CHAPTER 28: FINALE PART 1

SUMMARY: A delay allows the Dragon Riders to regroup and strategize with their old allies against dragon-hunters, the Wingmaidens. While there, Ruffnut and Astrid have new differences that threaten their friendship, and Mister Thorston meets someone new. In all, their path to confront Grimmel becomes uncertain.

Atali, the Wingmaiden leader, demounted from her adult Razorwhip dragon, which had a long slender neck and body furnished with long plates of silver scales that glinted in the fading afternoon sunlight.

"Greetings, Dragon Riders, and Master Hiccup," Atali said with a velvety-clear and feminine voice. She bowed slightly while clad in her shining silver armor and helmet, and the outstretched baby-wings of a Razorwhip hatchling folded in rest. A group of senior Wingmaidens at her beck-and call climbed from their adult Razorwhips in their care and bowed to their allies also.

Snotlout met the eyes of one Wingmaiden with recognition, and she quickly turned away.

"Atali! It's so great to you again," Hiccup replied. He succinctly explained why they begged for their sanctuary, and without hesitation the Wingmaidens agreed to assist him, remembering how he and his riders had a great hand in protecting them and their Razorwhip dragon sanctuary from the evil doings of Trader Johann and the dragon-trader villains in his network.

Fishlegs, Snotlout, Mister Thorston, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Astrid, and Hiccup were escorted by the Wingmaidens to their camp just as a torrent of rain began to slew down on everyone. The Wingmaidens shared that they had received word that the high-profile auction for various lands throughout the sea-scape was to be postponed for a generous collection of days until the stormy weather passed. However, they all had no doubt that Grimmel and other warlords were strategizing all they could to take the Dragon Rider's unnamed and legally unclaimed isle.

When the morning came, the entire crew was dismayed to see their new, ornate outfits ruined by debris. The Wingmaidens graciously offered to clean their clothes while the Dragon Riders took an opportune time to strategize for themselves in the few final days Odin had granted them.

The first thing Hiccup sought to teach his gang were some basic etiquette rules that only he had learned out of all of them. There were certain ways of asking for seconds at banquets or hands at a dance that Hiccup expected to happen at any important gathering of rich men with pelts that could only be imported by request. The first thing Hiccup tried to teach everyone was a simple Viennese waltz that even the most remote royal Vikings had to learn to fit among their richer allies.

Everyone stretched to themselves on the grass before beginning. Astrid made her way over to Ruffnut to share something on her mind.

"Hey," Astrid said to Ruffnut. Ruffnut acknowledged her with a "what's up?"

"I have to tell you something."

Ruffnut cracked her spine with a side twist and egged Astrid on.

"So Tuffnut and I are kind of a thing now."

"Bleghhh," Ruffnut said, making Astrid grin. Ruffnut continued, "yeah, and?"

"Well, I'm sorry for being kind of mean earlier to you. I see now that it's okay to like who you like."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Like, you were talking about how Hiccup and you had your first time and I was kind of making you feel like he was a rat. I think I was a little jealous."

Ruffnut suddenly went silent. "What are you saying?"

Astrid's mouth went dry. "I-I'm just saying, well, okay. Hiccup and I used to be a thing-a really, really long time ago. So, when you were talking about him, I guess I felt a little threatened. But I realize now that it's ridiculous and I'm...I'm happy for you both!"

Ruffnut looked at Astrid with shock. "S-so that whole thing about him 'not falling in love with just anyone' wasn't even true? You were just trying to...keep me away?"

Astrid swallowed hard. She had never wanted to hurt Ruffnut, but the truth was she had been jealous. Jealous of the easy affection Ruffnut shared with Hiccup, jealous of the way she looked at him, and how easy it was for him to share a special part of himself with her despite him never allowing himself to be as vulnerable with her. She had convinced herself that he was only interested in her, that he would never fall for someone like Ruffnut.

But now, looking at Ruffnut's hurt expression, she felt ashamed. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't have lied to you. I was just...scared, I guess."

