Author's Note: Trigger warning, depictions of death ahead. Reasons this fanfiction is rated M. You've been warned.
A loud splash followed as Renee submersed her head into the basin of a dragon wash. She scrubbed furiously to get the grit out of her eyes. She snapped her head back, water sloshed everywhere as it coursed down her body. She was still hot and sweaty from the fight. The cold water was welcoming. She blinked several times before her vision came back to her. She had used her injuries as an excuse to get away from her new fans. She found out she didn't do too well under the pressure of frenzied admiration.
As the waters calmed, she looked down at her reflection. She could see the red stained slice that extended from the top of her right cheek across the bridge of her nose. She gently poked it. Wincing as it stung on contact. She had learned that this cut couldn't be wrapped. That she would have to live with it as it healed. It stared back at her as a reminder of the deadly consequences she faced. A chill ran down her spine as she shuddered involuntarily.
With a mighty shake of her head, she cleared her wet mane of water as it sprayed everywhere. She'd hardly noticed Viktor and Pudge behind her until she backed up into them. She gaped to see them. Dripping from her excess. She winced, seeing this.
"S-sorry." She whimpered.
"Are you kidding?" Viktor raised a brow.
"Yeah, it's an honor to get splashed by you!" Pudge shouted, leaving Renee confused.
"I d-don't understand." Renee stammered. Giving them an incredulous stare.
"You're a big celebrity after that holmgang." Viktor squeaked in excitement.
"My dad says we've not seen one on Berk since Hamish III. And to have one of our own win one was a great honor." Pudge chimed in with his knowledge.
Renee found herself backing up slow. The boys' energy seemed to overwhelm her as they talked fast between each other.
"Are you gonna name your sword?" Viktor asked.
"Every warrior must give their weapon a worthy name." Pudge lectured.
"I uh," Renee wasn't sure what to do as she found herself cornered by them. "You, wouldn't happen to know where Helga is. Would you?" She changed the subject.
"We haven't seen her at all since the fight." Viktor looked to Pudge. Calming down.
"We've been trying to find her. To tell her the news. But she's not in any of her usual hangouts in the village." Pudge admitted with a sigh.
"I… might know where she is. Thanks." Renee skirted the boys.
Quickly she headed for Raven Point. Knowing exactly where she might find Helga.
As she approached the familiar crevice, sure enough. She could hear Helga ranting just on the other side. She quietly dropped down into the crevice and snuck along the high rock walls as she approached.
"That idiot! What more do you have to do to get it through her head I don't need help?" Helga ranted. She paced back and forth furiously.
"The handsome moron is probably at Edmund's beck and call by now." Helga grew grim. She stopped in her frantic pacing and wrapped her arms around herself.
Renee flushed to hear Helga call her handsome. She gulped and quietly snuck up behind her. Reaching up, she managed to wrap her hands over Helga's eyes. Hoping to surprise her. Big mistake.
In an instant, Helga turned and punched Renee square in the gut. Renee toppled over backwards and landed with a loud thud. Gasping for air.
"That's for sneaking up on me." Helga snarled. Standing over Renee. Renee looked up, wheezing.
"I deserved that…" Renee rasped. Coughing as she finally found her lungs.
"How much of that did you hear?" Helga then asked, pulling Renee back to her feet.
"Is there an answer that won't result a punch in the fun zone?" Renee had forced a smile. Helga furrowed her brows.
"Why aren't you with Edmund?" Helga then asked.
"Why should I be? He drew blood. He forfeit the match. He wouldn't stop until I disarmed him." Renee explained.
"That sounds like one of my cousin's tall tales." Helga huffed. Disbelieving her story.
"It's true. I won the holmgang." Renee's smile was genuine. She hadn't accomplished or won anything in her life. And this victory meant a great deal to her.
"That's not all you won." Helga scowled. Renee flinched.
"What do you mean?" Renee had asked. Tilting her head in confusion.
"Because you won the holmgang, I'm your girlfriend now. I was the one you two were fighting over!" Helga's aggression flared.
"But I thought—" She was cut off.
"What? That you would win this holmgang and things would go back to normal? That Edmund would leave us alone? It doesn't work like that, Renee!" Helga snarled. Renee shrunk as Helga began to advance on her with an angry tone. She backed off until her back pressed against the high rock wall.
"I don't need help. But you went ahead and challenged Edmund anyway. And now I'm stuck with you!" Helga growled.
"You think I wanted to be in that fight? I was dragged into this against my will with your lie! And for the final time, I did not issue the challenge!" Renee snapped back in fear.
Helga stopped. Renee was right. It was because of her lie that Edmund targeted her. She relaxed her shoulders as her posture slacked. She then noticed the shallow cut on Renee's face. Renee flinched. Helga had taken her face into her hand and drew her thumb along her cut.
"You don't. Think it'll scar, do you?" She asked, anxious as she felt Helga inspect her cut. Watching as her aggressive energy seemed to melt away.
"It will. But it'll be a good look for you." Helga teased.
