Answers
Sky-Dancer's discomfort let up after a few days of regular Athelas tea which Hiccup always woke up early to prepare in the Golden Hall. The nausea and cramping faded entirely after three weeks, though she was left weak, sleepy, and unable to do any kind of strenuous work for a few days afterwards.
After seeing how effective the tea was and after her symptoms started getting worse, Moonbeam asked to start drinking it daily, which she did for three weeks. Finding enough Athelas for both of them involved enlisting the help of a few other Furies to search for the precious plant, but they were eager to help their packmates. It also helped that Athelas, being considered a weed by most people, was rather abundant in the wild.
In that time, more Rohirrim survivors began returning to Rohan's Westfold after passing by Edoras. Everything began settling back into the normal tedium.
And all the while, Hiccup found his gaze being drawn in his idle moments into the southeast, waiting and hoping that King Theoden and company would return.
Adney was working in the forge, as usual, even though it was near sundown. She was wearing her normal work dress and rough forging apron with her sleeves rolled up. He couldn't tell what she was working on, and it didn't truly matter what.
The last over a month of dating, courting, or whatever word the Rohirrim had for it combined with the advice his family had recently given him were enough for him to decide. His mind was made up, and he was sure that this was the right decision, even if it was scary to have to tell her.
Was this what all men felt when they reached such a point in their lives? To have this talk and ask her this question was a way of giving away control. It was to make his own happiness and future in a very real way dependent on her wants and wishes. It was an act of vulnerability. She could so easily break his heart.
Alright, it's go time!
"Adney, are you busy?"
She turned to him and held up her hammer and tongs.
"Yes."
"How busy?"
"Depends on how you want to bother me."
He held out both arms and wrung his hands in mock-annoyance.
"Me, a bother?"
"You know I'm right. Shall we get your brother's opinion too?"
"Nah, you're right as usual. But I really want to talk to you."
"Alright then. Let's talk."
He stepped inside the forge and looked for a pair of objects, but he couldn't find them. So instead he grabbed a pair of real but dull swords in need of sharpening.
"You know where to go?" he grinned.
She grabbed one of the blades out of his hands. The swords were so dull that they couldn't even cut her hands.
"You really want to try with these swords? Even if they aren't sharp, you could still get hurt."
He shrugged.
"Eh, what's life without some risk. True, I might get a scar from... this, but I might not."
"Sure, as long as you still live."
"I haven't died yet, despite my best attempts."
"That's not reassuring."
"Just don't try to kill me, and I'll be fine."
"So you say. Let's go."
They walked together through Edoras at sunset as the wandering wind flitted down the plain. A pair of Furies and a cub were high above on a relaxing evening flight.
Then he and she were on the gentle slope past all the homes. He stepped away from her, waited for her to tie up her hair, and raised his sword.
The duel began, though this one was different from the one before. He could not lean or put as much force into his strikes because of the prosthetic. It was a good fit, but it would take a long time before he became fully comfortable on it.
Their blades met every time with a crash and clang. He gave way, slowly stepping back in his defense. She looked a little more practiced than she had been last time.
"Have you been training with someone?" he chuckled.
"Maybe."
"It shows."
"Thanks."
Time for the trap!
"To be fair, you could only get better."
"You!"
She swung again in a wide strike which he easily met with a crash. The blades sparked in the bind as they slid and pushed. He shoved her back, and they glared at each other in the test of strength and skill.
She was stronger than most women of her age, mostly because of her long work in the forge, but he was also strong from years of the same activity. He was not as tall as other people on Berk and was not as bulky either, but his was a subtle strength that didn't show at first. Many years had passed in which he compared himself to them on appearance and thought himself so much weaker as a result.
Thinking of himself as weaker had probably hurt his own self-confidence and possibly even made him actually weaker, but none of that was a problem now.
She stepped forward with an overhead strike. He stepped forward and to the side so his sword slid along the length of hers up to the quillions. With the pommel guards locked, he dropped his right hand and grabbed the hilt of her dull blade as he wrenched down with his sword. She did not let go of her sword, so she was hurled to the ground by the disarming move. She rolled over as fast as she could but found the tip of his blade at her chest.
She looked absolutely shocked by the sudden defeat.
"How did you do that?" she gasped.
"I'm just that awesome."
"Were you also practicing too?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Got you now!
