#Blue Dragon Hildegard

[persephoneggsy]

i found a neat template and wanted to fill it 

(elaborations are below)

FIORA COUSLAND, Warden-Commander and Queen of Ferelden

Archer Rogue (bard+duelist); romanced Alistair

Saved the Circle of Magi

Convinced Zathrian to end the werewolf curse

Crowned Bhelen King and destroyed the Anvil

Made Alistair king (with herself as Queen)

Used the Dark Ritual

Main party members: Alistair (lover), Morrigan (best friend), Wynne (surrogate mom)

Will sometimes swap Morrigan for Shale or Oghren

MARIAN HAWKE, Champion and Viscountess of Kirkwall; Princess of Starkhaven

Mage (spirit healer); aggressive personality; romanced Sebastian

Killed the Arishok

Sided with the Templars

Killed Anders

Carver became a Grey Warden

Main party members: Sebastian (lover), Fenris (best friend), Merrill (lover’s best friend (it’s my headcanon leave me alone))

If Carver is available, he takes up the Warrior spot

HILDEGARDE TREVELYAN, Herald of Andraste and Inquisitor

Mage (rift mage); romanced Cullen

Brought the Templars into the Inquisition as full allies

Stroud was left in the Fade

Recruited the Grey Wardens

Celene remained Empress, reconciled with Briala

Drank from the Well of Sorrows instead of Morrigan

Main party members: Dorian (best friend), Iron Bull (best friend’s lover), Cole (sweet baby boy)

Vivienne swaps with Dorian fairly regularly

[mysticstarlightduck]

OC Questions Tag

Thank you for the Tag, @tabswrites! Her post can be found here

I'll be doing this for Xarian Argyris, a deceitful fairy outlaw from my new high fantasy WIP, Tales of Wilted Flowers!

5 words to physically describe your OC (do you have a drawing? even better!)

Lanky, tall. Dangerous beauty. Metallic hair

Who inspired your OC? (can be your mum to a very famous fungi)

Uh... I don't really know if this is a valid answer but maybe: Julian Devorak (from The Arcana game), Astarion (from Baldur's Gate 3) and general fairytale lore. My character Xarian starts out running away from someone trying to kill him and being framed for something he didn't exactly do, is slightly unstable but a very good person where it counts, while also being a socially awkward trickster/liar and having a very confusing moral compass - and an obsession with strange knowledge. Take that however you will lmao.

Give me a song to define your OC (I will listen to it to enter in your WIP mood!)

I'll do one better! Here are five songs that define Xarian!

Willow - Bardcore Cover by Hildegard Von Blingin

No Good - Unsecret ft Ruelle

S.O.S - Indila

Wild Uncharted Waters - Jonah Hauer-King

Natural - Imagine Dragons cover by Caleb Hyles

If I met your OC on the street how would they greet me?

Xarian - while very refined and sophisticated - is still a socially awkward young adult at heart. He would likely greet you with a formal fae salutation (a little bow) and wish you a good day from a distance while being internally like "Oh, gods, please tell me you won't go in for a hug." The greeting would be short, but pleasantly polite.

Can your OC be your best friend? Why?

I mean once we get past the stabby-stabby "Come any closer and you'll be speaking to the sharp end of my blade" beginning and he eventually opens up to my friendship - and shows his true, kinder side - then sure! We'd make a good team and would have lots to talk about, especially about books.

Though his Number 1 best friends are - and will forever be, in his own words - his girlfriend Lorelai Wildwood and their friend (and travel companion) Rylisan Fenrith.

1 adjective and 1 noun to describe your OC (blue soul)

True friend

Tagging (gently with no pressure): @your-absent-father, @cabbojage, @clairelsonao3, @exquisitecrow, @liv-is, and OPEN TAG (for anyone who wants to do this)!

[marsipanic]

The God’s Mark

Chapter 1 part 2

NSFW

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It took little to convince the envoys to speak on their respective kingdoms, and the neutral Isle of Colde. After a weeks’ time of preparation, Claudia sent each of them back with an invitation to their kings, that they would introduce themselves to Her Imperial Majesty, and make their intentions clear. It heavily implied that if they refused the invitation, it would be seen as hostile.

“Ensure you tell them of our army and magic, if you would be so kind,” Claudia said as she saw them through the portal. When the last of them disappeared into the light, Cordelia turned to her sister with a somewhat grim expression.

“So, we play the waiting game, now,” she said. Claudia nodded.

“There’s much work to be done in the meantime. We won’t be seeing The Ivory for some time,” she said. Lia scoffed.

“I will find time, I assure you,” she linked arms with Claudia and together they led their cavalry back to the palace.

There were accommodations to be made for the 7 Kings, and their heirs. Each of their quarters were to be resplendent, a demonstration of Zaethis’s ability to meet the satisfaction of 7 kings, and their entourage, with ease. Food needed to be imported from each duchy, and proper payment needed to be made to each. The dragons needed to be readied. Gowns were to be ordered, gifts to be decided, and the Black Guard and the army needed to be briefed.

“Grandmother, are we sure we want to go through such great lengths? If they decide they want war after such expense…”

“My dear, if we want to foster peace the best way to do it is to make an offer they couldn’t possibly refuse. And friendship with our empire is a very valuable commodity. We shall see what they offer,” Hildegard said, and patted her gently on the hand. “Now, off you go, and see to it that Cordelia has finished the report on the infirmary supplies.”

Claudia said nothing in return, and curtsied as she left, although a frown etched her face. What good could a foreign band of men who argue amongst themselves for power bring to their door? She sought out her sister and prayed to the gods that there would not be a repeat of the war their father had started, years ago. He was gone now, and Claudia and Cordelia lived, marred by much more than a sword.

The day finally came, and everything was pristine. The statues and marble glimmered, and the entire court was present in their best finery.

Claudia sat in her throne, adjacent to Hildegarde’s, which was front and middle, of course, and Cordelia sat on the opposing side.

The sisters’ gowns were coordinated, and made of a draping, exquisite, white silk, and delicate lace, adorned with an ornate silver corset, which the barest amount of skin peeked through. Pale, green gems, hung like tear drops from the skirts, and a ribboned cape of silver garland and gold cascaded from their neck and fell to the ground. They both had circlets of pearls, and lilies woven into their braided hair. Their exposed shoulders pictured a blue, swirling tattoo; The Mark of Ciris and The Mark of Euna, the source of their abilities, and the declaration that they were descendants of the Creators. Hildegarde had the Mark of Omos, God of justice and redemption, as those who ruled before bared the marks of the pantheon.  

It was a far cry from their usual attire, and once again, a display. Hildegarde had the customary empress robes, an incandescent white and gold that took 15 servants to carry the train.

“Blighted thing only gets heavier with age,” Hildegarde said under her breath, as she took her place in the throne room. The sisters stifled a laugh.

As the trumpets sounded, everyone rose to their feet to greet the foreign kings.

“Look sharp, my dears,” Hildegarde whispered.

“Presenting: King Liam, of Akedia! Accompanied by; Queen Norah, and heir apparent, the Prince Lynt,” The herald bellowed.

A rather gentle looking couple came striding into the throne room, arm in arm, followed by a young man who looked as though he might sleep right where he was. The three of them had straw colored hair and green eyes.

“I daresay, is he fighting back a yawn?” Cordelia whispered.

They made their way to the platform, bowed and curtsied, before Liam stood by his assigned place at a long table, set at the front, right side. His wife and son took their place behind him, and this continued for each of the royal families who were announced.

“King Roc, of Avari! Accompanied by his heir apparent, Prince Guy!”

In strode a towering man, with long black hair, and only one crimson eye visible, as the other was covered with a patch. Beside him, was his son, sharing his father’s sharp features, and piercing expression.

“My, how they scowl,” Claudia said quietly. Cordelia put her hand delicately to her lips to stifle a giggle.

“Hush, you two,” Hildegard said, although the corner of her lips were slightly upturned.

The procession went on, until the last kingdom passed through the massive foyer.

“King Gilbert, of Qelsum! Accompanied by his heir, Prince Toa, and the Princess Idina!”

A man with an icy countenance strode in. His blue hair was twined neatly and coordinated well with his finery. The prince and princess were attractive, though, Idina had a scheming look about her.

Finally, the herald stood before them all, and introduced the hosts.

“You are in the presence of Her Imperial Majesty Hildegarde Augustine, Fifth of Her Name, Queen Defender of the People, and Empress of the Great Empire of Zaethis. On her right; Her Imperial Highness, The Princess Claudia Rebecca, First of Her Name, Captain Commander of the Black Guard, and Crown Heir Apparent. On her left; Her Imperial Highness, The Princess Cordelia Odette, Second of Her Name, Lieutenant of the Black Guard, and Imperial Scholar. All Hail!”

The court responded with a resound “Hail!”

Hildegarde glanced around, and with a satisfied nod, sat upon her throne, which prompted everyone to take their seats, thereafter. The tension and excitement in the court could have been ignited, and curious whispers could be heard within the crowded room.

“My Lords and My Ladies, I bid you a sincere welcome. I trust you have found your accommodations befitting,” Hildegard said.

King Klaus of Invidia rose to speak first.

“We are honored to be guests in your Empire, Your Majesty. Might I be the first to say, it is magnificent,” he placed a hand over his chest in a gesture of sincerity. “And I must thank you for returning all of our people to us, in one piece, after our grievous trespass.”

Roc scoffed beside him.

“Hardly,” he said. “They reported several broken limps and fingers, if I recall.”

“An unfortunate occurrence, to be sure,” Klaus interjected, nervously. “However, Her Majesty was kind enough to heal them, magically, afterwards.”

 “Ah, yes,” Hildegarde mused. “You must pardon Princess Claudia for the broken limbs, as she was only doing her duty to protect her land from foreign threats, you see. And you can thank Princess Cordelia for the mending of said broken limbs. My granddaughters are dedicated to their duty and their country, I’m sure you understand.”

“Quite! And may I be the first to say, they are also exquisitely beautiful,” King Louis of Luxure, rose, tossing his lock lavender locks over his shoulder, and fluttered his long lashes. “May I inquire of each, are either of Your Highness’ betrothed?”

Claudia and Cordelia exchanged a knowing look, and covered half their faces with their handheld fans, masking the laughter that threatened to escape.

“You flatter us, My Lord,” Lia said.

“I’m afraid we have prioritized our work and devotion to the empire, in place of pursuing a spouse,” Claudia added, already tired of the conversation.

“Creating and establishing heirs is a royal priority,” Roc spoke again. “I have little patience for this flattery. We have come to offer an alliance with the Kingdom of Avari. I offer betrothal to my heir. One of your granddaughters would be Queen, and in exchange we would have use of your technology and army.”

“What the boorish fool is trying to say,” Gilbert rose from the adjacent table, and a sneer snapped over Roc’s face. “Is while we must take our time to establish ourselves as useful allies, it is expected that one of our kingdoms leave with the hand of one, or both, of your granddaughters. Might you consider?”

“I believe the princesses would enjoy Invidia, as it is a most charming place,” Klaus said, the anxiety in his expression growing by the second.

“I would be more than honored to show them the entirety of Luxure,” Louis offered.

“Oh, dear,” Liam, finally spoke, but only because Lynt had fallen asleep, and was leaning on his father for support. His valet stood behind him, looking as though he might faint, himself.

The court broke into a cacophony of whispers and murmuring, while the kings began arguing and fussing amongst themselves. Claudia looked to Cordelia, who was just as unimpressed by the whole ordeal, and then leaned forward. Marriage? To these fools?

“Grandmother, must we continue—” She started.

Hildegard all but raised one hand, and silence struck the room like lightening. The woman was still formidable, even in her old age, and her presence was unrivaled, even by the number of kings before her.

“My Lords, my granddaughters are not brainless pawns for me to give away as I wish,” she said, and the princesses’ shoulders relaxed. “They are my cherished kin, my heirs, and the most important asset of this empire. While I would value each of your kingdoms’ friendship, they have no need to be queen of your countries, as one is to be the empress of this one, and the other her Right Hand. They have power, magic, an army, and the loyalty of all who live here. You will have to offer something they do not currently have: Companionship. Romantic love.”

“What kind of foolishness is this?” Roc said, the scowl on his face deepening.

“Yes, Grandmother, do explain,” Claudia’s voice was urgent, and the panic was rising in her stomach again.

“I don’t know how you do things in your country, but in mine, it is important to find one’s life partner, at the very least, pleasant,” Hildegarde said. “I offer you all this; You and your sons may stay for a duration here in my court. You will be allowed passage back to your kingdoms, at any point, for you are guests. If, in that period, your heirs have gained the approval of either of mine, and myself, I will agree to an alliance. Our resources will also be yours.”

“Grand— Your Majesty, if we could just pause a moment—” Cordelia tried but fell on deaf ears.

“A reasonable request!” Klaus proclaimed, happily.

“A challenge, then?” Roc scoffed. “So be it.”

“Excellent,” Hildegard said. “Although, there is one matter I wish to discuss before everyone takes their leave to get ready for tonight’s festivities. Which of you summoned the portal? Our studies of it show that it was done from your world.”

Each of the kings looked at one another, expectantly, but no one came forward.

“It appears we are not sure,” Liam said, still being used as a stool for his son.

“Interesting… I suppose we shall learn, then, won’t we?”

Hildegarde rose, and dismissed the court, and all of the valets and servants began their busy work.  Claudia and Lia followed the empress from the throne room, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Grandmother, you’ll forgive my insolence, but you can’t be completely serious?” Claudia asked, incredulously.

“Did you see that boy? He was asleep on his father in court.”

“And that Qelsum and Avari… I’ve seen frozen over lakes with more warmth,” Claudia added.

“My dear girls, you needn’t marry any of them if you do not wish to! Take this opportunity to build rapport with these kingdoms and learn something. If by chance, after some time, you find you’re still repulsed by the idea of marriage, we will still have gained. However, if you find that you are fond of one—”

“Grandmother, the likelihood of that happening—” Cordelia pleaded.

“—then all the more reason to have them as our guests. Now, go on, and get ready for the Welcoming Ball tonight. You will have many guests to attend to.”

Hildegarde and her valet’s left the girls standing quite stricken side by side. A fat silence lay between them, until a grim realization occurred to Claudia.

“Gods, they’re going to try and win us like a trophy, aren’t they?”

They both sighed in disgust, and marched off to their chambers, determined to get the night over with, as painlessly as possible.

