Greetings, friends, and happy Friday. (It's 2:30 AM my time, so I figured, why wait until later to update when I could just do it now?)
Thank you for your lovely reviews. The few moments you spend typing your feedback keeps me smiling for days.
QuiteARandomFan (Congratulations on your graduation!)
Sousuke Tenki
MoonbornWalker (I generally do have chapters written in advance. It helps improve the quality overall and as you said, it's great to have a reserve of material in case I haven't been writing. And thank you, I've been feeling a bit better, though there's still a long way to go.)
Sag1ttar1us
Colinou
Spartan10007
The Lightning Phoenix
Phsyro
Ciara11 (what an excellent guess XD)
Harkonnen28 (Also an excellent guess!)
Vvarden
I know a lot of you are probably wondering what the heck is going on with Haku. Well, you're about to start finding out. And it's time for the surpriiiiiiiise! It's a happy one :)
Haku nocked his arrow, his muscles automatically adjusting as he drew the string back. He shifted slightly to accommodate for the wind that had picked up, and without moving any other part of his body, released the string. In a moment the arrow was buried in the center of the target across the clearing, along with his four previous attempts. Sighing, he relaxed and dropped his arms, looking around.
He'd discovered this place the other day while taking a walk. The spacious clearing was obviously used regularly for training purposes. The tree trunks were deeply scarred from axe blades, and the ground was clear of brush and other obstacles. Sturdy targets were positioned all over, some sitting in the dirt and others hanging from branches above. It was the perfect location for him to practice his marksmanship. He hadn't lifted his bow since the assault on Heimme, and he felt it was high time he got around to using it again.
It helped relieve some of the unbearable tension he had been feeling as of late. He was well aware that he had become difficult to be around, but how could he help that? It was his job to worry, wasn't it? To dwell on what others chose to ignore or avoid? Of course he was grumpy. His people seemed perfectly content to live off of Berk's charity indefinitely, but he wasn't. He detested being so utterly dependent on the kindness of others.
Slowly, he made his way around the clearing, collecting his arrows. It was bad enough that they were being fed and sheltered by Aeri's people. Bad enough that they were being educated and trained in the Academy without having anything to offer in return. Bad enough that the Chief seemed content to let them stay and do as they pleased. But Aeri was taking it too far. She hadn't listened to him when he had adamantly refused to agree to her plan. No. Right now, she was likely bartering with some trader for supplies so that she could outfit every one of his people in new clothes. It made his blood boil. She knew how obscene it was to just throw wealth away like that. Damn it! He had told her no! How dare she defy him in this?
He swore, loudly. Behind him, Kova squawked nervously, but Haku was too worked up to care. "She thinks she's so much better than us," he muttered under his breath. "That she can do whatever she wants, regardless of what anyone else says! That we need her charity!" No. He was going to put a stop to this.
"Come on, Kova," he growled, swinging himself into the saddle that had been given to him yesterday. He couldn't just refuse it, it had been made specifically for Kova. No one else could use it except for him. So he'd had to take it. Every time he looked at it he felt sick to his stomach, wondering when this insanity would end.
He needed to have a serious discussion with Aeri. Immediately. The situation was completely out of hand, and he blamed her for it.
A while later he was walking along the docks, searching the throng of people that had gathered at the arrival of the traders for a glimpse of auburn hair. Some called greetings to him, but he didn't stop to chat, until it occurred to him that someone might be able to help him find her.
"Have you seen Aeri?" he asked one Viking, who pointed him towards the ship closest to them. That was easy. Steeling himself, he pushed through the crowd, looking across the deck for her slim figure. A short, elderly man emerged from belowdecks, followed shortly by Ima. A moment later Aeri appeared behind them, laughing at something.
Haku's heart lurched. She was so beautiful. He had to remind himself that he was angry with her. Then she turned, smiling, as another person came up after her, and his ire returned in full force.
What was his name? Winter. Haku had taken an instant dislike to the man. From what he understood, Aeri had met him when the pirates had captured her, and hadn't seen him since. So why was she so happy to see him when he showed up unannounced? She barely knew him! Did she honestly trust him? Because Haku didn't. Not one bit.
"Haku!" Ima had spotted him and was waving him over. Aeri and Winter turned to look at him, too, so he had no choice but to approach them.
"Haku," Ima said once he was close enough. "We've been examining all of Trader Johann's fabrics! He has the perfect materials, and enough of them to suit our needs! We'll all be ready for winter in no time!"
His suspicions were confirmed. Aeri was going ahead with her plan. His eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"
Ima was nodding happily, but Aeri seemed to pick up on his displeasure. "Haku," she said, stepping closer to him. "What's—"
"I need to have a word with you," he interrupted her.
"Okay… Ima, Winter, I'll be back in a moment." Once she and Haku were off the ship, she pointed to a wooden structure built into the cliff. "We can talk in there."
Inside, Haku peered around in the dim light. They were in a large room that looked like it was used for storage. There were coils of rope, fishing nets, and baskets, among other things. Turning around, he faced her as she closed the door behind her.
"What's the matter, Haku?" she asked. Her expression was one of concern.
"You know what the matter is, Aeri."
Irritation flitted across her face. "I wish you'd stop saying my name like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I've done something wrong!"
"Well, you have."
She frowned at him. "What have I done wrong?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's this whole nonsense about giving everyone things they don't need."
Her eyes widened. "The clothes? Are you serious?"
"Extremely."
"Haku, you all need clothes. It's not like you can keep wearing what little you have now!"
"And why not?" he demanded.
"Stop being stupid! Come winter, you'll all freeze to death! Is that what you want?!"
"We can work for what we might require," he said icily. "We don't need charity."
"Oh, for the love of— This is ridiculous. It's not charity. It's common decency. Use your head, Haku. Without new boots to keep your feet warm, your toes will literally fall off. Without furs to retain body heat, your people will fall ill and die. I don't believe you're that ignorant of reality."