Ruffnut's blue eyes turned glassy. "I can't believe this," she said.

"Everyone ready?" Hiccup said. Astrid and Ruffnut turned forward to him, ready to practice waltzing at a more than reasonable distance from each other.

As the group practiced their steps, Astrid couldn't help but feel a different sense of unease. She knew that the coming days would be crucial, and the fate of their Dragon Rider's isle hung in the balance. All of them had to be at their best to ensure the safety of their territory.

"I don't think this dancing will be of any use to us," she spoke up, interrupting Hiccup's instructions.

Hiccup turned to her, surprised by her sudden outburst. "What do you mean? Knowing how to dance is important in these settings. It's all about presenting ourselves as polished and refined."

"But how will that help us in a battle?" Astrid persisted. "We need to focus on our combat skills and come up with a strategy to protect our land."

The rest of the group nodded in agreement, and Hiccup realized that Astrid was right. While etiquette was important, it wasn't the only thing that mattered. They needed to be prepared for anything that might come their way.

"Okay, you're right," he conceded. "Let's focus on combat training for the rest of the day. We need to be ready for whatever may happen."

With that, the group set off to train, determined to do whatever it took to protect their home. They knew that the coming days would be full of challenges, and they needed to be at their very best to face them.

The rain had finally eased some for the day into a sprinkle, yet the sun was now shining brightly over the Wingmaidens' territory. The Dragon Riders wasted no time and got themselves ready for the combat training. Hiccup instructed them to gather their dragon's fire-retardant shields and flame-resistant body armor. Everyone put on their protective gear and began their training.

Astrid led the group in practicing their sword-fighting skills. She had always been a fierce warrior, and her expertise in combat was unmatched. She taught the others how to block and counter-attack with their weapons, taking down imaginary enemies one by one. Ruffnut was extra aggressive in their sparring and didn't bother to help Astrid up when Astrid had lost her footing from the blows of Ruffnut's sword.

Fishlegs and Snotlout paired up with their dragons to practice their aerial combat skills. They flew high into the sky, swooping and diving, narrowly avoiding each other's fire. They practiced their aim and maneuvering, ready for whatever challenge may come.

Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and Gustav took turns practicing hand-to-hand combat. They grappled and wrestled, trying to pin each other down. Atali was teaching them some new moves, and it was clear that they were all getting better.

As the day wore on, the Dragon Riders grew tired, but they persevered.

While the younger members of the band clad iron and practiced tight turns on their dragons over and over again, Mister Thorston rested in a tented main chamber that housed shadows of yellow sunlight from the outside.

He had made a quick excuse during combat training with Hiccup and the younger members of the crew about being too exhausted from the heat. Believing him from his old age, Hiccup had encouraged him to rest, and the ploy had worked for Mister Thorston.

He let his mind wander while eyeing the cryptic patterns of the Wingmaiden's drapes of the shelter, and tried to ignore the hidden pain of an arrowhead that had lodged in his body long ago, during an invasion on Berk where his wife had ran away from their family.

But as his thoughts drifted, they were suddenly interrupted by a sharp pain in his side. He winced and clutched at his chest, feeling the all-too-familiar sensation of the arrowhead shifting inside him.

Atali, entering the Wingmaiden's main shelter to start a bath for the baby dragon she was nursing, noticed Mister Thorston's distress and rushed over to his side. "Are you alright?!" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Mister Thorston shook his head, trying to hide the pain. "I'm fine, woman!" he said, but his voice suddenly strained.

Atali didn't believe him. "Please. Let me see," she said firmly, pulling back his shirt to reveal the wound.

Mister Thorston winced as she prodded at the arrowhead, feeling a fresh wave of pain wash over him. "It's been there for years," he said, trying to play it off as no big deal.

But Atali wasn't fooled. "We need to get that out of there," she said. "I can help you."

Mister Thorston was hesitant. He had lived with the arrowhead for so long, he didn't know what it would feel like to be without it. But he also knew that Atali was right. The pain was getting worse by the day, and he couldn't keep ignoring it.

