The Mysterious Frozen Fire - Chapter 20: The Calm Before the Journey
Note: I want to get this story done by the second day of next week, on Monday.
Hope you enjoy!
The Mysterious Frozen Fire
Chapter 20
The Calm Before the Journey
I led the group back to Berk. It did not take very long to get back there; and since it was nearly time for the meeting to take place, I told the group, “We might as well go ahead and go to the Academy for the meeting, as it is almost time for it to start.”
Once at the Academy, we guided our dragons into the ring and landed right near the entrance. It was easy to enter the ring as Hiccup had the dome cage lifted up. I dismounted and turned to see that all the Academy riders were there; none of my friends yet as it was still early.
“Hey Jarl,” Hiccup said as he saw us come in. Astrid and the others along with everyone’s dragon came over.
“Is that a Snoggletog Wraith?” asked Astrid.
Dagmar replied, “Yes it is.”
“I knew I saw a Snoggletog Wraith a few days ago,” said Fishlegs. “I always wondered if they were trainable.” Fishlegs then got in his “professor” tone, “You know, the Wraith Family of dragons were said to be related to the Night Fury dragon. To what extent, we still don’t know.”
“He is the only Snoggletog Wraith I had come across in my adventures. His name is Snowball,” said Dagmar as Toothless came over to greet the new dragon.
He was very unsure of Snowball. Both dragons did not growl, rumble, or otherwise show any sort of aggression towards each other. Just basically acknowledged each other and greeted each other as if they were two chiefs greeting for the first time. The other Academy rider’s dragons also came and greeted Snowball in the same fashion.
“What do you think bud?” asked Hiccup to his dragon. Toothless gave a happy rumble and shook his head. “It looks like Toothless approves of you and Snowball. Oh what is your name, by the way?”
“Dagmar Onundrson,” she replied.
There were gasps from all the Academy riders.
Snotlout was the first to say something, “How could it be?”
Then Astrid stated, “That is Jarl’s mother’s maiden name!”
“Yes it is,” replied Dagmar.
Hiccup then gathered found the words to ask, “How… How are you related to Jarl and his family?”
Dagmar answered, “I am Jarl’s mother’s brother’s oldest daughter.”
“But aren’t you the woman that had been going around stealing lockets and stuff?” Tuffnut stated.
“Yes, but I had a good reason,” Dagmar replied.
Astrid rolled her eyes, “What possible reason could be ‘good’ to steal something?”
Snotlout says jokingly, “What? Is the locket the key to the entire mystery?”
“You are exactly right,” answered Dagmar.
“Of course I’m right!” Snotlout shouted. “Um, right about what?”
Dagmar continued, “The locket is the key to the entire mystery. But I don’t have it.”
Fishlegs then said, “But I thought you stole it?”
“I did,” Dagmar responded. “But I had camped to wait out the blizzard. But when I had awakened the next morning, I could not find the locket in any of my things. It was stolen; I’m guessing from that man who started the avalanche.”
“Avalanche?!” all the Academy riders exclaimed.
Asvord retold the events that had happened not too long ago.
“Wow Jarl,” Hiccup said. “That was very dangerous to do; but the right thing to do.”
“Yeah,” I said, as I was preoccupied with thinking of what to do about my mother.
Dagmar then asked after there was a short lull, “Could I see a map of the area around Berk?”
“Okay,” Hiccup replied. “Follow me.”
The rest of us followed the two of them and as they were walking over to the one cage in the back to the left Dagmar continued, “We may not know where to look for Svana, but we at least a place to start. Our home base is an island up quite a ways to the northeast of Berk. It will be in the colder regions. So when we do go, we will need to pack for much colder weather.”
Hiccup had used this cage before as a classroom for the Academy, but has not used in a while since. He had walked over to a barrel and had reached in and pulled out a large map. There was a table in the cage that Hiccup walked over to put the map on. Though he had to brush some snow off that had blown on the table.
While Dagmar was studying the map, some of my friends started arriving. Cazi, Annabeth, Ashley, Meen, Pat, and Jack had come. They too came and asked about Dagmar and Snowball. She repeated what she had said before. Same reactions from my friends as the Academy riders gave.
The rest of my friends had come and they too were updated on what had happened. They too had similar reactions. Since everyone was there, we went ahead and started the meeting.
Cullan spoke up first, “So what are we going to do? We are wasting time to go out and find your mom.”
“I know we are,” I said. “I want to get out there and look for my mother as badly as my sisters do. But Dagmar is right. We need a plan of action. I don’t like rushing into something half cocked, we need at least a general idea of where we are going, what we will do, how we are going to do it, and why; which I think we all know why.”
