Hey, guys! Welcome please have a seat. Do you want some cookies? *grabs the box with cookies and looks inside, found out it is empty* Oh, sorry cookies run out. I probably ate them when I wrote this chapter. I planned this chapter to be around 4000 words but then my imagination said. "Screw it, we will write another 4000 words for this chapter." And here we are. Well, this is my longest chapter on the fanfiction. It has over 8600 words. Anyway, I hope that you will enjoy new chapter and I thank you all for your favs, follows and reviews. So here's my answers to reviews:
RushAlias: Good guesses, they are not far from the truth. You will find out some new things about 'him' in this chapter. But don't let the face deceived you. He has a bit more surprises then some think he has.
22ablanchard: You will find out something more in this chapter. But there is more to come
thearizona: But.. but.. I like games! Here have a cookie *give a spare cookie*. Enjoy new chapter!
Until next chapter!
"Why did you agree, Hiccup? I don't get it." Fishlegs said as he, Hiccup, Cami, Heather and Astrid walked through the village some moments later after that ‚incident'.
"It was a right thing to do. And she has resources to keep me interested in her deals." Hiccup answered as he watched the ground moving beneath his feet.
"So this is not the first deal?" Heather asked and her shocked was even bigger when he shook his head.
Astrid could saw the pain in Hiccup's face. What queen could possibly make to him? She was interrupted from her thoughts by twins shouting.
"Yeah, sis! This is the coolest and most dangerous thing we ever did!" Tuffnut shouted as they rode on the cart from the top of the hill. And what was even worse they were heading straight to them.
"Yeah! I know, bro!" Ruffnut shouted and Astrid rolled her eyes. She saw that Hiccup was deep in thoughts, so she grabbed him by his collar and pushed him out of the way. A startled Hiccup gave her puzzled look before, the cart rode past them in moments later. When Hiccup saw that he knew why she pushed him out of the way.
"Thanks, I guess." He said as he scratched back of his neck.
"You must be cautious around here when these muttonheads are around." She said as she pointed to the twins who were just standing up from their crash into the house.
"Did you saw us, guys?" Tuffnut shouted as they came closer to the group.
"You definitely saw us!" Ruffnut shouted before they could answer.
"Why the hell are they shouting?" Hiccup asked as he put his hand to his temples. His headache was starting to be unbearable. More and more troubles were on his shoulders and he knew that if he would not calm down he would snap. He couldn't figure out how he could contact him. Most of the times he found him. Now when Hiccup must find him, he was clueless.
"Tuffnut, Ruffnut this is Hiccup. Hiccup this is Tuffnut and Ruffnut." Heather introduce them when they were close enough.
"The dragon boy?" Ruffnut said as she eyed him.
"Wait, wait, wait. You just told him our true names." Tuffnut whined.
"And?" Heather asked as she raised her eyebrow.
"This was a cool moment to use my fake name!"
"Fake name?!" Astrid asked.
"Yeah. The great fake name. The biggest and greatest and biggest.. Wait didn't I already said biggest?" Tuffnut asked as he scratched his chin. "I don't know now if I said.." He was interrupted because Ruff punched him.
"Hey, what was that for?" He said as he stood up.
"Duh. To stop your stupid talks!"
"You're stupid!" He shouted as he jumped on her and they start fighting. Hiccup only watched them with a shocked face.
Snotlout came and saw what was happening and Hiccup's shocked face so he came closer and put his good arm around his shoulders and said. "That's twins for you." He then saw Astrid near so he winked at her and said. "So how it is, babe?" She glared at him and start to walk towards him so he shrinks back behind Hiccup and nervously chuckled.
"Step aside, Hiccup." She said as she smiled at him.
"Uh, why?" He didn't understand what was happening around him anymore.
"Oh, just step aside." She said again and he listened. Snotlout, when his shield was away, took a few steps back and nervously chuckled.
"Now, Snotlout. Let me say it to you one more time before I will officially kill you." She said as she took her axe from her waist.
"I'm not.." She shouted as she punched him in the jaw and he falls on his back. "Your..." She punched him with a flat of her axe into the head. "Babe!" And she dropped her handle to his balls. He squealed as he curls up into a ball.
"Is that clear now?" She asked with venomous singing voice.
"As the sun." He said with a hoarse voice and put shaking thumb up.
Astrid turned around to the rest of the group watching the twins fight but two persons were missing. Cami and Hiccup. She didn't know why, but she felt a slightly weird feeling in her gut every time when she thought about Cami and Hiccup being together alone. Wait, does she now admitted that she was jealous of Cami? Why would she be jealous? She didn't like Hiccup. She didn't like any boy. So why she was feeling like that.
"Do you know where Hiccup and Cami went?" She asked and Fishlegs and Heather shrugged.
