Greetings, friends! Welcome to the official longest chapter (by far) I have ever posted. I realized that a substantial amount of the story has not yet been told, so I'm going to try and up the ante with my word count per chapter. I doubt I'll be able to write 12,500 word chapters every week, but just know I'm doing my best here.
Reviews :)
QuiteARandomFan (Don't worry [though I doubt you really are], we have not seen the last of Kiva. Not yet.)
Harkonnen28
MoonbornWalker
Vvarden
thesnakecharmer18
The Lightning Phoenix
Spartan10007
Colinou (I have seen it, but I'm not going to say anything about it just yet. You'll see.)
Sousuke Tenki
Kelroe26 (I could never hate you :p)
and... anonymous Guest!
I think that's enough of formalities for now. I hereby give you all that I promised you last week, and more!
James followed Aeri into the Hall, stopping in his tracks at the sight of the enormous space before him. It was more or less a giant cavern, with stone walls adorned by colorful tapestries and immense carved pillars supporting the ceiling high above. Immediately his attention was drawn to perhaps the most alarming thing he had ever seen, a massive tusk hanging over the large oval fire pit in the center of the room. What in the gods' names did THAT come from?!
Eyes wide, he looked at Aeri, who was smiling broadly at him. "The recent history of Berk is pretty much the stuff of legends. You'll hear it all, multiple times, if you stay long enough. Come on, when's the last time you ate a real meal?"
They passed table after table, benches packed with people noisily eating and conversing. Everyone, Vikings and refugees alike, greeted Aeri, and she graciously responded to all of them. James supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Berk was her home, and the people of Heimme were rather indebted to her, and they hadn't even seen her fight the giant dragon at the nest like he had.
He almost winced. What kind of a person was I, standing idly by when I could have helped her? She might have died there!
No. No sense in feeling guilt over that. She had survived. And had he stepped in, he would have had to answer questions… but then the massacre of Heimme might have been prevented. Ugh. His thoughts had been a continuous maelstrom of guilt and what-if's since he had defected from Surmata's forces.
He snapped back to reality when Aeri handed him a plate, telling him to help himself. Before him were tables laden with food. The aromas were mouthwatering. Having survived with what fish and game he could catch and roast over a campfire for a while now, this was a feast. Trying not to seem too eager, he snagged some fresh bread and a meaty leg of something appetizing, filled a mug with ale, and trailed Aeri to a large table at the back of the room. Coming up alongside her, he saw that it was occupied on one side by the Chief, a blonde woman with a baby on her lap, two girls, a dark haired older woman, and at the end a young man. James figured this to be Aeri's family. On the opposite bench sat two young women, a brunette and a blonde. And across from Berk's Chief was none other than the stormy-eyed, black haired man who had aggressively stared him down upon his arrival.
James couldn't help feeling uneasy. Who was that guy? He was sitting at a table with the Chief's family, so he had to be important, but he didn't appear to be related to them. As all heads turned to take a look at him, he noted in the back of his mind that he and the two young women next to him had the same colored eyes. So they're a family. This time, the black-haired man's face lacked hostility, but his eyes betrayed his distrust of James. No one else seemed to share the sentiment, though, which was a relief.
"Dad, you've already met him, but to the rest of you: This is Winter. Winter, this is my family," Aeri gestured to the side packed with people. They smiled and murmured words of greeting. James noticed the young man at the end giving him an appraising look. It wasn't threatening, but for some reason he wanted to make a good impression.
"Hello. The pleasure is mine," he responded, inclining his head. Aeri shot him what seemed to be an appreciative glance, then continued the introductions.
"The women there are Maara and Vasara," she said, and the two women smiled at him. "And this is their brother, Haku, Chief of Heimme." The man gave him the barest hint of a nod, before picking up his plate and mug and leaving the table.
Oh. James fought the urge to gulp. The one person he had been hoping to avoid making too much contact with. And he already seemed to hold a grudge against him. Fantastic. Perhaps this young Chief would do the honor of killing him in a particularly brutal fashion once his true identity was revealed. No doubt it would be a deserved fate, but it wasn't especially appetizing to ponder.
"Nice to meet you, too," he said under his breath.
Aeri was sitting down next to Haku's sisters, and she patted the empty space next to her. "Come, sit." He did, waiting for her to begin eating before digging in to his own meal. For a few minutes he simply observed the dynamics of the group before him. He had never encountered a family the size of Aeri's before, and it had been a very long time since he had been in what could be deemed polite company. His own family, after his mother's death, had consisted solely of his father, who had been for the most part reserved and formal. His father had cared about him, but James reminded him of his late wife, whom he missed ardently. So he kept his distance, while teaching James his craft and providing for him.
Aeri's family was far from reserved. They interacted cheerfully and affectionately with each other. James could feel the deep love they had for one another, and without meaning to he took it in like a man dying of thirst on the bank of a flowing river.
He knew he was too far gone to ever have something like this, but damn it if he didn't long for it. Being alone with only a dragon for company wasn't horrible, though it wasn't really in his nature to be solitary. His isolation from other people was learned, stemming from broken trust and his occupation as a mercenary.
"So, Winter," Aeri's father said, pulling him from his thoughts. "Tell us about your dragon."
"Sahko? What would you like to know?"
The older woman with dark hair spoke up with a lilting voice. "Skrills aren't the friendliest dragons. We generally avoid them if it can be helped. As a result there's not a lot we know about them beyond the basics."
"You'll find that dragons are an inexhaustible source of conversation around here," Aeri told him with an unapologetic smile.
"Well, I can't say I'm particularly knowledgeable about dragons. Not even Skrills. Your daughter already asked me this earlier," James told the Chief. "But I'd be happy to share what I know about Sahko." He took a sip of his ale. "You probably are familiar with the lightning business, which came as quite a shock to me— no pun intended." Everyone chuckled. "As you pointed out, Skrills are not the friendliest of dragons. Sahko is probably the grumpiest individual— human or dragon— that I've ever met. He's stubborn and it often takes a fair bit of coaxing to get his help with anything. But he's also ferociously loyal. I used to think he'd take off without a second thought if something happened to me, but now I'm not so sure. He does things purely for my own good sometimes, even if it shouldn't make a difference for him. It's touching, really, when a dragon as ill-tempered as he is comes to your rescue unbidden. He's very intelligent, even though he looks bored all the time."
"Strike class dragons generally display higher levels of intelligence than their counterparts," the young man at the end of the table spoke up.
"Strike class?" James had never heard the term.
"We've categorized the dragons we know of based on their particular traits," the Chief explained. "For example, your Sahko is a Strike class dragon, because of his lightning. Night Furies— like Shade— are also Strike class dragons."
The young man continued. "I don't know how familiar you are with other dragons, but there are also Stoker class, Boulder class—"
"Oh! I know these!" One of Haku's sisters, the brunette, said excitedly. James noted with slight interest that the young man gave her a look of affection before encouraging her to continue. "Tracker class, Tidal class, Sharp class, Fear class, Mystery class!"
"You got it," he smiled at her, before turning back to James. "I can tell you have no idea what any of those might mean."
"No, I think I can grasp their meanings, but I couldn't give you any examples. Sahko is the only dragon I've ever spent any time with, up close. I have gotten the impression that other dragons aren't particularly fond of Skrills, though."
