And I'm
Sorry for the delay
no need to explain for now
just on with the story

"You've....met my son?"

Stoick stepped inches closer to Rider, who underneath it is Hiccup, his big gigantic arms grabbed both Hiccup's shoulder. Like what he did to Trader Johan he shook Hiccup vigorously making him feel sick in the process. Gobber grabbed his friend to stop shaking the young man but he too was surprise to see the young lad have a mechanical thingy that only his apprentice could make. No doubt about it this was made from Hiccup's hands.

Astrid slowly slipped away from the gang's table, her heart raced when she heard Gobber screamed out his name and only this...Rider would have known his whereabouts. She looked at his leg, it wasn't her first time to see a viking have a missing leg it, but as she looked closely the prosthetic leg seems to be difficult to operate. It needs this twitchy-twitchy things to adjust and there's something connected to it. Like the leg shifts into something, but she wasn't sure of herself because what matters right now is the situation in hand that Gobber alarmed everybody.

Rider remained calm as everyone started to circle around him, he wasn't nervous, in fact he was surprised to see everyone this curious about his whereabouts. Especially his father, the person who threw him away and exiled him five years ago. In fact he had practiced this well enough the night before the attackers came. He was prepared for this, only he was surprised his father looked all concerned.

Murmurs were heard within the walls of the hall whispering that this Rider might have crossed paths with the town's old clown. Gobber wobbled as he came to get near Rider.

"Excuse me lad, if it's not much, but may I see your leg?"

Rider obliged to Gobber's request showing no signs that he was nervous, in fact e isn't nervous at all!

Gobber examined his leg closely, surely this thingy-mi-jiggy is his apprentice's craftmanship. He pushed a botton, instantly the prosthetic shifted into some sort that could connect to something. He pushed it again and it went back to the way it was. Again he examined it. All this work and twiks really came from Hiccup's hands.

"It's Hiccup's all right" he finally said after putting it down.

Stoick moved closer to Rider's foot for it might disappear instantly from his eyes, this was the only proof he had to fish some information from his son.

"When and from whom did you get that?" Stoick pointed at the leg, his voice seemed to be shaky. Probably hiding the joy from the information.

Rider seemed to be surprised from his reaction, even the teens who were starring at him came nearer. Even Astrid came near to hear about the story.

"I lost my leg from a dragon about three years ago, I was weak enough to look for help until a scrawny boy at about 17 came to help and carried me to a nearby village and aided my leg. He said he works at a forge from a tribe he was exiled in and disowned by his father. He offered to make me a prosthetic leg for free and to be honest he did a pretty good job. I just wonder why a smithy like him was exiled with such hood hands"

And like what he had practiced back at the cove the night before the attack, he delivered his lie very well. Thank Odin for the increase of dragons within the forest.

Guilt was filled all over Stoick's face but was relieved from the information. So he was at least alive for about three years.

"That boy....did he gave out a a name?"

"Saddly he did not gave out a name but he told me that I could call him 'H'. Like the mark he placed underneath my prosthetic."

Like instinct Gobber grabbed Rider's foot and searched for the mark, and there it was right next to the botton he pushed earlier. Stoick was hoping for more information from Rider, this led Hiccup so confused. He wasn't angry at him nor the whole village, he just thought of that the past is behind him.

The crowd settled back after Stoick announced that the meads are ready to be served. Rider had just finished his remaining meal and planned to retreat for today at his camp. The gang around his age came over to his table. It looks like they have come to the point that this guy is a bit entertaining. The gang surrounded him which made Rider stay longer than he have thought

"So....the Dragon Conquerer, why did they named that to you?" Fishlegs started.

"Beats me, I never claimed to be one anyway. Must have been this dragons I tried to lure away from all of you" Rider replied as he sat on his chair for comfort.

"So you kill dragons in the islands you've been to?" Tuff asked next.

"No I don't kill I talk to them"

"Well that's crazy!! No one has EVER tried to talk a dragon in centuries. You my friend must be joking" Snotlout interjected.

"Then you my friend are wasting your time listening to me. If you don't give a damn to my way of life, might as well pig yourself out back to the table where you came from"

The teens laughed, Snotlout felt angry with a mixture of humiliation but he didn't move back to the table where they had been minutes ago. Instead he slugged on a chair next to Fishlegs.

Ruffnut had somehow magically appeared beside Rider, she was making her moves to slip an arm around his arm. "Tell me how you tame those dragons of yours"

She said it soft and smoothly as if she was ready to have a short make out session which made Rider shiver at the thought. Luckily he was saved by a blond girl that could take his breath away. She sat opposite of him but still she has this angry look at her first. A demeanour that has always been inside her since the day he got caught at the cove.

"What if those dragons don't seem to want to be tamed, how do suppose to manage THAT then"

As if the answer was obvious "Easy.....I don't bother them, just let them be for all I care"

Again she bit her lower lip trying to hold the anger rising. Rider wasn't finish...,yet.

"You're this kind of lady who wants to ask a lot, if I'm correct, a beauty like you would only waste time asking nonsense at me"

Astrid suddenly felt odd, she wasn't even sure if her temper had finally reached the critical level or if humiliation had overcome her. Sure Snot and a few suitors had called her beautiful but.....oh the heck she has no idea what to feel right now.

