Chapter 6 – Stones and the Sea

Panting, I held my aching head in one hand as I pulled myself up off of the hard floor. Blinking, my vision became clear again. Gothi continued to look down at me in concern, as if sensing the startling realization I had just discovered.

"I-I'm fine." I whispered to her, careful to not raise my voice much so I wouldn't disturb Hiccup.

In response, she only smiled at me sadly and held out the end of her staff to me. Gracious for her show of kindness, I reached out a hand and grasped the end of her staff with my trembling fingers.

Gothi pulled hard once, and with her assistance I sprung upright quickly. Back on my feet again, I swayed slightly, still holding my head. I was reeling from the unexpected flashback. Hiccup had risked his own life to save me.

It shocked me completely – and if the chieftain was considerate enough to save a complete stranger from certain death and house them then he deserved some of my respect. Yet I knew I needed to still remain cautious around him. Any hospitality towards me that he might display had most likely disappeared in the death of his lover. I didn't want to accidentally invoke any violence from him.

I had to get out of this room. I couldn't bear to look over at the chief's pitiful form or the ominous corpse. Catching her eye, I directed a grim smile of thanks towards Gothi, then I turned away from the white bed and snuck quickly out of the main room and into the tiny candle hallway.

The flames shook as I passed, and one sputtered out. I continued on towards the door stoically. Grabbing the wrought iron handle, I pulled the dark door open and stepped out into the bright main room.

Blinking quickly at the bright light, I jumped slightly at Snotlout's expectant face.

"So? Did you find Hiccup? Can I go and talk with him too? Is everything okay?" He asked me urgently.

I only nodded at him solemnly. "He's there. So is Gothi."

"Okay…. And?" He pressed.

"T-There's a girl in there too…." I hesitated, not wanting to really tell him the actuality of the situation. He would be furious at me.

He groaned at me. "Who is it Elsa? Stop making me drag the words out of you! It's annoying."

I only bit my lip, and inwardly I could feel my resolve start to break. Keep it together.

"I don't know." I said to him, dejected and wanting to leave. "When Gothi told Hiccup in the Great Hall she only wrote her name in runes."

Exasperated, Snotlout just shook his head at me. It seemed he hadn't picked up on the sheer level of my guilt yet – or at least he had not figured out yet that this woman was the chief's lover. "Fine. I'll go in and see him myself."

"Okay. I'll just head out then." I just wanted to escape. Never mind the fact that I had absolutely no idea how to get back to Berk….

Brushing past me, Snotlout tromped over to the small door and yanking it open. I breathed a sigh of relief as he slammed the door shut behind him.

Walking away from the forsaken door, I traversed around Gothi's small couch and table and turned right. In a few quick steps, I exited her kitchen and left Snotlout to deal with his own grief. I couldn't handle his glares too – I needed to find my way back to the village square and the house that I had woken up in.

I needed some time to ponder my situation. To try and come up with some way to encourage Hiccup to trust me again. Possibly the whole village. Who knows how they would react once they found out I was the culprit? Probably violently – knowing Vikings….

My untimely adventure into the Dark Sea had led to Hiccup being absent from Berk; and with his absence another cascade of lucky circumstances and timely actions resulted in the death of his lover. The fact that he was gone while rescuing me meant that the village (and therefore its' inhabitants) was left unprotected. My spirits sunk.

If there was going to be a funeral, it had to be only a day away. I didn't have much time. That was my best bet of being able to talk to the chieftain. He would not be able to avoid me out in the open daylight and grieving gazes of his fellow villagers.

I had to show them that I was truly sorry and wanted their forgiveness. I didn't want to cause such an uproar and leave everything in shambles. The funeral procession would also be a time where I could apologize to Chief Hiccup and it would not look out of place. Condolences would be common. This would not be like my coronation. I smiled to myself grimly.

I would fix everything this time. Time limits or no. All I needed now was a black garment and the most compelling, sincere apology these Vikings had ever seen. A show of force (even in wordy terms) would be the only way that I could truly gain the chief's attention. Even so, I knew deep down that this would be only the first step of many – my new quest to regain Hiccup's forgiveness would take more than just a few well-placed words.

I had to be ready to fully commit. To be able to go all the way.

In a way, I reflected to myself, this was like regaining and maintaining my trust with Anna. I had hurt her during all those years of solitude I had spent locked away in my room in the castle. Only now, after six years, had we become so trusting and in-sync as we were now. I wouldn't give up her trust in me for anything.

