How To Train Your Dragon- From One World To Another

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.

Chapter Soundtrack(s):

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)

...

All colour drained from Ansson's face as he peeked out from between the heavy drapes of the alcove. He then shook his head, uttering a sharp curse.

''Oswald the Agreeable, huh?! More like Oswald the Disagreeable at this moment. And he is coming this way, ugh. Well, this has been a fun little meeting with the pair of you and I wish I could hang out more but ... well... gotta BOLT!''

With that, the older boy cowardly turned tail and scarpered towards a side-door in the alcove.

***

I uttered an audible, angry huff at Ansson's words, and in the background, I could hear many a Viking uttering the word 'coward' out loud.

***

Dagur and Ronja had both been equally startled by the sudden booming shout (from who Ronja believed was a relation to Dagur; probably the very person Ansson had mentioned would punish Dagur for getting in trouble) and were not in the state of mind to attempt to put a stop to Ansson's hasty retreat.

The side-door slammed closed behind Ansson the Abominable just as the shutters around the alcove were violently wrenched aside.

A chill went down Ronja's back when she cautiously turned to see the person who had pulled the curtains aside so violently.

From the corner of his eye, she could see Dagur immediately sheath his sword with a somewhat nervous expression to his countenance.

Ronja dropped her eye to the knife she was still holding and paled slightly.

If this was Dagur's father, then it didn't bode well for her if she was still holding a weapon.

Shickkk

Her knife disappeared into its leather holster as swiftly as Ronja could possibly manage it.

The girl then turned back to face the person standing at the threshold to the alcove, his face looking like a thunderstorm.

Swallowing audibly, Ronja glanced at Dagur from the corner of her eye and was surprised to see audible nervousness to his expression as he stared straight into the eyes of the towering man who looked quite like an older version of Dagur, but with black hair instead of bright auburn hair.

Ronja felt herself tremble as a thought of wanting to do an 'Ansson' and bolt screaming bloody murder at Odin for bringing her to this world, crossed her mind.

She could swear that at this very moment this man, Oswald the Agreeable could melt gold with the intensity of his glare. And with the slight gloom of light from the Inn behind him highlighting his features, he looked horribly like some 'dark creature of the night' bent on pummeling both Dagur's and her butts until they were well and truly tenderized and unable to sit on.

*** Wpov.***

There was a chorus of raucous laughter from almost everyone old enough to understand the meaning of my words, and I almost burst out laughing myself until I happened to briefly glance at my father and my uncle.

I could see the pair of them shaking their heads at me.

'' Ugh, definitely not my most flattering comment about another person,'' I thought, a sheepish look on my face as I kept my eyes on the two who were glowering at me admonishingly.

'' Not very kind, dear daughter, but I gotta admit that Oswald's expression isn't something to be taken lightly, either, '' my father huffed out.

'' Definitely, if it could scare even someone as berserk as Dagur,'' my uncle added with an eye roll.

Which in turn immediately made me retort with a: '' Who's the one dishing out unflattering comments now, uncle?!''

This made Stoick the Vast give a sheepish cough, which caused a renewed explosion of laughter from others who had heard my words.

Then the screen came back to life once more...

***

Ronja uttered a small squeaking sound as Oswald reached forward to pull her forward by the front of her soaked jacket collar. She snapped back her head to fix Dagur with a long-suffering look which he promptly returned as Oswald had a tight grasp on the front of his tunic collar, as well.

'' Thor help me,'' Ronja found herself thinking, her hands clenching into fists so tightly she could feel the sharp points digging deeply into the skin.

It was a miracle she didn't feel warm blood dripping down the skin and down to her wrists when the adult Viking's palm clamped onto her shoulder like a vice attaching to her limb.

But (much to Ronja's surprise), Oswald's expression softened ever so slightly when he looked down at the girl's rather scared expression.

Oswald dragged both Dagur and Ronja across the Great Hall and to a table and a set of chairs closest to the centrepiece fire.

He pushed the pair of them on the chairs and then strode over to one of the serving women in the Great Hall.

And Ronja came to realize, that instead of being Oswald the Disagreeable, Dagur's father turned out to be quite agreeable even at a time he appeared to be furious over his son's miscreants.