"But it's not just furs and boots! You're providing a full wardrobe!"
"So what?" Her flippant tone was infuriating.
"So what? It's unnecessary!"
"It's important!"
"I can't believe you're the type of woman who cares about fashion."
"What?! Okay, I've heard enough. You obviously are too blinded by pride to see to your people's needs."
"Excuse me?!"
"You heard me. Your people have suffered enough as it is without having to deal with your negligent attitude. Their entire lives were destroyed. I'm trying to help them pick up the pieces. Why can't you see that? Why are you fighting me every step of the way?" Her eyes were pleading, but he refused to be swayed.
"I'm trying to maintain our honor! That's more important than anything!"
"Don't be absurd! Try telling a parent that their honor is more important than the welfare of their family! Would you rather that you all stayed on Heimme, sitting in the wreckage, outnumbered by the corpses of the people you loved? With no possessions and no shelter? With your honor as your only consolation?"
"We would have figured it out, and we wouldn't have had to submit to anyone's pity while we were at it!"
Aeri's jaw dropped. "Who are you? What happened to the kind, reasonable man I met on Heimme? That Haku would never put some foolhardy notion of honor before the survival and happiness of his own people! There is nothing wrong with accepting the kindness of others! It doesn't make you weak! It takes true strength to admit when you need help! But no. You'd rather sulk and rage, drowning in your own bitterness, than admit that you can't do something on your own! Because you can't do this alone! You can't guarantee the safety and survival of the remnants of your people! You can't preserve what's left of their dignity by providing them with clothes and supplies that they need! But we can! Berk is happy to share! There's no reason for any of you to suffer any more than you already have, Haku. Not one good reason. It's not charity, or pity. You showed me a great deal of kindness and consideration when I showed up, injured and accompanied by a sworn enemy of your people. Okay? I owe you, all of you, and you will not deny me the opportunity to repay you for what you have done for me!"
Her words hung in the air between them. She was leaning forward slightly, fists clenched, with tears in her eyes. Haku opened his mouth to reply, then shut it. He had never felt so conflicted in his entire life. She had a point. Was he really so blind? Was he really trying to preserve his own pride by sacrificing his people?
This woman was the reason he'd had the strength to become Chief of Heimme in the first place. He had become accustomed to relying on her advice and support. She had changed his life, and the lives of every last one of his people. How could he have so quickly forgotten how much she meant to him? He loved her, for crying out loud!
And now he'd really put his foot in it. She was doing what she had always done, looking out for the well-being of his people. She had been there with them that fateful day. She had suffered just as much as they had. But instead of retreating into herself, or giving in to the urge to lash out in anger and sadness, she stayed focused and saved them twice over. She had led them to a sanctuary where they could heal and find peace. Her people were gracious and kind and not once had they indicated that they were being motivated by pity to help the survivors of Heimme. It was idiotic of him to claim that she was in any way at fault in this situation.
Aeri stepped back, wiping her eyes and taking a shuddering breath. "You know what? I can't make you see reason, Haku. I am determined to give them a sense of stability, normalcy, and optimism. You seem determined to warp my good intentions however you can. I can only hope that you realize that your attitude is only prolonging the suffering of your people. Until then, I have nothing else to say to you."
With that, she turned away from him and yanked the door open, allowing a wash of light and sound to fill the room.
"Aeri, wait, don't go, I'm sorry—" Haku desperately reached out for her, but she was already striding away. He watched in misery as she made her way through the crowd and back to the ship. Ima was busy talking to the trader, but Winter noticed her right away. Even from this distance Haku could tell that the other man was concerned, and a wave of nausea passed over him at the notion of her turning to a virtual stranger for comfort because of his behavior.
Haku loved her, but he might have pushed her too far today. He wasn't sure he'd be able to undo the damage he had wrought. But he had to try. He didn't know what he would do if he ended up driving her away entirely.
It was a terrible feeling to know that he was out of control. He'd learned a valuable lesson just now, but he had a sinking feeling that he hadn't seen the last of his volatile temper.
Aeri managed to hold it together for the rest of the afternoon.
She completed her business with Johann, made arrangements for all of the materials to be carried to the longhouses the next morning, and visited some of the other traders' ships. But her thoughts kept returning to her argument with Haku in the storehouse until she felt her composure begin to slip.
Winter seemed to notice her quiet distress, and smoothly excused the both of them from a conversation with a trader who seemed quite content to regale them with tales of his own perilous adventures until the sun set.
"Let's get out of here," he said to her under his breath, then placed his fingers to his lips and let out a brief whistle. In moments Sahko appeared, followed by Shade, who immediately picked up on her misery and warbled with concern.
"It's alright, bud…" He crouched so that she could more easily climb into the saddle, then took off, quickly leaving the crowded docks far behind. The sensation of the cold air on her face was soothing to her frazzled nerves, as was the lack of noise. The only sound that could be heard was the wind.
Once they leveled out high above the island, Shade slowed to allow Sahko to catch up to them. Winter didn't say anything, but Aeri found his presence comforting nonetheless as her thoughts spiraled back to the source of her torment.
How often had she soared above Heimme with Haku? How often had they supported each other in times of worry or danger? He was so important to her. When he had kissed her, she had taken it as a promise of sorts. But since his arrival on Berk, nothing had been the same. They couldn't converse without awkwardness or strife. They rarely saw each other. And… it hurt.
Tears welled up in her eyes. It was so unfair. How could he say those things? How could he pit himself against her, as if they were on opposite sides of some war? How did it come to this?
Letting out a sudden cry of frustration, she allowed herself to fall back until she was resting against Shade's spine. She rubbed her palms against her eyes, trying to stop the steady stream of hot tears that continued to appear. Beneath her, she felt, rather than heard, Shade's worried rumble.
"It'll be okay, bud," she said shakily, more for her own benefit than his. For a few minutes she kept her hands on her face, taking unsteady breaths to calm herself.
