I adjust my boots so I can run easier outside, Hiccup sits on the steps and adjusts his boot as well, then I see him remove his metal foot, "Is something wrong with it?" I ask him, He moves some small pieces then puts it back in place, "It's okay, but I think I'm going to retighten these pieces." He says we open the door and head outside. We are walking along, Toothless and Zip, my wonderful Nadder, following us down there.
We arrive at the black smith shop, yep, we still work here. To our shock instead of an empty shop because Gobber is away with dad, there is someone in the shop! Hiccup stuck his arm out, "ow.." I say as his arm jabs into my chest. I stop and watch as Hiccup approaches the person, "Excuse me, can I help you?" Hiccup asks, the person spins around, a, very good looking man is standing there. "Whoops! Sorry! I, I was just looking for something!" The man says.
He resumes the place he was searching and grabs a hammer. Hiccup nods, "If that's what you need, return it once you're done." He says. The man thanks Hiccup and walks out, starting into a slow run up the hill, I whip around, "Hey! What's your name?!" I call out, he turns around as he's running, "My name's Rye!" He calls out. "I've never seen him around," Hiccup says. "His names Rye..." I mumble as I pick up a piece of wood. Hiccup turns around and stares at me, "Are you, smitten?" He asks me. I narrow my eyes a bit, "You're kidding, right?" I ask,
Sadly, it's true. I do like Rye, no denying it. I carve the wooden handle of an axe, and Hiccup fixes it to the actual head. The day goes by, Astrid drops in and decides to walk home with us, on our way we run into Rye. "Oh hi! You, um, oh! You two are the chief's children! Isabella and Hiccup! And you are?" He asks, Astrid smiles at him, "I'm Astrid, you must be Rye, the man Hiccup was talking about." Astrid says politely. Rye smiles back, "That's me, but I'm not much of a man, I'm only nineteen. You look beautiful Astrid, I especially love your braid, reminds me of the one I used to keep my hair in, til it got cut off... Well, I've got to go! I'll be returning that hammer in the morning!" He says. He runs off to somewhere, we walk the rest of the way home. Hiccup and I invite Astrid in for supper, which she accepts greatly.
I usually cook or Hiccup, but we decide to all work on supper together. "How about cooked cabbage with apples?" I ask. They nod, Hiccup licks his lips, "It sounds good! I'll get the vegetables, Belle, you get put the things you need to work your magic, and Astrid find a dragon to get the fire started." He says, Astrid laughs, "I thought Belle was the cook!" She says. I laugh, I really was. Soon I'm dicing cabbage and Astrid's slicing apples, while we keep Hiccup busy slicing bread, and fetching stuff. "The cabbage and apples can be put in the pan and cooked, but let's mix some butter in with it for flavor." I say as I put the food on the pan to cook. Astrid spins around, "How about we have some cold meat! It will taste good!" She says, I nod my head yes as I mix the butter Hiccup handed me in with the vegetables.
We eat our delicious supper together, before Astrid heads home.
The next morning Hiccup clomps down the stairs, "Something is up, you were up first and my hair is perfectly" He stops and looks at me, "What?" I ask as I place some warm meat on top of some buttered bread. He shakes his head a bit, "Your hair, it's in braids." He says. I look at him, "So?" I say. He circles half way around me, "You never wear your hair in braids, ever. Wait, is it because Rye said he liked braids? I knew you liked him!" He says.
I hand him a plate with his breakfast on it and sit down with mine in hand, he follows and sits down as well. "I, guess I like Rye, I don't know." I say as I take a bite of my breakfast. I finish mine well before Hiccup finishes his, he picks up something, "Hey Belle, do you think you could put one of those little braids in my hair?" He asks me as he finishes off his breakfast and hands me a brown thread. "Sure, sit on the floor." I say. He obediently sits down on the ground, his legs spread out, I sit on my knees and braid the one lopsided and long strand of hair on the one side of his head. And tie it off tightly. "There," I say as I finish up.
"I wanted to surprise you Belle, we aren't going to work, you have been entered in a Deadly Naddar race! And I am entered in a speed lap on Toothless, they won't let me enter because of the Night Fury situation, so I'm doing an obstacle course!" Hiccup tells me. I grin, dragon races are amazing. "That's great! I love competing, I'm guessing Astrid will be one of my competitors?" I reply. Hiccup laughs a bit, "What do you think? Typical you two…."
We walk down to the area where we race dragons, this must be one of the bigger races, all the people! Zip and Toothless follow us, Hiccup is going first, I stand up front with a good view of the quick race, this will see how many laps Hiccup and Toothless can do in one minute at top seed. They mount up, and as soon as the judge yells go, they fly! They're whizzing around, the minute goes fast, and all too soon someone yells time. They stop, fifty six laps! Fifty six amazing laps! While Hiccup is being crowded, I wait for my race. I feel someone tap on my shoulder, "Hi! Isabella, I see you are in the race. I like your braids." Rye says as I turn to see him. "Hi," I mumble back. We stand there, I stare at my feet, Rye looks at me in a weird sort of way, "You know, you are pretty. Here's your hammer, gotta go!" He hands me a hammer as I blush at the comment, then runs off. I'm up next.