Hiccup left the group because he needed to think. He walked through the forest until he found a forest clearing. He stood in the middle of the clearing scratching his chin. I can't leave to find him and when I will not leave then I will not find him. His options ran out. There was only one option how to find him but he refused it right away.
"Hiccup, I know what are you thinking about and you don't have any other choice." Cami's voice came behind him. He glanced at her over his shoulder but then he started pacing in front of her as he tried to come up with a plan, which didn't include them. He swears to himself that he will never again see them.
"Hiccup, I know what they forced you to do, but they are your only chance to find him." Cami continued.
"How do you know? What if he is not watching them anymore. What if they caught him. What if..." His voice trailed off as he sighed.
"There you are. We have been searching for you..." Astrid's voice trailed off as she and other teens walked out from the forest into a clearing where Hiccup and Cami were standing. Hiccup groaned and went on another side of the clearing. Cami turned to the teens and Heather spoke.
"What is with him?" Cami shooked her head "He has hard times. In one moment he seems fine then in another, he is broken. Recent events claimed their prize on him." Cami then looked at Astrid. "Go. Talk to him. Force him to pour it out."
Astrid was shocked "Why me?"
"Because I saw how he answered you on that square. Where he ignored me, he didn't ignore you." Cami focused her eyes on her. Astrid wanted to refuse because she didn't want to face a boy who made her unsure. But then her mother words changed her mind. Talk to that boy. Try to know why. Try to find out who he is. She remembered her mother words, clearly.
"We will be in the village." Heather said as she took other teens and left Astrid stood there. Astrid stood there for several minutes before she slowly made her way towards Hiccup. He sat on the grass leaning his back against a big tree. He had closed eyes and to Astrid, he looked content.
"Can I sit down?" She asked as she came closer.
"Your choice." He said but he didn't even open his eyes. Astrid sat next to him and she sat there for a while. She didn't know how to start so she started by her way. She punched him hard in the shoulder.
"Hey! What was that for?" He said as he turned his head towards her and rubbed his shoulder.
"You were ignoring me." She said as she narrowed her eyes on him. "Now talk." She said as she leaned her back to the trees. She felt how their shoulders were touching each other but she didn't react. Astrid heard him mutter something but she didn't hear what it was.
"Where from?" He asked as he released a shaky breath.
"Where ever you want..." She said as she shrugged. Hiccup didn't know why, but he wanted to tell her truth. Maybe it was because she was willing to listen. Maybe it was something else. Also, he knew from his dreams that he could trust her. It was stupid to count on feelings from the dream but he shrugged it off.
"When I was ten, Toothless, my night fury, hatched to me. I knew that I got a chance from the gods. When I found out that I'm not a child of my parents, I thought that Thor hated me. To that day I thought that Thor hated me. But when I found Toothless, it was like a message. Go find your true family. Find your true purpose. So I tried. I trained him. I convicted my village that he can be trained and then he gave me a gift of flying. I was flying with him almost every day. Villagers thought that everything was perfect with me. But I suffered every day, because I realized that finding my true family will not be so easy as I though. When I was fourteen, a man came into our village. I don't know how, but he found out that I was not a son of the chief and that I had a dragon. Maybe he saw me on my journeys, but it doesn't matter now. He said that I brought shame on chief's name because of my pack with dragons. I was furious. Beyond that. And I wanted revenge. So I lured him into a forest. Then I ordered Toothless to kill him. Toothless did what I asked for. When that man saw a night fury, he was terrified. He pleaded and begged, not to kill him but I didn't listen. He insulted me and people which I took as close as family. When Toothless killed him I just stood there and waited. I stood there until he breathes his last. I murdered him, Astrid. I murdered him and what was worse? I was coward. I didn't kill him myself. I used Toothless to kill him."
Astrid didn't know what to say or what to do. She was not good at this. She never was. She could just stare at him and felt sorry. But she was not angry towards him or felt disgusted because he killed a man like that. No, she knew how it hurts when one's honor is at stake. She knew it very well. She watched how tears threatened to fall from Hiccup's eyes so she started.
"I know how you felt." Hiccup looked at her and she continued as she stared into his green eyes. "When I was a six, my uncle Finn Hofferson was killed by a flightmare. People talked that flightmare can paralyze her victims with a fear and about Hoffersons were always said that we were fearless. But when she attacked, my uncle froze. People said that Fearless Finn Hofferson wasn't so fearless when he froze with fear. The honor of the Hoffersons family was destroyed. People laugh at us, taunt us, humiliate us. We became more furious. Our only communication outside our family is punching a beating everyone we meet. I would kill few people if my mother wouldn't stop me. Hate and anger are characteristic for a Vikings and killing are not foreign to us either. You didn't feel sorry for what you did. When he knew that you have dragons he should shut up and not try his luck." She saw how Hiccup was watching the grass beneath his feet.
