Summary: With the Saxons growing in strength each day and with the time of Albion drawing near, new allies must be forged. "As white and red clash under an immortal sky, the night's fury calls upon a new dawn."
A Quick Note: Takes place about eight months before HTTYD 2 and sometime after the episode 'The Death Song of Uther Pendragon' of Season 5 of Merlin. (In other words, Aithusa is already hatched and Mordred is already a knight). The only difference is that Merlin is Court Adviser (He is not Court Sorcerer yet! His magic has been revealed to the inner circle of Arthur and the Knights, but not the Kingdom as a whole).
Spoilers for season five of Merlin and all Canon pairings. No Slash.
Characters speaking in "English"
Characters speaking in "Norse"
Thoughts or Flashbacks
Stoick is able to understand a fair amount but cannot speak very fluently at times. Hiccup, seeing how un-viking like he is, can understand and speak very fluently. Fishlegs can also understand and speak fluently. Astrid knows a little as do most of the women. The rest of the men of Berk do not speak or understand English at all.
The Great hall was bustling with people. This was not an unusual occurrence; the hall was often occupied throughout the day as people came and went. However, the atmosphere was one the likes of which Hiccup had never seen within the space before. Vikings, particularly those on Berk, were not especially known for being clean or caring much for general appearances. As he watched, with a visible wince, Gobber attempting to hang some decorations on the wall opposite where he stood only to end up dropping the heavy metal pole onto his head, Hiccup could only stand in shock at the change the coming visitors were having on the populace of Berk. The past few weeks had been much the same as people rushed around to prepare food, decorations, and the twins so they were out of the way.
Deep in thought, Hiccup jumped when a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. Looking up, he met the gaze of Stoick the Vast who jerked his head towards the entrance. No words were spoken as Hiccup followed his father outside and away from the flurry of the villagers. Once the door had closed behind them, Hiccup waited for his father to address him; laying his hand on Toothless who had followed them outside. Instead they stood and looked out upon Berk for a long moment of silence.
Even after four and a half years, Hiccup could do nothing but look upon the village in shock at the changes that had occurred. As they stood there looking down upon the village, a group of wild Nadders flew overhead in the direction of Dragon Island.
"Our visitors should arrive within the next few hours," his father finally began as the Nadders slowly disappeared from view.
"We are nearly done preparing," Hiccup said, hoping to reassure his father; however, he realized he had misunderstood his father's concern when his father's gaze landed on him again.
"All is nearly prepared except one thing," he said and gestured towards the black dragon. Had Hiccup been looking at Toothless, he would have seen the dragon blink in confusion in tandem with him at his father's words and gesture.
"I'm sorry?" he asked slowly, immediately going defensive as he tried to understand what his father could possibly mean.
"We have not had communication from these people in years, Hiccup. The last time we ever had any news from them, the late King had finished killing off the last of the dragons in their Kingdom." Hiccup's eyes widened. His father had told him quite a few interesting tales about the people coming over the past few weeks and the reason for their visit; however, their apparent hatred of dragons was one important fact his father conveniently left out. "I do not know what the new King's stance is on dragons. I want every dragon locked up in either the academy or in the stables. Tell the other riders not to mention them. I do not want to hear the word 'dragon' for the next five days while they are here." His father commanded, before giving Hiccup one last stern look before turning and returning into the hall. Hiccup watched his father's back disappear behind the Great Hall doors before sighing and beginning to head out towards the academy.
Getting all the dragons locked up into their pens took far longer than Hiccup had intended, especially after Hookfang decided to try to eat Snotlout and thus sent the Twins on a violent tangent on how to get him out in the most painful way. Once they had returned to the Great Hall, Hiccup could already feel the loss of Toothless from his side as he took his seat at the main table to the left of his father.
Normally, they would be waiting at the shipping docks to receive their visitors. However, Stoick had decided that they would follow an older tradition and instead had sent Spitlout to receive the visitors and bring them to the hall. His father, unsure of the coming party and their intentions, wanted to be within his seat of authority when they were received. The room was tense and Stoick had already reprimanded the twins five times to cease in their arguing. Caught up in his thoughts, Hiccup jumped as a hand grabbed his own from under the table. Looking to his left, he met the small smile that Astrid sent his way as she squeezed his hand in reassurance. Forcing himself to relax, he squeezed her hand back in thanks before returning the smile. He could still only marvel at the woman that sat at his side and how much their relationship had changed over such a short time.