[simplynotaneggworks]

Fandoms and Ships

Disney Ella x Henry Cinderella Lady x Tramp (Human AUs) Lady and the Tramp Mary x Bert Mary Poppins Duchess x Thomas O’Malley (Human AUs) The Aristocats Pete’s Dragon (no specific ships; both original and live-action) Ariel x Eric The Little Mermaid Belle x Adam Beauty and the Beast Nala x Simba (Human AUs) The Lion King Kiara x Kovu (Human AUs) The Lion King Bo Peep x Woody (Human AUs) Toy Story Jessie x Buzz (Human AUs) Toy Story Mulan x Shang Mulan Jane x Tarzan Tarzan Kida x Milo Atlantis: The Lost Empire Dory x Marlin (Human AUs) Finding Nemo Violet x Tony The Incredibles Janice x Jesse Bridge to Terebithia Clarion x Milori Tinkerbell Tinkerbell x Terence Tinkerbell Tiana x Naveen The Princess and the Frog Alice x Tarrant Alice in Wonderland Rapunzel x Eugene Tangled Brave (no specific ships)  Elsa x Hans Frozen Anna x Kristoff Frozen Inside Out (no specific ships) Judy x Nick (Human AUs) Zootopia Coco (no specific ships) Izzy x Buzz Lightyear Miranda x Roland Sofia the First Sofia x Hugo Sofia the First Amber x Hildegard Sofia the First Elena x Mateo Elena of Avalor Isabel x Javier Elena of Avalor Cassandra x Varian Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure

Dreamworks Miguel x Tulio The Road to El Dorado Fiona x Shrek Shrek Astrid x Hiccup How to Train Your Dragon Valka x Stoick How to Train Your Dragon Roxanne x Megamind Megamind Rise of the Guardians (no specific ship) Eep x Guy The Croods

Illumination Lucy x Gru Despicable Me The Lorax (no specific ship)

Sony Ericka x Dracula Hotel Transylvania

Blue Sky Linda x Tulio Rio

Harry Potter (in no particular order) Willow (OC) x George Draco x Harry Nymphadora x Remus Sirius x Remus Lily x James Narcissa x Lucius Emma (OC) x Charlie Merula x Rowan Penny x Ben Molly x Arthur Oliver x Percy Hermione x Ron Seamus x Dean Luna x Neville Luna x Rolf Tina x Newt Queenie x Jacob Albus x Scorpius Andromeda x Ted Victoire x Teddy Fleur x Bill

Other Jedidiah x Octavius Night at the Museum Norman x Ethan Heavy Rain Kara x Conner Detroit: Become Human Simon x Markus Detroit: Become Human North x Josh Detroit: Become Human Rose x Hank Detroit: Become Human Aloy x Erend Horizon Zo x Varl Horizon Beta x Drakka Horizon Elisabet x Sylens Horizon Alva x Kotallo Horizon Jane x Gunther Jane and the Dragon Jester x Smithy Jane and the Dragon Pepper x Rake Jane and the Dragon Gwendolyn x Caradoc Jane and the Dragon Nancy x Jonathan Stranger Things Steve x Dustin Stranger Things Will x Mike Stranger Things Joyce x Jim Stranger Things Fran x Maxwell The Nanny Katniss x Peeta The Hunger Games Effie x Haymitch The Hunger Games Lucy x Coriolanus The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Emma x George Emma Elizabeth x Fitzwilliam Pride and Prejudice Marianne x Christopher Sense and Sensibility Elinor x Edward Sense and Sensibility Daniel x Johnny Karate Kid/Cobra Kai Robby x Miguel Karate Kid/Cobra Kai Ali x Amanda Karate Kid/Cobra Kai Dutch x Bobby Karate Kid/Cobra Kai Demetri x Eli Karate Kid/Cobra Kai Kumiko x Chozen Karate Kid/Cobra Kai Ellie x Alec Broadchurch Beth x Paul Broadchurch Rose x Ten Doctor Who Yuuri x Viktor Yuri on Ice Yuri x Otabek Yuri on Ice Marinette x Adrien Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir Alya x Nino Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir Chloe x Luka Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir Luka x Adrien Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir Elizabeth (OC) x Ydris Star Stable Online Maya x Alex Star Stable Online Elizabeth (non-OC) x Avalon Star Stable Online Anne x Lisa Star Stable Online Novalee x Forney Where the Heart Is Claire x James Outlander Elizabeth (OC) x Fergus Outlander Brianna x Roger Outlander Aziraphale x Crowley Good Omens Anneliese x Julian Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper Erika x Dominick Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper Sophie x Nicholas Barbie: Princess Charm School Skipper x Jonas Barbie and Her Sisters In a Pony Tale Barbie x Ken Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures Barbie (Margot Robbie) x Ken (Ryan Gosling) Barbie

[vibrantshadow]

Behold... Cards from the Blue Dragon TCG. I don't have it myself, but I found images of it on the internet. Here.

[christophertheimaginative]

My anime aesthetic featuring 12 anime characters.

The 12 Princesses

Skye Zaizen (Blue Maiden) (Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS)

Maria (Maria the Virgin Witch)

Gruier Serenity (Bodacious Space Pirates)

Euphemia li Brittania (Code Geass)

Fine Forte (Back Arrow)

Lucy Heartfilia (Fairy Tail)

Nia Teppelin (Gurren Lagann)

Leafa (Sword Art Online)

Meteora Osterreich (Re:Creators)

Lyria (Granblue Fantasy)

Hildegard Schlievogt (Hilda) (Cross Ange)

Auroth (Dota: Dragon’s Blood)

[nototherwisespecified]

gettoknowyou meme, tagged by @capsfightclub tyyyyy ❤

this got wordy because I am PERSONALLY INCAPABLE of being brief. I’m tagging @thetrashpitals @saint-patrice @kureally @laings @denisgurianovs @mayorwagner but feel free to ignore

Name: sray

Nicknames: SR (just initials, the ‘s’ is a fake one I was granted by my undergrad dorm in 2007)

Zodiac Sign: sagittarius sun, libra moon, gemini rising, with a whole bunch of uhhhhh capricorn placements? & earth dragon in the east asian lunar calendar system

Height: 5′5″; have been told I look AT LEAST 5′7″. I can walk in 5-inch heels tho (not for like ... long, but I CAN)

Languages Spoken: English & as of ...yesterday ich spreche/schreibe ein bisschen Deutsch (ich heiße Sray und ich liebe Hockey)

Nationality: slavic-norse american mush. 1/4 Polish, 1/4 Finnish, 1/8 Québécois; the rest is British Isles jumble. Ojibwe about six generations back: my grandfather’s family were cowardly royalists (A Long-Standing Family Tradition, tbh) who yeeted to the Sault during the Revolutionary War & thereafter intermarried with the actual locals. so I may actually share (a very small amount of) blood with tj oshie, as the Ojibwe are counted among the Anishinaabe

Fave Season: mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm fall

Fave Flower: azaleas & crocuses. I like how crocuses are like “bro fuck a winter, so what if it’s january, gonna break through this frost crust & BLOOM”

Fave Scent: to wear, orris, vetiver, sandalwood, or rose+toasted almond+amber (my alltime favorite fragrance is commodity velvet, which is those three & SADLY EXTREMELY DISCONTINUED, I’m not just pulling shit out of nowhere). as candles or whatever, musks & ambers & frankincense; also eucalyptus

Fave Colour: to wear, black; to decorate, cobalt blue; in art, yellow (I can’t wear it but good warm golds are so soothing)

Fave Animal: raccoon, 

(I left to go look at something else & came back & “raccoon,” was just hanging out & it’s too good. leaving it. I like cats & those little jumping spiders with the peacock tails & mantis shrimp also. & nudibranches. whales. sneks. uhh. bower birds? most birds even though they’re jerks. I like a lot of animals for someone who largely disdains Outside)

Fave Fictional Character(s): yang wen-li (!!!!!!!!!!!!!), katerose “karin” von kreutzer, hildegard von lohengramm née mariendorf, siegfried kircheis (all those from legend of the galactic heroes), aglaya lilich (pathologic), tiffany aching, sam vimes (discworld), arthur (inception)

Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate: coffee af (but I really like tea & good hot chocolate. I just. my daily is coffee)

Average Sleep Hours: bro I don’t even know anymore I oscillate between like 6 and 16

Dogs or Cats: to host in my home, cats; in principle, both

Blankets: in winter: sheet, cotton woven blanket, fleecy woven blanket, duvet in a cover, crocheted throw over my legs & feet, & another fleece throw over all that. in summer, MAYBE a sheet but probably just me lying on my stomach with an ice pack wrapped in a towel at my side or on the small of my back

Dream Trip: east coast of north america, every nhl arena I can get to via amtrak. montréal to miami, babes

Blog Established: 14 months ago??? shrug???

Followers: there’s like 560 of you on this ride I have no idea why love u tho

Random Fact: I won my school- & district-level spelling bees in new jersey when I was in fifth grade; I was disqualified from the county-level one on the word “guarantee”

[paladin-andric]

Moments In History: An Unlikely Savior

Hildegarde marched ahead confidently. The mountain climb was tough, but she was now nearing the entrance of the cave.

“Remember the plan, knight,” Raimbald chided.

“I know,” the dragonslayer said, rolling her eyes, “You just worry about your part of the plan.”

The duo weren’t exactly the closest of friends, but they had managed thus far. They originally met when the wizard sent word that he was looking for a companion to take on a bounty with. It seemed going toe to toe with a dragon alone wasn’t a plan he was fond of. At least he wasn’t THAT arrogant.

Upon learning of Hildegarde’s knowledge of dragons, along with her track record, Raimbald agreed to take on the beast together, and split the bounty 50/50.

A dragon had been spotted flying to and from the mountain, to the north of the city. At the same time, several dragon attacks against caravans had been reported, the remains picked clean of valuables and covered in soot and ash.

It didn’t take a genius to see the correlation.

Not many people were willing to do anything about the dragon, and the city’s guard weren’t exactly ready to deal with such a fearsome beast. The mayor decided putting a large bounty on the dragon would attract heroes, genuine and would-be.

Hildegarde and Raimbald were both very powerful and accomplished. The dragonslayer had many artifacts that protected her from magic and breath attacks, and weapons tipped with Dragonsbane, a magic infusion that allowed weapons to easily slice through a mighty dragon’s near impenetrable scales.

The wizard had spent many years learning and practicing powerful magical spells. He knew how to ward against opposing magic, purge magic from himself and others, powerful offensive spells, and a single trump card he had the feeling he would end up needing to use...

The two approached the cave entrance. They looked at each other for a moment before nodding. The dragonslayer and wizard marched inside, confident, assertive and wary.

The dragonslayer constantly eyed the long, winding corridor for traps, but there were none. How odd. Did this dragon have no minions? Not even a few lowly kobolds?

The long march through the empty cave was tense. Hildegarde looked desperately for some branching path, dart traps, something, anything...but there was nothing.

This seemed familiar. It was almost like this lair was home to one of the benevolent dragons...but that couldn’t be right, could it?

Maybe this was all some big misunderstanding. Dragons do have a tendency to...overreact to minor slights. Perhaps we could try diplomacy...

As the duo reached what looked like the main room of the lair, they stepped forward, the wizard channeling energy into his fingertips as the dragonslayer gripped her greatsword tightly.

Upon entering the room, Hildegarde and Raimbald stumbled across a sight that at first confused them.

There were two...well...really three, dragons. Two adults and one...hatchling. The giant, broken egg made it quite apparent the baby was hours old at the oldest, maybe even minutes old. It had dull, purple scales and vibrant blue eyes. The newborn was backed into a corner, looking thoroughly threatened and frightened.

One of the adults was dead. It had the same scale color as the newborn. It was the newborn’s mother or father, surely. The other was a red dragon, facing the hatchling and creeping closer. The look on its face, Hildegarde recognized it...

The gleeful grin of a predator gazing at its helpless prey.

The newborn roared meekly at the behemoth licking its lips, gazing down at the cornered lamb.

Never in her life had Hildegarde felt anything but contempt for dragons. She’d conducted diplomacy with the more reasonable ones, but only out of pragmatism. They always thought themselves so high and mighty, other races lesser ants beneath them, lucky the dragons deemed them worthy of living.

Seeing this baby, terrified and helpless, in the same predicament the average human would find themselves in against a dragon...it triggered something inside of her. A base, primal instinct.

The need to protect.

She harshly elbowed the wizard as she stepped forward. Raimbald quickly began his part of the plan. He cast two spells. First, he cast Wraith, silencing him and his movements. Next he cast Shadowstep, the shadows in the cave distorting to cover him, making him a shadow of a figure as he ran ahead. Hildegarde whistled.

“Hey, boar-dung!”

The red dragon whirled around, snarling. The massive beast stepped forward, glaring at the woman with hatred.

“You DARE challenge me?!”

“You must not know of my track record. I’ve killed plenty of your wretched ilk.”

The dragonslayer remained stoic, coolly eying the snarling monster before her.

“Accursed dragonslayer! Your disgusting race will feed us, and the carrion beasts!”

Suddenly, the dragon roared. A pillar of molten hot flames blasted directly where Hildegarde was standing. The entire area was covered in flames for several, long moments, before the dragon finally stopped. The flames died and smoke lifted, revealing...

“WHAT?!”

Hildegarde remained standing, completely unharmed. It appeared she was wearing magical armor that protected her from the dragon’s breath. The steel suit of plate glowed brightly for a moment, before the magic faded. The dragonslayer gestured for the dragon to approach her.

“Come and get me.”

The dragon’s eyes twitched. “You...I will...”

“You scared?”

A mighty roar rocked the cave. “I WILL BURY YOU, MORTAL!”

Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out. Hildegarde smirked.

“Gotcha.”

A beam of pure magic blasted out from the darkness behind the dragon, slamming into the behemoth. The raw magic tore at the dragon’s body, causing it to roar in pain as it was knocked to the ground.

The dragonslayer wasted no time. She dropped her greatsword, taking her other weapon off her back.

The giant, heavy crossbow was almost in between a crossbow and a ballista. It was already loaded with a very, very large bolt. She quickly aimed and fired.

The bolt flew quickly, landing in the dragon’s neck. The beast let out another roar as the Dragonsbane ore punctured his defenses and stuck deep into his body.

Hildegarde quickly dropped the crossbow and picked up her greatsword, running towards the beast. Raimbald fired another beam of magic, once more injuring the beast. As he finally got to his feet, the dragon turned to face the dragonslayer, earning a cleaving strike across his face for his effort.

The dragon reeled back. He was lucky the greatsword hadn’t struck deeper, or...

He quickly rushed forward, slamming into the dragonslayer with a swing of his head. The woman was sent flying, slamming into the hard stone walls of the lair.

Hildegarde groaned. She was lucky to be alive at all, let alone feel anything.

The dragon approached, visage twisted into one of hatred. He was enraged to be humiliated by such small prey.

The dragonslayer reached for her sword, only to realize it wasn’t there. She had dropped it when she was sent flying.

Thinking quickly, she drew her dagger and threw it, the small, yet heavy weapon sticking itself in the beast’s snout. Another roar of pain made Hildegarde pleased. Even nearly disarmed, she could wound the mighty beasts.

“That is it.“

The dragon waved one of his front legs. Suddenly, Hildegarde felt herself restrained. She tugged her arms and legs, light blue rings of magic becoming visible as she realized the dragon had anchored her.

“Now, I’ve got you right where I want you...I shall make you suffer...in the end, you will beg for death.”

The woman felt a twinge of fear as the dragon approached her.

“Uhh...Raimbald? You there?”

Nothing.

“Oh, I KNOW you didn’t bail out on me!”

The dragon shot the woman a wicked, toothy grin.

“Ahh...excellent. You are all alone, and so very helpless...”

Hildegarde shivered. She wasn’t afraid to die, but to be tortured by this sadist...they were on the verge of victory! Why the hell would he back out now?

“Yes,” the dragon hissed, now upon the dragonslayer, “Feel the fear pulse through you. You know you are at my mercy...I may do whatever I wish with you, and there is nothing you can do to resist.” The dragon leaned in close, his face one of maniacal glee.

“Not even die.”

Hildegarde was bewildered. This beast was insane!

“Now...let us begin. Oh, you will be begging for death in moments. Let us see if you outlast the previous one.”

The beast’s rancid breath made the woman recoil as he breathed heavily into her face. Just what was he planning? What would this sadist do?

Suddenly, a small blur knocked into the dragon. As it hit the great beast, it rebounded back, landing on the floor.

