Broken

Chapter 5: Guidance

"No, no Toothless! Slow down there big guy."

Hiccup fully understood how insane it had to look when an underweight, underdeveloped beanpole like himself tried to get his dragon to exercise restraint. He fully understood that the only reason he could get his companion to halt his energetic charge up the hill was that Toothless was willing to let himself be stopped. And for that reason, Hiccup was always that much more grateful when he was able to convince the Night Fury to slow down, stop, or behave when the dragon got a bit too...frisky.

This was definitely not an occasion to be frisky. At the top of the hill stood the small house in which Freygerd lived. The village elder was a tiny, frail woman who certainly didn't need a large, powerful dragon jumping around her like a gigantic flea. And if Hiccup was going to speak to her, Toothless was going to have to behave.

He'd tried to get the dragon to stay home but failed utterly in his efforts. No bribes or threats had worked. So as he laboriously worked his way up the hill, his oak and iron limb sounding like a family of frightened field mice, he exhorted Toothless to be calm, to move slowly, to refrain from giving the elder a fright. The absolute last thing Hiccup needed was a mishap between an elderly woman and a playful dragon.

A fist-sized rock covered by last autumn's leaves caused the young man to stumble, the socket of his artificial leg twisting against the stump. Although his wound was healed and had started to develop the necessary callous to make wearing the contraption bearable, he still often felt sharp slivers of agony when he set his foot wrong.

He gasped as pain and imbalance hit him at once. Toothless, as usual, quickly assisted with the latter. For the former, he could only ease himself to the ground and gently work the padded cup back to its original position and re-tighten the leather straps that held it on. The gentle crooning sound from his companion brought his head up. He gave his best effort at a careless smile. "It's alright. Just wanted a moment to sit and... reflect. On... life. And stuff."

The wide, scaled head came down close to his aching leg. A gusting sniff told Hiccup his dragon didn't believe him at all. Toothless had developed an unusual and irritating habit of trying to detect bleeding or infection in his wound. Any time his sensitive nose caught a whiff of either, he would gently paw at the device. If Hiccup tried to ignore him and walk on, he would get pushed down. Worse, he would be HELD down until the bleeding or infection was acknowledged and dealt with.

It was almost as bad as being teased by Snotlout or Tuffnut.

Toothless seemed satisfied that his injury was in acceptable shape and sat back on his haunches. Hiccup sighed, wishing his leg was the most uncomfortable thing he would have to deal with today. He twisted a bit, looking behind him at the cottage. He was two-thirds of the way up the hill, and he could see her door was open and thin smoke was drifting from the chimney. He turned back to face his companion.

"I don't know, Toothless. I'm not really sure this is a good idea."

Yellowish green eyes regarded him patiently. When he didn't move for several minutes, the dragon moved closer and touched his forehead with his nose. A soft rumbling from the deep chest inquired. A pale skinned hand rubbed the leathery snout with affection, but no other action was forthcoming. Toothless looked up the hill at the house, then back to Hiccup. He rumbled again, but still Hiccup resisted.

Finally making the decision for his hesitant friend, the dragon began marching up the hill toward the house.

"Wait! No, wait wait wait!" Hiccup clumsily scrambled to his feet and took after his scaled friend. He soon found he didn't have to hurry. Toothless had stopped a short distance away and stood waiting for him, his goal achieved. The young man sighed at having been manipulated so easily. "Yeah, alright. You got me. I'm up." He continued his way up the hill.

Doing his best to avoid any more hidden rocks, he made it up to the top of the hill. Toothless stood beside him, regarding the house curiously. Hiccup was once again unwilling to continue. He recalled the last time he'd come to Freygerd's house alone. He'd asked her if there was any way to bring his lost mother back. That hadn't been an enjoyable encounter for either of them. Since then, he'd always respected her as the village elder, but he never found cause to seek her advice again.

Until now.

He peered into the open doorway. He saw very little within the unlit room beyond the threshold. "Hmm. I don't know, Toothless. It doesn't look like she's home." He took a step back. With his attention on the small house, he didn't notice his dragon's look of mild annoyance. He couldn't help but notice the short, barking roar that came from Toothless' throat. It wasn't loud enough to hurt his ears, but it was certainly enough to alert anyone inside the house.