Before he could contemplate anything else, his father stood and the room fell into complete silence as the large wooden doors pulled open. Spitlout came in first, his head held high as he stepped through the doors. He stepped to the side and waited as the visitors passed into the room. As they walked down the room between the massive tables of the hall, Hiccup could only stare at them in wonder. There were six men within the party. These men, 'Knights' as his father had dubbed them in their earlier lessons, were all dressed in chainmail and wore bright red capes. What confused Hiccup the most by their dress however, was the golden emblem that was stitched upon their cloaks. It was a golden dragon. The men certainly held a strong presence as they made their way into the room; however, it was the man in the lead, with golden hair, that claimed many a gaze. Hiccup immediately determined that this man was the foreign King, if his commanding air was any indication. However, while this man clearly demanded respect, it was the man who walked a step behind on the King's right that drew the most eyes. While the Knights were all dressed in red, the last man wore a deep blue cloak. Had the cloak not also had the golden dragon stitched into its fabric, Hiccup would have been hard pressed to understand the man's affiliation to the group.
The men stopped before the largest table at which Hiccup sat with his father, Astrid, and the other high members of the village. For a moment, silence continued to reign. Hiccup noticed that each Knight had come into the hall with their hand on the hilt of their sword that they had strapped to their sides. It took Hiccup a moment to realize that the room was tense and the Knights especially seemed uncomfortable. Then, to Hiccup's surprise, the golden haired King seemed to growl in anger. Hiccup felt the room tense further at this unexpected development. However, Hiccup immediately went from being tense to dumbfounded as the King raised his hand and, instead of calling for an attack, hit the blue cloaked man on the back of his head. Hard. Blinking in shock, Hiccup looked around to see it mirrored on everyone else's faces as well; he noted in passing the grins that the twins wore as they looked at each other. The blue cloaked man glared at the King as he rubbed the back of his head in pain. After a moment of muttering under his breath, and after quickly casting a glare backwards at the Knights who now appeared more relaxed and were all smirking, the blue man stepped forward.
"We thank you for graciously welcoming us into your village." The man began in heavily accented Norse; however, his words were clear and strong. The man then turned slightly and gestured towards the blonde man. "I present Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot," the King acknowledged his man's words with a nod of his head towards the table.
"Your Norse is impressive, my friend" Stoick began, Hiccup noting the smile in his father's tone.
"Ah, I believe that is the only reason they brought me along," the man in blue quipped, the grin overtaking his face. His father's booming laugh filled the room as Hiccup watched the King shoot a a quick glare at his translator.
"We welcome you and your men here, King Arthur Pendragon," his father continued in English after having finished his laughter. Hiccup smirked as he watched the gathered guests blink in confusion at hearing their own language spoken so fluently. "While not all here know your language, some are efficient in it," Stoick continued in response to the dumbfounded looks he received. Hiccup was glad that his father had required he learn the language when he was younger. However, the confusion he read in many Viking faces, particularly the twins, Snotlout, and even a little bit from Astrid, it hit him how unusual it actually was. His father was fluent enough in the language to get by, but Hiccup had been so engrossed in it when he had been a child that he had picked it up as quickly as he had picked up Norse. "Now, come dine with us. We shall show you to your loggings once we have feasted as I am sure you are all tired from your journey." His father returned to Norse so that their gathered people could be involved in the conversation before gesturing to the remaining chairs at the table in which they sat. The translator quickly relayed the message to his King. The blonde man looked behind him at his men and after a seemingly silent conversation he turned back to Stoick and nodded his head in agreement.
"We thank you for your hospitality" he said, the blue cloaked man quickly repeated the words in Norse and Hiccup was impressed for the man's foresight as many of the Vikings in the room finally relaxed their own tensed postures. The King then moved forward to claim his chair opposite Stoick. The blue cloaked man took the empty chair to the King's right, directly in front of Hiccup, and the Knights grabbed chairs as close to their King as they were able too.
"Let us feast," his father called into the hall and suddenly the room had come alive again. Hiccup saw out of the corner of his eye that the blue cloaked man quickly translated what his father had said. As conversations were struck up, Stoick sat himself and began to pile food onto his plate. "Further introductions are in order, I am Stoick the Vast, leader of Berk and this is my Son," Hiccup felt his father's heavy hand on his shoulder, "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III." Hiccup fought off a scowl as he watched the foreigners blink at the mention of his name. He knew his name was not very Viking-like; he did not need a bunch of foreigners to remind him as he had had enough of that during his childhood. "…and this is my soon to be daughter-in-law, Astrid Hofferson," his father finished and Hiccup's irritation immediately faded away to be replaced with embarrassment. While he and Astrid had talked about the future, they had not so much as even discussed a Bride-price yet between their parents. The slightly confused look she shot him made him feel slightly better as she was not fully aware of how his father had introduced her.