"At least, Hoffersons are still fearless." He said silently as he looked at her. She gave him a puzzled look and he chuckled a little. "Flightmare has a paralyzing spray. She can freeze anyone or anything even other dragons. She didn't freeze him with fear. But can I ask you something? She took him, right? She didn't kill him in front of you. Am I right?"
"Yeah..." She answered as she looked at her hands. "I wish that he would be here. He always trained me and I miss his tales. Also if he would return our honor could be restored."
"Well, I can bring him back if you want." Hiccup said and she immediately looked at him.
"What do you..." she started but he interrupted her. "I bet that she didn't kill. She just took him. Flightmare would not attack anyone if she hadn't other reason but her own. And flightmares are known because of their, how should I say it, they can see scraps of the future."
Astrid was overjoyed and confused. If he could bring her back her uncle it would be the greatest thing anyone would do for her. But she was also skeptical.
"Are you sure that.."
"Astrid," he interrupted her and placed his hand on hers but he immediately pulled it back as if something kicked him. "I studied and trap..." he gulped but continued "For several years. If I could find my friend he could find your uncle. But that's the problem I don't know how to find my friend."
Astrid's heart sunk "Isn't there any way to find him?"
"Well there is one way to find him, but I would be forced to go against my promise to myself. Without him, I doubt that I can defeat queen." Hiccup said as he lies down and put his hand behind his head. Astrid just watched him as she sat there.
"I already said to you my most guarded secret, so I don't see a reason why I shouldn't tell you about how I met my friend." He said after a while as he watched the clouds. Astrid didn't do anything just listened.
"I was fifteen years old and I was stupid. After that incident with that man, I locked to myself. Only people who knew why were Cami and my step parents. I traveled with Toothless a lot. I was away from our Island sometimes for several weeks. After winter when I was sixteen, I traveled a bit more north. I was not paying the attention and bolas brought us out of the skies..."
Hiccup cursed to himself as they hit the deck. How could he be so careless? He glanced around and the sight made him shiver. He was on the dragon trappers ship. In all ships in the world, he must be brought down to trapper's ship.
"A Night Fury!" One man shouted as he came to them but when he saw Hiccup he was a shocked.
"And what is this? A dragon rider? What a poor joke of Loki." That man laughed and crew laughed with him. Hiccup managed to glance at him and saw a big muscular man with brown eyes.
"This hide will fetch the top price in the Northern markets." He said when he stopped laugh and came closer.
"You will not touch him!" Hiccup shouted as he started to struggle against the ropes.
"A feisty boy. Take them both and throw them to the cages." The crew knocked out both Hiccup and Toothless with the Zippleback's gas and chained them. Both of them were dragged bellow deck and they put them in cages.
"Where now?" One of the crew asked.
"Back to the base! We have a gift for my brother." The man said with a smirk.
"I woke up chained and they kept us chained around two weeks. They mostly ignored us. Only brought us food and water, but there was one man who was still watching us from the shadow. I didn't know who he was but I didn't really care, because I hate being on the ship. I'm always seasick and two weeks was more than enough for me. Then they docked on the round Island. It was full of dragon trappers and trapped dragons. Two trappers from the ship dragged me to the center of the Island because I couldn't even stand on my own after two weeks on the ship, and there in the center of the Island was something like a chief's tent. I didn't saw where they took Toothless and I was starting to be worried. Then they shoved me inside and I saw a man in his thirties behind the table. He was writing something for a while and he looked at me..."
The man behind the table stood up and walked to the front of the table. He had a black tunic with red scales on his shoulders and around his waist. He also had spiked shoulder pads and a silver belt buckle with some kind of tribal crest on it, and black wrist had short, black hair and brown eyes with a weird shaped beard.
"What do we have here." He said as he eyed Hiccup.
"We shot him down two weeks ago. He was riding a Night fury." Said a man who just entered the tent. It was the same man which Hiccup saw on the ship deck.
"A night fury? Interesting." Said the first man as he scratched his chin. "Anyway, welcome. Brother!" He said as he hugged his brother "You must be weary. The dragon trade is an exhausting business." He then turned back to Hiccup and asked. "So, what is your name boy?"
"Why do you want to know?" Hiccup answered as he tried to stand on his legs but two trappers who dragged him here didn't allow him to.
"Oh, we're not animals. Let him stood on his own legs." The guards released him and Hiccup massaged his wrists.
"You two get some rest. There is so much to do. Brother you too."
"I would rather stay here if you don't mind." The second man said as the guards made their way out.
"Of course. Now boy, what's your name again." The first man said as he turned to the Hiccup.
"Hiccup and yours?" Hiccup said as he carefully eyed the hunters.
"Viggo Grimborn." Viggo said as he bowed a little "And this is my brother Ryker Grimborn." And the man named Ryker growled. Viggo made his way to the box which had a cloth on the top. Viggo took away the cloth and Hiccup recognized a board game.
"They say there are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true. The other..." He said as he sat at one side of the box. "is to refuse to believe what is. Maces and Talons. Do you know that game?"
