Traveling south for an hour they began to see familiar landmarks in the ocean. Astrid decided to steer them towards an island she knew not far from here where they had volcanic hot springs and trees available for making fires; An ideal spot to stop and camp, even if it was still only the afternoon.

[MELODY]

As they were flying towards the island Kahu started to feel more and more drowsy and pained. It was taking a toll on him as he was trying to hold on but eventually the weakness was overwhelming. "G-..Guys..!I-..I..can't..ho-.." he said out of breath as he tried to catch the attention of the others that's when it went black before his eyes and the last energy he held onto left his body as it went limp. His hands slipped from where he was holding onto the dragon his body leaning to the right as he suddenly fell off.

[GEM]

Tuffnut looked at the man when he seemed like he wanted to say something and widened his eyes when he fell. "Shite!"

The others heard the splash and the dragons halted when Uriah shouted, "Ika!" and his dragon turned and dove towards the sea after him,

Toothless acted before Hiccup even knew what was happening as the Night Fury shot after Ika and yanked Uriah off his back just before the young dragon disappeared head first into the black icy water after their fallen party member.

[MELODY]

Since he was a natural swimmer, Ikatere swam quickly with speed as he reached Kahu. He put his paws around him as he swam up again. As soon as he got above the surface again he spread his wings pulling the now half dead guy out of the water.

[GEM]

"Oh thank the gods. That would have been a pathetic way to die," Yrsa commented.

"True," Tuffnut added.

"Guys we need to get to land now!" Astrid cut them off. "Ika head for the island on the horizon!"

[MELODY]

Ikatere was looking down at Kahu whimpering slightly but his head shot up when he heard Astrid tilting his head slightly before looking in the direction of the island. He quickly secured the man in his embrace more secure as he made his way to the island with speed.

[GEM]

The others followed quickly, Toothless holding Uriah closer to his body and more securely to not rip his arms from their sockets.

When they got to the cliffside they all landed around Ikatere and Kahu.

Uriah was the first to rush over and check on him, analyzing his situation. The man's lips were now purple and his dark skin was pale and lacking color, his soaking wet clothes stained nearly black with his blood as the gash on his side had drained nearly every drop in his body that was now ice cold. Uriah checked his pulse and it was incredibly slow, fear taking him.

[MELODY]

The young dragon had put him down carefully as he sniffed the man's face and gently nudging him before looking up at his rider as he knew it wasn't good but had no idea how to fix it.

[GEM]

"I need all of the blankets or a dry fabric we have! And someone make a fire quick!" Uriah called out as he tilted Kahu's head back and began pressing down on his chest in a rhythmic pattern.

They scrambled to do as he asked, Ruffnut and Astrid running to the trees nearby to grab firewood. "Toothless, help them!" Hiccup said as people began searching in their saddle bags for their supplies.

[MELODY]

Moira gathered all the cloth and fabric she could find and quickly climbed off Cailean as she ran over to Uriah as she kneeled down by them. "What do ye want me to do?" She asked him calmly as she put everything she gathered down.

[GEM]

"Cradle his head and count to three. Blow into his mouth with your fingers pinching his nose," he told her, letting her help as he continued to put pressure on his chest over and over. "Faelan! Take this fabric and latch it tight to his side with his belt!" he told his friend who came over at once to do this.

[MELODY]

Moira nodded as she went to sit behind Kahu's head and did as Uriah told her to. Even after what this man did to them he didn't deserve to die.

[GEM]

Toothless blasted the tree and caused it to crash into the ground for the girls to hack off branches of it to use. Snotlout came to help them as well as the other men to pull large branches back.

Faelan used his knife to cut the fabric of Kahu's tunic off and then removed his belt, fastening it tightly around the best cloth they had for stopping blood.

The others dropped firewood near Kahu and the dragons lit it ablaze near enough that it could start to get him warm. They began to form an enclosure of lumber and lit it as everyone was trying to help. Tuffnut didn't really see the reason why they were trying so hard to save someone that wanted them dead just moments ago but he kept his mouth shut and did as he was told, understanding that they wanted to try and save him.

