How To Train Your Dragon- From One World To Another

Chapter Soundtrack(s):

Muumimusiikkia 66

Disclaimer:

The Film 'How To Train Your Dragon', is Copyrighted by DreamWorks Animation and Distributed by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and released on March 26, 2010

The DreamWorks 'Dragons' were directed by Dean Deblois and Chris Sanders and released in 2013- 2018. I only claim Copyright to my characters and some of the elements of the story that are of my own creation.

Author Warning, Notes:

This symbol (*) means that there's something written about this particular paragraph in the Ending Author's Notes.

Viewpoint Signs:

***MS*** (movie scene)

***EMS*** (end of movie scene)

***WPov.*** (watcher's point of view)

...

Chapter 28

''But to have been forced to make an oath to a Dragon-hunter...''

Ronja looked back at the Cinema-theater screen...

'' Is even more embarrassing.''

...

It had been only a day since Ronja had entered aboard the Viking Ship...

An utterly boring, long day had gone by and she was no closer to getting out of this blasted, rickety, floating 'bath-tub that was starting to feel more like a prison than anything else.

Ronja had been given the everyday chore of mopping up the entire deck early in the mornings before most people were awake before she was moved down to the living quarters (as more people had come up on deck) and do the same cleaning in the captain's and his sister's living quarters.

But once all that had been finished for the day, Ronja was firmly ordered to stay down in the lower quarters of the vessel.

'' Oh yes, escorted back to the lower quarters of the ship once finished with the mopping of the upper-deck' and then forced to stay down here after finishing the cleaning in the living quarters! I cannot even show my face up on deck,'' Ronja huffed out sarcastically. '' And I certainly cannot enter the area in the very lower areas of the ship where dragons are being kept locked up for transportations to places where they would be sold for their profit!  Urgh, it isn't exactly my idea of a fun day to be cooped up in one place!''

***Wpov.***

I frowned slightly at that memory and looked around the room anxiously, instinctively waiting for the explosion of angry outbursts from everyone in the theatre...

But there was none of that! Like with the last long scene, this short thought had been only for her ears.

'' Odin... really is protecting us from what is out there beyond the archipelago of Berk,'' I thought in renewed unease at seeing and hearing my own thoughts displayed on the screen.

...

'' I have barely seen the light of day since yesterday, except from the windows of the two cabins. Well, at least I'm still allowed to explore most of the interior of this vessel as long as I keep my hands off any belongings inside the rooms. Any insubordination would get me locked up in the room that belongs to the Captain's sister. With armed guards standing by the door who check my pockets and the closet for any stolen goods every night.''

Ronja uttered an exasperated sigh into the quietness of the captain's room.

She was becoming increasingly stir crazy within the walls of the ship's interior and was even starting to talk to herself.

 It wasn't like the wooden walls, painted shields and dragon skulls could hold her interest for longer than a day.

...

I winced heavily at the word 'dragon skulls'. 

But again, there was no onslaught of angry outbursts from others. Only the remains of quiet laughter (for my frustration, I suppose) from the onlookers who had heard what Odin was willing to show them.

...

There weren't any books, documents or maps lying around on the Captain's desk to turn her attention elsewhere, away from the constant boredom.

'' But what did I expect?! Who in their right minds would leave important documents lying around for other people to find and read?''

She sighed again, deeply.

'' And I probably wouldn't even dare read the documents, even if those were lying around in plain sight. Not, when what Annukka and Elsa did to me is so recent a wound,'' Ronja muttered out loud, a spark of fury visible in her eyes.

Ronja leaned back in the rocking chair on the opposite side of the captain's table. Her feet were on the edge of the desk and the chair was pulled so far back that she was in an almost lying down position.

'' Gods, I hate my life!'' Ronja growled out she peered up into high ceiling where there was the only interesting decoration dangling down, held up by a length of sturdy rope.

A number of different wooden dragons that had been the source of her 'fun- time' as she spent her later mornings, afternoons and evenings naming each dragon according to their species.

Ronja snorted out a bitter chuckle.  

'' Fun-time?! Yeah right! I honestly have no idea just how many times I've already named these dragons and listed what I know about their attacks and how dangerous they are. Even babysitting days would feel like a celebration right about now,'' Ronja groaned out as she leaned further back in the rocking chair, bracing her feet on the table and throwing her hands up in the air in sheer boredom induced agitation.

She then slumped back down onto the chair and let her feet slide down onto the lower stool under the table instead of the wooden table itself.

'' Maybe I should just take a snooze,'' Ronja muttered out loud to herself as she closed her eyes.

***Wpov.***

'' Would you have peeked at the contents of those books, papers and maps if they had been on the table?''

