Chapter 2


"Snotlout please tell me what is it?"a girly voice whined loudly. Facom was having a hard time as any nine year old would have. Wiggins had caught his father with a large wrapped box when he came back home last evening and told her about it. As a result, Facom's curiosity had quadruple and she had used all powers invested in her as a child's innocence and puppy face to take out the information about her probable gift.

"Why don't you ask Hiccup as to what is he giving?"asked an amused Snotlout. They were currently at his house, with the said girl sitting on the couch, throwing tantrums. His son was sitting beside him on a chair, with all of them sitting around the fireplace. The snow was falling heavily and making clattering sounds on the roof of their house. Turning his head, Snotlout looked from his window outside. Snow had almost completely covered the whole Berk and there wasn't an inch of dirt or greenery visible. Overall, the scene was mesmerizing and soothing to eyes and many teenagers were playing in the snow among themselves and with their dragons but he knew better. Much of the crops would have been destroyed and food stock would have to be increased to balance the loss of them. It meant more hunting for the villagers before winter settled in. Snotlout sighed miserably.

"As if he would tell me. He can go on lengths about the surprise and the happiness of finding the surprise at the right time, but hey, it really annoys me when he extends with his lecture a bit too far."Facom groaned. Wiggins snickered silently seeing the distressed condition of her friend. "Well I completely agree with you on this issue. He really blabbers a lot" said Ruffnut joining over with them, rubbing her hands together for warmth. She sat beside her son who was still giggling silently. Facom smiled at her for the support she was provided with.

Ruffnut punched his son who had not stopped giggling for not so obvious reasons. Snotlout sighed for the second time as he saw his son's state. 'Genetics! Totally took after her mother now, doesn't he' thought Snotlout.

Facom looked over towards him before asking another question ,"Is mom coming?

Snotlout looked towards her, his eyes devoid of any emotion, before answering in a low grumbling voice ,"Maybe. We have sent a terrible terror." Facom knowing that tone understood his predicament and persued in no further questions. In fact the whole village talked about her in a disdained way and so she never asked anyone much about her.

A loud screech was heared amidst the thunder which was all too familiar. Moments later, Hiccup entered the house accompanied by his dragon. Toothless bounced over to Facom and nudged his head into her stomach. She too began to pet him rubbing her hands over his head and neck. "Time to go home dear. There's a real nasty snowstorm heading towards Berk and we should also prepare ourselves for a long nap.", laughed Hiccup. The snowstorm will bring problems but it would also ensure some long sleep which would not hurt him. Some days off the leader of the tribe really sounds like a break.

"You look a lot chirpier than usual. Care to share.", Ruffnut asked looking suspicious. Hiccup beamed more and looked at Facom" I'm glad you asked Ruff. Actually it's more good news for Facom. Shaliya is coming over to your birthday." He said and laughed looking at everyone.

Pin drop silence. Total silence was what he was greeted with. No one said a word, just stared at him. Snotlout's face was wide open and could have been literally fell on the floor. Ruffnut was looking ready to bang her head with him. It was Facom who broke the silence.

"Really! Is mom coming?"Facom practically jumped from her place kicking poor Toothless from her lap in the process. "Aye girl she is. Now jump on toothless and head home. I'll walk and come behind." The girl jumped on Toothless even before Hiccup completed his sentence and flew with her father's dear dragon pal.

"You too Wiggins, go to your room. It's bedtime now." Ruff shouted in a no nonsense way. Wiggins, sensing the seriousness in her mother's voice decided not to argue and complied silently.

The moment the children were gone, Hiccup's smile fell. Snotlout was the first to speak," What do you mean she is coming Hic? How do you even know? And why are you so happy on her arrival?" Hiccup silently put his hand inside his cloak in an inner pocket and took out a crumpled piece of parchment. And with the same grace passed it to him. Snotlout too wordlessly took it and unfolded it. Ruffnut came behind her husband and looked over his shoulder to read the content of the letter. With a final glance at Hiccup, he began to read it.