But as Uriah was hitting his chest and Moira was breathing into his mouth, nothing seemed to change and Kahu was slipping further and further away from life.

He began to hit harder and harder, saying, "Come on, breathe!" with frustration.

But everyone else could feel it as they watched. He was a goner and their attempts to save him were futile.

Yrsa was troubled. She didn't like Kahu but to die like this was just surprising and something in her twisted with sadness.

There was a quiet hesitation in everyone as this got more hopeless... and Uriah himself began to doubt this...

But just when he did, he shut his eyes as his muscles ached, hearing something clearly that told him to stop...

There was a sensation of metaphysical emotional warmth that overcame him, calming his anxiety down and telling him to try something else; something more powerful than himself.

As the people around him stopped their efforts and accepted Kahu's death, Uriah put his hand on the man's face, bowing his head.

Faelan looked over at Ruarcc with something strange in his eyes that the others caught but couldn't understand what it was for.

Uriah spoke quietly. "Here I am, Lord... "

Astrid glanced at Hiccup, their forms of prayer much different than his but they didn't interrupt.

"Use me as You have before. Let me call on Your healing... Let Your will work through us. Let Your kingdom come... Save his life. Breathe into his lungs... Return him to us as Your will allows..."

Moira looked around her when she felt a gentle breeze, the opposite of how she felt in that forest before and in Loki's Labyrinth when she was smothered by dark energy. Now she felt something that comforted her and a familiar presence that reminded her everything was going to alright no matter the great odds they faced. There was hope, love, and mercy in her heart as others nearly felt the same sense though not as strongly as she did. It kept everyone silent and wrapped in this moment before Uriah finished.

[GEM]

"...Show us Your grace and power today." He lifted his head and removed his hand from Kahu's face before he stared at the man... and said, "Wake up, Kahu."

Suddenly there was air in his lungs and his heart pounded with life, forcing his eyes open as he began to cough out the water immediately.

[MELODY]

Moira's eyes widened in surprise when the man's eyes opened and he started coughing heavily as he tried to breath again.

[GEM]

Hiccup's eyes got even wider and Yrsa just looked immensely confused mixed with surprise.

Snotlout, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and Astrid were all astonished and exchanging looks as that was the LAST thing they expected to happen, most of them speechless.

Ruarcc made a face that suggested this was something Uriah had done before and the rest of his crew exchanged some glances as they looked excited and relieved, yet not too surprised.

[MELODY]

As Kahu caught his breath again and it calmed down. Slowly he came back to his senses as his vision became less blurry. He then noticed them, as they were standing around him and Uriah and Moira sitting close to him. At first his expression was confused mixed with the pain he felt. Before after a few seconds his eyes widened when he realized they saved him. They could read the disbelief and confusion still on his face.

[GEM]

As Kahu spit up all the water that was in his lungs, Uriah had his hand on the man's shoulder, "Take it easy. Can you hear me?" he asked with no hostility in his tone despite their history.

[MELODY]

While Kahu normally would have reacted differently he now just simply nodded as he kept laying on the ground thanks to his lack in energy from his injuries and almost drowning. He got startled however when Ikatere suddenly come really close to his face as he looked at him curiously. "O-Oh.." Kahu said seeming to hesitate what to do with this.

[GEM]

Uriah whistled. "Let's give him some space, yeah?" he told the dragon as he nudged him away.

[MELODY]

Ikatere rumbled slightly confused why he couldn't but stepped back when he nudged him. Kahu let out a relieved sigh when he did.

[GEM]

Uriah looked at Kahu, the barbarian seeing nothing but peace and gladness in his eyes, no grudge there whatsoever; a character unexpected in the life Kahu lived drowned in ruthless selfishness. There was something strange about Uriah that set him apart from anyone he had met before, even though he didn't know the reason for that yet.

Uriah held out his hand for Kahu as he helped him sit up gradually. "Take it slow," he told the man as the dragonfires around them burned bright and hot. He grabbed an extra tunic of Gregor's and helped him slip it on as well as a wool cloak over his shoulders after that, trying to get his body back to a normal temperature.

