Chapter Seven: Newest Chief
Standing on Thor's beach Stoic and some of Berk's best warriors were being sent off on a voyage, loved ones saying goodbye and reassuring their futures. Stoic stared down at his daughter a worried looked glossed over her eyes but outside she wore her trade mark smile. Stoic was unsure about leaving his daughter alone but he knew deep down in his heart she would know what to do.
"Good luck doll" he told Hiccup before turning to Aston
"And you keep her safe"
"Will do" he said squeezing the auburn's hand
The boat soon left the beach and disappeared into the void of nothingness, people quickly dispelled returning to their jobs. Soon only the two teens remained on the beach
"You know you can let go of my hand now" Aston told Hiccup
"Oh...r-right sorry" she said removing her hand
She was visibly standing on the beach but her brain had left her long ago, her mind wandered worried about this new role and about her father. The mission had been to scout out the surrounding islands to see if the Amster were hiding out or coming up with an attack plan. This worried the young girl no one knew was the Amster were capable of, no one had even heard of Amster before a few weeks ago.
She also worried of her new duty wishing she had paid just a little more attention to her father's lessons and rants.
'A true chief is calm even in times of tremendous stress, never show your true feeling, Hiccup'
Her father's voice echoing through her head, she knew this was going to be difficult but with the help of Aston it should go without a problem.
The day went off without a hitch no problems to report around Berk, even the dragons were on their best behavior which seemed a little odd. The day was perfect not a black cloud for km, for the majority of the day Hiccup just hanged around bored. She didn't have anything to do no problems with the dragons, no threats of war, not even a fight erupting between neighbors.
That evening Hiccup lay asleep in her bed Toothless lay in his, the dragon was awoken by blood curdling screams. Flicking his eyes opened he gazed out the large window just beyond the village, the forest was flaring orange and red fire reached the sky lines with black smoke. Toothless took no time in waking up his sleeping owner, the two quickly dashed outside to the village's center. The scene was right of out hell, people ran around frantic screaming trying to avoid the flames a small crowd wallowed around Hiccup the fire was unexpected and fear clouded their judgment.
Standing on Toothless' back the auburn was prepared to dish out orders, half the village stared up at her
"PEOPLE!" she yelled quieting the chaos
"Okay villagers I need you to find animal food trofts and fill them with water, dragon riders I need you to fetch your dragons and pour the water over the fire. Everyone else I need you to get away from the fire and try to refrain from getting into trouble"
The crowd soon divided, trofts were filled and dragons were saddled before long dragons flew over the damaged area and water was being lowered extinguishing the fire. After the deed had been done there once beautiful forest had been reduced to a bunch of charred sticks. Everyone was ready to go back to bed and forget this whole hurrah before
"Miss Hiccup come quickly!" a villager stated
Half way into the forest two charred bodies lay attacked with chains to a now half gone tree, this wasn't a dragon's mistake it was murder. The bodies black and flaking sat there heads down hands connected it appeared they were close even during death. These two were unknown but by their height and stature they were a man and women adults.
"Miss Hiccup" another villager called panting upon reaching her
"This was found on Loki's cove"
A small note was handed to her damp parchment words written on with a flaky brown substance most likely blood
"Red at night Vikings delight" she read aloud
Hiccup made her way back to the village after a cart had been arranged to pick up the bodies a funeral would be held within the next few days after the bodies were identified. The second the auburn was in view she was paraded with questions, feeling how over whelmed Hiccup was Toothless paraded over causing a few villagers to move back.
"This evening we have had a murder two people were tied to trees before..." she paused
She scanned the crowd locating Aston, sensing how worried she was he gave her a nod which was the only thing he could do to reassure her.
"The forest was set a flamed; a note was located on Loki's cove which can be taken as a threat. And is my firm belief that somewhere on Berk an Amster is hiding or one of our own has betrayed us, that's all please return to your houses" she said firmly
The crowd soon started to shuffle away the moon still hung high in the sky along with the stars a few sparks of light against the ebony black sky.
