10 Stormy Weather

Astrid felt very small and insignificant as she was tossed about the sky; the storm raged fiercely all around her and even Stoicks mighty cape could not keep the wind and rain out entirely. Her hands felt numb as she gripped the rope that encircled the dragon's body and gave her some control as to the direction they should fly.

"Down girl" she shouted through the wind and firmly patted the dragons back.

As they dropped below the high clouds Astrid scanned the horizon just as she had done many times before, but this time it was different for to her left, along the line of the dragon's wing, was a tiny light far in the distance.

"THERE!" she shouted and pulled on the rope while leaning hard to one side.

The dragon banked to the left and began a slow descent as her wings continued to beat hard against the wind. The light grew gradually brighter as they approached and soon several others could be seen blazing from the island, and from within the mouths of the giant stone heads that were carved from the rock sea stacks in the waters around the Isle of Berk. The first part of their journey was almost complete and although Astrid felt happy and satisfied, she could not stop her emotions from rising up and so her tears only continued to increase. The dragon came to rest near the centre of the village in the square so as not to be blown into any of the buildings.

Only a small number Vikings had remained on Berk when the fleet set sail for Dragon Island; the very young and the very old and they all remained shut up in their homes while waiting out the storm. Naturally they were all completely unaware of what had happened to their friends on Dragon Island, of the existence of the giant beast, and of the dragon riders who had saved the tribe from total annihilation; so despite the noise of the rushing wind, Astrid led her dragon very quietly through the lanes between the houses to the home of Olvor and signalled it to sit and wait outside as she opened the door and delicately slipped inside. The soaking wet, yak fur covered, forlorn and bedraggled girl froze on the spot when she spotted Gothi the Elder, sleeping in a chair by a roaring fire.

Astrid had often noticed Gothi in the observation area above the arena watching over them, and indeed it had been she who had chosen Hiccup over Astrid to have the honour of killing the dragon at the end of the training period, but the young girl had not known about everything that the wily old woman had seen. Gothi's home stood on a high rock overlooking the sea to the southwest of the village, and from there she would observe most of what went around the town. On the big day of the fight between Hiccup and the Monstrous Nightmare, she had observed many things that had raised her interest and so she had spent much of her time since then, considering what she had seen and planning her next move.

When Hiccup had stepped into the arena he looked very nervous, but that was no surprise; it was Astrid though who made her look twice. Time and time again Gothi had noticed the young men of the village talking to Astrid and looking at her in that certain way, but this was the first time that she had ever seen Astrid look at any boy that way, and it had made Gothi smile. Everyone who watched what had happened in the ring was shocked at Hiccups actions; dropping his weapon, shield and helmet, but only Gothi and the boy were aware of the dragons reaction to this sign of trust. When Stoicks anger had raged and the fight had begun, it was she alone who saw that it was the Night Fury who had protected the Chief's son from danger. This had given her much to ponder as she watched the fleet sail away that evening with the black dragon... the black dragon with the saddle on its back, chained on the foredeck of Stoicks flagship. The conclusions that Gothi had come to that night, were confirmed the next morning when she observed two young Vikings from her balcony, soaring through the clouds above, on the back of a big blue dragon.

The dragon rider was so surprised at seeing the wise old woman sleeping in Olvors home that she failed to notice two very important details; the first of these details was the Terrible Terror, a small dragon less than three feet long from nose to tail, curled up asleep on her lap. The second was the fact that Astrid had not yet shut the door. A cold wind rushed through the room causing Gothi to shiver as she opened her eyes and turned smiling towards Astrid. The little dragon gave a small growl of protest as the lady rose, but she placed it back onto the warm chair she had just vacated. The small creature circled twice around the seat of the chair before it settled down once more and soon resumed its purring. Moving toward the door, Gothi went right by the wide eyed young girl to the Deadly Nadder outside; she led the creature back inside to sit beside the warm, inviting fire before Astrid finally managed to pull herself together and closed the door behind her. She was a little surprised that her dragon had managed to fit through, even though Viking doors are quite large. Astrid made her way back to where Gothi was patting the very satisfied dragon and stared at her in wonder.

"How did you know..." she began.

