(Chapter Thirty)
(Mordas 21th) (With Draco)
Knock…
Knock, knock…
Knock, knock, knock!
Draco stirred awake after hearing the knocks on his door getting louder and louder. He only knew one person that would do this. Annoyed and tired, he slugs his way out of his bed sitting at the edge of the bed.
"I'm awake!" he exclaims. The knocking stops and the door opens but only slightly.
Raven pokes her head in and says "Finally, you need to hurry up and eat or you'll be late" then quickly retreats closing the door giving him some time to change.
Draco almost forgot on how persistent Raven can be when trying to keep everyone on schedule, especially him but sometimes she only does that to annoy him since it doesn't seem like she does it to anyone else. That thought was quickly changed when he heard knocking on a different door.
Knowing that she won't give up, Draco pushes himself up onto his feet, walks over to where he placed his clothes, armor, and his wrist blades. Once dressed he walks back over to his bed to grab Kami (his Katana) and latches her onto his side.
Taking a minute to make sure that he has everything and seeing that he's not missing anything he leaves his room and right into the dinning room. Everyone except Mikazuki was sitting at the table eating breakfast.
Sal calls out "He's awake"
"It wasn't easy" Raven complained while taking a seat next to her brother.
"When is it ever easy?" Sal chuckles.
"At least he woke up unlike someone we know" she was talking about Mikazuki whom was still asleep.
"That's because I know you wouldn't quiet until I did" he takes a seat at the end of the table and began to eat his breakfast.
The breakfast they had in front of them was fresh bread that Raven had bough. Some fresh cooked boar with fish that she caught earlier this morning and some mead to help wash down the food. This is usually her favorite thing to do.
"Hey Hana, do you have any plans for today?" Raven asks.
"Not really, do you have something in mind?"
"I was thinking of relaxing at the springs before getting to work on some of the new additions to the house" Hana looked like she was thinking it over since she held her mug to her lips but not drinking out of it.
Everyone eyed Hana waiting for her to answer. She shrugs her shoulders taking a sip of her mug "Sure, I guess it wouldn't hurt" Raven smiled.
"Hell yea"
Draco pushed out his seat leaving the table "I need to get going, finish breakfast without me" he says as he walks towards the front door. Once he left the house Raven looks over to Sal, he shrugs his shoulders.
"What's with the noises?" Mikazuki asks walking out into the main room.
Once outside Draco looks over to see Galaxy and the black dragon were eyeing him. He gives them a questioning brow "What?"
The dragons said nothing turning to each other then back to Draco. Since they weren't going to say anything he continued on his way to the village. The dragons, just like his friends, watched as he walked away.
Galaxy turned to the black dragon "You sense it to?" it nodded its head.
In the forest, Draco walked in silence, deep in though, thinking of what he should train Hiccup in this time. It can't be something that's out of Hiccup's abilities but it can't be something simple, it has to be something new but what.
He went back to think of some of the training he did back with the imperial army back when he worked with them. He also thought back on the training that he did with his friends throughout the years thinking up some ideas.
While thinking some training ideas some of them stuck out but it was ones that he trained Raven and Sal in but it can't be all of them since Hiccup isnt working with the same weapons as those two.
"Maybe I should get his agility up, maybe run around the town for a couple of laps, probably add some rocks for him to carry while running" he thought aloud.
His thinking was interrupted when he heard some bushes rustle. He looked over to the bushes that made the rustling and saw a couple of horns sticking up from behind it. Only a few people come to mind but with the stench that's coming from over there, only two people quickly come to mind.
"Alright you two, come on out" the bushes rustled again but they didn't show themselves. He went for the handle of his sword, that's when Ruffnut and Tuffnut jumped up hands up.
"Ok, ok, you caught us"
"It was you fault he caught us" Tuffnut whispers.
"Shut it idiot" she whispers back.
"Would you two mind telling me what you're doing out here?" Draco asks but continued on walking.
"Do we need a reason to be out here, we could just be taking a walk and not thinking of pranking you, but then you happen to show up and we just so happened to decide to hide in some bushes" Draco could hear Tuffnut snicker.
That sentence confirmed everything, well, not everything, the rope that he saw ahead of them was what actually put it all together but he'll just go along and act like he doesn't know. He continued on walking as if he hasn't noticed it yet but kept his eye on it up until it was inches away from his foot.
Without making any noticeable movement giving away that he saw it, he let his foot lightly rub against the rope but not enough for it to go off. The twins on the other hand stayed behind just far enough so they don't get caught in it but when they saw him touch the rope they couldn't help but begin to feel excited for what's about to happen.
Nothing happened and Draco continued walking. The twins were confused at why did their trap not work. Ruffnut walks over to inspect the rope but saw that it hasn't been triggered. She was seriously confused, they just watched him trigger it but for some reason it doesn't look like it.