"What are you doing?" he hissed. "She might be in there, sleeping. She's old, you know-"

"Hello?" The hoarse call came from inside.

"Hello!" Hiccup was forced to answer. He glared briefly at his friend, but took a step forward when he realized his presence was known.

The diminutive form that appeared in the darkened doorway did nothing to calm his nervousness. Although she was hardly a physical threat in any way, Freygerd still projected an aura of authority that could give the fiercest Viking pause. The faint scowl she displayed as she came through her door was nearly enough to make Hiccup stammer an apology and flee. A firm push from behind by Toothless' left wing prevented that.

Freygerd squinted against the bright morning sunshine, her left eye practically closing. It had stopped opening fully since a strange sickness had afflicted her some years ago. The spell had left her whole left side weak, but now only her eye remained affected.

"Hiccup?" she queried.

The young man smiled, not quite hiding his discomfort and fear. He waved to her, feeling foolish even as he did it. "Hello Freygerd. I was... I thought... how are you?"

The scowl softened into a genuine smile. "Hiccup," she said softly. "I've been waiting for you."

Confusion overwhelmed his nervousness and he tried to remember if anyone had told him that Freygerd had asked to see him. Nothing came to mind. He took some comfort in the fact that she didn't seem upset.

Her smile brightened a bit as she turned her eyes to the Night Fury. "And you, as well. Welcome, both of you." She took a step back into her house. "Please, come inside."

Thoroughly puzzled, Hiccup glanced at his companion. Had she just said she'd also been waiting for Toothless? What did that mean?

For the dragon's part, he seemed to take the invitation at face value and stepped forward, making for the door. Alarm jolted him as he grabbed one of Toothless' dorsal ridge fins and tried to keep him from bringing his considerable bulk into the small house. "Hold up there, bud. I don't think...Toothless! Stop!"

With the tip of his broad muzzle hovering over the threshold, the dragon looked over his shoulder. His expression of mild irritation didn't deter the young man from continuing to pull on his fin. He snorted, an obvious comment on Hiccup's behavior.

"I don't think you can fit in there. You'll knock stuff over or... or set something on fire. I think you should stay..." His voice faded at the look of utter disgust on his friend's scaly face. Toothless gave another snort, then folded his wings so close to his body they seemed to practically vanish. He turned his gaze back to the inside of the house. Before he stepped inside he looked around, studying the layout of the house and its contents. A slow, careful step across the threshold was followed by another and another until the Fury had completely disappeared inside.

"This morning just keeps getting stranger," Hiccup muttered to himself. "I suppose there'll be a Monstrous Nightmare dangling from the roof beams and a flock of Terrors dancing on the bed."

There were no Nightmares dangling from the beams, but there were many baskets and jars hanging from ropes instead. He found it a bit disconcerting that they were hanging at the level of his head, making it hard for him to work his way into the main room of the house. He quickly realized that they hung so low because Freygerd's small size wouldn't allow them to be placed higher. It was obvious what was inside the hanging containers. The smell of dried herbs and leaves was thick in the air. It was a rich, intoxicating scent that made Hiccup inhale deeply, almost greedily. He could also smell burnt tallow and old leather. There was an overlay of earth and wood that completed the aroma. He found it strangely comforting.

Ducking slightly, he looked to see if Toothless had done any damage to the elder's possessions. It took him several startled moments to find him within the small space. He'd laid his body along one wall, between the staircase to the tiny loft and the single small window facing west, opposite the door. The dragon's inky coloring did its usual job of blending his body into any available shadows, and only the twin orbs of yellow-green marked his head. His eyes also did nothing to hide his smug satisfaction at having proven Hiccup's concerns to be foolish.

With a look of grudging satisfaction at the Fury's good behavior and calm demeanor, he looked around for Freygerd herself. She was easier to spot, though finding her to be standing directly behind him gave him a start. He yelped and stood too fast, banging his head against one of the suspended clay jars. He grunted in pain and dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around his aching head. That proved to be unwise, as his left knee did not take kindly to such movements. The wood and metal construct that served as his left leg and foot threw him off balance and sent him lurching sideways into a woven basket that turned out to be full of salted fish. The powerful scent of cured meat filled his nose and provoked a single, gusty sneeze. In the silence that followed, he was sure he heard the muffled grunting of Toothless' laughter and a soft sigh he assumed had come from Freygerd.

