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SEA DRAGON’S GIFT : Part 17 of 83 : World of Sea

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SEA DRAGON’S GIFT

Part 17 of 83

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

140406 words

written 2007

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.

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New to the story? Read from the beginning. PART 1 is here

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She went forward, toward the galley, along dimly lit passages that she had known all of her life. Great Dragons! He trusts me this much? Why? Odd though, I think that I trust him, too. He seems to have been completely honest with me. I wonder what I would feel for him if I weren’t trapped in this mess?

The first rule of survival is to live. I’ll do this job, too. I won’t be sick.

The worst of it is, what I told him is true. I saw what they did to the last couple that violated the Marriage Laws. They won’t execute me! After the dinner tonight, nobody would believe that I was coerced. — — At least he’s not bad in bed.

She pushed open the galley door and was greeted by Jaret who was emboldened by the Captain’s absence.

“Well if it ain’t the high and mighty!” he said sarcastically. “Quite a leap up from stores clerk to cabin-girl, ain’t it?”

Shaking inside, because she had never simply seized power that she did not actually have, she steeled herself and looked about brightly. “I’m glad that you agree. Looking at how you are dressed and how I’m dressed, the difference in our stations is obvious, even to you. Backing that up, of course, is where I sit at dinner and where you sit.

“Now, I need three snack trays delivered to the Captain’s cabin before the second drum of the evening watch. We will need one with crab-cakes and puffs and a divided center-bowl with sweet sauce and sharp sauces. The next one should be thin sliced red-weed bread with minced paddle-duck egg spread. The last one should have crunchy fried fish puffs in an assortment of flavors and a divided center-bowl with tart and sour sauces. We also need a large flagon of water and a pair of bowls with dried sauce bases, both sweet and tart.”

She looked brightly up at him, standing with his arms truculently crossed. “Can you remember all of that Jaret? You didn’t take any notes.”

“Want ‘em all you want, Chit-girl. You ain’t gonna get ‘em. Watch changes next drum and the galley’s already closed.” He started to spin about contemptuously when her icy voice stopped him cold.

“That’s perfectly understandable. I’m sure Captain Barad will forgive your ruining his evening’s entertainment. Of course, if he should be in one of those moods, the entire galley crew on this watch could be tomorrow’s entertainment.”

Houfan, the lead journeyman cook of the watch, abruptly pushed Jaret aside so forcefully that the apprentice bounced off a counter. Houfan had a tallow-slate in hand and a worried look on his face.

“Kurti, …” he searched frantically for a title in this unprecedented situation, “Ma’am, I thought that Jaret was taking care of your order. I apologize for the rudeness of our heedless apprentice. What was your need again?”

Kurti told him politely and then left. She closed the door and leaned against it listening. “What’s the matter with you, boy? Even if she doesn’t have the Captain’s favor, and she does — ” There was an inaudible mumble followed by, “He’s spent more on her shoes than your shares will be for a Gathering! That’s how I know!” It may only be reflected glory but I actually have some power now that I know how to take it, she thought as she went back to the Captain’s cabin.

She assessed her resources and set out three nested tray tables and matching comfortable chairs. She cleared the chart table for a sideboard, carefully putting everything away in its proper place. She dressed herself in many layers of loose clothing, the inner ones being of seductive sheers.

The cooks arrived with the food trays, water and plates that she had requested. She was setting the things up on the sideboard when Houfan spoke up diffidently.

“Ma’am, I wonder, what will you be tellin’ Captain Barad? About the thing in the galley, I mean?”

She smiled calmly at him and replied, “Why, that you people stayed two drums past your watch to fix these snacks just for his entertainment. Should I say anything more?”

Gratitude filled his eyes as he said, “That would be fine, Ma’am. Thank you … What are you going to do with the powdered sauce bases that you asked for?”

“I am going to use them to add flavor to the water, Houfan. Thank you for remembering them.” He left, almost at a run.

She got out the Captain’s best set of Three Dragons dice, dice boxes, the counters with their boards and the gaming tray, gridded with point spaces. She was just finishing the setup when Morgu knocked at the open door frame.

Kurti smiled at him, “Come in! I can’t tell you how much I look forward to this game!” Won’t is more like it! I am just getting used to Barad. I didn’t expect anything like this!

Morgu looked her over in frank appreciation and replied, “Well, this is a change. I’ve never seen the Captain’s door unlocked and unguarded before.” He leered, “Nor an openly willing cabin-girl either.”

