AN: Let's be honest people, its past midnight, my parents are in Paris for the long weekend, I haven't slept in a long time and I'm going a little crazy because of the exams next week and all the chores I still have to finish until my parents come back tomorrow; so yes, I apologize for the mistakes and also the ones from the last chapter but I feel the need to write something and post it because I've been so lazy the past days. So yeah, I'm sorry for this,
Love Kate.
Chapter Sixty-Nine: Stuck with you
Hopes dreams that night were different. They still frightened her and she was confused when she woke up but at the same time she felt a strange sensation of longing and…sadness and…loneliness…
She sat alone in her brothers and hers tent. Torren had a habit of working till late r getting up in the middle of the night and work until got tired again.
He too had his problems since the mysterious disappearance and very likely death of their parents.
The cracking of the fire was the only sound.
With the tip of her right index finger she touched the smooth edges of her mother's pendant.
It was a smooth and black, very flat but hard, oval shaped stone and as big as her palm. It looked black in the dim light but when she held it against the flames it glistened like a whirlpool of pink and purple inside.
It hung from a leather cord and was usually hidden underneath her cloth but whenever she thought of her mother she would take it out and look at it.
Her mother had once told her how her father, Hopes grandfather, had in a desperate attempt to defend the tribe, thrown his spear and how it had done no damage but to loosen one of the scales. Ever since then he wore it as a sign of triumph and passed it on to his only child, Hopes mother. And she gave it to Hope, only days before she and her father disappeared in the desert forever.
Hope bit down on the inside of her cheek. She would not cry.
She slipped the pendant back under her tunic and sighed.
"What is it that you want?" she mumbled into the darkness.
You.
The voice came from nowhere.
She jumped, her heart beat wildly.
"Who's there?" she asked, searching blindly for a weapon while eyeing the shadows.
Don't fear me.
Easier said than done.
And then she felt it. Another presence entering her consciousness. Something soft and gentle brushed against her mind, giving her comfort and warmth.
I found you.
It sounded as though the speaker could not believe it.
You are real. You are Brave's blood.
And suddenly it was gone.
Hope shivered.
You are Braves blood.
She knew what that meant.
Every child knew the legend.
Brave had been a healer's son. He was young and inexperienced, but of strong will.
When Kinkal decided that it would stay neutral in the war of nations, Brave belonged to those that wanted to fight.
It was said that he formed a bond with a dragon and went to battle. But when he returned severely injured for help he was send away and succumbed to his injuries on the battle field.
Legend has it that he cursed his old tribe, because ever since that day the tribe had been followed by the dark shadow.
Brave the traitor, Brave the dreamer, Brave the soldier, Brave the dragon rider, Brave the man from her dreams.
She shivered.
She needed to talk to Thea.
Hiccups P.o.V.
Hiccup was counting stars.
Yes, it was as cheesy and girly as it sounded but it did the job. The job of staying awake while on guard-duty.
The sand was still warm against his legs and itched in his pants. He tried not to think about it.
Gods he was bored.
Everything was quiet inside the camp. Flames licked in the fire-pits and the soft breeze made the shadows dance.
He glanced up at the sky and groaned. Another two hours before he could wake Josh to take over.
What should he do? Even Toothless was asleep, snoring contently next to him.
Bored he started drawing pictures into the sand.
But he was interrupted by fast steps on sand somewhere to his right.
He got up, peeking into the darkness.
"Hello?" he asked silently. "Anybody there?"
Nothing.
He shrugged it off. Probably just the wind.
He was about to sit down again when he heard it again.
Soft footsteps and the rustling of cloths.
He reached for a torch but decided against it.
Carefully he slipped through the shadows and tried to see what caused the disturbance in the night.
He rounded one corner and imminently fell back into the shadows.
One tent was still lit up.
He knew it. Thea stayed there. Kate had spent her fist nights there too before moving in with them.
But why was the old lady still up?
Then the wind carried voices over to him and the curiosity got the better of him.
He slid closer.
"I swear Thea, that's what I saw. What I've seen for the past months. Ever since…ever since…"
It was Hope. She sounded heartbroken but also confused and scared at the same time.
The voice of Thea spoke. She sounded confident and calming.
"It's just your nerves. Dreams like this happen. They mean nothing." "Not even if they occur every night?" "Especially then. You are still confused and hurt, trying to cope. It's perfectly normal."