Now I just had to do the same with Chief Hiccup – and I was on a time limit. For every day I spent here on Berk, Anna and Kristoff were looking for me. The kingdom was looking for me. With their attention diverted they might even leave Arendelle open to attack. If not physical attack, then at the very least I didn't want to leave then in the dark of my whereabouts. I needed to build Hiccup's trust in me enough so that I could relocate Arendelle and send a message to Anna. I didn't want her to worry.

I reached the small foyer and could see the door, but as I stepped forward again I stumbled over a rock. Gasping, I ran forward a few steps before regaining my balance. My foot throbbed, and I as looked down to locate the rock (and move it) I saw that it was not a rock at all. It was a small green thing. Upon further inspection, I leaned down and noticed that it was a small, scaly, beastly thing.

A picture of what it was formed in my mind, and I shooed it away, but all of the sudden the animal moved its' head and my thoughts were confirmed. The beast on the floor was a small dragon.

Flinching slightly, I hurriedly looked away and stood dead silent and still as a board. Better not to startle the beast.

Tiptoeing around the small green dragon, I slowly walked towards the main door.

Unlatching it, I pulled the door open and was greeted by the frigid winds. Yet as I placed a booted foot outside the threshold, I faintly heard the tiny beast scuttle along the floor. My limbs locked up, and yet I could not fully prepare myself as the tiny dragon jumped up off the floor and latched itself onto my trailing leg.

The beast's tiny claws dug into my shin, and I couldn't control the quiet scream that escaped me. At my shriek, the dragon only flinched, but it was enough that I could dislodge it from my body. With a strong shake of my left leg, I held firmly onto the door as I felt the beast's claws loose their grip on my calf. A second later, the dragon flew off of my leg and landed with a loud thump against the hardwood floor.

It cried out, mostly in shock, but a little in surprise at the unexpected removal. I felt a brief moment of pity for the little thing, but then I soon reminded myself that it was indeed a loosely trained dragon. I glanced back at the small creature before I stepped out fully into the wintry storm. It looked back at me with a sense of curiosity in its' eyes.

I shut the door softly, turning away. With the beast gone, I now wondered: Why would Gothi house a little dragon in her hut? It had to be some sort of pet. Otherwise, I could think of no other usage for such a small, untrained beast – unless she kept in around for food?

No. Even that would be too harsh. I shuddered at the thought, dismissing it immediately.

The wind blew strongly again, and I felt it burn at my nose and cheeks slightly. I held any shivering at bay. Goodness, this place was freezing! It was almost as cold as the Dark Sea. It annoyed me that I couldn't stay warm in this place; of course, I had to be stranded in the one place where my high tolerance towards cold proved ineffective. I would need to find a fur coat soon. Based off of how the other Vikings were outfitted, a warm coat was essential – even for me.

Looking around, I tried to locate some sort of staircase. Gothi must have one, I reasoned. She had to have some sort of secondary entrance, aside to the usual entrances via dragon. With someone at her age, dragon riding had to be wearing thin on her bodily endurance. I walked away from the door, down the stairs, and to the left of the house. Staying under the overhang of the house, I sidestepped around a large barrel and came to an abrupt drop (where Gothi's wooden deck ended suddenly).

Craning my neck outwards, I noticed a smaller, planked pathway lined with a fraying rope supported on wooden beams. It led further out, past the normal boundaries of the hut. I followed the path – and was not disappointed.

I turned left again and faced the side of the woman's house, and I noticed the start of a decrepit staircase leading down from the hut. The initial board stuck up from the rest of the planks, and I could see that the middle was bent inward. There was also a thinner beam that rose up above the walkway. It was greenish from the salt spray and exposure to the elements, and I assumed it was a sort of handhold for when Gothi descended from her home.

Taking a few more semi-cautious steps, I reached the start of the staircase. Looking down upon it, I saw that it was not in the best of shape: parts of boards were rotting, numerous barnacles lined each step, and sometimes a cold spray would rise up from a particularly strong wave and dust the steps in mist. It was not the most ideal location for a staircase, but I was grateful nonetheless. It definitely beat another harrowing ride atop Snotlout's dragon. At least here I could use my powers to save me if I fell – and nobody would know.

