Hello everyone. Welcome to my brand new story Wings of Midgard!
I can't help but say how excited I am to write this. This story is a new approach for me in both dialogue and plot, and the Norse fantasy setting in this story is something I never imagined that I would write about, especially since the theme and atmosphere is more brighter than my last story, but will also at times be darker.
Still, this is something that I am happy to write and make, and I hope you guys like what this story has to offer.
Sit back and enjoy!
The room was quiet and dim. Only a single candle remained lit while Hiccup sat as his desk, looking down at his detailed but incompleted map of Midgard.
"Well, what do you think bud?" he asked, shifting in his seat to face his dragon. "Do you still think there's more to explore out there? Perhaps somewhere new?"
Toothless who laid in the corner of the dark room looked up at his rider, letting out air from his nostrils before gently resting his head back down. Clearly he was not interested.
"Nevermind I guess… Now, where was I?" Hiccup shrugged it off, shifting to face back towards the map of Midgard as he scanned his eyes over it and continued to admire it.
Midgard, the world of men and home to many other races, was one of the nine worlds that inhabited the known cosmos. The world was well known for the two continents that were located on both the eastern and western ends of it.
To the east was the continent of Scalmodan, home to many viking tribes as well as to the clans of mighty dwarves who came from Nidavellir to settle on Midgard.
To the west lied the continent of Lardalor, home of the woodland realms where many light elves who came from Alfheim had resided.
And then there was the Barbaric Archipelago where Hiccup lived, located in the center of the map of Midgard with Berk as one of the main landmarked islands. Though to him, he saw the Archipelago as anything but interesting. After all, it was no longer what it once was...
While he continued to eye the map, he nearly did not notice the door to his room open, and upon noticing a figure coming in he was nearly startled.
However, the figure that came into his room was his father, the chieftain of Berk. Stoick the Vast.
Hiccup let out a breath in relief. "Oh- hey dad. I- I thought you were someone else... Erm- do you need something?
"Son," he began. "I have important news to share with you. It's something you should know."
The young twenty year old sighed in irritation. "Let me guess, another dispute with Alvin? Or even with Dagur?"
He shook his head. "Not this time. This morning I've received word from two messengers sent by both the dwarven king Morgrim and the elven king Lornduil."
"The ones who responded to our invitations of coming to Berk?"
"Aye," he nodded. "The messengers told me that both Lornduil and Morgrim are going to be arriving at Berk today near noon, which is very soon. I am going to discuss opening possible alliances with them."
"...However, while I prepare the town for their arrival I would like you to go visit Snotlout near the hunting grounds in the woods and see what he is up to. From what I've heard, he is building an outpost without my consent."
Hiccup felt his stomach grind hearing that name. Snotlout? Out of all the people on Berk he had to check up on, why him?
"Dad, you can't be serious. You know Snotlout hates both of us - as well as the rest of Berk that has not sided with him. He still thinks that-"
"I know, I know. But right now we have no choice. And besides, your mother and I have been too busy looking after the village… At least the half that is still with us."
"I guess I can understand that, but why no choice?" he groaned. "Dad, you know well what Snotlout is like. He was the one who nearly threatened to throw half of the dragons on Berk off the island by force."
"Couldn't you at least send Astrid and the others to him in my stead?"
"They were already sent out before you," Stoick said with a nod. "But I need you there to make sure that things do not get out of hand, and to get this issue sorted out. I want you to get answers out of him."
"All right?"
Hiccup frowned, narrowing his eyes down. "All right."
Stoick patted son before turning around and giving him one last nod as he walked out of his room. "Best of luck, son."
After he left, Hiccup looked towards Toothless, nudging his head to the side as he stood from his chair and gestured him to follow - to which the Night Fury willingly obliged to.
They both made their way out of their room, walking hastily down the stairs before exiting out of the hut and into the light of the morning day, but not before getting a quick glance at the heavily populated town of Berk.
Hiccup stared up at the cloudly light blue sky, giving off another frowned look. "Would be such a perfect time for a flight… but the others are probably waiting for us."
He then swiftly sat himself on top Toothless's saddle, attaching his prosthetic and putting his right foot into place on the pedal as he activated the flap for Toothless's prosthetic tail fin.
"Right then, let's get this over with. You ready Toothless?"
...
"There is nothing you can say that will convince me, Astrid! My base, my rules!"
The dragon riders had already arrived at Snotlout's outpost, still in construction, and so far things were not looking good.
"You can't be serious, Snotlout!" let out Astrid, stomping her way towards Snotlout. "You are building an outpost without Stoick's consent! Don't you know that it's HIS island? You can't just go wherever you want and-"
"Shut your MOUTH ALREADY!" he bellowed.
"And you men! On the tower! Work faster on it! I want it up by noon!"
"Aye sir!" a worker called out, hammering swiftly at nail on the foundation of the watchtower.
