Disclaimer: I do not own "How to Train Your Dragon."

Author's Notes: Now I realize that this concept has been done many times, but I just love the idea. I have many visions as to how it could go and I hope you'll all like it. I personally think it's my best work to-date.

Secondly: the epigraphs (which will be featured at the start of every chapter) are an inspiration from my all-time favorite book, Dune and are Astrid's perspective, from her later years, on the events that transpired during this story. There will be more shout-outs to Dune in future chapters, since I believe that there are parallels between that story and HtTYD.

Third: as per the statuses of my other two stories in-progress (Dragon 3 and Cold), don't worry, they are still being written and will be updated regularly.

Now enough of my rambling. Please read and enjoy this tale and let me know your thoughts in the reviews!

Book One

To Tame a Land

Legend tells of a wicked man, the Master of Dragons, whose power of will over the beasts of the sky is so great that He can summon them from across the sea with nary a word or sound. Many a Viking has seen His figure, but none have seen His true face, for it lies behind a mask of scales and horns. But do not be deceived by His power, for there is another who follows the Darkened Way with Him; one whose vigor and intelligence almost equal His own. Together, they are a more formidable force than any other in the known world. And together they have torn lives asunder—this, I know is fact. The mighty chief, Stoick the Vast suffered the loss of his spouse and the heir to the Throne of Berk, his own son, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III to the Master of Dragons. And from the ashes of his grief was sworn the promise of what would begin a long and bloody revenge.

—from "Biography of the Master of Dragons" by Astrid Hofferson.

"Where are you taking me, dragon, I've a child?!" The mother demanded in utter terror, cradling her son close.

The four winged reptile mumbled lowly and flew onward.

Valka squirmed in the tight grasp of the talons on her shoulders. Her mind was so terror stricken that she wasn't aware that if she somehow managed to break free, both her and Hiccup would fall into the stabbing cold ocean and drown.

She cried in agony, "No! Take me back to Berk! I—please don't kill my infant son! You can kill me, but please, just spare my son." She felt the tears streaming down her face, pooling and flying off from the rushing wind. She looked at the cloth that cradle the baby held tight in her arms then to the dragon. "Please!" She pleaded.

The dragon didn't respond; she sighed: One cannot reason with a beast! She glanced back at the island now gone forever from her. Her heart ached sharply: Oh, Stoick, forgive me for failing to protect our son. She thought, shaking the tears from her cheeks. You were right; I was going to get myself killed by the beasts one day… Oh-h-h-h! Why weren't you faster to grab him from my arms? Oh, my son, Hiccup I'm sorry! I'm so sorry…

The squawking of another dragon bought her attention and she looked around in the darkness of the moving night to find it. We're gonna be eaten, now. Wherever this abominable oblivion they're bringing us to is, is where we'll meet our end! She looked at the four winged dragon, shook her head: How could I ever have seen an intelligent, gentle creature in them? Playing with my son… it must've been a trick… and I fell for it…

She sobbed audibly, ashamed of her mistake.

The dragon carrying her heard her sobs and looked at her, sensing fear and sadness. When their eyes met, she saw that they were not vicious and bloodthirsty, but wide with confusion, like a child unable to understand why their new toy broke while they played with it. The child does not mean to destroy; he just does not understand the toy and its delicacy.

Valka felt overcome by the eyes and pressed her face into her son to hide. She heard the dragon make a strange noise; one that sounded as if it were meant to comfort. But that couldn't be possible, could it? No, these creatures were evil and were going to kill them in horrible, torturous ways... right?

She felt a jerking change in motion as the dragon descended. The motion made her feel helpless and she didn't understand why. But by time she was able to regain her consciousness, their motion had ceased—she was still.

She lifted her head from Hiccup, expecting to see a burning hell. What she saw astounded her—her body was not charred by flames or lost in darkness. She was in an icy utopia.

A gasp involuntarily sounded from her agape mouth; it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen, so large, so bright, so vivid, so... safe. Why do I feel this way? I'm about to be slain by a dragon and I feel... safe.