I walked forward a few paces, and glanced down at the soiled stairs. They didn't look too rotted – that was good – I didn't want to fall through after my first step! Looking up again, I noticed that Gothi had yet another rickety staircase that led up in a slow curve to the roof of her ship hut. Huh. That woman truly was prepared for anything. It made sense then why she was the local wise woman and healer. Gothi had an escape for every situation and food aplenty.

I crouched down and looked back out at the stairs below me. Grabbing the upraised wooden plank below my outstretched hands, I lowered my right foot onto the first board. It didn't wobble as I continued to place my weight on it, so I deemed the remainer of the staircase safe enough for me to traverse.

Yet I didn't want to take the chance of my weight buckling the planks, so I quickly placed my other foot down onto the same board. I bounced slightly, truly testing the boards. They only bent slightly at my weight. Phew. It seemed they were a lot stronger than they looked – even when caked in salty spray and brine. Leaning out a little, I saw that the staircase I was on was relatively short, and led to a short platform that dropped off with a sequential set of stairs. Good.

I hesitated for only a second, a bit afraid to truly go off on my own in a foreign land, but I regained my ambition. Snotlout would be better off with me gone – and I had done this same thing when I had ventured off to The North Mountain after my coronation. In a second, I tensed my muscles as I dashed down the creaking planks to the short landing.

I held up for a second, and took a few steps to the next longer set of stairs. I noticed that they formed a sort of angled ladder, and faced opposite of the flight I had just gone down. Yet it didn't hinder me in the slightest. I ran down about five plank steps until I paused. A strong gust of salty air blew against me. I wobbled slightly as I crouched there, but was able to maintain my balance. Handling a few gusty winds was nothing compared to running along the Dark Sea – at least nothing was roiling and ebbing.

After the winds died down, I quickly jumped off the middle of the staircase and fell the remaining three feet to the rocky ground. I landed squarely on a huge, oval rock that sloped down to the sea. The dark waters only rested a few feet down. On the ground now, the sea spray whipped my face, and it blew my loose hair around into curly torrents. Some landed in my face, and I paused to push it out of the way. Now I could see again fully.

Looking out from my elevated perch at the foot of Gothi's hut, I marveled at the sea. Even with the harsh snow and gray clouds, the water was beautiful and pure. Its' ruggedness called to me in a way that I had not seen before except with the power of the Dark Sea. Nature in its purest form, and Gothi lived right at the foot of it. This village existed at the foot of it.

Inhaling, I took a massive, long breath of the cold air. Snowflakes swirled in air eddies around me, and as happy as I was at the unexpected sight, I flicked my fingers and created some of my own to join in the dance. A small smile formed on my face. In different circumstances, I would be grateful to be here. I was though, in a way, yet with the guilt of my indirect cause of the chieftain's lover's death, I knew that I couldn't stay here and admire the scenery. My grin faded. At least not yet.

Breathing in the pure sea air once more, I turned away from the cloudy sea and jumped off of Gothi's rocky base. A few feet in front of me was the grassy, dusty, snowy land of Berk's outer limits, and I landed solidly on a patch of stones. Walking out, away from the lady's hut and the chief, I saw the rocks start to fade and be replaced by a dark grass and dusty ground. My fur boots left imprints in the dirt and flattened the grass as I walked towards the village. Gothi's house wasn't too far outside of the town. That was good. This winter weather was making me cold.

The sooner I could find my way back to my 'room' in the house I had awoken in, the sooner I could be sure that I wouldn't need to face Snotlout's or the chieftain's grief.

…

After walking around ten minutes, I had found my way onto a crude road, and saw that the village center lay only a few hundred yards in front of me. Other villagers passed by me, only glancing at me for a second before going about their own tasks. Wooden houses lined the street, and I looked at each one as I passed, but none looked like the one I had left earlier. It came back to me as my eyes roamed the stained boards of the houses.

The house I was looking for was on a hill – if not the only hill. Now I remembered… the blue and yellow dragon had chased me down a hill … and I had hidden behind the massive statue that lay only a few dozen yards in front of the hut. I had my bearings now. All I had to do was reach the city center and locate the tell-tale hill and stone.

At my remembrances, I quickened my pace towards the looming houses. People trudged on their paths, bogged down by the snow (which had worsened while I had walked), but I only weaved between them. I was intent on reaching the house. Privacy was the one commodity I needed – I had to sort out what I was to do when the funeral came – and yet that was the one thing I always seemed to avoid receiving.

The flat ground continued, and as I plowed through the streets I saw the slight incline of the central hill appear on my near horizon. I breathed a sigh of relief – I had made it back!