I jumped at the sudden voice of my father asking the question. 

''So Odin has finally unfrozen the others,'' I thought inwardly before shrugging my shoulders helplessly as an answer.

'' If I'd known what to look for, and it had given me some information as to where I should have gone from Laketown, maybe I would have looked. Maps would surely have helped quite a bit, and I probably would have studied them even with the danger of getting caught snooping. As for anything else, I... I don't know what I would have ended up doing because there had been no papers lying around on the desk at all.''

My father nodded understandingly and ruffled my hair.

'' Smart idea to not to attempt to snoop around. But maybe you should have done it just a little, though. Just to see what these people do with boats as large as these,'' Astrid commented thoughtfully.

'' Oh, I know what they do with 'boats so large', but its Odin who doesn't want you to be aware of those people being dragon hunters who sell dragons for profit just yet. Gods, thankfully I asked Odin to smother my memories until a time its needed of me to remember. I would have despised holding this fact a secret and so condemning who knows how many dragons into death or slavery. ''

I groaned silently at the ceiling.

'' Scratch that earlier thought; Odin and I are condemning dragons, even if I remember or not. It'll haunt me to know that truth once my memories are returned. But Odin is right! My friends and I have just begun our dragon Riding Academy, and so we've hardly had any experience in defending or saving people, let alone dragons,'' I thought with an audible groan of exasperation upon hearing many a Viking's voices seemingly agreeing with Astrid's logic.

Including the twins, Snotlout and even Fishlegs, my uncle and Hiccup.

'' Look, Astrid, you all saw and heard how close I was to getting kicked off the ship and getting myself sent adrift again without any guarantee I'll out of the situation at all. I was expecting to be let out in Laketown and I just couldn't risk pushing my luck any further. If I was found snooping around the captain's quarters I could have been made to 'walk the plank' under orders from the Captain. I doubt the Captain's sister would have done much to help after that sort of misjudgement.''

My uncle, Hiccup and Fishlegs suddenly looked less sure of their thoughts and even Snotlout and the twins seemed to be reforming their views on the whole' finding information' idea.

I could feel my father tightening his arms around my waist slightly.

I had no doubt he was in deep in thought over what he had seen happening on the screen.

There was now more muttering in the background as people started to rethink their opinions on this particular subject.

Astrid looked away with a slight grimace, her forehead furrowed. She, too, looked in deep thought.

***MS***

https://youtu.be/E4bsC2T7CDw

Some time later...

Ronja was startled awake by the feel of something or someone climbing up the low stool using her legs as leverage before plopping down on top of her feet.

She slowly opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself looking down at a pair of dark brown eyes staring right back at her.

There was a small boy, there, sitting on her legs!

It was the same toddler Ronja had seen sleeping in his mother's arms the day she had become a passenger on the large ship!

His small toddler body was adorably pudgy (including his hands and face). His dark, almost black hair framed his face.

The curiosity on the little one's face made Ronja smile a little, and his cute, quiet: 'hello' made the grin grow wider on the teenager's lips.

'' Hey there, '' Ronja answered in a soft voice.

The child grinned toothily at her.

'' Where did you come from? '' she then continued with a giggle when the small child crawled over her outstretched legs to seat himself on her lap.

'' Me exploling (I'm exploring),'' the child announced enthusiastically.

Ronja looked down at him with a gentle scold to her expression.'' That's neat, but you shouldn't wander off. Your mother must be worried over where you've gone.''

''I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU FORGOT TO LOCK UP THE PLAYPEN!'' an angry voice sounded from the hallway leading to the door to the captain's quarters Ronja was staying in currently.

Ronja jumped at the loud tone and looked back towards the doorway for a short moment.

'' Speaking of worried mothers,'' she thought inwardly, listening intently to the adults' footsteps even as the little boy stood up on her lap to play with the braids Ronja had twined into her hair.

That had the teenager turn her attention back toddler even as her ears picked up the familiar, gruff accented voice of Ryker snap: '' YOUR son crawled into my bed early this morning and wouldn't fall back asleep so EXCUSE ME for having been tired!''

'' Odin have mercy! The boy would have taken off immediately upon noticing that the playpen wasn't locked up! He would have gone exploring! Where could he have gone this time?'' the familiar voice of Valda could be heard groaning.

''Oh, he is right inside this room. I can smell him.''

'' What?! How can you...? No wait don't tell me! It's your ridiculously sensitive sense of smell, isn't it?! Are you a wolf or a human?'' Valda retorted sarcastically which had Ryker utter a sound half between annoyance and amusement.

