https://youtu.be/EIuV7qGXmpk

Loud talking and music filled the air of the Great Hall of Berk.

Vikings, tradesmen, sailors, adventurers, northmen, and all other types danced a jolly jig with one another across the stone floor, laughing along with each other while talented musicians played on a wide variety of instruments in the corner of the hall.

[GEM]

Tables were set up everywhere as others ate amazing food and drank delicious meads and ales. Others were gambling on some of these tables and getting into the games they were playing as some silver coins bounced onto the rock floor.

Astrid walked past some men who were arm wrestling as others shouted for who they wanted to win, nearly bumping into a woman carrying a tray of tankards. She grabbed two of them off the tray and walked towards the table where she saw Moira sitting.

A rather greasy chap with a long braided beard sat in front of the red headed princess as he smirked at her. "Why do ye look so alone, lass? Need company?" he enticed.

Jul 17, 2023, 4:47 PM

[MELODY]

Moira glared up at the man as he sat down. "I am fine on me own thank ye.." she said sharply looking away from him when she said that. She clearly wasn't in the mood for this.

[GEM]

"Go bother someone else, Olaf," Astrid snickered as she set the drinks down on the table.

The Viking lifted his arms. "Thought I would at least give it a shot, aye?" he defended before getting up and leaving them.

Astrid slid one of the drinks to her as she sat down where Olaf was sitting before. "You alright red?" she asked her,

[MELODY]

Moira watched him leave before grabbing the cup and took a big sip. Something clearly was bothering her. "Just...in me head..." she said sighing deeply as she leaned back in her seat. "..not in the mood for celebration because of it.." she said before taking another sip feeling it burn down her throat as she coughed since she drank it too quickly.

[GEM]

When she looked back at Astrid, the girl was finishing the entire tankard, a little foam mustache on her lip before she wiped it off and set the empty cup on the table with a *thunk*. She didn't seem affected by the alcohol as she looked at Moira and said, "I saw you and that man hugging earlier. What happened?"

[MELODY]

Moira got a slight blush on her face when she was reminded of that situation as she quickly drank half of her cup. "I...I just..sort of broke down.." she said honestly then. "He..listened to me and gave me comfort.." she stated quietly.

[GEM]

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you guys married or together or anything?" she asked curiously.

[MELODY]

"Oh god no.." Moira's face got even redder when she asked that as she finished her drink. "I barely know him..how could I be with him?"

[GEM]

"Hey you can put the weapons away, I was just curious," she said with her hands up defensively, a playfulness to her mannerisms. "I also didn't know how long ago you met your little crew," she added with a shrug.

Jul 18, 2023, 8:14 AM

[MELODY]

"Alright..I am sorry.." Moira said sighing softly "I think a few weeks ago..I didn't keep track.." she said honestly as she looked away. She clearly was feeling the effects of the alcohol already as she was much more open now then she was before. Also her blushed cheeks and nose gave it away. She clearly couldn't handle this percentage of alcohol. Her height didn't help either.

Jul 18, 2023, 6:25 PM

[GEM]

Astrid let out a long sigh. "Well if that's it then, I think I'll go find Hiccup. Have a good night, Moira. Remember to dance, drink, laugh, and feast!" she said to her as she got up and walked backwards before skipping off.

Jul 18, 2023, 9:14 PM

[MELODY]

"W-Wait why?" Moira asked turning back to look at her but she was already gone. She sighed softly before looking around the hall. She then stood up after putting her cup down and walked towards the exit to get some fresh air.

Jul 19, 2023, 2:26 PM

[GEM]

As she was headed for the door she heard her name being called. Looking behind her, she saw Gregor standing at her table she was just at, smiling kindly as Arne took a seat beside him.

Jul 19, 2023, 2:55 PM

[MELODY]

Moira clearly hesitated before sighing as she walked over to them. She sat down next to them again. "..so why are ye smiling like that?" She asked Gregor

Jul 19, 2023, 3:32 PM

[GEM]

He set down a platter of food on the table. "What? Am I not allowed to be polite?" he asked.

"He's drunk," Arne said plainly.

"Am not!" he protested. "Have yuh had anything to eat, lass? The food here is delicious!" he told Moira.

[MELODY]

Moira sighed softly again before giving him a small smile. "Aye it's delicious here..I tried.." she said to her fellow Scotsman. She then picked up her cup again. "..where do ye get the drinks again?" She still was finding her way in this busy hall.

[GEM]

"Aye, over that way—big ol' barrels," he said as he pointed.

"I'm honestly surprised sticky fingers over here hasn't stolen your necklace yet," Arne commented when he, too, came over to sit by them.

"Don't hold your breath," Faelan commented and sat beside her, holding up her necklace now for him to see, somehow stealing it off her within the last two seconds. But of course he handed it back to her with a smirk.

