How to Run

Epilogue

Hiccup stood next to his father nearby the large fire pit that warmed and lit the entire Great Hall. Chief Stoick stood there like a true leader as he waited for the perfect time to begin the ceremony. Practically the whole tribe was in the Great Hall for this important event.

Stoick the Vast held up his mighty hands that silenced the entire hall without him uttering a single word. Hiccup was completely intimidated by his powerful father. He was already a toothpick compared to his size but to see his father hush the crowd with just the raise of his arms, daunted Hiccup further.

"We come here to honor and deem a new member of the Hairy Hooligan tribe!" Stoick proclaimed loudly. He lowered his hands. "Tristen! Come forth!"

Hiccup saw the crowd slightly separate to allow this new member to squeeze through. Hiccup was now able to fully see Tristen's battered shape. Her face had a new cut across her forehead, a dark purple bruise rested on the right side of her jaw and her arm was back in a cast like it was months ago. Hiccup was glad he could not see the dark hole in her shoulder and he was glad it was appearing to heal nicely.

Tristen slowly marched forward, her face was passive but not like the day she was ready to die on. There was something else about this expression. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Astrid practically beaming at Tristen, who looked back and gave a curt nod in respect.

Tristen stopped just a couple of feet from Stoick. Hiccup noticed that she was wearing a sleeveless tunic and her cross was no longer tucked away behind her shirt. Now the whole world could see who she really was, that cross would be a living testimony to Berk, but so would the conclusion of this ordinance.

"Tristen, you were brought here by my son when you were found shipwrecked and near death." Stoick spoke openly. "He brought you here to our Village Healer who took up the responsibility of sheltering you. You then received a position at our village blacksmith shop where you became a helpful aid to my son. We didn't count on Ragvar the Fierce's surprise visit to finally realize who you really were. Who you actually are does not change our conception about you. Ragvar said you were worthless, troublesome rebel but we only see you as a brave, perhaps reckless, warrior who deserves a home like any other man, woman or child! So, under the name of our Gods and on behalf of the village, I declare you a member of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe! On behalf of the entire village, I say your name to be Tristen…the Keen!"

There was an uproar of celebration coming from the crowd. Hiccup felt a small smile come upon him as Tristen smiled genuinely at his father. There was something about that smile that made Hiccup's heart jump.

Stoick then presented something to Tristen.

"Normally we would present you with a sword," Stoick acknowledged. "But I cannot allow you to replace your own sword that shares a strong connection with you. So, I give you this shield as a token of our loyalty to you."

Tristen was handed the great shield and she looked at it with interest. She looked at the symbol on the shield. It was a traditional Celtic knot painted in red and black.

Stoick concluded the ceremony, shouting Tristen's rightful name to the crowd.

"I present to you, Tristen O'Riley the Keen!"

Tristen watched the sun slip beneath the sea. She supposed she was content or happy but she also felt something indescribable, she could name many emotions but none suited her satisfactorily. Tristen looked down and lifted her shield to examine the work. No doubt Hiccup had something to do with this shield, or maybe that Fishlegs kid who could've told him about the knot.

A Viking shield bearing an Irish mark, Tristen smiled ruefully at the bitter irony. Two enemies pressed into one inanimate object.

"I helped Hiccup with that shield."

Tristen turned to see Astrid approaching her.

"Yeh found the symbol?" Tristen asked finally. Astrid gave a nod.

"I found it in a book." She answered.

"Triquentra." Tristen named. Astrid looked at her. "The meanin' can be translated in diff'rent ways. thought, feeling and emotion, mother maiden and crone, the three Celtic worlds…or the holy trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

Astrid smiled, not fully expecting a lesson at that moment, but admiring the Celt's knowledge of home.

"I wanted you to have something that reminded you of your true heritage."

"Aye. Go raibh maith agat." Tristen nodded.

"Are you coming or not Astrid?!" shouted one of the other teens.

"I'm coming!" Astrid shouted back, irate. Tristen smiled but Astrid looked at her with a welcoming glint in her eye. "Come on, I challenge you to a race."

Tristen's smile broadened and instantly followed Astrid to the flock of dragons.

Tristen the Keen had forgotten what it was like to feel home.

She was done running.

The end.