"Some things never change, do they dragon rider?"

For the second time, Hiccup felt slightly disoriented by the elder's behavior. He looked up to see her standing over him, a look of gentle amusement in her eyes. Her tone, however, had been light yet respectful. And that term she used: 'dragon rider'. Somehow she made it sound as thought it were more than a casual description of an activity in which Hiccup engaged. It sounded more like a... a title.

He could only watch as she came close and motioned him to sit up. He propped himself on one elbow, his other hand pressing the spot where the jar had connected. Her soft hands gently but insistently pried his off the injury. She rubbed his scalp, moving his hair this way and that to see the skin below. She showed him her clean, dry fingers. "No bleeding." She glanced up at the offending vessel. "No broken crockery." She then cast her gaze at the basket which had simply been pushed from its spot in the floor. "No spilled food." Her eyes met his again. "Some things do change, eh?" She patted his cheek and pointed to a nearby stool. "Have a seat. I'll just be a moment."

Feeling stunned and unhappy about his ridiculous entry into her house, Hiccup pulled himself together and seated himself where she'd indicated. He rubbed his aching skull and checked his own fingers. As much as it had hurt, he'd been sure he'd broken the skin. As Freygerd had said, there was no evidence of bleeding. A furtive glance at his host showed her to be concentrating on an iron kettle hanging over the hearth. He realized belatedly that he'd just shown distrust by confirming what she'd told him. Luckily she hadn't seen.

It didn't take long for her to prepare a cup of steaming liquid and hand it to him. "That will help with the-" She touched his head, smiling. Hiccup thanked her and glanced warily at the cup as she moved back to the hearth. Healing potions were never enjoyable and any sickness or discomfort they were meant to cure was usually preferable. A cautious sniff filled his nose with a sweet minty aroma that gave him hope. He took a taste and was delighted to find his tongue agreed with his nose. He took a larger sip and tried to relax.

Freygerd moved about her cluttered home, searching the various containers until she found what she desired. She took down one of the hanging jars and withdrew a few small roots. Finally she put all her ingredients into the kettle and stirred it thoroughly. She came near Hiccup and withdrew a few pieces of salted fish from the basket he'd nearly upset. To his dismay, they too went into the kettle. As the concoction stewed, she pulled a wide, shallow bowl from its hanging spot on the wall and inspected it. A gentle tap sent whatever had collected within to the floor. She set the bowl by the hearth then poured the contents of the kettle into it. The faint aroma from the new brew reached Hiccup, making him very glad to have his mint tea rather than whatever she'd just made.

The scene that followed left Hiccup slightly disturbed, although he couldn't understand why. Freygerd took the bowl to where Toothless lay against the wall and placed it on the floor before him. He was somewhat surprised she would go to the trouble to make something for a dragon to drink. How would anyone know how to make such a thing? How could she know what would taste good to a dragon?

More surprising to him was Toothless' reaction. He lowered his snout to the bowl and gently dipped his tongue into the liquid. It was thick and coated the surface of it. He closed his mouth and seemed to relish the taste before swallowing. The quiet, contented purr he gave made his approval and gratitude quite plain. He took a second, single lap, closing his eyes for a moment as he appreciated his 'drink.'

Things took yet another odd turn as he saw Freygerd extend her hand partway to the Night Fury's head. Keeping her gaze on her draconic guest, she asked, "May I?"

Hiccup felt strangely jealous and angry. She wasn't asking Hiccup for permission, although Toothless was known to be his dragon. But then Toothless was hardly his possession, was he? So why did he feel this way? He tried to put his feelings aside as Toothless closed his eyes and lowered his head.

The instant her hand touched the warm scales of the dragon's forehead she took a quick breath and let it out as a quiet, "Oh!" A wistful smile crept over her face as she stood there, making that simplest of contact with another living being. A lump rose in Hiccup's throat as he remembered making that most vital connection with his best friend for the first time.

It had been six months since dragons had become a part of Berk. Had she never had occasion to touch one until now? Or was it only Toothless, slayer of the Red Death that she asked for the honor of such intimate contact? Hiccup heard her sigh, as though her greatest wish had just been fulfilled.

