Vows of favor or the thrill of plunder

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𝕋𝕆𝕆𝕋ℍ𝕃𝔼𝕊𝕊 became alert and started running toward Astor and Frida, his posture tensed with suspicion. Astor, quick on his feet, stood up and readied his weapon, his eyes darting between the approaching dragon and Frida. "Run, run, Frida!" he urged, his voice filled with urgency. But before Frida could heed his warning, she tackled Astor down to the ground, preventing him from attacking Toothless. Just as Toothless prepared to pounce on the Viking, Frida swiftly pushed Astor's weapon away from his grasp and stood between him and Toothless, her hands outstretched in a calming gesture. "It's okay! It's okay!" she reassured them both, her voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around her.

She then faced Toothless, speaking in a soothing tone, "He's a friend." Toothless, still wary, calmed down slightly, his growls subsiding into low rumbles. Frida maintained her position, holding Toothless back as she turned to face Astor, who stood up, "You just scared him." Astor's expression a mix of fear and confusion. "I scared him?! Who is him?" Astor demanded, his voice trembling with uncertainty. Frida released her hold on Toothless, who continued to eye Astor with suspicion. "Uh, Astor, Toothless. Toothless, Astor," Frida introduced them, hoping to ease the tension between the two. Toothless emitted a low growl, his warning clear, before Astor, overwhelmed by the situation, turned and ran.

"Da da-da, we're dead," Frida muttered under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief at the turn of events. Toothless shook his shoulders nonchalantly and turned to leave, but Frida quickly stopped him, her voice firm as she spoke, "Woah, woah, woah. Where do you think you're going?"

Astor ran through the dense forest, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he sprinted, his heart pounding with fear. Suddenly, Toothless swooped down from above, catching Astor in his claws. "Oh, great Odin's ghost! This is it!" Astor exclaimed in terror as Toothless carried him effortlessly through the air, his grip tight on the Viking. Eventually, Toothless dropped Astor onto a high tree branch, leaving him clinging desperately to avoid falling. "Frida, get me down from here!" Astor shouted, his voice filled with panic, as he looked pleadingly at Frida, who was seated confidently on Toothless's back, who was still glaring at him.

"You have to give me a chance to explain," Frida implored, her voice calm but determined. Astor, still shaken, retorted, "I am not listening to anything you have to say!" Frida met his gaze steadily and offered, "Then I won't speak. Just let me show you." Astor hesitated, his eyes darting between Frida and the ground, who was growling softly. "Please, Astor," Frida urged softly, extending her hand toward him.

Astor glanced at her hand before reluctantly lifting himself up and gently smacked away Frida's hand, gingerly climbing onto Toothless's back behind her. "Now get me down," he demanded, his tone tinged with fear and frustration, as he looked down nervously. Frida turned to Toothless and stroked his head gently. "Toothless, down. Gently," she commanded calmly. With a low rumble, Toothless opened his wings. "See? Nothing to be afraid of," Frida reassured Astor, her voice calm and soothing. Suddenly, Toothless shot upward, startling both Frida and Astor, who screamed in alarm, barely managing to hold on. "Toothless! What is wrong with you?! Bad dragon!" Frida scolded, pulling Astor by his waist to come closer to her for stability as he was losing his balance and screaming.

As Toothless dove into the ocean water and back up again, Astor clung to Frida tightly, his fear evident in his screams. "Toothless, what are you doing? We need him to like us!" Frida exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration, as Toothless continued to fly erratically and started to spin while flying up. "And now he's spinning. Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile," she muttered in exasperation before he dove down still spinning to the water. Astor, feeling overwhelmed, pressed against Frida's back, his voice strained as he pleaded, "Okay, I am sorry! I'm sorry! Just get me off of this thing." Finally, Toothless stopped and flew calmly, the tension in the air dissipating as Frida and Astor caught their breaths.

