The Gray Area (1/2) - A Viggo Love Story (HTTYD/RTTE)

12. Caged Freedom

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Sessa packed up all of her things into Nightshade's saddle bag. Doing the same with his own things, Viggo glanced over at her for a moment and asked, "any reason for this sudden change of plans?"

"There's someone I need to talk to," Sessa responded vaguely, tightening the strap of her bag.

Viggo raised an eyebrow in shock; since when did Sessa go out of her way to talk to someone? Sure, he'd only known her for a month, but this was still strange. However, he didn't question any further, not wanting to irritate her. If she was allowing him to come, he'd find out soon enough. He fed Lilith and Nightshade the last of their fish, then they left the island.

He'd become fond of travelling at night, and his good eye had adjusted a bit more. Viggo couldn't help but smile a bit as the cool wind brushed across his skin. Flying. He still hadn't gotten over the fact that he was now an unofficial dragon rider.

"What are you so happy about?" He heard Sessa call to him through the thin clouds, curiosity in her voice.

Viggo looked her way, grinning charmingly, "isn't it pleasant? To be free?"

Sessa blinked; she'd never thought of herself as free. In a sense, she was; free of the world and it's problems. But she was quite caged in her own mind, with questions bigger than all of the small struggles she was 'free' of. But she tried to relate to Viggo, and see through his perspective. She imagined herself breaking out of a life that had broken her down, being saved by a skrill and flying away from everything.

Without even noticing, Sessa smiled, "..I suppose it is."

Viggo's heart leapt when he saw her smile in the faint starlight. For a moment, he couldn't look away. It was more beautiful than all of the riches in the world; the smile of a woman he was falling head over heals for.

It wasn't until Lilith gurgled that he was ripped from his daze. He looked forward to find the dragon looking back at him over her shoulder. She seemed to look entertained by the way Sessa made Viggo act. He rolled his eyes and pushed Lilith's head back forward playfully, "come on, don't embarrass me."

Lilith squawked as if to laugh, earning a curious gaze from Nightshade. Sessa, however, was lost in her thoughts. As they neared their destination, the devilish dervish became visibly excited. This only made Viggo even more curious. Looking ahead, he spotted a speck of an island. It soon grew into a vast forest with a single, tall mounting on one shore.

Nightshade seemed to take lead in flying from then on, soaring quickly down to a wide grassy clearing. Lilith landed beside her, immediately turning her attention toward a towering cave entrance in the side of the mountain. Her low whimper made Viggo weary. Staring into the opening, at least twenty vikings tall, his stomach twisted when two red eyes lit up inside.

The skill's growl was countered with one much lower and more sinister. Lilith backed away from the cave. Viggo put a hand on Sessa's shoulder, stopping her from approaching whatever creature lurked in the shadows. Sessa looked at him with a controlled expression and explained, "there's nothing to worry about."

Before Viggo could say anything else, he felt something yank at his shoulder. Lilith had grabbed him gently in her jaw and was dragging him to safety. The two stayed at the tree line of the thick forest, quite far from Sessa and Nightshade. All Viggo could do was watch in disbelief as a head slithered out of the cave. A devilish dervish, five times the size of Nightshade. It's head was bigger that Lilith's whole body.

A titan wing.

Nightshade crawled over, hissing happily. The larger dragon bent her long neck down to greet the smaller one. They nuzzled each other lovingly; mother and daughter reunited once again. Then, the titan wing spotted Sessa.

She hissed lowly as she lowered her face to meet Sessa's. Crimson eyes met black for the first time in eight years. Sessa.. the familiar voice muttered in her head, what brings you back to my presence?

"You told me that one day, I'd understand everything," Sessa accused with a confident tone of voice, "it has been years, and I'm only more confused."

Viggo watched in anticipation from further back with Lilith. I did, the mother dragon confirmed, and...you do.

Sessa frowned, "no, I don't. Why do you think I came here?" Squinting her eyes at the dragon, she stood her ground, "I know that you know; you're the one that saved me from that storm, that burning island."

The delilish dervish swung her neck slowly as she took a stomping step forward. The ground vibrated when she moved, inquisitive eyes looking into Sessa. You came in hopes that you are wrong, she observed, because you do understand. You've known ever since you left with my daughter. But you refuse to accept.