[MELODY]

That confusion about them saving him stayed in his expression as he carefully sat up with Uriah's help. "..t-thanks.." he said quietly as he wasn't really sure how to express his gratitude.

[GEM]

"Well that was a close one this time, Uriah," Arne said when he, Faelan, and Gregor walked over to them.

"I never doubted," Greenhood commented.

[MELODY]

While he wondered what the men were talking about, Kahu pulled the wool cloak tighter around himself as he was still shivering from the cold. He then looked around at the others as his gaze fell on Ysra. Moira who had stood up after Kahu sat up went to check on Fionnlagh who was by Cailean who had laid down staying by the fragile man.

[GEM]

Uriah smiled at his friends and stood up, "Help him into some dry trousers as well and we'll make camp."

"Right, Ruff, Tuff, gather some fish," Hiccup told them. "The rest of you, move our camp into the trees for better cover!" he continued giving orders as

"Take it easy. You've lost a great deal of blood," Gregor said in comfort to Kahu before going to help the others.

Kahu and Yrsa were left there utterly confused as to what just took place and why they were being treated like family to this bunch.

The two exchanged a look. What had they gotten themselves into?

As the sound of birds chirping slowly woke Melody from her dreamless sleep, the first thing she noticed was the subtle blue light of the early morning... and her cheek resting against soft fabric, feeling a gentle breathing beneath her head and a relaxed heartbeat.

When she looked up at Muiredach, she saw he was passed out with his head tilted away from her, sleeping peacefully but in nearly the same position he was in when she fell asleep. Had he not even moved at all in the night for fear of waking her?

[MELODY]

She felt her cheeks heating up as a light blush appeared on her skin while she stared at his face. She hesitated as what to do as she didn't want to move, scared to wake him now as his arm was still around her. She let out a soft sigh as she looked down again. As she realized she didn't want to get out of his embrace also her cheeks got more red.

Sat 11:17 AM

[GEM]

As she laid there she wondered if he had gotten any sleep at all since he left the Brotherhood, clearly needing it judging by how deeply he was out.

[MELODY]

Slowly she felt sleep come over her again as she laid her head back against his chest, listening to his breathing and heartbeat.

[GEM]

When Melody woke up a second time, the light from the window was bright grey, bringing a colorless glow into the room. The sounds of buckles being fastened made her realize she was lying against a pillow this time and looking up, she saw Muiredach attaching his left bracer, wearing his armor again in part besides his cloak, his build complimented by the dark leather attire, outlined by the sunlight.

"I was wondering when you'd wake," he said plainly, not even looking at her but already aware she was up.

[MELODY]

A slight blush appeared on her face as she watched him. When he spoke to her it became brighter again as she sat up quickly putting a blanket around her shoulders as she did. "..did you sleep well?" She asked him as she looked away trying to find her boots and her cloak.

[GEM]

There was something in his eyes she couldn't place, something positive. But he instead chose to answer, "Of course not. I had a pest clinging to me all night long," jesting in a dry way as he finished strapping his weapons on.

[MELODY]

Melody glanced up at him raising an eyebrow at his reply but a small amused smile appeared on her face. "..oh you poor thing.." she said back dryly as she finally found her boots under the bed and pulled them out from under it putting them on as she sat back down.

[GEM]

He gave her a side eye with a smirk on his lips, his eyes showing amusement. That moment was another first for him. Were they joking around now?

[MELODY]

She was putting her boots on before noticing the look on his face. Her smile turned into a smirk as she raised her eyebrow again. "What? Did I hurt your feelings?" Her very playful character started surfacing for the first time in a while

[GEM]

He strapped on his cloak and hood as he kept a smile at bay. "You know in the Brotherhood, no one dared to say such things to me." He suddenly reached down and tightened the strap on her boot she was having trouble with as he was right in front of her, his face now just centimeters from hers. He looked up at her from under his hood brim, his icy eyes piercing. "Perhaps I haven't done enough to make you fear me." He raised his brow just a hint, still a pinch of amusement in his eyes.