Jul 20, 2023, 2:45 AM

[MELODY]

Moira glared at him when grabbing her necklace back. "Don't ye dare try that again.." she stated as she put it back on and hid it in her dress. She then stood up and walked over to the barrels.

Jul 20, 2023, 11:30 AM

[GEM]

As Moira walked, her eyes looked around the room. She spotted the twins deep into an arm wrestling competition, Ruarrc was sitting with some other like minded folk who were talking quietly to one another, and her eyes spotted Uriah as well. He was sitting Indian style on the ground with kids all around him as he was telling them a story of some kind with theatrical hand gestures and immersive voices that made the kids laugh, their attention heavily wrapped in the story.

Jul 20, 2023, 12:00 PM

[MELODY]

Moira smiled when she saw Uriah like that. It was adorable to watch as the childern really were listening to him quietly. She decided to put her cup away again before she walked over to them leaning back against one of the halls pillars as she listened in on the story.

Jul 20, 2023, 1:04 PM

[GEM]

"He was nine feet tall and covered in bronze armor. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels—it would have been like the giant had a spear tip as heavy as little Aenar!" Uriah said to them as he gestured to a six year old who smiled when the other children reacted to that.

"How did he kill him?" one of the children asked with interest, his voice small and squeaky.

"David had only a sling with a small but perfectly round stone—"

"A rock?!" a little girl sounded off, flabbergasted.

[GEM]

He chuckled. "Indeed. It was a weapon he knew well and had used it to fight off lions and wolves alike that came after his sheep. He took it in hand, as the enormous man before him taunted him, all of his people watching. And with one swift motion, he let loose the stone from his sling and it flew so fast and so hard, that it buried into the head of Goliath, and the giant slowly fell back until his body collapsed onto the dirt with so much weight it shook the ground!" he continued, adding more hand gestures and telling the story in a way that could capture adults' attention, nevermind the children. Moira gathered he'd done this kind of thing often, traveling all over the place telling stories. "David took Goliath's sword and cut off the head of the giant, declaring his victory as the people watched in complete shock—much like how you all are looking at me now," he added with a smirk.

"He killed it?!" one of the boys asked.

"Of course—didn't you hear him?" another argued.

"I still would have chosen a biiiiiiig axe!" the girl said.

Uriah chuckled at her. "And when your time comes to slay giants I will happily watch you do so with the biggest axe in the world!" he told her and poked her side as she recoiled into a giggle, ticklish.

[MELODY]

Moira's smile widen as she watched them as her smile got softer and warmer. This reminded her so much of back home when she was smaller the soldiers telling legends and myths and their stories. It was really nice seeing a moment like this. She was still leaning against that pillar. She couldn't help but laugh slightly at the reactions as she covered her mouth.

[GEM]

"Halt! You will not get past me you pathetic small boy!" one of the kids said when he stood up with his wooden sword, speaking in a purposefully deep voice.

"Oh yeah?!" the boy he was talking to replied as he got up with his sword and chased after him.

Uriah laughed at the children but that's when his eyes caught Moira's, not noticing she was there until now.

"Tell us another one!" the girl said as she planted her hands on his knee.

He gave her a little chuckle. "In a moment. For now, why don't you make sure your brothers aren't getting into trouble?" he suggested as he picked her up and put her on her feet,

The children all split up as Uriah stood and he walked over to Moira, shaking his head. "They're chaotic but surprisingly good listeners," he told her as he looked back at them running off to cause trouble.

[MELODY]

"The more magical and bloody the more they will listen." Moira said with a shrug the same smile staying on her face. "...and it seemed to be a really good story." She said to him before she also watched the kids run off.

[GEM]

"It's one kids usually enjoy, that is for sure. I would tell them of some adventures that happened to our crew but thanks to Sea Dog that would include far too many swear words," he added with a sigh, crossing his arms as he, too, leaned against the large pillar casually.

[MELODY]

Moira chuckled at that. "Yea I can believe that." She said before she looked around again. Most people were drunk now. She would be lying if she said she was sober. "...I heard many stories as a kid... mythical creatures are my favorites."

[GEM]

"Hmm... like griffins and krakens?" he asked. "Or minotaurs and trolls?" he raised a brow, a slight grin on his face.

[MELODY]

"..No... Kelpies... Nessie, but yes Trolls, fairies and witches." Moira said looking over at him with a small smirk.

[GEM]

"Well unfortunately, trolls don't exist... unless you meet Gregor's mother. Lovely woman," he jested as he watched the people dance converse and dance, Arne and Faelan making their way to where the band played.

[MELODY]

Moira couldn't help but laugh at that. 

[GEM]

Something inside Uriah leapt when he heard that adorable laugh that escaped her lips. It caused a smile to appear on his own face despite him trying to hide it.

