Hiccup did most of the talking to a horrified Gothi while I tried to comfort Adriana, who had broken down again at the old woman's reaction. I know what it feels like to lose a loved one and I'd never wish it upon her in a million years, especially since the loved one in question is my brother.

While Gothi worked on Asher (I'm hoping the revelation that I have a brother will help back up my story that I'm not who she thinks I am) with the occasional help from Hiccup, I sat Adriana down. Curling my legs under me, I did the same, then held her tightly.

"How are you staying so calm?" She asks between sobs. "I see these things all the time, even on loved ones," I tell her gently. "And I barely even know Asher, in a sense. Aside from our father, I've never truly lost a loved one. They've always healed up and gotten better. It all looks worse than it really is, I can promise you that. Asher's wounds will only be fatal if left untreated. But he's getting treatment which he will come out from alright."

She listened to my words, then hugged me tighter. "Thank you," she whispered shakily. "Thank you so much."

"Don't thank me, save your thanks for the gods when he walks out of this alright," I tell her, then drop my voice to a barely audible whisper. "And I forgot to tell you earlier but they don't know my real name. If you're going to call me anything, go with Artemis."

"Okay," she agreed, nodding. "I just hope he'll be alright." "He's tough, the first thing he'll say when he wakes up will be a wise crack about how at least Gothi is prettier than a Typhoomerang," I point out. We both chuckle a bit. We know he would.

Hiccup offered to let us stay in his hut for the time being since he doubted we'd want to be too far away from Asher. I know the triple meaning behind this, though. One was that he wanted to make sure I was safe, which I was, and the third meaning was that he wanted to ask a load of questions about Asher and Adriana.

I decided to let Addie choose, so I ran the question by her. "It's that or sleep in the forest," I tell her. The idea is actually quite appealing to dragons. We're naturally used to roughing it, so this isn't proposed in a way that would turn her off the idea but not make it look like an obviously more appealing option either.

"Hm..." she mulled over her decision for a moment. "How would he react if he accidentally found out about... the... secret?" She asked, flapping her arms a little. She was talking about the whole Morphwing issue. "He wouldn't kill us, if that's what you're thinking," I assure her. "He'd at like he's met Thor in person, in all honesty. If we really had to trust him with that secret, it's safe with him, but we shouldn't tell him either way just to be on the safe side."

She nodded. "Of course not, I just wanted to be sure in case something happened and he managed to find out. Um... if he's sure he's happy to have us, I suppose it'll be interesting to see how regular humans live."

I laugh. "It's got a very wholesome feel to it. It doesn't look half bad, either." "It'll be so strange to see it for myself," she smiled very slightly, which was as good as I could get out of her at this point. I'll take what I can get.

"She has a brother?" A familiar voice asks. "And her brother has their betrothed with them," A second voice answers, also familiar. "Here comes Hiccup again," I whisper to Adriana. "He's brought Astrid. She's either his betrothed or they've finally gotten married, but probably the former knowing how slow they go. I'm convinced it's just to annoy me, but then again I've never said anything."

She giggled while the pair arrived and came over. "Hey, Artemis," Hiccup greeted, looking wearily at Adriana. "She knows," I say, much to his visible shock and relief. "But Gothi doesn't, so be careful what you say in case she overhears. She may be considered an Elder, but that woman's senses are in no way living up to the title."

"That they do," Astrid nodded. "So who's this?" She was looking at Adriana. Hiccup scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, I never asked," he apologised to Adriana. She laughed. "Should I use a fake name?" She joked to me. "Do what you like," I replied, my tone light.

"Then you can call me Adriana," she smiled to Hiccup and Astrid. "Real name, not fake." We all had a chuckle at that. "I don't know why you use a fake name, Artemis," she teased me. That's when my expression turned slightly colder, though I tried my hardest to keep myself in check since it was her.

"You know why I have to. I've told you many times."

She flinched slightly at my tone and I instantly regretted it. "Sorry, force of habit. You know I'm not a good combination with the company of humans. Complete social mess."

Everyone chuckled slightly again, but this time it was a little more forced. We fell into silence for a second or two before Hiccup, who should be titled Hiccup the Breaker Of Awkward Silences, did just as the name would suggest.

"So how about we go back to the hut?" He suggested. "Yeah!" Astrid agreed instantly, seeming just as unnerved by the silence as he was. Adriana looked at me questioningly about it. "Don't look at me," I shrug. "I'm not the boss of you."

She grinned. "Okay, then, sounds like a plan," she said to Hiccup and Astrid. That was when I noticed that Astrid seemed a little suspicious of Adriana. Probably the whole Heather thing when she first arrived on Berk. She didn't act like this with me, though. I wonder why.