"You're right," the Chief said. "My first encounter with a Skrill was quite explosive, wouldn't you say, Astrid?" he turned towards his wife, who grinned at him.
"Quite."
"Turns out when a lightning bolt hits a plasma blast, there's something of a reaction," he said to James. "Knocked us out of the sky."
"Plasma blast? That would be Shade's fire?"
"Correct. It's pretty powerful on its own, but I've never seen something go boom quite so spectacularly as when Toothless and I were fighting that Skrill," the Chief smiled to himself, seemingly envisioning the event in his mind.
"You almost died, if I recall correctly," his wife pointed out, poking his arm, but he just laughed.
"That's the fun part."
"Great example for the kids, dear," Astrid rolled her eyes. "So, Winter. Where are you from? I'm assuming there aren't many dragons, if any at all. How did you meet Sahko?"
Everyone at the table was turned towards him eagerly, even Aeri, who knew the story. "Well, I can't say it's a happy tale," he cautioned them, but the older woman just nodded.
"Few are," she said sagely. "It's up to us to see the silver linings."
"True. Where to begin… Once upon a time, far, far away, I was the blacksmith's son in a village on a large island. We were occasionally raided by dragons, that's actually how I lost my mother. But I would argue that dragons weren't the worst beings I was destined to encounter. To be brief, I was accused of a crime I did not commit, and was banished to live out the rest of my days in the wilderness. I was not yet twenty years old. I spent a while, could have been weeks or months, wandering alone, hunting and gathering, and practicing with my sword. I had a small camp consisting of what I managed to carry on my back with me from my old home, and the birds and other small creatures became accustomed to my presence there.
"One day, I was hunting a deer. My only weapons were my sword and a handful of throwing knives, so I had to keep silent in order to get close enough to strike. I was almost upon it when an ungodly shriek echoed through the woods, startling the creature. I actually threw my sword after it," he chuckled. "But it did not hit its mark. At the time, I was furious, but looking back now, I'd say if I hadn't been so angry, I never would have gone after the source of that sound. I followed a trail of broken branches and bloodstains until I came upon a clearing, walled on one side by a cliff. It appeared empty, but the stains and scrapes in the dirt said otherwise…"
He described his first encounter with the mysterious, wounded dragon. His decision to help it, rather than kill it, for reasons he didn't quite understand. The appearance of the thugs. He did his best to skim over the ensuing fight, as there was a young girl and a toddler present, and the details were rather gruesome. "When I awoke, I found that the dragon had actually carried me and some of my supplies to another small island offshore. That was when I realized that for better or worse, we had become a team of sorts. And since then, we've stuck together through thick and thin. It didn't take long for him to become an absolute in my life, someone I can't imagine living without. And I like to think he feels the same."
Everyone at the table was smiling with knowing looks in their eyes, except for the toddler, who was busy gnawing on a piece of bread. It took him a moment, but then James realized that they really did know what he was talking about. Even the youngest girl at the table had likely known her own dragon longer than he had known Sahko. Of course they understood. A warm feeling blossomed in his chest. Normally he didn't care one way or another about people, but these were people that he had something in common with, right from the start. And it was an important something.
He made eye contact with the Chief, who seemed especially pleased. "I take it that everyone shares that sentiment?"
"Oh, without a doubt," the older man said cheerfully. "My hard work has paid off."
James must have looked confused, because Aeri's mother laughed. "'Hard work' is putting it lightly. I'm sure you'll hear all about it, Winter. We're all very proud of our little Hiccup, and he's at the center of some of our favorite stories."
"Hey!" the Chief exclaimed. "I'm not a big man, but I haven't been "little" for some time, thank you very much!"
The blonde woman just smiled, patting his shoulder. "Of course, you're right, I'm sorry. You're the strongest, toughest Viking I know." She leaned over and pecked his cheek.
The Chief was rolling his eyes. "You see what being Chief gets you?" he asked James. "You'd think people would show at least a little respect, but my own wife treats me like I'm just another one of her wayward children." His complaint was less poignant than it could have been, as he was smiling as he said it.
"We're not wayward!" the youngest girl said indignantly.
"Speak for yourself," the young man at the end spoke up, pointedly looking at Aeri and snickering when she scowled at him.
"I'll have you know that I don't actually think of you as a child," his wife said airily. "In fact…" Her gaze went from condescending to vaguely predatory as she whispered something in her husband's ear.
The Chief's eyes widened slightly, then he abruptly stood up. "I think I'm about ready to call it a night. You all are welcome to stay here and socialize. In fact, that would be ideal." He stepped over the bench, grabbed his plate and mug, and without hesitation grabbed his wife's as well. As he walked away with what could only be described as a spring in his step, he called over his shoulder, "Nice talking to you, Winter. I'm sure we will meet again."
James was utterly confused, until he looked at the blonde woman across from him. Her smirk was positively diabolical.
"Alyka, Wren, watch Kai for me," she said lightly, passing the baby over to her daughters. "Have a good night, Winter."
"Thank you?"
But she was already gone.
"Ugh." James looked over to see the young man at the end making a disgusted face. "That never ceases to disturb me."
The older woman burst out laughing. "You're a direct product of 'that', as you know."
"I don't care. It's the worst."
"Oh, come on," she cajoled. "It could be so much worse."
"I don't even want to know how that's possible."
She had a mischievous gleam in her eye. "I'll tell you two things you should be grateful for."
"I don't want to know."
"Besides your lovely siblings, and your own charmed life." Said siblings lifted their hands simultaneously and covered their ears.
"I said I don't want to know."
"Insulated walls… and new furniture that doesn't squeak."
"GRANDMA!" He sounded positively scandalized as he stared at her in horror. James couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. Beside him, he heard Aeri giggle, and across from them, her grandmother was grinning wickedly. On Aeri's opposite side, Haku's sisters were chuckling.
"Erik, consider yourself lucky that you have parents that love each other as much as they do. Not everyone is so fortunate."
"Thanks for the reminder. Well, I have been sufficiently nauseated for one evening," he said as he got to his feet. "Now I get to go occupy myself for an unspecified amount of time before it is safe to return to the house. I bid you all farewell." Waving one hand, he strode off, muttering under his breath.
"I'm going to head back," the blonde woman next to Aeri said. "Maara, I'm sure you have somewhere to be, so I'll wish you goodnight along with the rest. Until tomorrow, everyone."
She departed, and immediately Haku's other sister stood up. She appeared to be blushing, but it could have been the light. "I'm off, too. See you!"
Aeri's grandmother smiled knowingly, before turning to the children beside her. "Alright, you three can come with me 'until it's safe'," she laughed. "Let me take Kai." Scooping up the sleepy toddler, she waited for her granddaughters to follow her. "Aeri, I'll be up for a while, so I'll see you then."
"Grandma, is it alright if Winter stays with us tonight?" she asked.
"I don't want to be any trouble—" James said, but both women cut him off.
"It's no trouble. Of course you can stay with us, Winter. Your dragon is welcome as well, there's plenty of space." With that, she left, trailed by Aeri's sisters.
Leaving James alone with Aeri. He looked around, and realized that the Hall was largely empty. A few women, and surprisingly enough, a few men as well, were bustling around, cleaning up leftover dishes and spills. Some people were still at the tables, drinking alone or conversing quietly with others.