As she attempted to eavesdrop, Ronja could only make out 'food for three' in the words Oswald spoke to the serving- woman before the man handed out what looked like the payment.

The young woman quickly nodded and hurried away to do his bidding whilst Oswald turned and strode straight back to where he had seated his son and Ronja who was still regarding him with a hefty amount of wariness.

'' I shall punish you later after hearing the entire explanation as to what has occurred, Dagur. But for now, I would like to hear an explanation as to how the pair of you came to be travelling companions. Beginning with your entire tale, if you please, young lady,'' Oswald said firmly as he sat down in front of his son.

Ronja cringed inwardly as she asked:'' Starting with how I met Dagur or before I'd even stepped foot onto these shores, sir?''

'' The longer explanation, if you please,'' Oswald answered as he folded his hands on top the surface of the table.

Ronja sighed quietly and rubbed a hand through her still very much soaked hair before saying: '' My name is Ronja Niemi. Several weeks ago I was kidnapped from my home, in the land of the northern mainland called Suomi. I'd been scavenging for edible mushrooms in the forest surrounding my village when I was suddenly ambushed, grabbed, bound, gagged and taken to slave-traders. I was eventually bought by a buyer in the slave-markets, but unfortunately for myself, my Master became tired of me. So he decided to get rid of my presence by sending me adrift in the middle of the ocean...''

Oswald and Dagur both listened silently and attentively as Ronja repeated the carefully thought out lie about how she came to be a part of a fleet sailing towards Laketown.

Over the past two weeks on the large ship, she had found time to fine-tune the explanation and practice it until she could deliver it to anyone without stumbling on facts or words whilst keeping her face expressions natural.

'' And so... I ended up travelling on the ship to get here until the people, mainly the Captain, decided I was to be let off on shore in one of the deep bays surrounding this Island. I was left to make my way towards Laketown on foot. Then, as I was at the junction between Laketown and Bree, I heard horse-hooves approaching. With the kind of treatment I'd had to endure lately, my first reaction was to hide in the underbrush to keep myself from being spotted by whoever was approaching from the road to Bree. But when I saw Dagur halt his horse, dismount and then almost collapse onto the side of the road I decided I couldn't just leave without attending to him, first.''

***

''OH SHE IS LYING! '' The Twins exclaimed in unison, which immediately earned them a glare from their Chief.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. '' Not the best kind of explanation there, I admit. Well, not at first; I did begin with a genuine want to help Dagur,'' I said out loud.

***

Ronja almost expected Dagur to cut in and add that she had been prepared to leave him on the side of the road following and leave out the fact that he had attacked her first.

'' Wait, why had I decided to keep that certain part of her tale untold? And why isn't Dagur admitting what I'd almost done to him? Why not just leave me to deal with Oswald the Agreeable's fury and outrage,'' Ronja thought as Dagur stayed silent, watching her and his father with a rather tired expression to his face.

Swallowing back a gasp of surprise at the boy's silence, Ronja continued with the explanation.

'' Upon closer examination, I discovered Dagur was wounded...''

Oswald held up a hand to halt Ronja's continued explanation and turned his attention to Dagur who gulped silently and said: '' Aye, dad, it happened as Ansson and I were escaping the Inn- bar at Bree that we had been exploring together. When things became too heated we scarpered out of the bar-fight that had broken up. But one person that had noticed us leaving ran after Ansson and I. He used a crossbow on me but missed hitting me point blank, thankfully. Grazed my side, though.''

'' A bar, Dagur?! Thor's hammer, you will answer to that lapse in following rules later, son! How many times have I told you not to go to any bar until your fully of age?'' Oswald asked in a harsh tone of voice.

'' Dozens of times, dad,'' Dagur answered sullenly, looking down at the surface of the wooden table in front of him.

'' Then why would you do it again when I specifically forbid you to set foot in those places? Well, perhaps this latest incident shall finally discourage you to go against my orders and to stay out of trouble, '' Oswald exclaimed through gritted teeth.

He then shook his head and turned his attention back to Ronja:'' Now, as for you young lady, please continue with the explanation.''