"Yes." Hiccup answered and Viggo smiled at him "Son of the chief?"
Hiccup shook his head "No, just someone who likes to play board games."
"Oh, that doesn't matter. What matter is, will you be a worthy adversary?" Viggo said as he motioned with his hand to another side of the box. Hiccup knew that he has no other choice so he sat and they began their played for several hours and Viggo was impressed.
"I must say that I'm impressed, Hiccup." Viggo said as he moved some of his figurines.
"You are not bad either, Viggo." Hiccup said as he moved his.
"You see, I began playing with my grandfather when I was just a boy. I always insisted upon being the Honorable Viking Chief and I could never understand how he bested me time and time again." Viggo continued as he moved most of his figurines to Hiccup's clear trap. Hiccup used his trap but when Viggo made another move he saw that he actually fell into Viggo's trap.
"For years, I assumed his skill transcended mine. I believed what wasn't true. But, you see, in Maces and Talons, as in life, the line between good and evil is often unclear. Black and white can become gray so easily. What one soul considers evil, another might consider righteous." Viggo said as he managed to kill Hiccup's chief figure and then he took it.
"The Honorable Chief who fails to see this is found to be... the fool." Viggo said as he dropped the chief figure in the box.
But Hiccup knew why Viggo won while Viggo thought that he didn't. "I know why you won."
Viggo was interested when he heard this "Really? Then say. Why?"
"You sacrificed your own figurines." Hiccup said as he leaned into a chair and crossed his arms. Viggo was surprised and he started laughing.
"You are right. I must say that I'm pretty impressed. You see Hiccup, pieces, as with people, are expendable. No one is irreplaceable."
"And what if you didn't have enough pieces?" Hiccup asked and Viggo chuckled "I tend not to dwell on the 'what ifs,' my boy. Leaves you barren." Viggo then stood up and said "Come. Walk with me." Hiccup was hesitant but Viggo quickly made him move "I can show you your dragon."
Hiccup and Viggo walked side by side through the camp and Viggo's trappers gave them weird looks. Hiccup could also hear Ryker's footstep behind them.
"My brother's treated you well, I trust?" Viggo said after a while.
"Yeah, of course. Being chained below deck for two weeks. Nothing could be better, right?" Hiccup sarcastically said.
"Sarcasm. You will need it in this world." Viggo said with a chuckle.
"Why are you doing this Viggo? You could be at peace with dragons." Hiccup asked as he saw all types of dragons chained or caged.
"Peace can be such a fragile thing, I can assure you that I have no desire to rule the world like . . . some people. I'm just a simple businessman."
"Are you talking about Drago?" Hiccup asked with a harsh voice.
"So you know him. And yes I was talking about Drago. His methods are a bit harsh and unsuccessful. But I must say that he can pay pretty well." Viggo answered as they passed more and more dragons.
"You are selling him the dragons?" Hiccup asked in bewilderment.
"I was selling him the dragons. But then one time he tried to kill me and make my hunters his own. Let's just say that I made him a few scars he made me a few scar and we parted our ways with a glare." Viggo said and when he saw a Night fury in his cage he smiled.
"Toothless!" Hiccup shouted as they came to his cage. He wanted to run to him but he was stopped by Viggo's strong hand on his shoulder. "If you want to save your dragon, then give me some information."
"What kind of information?" Hiccup asked as he looked at Viggo.
"Let's just say..." Viggo said as he thought about it. "What kind of impact has a dragon root to dragons?" Viggo asked.
"They will be aggressive. They will attack everything that would get in their way, except Gronckles. They are immune to Dragon root." Hiccup answered and then he cursed himself
"Brilliant. Simply brilliant. You know your dragons, I'll give you that." Viggo then took his hand from Hiccup's shoulder and picked up the keys from his belt. He handed one key to Hiccup and said. "Go free your dragon." Hiccup didn't waste any time. In a moment Toothless was beside Hiccup in front of the cage, snarling on Viggo.
"Why did you did this?" Hiccup asked as he still watched Viggo's straight face.
"Trust is imperative, Hiccup. A man will never know how far he's willing to go" Viggo answered as he started walking towards them and Toothless started to hiss on him. "until he steps to the edge and looks down. Wouldn't you agree?" He was now on arms reach from Toothless.
"I suppose, metaphorically." Hiccup said. He didn't understand any of this.
"Now, Hiccup will you kill me with your dragon or will you trust me?" Viggo asked. Hiccup wanted to give Toothless a sign to kill him but he didn't.
"Toothless stand down." Hiccup said and Toothless ceased his loud growls.
"I've always hated the use of metaphors." Viggo said as he dusted himself "But anyway, you did a right thing. You both would be killed before your dragon could even move." Viggo said as he nodded a little with his head. Dozens of archers made their way out of the hiding. "Now, down to business. I need your assistance, my boy."
