[ Chapter Five: Sword-fighting ]
"Parry," Astrid calls to the little boy play fighting with me. There weren't more than ten children here, all young and trying to successfully wield swords to large for them. "If you can't wield a sword, you'll never hope to use an ax."
"I'm trying!" The boy pushes harder against me, and I stifle a laugh, armor clinking. I had changed back into my usual armor, the fur discarded on the ground somewhere nearby. I had used it this morning in the early hours on my joy ride with Toothless, Hiccup, and Zera.
"Good job," I grin as his sword strikes my hip, drawing a miniscule amount of blood. The swords were slightly dull, so I wasn't worried about getting sliced or diced out here. Unfortunately, I wasn't used to using the heavy swords of Vikings, so my game was off more than usual. "You actually hit me."
"I'm sorry, miss!"
"Oh, she'll be fine," Astrid laughs. "It's just a scratch. Next up!"
The little girl was better than the last boy, but not anywhere close to being the best of the kids I had been fighting against. She was fierce, reminding me of myself as a child, except her looks were far different from mine.
"Alright, take a break everyone," Astrid finally calls, allowing the kids to sit off to the side in a group and snack on their various lunches. The two of us take a seat against a tree, Zera snoozing beside me, and munch on apples, a few slices of bread, and a bit of cheese. "You know, I seem to be seeing a lot of Tuffnut here lately."
This was my second day of sword lessons with the woman, and since meeting him I had seen the blonde man everywhere. We had chatted, growing accustomed to one another, and I could not help but feel as if he were trying to court me.
"I know. He's been speaking to me every chance he gets," I chuckle, sighing to myself.
"He's interested. He's been looking for a wife for months, but gets picky when it comes down to it. That's why he wasn't here the first day you arrive. He was on his way back from another island and another tribe, trying to find a girl." She rolls her eyes, nudging me. "Back to work."
I step back up, fighting with another lad now, parrying his weak movements left and right. This was all to easy…
"Let me show you," a voice calls from behind the group, and miraculously, Tuffnut appears. He did not wear his fur shawl today, walking shirtless through the kids. I almost laughed again as he flexes, shaking my head. He was really trying…
Without warning, he lunges at me with a practice sword drawn. We begin to dance with our swords, moving back and forth and fighting as pros. The children no longer existed, neither did Astrid, and our eyes kept on one another the entire time.
I slam my foot into his gut, and spun to grab his belt, holding the tip of my sword into his throat. A triumphant grin spreads on my face, the expression leaking onto his as well and mine changes to confusion. Why was he smiling?
"It's a tie," he murmurs, his hand tight on the back of my neck, buried beneath my hair. I felt the tip of his sword prodding the exposed skin of my side, under my rib cage.
"Hmm, you're not so bad, I supposed," I smirk, neither of us moving."Draw!" Astrid yells at last, the two of us slowly separating. I was now red, realizing that children had been watching the display. "Alright everyone, we're done for the day. It's getting dark. Go play. Just think, mating season is coming up and then all of you will be able to find your dragon. But you have to get better first."
"Yes Miss Astrid!" They begin running off, leaving the three adults to themselves.
"Good job interrupting my lessons, Tuff," Astrid laughs as his smirk dissipates, replaced with embarrassment. "Let's go get a pint, eh?"
"Agreed." I place the practice sword amongst the others, turning to my dragon. "Zera, go find Toothless, alright? I'm going out for some drinks."
The dragon steps forward, purposely pushing Tuffnut far away from me, before nuzzling my hand. I kiss the beast on the nose, pushing her away and yawning. It was a trying day of doing little to nothing, alright.
She mewls once, then bounds off to find her new love conquest. It was cute, her reactions, and the light in her eyes had come back as it used to be. I was happy because my dragon was happy, more than anything in the world. Nothing could tear me from Berk right now, not as long as she kept up.
"So you're coming with me for a drink, huh?" Tuffnut grins excitedly. "At least you'll be safe. I am Berk's deadliest weapon after all."
"Are you still going on with that?" Astrid rolls her eyes.