[MELODY]

"I can imagine... well it's the inside what counts anyway," she stated.

[GEM]

When Faelan and Arne got the band to play their jolly tune and they jumped onto a table to sing along to it like they always did. 

https://youtu.be/2yRWNCgYQcg

(track: "The Rocky Road to Dublin" by The High Kings)

[MELODY]

Moira's eyes widened when she did recognize it. "I know this one," she said at a very surprised tone.

[GEM]

Uriah looked at Moira as she said this. He was surprised but watched as others began to dance in such an upbeat way that those who weren't dancing were clapping along and watching with smiles on their faces.

Uriah got off the pillar with a mischievous smirk on his lips as he held out his hand for her, giving her a look as if asking to dance.

[MELODY]

It felt to her like a bit of music from home as Irish music also was heard throughout Scotland. She looked over at Uriah when he held his hand out to her. She hesitated before she accepted his invitation to dance and held his hand.

[GEM]

He showed off his white teeth when he smiled and they joined the others. Knowing the common jig well, they both locked arms and blended with the dancing Vikings, the whole area full of jolly men and women skipping around with laughter escaping their mouths.

Even the twins and Snotlout got into the dance as most wanted to join in with the fun.

Sea Dog and Greenhood's voices were in perfect sync as they sang the song with energy, even throwing in a dance themselves as they kicked a tankard off the table, getting ale all over one of the musicians that lifted his hands as if to ask "why?".

Uriah laughed as he and Moira skipped around another in a fast pace dance, switching partners when everyone did so.

[MELODY]

Moira had a bright smile on her face while she danced with Uriah. She normally didn't like going into a crowd like this but with her being a bit tipsy and she loved dances like this so she gave it her all perfectly dancing on the music.

Jul 20, 2023, 2:46 PM

[GEM]

When one of her partners was Snotlout he said, "Hey beautiful," in an overly flirtatious way and he was snagged by Ruffnut who said, "Leave her alone!" like she was his mother before they danced together instead and Ruffnut's previous partner--a reasonably handsome tradesman--locked arms with Moira as the dance continued.

When Uriah caught sight of Moira's ear to ear grin, he felt an uplifting joy in his heart, remembering how she felt earlier that day and how badly he felt for her. He loved that she was finally having a good time. Every part of him wanted to keep that smile on her face for as long as possible.

Switching again, Moira danced with Gregor who was nearly drunk himself as the red faced Scotsman laughed and skipped around her.

[MELODY]

Moira wasn't happy to be partnered with Snotlout so she was relieved when Ruffnut saved her from him. She didn't really mind for the rest who she danced with. Although it was a bit uncomfortable dancing with Gregor in that state she did enjoy it non the less. As they dancing styles clearly matched being from the same country.

[GEM]

When Uriah and Moira collided again, they spun around one another with upbeat steps, arms hooked together but when they nearly tripped from the speed of the dance, he put his hands on her upper arms before they could fall, causing him to begin to laugh while he tried to get them back into position.

[MELODY]

Moira let out a surprised yelp when they almost fell as she laughed as well seeing him struggle getting them back into the dance. She was clearly really enjoying herself and letting everything else go for tonight. Her hair which she had put up in a bun had partly escaped and was hanging in front of her face now.

[GEM]

They got back into the move of the dance but instead of switching partners they just continued to dance with each other, both unable to keep wide smiles from taking over their faces as the two only felt joy in this moment of fun. Not to mention Uriah spent so long on that God forsaken boat with his all male crew that he had forgotten how much he loved doing a proper dance with someone who wasn't a scurvy ridden man. Even dancing just didn't happen for a long time because everyone he met had a stick up their arse.

But this tonight was a sea sized amount of fun for him. And with Moira it seemed like he couldn't stop smiling as he continued to laugh and dance with her, watching her curly locks fall from her do as she kept up with the steps, the firelight catching her cute freckles and rosy cheeks, until the song ended. Faelan and Arne had their arms around one another in a mock dancing position as Faelan pretended to be a woman being dipped.

Tuffnut caught Snotlout who was standing there with Ruffnut as the two seemed like they forgot they hated each other for a moment. But Tuff just rolled his eyes and shook his head while everyone clapped and cheered at the end of the song and dance.

[MELODY]

Moira felt like She was on top of the world at that moment. She felt safe and happy being with Uriah and the others here. At the end of the song her hair had fully escaped as she pushed it aside looking up at him breathing heavily from the dancing still having the same smile on her face.

Jul 21, 2023, 1:39 AM

[GEM]

He laughed at this and helped her pull the hair from her eyes, deeply amused and honestly thought it was quite cute.

His two crewmates stepped off the table and bowed as people clapped. "Thank you we'll be here all week!" Arne said to them.

"Oh joy..." Pirate commented under his breath as he sighed and continued to smoke his pipe.

