Hey y'all, it's been a while since I posted something. I've been really busy lately. But, this idea literally smacked me in the face at school one day and I've been writing it since. This is the unofficial sequel to 'How to Be a Slave' a story I've written nearly a year ago. Time just flies by. Anyway, this is the first chapter. So please do your thing and leave a review. Thank you for patiently awaiting for this 'exciting' sequel.

Yours,

~Soldier78~

Vinland

Ch.1: Day by Day

Hagan paused to look up from his journal. From his place against the cave's wall, he observed Kacey walk from a boiling pot of water over to Gweneth the Wise who rested weakly against Kacey's Nadder, ill.

'Day by day, we don't face the threat of invaders as much as the sickness that has stolen much life from us. I sit in the most sufferable silence, watching my dear friend Kacey dutifully nurse those both close and not. She is, most assuredly, a gift God has given this earth. Whatever hatred she used to have for Vikings had completely vanished once entire Berk was under siege by those nasty barbarians, voicing God's will as their sole motive.'

Hagan noticed the subject of his passage gifting him with a cup of freshly brewed tea. From how close they were, he gazed into her dark eyes. He could see the exhaustion and the sorrow that came from what he praised. Kacey was about to move when Hagan grabbed her wrist.

"Sit." He gently commanded, tugging her slightly to him. Wordlessly, she slipped onto the ground and rested her sore back against the wall. Hagan felt her weave her thin fingers between his own and he didn't dare fight the small smile. They sat quietly in absolute silence. All they heard was the racking coughs and weak moans. Hagan noted Kacey's attention on those two noises and the look of helplessness glazing her sapphire eyes, That smile had disappeared and he lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss on the calloused skin. When he pulled away, he kept it close to his cheek.

"You've done all you could."

"I know." Kacey had muttered, defeated. "I just wish-"

"Come here." Hagan invited as he opened his arms for her. Kacey's face would've turned red but the circumstances of death and exhaustion made her collapse into his embrace. "You need to rest."

Kacey whimpered in response, accepting the new cocoon of warmth greedily. Within seconds, she was fast asleep. Hagan's mouth just barely lifted.

'While we reside here, hiding like cave people, men have been trying to breach the closed walls of our village. Led by the Chief, God have mercy on him, those men foolishly get themselves for a cause long lost when we sought refuge here. Each time they returned, utterly defeated and just lucky enough to survive, I don't see faces I've grown to know. One day, if this decides to go on, our Chief will join his noble followers. I pray each time I glance at his precious wife who bears his first child.'

Astrid was the first to see a troupe of men enter their territory, desperate to seek out the weary face of her husband who had just been looking for her.

"Astrid." Hiccup stopped in front, opening his arms in invitation. There was a new gash on his neck to add to the countless scars he had endured throughout the five years. Astrid simply walekd into his arms and hugged him tightly once again, thanking the Gods for this blessing. If she hadn't been so pregnant, she wouldn't need to play this berating role.

"Stop this." Astrid murmured into his torn shirt. Hiccup frowned, their reunions always got less joyous and more mournful. They still loved each other dearly, but the weight of suffering had separated them both physically and mentally, their opinions vastly different now as well as their roles were flipped.

Eventually, the couple walked into the cave. Not many eyes conjoined with the Chief's. At first glance, he nearly fell into sobs by from support and time continuing, he was now pensive against the reality. He noticed the corner where those eight former slaves -all from Ireland-occupy. That corner was always a little bit more noisy when two of their returned from the failed assault. He now knew those two warriors, good and dependable fighters, but always full of jokes. Astrid softly smiled at her husband's focus. She too, liked how those eight together could make the cave sound alive.

She caught Kacey stand up and saunter to the cooking pot on their side of the cavern. The small fire kept going as she spooned two bowls of broth for the hungry soldiers. Astrid wondered why Kacey hadn't join an ambush since the third attempt nearly four months ago. She still carried her sword around on hunts and it was now next to her own stuff. Kacey was known to be a fierce warrior, so why had she stopped fighting? Astrid certainly wouldn't.

Hiccup's persistence of sitting down and taking off his leg rig tore Astrid from these thoughts. As they went to their fur pelt, a dark shadow greeted the Chief happily.

'After every attempt, ourselves become the noisiest in the hollow. Our dear fellows, Aidan and Manus regales us of their battle. Aidan gloats and Manus affirms his own contributions with great humility. Kacey is there to tease Aidan. Normally, I'd been so embarrassed but the stillness we've experienced lately conquered that sentiment. I fear though, just like our Chief, that we could lose a lively soul that would extinguish this light entertainment. I fear for all of us, our future remains uncertain. We would need to resolve something new if we hunger for survival.'

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