My Brother
Pairing; Hiccup X Astrid
Setting; Normal HTTYD
Rating; M for Mature
Disclaimer; I do not own the HTTYD movies, Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, and Gift of the Night Fury, or the Netflix series Race to the Edge.
The Time Being
The Great Hall had fallen to utter silence after the male stepped behind Hiccup, then revealed who was beneath the covering. There before them was someone they all believed had died out on his own before them was none other than Einar Haddock, the firstborn son of Stoick and Valka Haddock; the man who had been cast out at fifteen-years-old for refusing to kill a dragon, and then letting it go. Nobody in the room spoke or moved; how could they? Everyone, including the Chieftains, thought he hadn't survived his exile since he was only a teenager when it happened. Hiccup was smiling wide as he looked up at his big brother.
"Nice choice of entry words, Einar," Hiccup stated. Einar chuckled and put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
"I thought so," Einar replied. "I found them to fit the situation as I've been out of the Archipelago for twenty years," he added. Einar looked to the blond with blue eyes which appeared to be attached to Hiccup's side. "Is this the famous Shield Maiden that my little brother has been raving about for the last few months?"
"Been talking about me again I see," Astrid stated as Hiccup did the thing where he rubbed the back of his head a few times.
"Yes, she is. Einar, I'd like for you to meet Astrid Hofferson; my soon-to-be wife. Astrid, this is Einar Haddock, my older brother," Hiccup introduced the two.
"It's an honor to meet you, Astrid. Hiccup has told me all about you," Einar stepped back and offered a bow to her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Einar. I was happy when Hiccup told me that he managed to find the one he wanted to know so much about," Astrid informed gently.
"Wait a second!" Stoick finally found his voice, recovering from the shock. "You knew Hiccup found Einar?!" he bellowed.
"Of course she knew. I sent it in my letter to her last week," Hiccup retorted.
"I told you to say something if he made contact!" Stoick boomed now.
"Lay off, Dad!" Hiccup stated. "My communications with Astrid are no business of yours. Perhaps if you'd told me I had an older brother in the first place, I wouldn't have left to go find answers that you owed me!" Stoick stepped back now at Hiccup's anger, and sadly, his youngest son was right.
"Now, Hiccup, don't get upset with them. If you hadn't left to find answers, you never would have found me, and we wouldn't have made that amazing discovery we did yesterday," Einar pointed out. Hiccup sighed now.
"I suppose you're right, brother, but still. Our parents should not have been keeping secrets like this from me," Hiccup insisted.
"Absolutely, I completely agree. Remember, though, everything that happens-happens for a reason. Perhaps you were meant to leave and find me so we could change things together? As I've told you, everything in life is all perspective, little brother. When you look at things differently, the possibilities are endless," Einar informed with a hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
"And here I thought I was the only one who could calm him down," Astrid giggled a bit.
"There's no harm in having people on your side who believe in the same thing," Einar told her with a smile.
"I don't see how any of this is entertaining!" Alvin remarked now.
"That man is a traitor!" Madguts yelled pointing his weapon at Einar.
"They both are! Einar was banished, and the law is to kill on sight if he ever stepped foot back into the Archipelago!" Dagur announced. "Hiccup is aiding him, that makes him guilty too!"
"You do have a plan, don't you?" Astrid whispered to Hiccup.
"Of course, Milady," Hiccup replied to her.
"Stoick, do something! You know what we have to do, but it's your island, so it has to be initiated by you," Norbert urged. Stoick felt Valka tense up because she knew what would happen; the Chieftains would kill Einar, and probably Hiccup too for bringing Einar back into the Archipelago and working with him.
"Hiccup hasn't done anything wrong. Yes, he set out to find answers, I'm sure he wasn't expecting to run into Einar," Stoick stated.
"A-And perhaps he didn't know about the laws of banishment," Gobber added in as well. Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"You're right. I wasn't expecting to find Einar," Hiccup said, as Stoick motioned that his guess had been right. "However, after finding him and learning the truth of his exile, I insisted he return with me," Stoick's face fell. There went his only chance of protecting Hiccup from immediate death.
