(Chapter Twenty)

(Loredas 11th) (With Stoick and Gobber)

It was close to it being lunch and Stoick, along with Gobber were walking around the village talking amongst themselves wasting time until they go for lunch. They were passing by the chiefs house at this time.

"I 'eard that something happened in the hall yesterday, what was it?" Gobber asks getting off the conversation that they were having since it was just about the boring chores that Stoick complains about almost every time they talk, almost.

"Oh yes, like we thought yesterday, Spitelout challenged Draco to a duel, but like we also thought he declined, Spitelout tried to insult him, but it didn't bother Draco, then he and his friends left pushing passed Spitelout which mad 'im more angry 'e was going to try to do something but that's when I inferred"

"What did 'e say?"

"He called the lad an inbred warrior, I don't what that means but it didn't bother him like I said" Stoick explains.

"'ow would 'e know what that word means?" Stoick shrugs his shoulders.

"Don't know but I would have to say that he probably heard it from a trader years back or something because I've never heard that word before"

"Neither 'ave I but it doesn't sound good if ya ask me"

"I wonder if the lad knows what it means?" Stoick questions out loud.

"I wouldn't doubt if 'e did, 'e's not from 'ere so 'e's probably heard words that we haven't heard before but enough of that, did anythin' else 'appen or was that all?"

"The only other thing that happened was before Spitelout and it was the Hofferson lass talking to the lad about something" Gobber chuckles.

"I knew it, she was able to find 'im afterall"

"What do you mean? Was she looking for him?"

"Yea, it was after the match and Fishlegs told 'im that the lass needed to talk to 'im but 'e didn't want to so 'e snuck around 'er somehow, don't know 'ow but 'e did" Gobber explains.

"That lass is persistent but I can't blame her since he did win her hand even if he only did it because my nephew mad him mad"

"I hate to say it Stoick but I think you need to rethink who should be chief, that lad has done nothing but caused trouble for people and if 'e becomes chief who knows what could 'appen" Stoick lets out a sigh.

"I know but it's not like there's anybody that could take his place, Hiccup's not chief material, so Snotlout is the only option I have"

"What about Draco?"

"Gobber, you and I both know he won't take it even if I did offer him the chance, also he's not from here, giving the position to someone that isnt from Berk could cause more trouble then good even if he could do it"

"What if 'e got married to the lass, would that change somethin'?"

"If he did marry the Hofferson lass then he would be considered a part of the tribe so-" his thought trailed seeing what Gobber was getting at.

"Ya see what I'm getting at now?"

"Yes but you and I both know that he won't do that, he has a girl remember?"

"I remember but that doesn't mean we couldn't just hope for it right?"

Stoick didn't have anything to say to that so he stayed quite shaking his head. By this time the two men have begun making their way to the hall to get some lunch, luckily they weren't to far so they should be able to get some of the fresh food that'll be ready.

Upon reaching the halls doors they pushed open to see only two people (except for the cooks) and those two were Draco and his friend Geralt. The two haven't noticed Gobber and Stoick, at least they don't think. Making their way over to the table Stoick was first to speak.

"What are you two doing here so early (looks down on the table) and what are you doing?" he asks looking at what seems to be cards placed on the table.

"We didn't want to disturb the girls and we're playing a card game called gwent" Draco explains not even looking away.

"What is it about?" Gobber and Stoick take a seat next to the two one next to Draco while the other was next to Geralt.

"It's a card game where you have to try to beat your opponent, I don't really know how to explain it" Draco looks at Geralt for help.

"It's simple really, the Players build 25-card decks themed around one of five factions. The game is played in three rounds, and the winner is whomever wins two out of the three take turns placing one card at a time onto the board to increase their Power. Cards have different power scores and abilities that affect the scores of other cards. A player that does not want to put a card down can pass the turn, and may no longer play cards in the current round. The round ends when both players have passed their turn. The winner of a round is whichever player has the higher total Power. Most importantly, players do not draw additional cards on their turn, instead drawing a limited number of cards at the end of the entire round. This means your hand is very limited resource" Geralt explains while placing down a card that had a picture of him swinging a sword.

"'ey, isnt that you?" Gobber points at the card that Geralt just laid down.

Draco smacks his hand on the table making the two vikings jump "Damnit, I forgot that you had that card" Draco cursed.

"What? Is that card special or something" Stoick asks.

"Yes, at least one of many special cards that's out there" seeing that he lost, Draco passed for his next move. Geralt on the other hand just sat there smiling.