Helga then pulled away. Renee watched as Helga left to sit on the cliff. Uncertain. Seeing Helga gesturing her to join, she didn't hesitate. She hurried over and sat down beside her.
"Do you know why I come out here?" Helga asked, looking down at Renee. Renee shook her head as she looked up.
"To find peace of mind. Spitelout expects so much of me. It gets overwhelming. Sometimes. I just need to be alone." Helga explained.
"I know what that's like. Before coming here. I was put through stressful training. Jet wanted me to be useful that he pushed hard. Even so much as wound me to motivate me," She rolled up a sleeve to view a barely visible scar on her right arm. "I had no where to call my own to find my peace." Renee sighed. Helga glanced down to see Renee lean forward. Despondent. She wrapped her arm around the smaller youth's shoulders and pulled her close. Renee stiffened before taking her invite and relaxed against Helga.
"I've yet to face my biggest fear. And he's out there, in these very waters. Spreading chaos and death before he invades my village." Renee shuddered.
"Whether you want to or not. We always run towards what scares us. We're vikings. It's what we do." Helga looked down.
"Why is it so hard to accept that I'm not one of you? I'm not from around here if you hadn't noticed." Renee grew irate. She turned to face Helga. Pulling her helmet off to reveal her matted down, unkempt short hair to prove her point.
"I know. And like it or not you're more viking than you think. You've done things most of us only dreamt of doing. That zip line thing of yours? You flew without a dragon! Renee. Your joyride? Ruff and Tuff couldn't create that much chaos if they tried! And you faced a holmgang. I know you were scared. But you pushed yourself to face what scared you. That's bravery. That's where it counts." Helga lectured. Pushing her back playfully.
Renee's posture slacked. She clung to her helmet as she looked away. She will have to face her uncle eventually. It was her destiny. She needed to grab it by the horns, and let it guide her.
Her mind began to wander. What if she couldn't face her uncle? What if she couldn't defeat him? She was absolutely terrified of the giant. She felt fear taking over. Her throat began to tighten. She found it harder to breathe as her breathing labored. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Threatening to spill.
"Renee?" Helga looked at her. Watching her composure change. She recognized this bizarre behavior of hers. She was on the edge of having another one of her anxiety attacks.
Helga pulled Renee into her lap and wrapped her arms around her chest. She held onto her tight as she began to rub her stomach. A gentle melody escaped her lips as she began to hum an old memory from her childhood. She wasn't sure this would help. But she had to try something.
Renee found herself beginning to relax under Helga's touch. Her breathing began to slow and her muscles eased their tension. Her restricted airway was beginning to open up. She wasn't sure if it was the human contact, or Helga's gentle lullaby. But she was able to relax and come out of her spiraling fear. She lay back against Helga's chest. Breathing in slow as she trembled. Her eyelids grew heavy as her lack of sleep took control.
"So… You think I'm handsome?" Renee had asked. Looking up at Helga with a cheeky but tired smile. Hoping that talking would ward off sleep.
"You're going to hold it against me. Aren't you?" Helga demanded, looking down at Renee.
"Maybe I will," Renee yawned. "Maybe I won't." She teased. Renee found it difficult to stay awake any longer. Helga's warmth and tender touch lulled her into a relaxed feeling of peace. A cool gentle breeze buffeted them as Renee closed her heavy eyes. Letting sleep finally claim her.
Her senses slowly came back to her as she stirred. The familiar scent of musty old pine, fish, and burning evergreen greeted her. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked up. She was back in the Haddock house. The warmth of the fire pit beside her was a comfort to her aching body. She felt her lumpy backpack filled with possessions beneath her head. It had served as her pillow for the last fifty days.
She remembered being with Helga before she passed out from exhaustion. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked over to see Helga. She was huddled at her side. Distracted.
Renee sat up slow. Testing her weak muscles. She made sure to remember to eat and sleep. Regardless of rattled nerves. Before strenuous activity of any sort.
She leaned against Helga. Feeling the warmth of her body against hers. The fur Helga wore around her shoulders was a gentle welcome to the laceration on her right cheek. She felt her eyes threaten to close again.
She looked down, staring at the framed photo Helga held with remorse.
"My father, and mother." Renee spoke, breaking the silence.
"He comes from a well-to-do Irish family. And my mother's family is from Norway." She explained. Choking back tears. It was still hard to believe that it had been a month since her parents' deaths. The pain of losing them was still an open wound.
"How did you get them in there? It's like a painting. But they look real. Like they could reach out and touch you," Helga tilted the photo, enamored by its unusual properties. She tapped the glass frame with her fingernail. Expecting to see them move. But they were frozen in time. "Is it magic?"
"It's called a photo. They're not actually in there. Although… I suppose you might consider photography magic." Renee explained. She had forgotten that she was in the past. That these people did not know the wonders of the twenty-first century. What she grew up around was new to them and might frighten them.
"You went through my things?" Renee then asked. She gently reclaimed her treasure from Helga. Who seemed hesitant about giving up her find.