Freygerd took her hand away and quietly said, "Thank you." Toothless opened his eyes and gave a soft huff of breath, stirring her long gray hair. Her smile widened as she stepped away and took herself to a thickly padded chair. She sat rather abruptly, as though suddenly weary, but her smile remained. Finally, she glanced up at Hiccup from across the hearth.

"So, what can I do for you?"

Oddly, Hiccup realized he was unprepared for the question. He'd been faced with several unusual events within a few minutes' time and had all but forgotten why he was there. He stared blankly for a moment before finding his voice.

"Yes, well, I wanted to... uh, see you. To, ah, to talk to you. I, umm, I..." His voice faded as he struggled to recall the purpose of his visit. He looked at Toothless, hoping for some kind of support. His friend gave him what he needed without doing a thing. "Dragons!" he said suddenly. "Yes, dragons. I, uh, was wanting to ask you if, uh..."

He happened to meet Freygerd's eyes and saw faint disappointment there. It reminded him so much of the perpetual look his father had when they used to talk that it stole his voice a second time. He looked down at his cup of tea and wanted to vanish.

"To ask me what, Hiccup," came a kindly prompt.

He looked up and was again surprised, this time by the warm, honest smile on Freygerd's face as she waited for his response. Had he imagined what he'd seen? There was nothing of disappointment about her now. She seemed genuinely pleased he was there. He gave a little shake of his head, trying to get his thoughts together.

His father! Thoughts of Stoick brought back the purpose of his visit. He took another sip of his mint tea and figured the best way to phrase his concerns.

"I was hoping you could... reassure me about the presence of dragons on the island." He glanced at Toothless a moment. "I am afraid the truce that was won after the battle is going sour." He hesitated a bit, uncertain if it was wise to speak so bluntly. Freygerd gave no sign of offense, however, so he forged ahead. "I'm worried that the people of Berk haven't really accepted dragons for what they are and may... may eventually turn on them again."

At first the elder sat motionless. Her gaze was unwavering and he did his best not to flinch. Then she took a deep breath and let it go as a long sigh. She folded her hands in her lap and nodded. "Your eyes see clearly," she said quietly. "Your fears are also mine."

Hiccup felt a tiny shiver of elation at hearing such praise from so revered a person. But it didn't last long. His next question came before she could speak further. "Can you tell me why? The dragons are behaving themselves, there's been no harm done that wasn't accidental. Or easily fixed."

Freygerd leaned forward in her chair, staring at him. She seemed to want to see directly into his heart. Strangely enough, Hiccup felt quite calm under this new scrutiny. He watched her almost as intently as she did him.

"Do you remember the stories you were told when you were young? The ones about Hoskuld Blood Eye?"

Hiccup tried to recall anything he might have heard about such a person. He hadn't been terribly interested in the stories about the history of Berk. But he did remember something. "He...he was the leader of the group that came to Berk, the first settlers, wasn't he? He had one eye that was always bloodshot." He then remembered some of the other children talking about those tales. "Or that was dripping blood. Or shot out fire to burn his enemies." He shrugged. "Something like that."

A sly smile pulled at one corner of Freygerd's mouth. "Yes, something like that." She leaned back in her chair again and regarded him calmly. "Hoskuld Ulunda brought his family and several other groups from the east. They were looking for new lives, new challenges, new conquests. They stopped here because their ships were pushed ashore in a storm. Hoskuld decided it was the will of the gods that put them here and so they stayed." She turned her gaze momentarily toward Toothless. The dragon, still taking single licks of his 'drink', was watching her intently. It was as though he was listening to her tell the story.

"Then the dragons came. They swarmed out of the skies and ravaged the settlers. They didn't know how to fight them. They'd heard stories about them but they'd never seen such creatures before. They didn't understand how to keep them from killing everyone. Dragons were very hard to fight." She looked back at Hiccup. "They had come to a place they didn't figure on going, met an enemy they couldn't fight. It was a terrible time. Those first settlers weren't as unified as Berk is now. There were fights between families. Some wanted to leave, others wanted to go back, a few wanted to stay."

