Take It Slow (BOTGD flashback)
@asha-the-viking
July 1048
It had been two months since Ragnarok ended and since the Grounded Dungeon Rebellion was released from their bunker once Hel informed them that she had won the war. The rebels moved on from their spot in the Everglade and set out to start lives anew or to resume their lives from before the Rebellion. Once she and King Haddock formed plans for her to continue her position, Lady Grey Bergman took her Night Fury, Shadow and led her best friends, Greg, Warren, their young daughter Lila, Asha, and her young daughter 3-year-old Siri back home to Haligan Island.
Upon returning, Grey reunited with her parents, Sven and Ingrid and her uncle Einar along with the rest of the village. She introduced them all to her unofficial adoptive siblings, Greg, Warren, and Asha and her nieces Siri and Lila. The Boomerang Squad settled into life on Haligan Island after that. Greg and Warren settled into their own house with Lila. That of course left Asha and Siri. Once Grey explained her situation to her parents, Sven and Ingrid welcomed Asha and Siri to live with them with open arms.
Ever since then, Asha and Siri had been living in the Bergman household and had been sharing Grey’s room with her and Shadow.
One morning in July 1048, Grey found herself waking up early that morning and getting ready for the day before walking out of the makeshift changing space in her room. She loved having Asha and Siri as roommates. Shadow immediately jumped up to greet her rider and sister.
“Hey, girl,” Grey said as she scratched her dragon’s head.
Siri popped up from her spot in the bed she shared with her mother, dark, curly hair mused from sleep. "Grey! Shadow!" She said enthusiastically. She turned her neck and looked back at her mother, who had an arm tossed dramatically over her eyes. "Mama, it's awake time now, right?"
Asha laughed softly. Siri was a naturally early riser and Asha had stopped trying to fight it, only encouraged her to stay quiet until a more reasonable time (and she did usually fall back to sleep for at least a little bit).
Siri threw herself over Asha's body. "Mama! Awake time! Food please!"
"Alright, sweetheart, give me a minute." Asha replied, aiming a few tickles at her daughter before lightly pushing her off and getting up. "Good morning, Grey."
“Good morning, Asha,” Grey said with a smile on her face.
Shadow bounded over to Asha and Siri eager to say hello to the young girl.
“Shadow, be gentle,” Grey reminded with a warning tone in her voice.
The Night Fury slowly approached Siri and gently sniffed her hair nuzzling her closely.
“Good girl, Shadow,” the Lady said. Then she turned to Asha. “Sleep well?”
Siri giggled and reached to clumsily pat the Night Fury's face. "Good dragon," she cooed.
Asha smiled at Grey. "Yes. Except for a tiny set of feet that always end up in my ribs." She poked at Siri's little bare foot and Siri scrunched up her face. Asha laughed and looked back to her adoptive sister. "And you?"
Shadow crooned and gently nuzzled Siri yet again leaning into her touch.
Grey couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her adoptive sister and niece with her dragon. “Yeah, sure did,” she said as she walked over and picked up Siri hugging her. “You know if you guys are cramped in the bed, I bet I can ask Dad to make a bigger one for the both of you…or maybe even a smaller one for Siri.”
Asha blushed faintly as she pulled out a fresh set of clothes for both herself and her daughter. "Oh, we're fine. Siri just sleeps diagonally sometimes."
And truthfully, Asha liked having her baby girl so close. Plus, she didn't want to take up any more of Grey's space than absolutely necessary.
Siri rested her head on her aunt's shoulder for half a second before looking up at Grey. "Breakfast?"
Grey eyed her adoptive sister suspiciously for a moment, and before she could say anything else, Siri rested her head on her shoulder and asked for breakfast. The Lady couldn’t help but smile at her adoptive niece and kissed the top of her head. “Sure, Siri,” she said with the smile never leaving her face. “I bet Grandma Ingrid is cooking something downstairs right now.”
She could smell the porridge and fresh bread her mother was making over the fire pit, and needless to say, she was hungry herself. She then noticed Asha had taken the clothes out. “If you want, I can get Siri dressed,” she said, “so that you have time to get ready.”
"You don't need to do that." Asha said softly. "You... do too much already."
No matter what Grey and her parents said, she knew that herself and Siri were a burden to them. An extra two bodies in their house, a toddler who made lots of noise and messes. Asha tried very hard to not inconvenience the Bergmans more than she already was.
Siri huffed impatiently. "I put clothes on! I'm a big girl! Then breakfast!"
Grey furrowed her eyebrows in concern, but Siri blurted out that she could get dressed herself, which made Grey laugh.
“Yes, you are a big girl,” Grey said, “but even big girls need help sometimes.” The Lady poked her niece’s stomach to tickle her.
“Grey! Asha!” Ingrid shouted up from downstairs. “Breakfast is ready!”
“We’ll be right there, Mom!” Grey shouted back. Then she turned back to Asha. “Are you sure you don’t want—?”
"We're fine, Grey." Asha assured softly, reaching out for Siri, who reached back. Asha carefully stood Siri on the bed and handed her dauggter a little dress. "Go on down, we'll be there in a few minutes."
Siri, with all the confidence of a toddler and no care for politeness, pulled her night gown off over her head, getting it caught over her curls. Asha laughed and moved to help her.