"I think I'll be safe walking to the tavern, Tuffnut," I smile. "Though I suppose your company would be alright."
"Uh, I think I'll go find Hiccup," Astrid calls, smiling in secrecy to herself before running off to the top of the island.
Tuffnut and I walked in an awkward, long silence back into the village. I was becoming fidgety, tired of the silence that surrounded us.
"Hey, Valdis."
"Hmm?" I glance up at the man.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go night riding sometime?" he asks, proud in his words.
I mull this thought over for a moment, finding no real danger in it. I used to ride on my island all the time in the hours of the night. In fact, I preferred it to the daylight hours, especially considering Zera was invisible in the darkness.
"I would love to," I agree. "Did you have any certain time in mind?"
"How about tonight?"
"As long as we don't drink to much ale, that is."
We share a laugh, feeling his arm loop around my shoulders and rest there, leading me forward. The smirk on his face was hard to miss.
Switch Point of Views
I hadn't even begun to realize what this woman was like. Her fighting style, though very different from our own, made my mouth water with the ferocity of it. It was good that Astrid had left when she did, because I was more interested in alone time with this fox beside me.
Everything about Valdis turned me on. From the cute laugh, the crude jokes, her snowy hair and blue eyes, all of it absolutely thrilled me. If Thor had presented a woman to this earth just for me, it would definitely be her.
Oh, she knew I had been hitting on her the last couple of day, but she never seemed to mind it. That, or she never actually realized, considering she came from an entire island of only women…
The rest of the night was filled with song and dance, which I finally talked the woman into doing with me. She was sure on her feet, though more clumsy with the consumption of mead in her. Instead of taking a ride that night, we decided to walk down towards the beach and soak our feet in the rolling tides, sitting upon a piece of driftwood.
"You know, I actually miss my home a bit when I'm near the ocean. It was such a beautiful view," she murmurs, her fur cloak wrapped around her. She noticed a slight shiver, face flushed from the alcohol. "Here. Join me." She pulls the cloak around the two of us, causing our proximity to lessen.
I wasn't complaining.
"Why haven't you returned then?" Truth be told, I really didn't want the woman to, but seeing her in longing for something else was not something that exactly made me smile.
"Back on our island, I was fifth on the food chain out of hundreds of women," she explains, leaning her head against my shoulder. I take this opportunity to wrap my arm around her neck. "I was one of the firsts into battles, which brought me pride. I was a hunter, a woman to be proud of. Yet, the island had become routine, boring. Upon Zera's arrival and choosing me, things livened up, but I could never miss the longing in her eyes these last few years. I left for her. I knew she needed to find a life mate to be happy, and if she chooses Toothless, which I'm sure she will, I will never be able to return to my home so she may be with him."
I felt my heart flutter and a grin spread on my face. So, if Toothless and Zera mated…
"But you didn't leave only for her," I assume, prying for answers.
"No, not at all. I needed to see more. I was chosen when I was a babe, a mere eight years into this world, to be a valkyrie. I had no time to live, thrust into a life of training. Now that I am a grown woman, I need adventure. I found it when I left and spent my time trying to find Berk. I'm very happy I've come," she whispers, smiling as she stares at the waves.
"Valdis?"
"Hmm?" Her gaze turns to me, able to see the alcohol in her system through her heated skin.
"I understand you're drunk, but can I… you know… kiss you?"
"I wouldn't know the first thing about it. I've never been kissed, you see," she explains, making me swallow a lump. Now was more of a time to be a man than ever.
"And I'm highly attracted to you," I divulge, placing my lips firmly on hers.
My heart begins to race, feeling her gently press back against my own. I was gentle, allowing her to experience a genuine first kiss, but domineering in the same motion. I needed her to feel enthralled, as I did.
We break apart and the woman sighs, blushing ferociously. I smirk, pulling her even closer to me.
"Tuffnut." She breaks the silence, head leaning on my chest again. The metal of her armor was chilling against my skin, but I welcomed the feeling.
"Yeah?"
"You're not so bad."