Chapter 1

Gathering

…

Solport was the number one place in the Archipelago where you could meet many different kinds of people. With eighty percent trade and twenty percent pleasure, there was never a slow moment on the busy streets.

It was on this island that the seven Viking Chiefs of the North along with their heirs and second in commands have decided to hold their yearly meeting. Normally the heirs do not attend, but it was felt that it was better to make them tag along this time to give them some experience.

They sat in a circle around a spacious table. A large map lay on its center that marked off territories of each tribe. Almost every tribal leader was in attendance. Their axes placed in front of them as a sign of peace. All except the Berserkers and Hairy Hooligans.

A sense of wariness began to ghost around the room as they waited for the remaining Chiefs to arrive. The reason was almost justified if it were only because of the Berserker Chief. After all, you don't get a nickname like 'the deranged' for being sane. But by now they were somewhat used to it.

This time, there will be a new leader joining them for the former had passed away. The details still unclear. As far as they know, the new Chief of Berk was of age and doing an excellent job so far considering it was his first year on the job or so they've heard.

It wasn't the 'newness' that perturbed them per say. Rather it was the reputation of the man.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, the Dragon Master. One more skillful than Drago Bludfist or so they've heard. It allowed a bit of fear to creep into their stomachs. The last time there was a Dragon Master present at a meeting such as this the entire building was attacked by dragons and burnt to the ground along with the leaders it sheltered.

They envied him a little although they would never admit it. The ability to train and use dragons is a dangerous and advantageous skill that was virtually unheard of until Stoick's son had managed to tame the unholy offspring of lightning and death and took care of the raid problems for everyone.

Although thankful, unlike Berk, the rest of the viking villages still continued to uphold their dragon killing even after the threat had been dealt with. Simply because they had lost too much to the beasts. They have become too set in their ways. The seed of hate had been planted and had three centuries to grow so much it rivaled Yggdrasil.

Most were wary of the new chief because of their prejudices against dragons, but not all. The time has come for when the poisonous growth must be purified by dragon fire and replaced with a seed of peace between the species.

There was hope for the younger generation, who because of Hiccup, had a much more peaceful childhood and could not fully understand the hate as well as their parents. And fortunately for the new Chief, this generation sat at the table as the heirs. A representation of a possibility of a much more peaceful future between Man and Dragon if only it could be shown.

And it seemed he already had an ally.

"I don't see why everyone is acting like this," said Camicazi, heir of the Bog Burglar tribe, breaking the silence. Big Boobied Bertha shot her daughter a warning glance but did nothing more.

"I mean this is Hiccup. We've all met him when he was a kid. How much harm could he be?" The other heirs seemed to share a knowing look as if she actually had a point. Camicazi had fond memories of an intelligent skinny boy in her childhood. They had been good friends until the responsibilities of life rendered them no time to nurture said friendship. She'd always imagined though, that Hiccup would be a good ally to have in the future. She just never considered that he would be the first of them to take over as a Chief.

"Well young one, we have not seen the Haddock boy since he was ten years old.," Loga, Chief of Tepi tribe said, giving her a scathing look. Camicazi narrowed her eyes at him, but said nothing, not wanting to create political trouble for her mother by decking the man over the head for his disrespect.

Loga chuckled and continued, "People change. Especially in eleven years. We don't know what kind of a man he has become. Befriending those devilish beasts?" A look of disgust contorted his face. "The only good dragon is a dead dragon." He repeated a phrase he has said many times before. Why? No one really knew his reasoning. But it had at some point become clear that it was an inflection from a past experience. "Who's to say the Haddock boy won't become a problem when he gains too much power?"

Intentionally or unintentionally, Loga had voiced another fear among the leaders that, until this moment, they had not dared to consider. It was no secret that Berk had grown in power and has been seeing mostly prosperity ever since they began co-habitating with dragons. Now that they fully considered the kind of power Berk has gained from having dragons, some of the chiefs paled.

Hiccup could easily takeover any one of their villages with ease.

They were sitting ducks. No matter how strong they were they were no match for an army of dragons.

They heard exclamations of surprise from outside and then what sounded like a light tap on the roof. They looked at each other in confusion, tensed and grabbed their weapons, but before they could comment or investigate the door opened revealing the topic of their conversation.

...

"Are you ready Milady?" Hiccup asked his wife, Astrid, and wrapped his arm intimately around her waist. It was time to start their flight to Solport. They were just waiting for Heather to meet them at the docks. Because Heather was actually older than Dagur, she was made the rightful Chieftess of the Berserkers when she returned so she would be attending the meeting while Dagur took care of things on their island.

Valka stood with them. Cloudjumper loyally stood by her side and seemed to be conversing with Toothless in their own dragon-ish way. Valka looked around and still couldn't really believe it. Dragons and humans living together in harmony. She smiled at the young couple and remembered her own memories of being a happy newlywed with Stoick. Fishlegs was there too with Meatlug. He wanted to see them off, particularly Heather, and reassure Hiccup that he, Gobber and Valka would take care of things while they're gone.

"I'm good. Are you ready? This is your first meeting with all the other Chiefs." Astrid's hand was massaging the nape of his neck and smoothing through his messy auburn curls.

Hiccup nodded and nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek, "I don't think it will be bad. We're just renewing the joint treaties between the tribes. We'll most likely bicker about trading goods." He stopped to give it some more thought. "I am worried about how people will react to our dragons. Maybe we should have just taken the ship?"

"Too late babe. It takes four days by ship and five hours on dragon back. We need to get there TODAY. Besides they know Berk's opinion of dragons. It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that we brought them."

And as always, she was right. They were more productive like this anyway. Hiccup sighed, kissed her cheek and held her closer. With her body molded to his side like this, he cannot help but think of the passion they shared the previous night. Astrid had taken charge, he was completely at her mercy, made him beg, curse and cry from the pleasure and force of their mutual love for one another.

They were a team. He and Astrid. Equals. The chiefs of the other villages will not be expecting him to bring his wife. But she wasn't just his wife. Astrid was his second in command too. No one else would ever really fit. For five and a half years she's still the one he relies on the most.

It worked for them. They both knew Astrid wasn't the domestic housewife type when he proposed. And he had never expected her to be. She was a warrior and Hiccup wouldn't change that about her for anything.

It just so happened that Heather decided to pay them a visit yesterday so that the three of them could fly to the meeting together. And while Hiccup no longer held any ill feelings towards Dagur for his past deeds, he was still relieved that he wouldn't have to deal with him for the majority of the trip either.

Windshear and Heather arrived. She shared a small smile with Fishlegs before walking towards Astrid and Hiccup. "I'm ready." She told them. After saying goodbyes, they flew to the sky on their dragons.

"Oh Fishlegs, I've been meaning to ask you. We've never spoke about it before, but I know the other Chiefs aren't exactly happy about our association with dragons. Do you think Hiccup will be alright?" Valka asks, a worried line marring her forehead.

"Hiccup knows what he's doing." Fishlegs states confidently, "short of a few sharp words and uncomfortable questions they can't attack him without inciting war which is a risk they will not take. He's got Heather and Astrid for support. He should be fine." He tried to sound reassuring.