What she didn't realize though was that she was standing right on top of the trap and Tuffnut, well, being Tuffnut, accidentally triggered the trap while. A snapping sound could be heard and within seconds the twins were both hagging from a branch trapped in a rope bag.
"Next time, try hiding the rope" Draco yells from over his shoulder as he continues to walk towards the village.
The twins began to argue with one another blaming each other for the prank failing. Draco couldn't help but smile a little, it reminds him of Nima and Raven whenever they would try to prank everyone in anyway possible but those two were able to prank him at least unlike the twins.
At least with them trapped the rest of the walk to the village will be quiet for the time being. Even though he can still hear the twins yelling at one another.
(With Astrid)
Astrid was leaving her home to go see Gobber at the forge to see if she could get her axe replaced since Draco destroyed it duing their duel. She's a little upset that it was destroyed since it was the first axe she got for her birthday but at the same time she couldn't help but be happy.
Even though she lost her axe but at least she got something else out of it. Just thinking about it makes her feel weird but not in a bad way.
'I wonder if he feels like this too' luckily for her she'll get to ask him that today since they'll be meeting up after his training with Hiccup.
She still doesn't think he needs to be wasting his talent training someone like Hiccup but she has to admit that Hiccup is showing some improvements but not enough to convince her that he'll be good enough to be like them.
While in thought she didn't noticed that Stoick was in her pathway until it was to late, bumping into him "Ooff, hey watch- oh, sorry sir" she apologizes.
"It's alright lass, but ya seem to 'ave somethin' on yer mind, would ya like ta talk about it?" was she really that easy to read.
"I just have a lot on my mind that's all, it's nothing to be concerned about" she explains.
"Does it 'ave to do with what happened recently?" he was talking about the duel between her and Draco.
"A little, but it's nothing that I can't handle" she tries reassuring the chief.
He raises a questioning brow but she's clearly not wanting to talk about it so he'll let it go. Though now that he's thinking about it he should talk to Draco since there a few things that he'll need to do before those two can be official.
"Hey Gobber" Astrid greets the old blacksmith. Stoick didn't even know that they were walking to the forge.
"Stoick, Lass, what are ya here for?" Gobber walks over to the window.
"I came to see about getting a replacement axe since mine was destroyed" Astrid asks.
"Hmph, I guess ya do need a new axe to defend yourself, let me check the back" he says disappearing into the back of the forge.
The two wait in silence for a couple of minutes before Gobber came back to the window with a standard two headed axe in his hand. He hands the axe over to Astrid so she could look it over to see if it's to her liking.
Upon looking over the axe she's notice that the balance was a little off and the handle was longer then her older one which was probably the reason for it being unbalanced. Next she goes to look at the blade.
Looking at the blade, she isnt all that surprise to see that it was chipped some but still sharp, even though with how she is with her old one, this one won't last to long. She looks up at Gobber, who was standing there waiting for her to come back to Midgard.
"How much?" she asks.
"Three silver, but lass, ya could always ask Draco to make you one ya know, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, after all he was the one ta break it" she was pulling out a small coin pouch to grab a few silver (A/N Stoick left when Gobber went into the back)
"I know but… I don't know…" she actually doesn't know why she just won't ask him to make her a new one, he IS the reason she doesn't have a weapon anymore so why can't she ask him.
"'ow about I ask 'im for ya?" she looks at the blacksmith who was grinning.
She was to say something but before she could get a single word out Draco's voice caught her ears "Ask who what?" he asks as he walks up to the forge.
"The lass 'ere is wanting a new axe and I told 'er that all she had to do was ask ya to make her one instead of buyin' a new one" Gobber explains.
"I do owe her a new axe, so yea, I can make a new one but it'll have to wait until I have some time" Astrid jerks around to look at Draco and with a quick grab and pull of the collar she plants a kiss on his lips surprising him.
After about a minute she pulls away with a smile "Thank you" with that she leaves the stunned man and blacksmith whom was grinning like a mad man.
"Ya got ya work out with that one, she's a handful" Gobber laughs.
"Is Hiccup already at the arena?" he asks changing the subject.
"The lad left early this mornin'"
"Then I should hurry and get over there then, but before I forget my friends might come by to gather some nails or something of the sort, do you have any ready?" you could see that Gobber thinks it over.
"I might 'ave a few in the back"
Draco goes digging for his coin pouch "Can you make some more just in case, I'll pay for them ahead of time of course" he pulls out a few silver and hands it over to Gobber.
Gobber takes the silver "Will do, ya better get to the arena now"
Draco thanked the blacksmith leaving him to get back to his work while he makes his way to the arena to meet up with Hiccup. What he wasn't aware of though was that someone was watching them and isnt to happy with what he saw.