Her winged escort dropped her, lightly on a grassy ledge, overlooking what appeared to be a lagoon venting steam. She marveled at the sight, still holding her everything protectively against her chest. How can dragons live in such a beautiful place as this? She wondered, watching swarms of bubbles burst and release their fog that flow atop the water.

A shifting sound returned her awareness back on the dragon seated behind her. She watched it apprehensively. Swallowing in a suddenly dry throat, she dared to ask, "Wh—what is this, dragon? Why are we here?"

The smashed owl-like face watched her in amused curiosity, then its attention was drawn to something behind her and the reptile went low as if forced, casting its gaze to the ground.

The action bewildered her and she turned to see what had caught the dragon's attention. Her mind froze and she lost control of her composure as she met the eyes of the mighty snow-white beast that stood like a mountain—its eyes, a brilliant turquoise, studying her and her child.

Valka shook violently, her rapid breath coming out broken and sharp. There's no way! A dragon can't be this size! It's—it's... not possible.

The massive dragon exhaled a white mist toward her. She tensed at the cold—fear taking control as she stepped backward, and lost her footing.

She screamed in terror as the bundle slipped from her arms and plummeted toward the ground. But he never hit. As her tear-glazed eyes dared to look, she saw the deep yellow eyes of the dragon that had abducted her. His form stretched, wings folded tightly to his chest, she heard crying from within.

Her heart stopped as she got to her feet, watching the dragon's soft expression calm the crying. Just like he had back at home. Questions rose in her mind; too many to count, but they all contained the same idea: The dragon saved my child!

She no longer felt the presence of the giant dragon behind her, only the one that saved her son.

She approached slowly, tears in her eyes, as the dragon looked up at her, his soft eyes reassuring safety as his head beckoned her and slowly offered the child back.

Reaching out a trembling hand she accepted the child, immediately bringing him close to her and hugging him tightly, so as to never lose him again.

Presently, she looked at the dragon that had saved a human. She opened her mouth as if about to say something, but quickly shut it. After a moment of staring into the patient dragon's gaze, she softly said: "You, jumped to save my child... everything you've done, you've done to protect him." She then brought her mind back to Berk—the raid, the fire, the dangers... "You flew across the sea to save us..." She hesitated, feeling compelled, "May I call you, Skyjumper?"

The dragon turned his head at the name, then she shook her head, "No, that won't do... perhaps... Seajumper?" She shook her head again, all the while, basking in the light of this rare calmness that had come over her. She knew that she wanted jumper in the name, but felt it not enough. She then remembered how he came from the masking of the clouds on Berk and it stuck her.

"Cloudjumper..." she said quietly, looking at the dragon fearlessly, now.

He seemed to like the name, letting out a calm croon, that filled Valka with ease.

The feeling scared her even further as she realized that she'd been in the peaceful presence of dragons for quite some time now. A sudden desire for her home stung in her chest, she said to the dragons, "I must return, back to where I came from."

Cloudjumper's face fell as the massive dragon sent him a glance.

She detected the message behind it. "Please! I have a husband who's probably worried to death!" she pleaded, though this time it was more relaxed.

Cloudjumper cooed apologetically and she shook her head. She didn't want to believe it, but deep down she knew it was true—they couldn't go back. After this incident she was certain dragons weren't the evil that she had been raised to believe. And she couldn't fight them anymore—she wouldn't. And that mentality would never be accepted on Berk. So as paining as it is, she knows that staying would be best not only for her and the dragons... but for her son as well.

She glanced at the giant dragon, assuming, by now, his authority. "If you are the ruler of this place, and you're offering a home to me and my son, then we will protect you and your kind—as payment."

The dragon closed his eyes gracefully as a gesture of acceptance, and looking at the child in her arms, she squeezed her eyes shut; a tear escaping down her cheek. I'm sorry, my poor Stoick. But you will never see the faces of me or our son again, nor will you hear from us. You must think us dead—that's the way it must be...

Well, let me know what you thought? I'm eager to hear.