I entered the village, a bit nervous. I clenched my fists inside my pockets. Typically, authority figures I wasn't on good terms with calling me in was not a good omen at all. It took a lot of my willpower to just run off into the forest.

I thought a bit on my way there though. I had spent the last five years wanting to go home. To see my home again. But I really just traded one island trap for another. I couldn't leave, not until a Trader Johan arrived, but that wouldn't be for months. I didn't trust the other tribes very much, not enough to stay on a voyage with them. And I'm the first to admit, I'm hopeless at nautical matters. Just another thing that makes me not a viking.

"So," I heard Tuffnut say. He, his sister and Snotlout were hanging around the blacksmith shop. "What do you think the chief wants Hiccup for?"

"I dunno," Ruffnut drawled. "Maybe to kill him. He disrespected every chief in the alliance earlier. Couldn't that get you, like, Blood Eagled[1], or something?" Her male companions shrugged, as if it was a genuine possibility. It could be. I was never interested in politics. Just crafting things.

"I'd like to see them try," I said. They jumped,as if startled. Huh, they must not have heard me coming. It was kind of funny though, how Snotlout screamed like a little girl when I did that.

"Don't do that!" Snotlout snapped, and I smirked behind the mask I was wearing. I took it off a second later. I didn't like talking with it on. "So, after all the ears of scaring me, I'm not allowed to do the same to you?" I asked, sounding innocent. I swear, I wasn't angry, but at the same time it was kind of funny to see him squirm after all the harassment he gave me.

"Um..." He didn't know quite what to say. He saw me win a fight with Astrid, who could deck him without trying. He looked nervous, and I sighed. It actually really wasn't funny for long. I didn't really feel sorry for him, but it just felt wrong to take revenge over such a petty thing. It just… Didn't sit right.

"Are the chiefs still waiting for me in the Hall," I asked simply. Tuff nodded, and I nodded at him. Snotlout scowled. The guy didn't like feeling inferior, but I couldn't bring myself to care on that point.

I turned to leave, and looked around. People were looking at me strangely. Maybe it was the clothes, or something. Or the fact that I'm Hiccup. I took a deep breath and headed towards the hall.

When I got there, I spent a while just looking at the door, wondering if I should leave my weapons outside, or at least the obvious ones. Then I thought better of it. If they wanted to attack me, let them. I would show them exactly what kind of person I'd become.

I closed my eyes, preparing myself. The barrier keeping my secrets was as firm as ever. I took another deep breath, and pushed open the overly large doors.

Arrow's Trust

Chapter 3

Peace In Our Time

Cami backed up, wrenching her hand out of the woman's fist, her eyes wide. The white-haired woman put a finger to her lips, pleading silently with the tiny blond to be quiet. Cami nodded.

Slade and Thuggory were still asleep, and I looked between the two in front of me, trying to think of what to do. Strangely, the masked Roman guard was nowhere to be seen. He had been so diligent earlier. If he was off duty, shouldn't he have a new guard replace him.

I bit my lip. "So, is anyone going to go do anything." Cami elbowed me in the side. Hard. I winced, and the white haired woman rolled her eyes. She knelt and began to undo my bonds, working slowly and trying not to make any noise.

"We need to get out of here," she whispered. "You, blond. I managed to swipe the key's from the centurion. Get the big guy, then help your friend here. He's too banged up to go go anywhere." Cami nodded, and went to free Thuggory.

The white haired woman quirked her head.

"Doesn't she need a key?" I shook my head, smiling slightly. "Not even close. She's a Bog-Burglar. Needing a key is almost a mark of incompetence for them." I heard her laugh smugly at that behind me.

They finished freeing Slade, Thug, and me. Cami laced her arm across my shoulders, lifting me up. "What'd they cut you up for?" She asked quietly. I groaned, really not wanting to tell her I had just spent most of the day going through torture for her. She would probably just get a swelled head.

"I'll tell you later," I assured her.

"Come on," the white haired woman said. "We need to leave."

Slade frowned, apparently not questioning what was happening. Maybe he knew her. "What about the guards," he asked. She just gave him a knowing smile. "Don't worry about that. Yao Fei's making a diversion." Again with this Yao Fei. Who the heck was he?!