[MELODY]

Her eyes widened in surprise when he did that as the blush once again returned to her cheeks but she kept the smirk on her face tilting her head slightly to the side as she stared back into his icy blue eyes "..oh really? I think that would be interesting. Although I doubt if I could fear you.." She said back to him teasingly. There was a fascinated and playful expression in her eyes.

[GEM]

His eyes glanced her up and down as if admiring her silently, hesitating on her lips as his expression stayed calm and disinterested before be suddenly pulled her dagger from her thigh strap and pushed her back on the bed, pinning her down with one arm as the other held the blade to her throat... His eyes narrowed slightly as he said quietly, "Hm... You're not a very good liar you know."

[MELODY]

Her eyes widened in surprise as he did that. She hadn't expected that at all. Normally she would have been scared if someone did this but somehow even with the blade to her throat her mind first went to how close he was to her. It totally caught her off guard as her face showed surprise but no fear at all. "..I..I know.." she said as she broke eye contact not sure how to react to this.

[GEM]

His eyes seemed to look suspicious. "Are you blushing, little doe?" he teased her with that same smooth and low voice he used whenever they were this close.

[MELODY]

It made her blush even more as he spoke like that making her totally flustered and confused. She had never reacted like this to anyone but he managed to make her feel and blush like that every time. And she didn't understand why. "S-Shut up.." she shot at him as she returned her gaze back to him narrowing her eyes at him. But she still had the same confusion in her expression

[GEM]

His lips stretched into a humored smirk at her defensive response, stifling a chuckle, before he pulled back, sliding his hand down past her hip to put her dagger back in its sheath on her left thigh. He got off her and simply went back to adjusting his gear.

[MELODY]

When she felt his touch on her skin, only a thin layer of fabric between them, she felt her whole body react as her heard started racing. But that faded away slowly as he got off her. Leaving her there as she was blushing brightly. She covered her face with her hands when she could move again. Letting out a frustrated groan as she did.

[GEM]

He raised his brows at her. "Something the matter?" he said as he held back an amused smile and even a confused look.

[MELODY]

"No..no everything is fine!" Melody said as she herself wasn't sure what was happening inside her. She sat up then fixing her hair as braided it so it wasn't in the way. She then stood up to look for her cloak without saying another word.

[GEM]

He just stood there watching her with a playful glisten in his eye as she got ready and then when she looked for her cloak and couldn't find it anywhere she finally faced him and saw he had it in his hands for her, waiting for her to take it as he stood there smugly.

[MELODY]

Melody scoffed rolling her eyes at that as she snatched it from his grasp and put it on as she looked away from him. Although she tried her best not to smile.

[GEM]

As she put it on and walked with her head held high from the room, he watched her the whole time and a smirk finally stretched on his lips.

"This is what we know," Runa began the discussion as the three of them stood around the table in her room after they ate breakfast. "The dragonblood are alive, Tempus Mora has begun his conquest, and now that he has two, he will be searching for the final stone."

Muiredach had a serious look on his face as she spoke, calculating what options they had.

"As of now, we have no information on where this stone is," she finished.

[MELODY]

Melody watched them both listening closely as she held a cup between her hands to warm them up. "..so..how do you know there is a third stone then?" She asked unsure whether to ask this or keep it to herself but she asked anyway

Sat 2:27 PM

[GEM]

"Mora used them in his original conquest before they were stolen and scattered," Muiredach said.

"We were tasked with finding them for years and only managed to find two. One was protected by a northman clan in Stonehill. One was hidden in the labyrinth. Attempts to take the stone in the labyrinth were made but they were unsuccessful," Runa added.

[MELODY]

"...how did they manage to get it out now then?" Melody asked them feeling her concern grow. The more she heard about this tempus mora the more the bad feeling she had grew.

[GEM]

Runa looked at her. "They didn't. He ran into those who did," she told her.