"You still haven't learned on how this game works have you?" Geralt ask taking his cards in his hand.

"No, I haven't because a lot of people don't know how to play and when I did it was mostly Raven or Rohan that played, sometimes Sal but other then them that's everyone" Draco took his cards into his hands.

"So, 'e won?" Gobber asks pointing at Geralt. Draco nods.

"Yes, he won and this is the third time" Draco playfully glared at Geralt whom was still smiling.

"It's not my fault that you suck, but I think that's enough for now since it seems like you're doing a little bit better, so how about a spar in the arena?" Geralt suggests putting his deck away into his pouch.

"Sure" Draco follows his lead with putting his cards away and leaving his seat to follow Geralt out. Stoick and Gobber were curious to see this. They left their seats as well to follow the two to the arena completely forgotting about lunch.

As the four of them walk out of the hall they were quickly gaining attention from the villagers around. Since Stoick and Gobber were following Geralt and Draco the villagers were curous about what was going on, some even began to follow them but only a small amount, about seven while the others kept going on about their day.

"Chief, what's going on?" asks Astrids father.

"A spar between the two in front of us is going to happen"

"Why, it's not like we've seen spars before, how is this one different?"

"I'm not sure, but something inside me tells me that I should watch" The conversation ends quickly and returns to being silent for the rest of the walk to the arena, well except for the casual conversations between the others.

Draco and Geralt on the other hand were talking amongst themselves but kept their voices low "You're aware that they're following us right?"

Draco nods his head "Yes, I'm aware and at this point it doesn't matter anymore, I stopped caring about it after the few times they've come to watch me do something"

"Then it must be very boring here"

"You have no idea"

"I've been meaning to ask, what happened over in the Skellige Isles? A couple of months ago I went there for a job and found out that one of the villages were missing, did something happen while you were there?"

"Yes, is that a problem?" Geralt shakes his head "Not at all, I was curious to find out if it was you or not"

"It was and for good reason"

"You'll have to tell me sometime"

"How about I tell you once this spar is over?" Draco suggests.

"That sounds like a plan"

It didn't take long for everyone to reach the arena. Draco and Geralt head on into the arena while those who followed went to go sit in the stands to watch.

Those that followed Draco and Geralt watched closely as the two exchanged a couple of words before splitting off to go stand a couple of feet away from each other. Once they were in position they did a couple of adjustments to their person. Mostly Draco since he went on ahead and removed the cloth that held his arm up by tossing it to the side.

He stretches his now free arm out letting a loud snap echo throughout the arena (Not unhumanly loud) it gave a couple of the spectators chills. He then went to go remove his sword, not the katana but the other one that Geralt gave him, out of it's sheath revealing a beautifully crafted blade that had some strange symbols tracing down the blade.

The two got into what seems to be their fighting stances and stood there for a couple of seconds seemingly studying each others stance. After a second has past the two began to circle each other not letting the other get behind him.

The small crowd couldn't help but feel a little excited to see a duel between two people that isnt one of them, to see how people on the outside fight just makes it more exciting.

"'ey Stoick, who do ya think's goin' ta win?" Gobber asks.

"I'm not sure but with the state Draco's in, it would most likely have to be the white haird one"

Just as they began talking the fight begun with Draco making the first move. To some of the crowds surprise Draco didn't seem to be hurt anymore due to how he's running. Geralt jumps back dodging Dracos' attack then follows it up with his own attack taking a swing at Draco whom blocked the attack with his blade holding it up.

He pushes Geralt back then lunges for him this time swinging for his legs but was just fast enough to avoid his attack. Draco moved back a little making some room between them. The two then began to circle around each other once again but only for a second or so before Draco attacked again but this time he dashed for the side trying to get around Geralt but he wasn't going to allow that instead he moved back then took a swing at Draco but Draco changed directions just in time to dodge it and went straight for him.

The people in the stands were on their seats seeing at how close he is thinking that Draco is going to win this fight but to their surprise Geralt takes a swing at Draco. Draco already too close he only had one option and that was for him to go into a defense stance holding up his sword to block but Geralts' blade was already at his neck.

The two stop the fight Geralt clearly being the winner. Geralt sheaths his sword on his back letting Draco stand up sheathing his sword with a sigh.

"It seems like you've become sloppy" Geralt bluntly states.

"Well I am hurt so of course I'm going to be sloppy" that wasn't really the case but it'll hav to do for now.