The footsteps that had been coming closer to the door suddenly stopped, and then the door to the room was pulled open-wide.

Ronja uttered a slight gasp as she recognised the two people standing side by side in the doorway.

They both seemed to be viewing the scene before them of the little boy (who was the woman's son and the man's nephew), playing with the strawberry red braids framing Ronja's face and the supportive hand she kept on his back.

Ronja watched the two adults with slight wariness in her eyes. She couldn't forget how easily she would have been sent adrift if Valda hadn't stepped in to halt the said plan.

''And if she sees this as a break in conduct...''

The thought made Ronja gulp silently.

Even though Valda had originally brought up the topic of Ronja becoming a babysitter to her son (under surveillance, of course), Ryker had suddenly become very involved in the planning and had opposed to the idea of the strange young teenager becoming so involved in his nephew's life. 

So, the Captain had stuck Ronja with the job of mopping the deck and living quarters.

It was, after a moment of Ronja staring at the two adults warily, that the toddler standing on her lap suddenly stumbled and lurched towards the side.

Ronja had to lift both hands to catch him and stop the toddler from toppling off her lap.

'' Whoopsie doo!'' Ronja yelped undignifiedly she managed to plop the boy onto her lap instead of the hard wooden floor. ''Careful there, little guy or you'll have yourself a 'boo-boo','' Ronja scolded the boy as he clapped his hands together and giggled.

A rush of relieved breath escaped Ronja's lips as she couldn't help but grin herself despite the unnerving reality, that little 'Hrolf's mother and uncle were standing right there by the doorway, ghosted in her mind.

'' And I'd be in danger of getting myself more than just a 'boo-boo' if I were to become responsible for the boy hurting himself,'' Ronja thought inwardly as she looked up from the corner of her eyes upon hearing the flooring creak under the weight of the people now entering the room.

Ronja felt a slight prick of intimidation go through her as the towering shadow of Ryker and Valda loomed over her just as little Hrolf reached over to grasp Ronja's fossil necklace with wide-eyed curiosity.

'' He is quite a cute, curious little boy,'' Ronja couldn't help but say as Valda chuckled and reached down to gently pry the necklace off her son's pudgy toddler hand.

A small smile grazed Valda's lips when she looked at Ronja for a moment before lifting Hrolf up in her arms.

'' Mommy!'' the little boy chirped out happily as he snuggled under his mother's chin for a hug.

Ryker uttered a somewhat fond snort which had his sister glare playfully at him.'' Hrolf may be cute now but just wait. He is a right hellion at times; always attempting to escape the playpens to go exploring.''

Ronja smiled hesitantly and glanced at Valda who only rolled her eyes at her brother's words. ''

''Yes, he does that but once something interesting catches his attention you'll have a hard time diverting his attention elsewhere,'' Valda said, laughing a little as she started to carry Hrolf out of the room.

But when she did, the little toddler seemed to find the situation, not to his liking at all. His little head snapped up and turned in Ronja's direction.

'' ME WANT STAY! ME WANT STAY!' Hrolf squealed, waving his pudgy toddler arms in Ronja's direction.

'' See what I mean, big brother!'' Valda drawled out even as Ronja looked on, tad startled by the toddler's violent reaction over being removed from the room.

Ryker slapped a hand over his eyes with an aggravated sigh and a groan as another: '' ME WANT STAY', echoed in the room.

Ronja had to stifle amused laughter behind her hand at witnessing the large man's reaction to his nephew's temper tantrum.

And yet a tiny giggle still escaped her lips.

Valda immediately switched her eyes on the teenager even as her son continued to squirm vigorously in her arms.

'' Come with us!'' she called out to Ronja who jolted slightly at the unexpected words and blinked, before getting over her sudden surprise.

She slid off the rocking chair in a right hurry and scrambled across the wooden floor even as she heard Ryker give another aggravated groan.

'' No, Valda! Just NO! We talked about this, I don't want Hrolf being babysat by this half grown teenager!''

'' Hrolf will be in the playpen with his babysitter, and the playpen is in clear view of us both, Ryker. Hrolf won't be left unsupervised by either of us. Honestly, big brother, just give Ronja a chance to prove she can look after my son without putting him in danger.''

Ryker just huffed out a long breath and stalked passed Ronja, his sister and Hrolf who had, by now, calmed down considerably.

''Does that mean your brother is saying 'yes'?'' Ronja asked even as she listened to the large man's retreating footsteps.

She was startled out of her listening mode by a burst of unexpected laughter from the tall women standing beside her.

'' For him, that was an obliging answer,'' Valda answered between still existing chuckles.