The chiefs were all talking when I came in, but they halted as soon as the door creaked open. Stoick looked around, his expression sinking. "Hiccu-Hēi Jiàn." He said. "We called you here to… Discuss what happened on that island."

I crossed my arms and sat at one of the tables. "Well, what do you want to know," I asked cooly. I really didn't like these guys. For some reason,just being in the same room with them was just aggravating me beyond belief.

"Where's our heirs?" Ug bluntly demanded aggressively, like I had committed some kind if offense by showing up without his kid, and I had the strongest urge to punch him in the eye. Or shoot an arrow at his knee. But I restrained myself.

"Dead. Next question." I lied through my teeth. Not all of them were dead, I knew that all too well. But it was none of their business. I didn't care if it was their kids. I just couldn't bring myself to tell them. It hurt way too much.

They seemed a bit put off by the bluntness. They looked at each other with mixed faces, some shocked, some saddened. "How did they die," Bertha asked quietly. My heart softened a bit. Maybe they deserved some information. It wasn't like they planed to land me on Helgrind.

"With honor, Chieftess Bertha, " I said solemnly. "I can't tell you how much I owe some of them." That part wasn't a lie. I would have gladly laid down my life for some of them, if I ever had the chance. But it didn't look like I would have that chance any time soon.

I sat through their questions. They were mainly about the island. How I survived, how I became a fighter, the Night Fury, all of that. And that brought back a flood of memories. Stuff I didn't really like thinking about. By the time they were done, which was at least an hour or two later, I was beyond ready to leave.

Finally the last question came.

"Astrid said you attacked them when they landed on your beach." Stoick said, scowling a little. "Why?" That one was an easy answer, one that I wouldn't mind telling them. I stood, fists clenched.

"Easy. I didn't trust them. That's what five years on the worst place on Midgard does to you, Chief Stoick. Out there, everything is a threat. There are no allies. Not until you prove who's dominant. You or them."

"And if it's them?" Stoick asked.

I turned towards the door, calling over my shoulder. "Then your dead." I had seen that far too many times. I needed to get out of here. All this… It wasn't home anymore. It didn't feel right. And I needed something that I still knew.

"Ok, Bud," I said. I was back in the forest, at the place I'd lost the Night Fury. "Why didn't you kill me?" I knelt and picked up one of the fallen scales. It was caked with dried blood. I rolled the scale between my fingers.

I know its nuts, but maybe I am. The Night Fury was the only thing I could recognize anymore. Astrid, Stoick, the whole damn village, it all felt like something out of a really depressing dream. At least I felt something familiar with the dragon.

I sighed, tossing the scale aside. I followed the path of destruction, blood, broken arrows, damaged scales and terrain, towards a place I never knew existed on this island. It was beautiful, a cove surrounded by smooth stone walls, a picturesque waterfall, and a lovely lake reflecting the tress above the rim of the cove. A few trees here and there, and rich green grass.

But the most interesting thing about it was the curled up dragon in front of the water. He was bleeding, and shifted uncomfortably in his sleep, ruffling his wings and lashing his tail. I kneeled on the edge of the cove, watching him.

Huh, so that's what he looked like at rest. He was quite a graceful creature. Sleek and powerful looking. His body was wracked with battle scars from various times I had managed to hit him. But in his back was the arrow I had pushed deep into him during our first up-close and personal fight. That looked like it hurt.

I made to get up, but I slipped. My hand knocked bunch of rocks off the edge, and they tumbled towards the ground below, clacking against the walls as they fell. Either he was a light sleeper, or he had excellent hearing, or both, because his head shot up.

He actually kind of looked like a shocked bunny rabbit when he did that. It was a little funny. But when he swiveled his head to look at me, I froze. His intense green eyes found me instantly, and I swallowed, resisting the urge to go for my bow or a sword.

I quietly slipped backwards, swallowing. So that was my enemy. I expected to feel joy at seeing that, at seeing the dragon who had plagued me for half a decade all wounded and tired... But all I felt was pity.

We made it back to Slade's camp… Eventually. It took a lot of sneaking past Romans searching the woods for. But apparently they had already been here. The camp was ransacked, stuff scattered everywhere. I picked up one of the arrows scattered on the ground. It was snapped in half.

"They don't respect others things around here, do they," I asked.

