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━━ chapter twenty-two
grimmel the grisly

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THE DAY WAS passing by as they waited for Hiccup and Tuffnut to return. Errands continued━from the Sanctuary to the markets, to the Academy to the forge. The team handled the usual dragon (and Viking) squabbles, helped the fishermen bring up their nets, gathered wood to rebuild all the roosts destroyed yesterday. Valkyrie went around her usual day: juggling looking after Linnea, attending duties while Hiccup was busy, going to lunch with Mrs Ack and a few others, listening through the constant advice, questions and complaints━in the end, Valkryie snuck off back to her mother's to take a nap with Linnea away from everyone, and the mother and daughter looked identical in Val's old room with Zephyr taking his old spot half on the floor and half on the bed.

When things got too much, Valkyrie always went to her old room━it reminded her of simpler days when all she had to worry about was waking up early enough for Snoggletog, or grabbing food before her brothers took all of the bread, or seeing Hiccup's face outside her window, ready to go for a morning flight when they were both just sixteen. Amongst all the Outcasts, and all the dragon troubles, Valkyrie missed those days. Not that she didn't love her life right now, that is far from the truth. But sometimes she wanted to be a teenager again; she wanted to spend her days chasing Astrid down to the docks or laugh when Snotlout tripped over his own toes.

Valkyrie wanted Linnea to have that. She wanted her to live the freedom, and the excitement━feel the experience of going on adventures with her friends to find trolls in the caves in order to tell Hiccup they didn't exist, or to race each other up Gothi's steps, or to sabotage Fishlegs's barrel run in Thawfest. She wanted Linnea to experience Berk on the ground as well as in the air. She wanted her to live.

When they woke up it was afternoon. Valkyrie had more things to do━as always━and so she said a quick goodbye to Linnea who was tired, but happy to stay with her grandmother for the next hour. Valkyrie seemed forgiven for taking away her makeshift toy earlier, and she smiled, heart-warmed when her daughter hugged her tight and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

As she did, Valkyrie caught the gaze of her own mother, confused by the sad smile on her face. Her brows furrowed, "What?" she asked her gently.

Valkyrie's mother brushed her hair off her face just as Val did to Linnea, "Nothing," said her mother, "you're just all grown up." She kissed her forehead.

Val smiled at her. She squeezed her mother's hand. "I love you, Mum."

Standing up, she fixed Linnea's flower crown one last time before grabbing her things and whistling for Zephyr to follow. Linnea waved her hand at Zephyr which made Valkyrie chuckle, seeing the way he grinned and ducked his head once in response as they left.

Valkyrie and Zephyr rejoined everyone at the forge once she gathered everything she needed in her basket for the night. The afternoon sun was blinding, glaring down even under the cover of many soaring wings above. Valkyrie had to take a short cut and fly over to avoid the traffic━she hated jumping over crossing dragons like some others did. She found a spot behind the backsmith and landed, slipping off her saddle and securing her basket at the back.

Stepping into the forge, she was immediately met with, "Val! Val!"

She stopped, blinking in suprise to see Snotlout suddenly in her way. He held up two helmets. Both were ridiculous in size and twist of their horns. "Which one?" he asked.

Valkyrie gave each choice an incredulous look. "Neither."

Snotlout scowled. "What do you mean, neither?"

"They're ridiculous," she said, stepping around him.

In retort, her friend called, "Your flowers are ridiculous, Val!"

She rolled her eyes. Snotlout liked to think that she had gone soft since she got married. "Being married doesn't make me any less vicious, Snotlout. You insult my flowers?" Valkyrie made a pounding motion with her hand, grinning when he went pale. "I will smash your face."

Valkyrie walked up to Ruffnut, reaching up to hoist her mallet off the wall, very happy to see the handle reinforced. She gave it a toss between hands, checking the weight before giving it a spin. "Hey, Ruff, how's it going with Fishlegs and Snotlout━?"