“The Captain’s door may have been unlocked, because we expected visitors but it is not unguarded.” Still smiling, she pulled the large Strong Skin tooth dagger from her sash.

“He lets you be armed?” questioned Morgu, disturbed by the development.

“I do,” came the voice of Barad from the door, “I chose the knife for her personally.” He had his arm about Selked’s shoulder as they came in. “Where do you want us, Kurti?”

“Chose the chairs and tables that suit you,” she answered, handing the Captain the knife on the flat of her hand. “I will bring the snacks for the first round. We have red-weed bread, crab rolls and puffs and crunchy fish puffs in several flavors. I can flavor your water too, either tart or sweet.” For the next few minutes she was busy setting up plates and fetching flavored water.

“This is all very nice but where is the gaming table?” asked Morgu slightly petulantly. The Captain doesn’t let me carry a knife around him! Why does she get one?

Why, right here,” said Kurti kneeling in the center of the group of chairs and holding out the board in her hands. She was grinning with pleasure at the effect that she had created. “Gentlemen, to your dice!”

Hard cubes of Wing Ray bone rattled in their cups and bounded about the board. Each was engraved with pictures. On opposite faces were a skelt and a Glue Fish, paddle duck and Wide Wing, sometimes known as a Sea Hawk, and Strong Skin paired to Lesser Sea Dragon.

As the dice came to rest, enthusiastic players leaned close.

“Ha! My paddle duck eats your Glue Fish!” Morgu said excitedly.

“Yes, but my Strong Skin eats you both!” cried the Captain in childlike glee.

“If you will look,” said Selked calmly, “my Glue Fish is on 45. Your paddle duck is on twelve and the Strong Skin is only on fourteen. Glue Fish escapes with 19! Pay up!” Grumbling cheerfully they forfeited counters.

“Now, Morgu,” said the Captain, “will you pay me to escape or be eaten?”

“I’m eaten,” he said, shifting a peg down one hole on the ‘food’ board that also held his counters.

The next throw and the next followed suit. As they were preparing for the fifth throw, Kurti announced, “This is a hand throw gentlemen. Are you ready?”

They Shook their dice boxes and threw. The Captain threw another Strong Skin. Morgu threw a Wide Wing and Selked threw a Dragon.

She called out cheerfully, “Hand throw, no point escapes. Dragon eats all. Pay Master Selked the points you are on and move one down the food board. Master Selked, move two up and receive this prize!” She untied the loose collar of her first blouse and slid out of it, handing it to the startled Master.

“I see — One at each hand throw? To the winner?”

“Yes,” she said smiling at the impression that she had made.

Looking carefully at how she was dressed, Morgu said, “This could be a long game.”

“Unless the Captain commands it otherwise, yes, it will be,” she replied. “More refreshments?” Dragons help me! I am actually enjoying this. Whatever happens later, I’m having fun now!

The game went on its wild way, long into the night. The men were amazed at how many clothes one small lady could wear and still look good. And how transparent some of the last ones could be.

At last, there was only one short, transparent gown with a little Longin Lace trim. As the hand throw came up, Kurti said, “This is the end of the game, Gentlemen. There will be two hand throws. Lowest is eaten and out of the game on the first throw, and the winner of the second will have this,” she fingered the diaphanous material, “and myself in his bed until morning watch is drummed.”

Dice rattled in cups and bounded about the board, thrown one at a time, to increase the suspense. Morgu, as winner of the last hand threw first. A Wide Wing. Selked threw next. The die rebounded twice off the edges of the board before coming to rest. A dragon. Barad’s throw hit the side and rolled over twice. A Strong Skin.

Morgu was downcast until Kurti put down the board for a moment and said, “You deserve a consolation prize.” She gave him a hug and a kiss. “Have good dreams. The game was well played.”

Taking up the board again, she held it to Master Selked. He was so nervous that his throw nearly missed the board. A Glue Fish.

Ruefully, he said, “Well Captain, it appears that you have kept your beauty.”

“I still have to make my throw to be sure.” He cast his die. A skelt. They stared. Barad leaned back in his chair and laughed a big hooting laugh. When he calmed down, he turned to Selked. “Never give up. Just because your cast is low doesn’t mean the other guy can’t get lower! Have a good night, you two!”

Kurti got a robe and slippers and went with Master Selked.

