Enigma
Gobber must have hopped or rolled here because he was still trapped in the bola ropes. All the occupants of the Great Hall looked over at Gobber and burst out laughing; All except for me and Gobber.
"Someone get me out of this thing!" Gobber roared.
Immediately the person sitting closest to the entrance got up and used their knife to cut the ropes. I tried to hunker down in hopes that the sea of people would hide me. It didn't work as I heard the tap of Gobbers peg-leg getting louder and more frequent as he was moving determinedly towards me. I cringed closing my eye's and praying he had a good sense of humor. I felt the cold metal of Gobbers hook hand touch the back of my neck and then I was wrenched from my seat. He had secured the back scruff of my clothing and I was just dangling off of his hook hand in the middle of the Great Hall. I slowly opened my eyes to see a furious Gobber staring right at me.
"Um ... hi ... Gobber ... I know this might not mean that much to you right now but ... I would just like to tell you ... that I am very ... very ... sorry for leaving you there." I said as calmly as I could.
"What's there to be sorry about? I thought you couldn't free me 'cause you weren't acting on instinct?" Gobber said, almost bursting at the seams from suppressing his rage.
I couldn't say anything else. I was petrified and I felt I couldn't say anything that would help my situation. Suddenly, Gobber set me down and unsheathed his hook from the scruff of my shirt.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I was fully expecting him to carry me off to do some horrible punishment.
"WE still have some tests to do, FREYA." he said scoldingly, pulling out the blindfold again.
I just stood there and let him secure the blindfold, thinking that even making the slightest movement would send him over the edge. We started moving again only now I could determine something about my surroundings. We were being followed by the entirety of the Great Hall's former occupants. Once again I was left in one spot and Gobber left to set up the test. I could hear the roaring and talking of the crowd we had drawn.
Unlike before Gobber said to me "Ok take your blindfold off.". I tentatively took off the blindfold and observed my surroundings. I was standing in a stone arena with metal chains laid out like a spiders web over the top. All around the ring were vikings cheering for some reason. I looked behind me and saw a metal gate blocking my way to the exit ramp.
I suddenly heard Gobbers voice in the crowd talking to someone "Don't worry about the dragons Hiccup, she's only got a wea mace and a shield. This isn't anything different than your first day in dragon training.".
"I'm not worried about the dragons and yes this is plenty different Gobber. When we were in dragon training there were six of us against one dragon. On top of that we had all been around dragons for years. We don't even know if she had seen a dragon before yesterday." Hiccup argued.
"Yes and that is one of the questions your father charged me ..." he paused for a moment and gestured to himself "... to find out.". Without anymore words Gobber pulled a lever and the log that was securing a cage in the side of the arena was lifted. Soon after, the doors burst open and huge, two headed, green dragon burst out. The dragon walked into the arena, without seaming to care I was in it, and then the vikings started hitting the chains on top of the arena.
The dragon started flinching at the noise and then started to roar. I looked for somewhere to hide but the ring was empty apart from me, the dragon, and a mace and shield placed at my feet. I grabbed the weapons and the dragon whipped it heads around to look at me. I stood with my shield at the ready and my mace raised. I hoped that any minute my instincts would take over. One of the heads snapped at me and I just raised my shield. The snap was a warning and it just fell short of the shield. I swung the mace and hit the head in one of it's horns. It looked confused for a second and then head-butted into me. I fell back against the gate that cut off access to the ramp. I quickly got up before the dragon could make a second attack. I ran under the arch of one of their necks and the dragon quickly turned to face me. It's right head breathed some green gas out. The green gas fell harmlessly around me.
"I guess your not so ..." I started when a spark erupted from the left head. The gas immediately ignited and I was thrown back against the wall of the arena. I might have been knocked out for a second but I was really unsure. What I did know was that I was slumped over against the wall and the dragon was moving towards me.
I could hear the the twins in the crowd saying "Go Barf and Belch!". I got enough of my senses back to look up and the dragon was close to me now. It moved both it's heads close to me and started growling. I then remembered what Hiccup had shown me yesterday. I let go of my mace and shield and reached out touching the dragons snouts. The growls turned into a soft purr. I then noticed that the entire arena became silent. Continued petting the dragons heads and I scratched under it's chins. The dragon then purred louder than before and then stood me up on the wall. The gate soon opened to the ramp and Hiccup and Gobber came running down the ramp. Hiccup coaxed the Dragon back to its pen and Gobber stood before me and said "That was a horrible display on how to fight a dragon.".
I gave a single laugh and said, standing against the wall for support "I think you can cross off the dragon awareness part of your book.".
"Where did you learn to tame dragons?" he asked inquisitively.
"Hiccup showed me yesterday." I replied, feeling I was about to pass out right on that wall.
"Alright lets get going just one more test." Gobber said.
"Can I just have a minute?" I asked.
"No" Gobber replied "You already had your break when you tied me up and left for lunch."