"No," Helga protested. "It fell out as I was about to leave." She watched as Renee placed the item in the bright and colorful bag. She looked over Renee's shoulder, seeing she had more treasures within. As Renee shifted the bag, something small and rectangular had fallen out. It lit up like a bon fire upon clacking to the wood floor. Before Renee could retrieve it, Helga snatched it up and held it up to her face. Looking at it with intrigue.
"Wait! Give that back!" Renee panicked. Reaching for it. But Helga held her away.
"What's this?" She squinted at the screen. Poking it with her thumb several times. A loud rhythmic beat blasted out of the speakers without warning, causing her to drop it and scramble back in panic.
"There's someone in that tiny box! Are you a völva? Did you capture them in that box?" Helga yelped. Scooting away. Breathing heavily from fright.
"A what?" Renee fumbled to catch the electronic.
"A witch." Helga stated. "That would explain your bizarre trances!" She yelped. Looking at her with uncertainty.
"I told you before. Those "trances" are panic attacks. And no. I'm not a witch. It's only music. A recording." Renee explained. Holding her treasure close to her. She looked at her phone. Ke$ha's Die Young blasted through the speakers as the title screen greets her. She hadn't used her phone in a month. She was trying to reserve energy for when she returned home. She had a twenty percent charge remaining. The phone remained dead silent save for music she had downloaded. She was so far off grid no satellites could find her.
"Have you never heard music before?" Renee had asked. She looked over to Helga.
"Nothing like that!" Helga looked at the tiny box Renee held with concern. Afraid she might be zapped into it like the singing human.
"Where I come from, this is what we listen and dance to." Renee smiled as she sat the phone down after turning the volume up. She then rose, taking Helga's hands she pulled the other teen to her feet. Helga flinched. Still anxious about Renee.
"What are you doing…?" Helga watched her. Her nose wrinkled in confusion. Renee sways her body back and forth before her in front of Helga. She held her wrists up and swayed them before her as if she were blocking a frontal attack.
"Dancing. It's how we dance back home." Renee explained. Taking Helga's wrists into her hands she guides her. The teen seems hesitant at first. But soon lets Renee lead. Helga soon finds herself dancing to the intoxicating beat of the music.
"You're getting it!" Renee laughed, smiling happily.
"This is silly." Helga objected. Standing back. But finds she can't stop herself. Her body was under control of the obnoxiously rhythmic music.
"What's going on? My body is moving uncontrollably! Did you put me under a spell!?" She panicked. Her body sways and twitched, inventing her own steps in rhythm with the music. Renee joins in. Following Helga's invented dance moves.
"You're dancing!" Renee smiled happily. Watching as Helga bounced and twisted her body. Almost flawless. Helga held a look of panic on her face. Watching as her body moved to the rhythm against her will.
"That's it. Shake your groove thang!" Renee cheered. Their bodies bump against each other in the fray of the uncontrollable dancing. For the first time in a month Renee was happy. She was enjoying herself. She forgot about her murderous uncle and that she was lost in the early viking era. She was doing what every normal teenager from twenty-thirteen was supposed to be doing. Hanging out with friends, dancing and laughing. She was having fun.
"This is how we dance." Helga broke free of the trance her body was in. She locks her forearm against Renee's. She then takes the lead as the two begin a beautiful dance in time to the music.
Renee had watched as Helga showed her how to dance like a viking. Their dance was a flurry of missteps as the two twirled and swayed. Their feet stomped in time with the rhythmic beat of the music.
Helga never averted her gaze from Renee's piercing emerald eyes. Renee found herself mesmerized by Helga's own sapphire eyes as they danced and twirled. The light from the fire they danced to appeared to enhance her eyes. The vibrant blue orbs glowed like pools of moonlight. Leaving her hypnotized. Renee felt her heart race. For the first time, she never focussed on her clumsy feet.
They soon moved closer mid swaying and spinning. Helga then takes Renee's hand into hers. She looked down at the smaller teen. Renee looked up at her. Their dancing slowed to a stop as Helga leaned down.
Helga's chapped lips devoured Renee's as they met in a lingering kiss. Renee was still insecure on what to do. She was a virgin to kissing. She allowed Helga to take the lead. Her lips were warm against Renee's and tasted of the salty sea air they breathed. She could feel Helga's teeth gently gnawing on her lips as their heated breath became one between them.
Helga's earthy scent engulfed her senses. Her hand moved to rest on Renee's waist, her fingers laid along the curves of her body. Pulling her closer. Their flat stomachs met as their bodies meshed together. Sending chills down Renee's spine. She shuddered under her touch.
For the moment, time stood still between the two teenagers. This kiss was far different from their first. Which was a forced lie. The world disappeared around them. For that blissful moment. It was only the two of them alone in the universe.
Helga let go of her hand to bring it up to Renee's head. Gently she tangled her fingers through her short brunette hair.
"About the whole duel… Thing." Renee began. She looked up at Helga with a dreamy stare as Helga stroked her scalp. Helga's lips hovered above hers. She could feel the heat of her breath against her skin.
"You don't HAVE to be my girlfriend if you don't want to because of some stupid arrangement. I won't hold it against you. I only faced Edmund so that he would leave us alone. I had no intention of forcing you to be something against your will." Renee looked at Helga as she held a finger up to her mouth, shushing her.