"That, among other moral failings." Slade agreed, sitting on one of the boxes. The man looked weary, as if he had done this kind of thing before, and was getting real tired of it. Thuggory laid against a tree and rubbed his head. This had not been a good day for the big guy. Or any of us, really.

"So, since the Romans did the butcher job on the boy, I'm guessing you three aren't working for them." Cami rolled here eyes, sitting next to Thuggory.

"Duh," she said. "What self-respecting viking would ever work for those Jupiter-worshiping sissies?"

"Your vikings?" He asked with an amused smile. "No offense, but only he really looks the part," he jerked an arm to indicate Thuggory, who looked miffed. "You both look as breakable as that arrow."

"My thing's robbing, not fighting." Cami said. "Don't get me wrong, I can still kick your ass. But I'm not your stereotypical viking." She sounded so proud of that. I guess her differences didn't get her ostracized like me. Of course, her skills were the best of her tribe. She would be a little miracle among them.

"What about you kid?" He looked at me. "If she's a robber, what are you?"

I looked down. "A blacksmith," I answered quietly. A scrawny little blacksmith that people thought was only allowed to sit and the corner and sharpen swords. I could craft weapons better than Gobber at this point, but no one on Berk seemed to acknowlage that.

"So, I got a Viking bruiser, blacksmith, and burglar. Quite the trio." He said, chuckling bitterly as he shifted on his seat. He reached behind him, probably out if habit, but grasped empty air. "Damn Romans took my swords." He muttered to himself.

"This isn't the place for any of those here." The white haired woman said. We all looked at her. She had taken out an oddly shaped dagger and was sharpening it. "This island only has room for warriors and survivors."

Slade sighed. "Kids, this is Chien-Na Wei. And she has a point. Your not equipped to survive here," he said. "I'm sorry to say, but you probably won't last the week." Wow, that was a little cold, wasn't it.

"I don't believe that," Thuggory spoke up. We all looked at him. "I count these two as my friends." He stood and put his hands on me and Cami's shoulders. "And I won't abandon them. They are good friends to die in battle with." He looked at Cami. "Well… He is. I am not sure about her."

She scowled and stuck her tongue out at him childishly.

"No offense, kid," Slade said cynically. "But you've spent the day getting your ass handed to you." Suddenly there was the sound of someone walking behind me. I quickly turned, earning myself a lot of pain from the torture wounds for doing so. I winced, but found myself looking at the masked roman guard.

The gates of the training arena clanked open as I entered. They had done very little remodeling to the place since I'd been here last. There were a few more scratches, gashes and craters, but that was about it.

A row of weapons sat against the wall, as usual. I strode over to it and picked up one of the hammers, weighing it in my hands. It looked a lot like the hammer Stoick usually liked to wield. With a sound of dissatisfaction, I put it back.

Then my eye caught something. A small knife next to the hammers. It looked very familiar. I bent and picked it up, bringing the small blade close to my face. Something about it felt right.

I spotted a small engraving at the base of the blade. With a start, I realized that it was the knife that I used to carry around when I was fifteen. Stoick had made me leave it behind, saying that all the other heirs were leaving their familiar weapons behind too… and now it had ended up in the inglorious position of a training dagger. Big show of sentiment there, Stoick… I thought sarcastically, stuffing the knife in a pocket of my coat. That was mine, thank you very much.

"Pilfering from the training supplies?" I looked up jolted from my thoughts. Out of knee-jerk reaction, my hands jerked for my weapons, but I calmed myself, staying my hands. Astrid was leaning against the entrance to the arena, smirking.

"Actually, it's mine." I said matter-of-factly.

"Ah," she said. Then she began walking towards me. For a moment, I was taken a bit into the past. I had seen her walk into the forge so many times, but she always looked so angry. Now she looked a bit calmer. That was until she got to me. Suddenly a scowl crossed her face, and she punched me in the arm. It didn't actually hurt, but I didn't want her to do it again, so I rubbed my arm and frowned.

"Ow. Why?"

"That was for ditching me," she said heatedly. "I wasn't kidding about Stoick wanting me to watch you. He said to keep with you at all times." That was not good. I had planned on going back to see the Night Fury after a bit if training in the arena. If she found out what I was planning to do with it, things would get messy. I had to ditch her somehow.

"Well, I dunno if you noticed, I'm not big on his orders at the moment," I said, rolling my eyes. I turned and picked up one of the swords, examining it. Ridiculously simple and unimaginative.