Feeling quite embarrassed to have been a witness to Dagur getting chastened by his father, Ronja had to clear her throat before saying:'' So, Dagur needed assistance and I joined him on horseback till we reached a rock-shelter standing alongside the road. I built a fire and took care of your son's injury. Afterwards, we just stayed in that shelter for the entirety of the night.''

Oswald nodded thoughtfully at Ronja before turning his attention back to Dagur.

'' How are you feeling, son? And there's no use trying to tell me that you are entirely fine because I don't believe for a minute.''

'' I'm soaked from the rain, tired from the ride here and very, very hungry,'' Dagur muttered out before wincing slightly and involuntarily touching a hand to his side.

'' And I take it your injury is bothering you as well, Dagur,'' Oswald said with a sigh before he stood up from his chair.

Dagur nodded slightly before he pushed himself to sit up straighter, the tiredness shining in his eyes remaining.

'' That's it, your coming with me back to our room-quarters and I shall have the Inn- healer look at that wound you have sustained, and have it patched up fully.''

'' What about the meal you promised Ronja and me?'' Dagur asked, looking a tad disgruntled as his father grabbed him firmly by the shoulder.

''Consider the thought of you eating your meal when it's cooled down as your punishment for your miscreants, Dagur,'' Oswald huffed out, giving Dagur a warning look when the boy opened his mouth to give a comment or a protest.

Oswald then turned his attention to Ronja who was looking at the table, trying to seem like she wasn't interested in the conversation between father and son.

''As for you young Ronja, you may stay. The meal that will be served is already paid for the three of us. Feel free to eat as much as you wish till you've sated your hunger.''

He chuckled good naturally when Ronja's stomach gave off an angry hunger-growl.

The young teenager immediately blushed a deep shade of red.

'' And additionally, I have acquired a room for you for three days. Once you have eaten your fill and your ready to turn in for the night, you shall find your room upstairs. It has this image on the door.''

Ronja looked very surprised when she was handed a key with a wooden tablet shaped into a fox.

'' These rooms, like the meal, are prepaid.''

'' I-I'm very grateful for all this, sir, but you didn't have to go to such lengths,'' Ronja stammered out not fully knowing what to feel towards such generosity and luck she seemed to come to her. She wasn't entirely comfortable with it all.

***

'' Especially when it wasn't earned! '' I groaned out, closing my eyes in despair at my younger self's actions.

'' Well, at least you've proven that you are a terrific liar,'' Snotlout snickered out (which was echoed by the Twins), but was promptly silenced by a punch from Astrid.

***

Oswald regarded her hesitance with a soft expression.

'' Your worried that me being so generous has an ulterior motive behind it, don't you? After the kind of treatment you have had to put up with being kidnapped from your homeland, how could you not feel a spark of fear that every good-deed someone does to you carries something else behind it.''

'' Ugh, he's very perceptive,'' Ronja thought, the embarrassed blush to her cheeks returning with a vengeance even as Oswald continued his speech.

'' And despite the scars to your soul you still had the goodwill to assist my son in his plight. And for that I'm grateful. Just see all of this as a father wanting to pay you for your goodwill.''

'' And there's the catch. But it's not in your actions, Oswald the Agreeable. It's my so-called actions of good-will. Gods, Dagur knows what happened out there along the path, so why hasn't he 'ratted' me out on it?'' Ronja thought with an inward frown.

***

'' That's what I'd very much like to know as well,'' my uncle huffed out, crossing his arms around his chest.

'' Maybe he is trying to protect Ronja, '' Hiccup muttered out, but Astrid, Snotlout and even Fishlegs scoffed at the idea.

'' Oh, come off it, Hiccup! When has Dagur ever been that selfless!'' Astrid said, waving a hand dismissively.

I had to hide a small smirk at her words.

***

Oswald nodded at Ronja before pulling his son up from the chair, quickly supporting him when Dagur swayed slightly on his feet and uttered a slight groan of either pain (or aggravation for having to leave a coming warm meal so his injury could be patched up).

Ronja gave Dagur a sympathetic smile as his father started steering him in the direction of the wooden stairs in the far corner of the Great Hall.