"What if I changed my mind?" Helga asked. Resting her forehead against Renee's. Their noses touch.
"I…" Renee stammered. Not sure what to say that wouldn't upset Helga or ruin her first happy moment.
"Whatever you choose. I just want you to be happy." She chose her words carefully. Renee felt as though they were meant to be together. Helga's soft touch. Her gentle embrace. She wanted nothing more than to be with Helga in that moment. But she wondered.
"What, uh. What changed your mind?" Renee had looked up at her. Her curiosity grew. Wanting to know why she changed her mind. When she had made it clear that she hated her guts.
Helga took a moment to reflect on why this outsider bewitched her. She couldn't tell her it was her short hair, which was exciting for her to see. That she tried to sneak a touch at every chance she could. It would make her sound ridiculous. She had been so focussed on bullying her the past month. To make herself look good in the eyes of others. That she hadn't exactly had a good enough answer.
"Your bravery." Helga forced. Clearing her throat. Lying to cover her absent answer. She could tell by the dubious look Renee gave her that she didn't buy it.
"What do you mean by that?" Renee pulled back. Helga fidgeted under the pressuring stare.
"Alright. You got me. I… don't have an answer. I know you're soft. That you're bizarre. It's so frustrating… But refreshing at the same time." She admitted in a flurry of emotion. Renee looked at her, startled by this sudden change of mood.
Helga breathed in deep. Then looked away.
"The moment I first saw you. I knew my life would change. I grew up around strong men. Men that didn't have to worry about surviving the day. Because they were so strong they could scare threats away by looking at them. But then there's you. This scrawny twig that's afraid of her own shadow. My uncle expects me to settle down in Berk. Find someone who I shouldn't have to worry about every day. Someone who could take care of me." Renee approached Helga.
"When he'd heard about Edmund's interest in me. He was elated. Not only is he high in the social status. But he's capable of taking care of himself. And me. He's made it clear I shouldn't have to worry about a hiccup while taking care of myself." Helga sat down.
"But the truth is. I'm jealous of what Astrid has. She has this powerful handsome young man who could also pull his own weight. Without being a hinderance to her. But he's not like every other man on the island. So when I saw you. I thought I found my Hiccup." Helga admitted. She looked over to Renee who sat down beside her.
"That's why you were always beating me up? You were…attracted to me?" Renee tilted her head in confusion. It didn't make much sense. Granted she had heard that some kids will bully their crush. Being unable to tell them just how they truly feel about them. But she never imagined she would find herself with such a teen.
"Well no. Admittedly, I was also jealous of your closeness to Chief Hiccup. You looked so outgoing. So friendly. The others seemed to take a shining to you. It was only until after I beat you up that day I learned you were going through special training." Helga explained remorsefully. Resting a hand against Renee's thigh.
"It's stupid... I shouldn't have told you why." Helga stated. She looked away. Cursing herself mentally about having spilled her emotions.
"That wasn't stupid," Renee took Helga's hand into her own. Their fingers interlace as she looked into Helga's eyes. "It was honest. And beautiful." She reaches up and brushes away a strand of corn silk hair out of her face. Helga smiles softly. Which slowly dissolves into nervousness.
"It's getting late. I should probably go." Helga admitted. She began to stand, only to stop when Renee still held her hand. Holding her back.
"Please. Don't go. Not yet." Renee begged. Helga paused. Thinking it over as she looked at Renee's pleading stare.
"Alright. I'll stay. Just a little longer." Helga agreed. Smiling. She sat back down and pulled Renee into her lap. Renee leaned back against Helga's warm body. Helga rested her chin on top of her head. Breathing in her unusual fruity scent. Her scent was faded. But remnants of it still lingered. Mixed with a new earthy scent and salt from sweat. She wrapped her arms around Renee's waist as the two rested in each others embrace.
"What do you mean the hiccup survived!" Ivar raged, tossing a crate against the walls of his quarters. It exploded upon impact, scattering its contents across the room. His plans of blasting that street to pieces were a wasted effort. The explosives weren't just a formality to cover up their underground hunt. That was the very reason he had his niece and his 'wife' at that festival. To rid himself of their existence.
"It's as I said, Ivar. Sir. She's got her own dragon. She's even been taken in by locals," Jet exclaimed out of fear. He whipped out the journal he stole from Renee and held it up. Before slapping it down on the desk before him. He watched as Ivar stopped in his temper tantrum to look down at the book. He gulped. "Everything. We need to know about dragons. Is in this book. She's been keeping notes. There are ways of training them without resorting to cruelty to break them." He explained. Pushing it towards Ivar as an offering.
Ivar studied the branded crest in the cover before his large hand took the book. Jet watched anxiously as Ivar thumbed through the book. Looking over the crude scribble writing.
"The boy that was with her. What did he look like? His dragon?" Ivar eyed a crude drawing. His fingers caressed the doodle. Smudging the charcoal edges. He lifted his smudged fingers and rubbed them together. Smearing the charcoal.