[MELODY]

Moira smiled blushing a bit more when he did that as she looked over at Arne and Faelan with a laugh. "They enjoyed themselves."

[GEM]

"They always seem to," he replied, watching them act like goofballs as he was sure they were at least tipsy...

Hiccup stared into the night sky, watching the aurora as it striped the stars with layers of green and blue, the ocean reflecting the brilliant light behind the silhouette of the buildings.

"You're not usually the brooding type," Astrid's voice cut through the silence.

He shrugged as he let out a breath, his back resting against a pillar. "Yeah well, like father like son, you know."

"Yes you are a lot like your father. You're both stubborn, hotheaded, defiant—"

"We should probably talk about your pep talking ability—it could use some work," he interrupted her as he looked to his left where she was approaching.

[GEM]

She cracked a chuckle and pinched his side, forcing him to put his arm down as if to guard himself from her. "Maybe you should let me finish, beetle brain."

"Because you were doing great so far?"

"You can't stop talking, can you?"

He shut his mouth and gave her a smug look.

She sighed. "...Well I was going to say... that you are both also strong, courageous, and great leaders."

https://youtu.be/v9Ymbczl970

He thought about that sincerely but kept silent. Truth be told, he didn't really feel like he was a great leader. It seemed like it was always his father's thing to lead and his to just defy his orders and do foolish things with bad results. Maybe Astrid was right about that being his thing.

She gave him a look. "Are you gonna say anything?" she questioned.

He looked at her blankly, his lips shut tight as he seemed smug.

She realized what he was doing and she gave him a frustrated look. "Oh my gods—are you kidding me?!" she complained through her teeth as she ruffled his hair to annoy him.

He shrugged away from her and chuckled as he fixed his hair.

"You think you're so clever don't you?"

"Maybe just a bit," he said as he wrapped his arm around her to stop her from hitting him, pulling her into him.

She put her hand on his chest, her fingers feeling the soft tunic he wore as she copied his gentle laughing. "I hate you," she lied.

"Yeah sure you do," he replied with sarcasm and leaned down to kiss her as she met in the middle, ss he was considerably taller than her. Neither of them stopped feeling those butterflies they got with their first kiss. That always seemed to surprise them.

They parted and Astrid rested her head on his collarbone. "...And with that bandit... We'll figure out what to do about. We always do."

He kept his arm around her and looked back at the northern lights that were still dancing across the night sky, thoughts swimming around his mind but he felt much better with his darling in his arms.

But that's when he caught sight of Toothless as the new dragon, Ikatere followed behind him. The Night Fury lifted his head and turned it around to look at the young beast with a curious gaze but also a slightly annoyed one.

[MELODY]

Ikatere had been staying close to Toothless following him around like a young dog. He tilted his head slightly in confusion as he got that annoyed gaze from the Nightfury as he looked back at him innocently. He had no idea why he seemed annoyed. He just felt safer going with him.

[GEM]

The dragon narrowed his eyes and gave a deadpan before flapping his wings and hopping up to the roof of Hiccup and Stoick's house nearby, curling up to sleep there as he tried to ignore the little dragon.

[MELODY]

Ikatere's eyes widen in surprise at the reaction of the Nightfury as he whimpered walking closer to the house looking up at him wondering what he did wrong.

Jul 21, 2023, 3:41 AM

[GEM]

"It seems Toothless has a fan," Astrid said with amusement as she watched.

"Looks like when I used to follow you around," he replied.

She snickered at him.

[MELODY]

Ikatere then decided to fly up landing next to him on the roof. He let out a small whimper again which sounded like a question, like he was asking what he did wrong.

Jul 21, 2023, 4:00 AM

[GEM]

Toothless simply looked bored and he put his tail over his face to sleep, reminding Hiccup of when he and the Night Fury first met.

Jul 21, 2023, 4:09 PM

[MELODY]

Ikatere tilted his head again before nudging him trying to get his attention again. It looked really adorable the way he was trying to get his attention.

Jul 22, 2023, 1:49 AM

[GEM]

Toothless let out a grunt of annoyance, trying to just ignore him and get some sleep. Seems that after a full day that this young dragon had been tailing him, he lost his curiosity for Ikatere.

Jul 22, 2023, 3:22 AM

[MELODY]

The young dragon didn't seem to give up that easily as he nudged him again becoming more playful now. He let out playful purrs and other noises. Now deciding it would be funny to see how he would react to this more.

Jul 22, 2023, 4:39 AM

[GEM]

Toothless stuck his head up and glared at the dragon, narrowing his eyes to see if a deadly stare would scare him off.

[MELODY]

Ikatere just laid down then tilting his head again in a very curious way as his eyes showed his very playful mood right now. He carefully clawed at his tail then just wanting his attention and to play.

