Dragon Music Tales
God (Thor) Help the Outcasts
Summary: After the incident that got Hiccup hurt, and Juno lashing out at Astrid, Ragnar wanders off to contemplate why they are constantly ridiculed and ignored by others, just because they're different.
Pre-HTTYD.
Requested by Arwen the Storyteller.
Ragnar watched Hiccup's face with a slight grimace as it slightly twitched in pain while he wrapped his swollen stomach in thin cotton wrappings, where Snotlout had kicked him repeatedly. He also had a pretty bad bruise over his cheek where he had been punched really hard.
His eyes then flitted down towards his own forearms, the dark bruises still visible where the twins held him roughly. He was struggling fiercely, trying to pull free from their hold to help his foster brother, but he still couldn't move. Their tight grip had left those ugly splotches of purple on his fair skin.
Ragnar finished wrapping up Hiccup's stomach, and then turned over to Juno, who was standing beside the window, glaring at the sky with so much anger, that if it was possible, Ragnar thought that lightning would strike down from the heavens. He slowly went over to her, and just stood there next to her. She saw him coming over to her, and her glare toned down to a look of guilt.
"This is all my fault." She quietly whimpered, looking over to Hiccup, who was trying to sit up carefully because of the bruises. "If only I had been with you guys instead of that mangy, traitorous, little-"
Ragnar placed a hand on her shoulder before she called Astrid something not appropriate for a ten-year-old to say. "It wasn't your fault, Juno." Hiccup said to her. "You just wanted to reconnect with her after so long."
"Not anymore." Juno lowly growled as she took a seat beside Hiccup.
Ragnar was still silent, and his friends took notice of that, noticing that he hadn't spoken in the past couple of minutes. "Hey, Rag?" Hiccup asked.
"Everything okay?" Juno chimed in.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Ragnar lied. "I'm gonna take a walk. I'll see you guys in a bit."
Without another second wasted, Ragnar left the room. Hiccup and Juno looked at each other, and nodded. They waited a couple of seconds before following him.
Why do the gods hate us? Ragnar thought bitterly as he walked through the forest. What did we do that makes us have bad luck? Just because we're different?! Hiccup is the best brother anyone could ask for! Even if we're not related by blood! And Juno, she's practically every good word in the Norse language!
And yet Hiccup was starting to become neglected by his father, and he and Juno were orphans. She was also half-Roman, a most hated enemy of Vikings.
They were meant for great things, though. Someday, when he's older, Hiccup will become Chief of Berk. Ragnar himself was the last member of a renowned family of warriors, and so was Juno, even if she was not Erik Solheim's daughter by blood. Yet, why are they faced with so many hardships?
Ragnar stopped as he saw that he was at the cliff where he and his friends would hang out when they wanted to be alone. That was fast.
He looked up at the mountain that was beside the cliff in the distance. When he was little, he thought that the mountain would lead up right to Asgard, the realm of the Norse gods. If that was true, then surely they must know of his and his friends' troubles. Right?
Ragnar: I don't know if you can hear me,
Or if you're even there.
I don't know if you will listen
To an orphan's prayer.
I pray for light in the darkness,
That love will lead us through.
Still, I see thy face and wonder.
Were you once an outcast, too?
He didn't even notice that Hiccup and Juno were listening from behind some nearby trees when they heard him singing.
Thor help the outcasts,
Hungry from birth.
Show us the mercy
Some don't find on Earth.
The lost and forgotten,
We look to you, still.
Thor help the outcasts,
Or nobody will.
Ragnar knew that the gods could give him anything he could desire, like wealth and power. But those things meant nothing to him. Right now, he just wanted some good fortune to come to him and his friends for once in their lives as of recent. Still unknown to him, Juno and Hiccup were still watching him.
I ask for nothing
I can get by.
But I know so many
Less lucky than I.
Please help my family,
The misused and down trod.
I thought we all were
Meant for something good.
Ragnar then looked down at the village below him. A little bubble of frustration built up inside him, and he picked up a small rock as he turned away from the village.
I don't know if there's a reason
Why some are blessed, some not;
Why the few you seem to favor.
They fear us,
Flee us,
Try not to see us!
He then threw the stone as far he could, hoping that it made a splash in the harbor. If it even made it to the water.
Thor help the outcasts,
The tattered, the torn,
Seeking an answer
To why they were born!
Winds of misfortune
Have blown us about.
You made the outcasts;
Don't cast us out.
The poor and unlucky,
The weak and the odd,
I thought we all were
Meant for something good.
"Things will change, Rag." Hiccup said, making him and Juno's presence known to Ragnar after he had finished singing.
"You really believe that, Hiccup?" Ragnar asked.
"I don't. I know it." He said, coming over to him with Juno next to him.
"We'll be fine, as long as we're together." Juno added.
Ragnar smiled at them, and the Trio shared a group hug. At least this horrible day ended in a way that was much better than expected. As long as they stayed together, they can overcome anything.
A/N: *dodges a virtual knife*
Okay, retract your weapons! I'm sorry, but my version of "Riders of Berk" is still in progress. But I've gotten further in writing it. But, since I was just itching to upload something, I decided to post this.
I loved your idea, Arwen. I hope you like this chapter. The song that was used was "God Help the Outcasts" from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". But I found this cover by Peter Hollens, and it is just absolutely beautiful! And powerful, too. I don't own either version in any way or form, though. All credit goes to their rightful owners.
As for the rest of y'all, I guarantee that the first chapter of my version of "Riders of Berk" will be posted, either next week or the week after that. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.
*dodges a virtual cupcake*
Not literally! Anyhow, I'll see y'all soon! Don't forget to leave a review and give me some song suggestions if you want. I'll upload these to ease your supposed boredom while I'm working on "Riders of Berk".
Got to fly!