The newborn.

It stood defensively, roaring its weak, pitiful roar at the elder.

The adult dragon turned around and grinned at the hatchling. “Ahh...this is why you attacked, is it not? You felt pity for this child?”

“No...” Hildegarde knew what was coming.

A sinister laugh made the woman tense up.

“You will watch, mortal, and see what happens to those who oppose me. To be so close to what you want to protect, unable to intervene.”

“Don’t...”

“Oh, it’s too late to beg, human. Witness this child’s final moments. Feel it embedded into your psyche, forever.”

The newborn let out a puff of magic breath, trying to intimidate the adult.

“Oh God...please...it’s just a baby...”

The dragon stepped toward the newborn, taking a moment to grin at Hildegarde.

“Witness your fate, foolish woman.”

Another bellowing roar made all three of them turn. Out of nowhere, another dragon flew in from the darkness.

The white scaled dragon knocked into the red dragon, both of them tumbling to the ground. The white dragon quickly tore into the red dragon with its claws, at the same time tearing into his neck with its jaws.

The red dragon fought back, but with the element of surprise on the white dragon’s side, he was already horrifically wounded. His mind was so taken aback that he lost focus on his spell, the restraints on Hildegarde vanishing. The dragonslayer didn’t miss a beat, quickly rushing to the nearest weapon.

The crossbow.

Quickly, she picked it up, and began loading another bolt. The white dragon continued tearing into the red dragon, but was suddenly knocked off of the beast with a powerful shove.

A loud click let Hildegarde know it was ready. She readied the crossbow, took aim...

The bolt flew forward, and as the dragon turned to face her...

The beast suddenly froze. The bolt landed right between his eyes.

The dragon collapsed, slamming into the stone floor, motionless. Blood stained the room, two dragon corpses now littering the lair.

It was finally over...or was it?

Hildegarde turned to face the white dragon, now completely unarmed.

“...who...the hell...are you?”

The dragon didn’t answer her. Not in any conventional sense, anyway. However, it did suddenly begin to shrink, becoming smaller, and smaller, morphing and changing, scales falling away, until...

“Raimbald?!”

Indeed, the wizard was doubled over, panting and heaving. Sweat dropped onto the floor of the cave as his gasps rang throughout the room.

“Okay...okay...I’m alright...God, that took a lot out of me.”

The dragonslayer just shook her head. “Where the hell did you go?! Did you see what he almost did?! And where the hell did you learn to turn into a dragon?!”

The wizard wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Of...of course I...saw...I...needed time to prepare the spell. Turning into a dragon...isn’t exactly simple...and...well...I know some people.”

Hildegarde sighed. “Good Lord. You could have told me.”

Raimbald shrugged. “All’s well that ends well, right? We’ll eat well for quite a while.”

“All’s well that ends well...” the dragonslayer turned back to the carnage. There it was.

The hatchling. The tiny dragon slowly moved forward, sitting down next to the fallen purple dragon, nudging it with its snout.

Raimbald looked at Hildegarde incredulously. “You’re not seriously considering...”

The dragonslayer slowly smiled. “Perhaps...I am.”

She marched forward, reaching the baby dragon and holding her hand out. It looked at her curiously before coming forward.

The woman slowly picked the reptile up, holding it in her arms. Even baby dragons were large, but fresh out of the egg, it could be held. The creature nuzzled into her arms, closing its eyes.

“Aww, look at it.”

The wizard shook his head. “A dragonslayer with a dragon. You’ll never hear the end of this, you know.”

Hildegarde shrugged, rubbing the top of the dragon’s head.

“At least it’ll get people talking. A dragon that fights dragons? Imagine the publicity.” She looked down at the sleeping newborn.

“Ah, only if you want, of course...whatever your path in life...as long as it’s a noble one.”

The end! This was a fun one to write. I hope you enjoyed the twists and turns this tale offered you!

Tag list: @thereisnothingwrongwithbeingmad, @lady-redshield-writes, @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword, @sheralynnramsey, @the-true-shadowmaster, @tawnywrites, @writer-on-time, @oceanwriter, @zwergis-spilledink, @fluffpiggy, @elliewritesfantasy, @homesteadhorner

[sirensmaw]

Aggy ; Aesthetic

BOLD what applies to your muse. Remember to REPOST. Feel free to add to the list!

Aggy Hildegarde

[ COLOR ]  red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. PURPLE. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte.  royal blue. royal purple. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. magenta. pastels. bubblegum pink. blood red.ivory.sky blue.

[ ELEMENTAL ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk.day. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. clouds. light. smoke. umbra. penumbra. char. darkness. ash.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canine. scars. scratches. ears. wounds. burns. spikes.  sweat. tears. feline. permanent wounds. chubby. curvy. short. tall. height. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. muscular. slender. trained. piercings. tattoos. strong. weak. birdlike. shapeshifting. junoesque. svelte. long hair. short hair. dark circles. big. voluptuous. small. prosthetic. experimented. cyborg. halos. horns. wolfish. effeminate. frightening. ethereal. angelic. demonic. metallic.angular. scales. barbs. vertebrae. barbs. tendrils. tentacles. sharp. soft. unusual. shapely. unnatural. disproportionate. spindly. monstrous.  

[ WEAPONRY ] fists. swords. daggers. spear. scythe. bow and arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. power loader. flamethrower. metal rods. shotguns. needles. prowess. ability. instinct. bloodthirst. supernatural. inhuman. talons. speed. agility. cunning. reflexes. talons. biomech tendrils.

[ MATERIALS ]  gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds.  pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. copper. silk. velvet. denim. linen.cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt.mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. yarn. slime. ivory. aether. crystal. dark matter. lapis lazuli. emerald. adamantite. wootz. brass. lamé. guipé. bone. moonstone. metalloids. alloys. ceramic. alabaster. marble. aluminum. steel. bismuth. bronze. polonium. chrome. osmium. sand.

[ NATURE/EVINRONMENT ]  grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses.  daisies. tulips. holly. lavender. lilies. petals. thorns. sunflowers. seeds. hay. sand.rocks. snow. ice. roots. flowers. ocean. river. lake. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. swamp. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. stars. clouds. mountains. fungi. cliffs. sunlight.moonlight. darkness. wasteland. void.

[ ANIMALS/CREATURES ]  lions. wolves.  black panther. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. roaches. tarantulas. scarabs. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. praying mantis. crows.  ravens. mice. lizards. frogs. bears. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus.  dinosaurs. dragons. felines. foxes. centaurs. antelope. chimeras. demons. angels. parakeets. harpy eagles. seagulls. warblers. birds of paradise. parrots. toucans. crows. ravens. orioles. cobras. black mambas.

[ FOOD/DRINK ] sugar. salt. water. candy.  bubblegum. wine. milk. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. apple. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. steak. burgers. burritos. pizza. vanilla. cookies. chocolate. tiramisu. cheesecake. sushi. tempura. pasta. cookies. garlic. bread. noodles.

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. piercing. watercolors. gardening. knitting. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. murder. fighting. fencing. riding. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. tinkering. video games. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. poetry. philosophy. cds. records. vinyls. cassettes. piano. organ. violin. cello. guitar. electronic guitar.  bass guitar. harmonica. synthesizers. harp. woodwinds.  brass. trumpet.  flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. climbing. tree climbing. running. vivisection. reading. learning. lecturing. teaching. murder. torment. tracking.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armor. cape. dress. robes. suit. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. shorts. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. belt. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sunglasses. visor. eye contacts. makeup. pantyhose. stockings. thigh highs. eyepatch. collar. bangle. torque. gorget. bracers. cuffs. body jewelry. crop tops.

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. cityscape. landscape. diligence. light. dark.candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary.  fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. realism. misanthropy. loneliness. anger. family. synthetic. friends. assistants. co-workers. plushies. enemies. lovers. loyalty. smoking. alcohol. drugs. kindness. love. embracing. magitek. futuristic. ancient. science. voidsent. cruelty. trust. mistrust. strength. doubt. reverence. ferocity. danger. automatons. metallic. allure. value. intelligent. revolutionary. defiant. advanced. engines. naïve. temporary. changing. split personality. paradigm shift. FREEDOM. belief.

tagged by: @khi-tastrophe​ / @alannah-corvaine​

tagging: @ayyymeric​ @demokron​ @oukaori​ @mizyin​ @ritsune​ @hokuto-ju-no-ken​ @lilirulu​ and anyone else who would be interested :3 don’t feel like you have to do this <3

[dire-kumori]

The Long Road: Chapter 5

How to Speak Dragonese

Rating: T

Pairing(s): hijack

Chapter summary: After a visit from Trader Johann the dragons come down with a mysterious illness. All hope seems loss until Jack reveals a new ability.

Hiccup watched intently as pale, dexterous fingers worked coarse, woolen yarn in even stitches through the head of what was emerging to be a rather splendidly made plush dragon toy. Its shape, Hiccup noticed, vaguely resembled Toothless's, if a bit softer and, well, cuddlier. Why Jack had decided to make it white was anyone's guess.

The sun was setting on Berk and Hiccup and Jack were, as they had every evening for the past two weeks since the Outcast attack, sitting in the snow-filled clearing - now dubbed the Winter Cove by the dragon riders - leaning against a fallen log while Hiccup sketched and Jack sewed. Nearby Toothless and Baby Tooth were playing in the snow, the frost-fairy creating spiraling tendrils of ice over its surface while Toothless tried to trace them with the splintered end of a discarded tree branch. This had become something of a habit for them, as had Jack's routine visits to not only the Dragon Training Academy but to the village of Berk itself. He was becoming a familiar sight to the villagers, particularly the children who would crowd around him and beg for him to tell them stories or play games with him the moment they saw his white hair in the distance.

Stoick still did not seem to be quite sure what to make of Jack. Hiccup was fairly certain his father did not dislike the white-haired boy, but the way he looked at Jack sometimes was disconcerting, as though he were staring at a ghost. More than once Hiccup had tried to question his father on the strange, haunted look in his eyes, only to find the words sticking to the back of his throat like bile.

"There, done." Jack's voice suddenly snapped Hiccup from his thoughts. Setting aside the bone needle he held up the white nightfury for inspection. "What do you think?"

"It looks great," Hiccup replied. It did look wonderful, the stitches nice and even and the silver clasps that served as eyes sparkling in the slowly waning light. "Torborg's gonna love it."

Jack beamed at the praise. He had only made a few toys before, always under the guidance of North. The Guardian of Wonder had practically burst with enthusiasm when Jack first expressed an interest in toy making, and had served as a wonderful mentor as he taught Jack how to sculpt and sew. A wave of nostalgia hit Jack. He wondered if the Guardians were doing all right.

"We should probably get back soon," Hiccup said abruptly. He pulled himself to his feet, brushing the snow off of his pants as he did. He held out a hand to help Jack to his feet only to find that the spirit was already standing, returning the needle and leftover yarn to the leather purse on his hip and tucking the toy under his arm.

After the initial panic was over and the injured were taken care of, Hildegarde's mother had insisted on getting Jack into what she deemed to be 'proper' clothes. The spirit was now dressed in a dark blue, woolen tunic lined with rabbit-fur for extra warmth and just a tad too big for him. Crystals of frost already clung to the coarse material, no doubt something over which Jack had no control, and the well-meaning mother had long since given up trying to brush it off. Jack's tight, deerskin trousers had been replaced with a pair of baggy, woolen breeches and a pair of fingerless rabbit-fur gauntlets now protected his hands, though Jack still refused to wear even a pair of slippers.

He looked good in it, Hiccup thought, even if the large clothes did make him seem smaller and frailer.

"Ready when you are," Jack said, retrieving his staff from its resting place in the snow. "Baby Tooth! C'mon, we're headed back to the village now!"

"Toothless! Time to go home, bud!"

A cloud of white powder erupted from the snowbank where Baby Tooth had half-buried Toothless as the nightfury popped to his feet, head tilting downward as his large eyes looked up at his rider, head-fins and wings drooping. Baby Tooth fixed Jack with an equally pathetic look, lower lip trembling as she clasped her tiny hands together.

((Aaaw, just five more minutes?))

((Happy-happy-fun-play-more-play-streeeeetch!))

"No, Toothless," Hiccup scolded, immune to the unholy-offspring-of-lightning-and-death-itself's puppy dog eyes. "We can come back and play tomorrow, but right now it's time to go home. Aren't you hungry for dinner anyways?"

Toothless stood, shoulders and hips rotating as he shook and sending snow flying everywhere. He left huge, sloppy footprints in the snow as he bounded over to Hiccup's side, tail wagging eagerly and tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.

"Hey Baby Tooth," Jack called over his shoulder as Hiccup mounted Toothless, "I bet Astrid'll be there."

The frost-fairy was perched on top of Toothless's head a moment later, chirping excitedly and pointing skyward. With a chuckle Jack climbed onto the saddle behind Hiccup, wrapping his staff-arm around the brunette's waist while the other held the newly-made dragon toy against his chest.

"Ready," he said, leaning just the slightest bit over Hiccup's shoulder so the other boy could hear him.

Hiccup nodded, ignoring the way his stomach tightened uncomfortably when he felt Jack's icy breath on his ear. "Ready bud?" Hiccup shifted his prosthetic in the stirrup. In response, the nightfury's wings shot out. "Let's go!"

The four of them took the long way back to the village, enjoying the world above the clouds as only they could in the waning sunlight. Hiccup pretended his heart was not beating faster than usual.

Stoick heard his son's approach before he saw the boy, alerted to Hiccup's presence by the rippling sound of massive wings beating the air. Mere moments later a black shadow was dropping from the sky in front of their house, two scrawny youths atop its back.

"Hi Dad!"

Stoick looked up, hand still on his thunderdrum's muzzle as he nodded to his son in greeting.

"Hello there son, Jack."

"Hi Stoick!" Jack said as he slid from Toothless's saddle, feet, as always, bare of any boots. How the boy still had all of his toes was beyond the Hooligan chief. "Hi big guy! How are you?"

The thunderdrum hummed in its wide throat, staring at Jack with the sort of soft expression that did not belong on such a vicious-looking dragon's face. In an instant Jack was kneeling next to the cobalt-scaled thunderdrum Stoick had only recently formed a bond with, smiling brightly and stroking the feral dragon's wide snout. The boy was certainly an strange one, Stoick thought, having no natural fear of dragons despite having only come to their island a few short weeks ago, but the children had taken to him and he had fought alongside them during the Outcast incursion, so the chief was willing to overlook Jack's oddness.

Still, there were certain things about Jack that unnerved him.

"What is that?" he asked gruffly, gesturing to the white wool-and-straw figure tucked under Jack's arm.

"Huh? Oh, this?" Jack held the stuffed dragon up for the chief to see plainly. "I made it for Tory, you know, since she lost her lamb. Think she'll like it?"

Hiccup fidgeted nervously as his father fixed Jack with a long, hard stare. There it was again, that haunted expression.

"It's very nice," Stoick said finally. "I'm sure she'll love it."

"Okay then!" Hiccup said, stepping between Jack and his father. "We're going to grab dinner now. See you in the Great Hall, all right? All right."

Before the other boy had a chance to protest Hiccup had grabbed hold of his wrist and was tugging him down the hill towards the Great Hall, Toothless following close behind.

"Hiccup!" Stoick called after his son's retreating figure. "Don't forget, Trader Johann's pulling in tomorrow!"

"I won't forget! See you later!"