Jul 24, 2023, 1:28 AM

[GEM]

The Night Fury looked at Hiccup with a deadpan stare as if asking him if he believed this.

"Hey he's your son, not mine," Hiccup called to his dragon with a shrug, causing Astrid to laugh.

Moira woke to the bright morning sun and her nose wrinkled with the smell of cooking mutton, along with the smell of something burning...

Her eyes glancing out the balcony where the source of the light was, she saw her clothing she came in as it hung on a line, swaying in the salty ocean breeze.

But looking the opposite way, she saw Astrid stirring something in an iron pot over her firepit.

[MELODY]

Moira closed her eyes again groaning as she felt a sharp pain shot into her head. She clearly was hungover. She then sighed opening her eyes again. She sat up as she looked over at Astrid again. "Whatcha making?" She asked as she tried to fix her exploded hair.

[GEM]

"Breakfast," she said with a smile but then when a bubble at the top of the soup popped she flinched as if it would attack her.

Jul 24, 2023, 2:11 AM

[MELODY]

Moira chuckled when she saw that happened. "Watch out it seems to bite." She teased her as she put her hair in a bun. She then walked over to her to see how the soup looked like.

Jul 24, 2023, 2:38 AM

[GEM]

Observing the lumpy substance, it looked more like a witch's brew than anything edible. Not to mention the sides were burnt badly.

Astrid looked at it skeptically. "I cooked it the right way I swear," she said, not really believing those words herself. "But if uh... something jumps out I'm not catching it."

Jul 24, 2023, 3:07 AM

[MELODY]

"..maybe..we should cook some eggs?" Moira suggested really doubting if this was edible. "I doubt if whatever is in it is still alive. Nothing will jump out."

[GEM]

"It's just lamb and water and spices... Let's taste it," she decided and took some of the sludge in her spoon and separated it into two cups. She raised one to her lips to sample it.

[GEM]

After a moment she said, "Okay that's not bad. Maybe more salt."

But when Moira tasted it, nothing on earth was as sour or putrid. It could honestly make a wild animal vomit.

[MELODY]

Moira watched her taste it before she herself took a small sip. That small amount was enough for her to almost vomit. But she hid it. "W-..Well..let's cook some eggs with it." She said before she stood up. She herself wasn't much of a cook either but she could cook eggs at least. She put them in a pan and filled it with water before putting it above the fire.

[GEM]

When Moira was closer to the wall, she heard a rather strange snarling sound coming from just outside...

[MELODY]

"..what the..?" Moira looked rather confused and on edge by that. "Do ye hear that?" She asked Astrid as she made her way to the door to see what it was.

[GEM]

"No," she said with more stew in her mouth.

[MELODY]

Moira opened the door as she looked around first before stepping outside to look around the house.

[GEM]

When she opened the door of the house, she saw the huge Goregutter that was following her around standing there in the grass as Stormfly growled at him with her tail spikes flayed into a defensive position in front of Astrid's dwelling.

[MELODY]

"Astrid..ye might want to see this.." Moira said at a concerned tone. She then carefully approached them to see what the reaction of the gorecutter was and why Stormfly was reacting like this.

[GEM]

She heard the familiar sound of her dragon and got up to run out, standing beside Moira. "Oh I'm so sorry—Stormfly is kind of territorial," she told her before stepping to her dragon and kicking her in the leg. "Hey! Knock it off!" she scolded her.

The dragon grumbled lowly, shaking her head like a dog before continuing to glare at the Goregutter. "Come on you stupid animal. Back up." She grabbed Stormfly by her nose spike and walked her backwards a bit. "Is that dragon yours now or what?" Astrid asked Moira.

[MELODY]

"..I am not..sure..it follows me around..so..I think so." Moira said as she carefully walked closer to it. The gorecutter seemed to be focused on Stormfly and defensive until moira came into it's view and it's expression and behaviour changed. It bended down towards her loudly purring as she put her hand on it's nose. "It seems to trust me..it acts like a puppy though.."

Jul 24, 2023, 2:43 PM

[GEM]

"They act that way around their favorite people, so Hiccup says. Stormfly is a little arsehole though," she insulted her dragon and it nudged her over in response. "Agh!" she complained when she fell to the grass. "See?"

[MELODY]

Moira laughed slightly when that happened having a soft smile on her face. "I would react like that too if ye kept insulting me." The gorecutter nudged Moira then slightly as she stopped petting him making her fall over into the grass as well. "Woah!"

[GEM]

"Ha! Looks like Stormfly is a bad influence," Astrid said as she got off the ground.

"Okay why do I smell burning bodies down here?" Hiccup said as he approached with Toothless behind him, dressed casually for the day in a dark red wool tunic. He held out his hand for Moira when he saw she had toppled over.