"My assistance?" Hiccup asked shocked.
"Yes, you see our artifact got lost when our father went rogue. We had there everything we knew about dragons and we trained our new recruits with that. Now you will train our recruits for a year and then you will be free to go."
"And what if I refuse?" Hiccup asked and as he finished it Viggo's archers gave him to answer as they readied their bows.
"Both you and your dragon will be safe and everything you need to do is train our new recruits how to catch dragons. Now if you agree to give me your word that you will not try to run away for the whole year." Viggo said as he extended his hand. Hiccup didn't have any other choice than agree. He would sacrifice his life to save dragons from his knowledge, but he couldn't sacrifice Toothless.
"I agree with your deal and I'm giving you my word that I will not try to run." Hiccup said as he shook Viggo's hand.
"Excellent, Hiccup. Accepting defeat is the most difficult, but necessary part of the competition and you passed."
"And I ended up practically as their prisoner." Hiccup said as he watched slowly descending the sun.
Astrid was shocked. Hiccup went through so much at that young age and yet he was still standing. She now saw this boy in totally different light. She saw him as unassuming and heroic. But she didn't like him, right? Or did she?
"So how did you met that friend of yours?" Astrid asked.
"Are you sure that you want to hear it? It is quite late and I wouldn't.." She interrupted him with a punch to the shoulder. "Talk."
Hiccup sighed and started talking.
"It was six months after I agreed to Viggo's deal..."
Hiccup walked through the trappers camp with Toothless behind him. He was stuck here already for six months and he hated every single day. When he didn't train the recruits, he must play Maces and Talons with Viggo and lose every time because he refused to sacrifice his figurines, but to Viggo's enjoyment, he managed to find out new ways how to hold on longer every single game. Once he was even close to a victory. He could win that, but he would need to sacrifice one of his figurines and he refused that. He watched sad eyes of trapped dragons and he felt horrible. He didn't know how he will manage to keep his mind together for another six months. He decided that he will take a flight with Toothless. It was only way how he could clear his mind in his ‚prison'. He jumped on his back and flew off. He can't leave the trappers because he gave them his word. And what else he would have left in his life if he lost even his own honor. As Old Wrinkly once said to him ‚Your honor is your life. If you will lose your honor, you are a dead man.' No, he must hold on for another six months. What was worse than training new recruits was that he practically needed to show trappers how to catch dragons. But he never showed them how to catch dragon without a fight. No, he couldn't do that. If he would do that they could catch every single dragon in the world. And because of that he received quite share of scars. Hiccup was snapped from his thoughts by something shiny in the distance. In a moment it was gone. He looked around and now he saw that shining thing above him. Toothless beneath him growled and Hiccup pats him.
"Easy, bud." He said and that shining thing vanished again.
"Ok, I think that it is time to head back. " Hiccup said but that was the last thing he remembered before he was knocked unconscious and threw from the saddle. Toothless roared at him and tried to catch him but then hew was seized by several different dragons and he stopped struggle when he saw that other dragons catch his rider too. He just watched as the dragon drag him and his rider to the big ice mountain.
"...You are sure that you want to sit here and listen to me?" Hiccup asked as he saw that the sun already set and a forest around them started to be full of life. Astrid glared at him and he scowled.
"What? I just don't want to anger your parents or chief or some boy you are wit.." He was again interrupted by a punch.
"First of all, I'm an adult so my parents will be fine also chief will know where am I because Heather surely told him and I don't have a boyfriend. Now talk or should I punch you again?" Astrid spat at him and to her surprise, he chuckled.
"As you wish, Milady." Astrid was surprised for a moment, but she didn't protest.
"I woke up in the dark cavern with Toothless lying behind me..."
Hiccup groaned as he sat up while he holds his head with his hand. He tried to remember what has happened but all he knew was that something hit him to the head.
"Toothless what happened?" Hiccup asked but the only answer he got was a loud growl. That got Hiccup's attention and he glanced around. He saw in a dim light that he was surrounded by dragons. He quickly stood up and that received him a share of angry Hiccup heard a loud growl and dragons back away a little and they lit their flames in their mouth. Hiccup dumb watched when the light of the fires lighten up the cave. There were more dragons than he ever saw but what shocked him, even more, was a boy in his age sitting on one stone in front of him petting small terrible terror.
"Um, hello?" Hiccup said but it sounded more like a question. That boy had a long silver like hair tied up in the ponytail, gray eyes and three silver scars starting on the forehead which continues through the right eye and ends up on the right cheek. He was wearing basic dark blue tunic and leggings, black fur boots and everything was covered by a leather armor plating along with shoulders pads, also with arm bracelets and leather pants and whole armor was covered with silver dragon scales and he had white fur hood on his shoulders.