"I guess congratulations are in order then," Hiccup's eyes snapped to Arthur's to see a bright smile and a deep understanding in his blue eyes. Speechless, Hiccup merely nodded his head in thanks.
"Another beautiful maiden is off the market? I suppose my charm came here to late," a loud voice called out into room and many conversations immediately died off. Those who did not understand the man had turned to their neighbors for translations. Hiccup could only look at the man in shock as the man eyed Astrid. The Knight was seated next to the blue cloaked man and so was directly opposite Astrid, allowing the man to lean over the table slightly and give the woman a wink in a manner that had Hiccup tensing up. He narrowed his eyes at the man and could tell that his father and Astrid both sat in shocked silence beside him at the man's audacity as well. However, before anyone could comment, King Arthur leaned back in his seat and with a lazy smirk turned to look at his man.
"Gwaine," he drawled, "your 'charm' does not work in Camelot and it certainly isn't going to work here."
"Oh woe is me!" the man called out dramatically before suddenly latching his arm around the blue cloaked man's shoulders who valiantly shook him off.
"I would like to apologize for Sir Gwaine's behavior," the King continued into the silence, his translator suddenly repeating the words loudly in Norse. "He is unfortunately under the delusion that he can acquire any woman." Hiccup felt, more than saw, Astrid jump slightly at these words as she finally understood exactly what the black haired Knight had been insinuating. Suddenly, Arthur straightened and leaned over towards where Astrid sat as if to tell a secret though his voice remained loud enough to be heard throughout the hall as his man continued to translate. "To bad no respectable lady will ever have him," he said with a wink of his own. A moment passed as the man finished translating before Astrid laughed and Arthur returned to sitting in his seat as normal. Hiccup looked to his father to see a glint of humor in his eyes as well.
"Well, you have already been introduced to Sir Gwaine," the King began, the blue cloaked man continuing to translate into the now silent room. Arthur introduced the rest of his Knights, the next was Sir Percival, a bear of a man who reached out to pat the now forlorn Sir Gwaine on the shoulder in a kind yet seemingly mocking manner. The King then announced Sir Leon and Sir Elyan. Finally, the King turned his head and eyed the blue cloaked man before turning away and beginning to eat his food. Sir Gwaine, having pushed Sir Percival away, laughed alongside the other Knights as the blue cloaked man glowered at the King. After taking a slow bite of his food and a sip of wine, King Arthur finally gestured to the glowering man. "Oh, yes, and this is my Court Adviser, Lord Merlin."
"I must again express my amazement at your knowledge of Norse, Lord Merlin," Stoick began. Lord Merlin, who had been glaring at Arthur, quickly turned away from the smirking King to look wide eyed at Stoick.
"Merlin is fine, please." His posture and voice made the situation clear to Hiccup; Merlin was highly uncomfortable with the title. Hiccup watched as Merlin's obvious unease seemed to draw a frown onto the King's face though the man continued to quietly eat.
"Merlin, then. How long have you been studying?"
"I was apprenticed under the Royal Court Physician for many years. He drilled many languages into me during that time."
"And I suppose that is the only reason for them bringing you?" Hiccup could not help but interject, prompting a quick laugh from the Court Advisor even as the man received a sharp and slightly confused look from his King.
"He is also my servant when need be," the King continued in a voice that seemed to brook no argument. Hiccup was almost offended for the man in question when Merlin simply grinned back in amusement.
"Why of course," Merlin continued, in a tone that seemed to mimic the King's seriousness. However, Hiccup could just hear a slight hint of mockery with the words. "Until the day I die, Sire," a look seemed to pass between the two men until a grin suddenly reformed on Merlin's face. He then turned his head and, to Stoick, said in a conspiratory voice, "the King could not survive without me at his side anyway," before giving an innocent look towards the glaring King.
As the night wore on and Hiccup observed the visitors, one thought alone passed through his head: 'it will be an interesting five days.'
Note: So decided to rewrite parts of this! This language barrier will be quite trying but I wanted to make sure I wrote it right! What do you think? The original version has been saved and will be put up as a funny extra at some point. Third chapter will be up soon!