Meant To Be

Rating; M

Author; Nightstar Fury

Pairing; Hiccup & Signy[OC]

Disclaimer; I do not own the HTTYD movies or series. I also don't own any of the songs that I might use.

Ten: Still A Man

The agreement had been made by the island leaders of the Archipelago, to offer Drake Riddari the dragon rider one gift as a sign of peace that none of the islands wanted to fight anymore and hope that he would accept the offering and stop his raids on their homes. However, Oswald Landvik reminded them that it was amazing something was decided between them to deal with Drake, but they were now faced with what to offer this man that he wouldn't refuse. The Great Hall was keeping quiet while the chiefs and one chieftess were pondering what they could give him. Astrid had returned to her seat with her friends.

"What do you think they'll choose to offer?" Ruffnut asked the others.

"Hard to say. Picking one thing to give a guy who rides and controls dragons won't be a simple decision," Astrid replied. The biggest fear they had was that Drake didn't accept their offering of peace and continued the raids. Right that Astrid said she preferred no raids at all, in the face of things, Drake claimed that he protected both sides and Astrid could believe that. Drake did keep their two sides from killing one another, and he saved her from a fire that had nothing to do with him or his dragons. Astrid remembered the rest of what Drake told them earlier; I don't rightly give a damn what you think of me. Being hated for being different isn't anything new to me. Someday you will understand why I've done all I have, and I hope when that day comes, you will forgive me, but until then, I do what I do because its all I can do.

Astrid was beginning to feel like Drake might not be out for revenge after all. Why did she feel that way suddenly? Drake said they would understand why he was doing what he was and hoped that they would forgive him. Why would a guy who got cast out, went to extreme measures to get revenge tell them that they would understand and hoped to be forgiven? That didn't make sense Astrid. Someone seeking revenge and asking for forgiveness? There was no point. If you wanted forgiveness, just stop what you're doing. But Drake continued his raids on them saying one day they'd understand. Did that mean Drake wasn't out for revenge?

The theory that the leaders settled on was that Drake must be an outcast from one of their islands who wanted revenge but still retained his humanity not to allow humans be harmed by his dragons. At the same time, revenge meant no mercy and the person obtaining said vengeance for what was done to them would not give a damn who got hurt. Another question Astrid found herself asking was why Drake would seek out revenge on all islands when he was only cast out from his? Deciding to give it a break, for now, Astrid silently and turned her head to listen to the conversation the leaders were having.

"We are getting nowhere with this matter," Madguts scoffed. "I still say we just launch a full attack on him and be done with it. Fact facts, none of us have anything of value that would interest the dragon rider enough to strike a deal regarding peace for him to stop the raids,"

"We already agreed that we wouldn't risk what little mercy he shows. Even if we take him down, there is no telling what happens to us. Those dragons listen to him, and I don't want to take the chance that they see us hurt their leader and go all out when we don't know how to control them. I only know one other person who might have given us an advantage in your idea," Stoick sighed.

"Who, Stoick?" Bertha inquired.

"My son," Stoick replied as the leaders exchanged glances softly before looking back at Stoick, "If...Hiccup was still alive, and we went through with the idea to take Drake down, even if the dragons got out of hand without Drake there to control them, Hiccup knew how to stop a raid, and it would have given us the upper hand to have someone who could manage mass amounts of dragons. Unfortunately, my son was murdered three years ago by those dragons, and without him, I'm not willing to agitate the man who has been merciful during the raids if the attack, like so many others before it, fails. And I'm also not going to risk invoking the wrath of those dragons if we capture and kill Drake and then they have nothing holding them back from destroying us. Whether we like it or not, we need Drake alive to control those dragons, and we need to be on his good side, so he doesn't turn them on us," the Berk chief said firmly.

"Neva seen you so hesitant before, Stoick. Yer normally the first one to suggest just rushin' in and fightin' head on. Bein' honest, it's a bit strange to wrap my head around," Alvin chuckled some.

"Something that my son taught me the day I saw him stop a raid with twenty dragons and asked how he did it. All he said was; It was me trying something different. Hiccup was always different growing up, you lads know how he was. I never thought different was good until I saw it stopped an entire attack without the use for battle. So I'm going to take that lesson and use it to stop Drake without force," Stoick informed. Gobber was a little shocked to hear those words come out of Stoick's mouth.

"I'd almost forgotten you were here, Alvin. You haven't said a word since the agreement was made to offer something to Drake as a sign of peace. If you're harping on Stoick about being hesitant, then I gotta ask why you're sitting in silence when typically we can't shut you up. What gives?" Oswald inquired.

"We're trying to make him stop and leave us alone, so why in the name of Odin would you offer him things he'll have to come back every week for!?" Alvin retorted which took them by surprise, "If yer gonna just give him the stuff we're trying to keep him from taking then yew might as well just let him keep raiding us," the man closed his eyes now.

"Well, you haven't offered any suggestions to give this guy. We're using what we got to work with," Colby rolled his eyes.