"See!" the Chieftains yelled together.
"Dad, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but as I've said before; I know about the laws and traditions of the Tribe, and those about all Vikings," Hiccup enlightened.
"Enough putting this off, Stoick. Einar knew the penalties of returning after his banishment; perhaps we can work around young Hiccup. It's clear that Einar used Hiccup as a way to get back in," Mogadon hinted as Stoick caught on to what his friend was trying to do.
"Y-Yes, of course. Hiccup hasn't done anything wrong, Einar used the situation to his advantage. Aside from all that, Hiccup did not commit treason," Valka said quickly.
"He trained a DRAGON!" Madguts shouted.
"WHICH," Gobber interrupted, "could be useful information to us. Though it might be a bit odd to agree with Einar while training a dragon sounds wrong; if we see it from a different view, it could help us out," he finished. The leaders stopped their raving a moment and looked to the old blacksmith.
"What are you getting at, Gobber?" Stoick asked.
"Just think about it for a second. We've done nothing but fight dragons since Vikings first sailed here, right?" Gobber began as they nodded. "Every year we gather to discuss a way to deal with the dragons, and never find a solution. Well, Hiccup has one. Terrible Terror's are pests, and we all know it," he continued as Sharpshot stuck his tongue out at Gobber while Hiccup, Einar, and Astrid stifled a laugh at the action. "My point stands," Gobber mentioned with a roll of his eyes, "Hiccup trained one to carry letters between himself and Astrid while he was away. And we all saw last week when Astrid got the letter, that the dragon didn't attack her and almost seemed like a pet,"
"I think what Gobber is saying, is that having the ability to maybe train these beasts could be beneficial to us," Magnor finished.
"I suppose it could, but that also pertains to if he can train other dragons besides the Terrible Terrors," Gunnar Holt, Chief of the Bashem Oiks Tribe, said. Suddenly, all eyes were on Hiccup.
"Oh, you actually expected an answer?" Hiccup asked.
"Hiccup now is not the time to be sarcastic," Stoick sighed heavily.
"For the love of Odin, boy! Answer the question! Can you train other dragons, yes or no?!" Bjorn of the Shivering Shores demanded to know.
"You know, I'm not sure I like that tone from you, Chief Bjorn," Hiccup said.
"Quite right," Einar nodded.
"Nobody asked you, traitor," UG remarked.
"Nor did they ask you," Astrid huffed.
"Personally, I don't feel like I have to answer anything. It's not me who needs you, it's you who needs Einar and me," Hiccup enlightened calmly.
"We don't need him!" Madguts yelled. "I say we kill him, that was the agreement, Stoick. We all voted on it, and so did you!" Madguts then took a step towards Einar and Hiccup stepped in front.
"If you take one more step towards my brother, you're not going to like what I do to you, Chief Madguts," Hiccup informed coldly.
"If you get in my way, I will run you through as well," Madguts said as Dagur, Bjorn, UG, and Humongous came next to Madguts.
"And if you come any closer, I'm going to show you the full extent of my dragon training capabilities," Hiccup warned.
"Are you threatening us? With what, you Terrible Terror? Oh, I'm so scared." Alvin laughed with the others. "Hiccup Haddock, you are defending a guilty man and will share his fate if you don't move,"
"I support what is right, and I'll take my chances," Hiccup said firmly. "By the way; it's not a threat, it's a promise that if you make one move to harm Einar, you won't like the outcome," However, they pushed the matter. Madguts did step forward once more. "I gave fair warning," Hiccup sighed with a shrug and shake of his head. "Einar, if you'd be so kind to move your future sister-in-law to a safer spot, please?"
"Of course, brother. Astrid, will you come this way with me? You're not going to want to be standing there," Einar smiled to Astrid as she moved with him out of the Great Hall doorway.