He stuck his sword in the ground and offered her a hand up, which she took after rolling her eyes and sticking her blade in the dirt. He helped her up with a heave and didn't let go of her hand afterward. Instead, he pulled her to him, held her chin, stared into her wide and surprised eyes, and then kissed her.
He didn't care if anyone else was watching. What they thought didn't matter. Leaving aside her father, whom she had assured him would not object, there was only one other person whose opinion mattered.
And that person had thrown her arms around him and was busy kissing him back.
Thought was not possible until after they stopped, leaving him breathless.
They said nothing, merely staring into each other's eyes without letting go. They both blushed but neither looked away.
"My lady," he whispered.
She chuckled.
"So, do you want me to call you my lord?"
"Whatever you want to call me is fine with me. I should have said this before: I love you, Adney, and I want to marry you. Assuming your father does not object, will you have me?"
She closed her eyes as a tear streaked down her cheek. She was definitely trying and failing to hide whatever she felt.
He waited, breathless and frozen until she opened her eyes.
"I will," she whispered.
What was the warmth that flared to life in his heart at those two simple words? Relief that he had not been rejected? Validation of his own worth by another person? Joy at a future of happiness, struggle, and normal life? All of those together?
He wiped the tears away with his sleeve.
"Good."
She snickered at that.
"You're so you," she laughed.
"Yes, I am me," he grinned.
"And I love you too."
He held her, ran his fingers through her hair, and kissed her again. The warm wind flowed around them and whipped their hair, her clothing, and his robes.
Finally and reluctantly, he let go and stood at her side with a hand around her shoulder. He knew his grin probably looked absurd, but he didn't care. Everything was right with life as he stared across the plain into the west while she lay her head on his shoulder.
"So, I should have something made to give to your father, right?" he asked.
"Yes, it varies for each family. Honestly, a plain gold ring would be fine with him and me."
He nodded, deep in thought.
"Alright, I'll figure something out. Interestingly, I had a plain gold ring once, even if that was only for a short time, but that one was... it's a good thing I didn't get to keep that ring. I can probably forge a couple rings myself. Toothless will probably want to help out."
"Rings forged in a dragon's fire. That would be special. I hope my father doesn't take too long to get back," she sighed.
"Same here, but I can wait. You're worth it."
Neither of them said anything else as they stared together at the sunset hidden behind the distant mountains.
Toothless, Moonbeam, Far-Flight, and Sky-Dancer sat on their haunches before him and Adney. The four Furies looked very curious about why they had been disturbed after nightfall. But their lifted ears, swaying tails, and deep purrs suggested that they knew something. It probably wasn't hard for them to guess.
"Brother, what is this?" Toothless asked.
"I talked to Adney, and we have agreed to marry. We still need to get her father's approval, but that will not be a problem."
Toothless bounded over to Adney.
"Are you sure? You know that he is very thought-twisted?"
"Yeah, I know," she sighed.
"What are you..." Hiccup groaned.
"I'm probably making a mistake, but hopefully it'll be a good mistake," she cheerfully continued.
"Really?" Hiccup spun on her.
She put her hands on her hips and stared him down.
"Really."
The four Furies laughed their throaty chuckles. Then they stepped forward one at a time to lick Adney on the cheek.
"You and our cub will be good mates," Sky-Dancer hummed.
Adney wiped her cheek with her sleeve.
"It's still strange to think that dragons will truly be part of my family soon."
Far-Flight nudged her shoulder with a paw.
"Yes, but we will name you as kin to us. We will also sit your cubs if you want, and you can help sit our cubs."
Hiccup wasn't sure what she would think about that offer. There was something about entrusting a fire-breathing dragon with the care of a baby that was, even if said dragon was completely trusted, at least a little alarming at first.
The thought of Toothless trying to figure out how to be a babysitter was a very amusing one.
"I'd like that. We must have a baby first though," she chuckled.
"Brother, you must help her with that," Toothless grinned.
"Just how stupid do you think I am?"
Toothless started to answer.
"No! Don't... say... anything!" Hiccup vigorously pointed a finger at him.
Moonbeam, Far-Flight, Sky-Dancer, and Adney burst out in laughter.
When he went to bed later, closed his eyes, and let out a great sigh, it finally struck him that he was, in all but official name, engaged.
The following weeks were sure to be a lot of waiting and boring peace until her father got back and everything could be made official.