Grey gave a sad smile as she returned to Siri to her mother. The 24-year-old woman watched mother and daughter for a moment debating if she should try again to convince her adoptive sister to let her help, but she decided against it not wanting to upset Asha. Perhaps, they could talk about it later.
“Okay,” she said finally. She then turned to her Night Fury. “Come on, Shadow.” They reached the top of the stairs when Grey turned back to look at Asha as she helped Siri get dressed. “Hey, Asha? Y-You know we’re here to help you, right? We’re…we’re more than happy to help…me and my parents.”
"I know," Asha said with a soft smile. "And we appreciate you so much."
Siri whined at pulled at her nightgown, frustrated.
Asha turned her attention back to Siri and went back to helping her. The Bergmans had opened their home to Asha and Siri, and Asha owed them everything. It was a debt she couldn't repay, but one she hoped to lessen, theiugh whatever means necessary.
Grey widened her smile. It was nice to hear that Asha knew that she and her parents were here to help. However…she couldn’t help but wonder if she really did know that. Nevertheless, she reluctantly decided to leave Asha to it and went downstairs with Shadow in tow. She and Shadow descended the stairs, and sure enough, she found her parents setting the table for breakfast. She smiled at the sight. It was amazing at what their little family went through over the last three years.
She thought she was going to break out the prisoners in the Grounded Dungeon, and she ended up staying to help a Rebellion face a demon that guarded the prison only to be forced to join a war among the gods and became a king’s second-in-command. Meanwhile, around the time Ragnarok began, her parents and uncle suddenly disappeared without a trace only to return 3 years later shortly before she returned home. Not only that, but they had no memory as to where they were. However, all three of them were happily reunited, and Sven and Ingrid welcomed Asha and Siri into their little home with no questions asked just as she knew they would.
It was moments like this that made Grey feel like she had never left home.
“Good morning, Mom and Dad,” she said.
“Good morning, little Valkyrie,” Sven said turning to his daughter. “Good morning, Shadow.”
“Good morning, my little Grey,” Ingrid said. She then furrowed her eyebrows together when she didn’t see two more people. “Where are Asha and Siri?”
“Oh, she’s getting Siri dressed,” Grey said. “She won’t be long.”
“Alright,” Ingrid replied. “I’ll keep their food on the fire a little longer. This way it won’t be cold for them.”
Asha finished getting Siri dressed and then herself, and then brushed both of their hair.
"Breakfast now, Mama?" Siri asked hopefully, as Asha finished tying off the end of her braid.
Asha laughed. "Yes, my love, we can go have breakfast now."
Siri squealed and ran for the door to head down the stairs.
"Remenber, Siri, what do we say to Grey's parents?" Asha asked.
"Um..." Siri rocked back on her heels. "Good morning and please and thank you."
"That's right," Asha smiled, leaning to press a kiss to Siri's head before opening the door. She always encouraged Siri to use all of her manners, but especially with Grey's parents.
Siri ran down the steps. "Good morning!" She shouted happily as she descended the staircase.
Grey grabbed some fish out of the barrel and placed it in a bowl for Shadow. “Eat up, girl,” she said to her dragon.
Needless to say, Shadow wasted no time in enjoying the fresh fish from the morning catch. While Shadow ate, Grey placed some more fish in a bowl for Moonbeam knowing that Asha would want to feed her dragon this morning. It was probably the one thing she could do for Asha at this point. She then quickly shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts as she moved to the table to sit with her parents.
She was suddenly jolted out of those thoughts when Siri came bounding down the stairs wishing everyone a “good morning.” The Lady smiled at the sight of her niece and adoptive sister coming down to join them.
“Good morning, Siri!” Sven and Ingrid said in unison.
“And how did you sleep, dear?” Ingrid asked as Sven opened his arms to the little girl.
Siri jumped into Sven's arms, happy for snuggles. "I slept good!"
Asha smiled at the sight. "Good morning, Sven. Good morning, Ingrid."
It was more wonderful that Asha could even begin to explain that she and her daughter woke up in such a loving home. Sven reminded Asha so much of her father that sometimes it ached. She missed him so much and hated that Siri would never know him. At least she would know Sven.
"Do you need help with anything, Ingrid?" Asha questioned.
“Good morning, Asha,” Sven said as he picked up Siri in his arms hugging her close. He felt a warmth swell in his chest as he hugged the little girl. While Siri wasn’t his granddaughter biologically, it felt like she was in a way. Not to say that he wouldn’t be thrilled when Grey would finally have her own children, but having Siri reminded him a lot of when Grey was that young.
“Good morning, Asha,” Ingrid said as she stirred the pot over the fire. She heard the young girl ask if she needed help, and she turned and smiled at her. “Yes, dear, would you mind putting the bowls with broth and the bread on the table for me? Those are for you and Siri.” She had already given Grey and Sven their respective meals, so Asha and Siri were left before she could sit down and eat with the family.
Asha smiled went to do exactly as Ingrid asked. She set the broth down carefully and the bread before taking an empty seat. She knew trying to get Siri into her own seat would be useless at the moment.
"We play today?" Siri asked Sven excitedly. "Or are you busy 'gain?"