Muiredach seemed to react strangely to this statement and he shifted where he stood, looking down and away from them thoughtfully.

[MELODY]

Concern and worry started to show on her face when Runa said that as she remembered the group of travellers she send that way. "...were...were those did get killed?"

[GEM]

She glanced to her companion who didn't return her gaze. It was clear they didn't know the answer to this. But Mora wasn't known for leaving survivors.

[MELODY]

When they didn't answer the panic and guilt started showing in her eyes as she looked down "..they did, didn't they?" She asked her voice trembling slightly as she did.

[GEM]

"We can't know for sure--" Runa began.

"But whatever did happen, it wasn't your fault," Muiredach said strongly to her as he looked into her eyes with his head lower for emphasis.

[MELODY]

Melody glanced up at him before she nodded slightly. "So what is the next step?" She asked as she looked back at Runa. Trying not to think about it like she just did.

[GEM]

He took in a breath and went back to their conversation.

Runa answered, "We don't have many options. We know that the Brotherhood have been killing the dragonblood—"

"If we find Valmaor's kill orders we could see who is out there and still alive," Muiredach said to her.

"And do what?"

"We find where he will be next, and make a plan to get this survivor close enough to absorb a stone. If we can somehow get the stones away from Mora he will be vulnerable enough for us to stop him—"

"You're not getting anyone near him. Even you wouldn't stand a chance in a fight," she argued.

[MELODY]

Melody sighed softly as they were arguing. She understood both sides of it but all she cared about was that no one else innocent got hurt.

[GEM]

"Then our only option then is to intercept him and take the final stone before he has locked in his victory. It will buy us some time at least," Muiredach said.

[MELODY]

"..and what do we do after that? Surely there must be people that are willing to help stop him?" Melody asked the concern showing in her voice.

[MELODY]

"We can't do it with the three of us right?"

[GEM]

"We can gather forces after Muiredach and I have secured the stone," Runa said.

"As for desire there is plenty to go around. Power on the other hand..." Muiredach replied skeptically.

"We'll handle that as it comes. Numbers got to count for something eventually."

[MELODY]

Melody looked unsure about it all as it sounded to her like half a plan. "..where do I fit into this plan?" She asked wanting to help them.

[GEM]

They both looked at her, Runa with skepticism. "Well since you don't have to worry about the assassins anymore, you won't need to accompany us for protection. You can return to your life before and remain hidden if you wish," she said as if offering an escape.

Muiredach liked the idea of her being safe and out of this but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was meant for a bigger role, knowing she had a fire in her that he'd like to kindle if he could.

[MELODY]

Melody was got off guard by this. When this started she would have been happy to go back to her simple life. But that all had changed ever since she lost her tribe and met Muiredach. It had made her start to realize she didn't want that anymore and that the world was so much bigger. "..no...I don't want that..anymore." She said seriously to the both of them. "I want to help..in anyway I can.."

[GEM]

"It's appreciated but I don't know what we could do with you," Runa said nervously.

"Trust me, Runa... she's got more than a few tricks up her sleeve," Muiredach said as he looked at Melody before giving her a subtle wink.

[MELODY]

"..I won't be in your way..I promise..just let me help.." Melody said to the girl calmly but she would be lying if she wasn't scared of what was ahead of them but the need she felt to help others was stronger.

[GEM]

"Muiredach she's going to need training and she's definitely going to need armor," she said as she glanced at what Melody was wearing.

He thought about this and said, "I think I know where we can get some for her."

The three party members left the village behind as they walked down the road and into the woods where they found their dragons resting, Melody seeing Runa's Devilish Dervish for the first time as it landed beside them and shook its scales.

[MELODY]

Melody watched the dragon with fascination as it landed. "So what species of dragon is this?" She asked them curiously with a smile on her face.

[GEM]

"Mortifer is known as a Devilish Dervish among the Vikings. He's called a Shadowalker in Ireland," she told her before hopping onto his back.

[MELODY]

"..I see.." Melody said still with a smile on her face. "Well he is a beautiful creature."

[GEM]

"He certainly is," she said with a smile.