(Raven and Hana)
The two girls were making their way to the springs, that was until the sounds of people arguing caught their attention. They looked over in the direction where the voices were coming from but didn't see anything.
"Should we go see what that's about?" Hana asks.
"I don't want to… but I guess we'll have to"
They followed the sounds of arguing which took them in the other direction of the springs but it wasn't to far out of the way since it only took them about three minutes before they found the source of the arguing. It was the twins hanging from a net in the tree.
"Well if it isn't dumb and dumber" Raven laughed.
"Hey!" the twins exclaimed in unision.
"I assume Draco did this?" Hana asked not surprised in the slightest.
"Yes and no, idiot here (gesturing to Tuffnut) triggered it once Draco walked over it" Ruffnut explained.
"It wasn't my fault, you should've said that he didn't trigger it"
"Use your brain dimwit, if he triggered it he would've ended up like this instead of us"
The twins went back to arguing completely forgetting about Raven and Hana standing there. Raven looks over to Hana hoping that she would change her mind about helping these two but with how annoyed Hana looks right now maybe getting them down would be for the best before she goes and kills them.
Raven looks around the area for the rope that was holding them up. She found it within seconds since it wasn't hidden all that well. She leaves Hana's side to walk over to where the rope was hidden and cut it down. The two fall to the floor with a loud thud, ceasing their argument.
"You two are down now, can you leave?"
"Why? Are you two hiding something in here? And what's with those fur you're carrying?" Tuffnut questions the two.
"No, we're just going to the springs to relax before we begin the day" Raven answers.
"There's a springs near here?" Ruffnut ask looking a little excited.
"Yea, but I don't know if Draco would want us to show you where it's at" what she was really meaning was showing Tuffnut where it is.
Ruffnut seem to have understood this though since she started pushing her brother away off towards the village "You heard the women, you need to leave" Tuffnut was confused.
"Arent you suppose to leave too?"
"I'll be right behind you but I need to ask them something, in private" lucky for Ruffnut, Tuffnut's not the brightess so he did as she said and went on ahead back to the village.
Ruffnut on the other hand stayed like she said but stood there in silence waiting for Raven or Hana to say something. Hana looks at Raven and she did the same but shrugged her shoulders indicating that she wouldn't mind. Hana sighs but agrees.
"You can come along but you can't tell anyone about this" Hana says in a sterned tone.
Ruffnut nods "Ok, but what about Astrid? Could I tell her at least?"
"I guess that would be fine, Draco would probably show her it at some point anyway" Raven wasn't wrong, Draco would've show Astrid the springs at some point and it probably wouldn't hurt if Ruffnut shows her.
"Hell yea, let me g—"
Raven cuts her off "Don't bother her right now, once Draco's done training Hiccup they're going to meet up, show some other time"
"Fiiine, I guess it can wait to show her"
"Yes it can, now can we go, we don't have all day right?" Hana looks at Raven remainding her that she has things to do once they're done with the springs.
Raven seemed to have forgotten that "Right, well come on, let's get to relaxing" she says springing in the direction of the springs with Hana and now Ruffnut closely behind her.
(Lugnut and Dogsbreath)
The two were sitting on the stone steps that led to the hall waiting for their friend Snotlout to return from whatever he had to do. They've been waiting for a good ten minutes until they saw him walking up the steps but they noticed something. He was pissed.
"What's up with that look?" Dogsbreath asked.
"That asshole kissed my girl" Snotlout said through clenched teeth.
"Actually—" Snotlout glares at him and Dogsbreath smacked Lugnuts arm stopping him from finishing his sentence. Lugnut looks at him confused.
"What? It's true" he whispers.
"Just keep your mouth shut"
"He stole her away from me and I'm going to get her back, one way or another" this somewhat worried the other two. They were slowly losing their friend to this obsession.
(With Astrid and Fishlegs)
Astrid and Fishlegs were sitting in the hall eating breakfast before heading out. The two sat quietly not sure what to talk about since the twins would usually be arguing or Snotlout trying to hit on Astrid.
Feeling a little uneasy Fishlegs starts a conversation "So, how's finding a new axe going? Have you been to Gobber yet?"
"This morning I did but Draco came by and over heard that I was needing a new axe and said that he would make one for me" she smiled.
"Wow, I wondered how it's going to turn out, when will it be done?" she shrugs her shoulders "He said he'll get to it when he has the time, so hopefully soon, I can't defend Berk without a weapon"
"Aren't you meeting up with him later?"
"In about an hour, once he's done with Hiccup, why?" she takes a sip of her mug.
"Well, he might have some time after training Hiccup and you can talk while he works on your axe, kill two birds with one stone" she lets what he says sink in. It wasn't a bad idea.
"Not a bad idea Fishlegs, but I don't want to push it right now"
"What do you mean push it?