[MELODY]

Moira accepted his help and grabbed his hand before getting up. "Thank ye..ask Astrid.." she said before realising the eggs probably were beyond cooked. "Oh god the eggs!" She said before rushing inside. Most of the water had already left the pan by this point and the eggs were cracked. Moira sighed deeply before trying to carefully take the pan off the fire with a cloth. But she accidentally burned her hand dropping the pan on the floor. She cursed to herself in Gaelic holding her hand in pain as she teared up.

[GEM]

"Whoa, you okay?" Astrid said when she ran in, jumping when the Crimson Goregutter hit the wall when it tried to come to Moira's aid like a reflex.

[MELODY]

"Y-Yes..just a burn.." Moira said through her pain as she looked up at her. When the gorecutter did that her eyes widen. "I-I am fine!" She called to outside in a attempt to stop him from doing that.

[GEM]

"Here take a wet cloth," she said and put a cloth on her palm that was soaked with cold water.

"Babe, I told you to stop cooking for people," Hiccup interrupted when he came in, wrinkling his nose to the horrible stench of her stew.

She glared at him.

[MELODY]

Moira flinched when she felt the cold of the cloth and her wound stinging. "T-Thank ye..I should probably..calm the beast down." She said before walking out again. The gorecutter was whimpering as he saw she was injured. "I am fine lad..it's just a burn." She said to the beast softly as she noticed Ikatere had arrived as well following toothless around as usual.

[GEM]

As Hiccup and Astrid were inside fighting about her cooking, the Night Fury didn't realize he was being followed until he looked to his left and flinched because Ikatere was right there beside him with a grin on his adorable face.

As Moira pet the scales on her unofficial mount, something got her attention.

Interrupting the bickering she overheard, was the sound of flapping wings and Moira's eyes were drawn to the south where she saw a rider approaching at a high speed. The dragon tried its hardest to keep going but it was exhausted and they could see this in its instability to keep a straight flight pattern, forcibly slapping its wings against the air. Landing just twelve cubits away, the beast collapsed onto the ground with over-encumbrance, huffing out its nose as the rider barely managed to stay atop his saddle. He stumbled off and to the ground, his hand on his dragon's horn.

[MELODY]

Moira's eyes widen when she saw it happen and immediately made her way towards the dragon and it's rider. "Are ye alright?" She asked concerned as she offered her not injured hand to him to help him up.

[GEM]

Astrid and Hiccup walked out of the house to see this and they followed her over there.

"Where's the chief?! Where's Stoick?!" the man demanded, his pale face worn out from the journey as his ice blue eyes were wide with urgency, hair dirty and tangled.

"He was talking to Gobber last I saw him. At the smithy that way," Hiccup said, his brows tugged together in skepticism.

He didn't waste any time before taking off running in said direction, his footsteps clumsy as he got used to being on solid ground again.

Astrid and her darling exchanged a look before following after him, their curiosity overwhelming them.

[MELODY]

Moira looked confused at the man's reaction but also her curiosity won It over her concern. She followed the couple after the man wondering what this all was about.

[GEM]

Pushing past others, Arne was almost trampled by the man and he looked at all of them with confusion on his face before he and Gregor also followed.

Stoick was mid conversation with Gobber as he said to the man, "You and Hiccup have contributed weapons far beyond the technology of the past. For once, Vikings are ahead in power because of it."

"Well you know what they say. Real peace in a dark world is having the power to wipe out empires and yet never doing it," he replied as he continued sharpening an axe with his hook hand.

"My lord!" the mysterious messenger shouted, interrupting them as he approached, out of breath now. He nearly fell to his knees in front of Stoick as fatigue took him. "It's... it's Scotland—all of the clans and kingdoms of Alba," he said as he caught his breath.

[GEM]

Stoick and Gobber, along with anyone else around, gave the man their full attention, looks of worry on their faces as they listened closely.

"All of their their leaders... were just assassinated."

Shock took everyone's faces and even the steely gaze of Stoick, was taken by this news and he looked speechless.

Uriah had walked up to Sea Dog's side when he noticed something was happening. Hearing this, he too, showed completely shock in his face.

Jul 25, 2023, 4:34 AM

[GEM]

Stoick and Gobber, along with anyone else around, gave the man their full attention, looks of worry on their faces as they listened closely.

"All of their leaders... were just assassinated."

Shock took everyone's faces and even the steely gaze of Stoick, was taken by this news and he looked speechless.

Uriah had walked up to Sea Dog's side when he noticed something was happening. Hearing this, he too, showed complete shock in his face.

As Moira heard him say that, immediately all the colour left her face as the faces of her family flashed by before her eyes. Her stomach dropped with the haunting thought of their deaths that ran a shiver down her spine and she found herself speechless, her brain unable to form words as her attention was completely wrapped in what this man had to say.