"Thin, sir. But tall. Metal peg leg. He rode a black dragon. Eyes were green like his." Jet watched with uncertainty as a throaty chuckle escaped Ivar.
"The hiccup was adopted by Odin's horde! Which way were they headed?" Ivar demanded. In a blur, he advanced Jet and seizes him by his throat. He hoists him up off the ground effortlessly.
"W-west!" Jet choked. Clawing at the massive hand that held him up.
"And how much did you tell them?" He then released the man from his grip. Jet collapses to the floor, choking.
"Only that you were planning to take over New York. I didn't tell them about your real plans." Jet swore as he coughed, gasping for air. He rose to his knees.
"Good. I can't afford all the Archipelago banning together." He grew calm before looking back to the book.
"Take this book and train the beasts," Ivar returned the journal to Jet. "Then get your finest men out there. I want the hiccup here. Alive. Dead. It doesn't matter." Ivar began. Jet looked at him, white as a sheet. He rose to his feet.
"But why Renee?" Jet asked, nervous. Surely given his obsession he would want the young viking, not his niece.
"As long as she's with the savages, I stand opposed. Separate the head from the snake. All it can do is bite. It's unable to strike." Ivar explained.
"And Odin's horde?" Jet then asked. Fearing he might be waning his patience asking about his stratagem.
"Once I have the hiccup, we will take this… BERK. And wipe out any ferals that dare oppose!" Ivar snarled.
"Now get out!" Ivar growled. Jet gulped and beat a hasty retreat out of the room.
Ivar turned his attention to the mess in his room. He was going to see to it that he ended his problem once and for all. That's when a glint of light from an iron nozzle caught his attention.
"This time. I won't miss." Ivar promised himself as he pulled a twin barrel rifle from the debris. He lifted the gun up and stared down the barrel. Ivar laughed to himself as he watched Jet fleeing in the distance. He pulled the trigger of the gun. Silent. Nothing but the empty click of the hammer as it hit a hollow barrel. He couldn't afford to miss his target. He was in a time where modern laws have no jurisdiction over one's actions. He would have to make this count. The consequences of killing his niece in cold blood, must not follow him to the future.
Renee stood at the edge of the sheer drop that overlooked the docks. The overhang was not crowded that morning. She stood tall as she glanced down at the docks. She watched as Hiccup stood on the decks, seeing their guests off. Alvin seemed apologetic that morning through his body language. Edmund slouched in defeat as he made his way onto their ship. He paused on the gangplank and glanced up. Renee puffed her chest out as she held her head high with pride. Edmund sneered seeing her. He watched as Helga approached Renee from behind and draped an arm around her shoulder. He felt as though his heart broke seeing this.
Renee felt Helga rest against her as she watched the docks. Alvin began to ascend the gangplank. He slapped Edmund on the back of his head before ushering the teen onto the boat. His entourage making preparations to set sail.
"Looks like Alvin's not pleased with Edmund's loss." Helga observed.
"Or that he risked shattering a treaty between allies?" Renee had asked.
"At least I'll never see him around here anymore." Helga sighed with relief.
"I wouldn't say that exactly." Renee smiled anxiously.
"What did you do…" Helga demanded, angered.
"Well. He's the son of the chief. It would be petty of me to ban him from future politics with Berk. I lifted his exile." Renee admitted nervously. Flinching. Expecting to get hit.
"That was a noble thing you did." Helga looked down at Renee with a smile. Renee opened her eyes, hearing Helga's praise.
Thunder rolled on the winds as rain heavy clouds began to collect. Behind them, Eret approached.
"No training today," Helga looked up, feeling rain fall on her cheek. "You want to—" She was cut short.
"Renee. You've training today regardless of rain." Eret announced.
Both Renee and Helga look back to Eret. Renee sighed.
"See you later. Usual spot?" Helga asked. Kissing Renee's cut.
Renee slowly nodded, surprised by the kiss. A smile forms on her lips as she watches Helga leave. She takes one last look down at the docks. Seeing that the Outcast ship had already cast off. With a sigh, she turns to follow Eret.
Renee's jaw slammed hard into the limestone floor. She lay stunned for a few moments before pushing herself up. She chewed her jaw, trying to get feeling back into it before turning to face Eret again.
"You can't focus on your feet in a real battle. Your uncle will not give you a moment to watch your foot placement." Eret warned.
Renee rushed at him, her blade held high she slashed at him. She got a couple of hits in before he sent her flying again. Renee rolled to a stop on the soaked ice floor. She lay there, exhausted and panting. Sleet pelted the two warriors. The tiny ice shards stung as they struck Renee. And made traversing the arena difficult. But Eret seemed unfazed by the tiny inconvenience. Renee shuddered as a cold gust blew through the arena.
"Come on. Get back up." Eret pushed.
Eret's training had dramatically shifted once she told him what she had to do. He was pushing her harder than usual.
"Isn't the weather getting kinda dangerous?" Renee asked as she forced herself up. Freezing as lightening licked the skies above. She stood to face Eret once more.