If there was anyone on Berk that half of the island despised, it was Snotlout Jorgenson.
It all started months ago; a night that made him change forever.
A new foe came from beyond the sea by ship. Raiders, small in number but shockingly well armed, and they raided Berk by surprise.
They attacked the village relentlessly despite the unfavorable odds, but were eventually pushed back. However, it was on that tragic night that they had managed to destroy a few huts and food stores, and even murder Snotlout's father Spitelout along with fifteen others.
Though it was clear that it was the raiders who were at fault for killing Spitelout, Snotlout instead blamed Stoick, Hiccup, Astrid and the riders for his death.
He claimed that they were the ones that did not save his father, nor wanted to, and that it was for that reason he was killed. Through this he convinced nearly half of Berk to turn to his side, and willingly they soon became part of Clan Jorgenson; wearing the grey and red colors of his house while turning most of their loyalty away from Stoick.
Though they were not Jorgensons by blood, they were from that point on considered "family." If anything, the clan was almost like another individual tribe.
Snotlout even responded to Stoick when this happened by stating that if he ever tried to re-convince them to return their full loyalties to his tribe, he would order them to take Berk by force.
Not wanting a civil war, Stoick backed off. Not even Hookfang, who now feared Snotlout for who he had become, could defy him, and as the months went on, things did not get any better.
More and more dragons migrated away from Berk as a result of Snotlout's actions, the raids began intensifying, and now Berk was on the brink of dividing due to the weak neutral relation between the Berkian Tribe and Clan Jorgenson.
Still, Snotlout was once again acting on his own accord, and things were about to get heated between him and Astrid...
"I'm telling you Snotlout, this is Stoick's island! His rules! Not yours!"
Snotlout chuckled, crossing his arms. "You forget that half of Berk belongs to me, scumbag! I have the final say of what I do! No one else!"
"But by building this outpost you're blocking the way to our hunting grounds! How will we get food for the coming winte-"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK!" he shouted, now screaming in her face.
As the two argued, Fishlegs and the Twins who stood nearby with their dragons watched the argument unfold with surprised looks on their faces as it continued escalating.
"Geez…" said Ruffnut. "Astrid and Snotlout are REALLY gettin' out of hand now."
Her twin Tuffnut replied with a chuckle. "Heh, yeah. You know, this reminds me of that one time when Barf and Belch kept on biting at each other over a single salmon. It was funny."
"Oh yeah, I remember that," Ruffnut giggled. "And then they forgot about it in the end because we threw it into the sea, heheh."
Fishlegs let out a muffled grunt, looking back at the Twins in frustration. "Will you two stop it already? You're not helping in making this situation any better."
"Well whaddya expect us to do?" questioned Ruffnut. "You said that Hiccup would be here to sort this whole mutt-fest out. So… where is he?"
As Fishlegs was about to respond, he once again heard Snotlout yell out in anger at Astrid, loud enough to where it nearly startled both him and the Twins.
"I've had ENOUGH of you!" he shouted, now boiling. "Right now you have one chance, Astrid! Turn around and fly back to the village, or I'll order my guards here to escort you back… by foot!"
Astrid's eyes widened. She took a few steps back, looking back at the ten armored Jorgenson guards who gathered near Snotlout in a threatening manner which made Stormfly and the other dragons start growling.
She knew that if she retaliated then violence would break out, and it was the last thing she wanted.
"You have GOT to be kidding me."
"Does it look like I'm bluffing?" he asked her as he stepped forward, raising his hand ready to snap his fingers. "So. What's it going to be?"
"SNOTLOUT!"
Hiccup's voice along with the sound of Toothless speeding by from above caught the attention of everyone. As they all looked up they saw the young viking fly in on his Night Fury, landing before Snotlout in front of Astrid.
He hastily dismounted from Toothless, rushing in front of her as he made his way closer to the crazed Jorgenson.
"Snotlout, what do you think you're doing?" he asked him.
"Ah, Useless! You came just in time!"
'Useless.' The name made Hiccup's teeth grit together. He had not heard Snotlout call him by that name in years. But now that he had been using more often, it made Hiccup feel ever more uncomfortable whenever he was around him.
"Huh...? In time for what?" Hiccup questioned.
"Your friend here is misbehaving, Hiccup!" replied Snotlout, peaking past Hiccup's shoulder over to Astrid. "Please, if you would - ask her to walk away before I order my guards here to make her."
"...No." he responded.
It was then that everyone went dead silent, staring down both Hiccup and Snotlout as if they were at a close stalemate.
Snotlout rose a brow. "...What did you say?"
"I said no, Snotlout!" responded Hiccup, raising his tone. "None of us are leaving until you tell us what in Midgard you are doing setting up an outpost near our hunting grounds without my father's permission. I mean seriously? You're building both a watchtower and a food store in front of the path leading to the grounds! You're blocking the-"
"Blocking the path and guarding it. Something you barely do, Useless!" taunted Snotlout.