"So who's Trader Johann?"

Upon entering the Great Hall, Jack and Hiccup had found the rest of Berk's dragon trainers already gathered around a wooden table near the entrance, talking animatedly about nothing in particular and leaving most of their plates half-finished. They had joined the group immediately, sitting side-by-side and Jack helping himself to the leftover vegetables without complaint from the others.

"He's this really awesome traveler who sails between the islands and sometimes even far-off places like the mainland," Fishlegs explained, bouncing eagerly in his seat. "He always brings back the most amazing things; books, relics, tales-"

"Freaky animals and statues and crap," Tuffnut cut him off. "Last time he came here I got an eyeball in a jar."

Jack stared at him blankly. "Gross."

"You should come see him with us tomorrow," Astrid suggested. She sat across from Hiccup, playing with Baby Tooth and letting the frost-fairy eat from her plate. "I think you'll like him; he's the adventurous type, like you, and he really does bring the coolest things."

"I don't have any money," Jack replied through a mouthful of cabbage.

"Eh, well he takes trades too," Hiccup offered.

"I don't really have anything to trade either. You know what I was wearing when we met? That is literally everything that I own."

The dragon riders exchanged guilty looks. Well, most of them.

"Ha, broke..." Snotlout laughed into his mug, thinking himself inconspicuous. His mead ended up all over the front of his tunic when Astrid punched him in the back of the head.

"Still, you should come," Hiccup said, ignoring his cousin. "Sometimes Trader Johann gives away things for free, and even if he doesn't he has amazing stories to share."

Jack thought about it as he chewed slowly through a piece of days-old bread, hardly noticing the musty taste. "Okay, I'll come see Trader Johann. What time should we meet?"

"Well, it's hard to know when exactly he'll come," Fishlegs explained. "Assuming the conditions tomorrow are good he should be arriving pretty early."

"So, what? We just hang around on the docks until he shows up?"

"Pretty much."

The seven teens, their dragons, and Baby Tooth - hidden inside the leather purse on Jack's belt - stuck to the plaza for much of the next morning. To the annoyance of most of the group, several children had flocked around them, mostly vying for Jack's attention but also pestering the others with questions about dragon training and flying. Torborg was among them, squeezing her new stuffed dragon to her chest with one arm and holding Wulfric's hand with the other. In between keeping an eye on their dragons and keeping an eye on the children the group barely had time to watch the horizon in search of Trader Johann's sailing vessel. Jack had asked the Wind to blow favorably for the merchant and she responded in kind, becoming a strong gale that would fill the trading ship's sails and carry it swiftly to Berk.

The first notice they had that Trader Johann had arrived was Bucket's voice rising from the docks. "Trader Johann's here! Trader Johann's here!"

People from all over the island rushed to the docks, some shoving and pushing others out of the way as they scrambled to be the first to visit the merchant's ship. Hiccup stuck close to Jack, knowing the spirit was quickly becoming claustrophobic. They stood near the front of the crowd, Bucket and his short, squat housemate Mulch standing nearby, as Trader Johann's ship pulled alongside the docks. It took a few minutes for the merchant to lower his gangplank, as he did so manually, but once he was finished he greeted the vikings with open arms and a warm smile.

"Ah, Berk! My favorite of all the islands I travel to."

Though the merchant vessel looked much the same as the longboats used by the Hooligans, Jack was surprised to learn that Trader Johann looked almost nothing like the people of Berk at all, his dark beard slicked with fish oil, his long, pointy mustache jutting out several inches beyond either side of his face, his skin olive-hued, and his features thin and long.

"Where have you been this time, Trader Johann?" Bucket asked, eyes brimming with excitement as he bounced on the balls of his feet like an overexcited young boy.

"Oh, Bucket," Trader Johann greeted the addled viking warmly. "The things I've seen, the people I've met! I'd need a week to regale you, but, alas, we have limited time to conduct our business together."

'Well, he's certainly a natural salesman,' Jack thought as he climbed aboard the ship after Bucket.

Climbing atop a pedestal built into the deck of his ship, Trader Johann stretched his arms out to the men and women still waiting on the pier and cried, "Whatever it is you're looking for, I assure you, you'll find it here!"

As though a dam had burst, the people of Berk flooded Johann's ship, the dragon riders piling on first and Toothless sticking close to Hiccup's side even in the tight space.

"It's all mine! I call dibs on everything!" Snotlout was putting his hands on everything he set his eyes on.

"Is that moving? Does that one move? Wha!"

"Ooh, look at this!"

"How beautiful!"

"Trader Johann!" Fishlegs approached the merchant, a thin, leather-bound tome in his hands. "Is this your only book on botany?"

"Yes, Mister Fishlegs. Why, it was given to me by the author himself!"

Fishlegs beamed, looping his thick fingers under a twine he wore around his neck and drawing from under his tunic a necklace adorned with three, pointed fangs. "Will you take this necklace? It's made from baby dragon's teeth!"

"Fair enough, Mister Fishlegs!" Johann held out his open hand, fingers curling over the elegantly pointed teeth as they fell into his palm.

"Whoo!" Snotlout said, gazing dreamily into the surface of a disc of polished silver. "I'm even better looking than I thought!"

Unable to resist, Jack looked up from the garment in his hands, threw Snotlout a smirk, and said, "I didn't know you had such a low opinion of yourself."

Fixing Jack with a glare, Snotlout had just opened his mouth to retort when Johann stepped between them.

"Now that's an interesting piece," the trader said, indicating the white, wolf-fur cloak Jack had been inspecting. It was beautifully made with a silver, crescent moon-shaped clasp holding it together at the throat and a hood with the wolf's ears still attached. A mask was attached to the hood where the muzzle would be, made with polished red wood and nearly featureless save for thee perfect black circles that served as eyes and a mouth. "You know, I got that from the northern tribes, who believe these masks imbue them with the strength of the spirits themselves."

"That's interesting," Jack admitted a bit sheepishly - he had never granted people strength for wearing a mask - before setting the cloak and the mask down where he had found it. "It looks cool, anyway."

"Would you like to trade for it? I am open to bargaining."

"Sorry," Jack replied, shaking his head. "I don't actually have anything to trade."

"I could get it." Both Jack and Trader Johann turned to Hiccup, standing only a few feet away with a small clay pot in the palm of his hand. Indicating the satchel resting at his hip he said, "I brought a few things to trade."

"No, that's okay," Jack replied. "I don't really need it; it would be a bit hot for me anyway."

Johann threw Jack a brief glance, brow perked curiously, before turning his gaze back to Hiccup. "Ooh, that's pure squid ink, Hiccup," he exclaimed, rolling his shoulders a bit conspicuously. "Wrestled from the colossal squid of the northern waters."

Hiccup dug his fingers into his satchel, withdrawing a small spyglass and holding it out to the seafarer. "Well, how about this spyglass? You know I made it myself."

"I know, you've given me five just like it," Johann replied with a genial laugh. Still, he took the device, peering through it before handing it back to Hiccup. Again, he rolled his shoulders, this time reaching up to knead the aching flesh with his fingers, and Jack found himself wondering how Johann wrestled a colossal squid when his shoulders hurt that badly. "Sadly, I've only got the two eyes. What else have you got?"

"What do you think of this winch?" Hiccup asked as he handed Johann the hand-made wooden device from his satchel. "Hey, it'll help you pull up your gangplank."

Trader Johann smiled as he accepted the device, turning the wheel with his finer and watching the attached rope coil around its shaft. "A welcome tool for a working man's ailing shoulder! Consider it done!"

As Trader Johann turned to store the winch somewhere safe until he was ready to use it, Hiccup caught sight of his father holding a southern-style sword, giving the blade several mighty practice swings and - if Hiccup saw that correctly - slicing through one of the bits on the dock.

"Oh wow, another sword," he commented with a roll of his eyes. "Just what we need."

"If you must know, it's not for me," Stoick growled as he balanced the hilt of the blade on his finger. "I'm heading off to my yearly meeting with the chief of the Shivering Shores. The last man to show up without a gift left without a head."

"Sounds like a charming guy," Jack commented.

Ignoring Jack, Stoick turned to Trader Johann. "Johann! What will you take in trade?"

"Stoick!" Johann exclaimed, beaming at the chief and ignoring the deep slashes the sword had left in his mast. "It is but your good graces that I desire when my humble ship passes through Berk!"

Stoick replied with a hearty chuckle."You'll always be welcome on our shores," he said as he fixed the blade to his belt. He turned, climbing out of the tiny trading vessel and onto the dock where his thunderdrum was waiting for him. "I'll be back in five days," he told Hiccup as he mounted his dragon and then, after a slight pause, "What am I sayin'? I'll be back in two! Thanks to Thornado!"

The thunderdrum, now dubbed Thornado, hummed contentedly as he felt his rider's familiar weight on his back. As soon as Stoick was settled Thornado jumped to his feet, wings flapping agitatedly as he urged his rider to take off.

"So, you finally named him?" Hiccup asked, smiling at the pair. "Thornado, huh?"

"That's right! Because he has the power of Thor, and the ferocity of a tornado!" Stoick explained, tugging lightly on his partner's reigns as he tried to calm the temperamental dragon. "And besides, it's the only thing he'll answer to. Turns out he can be quite stubborn!"

Jack and Hiccup exchanged sly looks. "Can't imagine where he gets that from," Hiccup whispered.

"Up Thornado!" And like that, they were gone, the thunderdrum-pair vanishing into the sky with a roar like a lightning strike as they flew to the Shivering Shores. Trader Johann watched, a sense of wonder washing over him as he stared at the viking chief with his dragon.

"Ah, men riding dragons. What a magnificent sight."

It was, but unfortunately, the magnificent sight was lost on some people.

"Johann!" a crackling voice called over the waves.

"Mildew!" Johann cried, turning to face the old hermit with a friendly smile.

Jack fixed the hermit with a glare; though he had never had a proper conversation with the man, Mildew had decided fairly quickly that Jack did not belong on Berk. He had made a point of telling Stoick at least once a day, every day, that Jack should be cast off the island or executed.

"C'mon," Hiccup whispered, placing a hand on Jack's back and urging him towards the back of the boat. "Just ignore him."

Mildew was easily ignoring them. "Did you bring what I want?" he snapped at the trader without so much as a greeting.

"Always straight to the point! I like that." Johann laughed, placing his hand atop a stack of reed-woven baskets and tilting the lid of the top one back just enough for Mildew to peer inside at their contents. "I assume you brought my cabbage?"

Rather than answering, Mildew used his dragon-tooth staff to indicate the basket laying on the deck of Johann's ship. The basket was filled with green, leafy cabbage heads, their foliage still wet from the spring water Mildew had used to wash them before piling them in his cart and bringing them all the way down to the docks from his hut far outside the village.

Johann eagerly scooped up the basket into his arms, inhaling the fresh, aromatic scent of the greens while Mildew barked at him to, "Take these to my house!" indicating the baskets with his staff. Never dropping his friendly demeanor, Johann nodded, setting the cabbage aside while Mildew shuffled off of his ship.

The trader started when he heard a high-pitched squeak and a scuttling sound behind him. Whirling around he found a terrible terror with sky-blue scales clinging to one of Mildew's baskets, snuffling at the lid curiously while its tail flicked back and forth.

"Ah! Now now now, little fella, that's not for you. Go away," Johann scolded, approaching the terror. He reached for it, yelping when the dragon snapped at him with needle-like teeth.

"Oh, hey, there you are!" Johann cradled his injured hand as Jack calmly approached the terror, plucking it gently from the basket with his free hand. "Sorry about that," he said to Trader Johann. "He's just curious."

So was Jack, for that matter. He leaned over Mildew's basket, attempting to peer inside only to have the trader snap the lid shut before he could get a good look. He did, however, manage to catch a faint whiff of something floral.

"Taking after his owner, no doubt!" Johann teased.

"I'm not really his owner," Jack replied, struggling to hold the terror as it squirmed in his arms, clamoring up to his shoulders where it hissed at Johann. "We've only met a couple of times. Whoa, hey!"

Suddenly the terrible terror leaped from Jack's shoulders, landing on Toothless's head and causing the nightfury to leap back in surprise. Toothless's tail flailed, whipping into Hiccup's back and knocking the vial of squid ink from his hands.

"Hey!" Hiccup cried as the terror flew off. Toothless let out a low whine as he sniffed at the black smear across the deck of Johann's ship, Hiccup staring at the shattered pieces of clay forlornly. "Oh, it's gone."

"Oh, sorry lad, that was my last one," Johann apologized, sounding genuinely remorseful. "But rest assured I'll find that colossal squid and wrestle you another bottle."

Hiccup scooped up a shard of the ink bottle, not reassured by Johann's declaration.

"Sorry," Jack said, placing his hand on Toothless's head as the black dragon crooned sadly.

When Jack and Hiccup arrived at the Dragon Training Academy that afternoon, it was to the sight of the twins shoving a huge, tribal statue towards the center of the ring. Hiccup watched, bemused, as Tuffnut huffed and puffed, his sister abandoning him in favor of greeting Jack. Baby Tooth glared at the female twin as she unsuccessfully flirted with her larger-half, calling the girl vulgar things in hummingbird.

"How does that look?" Tuffnut asked, leaning against the statue as his chest heaved.

"Beautiful," his sister replied, leaning against Jack's shoulder. She lost her balance a moment later when Jack stepped away, earning a vindictive snicker from Baby Tooth.

"Wow," Hiccup breathed as he approached the academy's new centerpiece. "You got that just for the academy?"

"Yeah, we got it from Trader Johann," Tuffnut replied. "We had to give him our great-grandfather's skull, but we got to keep his clavicle."

Hiccup grinned, running his fingers over the intricately carved designs winding across the surface of the totem. "Wow. You know, it's about time you guys started taking some pride in this place."

"Duck."

"What?"

As he had been talking, Hiccup had not noticed Ruffnut approaching Barf-and-Belch. Tuffnut grabbed Hiccup's shoulder, pulling the scrawny teen down with him as his sister snapped her fingers. At her signal Barf-and-Belch launched a bolt of fire straight into the statues' face, sending it flying back a few feet and singeing the hairs on top of the boys' heads.

Snotlout grinned like a maniac.

"That. Was. AWESOME!" He threw himself onto Hookfang's saddle, grabbing onto his partner's horns as his excitement infected the dragon. "I wanna take a shot! FIRE!"

For once, Hookfang obeyed, shooting a globule of red-orange fire at the statue. It went flying back a few more feet, not quite as far as the zippleback had sent it.

Jack laughed as Stormfly and Meatlug joined in this new game, the deadly nadder firing her quills at the statue without her rider's instruction and the gronkle blasting it with one of her lava balls. Even Toothless was eager to take a shot at the statue, mouth parting to fire a plasma blast and-

Hwech!

...Huh?

Everyone stared in Toothless in shock as a weak puff of violet light flew from his mouth, dissipating mid-air before it had even come close to the statue. Toothless rubbed at his muzzle blearily, shaking his head before another weak bolt burst from his mouth involuntarily, flying straight at Snotlout's head.

"Whah!" the burly teen cried, flinching and covering his head instinctively. The others hardly noticed, each of them staring at Toothless in concern.

"Okay, that's strange..." Hiccup said, mainly to himself, as he approached his dragon.

"Hey!" Snotlout snapped, not pleased with being ignored. "Could you have your dragon cover his mouth when he sneezes?"