Astrid crossed her arms, glaring at me. "Excuse me for having loyalty to my chief, unlike some people," she said with venom in her voice. I gripped the sword tightly for a second, before taking a deep breath and putting it back on the rack.

"I became disillusioned with the tribes a while ago. Realizing I had been replaced was the final straw," I said. Before she could say anything else, I strode over to one of the doors. The dragon inside must be asleep, because it wasn't railing viciously against the barrier at the moment. Suddenly an idea popped into my mind.

"So, what have you got in here now? I'm pretty sure the dragons that were here when I was part of the class are long gone," I said. She looked taken aback at the sudden shift in the conversation's tone, but quickly composed herself.

"Well, that Nadder bolted a week after you left, there's a Scuttleclaw in there now. It's the same Gronckle too, it's a tough one. But we replaced the Zippleback and Nightmare while you were gone. There's a Sea Shocker and a new Nightmare in there."

I nodded in understanding. "Same Gronckle, eh?" I muttered, striding along the wall. "You know there were dragons on the island," I said. "And I found out something interesting. The ones on Helgrind couldn't care less about us… Well, except the Night Fury. That thing was always an ass. And there were some pretty nasty species there. Everything from Monstrous Nightmares to Speed Stingers."

Astrid raised an eyebrow. "And you killed them?"

"No, actually. Weren't you listening? If I minded my own business, they minded theirs. Honestly, why would an enormous beast that can fly and breath fire ever bother with a pathetic little meat sack like us?" I said, stopping in front of the Gronckle cage. "In the rare event I did fight one, it usually retreated when it found out I wasn't going down that easily. I've killed a few, yeah. Kind of unavoidable. But they were… Special circumstances, each time."

"Your delusional." Astrid rolled her eyes. "Dragons are bloodthirsty monsters. Just look at the raids," she sounded confused and exasperated, as if the conversation's turn had both befuddled her and was grating on her nerves. I had to hide a smirk. Some people were just too easy to get mad.

"Actually, some were quite amicable. The Zipplebacks, for example, were very docile… Towards me. They hate their other heads." I shrugged. "Anyway, they were so agreeable, I managed to take something from them without them trying to nom on me."

She tilted her head, but before she could say anything I flashed a grin and reached into my coat, taking a small wood cylinder case. I pulled up my mask and opened the case. Green Zippleback gas billowed out, creating a huge emerald cloud. She had just enough time to look shocked before she disappeared in the cloud. I could hear her coughing, and I smirked, holding my breath. The mask was giving me some protection, but wouldn't fully do the job.

I slipped out through the gate, then stopped with a grin. I couldn't resist seeing her reaction. I clambered up to the spectator area and crouched low hiding behind the gate frame slightly. Astrid stumbled out of the green smoke, coughing and spluttering.

When she regained her breath, she scanned the arena with her eyes, searching for me. Apparently she found nothing because she scowled and stomped her foot in anger. Somehow that was cute… Wait, what now? No, I was definitely over her-argh, never mind. Anyway, I knew I was in for an earful when next we met. Ah, well, what can you do?

I slipped away from the arena quietly, then circled back to my temporary house to grab some things. Basic medical supplies that Slade, and later I, had made or foraged from wreckages on Helgrind. Stuffing them in my pockets, I swiped a fish from the supply hut. Might need that for pacification.

I had no idea why I was doing this. I had fought this thing for five long years, and now I was going to go patch it up? What the Hel was with that? But still, it was the only familiar thing here. And he had kept me on my feet the past few years, and had always given me a warning when he was about to attack. Maybe there was more to the dragon than met they eye.

Plus, like I said, the dragons on Helgrind never attacked me without provocation. It wasn't a stable or trusting relationship, but still, now that the beast was on the ground, I wondered if I could learn from it like I had learned from the other Dragons. Maybe this one had something to offer, too.

I crept along the village. A few times I spotted Astrid tracking me down, and those were some pretty close calls. She nearly caught me by my old house, I actually had to creep around a bit to loose her, but eventually I made it to the forest.

It was midday, and the sun was high in the sky. There was plenty of light as I navigated the greenery, searching for the cove again. Soon enough, I found it. The pristine cove was devoid of annoying reptiles, though.