"That doesn't mean you can slack off"

"Yea, yea, yea, don't go getting onto me about that, besides I'm not aloud to use my full strength remember?" Draco whispers the last part.

"Yes, I remember but that doesn't mean that you should've been that careless"

"I wasn't careless, I had a plan but as I was about to do it then I remembered that I had to watch out since the vikings were watching"

"It's nothing to worry about now, it's over and I think that someone is wanting to talk to you" Geralt looks over to the exit and saw Stoick and Astrids father standing there waiting for Draco.

"This gives me a bad feeling" the two men began walking over to the exit to see what the two vikings wanted.

"Lad, that was an interesting display, also I noticed that you were moving around like you weren't hurt at all, how is that?" Stoick asks.

"Because I'm not hurt, at least not anymore, and doing all of that moving popped a lot of my aching bones making them feel better" Draco explains even though that didn't make any kind of sense to him.

"That's interesting" Astrids' father lets out a cough getting Stoicks attention.

"Oh, right, Draco, Mrs. Hofferson wanted to speak to you about something" Draco turns attention to the other man.

"Let me get to the point, as you know, when you fought and won the duel between Snotlout, you won my daughters hand" Draco was about to say something but Mrs. Hofferson spoke again "But, I won't be giving my daughter away so easily especially to someone that's not one of us, that doesn't mean that I won't allow it" Draco really wants to speak.

"Sir, before you continue on I just want to say…" he gets cut off by Mrs. Hofferson speaking "I know about the whole not wanting to stay on Berk and that you plan on leaving when your ship is repaired, my daughters mentioned it before" Draco begins to scratch his head.

"I also know that you won't follow our laws or tradition…" this time Draco cuts him off "I didn't say that I wouldn't follow it, I just won't follow 'ALL' of it since it's not a tradition that I follow, and you won't have to worry about me trying to take your daughter, I wasn't even trying to get involved with her in the first place but it seems like I can't avoid trouble"

"You got that right" Geralt whispers. Draco ignores his comment.

"As I was saying, I wasn't trying to get involved with your daughter, that idiot just thought that I was involved with her, no offense" he looks at Stoick "None taken"

"That may be true and in a way I'm glad that someone put him in his place as well got him to leave my daughter be" even though that won't happen. He continues "But we follow our traditions and due to you winning her hand I have two options, I can either duel you myself so that Astrid doesn't have to marry you or she can do it herself, but that's up too her"

"Ok, so let me get this straight, I pretty much don't have a choice but to fight one of you so that your daughter isnt bound to marry me, is that what I'm understanding?" he looks at Stoick which sadly nodded.

"Ugh, how the hell did I get myself caught up in this shit" he curses under his breath. He looks at Mrs. Hofferson again "Fine, if we have to fight then so be it, but if I lose, you have to leave me alone from that point on no matter what, but if I win I also want to say this, I'm not going to get forced to marry someone that I barely know"

After those words left his mouth a slight sharp pain hit his chest, thinking that was still due to the injuries he dismisses it. Mrs. Hofferson sighs "I hate to say it, but my daughter is a stickler for rules and tradition, so if you were to win she would do her hardest to follow those traditions all the way through, so if that means marrying you then she will do her best to make that happen"

This was not Dracos' day. He curses under his breath again "Come on Geralt, we're going back to the camp" he says passing past the two men, with Geralt right behind him.

"Hey chief, what do you think I should do?"

"It's not my place to say but I can say is that you might want to go talk to your daughter as soon as possible"

"I guess I'll have to take that, I'll see you around chief" Mrs. Hofferson leaves Stoicks side to go hunt down his daughter.

(With Astrid, Ruffnut, Riva, Philia, Maria, and Ally)

The six girls were sitting in the Great hall talking amongst themselves. Most of the conversations were girl talk but that was until that girl talk changed over to the duel that happened yesterday.

"So Astrid, how do you feel about Draco winning your hand?" Philia blurts out.

"I don't know, I tried talking to him yesterday but I couldn't find him… I guess a feel of relief since I know Snotlout didn't win but, Draco winning, I don't feel anything, at least I don't think I do"

"Honestly, I would be thrilled, someone like him fighting for my hand, it would've been nice and I would've routed for him too" Riva blushes.

"Why the hel are you blushing?" Ally asks.

"Um… nothing, don't worry about it"

"Riva?"

"What?"

"Were you thinking…" Riva covers her ears.