Hiccup arched a brow. "Guarding it from what?! Trolls and goblins?! My father is worried for Berk because of what you are doing!"
"So what? What Stoick cares about is not my problem! You want answers? Go back to that large drunken keg and tell him that this outpost is for Clan Jorgenson's food storage. You and him know well that winter will be here in a few months, and we need as much food as we can store."
"Is that all you have to say?" asked Hiccup. "What about Berk? Our tribe? The village needs food as well you know."
"If they want to hunt for food from the hunting grounds then they may get it as they please… with my consent."
The guards behind Snotlout lightly chuckled, giving Hiccup and the group ugly and wicked grins before returning to their positions and continuing their patrols.
Snotlout's eyes then looked back towards the workers on the foundations of the food store and tower. "GET BACK TO WORK!"
"You heard him, back to work!" one of the workers repeated.
Hiccup sighed as soon as they were back to working on the outpost, looking back at Astrid as he shook his head with a frown on his face. He frowned not at her, but at what Snotlout had almost riled up.
He then made his way closer to her. "Are you alright?" he asked her.
She gave a nod. "I'm fine, babe… just a little bit shakened."
"Hm. I can tell..."
...
The group had gone to Gobber's workshop-smithy after they had left. They sat around a table with the blonde blacksmith who was at the moment off duty.
"So," he began, filling them tankards of mead. "Snotlout once again pulls yet another stupid move?"
"Yup." sighed Hiccup. "It seems like everywhere he goes, he wants trouble to start brewing... My father isn't going to be happy about this, at all."
"Well, he's Snotlout," shrugged Astrid. "And Snotlout will always do what he wants. You know well he'll want trouble wherever he goes."
"True. But still, I don't understand why he blames us for Spitelout's death, especially towards my dad. It pained me when I was forced to kick him out of the dragon riders as a whole, but now look at what he's doing... Even Hookfang does not want him as his rider anymore. Gods, I don't know what to do."
"Eh, don't stress about it laddy. One day he'll get what's coming for him either way." said Gobber. "I hope the trolls will come down from the hills to wreck that blasted outpost."
Astrid nodded in agreement. "Still Hiccup, you did the right thing," she replied, reaching out to hold Hiccup's hand which rested on the table. "...But next time, be there in time will you? Or else I'll kick you in the shin again - and I won't try to miss."
The young viking chuckled. "I will try. Right now though I just want to get the thought of Snotlout off of my mind."
"...Umm, what about those elven and dwarven kings that are coming to Berk today?" spoke Ruffnut, reminding them all of what was soon to happen. "Shouldn't we like… get ready or something?"
"Oh yeah that's right! The meeting!" gasped Fishlegs. "I hope king Lornduil will like my alf's foil plants!"
"Well let's just hope that this meeting goes by better than the last one with the Outcasts and Berserkers," sighed Astrid. "Berk's state is bad enough as it is, and both those tribes have begun starting disputes with us over resources, yet they are supposed to be our allies."
"...Old hatreds are boiling."
Tuffnut chuckled, moving his hand in an announcing manner. "Well I don't know about you, but my guts feel like they're boiling. I mean, you can feel it right? It's down… here-"
"No wait- I mean here…"
"Bro, that's not where your guts are. That's your stomach!" giggled Ruffnut in a snotty manner.
"Ugh, I don't need you telling me what's what, sis!"
Soon Gobber, Fishlegs and the Twins had gone off topic, discussing random things that were to their best interests. However, Astrid who sat near Hiccup glanced back at the lad who was leaned forward in his seat, thinking deeply to himself while he held his tankard in both hands.
"Hey, are you alright?" she asked him.
He shrugged, rolling his lips. "To be honest Astrid, I don't even know what is or isn't alright anymore. Always I ask myself; why didn't it work? Why couldn't we have made Berk into a utopia? A utopia for both vikings and dragons. A raid comes one night and now look at what's happening."
"Berk's on the verge of dividing… splitting because stupid Snotlout blames us for his father's death and has turned half the island against us. But what could we have done? Not even Gothi's magic could have healed Spitelout."
Astrid sighed, all whilst cracking her knuckles. "...I guess the gods have something planned for us that we don't know about. Maybe the runestone in the village plaza could give some answers?"
"What answers could I get out of that enchanted runestone?" he asked her, shaking his head. "Besides, only Gothi can communicate with it. You saw what happened when she last touched it to make it work. Remember?"
"Yeah, the runes glowed with her fire magic. But maybe the stone doesn't need magic to work. Maybe there's a way to-"
Her words immediately cut off as a pair of horns coming from the sea blew out to the island of Berk. They could tell that one was a dwarven horn, and another was an elven horn.
Hiccup stood to his feet, looking out the window to his right towards the ocean. In the distance were two ships sailing closer and closer to Berk.
"Looks like they're already here."