village.
"you did WHAT?!" Fishlegs yelled at the top of his lungs picking Tuffnut up off the ground and slammed him into the arena wall. Ruffnut grabbed onto Fishlegs arm "Please don't hurt him Fishlegs it was my idea" she pleaded "what are you talking about?" Fishlegs said staring quizzically at Ruffnut who was acting really out of character she usually beat on her brother and even let others hit him on occasion, Ruffnut darted her eyes at Fishlegs free hand which was grasping the hilt of his mace. Seeing this Fishlegs dropped Tuffnut and removed his hand from the mace "Don't EVER mess with my Dragon, it's ok to doo crap like that to me but not to Meatlug" Fishlegs was unusually threatening in both his voice and body posturing. The twins apologized then bolted out of the arena as fast as they could Running straight past Gobber.
"After noon Master Fishlegs!" Gobber boomed as he entered the arena Fishlegs turned to face the older Viking "so finally standing up to those too eh? Bout damn time ya start throwing that weight around, and believe me you got a lot to throw" Gobber said his last words jokingly to Fishlegs who stood silently. Gobber glanced over Fishlegs class then back to Fishlegs "so which one is it?" Gobber asked with a sigh. A small boy walked up with his baby Gronckle "he's got a cracked tooth" he said tearing up along with the hatchling. "hold Meatlug down Fishlegs this little fellow may do some squealing whilst I work, I don't feel like losing a chunk outta my ass next" Gobber said with a laugh as the other three children laughed along with him as he got down to business.
Hiccup slammed the bag with the remnants of his leg hard on the work bench in Gobber's shop with a huff "man this is going to take a while to fix" he said with another sigh. Astrid approached him from behind her hands behind her back holding a large box "or you could open this early" she said as she whipped the box out Hiccup turned around "what is this?" he asked surprised, Astrid blushed "I had Torkkar make this for you a while ago, I was going to wait until your birthday next week but well I think this will be needed now" Astrid was turning redder by the second as Hiccup opened the box and pulled out a new leg Built similar to his old one but an odd metal it wasn't Iron nor Steel it had a greenish gold tinge when the sun hit it just right the leg shined so bright it was almost like a tiny sun.
Hiccup put on his new leg and took a few steps "wow this is awesome Astrid thank you!" Hiccup said and threw himself onto her with a hug as they parted Astrid kissed him. Suddenly there was a thud outside the shop they both jumped Hiccup looked like he'd seen a ghost, Astrid turned to see Torkkar holding Balmier hammer form with huge chunks of ore around him. "Hey before you get the wrong idea Brother I kissed him got it?" Astrid said staring down her older Giant of a Brother, "what? I'm just smashing some orichalcum and corundum for a batch of Dragon steel" Torkkar stated with a chuckle. Hiccup walked out of the shop and looked at Torkkar "but isn't corundum a gemstone? And orichalcum a soft metal?" he asked Torkkar chuckled more "yes its true But if you mix them both together as dust and use a Nadder's flames you can make a metal alloy harder than steel but just as pliable when hot as gold" Torkkar spoke with gruff expertise on the matter.
Some time had passed since Torkkar began his smelting process aided by Stormfly they worked fast producing over one hundred bars of Dragon Steel. "so are you going to do this all day?" Astrid asked clearly board with watching her Brother, "not all day I've only another four hundred bar's left to make" Torkkar replied with a grunt lifting another try of dusts to be smelted. Hiccup grasped Astrid's hand "hey lets go get some lunch while he's stuck here working we could have fun though no flying since he's working with your Dragon" Hiccup ended his words with a smile. Astrid got up with him "how bout we find Aldra after we eat? Maybe do some hunting in the forest with her?" Astrid offered trying to extend the 'date' Hiccup was offering, "yeah that sounds good" Hiccup said with a nod the two bid Torkkar a farewell and were off to the great hall.
Aldra was walking through the market her Dragon nestled in her arms asleep in the noon sun only shifting occasionally with yawns then snuggling back in for more sleep. Aldra was shopping for food Torkkar had given her a list of staples to pick up and she was only too happy to help him with minor chores and repairs to the house as rent 'I can't believe how lazy this Night Furry is' she thought as she giggled watching the bread loaf sized Dragon yawn then rolled onto her back still in Aldra's arms. She looked up to see everyone in the market staring at her she could hear the faint whispers from the crowd amidst the bartering and bantering she could make out 'who is she?' and 'where did she come from' along with their corresponding answers. Ignoring these she found Mulch sitting at his farm stall and browsed his goods.
"Hello, hello my fine young lady welcome to Mulch n' Buckets Farm goods stall I be Mulch what can I get for ya today?" the short plump Viking rattled off his conditioned introduction ending with a cheesy grin showing off his near lack of teeth, Aldra smiled and bit back a laugh "umm… Let's see here…" Aldra shifted her hatchling over to one arm and dug out her list "ah here we go I need two dozen eggs, three sacks of flour, fifty pounds of potatoes, two hundred pound wheels of yak cheese, and one barrel of yak milk." Aldra said with a smile, Mulch just looked at her dumfounded "that's a lot for a little thing like you? Feedin an army are yah?" he asked as he got to work loading a cart with all the items. Aldra laughed "no just myself, this hatchling, a Terrible Terror hatchling and one huge man" Aldra spoke with a light happy tone "you don't mean you're living with Torkkar?" Mulch asked Aldra Nodded in reply. "well don't that beat all, so I'm guessin your Aldra the runaway?" Mulch said with a quizzical tone, "No I'm Aldra the Huntress!" she exclaimed in anger "sorry everyone called you the runaway since that day at the hall." Mulch stated with sincerity as he got back to loading the cart then yelled for Bucket.