"Urgh!" Ruffnut immediately rolled her eyes and slumped dramatically. "Don't get me started..." as she went on, Valkyrie regretted it. She glanced over at Astrid who chuckled at the look of absolute pain at Ruffnut's ranting.

"Question," beside Astrid, Hott leant in on his elbows, situating at her height as the both of them watched. She glanced at him briefly, struck by how close he was all of a sudden. Astrid stiffened, clenching her jaw and refusing to let herself get flustered right now. "How long do you think Ruffnut will go on for?"

She tried to remind herself how Hott cried over losing the group of rocks he had made to be his family because Mak had thrown them into the well when he was eight.

(It didn't work).

Astrid cursed him growing up. It was unfair. It was easy when he was young, and annoying, and was intimidated by her━and there was a line between her and him being her best friend's younger brother. As years passed, the line thinned, and now, it was almost non-existent. Hott had grown up. He had really grown up, and Astrid realised just how little of a gap there was between their ages.

"Uh ..." she reconfigured herself and shrugged, "Who knows."

"An hour, at least."

Astrid thought about it. She made a noise of disagreement, "Eh ... I'd say two."

Hott stared at her unblinking. "Two hours and one second."

She frowned at him, dubious. "You're an idiot."

"Two hours and two seconds━ow!" She smirked at his whining when she shoved him. He was still a cry baby, and Astrid sort of really liked it. It was a real difference from everyone else around her━every other person that had sought her out. He was ... genuine, now. Completely genuine. That was what changed. And she liked the side underneath the person he became in order to prove himself, and to be this son his father wanted. Astrid realised she always preferred that side when they were younger, and now they were older, she had started to even admire it.

As Hott massaged his shoulder, glowering at a smug Astrid, there was a sudden slam of something onto a closed basket by the entrance. All play stopped, all conversations, the team inside glanced over, confused and startled by Hiccup who stepped inside, a scowl upon his face.

At their confusion, he explained gravely, "Someone's here."

Valkyrie was instantly on edge, standing up straight with her grip tightening around the handle of her weapon, "What?"

Gobber pushed up his visor, glancing up from an open set of Snafflefang teeth. "Eh?" He let out, just as startled by Hiccup's explosive entrance.

The chief clenched his hands, "He managed to slip past our scouts and lay a trap in the woods."

Val's eyes widened and her breath hitched, horrified. Beside her, Ruffnut's face contorted with anger. Astrid shared a glance with Hott, a mixture of shock and fury, "A trap?" she echoed. "A dragon trap?"

Hiccup nodded. He went to say something, but Tuffnut snatched up whatever they had brought back with them, brandishing it out in front of his face with a livid, "And it ruined boy talk!" He chucked it━a dart to his side, narrowly missing Eret's nose.

The ex-trapper stumbled back, taken aback, "Hey!" He retorted, only to frown, brown eyes narrowing in recognition at the small projectile embedded into the support beam. His fingers gingerly secured around the base, brushing thoughtfully over the purple glow inside. He paid no attention to Gobber throwing down his pincers and holding up a shaking fist. "Let me at him!" he cried, starting forward but Hiccup quickly held a hand out, keeping him back.

"Whoa!" exclaimed the chief. "Slow down, Gobber." He turned to him, very serious. "Let's get a search team on the ground and scouts in the air━" he glanced back at Astrid to which she nodded, letting him know she'll get the 'A' Team and the Riders ready as soon as he finished, "━Toothless and I will fly the coastline."

"Zeph and I will come with you," put forward Valkyrie, and Hiccup met her gaze, knowing she won't take no as an answer. "We can't let this trapper get into town."

"Yeah," spoke up Eret finally, still peering at the dart. He turned it around in his fingers, sullen, "I wouldn't advise taking your dragons anywhere, Chieftess."

The Riders frowned, turning to Eret as he held up the strange dart into the sun. Hiccup settled into a stance beside Valkyrie, a hand pressed protectively against her lower back.

"Why not?" demanded Valkyrie, not sure whether to be confused, angry or worried━right now, she felt all three. Her grip was so tight on her mallet, the wood scratched her skin.