Eventually, though, she sat upright, glancing over at Winter, who was politely averting his gaze. Her face heated with embarrassment at her outburst, but she forced herself to call out an apology to him.
"I'm so sorry, Winter."
He looked at her in clear surprise. "Why are you sorry?"
"I'm a mess right now."
"Believe me, I've seen messes before, and you're nowhere close to that kind of chaos," he laughed, before becoming serious once more. "What happened, Aeri?"
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I don't want to bother you with it—"
"It's not a bother. If you don't want to talk about it, that's absolutely fine, but don't think that you should suffer in silence because it might be a bother to me."
His firm words consoled her. "Alright then. I got into a fight with Haku."
"I gathered," he replied, his expression neutral. "What did he say to you that upset you so much?"
"Who says he's the problem? Maybe I'm the one who's at fault," she tried to suggest, but she could tell he wasn't buying it.
"I sincerely doubt that. Come on, what did he say?"
"A lot of things. He was angry, going on about how it isn't honorable to accept other people's pity."
Winter scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Your kindness and generosity are not the same thing as pity. I hope you gave him a piece of your mind."
"I did. I don't know if I got through to him or not, but I told him I was done trying to reason with him."
"Good. It's not like you're some uninvolved third party coming in and interfering. You lived among them. You were there for all of it. You didn't escape unscathed. It's stupid for him to treat you like you're not on the same side."
"That's how I feel about it." She paused, before continuing. "I just don't know how it got this bad. On Heimme, he was a different person. He was brave, and sensitive, and relaxed… now it's like he's a shadow of his former self. An angry shadow. I guess I just miss him. We used to be so close, but I've never felt more at odds with another person as I feel with him right now."
Winter had a thoughtful look on his face. "I stand by what I said earlier. I think he'll come around, given enough time. But time is not a luxury that his people have, at least not in the sense of obtaining necessities like clothes before winter arrives. So I hope for all their sakes that he gets over his foolish pride soon. And for your sake, as well. I know what it feels like to be hurt by someone you care deeply for, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, especially not you."
Aeri recalled what he had shared about his past. The woman he loved had betrayed him first by allowing another to come between them, then by standing by in silence when she could have spoken in his defense. A question rose in her mind, and hesitantly, she voiced it. "If you saw her again, and she apologized, would you be able to love her again?"
He frowned pensively. Finally, he said, "I don't believe so. No, I know so. Not necessarily because it was basically her fault I was banished, but because I was a child then, with no knowledge of what true devotion looked like. I thought I loved Ihana, and— pardon me— I certainly lusted after her, but I'm older now. I've seen a great deal, met a lot of people— and I've learned through experience what real love looks like. Mutual love. It has the power to endure whatever obstacles might arise in its path. My bond with Sahko is so much deeper and stronger than anything I ever felt for that vain, vapid girl. And I can feel secure in the fact that he would probably do almost anything for me, as I would for him. So, no. If, by some misfortune, I ever found myself in her company again, and she apologized— I might forgive her, because without her I never would have become who I am today, but I would not forget what she had done, or rather, what she didn't do."
A sigh escaped her. She really admired Winter. He, like Haku, seemed brave and sensitive and relaxed, but he also made her think. He was very complicated. Maybe if she understood all of the elements that made him who he was, if she knew his whole story, he wouldn't be so fascinating. Or maybe he would be even more so. The thought made her pause, but she quickly stifled it. It wouldn't do to have complicated feelings for a complicated person. Right? That was bound to create trouble.
"Aeri."
His voice pulled her from her musings, and she met his serious gaze.
"I can't tell you how to deal with Haku. He is his own man, with his own strengths and faults and thoughts and feelings. What I said about Ihana— I meant it, but that situation was a lot different than this one. It probably calls for a different approach."
"It was different in some ways, but it still comes down to the fact that you and I were both hurt by someone we cared about. It's still really raw and unpleasant for me, but I think I can forgive him, if he ends up being truly sorry for his behavior." Winter was nodding, but she wasn't finished. "As for forgetting, though… I don't think I could. I don't think I would want to forget. It would be foolish of me to try and gloss over his potentially harmful shortcomings in the long run. That doesn't mean I should ignore what is good about him, I know, but I would be asking for history to repeat itself if I let myself forget the way he reacts when things don't go the way he'd like."
"That's very true. I hate to say it, but people don't usually change unless they are forced to by an overwhelming circumstance. I know this, because it happened to me. Maybe what took place on Heimme changed Haku to be this way, or maybe it was laying dormant his entire life. But for him to change again will likely take a fair bit of duress and arm-twisting. Only time will tell for certain how this will play out, but I commend you for doing something about it, even if that something is just talking about it with me."
Aeri smiled slightly. Winter was right. She was handling this the best she could. Everything would work out, with or without Haku. That was a painful thought, but it was important that she stand by it. She wouldn't accomplish anything by wallowing in sadness and confusion.
"Thank you, Winter."
"You are most welcome."
"It's getting late," she noted, gazing in the direction of the setting sun. "We should probably head back to the village. Dinner sounds like the best course of action, followed by a good night's sleep."
"I really should find a place to camp before it gets any darker—"
"Not tonight," she interrupted him. "Please? Just stay in the village for one more night."
He looked like he wanted to protest, but another pleading glance from her had him sighing in defeat. "Fine. I'll stay one more night. But this time, I'm downstairs with the dragons. Your bed belongs to you."
"Okay," she agreed, satisfied that he wouldn't be leaving her that evening. Their dragons banked slightly, turning them back in the direction of the village. "I'll need to make sure everything is settled tomorrow between Johann and the women who will be making the clothing, but after that, want to join me in the forge again? We make a very effective blacksmithing team."
Winter laughed. "I'd be delighted to."