The boy didn't answer just motioned with his hand to stone in front of him and continued to pet the terrible terror. Hiccup understood and he sat down on the stone. He was nervous because they sat there for a while in embarrassing silent and that man was still watching him with a straight face. Hiccup shifted a little to Toothless who sat on his right watching that stranger closely.
"What should I do with you?" That stranger spoke which made a Hiccup jump a little.
"What do.. you.. mean?" Hiccup cursed to himself for his stuttering.
"You know what I mean, Hiccup. I'm watching you for several months already. It was hard enough to rescue dragons from trappers before, but now it is even harder when you are training their recruits. I spent a lifetime to change their father's mind. He stole dragon eye from them so they wouldn't have a way to train their recruits and what you did? You came and destroyed everything." That stranger sounded angry and Hiccup knew that he was a source of it. He knew that if he was paying better attention to his surrounding six months ago, he wouldn't be in this mess.
"I'm sorry.. I didn't want.." Hiccup started but he was shaking. The thing he did now truly sunk into his heart. "I never wanted to hurt dragons especially catch them but they forced me. They wanted to kill Toothless so I agreed that I will help them train their recruits for a year and then they will let us go." Hiccup said with a silent voice.
"Typical of them." Stranger spat. "So tell me everything about you and then we will see what should we do with you because of your crimes against dragons." The stranger continued with a calm voice which surprised Hiccup. When Hiccup saw that he had no other choice, he told that stranger everything. Even his own darkest secret. Stranger listened to him with a straight face, occasionally he raised an eyebrow or frowned. When Hiccup stopped talking a silence fell upon them for a while.
"Hard life, you have my friend. But I can see that you didn't mean to harm the dragons. I know Viggo and when someone falls to his trap then he has no other choice then agree to his deals." The stranger stood up and put his terror on the shoulder.
"Follow me." The stranger said as he starts walking to one of deeper caves. Hiccup followed as he tried to figure out who is this boy in his age.
"What is your name?" Hiccup asked as they walked passed more and more dragons who was curiously watching him.
"You can call me Dragon child. If you want to know my true name you must prove that you are a true friend of all dragons and that I can trust you." Dragon child said as they entered a wide open space. Hiccup looked around and was astonished. Thousands of dragon were flying in open space. He glanced around and saw various herbs growing there on the hexagon and polygon basaltic formations and whole ceiling were made out of ice. It was warm inside and the mountain holds many hot springs, caves, cliffs and waterfalls.
"This is... incredible." Hiccup said with his mouth wide open.
"This is my home." The boy said as he gestured with his hand around. "Also it is home for every single dragon who want to live in peace and harmony. In this place every dragon has protection."
"Why are you showing me this? What if I deceived you? Why do you trust me?" Hiccup asked while he still admired the place where he was.
"I don't trust you, yet. I'm showing you this because he trusts you." The boy said as he pointed behind him. Hiccup turned around and saw Toothless watching whole nest.
"You have a trust of the night fury and that says something about you." The boy continued as he watched both Hiccup and Toothless. He would even chuckle on their faces if the situation was not so grave. "Also I want to thank you for taking care of him. I thought that the night furies are extinct by now but your dragon gave me hope that maybe there is more of them, somewhere."
"You didn't saw any other night fury?" Hiccup asked and when boy shook his head, his heart sunk. He knew that something was off when he didn't saw night furies on his travels.
"Sadly, no." The boy said as he started walking to the cliff where he roared like a dragon. Hiccup jumped back a little but Toothless was now really curious. Hiccup heard splashing of the water as Toothless slowly walked to the cliff. But before Toothless came to the cliff that boy knelt down. Shortly after that, every dragon in the nest did the same. Hiccup and Toothless looked at each other because they didn't understand what was happening. But then they saw how big dragon head overlooked the whole cliff, where they were standing. Hiccup saw that dragon was very large and spiky with two big horns protruding from the sides of its head and huge multiple wings. The front side of its body is covered with burr-like spikes, along with two lines of spikes along the eyelids, giving an impression of eyebrows. Hiccup saw that even Toothless bowed his head while he didn't know what he should do.
"This is king of all dragons." That boy said as he stood up while other dragons were still bowed. "Welcome in his nest. The home of the great Bewilderbeast."
"What.." Hiccup tried to say something, but his voice trailed off while he watched the dragon's big blue eyes.
"He is our Alpha. As with all living things on the Midgard, dragons too must follow a hierarchy of power and leadership. He is one of the very few that still exist." The boy continued as he came to stand beside Hiccup.
"He is the reason why the dragons are attacking us?" Hiccup asked but as he said it the king of all dragons growled, aloud. Hiccup heard how that boy growled like dragon before he turned to face him with a scowl.
"No, he is not the reason. The reason why they are attacking you is that they serve the queen."
"The queen?" Hiccup asked. He didn't understand.
That boy sighed and rubbed his face. "As I see I must say to you everything. Come walk with me. I want to see dragons reactions in your presence." They walked around the nest in a silent for a while and Hiccup saw how the Alpha watched him.