Rider halfly regretted the words that came out of his mouth, It was his only way to get her out of his system but he knew he was going too far from what he initially planned. Rider had the chance to get his thoughts out of Astrid by simply looking at Hayley.

Poor Hayley, smiling at one corner with the other young vikings around her age having no clue that her real parents are gone by Dagur's work. Heather must have not told her yet, or worse, Heather wouldn't break this say to her by simply telling Hayley that their parents are gone.

Heather.....Rider looked around to spot his only froend who knew his true identity. Last time she saw her was at the docks wherE Dagur was a at question. The village people tried to tame his friend from scraping Dagur's face into bits. Where is Heather anyway? She needed to be in Hayley's side, although Rider would also think that Heather might be hurting right now. He knew Heather held Hayley's parents as her own too and she swore she would protect them with all the wit she has.

"Berk to stranger I think you zoned out a bit" Tuff clicked his fingers on front of him.

"Well at least you gave us a heads up that you frequently zone out" Astrid teased with full of determination and seriousness. The rest of the teens snickered behind.

Amazed with her words Rider couldn't hold himself to talk back

"For a valkyrie like you, you seemed so observant to a 'strange' stranger like me. It does sound you're highly interested with me. Has-has she done this before?" He said as he slung his shoulders up pretending to just ask Fishlegs but actually asking everyone.

"Now that you mentioned it Astrid did the same thing to a guy named Wolf before. She sure does know how to entertain the guys." Ruffnut blustered out.

All the teens and all the nearby bystanders either gasped our felt shocked. The shield maiden has actually the guts to get attached with strangers, especially male strangers. Some were confused to what they could react, would they think Astrid is just doing her job to protect the village or was she simply flirting this whole time.

Astrid felt humiliated than before and her face burned with anger at Rider. On the other hand Rider didn't mean to to destroy her image, in fact he didn't know Ruff could be such a backstabbing friend. To finally remove everyone's thoughts from Astrid he decided to look for a place for battle.

"I would like to search for a place to fight against Dagur, somewhere everyone is safe from our duel. Can someone show me around?"

Astrid rolled her eyes as if he was being too dorky enough to find a place to fight, well for the sure the dragon arena would be the place. Rider noticed.

"Hey blond axe girl you seemed to be fist-first-before-question type of person, so why don't you show me around?"

Astrid left her mouth hanging with Rider's statement. The twins snickered, she heard them but as she looked behind her they were backing out. Not even Fishlegs tried to back her up. She fumed but Stoick waived it all out. She obliged eventually.

The walk to the arena was deafning. Hiccup himself couldn't concentrate very much with Astrid around. Who was he kidding? This was the girl who was responsible for his sudden exile and run away...and his inner self is pleading to just forgive her. His mouth was on its own accord too. He didn't mean to call Astrid the 'blond axe girl' the fact he called her that because his head almost got through his head earlier at the forest. Although he was thankful Astrid didn't strangle him to death when he called her attention. She's still tough, yes. Her demeanour never changed. That's why she had become a shield-maiden for her strong appearance and determination.

By the time they reached the bridge that connects to the arena, memories from five years ago flashed his mind. Looking at the place where he had his last day on Berk,the day he should probably forget but couldn't . Not much has changed, he looked at the pens where the caged dragons were. He's making a plan to set them free but they would have to wait because now is not the right time to do so. As the entered, Rider pretended to look around.

"This place is good enough for me and Dagur, safe enough for you to watch and away from extreme danger"

Rider didn't seem to notice that Astrid was starring at him for the whole time. He leaned back to look at her, she hadn't move. Astrid is actually examining Rider, or more of keeping an eye out of him. Bothered by the way he dress and moves makes her feel fishy about him. In fact he does smell sea water with a mixture of cool breeze.

"Is there some kind of a problem blondie?"

By the word that slipped away from his mouth, Astrid started to trigger her anger but she did everything to remain calm for this jerk in front of her.

"I have a name, ok?"

Underneath his helmet he smirked, "Why of course, everyone in this village has a name. Good for you to know"

Did he just say that out right? He's making fun out of her, although he did notice that she's quiet pissed. Maybe it was the way he sort of rejected her earlier at the Mead Hall. Rider knew Astrid wouldn't ask to be him to be her intimate partner or something. No, Astrid wouldn't do that ever. He knows her too well and he thinks she got embarrassed back there.

"Look, I'm sorry I humiliated you back there I knew you wouldn't do what other girls think they would do"

In return, there was no response but a cold stare. One cold death stare. Rider sighed, he did had gotten her nerves.

"You know, out of the young maidens I have met. You stick out from being the less clingy....beautiful I might add"

Odin's beard did that went out his mouth?!