Muiredach mounted Umbra as she stretched her wings and he looked down at Melody to offer her a hand up. "Still scared to fly?" he asked her with a little sass, remembering last time.

[MELODY]

Melody gratefully took his hand as she narrowed her eyes at him slightly. "Not scared...just nervous." She said as he helped her mount the beast. She sat down behind him like before.

[GEM]

"Well then you best hold on tightly, shouldn't you?" he said in the same sly tone as he gripped his dragon's reins and prepared to take off.

[MELODY]

Melody let out a sigh when he said that as she put her arms around his waist seeing no other option except the saddle which wasn't really an option she now knew.

[GEM]

He smirked in amusement when she reacted this way and their dragons leapt into the sky, headed south.

The sound of Uriah's axe coming down upon a log and chopping it in two clean pieces echoed through the woods that the party was now settled in comfortably with their dragons. He added the pieces to the pile and grabbed another log to set on the stump. He was still dirty from the fights and even in pain. But they needed firewood and everyone else was exhausted.

Footsteps approached him and he didn't look up before Yrsa stood there with a suspicious look on her face. "I want to know how you did that," she demanded from him.

"Did what?" he asked her plainly before hacking the lumber in half again with one powerful swing.

"How you saved Kahu from certain death." She crossed her arms. I was there. I heard you. You told him to get up like he'd been sleeping and his wounds nearly disappeared."

He nodded rather casually. "Yep. And?"

"How did you do that?" she asked again.

He shrugged. "I didn't do anything."

She looked incredibly confused and taken aback by his reply. "What—are you trying to gaslight me into thinking I was hallucinating?" she demanded with an incredulous tone.

He chuckled as he sorted the lumber. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Then tell me what you did. Are you some kind of warlock? Mage? Clever trickster?"

"I'm a man, Yrsa. I called for help and it was graciously given to me. That's all I did."

"Oh so you're telling me anyone can do something like that?" she asked with disbelief.

He nodded. "With the help of the Holy Ghost, yes."

"The what?" She frowned, perplexed.

"Nevermind. The point is, yes, you could do it if you wanted to. It's nothing special that I speak words and things happen. I have no power. At least not of my own accord. I'm simply a vessel for divine power, as are all who follow Christ."

"Who's that? Some kind of religion thing?"

"You could say that. But I prefer to think of it as a... lifestyle. A meaning... more than a 'religion' it's who I am. What I live by. He defines me and I try my best to live in His shadow. Those who followed Jesus the Nazarene as his apostles called it 'the way'. And I think it's exactly the representation of what I should and try to do."

Her mind was swimming with confusion. Any missionaries or preachers she had heard did not ever sound like this. Most she ever heard was about hellfire and feast days. But something made her shake her head. "Wait but, you can ask for people to be saved from death and it happens? Then why haven't we been doing that this whole time? With everyone? Sounds like it would be pretty useful to me," she said, clearly not understanding.

"Well, for starters, Adoni—uh... God," he corrected. His mother used to always call him Adoni because of her Hebrew roots. "He isn't a genie with wishes three. You cannot expect to ask for something and just get it like some kind of merchant transaction. Second, He's a being with a will of His own. It's up to Him what grace He gives and what He withdrawals. Quite frankly I think I'm blessed just to be breathing right now. But if I were to ask of something and He chose not to give it, it would be warranted. That which created life may do what he wished with it. After all I think a being such as that has more than enough intelligence comparatively to us than we could hope to have. So in that, I trust Him and I do what He says. Not to mention all He's done for me He's more than earned it already..."

"Hm... Sounds like a load of rubbish to me," she insulted.

"And why's that?" he questioned, not afraid of confrontational conversations.

"Well this man came and talked a lot and died? Doesn't sound like a god to me. Not like Thor or Odin."

"You think He would want to establish Himself as different from other gods or the same? Wouldn't exactly be a revelation if he was just a trend follower," he said with a little smirk.

"Well what about all those rules and hell and burning and the oils and the priests?" she said with skepticism.