With a deep breath, he nodded. "Aye, let's do it."

Atali quickly gathered her supplies and set to work. She sterilized the area around the wound and carefully began to extract the arrowhead. Mister Thorston gritted his teeth, the pain almost unbearable.

"No wonder your children are so capable; they must get their strength from you," Atali said. She smiled softly when he looked slightly distracted from his torment. "You have done a great work with them. They were so brave defending our tribe."

But then, something strange happened. As Atali worked, she noticed that the arrowhead wasn't like any she had ever seen before. It was made of a strange metal, with intricate symbols etched into the surface. She couldn't quite make out what they meant, but she knew that they were important.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Atali was able to extract the arrowhead. Mister Thorston felt a wave of relief wash over him, the pain finally subsiding.

Atali examined the arrowhead closely, her brows furrowed in concentration. "I don't know what this is," she said finally. "But I think it's important. We need to find out more about it."

Mister Thorston nodded, suddenly feeling a sense of urgency. He knew that Atali was right. Whatever that arrowhead was, it was important.

"When did you acquire this arrow in your side?" Atali questioned as she needled his side closed.

Mister Thorston winced in a shock of pain from the tug of her thread, and Atali was reminded to be gentle with her rapid stitches.

" 'Twas a long time ago," he said, his mind filled with memories of the past. "During the invasion on Berk. Me wife left me, and I was alone in defending our home. I was hit by'an'arrow, but I managed to escape, and survive."

Atali listened intently, sensing that there was more to the story. "What happened to your wife?" she asked softly.

Mister Thorston hesitated, not sure if he wanted to relive the painful memory. But he knew that he needed to tell someone the truth. "She ran away," he said finally. "She was scared and didn't want to be part of the war. I never saw 'er again."

Atali placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said. "That must have been hard for you."

Mister Thorston nodded, feeling grateful for her kindness. "Yes, I suppose so."

Atali smiled. "I am happy to be here for you," she said. "And I will do whatever it takes to protect our allies and home, just like you."

Mister Thorston returned the smile, feeling a sense of hope.

Atali handed him a small root. After he looked at her cross-eyed, she assured him, "it is only for the pain. I assure you if I wanted you dead I would not hide behind our medicine to kill you, like a coward."

Convinced, Mister Thorston grunted. He accepted the morsel and swallowed it whole.

However, Atali held a pensive expression as she sewed him that made Mister Thorston feel uneasy.

"There's a thorn in yer side?" he commented lowly. "Out with it."

"Yes," Atali confessed, a bit flustered at being commanded to. "Your wife. How did she appear?"

Mister Thorston's eyes became misty. "The more the days pass the fainter I remember. What I can say is, she had the most beautiful, wide brown eyes, and her hair was white as a first snow."

Atali gasped, causing Mister Thorston to face her. Atali whispered, "she was called Ingrid?"

"Aye."

"Ingrid used to live among us. She was a Wingmaiden."

Mister Thorston nearly shot up, but his agony gripped him to stagger to his back, and also Atali's firm hand on his stomach. Once his pain settled to a throb, he said in disbelief. "How can that be?!"

"She must have escaped your home at Berk and found peace with us. I cannot be sure why she ran away, but she talked of you and her children all of the time. She loved you very deeply."

She finished his suture and used a wool rag to clean the blood from his skin. "She was a Wingmaiden of honor, because she was a great mentor to our young girls who also found a sanctuary here from persecution in their villages. She is buried not too far from here, if you wish to see her final resting place. I do understand if you do not wish to."

Mister Thorston was speechless. He couldn't believe that his wife had been so close all this time and he never knew. "I...I would like to see her," he said finally, his voice choked with emotion.

Atali nodded. "I will take you there," she said softly. "But first, you must rest and recover. You have been carrying that arrowhead for far too long, and your body needs time to heal."

Mister Thorston nodded, feeling grateful for her wisdom. "Thank you," he said.

Atali smiled. "Of course," she said. "That's what allies are for."