TO BE CONTINUED

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#SEA DRAGON’S GIFT #Part 17 of 83 #World of Sea #Written by De Writer

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coneygoil · 5 years

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The Home We Built Together, part 12

Two young Vikings. An arranged marriage. Hiccup always wanted to win the girl of his dreams, but not like this. Now he and Astrid must learn to live together and maybe one day, learn to love…

Writer’s note: I didn’t plan on this chapter becoming a monster at 2500 words, but here we are! Thank you to everyone who is sticking with this fic! You guys make my day :)

He liked her cooking. Granted, it was only broth from a nearly fool’s proof recipe her mother had given her (along with the already cooked ham bone her mother also supplied), but it was an accomplishment Astrid was proud of. And Hiccup had liked it!

Astrid was determined to not fail at her wifely duties. She expected to have the same kind of pride that swelled her chest and jutted her chin high like when she did well in battle training. But it wasn’t the same. Her chest didn’t swell; it fluttered like a tiny nestling on it’s first flight. Her chin didn’t rise in pride; instead, her cheekbones warmed and a smile tugged the corners of her mouth.

All these sensations were new and exhilarating, and sometimes downright confusing and frightening. Even with the uncertainty of how to respond to the new conglomeration of emotions, Astrid knew she didn’t wish for them to end. All this over Hiccup-clumsy-sarcastic-little-dork-Haddock.

They sat around the firepit as they usually did most evenings sipping on a warm drink – their unspoken evening ritual. Tonight was different. Astrid was the one to bluntly show affection (out of her duties she’d been trying but failing to convince herself), but tonight, Hiccup called her something that was not her name.

Milady. She knew what the term of endearment meant. It wasn’t a term you called just anyone. Hiccup looked like a deer caught in the glowing yellow eyes of a dragon. She had to stop him from apologizing. His sorrys drove her crazy, and her mood was too light to have it fall.

“I like it,” tumbled out of her mouth. She couldn’t quite meet his eye as he accepted the mug from her.

A strange air rose up around them, like the electrical currents gathering for an approaching lightning storm. Astrid glanced at Hiccup from the corner of her eye. His jaw was set and a self-confidence emitted from him that she’d only witnessed when he would tout one of his latest inventions. A mission was on his mind.

As Hiccup wiped his mouth on his sleeve and relieved his grip on the mug, Astrid’s heart quickened. Come on, Hiccup. Make a move. Make a move. He was going to. She just knew it.

Astrid’s breath caught as the walls reverberated with the sound of the Great Horn. Her teeth clinched. Damn dragons! Why, tonight of all nights?

His disappointment wasn’t lost to her. He wished her safety. Astrid caught the opportunity to make up for their interrupted moment by catching his hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze. Then she left, their lost moment lingering at the doorstep.

***

Mass Chaos was one way to describe a dragon raid. The cacophony of battle cries and dragon roars, along with wood crackling and sheep bleeping in terror mixed in the air. The intense blaze of fire all around stung the eyes and made it hard to see.

Astrid dodged an annoyed Gronkle as it buzzed by, a Viking hanging from its neck smacking the beast with his hammer. She paused in the middle of the path to regain her bearings. She’d lived through dozens upon dozens of dragon attacks throughout her short 15 years of life, but this was her first to take up arms and fight since training began. The glory of battle was slowly fading into a blur of disorientation. Fire brigade duties were far simpler and straight forward.

Every chance she picked to help an older Viking, they’d yell at her to go help someone else. As soon as she arrived, the next Viking would send her on her way to another fight. It was getting to the point of ridiculousness. Astrid was almost tempted to give up and go help the new crew of the fire brigade. Almost.

Astrid Hofferson – Haddock, she had to remind herself sometimes – did not give up.

“Night Fury!” a cry rang out from the chaos.

“Get down!” another warning from somewhere across from her yelled.

The telltale eerie whistle of the Night Fury’s dive cut through the air causing every Viking to duck, knowing ultimate destruction was afoot. One catapult tower exploded in a massive fireball as shards of broken wood and fireballs rained down. Astrid ducked using her axe as a cover for her head, and regretting that she totally screwed up the first rule in dragon training. Grab a shield.

The Chief barked orders as he hastened passed her, simultaneously unscathed by the explosion he just survived. Astrid was about to follow her Chief – and father-in-law, another fact she also had to remind herself about – when a familiar cry echoed down. She whipped around. Silhouetted against the night sky was a small, skinny figure being chased by a Monstrous Nightmare.