The father and son had to dodge past many tables and chairs along the way and Ronja watched their progress until she was distracted by the approaching waitress-ladies.

One of the waitresses was carrying a full serving-platter and the other was pushing a small serving table.

They sat several different kinds of dishes on the table, and Ronja watched them prepare everything with widened eyes.

There were beautifully cooked meats that looked to be from a wild boar, small birds sizzling from being cooked in skewers, turnips and other vegetables cooked in pots of water and seasoning. And to top everything off there was a large full platter of warm bread rolls.

It was a meal fit for a Chief, or for three people; Oswald, Dagur and herself. But with the other two upstairs, all the meal was laid down for just her to 'tuck in'.

The Innkeeper, who had followed the three waitresses (and was the person Ronja had seen approaching her and Dagur before the red-haired boy had been pulled behind the curtained alcove) seemed to find Ronja's shocked expression somewhat amusing as he approached with what smelled like warm mead and goblets that he sat down.

He then immediately began to pour mead in the goblet in front of Ronja. 

'' Please, eat up, '' he said, chuckling gently when Ronja seemed to still be frozen to place on the chair, just staring at the rather aristocratic-looking meal.

Ronja jolted slightly at the Innkeeper's voice before cautiously reaching towards the roast.

She took three already cut pieces, then one of the roasted birds, a large number of vegetables and finally a couple of warm bread buns.

She started eating, slowly at first, but then the nagging hunger in her stomach (which had been present since the day she had left the large ship belonging to the Dragon hunters), flared up big time and she started scarfing her meal down faster.

The Innkeeper chuckled softly and reminded her to chew as he stayed nearby; seemingly comfortable in standing to the side of the table keeping one eye on her and the other on any arriving travellers to the Inn.

Ronja eventually finished her first plate of food and was starting on another when the Innkeeper decided to break the silence.

'' Oswald is a good man, father and Chief you know. He would not overlook someone's goodwill when it comes to his son's assistance, young Ronja.''

Ronja froze at the man's words, the warm bread-roll half-way to her mouth and just stared at the Innkeeper ( who had only stubble on his chin but with thick blond sideburns).

'' Oswald the Agreeable is the Chief of his Village?'' Ronja asked in a hushed tone of voice.

'' He is the Chief of the Berserker- tribe on Berserker Island, yes. Dagur didn't mention this about his father, did he?!'' The Innkeeper asked with a slight frown to his lips.

'' No, he never mentioned it during our conversations. S-so Dagur is the son and heir of Oswald the Agreeable,'' Ronja commented, her hands shaking so much that she put her half-eaten bread-roll back onto the plate.

The Innkeeper nodded, and Ronja took in a shaky breath, cursing inwardly at her less than good-willed actions on the road to Laketown.

It didn't take her even a minute to come to a decision...

'' Please, return all that was paid from Oswald's pocket for my half of this meal and whatever accommodations were set up for me. I- I don't deserve any of this luxury,'' Ronja almost whispered, looking forlornly at the food in front of her and ignoring the Innkeeper's attempts at coaxing her to eat more.

***

'' What in Odin's name are you doing?'' Snotlout groaned out, slapping a hand over his face in obvious mortification.

'' What I thought was right,'' I answered with a weak laugh, seeing the older boy's reaction to me admitting the truth of the matter to this Innkeeper.

''You're telling him the truth,'' Astrid spoke in a hushed tone of voice, looking quite concerned.

That concern was echoed by all the other teens, my uncle, father (who squeezed me a bit tighter) and by many a Villager who had had been amongst my company more often than others.

***

'' Of course, you do. Dagur may be wild and trouble more than obedient most of the time, but Oswald loves the boy. And Dagur loves his father just as much. The fact that you helped Dagur when he was injured and vulnerable is something Oswald would not leave unrewarded.''

'' Or, perhaps he just might not leave my deeds unpunished. Oswald doesn't know everything that happened out there, and neither do you, '' Ronja sighed out, frowning darkly down at the uneaten food on her plate.

'' And what is it that Oswald and I don't know?'' The Innkeeper asked with an inquisitive raise of his eyebrow.