As she helped him to his feet, Mister Thorston couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could find peace and closure with his wife's passing and begin to heal from the wounds of the past. Atali left his side and collected a bowl of warm water.

"One story she always shared with me was that, you used to sing to her every night before bed," Atali said as she laid a compress over his wound. "She said your voice was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard."

Mister Thorston smiled, feeling a sense of warmth spread through his chest. "I remember," he said. "I used to sing her my clan's lullabies when she couldn't sleep. E'ery sound at night made her scared as a bird."

"May I hear one of your traditional songs?"

"Oh. They're silly old songs with lesser meaning to 'em. But I'll entertain ye."

Atali chortled. "Alright," she said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Mister Thorston cleared his throat and began to sing softly, his deep voice echoing through the small room.

Atali listened intently, her heart swelling with emotion as she heard the sweet melody. She could see why Mister Thorston's wife had loved his singing so much. It was beautiful, raw, and full of emotion.

When he finished, Atali clapped softly. "That was lovely!" she said, smiling. "Thank you for sharing that with me."

Mister Thorston shrugged, a small smile on his lips. "It's nothin' special," he said.

Atali shook her head. "It is more than that," she said. "It is a connection to your past, to your people, and to your loved ones. Never underestimate the power of tradition. I always thought singing to someone you love was very sweet. Your wife was...a fortunate woman to have you in her life. And now, meeting you here, I believe that more than ever."

Mister Thorston was left speechless as Atali seemed in a sudden urgency to collect her tools and wish him a quick recovery. He watched her go in awe. For the first time in years, he had felt his heart skip a beat.

Later, Hiccup and the Dragon Riders reconvened at dinner alongside the Wingmaidens and their very hungry baby Razorwhips.

"Where's dad?" Tuffnut questioned, slurping a hearty bowl of vegetable stew that a junior Wingmaiden had prepared for their guests.

"Your father is in recovery as we speak," said Atali. She stood with a full bowl of stew to deliver to Mister Thorston. "Did you not know he had this lodged inside of him for years?!" She produced a jagged arrowhead with intricate edging to Hiccup.

Hiccup took the metal piece with shock. "I-I had no clue! Tuff, Ruff, why didn't you tell us?!"

"I forgot he had that in there. He said he couldn't even feel it," said Ruffnut. "The gods know what could be inside of me. A boar tusk? That coin I swallowed when I was five? Who knows?"

"Can Atali cut me open, too?" Tuffnut asked sincerely.

Hiccup and Astrid sighed wearily. Hiccup continued, "thanks for doing that, Atali. We'll take it easy on him from here on out."

Atali nodded. "Eat well, Dragon Riders. There is plenty in the pot if you would like more."

The Riders ate heartily and then continued with their strategizing, their muscles energized from sharpening their combat skills earlier in the day.

"I've been thinking," Fishlegs said. "We're in a great position here. We have the Wingmaidens, and the Defenders of the Wing tribe are not too far away, and Beserker Island is within this lattitude. Why don't we just plan a frontal assault on Grimmel and take back Dragon's Edge by force?"

Hiccup chimed in, "I've been thinking that too. But it's really risky, and we're already all worn out from all that traveling we did. Plus, collaborating for a planned attack takes a lot more time than a few days to make it work. That's all we've got until the auction. And if we're not there, Grimmel will be crafty enough take anything he wants in the negotiations."

Astrid leaned in closer to Hiccup, her eyes glinting with irritation. "You gave us all the impression that this was a stealth mission from the start. Isn't that the point of the disguises?"

Hiccup sighed, knowing that Astrid had a point. "Stealth mission it is, but we need more than waltzing skills and some coins to win this fight. We need to make sure we have everything in place before we make our move."

Fishlegs nodded in agreement. "I suggest we enter the auction in teams. One team could be gathering as much information as we can about Grimmel's camp and his army. We need to know how many men he has, what weapons they possess, and what kind of defenses they have in place. Once we have that information, we can start planning our attack. The other team can be involved in negotiating when the time comes for the selling event."