Freygerd shook her head, as though she were remembering those times herself and not relating the story handed down through so many generations. "Hoskuld was a good leader. He convinced most of the settlers to stay. They went to work, learning what they needed to live here. They survived. They learned, they grew, they lived." She held her hands up. "And so it has remained for generations."

A sudden knot tightened in Hiccup's stomach. "Until I changed things."

The elder regarded him with gentle amusement. "Yes Hiccup, until you changed things. Now the old way of life is gone." She made a sweeping gesture with her hand, as though brushing centuries of Viking tradition away like dust.

Hiccup couldn't stop himself. The habit was far too ingrained. "I'm sorry."

Now Freygerd frowned slightly. "Why?" She ignored his attempt to stammer out another unneeded apology. "We know how to live on Berk successfully. We're quite good at it. Food is a little harder to get right now but we can fix that. We just need more ships. We know how to build ships." She leaned forward again, her voice strengthening. "And now, because of you and your dragon, our enemies are now our friends. Dragons help protect us. They even help feed us." She paused, letting him consider her words. "Of all the things you could have done to change Berk, what you've done has turned out to be best for everyone. Vikings..." She looked significantly at Toothless. "And dragons."

Hiccup shook his head. "But Freygerd, most people don't like what I did. They still don't like dragons, they still don't trust them. Sometimes I get the feeling..." And now he paused, really hating what he had to say next. "I- I think that most people in the village would have rather I hadn't changed anything."

She nodded sadly. "That's because they forget an important detail about Hoskuld and his settlers." She let him think about that a moment, to try and work it out for himself. When he gave a small, helpless shrug, she said, "They hated it here. They'd been pushed here by a storm and didn't know if they would last through the first winter because of the dragon attacks. Fighting to survive was nothing new to them, any more than it is to us. But they didn't believe they would succeed. They didn't want the changes that had been forced on them. They thought they were bad changes."

Hiccup swallowed, unaware of this aspect of Berk's history. "What changed their minds?"

"The only thing that could. Time. Time changes one's view of the world. And when the world changes, our view must change with it." She looked at Toothless again, and the Fury met her eyes calmly. "Change always comes. No one can stop it. The gods do what they will and we must follow the course they set."

That wasn't really the answer Hiccup had been hoping for. "Is there anything I can do to help the others see that?"

Freygerd shook her head. "Only time can open their eyes. And open they must." She turned her eyes back to him. "More is coming."

Hiccup sat up straight, alarm pitching his voice up a noticeable amount. "More!"

The elder gazed at him a moment, her expression as serious as her tone. "Hiccup, your work isn't finished. This is only the start." She raised her hands again, indicating the village beyond her open door. "Even this new world will seem old before you are done changing it."

Real panic began to seep into his mind, making his hand tremble slightly. "No," he whispered. "No, no I can't." He shook his head, terrified of the very idea. "Nobody likes what I did, if I make it worse they'll kill me! They'll kill Toothless! Please!" He held out his hands, his tea spilling over the side of the cup. "Don't ask me to do anything more!"

Freygerd stared at him. She said nothing. Slowly her eyes grew cold and her expression stern. He gradually went from fear to confusion as she continued to stare silently. Eventually he wondered if he should get up and leave. He put his cup down and shifted on his seat to get up.

"I've been watching you, Haddock."

Hiccup froze, apprehension and bewilderment fighting over control of his heartbeat.

"You thought no one would notice. You thought you were the first. So clever." A hint of a smile came to her face. It was not a comforting thing. "Cleverer than most, I'll grant. But you had it easy." The smile faded. "You had help."

"I- I don't understand," he stammered. He wanted nothing more than to leave. He promised himself he would never return to Freygerd's house after this day. As he watched, she seemed to grow angry. She scowled at him from across the room. Then she stood, rather quickly for one her age. She even seemed taller than before. With rapid, determined steps she moved to stand before him, her face full of displeasure. Hiccup quailed before her.

"Do you know who I am?"

His mouth worked but he made no sound. His brain seemed to sizzle and melt before her indignation. She whirled and stalked to the furthest corner of her small cottage. She began digging through a small mound of items she'd stored there. Blankets and animal skulls went flying. A bundle of dried leaves tied with thin twine went sailing past Toothless' nose. She quickly uncovered a wooden chest and opened it. More of her possessions were tossed. She drew out of the chest some old clothes, two books, several badly rusted knives, a lock of someone's hair, some polished stones and a leather cap. All of it wound up on the floor.