Bucket came round the stall yawned and stretched "oh hey Mulch what's goin on?" Bucket said in his absent minded way "OH! Who's THIS Little thing?" Bucket squealed and rushed over to Aldra and hunched over and waggled his finger over the small white dragon who sensed something was up opened her eyes and tracked the 'target' then latched on to buckets finger with her gums. Bucket jumped back in surprise "ok that's enough Bucket I need yah to take this loaded cart up to Torkkar's house and unload it into his cellar can yah handle it?" Mulch asked with a skeptical look "sure… I take the cart up to Torkkar's house and load the stuff in his cellar… right?" Bucket looked worried that he forgot something "aye yah got it Bucket now get goin and I'll get some lunch for us when yah get back" Mulch said as he gestured to the cart. Bucket just clapped then grabbed the cart rail and ran off up the hill.
As Aldra and Mulch watched Bucket run off up the trail to Torkkar's house a new figure approached from the foot hills path "well, well as I live and breathe its little orphan Aldra all grown up eh" Old Mildew cooed trying his best to sound flirty but just came off as perversely creepy. In a single motion Aldra drew her daggers and had them at Mildew's Throat her Dragon standing its ground teeth drawn staring down Mildews sheep Fungus hissing and growling mimicking her trainer. Mildew smugly pushed himself back and reached for a document with the Haddock Family crest he opened it "now, now my dear in accordance to this contract with Olaf the Crusher Haddock the Chief before Stoick the vast basically this says that should you return to this village your to be wed to me Immediately lest you be exiled at sea never to see your new friends again… Now my dear what shall it be?" Mildew smiled wickedly with his crooked teeth as Aldra read the contract her heart sank she dropped her daggers then fell to her knees tear streaming down her face seemingly defeated.
Mulch saw the whole thing and approached mildew in a huff "NOW! Just you wait Mildew you old goat, you know full well to make this contract binding Stoick needs to read it with ALL concerned parties and that means her Land lord too" Mulch roared at the old man in distain as he knelt beside Aldra and held her trying to comfort her. "What's all this then!" Stoick Boomed "well Mulch theirs the Chief and since she has no parents who's her land lord?" Mildew's grin turned into a smile knowing Stoick had to honor his father's contract. "Torkkar" Aldra said and Mildew went cold "what?" he asked fearfully "TORKKAR IS MY LAND LORD!" Aldra screamed at Mildew he then went white as snow. Stoick watched this then read the Contract after snatching it from Mildew "Well I'll be damned" he said with shock he turned his head "Aldra! Why did you come back?" Stoick asked with concern. Aldra looked up at Stoick "I came back to see if Torkkar was truly home I heard some of your hunters talking about Torkkar returning I had to see him again then this happened…" Aldra trailed off into her sobbing again. "well Aldra I've no choice but to grant this contract But there is an addition that I can do" Stoick said with a wink. "and what might that be?" Mildew asked "well its simple says here the Guardian of Aldra, Torkkar in this case may void this contract in a display of skill mutually agreed upon by all parties concerned with this contract" Stoick Read the words carefully to the group. "Well what are yah waitin for Stoick take these two and find Torkkar!" Mulch yelled at his Chief trying to communicate to Stoick the Urgency of the situation, Taking the hint Stoick lead Aldra along with Mildew and Fungus trailing behind.
Torkkar had just finished stacking the bars of Dragon steel standing back to admire the light weight but strong material 'this will make good tools and weapons' he thought proudly. "OI! Torkkar!" Stoick yelled as he crested the hill. Torkkar turned to face the Chief and was shocked to see a red eyed Aldra behind him with Mildew in tow "What has that old sheep fucker done?!" Torkkar growled his words Mildew gulped and began to sweat profusely. Stoick held out the contract "this is a binding contract Torkkar Aldra will be Mildew's fourth wife IF you don't accept to compete against Mildew in an Agreeable contest of skill." Stoick threw emphasis on 'if' not that he needed too. "Fine" Torkkar said bluntly "A duel to the death me verses Him no weapons at dawn tomorrow in the arena" Torkkar Proposed "NO!... Anything but that I'm too old to fight" Mildew screamed and begged for Stoick to side with him. "Relax Mildew though I love to see it I must not allow that contest the age difference alone is too great then theirs size and experience all are on your side Torkkar" Stoick pointed out the overly obvious getting Torkkar to back down. "how about Dragon Training" Mildew suggested to everyone's surprise "you sure Mildew?" Stoick asked in disbelieve "yes I'm sure it's the only thing he's new at so we both have no advantages or disadvantages in the skill" Mildew stated his offer with a sly grin though his knees still trembled in fear. "Fine but I pick the Dragons we'll try for" Torkkar said with fiery passion, Mildew and Stoick both nodded "Mildew you will try to tame a Scauldron and I will try to find and tame a wild Dragon large enough for me to ride." Torkkar smiled with amusement at Mildew trying to tame such a dangerous Dragon. Stoick looked at Mildew who nodded in agreement "ok then Mildew will learn from Hiccup the basics of Dragon Training and Torkkar will begin scouting for his Dragon, if neither party is successful the marriage contract is void, if either die's to the victor goes Aldra, and if both succeed then it will be judged on how impressive the Dragons are… Agreed" Stoick bellowed the rules of the contest both Torkkar and Mildew nodded "Agreed" they chimed then all went their separate ways to prepare for the ordeal ahead of them.