As Toothless soared higher into the clouds, Frida stole a glance behind her to Astor, who was still clutching onto her tightly. Turning her gaze forward, she watched as the world below disappeared beneath a blanket of cotton-like clouds. Astor, lifting his head, marveled at the sight, feeling the soft breeze of the wind tousle his hair. With a sense of wonder, he extended his arm, his hand dancing through the fluffy clouds as a smile spread across his face. As Toothless ascended above the clouds, the night sky unfolded before them, adorned with the mesmerizing glow of the northern lights. Frida caught her breath at the breathtaking sight, feeling Astor's hand gently settle on her waist as they both watched in awe.

As Toothless continued his flight, the familiar outline of Berk came into view below. Astor, peering down at the town, was captivated by the spectacle. Toothless, sensing his admiration, glanced at Astor and offered a reassuring smile before returning his focus to the sky. Astor, resting his chin on Frida's shoulder, wrapped his arms around her, his gaze fixed on the town. Frida couldn't help but blush at the intimate gesture, smiling to herself as they flew around the statues that adorned Berk.

Suddenly, Astor broke the silence, his voice filled with awe and admiration. "Alright, I admit it. This is pretty cool. It's amazing." He reached out to pat Toothless's neck, expressing his newfound appreciation. Frida smiled warmly at his words, sharing in his enthusiasm. Astor turned to her, his expression serious, and whispered in her ear, "...kill a dragon." Frida's smile faded as she glanced down, feeling the weight of her impending final exam. "Don't remind me," she sighed, her voice tinged with apprehension.

Toothless's sudden descent startled both Frida and Astor, their voices tinged with concern as they tried to make sense of the situation. "Toothless, what's happening? What is it?" Frida asked urgently, her hand instinctively reaching out to the dragon's head. As they flew deeper into the cloud fog, a monstrous Monstrous Nightmare emerged from the mist, sending a shiver down their spines. "Get down," Frida whispered to Astor, the urgency evident in her voice, as they both leaned forward, bracing themselves for whatever lay ahead.

Their hearts raced as more dragons emerged, carrying food and flying in formation. Astor's confusion mirrored Frida's, his grip tightening around her waist. "What's going on?" he asked, seeking answers in the chaos. Frida's brows furrowed in concern as she responded, "I don't know. Toothless, you gotta get us out of here, bud." She tried to reassure the dragon, her hand reaching out to him, but Toothless shook it off, determined to press on with the other dragons. Astor and Frida exchanged worried glances as they watched the spectacle unfold.

"It looks like they're hauling in their kill," Frida observed grimly, her eyes scanning the scene before them. Astor's grip tightened around her, a sense of unease settling over them. "What does that make us?" he questioned, his voice laced with apprehension, as they descended perilously close to the water. Frida held tightly onto Astor's hand, her other hand gripping the saddle's handle as they deftly navigated through the rocky islands below.

As they approached a mountain-like island with fiery glows emanating from its cracks, they flew into the entrance of a cave where the dragons gathered, dropping their food into a red, smoky hole. "What my dad wouldn't give to find this," Frida remarked wryly, her eyes scanning their surroundings. Toothless veered off to a platform away from the rest, seeking refuge behind a massive rock, as Frida and Astor watched in silence.

"It's satisfying to know that all of our food has been dumped down a hole," Frida remarked dryly, a hint of frustration in her voice. Astor observed the dragons closely, noticing that they weren't eating any of the food. Suddenly, a Gronckle dragon appeared, dumping a small fish into the hole before retreating. Their attention was drawn to a loud sound, causing the dragon to panic and fly away, only to be ensnared by a colossal creature emerging from the depths.

"What is that?" Astor gasped in horror, his eyes widening as they beheld the monstrous beast before them. The sight sent chills down their spines as the other dragons scattered in fear. "Alright, bud, we got to get out of here... now!" Frida exclaimed urgently to Toothless, her voice tinged with fear. With Toothless obliged, they swiftly took flight, narrowly avoiding the clutches of the colossal dragon as chaos unfolded around them, with a dragon being ensnared and dragged down into the depths below before the dragon could get to Toothless.

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As they landed back at the lake cove, Astor's words resonated with a newfound clarity. "It totally makes sense. It's like a giant beehive. They're the workers and that's their queen," he remarked, his voice tinged with a sense of awe and realization. Frida nodded in agreement, her mind racing with the implications of their discovery. "It controls them. Let's find your dad," Astor suggested, eager to press on.