Hiccup, I've received your invitation on my own daughter's birthday. And I have to say I'm really disappointed. You should have at least let me told me beforehand so I could have made some arrangements. Anyway I'm writing this to tell you that I'll be coming over there for just one evening to spend time with YOUR daughter, as you so indelicately put it. But look to it that no one in the village would say something offensive to me. And also it will be the last time I'll step foot on Berk. I hope you'll send Facom over to Bog-Burglar on her next birthday.

Unfortunately your once wife

Shaliya

The effects of snowstorm were getting evident by now. The whole room was filled with the blare of wind clashing against the windows. The couple in the room were stunned. Hiccup sat down on the chair with a loud thud. Holding out his hand, he snatched the letter from Snotlout's hand, and with a flick of his fingers, threw it in the fireplace. He saw the page turning into black mass as fire penetrated through it. Then he began massaging his forehead with his fingers.

"But…. Why now?", Ruffnut exclaimed. "She was never bothered about her in the first place. She had missed her birthday for past five years, and now this!"

"She's right Hiccup. She never cared about her, about Berk, about you" Snotlout added the last phrase silently hoping he would miss it. However, fury got better of him as he continued "Send another terror Hiccup. Make a lame excuse of cancelling it. Or you can say that you are going on another island for chiefly business. Or maybe you can not abide by the condition placed by her and make her believe that there is a lot of resentment going on over here receiving the news of her arrival."

Ruffnut listened to the rambling of her husband and looked over Hiccup. He was apparently looking distressed. She went in the kitchen and came back with a glass. Hiccup looked up when he saw an extended hand, with a glass, in front of him. He looked up at her questioningly and got one word answer "Ale". He took it mutely and chucked it down in a single swig. He stood up again, feeling a little confident and said in a not so usual loud voice

"She will be welcomed in the village. Facom will be finally be able to meet her mother and maybe getting some motherly love, albeit it has to be fully understood that there is some silent motive behind it. Shaliya is a manipulative person and there surely something fishy behind her response. She has never replied in the past five years and so we have to be careful. However we have to comply for Facom's sake. She just might get motherly love she was always deprived from."

Nobody in the room dared to speak against him or make any objections to it. Hiccup said in a completely authorative and chief like tone so as to make an impact of the seriousness of the issue on the couple. He further said

"Snotlout, tell the villagers about her arrival. She is to be our guest and hence has to be treated as one. No one should ill-speak to her or, if possible, try to avoid her as long as possible. I'll be personally with her all the time and see to it that she does little damage. Tell Fishlegs and Heather about our conversation so as to keep an eye on her. The priority however remains Facom's happiness. Am I clear?"Boomed the loud voice of the chief of Berk.

"Aye chief" wispered Ruffnut implying the word chief a bit longer. Hiccup looked at her weirdly before turning around and silently walking away. His footfall got diminished in wake of the thunder the moment he stepped outside. Hiccup pulled his cloak closer to his body before continuing forward to his house. No doubt, it was going to be a long night for him.

The tension in the room lifted a little with his departure. Snotlout looked over to his wife and exclaimed "Tell me again, what is with him turning around and leaving without saying anything? And why the hell did he even married that bitch? She's done nothing more than make his already miserable life a hell more miserable." Ruffnut too bought her hands, applying pressure through her fingers on his head in order to calm his nerves.

"You won't understand Snot. And maybe I too will not." Ruffnt said in a soft voice. "But I can say one thing. He had bore a lot in his life. He had failed as a lover and as a husband. And he certainly doesn't want to fail as a father." Snotlout looked above in bewildered way but let her continue anyway.

"And you asked why did he married her? You know the answer yourself. There was no choice. He did it for the political benefit of the village."

"He was never attracted to her which pushed her away. And this is the dilemma he is suffering with. His wife left him away, which he is holding himself responsible, and suffering alone and he himself drove away the girl he loved, which again he has to suffer…. Alone."


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~hellishway