''I may have helped Dagur, but that was after my conscience started nagging at me. Dagur was wounded, probably chased and was worried he would be ambushed on the side of the road. And when I attempted to help him, Dagur pulled out a dagger and held it against my throat as he interrogated me about me being a possible threat to his life. I wasn't attempting to be a threat to him, but Dagur was wary of me and pressed his weapon more firmly against my throat...''

Ronja fingered at the area where she could still feel the place where the sharp dagger -tip had gone through the skin. She could feel the crusted blood against her fingertips.

'' And then I lashed out in self-defence, kicking him on the chest, but not over the wound on his side. And Dagur fell backwards over the log behind him. I didn't wait to get back onto my feet and putting on a distance between the pair of us, as I was now just as suspicious of his actions as he was of mine. And the real kicker is, that I had seriously contemplated leaving him to take care of his situation on his own, even after he had asked if we could travel to Laketown together.''

Ronja pinched her eyes shut and her mouth into a thin line as she was almost taken over by her emotions.

'' What Oswald calls good-will, I only see cowardness. Cowardness for not having told him the truth immediately,'' Ronja almost whimpered out.

***

''Okay I take back my earlier praise. You are just as bad at lying than Hiccup is,'' Snotlout groaned out, slapping a hand over his face a second time.

I could only shake my head and sigh at Snotlout's words.

Then Anca nudged me gently, a low rumble rising from her throat. She looked concerned; probably overseeing me so upset on screen.

I absentmindedly petted her snout to calm her down.

***

'' If this is true then why didn't Dagur step int to put your words straight?''

''I don't know! I really don't know why he didn't say anything,'' Ronja exclaimed, the whimper in her voice now clearly detectable.

She pulled at the hair on the sides of her head rather violently. She flinched in surprise when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder and glanced up to see the Innkeeper looking down at her sympathetically.

'' I'm very aware of how much of a handful my godson can be at times, and I can understand what you did and thought came from wariness prompted by his actions and your own experiences before and during your dealings with Dagur. As for the whole 'almost leaving Dagur behind', I doubt Oswald would end up prosecuting you in a way that would ruin the rest of your life. You didn't end up leaving my godson behind in that forest.''

'' But keeping the truth from Oswald the Agreeable just might make my actions and thoughts a reason for me to get prosecuted. My actions weren't as selfless as he had believed. I don't think he would so willingly let the matter go, so please, would you pay Oswald back every coin of the amount he so graciously handed to you for my part. I'll work here until my debt is repaid in full and longer if you'll be in need of another waitress.''

The owner of the Inn regarded her for a moment, his expression thoughtful.

''  My name is Birk, son of Birger, by the way, If you do end up working for me. But I've known Oswald since we were both young boys. We happened to meet in this very Inn back when my father was in control of it. Oswald's father and he had come to Laketown for trade reasons and had decided to stay in this Inn. The two of us became inseparable friends. Oswald was always calm and considerate so I doubt he would be unreasonable in your situation once he hears the entire story from you,'' Birk said with a reverent smile to his lips.

Ronja met his sympathetic look with an expression that told him she wasn't quite so sure what she could really believe in.

The owner gave a small sigh. '' You have really gone through a lot, haven't you?! You no longer know what is kindness without an ulterior motive behind it. I can understand your hesitation to believe that your situation will not end up becoming disastrous, but all the same your going to have to start trusting that some people are truly kind and are not out to take advantage of you.''

Ronja bit her lip, tears beginning to shimmer in the corners of her eyes as she lifted her myriad shaded eyes to focus in the blue eyes of the Innkeeper.

Her expression told that she still was quite lost as to what to think of the future.

'' But if you still feel uneasy about eating, and the lodgings, consider it your first payment for future services in my Inn if what you fear will come to be true. Eat, and while you're at it, I'm going upstairs to explain our conversation to my friend,'' Birk said and patted Ronja's shoulder firmly, but comfortingly.

He then pushed the plate closer to the teenager.

'' In the future, Just remember what I told you about trusting others,'' Birk said, as last words, before making his way to the other side of the Great Hall and eventually disappearing up the stairs to the living quarters.

***

There was an echoing nervous exhale from all Villagers (and even the dragons) watching.