Gothi took her hand, led her to the window, opened it slightly and pointed to her house up on the rock; Astrid understood.

"Oh... so you saw it all" she said as the window was closed again.

Gothi gave no reply but a smile and a knowing nod.

Astrid was taken back to the fire to warm herself while Gothi went off to a far corner and picked up a rather large satchel that she brought back and gave to the girl; looking inside Astrid could see some leather bandages, a stone bottle, a sheathed knife, a small water keg, and some bread and dried meat along with other sundries.

"Thank you, but Olvor sent me back to get something for Hiccup; he's lost his leg and it might go bad..."

Gothi held up her hand to silence the girl and then picked up the stone bottle out of the bag. She removed the stopper and sniffed at it before holding it up for Astrid to do the same.

"PPHHHEEWW" Astrid gasped; it did not smell bad, but sharp and strong and she felt as if her nose was about to shrivel up and drop off.

"That must be the stuff; I hope Hiccup doesn't have to drink it" but Gothi shook her head while replacing the cork and putting the bottle back into the bag.

Gothi was the kind of woman who had much experience with all the things that could make life a little more bearable, if the life in question was not going very well at the moment; in the spirit of this thought, she went back to the fire and wrapped a thick cloth around her hand enabling her to lift a black kettle out of the flames and pour some of its contents into a small cup. She replaced the kettle and took the cup over to Astrid.

"Thank you, and then I'd better get this bag back to Hiccu... back to Olvor as soon as I can."

Gothi's drinks of hot water mixed with herbs were well known and respected for helping with any ailment, or in any situation so Astrid knew as she drank, that the warm concoction would both aid her and thaw her out before she had to brave the storm once more. Astrid sat down on the rug next to the fire and rested her head on the chair on which the small sleeping dragon snored with a little chirrup noise; she placed the cup on the floor just as exhaustion took over and she nodded off to sleep.

Ten minutes later the chair moved a little as Astrid leant against it, causing her to awaken with a start.

"Oh no" she jumped up in a panic "how long was I asleep?"

Gothi smiled and tried to calm the highly strung girl who ran to the window to peer out through a crack in the shutters; she was very relieved to see it was still dark outside. Astrid walked quickly back to her dragon and found that Gothi had been very busy in the short time that she was asleep; a sheep skin had been fastened on to two points of the rope wrapped around the dragon's chest with the back tied down to its tail. Stoicks cape had been rolled up and was attached to the cords that held the woollen skin at the front, and Gothi was holding up a coat for Astrid made from tanned and oiled leather, with a large hood and gloves in the inner pockets.

"Thanks again" she said as she slipped into the coat knowing it wound keep out the rain and not absorb it as the cape had done.

Astrid rubbed her hand across the dragons back as she checked out all the ties on the ropes, and was pleased to find that everything was secure; the sheep skin would be more comfortable to sit on during the long flight back but she could not help but think about the impressive saddle that Hiccup had fitted to Toothless, with its stirrups and restraining hooks for stunt flying.

'I must make something similar as soon as I get the chance' she thought to herself 'especially before I have to make another storm flight.'

Astrid stopped mid thought as an idea began to form in her mind; she smiled to herself as she turned to Gothi.

"I'd better get going. Thanks for all your help... and Stormfly thanks you too."

Gothi opened the door as Astrid led the newly named dragon out into the dark bleak night. They made their way back to the centre of town where Astrid slipped on her gloves and climbed on to the sheep skin saddle.

"UP STORMFLY" she yelled, no longer caring if she was overheard as the dragon took to the sky once more.

January 2nd 2015 and the temperature here in Adelaide is 42 C (107 F) so as I sit here sweating, it isn't easy writing about warm cosy fires and hot drinks.

It's kind of like watching one of Elvis's Hawaii films when it's freezing outside.

Astrid looked deeply into Hiccups eyes "Why?" she sobbed.

"I'm sorry Astrid but I'm just not interested in marrying you."

"Is there... someone else?" she asked.

"No... not really; I just think I'd be happier if I got a cat or two and lived alone... so get out and take those stupid dragons with you."

MOON! Bad Kitty! Get away from that computer... NOW!