The Draugur: Chapter 2
Trader Johann had seen and experienced many strange things in his life, it came with the occupation, he would always rationalize. Like that time he had wrestled with a giant squid, or the time his ship had been spirited away from him by a fog monster. But for all the experiences and possibly questionable tales he had under his belt, Johann had to admit this probably topped everything.
On a day where the early morning sky held not a single cloud and the ocean was as calm as could be with nary a sign of life as far as his eyes could see, the least the rugged traveler expected was for a brilliant flash to illuminate the sky. Even less anticipated was the sound of something crashing against the ocean's surface, over and over again, drawing nearer with each impact. When he was met with a cold spray of sea water, enough to lightly drench the fabric of his clothing and coat his exposed face, he knew he couldn't ignore the strange phenomenon.
When he bolted to the edge of his ship and peered over, he was met with the sight of a strangely dressed kid, bobbing amongst the surf, unconscious and looking as if he had just had a rather nasty encounter with the wrong end of a Deadly Nadder.
Johann had spent a moment in a befuddled stupor, his eyes searching the horizon for tell-tale signs of a ship wreck. When he was met with no such evidence, his gaze turned skyward in search of scaled, leathery wings. Once more met with nothing, his confusion growing tenfold and his brows knitting together to reflect as such, he scrambled to pull the body aboard—no easy feat to accomplish by one's self, but he managed, somehow.
The seasoned merchant found himself asking a hundred unvoiced questions. Where had the lad come from? What was that strange light? Had that crashing been this boy? If so, how had he survived? The lad might have looked half dead, but the slow rise and fall of his chest, those shallow breaths, were proof enough of his stake amongst the living.
Johann realized his queries were quickly becoming circular. As fired up as he was for answers he realized there would be none to receive, not while the kid was unconscious. Johann took a moment to marvel at the sheer fact the lad was still alive at all, assuming he had indeed been the source of those impacts (how in all the Gods' names had the boy managed such a feat? He could only hoped he'd be have answers soon) before taking action.
Things then went quickly—so much so that Johann had to admit it all sort of blurred together at some point.
The seafaring merchant had rushed to maneuver the kid below deck, to toss as many furs and blankets as he could atop the boy to warm him up, for he was as cold as ice to the touch, before he went about setting his course to Berk, the nearest land mass he knew would be able—and most likely willing—to provide medical attention and shelter to his injured passenger. Perhaps once all was tended to and the lad awoke—assuming he ever did—Johann would have his answers.
As he returned above deck he found himself pondering that strange, ethereal light that had illuminated the sky brighter than anything he had ever witnessed in his long, seafaring life. Johann wondered if he'd ever know what that was, if he'd ever see it again, and most prominently, what did any of it have to do with the boy below deck?
"Hoo!"
"Johann! It's trader Johann!"
"He's here!"
The mid-day air was alive with excited cries and rushed, heavy footfalls against aged, wooden and sea battered planks as dozens of people rushed to their destination.
The welcoming Johann received at Berk was always the warmest, he honestly believed. Sure, people across many lands would grow excited and jubilant upon his arrival at their docks, but he never felt as at welcomed as he did upon the shores of this small Viking village. Though the seas were where he felt most comfortable, Johann often found himself feeling safest amongst this particular Viking clan. Its people, despite their warrior ways and rough, rugged exterior, were always very welcoming and incredibly kind—this being especially true for a handful of the island's most reputable residents.
"Berk, my favorite place, with the best customers in all the known lands!" he barked with a jovial laugh. "Calm yourselves a moment, won't you?" he went on to announce as he steered the crowd aboard his ship. "I've got plenty of marvelous wares to go 'round!" Johann proclaimed as he ushered a particularly rotund and hairy man towards a barrel full of various weapons. "How about a blade that would fell the mightiest of foes in a single swing?"
Collective "ooo's" escaped the mouths of those crowding the deck.