"Don't pay attention too her, if I were you Astrid, I would be glad that a man like him won, yea, he may be different from any Berkian but at least he has brains unlike most of the men here and maybe he might treat you better then most of the men here" Maria hopes that this might help Astrid with her feelings.

"Yea, maybe but he's not wanting to stay here and even said he doesn't want anything to do with me, and also, why did you make it sound like I'm actually getting married, I don't want to get married, I don't want to be a house wife"

Maria crosses her arms "Did you not just hear me, he doesn't seem to be a man that would do something like that"

"You didn't say that"

"I didn't?" Astrid shakes her head "Well, I should've"

"Astrid, if you really don't want to get married then just do what most girls do, duel the guy for your freedom" Ruffnut suggests.

"Why are you making it sound like I'm getting married?"

"I'm not, you are, the way you're complaining is what makes it in sound like you're getting married, you've been around the guy then most of us and you even said that he wants nothing to do with you or Berk and just wants to leave, so do you really think he thinks that you two are getting married, I may have not talked to the guy but from how you talk about him, he doesn't like anybody here"

"Because he doesn't, at least that's what he says, but he seems too get along with people" this was getting confusing now.

"You know what, why not try to get close to the guy and see how he really feels?" Philia suggests.

"I don't think that's a good idea" Astrid states.

"Why not?"

"Because he'll just ignore me which is actually quite annoying since it's quiet all the time, yea, he might say a few things here and there but not enough for a conversation"

"That's why you should try to get close to him, or at least learn a few things about him that might get him to be less hostile to you"

Astrid was about to say something else but the sound of her fathers voice turned her attention away from her friends "Hey dad, is something wrong?"

"No, but I do need to talk to you, alone" this worried Astrid. She stood up leaving the table and friends to follow her dad which went back outside.

Once outside her father began to speak "I talked to Draco earlier"

"Why?"

"Because I had to talk to him about this whole situation"

"What did he say?" she was actually curious about what he said.

"Well, he did get mad, I can say that much, but then I brought up that I could get you out of this marriage with him"

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him that one of us could duel him and if one of us won, you'll be free of this marriage"

"Ok, did he say he would?" her dad nodded his head "Yes, but he did say this, but if he loses, we have to leave him alone from that point on no matter what, but if he wins he said that he was not going to get forced to marry someone that he barely knows"

"Does he mean everyone or just us?" he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not sure, but it won't matter, right now we need to decide who'll challenge him"

"I'll do it, it's my hand after all" this was the fastest decision she's ever made.

"Ok, then you should tell him and find out when the duel should happen"

"Where is he?"

"He went back to his camp so talking to him will have to wait, that's all I wanted to talk to you about, you can go back to your friends now, I'll be home if you need me" her father then leaves to head on home while she goes back into the hall too see that her friends were waiting for her at the door.

"What was that all about?" Philia asks.

"It seems like my dad made a deal with Draco to have a duel" the other girls looked surprise.

"A duel for what?"

"A duel so I don't have to marry him, which I doubt was going to happen anyways but if it's the only way everyone will quit talking about it then so be it" even though she sounded egaered she looked sad.

"So which one of you are going to duel him?" Maria asks.

"Me, I'm going to duel him"

"When is the duel?"

"I have to talk to Draco to figure that out"

"Do you know where he is?"

"Went back to his camp, at least that's what dad said"

"Wait he already went back to camp?" Riva asks excitedly. The other girls look at her questionably.

"What's up with you Riva? You seem out of character"

Her face went red "I-It's nothing, well, I got to get going, I-I have chores to do" she quickly leaves the hall leaving her confused friends.

"What do you think's wrong with her?" Philia asks.

"I'm not sure but this isnt the first time I've seen her face that red, a couple of days ago her face was so red as if she was hit with fire, and she seemed so… what's the word"

"Scared?"

"Paranoid?"

"Happy?"

"Excited?" she snaps her finger "Yes, excited, but when I asked her about it she just said that it's nothing, ever since then every now and again she would act like that at some point of the day"

"Do you think she's doing something 'different'?" Ruffnut asks putting quotations on different.

"What do you mean different?"

"I mean something that that adults do" the girls were still confused. Ruffnut lets out a sigh "Do I really have to spell it out for you?"

The girls nod their heads "Relations, is she in a relationship that we don't know about, at least that's the mildest I can get" now the others understand.

"If she was who would it be with, I highly doubt that it's anybody that we know, at least I hope" Philia questions.