The dirt road had morphed to stone, and more people flooded the road. It had grown wider. I spotted the central fountain – but I stopped dead in the street as I heard hurried wingbeats sounding behind me. Whipping my head around, I turned and saw the hulking orange mass of Hookfang barreling towards me. Over the uproar, I couldn't hear, but I saw Snotlout (dwarfed atop his dragon's massive frame) clearly yelling angrily at me.

His arms waved wildly, and as the pair neared me and the square, other people quickly moved out of my general vicinity for the two to land. They did, only a second later, as Snotlout and his dragon came to a gusty, shaking stop only a mere ten feet next to me. At the dragon's landing, I saw the beast's claws gouge deep into the tan cobblestones, and snow caked on his talons. With a rattling shake that ricocheted off the houses and shook the ground beneath my feet, Hookfang's front extremities crashed down onto the bricks. I noticed that instead of front legs, the orange dragon's wings bent on the ground, and he had sharp claws – almost like a bat's front wings.

In one sharp movement, Snotlout jumped down from Hookfang's neck and landed heavily on the ground. He inhaled deeply and turned towards me. With his close proximity to me, I saw his face seemed conflicted and angry. He had found out then. He saw my realization at the same time I picked up on his bewildered grief. Yet he acted faster.

Before I could open my mouth to speak to him, much less even walk towards him, Snotlout ran at me – he was screaming a Viking's warrior yell. I panicked, but in his quick action, I didn't have the time to yell out at his extraordinary show of grief. He neared me, sprinting, and I could barely make out tears streaking down his face. I stared at him, wide-eyed, as he raced towards me. With a strong rush of wind, he finally reached me, and as I braced myself for his startling attack, I was shocked when he suddenly stopped dead in front of me.

His face was only inches away from mine, and I could see the tears on his face. He was breathing heavily from his sprint, but he looked me dead in the eye. I only looked back at him, afraid that if I said something he might lash out.

Snotlout reached a hand out to me. He was shaking, but managed to grip my shoulder. I tried to pull away from him, not wanting his contact, but his grip turned to iron and I was not able to back away. I looked down at his shaking hand, and then back to his eyes. Opening my mouth, I thought to ask what he was doing here, and to let me go, but he beat me to it.

"W-what did you do?!" He asked me, near hysterical. Snotlout grabbed my shoulder with his remaining trembling hand, and not with his full strength on me, I too shook slightly at his power.

"How could you?! You killed her! You killed Astrid!" He screamed at me. I teared up at his display of pure, unfiltered emotion. The girl's name was Astrid. Her name started with the same letter as Anna's…. My heart broke slightly at his pain. If only I could tell him I didn't mean it…. Yet I knew words wouldn't get through to Snotlout. Not in the state he was in. The best thing I could do was leave him to absorb and deal with his grief.

"I-I'm s-sorry." I said to him, struggling to keep my own voice from cracking. Inhaling deeply, I placed my own hands atop his trembling ones and tried to pull him off me. It was no use – he remained still too strong for me.

At my words, and attempted rebuff, something in Snotlout broke. His hands went slack almost immediately, and he released me as he fell to the ground heavily. His crying intensified, and he now lay in a heap in front on me on the snowy ground. The frigid crystals stuck to his hands, legs, and knees, but he didn't react at all. He only kneeled on the ground and sobbed.

The tears in my eyes welled, and I too shook – the guilt returning. It morphed into a giant wave and seemed to hit me squarely in my chest. I backed away from him, stumbling on the ground.

Yet I was able to remain upright. I hit the fountain. Its hard rock dug into my thighs, and the pain shook me out of my shock-induced trance. I turned away from him wildly, and jerked my head around, scanning the square for my escape. A second later, I spotted the stone statue resting in front of me on the grassy hill. Tripping over the stones, I ran towards it.

People parted for me, and I sprinted forwards. The ground rushed by under my feet, and it seemed that only a second later I reached the thick grass. I fell down upon it, crawled to the statue, and curled up against its' cold base.

Snotlout's grief was loud and raw. I couldn't escape it – so I just lay there and stared at the grass, feeling nothing but an emptiness within me as Snotlout grieved for his lost friend. Astrid.

Readers: Thank you for taking the time to view and read my story. I really appreciate seeing that you guys like it! Also, please leave any comments that you have for me in the review/comment box below (no profanity please). Your feedback and constructive criticism would really help me to improve this story.