Smiling broadly at the expected response, Johann then ushered his audiences' attention to a trunk, popping it open with a good, square kick to the side. "If you're perhaps in the mood for life's more… delicate bounty, why not feast your eyes upon the finest foreign trinkets and bobbles I have to offer? The perfect gift for the missus!" He clapped the nearest man on the back before yelling out to the gathered crowd, "Well? Have at it, Hooligans!" And with that, the excitement grew with fervor, bodies and arms moving this way and that, all in search of that perfect thing.
Johann chuckled as he moved closer to the dock, his eyes landing upon just who he needed.
"Gobber!" he cried as he ushered the man aboard with a wave of his hand, "As fine as ever, I see."
The merchant spoke to a very large man whose intimidating appearance was only emphasized by the short hook upon his left arm, the wooden stump of a right leg, and his notable girth. Intimidating as all these were, the light, cheery expression the man wore upon his mustached face was a tell to his true character. For he was one of the kindest—if not one of the more eccentric—Vikings Johann had the pleasure of doing business with.
"Listen," Johann continued without giving the large man time to respond, essentially cutting Gobber off right as his lips parted, "I have a bit of a situation I was hopin' the kind people of Berk would be willing to help me with."
At this, Gobber's brows furrowed and he cupped his chip in thought.
"Oh?" Gobber prodded. Johann rarely ever asked for help, so this was something that immediately caught his attention. His jaw set, the Viking leaned closer to the man, ready to ask just what kind of situation would push the seafaring man to seek Viking assistance, when another voice spoke up.
"What kind of situation? It's not Dagur again, is it?"
Gobber awkwardly shifted out of the way as a smaller, thinner figure pushed past him, hastily boarding the ship. "Good to see you too, Hiccup." Gobber grunted out with something of a shrug and a huff.
"Hiccup!" Johann exclaimed at the appearance of the teenager, "even better!" At that remark, Gobber rolled his eyes as he shifted his weight from left to right then back again.
"Alight, alright." The large Viking interrupted with a wave of his hooked hand, "I can tell I'm not needed here. If the two a' you need me, you know where to find me."
He meant it as a teasing, joking remark, emphasized by his light, cheery tone of voice. The apologetic grin Hiccup gave him assured the man that the teen understood. Gobber then proceeded to make his way to a barrel full of intimidating looking axes and maces, though being sure to keep within earshot of the two.
"Strangest thing, I tell you," Johann began as he ushered Hiccup to follow him, passed the over-eager customers still scurrying about the deck. "I'm sailing along, sky and sea clear and calm as could be," Johann started up again as he lead the way below deck, Hiccup nodding in acknowledgement with Gobber slowly trailing after the two. "-when all of a sudden the sky flashes a brilliant, blinding white and no sooner do I blink and it's all over—the sound of something crashing into the water meeting my ears not a second later."
As they descended a short set of stairs Hiccup shot Gobber a questioning look, only half listening to whatever it was Johann was going on about. The teen was hoping the older Viking might have an idea of what this was all about but when Gobber gave a shrug and an equally perplexed look in return, the teen let loose a sigh, his head hanging.
"Here we go again…" Hiccup muttered under his breath, far too accustomed to Johann's tall tales. Here he was worrying it was going to be something serious.
Focusing his attention back to the seafaring man, Hiccup wasn't surprised that Johann was still spouting his tale, completely unaware of Hiccup's comment. The man had something of a one-track mind when it came to recounting his tales.
"… I pull my ship up—to get a better look—and there I see it." Johann continued, "This strange looking lad, just bobbin' in the water. Now, fearing for the worst, I pull the boy aboard and to my surprise, he's still alive. Cold as death but still breathing."
At this point the trio had come to a stop before a heap of skins and rugs.
"The poor lad's been out like a light ever since." Johann finished with a sweeping motion to the pile.
"Ah… I hate to break it to you, but all I see's a pile of old yak skins." Gobber responded as he brought the tip of his hooked arm to the side of his temple and scratched at it, clearly befuddled.
"Yes, exactly, a pile of old yak skins," Johann parroted with a smug nod before quickly doing a double take. He shook his head and sputtered. "What? No!" he protested, "What's UNDER the pile, you doof!"