"I-I'm sorry, but that's never happened before." Toothless stared up at Hiccup miserably, shaking his head as he felt another sneeze coming and aiming it at the ground nearby when it did.

((Maybe he'll feel better after a good night's sleep?)) Baby Tooth offered, sounding more sure than she felt.

Jack desperately hoped she was right.

Toothless was not feeling better after a good night's sleep.

In fact, he had gotten much worse, the sneezing coming more frequently and his muscles aching and spasming to the point that he could no longer fly straight, as Hiccup had learned after a particularly painful crash-landing. Toothless groaned miserably at Hiccup, the noise tugging at Hiccup's heart. As much as he knew about dragons - which was in fact more than anyone else on Berk except for, maybe, Fishlegs - he knew next to nothing about treating draconic illnesses.

Toothless was not the only one affected. Walking the plaza, Jack had come across the blue terrible terror from the day before, lounging in the shade next to a flower bush with violet blooms. The poor thing was shaking and sneezing, groaning like Toothless was, crying out as Jack picked him up, ((pain-pain-pain-pain-pain...))

Gobber insisted he had a cure.

"This'll fix 'em right up!" the blacksmith exclaimed over a bubbling cauldron filled with a viscous, foul-smelling green liquid.

They were inside Hiccup's house, seated around the fire pit on the first floor. Hiccup was kneeling next to Toothless with both hands on the nightfury's muzzle as he tried to ease his friend's suffering. Jack sat a few feet away, terrible terror cradled in his arms as he stroked the poor creature's belly in slow, soothing circles. Baby Tooth was flying overhead, keeping to the rafters and out of Gobber's sight, but radiating concern-fear-worry-sympathy-care for the ailing dragons.

"What is that?" Hiccup asked as Gobber approached him, cauldron swinging from his hook-hand.

"It's best no' ta ask," Gobber replied as he set the cauldron down in front of Toothless's muzzle. "And whatever ye do, don' touch it."

Hwech!

Gobber leaped back as Toothless sneezed, sending the cauldron flying and coating the front of his tunic with green goo.

"Well that's ruined," the blacksmith groaned as he bent and scooped up the now empty cauldron. "I'll never ge' tha' yak ta vomit again."

Neither Hiccup nor Jack had a chance to let that sink in before the door to Hiccup's hut was bursting open.

"Guys!" Astrid called, breath coming out in uneven pants and face coated with a sheen of sweat. "You gotta see this!"

It was spreading. Astrid had lead the two of them outside where they found Barf-and-Belch, Hookfang, and Meatlug flailing mid-air. Their riders tried desperately to calm them, to get their flights back under control, but to no avail. Hiccup flinched as one of Hookfang's talons caught the length of one of Berk's raised braziers, sending himself and Snotlout in an uncontrolled spiral before he finally managed to get his talon unstuck and went flying into the dirt.

"Help her, Hiccup!" Fishlegs cried from atop Meatlug. The poor gronkle was rotating in place, weaving up and down without any real direction. "She's sick! And I'm about to be... blrrffgh..."

Meatlug collided none too gracefully with the ground, Fishlegs pouring from her saddle moments later and collapsing into a bed of flowers.

"They're all getting sick," Jack breathed, hold on the sick dragon in his arms unconsciously tightening. Hiccup's hut flew open again, Gobber stepping outside and taking in the sight of the dazed dragons.

"How do we stop this!" Hiccup cried, turning to his mentor with the sort of pleading expression he had not used since he was small. Gobber hummed thoughtfully to himself, scratching at his chin before his whole face suddenly lit up.

"Gothi! She'll know wha' ta do!"

Gothi turned out to be an incredibly tiny, incredibly old woman with a face like an owl, wide-eyed and pointy-nosed, and silver hair tied into two uneven braids. She carried with her a bent walking stick decorated with polished dragon's teeth and wore a small helmet with thin, curling horns jutting up from the metal. Her home was built atop a small plateau overlooking the village, the inside of which was decorated with charms and talismans of every sort, most of them carved from wood or animal bones. A massive fire pit with foul-smelling flames already burning hot and bright made up the centerpiece of the main room, around which several boxes of sand were carefully arranged.

The old woman set about inspecting the dragons eagerly, first looking over Toothless - his eyes, his mouth, his nostrils, his claws - and then doing the same to the terrible terror in Jack's hold. Jack watched, silently as she scooped up a set of cleanly picked bones from her fireside, holding them to her lips briefly before scattering them across the ground.

"I've heard Gothi can tell you when you're gonna die just by looking at your fingernails," Astrid whispered as the old woman inspected the lay of the bones. The moment she did, Fishlegs - who had, perhaps unwisely, left Meatlug in the care of Snotlout and the twins in favor of accompanying the others to Gothi's hut - tucked his hands behind his back. Part of a nervous habit, he let his tongue peek just the slightest bit beyond his lips.

"Aah, tha's jest an old wives' tale," Gobber reassured the teens as he approached the elder. "She looks at yer tongue."

Fishlegs clapped his hands over his mouth.

Ignoring them, Jack and Hiccup watched as Gothi grabbed up her walking stick and used it to trace lines in one of her sandboxes. Gobber leaned over her shoulder, inspecting the cryptic writings that few others in the village could decipher. As he stared at them, Jack watched the scribbles crawl across the dirt, lines rearranging themselves until the spelled:

((The dragons are having a reaction, not unlike an allergy.))

"She says they're reactin' ta something, like they're allergic," Gobber translated for those that did not have the Gift of Tongues.

"Allergic?" Hiccup parroted, arms around Toothless's neck. "To what?"

Again, Gothi began scribbling, and again, Gobber translated.

"To a moose... wearin' boots." Jack and Gothi stared at Gobber incredulously. "Shouldn' nae be to hard ta find."

Pain exploded across Gobber's forehead as Gothi struck him with her staff.

"I didn' nae think tha' was right," he muttered, rubbing the red spot left behind. For a tiny thing, Gothi was surprisingly strong.

"She said they're allergic to something new," Jack said, garnering odd looks from the others in the room save Gothi, who smiled warmly at him. "Something that came to the island recently."

"You can read her writing?" Fishlegs asked, eyes wide. Jack shrugged.

"That still looks like a moose," Gobber muttered, earning him another strike from the elder.

"There are a lot of new things on the island," Astrid pointed out. "Trader Johann was just here."

Gothi began to scratch into the dirt again, but before she could finish Jack felt a slight tug at the back of his tunic.

((What about the flowers?)) Baby Tooth whispered into Jack's ear, unnoticed by either of the adults in the room. ((I saw some of the dragons eating them, and I'm pretty sure that they weren't here before yesterday.))

Ice blue eyes widened in realization. He remembered, very suddenly, the floral scent from the baskets on Trader Johann's ship.

"What about the flowers?" he said, giving voice to Baby Tooth's idea. "The ones in the plaza?"

Gothi paused, looking up from her scritch-scratching to meet Jack's eyes. Baby Tooth pressed herself against the back of Jack's neck, hiding from the elder's piercing gaze. A moment later Gothi was writing again, leaving her last sentence unfinished.

((Do you know where the flowers came from? Who bought them?))

"No idea," Jack admitted. "But I remember Mildew bought some baskets from Trader Johann yesterday, and the baskets smelled like flowers."

Hiccup's head shot up at the mention of Mildew's name. "Fishlegs!" he shouted, causing the husky viking to jump. "Do you have your botany book with you?"

"Uuuuuhhh..." Fishlegs fumbled, patting himself down before withdrawing the book from the folds of his tunic. Everyone gathered around as he flipped through the pages, peering over the shoulders. "Okay, here it is. Chapter eight, poisonous plants..."

Anger burned in Hiccup's chest as Fishlegs began to read.

"The blue oleander. Very soft, perennial... and poisonous to reptiles."

Unconsciously Hiccup's fingers tightened into a fist, fingernails digging into his palms until they burned. Even Baby Tooth had to clasp her hands over her mouth to keep from shrieking in rage, though Jack could still feel her fury-despair-anger-disgust.

"Which means poisonous to dragons."

After leaving Gothi's hut, Hiccup and Jack brought Toothless and the blue terror back to Hiccup's home, settling the two comfortably atop the nightfury's stone slab in hopes that getting some rest would help. Before leaving Hiccup grabbed the Book of Dragons from underneath his bed, and then they joined the others on the steps of the Great Hall where Fishlegs was pouring over his botany book in search of a cure.

"I-i-i-t's no good," the husky blonde stammered through shuddering breaths, tears threatening to fall. "I've l-looked through the chapters on m-medicinal plants and sp-pecial p-properties. There's nothing o-on blue oleander p-p-poisoning."

"Hey, relax Fishlegs," Astrid said, placing a surprisingly gentle hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure this out."

"I could freeze all of the plants," Jack offered, waving his staff in show. Fishlegs shook his head.

"Even if you did, it wouldn't d-do anything for the dragons who already ate the p-plant. We need a cure."

"Will this help?" Hiccup asked as he handed Fishlegs the Book of Dragons. "Maybe there's something on treating sick dragons."

Setting aside his botany book, Fishlegs accepted the larger tome, flipping it open and turning the pages more out of habit than anything else. "I don't think so. This book was originally created as a guide for dragon-slayers and all other information since is pretty much everything we've discovered on our own and- Of course! Snakes and spiders!"

Everyone stared at him blankly.

"Snakes and spiders!" Fishlegs repeated enthusiastically, as though he expected them to suddenly understand as he flipped furiously for the pages of the book. "When you get bitten by a poisonous spider, the antidote can be made from the venom of a creature that eats said spider, the snake. To get the antidote for a poisonous flower, we need the venom from a creature that eats said flower and that-!"

Fishlegs froze, face still split by a wide grin but falling every second. He had found the page he was looking for, depicting an ink illustration of an ocean-born dragon with a long, serpentine neck spraying out a cloud of what looked like steam. Jack peered over the page, reading the words 'scauldron' at the top.

"No venom," he read aloud.

Silence fell over the group.

For several moments nobody said anything. The twins exchanged mournful looks, Snotlout wrung his hands together, Astrid's shoulders shook with barely suppressed rage, and Fishlegs stared solemnly at the book in his hands. Jack threw a sympathetic look to Hiccup, feeling sorry not only for the lanky viking who loved his nightfury companion so deeply, but also for the reptilian creatures whose voices he could hear even now, crying out ((pain-pain-pain-pain-pain.)) His own body was beginning to hurt, muscles tightening and stomach twisting as their empathetic voices echoed in his head not only as the word 'pain' but as the exact degree to which they felt it.

A thunderous roar suddenly broke the silence, followed moments later by the pounding of wings against the air.

"Hiccup!" Stoick called as he and Thornado touched down in the plaza. "Put this in the Book of Dragons! Never fly on a stomach full of under cooked mutton. The Shivering Shores will never be the same!"

Stoick was smiling at the teens as he approached, laughing privately at his own joke, but as he neared the group and took in their grim expressions his own smile fell. Only now did he realize that none of their dragons were with them.

"What is it Hiccup? What's wrong?"

"Mildew poisoned the dragons!" Jack replied in place of the chief's son, leaping to his feet as he did. Stoick's eyes went wide as the white-haired boy continued. "He bought poisonous plants from Trader Johann, knowing that they'd hurt the dragons!"

"He did what?" Stoick growled, feeling rage towards the old man as he never had before.

When he had been without a dragon of his own, Mildew's antics and hatred of dragons had been a mere annoyance. Now, however, he knew what it was like to be bonded to a dragon, knew how intimately a dragon and its rider were connected. Turning to Hiccup and taking in his solemn expression, he thought he understood now how badly Hiccup was hurting for Toothless's sake.

Expression hardening into a withering glare, the Hooligan chief said, "Let's go pay the old man a visit."

"Wha- So what if I planted some flowers? The town square has never looked better! I was merely trying to spread some beauty and happiness." Mildew stroked the wool of his pet sheep, Fungus, as four sets of eyes glowered at him, not at all convinced by his plea of ignorance.

Stoick had confronted the hermit in his hut on the outskirts of town, bringing along his son as well as Astrid and Jack. The children, he knew, were already convinced of the old man's guilt. If he were being perfectly honest, he would admit that he was as well, but as chief it was his duty to remain impartial.

"Since when have you cared about beauty or happiness?" Astrid growled, fingers twitching for the axe Chief Stoick had not allowed her to bring.

"You did this," Hiccup accused.

"Wha...?" Mildew's words broke off into a disbelieving laugh as Stoick glowered at him. "Well I had no inkling, Stoick, that these flowers had special properties. It's true, I'm no friend of the dragons, but in this case, on my life, I was not trying to harm them."

Stoick held the old man's gaze for several moments, hoping to break the old man. After a while, however, he sighed, turning and pushing the door to Mildew's hut open. "Let's go."

"What?" Jack stared at the chief incredulously. "You don't really believe this guy, do you!?"

"Let's go, Jack," Stoick repeated. "We have more important things to deal with, like getting the dragons taken care of."

Jack growled, hand tightening around his staff until his knuckles turned white and sending Mildew one last poisonous glare, but, reluctantly, he allowed himself to be ushered out of the hut by Stoick, Astrid and Hiccup following close behind. Once the door had shut behind them and they were on the winding dirt road back to the village Stoick placed a hand on Jack's slim shoulder and said, "Believe me, lad, he will get what's coming to him."

That only made Jack feel a little bit better.

The sun had just set when the four of them arrived back in Berk. Astrid bid Hiccup and Jack goodnight before returning to her own home, do doubt eager to check up on Stormfly. Stoick and Hiccup similarly returned to their own home, Jack following them up to their doorstep only.

"Tell Toothless I said 'get well soon,'" Jack said, waving to Hiccup as the brunette retreated into his home.

"I will," Hiccup replied. "Good night Jack."

"G'night, lad," Stoick had said over his son's head before shutting the door and leaving Jack nearly alone in the dark.

With the streets now empty of people, Baby Tooth emerged from Jack's purse, gleefully stretching her wings in the cool air as she did. The purse was a lot more cramped than Jack's hood had been. Alone in the night, wandering by the dim light of the half-moon, the two made their way from flower bush to flower bush, frosting the delicate plants down to the roots. Even if it would not help all of the dragons, it made the pair feel better.

"Lad?" Baby Tooth 'eeped,' disappearing into Jack's purse as Gobber appeared from the front door of his smithy-slash-dentistry-office. "Wha' are ye doin' out 'ere?"

Jack glanced around, wondering if Gobber had noticed him freezing the plants. The blue oleanders sparkled in the dim moonlight, rims of frost crusting their vibrant petals. It disgusted Jack that they should look so beautiful when they were putting innocent people through so much pain.

"Just walking around," Jack half-lied as Gobber made his way down the hill. Leaning on his staff, Jack gestured to the sky. "It looked like a nice night, and I needed the air."

"Well, ye're gonna freeze your toes off at this rate. Come inside, ah'll get ye somethin' warm ta put in yer belly."

Jack almost declined, but the promise of food proved too great to resist. With a slight nod, Jack allowed himself to be lead into the smithy, a sweat breaking out on his skin the moment he stepped within the confines of the heated space.

"Make yerself cozy," Gobber said as he bustled about the shop. "Ah'll jes be a momen'."

Complying silently, Jack slid himself onto a wooden stool, staring at the dying fire of the forge blankly. Baby Tooth was trying to console him with soothing emotions, but he could still feel echoes of the dragons' pain pain pain. He thought about Tory, clutching her dragon toy to her chest and babbling excitedly about the dragon she would ride someday. What did she think of all of this?

