I was doomed. Like literally doomed, in both cases. Even if I told him the truth I wasn't sure if he would believe me, and what would I tell him? Oh you know I can speak to dragons and I understand all what they say or I assure you I am not out of my mind but I sometimes talk to my dragon. I slapped myself inwardly and looked up at his confused gaze.

"I… It wasn't meant to you…!" I lowered my eyes a bit as I felt even more awkward and stupid "This is a disaster…" I mumbled under my breath and raised my eyes back to his "I just… I am… Ugh… I really don't know how to explain this so it won't sound like I am insane"

Hiccup cocked a brow and kept looking at me with the same bewildered look "Just relax and say it. I am sure it won't sound that bad" he spoke softly and gave me a small smile like an encouragement.

I let out a breath and nodded slowly then locked my eyes with his "Just please… Promise me you won't tell anyone about this… I am not sure how someone else would react or what would happen if wo—"

"It's alright. I get it. I won't tell anybody" he replied as I kept my gaze glued to his.

"Promise?"

"Promise"

I still wasn't actually sure if it was the right thing to do, to open up to someone. All my life I kept this part of myself hidden from others, even from my own parents. But there was something in me, a feeling, a nudge, I don't how to describe it, but this thing told me to trust him and tell him. So I went on with this 'whisper' if you will.

"Come on Anne, you haven't told anyone, at least try and see how it turns out"

My gaze moved down to Phantom who was eyeing me hopefully with the corner of the eye. I groaned and rolled my eyes "Fine you"

I looked back to Hiccup whose face was even more confused now "I swear it's like you understand what he's saying" he mumbled.

"Um… Well… Do you know those stories about vikings who could understand dragons? Whisperers?"

"Yeah? I remember some that Gobber told me. Why? Wait…" he paused for a moment as his eyes widened slightly, realization settling in "You…? But I thought it was just some fairy tales"

"I am pretty much true I guess" I chuckled a bit nervously and continued "I do understand dragons and it might sound a bit crazy and all of that, but, I am a Dragon Whisperer…?"

Hiccup stared at me for the longest time, still shocked and confused. The silence was making me feel even more awkward and doubt started to slip in my mind. What if it wasn't such a good idea to tell him after all? Maybe now he really though I was gone.

I looked down and bit the inside of my lip slightly "I understand if you think I am not actually in my right mind or that I am making all of this up… But it's all true. I do understand dragons. It was always easier for me to be around them instead of other vikings, hence why I never had friends and—"

"—You've got one already"

I snapped my eyes to his "What…? Wait… You…?"

He chuckled a bit and nodded "Well there's no one else besides m— oops, Toothless and Phantom too"

I was slightly taken aback but smiled a bit "Thank you" I turned my head and looked forward as a sigh left my mouth "I just… No one ever wanted to be around me or really talk to me because all thought I am gone and stuff like that. It was always like this after we made peace with the dragons and worse since I got Phantom. I've had a friend before, we were almost tied to the hip but then it all changed, we just kind of parted ways since I discovered I could understand dragons…"

"I am sorry" he was quiet for a bit and then spoke again in a cheering voice "You don't have to stay alone now though and I am sure the others are going to be more than happy that you join us" I raised my head and saw him glancing at Phantom as he continued "Especially Fishlegs since we never saw a Sand Wraith before"

I burst out laughing and he joined me in "Yeah, I guess my dragon will be the next star of the Archipelago"

Hiccup nodded with a breathy laugh "Definitely"

"Are you serious? Hello! Night Fury over here!"

My eyes flew to Toothless "Come on Toothy, you're not the only one who's one of a kind"

The black dragon rolled his eyes at me as I heard Phantom laugh "That's right"

"Even though I think there should be more Sand Wrai—"

"Whatever"

"Please don't tell me you two are going to be like this the whole time" I groaned out and bit back a laugh.

"No"

"Maybe"

Toothless growled lowly at Phantom who returned the warning with a growl of his own.

I rolled my eyes then looked up to Hiccup who was glancing from Toothless to Phantom and then his gaze moved to mine as he cocked a brow, mystified while he looked me in a mix of confusion and curiosity.

I shook my head slightly "Obviously someone's not feeling okay about being taken the place of the 'unique' and 'one of a kind' around here" I chuckled a bit as I looked at Toothless and Phantom "They're just bickering around"

"Are you jealous big baby boo?" with that said Hiccup leaned on Toothless' back and hugged him.

"I'll give him jealous. Just wait for when we get back on the Edge"

I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off fast by Toothless who was looking at me intently "Don't you dare telling him about my 'plan' "

I bit back a laugh while Toothless chuckled in his own dragonish way.