Dread made her heart leap into her throat and her entire body quailed. There was no mistake of who was being mercilessly chased.

“Hiccup.”

Taking off into a mad dash, Astrid blazed up the paths, dodging Viking weapons and dragon teeth. She had to get to Hiccup before the Nightmare did. She had to save him.

She spotted his slim frame pressed against an enormous fire pillar trying to hide from the terrifying dragon in pursuit. Hiccup was good at epic fails and this hiding spot was one of them. A fierce dose of adrenaline shot through her. A battle cry erupted from her lungs. Her axe clutched in both hands above her head, primed to chop off the Nightmare’s head.

The fiery dragon focused its attention on the new threat, snarling and baring its teeth. Astrid swung down, missing its long neck as the Nightmare’s head swiveled snake-like out of reach. A stream of red-hot flames spewed at her. Astrid barely leap out of the way, tumbling head over heels on the ground.

Rolling to her feet, she crouched in a battle stance. Monstrous Nightmares were revered as one of the most dangerous dragons. If she killed this dragon, she’d gain high recognition within the tribe. Being the Chief’s daughter-in-law, they’d probably even throw a feast in her honor.

None of that fueled her need to kill this beast. Protecting Hiccup was her only focus.

The Nightmare whipped its tail, annoyed by the gnat that was buzzing between it and its current prey. The flickering flames of the torch above doesn’t provide the best lighting as it begins to burn down. Astrid merely blinked and a spiky tail was slapping at her like a gigantic fly swatter. The grip on her axe handle was knocked loose sending the weapon spinning out of reach.

Astrid cried out, holding her right hand close to her chest. A sharp spike on the tail grazed her skin, leaving a slice across the inside of her palm. There’s no time to nurse the wound. Her mind is flooded with panic. She was left exposed without her weapon on top of being wounded. She darted her eyes about the rocky path, spying her axe several feet away.

Her back was to the beast. She had no idea where it was about to strike, or even if Hiccup was safe. She moved toward her axe in a frantic crawl. Her body moved on its own accord, the adrenaline and panic pumping in burst through her.

Astrid barely registers the battle cry of her Chief, and she flipped onto her bottom to find he was already taking on the Nightmare. She scrambled to her feet to get out of the way of the fight. In typical Stoick the Vast form, he pummeled the beast with his bare fists before it slicked off into the dark sky.

The fire pillar Hiccup had taken refuge behind suddenly fell over, the basket of flames rolling down the hill as recovering Vikings jumped out of the way. It rolled over a net full of Nadders, releasing the dragons from their captivity. Every eye was on the retreating dragons carrying away their spoils.

“Sorry, dad.” It was Hiccup’s pitiful voice that cut through the thick tension in the vicinity. Astrid locked eyes on him. Thank Thor, he seemed unscathed, but what wrath the Nightmare didn’t unleash on him, his father was about to.

Hiccup chewed his bottom lip then pointed behind him. “Okay, but I hit a Night Fury. It wasn’t like the last few times!” he explained as his father yanked him along by the collar of his vest. “I really did hit it! You guys were busy and I had a clear shot. It went down just off Raven’s Point. We can get a search party out there.”

Astrid’s back rose and fell in a seething breath, not only from the exertion from the battle but the ire that was rising up inside her at Hiccup’s words. He hadn’t listened to her. He was still up to the same old routine with his haphazard dragon killing inventions that caused more damage than good. The revelation stung more than the gash on her palm.

“Stop!” Stoick’s voice boomed through the crowd. It shut Hiccup down in an instant. The Chief’s face was weary, and it wasn’t for lack of sleep or pushed endurance. “Just stop,” he repeated softer this time. “What were you thinking, Hiccup? You almost got yourself killed. Again. A good part of the village is on fire now because of you! Every time you step outside, disaster happens.”

“But Dad, listen! I really did shoot down a Night Fury!”

Stoick pressed a hand to his forehead, pushing up his helmet an inch. “I thought in the last few weeks you were getting passed all-“ he looked at his son and waved an open hand at him, “-this.”

Hiccup rolled his eyes as if the statement had been exhausted before. “You just gestured to all of me.”

Ignoring his son’s indignation, Stoick continued, “Winter is at our doorstep and I have an entire village to feed.”

Hiccup’s eyes flick behind him and he leaned in closer. “Between you and me, the village could use a little less feeding.”