"Huh?" I muttered to myself, creeping down into the area. In my left hand was one of my swords, while I held the fish in my right hand. The cove was oddly quiet. Had the Night Fury left? He looked too banged up to fly right…

I searched around, when suddenly I heard a loud snuff. I twisted, and found my target.

The Night Fury was perched on a tall rock like a cat, eyeing me with suspicion. He looked almost intelligent, a calculating and scheming look in his eye. His pupils flicked between my sword and the fish.

"Whoa," I said quietly, slowly reaching back and sheathing the sword. I held up my hand calmingly, hoping he wouldn't attack. "Don't know of you can understand me… I'm not here to fight." My voice was steady and trying for placating. This had worked with some dragons on Helgrind, though more often then not the dragon had ignored me, or thought I was munchies…

I swallowed thickly. I was mere feet away from the most dangerous dragon known to viking. Having experience with it didn't help when he held the position of power, where he could pounce on me before I could move.

I let out a breath as he slinked down to my level, prowling like a cat. He crawled along the ground, eyeing me with a guarded gaze. His eyes flicked to the arsenal on my back. "Hey, you're the one that has built-in weapons," I snapped. "I actually need something to protect myself if you decide to try and kill me."

To my incredulity, he lifted an eye ridge in a 'really' look. I sighed, and held out the fish. He edged away, still looking at my weapons. "Well, what do you want me to do? Disarm myself? You have fireballs! Without these, all I have is fists, how is that fair?!"

He snorted, and I shook my head. "I came here to end our little war and your complaining about me being armed," I deadpanned. No change in his expression. "Fine then…" I relented. "Oh gods, what am I doing? Ok, I'll do it. You spared me, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

It took a lot of pride-bending, but I unbuckled the strap holding my swords to by back, then my quiver, and let them drop to the ground. I unslung my bow, then made a big show of dropping it on top of my other stuff. The Night Fury thrust his nose at my coat pocket, where my old knife was, and I gaped. How in Mjolnir's name did he know that was there?!

I bitterly tossed it on the ground with my other stuff. Just to make him happy, I gathered the stuff and tossed it aside, far enough to where he could tear me to bits before I could get to it. I closed my eyes, waiting for the claws and fire…

… And they never came. I looked back around to see the Night Fury sitting on his haunches, pupils dilated, looking rather calm. I blinked. Well, that was unexpected, to say the least…

I held out the fish again, and this time he advanced with a bit less suspicion. I eyed the scars on his body. Most were from arrows, so yeah, my fault. He opened his mouth, waiting expectantly for the treat.

I looked at him. His mouth was devoid of any teeth, just bright pink gums and empty sockets. "Are you kidding me?!" I said in shock. "The deadliest dragon ever, and you don't have-" he cut my off as a row of triangular teeth jutted from somewhere inside his gums with a sound like a sword unsheathing. He lunched forwards, seizing the aquatic snack and gobbling it down.

"… Teeth." I finished in shock, blinking. I looked at my hand, making sure I still had one. Then, I shook my head. "Oooooook, then."

I took a deep breath, composing myself. He began advancing towards me, and I took a step back, preparing to fight if necessary. But as soon as his face was inches in front of mine, he went cross-eyed and began to make some strange noise. I looked at him, bewildered, before there was a disgusting splat on the ground. I looked down, and saw half of the fish I had just given him.

"Charming…" I said, and bent to pick it up.

He looked from me to the fish expectantly. "What, do you want me to eat it?" I asked sarcastically. He snorted, and glanced from me to it again, making a chewing motion. I shrugged. "Fair enough, fair enough." I said.

What? I had eaten a lot worse on Helgrind. And I was eager to see if I could find out more about my five-year enemy, and perhaps finally have him off my back.

I'm gonna skip that part, though. Just because I had worse doesn't mean it was at all pleasant, so just use your imagination there. When I was finished, the dragon licked his lips and I rolled my eyes. The things I was doing for this alliance, and I didn't even know why in Thor's name I was doing it.

I began to walk forwards, and he started to growl. Not taking any of it, I gave him my fiercest glare, at which he actually backed up a little bit. "Hey, I gave you food and ate the bit you gave back, I'm trusting you here." I snapped, advancing more. Either he understood me or was just going from my tone. Either way, he grumbled like a pouty child when I went up beside him.