"I mean—I mean I don't want ask to much, with everything that's happened, everything that's going to happen, I just don't want to rush it (sighs) what's happened to me?" she explained but Fishlegs can see that this has been bothering her.
"Nothing's happened to you, you're just experiencing something you've never experience before, love" just hearing that word made her feel weird.
"I know what love is Fishlegs, I love my parents, what's any difference from loving someone else" she tries to defend herself.
Fishlegs shakes his head "Loving your parents is different then being in love, loving someone isn't based on a whirlwind of emotions, but being in love is emotionally charged" this wasn't make a lot of sense to Astrid but at the same time, deep down she understood.
"I should get going" she chugs the rest of her drink.
"You haven't finished the rest of your food"
She stands up to leave "I'm not hungry anymore"
Astrid leaves Fishlegs, alone at the table to finish his breakfast while she leaves the hall with butterflies in her stomach. What Fishlegs said got to her and made her think about what he said, about how loving someone is different from being in love.
Fishlegs couldn't help but feel bad about making her loose her appetite but at the same time it really seemed to bother her not knowing how to deal with these new emotions.
(With Draco and Hiccup)
Though with only an hour of training, Draco made use of it and had Hiccup run around the outside of the arena while carrying some rocks on his shoulders for that said hour without rest. At first Hiccup didn't think to bad about it since he's already done something like this but was wrong when he saw the rocks that he was going to be running with. The rocks were the size of his head.
Of course Hiccup tried to talk his way out of it but with no avail. He was quickly thrown into his training and within the first ten minutes of running his legs were already tiring out from under him but he had to keep pushing. Draco was expecting to see him stop after a short time but to his surprise Hiccup kept going.
Draco kept time of how long he was running and when the hour was up he told him to stop and Hiccup dropped the rocks and fell to his knees aching all over. Draco was actually impressed to see him succeed, even if it's a small success.
"I'm impressed, I would've thought you'd stopped after the first five minutes but you surprised me, good job" Hiccup felt good when he heard those words. This is the first time he's ever heard anyone say anything like that to him.
"Tomorrow we're going to do it again but this time for two hours, got it?" Hiccup weakly nods.
"Go get some rest, I need to do a few things in town" what Draco really meant was that he was going to go find Astrid and Hiccup knew that but just didn't say anything.
He didn't want to push the subject to much even though it still hurts, so he let Draco walk away without saying anything else. He still couldn't help but feel a little jealous that Draco and Astrid are a thing and he wanted to say it but he couldn't, at least not now.
Hiccup waited for a little bit letting himself catch his breath and regain what little strength he could muster before leaving the arena. When leaving the arena Hiccup could still feel his whole body ach from his training and he was really considering on going home but he needed to talk to someone about his feelings on the situation.
At first he thought about talking to his dad but knew that he wouldn't listen or understand and he doesn't have much friends so the only other people that came to mind was Draco's friends, mostly Sal and Raven whom seem to be close to him.
He didn't know if they were doing anything today or was even in the village so the only place to check would be their house that's in the cove.
Before making his way to Draco's house he looked around the village and tried to spot any of Draco's friends but not one of them was in sight, at least from where he could see and went on his way towards the forest.
What he didn't know was that a certain blonde was just around the corner and saw him heading into the woods possibly heading for where Draco and his friends were camping and decided to follow, hoping to finally find out what they're hiding.
(With Mikazuki and Sal)
While everyone else was out Sal and Mikazuki stayed at the house. Mikazuki stayed to let his arm heal and Sal wanted to get some things done around the house, like working on new furniture for example.
Sal was putting together the pieces of a new table that they carved out from a near by oak tree, planning to put in the upstairs area even though it's not fully ready. He just wanted to get some of the things done so that it won't be something the would have to do later.
"Crap, I'm out of nails" Sal sighs.
"Isn't Draco getting some more once he's finished with training that boy, Hiccup wasn't it?" Mikazuki asked. Due to his arm healing he couldn't really do much, so for now he's just there to keep him company.
"Yes and no, no to the first and yes to the second, He's meeting up with Astrid to talk" Sal explains.
"Haven't they already talked about what's happening between them? and why couldn't they just come here and talk it over, we could leave the house for a while? Also, why couldn't Raven just heal me with her healing spell?"
Sal sighs "Yes, they've already talked about that but it's something else this time, I think, second, it's because he doesn't want her to see Galaxy and the other dragon, these vikings would kill them on sight, and thirdly, she probably just didn't think about doing that"
"Seriously? She didn't think about that?"
"It also could've been because Draco told her not too, can't let these people know that we can use magic" that was more reasonable.
"That makes more sense"
Knock Knock Knock
Sal stopped working on whatever he was doing to go see who was at the door. Upon opening the door he was surprised to see that it was Hiccup standing there. Sal could tell just by looking at Hiccup that something was on his mind.
"Would you like to come in?" Sal asks. Hiccup only nods.
