It had been nine months since the war. Nine months of uncertainty and hardships for the people of the Kingdom of Berk. Nine months of rebuilding, re-stocking, and mourning for lost loved ones. Nine months, the King had said on the eve of the first peaceful day in three years. Nine months and then things would be back to somewhat normal for each man, woman, and child in the Kingdom. But here we were, after all these months, and we were nowhere.
Jack sat back with a huff. He had been working to rebuild the schoolhouse where he worked for the last month, and had just put the last piece of roofing on the small two room building. Hopefully, the woodcarver named Carver who lived near the woods was finished with the three long tables by now, and Jack could go and pick them up. He stood up on the roof, not once becoming off balance, and hopped down to the ground seven feet below. People had always wondered about Jacks unique ability for performing acrobatic stunts, but after 17 years they had just given up questioning and accepted the fact that Jack could probably fly now for all they knew.
Jack knew the truth though of course. He just really loved being up high and for as long as he could remember he was hanging from tree branches and was climbing over roofs, much to his mother and father's dismay. His father was not his father by blood, but instead he was a man of enormous girth who came from a far off land. His father did not talk much about his life before living in the Kingdom of Berk, and tended to change the subject to something else when asked. That was alright though, he knew that his father would open up to him when he was ready.
Hiccup coughed as a cloud of dust flew into his face, his hands tightening around the handle of the pitchfork. When the cloud settled he continued scooping the huge mounds of excrement into a wheelbarrow that he had parked off to the side.
He worked for another hour before hearing the bell sound for lunch. Hiccup smiled at the thought of all the food that would be there. Pictures and scents of pies, fruits, soups and bread went through his mind at 1000 miler per second.
Hiccup had worked in the dragon stables for six years since he was thirteen; the age that children became adults and were allowed to get jobs. Of course kids worked before then, families could not survive if the kids did not get small jobs now and then. But this was a real job, one that paid real money. Well, it would pay real money if Hiccup got paid. But no, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third worked for free. It's not like he needed the money, he was the Prince after all.
It took approximately ten minutes to trudge through the crowded streets of Berk to get to the edge where Carver the Woodcarver lived. He lived near the woods.
Jack smiled as he neared the little house on the edge of the city, smoke curling and swirling from the chimney. He walked up the pathway, grass worn down to hardened dirt, and came to stand in front of the front door of the little house in front of the woods where Carver the Woodcarver resided. He knocked lightly on the door which was near instantly yanked open by Carver the Woodcarver.
"Whattaya want kid?" he growled, foul breath smelling of rotting fish cloaking Jack as Carver the Woodcarver leaned in close, stopping just inches from the boys face.
"Carver, it's me. Chill. I'm here for the table." Jack said in a bored tone, while leaning back a bit to try and reduce the stench. Carver really was a character. He wasn't a bad man, he was just… well to put it bluntly, unlikable, rude, obnoxious, and full of himself. But despite all that, he was genuine when it counted. He wasn't evil or cruel, that was for sure. He never lay a hand on anyone, although he gave a verbal beating whenever one of the village children came into his work station and started playing hide-and-seek around his equipment. Despite what the kids thought of him, the parents and Jack knew that he just did not want one of the kids falling and getting hurt among the various tools and sharp objects littering his yard. Children were the light and heart of Berk, and even the grumpiest of the grumps loved and protected them with everything they had.
Carver game a 'hrumph' and leaned back, jabbing a gnarled finger to Jack's left, where a beautiful long table stood in a convenient patch of sunlight bathing the light wood in a warm glow. Jack gave a low whistle, and patted Carver on the shoulder a couple times ignoring the look of death that the elderly man shot Jacks way.
The young white blond haired boy grinned as he stepped away from the doorway and went over to the table. He looked it over quickly, making noises of appreciation and approval where appropriate. He looked up at Carver the Woodcarver and nodded once before reaching down to grasp the edge of the table.
He stopped before lifting as a thought had just occurred to him. How the actual hell was he supposed to get this thing to the school?