"I know this handiwork," said Eret son of Eret. "Grimmel the Grisly." None of them had heard of the name, but just by the way Eret said it, ominosity settled in the air like an oncoming storm. "Famous back where I'm from. Smartest dragon hunter I ever met━well, next to me, of course."

Snotlout rolled his eyes briefly.

"Can't be that smart," said Hiccup as Eret passed over the dart to Valkyrie who scowled at it herself. Her thumb brushed down the thick base, intruiged too by the strange purple substance inside. "He left his trap unmanned."

Eret chuckled at this. "Nothing's accidental when it comes to Old Grimmel," slowly, he walked past them, gaze fixed on Toothless who sat watching the sky, as if expecting the Light Fury to soar past. Zephyr sat beside him, cleaning his wings and talons. He put his hands on his hips, sighing. Valkyrie felt something rise up her throat. He looked at their dragons as if he was standing at their funeral. "He lives for the hunt," went on the ex-trapper solemnly. "To get inside the mind of his prey, to control its every choice." Hiccup glanced briefly at Val, and she met his gaze; they shared an equally ashen exchange.

Eret turned back to them all, very grave, "It's all a game to him."

Valkyrie watched Hiccup then move his gaze, uncertain, to Toothless. It made her set her jaw and declare, determined, "Yeah, well, this Grimmel the Grisly has no idea who he's playing with."

Hiccup's eyes darted back to her, and his confidence returned to see her so sure. His lips quirked up into a slight scoff, "Yeah," said the Chief of Berk, agreeing with his Chieftess, "and we've dealt with his kind before."

But Eret just shook his head, "Don't underestimate him, Hiccup," he told him. "Mark my words. He'll be back."

Hiccup was not deterred. Valkyrie smirked, proud at the way he stood tall to declare:

"Then we'll be waiting for him."

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NIGHT fell onto Berk; so late that even most Vikings were retiring to their homes. It was Astrid's suggestion to keep the possibility of Grimmel on their island a secret for now━right now, the last thing they needed was a village-wide hysteria over a new threat upon their dragons and their home. It was a delicate situation. Grimmel left that trap, which meant he probably idealised Hiccup finding it, so he knew they'd be waiting, but what he didn't know was that Hiccup wouldn't be alone. Valkyrie relied on that, not just for him, her friends, but also for Linnea, who was safely away from their house.

Valkyrie was the last to return home in her armour and weapon at her side. She crept up to the back entrance, stealthy despite the scales adourning her body. Her heart hammered, glancing back down town towards her old home, wondering whether she should've stayed. But she also knew she needed to be here. Zephyr and Toothless where there to help protect her, as well were Val's brothers, her father, her mother and their dragons, too, the only other group of people who knew of this plan. Valkyrie was sure that Mallory the Dragonbone could protect his granddaughter. Even at his age, now. He used to slay Monstrous Nightmares and wear their teeth and claws as accessories. He'll keep Linnea safe.

She was surprised that Hiccup was waiting for her outside. That wasn't the plan. Valkyrie frowned, but surged towards him anyway under the cover of the night and the overhead of their roof. Despite the moment, she got a wave of memory of all the times she climbed up this slope to meet him outside his house when they were younger.

"Hey," he pulled her closer with a gentle touch, grasping her leather-gloved hand. "Is━?"

"She's safe," Valkyrie assured him, nodding. She must sound breathless, so she took a deep breath and nodded again. "She's with my parents. Zeph and Toothless, too."

"Good," Hiccup sighed and set his forehead against hers. Valkyrie was concerned with his sudden fear, brows knitting together. They'll handle this━just like they've always had. For seven years now. They'll be okay. "I can't get you to stay there with them, can I?"

Realising, Val smiled━soft, but a little coy. She let go of his hand to cup his cheek, eyes fluttering close for a moment to just enjoy the feel of his forehead against hers. "Everything is going to be okay," she promised him. "He's just going to be like everyone else we've won against. You've got this, honey, all right?"