"When we face the real thing, we won't have the luxury of hiding from the weather." Eret lectured.
"We're going to keep at this until you can stand on your feet." Eret announced.
Renee shrunk, and whimpered as thunder cracked over head. She didn't have this much trouble when she was dancing with Helga last night. She froze. She never once fell over when they danced a dizzying caper. She began to think back. How did she do that? What was the trick? All she could remember was staring into Helga's hypnotic sapphire eyes. She looked up at Eret, sudden realization strikes her.
"Come on. Attack!" Eret barked.
Renee charged at Eret. She looked into his chocolate eyes. She locked onto them as she slashed at him. He pulled back and thrust his blade up to block. Renee forced herself to focus on Eret's eyes. Despite how much her instinct wanted her to look away. Even when she felt her feet going inward, and she felt the urge to look down. She clenched her eyes shut before she could focus once more.
She twirled and spun like a graceful ballerina as she fought Eret. She was beginning to get the hang of sword fighting. This was the longest time she'd been able to fight anyone without being slammed to the ground. She managed to weave and leap out of Eret's reach in his attempts to flatten her.
"Better!" Eret praised. Panting heavily as he pulled his second blade out. He began to block with one and slash at Renee with the other.
Renee pulled back. She could feel her heart racing. A grin crossed her lips. She began to pick up the pace, blocking and slashing in succession. Her chest heaved as she panted. She hardly noticed the sting from the sleet anymore as she fought.
Nor had she noticed Helga watching in the bleachers above. The weather prevented her from reaching the cove. In its stead, she watched as Renee fought Eret. Amazed with how far she'd come.
"You should be inside where it's warm. You'll catch your death of cold sitting out here." Hiccup approached.
He stood over Helga and looked down. Watching as the two fought in the sleet. He frowned. But remained proud.
"She's not fallen over once." Helga watched, mesmerized by their near dance like fight.
"She's getting better. She'll be useful tomorrow." Hiccup explained.
"Tomorrow?" Helga turned her head towards him, her eyes remained on the two warriors in the arena.
"She's coming with us to search for her uncle's flagship. We need to know where he is and what we're up against. So that we can plan a course of action." Hiccup explained. Growing concerned. Helga turned back to the arena, watching as the two had locked their blades. She frowned with worry.
"Come. We should all be getting in out of this weather." Hiccup gestured for Helga to follow. Helga hesitated. But followed. Hiccup escorted her home. It looked as though even the weather would prevent her from regrouping with Renee later.
Renee struggled to push against Eret. But he had strength against her. He began pushing her back as she slid across the icy film on the floor. Renee grit her teeth as she struggled to hold against him. But she continued to slide across the floors. A large hailstone whooshed between them to land with a loud thunk. Eret and Renee had both glanced down to see the hailstone. It shattered on impact against the hard limestone floor. Eret then looked up.
"Okay, now we can call it quits." Eret yipped, pulling away from Renee.
"Good call." Renee watched as another hailstone struck nearby.
Quickly the two beat a hasty retreat. They pick up shields and hoist them over their heads in time before the hailstones came down in torrents.
The riders had been up since dark. Collecting supplies for the long scouting mission ahead of them. Renee had shuddered in the mid morning air. If she had to take a guess, she would wager that it was three o'clock. Probably four. The sun had barely begun to rise by the time they finally gathered together and took off.
The skies began to melt from dark blue to a rosy red as the sun begins to pierce the night sky. Bringing with it, hope of a new day. Visible air from her warm breath meeting the bitter cold air billowed out as Renee yawned. The warmth of a new sun was welcoming to her as she formed ranks with the riders. The sun glinted on her sword's hilt. Catching her eye. She glanced to the sword nested against her right hip. Praying she wouldn't have to resort to harming someone with it. She pray that she could hold her own that day without being a screw up. The mere thought of being caught in a sword fight between life and death crossed her thoughts. Her heart began to pound. She flinched, clenching her eyes shut. She tried to ward off the frightening thoughts.
"Are we even sure we know what we're looking for? We've been out here for hours and still no sign of any ship!" Snotlout barked. Growing frustrated with their empty search.
Renee looked down around them. Nothing but an open ocean dotted with icebergs greeted her. No sign of ships anywhere. She was amazed that her uncle was capable of keeping out of their radar. Or that it was difficult to spot a ship from the air. She wondered. If perhaps his ships might be lurking beneath an overhang from any one of the glaciers below. Which might account for them being undetectable.
"Well?" Snotlout shouted. Growing irate with each passing minute.
"I know, I know! We're all tired. But we can't give up. Ivar, is out there. Somewhere." Hiccup replied. His posture slouched. Even he knew their search was empty.
"How can we stop someone if we don't know where to look for them?" Tuff asked, leaning forward. A bored expression on his face.
"That's the whole point of this mission. This isn't a field trip." Eret spoke.
"Uh, guys…" Renee spoke up, breaking up the building argument. Thick rolling black smoke on the horizon had caught her attention.
