How To Be Brave

The Games

After weeks of preparation, the day was finally there. Jack told me this happened:

The twins were on top of a tent and tried to steal some of the cookies Fishlegs had carried with him. He was talking to a girl when the twins jumped off the tent and stole cookies. When he caught them, he dropped them in a barrel and placed the plate of cookies on top of the barrel. "I told you you're not allowed..." Before he had finished his sentence, the kicked out the bottom of the barrel and ran with it, the cookies still on top.

Just when he finished the story- we could still see Fishlegs running after the twin- the horns called.

"It's time!" Gobber shouted.

"Duellers, to your places!" Dad roared.

"Aye, duellers, to your places!" Gobber repeated.

"And may the lucky sword disarm its opponent!" I bit on my lip to stop smiling and shovemy sword even more behind my seat. The three girls stepped forwards, a sword in their hands. For them stood three guard, which they had to disarm. I grinned, 'cause I knew Jack had picked the best of them.

"Oi! Get on with it!" Gobber shouted and fell down in his seat. The girl with the blonde braid stepped forwards. I quickly saw she wasn't used to a sword, she was more the axe type. Soon she was disarmed. A disappointed noise rose from the crowd. She also seemed disappointed herself.

"I bet she wishes she could've used her axe", Jack whispered, reflecting my thoughts.

"Or any bat she could find", Gobber grinned. The three of us chuckled. My father hissed softly and we shut up. The raven haired girl stepped forwards. Her fight took some longer, but she was no match for her guard, too. She made an angry noise as her sword hit the ground.

"At least you could carry your sword!" her dad screamed. She didn't listen and started to yell at anyone who came close.

"Oh, that's attractive", I mocked. Mala stepped forwards now. She seemed to have trouble with the sword, it almost fell on the ground. "Oh, wee lamb", I said. The guard apparently had the same opinion, but almost a second after the fight started, his sword had been hit out of his hand. The crowd cheered.

"Well done, lass!" her father shouted. I met Jack's eyes, slightly panicking.

"Well, that's just grand now, isn't it?" Gobber asked after an awkward silence. "Guess who's coming for dinner?"

"Gobber!" Dad hissed.

"By the way, I hope you don't mind being called Lord..." he paused mid-sentence, staring at the twin's dragons which took my place. The sword laid no more behind my seat.

I stepped forwards, the hood of my cloak covering my head. I pulled it off. "I am Hiccup. Firstborn descendant of the King of this very land. And I'll be fighting for my own hand", I exclaimed. The lucky charm Jack gave me pressed against my chest. When I moved my gaze to the stage, I saw my father mimicking: What are you doing? I walked to the first guard and lifted my sword. But I could barely turn.

"Hiccup!" Dad shouted.

"Curse this suit", I muttered beneath my breath. I stretched my arms, ripping the zooms of my suit. The crowd made shocked noises, but I ignored them. Within a few second, the first guard was disarmed.

"Hiccup, stop this!" Dad roared. I ignored him too and faced the second guard. His sword flew out of his hands in a second. "Hiccup! Don't you dare raise your sword again!" I ignored him again and stood against the third guard. This was going to determine a big part of my life, I realized. I raised the sword. "Hiccup! I forbid it!" As in slowmotion, I ran to the guard, startling him. I jumped into the air and made it seem like I would attack him on the right. He prepared himself for that, but in mid-air I switched the swords from my right to my left. I beat his sword out of his grip. As I landed, I breathed heavily. I couldn't listen to any of the people behnd me.

I turned and looked right into my father's angry face.