"Yer problem is that you're thinkin' like leaders," Alvin sighed as he looked at them again seeing their faces turning to some confusion and wanting an explanation. "This isn't an alliance or treaty set up between islands. You aren't gonna get rid of Drake by offering him things he can already steal on his own; it defeats the entire point of making him stop the raids. Stop thinkin' like a chief who wants to protect their Tribe for two seconds and start thinkin' like him, someone who is hated for what he does and isn't wanted or accepted anywhere. What would be the one thing you'd want?"

For a moment, the leaders looked down thinking on it while Alvin closed his eyes waiting. "If it were me, I'd want company," Elvar stated, "The outcast life is lonely because you're by yourself with no one to talk to, ever,"

"So what do you give a lonely outcast that he can't refuse?" Alvin asked calmly.

"Your not making any sense, Alvin. For Odin's sake, if you know what we can give him that would get him to stop his raids, tell us!" Mogadon huffed angrily.

"Still thinkin' like a chief," Alvin shook his head disappointedly then glanced at Stoick when he saw him in deep thought still, "Stoick. I know you understand what I'm sayin'," he added.

"I haven't got a clue what you're talking about," Stoick replied slowly.

"What's one thing you would want?" Alvin said as the others fell quiet looking at Stoick, why was Alvin asking him that? "Come on, Stoick. Think about how it feels to have something taken away and be unable to stop it? What it's like to be alone? Think and tell me what is the one thing you want that would make you happy and do anything to have?" Even Gobber was curious, why would Alvin direct the question to only Stoick and assume that he knew the answer unlike the rest of the leaders?

Stoick's eyes finally widened as Alvin was almost grinning knowing that Stoick understood now, "My wife and son," he breathed out looking at Alvin. "Valka and Hiccup were taken from me; I was unable to stop it both times. And every day is lonely without them. The one thing I want to make me happy and would do anything to have...is my family," Stoick said as the others gasped. That's why Alvin knew Stoick would figure it out because Stoick knew how it felt to be alone. Stoick understood what it felt like have something taken away and be unable to stop it from happening.

"What do you give the guy who loses everything, including his chance to have a family. Drake has mentioned that he hopes we can forgive him when we finally understand why he's doing this. Personal feelin' is that he wants the casting out overturned and allowed to return home," Alvin informed.

"Are you suggesting we figure out who this guy is and allow him back on whatever island he's from?" Bertha blinked.

"Wouldn't be possible, Bertha due to Tribe laws. A Tribe will very rarely overturn a decision regarding that of being cast out or marked a traitor without an act that proves they are worthy of being in the Tribe again. Drake is an outcast and working with the dragon dragons makes him a traitor to Vikings. Even with the fact he controls the dragons, and we're safe, he still sided with them and brought them to not just his but all islands. Every one of us as leaders to our Tribes would have to find him worthy of returning since he has betrayed all of us. And honestly, I don't think there is an act worthy enough to convince us all to overturn both decisions," Thurmond admitted.

"So we've got a guy who can't come back to his island and is lonely by himself. I agree with Madguts; we have nothing to give a guy like that. Foods, fabrics, any of that is not going to come close to something he wouldn't refuse," Elvar sat back in defeat.

Alvin facepalmed and then dragged his hand down showing visible irritation and then he stood up. "For the love of Thor, Drake is a man who likely doesn't leave the place he lives due to being a traitorous outcast which makes he's angry, lonely, and most often bored just sitting around with no other human interaction, so he starts raiding to keep himself busy. It's not that difficult to figure out. Use yer brains and think like the men you are!"

"Excuse me?" Bertha arched a brow.

"Okay, except for her. But the rest you who are men, think about it. If you're a single man; alone, bored, and frustrated then what's the one thing you would want to do? I'd want ta drink or a quick fuck to relax. Those of you that are married; what's the one thing you desire when you get home? Seeing your family during dinner, then show your wives how much you missed them by givin' them a little love." Alvin stated. "Did that make it obvious for you? What do we offer Drake that he can't refuse to get him to stop raiding because he's angry, bored, and lonely? You give him a woman to keep himself busy with," Alvin stood straight again looking at them as their eyes widened.

"Hang on a second, Alvin. This is not the same thing you made me answer. My wife and son were both killed and taken by dragons, and I would do anything to have them. But that's not the same situation as Drake being cast out from his island and then marked a traitor by the rest of us. The guy wants revenge, not a female," Stoick pointed out.

"It might not be the same thing, but it's very similar. Drake was cast out and unable to stop it. Drake was forced away from any family and friends have had. Drake lost everything, now he's alone," Alvin countered as he found the others beginning to give looks that said 'he's right.' "You want my idea? We give him a female as a sign of peace, one he can take under the condition that he never raids us again." Alvin said firmly as Stoick sighed. "I know it sounds like it won't work but see this as I do. No matter what you view him as; dragon rider, outcast, traitor, leader of the dragons. Don't forget that that above anything else, Drake is still a man with desires and needs just like the rest of us."