Dusk was beginning to make its arrival on Berk as you walked along the stony path towards the great hall. The sky turning dark while hues of red, orange and pink danced around on the horizon. The torches that stood around the village had been lit, giving off a warm and soothing glow. It was so peaceful, it was hard to imagine that only a mere four hours ago this place was bustling with Vikings and dragons of all ages. Now there were only a small number of them, some feeding their livestock while others were heading towards the hall for their dinner.
You'd managed to clean yourself, Ashers and your swollen face up (You'd even managed to get that horrible fishy smell out of your clothes. The saddle still stank though) your grandmother gave you a herbal tea that soothed the pain and your nerves (quite a bit actually, it did taste kind of funky but you decided not to ask what was in it, afraid of the answer you'd be giving.). The swelling had gone down but it was still noticeable, you'd even let your (H/C) hair down and let it sit naturally over your shoulder, small curly strands covering your you could tell and it didn't fool your family. They'd been asking your questions about what had happened. You wanted to tell them the truth but you knew they'd actually go on a murderess rampage and you'd rather try and set a relatively good example when eating in the hall. Which was why you lied to them, saying you had a fight with a low hanging branch. They'd bought it for now but it all depended if anyone let slip in front of them this evening.
Speak of this evening, you were actually looking forward to it. Aside the fact you had to spend it with your grandparents. You were starving and dying for a mug of cold mead. If there was one thing you enjoyed about being in Berk it definitely was the food. You were sure as you approached the large gates to the hall that you caught the scent of roast chicken or mutton, it was almost like it was there to lure you in- and you were hooked.
As you push the door open with all your strength, you were greeted by the sound of laughing and cheering from various Vikings who were chatting amongst themselves, it looked like a very merry gathering. The place was lit up by various torches and a large fire-put where a hog was roasting on a spit. To say the place was so big and grand, it felt so cosy and welcoming. There were various paintings/shields/axes and everything you could think of placed around the room, there were even a few dragons sitting peacefully beside their owners, hoping they'd get a sneaky leg of mutton or a fish or two. A grumbled from your stomach erupted as the smell of food danced around your nose. You follow your family towards a relatively empty table, sitting down beside your Aunt while your grandpa sits opposite you, your grandma volunteered to go get the food even though you insisted in going- she was stubborn women, it ran in the family.
"So (Y/N), I forgot to ask you, how did the race go?" Asked your Aunt. Amidst all the 'tree branch hitting' stories you'd not actually spoken to your family about the actual race, you were kind of hoping they wouldn't ask, after you would of came last if it hadn't been for those two white sheep that had been placed in your basket- you still had no idea how they got there.
"Oh um it was okay, I mean it's not really my thing, I've never really done anything like that before apart from helping my father move baskets of fish from the boats up to the huts and even then they weren't moving targets. Still I done well to say it was my first time."
"Ach well there's always next time isn't there?!" She chuckled.
NEXT TIME!? There was going to be a next time? Oh man you really hoped not. At least not for a while you were still recovering from all the 'excitement' you had today. Maybe if you'd done some training and not go in blind then you'd consider it.
"Y-yeah next time" You trail off, looking over your grandpa's shoulder and onto the pillar behind him. You'd noticed that grandpa Rodmar hadn't said a word since you'd left the hut. Infact since you'd met him after the race he'd hardly said a word apart from the odd sentence. You decided to just ignore him, he was a lot grumpier these days.
"I'm surprised you're not sitting with your fellow dragon riders." Kari began, waking you up from your small daydream, her brown eyes staring at the side of your head. "Don't think you need to sit with us, lass. We won't be offended…well I won't at least, can't say the same for mr. grumpy over there."
You glance up at the women who smiled gently at you in return. That was one of the many things you loved about your Aunty Kari. She knew how independent you were and that you liked your own (and your dragons) company. She also knew that you didn't exactly get along with your grandparents, they were still stuck in their own time and expected a lot more things from you than you could achieve. They also weren't keen on you owning a dragon. 'Fowl, evil beasts that can never be tamed' they would say. 'They shouldn't be kept as pets, they should be hunted just like they have been for hundreds of years'. It boiled your blood so much you'd often find yourself leaving the room just to scream of punch a wall. You knew all this change had been difficult for them but still you felt like there was no reason for them to act around their granddaughter like that- they did anyway. At least your aunt accepted how things were now, in fact she always keep going on about how she wanted her own dragon, but could never decide which type she wanted, you wanted to try and help her but she always said 'your dragon found you so I'm going to wait for my dragon to find me'. You couldn't help but laugh at her determination. Nevertheless it wasn't often you got to see your family in Berk so it would only be polite if you stayed, surely your Grandparents wouldn't be up in your face during meal time. They'd already slagged off your dragon for 'hurting your face; even though you explained to them nearly five times that he'd saved you and it was your own fault. What else could they moan about?
