They came around the edge of the mountain, out of its shadow and into the fading light of the late afternoon. Below them spread Berk in all its glory, small fires popping up here and there. Toothless dove low, gliding towards one of the open spaces that, right now, was filled with people. As the two of them flew closer, Hiccup saw why everyone the call had been sounded.
The armada was here.
Hundreds of ships of varying designs and sizes. At the armada's head was the largest warship of the bunch. Hiccup was too far away to make out many details, but it matched what he knew of Drago Bludvist's ships. In all likelihood, the warlord himself was coming. Next to the lead were at least two dozen more warships interspersed among smaller boats with colors that matched those of some of the Chieftains Hiccup had seen at the meeting. The armada was still far out on the horizon, but getting closer with every passing second. The wind favored them. It would not be long until they were here.
Toothless landed in the middle of the hillside where people were watching. Hiccup dismounted and ran to Astrid and Eret, who were waiting with their own dragons.
"What-" Words failed him. Hiccup cleared his throat, tried to look more Chiefly, and tried to speak again. "What do we know about…what's coming?" He gestured at the approaching ships.
"Fishlegs has counted at least eight different Chieftains' crests," Eret said. "Most of the ships just have warriors on them, but the bigger one have catapults and plenty of things to throw at us. And dragon traps, too."
"We think the catapults are for the dragons. Too keep us away from their ships," Astrid supplied. "The smaller boats are probably going to get close to us and try for a land attack. I've already told people to guard the docks and warn us if anyone tries to come up that way."
Hiccup nodded. "Thanks, Astrid. Any sign of Drago?" Astrid shook her head. "That's…worrisome." He looked out at the approaching ships. They were closer now, and fanning out in an arc around the island. No chance to escape by boat, then. Not when there was much of a reason to, what with the dragons and all.
"Um…" Hiccup began, turning towards the assembled people, which was most of Berk at this point. He took a deep breath. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. Get anyone who can't or won't fight to the evacuation point. Astrid and Mom," he said, pointing at them. "I want you to get the dragons and riders with the best long-distance shooting skills and get them ready to fly. Eret, you're in charge of making sure the beaches and docks are protected. Gobber, get everyone else ready to fight here on Berk." They all nodded. "And I want everyone to keep an eye out for Drago or his Bewilderbeast. Tell me as soon as you see it."
"What about you, Chief?" Astrid asked as everyone dispersed to their various stations.
Hiccup pursed his lips. "I'm going to try one last time to talk some sense into them."
Bertha, from her lead ship to the right of the main fleet, stared at the sky above the island. It was true. The dragons had come to Berk. Hundreds of them, of all shapes and sizes and colors.
"Gods have mercy on us," she breathed. She watched the dragons for a moment longer, then dropped the incredulous look from her face. The battle was almost upon them. "Cami!"
Cami was sitting on the spar above Bertha, watching the dragons with an intense stare while twirling a small knife in her hand. Hearing her mother's call, Cami stuck the knife into its sheath hidden in her black clothes and slid down the mast, landing silently on the deck. "Yes, Mother?"
The Chieftain did not speak for a moment. Then, keeping her eyes on the island in front of her, Bertha said, "I don't want you going on the raid tonight. You're staying here."
"What?!" Cami cried. "But Mother, you said- "
"Enough!" Bertha turned to her daughter and towered over her. "This is far worse than I thought, Cami." She gestured at the island. "There are more dragons on this island right now than I have ever seen in one place before. You're a good Burglar, but you have a lot more to learn. Tonight is not the time for that. You're not to set foot off this boat, and that's final."
Cami's eyes narrowed, but she relented with a humph of frustration. "Fine." She crossed her arms and stalked over to a crate lashed to the gunwale. "I'll just sit here. Missing all the fun and all the chances to learn things that the future Chief of the Bog Burglars should know!"
Bertha ignored her. She gestured to a nearby warrior and muttered, "Keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't leave this boat." The warrior nodded.
"Hoy! Chief!" the lookout shouted. "There's a ship with a white sail approaching."
The boat was one of Berk's smaller ones, with a white cloth tied up where the sail should go. The wind favored the approaching armada and so Hiccup had two Vikings row the boat out over the shoals around the island. Beyond them, Hiccup's only companion was Toothless, standing and watching beside him.
Hiccup absently rubbed his hand on Toothless's head. "You ready, bud?" The dragon cooed deep in his throat, a sound that wasn't encouraging. Hiccup sighed. "Yeah, me neither." He shook his head. "I know this probably isn't going to work, but I have to try one last time."
They drew closer and closer to the lead ship. It was one of Drago's. Hiccup stared at the figures on board, straining to see if he could spot the man who had caused all of this.
At the bow of the lead ship stood Haakon and Ivar, watching Hiccup's boat draw closer.
"We should send a ship out to meet him," Ivar said. "I'll go." He turned to leave.
"No."
"No? But he's here under a cease fire."
"So he claims," Haakon said. He raised his hand to signal a woman with a crossbow to move to sight in. She set her bow on the gunwale's top and knelt down behind it. "But do you really think he's come peacefully with a Night Fury on board his ship? After what happened at the meeting?"
"You practically drove him to that, Haakon!" Ivar shook his head. "I'm not going to let you do that." He started to draw his sword.
Immediately, two guards rushed him. They grabbed Ivar by his arms and wrestled him to his knees while a third placed a gag over his mouth. Haakon smirked and turned so that he could see Ivar out of the corner of his eyes. "I didn't want to have to do this, Ivar." The smile dropped from his face and he turned back to stare at Hiccup's approach. "But I'm not going to let anyone get in my way of this war."
The crossbow woman lit the tip of her bolt with a short stick she placed in a nearby torch and sighted in, right above Hiccup's head. She waited for Haakon's signal. Embedded near the tip of the bolt was a tiny metal compartment.
"Now."
She pulled the trigger.
