Hi :) This is my very first fanfic. I hope you enjoy the story - please feel free to comment and reach out to me any time. Constructive feedback is very much appreciated. Also I like to get to know my readers. :)
13 years earlier (to RTTE episode one)
Viggo stretched along the prow of the ship as it sliced through black water. At night, the ocean offered a beautiful reflection of the starry sky above and the promise of a cold grave below. A gentle breeze billowed the sails and Viggo sucked in salty air – it would be time soon.
His father and chief of the dragon hunters, Ragnar, crouched near, a map spread out on his knees, eyes surveying the sea road ahead. "Our way gets marred. Do you see?"
Viggo studied the water, searching for the signs that meant there were rocks ahead, or a sunken ship, unusual swirls, or a sudden chop of waves. Ragnar was always the first to spot them, but now that Viggo was fifteen years old his father allowed him to take over this task and Viggo was getting better at it each time they set sail for a new hunt.
"Rocks," Viggo said and without hesitation he turned and called to his father's second in command where he stood on the bridge, "Turn starboard!"
The ship turned to avoid the sharp danger. On either side, outlines of small islands rose around the ship. These were the waters of Scauldron island, which was a series of small islands and rocky protrusions that offered sanctuary to the tidal class dragons. They were treacherous in daylight and nearly impassable at night, except by Viggo's father. Under his command, the hunters sailed as smoothly as if on open blue water.
Ragnar stood, gestured a man to hand him bow and arrow. "Get the cages ready. They are near."
"Yeah I can already smell them," Ryker, Viggo's older brother added, sniffing the air as he dunked arrows into a bucket filled with dragon root.
A small thrill straightened Viggo's spine. Scauldrons were risky to hunt, but the dragon's venom was worth a fortune on the market. He climbed to his feet and joined his brother in preparing the arrows. It wasn't long till the hunters spotted the dragons. It was a group, a small herd, resting in the dark water.
Ragnar gestured to his men, demanding silence as the ship navigated closer. Viggo's heart beat faster in anticipation.
"Don't wet your pants little brother," Ryker mocked at his side, his black ponytail billowed behind him, battling with the wind.
Viggo glared as he readied his bow. "Shut up Ryker."
Ryker snickered.
"Sh, will you two be quiet," Ragnar hissed, there was concern in his voice, "Or else..."
He didn't get to finish. A screeching sound split the air and Viggo cried out as a sudden blast hit the ship, splintering the mast in two. The impact threw him off his feet and all air was knocked from his lungs as he came down hard onto his back. He gasped, tried to breathe but found himself unable to. Footsteps. Hunters hurrying over the ship. Fire. Dragon screeches. The Scauldrons – they were attacking. Finally air came back to him and Viggo pushed himself up to his knees, then back to his feet. Shock was written all over his face as a dark shadow appeared over the ship once more. What kind of dragon was that?
Another blast – more fire. He needed to act. Viggo stumbled across the deck, searching for his father, his brother.
"Down!" A voice yelled and Viggo yelped as he was pushed down onto the wooden planks once more. Steaming hot water hit the spot where he stood just seconds ago. A few drops landed on his skin and Viggo cried out – it burned.
"Th-thanks," he muttered breathlessly as he stared into the eyes of his father's second in command, Magnus.
On the other side of the ship a little girl stumbled onto deck. Her eyes were wide in terror.
"Viggo!" She screamed, her eyes scanning the ship in desperation. "Viggo!"
This was not what she had expected when she sneaked onto the ship at home. All she wanted was to join the men, to be where Viggo was. She was no baby after all, she was five years old - a big girl. She didn't feel big now – or brave, all she knew was deadly fear.
The little girl ran over to the bridge, trying not to get trampled by the men running around in panic.
"What is this little brat doing here?" Ryker bellowed as he ducked his head under a Scauldron's blast. Then he was at her side and shoved her out of the way quite ruthlessly.
The girl staggered and fell, her eyes filled with tears.
"Please stop!" She pleaded to the dragons, knowing they wouldn't even hear her. The girl tried to get up only to fall back down as suddenly a big, dark dragon landed right in front of her. The dragon growled, gathering its fire in its mouth - men shouted and cursed all around her in shock. The girl shrieked, hid her face behind her hands.
"Please don't hurt me!" She would die now – the pain would come any moment...
But nothing happened. The girl peeked through her fingers and what she found let her inhale sharply. The black dragon was gazing curiously at her and took a step closer.
"A hatchling?" A foreign voice echoed in the girl's mind. Taking a heart, the girl reached out her hand very carefully and the dragon ventured even closer, sniffing her.
The moment lasted less than a heartbeat. A shocked scream startled the girl and the dragon gave a jerk backwards, baring its teeth with a threatening growl as a brown-haired boy jumped in between them, shielding the girl from the dragon with his body, an arrow pointed at the beast.
"Lilly! What by Odin are you doing here?" he shouted, his face pale in shock.
Just for a moment he turned his head to face her, dark brown eyes meeting her blue ones, unaware of the dragons next action.
"Viggo - watch out!" Lilly cried and jumped to her feet. Viggo screamed in anguish, bow and arrow landing on the planks with a low clank as he fell to his knees, his hand grabbing at his neck, feeling nothing but hot liquid there. Blood. This was his blood.
Terror stabbed a hole into Viggo's stomach as he realized what just happened. The black dragon growled one last time before it disappeared into the dark sky as fast as it had landed before. Lilly's clasped her hands in front of her mouth – oh gods no! Viggo was making a sickening, gurgling sound.
"Help!" Lilly cried out, stepping closer to Viggo as panic rushed through her little body and mind. "Help us!"
The ship shook violently under a new attack of the Scauldrons and Lilly staggered and swayed as a wave splashed onto deck. She was sobbing and her little heart raced in fear. Another dragon crashed into the ship and she lost her balance, stumbling towards the railing.
"No! Viggo!" It was too slippery to get hold and with a desperate cry she was falling. Her body crashed the surface of the deep dark sea. She couldn't swim.
On the ship, Viggo was fighting to stay conscious, too much blood leaving his body where the dragon's claws had torn his neck.
"No," he rasped out, his eyes flowing with tears as his heart shattered to pieces. "No, please...no..."
"Viggo! By the gods! Magnus, help him – quick! Heat my dagger in the fire, we need to burn out the wound." His father's desperate voice rang in his ears as he knelt down by him and took his upper body into his lap. Viggo was gasping for breath. He had never felt such pain before – inside and out. He just wanted to die. "Stay with me boy."
But all the teenager managed was a gurgling sound and under quiet sobs the crew could hear him repeat her name over and over again. "Lilly ...no please ... little ... flower."
With the last word on his lips he sunk into darkness.
YOU ARE READING
My little Flower (HiccupxOC, part 1 of Grimborn Family AU)
Fanfiction"Grimborn." She let the name roll from her tongue, her forehead creased into a frown. "Who is that?" Raised by dragons from an early age, Lilly had no contact to another human being for thirteen years. Being a wide eyed innocent she has no idea of...