Over the following days, James accompanied Aeri to the forge every time she worked. He followed her around when she had other responsibilities to attend to. Each time, he would offer to stay behind, but she'd tell him "Nonsense" and that would be that.
Every afternoon, he would say, "I need to go find a campsite, Aeri." And every afternoon she gave him the same heart-wrenching, crestfallen, pleading look that had him saying, "Fine, not tonight. But tomorrow for sure. I mean it this time!" And she would look so genuinely happy that he wasn't going to stay in the forest that he basically forgot why he even wanted to be out there in the first place.
He was getting to know some of the people around the village better, including Aeri's family. He was endlessly entertained by their antics and conversations, not to mention the gossip that seemed to circulate about everyone and everything on the island.
One morning, Erik showed up at the forge, offering his services. James hadn't thought anything of it at first, but Aeri immediately set down her hammer and pinned her brother with a suspicious look. "Alright, what do you want?"
"Who says I want anything?" the tall young man replied innocently. "Maybe I just wanted to refine my blacksmithing skills."
"Erik, you and I both know that you aren't overly fond of being put to work here. Spill it."
"Fine," Erik sighed. "I had an idea, but I'm not capable of making it a reality. I need professional assistance."
"Professional assistance, huh?" James could tell Aeri was curious by the way she pretended to not be curious.
"Precisely. You know Maara's dragon, Mika? How her wing is all shredded? Well, I was thinking that maybe it might be possible—"
"—to help her fly again," Aeri finished.
Erik looked slightly forlorn. "Yeah. I know it's a long shot, but it would mean so much to her. I want to at least try."
James could practically hear the wheels turning in her mind. "I've thought about it," she admitted finally. "I've always believed that it might be possible. Back on Heimme, I had no idea of even how to begin. I'm certainly no expert on the subject—"
Gobber chose to interject at that moment. "But ye know, there is an expert on the subject of dragon prosthetics here on Berk, and I'm not talkin' about myself. If anyone can figure out a solution to yer problem, it's him."
Aeri and her brother both smiled broadly, and James had to ask, "Who?"
"Who do you think?"
And so it began. Erik would distract Maara, Shade would get Mika, Hiccup would make excuses to come to the forge, and then he, Gobber, and Aeri would collaborate on making the prosthetic. James watched in fascination as they took measurements, sketched out designs, and created the first prototypes. The three of them rarely argued, rather, they had logical discussions, and listened intently to each other's ideas. As the days grew shorter and colder, they spent hours upon hours painstakingly crafting a countless number of tiny parts which James could only guess what purpose they held. Meanwhile, he had sort of taken over the business of repairs, relying on Gobber when he had any questions.
They constructed and discarded more than a dozen of the enormous prosthetics, working on them in the relative privacy of the grassy area behind the forge. They kept the project a carefully guarded secret. Erik really wanted it to be a surprise for Maara and no one blamed him.
James was working on a particularly stubborn bent blade when he heard his name. Turning around, he saw Aeri peering in through the window, an excited smile on her face.
"Is it ready?" he asked eagerly, and she nodded, gesturing for him to come outside.
Behind the forge, underneath the cloudy sky, Hiccup, Gobber, Aeri, and Shade were gathered around Mika. James had gotten to know the spirited young dragon relatively well, and he was very familiar with her injured wing. Aeri would talk to him about it at length. How she thought it had happened, the exact dimensions of the tears, etcetera. He was also familiar with every way that this endeavor could go wrong. He listened to Aeri practically rant about her concerns and fears on a regular basis. What if she's too weak to fly properly? What if it malfunctions? What if it doesn't work at all?
He'd actually been the one to suggest that they try and strengthen Mika's body in preparation. Hiccup had grinned approvingly at him, mentioning that "therapy" was a relatively common practice when dealing with injured dragons. Also injured humans, but really, dragons were so much more interesting and important.
So they enlisted Valka and Cloudjumper to assist with rehabilitation. When she wasn't standing still for measurements and fittings, Mika was off with Aeri's grandmother, a bunch of other dragons, and either Hiccup or Gobber, conditioning herself to fly again. James urged Sahko to go with them, mostly so he wouldn't get bored, but also so he could socialize with other dragons.
There were a lot of dragons on Berk, but James had started to recognize the "regulars" that showed up at the forge to watch the proceedings. First, Gobber's dragon, a Hotburple named Grump, who was awe-inspiringly lazy and generally slept in a massive heap in the middle of the floor, occasionally stirring to send a glob of magma in the direction of the forge. James was now an expert at operating the fire sprinklers without becoming alarmed. There were a few Night Furies, including the Alpha Toothless, Erik's dragon, Storm, and a female named Ash who Aeri said wasn't related to Shade but seemed to be very close with him. Apparently Ash had been the first dragon on Berk to undergo therapy, when she was very young. Hiccup and Astrid told him the story one night over dinner in the Great Hall. There were also two Flashfangs, which were almost identical to Deadly Nadders. One was Vasara's dragon, Fern, and the other was Fern's mate. Kova, Haku's dragon. To James's secret relief, Haku never accompanied them.
Currently, though, Shade was the only dragon present besides Mika herself. James stepped closer, inspecting her wing. The prosthetic had a sleek design, largely constructed of lightweight Gronckle iron parts and an expanse of a red, fireproof material that Hiccup had developed for Toothless's tail fin. The material was stretched tight in a frame that flawlessly obeyed the movements of her wing. She was opening and closing the appendage, testing the weight and function of the prosthetic. It folded and unfolded without sound or delay, offering little to no resistance. The young Grimler had an expression of awe on her face, and it moved James to see how much it meant to her that they had even bothered trying to help her at all.
"I think an adjustment needs to be made there, and maybe there…" Hiccup was pointing, and Aeri and Gobber were nodding in agreement. But a determined look stole across Mika's face, and James knew that she wasn't going to wait for another series of adjustments. It was go time.