"Ah!" She reached into the chest and pulled out what looked in the dim light like a bent stick. Holding it before her, she turned back towards Hiccup and advanced on him again. When she once again stood before him, he could see she held a stout but beautifully made bow. It was rather short, as though made for someone of her stature. The thickness of its limbs made it look like a fairly powerful weapon when strung. She thrust it at him as though she might hit him with it.

"I am Freygerd Sjusta, the Stone Hand. This is my ironwood bow." She stared at him a moment before dropping it into his lap. With a look of contempt she turned and walked to the open door. There she stopped, looking out at the rest of Berk.

Stunned, Hiccup had to take a moment to catch his breath. He glanced at Freygerd's silent form as she stood outlined in the morning sunshine, unable to fathom the change in her behavior. More, he could scarcely credit what lay in his lap was a real ironwood bow. Ironwood came from a far off land and was extremely rare. Archers prized it for the powerful, nearly indestructible bows that could be made from its wood. He only knew of it because Gobber had mentioned it once during training. He'd had no idea anyone in Berk owned such a weapon. It had no string and looked to be as old as Freygerd herself, yet was still as solid as its name implied. He tried to gouge the wood with a thumbnail. He couldn't make even the slightest mark.

The old woman turned from the doorway to face her guests. Her anger seemed to have vanished. To Hiccup's eyes she looked rather tired, as though her outburst had drained her badly. Her voice was even hoarser when she spoke.

"Freygerd the Stone Hand was the master hunter of Berk before Stoick's father could hold a knife. She took her ironwood bow into the woods and hunted everything that lived. She fed her family and protected her village." She took a few steps toward Hiccup, her face sometimes being hidden by hanging baskets or jars. "Even though she was a tiny, sickly child early on, she grew and fought and learned and honored the gods because that's what all Vikings did." She stood directly before him, her shoulders hunched and her expression solemn. "She hunted animals, killed enemies, killed dragons. No one could match her at the ironwood bow." Freygerd turned away, her eyes to the floor.

She stood there a moment while Hiccup tried to understand why she was talking about herself as though she were someone else. He was thoroughly confused. He watched her closely, worried about her behavior.

"In the woods, she learned many things." She reached a hand up to caress a hanging basket. "Herbs. Healing plants. Tracking." She looked up at the ceiling of her cottage. "She learned to read the weather, the seas. She even learned..." Her gaze found Hiccup again. "to see inside people's hearts. To learn their strengths and failings." A wistful smile crossed her face. "But most of all..." Now she turned her face toward the Night Fury. "she learned about dragons."

Hiccup was thunderstruck. He'd never heard any of these things about the village elder. He'd always assumed she'd simply learned a lot during her long life, thus accumulating the wisdom that others sought. He'd never imagined she'd been a hunter, let alone a killer of dragons. He was not certain how he felt about that.

Freygerd walked slowly toward Toothless, stopping a few steps away. She seemed to regard the creature with the same reverence that others accorded her. "She saw dragons often while she hunted, and sometimes got to watch them. Without even-" she held up her hand "-touching a single scale of a dragon, she learned some of their secrets. Things others never bothered to notice. Things that were useful, important. Things..." she leaned close to the Fury, who watched her calmly "that would have turned her world inside out!"

Toothless blinked, a faint croon coming from his throat. Freygerd said something else, something quieter that Hiccup couldn't hear. It seemed to him that she spoke only for the dragon's ears. Toothless reinforced that notion by suddenly looking directly at him when she leaned back and moved away. What had she said?

The old woman came back toward Hiccup, standing before him with her hand outstretched. He handed the bow back to her, and she looked down at it. For a moment she didn't move, didn't speak. Her frail, withered hand tightened on the bow.

"But she told no one. She knew no one would believe her. She didn't believe herself." There was a hint of shame in her voice. "She put down her bow and turned to healing."

Freygerd slowly turned and shuffled back to her chair. She dropped into it again, a weary look on her face. She held the bow in her lap with both hands. "She didn't do what she should have, what she knew in her heart she should have. And so Berk would suffer through two more generations of war between Vikings and dragons."

