They entered the Hall, and the people already in there started to whisper and point. Sora seemed to be taking it better, and Scout looked less nervous. They walked past Hiccup's friends, who were all staring with their mouths wide open, but Hiccup suspected only Ruffnut was looking at Sora. Valka sat at the head table, and patted the seat next to her for Scout. Scout smiled softly and sat, Sora lying down at her side. Hiccup took the seat on the other side of Valka, Toothless mimicking Sora's position. Valka took 2 bowls of food being bought around by Gobber, whose eyes widened when he saw Sora, and Scout laughed. He smiled and continued walking, his peg leg clunking on the ground. Scout and Hiccup started to eat while Valka asked questions.
"What brings you this side of the Isle?" she asked, and Scout swallowed before replying.
"I was just flying, I had no plan, and I just flew. Well, Sora flew" she said, and Valka nodded.
"Where are you from originally?" Valka asked, and Hiccup jumped in.
"You said Timberlands didn't you?" he said, and Scout nodded.
"The Timberlands? You live in the forest?" Valka asked, and Scout lowered her eyes.
"I used to" she said, and the door to the hall opened again. Hiccup looked up, and immediately looked away. It was Astrid again. She took a bowl from Gobber and sat down with the other young adults, sitting close to Fishlegs. She didn't look at Hiccup, and he started pushing the food around on his plate. When he did look up he saw Scout watching him and he quickly shovelled food into his mouth.
"You used to? You don't anymore? Did your people move?" Valka asked.
"No, it….it's just me now. Me and Sora" Scout said muttered, lowering her spoon. Valka's eyes softened and she placed her hand on Scout's shoulder.
"I'm sure it's hard being the last one in a village" Valka said, and Scout nodded, tilting her head so her hair fell over her face.
"I was 13" she started quietly. Then she began to talk, and she spoke louder, and everyone in the hall stopped to listen.
"I was 13 when my village was attacked. My father, Torx the Trusting, was the chief, and my mother Belna took care of everyone as a healer. My village was happy. We were kind and never hurt anyone, we were always taking care of travellers like you are now, but it seems some thought we were push-overs. A group of looters pretending to be traders came into the inlet one day to offer business, but I think they were just there to look at what we had. We didn't have much, but we had these beautiful stones that we would find in the coves nearby. I think my father was too trusting to show them, but he did. And the next night they returned with 3 more ships." Scout paused, and took a deep breath. Sora lifted her head and put it on Scout's lap, and she placed her hand on Sora's head and continued.
"They burned everything. We didn't have time to save anyone or anything. Before we knew it everything was burning. People were screaming, I can still hear them screaming when I try to sleep." Scout's eyes starting turning glassy, and everyone was focused on her. No-one moved and no-one spoke. Hiccup stole a glance at Astrid and saw she was just as engrossed in the story as everyone else was. Funny how things change.
"They stole the stones. All of them. But they raided our homes to find more before they burned them. People were running everywhere, it was a wonder people weren't already hurting each other. But then they started taking people prisoner, and my father told me to hide. I didn't want to, I thought I could fight them. That's when we all heard the dragon. It was huge and almost the same colour as the night, but it wasn't a Night Fury. I still don't know what it was, but I know it tried to pick me up. That's how I got these" she said, and moved her hair so they could see the 4 claw marks on the side of her neck. Some people gasped and Hiccup felt saddened. Scout continued with her story.
"My father shot at it and it dropped me, but it dropped me near a burning house. My coat caught alight and my father ran to help me, my mother behind him. That's when it dropped a massive fireball, and something exploded. I still don't what it was. I just know when I woke up I was alone. The houses were burned down, and I couldn't hear out of my right ear. I started crying, I think I started screaming. I didn't know what happened to my parents, but there were bodies-" she choked, and took a moment to recover.
"I saw something move in the shadows and I thought it was another looter so I grabbed a bit of wood to defend myself, and it was Sora. I don't know if she heard me crying or screaming, but she was there. When she came towards me I thought she was going to kill me, and for a moment I wished she would, but she didn't. She took me and flew me away. I haven't been back since." She finished, and Sora hummed. Everyone was still silent, until Valka spoke.
"Scout, I am so sorry. That must have been so hard to be alone so young" she said, and Scout smiled sadly.
"It's only been 10 years, and I wasn't alone. I had my best friend with me" she said, petting Sora. Hiccup smiled softly, knowing how she felt. He had felt alone before he found Toothless, but Scout and Sora had been together 2 years longer. He couldn't imagine being alone so long.
"Perhaps you could stay with us for a while? We have plenty of room and food, you're welcome to stay" Hiccup offered, and Scout looked at him.
"I wouldn't want to be a nuisance" and someone in the crowd scoffed. Hiccup looked for the person, but no-one appeared to be making fun. Valka nodded and took Scout's hand.
"It would be an honour to house the Lady of the Timberlands and her Night Fury" she said, and people gasped again. Scout's eyes widened slightly.
"My mother was the Lady of the Timberlands, not me. I never received the title from the village elder" she said, and Valka laughed gently.
"The title is yours, village elder or not" she said, and Scout lowered her eyes, her cheeks turning red. Sora made a noise of agreement and Scout smiled.
"I still feel like it is her title until I earn it" Scout said, and she looked at Valka and Hiccup could see the determination in her eyes.
"I know child, and I'm sure you will. I'm sure both of your parents are proud of you" Valka said, causing Scout to blink a few times. Hiccup wasn't sure if she was hiding tears.
Valka then rose, Hiccup and Scout doing the same.
"I'm sure you're exhausted from your travels. I'm sure we have an unoccupied hut on Berk somewhere, right Hiccup?" Valka said, turning to face her son, giving a slight nod.
Hiccup nodded quickly.
"I'm sure we have plenty" he added, and Scout smiled softly.
"I'd hate to bother you all" she said and Valka laughed, placing her hand on Scout's shoulder.
"It's alright, it's no trouble. We have plenty of room for a traveller and her dragon" she said, petting Sora, who purred.
Hiccup moved forward slightly.
"I can show you to an empty hut now if you like?" he asked, and Scout nodded.
"Thank you all very much for hosting me and allowing me a seat at your table" Scout said, and Valka smiled.
"Such manners are welcome, your parents taught you well" she said, before smiling at them both and walking away to speak with other villagers.
Hiccup started walking, followed by Scout and the dragons. He made sure to not look at Astrid, but he could feel her eyes on him as they walked past.