Sal steps aside to let Hiccup inside "Who is it?" Mikazuki asks from within but his question was answered when he saw Hiccup walk into the living room.
"Is something on your mind?" Sal asks taking a seat at the table. Hiccup did the same shortly after.
"You could say that"
"Did something happen during training?" Hiccup shakes his head.
"Did someone bully you?" he shakes his head again.
"Did your father or someone say something to you?" another shake of the head.
Mikazuki speaks up "He can't read your mind you know"
"Would you be more patient?" Mikazuki puts his hand up in defense.
"S-Sorry, I just don't know what to do, or how to handle what I'm feeling right now" Hiccup explains. This gives Sal a little bit to work with and he has a guess of what's going on now.
"Does it have to do with Astrid in some way?" hearing her name makes Hiccup tighten up a little.
"Y-Yea… I've liked her for a long time ya know, I've been trying so hard to get her to notice me and when Draco showed up and started training me I thought she would start noticing me then" he pauses for a second before stating up again.
"It worked but not in the way I was hoping, it was out of anger" Sal knew this but he wasn't going to say anything.
"Did she say something to you during training?"
"No, that's not what's bothering me, I guess you could say I'm somewhat jealous of Draco" now he understood what's happening here.
"Hmm, well, that's not to far from what I was expecting but I'm also not surprised, I've known Draco for about eight years now and I sometimes forget that he's a catch with the women but he's never really seemed all that interested so I guess that's why I forget" Sal pauses for a second before continuing.
"I can understand how you feel… but I'm not jealous of Draco… I'm jealous of the women that catches his attention" Hiccup snaps and Mikazuki spat out his mead.
"Wait! Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Sal nods embarrassed that his secret is out.
"I wouldn't have thought of you to swing that way"
"No one does, except for Raven, but I'm not here to talk about me (turns his attention back to Hiccup) what I'm trying to say is that all you could do is move on, she's clearly attracted to him" Hiccup was clearly upset but deep down he knew that would've been the only thing to do.
"I guess you're right, I should mo—"
AHHHH!
A feminine scream was heard and it was fairly close to the house. The trio rushed out of the house to their surprise that the scream came from Astrid. What was worse was that Galaxy and the Night Fury were standing in defense since Astrid had her axe fixed on the two.
She quickly noticed the trio standing at the door and yelled "Grab you weapons and come help me kill these things!"
Sal needs to talk her down before she does anything rash. Slowly making his way over to Astrid he calmly begins to talk.
Astrid, listen to me, you need to lower your weapon and we can talk this out" she wasn't going to do that so easily.
"Are you crazy!? I'm not going to lower m—wait, you knew about these two didn't you?" she turned her axe onto Sal and glared daggers at Hiccup whom was hiding behind Mikazuki.
"You're a traitor, you're all traitors and Stoick is going to hear about this" she slowloy begins to back up but kept her weapon ready.
"Listen Astrid, Draco can explain all of this if you would—" not letting him finish she bolts towards the village. Sal turns to the others.
"We have to catch her before she reaches the village" with no hesitation they rushed after her.
Astrid was running as fast as her legs could carry her. Running through brush, branches and jumping over rocks and logs but that wasn't going to slow her down, she needed to get back to the village and tell everyone.
She could hear the guys not far behind her yelling for her to come back and listen but she wasn't going to do that, they lied to them and why would she listen to anything to what they have to say.
Almost out of the forest she pushes out the last bit of energy she has just barely reached the end of the forest but with a loud crack she tripped over something. Looking down to see what she tripped over that's when she noticed that her leg had something wrapped around it.
It was metal. She followed it to the source and saw that it was being held by Hana with Raven standing next to her. Raven looked confused and walked over to Astrid "What's happening?" she asks.
Astrid reacts with pointing her axe at Raven which Raven backs up. That when she notices Mikazuki, Sal, and Hiccup come running out of the brush "What's going on here?" Raven asks confused on what's happening.
"She knows" that's all Sal had to say for Raven to understand.
Her head falls "Damn, I knew at some point someone was going to find them but why did it have to be her?" Raven hoped that they could've kept it a secret just a little bit longer, at least until Draco was ready but this changes everything.
"Astrid, please, just listen and come back with us, Draco will explain everything when he comes back" Sal says walking up to an angry Astrid.
"There's no explaining needed, you're all traitors and Stoick will find out about this, and you (Looks at Hiccup) I knew you were nothing but trouble" Hiccup backs away with his head lowered.
"Hiccup, go find Draco for us" Sal asks. Hiccup might want to get away from her for a bit. Hiccup just nods then runs off to find Draco.
"Mikazuki, can you help me with Astrid"
"If you dare touch me, I will kill you" she threatened keeping her axe ready.