"Well, where's this outcome you promised?" Norbert grinned as the others chuckled. Hiccup cupped his hands over his mouth and let out a sound similar to a roar. At first, everyone stopped because they didn't know what he was doing. After two minutes, a black dragon soared into the Great Hall, then landed next to Hiccup after he stepped aside. The room froze in fear, backing up quickly.
"I can train any type of dragon, including a Night Fury. This here is Toothless, the first dragon and only Night Fury I've ever trained. Disregard the name, Night Furies have retractable teeth, that's why I named him what I did. All that aside, I will give you one chance to step back. Should you choose to continue in your plan to kill my brother, I'll have Toothless incinerate you where you stand," Hiccup said as he snapped his fingers as Toothless took a predatory stance, and charged a purple blast in his mouth. "Or you can stop your attempts, and listen to what I have to say regarding everything, then maybe you'll learn something new," Hiccup placed his hand on top of Toothless's head as the blast faded as Toothless closed his eyes and warbled at the touch, looking docile and calm. "It's your call, Chieftains,"
The leaders made no move as they saw how quickly the Night Fury before them changed moods as it were. It was very evident that Hiccup could train dragons, and the proof was in front of them. "Stoick! Do something!" Valka insisted, smacking her husband's arm.
"Aye," Stoick nodded as he stepped forward, which made Toothless wrap his tail around Hiccup with a protective growl. "Easy now," Stoick put a hand up showing he meant no harm and Toothless stopped growling but didn't alter his stance. "Everyone needs to calm down because we're getting nowhere with this,"
"What do you suggest we do then, Stoick?" Bertha asked gently.
"Cast them out. Einar doesn't belong here anymore, and Hiccup has clearly chosen the side he's on," Dagur stated firmly.
"If you feel that is the best course of action, do it," Hiccup said. "I won't stop you, but I won't let you kill my brother," he added. Astrid moved beside Hiccup now and linked her fingers with his while giving a smile.
"If you cast Hiccup out, you'll have to cast me out too, Chief. Hiccup isn't the only one who knows how to train a dragon, I do too," Astrid announced as Hiccup arched a brow at her. Astrid gave a long whistle as a Deadly Nadder poked its head in through the door, squawking. "This is Stormfly, it's a girl. I trained her right after Hiccup left, and have been keeping her hidden on Berk the seven or so months,"
"She's beautiful, but not as much as you," Hiccup told her as Astrid blushed. "Dragon's aren't what you think they are, Dad, and you other Chieftains too. Okay? Look at this; A Deadly Nadder, a NIGHT FURY standing before you, calm as can be. This is a dragon's true nature; the raids aren't their fault. Einar and I know what is causing the dragon to attack villages and steal food, we are aware where the nest is. We can change things, stop the fighting, end the war. Just…hear me out, please?"
Unexpectedly, Gobber stepped over to Hiccup, Einar, and Astrid. "Sorry, Stoick. I agree with what I see with my own eyes," Snotlout, Ruffnut, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut walked next to them as well.
"If you're gonna cast them out, we're leaving too. Hiccup's right, it has to stop somewhere," Fishlegs remarked as the other three nodded. Asvora and Magnor stood closest to Astrid. After that, the parents of Snotlout, the twins, and Fishlegs walked over, then a few others. Standing with Hiccup, Einar, and Astrid now was a good twenty or so people; all willing to leave the Hooligan Tribe for the cause to change things.
"Stoick?" Colby asked.
"Stoick, we can't cast Hiccup out, and you know he's not going to abandon Einar…" Valka whispered to her husband.
"Einar isn't allowed back!" Alvin raged.
"Everyone shut up!" Stoick demanded, and they fell quiet. "Now, I know it's not an ideal situation. However," he paused with a sigh. "We've been after the nest for years, to stop the raids; and my sons have that information. The fighting has to stop, and the war needs to end. My son is right, both of them are. If they have any ideas regarding the matter, then I think we should hear them out. That being said; Einar is permitted to stay for the sake of business as this situation involves everyone. This is my stance on things for the time being,"