Before Astor could dart off, Frida intervened, her voice tinged with urgency. "No! No," she exclaimed, hopping off Toothless's back and moving swiftly to stop him. "No, not yet. They'll kill Toothless. We have to think this through carefully." Astor looked at her, his expression a mixture of confusion and frustration, but Frida's resolve was unwavering.

"Frida, we just discovered the dragons' nest, the thing we've been after since Vikings first sailed here, and you want to keep it a secret? To protect your pet dragon? Are you serious?" Astor's voice betrayed a hint of exasperation, but Frida met his gaze with steely determination. "Yes," she replied firmly, her eyes flashing with determination. Astor studied her for a moment, seeing not fear but fire in her eyes-a warrior's resolve that he hadn't expected. He saw a Valkyrie.

"Okay. Then what do we do?" Astor relented, acknowledging the wisdom in Frida's caution. Frida's gaze softened, her mind already racing with plans. "Just give me until tomorrow. I'll figure something out," she assured him, her voice laced with determination. Astor nodded in agreement. "Okay," he conceded, his expression one of trust and understanding.

But before he departed, Astor playfully punched her arm, eliciting a surprised yelp from Frida. "That's for kidnapping me," he quipped, a hint of mischief in his eyes. Frida rubbed her arm, shooting him a mock glare, before her expression softened into surprise as Astor leaned in and kissed her cheek, leaving her blushing and momentarily speechless. "That's for everything else," he said with a smile before darting off into the distance, leaving Frida staring after him in a mix of awe and confusion.

Toothless, ever observant, nudged her gently, drawing her attention. "What are you looking at?" Frida said flustered, her cheeks still flushed from Astor's unexpected gesture. Toothless merely looked away, his expression unreadable, as if contemplating the complex dynamics between humans and dragons.

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The morning arrived, bathed in the fervent energy of the assembled crowd, their cheers echoing around the ring as they chanted Frida's name with gusto. From his elevated position on the stage, Stoick addressed the throng, his booming voice carrying over the crowd. "Well, I can show my face in public again! If someone had told me that in a few short weeks Frida would go from, well, being Frida to placing first in dragon training, well, I would have tied him to a mast and shipped him off for fear he'd gone mad! And you know it!" His laughter reverberated through the air, punctuated by the crowd's applause.

Frida stood at the entrance of the ring, clutching her helmet tightly as she listened to her father's speech. Her gaze flickered downward, her chest rising and falling with each breath, as Stoick's words washed over her. "Today, my girl becomes a Viking. Today, she becomes one of us!" he proclaimed, igniting another round of cheers from the assembled spectators.

As Stoick made his way back to his chair, Astor appeared beside Frida, his presence a grounding force amidst the whirlwind of emotions. "Be careful with that dragon," he cautioned, his voice laced with concern. Frida met his gaze, her own eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and apprehension. "It's not the dragon I'm worried about," she replied cryptically.

Astor pressed for more information, his concern evident. "What are you going to do?" he inquired, his tone weighted with urgency. Frida's response was resolute. "Put an end to this. I have to try," she declared, her voice carrying a steely resolve. As Frida turned to face Astor, she noticed his eyes were uncovered, revealing the sincerity in his gaze. "Astor, if something goes wrong, just make sure they don't find Toothless," she implored, her voice tinged with anxiety. Astor nodded solemnly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder to help her anxiety. "I will. Just promise it won't go wrong." he urged, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Before Frida could respond, Gobber's voice cut through the moment, drawing her attention. "It's time, Frida. Knock 'em dead," he encouraged, though the concern in his eyes mirrored Astor's.

With a deep breath, Frida steeled herself, her grip on her helmet tightening entering the ring as she placed the helmet on as Gobber closed the gate behind her and made his journey next to Stoick. Frida picked up a shield and a small knife from the weapon stance as the people cheered for her, Stoick who was observing spoke to Gobber, "I would've have gone for the hammer." Frida glanced toward the iron doors of the ring, her resolve unwavering. "I'm ready."

〰〰〰𖠳 〰〰〰

By: SilverMist707

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