Wings of Gold

Ch. 2 - Unstoppable

          I welcomed Viggo in my hut, showing him around while we caught up. Goldedge settled in a dim corner, laying down but still on high alert, he always sleeps facing the door just in case. 

         "So, how'd you acquire an entire ship to get here?" I asked, sitting down where I had left Goldedge's saddle when the meeting was called. "I may have done a bit of borrowing," he said with a smile. "I know it wasn't the best course of action since I'm on your side now, the good side." he said, then added, "But it was the fastest course of action to get here." I exhaled in amusement, Viggo is in no way a great man, he's greatly intelligent, strong, etc. It's something that comforted my insecurity. The other riders look down upon my more rebellious actions, Viggo admires them.  He sat down beside me, "I'm trying very hard to be better." His voice sounded unfamiliarly soft and genuine. I looked at him, pondering what to say. Eventually I nodded slowly, deserting our eye contact in favor of looking at the planks of the floor. "Yeah," I whispered, "I've been trying too."

        Viggo didn't seem like himself in this moment. Even when we worked together he never acted this way. Just as he was opening his mouth to speak, the door to my hut flew open, and we jumped apart. "What in the-" Astrid stood in the doorway, quickly shaking her head. I hadn't realized how close we were sat by now, our heads a mere five inches apart. Astrid smiled at me, "We'll talk later, mount up y/n, a fleet of hunter ships is approaching from the east." I jumped up and whistled to Goldedge, who quickly joined me from his dim corner. "What about the saddle, y/n you aren't going out there without a saddle." Viggo rose, his professional and cold personality instantly back in place. "Says who?" Astrid crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Viggo. "Says me." Viggo met her stare evenly. "I need to be out there Viggo, they need me," I cut in. "Then I'm coming with you," he said decidedly, making it clear there was other option for me. "Fine, let's go." I jumped on Goldedge, with Viggo right behind me. Goldedge clearly didn't approve of this strange man joining us, but he tolerated it for my sake. 

          We took off and quickly joined Astrid and Snotlout in the air. "Where are the others?" I asked Astrid. "Um, excuse me, why is HE here?" Snotlout said, cutting Astrids answer off and disregarding my question. Viggo sat calmly behind me, I could feel his warm breath on side of my face that he peered around to look ahead. "It doesn't matter why he's here, he's here. Where are the others?" I directed the question again at Astrid. "Hiccup, Fishlegs, and the twins are out there already, we decided to use your idea on this fleet." Astrid answered, and I heard an intrigued huff from Viggo. I spoke over my shoulder, "Hiccup and I came up with a plan where half of us fly in, then as they fake a "retreat," the other half of us comes in for support, and as a whole we overwhelm their defenses." I clarified the plan, a little nervous for any criticism from Viggo. He smiled before replying, "Just as brilliant as I remember." He concluded. "The idea is that they assume our half is on defense right now, and we aren't ready for any initiating of combat, they'll never see it coming." I said, reveling in his compliment. "So when's this signal supposed to happen?" Snotlout complained, clearly impatient. "Well it should be-" Astrid began, but was cut off by a "stray" plasma blast that thundered across the island, lightening the dark sky. "...soon." Astrid finished, propelling forwards and leading the way towards the east side of the island.

         Viggo rarely flew, yet he was always as calm as any rider when flying. Without a saddle, I relied on vocal cues, shifting my body weight, and a quick prayer to Odin for control of Goldedge. I noted that I should train more without a saddle, for emergencies like these. We reached the others in record time, charging for a fake out frontal assault. Three ships, I noted, assuming the plan with a glance at the others positioning. Hiccup and the twins would take on the lead ship. I caught Hiccup's confused look as Astrid and I split off to take on the right support ship. Snotlout and Fishlegs veered left to concur the other support ship. 

         Astrid wasted no time blasting the ship, distracting the archers while we flew just above the waves to the back of the ship. Viggo's left hand moved to my shoulder while his right unsheathed his Hiccup-inspired sword. He climbed to his feet, balancing expertly on Goldedge while still gripping my shoulder. "Drop me on deck, above the cabin." He ordered, a jolt of adrenaline hit me like a rumblehorn. Ready to see his excellent swordsmanship in action, I swept low above the deck.. He leaped from Goldedge, four hunters immediately targeting him. "Goldedge, spines!" I shouted, pointing at two hunters running towards Viggo. Goldedge swiftly acted on the cue, cutting the hunters off with a row of glistening metal spikes that buried themselves deep in the deck.

        Viggo looked nothing but calm, rolling his shoulders as the other hunters approached him. These new hunters, they must not know Viggo. He can outfight anyone in close combat, especially when the people he's fighting are the same ones who almost killed him.  Lost in thought, I unfortunately missed the first hunter who reached him getting pummeled, Goldedge excitedly dove to collect the hunter and dump him overboard. We landed on the deck behind Viggo while he fought the last hunter. Viggo interlocked his sword with the hunters axe, pinning him against the mast post. All was quiet for awhile, until Viggo laughed and sent his sword into flames, the fire flicking at the hunters face. With the interlocked weapons, he overwhelmed the hunter in strength, swinging him around and sending him flying into the waves over the side of the boat. "Good to have you back Viggo," Hiccup laughed as he and the other riders landed on the ship. Viggo smothered his sword, returning to sit behind me on Goldedge. "What do you say we sink this place, bud?" Hiccup asked Toothless, giving him a pat. We all promptly took to the air and sunk the remaining ship, watching it's smoldering remains become enveloped in the dark water. We circled back from the spectacle, beginning the flight home.

           We fell back, flying a good distance behind the other riders. "You're amazing with a sword," I said enthusiastically. "Thank you, I've spent many years training." Viggo said. He's not one to brag about his skills, he works efficiently and lets his success speak for him. "We work well together," he spoke appraisingly, awakening the prideful butterflies in my chest. He rested his head on my shoulder, so that he spoke directly in my ear. "I could teach you anything you'd like," he said, I let out a short laugh. He immediately caught my thought before it could whisp away in the wind. "You haven't changed one bit." He laughed too, strangely laid back for him. "I'm serious though, you're smart, if you trained combat with me you'd be almost as difficult to beat as me." We joked and laughed the rest of the flight home.

         "Goldedge, will you?" I swirled my finger in the air above my head, signaling for him to light the lanterns that scatter the hut. Goldedge sent a series of small, precise blasts around, lighting the lanterns easily. "He's amazing," Viggo said, having taken a seat by the saddle and leaning against a storage chest. I walked over to join him, taking a seat and leaning against the chest as well. "I know, he's an amazing dragon," I didn't expect for my voice to come out so quietly. It'd been a long day, all I remember before falling asleep was Viggo's arm draping over my shoulders.