"The reason why dragons are attacking Barbaric Archipelago is a self-appointed dragon queen in Helheim gate. From her birth, she didn't know anything else then cruelty and as she grows up she managed to enslave other dragons. She built her nest in the middle of the active volcano. Now, most of the dragons in the archipelago are under her command. They do what they must to feed her. If they wouldn't follow her orders she would eat them alive." As he said that Hiccup gulped on the thought of it. "She is ruthless ruler and suffering is her entertainment. But our king is different. With his icy breath, this graceful giant built our nest, a safe haven for dragons everywhere. He protects us. We all live under his care and his command." As he said that, the king brought his head inches from them. He then blew a small icy breath towards them which made their hair froze. That boy chuckled as he ruffled his own hair. "He likes you."
"This is.. Perfect." Hiccup said as he watched the king lying back to the water pool in the middle of the nest while hatchlings started to jump on him.
"I lived with them my whole life. They mostly raised me, taught me. They are my family." The boy said with a sad voice.
"You was raised by dragons?" Hiccup asked in that boy nodded Hiccup couldn't resist.
"What happened?"
"When I was six years old a man named Drago came to our village." When Hiccup heard name Drago he knew what happened. He met that man and he knew what happens to those who cross his path.
"We welcomed him as we did with every visitor. You see our village had peace with dragons. And some were even... different. But we didn't expect treachery. He stayed with us for several days and then his army came and he razed our village to the ground. After that day we stayed alone, me and my aunt. Later on, our dragons, which survived the attack on our village, brought us here. And king let us stay."
"I'm sorry to hear it." Hiccup said as he watched the sad boy. "Where is your aunt now?"
"She is dying." The boy said and Hiccup was shocked. "I should take you to her."
Hiccup didn't say anything as they walked to one of the caves. When they entered Hiccup saw a simple bed. On the bed lied a woman in her fifties. She had long black hair and she had the whole abdomen wrapped in bloodied bandages.
"What happened to her?" Hiccup silently asked.
"Drago's trappers. They hit her with the poisoned arrow. Sadly I don't know anything about poisons and I can't move her because she would die right away. And she wanted to wait. For you."
"For me?" Hiccup asked in bewilderment. That boy didn't say nothing just went to the bed and knelt down. He placed his hand on woman's forehead and said. "Eira, it's me." The woman opened her eyes and she slowly moved her head to the side. When she saw that boy she smiled. "You are back my boy." She said as she brought her hand to his cheek. "Did you find him?"
"Yes, I found him." That boy then stood up and brought reluctant Hiccup to her.
"My two precious boy are finally together." She said as she watched them. Hiccup glanced at that boy, but he only shrugged.
"You're still learning to trust each other but don't be afraid of each other. You both have a difficult life and a lot of enemies, but together you are stronger than anyone. Did you told him at least your own name?" She asked and that boy shooked his head.
"Ah, young ones. I don't have much time to talk to you so listen to me closely. Hiccup, you will go through great pain. Yet, you will overcome it. You will lose almost everything. Yet, you will find two times more. You have a heart of the chief and soul of the dragon. Only you can set peace between humans and dragons." Hiccup watched her in bewilderment. He didn't understand what was she saying.
"And you my dear little boy. You must help him. You must be his friend, his ally. She will try to destroy your friendship but you must be vigilant. A life where you lock yourself in and anything or anyone out is not a life. It is a prison. You are a guardian of peace, my dear. To be who you are, you need to forget who they told you to be. Your parents and Drago were wrong about you. Use your gift to save lives, do not think that it is a curse. You have a path and a purpose. Regardless of what anyone says, it's time to find it. Your paths just crossed. If you will walk together you will make this world a better place. I'm just sorry that I will not see it." She finished as she breathes her last.
Hiccup still didn't understand what happened while that boy shrunk to his knees.
"I'm sorry for your lost." Hiccup said as he watched the boy.
"I will miss her wisdom." The boy said as he watched still body of his aunt. "Taramis."
"What?" Hiccup asked because he didn't know what that word meant.
"My name is Taramis."
"...After that, I helped him to free dragons from the trappers. Of course, I tried to be with Viggo while he freed dragons so he couldn't think that I helped with freeing dragons. We became good friends, he thought me a lot of things about dragons and he even made me this." he said as he gestured to his staff "He thought me how to use it, then after six months, I was free to go from the trappers. Viggo kept his word and he let me go, but I swear to myself that I will never meet them again. Taramis visited me on my Island and he was always welcomed and even Cami was quite fond of him. But he was a loner. After his aunt dead he stopped live in that nest. That is even a problem why I can't find him now. But he always watched Viggo. So to find him I would need to find Viggo."
"It's a mess." Astrid said as she looked to the sky. Moon was already high and she should probably go home. But she didn't want.