"Shall we?" she asked, and he nodded. On impulse, he took both of their dishes before she could pick hers up.
"Hey, I can carry my own dish."
"I know," he smiled. "Where do I put them?"
Rolling her eyes, she directed him to a trough against the wall, where other dirty dishes were haphazardly piled. Once deposited, they slowly made their way to the doors. The sudden gust of cold night air was a shock after being in the cozy Hall for so long, and he couldn't help but grin.
"What?" Aeri asked him, seeing his expression as they stood in the doorway.
"Nothing. I mean, I just can't remember the last time I was actually inside somewhere that wasn't a ship. Or the last time I had a meal that I didn't make myself. It's so strange and amazing."
She laughed softly. "I actually know what you're talking about. Before I ended up on Heimme, Shade and I were on our own for two years. And once we were there, the only time I spent indoors was either recovering from injuries or when I was accepted enough to eat with them in their Hall."
James realized he knew almost nothing about Aeri. He felt close to her, but the reality was, he didn't know her at all. And he wanted to change that.
"If you don't mind me asking, why were you on your own for so long?"
For a moment, she didn't answer, and he worried he might have crossed a line. But then she gestured for him to follow her outside. He was pleasantly surprised to see their dragons lounging at the bottom of the stairs, apparently waiting for them.
Sahko grumbled at him, actually getting up after Shade and approaching James to greet him. In an extremely uncharacteristic show of affection, he bumped his head against James's chest and waited for him to rub him under his chin.
"What's gotten into you, huh?" James asked curiously. Sahko just grumbled again and stepped away, his usual expression of boredom firmly in place.
Aeri was rubbing behind Shade's ear, and the black dragon was making a deep rumbling noise that James had never heard before.
"We were on our own because we were convinced that being independent and free was more important than anything else. That's my grandmother's house there," she pointed to it. "But let's walk for a bit before we call it a night." Giving Shade one final pat on the neck, she started down the path, waiting for James to catch up. Their dragons followed behind them, watching over them protectively.
"I can't speak for Shade, but I was seventeen and quite frankly, stupid. I didn't want to be Chief. I didn't want to run the village. I just wanted to train and fly and smith when it was convenient for me."
"Smith? You mean, like a blacksmith?" James couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah. I've been working with Gobber for as long as I can remember. He's technically the blacksmith, but he's older now, so he leaves the bigger projects up to other people. My dad was his apprentice when he was a kid, and is responsible for a lot of the more complicated creations you'll see around here. I learned everything I know from them."
"That's incredible!" he exclaimed, and she shot him a curious glance. "Sorry, got excited. I'm a smith as well."
"I remember you mentioning that at dinner. Your dad taught you?"
"The basics. I didn't learn anything especially interesting until I ended up on Merirosvo. Working for the smith there really honed my skills into what they are now. It's been a while since I picked up a hammer, though. I miss it."
"You can come with me to work tomorrow, then. There's always work to be done, and while Vasara comes around sometimes to help, I'm usually on my own with Gobber."
"I can't tell you how much I'd love to do that. And, Vasara?"
"Haku's sister. The blonde one. She was the smith on Heimme before… well, that's her trade. In all honesty, she wasn't the most technically skilled with finer details when I met her, mostly because she never needed to be. But she wanted to learn, so I've been doing my best to show her how to work with lighter materials like leather."
"You do a lot of leather work?"
"I guess you've never actually seen my armor. You saw my dad's at dinner, though. Mine is very similar, I made it myself while Shade and I were out in the world. I also have a helmet that I'm quite proud of. Erik wanted a set, so he helped me the best he could to make him some not long ago."
"That's great. I'm not a huge fan of bulky armor either, I prefer lighter alternatives. With help from Sven back on Merirosvo and a sizable chunk of mysterious metal, I actually made the armor I'm wearing now."
She turned to peer at his outfit as they passed through a ring of torchlight. The flames reflected in flickering points on the shiny plates that protected his chest and forearms. The rest was a combination of black cloth and leather. "I would almost say that looks decorative, but we have a metal that we use here that's deceptively shiny and light as well. It's actually the strongest material we have for our weapons, and since we discovered the formula for it, we use it for pretty much everything else, too."
"Maybe it's the same stuff. My sword is plated in it, and thus far it has stood the test of battle and time astoundingly well."
"It would just be a matter of how you got ahold of so much of it, really. As far as I know, we're the only ones who know the secret of it, and we're pretty particular about who we share it with. It wouldn't do to unwittingly equip potential enemies."
James hesitated, before saying, "I hope I'm not counted among that number."
Aeri shot him a sideways glance. "Why would you be?"
"Oh, I don't know. Just a thought."
"As far as I'm concerned, you're almost the furthest thing from an enemy I can imagine." She said it casually, but immediately warmth suffused his chest.
"That's very kind of you to say."
"I'm just saying, Winter. We may be virtual strangers, but I get the feeling that I can trust you."
The warmth vanished, replaced by his usual guilty conscience. "Well, I… I trust you, too." He paused a moment. "You know, we don't have to be strangers."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Getting to know one another, perhaps?"
"Okay. But I have a suspicion that means you getting to know me." Another sideways glance.
James laughed softly. "For now, yes. Is that okay with you?"
She huffed out a breath. "Fine. What would you like to know?"
"Well, you were telling me earlier why you were on your own for so long."
"Ah. Yes. Revealing that I am irresponsible and foolish. That I rejected my birthright. Shade and I ran away, with the intention of never returning. And we might not have, if not for the events that took place on Heimme."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not. Well, I'm very sorry about the things that happened. But I'm not sorry I had to come home. I never felt right out in the world, though I never would have acknowledged that it might be because I wasn't here. I don't think we would have stayed on Heimme forever. We would have moved on eventually, at least, that was where my mind had begun to go. It was a home, but not the home for us. Berk is where we truly belong."
"I can see that. Just by the way you act with your family, and the rest of the people here."
"It was awkward at first, but eventually everything settled down, and it feels a whole lot better than it did when I left. It's different, somehow."
"Maybe you're different."
"You might be right. Near death experiences tend to change a person."
"That they do."
For a moment they walked in silence, then Aeri stopped. They were in a wide plaza of sorts, ringed by torches. She looked up, so James followed suit, and his jaw nearly dropped. The night sky was absolutely dazzling. He didn't think he had ever seen so many stars. A feeling of complete awe crept over him.
"I never spent much time stargazing," he said quietly. "But this is so… I don't know. Magnificent is not the word. Lovely doesn't really describe it properly. It's just… It makes me feel so small. So insignificant. And the longer I stand here, taking it in, the more questions I have about my own existence. What am I, compared to a star? To the moon? Life is so fleeting, and everything that seems so immediate and important is, in reality, the complete opposite. The things and people we care about just vanish. Seeing the vastness of the sky makes me feel so incredibly alone."
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and glanced down to see Aeri standing very close to him, her imperceptible gaze trained on his face. They just looked at each other for a moment, then she tilted her head back to take in the sky once more.
"I used to feel that way," her voice was soft. "And then I realized that even if I was the last person on earth, so long as the moon and stars kept shining, I would never be truly alone. Because when I see them, I am reminded of how precious it all is. Like you said, life is fleeting. But that makes it all the more valuable. What brief time we have in this world is defined by how we appreciate what fills it. The known and the unknown. It's good to be reminded that we are small, that the stars were there before us, and that they will be there long after we are gone. That awe is eternal. That splendor will never fade."
