Chapter 11: Connected

                                    

                                          
        *Emma's POV*

                          
        After I suggested that Drago may still be alive, I explained to Hiccup about my past and how Blaze saved my life. Once I'd started opening up to him, It was like a flood pouring out of me that I couldn't stop. I've never had anyone to talk to before. No one to tell me that everything would be okay. Hiccup believed me and I gained at least a little of his trust. I had fallen asleep in his bed, so he went downstairs to sleep. 
                          
        I had only just met Hiccup, but I had known him all my life. I watched him grow up--in my dreams. What I didn't understand, though, was that I've never had a prophetic dream about anyone other than him. 
                          
        In my deep sleep, a flash of images flashed through my mind in pieces like sheet lightening. I couldn't completely tell what it was about. It was small pieces of scenes, like broken glass. I saw some of what would have happened if Hiccup didn't believe me las night. If Hiccup decided that I was an evil monster. But I also saw some of what will happen since he did. I got an overwhelming sense that something was wrong. Like something that should have happened... didn't. It felt wrong, but also a sense of relief washed over me. Then I jutted awake to see Hiccup's hand on my shoulder.
                          
        "Hey, you alright?" He asked tenderly, steadying me with a firm, supporting hold on my shoulder.
                          
        "Y-yah, I'm fine." What did my dream mean? What was the sense of wrong mixed with relief that I had? Then the answer flashed through my memory--the dream I had about Hiccup when I was three--just the day before those men took Blaze and I to Drago. The dream was about Hiccup chasing me on Toothless and trying to shoot me with his dragon's fire. In my dream, he was a threat to me. But last night, he believed me. He chose not to end up hating me and hunting me down. He did something impossible. He changed the future.
                          
        "Emma," I noticed Hiccup shaking me again, with a worried gleam in his emerald eyes. 
                          
        "Hiccup, you--you changed what is supposed to happen." He looked at me--very confused, of course. "Last night, when you chose to believe me, and chose to trust me, you changed the future! I've had dreams about it when I was little: you usually think I'm evil and I have dreams of you chasing me down." I looked at him. "You're so powerful--how did you do that?"
                          
        "--Emma, you're shaking! Just calm down and I'll get you something to drink. How is your arm feeling?" I took a deep breath and forced my thoughts to the back of my mind. My arm only hurt a little--I heal much more quickly than other people do.
                          
        "It feels fine, just a little sore." Hiccup helped me stand up and lead me downstairs to a table. I noticed that I had a clean cloth wrapped around my arm, both helping it heal and hiding my birthmark--he must have done it when I was sleeping. I replaced soot in my hair where Hiccup had washed it off last night.
                          
        "It's weird, because..." He started, scratching his head with his right hand, his left limp in his lap. "After I met you yesterday, my left arm hurt too..." I pulled his sleeve back to reveal dried blood in the same spot that my arm had it. "I didn't know how to tell you before... I also have scratches on my knees in the same place that you do... When I first met you and I helped you up, I felt a weird vibration skid up my arm like lightening--and then I felt your pain."
                          
        "So... we're connected, then... somehow?" I ventured, sitting down in the wooded chair as he sat in the one across from me.
                          
        "I guess... it's so weird."
                          
        "Okay, so you feel my pain, but do I feel yours?" To check Hiccup slapped himself in the face!
                          
                "OW!" we simultaneously yelped. I giggled I rubbed my cheak.
                          
        "'Guess so..." I observed. "And, another weird thing: I've only had prophetic dreams about you. No one else. Ever."
                          
        "Weird..." Hiccup grabbed a cup and poured some water in it before handing it to me. I thanked him and took a sip, the cold liquid sliding down my dry throat. It felt so good--and I had never had water quite so clean. I wasted no time in gulping the rest down, a happy smile spread across my face--and an amused one on Hiccups. Embarrassed, I giggled and set the cup down.
                          
        Then, there was a knock at the door. "Hiccup?" a girls voice inquired. Hiccup excused himself before rushing towards the door.
                          
        "Coming, Astrid." He opened the door and let a pretty blonde girl in. She wore a scarlet red top with a skirt and leggings. "Mornin', Mi'Lady," 'Astrid' grabbed the front of Hiccup's shirt and pulled him into a kiss. Hiccup blushed and I felt a little angry for some reason. Why was I angry? Then Astrid noticed me.
                          
        "Who's that?" She asked, pointing in my direction with her axe. I hadn't noticed her carrying it until now.
                          
        "Oh," Hiccup said, like he had forgotten that I was there. "Emma--Astrid. Astrid--Emma."