"Are you still mad about that? That was a whole dragon fight ago." I replied with a smirk trying to get off the wall and stumbling around.
Gobber put his hand to his face and then asked "Hiccup, could you fly her over to my forge. She's not going to get there by walking.".
Hiccup nodded and called Toothless.
Gobber then called out again "Snotlout get that walking fireball of yours and give me a ride to my forge. I've got a job for you." I got on the back of the saddle rather clumsily and Hiccup directed Toothless out of arena. We took off and quickly landed at the blacksmiths with Gobber and Snotlout flying close behind. Once we got into the blacksmith's Hiccup sat me down on the whetstone chair.
"That was amazing" he said.
"Ya i'm sure its all good laughs to throw someone into an arena with a dragon and see if they get eaten." I sarcastically replied, still dizzy from the explosion.
"No I mean you actually tamed Barf and Belch in the ring. I mean they were already kind of trained but you earned their trusts while fighting them." he stated.
Before either of us could say anymore Gobber walked in with an evil smile on his face.
"You ready for your final test?" he asked.
"What no blindfold or anything? Aww are you taking it easy on me after you almost killed me for a third time?" I mocked.
"I just had and interesting conversation with that Snotlout." Gobber said evilly.
"I didn't know the words 'Snotlout' and 'Interesting conversation' could be used in the sentence" joked Hiccup.
"He informs me that you were very modest about your sword skills at lunch." he said. I snapped out of any dizziness I had left and looked at Gobber with wide eyes. "I just sent him to make sure the rest of the group knows my true opinion about your proficiency with the sword." Gobber finished.
"What is he going to say Gobber?" I said, my heart pounding.
"The truth of course. That you could go head to head with anyone on this Island and that you may even be the better of all the warriors on Berk." He answered with a sly grin. "Now it will take Astrid several minutes to get from the Dragon Academy too here when Snotlout tells her the news. If I were you I would want a shield when she gets here." he concluded.
"Then give me one!" I yelled desperately.
"Oh i'm sorry but i'm all out. I do have the components to make a new one but I don't have the energy to make one. You see, I seemed to have missed lunch at the Great Hall." he said smugly.
Hiccup started moving towards the exit and said "I'll try to slow her down." before departing on Toothless.
I started panicking. This was worse than fighting a dragon because I knew that Astrid would fight more fiercely.
"Where are they?" I asked Gobber referring to the shield pieces. He pointed to a corner of the blacksmiths and I scrambled over to find the pieces. I grabbed a metal rim, several wooden wedges for the face, some leather strips for binding, and the shield boss that went into the middle. I started fitting the wooden wedges around the rim when I started hearing a group approaching the main town. Already? I scrambled to finish placing the rest of the wedges in place and fitted the boss into the center. I could hear voices now.
"Astrid it was Gobber who said it. The only person you should be mad at is him." I heard Hiccup say trying to buy me time. I then heard him say "And you definitely shouldn't me mad at me for ...". I heard a thump and Astrid obviously hit him. I finished binding the shield. It was crude but it should hold up to Astrid, I hoped. I then left the blacksmith, not wanting to get trapped inside by Astrid. She spotted me as soon as I got outside.
"Hold up" she called out. I faced her with two hands on my shield. She had two axes in her hands and was wearing an, incredibly intimidating, frown on her face.
"Astrid why don't you just calm down. So what if I may be better than you with a sword." the other teens were waving me off from behind Astrid "You are definitely better than me with other weapons which make you the better warrior over all." I padded and it looked like it was about to work.
Then Gobber blurted out from inside the blacksmiths "Not necessarily. The sword offers many benefits in many different situations. Freya might be better than you in one of those situations.".
That pushed Astrid over the edge and she threw one of her axes at me. It pierced through my freshly made shield. I tried to wrench it out be for Astrid charged the distance between us and just got it out just to drop it when she hit my shield with her other axe. I blocked blow after blow with my shield. I was surprised that it was holding up so well.
Astrid lost her other axe in my shield and tried to wrench it out. I took this advantage to push her back and, with some space between us, I wrenched the axe out of my shield and threw it away from Astrid so she couldn't pick it up again. Unfortunately, I saw that she saw the first axe she threw at me was laying on the ground close to her.
"Astrid it's over, you have proved your stronger than me." I said very scared she would refuse.
"So you yield?" Astrid asked.