[GEM]

"What do you mean, they were assassinated?" Stoick asked with almost a fear in his face, his eyes urgent and attentive as he took a step forward.

"Poisoned, at the dinner to celebrate the union," he replied, still out of breath. "The man responsible for tasting the wine confessed to it."

"This happened last night?!" Astrid asked, surprised.

"Who was it? Names—all of their names, now!" Moira demanded as her voice became frantic, stepping up to the scout with urgency.

"It was King Malcolm, all of his sons, the chief of..." he continued but after he listed the first victims, all of the others faded into the depths behind her raging thoughts.

"And ye saw them all die? For certain?" she asked as she continued to push down the emotions that were beginning to build up inside her.

[GEM]

her.

"I was... on the island when it happened... I... was unfortunate enough to see the bodies before I left," he said. "I flew all night to deliver the news."

She kept a stone cold face as she glared at him but her eyes began to look glassy. "You're lying."

His expression turned to confusion.

"They're not dead—they can't all be dead, me fath—the king would never let something like poison get past him and his men! It's not possible!" Her voice began to crack. "It doesn't make sense—did the legions of guards let some hooded figure get into the castle to assassinate an entire court of nobles and kings? How would it be possible?"

"I don't know! All I know is that King Malcolm was the only one not poisoned and instead he... was found with a cut throat, holding in his hand a note that... that said 'Tempus Mora sends his regards'."

[GEM]

Uriah's body froze solid and he felt a horrible fear pass through his body.

Stoick has a similar reaction of realization, knowing this wasn't a coincidence anymore and suspecting Uriah's warning of truth.

Gregor and Arne shared a worried glance.

Moira's reaction was somewhat different as her emotions became impossible to bury any longer, her expression showing a struggle to fight tears that burned in her eyes. As the reality hit her of this story being true—of the fact that she would no longer see her family again—her bones weakened, her muscles stiffened, her veins ran ice cold, and her heart was torn into shreds all in a swift motion that only grew as she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Panic began to set in and her thoughts were flooded with a horrible unshakable feeling of despair unlike any she'd felt before.

[GEM]

She started trembling then as tears began to fall from her eyes. She felt like she couldn't breath as she turned around quickly before rushing out of the crowd. She felt like the ground under her crumbled as her legs gave in once she was out of the crowd. She quickly got up again as tears rolled down her face still having the feeling that she couldn't breath as she made her way towards the beach nearby, just needing some time alone.

[GEM]

Once she reached the beach she sat down there staring at the ocean while crying quietly. She couldn't believe it, it had to be some terrible mistake right? She then closed her eyes and held her hands together as she prayed. ""D-Dia mo chuideachadh (god help me), c-chan eil fios agam dè a nì mi (I don't know what to do)." She whispered in Gaelic desperately as she held her hands together against her chest tightly. they were alive and well right? She then heard a big thumb and feel the ground shake. It was the gorecutter who had followed her. It was whimpering sensing her distress and grief as he laid down by her curling around her protectively. Moira opened her eyes looking over at the beast before leaning against it. Just watching the waves quietly for now.

Jul 25, 2023, 5:01 AM

[GEM]

She wasn't aware that the dragon wasn't the only one to follow her. And as the silence covered her, her thoughts making despair creep in like a prowling lion, a voice cut into them from a few steps behind her. "King Malcolm the Third was your father, wasn't he... Princess Moira?" the low voice in an Irish accent spoke gently.

[MELODY]

Moira froze completely when they called her that. "A-Aye..I am.." she said with a shaking voice. She didn't look over at them as she kept staring at the ocean. There was no use in hiding who she was after she reacted to the news like that. Now everyone here knew.

Jul 25, 2023, 5:30 AM

[GEM]

The sound of sand squished under boot could be heard behind her as he stepped closer. Truth be told he never knew what to say in these moments of tragedy. Perhaps because the people he met were shaken from trauma that was long behind them. But to have someone here that was just now told all of their loved ones were dead... this was new for him. The only thing he knew to do was to be there.

So he took a seat beside her as he watched the waves crawl up the sand ahead with each whitewater ripple that broke over the sparkling blue water. Clouds gathered on the horizon, lightning spotted flashing between the dark grey puffs of condensed water particles.

The salty air blew back Uriah's dark brown hair and filled his nose with the smell of the sea.

The scene would normally be peaceful, or even beautiful... but the weight in them drew their minds away from the scenery and deep into the abyss of despair.

[GEM]

"I'm so... I'm so sorry, Moira," he finally said to her, deep sympathy in his words; Words he knew wouldn't help at all and didn't convey the magnitude of the news she received.

[MELODY]

"D-Don't.." the red-head said sharply. "I-It's..it's not.." her voice broke at that moment. She didn't want people to show sympathy towards her now. It made it real, which certainly started to dawn on her, but she didn't want it to. A loud sob escaped from her mouth as she tried not to break down as she then would accept it all.