High above, there was a sudden streak of light that faded into nothing just as quickly as it had appeared, yet another incarnation of the bright specks that dusted the heavens. She was right. James had been lonely for a long time, and he had been prepared to be lonely even longer. But no matter who came and went in his life, the stars would always be there. They would always be beautiful. A peace settled over him, filling in the gaps and voids that marred his spirit.
Reaching up, he placed his hand on top of hers where it rested on his shoulder. And in silence they stayed, contemplating what was and what would be and what would remain when they were gone.
Shade lounged on the cliff's edge, gazing out into the distance. The sun had not yet appeared over the horizon, but the world was not dark. Mist hung low on the water, and the bright colors of the village were muted. All was silent except for the sound of far-off waves.
They had watched the stars until late last night, then they all returned to Valka's house. Aeri had given Winter her bed, so she slept downstairs with the dragons. But Shade had not been able to sleep. His conversation with Sahko had left him on edge, frustrated and worried. The pirate queen was still out there. Which meant Aeri's life, and the lives of everyone on Berk, were in danger.
I should have killed that witch when I had the chance. Then they wouldn't be facing this issue. And the worst part was, he couldn't even talk to Aeri about any of it. He could only hope that Winter- James, whatever his name was- would tell her soon, so that they could figure out a plan of action.
And then what? Would they fly off to hunt her down and stop her before she could even get close to Berk? Winter was on its way. The likelihood of them finding her before then was highly unlikely. Add that challenge to the fact that there was no way anyone here was going to allow them to leave again for any amount of time so soon after their return. Not a chance.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his thoughts. Aeri would be safe here. Berk would be safe. There was plenty of time to figure out what they were going to do about Surmata.
The wind shifted for a moment, just long enough for him to pick up a very familiar scent. He berated himself for not sensing the presence sooner, but there was nothing to be done about it.
"How long have you been standing there?" he asked, not bothering to look behind him.
"Not long." Her soft voice was soothing to his troubled mind.
"If I recall correctly, you aren't much of an early riser."
"Funny, I recall the same thing about you."
"Yet here we are. Don't just stand there, I have reason to believe the grass over here is much softer."
He smiled slightly when he heard her almost inaudible snort. But she came, smoothly dropping to the ground beside him. She was close enough that if he wanted to, he could reach over and touch her face with his own. But of course, he wouldn't do that.
"What's on your mind, Ash?" he asked her, his deep, quiet voice a balm to her senses. She loved hearing him say her name, for some reason.
"Nothing in particular." It was a lie. He had been on her mind for days now. "I just felt like taking a pre-dawn stroll to the cliff. Imagine my surprise when I found you here, apparently thinking loudly enough to conceal the sound of my approach."
She saw the corner of his mouth twitch upwards. "Yes, there's a lot on my mind."
"Feel like sharing?" Her feelings for him made her curious, but it was the hope that perhaps he shared some of those feelings that made her bold enough to ask. Not that she expected a declaration from him at the moment.
"I don't even know where I'd begin."
He sounded troubled, and Ash felt concern overtake her pleasure at simply being with him. "What's the matter, Shade?"
Hearing her say his name distracted him momentarily. They hadn't really spoken at all since that day in the cove, when he had behaved so stupidly. But she didn't seem to be holding it against him. At all. He wasn't sure what to think of that, but he wasn't about to bring it up. She was watching him with concern in her eyes, and he realized that he actually wanted to tell her what was bothering him. He wanted to know what she thought of the situation. "You know the Skrill that showed up yesterday? With his human?"
"I heard about it, but I haven't seen him yet."
"Did you hear anything about what they were doing here?"
"Not really, other than that you knew them."
"Well, according to Sahko- that's his name- they came for a number of reasons. I spoke to him at length last night. But there's a host of issues at hand. When Aeri and I first encountered them, we were prisoners on a pirate ship. They were also there, similarly imprisoned. Thanks to them, we were able to escape. But we had no indication that they were working together. We don't know why they were on that ship in the first place. Aeri and I watched James- the human- die, or so we thought. She's been grieving his death, carrying the burden of guilt around since he saved her life. Then they show up here, out of the blue. They have been very vague on the details of where they are from and who they really are. But that's not what's bothering me the most."
"What's bothering you the most?"
"Do you know the story behind the pirates? And their attack on Heimme?"
She shook her head.
"It actually began over a year before Heimme was destroyed. Aeri and I ran into a group of pirates, who attacked us. We barely escaped, but she was wounded. Heimme was the first place I found to land. Fast forward a year. Somehow, the pirates found us. They ambushed us when we were alone, away from the village, and took us to a ship. That's where we met James and Sahko. It was about half a day before we were able to make our escape. Meanwhile, the pirates' main forces had arrived on Heimme and launched a full assault. They were led by their captain, a woman named Surmata. She was the one who wounded Aeri when we first encountered them. She's twisted and cruel, and she destroyed the village and slaughtered two thirds of its people. If Aeri and I hadn't escaped, they would all be dead. But we made it back in time to lead the dragons to retaliate. We destroyed her fleet and killed her men. Then we attacked her ship, which was sailing away. A violent storm had picked up, and the wind was carrying them quickly out to sea. I had her, Ash. I was going to kill that woman. But Aeri stopped me. They were already beaten, she told me. I think she didn't want another human life on my conscience. Foolishly, I listened to her, and we let them go.
"Though it escapes me how, James and Sahko found that out. They came here to warn us that Surmata would be seeking revenge. That she would be back, but this time she wouldn't be attacking with an army. Sahko told me she's not just a pirate, but that she captures dragons for profit. She wanted me badly enough to spend all that time and trouble looking for me, and she won't give up the hunt as long as she is alive. So I've been up all night, torturing myself with thoughts of what might happen if she finds us here. I can't even bring myself to imagine what might happen if she stumbles upon the colony. I'm angry at myself for not killing her when I had the chance. I don't know what to do, or how to even prepare for what she might be planning. You could all be in terrible danger at any moment, and I have no way of knowing when that might be, or how it will come about."
He sighed heavily, looking at the ground between his paws. "It's my fault."
"No, Shade. You can't blame yourself for this." Her voice was firm, and he met her gaze with some surprise.
"How could I not? If I had just acted—"
"You can't change the past. You aren't at fault because you thought you had done enough. Maybe if it was a different human it would have been. How could you know that she would be so crazy?"
"That's what Sahko said."
"He's right. Don't keep torturing yourself about this. We won't just sit here and wait for something bad to happen. We can talk to your father—"
Shade eyed her. "We?"
Ash felt her face heat. "Or not we, you could do it—"
He stopped her. "No, we is better."
She couldn't help her smile. "Then we it is. We'll talk to your father. I'm sure he'll have some ideas on how to prepare. And have faith in the humans. I'm sure that when Aeri finds out, she will take action. No matter how this Surmata person strikes, we will be strong enough and ready to fight back."
Her words eased his mind. "Thank you, Ash," he said sincerely, and her pleased smile grew.
"Of course. You're not alone, Shade. Ever. At the very least, you have the dubious reassurance that I'm on your side."
"That's not dubious at all. I find that knowledge very reassuring."
