Gasp! More wonderful Anju-plot-ness! Alright are you guys ready for this…Duh. Anyway here we go, on to chapter fire!
The next morning, the Valkyries crowded around Hiccup acting aloof while their dragons ate then slipped off somewhere to sleep until their next watch. Hiccup felt nervous in the midst of so many girls, all of which were of course his friends, and yet they were silent warriors waiting to fight. Even chattering Camicazi had a stony silence about her as they walked to the Mead hall for breakfast.
Hiccup was starting to get REALLY nervous. It felt as if all the girls were either hiding something from him or had just distanced themselves for the sake of the mission. Whatever the excuse he was SICK of it.
"Okay that is it! Someone please talk!" Hiccup shouted, throwing his hands in the air. The girls looked at him startled and surprised. "This silence is killing me. You guys are my best friends! Someone talk to me!" he said angrily.
It wasn't Astrid, or Ruffnut, or Fiyori, or Camicazi that spoke. It was Forrestflyer in her soft soothing voice.
"Sorry," she said her face flushing as ruby red as her hair, "We were just-"
"We are trying to help," Bloodwing said, gesturing broadly.
"Well this stone silence is NOT helping," Hiccup grumbled. Astrid glanced to her side then back to where they were walking. Fiyori turned to her brother.
"Hiccup we are just doing our job," Fiyori said.
"Yeah," Forrestflyer said, "We aren't trying to make you feel…out of sorts. We are just doing what we are supposed to do as Valkyries and protecting our future chief."
"But you guys are my friends, my family, and my girlfriend, too," Hiccup said, boldly (for Hiccup anyway), "Right?" Everyone stopped and looked startled at him. Astrid squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Of course Hiccup, we just…we aren't used to guarding someone that we know," Astrid explained.
"Quite frankly we aren't used to guarding ANYONE," Camicazi replied, "We are more used to guarding…no…guarding ahh…hmm seems we aren't anything but warriors," the Bog-Burglar muttered leaning over to Bloodwing. The fierce Valkyrie nodded smirking at the Bog-Burglar.
"Wow…that's…comforting…" he said trying to find the right words for the situation. Fiyori smirked at her brother and Astrid squeezed Hiccup's hand. Camicazi clapped her friend on the back, they followed Hiccup into the Hall chattering away like the friends that they were.
000
Anju walked away from the Mead Hall, full, and looked toward the wooded island. Toothless, groggy put his arm on his shoulder, and kissed her cheek.
"Everything alright, Anj?" he asked sweetly. The female dragon nodded then started up toward the trees and the outskirts of the village.
"Anju, where are you going?" the male dragon asked.
"I am going to check out the woods. I just want to see what kind of scent's I could pick up and see if I could find Alvin. It is a simple scouting mission, nothing for you to worry about," she said, patting his arm and starting again for the trees.
"Anj, wait!" Toothless called placing an arm on her shoulder again. She turned to him.
"I'll be fine," she consoled placing a hand on his cheek.
"Just don't forget to rest sometime today…" Toothless murmured. With a gentle smile and a nod Anju turned and made her way up the hills into the forest of the Wilds of Berk.
Halfway up to Raven Point Anju transformed into her dragon form and magiced the saddle on her back away to give her the appearance of a wild dragon. She lifted her head smelling around her then dove into the cove landing in the cold pond in the basin. She dove under the water and snorted, bubbles filling the water, and remembered.
*flashback*
Little Anju was sitting in the beautiful play-rooms of the palace of Tenjo, or Heavenly Castle, her ancestral palace in the sky. The guards and councilors had told her to stay in her rooms and they let no one save her parents see her. Not even dear Kilan, her beloved human and princess of China, could come to visit her.
Anju sighed leaning up on her window to get a better view of the dragons and halflings flying about. The little dragon princess sighed and pulled her outer kimono robes closer, wishing she could enjoy that engaging pass time as well… maybe even go and visit Kilan at the Imperial Palace! But the dragons were guarding her lie she was treasure and wouldn't tell the poor princess why.
There was a knock at her door and she turned to it with a small yes to tell the party they could enter. The great golden door opened and a regal woman in purple robes walked in.
"Mommy!" little Anju shouted rushing forward into her mother's arms. The regal Dragon Queen scooped her daughter up and made her way to the settee.
"How have you been, my darling daughter?" Remora asked, rubbing her nose against Anju's. The little girl giggled locking her strong fist in her mother's long brown locks. Remora smiled and situated the Dragon Crown on her head.
The crown was a golden dragon whose head arched over the wearers forehead and who's changing gem eyes seemed to emit the rulers emotions. The dragon s body wound around the rulers head and its tale came to rest back under its head. The dragon had no wings and Anju swore that it could move on its own. Whenever she asked her mother about it though, Queen Remora would just smile, wink and say, "One day you shall see, my Anju." Of course that crown was strictly for the human form and any royal dragon had horns that shaped a crown. Anju's was three spires in front of her blue and gold mane and she loved it.
"Can we go flying today, Mommy?" the little princess asked. A look of sadness crossed over the queen's face.
"Not today, I'm afraid, my pet. Mommy, has some very important business to attend to. Besides it is dangerous for the Royal Family to be outside right now."
Anju narrowed her eyes and pouted, "But Mommy, we're dragons! Nothing can hurt us!" Remora smiled softly at her daughter's innocence.
"I wish that were true, Anju. I so wish that were true," she scooped her daughter up into a hug, pulling her close as if she were trying to pull her into her body. "Now," she said abruptly, "Let's get to training shall we?"
*end flashback*
Anju felt her tears leaking from her eyes. If she could only have remained so innocent. But alas 'twas not to be, it never is and never shall be.
Suddenly Anju's eyes shot open and narrowed into slits of anger as a sound cut through the waters to her sharp dragon ears.
"Yes, this will prove a perfect place to plan," said a leering voice of a conniving man. Anju swam up closer to the surface but still out of sight and watched the man hobble about and set up a campsite. He fit Alvin the Trecherous's description to a T. She felt a growl rise in her throat and thanked God that she could breathe underwater. (see book series) When Alvin left to hunt, Anju snuck out of the pond and flew home.
Anju arrived at her home and transformed, knowing Toothless was asleep. She silently crept up the stairs and into their bedroom where she was greeted by his gentle snores. Anju smiled lovingly at her mate before slipping under the covers to sleep herself. As she drifted off she was haunted by the thoughts of Alvin in their cove and harming her friend.
Well finally got the next chapter up! What will happen next? Dunno…yet.
DeansTrueGirl: Don't forget You are BLOODWING! And oh look u appeared in this chapter :D
MWA220: Sorry it took so long to post. Still working it out in my mind and all lol
The Tuneless Siren: Hey Forrestflyer! You are in it too!