The Voyager and the Rogue

Chapter 50

Following our lovely reunion with the Haddocks and their extended circle, Eyarr and I were working on adjusting to the house again. After about two years away, it would take time to get used to this environment again. But I sorely missed this place.

Eyarr and I were busy putting away some crates away for storage when Tannr burst through the front door.

"Tannr! You could've knocked!" I exclaimed. But he grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside.

"No time to explain! Come on!" Eyarr hurriedly followed us outside as Tannr dragged me to where a crowd was gathering.

"What the hell is going on?"

"The girl Nuffink is seeing?" He reminded me.

"What about her?"

"She's back!"

"Oh! Well, why didn't you just say that? You didn't have to drag us out to greet her. Right, Eyarr?" I turned to my fiancé, but he appeared preoccupied with the guest that just arrived. He wordlessly patted my shoulder and forcefully made a beeline through the crowd.

Baffled, I pushed my way through as well.

Eyarr was still as a statue when I broke through the crowd, gaping at the small group of people surrounding a brunette woman.

Next to her was an older woman who resembled her; she had the same brown hair and blue eyes. Then another red-haired girl that wasn't Zephyr. This girl had a massive scar trailing down her face. And then there was Nuffink.

The girl looked understandably overwhelmed by all the attention. She quickly turned to Nuffink, being swept into a hug in his arms. I smiled at the sight, quickly figuring out who she was and what she meant to Nuff. Turning to Eyarr, however, he didn't appear to share the same sentiment.

After Nuffink and his girl exchanged a few words, I overheard Hiccup, Astrid, Ana, Zephyr, and Zyrah approach us, and the small crowd dissipated. I was pleasantly surprised to see Zyrah here, and then I saw a very familiar dragon figure-

Blueheart.

Amidst the chaos and clamoring of overlapping voices, I couldn't help but stare at the female Night Fury, who carefully watched her disabled rider. She was beautiful, with intense blue eyes, and caught my stare. I awkwardly smiled, unsure how to acknowledge her, having heard many stories. She watched me back for a few moments before shaking her head and letting a snort escape her nose.

I then refocused on the situation at hand. There would be another chance to interact with her.

"Saoirse!" Hiccup exclaimed. Nuffink brought his girl, Saoirse, over to Hiccup, where they discussed something. She appeared to be welcomed by them, so I still wasn't sure what the big deal was.

Then Saoirse saw us standing to the side. And her eyes grew wide, and at that point, I noticed three scars over her left eye.

"You've got to be kidding me." She said, jaw dropping. I noted that her accent was somewhat similar to Siobhan's, so I deduced that Saoirse had a similar Celtic background.

"No fucking way, Eyarr?! Is that you?" She shouted, making her way to us.

Now I was baffled. I looked over at the others, including the other woman. The other redhead girl appeared to share the same reaction as Saoirse.

Wait, these girls knew Eyarr?

"Saoirse? Fae-? Odin's beard-" He echoed their shock.

"Sorry, what's going on here? How do you guys know each other?" Nuffink interrupted.

"I could ask the same," I spoke up.

Eyarr, Saoirse, and the other girl, Fae, all glanced at each other awkwardly, and I crossed my arms.

"Eyarr?" His broad shoulders slumped slightly upon realizing he had to explain himself. Saoirse appeared to share a similar reaction.

Not long after the chaotic arrival, we found ourselves again back at the Haddocks, where Eyarr and the girls proceeded to unravel more about his past that was not conveyed to me.

Saoirse and Fae explained their history with the Ravagers and how complicated everything had become. I wasn't listening very much until Eyarr was brought up.

"I think I was 17 or 18, and I was desperate and needed somewhere secure to stay after..." he trailed off, fumbling around with his hands and bouncing his leg, "after some past... issues, where no one I knew would find me. I met with someone with connections and was led to the Ravagers. For some reason, they trusted me and allowed me to stay for a while. I struck up a friendship with Saoirse and Fae; they were the most helpful. But anyway, I think I spent a few months with them. I never participated in their raids, y'know, not being a "team player." But I digress. After I left them, I was on my own again with Cliffire for... a while, and then I wound up here."

It was momentarily silent as we all processed his revelation. I wasn't exactly sure how I felt, but I guessed I wasn't... mad—just disappointed that I found out now, not before when he told me about his family.

"What was the past issue before being with the Ravagers?" I asked.

"I-... I'd rather not talk about it now." He slowly admitted. Hiccup put his hand on my shoulder, indicating it wasn't the time for that discussion.

Once we got past personal history, the girls revealed that the leader of their rogue clan was ready for war, a full-blown attack, allying with Saoirse's former village.

On top of all the information unloaded, I was informed that everything that had happened to Saoirse was because her birth parents were despicable human beings and didn't believe in a woman being chief. They intentionally tried to get rid of her.

I was appalled learning this. I hadn't even had a full conversation with her yet, but I felt a connection to her, and without another word, I brought her in for a hug.

"I can't fathom doing that to a child..." I managed to say.

I could sense her confusion, but I looked her in the eye, attempting to indicate that I understood some of her inner turmoil to a degree. But nevertheless, I knew now was not the time to form bonds over something like that.

Eyarr and I went home, and I couldn't bring myself to do much. I stared at the fire pit, holding a cup of water. I didn't even notice Eyarr trying to get my attention.

"Babe?" He repeated, my ears suddenly tuning to his voice. I shook my head, refocusing.

"Babe? Are you okay?" I heard him come to my side, resting a hand on my thigh. I exhaled sharply, knowing not to pry, instead just venting.

"I'll be fine. I'm just-... processing all of this. We're back in our home for not even a week, and we already have to deal with war? I never had to deal with this back on Motunui!" I exclaimed, raking a hand through my hair.

"I know... I didn't expect this to happen either, and I know it's unfair. But I'll help you navigate through this. I won't let anything happen to you." He affirmed with a half-grin, pushing my hair back gently and resting his hand on my cheek.

He helped me up and brought me in for a tight hug. Flush against his chest where I could feel his heart beating, one hand on the small of my back, the other resting on the back of my head, running his fingers soothingly through my hair. His embrace had become my new form of comfort, where I felt safest and relaxed. I let the full weight of my body rest against him, and I felt him press a kiss to the top of my head.

"Come on, let's get some rest. We'll figure this out in the morning." He offered quietly. I slowly nodded, pulling away to douse the fire for the night, and followed him up the stairs.

We undressed for bed, and I fell like a heavy flour sack onto the fur mattress. I was exhausted from readjusting to New Berk again, and I knew with confidence that this would be the last time I'd have to readjust on this level.

I was home again.