He stayed casual and collected as he spoke to her as if only speaking about the weather. "Well... the Law of Moses is binding on us now, yes. But only in part. The parts that Christ repeated are those we follow, as He was the new Covenant with mankind. But rules work in unison with love. One cannot be without the other. Hell is real, and those who don't follow The Way are in danger of retiring there as their own decision. After all, if you had a lover who forced you to be with him for eternity, would he truly love you or would he be terrible for it?"

"Depends on his looks," she said with a shrug.

"Well, you understand my meaning regardless. Priests are... well... it's a rather long story," he began as he chopped another log. "There were some confusion on the descendants of the Twelve Apostles, particularly Simon Peter and this is where the Pope comes into play with Catholicism. But the truth is: there is no hierarchy with Christ. The Carpenter of Nazarith came to abolish the pride of those on their high thrones. He was a man who wanted us all to be equals in value, so that no one may boast of his own accomplishments, but gather in unity and love with one another. The power that the priests have is the same as us. Or rather, it's not status that gives us righteousness. But by His grace alone, we are justified. God the Father has power and His children, rather slave or emperor... all have the ability to be used the same way."

"What about all them people who do terrible things to others in your God's name? Doesn't that mean He's not all so loving?"

He got this one a lot. And he thought about his words. "Let me give you a scenario. If a baker had made a recipe for a wonderful fresh baked bread... and someone came along and attempted to imitate him but failed to follow the recipe as he should have... whom do you blame for the terrible tasting bread that came from it?"

She was frowning and glanced to her left. "I don't like riddles."

"It's not a riddle."

"Then the second man, I suppose."

"Precisely. Do you understand?"

"No."

He smiled with patience. "The baker is Christ. The recipe is The Way. And the second man is... well he is all of us who fall short of His commands."

She was thinking about that but seemed still to be confused and skeptical as she tried to put together all of the information she just received. If she was honest, she was fighting care in the subject herself. She wouldn't normally be interested in anything like this ever. In fact, she often cursed the gods and was so rebellious that she refused even to walk marked roads. But what just happened with Kahu confused and surprised her. And now, due to her incredible stubbornness, she just wanted to know what it was about and how it happened. She'd never seen a worshiper of any of the Norse gods do anything like that before.

"The least of these is myself... I was a killer in my past and did not deserve a second chance. I did awful things," he admitted to her.

This took her by surprise because she was used to dealing with people who were closed off and shared nothing about them, especially any weaknesses or vulnerability. It was odd and she didn't know hot to react.

"The evil I was a part of tried to choke me down, tell me I was doing justly... but I was miserable... in my bones," he said as he remembered this. "Without morality I was just a man doing whatever it was I felt was right. But in the end, that's not how morality works is it? There is an objective purpose to life and I had to find that purpose. When I did, I didn't look back. I was finally free of the bars of what the world called 'freedom' and found a higher cause... a true cause. And I hope you find that as well. Because I'd like to see you as happy and content in your soul as I am in mine."

"Ha! Happy? You must be jesting."

He just looked at her blankly.

"No one is happy. That idea is for children. You cannot honestly say you're happy with all that has happened in the last week for your group or even your life with all yuh've been through."

He smiled sweetly at her. "I'm happy every day I wake up with air in my lungs."

"Oh you liar," she said with disgust.

He shrugged. "Suit yourself." He then went back to chopping.

She kept that grimace of confusion on her face and turned to leave, scratching her head as she thought about that strange conversation. Maybe he was just a mad sorcerer. She was comfortable with that idea...

"...How did you get involved in this, Moira?" Fionnlagh asked her as they watched the sun set over the ocean's horizon, her dragon behind them asleep.

[MELODY]

"..well..that's a long story.." Moira said with a soft sigh as she glanced over at him. "..it started when I met them.." she said mentioning the crew. "They helped me off the port where I got stranded...and went with them to Berk.."

[GEM]

"And you became a dragon rider, huh?" he said with a little bit of gladness, knowing she always had it in her.