Given everything they had been through, he had no objections to any of that.
Toothless was resting with Moonbeam in peace late in the afternoon. Fortunately for her, her hurts had faded several days ago, though she was very tired and did little more than sleep, eat, and drink.
"Burning-Star?" Moonbeam softly hummed.
"My love and life-mate," he nuzzled her neck.
She leaned into the nuzzling for a very long time, clearly liking his attention.
"I am ready to say it. I know that I have a cub," she whispered.
He did not need to ask how she knew. The faint hurting and problem keeping food down in the morning was part of what she had said would be a sign of having a cub. The other sign would be her missing a cub-making cycle, which she would know before he could.
It was very good that Hiccup had learned about the Athelas tea-drink that helped with hurts. If she had still been sick and having problems while drinking the tea-drink, he did not want to think how bad she would have felt without.
"Good for us. If you need anything, just tell me and I will get it for you."
She nuzzled his neck more, held his tail, and settled for staring at his pendant. As usual in the daylight, the faint glow was not visible, even though the jewel was precious and soul-fire warming.
"Where did you get that precious thing?" she warbled.
"A hidden nest-city of Elves in a forest. The flight is not very far, maybe two days."
"I remember what you told me about that good place, that hidden world. I say that we should fly there. You, me, and Hiccup."
I would like to see Lorien and Galadriel again.
"Are you well and strong enough to fly?"
She hummed in thought.
"Not now, but I will be soon. And I want sleep now."
She had been sleeping all day, but she would get whatever she wanted.
"Sleep then. I will also bring you some food."
"That would be good."
She curled up and hid her head under her tailfins. Without waiting, he bounded outside and dashed for his sire's and dam's barn-den. Unfortunately, Hiccup was not there, so he gave them the good news, got a pair of licks in the face, and then dashed off to search for Hiccup.
He found Hiccup where he thought he would: working in the forge alongside Adney. That was good of them to keep bonding closer even before they became mates. But he also stared in confusion at what they were doing together.
What is that? How is that bonding? Is there any food sharing?
He dashed up to the forge and barked to announce himself, which then caused Hiccup and Adney to break apart and take their mouths off each other.
"Toothless!" "Burning-Star!" they shouted in indignation.
"What were you doing?"
"It's called kissing!" Hiccup fumed, his face bright red.
"Kissing? I do not understand."
"No, you do not! Useless dragon."
He huffed and sat down on his rear while crossing his paws and grinning.
"Moonbeam would not say I am useless. Not since we have a cub."
"Yeah, so... wait," Hiccup stuttered while Adney gasped.
"You know!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, she is sure of it."
Hiccup dashed over to him and hugged his neck, so he purred back to him and patted his back with a forepaw.
"Congratulations! I'll tell Moonbeam next time I see her!" Adney smiled.
"Bro, you're going to be a father!" Hiccup added.
"Yes. Moonbeam wants you, me, and her to fly to Lorien. She wants to meet Galadriel."
"Does she? Is she okay for flying? It's a couple days to Lorien from here," Hiccup asked, surprised.
"Not now, but she will be stronger in a few days. We can fly then."
"Sounds good," Hiccup nodded.
He stepped forward and nudged Hiccup with a paw.
"You can go back to kissing your future mate now."
"Toothless!"
"Are you sure that you're good to fly?" Hiccup asked Moonbeam for the third time.
"As I said the first two times, yes! I am strong again! Do you think I am weak? Do I have to carry you by your scruff to prove it?" she barked.
"No, I think I'm good."
"Good!" she slammed a paw on the ground.
Toothless bent down to whisper in his ear.
"She is not hurting, but her temper is biting. Be careful."
"You got that right," he whispered.
Hiccup then checked the saddle, his own supplies, and the automatic tailfin. Everything looked good.
"Ready to fly?"
"Yes!" "Yes!"
"Let's go!"
He climbed into the saddle as Toothless spread his wings. They were aloft and soaring out above the golden plains moments later on their flight into the north.
He didn't feel at all afraid of flight, but something felt different now, surely because of how many weeks he had spent on the ground between his injury, the available work in Edoras, and getting to know Adney better.
Gods, the last time that we flew from up in the north was when the whole pack flew to Helm's Deep. Hard to think that was so many months ago and how much has changed since then.