Hiccup felt excited and sick and fearful, all at the same time. It was almost the same kind of sensation when he realized nearly all their knowledge about dragons was wrong. He didn't want to interrupt her, didn't want to be disrespectful. But the words wanted out of his mouth so badly he couldn't contain them.

"What do you know? What can you tell me?"

She drew herself up a bit, her expression becoming serious once again. "Our world is now on the edge of a cliff. You pushed it there. You and he." She gave a slight tilt of her head in Toothless' direction. "You must now push it back. The world cannot stand as it is now. It will fall unless you act! You must change it! You must!"

With a mounting sense of frustration and not a little anger, Hiccup cried, "HOW!"

Her voice dropped nearly to a whisper. "That is what you must discover."

With a groan, Hiccup harshly slapped his palms against his temples. He barely kept himself from making a sarcastic remark. Why wouldn't she tell him what he needed to know? Why keep it from him? He tried again.

"But what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to change?"

She regarded him a moment. "Hiccup, I'm a wise woman. I've lived a long time and learned much. And do you know what I've learned?"

A cautiously hopeful look crossed his face. "What?"

She held up a thin, crooked finger. "First, and most important, I've learned just enough to figure out I haven't learned nearly enough." He closed his eyes and groaned again, but opened them quickly at sharp exclamation that followed. "Secondly! And most important to YOU. I...haven't learned nearly as much about dragons as you have."

That took a moment to really sink in. It was quite a compliment, and one he'd never looked to get. But he quickly realized he still needed more from her.

"Freygerd, please. What must I do?"

"Discover. Learn. Understand."

With a defeated sigh, Hiccup slouched on his stool. He wouldn't get what he needed from her. "Alright."

The elder gave a scornful hiss through her teeth. When he looked up at her, the exasperation was plain on her face. "Why do you think I chose you over Astrid at the last trial between you?"

He wasn't expecting such a question, and while he'd wondered the same thing himself, he hadn't given it a whole lot of thought. He could only tell her what he'd assumed was the reason. "Because I was using the tricks I learned from Toothless to handle the dragons in the arena."

"No."

"No?"

"Because I saw you doing things in the arena that I knew meant you'd been watching dragons, as I had. You'd been learning about them. Not just how to kill them, but what kinds of things they did and why they did them." She pointed at Toothless. "I had no idea you were in contact with one of them. I just knew you had far more knowledge about them than I had. Some of the things you did I couldn't understand myself. But I knew that if anyone could understand them fully, it must be you."

Something teased Hiccup at the back of his mind. Some idea that had tried to catch his attention before but failed.

"But you don't understand them fully. You must ask more questions and find those answers. You must discover what knowledge you are lacking." She leaned back in her chair, looking down at the bow in her hands. "Vikings revere the strong. They believe that strength is in their arms and legs, their backs and hands." She looked up at Hiccup. "But you and I know better. We know that the supreme strength lies here." She pointed to her head and smiled. "Go, and use your strength."

Unable to catch the idea that had flitted through his mind and feeling a little dazed, he called his dragon. Toothless stood, taking the empty bowl in his jaws. With his wings as tightly folded as before, he carefully made his way toward the door. As he passed Freygerd in her chair, he offered her the bowl. From the doorway where he stood, Hiccup watched as she took the bowl. For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Once more, Freygerd laid her hand gently on Toothless' great head. His eyes closed and Hiccup could hear his purring growl. Freygerd spoke to him again. Hiccup could see her lips moving.

Their goodbyes said, the Night Fury moved to the door and stepped outside. Once beyond the confines of the little cottage, Toothless stretched his wings out as far as they would go. He arched his back and stretched his legs, too. Finally he jumped up and snapped out his wings, beating them hard a few times to gain height. When he was as high as the roof of Freygerd's house, he folded his wings and landed with a heavy thud. He shook his head, folded his wings and started walking back toward their house.

Hiccup watched him for a moment, still trying to take in all that had been said that morning. He looked behind him at the small house, shook his head and finally started walking down the hill, keeping his eyes open for rocks.

(c)Wirewolf 2011

"How to train your dragon" and all attendant characters are copyright

Dreamworks Animation and used without permission