She didn't have the axe for long though since Hana walked up to her and with a quick yank she removed it from Astrid without much of a fight. Astrid tried lunging to grab it but Hana already made distance between the two.
"Nah ah ah" she tossed the axe to Raven who almost dropped it since she wasn't expecting it to be tossed to her.
"Hey! Say something next time"
Sal looks at Mikazuki "How do you think Draco's going to take this?"
"Not good, probably"
(With Draco)
For the past twenty minutes looking for Astrid. Starting at the forge, her home, the arena, the Great Hall, even the chiefs house and not a sign of her. He even went around asking if anyone has seen her. Some said that they saw her walking around but other then tha t nothing.
"Where could she be?" he wondered looking around expecting to see her pop up.
Giving up on looking, thinking that she went off somewhere forgetting that they were going to meet up he decided that he would make his way over to the forge to see if Gobber had the nails ready for him to pick up or if one of his friends came by.
"Draco!" hearing his name caused him to look for the source and saw that it was Hiccup running.
"Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Hiccup was panting seeming to have been running for a while probably looking for him.
"Sal wanted me to come get you" he said between pants.
"Did something happen?"
Normally Sal could handle whatever happens when he's not at the house so whatever it is that Sal needed to send someone to come get him didn't sound good and his gut feeling was right. Hiccup nodded his head.
Not wasting any time Draco along with Hiccup make there way to his home hoping that whatever is happening isnt too serious. What Draco didn't know was what he was about to see is much worse then a dragon.
(At the Cove)
It took some time and effort but Mikazuki and Sal, followed by Raven and Hana were able to get Astrid to come back to the house so that Draco can explain everything but only on the condition that they wouldn't say a word to her until she hears it from Draco. They agreed if it meant that she would go with them.
They sat in the living room in silence waiting for Hiccup to return with Draco because the silence and the fidge atmosphere is getting to some, mostly Raven. She's not use to it being so quiet so to pass the time she went into her room and grabbed bottle of wine that she keeps hidden just in case everyone else drinks all of the others.
Leaving her room, she lifts up the bottle to show everyone "Anybody want some?" she asks breaking the silence. Hana and Mikazuki shot theirs hands up without hesitation.
Running over to grab some cups then over to them placing them both down in front of her then pours the wine into each. Once finished she pick up the cups and hands them to the two. Not a second after getting them they chug the wine down.
The silence still crowed the room but not for much longer. They could hear the front door open, almost forcibly then close with a thud. Hiccup followed by Draco, enter the living room "What happened?" Draco asks.
That's when he noticed the blonde viking sitting at the table glaring daggers and arms crossed. This was much worse then he expected. Everyone else in the room could sense the tension grow as the two stare at one another.
"Are you going to explain why there are two demons sitting outside of your house?!" she yells not giving him much time to try to cool the room.
"I was going to sho—"
"No. explain. now!" she wasn't having it.
Everyone in the room was eyeing Draco, wondering what he's going to do next. Seeing that he can't hide it anymore he lets out a sigh giving in. Pulling the seat next to Astrid he takes a seat and looks dead in her eyes "Where do you want me to begin?" he asks.
"The dragons" she demands still not laying off the anger.
"Full story or short end?"
"Full"
"Ok, I guess it I can start with how we found him…"
(One years ago) (Near the Collage of Winterhold)
The Arch-Mage has given Draco and his friends a quest to check out something that was found by a local in the Sea of Ghosts, near Septimus Signus' Outpost. Supposedly there's something frozen in a block of ice and that its still alive, at least that's what the local said.
At first it sounded like a tall tale or some kind of illusion but since the Arch-Mage believes it they should take it with a grain of salt and go check it out.
After leaving the Arch-Mages quarters Frey spoke up "Are you sure that we should waste our time checking this out? I mean it could just be a local tale"
"Come on Frey, we owe the Arch-Mage for helping us out, we should at least check it out" Frey would've argued and tried to get out of going but whenever it comes to Rias, it's difficult for her to say no.
"Fiiine, but if we find nothing and it was a waste of time don't say I didn't say so"
"Are we leaving now or can we grab some supplies for the trip?" Raven asks.
"By supplies do you mean sweet rolls?"
"Nooo… maybe…." The group chuckled at her embarrassment. Except for Hardian.
To him this is an actually waste of his time and not wanting to waste his time he decided to leave but was caught by Ragnar "Where do you think you're heading?"
"I'm going to do something actually worth my time" he shrugs Ragnars hand off his shoulder quickly taking his leave before anyone else tries to waste his time.
"Where's he going?" Asks Nima, Ragnars sister.
"Don't know but I wouldn't worry too much" Nima looked like she wanted to say something else but—
"Jump to the point where you meet the dragon" Astrid snapped interrupting the story.
"Ok, ok" Draco resumes telling the story jumping to the point of finding Galaxy.