"You know, I really want to take a long nap when we get there. So no questions or any researches. Just some damn peace and quiet"

I chuckled heartily "Yeah, yeah, you'll get your nap" then I looked back at Hiccup "Phantom said that he wants to take a nap when we arrive and that he doesn't want any 'researches' from the first minute we land"

Hiccup laughed a bit and then added "Knowing Fishlegs he's already giddy about seeing Phantom"

I laughed with him for a bit more, then silence settled in. Both dragons were having a casual talk while I fiddle mindlessly with the pommel of Phantom's saddle.

For a bit I couldn't actually take my mind away from the way he chuckled while he looked and down and shook his head. That silky auburn hair, those forest green eyes, that smile. I shook my head a bit and glanced at the sun that was starting to set already then I moved my gaze to Hiccup who seemed in deep thought.

So I decided to lean on Phantom's back and rest a bit. I closed my eyes and ended up taking a nap. I didn't get any sleep in the past day and I was a bit tired.

Curious thing is that I didn't have any nightmares and I woke up when someone shook me by my shoulders gently. I cracked my eyes slowly and looked at the person in front of me.

"Hey…" I said sleepily and covered my mouth as I let out a yawn.

"Hey. We arrived and you were asleep, so I woke you up" Hiccup replied with a smile and then took a step back to give me my space.

I heard Toothless scoff from behind his rider "You wouldn't have done it if I didn't nudge you to her so you would wake her up"

I bit back a laugh and smiled at Hiccup "Thank you"

As I hopped off Phantom I noticed that it was dark already outside. We were near some sort of construction that looked like a half globe. When I looked up I saw some huts placed on high stones, connected with wooden bridges and ladders. From one of the huts that was placed higher, came some slight light and I heard some laughter coming from inside.

"That's the club house" Hiccup pointed out "and I am guessing the others are having a great time. Let's go get something to eat and maybe get Astrid to be your bestie after all" he chuckled and started to walk as I followed him.

"Yeah, maybe, if he doesn't kill me first of course"

We both laughed some more as we continued walking. On the way to the clubhouse Hiccup had told me more about the Edge and mentioned the Dragon Eye which sounded like an interesting artifact. Also we both were more than curious and excited to see what projection would Phantom's fire make.

"I think that we're going to learn some more about him. More than I know anyway" I chuckled out as we got on the platform of the clubhouse.

He gave a nod "Yes, can't wait to see what Fishlegs can make out of that projection"

We were already at the entrance of the hut "Yeah, bet he won't be able to sleep knowing that there's a new dragon and he has to wait till tomorrow to learn more about him" I laughed a bit and Hiccup joined me in until we both saw the others staring at us.

"Who's the young lady?" questioned Tuffnut blankly and looked at his twin who had a devious smile plastered over her face.

"Astrid is definitely gonna kill her" she snickered before she eyed me up and down then looked back at her twin with the same grin.

"Oh no, no, no and no. I don't want to become that Nadder's next snack" I groaned and heard the others laugh.

"Good luck with that" chuckled out one of the twins.

I opened my mouth to speak when I heard Hiccup "Where's she by the way?"

Till he asked I haven't even noticed that Astrid and Ingrid were missing. Interesting.

"Well future miss Lout went on a night patrol with the other new girl"

"Snotlout I am pretty much sure she's future miss Haddock"

"Oh really Fishface? With…" he looked at me "what's your name?"

I cocked my brow at him and replied reluctantly "Marianne, Marianne Anker. Why?"

"Ya can already forget about the Anker thingy. So as I was saying, the chances of our dear Astrid to become my wife are increasing since Marianne here could become a Haddo—"

"Snotlout!" I let out a breath and glared a bit at him "Hiccup and Astrid are a couple made in Valhalla. And I am definitely not into Hiccup and neither he in me, so just calm the hell down folks"

All of them but Hiccup looked at me a bit warily.

"Um… I'll go fly a bit with Phantom" I spoke quietly after eyeing all of them "Good night" with that I rushed out of the clubhouse and back down to the dome where Phantom was laying, trying to take a nap.

I shook him slightly "Phantom, let's go"

He let out a breath and got up slowly "Where? Why?"

"Just let's go see the island a bit?" I insisted and hopped on his back.

"You sure you're alright?"

"Yes, I am. Now let's go"

With that said we flew up into the night sky and above the Edge. It looked stunning from up here. Peaceful. But I couldn't really stand the impression that the others made about me. I kind of… liked Hiccup. A bit. But it wasn't something that would last more than a few days and I wasn't going to ruin whatever was going between him and Astrid. It wouldn't be fair. I couldn't do that to him or her.

As we were gliding above the island I looked up at the full moon and couldn't help but remember about those brown eyes… That damn thing was killing me, mostly because I didn't know if I should believe it was true or not.

I leaned on Phantom's back and kept looking up at the glittering stars on the dark expanse.

The good part of this 'search' was that it lead me to finding a friend.

A friend.

I chuckled to myself slightly.

I finally made one.