"Not sure but I think we should find out, and the only way to do that is to follow her" Ruffnut had an evil smile when she said that.

"That'll have to wait for another time, we wasted to much time so she might already be gone" Maria says.

"Yea, you're right, but enough of that for now, what do you guys want to do now, I'm kind of getting bored?" Ally asks her friends which were all thinking of what to do.

Philia jumps up with an idea "How about we…"

The hall doors opened cutting Philia short. The ones who opened the doors were the chief and Gobber "Hey chief" the girls greeted Stoick.

"Hello girls, what are you doing?"

"We were just leaving, what about you, we thought you would've already been by the hall"

"We were for only a couple of seconds before Draco and his white haired friend decided that they were going to spar in the arena and we got side tracked following them to watch" Stoick explains.

"Wait, they had a spar, aw man, I wish I could've seen it" Philia wined.

"Who won?" Astrid asks.

"'is white 'aired friend" Gobber answers quickly.

"How?"

"It's hard to explain but I think a a little of it because Draco was still hurt, at least we think, he moved around like he was fine but at the same time he seemed slower"

"Man, I wish we could've seen"

Stoick looks at Astrid "Hey Astrid, did your dad ever find you?" she nods.

"Yes he did, and I guess you know what's happening huh?" this time he nods.

"I do lass, did you two come to a decision?" she nods again.

"Yes we did, and it's me, I'll be dueling him"

"Lass, it may not be my place to say but I'm just going to give you a heads up, that lad, he fights a lot differently and he's faster too, but that's all I can tell you, we'll be going now, come on Gobber" the two oler vikings walk around the girls heading to grab whatever's left.

"Well then, if the chief is giving you a heads up then this guy must be good"

"But he wasn't that good during the fight with Snotlout, he was just lucky too win" Ally comments.

"That was because he was hurt but from what Stoick said, he's better, at least that's what they think, I'm not sure since I haven't seen him" Astrid says leading the girls out of the hall.

When they got outside they saw that the sun was already setting but hasn't reached the ocean yet but it's getting there. The girls continue their conversation which now has become small girl talk.

Their girl talked kept going until they were in the plaza "Hey, I just now relized that the ship that the three new people came on is still docked, I think we should go check it out… wait hold on" the girls follow where Ruffnut was looking and saw what looked to be Riva crossing the bride back over to their side.

"Why was she in there?"

"I don't know but I think we should go find out" Ruffnut suggests taking the lead but suddenly stops when she saw her brother and Fishlegs walking in their direction.

"What are you two doing here?" Ruffnut asks the two.

"We were just coming back from the healers hut seeing how Snotlout was doing"

"Is his nose still broken?"

"Yea, Draco did a real number on it, the healer thinks that it might be the same once it's done healing" Ruffnut busts out laughing.

"So he's going to look like a troll from now on?" Ruffnut asks still laughing.

"Who knows, maybe" Fishlegs answers.

"Hey guys" Astrid speaks up gaining the attention of her friends.

"I'm going to head on home, it looks like we might have a storm tonight" she looks out to the horizen, the others follow and saw a huge set of dark clouds slowly making its way towards Berk.

"I think you guys should do the same, see you guys tomorrow" Astrid then walks off leaving her friends.

"How is she doing?" Fishlegs asked.

"Well, she has to duel Draco" Fishleg's head snaps in Ruffnuts direction.

"What? Why?"

"It's too free her from marrying Draco"

"But he doesn't want that so why does she need to do that?"

"Because she's too stuck on the idea of marrying or the idea of marrying is 'scaring' her, even though she didn't say it like that" Ruffnut explains.

A loud crackle of thunder could be heard from the distance. The storm was getting closer the longer they stand out there "Yea, we should all head home for now" Philia says leaving the group before anyone else could say anything else.

"Well, I guess we'll see you tomorrow" Ally was the next to leave. Maria did the same and left but said nothing leaving just Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Fishlegs.

"See you guys tomorrow, if the storm still isnt going that is" Fishlegs bolts for home leaving just the twins.

"Yea lets head on home, hey maybe a house will catch on fire" Tuffnut laughs. Ruffnut joins on in the laughing "That would be cool"

The twins take off for their house and not long after reaching the house the storm was right on top of them. The vikings have all by this time went on home while those that were still in the hall stayed in the hall for the night to be safe.

What they didn't know is that their was something flying within the clouds.

"Rund hi"