Hiccup looked on. He grows concerned. The group bank and change course following his lead. They soar over an open ocean littered with icebergs before they reach landfall. The sickening sweet smell of charred meat grew thick the closer they neared. They drift over massive rolling snow mounds which soon gave way to the charred remains of huts. Remnants of ships in the harbor, destroyed to prevent escape. Fog blended with the heat of fires long since extinguished. Obstructing the full view of the devastation to the riders from above. Tension within the group grew as they soared over head, taking in the sight from above before they land.
"Who… or what happened?" Astrid surveyed the destruction.
The smell of burnt pine and ash choked the air. Burning ash rained down on the group as they began to spread out and explore the remains. The only thing that remained untouched by the fire, was the iron that had collapsed to the scorched earth.
Renee was frozen from atop her saddle. The sight before her transported her back to the destroyed street in Queens. She clenched her eyes tightly shut. And held back a whimper. The sound of a flag whipping violently in the morning winds caught her attention. Slowly she opened her eyes and caught sight of it. Her uncle's crest adorned the tattered banner.
Anxiously, she dismounted Thunderhead and approached it. Determined to remove it. As she neared, she gasped sharply to see that it had been embedded in the chest cavity of a viking. Their body twisted and burnt beyond recognition. A look of fear frozen in time as if they had suffered a painful death.
Renee hesitated. This was the first time she'd seen human remains. She swallowed hard and grabbed the flag staff. Closing her eyes, she yanked the flag free. She stumbled back, clutching the pole. She looked back to the charred remains and trembled. She felt as though her family lineage had been tainted.
"I don't like this…" Snotlout began to panic the further he walked in. "I really, don't like this."
"Do you think there could be any survivors?" Fishlegs asked nervously. He carefully walked through the destruction of what use to be the village square. Recoiling with every cautious step he took.
"I don't think so." Eret spoke remorsefully. He pulled a singed board free, only to see charred remains in the building. Respectfully he replaced the board as he pulled away.
"What mad man is responsible for this kind of destruction?" Ruffnut had asked, backing away from a building upon seeing its contents. She let out a sharp yelp upon bumping into her brother. Startling the both of them.
It seemed every burnt down building had bodies charred beyond recognition. Leaving everyone on edge.
"I know bud. I don't like it either…" Hiccup frowned. He watched as Toothless inspected a charred building before them. Only to shake his head in disgust and look back up at him. A sympathetic whimper uttered forth. Hiccup lay a comforting hand on Toothless' head. They continued their walk through the apocalyptic scene.
Renee regrouped with her dragon and stood at the edge of the village. Still clutching onto the pole. She knew this was the work of her uncle. She held his calling card in her hands. Judging by the smoke wafting in the air from fires yet to die, he couldn't have been there no less than a day before. She closed her eyes and looked away. She only hoped Jet wasn't at the helm of this attack.
The riders once again took to the air, leaving the death and destruction behind them. The further away from the archipelago they went, the more they faced similar sites. Bodies left barricaded in buildings that were lit afire. Ships destroyed to prevent escape. At each destroyed village, the same flag flew in victory. And each flag was removed out of respect for the dead.
Renee remained stoic the rest of that morning. Her anger seething just beneath the surface. She hardly noticed Ruff and Tuff flanking her.
"I had no idea how destructive your uncle was." Tuff tried to strike up a conversation. Hoping to break the eerie silence.
"That monster is not my uncle." Renee made the choice to disown the man as her family. Even she herself had no idea what he was capable of. She merely feared him simply due to his size and aggression. But to find the remnants of his destruction. She had a new reason to fear the man. She thought back on having left Berk unattended. Her brows narrowed as she grit her teeth.
"We should head back! I don't feel right leaving Berk vulnerable like this…" Renee shouted up ahead. She understood they started out looking for her uncle. But all this devastation left her on edge.
"It's your call, Hiccup." Eret glanced toward him. Even he agreed they should turn back. Leaving Berk vulnerable to attack while they sought after a mad man wasn't the wisest move.
Hiccup stared ahead in thought. He didn't like what they had discovered that morning at all. He glanced down at Toothless who looked back at him with worry.
"Alright… Let's head back." He agreed.
"We need to let them know." Renee broke the silence once they returned to Berk. She watched as the others dispersed around her.
"If we're facing war, we need to be prepared to confront Ivar." She continued.
"We can't afford a panic to set within the village." Hiccup frowned. He was still reeling from seeing the devastation himself. He had doubts they could face this man and make it out unscathed.
"So what… We just wait for him to show up at our doorstep and destroy us like all those innocent people?" She demanded. Growing irate. She was tired of him wallowing in self pity. He acted as if the war was already over. And they lost. Her anger finally ruptured. And she was taking it out on the wrong person.
"I thought chieftains were suppose to be brave. To face whatever threatens those under their watch head on. Not run away like a dog with its tail between his legs." Renee shouted. On the verge of tears. She thought she found someone to look up to. Someone who was more of a chief than Ivar. But in the wake of events, she began to believe she failed that too.
"There's nothing more we can do. We don't know what we're facing to work out a plan. We're not too sure if Ivar is headed for Berk." Hiccup explained calmly. He understood Renee was upset. She had every right to be after what they witnessed.