"Uh, guys?" he tried to get their attention, but only Shade noticed. He jumped up and warbled in alarm but it was too late. Mika lunged for the cliffside, and immediately Hiccup, Aeri, and Gobber cried out in panic. Shade leapt after her but couldn't catch her in time. She vanished over the edge, and horrified, they all ran to peer over the side.
And promptly sighed with relief. Below, Mika had her wings spread, and the wind was carrying her out away from them.
"Shade, go!" Aeri urged her dragon, who immediately obeyed. The four of them watched as he caught up to Mika, flying in circles around her. After a moment, she began to flap her wings in earnest, turning her uncontrolled glide into a wobbly but determined flight.
It was probably one of the most gratifying things James had ever seen. He looked at Aeri, who stood next to him, eyes shining. "I can't believe it," she whispered, meeting his gaze. "We did it. We did it! Oh my gods, we did it!" Giggling ecstatically, she grabbed him in a sudden embrace, but before he could even process that her arms were around him, she was gone. She jumped at her father, who was grinning with satisfaction. He lifted her up and spun her in a circle, the both of them laughing like complete fools.
"Come here, Gobber!" the Chief shouted after setting his daughter down.
"Oh, I don't think that's really—" the old smith was cut off as Hiccup and Aeri fiercely hugged him from both sides, effectively pinning his arms. "Oh, all right. I s'pose ye've earned a hug or two." But he was beaming proudly as he said it.
James watched with happy fascination. He'd never really celebrated an accomplishment before. Well, other people had sometimes done the celebrating for him, but he'd just sat back and allowed them their merriment. This open exuberance and affection between family— for he'd come to understand that Gobber was family to them in every way but blood— was completely foreign. What would it be like to celebrate a success in this way with Sven, the smith back on Merirosvo, or Gammel and Vitur, the elderly couple who had taken him in? They were the closest thing he had to family, he realized. And he really missed them, now that he thought about it. But he didn't want to be back on Merirosvo. He wanted them to be here. On Berk. With all of the other wonderful people he had come to know. That would really be something, he thought. A dream come true.
But reality crashed in, as it tended to do in moments like this. Dreams aren't for you. His secrets were heavy on his heart, and he knew that when they were exposed, he would likely pay for his wrongdoings with his life. Such was the way of things. It would only be fair to those who had suffered so greatly because of his mistakes.
So many moments of happiness were rendered bittersweet for James because of this. Like right now, for example. Or really any time spent with Aeri, and her family. He understood that he didn't deserve to be happy, but that didn't stop him from wishing fervently that things could be different. That he could be someone else, anyone else, without the darkness that plagued his past. If only he were innocent, then perhaps this life could have been for him. This incredible life in this incredible place filled with incredible people and dragons.
But he was not innocent. Which reminded him of his purpose in coming to Berk in the first place. He had to warn Aeri about Surmata. Every day he waited, the pirate witch could be coming one step closer to exacting her revenge, and James could not allow that to happen. He had to make sure they were prepared. He could not let Surmata hurt Aeri again, or anyone else on this island.
"Winter, are you alright?" He looked up to see Aeri's expression of mild concern, so he stifled his thoughts and summoned a smile. He'd have to tell her soon. It ran the risk of raising uncomfortable questions, but it had to be done. Just… not right now.
"Sorry, just got lost in thought for a moment. So, who's going to tell Erik?"
"No one, yet," Hiccup said. "The prosthetic is functional, but even from here I can see some tweaks that need to be made before it's really ready."
"And if her recent growth patterns are anything to go by, we might be making a completely new one soon anyways," Aeri mused aloud, and Hiccup and Gobber nodded. That tiny issue had been plaguing them since the start. Every time they'd get close to completing a prosthetic, new measurements would reveal that Mika had grown just enough to render that version useless. But they persisted, because it was an unspoken but very mutual agreement that giving up was simply not an option.
The four of them watched as Shade guided Mika back to the cliff's edge. Her landing was a little rough, but otherwise she seemed perfectly fine. And she was radiating joy. James allowed himself to get caught up in her elation as she darted between them, licking their faces and grinning her toothy dragon smile. She even included him in her grateful antics, to his surprise, and he had to laugh as she gave him the same treatment, licking him upside the head so that his hair stuck up on end, just like Aeri's and Hiccup's. He supposed that she associated him with her triumph, as he was always around.
"You listen to me, Mika," Aeri was attempting to scold the energetic Grimler. "You scared the Hel out of me, jumping off the cliff like that! What if it didn't work?" The dragon gave her a look that said, But it did work. "I know, but what if it hadn't? Next time, you're going to do it our way. With much more caution, and dragons large enough to catch you if you fall. Because Shade, while strong, is not capable of lifting you on his own. Understand?"
Mika rolled her eyes, but nodded nonetheless.
"Good. Now let's get that off you before someone sees. We have to make some adjustments."
Erik shifted his weight from one foot to another, watching his classmates goof off before Fishlegs arrived. Today was the day. It had been almost a week since Mika had done her first test flight, and Aeri had approached him that morning before he'd left for class to tell him that she was ready. He was overwhelmingly anxious. They'd all kept this a secret for weeks. Next week, his class was supposed to go to Dragon Island, and while his sister, father, and Gobber had slaved over the prosthetic, he had been working on preparing Maara for the trip. Of course, he hadn't really mentioned it to his father yet. But he felt confident that she would be able to handle herself. They'd spent countless hours poring over the Dragon Manual, and she had memorized an impressive amount of important knowledge in that short time. He quizzed her constantly, to the point where she'd get annoyed with him. They'd gone looking for wild dragons to practice on, though Erik suspected his father might not appreciate that bit of information. But she had successfully approached wild Nadders, Gronckles, Terrors, and even a Nightmare without getting bitten or scorched. And those were really the only types of dragon she would encounter on Dragon Island, anyways. Hopefully. He was immensely proud of her progress.