Before I could answer Gobber answered oppositely for me saying "Of course she doesn't, she is winning with just a shield.". I glared at Gobber but he threw me a blunted sword and threw a mace to Astrid. Astrid charged with the mace and swung it at me. I dodged as I would have been unable to block the force with my shield. I sunk down into my fighting stance and attacked with my sword. For a moment it seemed like I might win as Astrid was straining to keep track of my sword and dodging it. Then she shoved me and there was some distance between us again. I relaxed a little and then Gobber yelled out "Don't drop your shield!". What? Astrid saw this too and thought she saw an opening and charged. I brought back my shield and hit her with the rim before she could finish her charge. She stumbled backwards and looked like the wind was knocked out of her. Everyone watching as well as Astrid looked confused. Astrid charged again and knocked the sword out of my hand. I didn't have good footing so I couldn't back away without falling. It didn't matter. Astrid swung the mace at me again and I tried to block with my shield. I was knocked to the ground and then Astrid swung again. This time my shield broke apart. Astrid moved the mace above her head again and I just flinched, putting my hands above my face and closed my eye's. Nothing happened. I opened my eyes and Astrid was still posed to hit me.
She was looking down at me and she breathed out one word, "Yield?". I nodded timidly and she dropped the mace to the side and extended a hand to me. I just panted on the ground for a bit before I grabbed her hand and she pulled me to my feet. I was unsure if all the stunned expressions of the spectators were from the fact that I actually gave Astrid a worthy fight or that Astrid was actually chivalrous and accepted my yield.
Soon the people snapped out of their daze and started cheering Astrid's name. Even though I had lost and the cheering was for Astrid I was happy too. Gobber soon came out of the blacksmiths and walked up to me.
He said "I'll talk to Stoick about what skills ya got. Come find us in a few hours and we may have an answer of where your from.".
He started to walk away and I stopped him "Gobber! You almost killed me four times today. That being said, thanks. I am glad to know somethings about myself and I wouldn't have learned them if it wasn't for you.".
"Anytime, lass." he said with his expression softening.
He then walked away and I went to join the other teens. They were all congratulating Astrid and barely noticed me.
I heard Tuff say "Why did you stop we wanted to see some blood.".
In response Astrid knelt down and picked up a rock, tossed it to Ruff and then said "Ruff could you show him some blood?".
"With pleasure." Ruff responded with a giggle and then proceeded to chase her brother around with a rock.
Astrid walked a little and then stopped asking "Wait where is Hiccup?".
"Where you left him?" replied Snotlout as he pointed to Hiccup. Apparently the hit that Astrid had given him earlier had knocked him out and he was just now recovering, struggling to get up. Astrid ran over to him and helped him to his feet.
"Wha ... What happened." Hiccup said groggily as he tried to get his senses back.
"Astrid knocked you out and then had a duel with Freya and won, but then chickened outand didn't finish it." Snotlout said nonchalantly.
Astrid was about to leave Hiccup to hit Snotlout when I twisted Snotlout's arm and forced him to the ground.
"If you want an ending to a fight I could show you one right now." I said to Snotlout twisting his arm close to it's breaking point.
"No ... on second thought ... I think what Astrid did was ... pretty cool" Snotlout wheezed with his face in the dirt. I released his arm and Astrid gave me a small smile.
"What ... you stopped the fight?" he looked at Astrid with amazement. "That's amazing. Astrid i'm so proud of you." he finished.
"And you didn't see any of it?" Astrid asked. You could see the look on Hiccups face turn sour as he knew what was coming. Sure enough, Astrid hit Hiccup in the shoulder and stated "That's for missing the fight.". However, much to my surprise she then pulled him in close to her and gave him a long passionate kiss.
"And that?" Hiccup asked when their lips parted. She just shrugged off the question and then said "Pick any reason.".
After all of the excitement the group decided to head back to the dragon arena, or academy as they called it. I elected to stay out of the arena to rest, watching them work with their dragons. After a the sun had moved and touched the water I went to find Gobber and Stoick and I found them in the Great Hall. They hadn't noticed me yet and I started to hear some of the conversation.
"... I'm saying I've never seen anyone fight like that. Her style isn't even remotely close to anything I've ever seen." Gobber said. They both noticed me and then Stoick said "Ah yes. Come and sit down.".
I sat next to Stoick and asked "Could you rule out more tribes based on my skills?".
Stoick had an awkward look on his face but then answered "Yes. However, your inexperience with dragons posies a problem.".
"Why?" I asked.
"No one that we know of knows how to use weapons like you do and still has no experience with a dragon." said Gobber.
"So how many tribes did you narrow it down to?" I asked, not catching on to what they were implying.
They both paused and looked at each other, then Stoick said "None. You don't fit with what we know about any tribe.".
Authors Note: I would just like to yet any readers opinions, on a few things, at this point in the story. First off do you like it? Are their any scenes that you found were unfitting, awkward, badly written, were too long, too short, not enough action, or didn't accurately portray the characters? Secondly I originally conceived this story as a possible HTTYD video game. For example at the beginning the girl in the water would be character creation, then health would be explained when you fell off Gothi's porch, and now the tutorial part of the game would now be coming to an end with combat mechanics introduced in the fight with Astrid. My question to you is how much content do you guys want? Should I just include the main missions *Spoiler ahead* where you are accepted into the group of Berk teens and become a dragon rider. Or do you want me to pepper in what would have been the side missions, training and studying all the known types of dragons.