"What if this idea's stupid?" whispered Hiccup.

He didn't expect her to grin. "Isn't it always?" countered Valkyrie, and was grateful for the chuckle he made. "We'll be fine," she told him again. "I believe in you."

Her husband smiled slightly. Then, he cradled her head and pressed a strong, but chaste kiss on her lips. "Stay safe," Hiccup told her when he pulled away.

"You too," Valkyrie made him promise before they parted. She jumped into the window of his old room to climb up into the roof with the others while Hiccup made the journey back down to the front door.

Valkyrie hesitated as she pulled her helmet down, keeping the visor up. She didn't know why, but something did feel off tonight ... Valkyrie felt like she was about to lose something, and that terrified her.

She pushed it down. With a deep breath, Valkyrie the Vicious flicked down the visor of her helm and crept up into the darkness, her mallet heavy on her back. She grabbed the support beams within the roof and swung upwards, landing with her feet planted on the wood. She glanced over and saw Hott perched a few feet away, looking more like a Nadder in the dark than a real one looked in the light. He glanced at her, and in the fire-light beneath them, she saw the glint of his eyes.

Valkyrie crawled along until she was in position, hidden away but with a perfect view of what would happen beneath. They all knew Grimmel was likely to find Hiccup alone in his home, and so they will be ready. Valkyrie, Hott, Valka and Gobber would attend Hiccup at home with Fishlegs hidden as Toothless sleeping under a large woollen blanket. Astrid would be leading The Twins, Eret and Snotlout as a defence alongside the 'A' Team to make sure no one else joined Grimmel to attack the village. Valkyrie was sure he was alone, but they could never be too careful.

She heard the creak of the door. Hiccup had entered, and now, all they must do is wait for Grimmel to show himself. Whether it be through the door, through the window, from above━none of them knew, and even if Valkyrie wouldn't admit it, it did make her nervous.

Valkyrie watched Hiccup step towards the bookshelf to fill time. She shifted her position on the wood and winced when dust fell. She saw Hiccup glance up at where she was, trying hard to look suspicious rather than knowing, and she mouthed a sorry even though he couldn't see. To her left, Hott face-palmed.

A second set of dust fell. Valkyrie turned to her brother, ready to call him a hypocrite, only to see him still and confused. She frowned, and that horrible feeling etched back up her throat. Anxious, she glanced above, for a second thinking she heard a long, chill-bearing scrape against the wood of her ceiling. Valkyrie's breath hitched, waiting for another sound, but nothing came. She wasn't convinced, nor was she relieved. She frowned, curious and wary.

The sound of wine poured into a horned mug almost made her jump.

Hiccup leapt back up to his feet, startled.

Valkyrie froze, gaze fixed onto her home below.

From the shadows, a slender voice spoke, "Oh, I hope you don't mind if I help myself?" The voice hummed, delighted. "Yes," It mused. "This is very good."

Hiccup spun out Inferno, the blade lighting up the dark room in a red, ghastly glow. There, where the voice had been in the shadows stood a man none of them had realised even stepped in━perhaps he had been there the entire time.

A man tall and thin, covered from head-to-toe in rich black leather, tight around a narrow face of old, weathered skin━like it had been stretched over his nose and past his ears to create a gaunt-looking ghost. The man chuckled; slender but rich in tone before he took a calm, long sip of his brew.

"That is impressive," said Grimmel the Grisly.

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a/n: me whenever i see grimmel: IMMA BOUT TO THROW SOME HANDS--

update on writing this book: i am still not ready for the end.

also no one:

hott: *annoys astrid*

astrid: *smacks him*

hott: owwwww astriddd how could youuuuuu?

y'all remember the speed stinger chapter where hott just spent the entire lockdown in the academy annoying astrid and then was confused as to why she threw her axe at him? just me? heheheheh, baby hottstrid was hilarious, and will be hilarious in rtte just wait.

also hiccup in the grimmel visit scene >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(ps: this isn't edited lol)