They'd also done a lot of flying. Nothing crazy, but he'd gotten a few of his classmates to let her practice on their dragons. When she'd asked why she needed to know how to fly on other dragons by herself, he'd fed her vague answers about how it could be useful in a tight spot if she were on her own with no one around to help her. Really, though, he'd wanted her to have experience riding Torkild's Nightmare because he was so similar to Mika. Just as Mika was secretly learning how to fly with a person on her back, Erik wanted Maara to learn how to fly on Mika. She just had no idea.
Where was she? Maara should have been at the Academy by now. Aeri's plan had been for Mika to feign illness, which had seemed like a good idea at the time, but maybe she would be too worried to leave her dragon's side. That would be a problem. Erik sighed. He'd just have to trust his sister.
"What's the matter, Erik?" Torkild approached him with his usual swagger. "Miss your girlfriend?"
Erik scowled at him, muttering, "She's not my girlfriend."
"If you insist. Listen, I was thinking that—" the other boy trailed off, and Erik raised an eyebrow.
"What?" But Torkild wasn't even paying attention. He was looking past Erik, at something behind him. In fact, the entire arena had fallen eerily silent. Slowly, Erik turned around, and his heart seemed to skip a beat.
It took him a second to recognize her. In shock, he realized that it was, in fact, Maara who had just walked through the tunnel. She was no longer garbed in the worn, faded dress she had arrived in. Instead, she had on a blue-grey top that almost exactly matched the color of her eyes. The form-fitting long sleeved shirt was tucked into a short brown leather skirt, underneath which grey leggings clung to her slender legs. She had new dark brown fur boots that rose up to just below her knees, and tan fur gauntlets covered her wrists and forearms. Perhaps the most striking part of the ensemble was the light grey, almost white fur hood that was draped over her shoulders.
But it wasn't just her clothes. Her hair looked different, too. It seemed... Shinier. Fuller. Her bangs weren't so long anymore, so he could actually see her wide grey eyes.
He couldn't help but look her over from head to toe. He'd always thought she was pretty, but now? Her petite frame was home to all manner of alluring curves that he hadn't even known existed.
Whoa there. Hold your horses. She's just a friend, you don't get to think about her that way, he firmly told himself. Then he glanced at his peers and realized with a sinking heart that he wasn't the only one entertaining thoughts about Maara. Torkild in particular had a hungry look in his eye.
Looking back at Maara, Erik finally noticed that she seemed hesitant. Almost nervous. She made eye contact with him, biting her lip anxiously, and his heart swelled with compassion. She might look like a goddess but she was still Maara. And she had no idea how beautiful she was.
Clearing his throat, he walked over to her. "Hi," he said, sort of stupidly.
"Hi," she replied softly.
"You, um, look really nice," he offered awkwardly, and her cheeks flushed a very endearing shade of pink.
Maara felt her face heat. "They're just new clothes," she said quickly. "I think it was Aeri's idea. To make sure we don't freeze to death. Everyone from Heimme received a bundle this morning."
He was nodding. "And… the hair?"
If it was even possible, she became even more embarrassed. "Yeah. I couldn't really see properly, so…" That was part of it, but Vasara had taken her aside the day before and threatened to shave her entire head if she didn't get a haircut right away.
"I can't even see half your face," her sister had complained. "You look like a ragamuffin."
Despite her protests, she was led to a nice Viking lady whose job was apparently to cut other people's hair. Maara was worried that she'd look even worse with a haircut, but as soon as the lady finished and held up a mirror for her to see the results, all her fears vanished.
"Now everyone will be able to see your lovely face," the woman beamed. "You'll be fighting the boys off with a battle axe!"
That proclamation had sufficiently unnerved Maara, but she didn't really believe that a haircut would suddenly make men take notice of her. She didn't want attention from them, anyways.
Well, she thought. If Erik likes it, then maybe it would be okay. But that was only because he didn't seem to care that she was a girl. Which was how she wanted it, she told herself. To be treated like she was as capable and worthwhile as a man. But, maybe, maybe it wouldn't be so terrible if Erik saw her as worthwhile and female.
Well, he had noticed that she looked different. He had even tried to compliment her, but she hadn't known how to respond so she'd just evaded. Stupid, she thought. Aren't women supposed to be alluring? She'd seen countless people flirt with each other, so why couldn't she?
"Seeing is always good," Erik was saying, though she suspected he was just being polite. "But I find that I like—-"
Whatever he was about to say was cut off as Torkild appeared and elbowed him out of the way. "My, my, Maara! You're looking amazing today, as usual. The cape is a nice touch, though. You look every inch the sister of a Chief, if I do say so myself."
Oh. So this was flirting. She glanced at Erik, who looked like he might actually be irritated, then figured, Oh, what the Hel.
"You're so sweet, Torkild," she said demurely, and felt a burst of satisfaction as Erik narrowed his eyes at her, then turned his gaze on Torkild.
"Yeah, Torkild," he said icily. "So sweet. Why don't you—"
"Why don't you run along, Dragon Boy?" Torkild interrupted him. "Maara is a lady, who deserves attention from a gentleman. Like myself," he added pompously.
"I think one of the requirements for being a gentleman includes bathing on a regular basis," Erik pointed out, and Maara had to stifle a laugh.
"Ha ha, Erik, very clever. A little dirt never hurt anybody," he sniffed. "Come on, Maara. We don't need him making snide comments when we could be having a rousing intellectual discussion about something!"
"Like what?" she asked.
"Like whatever it is that those sophisticated people talk about."
"You do realize that we're Vikings, right? 'Sophisticated' isn't even in our limited vocabulary," Erik said drily. "Why don't you just show her how far you can toss a sheep? Or rip a sapling out of the ground with your bare hands? Or bang your head against a rock to split it in two?"
"I'll have you know that the last time I tried that, I got a concussion and saw two of everything for a week!"
"Truly inspiring."
