Whispering in the wind encouraged me to open my eyes.

I felt my hair being gently tugged by the gusts of wind around my face. I felt the wet chill in the air, shivering at the sensation. Upon opening my eyes, I saw myself in my old clothes from before, which now seemed brighter in color. And I noticed I also had my bag with my belongings inside. I didn't know how on earth that was possible, but I guess the gods wanted me to be prepared.

As I took in my surroundings and the new sensations, I heard a loud squawk beside me.

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I whipped my head around to face a large boulder protruding from the ground. And standing on the boulder was an unusually large raven. I watched the raven awkwardly, and it watched me back, cocking its head.

"Uh… I don't suppose you know where I'm going…?" I grunted in frustration, pinching the bridge of my nose. What the hell am I thinking? Talking to a bird?

It squawked at me again, watching me intensely before taking flight and waiting for me. Considering what I knew about ravens, I determined it was wise to follow them.

With my stuff in hand, and the raven leading me, I made my way up the familiar rocky path to the Celtic village.

I wasn't nervous. But determined. If I could fix this, then I knew Eyarr and I would be okay. The faces of the people I'd become friends with all came running up to me with expressions of delight and confusion. Morgan was the first one I recognized.

"We're so glad you're back! We've been waiting for you!" She said, bringing me into a tight hug, "you were greatly missed." As she led me deeper into the village, I noticed she didn't wasn't leading me down the path toward mine and Eyarr's house.

"Morgan, where are we going?" Morgan looked at me.

"Well, uh… perhaps Eir should show you." I raised an eyebrow but followed her nonetheless, and now I was getting worried. Was someone sick? Dying? Dead? Morgan led us to Eir's house.

"Well, look who finally showed up." Eir's scratchy voice came as soon as we passed the threshold.

"Thanks for the pleasant welcome back," I replied.

"Eir, what's going on? No one will give me a straight answer." The old man sighed, closing his eyes. It was a sigh of disappointment. Out of instinct, I put my stuff down and immediately made a beeline for the backroom where Eir typically had the sick or injured stay. I somehow knew exactly what I was about to come face to face with.

I pushed the heavy curtain to the side, and directly in front of me, on the straw and linen bed, was Eyarr.

I can't quite describe the rush of emotion that ran through me. But I hurried to his side, evaluating him. His hair and beard were a mess. Hadn't been washed or trimmed in gods knows how long. He was covered in bruises and cuts, and several bandages were wrapped around his arm.

"Eir… What happened to him?" I questioned, mouth agape.

"To make a long story short, his past came back to bite him in the ass. He did fight valiantly alone, but he was unfortunately unsuccessful. One of our men found him in the local tavern drinking off the pain." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This mighty young man, my guide, my best friend, a trainer… a partner. He just fell apart.

"How long ago did this happen?"

"A couple of weeks after you left. Maybe a month. He's been in recovery since. He often speaks of you."

"In what way?"

"He regrets what he said during your fight. But he feels like he has nothing to live for. He became a different man after you left." Eir said. It was the way he said that… it tugged at my heart. It brought me some relief that he felt bad, but at the same time, I felt… exhausted. Guilty that he fell into this state of depression without me. I sat there, letting it all sink in. And then I remembered one of the final things he said to me.

"I love you!" He said he'd loved me for a while… never knowing how to say it, but being by my side regardless and trusting me with so much emotional baggage. And thinking back to what started our argument, me still wanting to go home despite everything and was willing to leave everything behind; the relationships I'd built. With the Haddocks and their family friend, with the random people I met when on the move. And, of course, with Eyarr. We had an understanding of each other that I never experienced with anyone else. We shared similar approaches and were passionate about seeing the world around us.

I let out a defeated sigh, feeling a tear escape.

"Could you… leave us for a moment, Eir? Please?" The old Druid nodded, letting the curtain fall behind him. Once alone, I returned to the rugged Viking asleep before me. I pursed my lips, reaching to the table next to the bed, holding the bowl of water and the washcloth, gently wiping at his face, hoping the cool water would bring his senses back. And I was right.

I heard him stir, reaching a bandaged hand and pushing away his blonde hair. He opened his eyes and groaned. I let him wake up as he processed his surroundings. When he noticed me, he jolted, immediately reaching his hand out to feel my bare arm.

"It's you…" He gasped out.

"It's me, Eyarr. I'm back." I replied softly.

"…How?"

"It's too long of a story for right now. Considering what I've learned you've been through, you need to rest first."

"No, no… I… I need to get up." He insisted, sitting up. I gently put my hands on his chest and shoulder.

"No, Eyarr. Please, rest. Eir says you still need to recover." He didn't dare try to argue with me. Even then, I wanted to know what else he'd been doing besides fighting people. I needed to know.

