I apologise that the last couple of Chapters were so short, I hope this makes up for it just a bit

I hope you enjoy, and please your reviews, follows and favourites are keeping me going at this point

Chapter 17 here we go...

Chapter 17 -

It was the day of the first fight, which would start at midday so everyone had the morning to prepare for the event. Astrid was walking around the town and passed a forge on the edge of the village, she could hear a hammer hitting metal so she decided to investigate. As she got closer she could make out there was only one person in the forge who was fully concentrating on their work not noticing the visitor they were about to have.

As she walked in she could see the man in forge and noticing the welders face guard he had on but also noticing he was shirtless, she blushed and was about to walk until she noticed another mask to the side of the man. It was a mask that she very well especially since it was black and had a deep scratch down over where the left eye would be. It was Shadow, finally he could talk to him alone but first she needed to get his attention, but even before that she needed to stop staring and his bare back. His back was muscly and ripped whilst size wise he was not as large as normal Vikings, he was taller than Snotlout but Snotlout was bigger. She could also see multiple scars on his back none of which were large enough to see from a distance but still the amount of scars were surprising.

Shadow was still concentrating fully on his work, he was now not hammering a piece of metal but adjusting some sort of spring. A couple of moments later he had finished and took the face guard off not realising Astrid was right behind him, "Ahem" Astrid coughed so he knew she was there, he dropped the face guard to the floor in surprise but did not turn around. He quickly grabbed his proper mask and clipped it on and adjusted it to fit before turning around to face his visitor.

Astrid's eyes widened now he was facing her and she saw his stomach and chest which were just as muscly and ripped as his back but had no scars. She tried to look at his face but found herself looking at his stomach every time she looked up, "Anything I can help you with?" He asked rolling his eyes at the face she couldn't stare at his, "Ummm... Oh what Umm no" She stuttered, "Why can't I just talk normally around him ok yes he's a little bit more attractive than I first thought but oh wow his arms are nice to" She thought to her self now mentally slapping herself. "What are you working on?" She asked actually wanting to know, "Oh a new prosthetic leg" He said now showing her his creation, "Wow whose it for?" She asked again interested in the what the answer will be, "Oh it's umm for ahhhh...ummmm ... Ok truth time it's for me"He explained, "But you have both legs why do you need it?" Astrid was now confused, Shadow sighed and he pulled his left boot of to reveal his current prosthetic, "Oh umm wow" She honestly did not know what to say, the way he walked, ran and fought she would never have guessed he was missing part of his leg, "How?" She could only ask, "I'd rather not go into details but dragon fight" Shadow explained knowing if he told the complete truth he would blow his cover.

They had been in forge for an hour just talking about all sorts, Shadow was still shirtless but Astrid didn't mind she was enjoying the view, Gods since when did she turn into such a girly girl she thought to herself, "You know I have an idea because I believe that you are the only one not from this island that would be willing" Shadow explained, "Oooh what is it?" She was excited, again mentally slapping herself, "I'm going to help you train a dragon" Shadow announced confidently. Astrid's eyes widened again, she could not believe what she was hearing, he was going to teach her a stranger, a visitor to train a dragon? "Wow he must trust me allot more than first thought" She thought to herself, "But it will be challenging" Shadow explained, "I love a challenge" Astrid said excitingly, Shadow smiled and grabbed his black tunic and put it on, much to Astrid's disappointment and began to lead he out the forge and into the forest.

Meanwhile at the battle arena...

"Ladies and Gentlemen the first battle of the heir is about to begin Snotlout will face Thuggory, Let the competitors enter the arena" Stinger announced, as the two heirs entered the arena and opposite sides from each other.

"Where's Shadow?" Stinger asked riders who shrugged as the did not know.

"Where's Astrid?" Stoick asked the twins and Fishlegs who shrugged aswell.

The two heirs began to circle each other and as the bell tolled as the sign to begin they ran at each other screaming their battle cries.

Elsewhere in the forest...

Astrid and Shadow has not spoke since they were at the forge, they just kept walking through the forest to a clear opening, Shadow gestured for her to stay there, as he walked out into the open and just waited. A few moments passed before a dragon landed in front of him, a Deadly Nadder, the Nadder turned sideways to look at him. Shadow was calm as he had done this plenty of times, but Astrid was visibly nervous and sighed when Shadow gestured for her to join him in the middle.

Astrid now stood to the side of Shadow who just said "Their blind spot is right in front of them so stay to her side so she can you at all times" he instructed as he walked away still facing them, he just wanted to witness this himself. The nerves were pumping through her body, she was shaking and her eyes were full of fear, thinking she needed something to keep her mind of being scared she whispered to herself "Hiccup", Shadow heard this and looked down wanting to take his mask off and show her his face, something inside was stopping him. Astrid now was confident knowing that Hiccup tamed a Night Fury she could tame a Nadder, she studied the dragon and suddenly recognised the colouring of the Nadder's scales and the spikes, it was the same Nadder from dragon training on Berk, "How did this dragon get here" she asked Shadow , "That boy with the Night Fury had some dragons following him who he came here and they were allowed to roam free" Shadow explained, "Now turn your head to face away from her and hold you arm and hand out, you must show that you trust her, that way she will start to trust you" Shadow explained. Astrid was a bit hesitant but did what he said, she turned away from the dragon and closed her eyes, the she fully extended her arm and held her hand up exposing her palm. The Nadder cocked it's head in confusion and was really hesitant to trust the human. Seconds felt like hours to Astrid, she was about to just walk away when she felt scales on her palm, she flinched and turn to see the Nadder nuzzling her hand. Astrid then began to scratch the it's head and neck, to which the Nadder began to squawk in happiness, "Haha well done, you see it wasn't that bad" Shadow congratulated Astrid, who turned and faced him smiling, "Thank you, this is amazing" She commented, "You have to name her by the way" Shadow pointed out.

"I think I will call her Stormfly" Astrid announced, this was welcomed with a happy squawk from the newly name Stormfly. A roar was heard from the sky and Shadow instantly cringed knowing what dragon it came from. Cloudjumper landed with Stinger on his back , and the other riders behind them, Shadow realised he had missed the fight but he didn't care he looked at her ready for what was coming.

I have to have honest I enjoyed writing this chapter, it felt like less fluff than normal

please review

peace out guys