The second the crowd began to dive down Aston located Hiccup who seemed to be scared, the women she had turned into had dispelled leaving behind a feeble teenager. The look on her face nearly identical to when she nearly got burned to a crisp during dragon training scared and confused mind wandering trying to make sense.
"You alright?" he asked her
"I...I..I think so I don't...I don't really know" she stuttered
"C'mon let's get you home before you catch on fire"
Over the short walk Hiccup remained quiet her large eyes flickering trying to find a solution towards this problem.
"Uhh Hiccup" Aston said waking her from the trance
"What..?" she asked looking up
He pointed towards the door of her house saying nothing
"Oh..t-thank you see...see ya tomorrow" she said running off Toothless close behind her
The next day the bodies had still not been identified everyone on Berk was accounted for which only left two possible answer
"Either the scouting ships have been found and everyone on board is being held hostage or murdered or they used their own people" Hiccup explained drawing random marks and symbols in the dirt
"They must think were stupid and assume the bodies would be too distracting so they can steak another shot" Aston said
"Exactly and when that happens we need to be ready"
Aston said nothing
"Yeah sure pay no attention to me" she said sarcastically
"C'mon" he said standing up
Hiccup fallowed, done on the shore line lay a wooden crate engraved in the side was
'To Hicca' which confused both teens.
"You ever have the nick name of Hicca?" Aston asked
"Nope, just useless" she said taking the box from him
The crate was made of out redwood decorated with small red jewels and gold, after some fiddling the box opened. Inside laid a smaller box and two notes; going for the smaller box first it revealed a small gold ring with an unidentified emblem. Than picking up the small note written on embroidered parchment which mached the box she quickly glazed over it before reading out loud
"Dear Miss Hicca
My beautiful emerald, Amster has been worried for many years about the dragon population on Berk and due to the islands past we can only assume you're father is plotting for war. But we may be able to end this my love, accept the ring and become my wife. Yes I am aware you have prearrangement's, but from my understanding you're not tied until your wedding night.
Please consider my requests unless you do lust for war and bloodshed, which isn't an unattractive trait. If you refuse this requests that may be Berk's future, and I am sorrowful to say your life may not be spared. And I would hate for a beauty such as you to go to such waste,
I look forward to your decision
Bjorn of Amster"
After reading that letter Hiccup looked positively green and ready to fall over, Toothless leaned against her in an attempt to balance her.
"Thanks bud" she said patting him before turning to Aston
"Stormfly breaths fire, correct?"
"You want me to burn that don't you?" he asked
"If you don't mind" she said handing the letter to him
"What about the second one?" he asked
"Oh right" she said digging through the box
"A meal of dragon, a feast grand enough for a king"
"He's threatening the dragons?!" they both said
Later that day Hiccup had been called off to deal with the dead forest problem Aston furiously paced around the dragon training arena. Stormfly lazily watched him moving her head from side to side
"Just who dose that Bjorn think he is, firstly he comes up out of the blue embarrasses Hiccup than purposes threatening to cause a war if she refuses. Stages an attack leaves a severed arm than burns down half of a forest. And now he has the nerve to send her a ring and a letter threatening her to accept, and he's cocky enough to assume it will work. Not to mention he can't ever get her name right, blood hell!" he ranted
Stormfly sat there half asleep waiting for him to just ask her to burn the parchment
Even so he wasn't surprised someone though they could wedge there way between him and Hiccup the two barely seemed like a couple. Their relationship was a little more complicated than the average teenage relationship. The normal couple who have let Berk know they were off the market in every single way possible; he and Hiccup weren't that kind of people. They had shared a kiss or two over the holidays but most would just shrug it off as nothing, half of Berk would assume Hiccup's mind was somewhere else any way.
Instead of wanting to kiss or bed Hiccup Aston simply wanted to protect her, over the years she has done nothing to restrict herself from danger, which only made him worry more. She saved the whole of Berk at the age of fourteen he should be able to protect her now. He just hoped he wouldn't have to face Bjorn again, he now felt he'd be unable to talk to him without knocking out a few of his teeth.
Yeah this is going up early, I'm gonna be busy tomorrow so you get Fractal one day earlier, also if you like FMA please check out my other fic Alchemist Who.
All the best,
Love Luna