The sea of golden grass flowed underwing in the warm wind. Then, being a passenger who didn't need to do anything in flight, he lay on his back and watched the clouds go sailing by.
A day to cross the Fangorn, more grasslands afterwards, and then Lorien and the Elves. This should be a nice little vacation there and back again.
Toothless lay on the eastern base of the Misty Mountains. Moonbeam and Hiccup were asleep on both of his sides, under his extended wings for warmth. Everything was peaceful now, late at night with the bright moon flying high. The bugs in the grass were singing their songs while the wind flowed down the mountainside.
His pendant was, as usual, glowing faintly in the moonlight. He rolled his neck at the faint irritation, surely from the long flight, in his healed neck wound. Then he wearily sighed, lay his chin on Moonbeam's neck, and lost himself in the sound of soft purring.
It was very apparent that something was wrong as soon as they saw the great woods. The outermost trees, for hundreds of lengths into the forest, were felled, burned, and dead. The ground was blackened along the roads, as though a terrible battle had been fought long ago.
"What happened?" Hiccup gasped.
"Fighting," Toothless growled.
They continued on above the massive forest throughout the morning until they arrived at the highest trees. It was under those trees that the Elven hidden city of Lothlorien lay.
And there was a presence floating with them.
'You have returned... and you are not alone. Please join me.'
"Hear that?" Hiccup gasped.
"Yes, Galadriel," Toothless purred.
He then roared over his tail to Moonbeam, and she followed him down through the massive crowns of the massive Mallorns. Down into shadow and dimmer light as they wove between the trees. Down into silence.
There was no ethereal song floating through these hidden skies.
There were no Elves on the ramparts, stairs, and rope bridges.
Lothlorien was silent and still.
Toothless warbled sadly in growing worry, not knowing what had happened.
"Where are they?" Hiccup asked.
"I do not know."
They arrived at the high platform where they had first met Galadriel before. Toothless and Moonbeam touched down on that level and settled down after Hiccup dismounted.
"This is a strange nest-city. It is empty," Moonbeam observed.
"It was not the last time we were here. There were many Elves: the same ones that fought for Rohan at Helm's Deep," Hiccup said.
"Yes, and the skies here were filled with songs and peace," Toothless groaned.
"And they never will be again," Galadriel announced herself, striding out from a side chamber.
She was wearing the same flowing white dress and robes she seemed to prefer. She slowly strode out before them, stepped up to Toothless, and held his pendant in her palm. Her hand had a ring now visible on a finger, and the ring was shaped like a blooming white flower. There was a strangely solemn look in her eyes as she gazed at him.
Then she stepped back from him.
"I see that you have used the gift well, good dragon of shadow."
"Yes, it helped me very much. You have my thanks," Toothless whispered.
"As I said, it is most appropriate that you should bear the gift always. You might need it yet."
She faced Hiccup and eyed his leg.
"You did not emerge unscathed either. I sense that you have greatly grown."
"My lady," he bent his head, "I learned some very important lessons. You told me that I needed to learn to trust myself and him, and I do now."
She nodded in approval and then turned to Moonbeam.
"And what is your name, good dragon of light?"
"I am Moonbeam. Burning-Star is my life-mate."
Galadriel closed her eyes at that.
"Well met, Galadithil. If I may ask, why are you so named?"
"My dam wanted to name me something that they never saw in the world where I was born. The light of the moon cannot touch that hidden world under the ground."
Galadriel nodded once and stepped back from them.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" she asked.
"We wanted to visit you and show Moonbeam this amazing world, but what happened here? Where is everyone?" Hiccup asked.
Galadriel looked away from him and stared into the dim distance. Her eyes that shone with starlight were now filled with a mix of pain, weariness, and peace.
"The forces of Dol Guldur thrice marched on these woods. They had countless Orcs and trolls, which we repelled."
"Your pack won the fighting. That is good even if many trees burned," Toothless said.
Galadriel turned around, walked over to the bottom of the steps of the throne dias, and sat down, not even bothering to ascend to the throne. She looked terribly weary and not at all regal.
Hiccup and Toothless shared a wary glance as they and Moonbeam came forward. There was still no one else except them and Galadriel present.
"Dol Guldur also had three dragons: three of your kind, Burning-Star."
They froze, staring at her in surprise at this sudden revelation that there had been additional Mordor Night Furies.
