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[a_real_viking]

Several months and another lifetime ago, Hiccup had needed a basket of fish and a lot of tricks to get the new tail on Toothless. Now, the dragon sat still for him as he was buckled into the leather saddle and metal spines that connected the tail fin to Hiccup’s left foot pedal. Checking as he went along, Hiccup lingered on the left stirrup. Where

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[lastof_five]

Helen had seen a great many beautiful things in her life but it was hard to compare them with the raw, untamed beauty of a dragon in flight. She watched, mouth agape and slightly in awe, and called out to Hiccup as soon as she could find her voice again.

"You've done it! I knew you would."

[a_real_viking]

Hiccup laughed and whooped before he finally found it in him to urge Toothless down. Adrenaline and joy shot through him as he tumbled from the dragon's back, barely remembering to release the catch on his leg.

"We flew! We flew!"

[lastof_five]

"And amazingly well," Helen agreed, clapping her hands a little in excitement. "That wing replacement is very clever, Hiccup. I'm quite impressed with the design."

And even more impressed with the engineer. He was young, yes, but clearly talented.

[a_real_viking]

"Had a lot of practice, that's all," he explained, shrugging. "The first couple of tries didn't look as cool as this."

[lastof_five]

"I wouldn't suppose you and Toothless would be up to giving an old woman a flight, would you?" Helen teased, happy to see both boy and dragon in good spirits. "I've never flown on a dragon before."

[a_real_viking]

Hiccup looked over at Toothless, who seemed restless enough to get in the sky that he wouldn't be too mad about passengers.

"Hey Toothless, what do you think?"

Seeming not to notice his harness at all, Toothless bounded over to them, rumbling happily.

[lastof_five]

"That sounds like a yes to me," Helen said, rubbing Toothless just behind the ears as she often did. "It occurs to me that I should come up with some sort of dragon treats to feed you, Toothless. Would you like to be in on research and development?"

[a_real_viking]

Hiccup grinned and saddled up, holding out a hand to pull her up. "I think if you did that, there'd pretty much be free rides forever."

[lastof_five]

Helen climbed up onto the dragon, clutching with her legs the way she would a horse. It was strange, yes, but not something completely outside her realm of experience. Not entirely.

"I'll have to work on that, then."

[a_real_viking]

"Hang on to the saddle, or me," Hiccup explained. "But we'll be nice. Right Toothless?"

He urged the dragon into a running leap so he could gain momentum before launching into the air.

[lastof_five]

Helen grabbed onto the back of the saddle, laughing a little at Hiccup's admonishment to be nice. A dragon, being nice. Of course, Toothless was an intelligent and kind creature for the most part and she wasn't worried.

Not even when they'd left the ground to go soaring into the air.

"This is...one of the most amazing things I've ever done, Hiccup. Thank you!"

[a_real_viking]

They climbed a little further before riding on the breeze, coasting, and he could turn back to talk to her.

"We missed it. A lot."

[lastof_five]

"It's beautiful," Helen said, closing her eyes and just enjoying the wind on her face. "I've never done anything like it. I don't know how I'll repay the two of you for this one."

[a_real_viking]

Hiccup leaned forward into the sun and salty air, a hand coming forward to scratch Toothless' head. "Don't worry."

[lastof_five]

"I had a feeling you'd say that." Helen laughed though, content with herself and pleased with the flight.

"I'll find some way to repay you all the same. This is a precious gift."

[a_real_viking]

"Well what am I supposed to ask for?" Hiccup pointed out, guiding Toothless around a jutting bit of cliff. "Money? That never meant anything to me even on Berk. Fish, I guess. But that's not a big deal?"