[GEM]

He shut his eyes as a long quiet breath fell from his lips, his heart splitting in two at the sound of her weeping and his eyes burning with beckoning tears, making her situation and pain much more real to him physically as her emotions came out in this devastating sound. He reached over and put his arm around her shoulders carefully, trying to comfort her in any way that he can, even if he knew nothing he could do would truly help her in this moment of terrible sorrow.

Jul 25, 2023, 1:54 PM

[MELODY]

Moira flinched when he did that but gave into it as she leaned against him losing the fight against her tears now and the pain started to surface. She started to sob louder now. "..I-I..should have..I should h-have been..with them.." she said as she started to break down now.

Jul 25, 2023, 3:01 PM

[GEM]

He wrapped his arms around her, his hand at the back of her head as he listened to her cry. "If you were with them you'd be in the same place now that they are," he replied truthfully, his tone gentle.

[MELODY]

Even though Moira knew that was true she was still blaming herself. She hugged him then tightly burying her face in his chest as she cried. Her necklace had come out of her dress again during her fall and was now pressed between them. "I-I..I could have helped..t-them.." she said muffled now as she managed to say that while crying.

[GEM]

He hated that she was blaming herself. But he could understand why. After all, if he was in her shoes, he would be too. It's often the first thing done in moments of tragedy is trying to find blame. But he corrected her lovingly. "Lass fault belongs to the one who dumped the poison into those barrels... not yourself. So don't you put that on your heart. It was the killer and the killer alone. Do you understand?" His fingers were in her curly hair as he held her close, his other hand around her back.

[MELODY]

Moira lifted her head slightly when he said that as she looked through her curls at him. Her eyes were red from crying. She then just nodded not really sure how to reply to that right now. Moira's mind was a mess right now. All kind of memories and other things popped up right now. It was too much for her to progress. She just laid her forehead back against his chest leaning against him silently now.

[GEM]

His eyes held infinite sympathy when she looked up at him, feeling so badly for her in this moment. Nothing is worse than losing your family, and he knew that feeling well. He just wish he could help her in some way, to ease the pain.

He kept his arms around her, his thumb stroking the side of her head that leaned against him as his hand was on her hair. He shut his eyes as they remained there in this quiet moment, hearing the waves crash against the sandy beach. He let her mourn for now, not speaking as to disturb it as it was something she needed to go through. He just hoped that his presence was at least helping in some way, as he felt her pain in himself.

Jul 26, 2023, 1:35 AM

[MELODY]

Moira had closed her eyes as well feeling so overwhelmed and exhausted from all of this. She was about to fall asleep as she felt safe by him to do so when she felt something landing by them and laying against them. It was Ikatere who had for once left Toothless to follow them as he felt something was wrong. He just curled up against them purring slightly.

Jul 26, 2023, 1:53 PM

[GEM]

Uriah looked over at Ikatere and rested his hand on the dragon's scales as if petting a dog, smiling at the creature. "Well, looks like there are three of us now here with the mission of comforting you," he said softly to Moira, his brows raised slightly.

Jul 26, 2023, 2:09 PM

[MELODY]

Moira glanced over at the two dragons before looking at Uriah. "..I-it seems so.." she said quietly as tears still rolled down her face. The gorecutter was still laying behind them. Ikatere seemed to like the petting as he looked at them purring louder. Moira smile slightly but it disappeared right after again.

Jul 26, 2023, 3:00 PM

[GEM]

He looked back at her with sympathy in his eyes as he remembered how her smile lit up the Great Hall. And seeing her like this with so much despair in her eyes sunk his heart... He used the end of his sleeve to very gently wipe her cheek, drying the tears. "Well... I hope that they don't give up... because God knows I won't. Not until you are smiling again," he said as if it was a vow, his eyes still sympathetic but his mouth tugged at a small smile.

Jul 26, 2023, 3:16 PM

[MELODY]

Moira was surprised at this gesture. Her eyes widen slightly when she said it like that. She couldn't help it as her eyes filled with tears again. But not about her grief but because he genuinely cared about her well-being. "T-Thank ye.." she said to him when the small smile reappeared on her face as tears started to roll down her cheeks again. Good ones this time. But the grief showed in her eyes still. That would stay for a while.

[GEM]

His brows slouched back at this reaction. "Well don't cry because of me, now. That would make all my efforts fruitless," he said with a tiny hint of a chuckle as he spoke.

[MELODY]

"I-I will try.." She stated as she chuckled slightly as well when he said that. She dried her tears with her own sleeve and she laid her head against his chest again,just laying against him as she started to feel the impact it all had on her. She was just emotionally and physically drained. She closed her eyes listening to his heartbeat as she slowly fell asleep.