"They scare me."
"There's nothing o be afraid off."
"Then what about the incident yesterday with the dark shadow?"
Thea sighed. "Child, it was nothing. Just a coincidence. It was probably startled by your presence."
There was a short moment of silence.
Then Hope said: "No. You are mistaken. I could feel him. Inside my heart. He…he's searching for me."
"Why should it do that? It's just a brainless beast sent to torture us."
"That can't be all that is to the story."
Suddenly Thea sounded harsh. "But it is child. And you'd be wise to accept it and do not dwell on it and to leave it be."
There was silence again.
"You don't understand. You don't want to help me." Hope said angrily. Thea sighed.
"Just go to bed Hope. Forget about the beast. It's none of your business."
There was the sound of fats and angry footsteps.
Then Hope stormed out of the tent.
Thea followed just a few feet behind her.
"Hope! Don't you dare run off me like that!"
"Why not? I thought none of it is my business." Hope shot back.
She swirled back around and faced her teacher.
"But you are wrong. It is my business."
She left the old woman standing there and rushed back to where she had come from.
Hiccup knew he shouldn't leave her in a state like that so he decided to follow her.
He frowned when she didn't return to her tent but grabbed a nearly finished sword from one of the forges and strode determinedly towards the boundaries of the camp. And the magical barrier that kept the beast outside.
Just a step away from said barrier Hope hesitated for a second but then strode onward, determination clear in her movements.
Hiccup knew he had to stop her.
"Hope. What are you doing?" he asked silently and tried to keep his voice even and not suspicious.
Hope swirled around, clearly not expecting anyone. And especially not him.
"What do you want here?" her distain was clear as mud and she shifted the sword awkwardly in her hands.
He tried to look casual.
"Ah, you know, I was just on guard duty, counting stars, doing usual guy stuff and then suddenly I heard a noise and saw you running through the camp. I was surprised and followed you here."
Was that relief in her eyes? Because she thought he didn't know anything about her talk with Thea about her dreams?
She tried to look dignified and in control of the situation.
"You had no right to do so."
"Maybe." He shrugged it off and stepped closer. "But I was worried."
"You don't even know me." She answered stiffly.
He shrugged.
"For all you Know I could be your enemy." She continued.
He smiled slightly. "I don't really think so."
"How would you know?"
"I've met my own fair share of people and I like to think of myself as an expert what it comes to reading people by now. You look to me like an ally, not an enemy."
"We barely know each other."
He laughed which seemed to confuse her.
"Oh believe me, you don't know how often I've heard and said those words myself." But then he grew serious again.
"I'm trying to prove myself to be trustworthy."
"By spying on me?"
"Not exactly. But close."
He made another step towards her and she raised the sword.
He help his hands up.
"Keep it calm. I'm not trying to stop you or anything."
"But why wouldn't you? Shouldn't you want to bring me to the elders and tell them how I've tried break the law and how you caught me red-handed?"
He shook his head.
"Then they would think of me as a know-it-all-say-it-all. No thanks. I just want to know what's wrong."
She glared at him.
"Why would I tell you?"
"Because I know what you feel like."
She stiffened again.
"No one knows what I feel like." She hissed.
"I do." Hiccup confirmed and made another step.
She made one back and raised the sword higher. "Stay back." She growled.
He shrugged. "It's too late anyway. We've already passed the border. So unless there is someone coming to let us in, I think you are stuck with me for the night."
He was right.
They had been so buried in their conversation that they hadn't paid any attention to where they were going.
Hopes expression got lost for a second but then she caught herself again.
"What do you want?" she asked again.
He hesitated.
"I…I've heard you talk about those dreams of yours and how they repeat and then the…incident…yesterday. I just wonder what's going on here and I might have an idea but if you want help you must tell me what's going on."
She glared at him angrily.
"I'm going to find that dragon and find out the truth. That's what's going on." She swirled around and stormed off.
"Wait, I'm coming with you." He called behind her.
"That's a joke, right?" she asked disbelievingly as he caught up with her. He shook his head.
"I'm good with dragons. I can help you, I'm sure of it."
She eyed him up for a moment.
"Try not to get into my way." She growled and stormed off.
With one eye on the way she held her sword he mumbled: "I try my best."