A/N: I decided to turn this into a story instead of just a smut-fic so there will be some Norse Mythology in this mix and new powers, new enemies, and new lands. There will also be new relationships and some old ones. So without further ado, here is Chapter 2 of the Dragon Bond. Don't forget to leave a comment if you liked it! Enjoy!
Chapter 2: A Warning of Doom and Destiny
When Astrid woke up she was groggy and disoriented. She cracked her eyes open wearily, rubbing the sleep from them and yawning. Heaving a sigh she sat up and looked around. Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock and confusion. She was in some kind of room or space that was completely white and glowing: The walls, floor and ceiling all shimmered of a silvery substance. More importantly: She was stark naked! That's right. She, Astrid Hofferson the Shield Maiden, was wearing her birthday suit and blushing furiously once the fact dawned on her.
"This can't be real!" She muttered angrily.
She glanced around and her eyes fell on the sleeping form of a young man. He looked beautiful and handsome at the same time. He was medium height and of slender but strong build. His skin, if you could call it that, was covered in overlapping black scales. He had slender angel-like wings that were also black and scaly. His ears were larger than normal and roundish almost like those of a Night Fury and on a slightly amusing side, he had a long serpentine tail with two triangular ends forking outwards.
His wings were wrapped snugly around his otherwise naked form and his tail twitched as he slept. He was obviously dreaming about something the way his body started and the way he moaned. It seemed to be a pleasurable dream and Astrid blushed furiously as she stared at him. She knew she shouldn't be a pervert and look away but she couldn't resist gazing at this strange and beautiful boy.
Said specimen moaned and rolled over snuggling up next to her and his eyelids fluttered briefly revealing piercing green eyes. He murmured something under his breath that made her heart skip a beat: "Astrid!"
It couldn't be! Why would a complete stranger – albeit a gods-damned sexy one! – call her name while he was dreaming? Then again there was something distinctly familiar about this boy. Astrid could not put her finger on it but she could have sworn on Thor's Hammer that they met before!
"That's because you have met!" An elderly masculine voice said from behind.
Astrid yelped in fright and spun around grasping for her trusty axe. Most infuriatingly it was not there and she cursed loudly glaring daggers at the newcomer. An old man with white hair and a white beard stood before her. He wore a black robe and hood and carried a gnarled oaken staff. A crow sat on either shoulder and two wolves sat on their hindlegs at his side. He had only one eye that seemed to bore into her very soul.
"Odin!" Astrid whispered reverently.
Instantly she lay completely prostrate before the god of Valhalla who rolled his eyes at her behavior.
"While I appreciate your respect such behavior is not fitting for one of your status," Odin said in a gravelly voice.
"But you are the king of Valhalla!" Astrid whispered fearfully. "Am I dreaming? This can't be real! What have I done to offend you, great one?"
"You have done nothing, child," Odin said gently. "Please, rise before me and stand tall and proud like the Valkyrie you are."
Astrid's head was spinning. "Valkyrie? What do you mean?"
"Surely you know what the Valkyrie are?" Odin sighed.
"Yes of course I do!" Astrid retorted unable to resist rising to the challenge. She stood up and covered her private parts awkwardly though knowing the god could probably see her anyway. "They are the shield maidens, your handmaidens, who help to transport dead Vikings from the battlefield unto Valhalla, those that are worthy at least."
"Indeed," Odin said with an approving smile. "And you have been chosen to become one of them."
"How?" Astrid asked incredulously.
"By bonding with the offspring of Lightning and Death itself!" Odin explained.
"Toothless?" Astrid asked and suddenly the scabs seemed to fall from her eyes and she realized that the strangely beautiful boy before her was, in fact, her newfound lover – possibly the only Night Fury remaining in existence.
"Yes, that is correct," Odin confirmed. "By bonding with a dragon you have proven yourself worthy to ascend the ranks of Valhalla upon death."
Astrid's jaw dropped.
"I am honored!" She whispered in reverence.
"But you cannot become one yet," Odin interjected. "You still have many years of your life left to live, hopefully."
"Hopefully?" Astrid enquired worriedly. If a god said hopefully that was not a good sign!
"Yes," Odin nodded. "I appeared before you in this vision to give you a warning and reveal some of your destiny. The Fates have forbidden me from revealing all of it for it shall be made clear to you in time depending on the choices and decisions that you make. But know this; your bond with that dragon is the most important thing in this world. It is required to prevent a dreadful evil from occurring."
"What evil?" Astrid asked.
"The Ragnorak!" Odin revealed, his eyes darkening.
"What? How? I thought that wasn't supposed to happen for thousands of years if at all!" Astrid panicked, the apocalypse was something that wasn't supposed to occur for a while let alone at all.
"Dark forces are at work to pervert the laws of nature," Odin revealed. "An old enemy has returned and is attempting to subjugate the dragons by use of dark magic and witchcraft. This has unleashed chaos upon the mortal world by awakening creatures and monsters that had been previously banished. By carrying out this desecration he has unknowingly brought about the end times, the last days. Ask Gothi, your healer, about the Prophecy of the Last Dragon Riders. She will be able to tell you more and reveal your role in the Ragnarak. It should not happen, not too soon. But I cannot interfere in the lives of mortals and am already stretching the limits by informing this to you."
"Thank you Odin!" Astrid said reverently.
"It is my pleasure," Odin chuckled. "I do not want Valhalla to get overpopulated and watching you mortals carry out your daily existence is an amusing pastime. But one more thing before I go: Your bond will have some side effects. You will receive new aspects of existence – a new form, new powers and abilities. More I cannot say but I must warn you about this. Such a shock might end your days and I wouldn't want to see you too soon!"
"Thanks…I think…" Astrid muttered, unsure how she was supposed to react.
New powers could be a bonus but a new form? That was something she didn't want to think about just yet!
"Now go!" Odin commanded. "Return to your mate and explain this to him. Carry out my instructions and the world might yet see a few more millennia. If not…"
His voice trailed off warningly and Astrid nodded in agreement. She bowed before him one last time before the crows began flapping their wings and squawking as they flew around him in a whirlwind of darkness and feathers. The wolves howled and vanished with their master as Odin disappeared, leaving Astrid alone with a very different Toothless. The Shield Maiden kneeled down and straddled her lover's waist. She lay on top of him and planted a kiss on his forehead before wrapping her arms around him and closing her eyes.
"Let us return to the real world, my lover," Astrid cooed softly as Toothless purred in his sleep beneath her touch. "There is much work to be done and little time to do it in!"
To Be Continued…