"What? There were more of them?" Hiccup gasped.
"We knew that Mordor had some dark wings, some Night Furies, fighting at Minas Tirith; we fought them ourselves, but there were others?" Toothless groaned.
"I did not know there were more. They were not in the pack at all," Moonbeam said.
While still sitting, Galadriel turned partway aside from them. She stared into the distance, lost in her thoughts.
"The three dragons turned the tide against us. Haldir was slain, as were dozens of the Galadhrim. How could they face that which they could not see?"
"What happened?" Hiccup warily asked.
Galadriel closed her eyes and held up her hand, showing the ring she bore.
"With Nenya granting me strength, I went forth myself into battle to face the shadows that burned with fire and lightning. I struck them from the sky, and I paid the price for it."
"What do you mean?" Toothless softly asked.
She again faced them fully, and all three of them recoiled with gasps of alarm.
Her right cheek was partially melted. Blackened and shriveled skin was present where only seconds before there had been no sign of any injury. Her hair on the right side of her head was withered, melted, and partially missing.
Oh my gods.
They stared in horror until she turned aside and held a palm to her hidden cheek. Then she rose and faced them again. Her appearance was, thankfully, normal again with no sign of burn marks. They were not going to question how she could so thoroughly hide such terrible wounds. It was probably a magical illusion.
"You are not the only ones who bear lasting scars from this war. I am so weary," she whispered.
Toothless stepped forward and hung his head.
"Can I help? My licks normally help hurts."
"No, there is no aid for this. Not in this world."
Toothless groaned and blinked away a tear.
"I am sorry that happened to you."
She took his chin in her hands and lifted his head.
"Do not apologize for that which you did not do. It is not your fault that others allowed hate into their hearts or that the time of the Elves is waning."
"Excuse me, but I don't understand," Hiccup whispered.
Galadriel stepped back and stared into the distance, or maybe the past or future, as a faint wind ruffled her dress.
"After the battle was won, those of us who endured continued on to Dol Guldur. I helped my Lord Celeborn throw down the walls of that fell fortress. We then returned to dwell here in Lothlorien for a time. This place has so long been our home away from our true home beyond the edge of the world, West of the moon, and East of the sun. Caras Galadhon can no longer be so. My Lord Celeborn is leading many of the Galadhrim to the Havens, so that they may depart this world for Valinor."
"You are leaving for your true home?" Toothless asked.
"We must. Some others still abide here, but we cannot remain in Middle-earth much longer."
"You will be leaving too?" Hiccup clarified.
"I will. But fear not. We shall meet again one last time after today."
Moonbeam stepped forward with a solemn hum.
"You gave my life-mate his precious thing with warm light. That gift helped his soul-fire stay warm. You have my thanks, good Elf."
Galadriel stepped back and almost smiled, though she seemed to struggle with that.
"Galadithil, light of the moon and mother of dawn, may the winds be always warm under your wings in whatever skies you may fly. I have heard of the changes you all have brought about in Rohan and beyond. I said that even the smallest people can change the course of the future. Go now and live. Namarie."
Hiccup, Toothless, and Moonbeam bent their heads to her and stepped back to take flight.
Galadriel closed her eyes and started humming as she walked away.
"O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! We still remember, we who dwell... in this far land beneath the trees... Thy starlight on the Western Seas..."
They jumped into a glide that carried them away from her soft singing, leaving her alone on that platform. None of them could find any words as they glided around the massive Mallorns and up through their crowns into the open sky.
Hiccup wiped away a tear from his cheek at the thought of how many Elves must have fallen. It also felt wrong that a people as amazing and wondrous as the Elves would need to leave the world to be at peace. What had changed to make them need to leave now after thousands of years?
The sun was falling lower on the horizon; they had somehow completely lost track of time down in Lothlorien itself.
She's right. It's time to go home and live. With both Moonbeam and Sky-Dancer to especially look out for, there will be plenty to do.
He rubbed Toothless's neck.
"Let's go home."
"Yes, we should!"
They settled into an easy flight into the south. But when they arrived over the burned part of the forest, Hiccup was again reminded how some of that damage had been wrought.
There had been more Night Furies out there. Mordor must have been keeping them hidden until the final battle. Hopefully all were now accounted for.
Well, there was that one which flew away from the battle at Minas Tirith, but we haven't heard anything about it.