"Who is this Drago person and where did you meet him?" Astrid asked.
"Drago Bludvist. A madman without conscience or mercy. He was building dragon army outside of the archipelago when I first met him. Let's just say that only thing that saved me from him was that I was twelve and another reason was Toothless. He told me that I and my dragon will be death to my village and he was right. He forced my hand when I fought with his men's. I killed my first man when I was twelve and believe it or not it left its marks on you. But it doesn't matter now. I must deal with Red death first, then I will take care of that madman."
"And what about that time you wrestled that nightmare?" Astrid asked and she saw him flinch.
"I would rather not talk about it. Maybe some other time." Hiccup said and Astrid nodded. She had so many questions but she knew that if she will force it she will not achieve anything. They sat there in comfortable silent but then Astrid spoke.
"You don't have anything that would help you to find your true family?"
"Actually I have." Hiccup spoke as he pulls out some kind of necklace from under his tunic. "Ylva, my stepmother, gave me this before Dagur came. She said that I wear it when they found me. They said that they tried to find my true family but they didn't succeed. Now this necklace is my only lead to my true family. And my only memory for my Island."
"Can I see it?" Astrid asked and Hiccup went to give it to her but he was interrupted.
"Astrid! Are you still here?!" The duo heard Heather's shout as she stepped out of the forest. "Yeah, still here!" She shouted back while Hiccup sat up.
"Now you know most things about me." He said as he put his necklace back under his tunic and watched Heather walking towards them. "What would you do?"
"Honestly, I don't know. But if you decide to look for that Viggo I have an idea." Astrid said as she stood up and dusted herself.
"You do?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, Heather your father will be sending invitations for Thing* am I right?" Astrid asked when Heather came to them.
"Yes, why?" Heather asked as she crossed her arms.
"Only thing you must to do is talk to the chief. If you told him the truth he would definitely agree, Hiccup. But it is your choice." Astrid said as she stood beside Heather.
Hiccup watched the grass beneath his feet. "I will think about it."
"Astrid, your parents are looking for you so we should head back."
"I will stay here for a moment then I must go feed my dragons so you can go." Hiccup said as he stood up.
"Good night, Hiccup." Heather and Astrid said as they turned around.
"Good night for you too." Hiccup said as he watched them leave "And Astrid!"
"Yeah?" She said as they turned to him.
"Thank you. You know. For hearing me out." Hiccup said as he scratched his neck.
"I should thank you too. You know. For telling me the truth." She said and Hiccup smiled at her. She couldn't resist smiling back.
As they entered the forest Astrid still had a smile on her face and Heather couldn't resist.
"Someone crushed hard, am I right?" Heather asked with a grin.
"What? Um.. No.. I don't like him or anything.. We are just friends.." Astrid blushed and cursed herself for stuttering.
"Uhm, I see. And that blush is a light of the moon." Heather said and Astrid punched her into the shoulder to which Heather replied with a silent laugh.
Hiccup was standing in the clearing for a while before he went to his dragons. He took Toothless, Hookfang and Stormfly to get gather some fishes for Windshear, Meatlug, Barf and Belch. Not long after that he lied beside Toothless, his other dragons around them, and thought about his plan. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
When Astrid and Heather came back into the village it was already midnight. Astrid bit a good night to Heather as she entered her house. She heard her father's snores from her parent's bedroom but she saw her mother sitting at the table. She was watching Astrid so she sat across the table.
"Where were you, young lady?" Her mother asked when she sat down.
"In the forest clearing. Talking with Hiccup." Astrid answered and her mother raised an eyebrow.
"Did you find out anything?"
"Yeah. He has one hel of the life. I'm surprised that he manage to keep walking. Also, he is nice and caring but also kind of broken. He told me about..." And Astrid tells her everything. She knew that she probably shouldn't tell anyone but she trusted her mother and also she needed help with strange feelings which were becoming more and more powerful. But she didn't tell her about the possibility of bringing back her father's brother. She didn't want to give her false hope.
"Well, he has indeed a hard life." Astrid mother said when Astrid finished. "But off to bed, you go. It is late." Astrid nodded as she went into her room. But her mother stayed there for a while. When she heard that boy met Drago and that Drago is building a dragon army her heart almost stopped. She will warn her husband and Stoick about this threat. With that, she went to bed.
Next morning was Hiccup again standing in the square waiting for the chief. Stoick was happy for company and Hiccup put Astrid idea into motion. He told him the truth and that he would need to invite Viggo for the thing. Stoick thought about it for a while before he agreed. Hiccup's plan was set into motion and his first and easiest part was completed. Now he just needed to wait for.
*Things, from the Old Norse þing, are the early assemblies found throughout Northern Europe as a result of our shared Norse heritage. They have been described as the Viking cradle of democracy because their establishment was an early attempt to introduce a representative system, allowing disputes to be settled in a neutral forum rather than by blood feud and violence alone.