“This isn’t a joke, Hiccup! Why can’t you follow the simplest orders?”

“I can’t stop myself. I see a dragon, and I have to just kill it. It’s who I am, dad.”

Astrid glanced away, shaking her head in secondhand embarrassment. If only Hiccup knew how ridiculous he sounded. How childish he looked mimicking something like ringing off an invisible dragon’s head. She nearly stormed off right then and there.

“You’re a lotta things, Hiccup,” the Chief’s tone was eerily calm, making him seem even more treacherous than if his yells were shaking the cliffs. “But a dragon killer you are not.”

Astrid froze. Stoick’s penetrating gaze suddenly landed on her. “Astrid! Make sure he gets home. I have his mess to clean up.”

For the first time since they bid each other’s safety at home, their gazes meet. Hiccup’s bottom lip was caught up by his top looking more like the disappointed little boy from years’ past. Gobber smacked him on the back of the head, softer than what the weathered blacksmith could dealt. Hiccup hunched over. His eyes fixed on the ground as he followed Astrid away from the crowd.

Whispers floated their way as they walked away. Astrid glared side-to-side from under the long fringe of bangs. The rest of the village had no right to glower pity at her.

“Quite the performance,” Tuffnut remarked as they passed by.

“I’ve never seen anyone mess up that badly,” Snotlout added onto the mockery.

Her ire helped Astrid bite her tongue trying not to lash out in defense. Hiccup deserved the taunting for his idiot decision. At least, that’s what the red-hot coal burning in her chest convinced her to think.

Hiccup trailed behind as they trekked through the ravaged village, dodging debris and sporadic fires being doused by the new members of the fire brigade. The tension in the silence between them felt like an invisible stone wall. Hiccup’s footfalls remained one step behind her. More than once she recognized the shift of his hand reaching out then falling to his side with a light thud.

As they approached their home, remarkably unscathed by the dragon attack (the dragons were more prone to targeting the houses with livestock), Hiccup finally worked up the courage. “Thanks for saving me back there.”

Astrid kept her back to him. It was hard enough being angry with him and also relieved that he was okay. “That’s what I’m here for,” she said bitingly, “To keep you from getting yourself killed.”

She didn’t give him a chance to response. She reached for the door handle of their home and gave a sharp hissed, completely forgetting about her injured hand in the heat of events.

“Hey, what happened?”

Hiccup tried to take her hand to check, but Astrid cradled it to her breastbone. “Just a cut. It’s nothing.”

Hiccup’s eyes widened. “If it’s nothing then why is your hand bloody?”

“The Nightmare clipped me, okay? I’m fine.”

He tried again to examine her hand, but Astrid maneuvered away. He was concerned and she hated him for it. He had no right to be after the promise that was broken tonight.

“At least let me clean it for you.”

“I can clean it myself.” She wanted so badly to yell. She probably needed to drop her axe before she used it to threaten him.

Hiccup gave a third try to take her hand, this time succeeding in catching her wrist. “Please, Astrid. Let me make this up to you for saving me back there.”

Astrid yanked her arm away. “You’ve done enough, Hiccup!” she finally burst. Hiccup blinked at her in surprise. “I thought you were done with your dragon killing inventions. I thought you’d finally decided to grow up and start taking responsibility like the future Chief should!”

“I am, Astrid! A future chief needs to be able to kill dragons, and this is my way of doing just that!”

“It’s the wrong way, Hiccup!”

“I can prove to you that my way works!” He gestured out into the darkness as if the proof was hidden just beyond the night. “I can prove to you that I can be the Viking you deserve!” He’s at it again, attempting to grab at her. The slice across her palm forgotten to him over his incessant need for approval. “Come with me and I’ll show you. I really did shoot down a Night Fury.”

“Stop!” The fierceness of her tone caused Hiccup to stand straight and abandon his task. “Give it up! You’re a blacksmith.” Her axe was pointing at him, and Astrid knew she should have set it down. “Accept that maybe that’s what you were made to be, and leave the dragon killing to me.”

“Astrid-“

She tried to ignore the hurt and disappointment written on his face. He dug this hole knowing exactly what he was doing. “I’m going to check on my parents, see if they need help.” She glared as slicing as her axe was sharp. “Just stay here. If you can’t listen to your own father then at least listen to your wife.”

@martabm90 @chiefhiccstrid @justatranquilcloud @saieras

#httyd fanfiction #hiccstrid #arranged marriage au #the home we built together

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