The air was ringing with a low murmur that grew into a casual and comfortable conversation. There was a subtle burnt smell lingering in the back of my nose, the rest of my senses were buzzing, trying to come to.
I heard a soft croon near-by as I twitched my fingers, moving on to stretch my toes, taking note of where each limb was and what it could do in it's current numbed state. Something came close to me, bearly touching, taking a few short sniffs before letting out a swift exhale that blew my hair into further disarray. It backed off as I cringed inwards, shifting my aching arms closer to my face to block out the faint odour of smokey coals and salty fish.
"I know, bud. I know." I knew that voice. Or I should, it was very familiar, as were some of the others. I don't want to wake up yet, the gentle pressure of circular motion on my back almost lulling me back to sleep. I just wanted to stay like this, but the rumbling ache in my gut refused the idea.
The back rub stopped as I blinked forcefully, heavily lifting my head off the hardwood only to come crashing down again. The conversations died off slowly as I pulled my limbs closer, painfully feeling each bruise as my muscles worked. I let go of a sharp breath as I mustered up the strength to try again.
With efforted force I propped myself up on my good elbow, scraping my knees underneath until I was half sitting on my feet. I didn't know it could hurt to blink, too. There was a shuffling before me as an unusually large hand came into my view, using one of their fingers as a cushion of sorts to keep me from smacking my head again. Right, it was this whole Gulliver's size-travel-universe--thing. Steadying myself I stiffly sat upright to see it was Hiccup that sat infront of me, his mossy green eyes watching my every move as he pinched the linen around me closed. I was far to tired to be worried about decency at the moment, but I am greatful he considered it. He let go as I gingerly took hold of the fabric myself, the world spinning once again as the blood rushed from my head.
"Good morning, little lady." Oh the cringe, it's already bad enough when anyone over sixty calls you little lady, why is that your choice of address. He just gave me a crooked smile when I looked up at him oddly. "Welcome back."
"Did I go somewhere?" I breathed out, my throat raw and dry, but I heard a few let out light chuckles. Hiccup was quick to catch me as I started falling forwards, using his knuckles as a support to keep me upright. I rested my head on his hand, in subtle awe at each small muscle twitch as he tried hard to not move too much.
"Well, you still seem to have a sense of humour. That's a good sign." I could hear the grin in his voice, nice to know I can keep people in good spirits, even while on my death bed. "How does the rest of you feel?" I tried once more righting myself, this time with little effort, but Hiccup kept his hand close just in case.
How do I feel? I know he meant more physically, but taking in the scene around me, of supposedly fictional characters that I grew up watching, were now watching me and talking with me was surreal. Safe to say, I felt dumbstruck by the whole event.
However, to answer his question, I briefly felt over the rough wrappings around my torso and left arm, still tender to the touch.
"At the moment? I feel like utter shit." I shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. Sadly, there were none. "It's not as bad as it was, but I'm exhausted, sore, and hungry."
"I'll bet." Eret mused. "You've been unconscious for a good part of the morning, now."
"That, and probably not eating for the last three days doesn't help much, either."
"You haven't eaten for three days?!" Fishlegs exclaimed, nearly jumping from his seat.
"The whole survival thing is not as easy as it looks, especially when I've no weapons or tools. And it's hard to really go anywhere when you've got a mother hen smothering you like one of her own."
"Hey, don't hate on Chicken and her nurturing nature. At least she was trying to help keep you alive." Tuff called out over the growing sound of small cheeps, the gathering of chicks in his arms waking up from their nap.
As if to prove his point, mama came flapping back inside and on top of the table. She dropped a rather plump looking bright green caterpillar before me, clucking pointedly at me like mothers do with picky children. Everyone watching the interaction with mild amusement.
I look back at Tuff, gesturing to the caterpillar. "By all means."
Tuff grimmaced slightly before admitting defeat. "Touché."
I shuffled myself to recline against the stone wall of the firepit in the table center, Hiccup picked up the caterpillar and set it near Tuff, the fluffy birds seeing their easy prey fought briefly for the morning snack.
"I am greatful though." Mama was not impressed that I didn't take what she offered, again, and flew out the building. Her fluffy brood clumsily making their way to ground to scramble after her in hopes of more food. "I would definitely be dead by now if she didn't keep that stupid dragon at bay."
Toothless gave a small huff as he and Meatlug seemed to take some slight offence to my "stupid dragon" remark, pouting at me.
"Not you guys." Rolling my eyes at their antics. "You haven't tried to roast me alive yet, so I like you."
They seemed to accept my apology. I wonder if there was a form a dragon speech in this universe, I know one of the books is all about how to speak it.
"Here." Fishlegs offers a small bit of apple.
"Bless you! Thank you." I could see he had a few more pieces set aside, but the chunk he gave me was a fairly decent size for me it would probably be more than enough to start. I had to pace myself or else I could eat too much and get really sick.
"Don't feed it, Fishface. It's gunna get all attached and junk, then BAM!" I jumped when Snotlout slammed his fist on the table, dropping my last bit of apple. "You wake up the next morning cursed."