As the two proceeded to exchanged "pleasantries", Hiccup, who had ventured closer to the pile, took in a quick breath.
A boy who looked no older than himself was buried beneath the skins. His head crowned with hair as dark as pitch (and for a brief moment, Hiccup found himself reminded of Heather before he quickly shook the thought from his mind) and his skin seemed rather pale, though his lips held color—a good indication that the boy hadn't succumbed to the cold… or worse.
"Shipwreck?" Gobber asked from just behind Hiccup, his hook now caressing the edges of his mustache as he maneuvered to get a good look at the unconscious boy.
Hiccup shot the man a glare; he hadn't noticed Gobber come up behind him, too enthralled in his observations. Not that he would admit it, but the sudden close proximity and question had startled him.
"Nay, there was no wreckage in sight." Johann replied as he moved to grab something nearby. "Have a look at these," he prompted, handing a bundle of slightly damp fabric to the Vikings. "He was wearing these. Strange, aren't they? Never seen anythin' like 'em in all my travels."
Hiccup had grabbed the first article of offered clothing—what was clearly a shirt, white with red accents along the collar and sleeves, as well a red oval pattern centered in the middle. The shirt itself wasn't odd, but the stitching and feel were unfamiliar. As he handed the shirt back and proceeded to inspect the pants, he found them to be even stranger.
"What're they made of?" he questioned aloud, brows furrowed, not necessarily addressing the query to anyone.
"Haven't the foggiest," Johann replied with a shrug. "You'd be better off askin' the kid, assuming he ever wakes up."
Gobber hummed as he crossed his arms. "I guess it goes without sayin' this is what you're wantin' help with? Where'd this kid even come from?"
"Strange as it is to say, it's as if the lad fell from the heavens themselves." It was silly—a stretch even for him—but Johann honestly had no other explanation. Strange, unfamiliar clothing, ethereal lights, mysteriously appearing with no source… "I hate to dump somethin' so questionable on your hands, but I've no means to care for someone in such a shape."
"I don't know…" Gobber frowned. It wasn't that he didn't want to help but there were too many unknowns. Too many possible risks.
"We'll do it."
Gobber shook his head, his mouth agape as he turned to look at Hiccup in disbelief. This kid…
Hiccup returned the large Viking's dubious expression with a pleading look. "Come on, Gobber. I'll talk to dad about it, but you can't expect the kid to get any better on his own in conditions like this."
Johann made a noise of protest (are you insinuating my ship is a danger to one's health?!) but Hiccup simply ignored the trader.
"Look, I'll take responsibility for everything, but we can't ignore the fact that he needs help."
Gobber grumbled something that Hiccup couldn't quite make out before he threw his arms into the air. "Fine!" He growled, "But if this turns into a mess, I'm not helpin', you got that? You get to fix it all on you're own."
Hiccup and Johann both let out a sigh of relief. Johann wouldn't have to fret over the kid's well-being—he knew the Hooligans would take care of the lad—and Hiccup would be at ease, knowing he'd be able to help someone that needed it. Not to mention there was the whole mystery of the kid's origin to solve.
With the situation resolved, the three then proceeded to make arrangements for the boy's care. They agreed it best to house him at Hiccup's and that they would call on Gothi for treatment. Only once everything was settled and in place would Hiccup broach the subject with his father. Asking for forgiveness rather than permission seemed to be the best route for him these days—especially when it came to his father. At least he would have Gobber's support.
A/N: Nearly a year later...
I really struggled with this chapter and I'm not happy with it but I needed to get it out of the way to move the story along. Hopefully it wasn't too much of a bore for yall. Though it's been a while since the last update, I have consistently been working on this story and have the next three chapters or so outlined, so hopefully it won't take too long for the next update. Apologies for any OOCness-it's been a while since I've watched the film or series, so I'm a tad out of touch with the HTTYD characters. In regards to the typos in the previous chapter, I'm aware of them and I'll get around to fixing them at some point. Thanks for reading and as always, feel free to drop any questions, comments, or suggestions in a review!