Though I gave a slight glance at Hiccup, we both knew what the other was thinking.
“Should we tell them what else is going on?” I asked Hiccup.
Everyone had a censored look on.
Hattori said, “What else is going on?”
“I think we should tell them just so long as the keep it a secret,” said Hiccup.
“Keep what a secret?” questioned Explod.
Hiccup then told everyone about the food shortage in Berk. While he was telling everyone, I kept a close eye on Dagmar. I was not sure how she should react. Even though she “says” she is “related”, there still is no proof that she is related to my family. I was curious to see how she would react to hearing the news about the food shortage. If she would react if she knew about it, then we need to be wary of trusting her. But if she had a genuine reaction to there being a food shortage on Berk, then maybe she is telling the truth.
Her reaction was genuine. I was kind of surprised, but then again I am glad I can at least trust her.
“So there is more to this than we think,” replied Meen.
“Yes there is,” I replied. “The fact that they want my mother, I do not know. But if we find my mother, I am more than sure we find the man responsible for the food shortage.”
Pat then asked, “So where are we going?”
“I don’t really know,” I answered. “That is where Dagmar comes in. I know she’s done some shady things, but she is the only lead we have to find my mother. Where do we go from here, Dagmar?”
“While I have studied this map,” she spoke. “The map does have the island where we would be going to start.” Dagmar then pointed at the map. Everyone then gathered around to see what Dagmar was pointing at. “This island right here is where we are going to be heading.”
Dagmar pointed at an island nearly a hundred miles from Berk to the northeast.
“Wow that is pretty far off,” said Elsa.
Dagmar agreed, “I know, that is why we will be heading out at the crack of dawn tomorrow; as the daylight heating today is nearly done, and we should not be traveling during the night as it gets colder with every few miles traveling north. If we travel all day, with a quick stop on this one island here, we should get there by dusk.”
“That is an awfully long trip to be taking north,” replied Cazi.
“I know,” replied Dagmar. “That is why when we do travel we are going to be taking our time flying up there. I know some of you must want to get there as fast as you can; but in reality, that would just slow us down. Since it gets colder as we travel up there, we need to keep our dragon’s energy up. So going at the slow pace will not wear out our dragons and in turn get there faster with fewer stops.”
“Well I guess that makes sense,” said Cullan.
Hiccup then said, “Then pack tonight, then we’ll leave in the morning. Meet here at the Academy in the morning. And remember,” he looked squarely at the twins, and some at Snotlout. “This is a ‘Sec-ret’. We don’t want this to get out because if it did, there would be pandemonium in Berk.”
“That would be awesome,” replied Tuffnut. “I.. *cough*, I mean, um that would be terrible if it got out.” Tuffnut snickered with Ruffnut.
“Whoever would let this get out, would not have to worry about me,” Hiccup said with a tone of “not really caring, but in fact actually” “They would have to worry about what Stoick would do to them. Oh Thor, I would not want to see what Stoick would do to them if he was just slightly annoyed. Let alone if he’d be extremely angry if this got out.”
When Hiccup said that, Ruffnut’s and Tuffnut’s smiles disappeared.
We all just chuckled as we walked back out of the Academy.
“I guess Dagmar,” spoke Asvord. “You’ll have to stay with us as no one else would probably take you because of what you did.”
“Yeah, thank you for that,” she replied. “With my red hair, I would stick out and people would recognize me.” Dagmar said that and put her hair back in her helmet.
Nothing much was said on the way back to our house. We put our dragons up in the stable. I forgot about Fintan still being there in the stable. Fintan looked worried and scared.
“Oh do you think we should take him with us?” wondered Elsa.
I replied, “As much as I would like to, we probably shouldn’t as a loose dragon looking for its rider would be tough to keep track of.”
“Jarl’s right,” confirmed Dagmar. “It would prove too much to handle at one time, especially the way Nightmares act towards their riders. Once they see them, they’ll come running for them.”
Dagmar then walked over to Fintan to say, “It’s okay.” She held out her hand; Fintan sniffed and snorted at it once, but then but his forehead into her hand. After that, Dagmar started walking back with us; but was nearly grabbed off the ground by a hug from Fintan as he used use head and neck to hug Dagmar.
I thought, “If Fintan trusts Dagmar, maybe I should too. Dragons usually have a good judge of character and most times won’t let just anyone touch them.”
It kind of felt as if some weight was lifted off my shoulders, when Fintan hugged Dagmar; I wanted so much to trust Dagmar, as soon as she said she is related to my family. I am beginning to feel I can trust her.
We entered the house and it was almost as cold inside as it is outside. I went over to the fireplace and put several logs on the fire to keep it going; as it was a dwindling flame.