"Why waste a good curse?" I huffed. I can understand some caution in a situation like this, and he's had his moments where his instict proved right, but this was ridiculous. He was smarter than this. "Don't you think if I had any form of magic, I would have used it on myself to not go hungry, or be hunted by that fire breathing menace."
My words seemed to register to a degree, but Snotlout being Snotlout meant he wouldn't readily admit he was wrong until he was completely backed into a corner without an upper hand. There was no reason for him to be paranoid though, I had no magic abilities. I don't think. Being in a situation such as this though, with the added and sudden ability to understand their language, maybe I did have some sort of deep hidden magic that I just didn't know how to you use yet. Wouldn't that just be a cliché cherry to top off this adventure.
Astrid seemed to take notice of my arms shaking lightly, from keeping the linen wrapped around me, as she handed me my old shirt.
"I didn't really have anything to mend it with, but I was able to wash off most of the blood."
Nodding my thanks we both paused as I reached for my well-worn shirt. If I spread my hand it could easily span the width of the pad of her finger, from the tip of my pinky to my thumb. We just kind of stared in curious disbelief that either of us really existed. It set my mind to the fact that this was reality, not just some strange lucid fever dream.
The moment passed as we thought on a new topic, the best way to put my shirt back on with some sense of privacy. Some subjects weren't necessarily breached in the movies or shows but you could get an idea of where the line was drawn. One episode showed them swimming in full gear, leather and boots and all. You could put two-and-two together when you think about how Astrid kept Hiccup outside while she helped with my wounds, and how Fishlegs wouldn't even look inside when he waved the linen from the doorway.
Hiccup seemed to be thinking of a possible solution as well as he scanned about the room. I just waved them off, I had it covered. Anyone who went to summer camp knew that when you were stuck in a small cabin with seven to ten other campers and only one bathroom, you had to be creative. It was often a contest to see who could change the fastest inside their sleeping bag. The linen was large enough as I pulled it over my head, gingerly slipping my injured arm in the shirt sleeve first before pulling it on the rest of the way.
I could feel my hair was standing on end as I threw off the linen, if only I had a brush. Most of my hair had come loose from the braid, especially after the mornings events. I slowly redid my braid, wincing as I did. I'm sure someone would help if they could but it would probably be a bit more painful for me if they did.
The room was quiet, not uncomfortably but not at ease either. I could see the questions written on Hiccup's face as he glanced over a book. Laying it down to show the writing smudged by my footprints.
"What were you looking for?" He wasn't accusing me of anything, but his tone implied he was trying to figure out who or what I was, and if I was threat or not. No matter how small that threat might be.
"Answers." I glance between him and the book. "I recognized the Eye of Odinn on the cover and thought it might give some clue as to why I'm here."
He looked confused a moment flipping back to cover before showing it to me. "You mean the vegvisir?"
"The what?" I guess this ability is limited, maybe some slang or colloquial words don't translate? "I have no idea what you just said."
"Have you never heard of a vegvisir?"
"I'm not sure what that word means. It's not really my native tongue."
"You seem to speak ours well enough." Was I not speaking English with these guys? There was a lot going on when the language flipped I didn't really stop to think if they were speaking English to me or still in their own tongue and we just sort of understood one another. My curiosity cried out as I got to my feet, a little unsteady, and ambled my way to the book. Hiccup lifted the cover when he saw me try on my own with a pained grunt, I just stared at the page in disbelief. Of course I can read it, now. This is making my head hurt.
"So, what are you then?" Tuffnut stared at me quizzically, trying to figure it out on his own.
"Human." My mind still rambling at all this new information.
"No, like, what realm are you from?" Ruffnut joined in the interrogation.
"Realm?" Right, they had the nine realms. Each connected by the world tree, but all their own separate plane of existence, I think. "Midgard?" They looked at me with doubt. My legs were stiff and restless, I paced about a little bit thinking of the best way to explain it to them but it only left me feeling tired again. There was no way I could explain any of this without making it seem like Snotlout was right.
"This is as strange for you as it is for me." Huffing as I felt my head start pounding, but atleast my stomach wasn't trying to eat itself anymore. "None of this is normal. I live in farm country, there are woods behind my home that I was wandering when I came upon this place and found myself like this." I gestured to myself. They didn't seem overly convinced. I can't rightly explain the concept of movies to them, but it should still make sense if I knew their stories, to an extent.
"I know about you." I pointed at Hiccup who was taken aback. "Your fame is growing. I'd heard the stories of the young boy who took on the Red Death on the back of a dragon. The one who defeated Drago and his army. The dragon master and Chief of Berk."
"How do you know I am the one their talking about?" I bit my tongue, fighting the urge to sass him, I stared tiredly at him as he held my gaze.
"The lone nightfury kinda gives you away." I gestured to Toothless as the dragon played gently with baby chickens outside. He was satisfied with that answer but I knew they still didn't understand how I ended up in their hands like this. "I know we have stories like this back home, but the reason for such changes is that there is a lesson to be learned. You never really know what the lesson is, but I guess there'd be nothing worth learning if the gods were forthcoming with their plans first-hand."
