The Return of the Dragons

Part 11 Daddy and Me - Zephyr POV

The sound of creaking wood meets my ears as the little ship rocks back and forth over the waves meandering off into the distance and bumping all around the surface if the water. I stand on the deck leaning on the edge. I close my eyes and breathe in the ocean breeze. It calms me as it enters my lungs and soothes my slightly upset stomach. I would much rather be riding on the strong back of a dragon than sailing on the shaky waves of the ocean but... that cannot be helped.

I feel a strong hand on my shoulder. I turn my head and I see my daddy behind me. He is looking out over the ocean following my gaze.

"I used to soar in those skies. Just me and my best bud " he says quietly. There is silence as we both gaze at the distant ocean swelling up in down on the horizon and above them, the beautiful blue skies and clouds floating peacefully in them.

"I miss the dragons." I say.

"I miss them too." Daddy replies. "In fact, I have missed them since before you were born."

"I wonder if they miss us." I say thoughtfully.

"I know they do, sweetheart." He answers, "I know they do."

-----

It is dark. I hear nothing but the waves and the creaking of the ship. I wiggle my toes where my bare feet are tucked under the blanket. I curl up comfortably in the little but k below deck. My eyes grow droopy as I stare at the little flickering flame of the lamp which dimly lights the little room.

Daddy is sitting at the small table in the middle of the room lost in thought as it appears. He fumbles his fingers around each other fiddling with them mindlessly. His look is serious and his brow is furrowed.

"Is there something wrong Daddy?" I ask concerned but the look on his face.

He turns and stands up. Coming to me he sits beside me and pulls me into his arms. "I just want to make sure you and your mother and brother are safe ."

"I feel safe." I reply trying to make him feel better.

"I know, but there are things that happen on the other side of the archipelago that we don't know about. There have been some raids on different islands. I just want to make sure that my family is okay."

I curl up in his strong arms and I can feel his gentle touch as he rubs my arms. I disappear into thought again. Ever since our conversation earlier there has been something on my mind.

"Daddy?" I ask.

"Yes love?"

"When can the dragons come back?" I ask very seriously.

He pauses "When all is at peace." He answers softly.

"When the world is at peace?" I ask.

He chuckles. "I don't know that I would go so far as to say that. But if we can keep peace in the archipelago, then maybe someday they can live among us again."

"When so you think that will happen?" I ask. I want to know if they can return soon!

He pauses again. His silence is making me want to cry for a reason I am not certain of. "I don't know when that will happen sweetie." He replies in a sad tone.

"But will you ever see Toothless again?" I ask. "Weren't you best friends." I look up at him. His eyes are glistening as he stares I to the distance.

"No baby." He replies. His voice is shaking. "I don't think I'll ever see Toothless again.

"Never?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Never." He is silent for a few minutes. There is not a noise but the sound of the waves sloshing around our little vessel. I imagine the days when dragons were transportation and the Berkians of years past had forgotten that they ever used ships.

My daddy holds me close and I cannot tell whether the rocking back and forth is the ship or him. He lays his head on mine; I can feel the scratching of his whiskers and somehow it is comforting. His long furry chief's cape is wrapped around us and I feel as though nothing could possibly hurt me.

"Zephyr?" He suddenly whispers.

"Yes Daddy?" I ask. His arms draw me closer and I can feel he is a little tense.

"Sweetheart, are you still okay from last night?" He asks with that concerned tone he doesn't use very often.

"Yes." I reply. "I am all right. I was just worried that... that something might... might happen to you. Because if something happened to you..." How quickly my disposition had changed because now I cannot complete my sentence and my voice is disappearing in sobs.

"Shhhhh. It's all right baby. I'm here. I'm okay.... I love you."

"I love you too Daddy!" I cry, "So much!" I feel a tear on my brow... a tear that wasn't mine. He suddenly let's go of me and gets down by my bedside. Taking both my hands in his own he looks me in the eye with his own teary green ones. "Zephyr, baby, I need you to know this." He says. "No matter what happens, I love you. Whether something ever happens to me or not I will always be with you in here." And he takes my hand and puts it on my heart. "And you will always be here." And he puts his hand on his heart. "Always." He pauses.

"And Zeph, I wanted to give you this." And he puts out a little dagger. "To help you remember I will always be with you." I take the dagger in my hands. "It was mine when I was a boy. I almost killed Toothless with it but that moment realized I couldn't. It's yours now."

I can't help but sob as I fling my arms around his neck and bury my nose in his brown hair. "I love you Daddy!" I sob. "Thank you! I love it! It's the best gift I've ever been given!"

"Well you know what one of the best gifts I have ever been given?" He asks.

"What is that?" I ask.

He smiles. "I got it the day you were born."