The arrow was in pretty deep. I had really done some damage. I grimaced. This wasn't going to be pleasant. Not at all. An arrow going in hurt. And arrow going in deeper hurt more. An arrow coming out? Now that was pain.

I grasped the shaft of the arrow and pulled. The Night Fury roared in pain and slammed me with his tail, leaping away from me. I flew a few feet, tumbling over myself, until I landed flat on my back with aching ribs.

"…ow." I deadpanned, sitting up. "Just… Ow." I pulled down my hood and shook my head. This could take a while…

It was getting late. The sun was starting to set. And I had more than a few bruises from trying to get the arrow out. Currently he and I were… Arguing. Yes, I was having an argument with a dragon. And I'm not sure, but I think he was winning.

"I already said I'm sorry! Besides, you're the one who's been taking shots at me for the past five years!" I yelled. He made an indignant roar and beat the ground with his tail.

"Well 'raaaaaar,' yourself," I snapped back. "I'm trying to help you here, and your just being a great big baby about it!" He snarled, and snapped at me, but I wasn't fooled. He hadn't attacked all afternoon. He was probably too banged up to fight, but my ribs certified he could still out up a Hel of a battle.

I threw up my arms, making a sound of exasperation, walking away. "Your impossible." He made a sound that may have been an insult in dragonese, and stalked off in the opposite direction. I sighed, and sat down on a rock.

"What am I doing?" I wondered aloud. "Why is my life like this. I'm negotiating with a dragon. A Night Fury, and my nemesis." I sighed, and looked around. The Night Fury was sitting across the lake from me, giving me a dirty look.

I shook my head. "What is wrong with me?

It was starting to become night. The dragon and I were currently sitting across from each other over a fire. "Ok, then," I said. "I have shot you. You have tried to shoot me. You look wounded, and I want to leave, but I can't. I think we can help each other." The idea had occurred to me an hour ago. The dragon seemed intelligent enough, if I could somehow broker a deal with him, he could get me off of this mudpile months before Johan ever got here. And to be honest, I didn't trust the trader that much anyway. He never sounded very truthful.

I had no idea of he understood me or not, but he was looking at me as though I bored him. His ears were flattened and his eyes half open. "Anything to add?"

Snort. Growl. Apparently his arm pit itched, because he lifted his arm to gnaw at it. I rolled my eyes and got up. The arrow was still in his back. "Ok, I'm gonna be honest," I said. "I don't like you. You have been shooting at me, roaring at me, and scaring the crap out of me for a quarter of my life. But you've become something I can recognize, something that doesn't seem so strange. My old home, the people here, it just doesn't feel right anymore."

The dragon blinked, as if affirming that he was listening. "And you probably don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?" A low rumble was his response. I sighed. "Anyway, I would like to leave. I thought I wanted to be back, but it doesn't feel at all what I expected. So, here's what we're gonna do. I'm gonna take the arrow out of your back. I'm gonna fix you up. And your going to give me a ride to the nearest island with a half-decent nautical teacher. Ok?"

He didn't respond, except for blinking. I got up, going around the fire towards him. He stayed still as I got behind him and grasped the offending projectile coming out of his flesh. "Ok…. Don't slam me," I whispered.

[2] I had safely procured the arrow and patched up the Night Fury's wounds. However, while treating him, I had spotted something about his tail. The left fin was damaged. The membrane was ripped in multiple places, and it was covered in dried blood. It looked pretty bad.

It had probably happened in the crash. I didn't have the stuff to fix my new ally's tail fin just yet, but I had done what I can. When I picked up my weapons, he had bolted for the other side of the cove. Apparently we weren't at the 'stay in close proximity when I have things' stage of our relationship yet. Whatever.

I made my way back to the village, nervous as heck. I got to my house, sighing as I opened the door. And to my surprise, someone was already in there. "Hiccup," was the only warning I got before I turned and saw Astrid glaring at me with both hands on her hips.

Aw great...

[1]As far as I know, the Blood Eagle was used to punish their high-offense criminals

[2] I skipped that bit because I have no clue how to remove an arrow. I know its bad to yank it out, but beyond that, I got nothing.

There it is, the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed, and wish me luck on my finals next week. So, that's all for now.

Have an awesome whatever-point-in-time-you-read-this.

-RNC