Ash laughed. "Even so, it's not just me. All of Berk will rally around you, you need only ask."
"That makes me feel a lot better about this. Yeah, we can talk to my dad later. You're right. I shouldn't be so worried."
"Worrying will only make your scales turn grey."
"Have you ever actually seen a grey Night Fury?"
"Yes, actually, but I don't think it was because of worry."
"What does it, then?" he asked, and her smile faded somewhat.
"Extreme stress and malnourishment."
"How would you—" Oh. That's right. Ash had gone through hell before he was even born. "I'm sorry. That was a stupid question."
"No, it's alright. I can hardly remember the worst of it, to be honest. All this time being happy and safe on Berk makes it seem like a bad dream."
Neither of them spoke for a moment, feeling slightly awkward. Finally Ash smiled, breaking the tension. "Anyways. What should we talk about now?"
"I think now is a good time for Random Questions."
He saw the surprise in her eyes. Random Questions was a game they had played when they were younger to help allay boredom.
"I almost forgot about Random Questions," she said softly.
"Almost forgot? How could you almost forget that?" he blustered, making her giggle.
"Okay, okay. Um… who's first?"
"You go first."
"No, you go first," she grinned. She always made him go first, but they went through the ritual of pretending that it might be different every time.
"Fine," he sighed exasperatedly, as if extremely put upon. "If you could have the abilities of any other dragon, which would you choose?"
"That's a good one. Hmm… can I choose Bewilderbeast?"
"That's the obvious answer, but I suppose I could let you pick it this time…"
"No, fine, let me think… Oh! I'd be a Razorwhip. I kind of like the idea of being completely deadly in every way."
"Poisonous tears and all, huh?"
"Especially the poisonous tears."
"Very good choice. Hmm… I think I'd be a Changewing. I'd like to be able to blend in perfectly with a surrounding other than the night sky."
"What about the acid?"
"I mean, it's a little gross but extremely effective. Though I would do my best to not drool constantly like most Changewings do."
"It's downright unsanitary."
"Agreed. Okay, your turn."
"Hmm… Okay, got one. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?"
"Is this a serious question, or a let's-keep-it-lighthearted question?"
"Let's do both. Two things."
"Okay, but we're taking turns."
"Fine."
Shade thought for a moment. "I'll go serious first. I think if I could, I'd change my stubbornness. It can be a problem when I have to learn things the hard way. What about you?"
"I think I'd change my tendency towards willful ignorance. Much like your stubbornness, I have to learn things the hard way a lot of the time, because I purposely don't think about how things might turn out when I say or do something." He just nodded, not like he was putting her down by agreeing with her, but like he understood where she was coming from. That was one of the reasons she had always loved playing this game. They would end up talking about anything and everything, and it would be completely comfortable.
"Alright, now let's-keep-it-lighthearted." Ash watched him ponder until a lazy smirk settled on his face. "Am I allowed to say that I would change my size?
She was confused. "Like, you'd want to be even bigger?"
"No, smaller. I mean, I love being big and strong, but sometimes it's kind of boring being so intimidating, you know?"
He had barely finished when her tail whipped up and smacked him on the head.
"You are so full of yourself!" Ash managed to look outraged for about two seconds before they both dissolved into laughter. "F-fine," she wheezed after a minute. "I'd change my size, too. I'd be bigger than you so I could beat you up for being so obnoxious."
"If I were you, I might change something else."
She raised a brow. "Oh really? And what might that be?"
"A weakness that wouldn't change just because you were bigger."
"Are you saying I have a weakness?"
"I know you have a weakness." The smirk was back.
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Prove it."
Immediately she began to regret it, because he grinned evilly. "It would be my pleasure."
His tail rose and trailed along her back, making her shiver. "What are you—" Suddenly he ran it across her ribs and she jerked in surprise. "Oh no," she squeaked before jumping up to her feet to run.
"Oh yes," he declared, leaping over to pin her to the ground before she could make it two steps. She squirmed beneath him, clawing the ground to stay upright, but he easily flipped her onto her back and began to tickle her in earnest.
"Sh-shade! St-stop it!" she shrieked, and he actually paused, peering down at her.
"You need to be quiet, or you're going to wake the whole village," he said casually.
"I will not be quiet! You're tickling me, you savage beast!"
"Savage, am I? And how would a civilized dragon behave? No tickling whatsoever? That's the most boring thing I've ever heard!"
"I'll make you a deal. You stop tickling me, and I won't maul you when I'm bigger than you."
Shade couldn't help it. He cracked up. Unable to stay standing, he fell to the side, shaking with laughter. "I can't even—" He couldn't form a sentence.
Ash rolled upright, scowling at him. "You think it's funny, do you?" She poked him in the ribs.
"Hi-hilarious."
"I'll show you! I'll grow just to spite you, you jerk!"
One of his eyes opened to stare at her incredulously. "Am I missing something? Because for some reason, I have the strangest feeling that you aren't actually going to get any bigger, Tiny."
"Tiny?!"
"You heard me. I mean, look at you," he rolled onto his stomach, both eyes open. "You're basically an oversized Terror."
Ash was apoplectic. "Take. That. Back."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll… I'll… Cover you in eels!"
He scoffed at her. "You'd never go within ten feet of one, let alone enough to bury me in."
Ash thought for a moment, then it was her turn to grin nastily. She wasn't sure how he would react to the threat, but she had her hopes. "How about I tell a certain someone that you're secretly pining for her?"
The smirk was wiped from his face, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "You wouldn't dare."
Yes. Her suspicion had been right on the mark. "Wouldn't I?"
He actually growled his frustration before looking skyward. "Someone save me from females," he said under his breath. "Fine. No more tickling… unless you really deserve it. Which, right now, you do."
"But you won't," she said sweetly. "Not unless you want Kiva to literally throw herself at you."
"Do you actually think that's funny?"
"You know what? Yes. Yes I do."
He scowled at her. "You're easily the most evil, despicable dragon I have ever encountered."
"And proud of it," she grinned.
Shade glared for another moment before finally laughing. "And thus ends another memorable round of Random Questions."
It was dark.
Groggily, James wondered where he was. He was ridiculously comfortable and warm. With each breath, he inhaled a faint-but-unmistakable scent. After a moment, he experimentally flexed various parts of his body, and found himself surrounded by softness.
Finally, his curiosity got the better of him. He was sprawled out on his stomach, so he slowly drew his arms beneath him and propped himself up on his elbows. Immediately upon lifting his head, he was able to open his eyes, and for a few seconds, he stared at the indent in the pillow where his face had just been buried. Looking up, he saw a wooden headboard, and above that a slanted ceiling with a large shuttered window in it. Tiny points of light could be seen along the woodwork, where the sun slipped through cracks in the structure.
He took a deep breath, and noticed the scent again. It was vaguely sweet, but clean… Then he frowned. Wasn't that… Aeri? It took him a second. Oh. Duh. He was in her bed. Of course it smelled like her.
Fleeting glimpses of auburn and green had randomly appeared in his dreams. He supposed her scent had something to do with that. With a groan he flipped onto his back, twisting the blankets around his legs. When was the last time I slept in a real bed? He couldn't even remember. It was going to be miserable sleeping on the ground outside again after this.