(At the entrance of Septimus Signus' Outpost)
Arriving at the entrance of Signus' Outpost Draco ordered the group to spread out and search for anything that seemed to be out of the ordinary. But to make it safer everyone had one other person with them just in case something does show up.
Splitting up into pairs each one circled the giant ice block trying to see if they could find anything in it. Draco and Sal were together circling the left side of the ice but something caught Sal's eye.
Draco didn't notice at first that Sal stopped walking and continued to walk but after not hearing his footsteps he stopped and looked for Sal whom was looking into the block of ice.
"What is it?" Draco asks walking closer to the ice.
"I think I see something in the ice here" Draco took a look into the ice trying to see what Sal's possibly seeing. Though the only thing he could see was a darken area in the ice.
"I don't see—"
CRACK!
The ice in front of them cracked open blasting steam into their faces knocking them back startled at the suddenness of the ice breaking.
The two watched at the shadow in the ice started to move and inch closer to the exit where the crack was. Not waiting to see what comes out the two regain themselves getting ready for battle. Lucky for them though everyone else wasn't far and were by their sides as soon as possible.
"What's going on!?" asks Rias.
"Something's in the ice, get back!"
"Finally, some action" Frey said with a gleeful smile.
CRACK!
The crack busts open, ice shards falling all around the groud cracking some of the lands of ice beneath their feet. It's followed by another crack, the ice beneath their feet began to separate. That wasn't the worse of their problems though.
Whatever was in the ice busted out shooting up into the sky with a crackling noise followed with a roar. With the ground breaking apart from underneath them and with whatever is now out of the ice they had to hurry and find some safety.
"Fall back to some hard land!" Everyone bolts back for the hard land.
But whatever was flying around wasn't going to let them get to land. A loud crackling was heard from above them, following it was a stream of lighting shattering the ice knocking a few into the cold water.
Those who are still standing halted readying themselves "Raven! do you see where it's at?" Draco asks.
"No, it's keeping out of sight!"
Another roar was heard, this time coming from behind them. Turning around they see a giant sized dragon coming from the clouds above heading right for them. Finally showing itself Raven ravaged through her quiver feeling for a grappling arrow.
The dragon stops, hovering above the group getting ready for another barrage of sparks. Knowing that they don't have much chance with it being in the sky everyone else scattered moving out of the way of the attack.
Loud crackling echos above them, bolts of lightning striking the ground causing more of the ice below to break apart separating everyone. Those who were in the water already have made it to solid land but it was a little away from the fight.
"If someone could keep it busy I could get set up!" Raven yells.
"Sal! You and I draw it's attention! Everyone else protect Raven while she gets ready!"
Knowing their jobs (those who were still on the ice) went to work to get ready to try to get this dragon to the ground-
Draco's story slowly faded after he noticed that Astrid was seeming to get more annoyed with how long the story is taking. Not wanting to annoy her anymore then she already is he decided to just forget the rest and tell her out right.
"Raven shot him down with a grappling arrorw, pull him to the ground, calmed it down, befriended it, happy?" the daggers in her eyes haven't faded but she seems less mad.
"Befriending a dragon, that's crazy"
"He hasn't attacked us hasn't he?"
"No, but that doesn't mean he won't whenever he feels like it"
"Well, you're right about that but that's what trust is for"
"Trusting a mindless monster, yea, right"
"Actually, they're not all mindless, some, like the ones back where we lived, were quiet intelligent, you even saw it yourself, remember Odahviing, he could speak"
Astrid remembered but that just proves how dangerous they are "Yea, but doesn't that just make them more dangerous, why should I trust an intelligent dragon?"
"You don't, but you can trust me" Astrid's heart jumped a little.
"O-Ok, let's say I trust you that the dragon isnt dangerous, but why is the Night Fury, the dragon that's been attacking our home here?"
"After defeating that big dragon on the island it seemed to have come back and just decided to stay" he didn't really want to tell her about how he could understand the dragons and the real reason it came back. Not yet at least.
"It's been here ever since?" she asks, shocked about not knowing that the dragons have been here, on Berk, the entire time.
"A little less but yes"
"(Sigh) is there anything else that you might want to tell me?" the way she was looking at him clearly told him that she knows something.
Looking around the table at everyone there, they just shrugged or seemed confused. Returning his eyes back on Astrid he asked out right "Like what?"
"Sorcery, you used it while on the dragons nest, on the big dragon"
Everyone in the room (except for Hana) were taken back. Not having anyway out of this now Draco only had one option… it was to tell her the truth.
"I guess there's no hiding it no more"
Even though clearly still angry, Astrid was secretly hoping that what she saw was just her mind playing with her back then but she needed to know if what she saw was real or not and if she needed to fear for the safety of Berk and its people.