Ronja smiled a bit nervously at the other's reaction to her words. But when she felt the warm weight of Hrolf being switched into her arms, she couldn't help but smile at the excited, trustful expression on his little face.

'' Really, that was an obliging reaction from her brother?'' she thought as Hrolf's pudgy hands started touching her fossil- shell necklace again.

Ronja started following Valda down the hall towards the stairs leading to the upper deck when she noticed the mother make a beckoning motion at her...

...

I grinned sheepishly when the theatre became alight with laughter from most everyone watching.

Except, of course, from the little kids who didn't understand what had been so funny about the words I had spoken inwardly. And the dragons who couldn't quite understand the reason for the amusement of the older humans...

...

As Valda and Ronja ( who was still carrying Hrolf, made their way past the people on deck, their company was of the strangest kind and they couldn't remain unnoticed.

Like earlier, when all the ship-crew members who had gathered around to listen to Ronja's story, those same people were now once again gathered to watch her and their Captains's sister move past them on the deck of the ship.

They moved to one side to allow them passage but were looking at Ronja with still existing suspicion and curiosity.

But again, there were some who seemed to not really care that there was a child on board.

Ronja sighed inwardly, being uncomfortably aware of the eyes on her, but tried not to pay their presence any mind as she was led towards the stairs (that lead up to bridge where a crewman stood behind the ship's wheel) where she could see a distinctive shape of a playpen.

The playpen was dome-shaped and reminded Ronja of the 'Kill- ring' her mother had described to Sonja and her (that Christmas she had revealed herself to be a Viking) after the two of them had begged her to talk about her former life back in the Village of her early childhood.

But it wasn't the only object that sparked up memories in Ronja's head.

There was a soft looking rug placed in the middle of the playpen that had colourful stitches forming an image that reminded Ronja of a certain board-game, that had been a part of her life since she had been just a tiny toddler.

''What's with the rug, Valda?'' Ronja asked cautiously as the tall woman opened the dome-shaped playpen. She was unable to hold back her curiosity.

'' Ah, that rug was a birthday gift to my son from my twin brother, Viggo. He is really into this particular board game and when he gave this mat and these toys...''

Valda gestured to the large chest of wooden toys that looked very familiar to Ronja even from the distance she was standing at.

'' He was probably hoping I'd start teaching Hrolf the game as soon as possible. But I must admit I'm not the best at teaching such an intricate game to a kid as young as mine, and besides, I've never been as interested with the game as he is. And neither was I as skilled or successful with it.''

Ronja nodded understandingly and made her way to the corner of the playpen where the wooden chest stood open-wide and carefully pried Hrolf's hand from around her necklace.

She sat him down on the soft, detailed mat and knelt down on one knee to watch the boy toddle over to the chest of toys.

Ronja felt a smile reach her lips when the boy reached inside for one of the wooden toys and then toddled back to her to pass it to her hands.

She chuckled good naturally when she grasped the doll-sized wooden toy between her palms.' ' You know what this is?'' she asked the toddler gently.

Hrolf blinked confusedly before saying: '' A toy?''

'' Yes, its a toy, little one. It is also called the 'Dragon and it...'' (*1)

Ronja went on to explain the skills of the game- piece in carefully chosen words that Hrolf could understand. She spoke slower than usual so as to give the toddler time to process the information.

'' OHH!'' Hrolf gasped before scarpering off to the toy chest with eager steps.

'' So you know this game,'' Valda (who had followed them inside the playpen) commented. She sounded more like she was stating a fact than asking her a question.

'' Yes, I am the cousin of a Chief's son, after all,'' Ronja answered.

'' And that's the truth,'' she thought sarcastically as Hrolf toddled back with his arms full of toys that he dropped onto her lap.

She told the little boy the names and talents of the game pieces one at a time and then watched Hrolf hurry off to fetch more.

'' Were you a talented player?'' Valda asked as her son returned with more wooden Game-pieces (or rather, toys that looked like the Game-pieces from Maces and Talons).

'' I liked to think of myself as a fairly talented player,'' Ronja answered as the toys were dropped onto her lap.

Hrolf waited until Ronja had finished her latest explanation of the wooden toys to him before running off to the chest, again.

When he returned, he dropped most of the toys onto Ronja's lap but held onto one that had Ronja's heart seize momentarily in her chest.

To be continued...

End of Chapter 29

...

Author Note(s):

(*1) The Game pieces and Game rules were never fully explained in the How To Train Your Dragon series. 

http://howtotrainyourdragon.wikia.com/wiki/Maces_and_Talons_(game)

The name 'Valda' translates to the word or name 'brave'.

The name 'Hrolf' translates to the words or name' famous wolf'.