My energy was spent. I ceased my pacing, sitting back down and leaning against Eret's arm. The cured leather of his bracer was hard but it was surprisingly more comfortable than the masonry. If he wanted me to move he could easily move me himself, I was dead.
They were all mulling over my story, I could see the gears turning in Hiccup's mind. We sat in silence for a while. Whether they believed my story or not, would they just leave me here? I feel as though I've proved that I can't survive on my own, but I can't ask them to take on any dead weight either, no matter how small that weight is. I don't think Hiccup would see any sense in leaving me to my own devices, but I don't have much use to them in my current state.
"Do you have a name?" A name? Of course I had one, my mind blanked a moment as I stared up at Hiccup, thinking harder than I should for my own name.
"We could call you Spörr." Eret gave a cheeky grin as I gave a confused look between him and Hiccup.
"Should I be offened? I don't know what that means." The two boys just chuckled at my dismay. I turned to Astrid for help, she shook her head at their childish antics. She was about to tell me when Eret stopped her.
"Don't tell her." She debated but decided to leave me hanging.
"It's nothing to be offended by." Hiccup reassured, but I can't say it made me feel any better. Fine. If that's how they wanna play, I'll keep it in mind. But for now my mind was drifting, I almost forgot they asked for my name.
"My real name is Millie." Short for Mildred, after my great grandmother.
"Nah. Spörr suits you better."
"I will hurt you." Eret just grins. "Tell me what that means." He shook his head. I knew how to deal with him though, a few coworkers have similar playful attitudes. You just push each others buttons but no one actually explodes. It's all in the name of making you smile or laugh.
I stuck my tongue out at him before giving him a cold shoulder pout. To some it might seem a little brat-ish, but as he lightly tousled my hair I knew he was all for it.
I hated that move though. I've had classmates in college do that to me on occasion and it irks me to no end. It makes me feel like a child, when I am a bona-fide adult, if my student loans have anything to say about it. I got too caught up in the moment that I wasn't thinking as I swatted away his finger, with my bad arm. Man that hurt. He backed off the teasing, lightly rubbing my back with his knuckles while I cradled my shoulder. He would pay for that later.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Millie." Hiccup took my hand and shook it gently. It was the oddest feeling. Terrifying and fascinating all at once. Hiccup seemed to hide his awe a little better than me as I took a deep breath. This was intimidating. I fought against the urge to curl into myself when he let go.
Astrid stood, giving a little stretch before addressing the group.
"We should really head out before Dagur sends out a search party." I forgot how big everything really was when they all rose from their seats to tower above me. And I wasn't even on the ground this time. Hiccup followed after Astrid as they headed for the doorway.
Hold on, are they leaving me here? I didn't think they would, but...panic swept over me. I wanted to call out, but my voice wouldn't work. I couldn't ask to go with them without seeming desperate or scared. Who am I kidding. I was desperate and scared. But could I really ask it of them for someone to watch out for me until I could manage? That doesn't seem very fair, but this whole situation isn't fair. Is it?
"So." I jumped at the unexpected interruption to my spiraling thoughts. "Are you coming with us? Or are you just going to sit there and pout." I glanced up at Eret helplessly. "I think you've proven that you're hopeless on you own. They're out there trying to think of the best way to take you with us, if you're willing that is." I could see Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs going through saddlebags, discussing something that I couldn't make out.
I need another nap, or something. Relief flooded me at the acknowledgment that I wasn't being left behind, but it was like my brain had shut down. I nodded meekly, unable to find the words. He nodded back, carefully encompassing his hands around me. It should not be this terrifying. Were everything normal, I'd probably have to carried bridal style anyway for a bit, but we both knew there was more at stake than just awkward close proximity. My life was now literally in his hands. That's a heavy weight to hold, even if I am not. He held me close and once we were settled he began to make his way out of the building.
"Wait. Stop. This won't work." He looked at me curiously, probably thinking I'd changed my mind and about to reasure me. "You'll need both your hands, wont you?"
"It's fine."
"Let me on your shoulder, at least until your settled on your dragon. Then...then, I don't know."
Wow, that is trippy. Being so close as to hear the power in his lungs as he heaved a deep sigh. It was so strange, usually hearing someone's heartbeat or breathing is a comfort, but at this scale. I can't find any other words to describe it.
He relented to the idea, helping me get re-situated, ensuring I had a firm hold on the furs he wore before he set off again. I mean his shoulders were broad enough, feeling the slight muscle movement as he walked. I felt a little better, less fragile I suppose. But there was just one thought now crossing my mind that made me smile.
"I am the tallest now." Try as he might but his lips quirked at my words.
"Sure you are, Spörr."
Vegvisir - "Way" (vegr), "Shower" (visir). Colloquially known as The Viking Compass, or The Nordic Compass. I've seen some images that claimed the same symbol to be "The Eye Of Odinn", and I don't want Millie to know everything. just has hobbies/interests that are various culture based as everything is a learning curve. just like how some words don't translate properly.
And I don't plan of explain what Spörr means yet, for those who may not know. but it is supposedly old Norse. Other translations of the word just didn't roll off the tongue quite right.
I hope you enjoy this adventure of cringe.