"You know what, Erik?" Torkild shouted. "I've had enough of your snarky attitude! I don't care who your dad is, I'll gladly put you in your place any time!" He raised his fists menacingly. Off to the side, Storm snarled loudly, and Torkild's Nightmare responded in kind.
"Guys, come on, don't—" Maara tried to intervene, but neither of them were listening.
"Please, Torkild. My biceps might not be larger than my head, but I'm half a foot taller than you. And while you might not care who my dad is, maybe you should think for a moment about who my mother is."
Torkild didn't look swayed, but Kyla appeared between them and shoved them apart. "Torkild, don't be an idiot. You know Astrid is the fiercest warrior on Berk. Do you think she'd let Erik grow up to be completely helpless? His little sister could probably wipe the floor with your face. And you, Erik," she rounded on him. "Just because you're smart doesn't mean that it's okay for you to be rude. You're both acting like children and upsetting the dragons. Now, I want both of you to apologize. I said now!" she yelled when neither of them moved.
Erik grudgingly stuck out his hand first. "I'm sorry, Torkild. My attitude is, as usual, uncalled for. I shouldn't be so quick to throw out insults."
After a brief moment, Torkild reached out and firmly shook Erik's extended hand. "I'm sorry I always get angry. Besides, it's not like your insults don't make sense," he grinned. "Maybe I'll take a bath today. Who knows?"
"Ahem." Everyone turned to see Fishlegs standing in the tunnel, watching them with an eyebrow raised. "Now that violence has been successfully averted for the time being, shall we begin?"
The class was spent discussing scenarios in which one might find themselves face to face with an angry dragon. They went through ways to calm the different classes and types of dragons, and Maara was pleased that she was able to contribute equally to the discussion. Afterwards, she found herself talking to Kyla.
"Where's Mika?" the other girl asked.
"I guess she wasn't feeling well this morning. She didn't want to get up, and she looked really miserable, so I went and got Gobber to come look at her. He said that she just needed some rest, and not to worry. I was going to stay with her, but he told me it would be better if I let her be for a while."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope she feels better soon."
"Me too. Everything just seems weird today. Like Erik and Torkild fighting."
Kyla snorted. "What did you expect? They're guys. I mean, how would you like it if some random girl started hitting on Erik?"
Maara felt a blush rise on her cheeks. "It would be none of my business," she said.
"Please," Kyla scoffed. "You'd get possessive, too. It's totally normal. In fact, I'm surprised he wasn't more upset."
"He had no reason to get upset at all—"
"Of course he did! You two are very close. You spend practically all your free time together. Do you really think he'd let someone else— especially Torkild— step in and make advances on you?"
Maara had zero personal experience with romantic relationships, but what Kyla was saying made sense. That didn't make it any less alarming, though. "I don't know what I think," she said, rather miserably.
"Don't feel bad," Kyla said encouragingly. "Erik's really not like other guys. I mean, I personally don't always follow his sense of humor, and some might consider him a bit nerdy, but he's really intelligent and kind. I also wasn't kidding earlier about his mom. He's an extremely capable warrior, you've seen him use a sword. And he's amazing with dragons, just like the Chief. But he's never been arrogant about his strengths. If I were you, I'd consider myself very fortunate to have his companionship. But if you decide you don't want to be that close with him, he will accept that. He might not like it, but he won't give you a hard time like some other guys would."
What did she want? She thought about all the time she had spent with Erik since she had arrived on Berk. Learning about dragons, flying, talking about random ideas, even practicing with their swords. It had helped tremendously with the sadness she'd been feeling since she had left home. In fact, she'd never had more fun with another person, not even Aeri. And she didn't want that to change. "I just want to have him as a friend, for now at least."
Kyla nodded. "He'll probably be the best friend you could ask for, then. Just… don't hurt him if you can help it. I know my relationship with him basically consists of friendly competition, but I've known him my whole life. So I care what happens to him."
"I'll do my very best," Maara promised seriously.
"Speak of the devil…" Kyla looked pointedly past her and Maara turned to see Erik approaching. "Hey, Erik! You ready to race? Or should I say, ready to lose? I've been feeding Kaunis a lot of chicken, and she's never been faster."
"Actually, Kyla, I can't today," he said, a funny expression on his face.
"Aw, why not? I bet Maara wants to race, don't you, Maara?" Maara didn't answer. Nervous. That was it! He looked distinctly nervous.
"What's the matter, Erik?" she asked, wondering what in the world could have him shifting on his feet and rubbing his hands together like that.
"I, um…" he wasn't quite meeting her eyes. "I have something to show you, actually."
"Can it wait until after the race?" Kyla butted in.
"No, actually, it can't." He reached out and snagged Maara's wrist, pulling her after him towards Storm.
"Bye, Maara!" Kyla called cheerfully, but Maara wasn't having it. She yanked her arm away, scowling at him when he turned around in surprise.
"Just because I'm small doesn't mean you can drag me around," she said hotly.
"Maara, please." He looked pained now.
"What's going on?" she demanded. "Where are you taking me?"
"Would you please just trust me? Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?"
Her frown relaxed, and she reluctantly had to reply, "No, you haven't. But why won't you tell me?"
"It's a surprise."
"A surprise?" she asked dubiously.
"Yes," he said, sounding exasperated now. But he was smiling. "Come on. I think you'll like it." So she found herself waving at the people she'd come to consider her classmates from her position on Storm's saddle, then wrapped her arms around Erik's waist as he told her to hold on. No matter how many times they did it, Maara always felt a thrill as Storm took off, her powerful wings carrying them skyward in a rush of wind. The sky had been mostly overcast lately, and today was no exception, but to her pleasure she realized that her new clothes were actually keeping her perfectly warm in the chilly autumn weather.
In a few moments, they were over the village, and Storm set down on a quiet street near the square. Was her surprise here? she wondered as she slid to the ground. There weren't any people around, and she didn't know who these houses belonged to. But Erik just said, "Not here," then took her hand and led her down the street to the open square. When she saw who was gathered there, her confusion mounted.