"N-no it's okay! I'm not exactly an official dragon rider anyway, so I'm not exactly worthy of the chiefs table." You respond with a shrug. It was true, you did ride a dragon but you weren't actually a part of the team- not that It bothered you.
"Oh come on lass, I'm sure you are worthy, right pa?" Kari speaks up, trying to get reassurance from your grandfather, who remains silent.
"Worthy of what, Kari?" You look up to see your grandmother carrying four plates loaded with food- about time! You were ready to chew the legs of this table! She sets one down in front of your watering mouth, it looked so good. A large chicken leg, some mutton and a bunch of vegetables and new potatoes. (Annnnnd some herring on the side but you decided to ignore that part- ugh how you hated fish). Instantly you start tucking into your food, taking a big bite into the mutton, it was divine!
"She says she's not worthy of sitting at the Chiefs table because she's not an 'official dragon rider'" Your aunt responds, waving a leg of chicken as she spoke.
"Oh dear you don't want to be sitting with them ruffians. They're reckless and a bad influence on you."
"Excuse me?" You swallow you food before looking over at the older women, raising your eyebrow at her. There was a loud thump on this table that made you jump, your eyes darted over at your grandfather, his scruff eyebrows furrowed as his eyes glared at you.
"You heard her girl. They're hooligans, always flying off into danger or brining danger here with those flying beats. This is not how you run an island, Stoick made a grave mistake not killing these dragons and look what it did to him, it was his owns sons dragon that finished him off. And now it runs around wild amongst us? What if it kills again? What would you do if your dragon just turned around to try take a bite of your family? It's just like any animal as soon as it turns you throw an axe right between its eyes! These aren't the kind of people I want my granddaughter to be involved with, you're better off getting rid of that lizard of yours and following your father's footsteps."
You bit your tongue, so hard that you were sure you could taste blood in your mouth. As soon as you thought your family couldn't hit a new low they prove you wrong. Sure the last part you'd heard countless times but the rest of it? That certainly was new. Did he really just say that about his own new Chief and former one? It was outrageous. You knew he wasn't happy about the dragons but this was taking it to another level. Yes Stoick nor Hiccup weren't your chief but you still respected them to the highest level. You glared down at your food, the anger inside you was beginning to boil, you wouldn't think twice about punching the old man, as disrespectful it was at this point you didn't care.
With a deep breath you look up at the large man. You hear your aunty whisper something to you but you blank her out.
"Can't we just have a nice, joy filled meal with my family-whom I hardly ever see without you breathing down my neck all the time? You know something Grandpa Rodmar? I-I don't need to take this shit from you. No, I'm not getting rid of Ashers nor should anyone get rid of their dragons just because of your foible minded opinion. You're being extremely disrespectful towards this tribe and towards your clan." You stand up and grab your plate tightly, the temptation to drop in on his head was high but you didn't want to waste good food. Besides you wanted to get through one night without any drama (drama as in actually punching someone) because so far today had just been filed with it. Without another word from you nor him you leave. Although you were sure you heard him grumble something under his breath that made you roll your eyes.
"Seriously Rodmar? Can't you keep your gob shut for one second?" Grandma Olga hissed when you were out of hearing range.
"I know you feel the same way, you said so yourself. She's growing up to be a rouge Viking, she's flying off on that dragon to goodness knows where, doing nothing but making a bad name for herself. Why couldn't she just be a fisherman like her father? Instead of being involved with all this dragon business." He grumps.
"Because that's who she is and you should just accept that. Both of you should." Snapped Kari.
Both Vikings looked at each other, staying silent.
"Good now can we eat please? I'm starving!"
As your 'family' finally began tucking into their now that you could only presume was an awkward meal, you went against your grandparents wished and made your way to the chiefs table.