"I was hoping to return to you taking care of yourself while I was gone. Though it seems your past caught up to you again." I said, crossing my arms.

"Hey now, I handled that like a champ." I gave him a look, gesturing to his state. He rolled his eyes, "Okay, maybe not the best! But besides that, I've been perfectly fine!" Eyarr insisted, letting his head fall back onto the pillow.

"And where's Cliffire? I haven't seen him, or Riptide for that matter."

"I let them go. There was no point in holding onto them if they were going to be under threat because of me." He answered almost a little too fast. I was stunned. My beloved Riptide… and Cliffire. Just, gone?

"You let them go? Just like that?"

"I didn't have much of a choice! I couldn't risk having them injured or killed or the village being under threat because some fools are obsessed with dragons!"

"Where did they go?"

"I told them both to go back to the Hidden World. As you said, Chief Hiccup did with his Night Fury."

"So you've given up on being a dragon rider?" He sighed.

"I didn't want to let them go, Laeli. You know that as well as I do. But they had to go home… just like you did." He whispered that last bit under his breath, hoping I couldn't hear him. Fortunately for my hearing, I did.

I glared at him, once again taking in the disastrous state he was in. I pursed my lips and tried to bite back an insult. Enraged still, I threw the wet cloth to the ground, jabbing my finger in his face. We exchanged equally frustrated glares.

"First of all! I didn't choose to be sucked back home! Secondly! You survived on YOUR OWN with a damn dragon for years before I met you! And then I'm gone for what, a month? And when I find you, you're… you're getting in fights with people from your past? And getting drunk?! Have you gone mad? And now I have to fix you up with Eir because you decided to be an absolute IDIOT!"

He gazed up at me in his delirious state, deep shadows cast under his eyes even in the dim light. But I could see the frustration building up in him.

"Why are you so angry?" I balled up my fists, feeling them shake.

"Because I thought you were better than this! We traveled for over a year together! I'm gone for what, a month? And when I come back, you're a mess! I was so worried about you!" He sat up in disbelief.

"Why would you worry about me?"

"Because the first thing I learned coming back is that you were fighting! And then drinking! That's not like you!" I could hear my voice shaking as I let out my frustrations. And I let the tears out, too. "I've cared about you since I first met you on that pier! I always wondered how someone could be so tired with life! I wanted to help you! But I never wanted to FIX you! And I've gone on this incredible journey with you! Hell! You saved my life when I fell through the ice! You kept me alive. I just started teaching you my language! And for gods sake, I just started accepting that I have feelings for you!" I shouted. "And the last thing I remember you saying to me before I went home was "I love you." For the entire month I was home, that was all I could think about! My family wanted me to come back to you… for you!"

There was silence. I'm quite sure the whole village heard my outburst, but I didn't care. All that mattered was all of that sinking into Eyarr's thick skull. And for once, he didn't know what to say back.

"Laeli…" He started. I shook my head, my body heaving from my crying and yelling. He gestured to the spot next to him, and I reluctantly took the seat. To my surprise, he opened his arms up, and I instinctively went for the hug. A hug I'd waited so long to feel. He held me close and tight against him, close enough that I could feel his heart beating. And I felt him soothingly run his fingers through my hair.

"You know… you're one stubborn ass woman." He said. I gazed up at him, and he laughed a bit, "Stubborn but kind, brilliant, and you have the kind of good in your heart to see beyond what people portray themselves as. And I've told you before, I don't know how you knew I needed someone like you, but you did. And you know what? That brought us here. It's not ideal, but guess what? We're alive. And yes, I know I've been a huge moron and made some bad decisions. But the past month I've been recovering, and I've thought a lot. As shocking as it might seem, even if you're still angry at me… I still love you. I meant it the first time I said it, and I mean it now and always will."

I didn't know what to say. He still cared about me. It didn't matter the personal hell he'd been through; he still cared and loved me.

I hadn't figured out if I felt the same yet. I'd always felt something, but I didn't know what that something was.

Following my return, Eir gave him a couple more days to regain some strength before he allowed me to take Eyarr back to our house. Once we passed the threshold, he regained some energy and excitement.

"We can start fresh, at last." He told me with confidence.

"And you're 100% sure?" He nodded.

"I know it, Laeli. I've never been more sure. Just as long as you're willing to start fresh with me."

"You want me in your life that much?" I asked. He nodded in affirmation.

"I truly do. Believe me, Laeli. You're the only woman in the world I know that has been able to keep up with me and keep me on my toes simultaneously. And for me… I needed that. Remember all those months ago, I told you that you gave me a new purpose? I still mean that."

The conviction in his voice let me know I couldn't doubt him. The faith he had in us and his love for me. Seeing it in those golden eyes of his… was when I realized.

I loved him too.