Draco laid his hand out where everyone in the room could see it and a light twitch of of his hand, a small ball of fire formed in the palm of his hand. Both Hiccup and Astrid were shocked, not sure if what they were seeing was real but it was clearly fire in his hand.
"H-How?" was all Astrid could muster out.
"That's harder to explain, but I'm not the only one who knows magic in here" following where Draco was looking, their eyes landed on Raven.
Taking that as a sign to show them that he wasn't lying she walks over to where Mikazuki is sitting. Being chosen as a gunie pig he changes positions, removes the bandage that hid the arrow wound allowing everyone to watch. Standing over Mikazuki she lays her hands over his wounds, closes her eyes working her magic.
A light forms around her hands, then the wound on Mikazuki glows just like how Ravens hands were. Astrid and Hiccup watched, wide eyed as they saw the wound on Mikazuki heal at a rapid rate until it was healed leaving just a scar.
The light fades letting everyone know that it was done, showing off how she was able to heal his wound without medicine or herbs. Raven looks over to both Astrid and Draco waiting for someone to say something.
The room was silent, for at least a couple of minutes until Astrid spoke… or tried to speak because nothing came out. Her mouth just opened and closed.
"You can yell at me now"
Not sure how to responed she closed her mouth and looked down at her hands that were laying on her lap. It was more then she was expecting and now that she knows she doesn't know what to do or if she wants to do anything.
She wants to go tell Stoick about all of this, thinking that telling him would keep Berk safe but… (Glances at Draco) she doesn't want him to see her as an enemy after all of this, the feelings between them growing, and the friendship that she was making with his friends.
She needed time to think.
Quickly leaving the table she leaves the house without saying another word and no one was going to stop her even though it would probably be a good thing just in case but Draco wanted to trust her, but if she chose to tell Stoick they would leave without a fuss.
"Shouldn't we stop her?" asks Raven.
"No"
"What if she tells the chief?"
"Then we'll leave, simple as that" Draco takes a sip of some wine.
"You're putting a lot of trust in her"
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? Trust her"
"Yea but-"
"No buts, just give her time and maybe she'll surprise us"
"(Sigh) fine but if something happens to us in the middle of the night, don't say I didn't say so" not having anything else to say Raven heads to her room calling it a day.
Hana and Mikazuki follows Ravens lead and heads to there rooms. Leaving Hiccup, Draco, and Sal to themselves.
"Hiccup" Hiccup's head snaps to look over to a tired Draco.
"Y-Yea?"
"You're staying here tonight, and don't worry, I'll explain to Stoick if he asks about where you've been"
"W-What? Are you sure?"
"Yea, you can have my room tonight"
"Where are you going to sleep?"
"I'll sleep over there" pointing over to a corner in the room.
"Is that ok?"
"Yes, it's fine, now go rest up, I'm going to guess tomorrow is going to be a busy one, probably"
Hiccup was going to say something else but Sal spoke up "Hiccup, it's fine, just a lot has happened"
Still not sure about this but not wanting to anger Draco he did as he said and went to go rest up in Dracos room. Once inside closing the door behind him he stood at the door for a bit hoping to hear something from the two but nothing is said so he, like the others he heads to bed.
The two sat in silence for a good couple of minutes until Draco spoke up "The house is coming along very nicely" complimenting everyones hard work.
"Thank you but it's still not finished yet, we still have a few things left, the smelter, the forge, grinder, so on but we can work on that later, for now I think we need to talk about the cold front that's coming in"
"Yea, it's getting close to that time isnt it?" Sal nods.
"Maybe but from what I've heard Berk usually will have cold winters around this time and we're low on furs, tomorrow I suggest we stock up and hunt some of the local wildlife"
"Would you be alright if Raven went, she enjoys hunting, and it also it gives me a chance to train Hiccup in surviving in the wild"
"You think that's a good idea?"
"Maybe but it's better to take advantage of the situation"
"Then you should go get some rest, if that's what you're planning to do tomorrow then you'll need to get up early"
Sal was right but Draco just couldn't sleep right now. Not wanting to admit it but he was nervous about what Astrid might do and what's going to happen within the next couple of days if anything happens at all.
"Yea, I guess I should" he says, finishing the rest of his drink before heading over to his corner to try to get some rest.
With convincing Draco to finally go get some rest Sal decides to follow everyone else and get some rest too. It's going to be a busy day for some.
(Somewhere outside of the Archipelago)
Knock… Knock… Knock…
"Come in" says an unknown voice.
"Sir, Johann is here to see you" says a bulky man.
"Let him in"
The bulky man closes the door but then it quickly re-opens revealing a… different Johann. He stops in front of a desk where the unknown man sat whom was playing a strange game with wooden figures.
"It's been a while Johann, I assume you have some business with me?"
"Yes, I found it's location"
"Is that right?"
Johann chuckles "Come on Vigo, you know me, I don't lie"