He heard a door open and shut downstairs. The door to Aeri's room was closed, but a few moments later he could make out a low voice, though he couldn't tell what it was saying. What time was it? After a minute of deliberation, he sat up, running a hand through his short hair. His tunic and armor were neatly stacked on the desk against the wall, which had a number of yellowed sketches pinned to it. He hadn't noticed those the night before.
They'd watched the stars for a while, until James began to yawn, and Aeri suggested they head back. Her grandmother, true to her word, was still up, reading a book by the fire. Her house was an interesting structure. It was split into two spaces, which appeared to have been built at different times. There were two separate doors, one normal-sized, and one much, much larger. Once they were inside, he understood the design. A sizable dragon was curled up in the back of what James figured was the 'dragon' side of the house. The other half consisted of a normal living space, with various pieces of furniture and a cozy fire pit. There was a door to a room in the back, and stairs led to another room above.
Valka, as James learned her name was, greeted them cheerfully. Her dragon, Cloudjumper, watched them owlishly, seemingly unperturbed by Sahko's arrival. It was quite astonishing for James to make the connection between their mild behavior in the house to their fearsome appearance when he had first arrived. He couldn't believe Aeri's grandmother was the masked rider from earlier. But it probably shouldn't have surprised him, after all, Aeri had to have inherited her fearlessness from someone. Though he suspected that Valka was not the only 'fearless' member of their family.
Shade immediately went to a pile of straw and blankets and curled up on it, though he didn't close his eyes. With some encouragement, Sahko was convinced that it was safe to enter the house, and soon the Skrill was fast asleep on the floor near Shade.
After a few minutes of quiet conversation, Valka bid them goodnight, and Aeri led James upstairs.
"You can have my bed," she said, setting a lit candle on the bedside table.
"Where will you sleep?"
"Downstairs, with the dragons."
"No, I can do that. You don't have to give up your bed for me."
"I insist. Don't worry, I'll be fine." She walked over to a trunk and opened it, pulling out some blankets for herself.
"It would be ungentlemanly of me to make you sleep on the floor," he tried again.
"It would be ungentlemanly of you to refuse my request," she grinned. "Please, Winter. I bet you could use a good night's sleep. It's not a big deal." Pausing in the doorway, she turned back and wished him sweet dreams, before softly closing the door behind her.
James wondered how long he had slept for. She had been right, he'd needed the rest. Hopefully it wasn't afternoon. He wanted to go to the forge with her, and if he'd slept in late, she'd likely already be gone.
Extricating himself from the blankets, he stood and went to the desk, quickly dressing and strapping on his sword. His attention was caught by the wide shelves next to the desk. Resting on one was a chest plate, gauntlets, and a helmet, all apparently made of leather. He assumed this was the armor Aeri had mentioned. Hesitantly, he ran his fingers over the buckles and stitching on the body armor. It was very finely crafted, sturdy yet light. Picking up one of the gauntlets, he noticed that one side was inlaid with what appeared to be black scales. Probably Shade's, he mused. Perhaps their presence served a purpose similar to the metal plating on his own. He didn't doubt that the dragon scales could deflect a strike from a weapon, if need be. Very resourceful.
Finally, he lifted the helmet up with both hands and marveled. Once on, it would conceal her whole head, including her face. The only openings were narrow slits to see through, and thin vertical lines where her mouth would be, presumably so that she could breathe. Exquisite metal wings flared from the temples, and a ridge reminiscent of Shade's spine traveled down the center of the top and back of it.
She made this? What a gift she had. He had already been impressed by her, but this took it to a completely different level. Gently, he set the helmet back on the shelf, then looked around for more clues to who she was.
Along the wall across from the bed was a new-looking weapons rack, loaded with excellent specimens of all sorts of implement. There was a lethal looking battle axe, a few swords of varying length, a long bow with a quiver of arrows, even a spiked mace. He wondered if she kept these for decoration or if she actually knew how to use them. All seemed to be made with a bright metal that gleamed in the dim light of the room.
Leaning against the rack was a long spear, and intrigued, James took it in his hands, slowly turning it over. The dense wood of the shaft was smooth and dark. The tip was razor sharp, made of the same shiny metal as the other weapons, and firmly attached to the shaft with a length of dark leather coated with some kind of sealant. Two white feathers hung from the bindings. All in all, a beautifully crafted, deadly weapon. It seemed more personalized than the rest, and he wondered if she had made it herself. It was certainly well cared for, but then again, so were the others.
He carefully replaced the spear and backed away, checking out the rest of the room. There were more shelves with a number of books on them, trunks of folded clothes and furs, some small knick knacks, and a flawless mirror with carvings of Night Furies dancing around it. It was the only thing that James would consider remotely feminine about the space.
Smiling slightly, he straightened the blankets on the bed, then opened the door to peer down the stairs. He could now clearly hear Aeri speaking quietly. Making his way down, he saw her sitting at the table, seemingly conversing with Shade, who was rumbling softly in response.
Both turned to look in his direction, and Aeri raised a hand in greeting. James returned the gesture, walking over to them.
"Sleep well?" she inquired.
"Yes. Too well," he replied. "I have no idea what time it is."
"Don't worry. It's still morning, though closer to noon than dawn."
A grumble sounded, and James turned to see Sahko watching them from where he lounged in the corner. Valka's dragon was gone, and presumably the older woman wasn't in the house either.
"Hey, Sahko." James went over to his friend and placed a hand on his neck. "Sleep well? Are you hungry?"
"I think he had some of the fish from the barrel there, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind a few more," Aeri said as she rose from her seat. "What about you? Hungry? I made some porridge. It's not phenomenal, but I will say it's a damn sight better than anything my grandmother could whip up. We also have secret spices to make it tastier, if that floats your boat."
"I was already fine with having some porridge, but secret spices? I must investigate," he grinned.
"Very well, sir." She got a bowl and spoon out, scooped some porridge from the pot over the fire, then went over to a cupboard and produced two pouches. "This one is sugar, I'm sure you've encountered it before. I don't know what this one is called," she opened the pouch to reveal a reddish brown powder. "But it's absolutely delightful. In small quantities. Help yourself."
"Thank you." James sat at the table, sniffing at the unknown spice. It smelled quite enticing, so he poured a bit into his bowl along with some sugar, stirred it up, and sampled it. His eyes widened.
"My gods. This is the best thing I have ever tasted."
Aeri laughed. "I thought you might like it."
He forced himself to eat it slowly, savoring each bite, and unabashedly scraping the bowl for every last morsel. Once he was finished, Aeri took his bowl and washed it off in a bucket of water.
"All right! Who's ready to get a move on?" she asked the assembled males.
"After that, I could conquer the world," James said.
"No conquering today, unless you count the pile of orders we have at the forge."
His eyes lit up. "Count me in."
They set off down the street, chatting about nothing in particular. Passersby, both Vikings and refugees, greeted them cheerfully. James couldn't help but compare this village to Merirosvo, and the place he had grown up. In daylight, Berk was clean and colorful, with dragon-esque architecture and all manner of interesting structures to gape at.
"What's that?" he would ask, and Aeri would explain that it was the fire-prevention system, or a dragon perch, or a windmill. They arrived in the plaza they had stargazed in the night before, only now it was bustling with people and dragons. Sahko and Shade went off in search of fish, and Aeri led James to a large, open-walled building from which the sound of a hammer on metal could be heard.