"Ah, 'ere ye are, lad." Appearing seemingly from nowhere, Gobber shoved a steaming mug of frothy yellow liquid in his face. "This'll warm ye right up."

"Thanks," Jack muttered as he accepted the mug with one hand, not mentioning that he felt too warm already. The mug cooled the moment his fingers brushed it, and it took all of his willpower to not frost it over while Gobber watched. Still, by the time he raised the mug to his lips to take the first sip steam was no longer rising from the surface.

"Ah know ye're still worried about the dragons, lad, but we'll figger somethin' out. Wee Hiccup's a brilliant one, an' he'd do anything for those winged lizards."

"I know," Jack replied, fiddling with his staff. "I just, uh... I wish I could do something."

Jack felt a consoling arm on his shoulder, and once again he thought to North.

"Fishlegs says that if we had the poison from something that eats the blue oleander we could use it as a cure," he went on. He paused, took another sip of mead, and then continued, "But the only creature that comes to mind is a scauldron, and they don't even have venom."

"Wha' are ye goin' on about? Scauldrons 'ave venom."

"What?" Jack stared at Gobber, eyes wide. "But the Book of Dragons said-"

"The book is wrong," Gobber cut him off. "I've dealt with a scauldron before. They're sixty feet long with razor sharp teeth. It'll shoot boiling water that'll melt the flesh from yer bones. The scauldron has no fear, no conscience, but wha' a scauldron does have is venom, an' lots o' it!"

Jack sat up straighter and straighter in the stool as Gobber spoke, eyes going wide and a grin pulling at his lips. Inside the purse Baby Tooth's wings buzzed excitedly as she sang hope-good-we-do-go-find-we-will-us-strong-go!

"So we just have to go find a scauldron!" Jack cried, leaping to his feet. Gobber stared at him, jaw dropping for a moment.

"Aye, we jes have ta find a merciless sea-monster an' politely ask it for some o' it's venom," he snarked as Jack swiftly drained the contents of his mug, wiping his lips on the back of his glove before slamming it down on the counter.

"C'mon!" the white-haired immortal cried, ignoring the blacksmith's snark. "Let's go wake up Hic!"

A miserable whine vibrated in Toothless's throat, despite the soothing hands rubbing behind his head-fins. Hiccup sighed, leaning his slim frame against the dragon's back and wrapping his arms around Toothless's shoulders.

"I am so sorry, Toothless," he whispered. With his cheek pressed against the nightfury's glossy black scales he could feel how cold his friend had become, his inner fire dimmed by Mildew's poisonous flowers. As much as Mildew had annoyed him in the past, Hiccup had never wanted so badly to hurt the old man as he did now.

The blue terror - Hiccup had contemplated giving it a name, only to realize it probably would not have need of one for much longer - whined piteously behind him, curled up against Toothless's side for what little body heat they were able to share. It was so unfair, Hiccup thought, that Mildew's plan not only hurt Berk's trained dragons, but also the playful wild ones that just happened to pass through at the wrong time.

If any of them died, he was going to kill Mildew.

Hiccup was certain his father would not stop him. Upon returning to their hut they had found that Thornado had also come down with the oleander poisoning, their pungent aroma proving to be enough to infect the powerful dragon. Stoick had yet to even come indoors, remaining outside in the brisk night air to tend to the suffering thunderdrum. Though they had only been together a short time, Hiccup knew that his father and Thornado loved and trusted one another; Stoick would not let Mildew live long enough to celebrate the death of the dragons if it came to that.

A sudden rapid banging from downstairs snapped Hiccup from his increasingly dark thoughts.

"Hiccup!" Jack's voice called from downstairs. "Hiccup, get down here right now!"

Pressing his forehead to Toothless's muzzle, Hiccup said, "Be right back, bud." Toothless trilled softly as Hiccup stood, prosthetic leg squeaking as he made his way swiftly down the stairs.

The moment he yanked open the front door, Hiccup found himself faced with the grinning face of Jack Frost, Gobber and Stoick standing a little ways away outside his hut.

"Scauldrons have venom!" Jack cried.

For several moments Hiccup just stared at Jack, the words not quite sinking in, but when they did he felt his lips begin to curl into a wide grin matching the one that split Jack's face. "Scauldrons have venom?" Jack nodded eagerly, and an incredulous laugh escaped from Hiccup's throat. "Scauldrons have venom!"

"That they do, lad!" Gobber cried with a hearty laugh. "That they do."

Stoick looked between the three of them, wondering what had suddenly come over them.

A low mist hung over the surface of the ocean, the water as still and smooth as glass on that particular night. Hiccup shivered, pulling his fur vest tighter around himself as he leaned over the edge of the longboat, searching the water for some trace of green wings. The scent of saltwater mixed with the aroma of the blue oleanders filling the baskets stacked in the deck of the ship burned his nostrils, but he could live with that.

"This is an outrage!"

Mildew's incessant complaining, on the other hand, he could do without.

"I dug up the flowers!" the hermit groused. "I did my part!"

"We're all out here because of you, Mildew," Stoick growled, looking at the old man sideways as he, too, scanned the water for some sign of a scauldron. "If we have to put our lives at risk, then so do you."

Behind him, Gobber, Sven, Mulch, and Bucket grumbled and nodded in unison, shooting the hermit icy glares as they rotated the oars. Mildew scoffed, waving them off.

"You have no proof, Stoick. You can't blame me every time something goes amiss with your precious dragons." Mildew shoved his way past Hiccup and Jack, ignoring the looks he was garnering from the others on the ship.

"Can we throw him in the ocean?" Jack asked.

"No," Stoick replied, eyes still to the water.

"Please?"

Stoick opened his mouth to say 'no' again, and then hesitated. Mildew fixed the chief with a look of pure disbelief.

"All right Stoick," Gobber said, approaching the Hooligan chief with a wooden bucket hanging from his hook. "What's the plan?"

Taking the bucket from his friend, Stoick turned to Hiccup, expression stern. "Hiccup, when Gobber and I secure the scauldron's head, Sven will wedge its jaw open. We'll need you to-"

"Drain the poison into this bucket. Got it." Hiccup took the bucket. "Let's get started."

Jack set aside his staff and joined Hiccup in grabbing the flower baskets and scattering their contents overboard. Soon the water surrounding their vessel was decorated with hundreds of tiny blooms, and again Jack was disgusted by how pretty they looked. Only one basket remained untouched, sitting innocuously on the deck where it would remain until they were ready for it.

Hours passed. As the night wore on the sense of unease that held the crew in the beginning evaporated, leaving the vikings tired and bored. Jack leaned on his staff as he stared out into the water, Hiccup standing nearby and struggling to stay awake. Only Mildew remained alert. If anything, he seemed to become more agitated as the time passed.

"Ah, this is not working. It was a stupid idea to begin with."

Lips curling into a disgusted sneer, Hiccup started for Mildew, stopping only when Stoick placed a large hand on his chest, raising the other one in a placating gesture. "Easy son, that's not why we're here."

Gobber pointed at something in the water. "But that is."

Everyone rushed to the side of the ship, leaning over the railing in order to get a look at the massive wings of the sea-green dragon as it glided through the water underneath their ship. Jack's eyes widened in surprise; the scauldron did not look at all like the horrifying monster Gobber had described. It looked rather pretty, in fact, with the moon- and starlight rippling over its wings, giving it an ethereal look.

"Scauldron," Stoick whispered as its head came up to snatch some of the blue oleanders from the ocean surface near the ship.

Suddenly Jack was leaning over the side of the railing, waving his hand and crying out, "Hey! Hey, over here! We need to talk to you!"

"Lad, are ye nuts!?" Gobber cried, grabbing the back of Jack's tunic with his good hand and yanking him back inside the ship. "What do ye think yer doin'?"

"Trying to get its attention," Jack replied without taking his eyes off of the scauldron. Even with Gobber tugging at his tunic he leaned forward, still waving. "Hey!"

The scauldron's back broke the ocean surface first, and with a hissing noise and a spray of saltwater its head was alongside the ship. Its face was narrower than Jack had thought, but with a large sack attached to the underside of its throat that bobbed every time it moved. Blinking its large, pearly eyes, it stared curiously at the wingless in the longboat, all of whom were staring at it with wide, frightened eyes. All of them, that is, except for two.

((You-what-you? Wingless-no-speak-you-speak-wingless-you? Dragon-you?))

Slipping free of Gobber's grasp, Jack scooped up the last basket of blue oleanders, motioning for Hiccup to come closer. Snapping out of his stupor, Hiccup grabbed the bucket they had set aside for the scauldron's venom, approaching the wild dragon cautiously even as it fixed its gaze to Jack.

"My name is Jack," he was saying to the sea-dragon, appearing completely unafraid even as the scauldron's jaw unhinged to reveal two rows of fine, needle-like teeth. "Some of my friends are very sick, and we need your help."

Unheeded by the two teenagers and the dragon, the rest of the crew stared, eyes wide and mouths agape. Gobber leaned over to his best friend and whispered into the chief's ear, "Ah may need ta change mah skivvies."

((Wingless-sick-me-no-wingless-me-no-help-wingless.))

"They're not humans," Jack replied. "They're dragons. They were poisoned by these flowers-" Jack held the basket out to the scauldron, removing the lid to reveal its contents "-and we think your venom can cure them."

The cat-like pupils of the scauldron's eyes suddenly rounded out. ((Cousins-sick-mad-scared-hurt-sorry-protect-protect.))

Jack smiled. Waving Hiccup closer, he continued, "We just need to drain some of your poison into this bucket." Hiccup held the bucket towards the dragon. "We'll give you the rest of these flowers afterwards?"

The scauldron blinked, inspecting Jack first, then Hiccup and the bucket. Then its jaw parted. The adults on the ship jumped, half-expecting an attack, but the scauldron simply lowered its head to Hiccup. It placed its front teeth over the rim of the bucket, pinching the wood between its narrow jaw and, with a slight hissing sound, secreted a clear, oily substance with a wet squelch. The poison dripped until the bucket was half-full, and then the scauldron released its hold, serpentine tongue swiping over its bulbous chin as it lapped up the poison dripping over its slick skin.

"Thank you," Jack whispered as he held out the flower basket.

With a quick snap of its jaws the scauldron plucked the basket out of his hands, crooning, ((You-Icicle-good-Icicle-protect-cousins-happy-good-good.)) Then it was sliding beneath the waves, tail snapping up as it disappeared and sending a spray of saltwater over the ship.

"We did it." Jack's voice coming out as barely a whisper. He rounded on Hiccup, a grin threatening to tear his face in half. "Hiccup, we did i-"

He froze as he saw how Hiccup was staring at him. The lanky viking's eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and his mouth moved soundlessly as he tried and failed to put to words the questions that were running through his head a mile a minute. Furrowing his eyebrows, Jack turned to Stoick and Gobber to ask what was wrong, only to find they were staring at him with the same stupefied expressions as Hiccup.

"...Why is everyone staring at me like that?"

Mildew responded first, fixing Jack with a stink eye and shaking his finger at him accusingly. "I-I-I knew there was something not right about you." He instantly whirled to face Stoick, his voice rising to a wail as he shrieked, "Sorcery! That boy is an abomination! Not natural! I told you he wasn't normal!"

Snapping out of his stupor, Stoick fixed the hermit with a hard stare. "Mildew..." He hardly noticed his son shoving the bucket into Jack's arms.

"Don't 'Mildew' me! We need to get rid of him now, before he does more harm! Cast him into the ocean and leave him to di-"

Mildew's tirade was cut short as Hiccup's fist collided with his face. The old man went sprawling to the ground with a loud crack, going limp as he lost consciousness. Cursing under his breath, Hiccup nursed his now smarting knuckles as he glared at Mildew venomously.

He pointedly ignored the fact that everyone on the ship was now fixing him with the same expressions they had been fixing Jack with moments ago.

"So, you can talk to dragons?"

It had been posed as a question, but Hiccup already knew the answer. The two boys sat at the edge of Toothless's slate, Hiccup on his knees facing the nightfury and Jack cross-legged next to him with the blue terrible terror resting contentedly in his lap. They had only just finished applying the scauldron's antidote to the two reptiles. Baby Tooth trilled from her perch atop Toothless's head and the nightfury warbled something back to her. With nothing left to do but wait and see if the dragons recovered, Hiccup decided that now would be as good a time as any to address what had happened on the ship.

"Yeah..." Jack admitted, not looking up from the terror curled up in his lap. He stroked the dragon's round belly in slow, soothing circles as he waited for any sign of the dragons' recovery. "Actually, it's not just dragons. I can understand all languages, human or animal, or anything else." He shrugged. "That's why I can understand Baby Tooth. And you."

Hiccup blinked. "Me?"

"I don't actually speak Norse," Jack clarified. Finally he turned to face Hiccup, a slightly sheepish expression on his face. "It's old magic, called the Gift of Tongues. I can understand any language I hear or read."

"That's incredible."

Jack shrugged. "It's useful, I guess, but I wouldn't call it incredible. I actually think you're more amazing."

"Wh-what?" Heat flooded Hiccup's face and he feared that if he looked into a mirror at that moment he would find his face was as red as Toothless's artificial tail-fin. "I-I mean, uh, wh-what makes you say that?" Not exactly his smoothest moment, he would admit.

A wistful smile appeared on Jack's face and his gaze again fell to the tiny dragon in his lap. Baby Tooth chirped, opalescent wings twitching slightly and Hiccup for the first time found himself actually wondering what she had said.

"You know, I had no idea that you couldn't understand your dragons. I mean, it's been a couple of weeks and all this time I never even noticed. You talk and then Toothless talks back and it doesn't sound one-sided at all. I've seen people go to war with each other just because they couldn't understand each other's language but you guys..." Here Jack paused. Again the spirit's gaze shifted, and when his ice-colored eyes met Hiccup's emerald the brunette felt his breath catch in his throat. "You don't speak the same language, and you don't look alike, but all of you live together peacefully. I think that's way more amazing than me being lucky enough to have the Gift of Tongues."

"U-uhm..." Hiccup forced himself to turn his gaze back to Toothless. He was unable to ignore the slightly teasing expression the sick dragon was fixing him with. "I never thought of it like that. I mean, I knew that dragons were smart and that they could understand us but..." He paused, cleared his throat, and attempted to will his blush away before turning back to Jack. "You really had no idea?"

Jack shook his head. "None what-so-freaking-ever."

Toothless let out his usual goff goff goff, drawing the boys' attention. Hiccup smiled and scratched behind Toothless's head-fins. The black dragon cooed in delight before pushing himself upright and bringing his face close to Hiccup's. The lanky viking yelped and Jack and Baby Tooth burst out laughing as suddenly Hiccup was shoved onto his back and Toothless began mercilessly covering him with big, wet dragon kisses.

"Aw, Toothless, gross! Stop! That doesn't wash out!"

"Get 'im Toothless!" Jack cheered between peals of laughter. "Dragons versus Vikings! Who will win?"

Jack's terror chirped and scrambled up onto his shoulder so as to better watch Hiccup drown in nightfury saliva.

"Oh, thanks a lot!" Hiccup cried, as he was mocked mercilessly by the spirit and his fairy. On the bright side, he thought, at least the dragons were feeling better.

Stoick knew from experience that agitated pacing solved nothing. Still, that did not stop his feet from moving. Dawn had yet to break over Berk, and still the chief had not gotten any rest that night. It had been little over an hour since the vessel had sailed back into port and they had dosed each of the dragons with the supposed antidote. Now the Hooligan Chief was pacing at his dragon's side, waiting for some sign of recovery.

