Hello and thank you for reading the first chapter... This one is shorter as I am only setting things up for future events.
Disclaimer: nothing fancy I do not own How To Train Your Dragon.
Stoick The Vast
I stood by the second ramp watching the black blur disappear to the west towards Ravens Point. I heard movement around me, soft words of sympathy, encouragement, and in some cases relief. If I was focused, those people would be on the ground with broken jaws.
I tore my eyes from the western sky to look across the wood bridge that connects the Kill Ring to the rest of the village. A single figure was sprinting across the expanse, ignoring the stares that followed them. Blond hair, a blue and white shirt with armor pads and a pleated skirt with spikes... The Hofferson girl Astrid?
I replay the events that just occurred and I remember she was there talking to him before the fight... what if they were more then they let on?... This mortified me, to think my son had gotten a girlfriend and no less then Astrid, while I did not know the girl, I did know her parents, respectable lot the Hoffersons... was she giving him tips and pointers?... my first two thoughts were crushed. Yesterday it looked as if she would have killed him... what if she knew about that Dragon?... Never! The Hoffersons are no traitors although neither were any Haddocks... before
As the young lass rounded the corner leading back to the village I noticed something else peculiar, the moment she disappeared the remaining trainees all took off at a sprint to follow her... what is going on with the youth of today? Where are their parents? I snapped out of it and turned to the large crowd of vikings still standing around the ring silently.
This would not do "Return to your duties" I shouted, and when no one moved I set my face into a steely glare and shouted "Now!" With this most of the vikings were shoved from their state of disbelief and were beginning to head home. As more passed some would offer sympathy. I sat there silently, afraid that if I spoke some of the fear, or sadness would seep into my voice.
Hiccup, my only son was not well liked in this village, often seen as useless or a walking accident. This was all true, raids would be easy to defend against without a 'Hiccup' happening. We could fend off the dragons and save more food then before, and have less fires or concussions due to some new ultimate dragon killing device.
No matter how many pros I can think of, it will never negate the fact that I disowned my own son. My last link to my wife Valhallarama. I sighed at her memory. She was a good women, brave enough to take on a Monstrous Nightmare with a frying pan, strong enough bash in a Gronkles head, and quick enough to stay in a Nadders blind spot all day, but when its your time it doesn't matter how brave or strong you are.
It wasn't even the dragons that took her away, it was a simple raid. Some southern village thought it would be a good idea to raid Berk, the fools. In the end we killed most of them and only lost two people. It will always be too high a price. My Val and Gunnarr Hofferson, some of the strongest vikings ever to grace Berk. Now she is gone and the son she gave us has run off with that devil.
I was deep in thought when a hand was waved in front of my face. I growled and turned to berate whoever disturbed me. Gobber The Belch stood beside me wearing a weary smile and his blue eyes had a slight twinkle to them. I gestured to the bridge "what do you make of that?" I asked, thinking back to the teens.
"I dunno, maybe they know where Hiccup is off to" shrugging he continued "well maybe not that lot but that lass Astrid, does I'm sure of it"
We settled into silence for a few moments. I was at a loss as to what to do. It happened too fast, did I act too rashly? Did I even listen?... "What am I going to do Gobber?" I sighed.
"Stoick I don't know what to tell you, there's not much you can do.." He gave me an empathetic look "he's banished, no longer one of us and even if ya did find him I doubt he'll abandon that beast of his" shook his head with a sigh.
Gobber laughed a little before turning to me "he did it didn't he? That night he nearly killed Hoark with the torch.." Gobber started to chuckle a bit more "and not one of us gave him the time of day" shaking his head.
"Well its not like he didn't cry dragon before? Took a whole party on a wild goose chase to find nothing" The memory of Hiccups disappointed face when the party returned empty handed then I blamed him for wasting their time, I was so angry with him that day.
"Aye but this time he did it and got his Night Fury"the blond man nodded "and look at where it got him"I shook my head before speaking my confusion "Why didn't he just kill it? Could have brought me the heart, first viking to ever see a Night Fury let alone kill one, he would have gone down in history right there"
Gobber shrugged "no use crying over spilt mead, and if its any consolation maybe he can go down as the first" he stopped and scrunched his face for a minute "hmm first whatever he is" gesturing in the general direction of Ravens Point "to ride a dragon, that's got to be worth something to someone maybe?" His attempt to lighten my mood had failed, it was that devils fault. Gobber laid a hand on my shoulder, patted it once and made his way towards the bridge.
I stood there thinking of all the time I spent with Hiccup, it was far to little. When he was younger and when Val was alive they would take picnics out in the woods, Hiccup would talk about trolls or gremlins and go off and chase butterflies. I would complain that the boy was different and Val would simply laugh, remind me that he was not going to be like me. Hiccup would find his own place in the world and all she and I had to do was help him see that.
When Val passed we both died a little. Hiccup took to his room and wouldn't talk to anyone, he shut out the few friends he had and that brat of a cousin alienated him further. I came to Gobber for help and gave Hiccup the chance to be a blacksmith. I would like to think my reasons were for his well being, but I can't bring myself to lie about it anymore. I wanted him out of the house... I didn't want to be reminded of who I lost... I didn't want to be reminded how different he was... I failed Val... I failed my son "I am sorry Hiccup"
Again I would like to know what you think. Ways to improve, additional Ideas etc. Thanks for reading feel free to review.