"Hey, Gobber!" she yelled over the hammering.
"Yer late!" the voice sounded cross, but Aeri just rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I know, but I brought help. Winter is a smith, and he said he'd love to give us a hand."
A bulky figure appeared, and James did a double take. The Viking was quite broad, with a peg leg and an enormous hammer where his hand once was. His shirt and pants were ragged, embellished with stains and scorches and the occasional hole. He had an unbelievable mustache, which hung in braids down to his chest. His lower jaw jutted out slightly, and James could clearly see that the man had what appeared to be a rock as a tooth. All in all, a vision of good taste.
The old smith was looking at him with an eyebrow raised in skepticism. "Who?"
"Winter," Aeri repeated. "He's the one who arrived yesterday on the Skrill. He's a smith. He said he'd help us out today."
"Fine, but if he makes a mess of my forge, there'll be Hel to pay, missy."
"Since when have I caused you that kind of grief, old man?"
Gobber scowled at her. "I'll let that comment slide, since yer obviously still wakin' up. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a hand today. Vasara was here earlier, but she had to go do somethin' or other, an' she won't be back until later. We've got five new orders for saddles, an' twelve to repair. That pile of papers there are specifications for new weapons and shields, all that steel there needs to be reshaped, that pile is all repairs, the Larsons are supposed to be bringing in their ceremonial sword for restoration—"
"That wouldn't happen to be the sword that's currently buried up in the hills, would it?"
"The very same, so ye'd best not get squeamish with the corpse dust an' cobwebs. Anyways, ye can get started with all that. Oh, and the traders were spotted on the horizon just a while ago, so they'll be here this afternoon. I know ye have business with them, so I'll expect you to make some headway here before ye run off to take care o' that. Go on, get to it."
They dove right in. Aeri quickly showed him where all the tools were located, then left him with the pile of weapons to repair while she started work on the new ones. Determined to prove himself, James focused, taking pleasure in the strenuous work.
Every so often, either Aeri or Gobber would check his progress, but after a while they seemed satisfied to leave him to his own devices. When a person would arrive with their dragon for measurements, James would pause to watch Aeri as she recorded every detail of both human and reptile. "I have to know the basics of lengths and widths and such," she explained to him. "But other things are also important. How the person sits in the saddle. How long they fly for. What weapons they carry. What maneuvers they perform while airborne. Stuff like that all has to be taken into account when a new saddle is constructed."
He also observed with amusement when the ceremonial sword arrived, satisfactorily dusty and covered in cobwebs. Aeri gingerly took it from the similarly filthy Viking carrying it, looking less than thrilled as he cheerfully recounted his morning adventure breaking into his grandfather's crypt.
"All in the name of love, I suppose," she'd replied, without much enthusiasm.
Sahko and Shade returned and proceeded to doze off in the sun outside. The hours passed in a blur of productivity, the three of them working their way through the various repairs and custom orders. It was mid-afternoon when a horn blared in the distance, and James paused in his hammering to look around.
"That'll be the traders," Gobber said gruffly as Aeri and James wiped the sweat from their faces. The old smith inspected their respective piles of finished projects, then nodded. "Ye've done enough for today. Good work lass. You too, lad. Now, off with ye."
They didn't need to be told twice. Hanging up their aprons, they breathed a sigh of relief as they set foot beyond the sweltering heat of the forge. For a moment they just stood in the shade, allowing the chilly breeze to cool them off.
"Alright," Aeri said. "I have some trading to do, which might take a while. You're welcome to come with me, I'm sure there will be a lot to see, or you can go relax for a while. Up to you."
"Who needs relaxing?" James grinned. "Let's go trade."
They woke up their dragons, who yawned and stretched like enormous fire-breathing house cats. As they walked, James asked about what business she had with the traders.
"Well, some of the refugees approached me last week. You might have noticed that their clothes are in very poor condition. And they don't have anything else to wear. It's basically autumn, which means it won't be long before it begins to snow. But they aren't accustomed to that kind of cold, they'll all freeze to death without some protection from the elements. So I'm going to trade for enough furs and material to outfit them all. We already have a significant stockpile of leather here, so that's one less thing to worry about, but still. I've had some of the women compile an estimate of how much cloth we'll need. They measured every single person for every important article of clothing they might require."
"When you say everything they might require—"
"I mean everything. Boots, underclothes, outerwear, and two different sets of regular clothing. The women and children are so excited, even the men seem to be cheered up by the prospect. I can only imagine how they feel, forced to continue to wear the same clothes that they fought in when the pirates attacked. I just wish Haku was more on board with the whole idea."
This piqued James's interest. "Why wouldn't he be on board?"
Aeri sighed. "He's angry that he can't provide what his people need on his own. It's hard for him to accept even the most basic measures of hospitality. I'll admit, this is a rather grand gesture of generosity on my father's behalf, but he told me to spare no expense. It was actually his idea for everyone to get a second set of clothes. In all honesty, Berk is extremely prosperous. We are the most powerful tribe in the Barbaric Archipelago in terms of military might— other tribes have dragons, but we have the best training and education available to our riders. After all, we started the whole "peace" thing. Not to mention our resident Night Furies. Anyways. Not only are we the dominant power in these waters, we also have forged strong alliances with all of our neighbors, and even villages beyond the Archipelago. My father has always embraced diplomacy, though it's still a rather foreign concept to a lot of people. This region isn't called "Barbaric" for no reason. There's a strong tradition of resorting to brute violence to solve any problem that might arise."
James pondered this. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but your father hasn't yet struck me as the violent type."
"That's because he was born a hiccup, hence his name, and for most of his youth, he didn't have the physical strength necessary to get his point across by clubbing people over the head. So he used the only weapon he had at his disposal— his mind. It wasn't always effective, though. There are countless stories among the older generations about his seemingly innate childhood ability to cause widespread destruction and mayhem just by stepping foot outside. I haven't told you the story yet, but it makes me sad to think that he had to endure so much rejection and animosity just because he was born different. It's really tragic. But he doesn't hold it against any of them. He says it made him stronger. If things hadn't happened the way they did, we might still be at war with the dragons today. He turned every convention upside down, and so far it has worked out rather well. Berk is wealthy, secure, technologically and ideologically advanced… people come from far and wide to trade with us, to learn about our way of life, and in particular to seek the guidance of the Dragon Chief, whose reputation for disaster transformed into one of brilliance and wisdom. He manages to be a master of politics and economics in the most casual way possible. He still takes time to smile, whether it be making sarcastic comments about the unrefined nature of Vikings, goofing off with the dragons, or forming friendships with every man, woman, child, and reptile he encounters. It's no wonder he's so adamant on helping the survivors of Heimme. It's second nature for him to care for those in need. Haku thinks we're just being charitable, but the truth is, we have more than enough to share, and my father doesn't see the point in hoarding our good fortune, whether it be in the form of wealth or knowledge, when it could be used to better the lives of others."
"Which is a noble sentiment. Your father seems like a visionary leader. It always seems to me like the more you give away, the more returns to you. Though it sounds like Haku might be holding your good fortune and your generosity against you at the moment."
"You think?" Aeri sounded troubled. "That would be… unfortunate." She paused, then continued in a softer voice. "I really don't know how to help him on a personal level anymore. We used to be close, but now… it's like he's intentionally pushing me away."
