Far from the fjords and the ice cold currents
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𝕋ℍ𝔼 rain pounded relentlessly against the rooftops of Berk as Frida trudged up the steps leading to the great hall, her clothes soaked through from the downpour. Inside, the warmth of the fire greeted her, providing a stark contrast to the chilly, wet weather outside. She entered just in time to hear Gobber's gruff voice addressing the group. "Alright, where did Astor go wrong in the ring today?" he questioned, prompting Astor to speak up.
"I mistimed my somersault dive. It was sloppy. It threw off my reverse tumble," Astor admitted, his tone tinged with self-criticism. Ruffnut didn't waste a beat in chiming in, her sarcasm evident. "Yeah, we noticed," she quipped, earning a smirk from her brother.
Astor's gaze lingered on his drink for a moment before being drawn to Frida, who stood by the entrance, her form silhouetted against the flickering flames of the hearth. Gobber's attention shifted to her as well. "He's right. You have to be tough on yourselves," he remarked, his eyes resting on Frida, who ignored the scrutiny as she made her way to an empty bench with a plate of food. Gobber's next question was directed at Frida. "Where did Frida go wrong?" he inquired, though he already seemed to know the twins' answer.
"She showed up," Ruffnut quipped with a smirk, earning a chuckle from her brother. "She didn't get eaten," Tuffnut added jokingly, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Astor's gaze flickered to Frida, a hint of concern crossing his features before he spoke, "She's never where she should be." Before shaking off the concern feeling and turning his gaze away from her Gobber slammed a book down on the table, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "Thank you, Astor. You need to live and breathe this stuff," he instructed, his voice firm as he emphasized the importance of their training "Thedragon manual. Everything we know about every dragon we know of." As the sound of thunder rumbled outside, Gobber's tone softened slightly. "No attacks tonight. Study up," he ordered before walking away, leaving the group to contemplate the dragon manual laid out before them. Tuffnut couldn't help but voice his incredulity. "Wait, you mean read?" he exclaimed, his tone incredulous, while Ruffnut echoed his sentiment with a skeptical look. "While we're still alive?" she added, the humor evident in her voice despite the seriousness of their situation.
"Why read words when you just kill this stuff the words tell you stuff about?" Snoutlout questioned, his tone dismissive as he leaned back in his chair.
Fishlegs, on the other hand, seemed positively enthusiastic. "I've read it seven times. There's this water dragon that sprays boiling water at your face. And there's this other one..." he began, his voice brimming with excitement.
But before Fishlegs could delve further into his descriptions, Tuffnut interjected with his characteristic sarcasm. "Yeah, that sounds great. There was a chance I'd read it..." he trailed off, his expression bored, while his sister chimed in, "But now..." Snoutlout, unaffected by their banter, rose to his feet. "You guys read. I'll go kill stuff," he declared, his eagerness palpable as he made his way towards the door. The trio followed suit, leaving Frida and Astor behind. As the others departed, Frida approached Astor, who remained seated. "So I guess we'll share?" she inquired, gesturing towards the book.
Astor pushed the book in her direction without a word, his expression unreadable. "Read it," he said before rising to join the others.
Left alone in the dimly lit great hall, Frida watched them leave before turning her attention to the book resting on the table. "All mine, then. Wow. So, okay, I'll see you..." she began, only to be cut off as the door closed behind Astor and the others, leaving her alone in the quiet room "...tomorrow." With nothing but a few candles casting flickering shadows across the walls, Frida settled onto the bench, the book in front of her. She lit a candle and placed it nearby, its gentle glow illuminating the pages as she flipped through them.
"Dragon classifications. Strike class. Fear class. Mystery class," she murmured to herself, her curiosity piqued as she delved into the world of dragons, her mind hungry for knowledge amidst the solitude of the Great Hall. Frida turned the page of the dragon manual, her eyes scanning the ominous text. "Thunderdrum. This reclusive dragon inhabits sea caves and dark tide pools. When startled, the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight," she read aloud, her voice tinged with a mixture of fascination and dread.
Flipping to the next page, she continued, "Timberjack. This gigantic creature has razor-sharp wings that can slice through full-grown trees. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight." Each word seemed to carry a weight of its own, emphasizing the perilous nature of the creatures described.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she turned to another page, revealing more terrifying beasts. "Scauldron. Sprays scalding water at its victim. Extremely dangerous," she recited, her voice growing quieter with each passing entry.
Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder reverberated through the hall, causing Frida to startle and let out a small scream. Whipping around to face the entrance door, her heart pounding in her chest, she quickly realized it was just the storm outside. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Frida turned back to the book, her hands slightly shaking as she continued her exploration. "Changewing. Even newly hatched dragons can spray acid. Kill on sight," she read, her voice steadier this time, though the gravity of the words hung heavily in the air. As she flipped through the pages, Frida's eyes widened in alarm when she reached a particular entry. "Night Fury. Speed unknown. Size unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon. Your only chance: Hide and pray it does not find you," she read, her voice barely above a whisper.