[MELODY]

"Aye..although this wee thing didn't gave me a choice really.." She said with a smile on her face as she petted Cailean over his nose who was laying curled up around them with his head next to her.

[GEM]

"Wee?" he asked with his brows raised before chuckling and shaking his head.

[MELODY]

"Aye he is! Why does everyone doubt that?" She said as she let out a chuckle.

[GEM]

He chuckled. "Very well. It's not a hill I wish to die on." he faced ahead again as he asked. "And what happened after that? You were forced to become an adventurer and delve into the depths of Loki's Labyrinth for its treasure?"

[MELODY]

"..no..I wanted to go with my friends to find the treasure..before he could...but..we apparently had no idea what we were getting ourselves into...that labyrinth...it's..intense." She said letting out a deep sigh.

[GEM]

"It has a reputation with the northerners. But we always thought its existence was a myth... There's a lot that our people thought was a myth..." he said grimly.

[MELODY]

Moira nodded slightly as she glanced over at him again. "..when I first met a dragon..I thought I was going crazy..since I thought they were fairytale creatures..things out of stories..myths..but they are very real.."

[GEM]

"We were lucky enough not to get many of them down south. And when we did we were able to take care of them well. Your mother was good at making sure everyone was safe when they came. I'm sure she told you they were myths so you wouldn't be afraid of them."

[MELODY]

Moira looked surprised at that. "She did? I never knew that...that's why she always told those stories?"

[GEM]

"Plus you always enjoyed the ones about grand adventure. You were like her in that way... all of you were."

[MELODY]

"..even Edmund?" Moira asked raising an eyebrow. Her oldest brother was very much a father's son. Although Edgar could at times be worse at that.

[GEM]

"Not in every way. But there was adventure in your blood. Edmund grew out of it as he aged and so did the rest of you. You and David became the only ones with the heart for dreaming."

[MELODY]

Moira nodded as a small smile appeared on her face at the memories from when they were younger. She was quiet for a moment before she said something again. "...David doesn't remember much about her...but he remembered the lullaby..the one she always sang for us.."

[GEM]

His heart warmed at that thought and he smiled a bit, remembering it like it was yesterday. "Remind me how that goes?" he asked, pretending to forget so that he could hear her sing it for him.

[MELODY]

"..I..I can't just..sing it here.." Moira said nervous all of a sudden as she hoped the others wouldn't hear. She loves singing, just it was a private personal thing to her.

[GEM]

"Why's that? You're afraid of what your dragon might think?" he teased her, knowing the others were far enough that they couldn't hear unless she sang it loudly.

[MELODY]

"Alright..fine.." she said sighing softly as she quietly started to sing it. Even though she was very young when she lost her mother she remembered every word and the way she sang it clearly.

[GEM]

The sound of her voice carrying those words made nostalgia overwhelm him. He listened with a heavy heart, remembering her mother fondly and for a moment it was like everything was how it used to be. The emotions he went through nearly made his eyes sting with tears so he shut them.

[MELODY]

Moira closed her eyes as well as she almost could hear her mother singing it with her. A few tears escaped her eyes as she did.

[GEM]

Through the trees, there was one member of their party close enough to hear the song and his attention was taken to it. As he leaned down to pick up another log to chop, Uriah smiled as he looked over where Moira was sitting, his heart full of admiration and peace from the sound that kept a smile on his lips while he continued his work.

[MELODY]

As her voice broke slightly at the end of the lullaby she opened her eyes before wiping her tears away first as she looked up at Fionnlagh again. She tried her best not to cry right then and there.

[GEM]

Fionnlagh lifted his head to look at her while she finished the melody. He just felt so grateful that she was alive and overcome with emotions, he took her hand in his, giving her a reassuring look that he missed her too but everything was going to be okay...

[MELODY]

A sad smile appeared on her face as he did and she held his hand back before she laid her head against his shoulder leaning against him carefully. "...I miss Scotland.." she said honestly to him.

[GEM]

"We'll find our way back soon. I promise," he told her as he watched the sun slowly disappear under the waves.