Oh. A piece of the puzzle slipped into place. Haku's inexplicable hostility towards James was fueled by his inability to connect with Aeri. He saw James as a threat. Which, I technically was, but not for the reason he might be thinking.
James felt bad for Aeri. He wasn't overly fond of Haku, as it really wasn't in his nature to embrace those who were less than fond of him. But from the pained expression on her face, he could tell that Haku was important to her. Vaguely, he wondered how close they had actually been, then shook the thought away. That's not important.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I'm sure it's not you personally that he has a problem with, Aeri. I think he's just feeling helpless, and he doesn't know how to cope with his frustration and grief. Don't feel discouraged by his behavior. Just do what you feel is right, and it'll all work out in the end. You've already done wonderful things for his people, and this is just another to add to the list."
"I just want to repay them for what they did for me," she said quietly. "I have to. If not for me, Surmata never would have ended up on Heimme, and they would still be safe at home, with all of their loved ones present and their possessions intact."
A gaping maw opened up in James's stomach. Oh gods. She blames herself. She thinks it's her fault… "No, no, no. You can't blame yourself for that. Surmata is practically psychotic. You are not responsible for the actions of a maniac like her. Don't shake your head. I'm serious, Aeri. There aren't words sufficient to describe that kind of evil. No. You are good. You have only ever done good for Haku and his people. So don't dwell on what happened, because you'll only bring yourself unnecessary pain and unhappiness. Focus on what is within your power to change." James was not used to comforting people, but he felt strongly that he needed to be supportive now. She was not at fault in this situation. He was.
She sighed heavily. "I guess you're right. I just wish I could make Haku see that all is not lost."
"He will realize that, he just needs time. Come on, let's think about the task at hand. You've got a lot of shopping to do. Or tell me more about your father. I already liked him from talking to him yesterday, but everything you're telling me about him makes me think he might be too good to be true."
To his relief, her knitted brows relaxed, and she smiled slightly. "I assure you, he's every bit as amazing as he sounds. Growing up, I always wanted to be like him. As I got older, I started seeing him as an unattainable ideal. The idea of someday having to fill his shoes was absolutely terrifying, because I knew I would never be as great as he is. As accomplished and wise and kind. Which is one of the reasons I ran away. Now that I'm back, I'm reassured that I will never be that great, but the fear is gone. Because he loves me no matter what I do. If I can feel secure in that, I can feel secure in anything."
"You shouldn't be afraid, Aeri. The more I get to know you, the more certain I become that you are every bit as good as your father is. When the time comes for you to take his place, the stories of your kindness and resourcefulness and strength will have people just as eager to sing your praises as they are to sing your dad's. Just wait and see. You're just like him, but you're also uniquely you. Berk will be in good hands."
Aeri looked at him with some surprise, and sheepishly he stared down at the boards beneath his feet. They were at the bottom of the long walkway that zigzagged across the rocky cliff face, leading to the docks, and the buzz of conversation coming from the crowd gathered in anticipation of the traders' arrival rose up around them.
"I—" she began, but she was cut off by the sound of someone calling her name. Lifting his head, James saw one of the refugees, a woman, approaching them with a wide smile.
"Aeri!"
"Hello, Ima," Aeri smiled, and James did his best to commit the woman's name and face to memory, as he had everyone else that he'd met thus far. "Where's Luvia?"
"She's up at the Academy. I guess there's a class called "Terror Training" going on, which sounded alarming at first, until I realized that a "Terror" is just your version of a Horror. So Vasara offered to take some of the children while we came down here." The woman, Ima, turned to look speculatively at James. "Is this the one that arrived yesterday?"
"I am," James replied for himself. "Ima, was it? Winter, at your service."
"Don't you have nice manners," Ima smiled at him. "Is it true you helped our girl here escape way back when? I've heard all sorts of stories but all have yet to be confirmed by the two of you."
"I was on the ship with Aeri, but I only played a minor role in her escape—"
"That is so untrue, Winter," Aeri interrupted. "You saved my life, then essentially sacrificed yourself so that I could get away. I'd say your role was rather integral."
Ima's eyes were wide as she turned to Aeri. "So it's true? They were mistreating you?"
"They successfully mistreated all of us, wouldn't you say?"
"I suppose, but if you hadn't gotten back when you did, we'd all be—"
"You were holding your own just fine without me. Anyways, shall we get started? Do you have the list?"
"Yes. So, Winter. Are you here to help us with our little project?"
"If by "little project" you are referring to your endeavor to fully outfit everyone from Heimme in preparation for the coming winter, then I'll say that I'd be more than happy to help, though I've learned that it's best to stay out of a woman's way when she's on a mission."
The refugee woman laughed. "So you're a clever one. That could come in handy. Okay, which ship should we check out first?"
Aeri looked over all of the recently arrived vessels. "The first one looks very familiar, let's start there and work our way down."
The three of them made their way through the crowd to the closest ship. Sahko and Shade followed close behind, the Skrill letting out low growling sounds every time a person accidentally bumped into him. A burly sailor was in the process of lowering a gangplank as they approached.
"Excuse me," Aeri called out. "Whose ship is this?"
Before the man could answer, a shrill voice cut through the noise of the crowd. "MISTRESS AERI! Why, I can't believe it! Oh, what a delightful surprise!" From behind the sailor appeared a shorter, elderly man, waving his arms ecstatically.
"Trader Johann!" Aeri strode up the gangplank to embrace the old man, who held her at arm's length.
"My goodness, Mistress Aeri! You are a vision to my weary eyes! How devastated I was to learn of your disappearance. But here you are! And with all limbs intact! In fact, you must have grown taller since the last time we met! And exponentially more beautiful! I certainly hope your adventures were not so perilous as your father's were at your age!"
James smiled when she laughed. "I'm sure we could spend a few nights swapping stories, Johann. But let's talk business first. I'm in need of a substantial amount of cloth, string, and furs. Can you help me?"
"Can I help you? Can I help you? My dear girl, you have come to the right place! As it so happens, I am in possession of dozens of excellent fabrics, all of which can be purchased in bulk! String is always in stock. And as for furs, why, I have the finest selection of colors and qualities in the Archipelago!"
"Excellent. Ima! Winter! Come on!" Aeri beckoned to them with one arm, and they obediently made their way onto the ship. "Lead the way, Johann."
Phew. Is anyone else as worn out after reading all that as I am? Hopefully in a good way, though. I've been writing OtN since last August and I'm not tired of the story or my characters yet ;)
In other news, who else has watched Race to the Edge? I watched the whole series in one sitting. I adored it, but then again I adore everything HTTYD, so that's not surprising. For those of you who have seen it, and also Riders/Defenders of Berk, I hope you liked the brief Razorwhip and Changewing mentions. Also Trader Johann, who always manages to entertain me, so I hope I did him justice.
Next week! We will be seeing more of Aeri and James, but also some of our friends from Heimme as well. And there's a surprise! Prooobably not any one of the romantic surprises you're craving, BUT it's been a long time coming, and I'm really excited about it, so you should be too. Any guesses on what it might be? I'll give you an extremely vague and unhelpful hint: It's centered around a dragon and a human.
Anyways, until we meet again, take care of yourselves. You're all amazing people and it's a joy to be a part of this community.