"Which team gets to kick the most butt?" Snotlout said in an outburst.

"That is...a very good question, Snotlout," Fishlegs said. "My answer is, anything could happen, so take your pick."

Astrid went back to the facts. "How much do we have to put up for the island?"

"With everyone's earnings plus your dad's, Tuffnut...it comes to a couple thousand coins."

Everyone looked at each other in surprise and glee.

"Which I'm guessing isn't a quarter of what Grimmel has to work with," Hiccup added to his group's dismay. "There's only one option left-I put up Berk for ransom."

"No!" Everyone shouted.

"Are you stupid?!" Astrid yelled.

"Hiccup," Ruffnut said in exhaustion. "We all talked about this already."

"Gimmie a fucking break," Tuffnut muttered to his stew.

"Guys! We can win the island and totally take him if he comes for Berk. Come on, guys-you're all so...like...spicy tonight! Is it the soup? What's going on?"

"Spicy?" Fishlegs sniggered. Snotlout let a loud laugh rip with Fishlegs. Gustav had perfect timing with a joke about the soup, which sent the three in hysterics.

"This is serious," Hiccup spoke loudly. He failed to pierce the yelps of laughter at the table but pressed on. "If Grimmel wins this thing, it's game over for our dragons and our mission. Unless you have any better ideas, that's what's going to happen!"

"You realize Berk is my homeland too? Not just your birthright?" Astrid spoke, unaffected by the others.

"Can't you be on my side for once? What other choice do we have? We're running out of time."

Astrid shook her head, "I am on your side, Hiccup. But I-still- don't think putting our entire village at risk is the right solution, even if we don't have quite enough money to be on his bidding level." She paused, looking around the table, gauging everyone's reactions. "What if we pooled our resources and tried to negotiate with Grimmel? Maybe we can offer him something else instead of Berk."

"Negotiate with the man who kidnapped you?" Ruffnut laughed. "Good luck with that."

"It's worth a shot," Astrid retorted. "Like you wouldn't have been."

"Oh so?"

"I have to save your ass every time we go on a mission, 'cause you literally suck at fighting."

"Uh...what is happening right now?" Tuffnut said.

Hiccup sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine, Ash. Negotiate something else. But what do we have to offer that would be valuable enough for him to consider?"

"-and you are the worst friend-on the planet!" Ruffnut countered to Astrid's yell.

"Astrid? Hello?" Hiccup tried.

"Tell your boyfriend to stay out of it," Astrid said.

"Sadly, everyone isn't a bossy, scheming bitch like you," Ruffnut spat.

Astrid's eyes flashed with anger as she stood up from the table, her chair clattering to the ground behind her. The entire gang watched her breathe in place.

"Excuse me?" she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I may be bossy, but at least I don't back down when things get tough. And as for being a bitch, I'm not the one who insults her friends for no reason."

Ruffnut opened her mouth to reply, but Astrid cut her off. "You know what? Forget it. I don't have time for this. If you want to keep acting like a child, that's your problem."

She turned to Hiccup, her eyes softening. "I'm sorry, Hiccup. I shouldn't have let Ruffnut get to me like that."

Hiccup nodded, understanding in his eyes. "It's okay, Astrid. We're all feeling the pressure right now. Let's just focus on finding a way to stop Grimmel without losing our heads here."

Ruffnut, with a frustrated whimper, abruptly left her stew and shoved aside the tent partition to the Wingmaidens' sleeping quarters.

Hiccup wristed his fingers in indecision in front of his Riders. He and Tuffnut met eyes, each ready to move if the other decided not to. Suddenly Hiccup quietly excused himself and he slipped into the sleeping quarters behind him.

The remaining group fell into a thoughtful silence as they considered their options. Suddenly, Snotlout spoke up. "You know what? Maybe we're looking at this all wrong. We're assuming that Grimmel wants our island, but what if he just wants something on our island?"

