Clank of hammers and the crash of thunder Pound within
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〰〰〰𖠳 〰〰〰
𝔸𝕊 the ships sailed into the distance, Frida remained fixed on the horizon, her gaze distant and troubled. Astor approached her quietly, his presence a silent comfort amidst the turmoil. "It's a mess. You must feel horrible. You've lost everything: Your father, your tribe, your best friend," Astor remarked, his voice tinged with sympathy. Frida rolled her eyes slightly at his observation. "Thank you for summing that up," she quipped before returning her attention to the ships sailing away.
"Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods? Would have been better for everyone," Frida mused aloud, her voice heavy with regret.
Astor considered her words for a moment before responding, "Yep. The rest of us would've done it."
He turned to look at her, his eyes searching hers for answers. "So why didn't you?" he pressed, his tone gentle but insistent. Frida's gaze fell to the ground as she struggled to articulate her feelings. "I don't know. I couldn't," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Astor's gaze softened as he listened to Frida's words, his hand still resting gently on her shoulder. "That's not an answer," he reiterated softly, his concern evident in his voice. Frida sighed, feeling the weight of the question bearing down on her. "Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?" she questioned, her tone tinged with frustration. Placing his hand reassuringly on her shoulder, Astor replied, "Because I want to remember what you say right now." Frida turned to face him, her expression a mixture of annoyance and exasperation. "Oh for the love of... I was a coward. I was weak. I wouldn't kill a dragon," she confessed, her voice tinged with self-condemnation.
Astor couldn't help but smirk at her response. "You said 'wouldn't' that time," he pointed out teasingly, trying to lighten the mood. Rolling her eyes, Frida retorted, "Whatever! I wouldn't! Three hundred years and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon." Astor's smirk softened into a gentle smile as he regarded her. "First one to ride one, though. So?" he remarked, his tone filled with admiration.
Frida's expression softened as she considered his words, her voice growing softer. "I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was. I looked at him and I saw myself," she confessed, her eyes meeting Astor's with a mix of vulnerability and determination.
Astor's gaze held hers for a moment, understanding dawning in his eyes as he recognized the depth of Frida's empathy. "I bet he's really frightened now. What are you going to do about it?" he asked gently, his voice filled with quiet support.