“We’ll have to get to sleep early tonight as we have a long journey ahead of us,” said Dagmar as she took off her fur coat and set her helmet on the long bench like bed in front of the fireplace. “Are any of you hungry?”
“Not really,” I said. Dagmar was about to add something, but I continued instead, “But we should eat even if it is a little bit; for we are going to need as much energy as we can get for tomorrow.”
Dagmar then smiled, “I was about ready to say the same thing. Do you have some fish I could cook?”
I acknowledged, “Yes,” and led her into the kitchen to the place where we keep the fish. Me, Asvord, and Elsa all sort of slumped into the kitchen chairs next to the table. Dagmar was started being a more upbeat; probably because my siblings and I needed to get our minds off our mother for the time being.
Dagmar got a fire started in the kitchen stove. She took a brown trout and a salmon from our fish cabinet and started to sear htem in the skillet on the stove. She looked to be a very skilled cook. She used the spices that were available; adding them in at the same time she was handling the skillet with her left hand. She also flipped the meat when it was time, but she also did it with the skillet. Within ten minutes we were eating the meal.
“This is very good, Dagmar,” I complemented. Asvord and Elsa made similar remarks.
Dagmar replied to all three of us, “Thank you very much.”
Nothing much was said after that. We used the rest of the day packing; we packed light, but enough to get us there. By the time we got done, it was late evening. So we decided we would turn in now. Dagmar was just getting ready to sleep on the bench, but both my sisters and I agreed and insisted that she could sleep in mother’s room.
Then once we persuaded her we went up to our room. We took turns changing into some clean clothes. Asvord, then Elsa, then me. We then crawled into bed.
It felt like a long time before I fell asleep, but before I did, Asvord asked, “Do you think our mother is still alive?”
I sighed, “I don’t think it would be wise to do that, so the guy in question would keep her alive just to use her as bait for us to come.”
Elsa then asked, “Do you think our father is alive?”
I paused for several seconds, “I really don’t know about that. Dagmar keeps saying his is. But… I really just don’t know what to think.”
I finally felt I was nodding off. I fell asleep, but only to wake up what seems only minutes from when I fell asleep. I woke up several times through the night as I kept thinking about my mother and if my father is still alive, will we be in time to rescue them? And at the same time, can we get Berk’s supply of food back before it runs out?
#1. I was mentioned once, then in the last chapter, where was I? A new mystery
#2. Why am I supossed to ask questions I was there when you rescued her?
Everyone had a censored look on.
Just... XD
Yep, waiting for the next part.
That word was supposed to be q u e e r.
I post my comment, se this creep pic of Mildew, then another coment here. All in one minute. And this is after I read the freakiest story on FanFiction.net. Cant unread that.
Cliffhanger as always. I remembered you were gonna post this chapter today so I came to check it out :p you've done it again. Now I just can't wait for the next chapter. Hmmm maybe you're Sherlock Holmes in disguise.... ARE YOU? O_O creepy but cool. The calm before the journey... Hopefully it won't be too rough a journey. Well, one can only hope!
No, i am not sherlock holmes. The journey will be fine, it is when they get there.
Great job as always! I can't wait to find out how and why Svana was captured (I'm guessing the same thing that happened to Koll... whatever that was :) ). And I really hope Jarl's dad is still alive!
BTW, sorry for no comments on the last couple of chapters... I haven't been online for a while & I just got caught up.
(all 3 pics by goldenfury360 (aka Hyrith))
by SoulStereo
(free lineart base found 
by me
Sefarva blinkie by DuskDaybreak
That's alright, I can totally relate.
I'm going to very busy for the next two weeks starting next week, so I'll be in and out real quick during that time. But I am shooting for to get my story done by next Monday. So Chapter 21 might be posted Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning.
The next chapter is going to be jam packed with stuff, so it will probably be the more stealthy type intensity level.
The questions are coming,
the tides have turned,
Consensus reached
meeting adjourned,
Doom or Delight,
No one knows
The Frozen Fire
to seek we go
That is pretty cool, Garth. Nice job! Thanks.
Here is the link to my next chapter: http://forum.schoolofdragons.com/content/mysterious-frozen-fire-chapter-21-island-bound
Fyi, I had to work very late last night and was too tired to work on my last chapter last night, so it may not get posted until tomorrow. However, I have been planning exactly what I want to write so all I would have to do, once I get the chance, is to type it up. Also, it looks like the last chapter will be a 2-parter. I thought it might, but I didn't know before, but I know now.
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Believe me, you'll be mentioned several times in the next chapter.
That question was about the trip, not the rescue.