The group turned to look at Snotlout, curiosity etched on their faces. "What do you mean?" Fishlegs asked, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Well, think about it," Snotlout continued, leaning forward in his seat. "Maybe Grimmel is after something specific that we have on the island. Something valuable that he can't get anywhere else. Maybe he's seen something we haven't."

"Toothless," Gustav blurted. The group gasped in realization. Toothless, as they always forgot, was the last of the Night Fury dragons, the most elusive species of dragon kind.

"Oh my gods, Gustav. Why are you making so much sense?!" Astrid chuckled.

While Hiccup and Ruffnut were absent, the Riders had a newfound energy to create an effective plan of action against Grimmel's unknown intentions with their captain's dragon.

Elsewhere, Hiccup quietly made his way through the sleeping quarters, past rows upon rows of Wingmaiden beds. He spotted Ruffnut's distinctive blonde hair and followed it towards the back of the tent.

She was sitting on her bed, hugging her knees to her chest and staring off into space. Hiccup approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. "Hey," he said softly, sitting down next to her on the bed. "You okay?"

Ruffnut shrugged, still not looking at him. "I don't know. I'm just so frustrated. We're supposed to be this great team, but everyone's falling apart."

"I dunno about everyone," Hiccup said with intention. Ruffnut looked off, away from his wise green eyes. "What's going on with you and Astrid?" Hiccup uttered.

Ruffnut stiffened at the mention of Astrid's name. "It's nothing," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Honestly, Ruff," Hiccup insisted. "I know something is bothering you. You can talk to me about it."

Ruffnut sighed deeply, leaning her head against Hiccup's shoulder. "It's just... Astrid and I have always been competitive, you know? But lately, it's like we're at each other's throats."

"It's just...I don't know. Maybe we're both vying for the same thing."

"What thing?" Hiccup pressed, his curiosity piqued.

Ruffnut hesitated for a moment before whispering, "You."

Hiccup's heart lurched. "Ruff, I don't want to come between you and Astrid," he said gently.

"I know," Ruffnut replied, lifting her head from his shoulder. "We both care about you, but we've never talked about it before. It's been building up, and now it's like we're in a competition to win your heart."

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little overwhelmed. "I had no idea,"

he said honestly. "But you don't have to compete for my affection. I care about both of you equally, as friends. We're a team, remember?"

Ruffnut nodded slowly, her blue eyes finally meeting his. "I know. But it's been hard, especially when Astrid gets so...'Astrid' around you."

Hiccup chuckled softly. "She's always been a little protective of me. But I'll talk to her. Maybe we can all sit down and have a chat, figure out how to move past this."

Ruffnut smiled at him, relief evident in her features. "Are we still fighting about you not knowing what we are?"

Hiccup chuckled, the tension between them dissipating. "I guess that argument is still on the table." Hiccup loved to see how quickly he could make her laugh.

As they both giggled in the dark, Ruffnut's gaze shifted to Hiccup's lips.

"You're so stubborn, dragon-nut," Ruffnut said. She then declared with quiet tenacity, "and mine."

Hiccup's heart skipped a beat. He cupped her face, and she melted into him.

"Yes," he whispered against her lips. "I'm all yours." Ruffnut smiled against his mouth, and they shared a slow, sweet kiss. In that moment, Hiccup knew that no matter what happened, he'd always have Ruffnut by his side.

Ruffnut smiled as Hiccup hugged her close, drowning her with his protection through the night. They nestled them onto a comfortable mat, folding securely around each other to sleep.

Next, the rest of the Riders found their own beds. The gang slept on their devised plans to confront Grimmel once and for all in the comforting darkness of the Wingmaidens' fortress. Astrid turned fitfully in her sleep, worried about how she would address her tension with Ruffnut in the morning.

Eventually, Hiccup was left awake, Ruffnut's weight saddled against him and her snores buzzing his chest. His fingers lifted from her hair and slid pensively along the sharp grooves of the mysterious arrowhead Atali had shown him earlier that evening. He was determined to find out the very next day why Mister Thorston still had not revealed his speculation on the archer to anyone.