Frida stared at the page for a long moment, her mind racing with the implications of the dire warning. With a determined expression, she retrieved her notebook and carefully placed it on the page, aligning it with the illustration she had drawn earlier-the fearsome silhouette of the Night Fury. It was a reminder of the encounter that had changed her perspective on dragons forever.
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As the ship cut through the choppy waters, Stoick stood at the helm, his gaze fixed intently on the map unfurled before him. "I can almost smell them. They're close," he remarked, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation. His men, scattered across the deck, exchanged nervous glances as they sailed towards the shroud of mist enveloping the distant island. Stoick's command rang out clear and firm. "Take us in," he ordered, his eyes never leaving the looming haze ahead.
One of the Viking men, his weathered face set in a determined expression, manned the ship's wheel. "Hard to port. For Helheim's Gate," he announced, his voice steady despite the tension thickening the air.
With a determined push, the ship veered towards the mist, its prow slicing through the swirling fog with determination. As they sailed deeper into the unknown, a primal roar echoed through the air, reverberating off the rocky cliffs of the island.
In an instant, the mist parted, revealing the shadowy silhouette of a dragon outlined against the fiery glow of its breath. Stoick's grip on the helm tightened, his resolve unwavering as they ventured further into the heart of the unknown.
↟↟
Frida's curious inquiry cut through the tension of the training ground, her eyes fixed on Gobber with an inquisitive glint. "Hey, so, how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of curiousity. Gobber's response was swift and sharp, annoyance evident in his voice. "No one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. Get in there!" he snapped, his words leaving no room for further discussion. Undeterred, Frida continued to stare at him, her mind clearly still pondering the elusive Night Fury. "I know, I know, but hypothetically..." she trailed off, her curiosity lingering in the air.
Just then, Astor's urgent whisper broke through the conversation, pulling Frida's attention away from Gobber. "Frida! Get down," he instructed, his voice low and urgent as he crouched beside Snotlout against the wall.
Following Astor's lead, Frida quickly dropped to a crouch, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. Astor peered cautiously around the corner, his gaze fixed on the approaching dragon. With a swift motion, he and Snoutlout rolled over the other side of the wall, seeking cover. However, as Frida attempted to follow suit, she stumbled, catching the attention of the Nadder. With a surge of adrenaline, she scrambled to her feet and took off running, the dragon hot on her heels. She scaled the tops of the maze walls with nimble agility, desperation driving her forward. As Frida reached the two Viking boys, Astor positioned himself protectively in front of her, ready to confront the approaching threat. Yet, Snotlout's impulsive interference disrupted their plan. "Watch out, babe. I'll take care of this," he declared, earning a disgusted look from Frida and a glare from Astor.
With a poorly aimed throw, Snotlout's mace missed its mark entirely, leaving both Astor and Frida to exchange incredulous glances. "The sun was in my eyes, Frida," Snotlout protested weakly, his excuse falling flat.
As the trio fled from the dragon's fiery onslaught, Snotlout's frantic shouts added to the chaos. "What do you want me to do, block out the sun? I can do that, I just don't have the time!" he exclaimed, his words tinged with panic.
Separated from her companions, Frida cast a desperate glance back at Gobber, seeking guidance amid the chaos. "They probably... take the daytime off, right? Like a cat. Has anyone ever seen one napping?" she quipped, her words drowned out by Gobber's urgent yell, "Frida!" Turning on her heels, Frida's heart sank as she witnessed the maze walls crumbling around them, leaving them exposed and vulnerable to the wrath of the approaching dragon behind Astor.
Astor leaped onto the falling walls with the dragon hot on his heels, his adrenaline-fueled shout piercing the chaos. "Frida!" he called out, landing heavily on her as his double battle axe pierced through her shield. In a reflex she didn't even realize, her free hand wrapped around his back, their eyes meeting amidst the chaos. As Astor struggled to dislodge his axe from the shield, Frida looked up at him, blushing. Tuffnut's playful comment broke through the tension, his voice light but teasing. "Love on the battlefield," he remarked, earning a smirk from his sister who added, "He can do better." Frida's attention shifted back to Astor, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them. "Let me get up... why don't you?" she requested, her gaze unwavering.
Astor stood up and looked down at her before redirecting his focus to the approaching dragon. With a swift motion, he grabbed his axe and shield, striking out at the dragon with determined force, the impact shattering the shield. "Well done, Astor." Gobber said as the dragon retreated, Astor's gaze turned back to Frida, his expression grave as he pointed his axe at her.
"Is this some kind of a joke to you? Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out which side you're on," he said sternly, his words carrying a weight of seriousness. With that, he turned away, joining the rest of the group as Gothi, the village elder, who looked down at the scene with Gobber, her expression inscrutable.
〰〰〰𖠳 〰〰〰
By: SilverMist707
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