And, well, thinking some things over.

Hiccup and Jack had both retreated inside, his son racing to Toothless's side the moment his feet had hit the docks and Jack tending to the little terror curled up against the nightfury's warmth. They had yet to speak a word about what had happened on the ship and, honestly, Stoick was unsure if he wanted to.

There were a lot of mysteries revolving around that boy. As far as Stoick knew, even Jack did not know everything about himself, having lost his memory sometime before washing up on the shores of Berk. Clearly he did not think there was anything strange about being able to speak to dragons, but was that because it was commonplace wherever he came from, or simply because he did not remember otherwise? Was Mildew right, was Jack something inhuman? Or was he just a little different, the way Hiccup was?

So lost in his thoughts, Stoick did not notice the door of his hut swinging open, nor did he notice the sound of boots and dragon paws and bare feet padding across the grass.

"Dad," Hiccup's voice finally caught his attention. "They're coming around."

Stoick turned to his son, whose arms were draped around Toothless's neck as the nightfury stared up at him with what was probably a relieved expression. Jack stood at Hiccup's side, blue terrible terror perched on his shoulders and chirping happily as it curled its tail around the boy's thin neck.

Turning to his own dragon, Stoick found Thornado gazing up at him warmly. The thunderdrum stretched his wings, raising to his feet as he purred to his rider as though to say 'thank you.'

A relieved laugh escaped Stoick as he called out, "Thornado!" Before he knew what he was doing he had dropped to his knees, brushing his forehead against his dragon's muzzle as Thornado continued to purr.

"I didn't know you guys couldn't speak to your dragons," Jack explained as he watched the chief's display. "You just get along so well, I thought..." He trailed off, ending his sentence with a shrug.

((Good-happy-relief-hope-good-us-yes,)) Thornado purred in response. Rising to his feet, Stoick fixed Jack with a warm look.

"Thank you, for saving my dragon."

Jack smiled, twirling the shepherd's crook in his hands.

Behind him, Hiccup was rubbing Toothless's muzzle. The nightfury cooed in glee as his rider asked, "How are you feeling there, bud?"

In response Toothless tipped his head back. Opening his jaw, he shot out a plasma bolt, a proper, large one, which flew over the sky of Berk and exploded with a thunderous crack. Ash and dissipating white embers rained down over the slowly greying sky, and a moment later Thornado was celebrating the same way, letting a resounding roar loose that echoed over the whole of the island. Even the terrible terror - he really needed a name, the chief decided - launched a spurt of flame into the sky, less impressive than the two larger dragons', sure, but no less beautiful.

"Come," Stoick said, pushing open the door to his hut and ushering the boys and their dragons inside. "It's high time we got some rest."

After that it became something of a habit for Jack to sleep inside their house. Stoick did not mind. He knew that Jack had been sleeping somewhere in the woods - in a tent, Hiccup had assured him - and it was something of a relief to have the boy living within the village. Three days later, when Stoick crept into his son's room in the dawn's early light, he was greeted with the sight of his son sleeping soundly in his bed and Jack, somehow or other, sleeping up in the rafters, staff held close to his chest like a beloved childhood toy and one leg dangling freely in the air. A nostalgic smile crept to Stoick's face at the sight; Valka had possessed the same bizarre ability to sleep soundly nearly anywhere.

As stealthily as a man his size could, Stoick slipped into the room carrying in his large hands two gifts for the sleeping boys.

When Hiccup and Jack woke several hours later Stoick was long gone, having taken off on Thornado to attend to his chieftain duties. There on Hiccup's desk, however, they found evidence of his visit; an unbroken bottle filled with pure squid ink, and a wolf-skin cloak and mask.

As well as a pair of warm boots. He might not be able to coerce Jack into wearing them, but he sure as Hel could try.

[ivisitlondon]

iVisit.... HAMLET @ Almeida Theatre

As rehearsals begin, the cast for HAMLET at the Almeida Theatre is announced. Barry Aird, Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Marty Cruickshank, Calum Findlay, Joshua Higgott, Amaka Okafor, Daniel Rabin, David Rintoul, Peter Wight, Angus Wright and Matthew Wynn join the previously announced Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Juliet Stevenson and Luke Thompson in a production directed by Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke. 

ghost / devil acting / madness be / not be

HAMLET is designed by Hildegard Bechtler, with lighting by Natasha Chivers, sound by Tom Gibbons, and video design by Tal Yarden. The Associate Director is Daniel Raggett. Casting is by Julia Horan.

Barry Aird’s theatre credits include Hamlet at the Barbican; Othello for Frantic Assembly; The Mousetrap and The Shawshank Redemption in the West End; Measure for Measure; Hamlet for Theatre Royal Plymouth and on tour; The Sons of York at the Finborough Theatre; What the Butler Saw at Salisbury Playhouse; Watership Down at the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour; The Taming of the Shrew at Bristol Old Vic; Speaking Like Magpies; Sejanus His Fall; Believe What You Will; Sir Thomas Moore; Othello; Henry VIII; The Merry Wives of Windsor; Camino Real; and St Erkanwald for the RSC. Television includes Berlin Station; Marcella; Close to the Enemy; Peaky Blinders; Doctor Who; Love and Marriage; Merlin; Lewis; Misfits; Survivors; Dracula; and Being Human. Film includes The Marker; City of Tiny Lights; Avengers: Age of Ultron; Dungeons and Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness; and Eleven Fifty-Nine.

Elliot Barnes-Worrell’s theatre includes Man and Superman at the National Theatre; Richard II, The Two Gentleman of Verona; and Henry IV, Part I & 2 for the RSC; The Loneliness of The Long Distance Runner for Pilot Theatre at  York Theatre Royal and on tour; and Loyalty at Hampstead Theatre. Television includes Jericho; Poirot and Doctor Who; and film includes Ready Player One.

Jessica Brown Findlay has previously appeared in Uncle Vanya at the Almeida and Oresteia at the Almeida and Trafalgar Studios. Her television credits include Downton Abbey, The Outcast, Jamaica Inn, Labyrinth and Black Mirror: 15 Million Merits. Her film credits include Albatross (nominated for her performance in the Best Newcomer categories at the 2012 British Independent Film Awards and the Evening Standard Film Awards), Winter’s Tale, Lullaby, The Riot Club, Victor Frankenstein, Steven and This Beautiful Fantastic.

Marty Cruickshank’s theatre includes Richard II; The Heresy of Love; Hamlet; and Love in a Wood for the RSC and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream for the RSC and Garsington Opera; After Electra at the Tricycle Theatre; Exit the King for Theatre Royal, Bath; Early Days; A Fair Quarrel; and The World Turned Upside Down for the National Theatre; Much Ado About Nothing and Two Clouds Over Eden at the Royal Exchange; London Wall at the Finborough Theatre and in the West End; Pygmalion at Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End; Summer Lightning; Habeas Corpus; Quartermaine’s Terms at the Royal & Derngate; A Delicate Balance at Nottingham Playhouse; and A Flea in Her Ear at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Television includes Babs; Line of Duty; Lewis; Spooks; Kavanagh QC; Faith in the Future; and Unnatural Pursuits. Film includes London Wall; I, Anna; and The Fool. As a writer, Marty’s credits include The Princess of Cleves for ICA; A Difficult Age for English Touring Theatre; Why Things Happen for Second Stride; and Bathing Elizabeth for Channel 4/Warner Sisters.

Calum Finlay’s theatre credits include The Ghost Train and Too Clever By Half at Manchester Royal Exchange; Dunsinane for the RSC and National Theatre of Scotland and The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Mouse and His Child; Macbeth and Jubilee for the RSC; Tartuffe at Birmingham Repertory Theatre; and The Prince of Denmark for the National Theatre.  Joshua Higgott has previously appeared in Oresteia (also Trafalgar Studios) and 1984 for the Almeida Theatre and in the West End. Past theatre credits include Shakespeare in Love at the Noël Coward Theatre; The Alchemist for Liverpool Everyman; Regeneration for Royal & Derngate Theatre; Birdsong UK Tour; and Twelfth Night at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. His film credits include Darkest Hour; The Mummy; Juliet Remembered; and The Machine.

Amaka Okafor’s theatre credits includes Peter Pan at the National Theatre; I See You at the Royal Court; Hamlet at the Barbican; Mermaid for Shared Experience;  Glasgow Girls for the National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East; Flathampton for the Royal & Derngate; Dr Korczak's Example for the Royal Exchange and Arcola Theatre; The Bacchae for the National Theatre of Scotland; Branded and Hitting Heights at the Old Vic; and Meantime at Soho Theatre. Amaka was in the Ensemble at The Unicorn Theatre for two years. 

Daniel Rabin is currently appearing in Mary Stuart at the Almeida and previously appeared in 1984 for the Almeida in the West End. Other theatre includes Pericles; The Winter’s Tale; King John; Tis Pity She’s a Whore; Anthony and Cleopatra; and Holy Warriors at Shakespeare’s Globe; Oedipus for Nottingham Playhouse and the Spoleto Festival; Ignorance at Hampstead Theatre; Blue Remembered Hills at Chichester Festival Theatre; and The Bomb at the Tricycle Theatre. Television includes The Royals; Game of Thrones; Ambassadors; Our Men; Henry - Mind of a Tyrant; The Roman Mysteries; and Money Can't Buy You Love. Film includes Lilac's Laughter; Mind The Gap; and Two's Company.

David Rintoul’s theatre credits include Nell Gwynn for Shakespeare’s Globe and at the Apollo Theatre; Remembrance of Things Past; The World Turned Upside Down; The Trojan War Will Not Take Place; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and The Rivals at the National Theatre; The Roaring Girl; The White Devil; The Witch of Edmonton; The Taming of the Shrew; Breakfast with Mugabe; The American Pilot; Keepers of the Flame; Henry IV, Parts I & II; Edward III; and Island Princess at the RSC; The Speculator at the Traverse Theatre; As You Like It and Map of the Heart at Shakespeare’s Globe; The Big Fella and Anderson’s English for Out of Joint; Gaslight and Phaedra for the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; Dirty Dancing at Aldwych Theatre; Lady Windermere’s Fan; The Winslow Boy; and Putting It Together  for Chichester Festival Theatre; An Ideal Husband and Macbeth for the Old Vic; and Etta Jenks and Sergeant Ola and his Followers for the Royal Court. Television includes Game of Thrones; Muncie; Silk; Doctor Finlay; The Bible; Injustice; Private Practice; Pride and Prejudice; Taggart; The Cherry Orchard; Hornblower; Poirot; and Sweet Medicine. Film includes The Iron Lady; My Week with Marilyn; Unrelated; and The Ghost Writer. Andrew Scott will play Hamlet. Andrew most recently appeared in The Dazzle at Found111. His other theatre credits include Olivier Award-winning performances in Cock and A Girl in a Car with a Man, as well as Birdland, Dying City, Crave and Playing The Victim at the Royal Court; 50 Years on Stage, Sea Wall, Emperor and Galilean and Aristocrats at the National Theatre; Design for Living and Dublin Carol at the Old Vic; and The Vertical Hour on Broadway. His recent films include Swallows and Amazons; Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass; Spectre, Jimmy’s Hall, Victor Frankenstein, Locke, Pride (BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor). Forthcoming films include Denial, Handsome Devil. Television credits include his BAFTA winning role as Moriarty in the BBC’s Sherlock, The Hollow Crown, The Town, The Hour, John Adams and Band of Brothers. He has twice won the BBC Audio Drama award for his work on Radio.‎

Juliet Stevenson is currently sharing the role of Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I with Lia Williams in Mary Stuart at the Almeida, having previously appeared here in Duet for One. Other theatre credits include Winnie in Beckett’s Happy Days at the Young Vic; The Seagull, Private Lives, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hedda Gabler and Yerma for the National Theatre; Les Liaisons Dangereuses, As You Like It, Troilus and Cressida, Measure for Measure and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the RSC; The Heretic, Alice and Death and The Maiden (Olivier Award for Best Actress) at the Royal Court. Her film credits include Departure, Mona Lisa Smile, Bend it Like Beckham, Emma, Truly Madly Deeply and the upcoming Let Me Go. Her television credits include The Enfield Haunting, The Village, White Heat, The Accused, The Road from Coorain, The Politician’s Wife and One of Us. She was awarded a CBE in 1999 for her services to drama.

Luke Thompson previously appeared in Oresteia at the Almeida and at Trafalgar Studios. His other theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (shortlisted for the Evening Standard Outstanding Newcomer award), Blue Stockings, Julius Caesar and The Broken Heart at Shakespeare’s Globe; Tiger Country at Hampstead Theatre. Television credits include The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and In the Club. Film includes Making Noise Quietly.

Peter Wight’s theatre credits include The Red Lion; Ivanov; Sleep With Me; Murmuring Judges; The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; Black Snow; and Waiting for Godot at the National Theatre; Trelawny of The Wells at the Donmar Warehouse; In Basildon; Otherwise Engaged; Chekhov's Women in the West End; The Spanish Tragedy; Much Ado About Nothing; Barbarians; A Clockwork Orange; and Hamlet for the RSC; Mouth to Mouth, The Seagull (also Broadway) , In The Republic of Happiness; In Basildon (also West End); Face to the Wall; and Not A Game for Boys at the Royal Court; The Caretaker for the Globe Warsaw; Edward II at the Royal Exchange Manchester; Dearly Beloved and Grace for Hampstead Theatre. Television includes Brief Encounters;  I Want My Wife Back; Our Zoo; The Mimic; The Paradise; Hit and Miss; Public Enemies; Titanic; Money; Monday Monday; Boy Meets Girl; 10 Days to War; Party Animals; Dalziel and Pascoe; Persuasion; Fantabulosa!; Murder Prevention; Early Doors; Room at the Top; The Security Men; and Uncle Adolf. Film includes The Program; Mr Turner; King of Soho; Another Year; Kon-Tiki; Hard Boiled Sweets; Womb; Atonement; Hot Fuzz; Lassie; Babel; Pride and Prejudice; and Vera Drake. Angus Wright has previously appeared in Oresteia (also Trafalgar Studios), 1984 in the West End, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Almeida. Other theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard at the Young Vic; Twelfth Night & Richard III for Shakespeare’s Globe on Broadway; Privates on Parade in the West End; The Master and Margarita for Complicite; The Cat in The Hat at the National Theatre and Young Vic; Wastwater at the Royal Court; Design for Living at the Old Vic; The Merchant of Venice; Hamlet; Talk of the City; The Theban Plays; The Dybbuk; Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 for the RSC; Measure for Measure for Complicite and the National Theatre, Mrs Affleck; War Horse; Saint Joan; The Seagull; Dream Play; Stuff Happens; Three Sisters; Chips with Everything; and Mother Courage at the National Theatre. Television includes Flowers; Peep Show; Father Brown; Being Human; Breathless; Murder on the Home Front; Above Suspicion; Boudica; Cambridge Spies; The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall; The Way We Live Now; and Between the Lines. Film includes A Little Chaos; Jack Ryan; Maleficent; Closed Circuit; Private Peaceful; The Iron Lady; Affair of the Necklace; Kingdom of Heaven; RKO 281; The Bank Job; Bridget Jones’s Diary; Charlotte Gray; Cutthroat Island; First Knight; Labyrinth; and Frankenstein. Matthew Wynn’s theatre credits include Measure for Measure at the Young Vic; Henry V and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton; The Guardsman at the Albery Theatre; and Bouncers for Wakefield Theatre Royal and Hull Truck. Film includes Interview With A Hitman; Leave To Remain; and Aberdeen. Television includes Silent Witness; Spooks; Man Down; Mount Pleasant; The Real Essex Boys; 55 Degrees North; Harry & Cosh and Byker Grove.

Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke has adapted and directed Mary Stuart, Uncle Vanya, Oresteia (also West End; won the Critics' Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director) and the multi-award winning 1984 with Duncan Macmillan (also West End as well as playing several UK and international tours) at the Almeida. His work as a director includes The Fever at The May Fair Hotel, Mr Burns at the Almeida, Boys and Romeo and Juliet for Headlong. He made his National Theatre debut directing The Red Barn, at the Lyttelton Theatre in October 2016.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.12

Holidays

Betty Picnic [2nd Saturday]

Blue Galaxy Day

Chaco Armistice Day (Paraguay)

Children’s Day (Haiti)

Crowded Nest Awareness Day

Democracy Day (Nigeria)

Dia dos Namorados (Brazil)

Dragon Boat Festival (a.k.a. Duanwu Jie Festival / 端午节; China) [5th Day of 5th Lunar Month]

Festival of Mut (Ancient Egypt)

Ghost in the Machine Day

Helsinki Day (Finland)

Independence Day (Philippines; from Spain, 1898)

Indiana Jones Day

International Cachaca Day

International Young Eagles Day [2nd Saturday]

Interracial Marriage Day

June 12 Commemoration (Lagos State, Nigeria)

Little League Girls Baseball Day

Loving Day

Magic Day

Man of Steel Day

Missing Mutts Awareness Day [2nd Saturday]

National Automotive Service Professionals Day

National Button Battery Awareness Day

National Jerky Day

National Marina Day [2nd Saturday]

National Rosé Day [2nd Saturday]

Peanut Butter Cookie Day

Perfect Game Day

Pink Spaghetti Day

Poultry Day

Queen’s Birthday (Pitcairn Islands, Tuvalu)

Record Store Day [also 7.17]

Red Rose Day

Russia Day (Russia)

Senior Race Day (Isle of Man)

Spousal Abuse Day

Superman Day

Swiss Army Knife Day

Trooping the Colour (UK) [2nd Saturday]

Women Veterans Day

World Bike Naked Day [2nd Saturday]

World Day Against Child Labour (UN)

World Doll Day [2nd Saturday]

World Gin Day [2nd Saturday]

World Juggling Day [Saturday closest to 15th]

World Wide Knit in Public Day [2nd Saturday]

Christian Feast Days

Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor and Nazarius, martyrs

Enmegahbowh (Episcopal Church)

Eskil of Sweden

First Ecumenical Council (Lutheran)

Gaspar Bertoni

Hildegard Burjan, Blessed

John of Sahagún

Onuphrius

Pope Leo III

Ternan, Bishop of the Picts

108 Martyrs of World War II

[vibrantshadow]

Investiture Beings

[moon-ruled-rising]

as the rain hides the stars

Read the full story on Ao3...

i. introduction

As the rain hides the stars,

as the autumn mist hides the hills,

as the clouds veil the blue of the sky,

so the dark happenings of my lot

hide your shining face from me.

Yet, if I may hold your hand in the darkness

it is enough, since I know that though I may stumble in my going

you do not fall

-Traditional Scottish Gaelic Prayer

Playlist

successful- Ariana Grande

Foreigner’s God- Hozier

The Man- Taylor Swift

Scotland- The Lumineers

Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince- Taylor Swift

Talk-Hozier

you should see me in a crown- Billie Eilish

To Be So Lonely- Harry Styles

STUPID- Ashnikko, Yung Baby Tate

Getaway Car- Taylor Swift

Compass- Zella Day

Mustang Kids- Zella Day

Wish I Knew You- The Revivalists

Delicate- Taylor Swift

Cherry Wine- Hozier

hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have- but I have it- Lana Del Rey

From Eden- Hozier

Lovers- Anna of the North

ghostin’- Ariana Grande

New Light- John Mayer

Golden- Harry Styles

Good Kisser- Lake Street Drive

Say It-Maggie Rogers

Ave generosa- Hildegard Von Bingen

O virga ac diadema- Hildegard Von Bingen

Ubi Caritas- Ola Geijlo

Entreat Me Not To Leave You- Dan Forrest

This Marriage- Eric Whitacre

From their homeland- Hildegard Von Bingen

Kissing You- Des’ree

Dress- Taylor Swift

7 Rings- Ariana Grande

Say So- Doja Cat

Retrograde- Maggie Rogers

Burning- Maggie Rogers

Jackie and Wilson- Hozier

Dinner & Diatribes- Hozier

Try A Little Tenderness- Florence + the Machine

Stand By Me- Florence + the Machine

needy- Ariana Grande

Let Her Go- Passenger

Gold- Imagine Dragons

Boss Bitch- Doja Cat

Eavesdrop- The Civil Wars

The Anointing- Hildegard Von Bingen

Stay A Thousand Years- Ramin Djwadi

Listen to the playlist here...

[kyan4everxd]

hildegard blue dragon has a female upper half and male lower half and you can't change my mind

[londontheatre]

Hamlet Andrew Scott photographed by Miles Aldridge

As rehearsals begin, the cast for HAMLET at the Almeida Theatre is announced. Barry Aird, Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Marty Cruickshank, Calum Findlay, Joshua Higgott, Amaka Okafor, Daniel Rabin, David Rintoul, Peter Wight, Angus Wright and Matthew Wynn join the previously announced Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Juliet Stevenson and Luke Thompson in a production directed by Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke.

ghost / devil acting / madness be / not be

HAMLET is designed by Hildegard Bechtler, with lighting by Natasha Chivers, sound by Tom Gibbons, and video design by Tal Yarden. The Associate Director is Daniel Raggett. Casting is by Julia Horan.

Barry Aird’s theatre credits include Hamlet at the Barbican; Othello for Frantic Assembly; The Mousetrap and The Shawshank Redemption in the West End; Measure for Measure; Hamlet for Theatre Royal Plymouth and on tour; The Sons of York at the Finborough Theatre; What the Butler Saw at Salisbury Playhouse; Watership Down at the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour; The Taming of the Shrew at Bristol Old Vic; Speaking Like Magpies; Sejanus His Fall; Believe What You Will; Sir Thomas Moore; Othello; Henry VIII; The Merry Wives of Windsor; Camino Real; and St Erkanwald for the RSC. Television includes Berlin Station; Marcella; Close to the Enemy; Peaky Blinders; Doctor Who; Love and Marriage; Merlin; Lewis; Misfits; Survivors; Dracula; and Being Human. Film includes The Marker; City of Tiny Lights; Avengers: Age of Ultron; Dungeons and Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness; and Eleven Fifty-Nine.

Elliot Barnes-Worrell’s theatre includes Man and Superman at the National Theatre; Richard II, The Two Gentleman of Verona; and Henry IV, Part I & 2 for the RSC; The Loneliness of The Long Distance Runner for Pilot Theatre at York Theatre Royal and on tour; and Loyalty at Hampstead Theatre. Television includes Jericho; Poirot and Doctor Who; and film includes Ready Player One.

Jessica Brown Findlay has previously appeared in Uncle Vanya at the Almeida and Oresteia at the Almeida and Trafalgar Studios. Her television credits include Downton Abbey, The Outcast, Jamaica Inn, Labyrinth and Black Mirror: 15 Million Merits. Her film credits include Albatross (nominated for her performance in the Best Newcomer categories at the 2012 British Independent Film Awards and the Evening Standard Film Awards), Winter’s Tale, Lullaby, The Riot Club, Victor Frankenstein, Steven and This Beautiful Fantastic.

Marty Cruickshank’s theatre includes Richard II; The Heresy of Love; Hamlet; and Love in a Wood for the RSC and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream for the RSC and Garsington Opera; After Electra at the Tricycle Theatre; Exit the King for Theatre Royal, Bath; Early Days; A Fair Quarrel; and The World Turned Upside Down for the National Theatre; Much Ado About Nothing and Two Clouds Over Eden at the Royal Exchange; London Wall at the Finborough Theatre and in the West End; Pygmalion at Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End; Summer Lightning; Habeas Corpus; Quartermaine’s Terms at the Royal & Derngate; A Delicate Balance at Nottingham Playhouse; and A Flea in Her Ear at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Television includes Babs; Line of Duty; Lewis; Spooks; Kavanagh QC; Faith in the Future; and Unnatural Pursuits.

Calum Finlay’s theatre credits include The Ghost Train and Too Clever By Half at Manchester Royal Exchange; Dunsinane for the RSC and National Theatre of Scotland and The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Mouse and His Child; Macbeth and Jubilee for the RSC; Tartuffe at Birmingham Repertory Theatre; and The Prince of Denmark for the National Theatre.

Joshua Higgott has previously appeared in Oresteia (also Trafalgar Studios) and 1984 for the Almeida Theatre and in the West End. Past theatre credits include Shakespeare in Love at the Noël Coward Theatre; The Alchemist for Liverpool Everyman; Regeneration for Royal & Derngate Theatre; Birdsong UK Tour; and Twelfth Night at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. His film credits include Darkest Hour; The Mummy; Juliet Remembered; and The Machine.

Amaka Okafor’s theatre credits includes Peter Pan at the National Theatre; I See You at the RoyalC ourt; Hamlet at the Barbican; Mermaid for Shared Experience;  Glasgow Girls for the National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East; Flathampton for the Royal & Derngate; Dr Korczak’s Example for the Royal Exchange and Arcola Theatre; The Bacchae for the National Theatre of Scotland; Branded and Hitting Heights at the Old Vic; and Meantime at Soho Theatre. Amaka was in the Ensemble at The Unicorn Theatre for two years. 

Daniel Rabin is currently appearing in Mary Stuart at the Almeida and previously appeared in 1984 for the Almeida in the West End. Other theatre includes Pericles; The Winter’s Tale; King John; Tis Pity She’s a Whore; Anthony and Cleopatra; and Holy Warriors at Shakespeare’s Globe; Oedipus for Nottingham Playhouse and the Spoleto Festival; Ignorance at Hampstead Theatre; Blue Remembered Hills at Chichester Festival Theatre; and The Bomb at the Tricycle Theatre.

David Rintoul’s theatre credits include Nell Gwynn for Shakespeare’s Globe and at the Apollo Theatre; Remembrance of Things Past; The World Turned Upside Down; The Trojan War Will Not Take Place; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and The Rivals at the National Theatre; The Roaring Girl; The White Devil; The Witch of Edmonton; The Taming of the Shrew; Breakfast with Mugabe; The American Pilot; Keepers of the Flame; Henry IV, Parts I & II; Edward III; and Island Princess at the RSC; The Speculator at the Traverse Theatre; As You Like It and Map of the Heart at Shakespeare’s Globe; The Big Fella and Anderson’s English for Out of Joint; Gaslight and Phaedra for the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; Dirty Dancing at Aldwych Theatre; Lady Windermere’s Fan; The Winslow Boy; and Putting It Together for Chichester Festival Theatre; An Ideal Husband and Macbeth for the Old Vic; and Etta Jenks and Sergeant Ola and his Followers for the Royal Court. Television includes Game of Thrones; Muncie; Silk; Doctor Finlay; The Bible; Injustice; Private Practice; Pride and Prejudice; Taggart; The Cherry Orchard; Hornblower; Poirot; and Sweet Medicine. Film includes The Iron Lady; My Week with Marilyn; Unrelated; and The Ghost Writer.

Andrew Scott will play Hamlet. Andrew most recently appeared in The Dazzle at Found111. His other theatre credits include Olivier Award-winning performances in Cock and A Girl in a Car with a Man, as well as Birdland, Dying City, Crave and Playing The Victim at the Royal Court; 50 Years on Stage, Sea Wall, Emperor and Galilean and Aristocrats at the National Theatre; Design for Living and Dublin Carol at the Old Vic; and The Vertical Hour on Broadway. His recent films include Swallows and Amazons; Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass; Spectre, Jimmy’s Hall, Victor Frankenstein, Locke, Pride (BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor).

Juliet Stevenson is currently sharing the role of Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I with Lia Williams in Mary Stuart at the Almeida, having previously appeared here in Duet for One. Other theatre credits include Winnie in Beckett’s Happy Days at the Young Vic; The Seagull, Private Lives, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hedda Gabler and Yerma for the National Theatre; Les Liaisons Dangereuses, As You Like It, Troilus and Cressida, Measure for Measure and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the RSC; The Heretic, Alice and Death and The Maiden (Olivier Award for Best Actress) at the Royal Court.

Luke Thompson previously appeared in Oresteia at the Almeida and at Trafalgar Studios. His other theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (shortlisted for the Evening Standard Outstanding Newcomer award), Blue Stockings, Julius Caesar and The Broken Heart at Shakespeare’s Globe; Tiger Country at Hampstead Theatre. Television credits include The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and In the Club. Film includes Making Noise Quietly.

Peter Wight’s theatre credits include The Red Lion; Ivanov; Sleep With Me; Murmuring Judges; The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; Black Snow; and Waiting for Godot at the National Theatre; Trelawny of The Wells at the Donmar Warehouse; In Basildon; Otherwise Engaged; Chekhov’s Women in the West End; The Spanish Tragedy; Much Ado About Nothing; Barbarians; A Clockwork Orange; and Hamlet for the RSC; Mouth to Mouth, The Seagull (also Broadway) , In The Republic of Happiness; In Basildon (also West End); Face to the Wall; and Not A Game for Boys at the Royal Court; The Caretaker for the Globe Warsaw; Edward II at the Royal Exhange Manchester; Dearly Beloved and Grace for Hampstead Theatre.

Angus Wright has previously appeared in Oresteia (also Trafalgar Studios), 1984 in the West End, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Almeida. Other theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard at the Young Vic; Twelfth Night & Richard III for Shakespeare’s Globe on Broadway; Privates on Parade in the West End; The Master and Margarita for Complicite; The Cat in The Hat at the National Theatre and Young Vic; Wastwater at the Royal Court; Design for Living at the Old Vic; The Merchant of Venice; Hamlet; Talk of the City; The Theban Plays; The Dybbuk; Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 for the RSC; Measure for Measure for Complicite and the National Theatre, Mrs Affleck; War Horse; Saint Joan; The Seagull; Dream Play; Stuff Happens; Three Sisters; Chips with Everything; and Mother Courage at the National Theatre.

Matthew Wynn’s theatre credits include Measure for Measure at the Young Vic; Henry V and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton; The Guardsman at the Albery Theatre; and Bouncers for Wakefield Theatre Royal and Hull Truck. Film includes Interview With A Hitman; Leave To Remain; and Aberdeen. Television includes Silent Witness; Spooks; Man Down; Mount Pleasant; The Real Essex Boys; 55 Degrees North; Harry & Cosh and Byker Grove.

ALMEIDA LISTINGS INFORMATION Friday 17 February – Saturday 8 April 2017 HAMLET by William Shakespeare directed by Robert Icke Press night: Tuesday 28 February 2017, 7pm Address Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA Box Office Online almeida.co.uk Phone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7pm Monday – Saturday) In person 10am – 7pm, Monday – Saturday Midweek matinees on Wednesday at 1.30pm from 11 March Saturday matinees at 1.30pm from 11 March Website almeida.co.uk

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