Astrid finally got her senses, did she heard that out right? No one has ever called her beautiful. Well, except for Snotlout and a few suitors, but his voice means he meant it in a way like not some guy who wants her as material status. This guy is a complete stranger to her with no definite information background, and he called her beautiful. She didn't know if she should accept or throw the comment away, her cheeks burn with embarrassment because of the endearment the stranger had said,

Hiccup was out of words after he said to her she was beautiful, but the mere truth of it she stands out from every teen on Berk today. The strongest and fearless too. If only it, just if only it was Fishlegs who accompanied him here then he won't bet distracted like the state that he is in right now. Although it had to be Astrid thanks to his blabbering mouth. The Gods are toying with his fate alright.

When things had gotten more awkward, because of the deafening silence in the arena, Rider thought of an idea to heat things up.

"Hey let's make a deal-" he spoke and Astrid's head shot up to face him "-let's have a sparring match. You win I'll apologize in front of everyone that I humiliated you. I win you supply me your name"

Her demeanour brightened, a little sparring match could make her forget the things she was thinking as of the moment. She did wanted to know if this guy is good at a little fight. A simple smile was the only answer she could only give as a sign of 'challenge accepted'.

Rider turned his back to distance away first from her before they could start the match. He turned around to face her but was surprised with the sudden charge of the maiden.

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaahh!"

Astrid gave out a savage scream as she attacked Rider, swing per swing, blow per blow of her axe on although she couldn't hit a single scratch at him. Rider dodged every move she makes as if he could read her moves inside her head. She was getting tired and irritated of him, she gritted her and wanted to command him to stay still. The frustrating grunt signalled Rider that Astrid was getting tired, he stopped her swinging as he held the handle of her her axe that was about to slice him into two. Surprised with the incredible strength she was taken back too much her axe flew out of her hand.

But the fight didn't stop there Astrid tried to kick his groin with all the strength in her knee. Rider almost got caught but luckily his reflexes bolted in. This was a spar, a friendly spar, turns out its an angry spar. Rider didn't even had the chance to ignite Inferno out of his pocket. The fight turns out to be a grapple battle, Rider could seer in Astrid's eyes all the stress she wants to put out. With another leap of twist Atsrid turned, her back against Rider with his arm around her neck and a flaming sword infront of her. She gasped with the surprise.

Rider is ready for a counter attack but he her relax from the sudden. Her muscles gave in and slowly she looked down to the floor. Finally it's over, Rider won and Astrid needs to supply her name. They stood there rather awkward, of course the way they stood was awkward enough. Rider behind Astrid. He feels so warm and his hands were so soft, probably because of the spar Rider had rarely executed and she exerted everything she had.

No, there was something from him that Astrid couldn't say so herself. The way Rider hold her seems so foreign and familiar at the same time. As of the moment Rider is getting awkward, he should somehow let go by now but this felt so......needed.

"Astrid-" she spoke "-Astrid Hofferson" she said with dismay.

Slowly Rider let go but a wave of disappointment coursed through their bodies. Rider went in front of her, still, her head down looking at the ground. Little did he know Astrid was hiding her blush from. Astrid isn't even sure what she's blushing for. Was it because she's angry and got humiliated twice in one day, or maybe because of his hold seconds ago. Oh Odin knows what's up with these two.

The taller of the two placed a hand on the smaller one's shoulder. By the hand she just felt on her, she felt a jolt of electricity charged within her. The other one felt the same.

"Nice to meet you Astrid" Rider said lowly, good enough for her to hear. "I'm sorry for the scene at the hall, even though I won I'll still apologize for making a mark on your image"

Astrid shot her head up, the visible blush can still be seen but her face glowed with a smile of relief. Rider, inside on it is the old Hiccup, felt a pang on her heart. That smile.

"Thanks" she said. This time it was Rider's turn to blush. Good thing he had a mask on.

Somewhere in there deep moment they were disturbed, both Astrid and Rider heard whispers outside the arena.

"I know you guys are in there" Rider shouted behind Astrid and instantly Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruff and Tuff came out from their hiding spot.

"Way the ho Fishlegs, you and your stammering mouth" one of the twins complained.

"But that's not entirely my fault, stammering is in me already I can't help it"

"Oh shut up already we've been caught already but good enough to watch the match minutes ago"

"Yeah I can't believe Astrid got beat by Rider"

So the gang had been in there the whole match, probably Snotlout's fault. Astrid's hopeful face fell, the gang had seen her loose. Loose from this total stranger. Astrid Hofferson, Berk's best viking warrior and shield maiden had lost to a masked man who doesn't have the guts to show his friggin face for Odin's sake. Because the feeling of humiliation filled her again she stormed off away from Rider, grabbed her axe and went straight for the arena's exit where the gang was just outside the in front of the gates. Rider followed but didn't mind to catch up with her.

"Hey babe look it's ok I know it was just a cheap shot on you" Snotlout interjected as Astrid came near the gang

Rider could sense her fuming anger growing, uh oh better warn them before it's too late "Umm I wouldn't go near her if I were you"

Snotlout snorted at Rider's warning "oh yeah watch me.....hey Astrid baby-"

Like a lightning bolt Snolout was on the ground with mark on his left cheek while the violent blonde viking quickly walked away.

"Told you so"

Hello guys, yes im so sorry the update was just now its that after the last chapter and my dog thingy school kinda made it more rough. But now school is over here in our place them that means more time with you guys 😋