And Anca nuzzled my side again, a concerned warble coming from deep within her throat.

***

Ronja was left to ponder life and how it would probably change in a matter of minutes.

''The owner is right about me needing to put trust in someone eventually, but I'm afraid to do so. I've already been forced to play along for someone else's amusement and the thought of Oswald the Agreeable continuing to be agreeable towards me once he finds out what I'd almost done seems a lost hope. I'm forced to believe that bad things will come to me,'' she thought, her brow furrowed in a frown.

As Ronja thought of these things she decided to eat to follow the innkeeper's advice at the very least. Just until her hunger was sated.

'' Besides, who knew when she would next be able to enjoy such a tasty meal. So why not finish what I've already started on?!'' Ronja thought with a slightly sarcastic air.

Her myriad shaded eyes flicked across the full Inn as she ate, noting the different people sitting around tables enjoying their meals or just their drinks.

A few moments later a feeling of being watched in turn, had Ronja turn her eyes slightly in the direction she believed she was being stared at.

And there, in a secluded alcove was a tall man with a thin long face, but with a strong muscular body. His hair was shorn short and was the colour of ink black; and his skin was a quite dark, brownish colour.

In other words, whoever this guy was he wasn't originally from this part of the archipelago.

Ronja stiffened in her seat when the man put down his tankard of something, rose from his seat and began walking, shifting between the tables.

But before the man could get close to where Ronja sat, another man sitting in the same alcove made a sharp command which immediately halted the dark-skinned man in his tracks. Before he turned to backtrack to his earlier sitting area he shoots Ronja one last contemplative glance.

Ronja unclenched her fists as she let loose a relieved hiss of breath through her teeth. She tried focusing back on her meal but the tenseness of her shoulders took a while to relax when the whole 'almost being approached by that rather creepy guy' was still so fresh in her mind.

'' And who was that guy with the rough, raspy voice,'' Ronja thought as she bit into a piece of meat.

She had only seen a shadow of him in the alcove, but both men had put her on edge for reasons she couldn't quite explain. It hadn't been for certain that the dark-skinned man had been headed in her direction. He could have instead been headed towards the bar on one side of the Great Hall.

Nevertheless, she was glad that the gruff-voiced had stopped the other from coming any closer to her table.

***Wpov.***

'' And you should be wary of them both, Ronja! That dark skinned-man is the one to burn the holt to the ground during the 'meeting of chiefs'. And the man who commanded him back is no less evil! I recognise him too; the one who commanded his men to destroy the lives of all those Chiefs. My allies and friends!'' Stoick the Vast thought, fuming on the inside and gripping them so tightly it dented the surface.

The strength of his grip was so strong.

Hiccup gave his father a questioning look. '' Do you know that man who was going to approach my cousin?'' Hiccup whisper asked.

'' I saw him once and I wouldn't want to meet him ever again!'' Stoick answered fighting to keep his voice calm.

Hiccup looked like he was to inquire further, but Stoick said: '' Let's focus on what we've been watching, son.''

Hiccup looked like he was going to demand an explanation but his father gave him a sharp, unbending expression that quelled the teenager's curiosity.

***EWPov.***

Ronja had at last eaten her fill and finished the warm mead in her goblet.

She was almost dozing in her seat, cringing as the headache that she had been forced to endure earlier that day had returned with vengeance, added with the achy feeling in her throat and stinging in her eyes. And she was shivering.

The warmth of the fire didn't help much with the shivers that had started wracking Ronja's body.

'' Oh no, don't tell me I'm catching the flu on top of everything else,'' Ronja groaned inwardly, miserably as she ran a hand through her sweat-soaked forehead.

Tiredness was creeping into her as well and she found herself closing her eyes against the discomfort radiating from her being.

The scraping of a chair in front of her made Ronja start and immediately blink her eyes open.

She sat up straight in her seat, almost expecting it to have been the creepy man she had seen earlier.

But it wasn't him.

It was Oswald the Agreeable who sat down in front of Ronja.

...

To be continued...

End of Chapter 32

...

Author's Notes:

I apologise for taking so long with this Chapter, readers. Hopefully, you shall like it :) Constructive criticism is always welcomed by me, the Author. :)