There was a large group of people with their dragons. But not just any people. There was Aeri, and Vasara and Haku, dressed in their new clothes. For once, her brother actually looked sort of happy. Winter, who she was somewhat acquainted with, stood next to Chief Hiccup, Astrid, Gobber, and Valka. What were they all doing there? It looked like they were waiting for something… as she and Erik drew closer, she saw that they were all grinning broadly, and even the dragons looked excited.
Finally she stood before them, Erik and Storm on either side of her, looking between them all with bewilderment. "What…" Then they parted, and she saw that there was another dragon hidden behind them. "Mika? What are you doing here? Are you feeling better?" she hurried towards her dragon, then stopped in her tracks. There was something on Mika's wing. Her bad wing.
"I don't understand…" she whispered, then Toothless lifted his tail and gave it a little wave. His red tail fin opened and shut. Her eyes went back to Mika, who was extending her wing. It was covered in the same red fabric, the shredded membrane hidden from sight. A complicated frame of metal stretched the fabric to match the exact shape and movement of the appendage below it.
"Maara." It was Erik. She hadn't heard him approach. His voice was gentle, and she tore her gaze from her dragon to look him in the eye.
"Erik." She swallowed. "Is… is that…"
He nodded, smiling as comprehension dawned.
"You mean… she can…" Maara couldn't finish the thought.
"She can fly, Maara."
Her hands flew up to cover her mouth as she gasped, and tears sprung forth to spill down her face. Immediately she turned and jumped up to wrap her arms around Erik's neck, and he caught her as she buried her face in his shoulder and cried.
"Oh my gods!" she sobbed. He set her down and she ran to embrace Mika. "Oh, gods, Mika! You can fly!" Her dragon sounded like she was chuckling, and happy amazement bubbled up in her throat until she was laughing, too, through her tears. "Oh, Mika! This is incredible!" Leaning back, she raised an eyebrow. "You weren't sick at all this morning, were you?" Mika shook her head unabashedly, prompting Maara to hug her again.
With one hand on her dragon's neck, she turned to look at all of the people behind her. "And you knew? All of you knew this whole time?"
They all smiled, nodding. "We didn't tell you, because we didn't know if it would work or not," Erik said. "And then, when it looked like it was going to work, we wanted to keep it a surprise until it was finally ready."
"How did you do it?" she asked incredulously, running her fingers over the prosthetic and marveling at its design.
"Well, my dad, Aeri, and Gobber designed it and built it," he explained. "They've had experience building prosthetics, though nothing quite like this. The rest of them, dragons included, worked with Mika to get her back in flying shape."
"Erik was the one who suggested that we do it," Aeri told her. "It was his idea."
Maara looked back at Erik, who looked sheepish. "All I really did was keep you busy while they worked."
She just walked forward and embraced him again, feeling lighter than air with his arms around her. "That is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, Erik." she said softly. "Thank you."
Letting go of him, she went around and hugged every person and dragon there. Even Winter's Skrill stood still and allowed her to hug his neck.
"Thank you all, so much," she said, wiping her eyes. But they were all still watching her expectantly. "Now what?"
"Now, we fly," Erik answered. Winter went inside the forge and came back out carrying a saddle.
"This would be my second attempt at making a saddle," he told her as he helped her put it on Mika's neck. "So if there's anything wrong with it… blame Aeri."
He winked when he said it, and they both grinned when Aeri shouted, "I heard that!"
"It's perfect, Winter," she said once she was seated on it. "It's just right."
"Glad to hear it," he smiled. "It should last for a while, it's supposed to be flexible enough to fit her as she continues to grow."
They had thought of everything. Maara was hit by another wave of emotion, and she blinked back fresh tears. Once everyone was up in their own saddles, Erik called over, "After you!"
She took a deep breath, placing her hands on Mika's horns. "Okay, Mika. Show me what you got." Obliging, the Grimler spread her wings and with one strong leap she was airborne. It only took Maara a few moments to adjust, then it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. So that's why Erik made me practice riding all those other dragons, she realized. So I would be comfortable on my own.
She whooped with sheer elation, and Mika roared in response. Looking over her shoulder, Maara saw that the rest of the dragons were in formation behind them. Erik was the closest, and with a few beats of Storm's wings they were side by side.
"How does it feel?" he shouted.
"Amazing! This is amazing!"
"I don't know about you, but Mika looks like she's ready to have some fun!"
"Then lets have some fun," she said to her dragon, who glanced back with a smirk. They spun and dove, flying as fast and wild as Maara had when she rode behind Erik on Storm. Every so often she'd catch a glimpse of the other riders, who were having their own fun.
They passed over the Academy, and Maara could see that her classmates were still there with their own dragons.
"Want to show off?" Erik called to her, and she nodded in affirmation. "Alright, don't go too far." Storm pulled into a screaming dive to catch their attention, then Erik yelled at them to get their butts in the air. Soon Maara and Mika were surrounded by their classmates, who were exclaiming with disbelief and excitement.
"How is she flying?"
"That is so cool!"
"Now you can race with us!" That remark had come from Kyla, who grinned mischievously.
"Let's save that one for another time," Maara replied with a laugh. "For now, I think we just want to fly."
So they did. Both groups of riders mingled in the air, playfully chasing each other and soaring freely, just for fun. Maara had never felt so loved as she did that afternoon, surrounded by her friends and her family as they celebrated Mika's return to the sky.
Aw. Was it a happy surprise? I thought so.
Next week... more dramatic developments. It's finished, but if there's something you're craving to read, let me know. If I can, I'll try and stick it in there for you. (This offer does not include Shade and Ash becoming mates. Patience. Their time will come.) So far there's some Erik/Hiccup time, some Aeri/James/Haku business, some Toothless/Lightning stuff, and some Hiccup (with some Haku). Sound like fun?
See you then ;)