"I will talk to the council about what we found." Hiccup tried to remain calm. Hoping this bit of news would at least calm her. He watched as Renee backed off before racing up the slope. Thunderhead tailed after his rider.
"I tried to tell you she was trouble." Astrid approached. Staring at a despondent Hiccup before her.
"And now she's brought war on us. Who knows what else." She continued.
"Not helping." Hiccup sighed. Hearing his fiancé berate him.
"I just don't know what else to do. What would my dad do?" He looked to her for support.
"He would have told you the same thing." Astrid said.
"All we can do is tighten patrol and hope for the best." Astrid offered.
Renee ran. She didn't know where to go that she could be alone. Or escape her memories. She held her emotions back as she ran blindly through the village. She hardly acknowledged Helga as she rushed past.
"Renee?" Helga looked on, watching as she darted through a crowd and up the steep stairwell. Her dragon followed close behind. Helga glanced back from which she came before following after her.
Her throat burned with the threat of tightening. Making swallowing difficult. Her heart pounded. Painfully skipping several beats as she pushed her legs forward. Renee ignored the pain in her muscles as she strained them to carry her through the woods. Tears had begun to spill down her cheeks as she burst through a brake of brush and out into a clearing.
She finally slowed until she staggered to her knees. Panting. She thought she had her destiny clear. That she was to face her uncle. But she felt helpless after seeing his destruction.
In a sudden burst of anger, she screamed at the top of her lungs. Forcing out all her bottled up anger in one emotional shout.
"Why am I here? I'm just a coward. I can't protect them! I can barely protect myself…" She sobbed, looking to the sky. Hoping the Gods would listen. Nothing but silence. She slouched and lowered her heavy head. Her gaze fell upon her hands. She looked them over. They were no longer the soft fair skin of someone who was raised being waited on. They had callouses and had grown rough from use. Her nails had dirt embedded beneath them and for once she wasn't panicking about it.
The images of the charred remains she found that morning entered her mind. Haunting her. She found herself trembling. Fearing her friends, or worse, she would wind up like that. She huddled tight as she lay on the floor. Whimpering softly. Unaware that Thunderhead had followed her and come to stand watch over her.
"For someone short, she's fast when she wants to be…" Helga huffed. She followed Renee through the village and lost her halfway through the forest.
She had wandered aimlessly, looking for where Renee might've ran through. A sudden loud scream had caught her attention. Knowing where to look, Helga began to run in the direction of the shout.
She peered through the brush carefully and found Renee curled up in a tight ball. Huddled beneath her dragon. She emerged slow. Timidly she approached. Her eyes stayed warily on the reptile. Uncertain. She hunched down, and crawled to Renee before she pulled the trembling ball into her arms.
Helga looked on in shock to see a frozen state of terror in Renee's eyes. She pulled her closer, resting her head against her chest. She wrapped her arms tightly around her.
"The Gods must hate me." Renee finally spoke. Still trembling like a leaf.
"Why would you say that?" Helga asked softly. Looking down at her.
"They thrust a great burden on me that I must face. I don't think I can stand up to him anymore." Renee whimpered.
"Your uncle?" Helga flinched when Renee's fear grew into hatred.
"That monster is not my uncle," Renee grit her teeth as she growled. "What I saw today… They were locked in their homes. They were burnt alive! I fear he might bring that here." Renee panicked.
"You're right. I am a coward that's afraid of her own shadow. I've been afraid all of my life. Of trying anything new for as long as I can remember. Sure when my parents weren't off galavanting about with their business, they tried to help me. But I was afraid of everything because it looked too hard to do!" Renee sobbed.
"I'm tired of being afraid all the time." Renee frowned. Her head rest against Helga as she stared at nothing in particular.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up like this. That's my job. But you can't blame the Gods for this. We're only human. We alone make our decisions." Helga lectured. Stroking Renee's head.
Renee sighed. She absorbed all that Helga said and thought about it long and hard. She had made her decision about facing the man she once called uncle. She couldn't back down now after finding her answer.
"What if we face him, together?" Helga offered.
"No," Renee pulled herself up to her feet. She stood resolute. "I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt fighting my battles." Renee looked down at Helga.
"Promise me, if he comes. You will hide," Renee knelt down and took Helga's hands into hers. They trembled as she gripped them tight. "Promise." She begged. Helga hesitated. She normally wasn't one to run from a good fight. But she could see in Renee's eyes she was terrified of this one.
"I promise," Helga admitted. She was caught by surprise when Renee pulled her into a hug. "But what are you going to do?" Helga then asked, realizing Renee was likely planning something stupid. She stands, watching Renee.
"I'm going to find my uncle. And hopefully lure him away from Berk." Renee pauses at her dragon's side.
"What if someone comes looking for you?" Helga asks, worried.
"Make something up. You're good at that." Renee forced a smile. But under the surface she was petrified of what she was about to do.
"Stay safe out there." Helga pulled Renee into a kiss before letting her go.
Renee looked back once more before hoisting herself up into her saddle and taking to the winds.