I feel like it's been AGES since my last update xD But, finally, here it is :D

THE WAR BEGIIIIIIIIINS!

A couple of hours after Little Stoick's birth, we had downstairs and were now sitting around the large wooden table in the centre of the room. Phlegma and Gobber had returned to their homes, and I had just finished telling Astrid and Mom about what happened with Drago a few hours before.

"Why did you agree?!" Astrid exclaimed, holding our son in her arms. Her sudden outburst startled him, so she quickly hushed him back to sleep again.

"I didn't have any choice," I answered. "It was war or get attacked anyway."

"And this is tomorrow?" asked Mom, who had been sitting quietly at one end of the table. I nodded in reply.

"We'll never have enough time!" worried Astrid. Childbirth had obviously shaken her a little.

"No, we won't." Despite having said this, Mom got up calmly from her chair and picked up her staff, that was leaning against the wall. "But we can try." She looked over at me and smiled reassuringly. "There's no time to lose."

We had about thirty hours to get ready for the battle the day after, so indeed, we had no time to lose. Everyone had a job to do.

The villagers of Berk were already tough and talented warriors, but Astrid, Snotlout and the twins still spent hours giving them extra training and teaching them sword-fighting techniques Astrid had either invented or discovered. Although, Astrid mainly sat and gave pointers to the group, instead of moving around.

Mom was simultaneously taking care of Little Stoick and helping those without dragons find one of their own, which left Gobber and I to work in the forge, making as many weapons as we could. Fortunately we had some extra from the Savage incident, but we still needed a lot more.

The preparations continued through half the night, leaving everyone just enough time to get some rest before the battle. Fish were caught, food was stored and dragons were well fed to make sure as little as possible could go wrong.

An hour before midday, we made sure that everyone was ready.

"Lead the way, Skullcrusher," I said to the Rumblehorn, and he immediately took flight towards the south, which was the direction Savage's island was. Everyone quickly mounted their dragons and followed him.

The flight was quiet, with only the flapping of the dragons' wings to break the silence. It was understandable: Drago and Savage were a nasty combo to be fighting against.

Despite me begging her to stay on Berk, Astrid had come as well, with Little Stoick strapped to her chest in a leather pouch lined with fur to keep him warm. She had said that fighting was in her blood, and she couldn't sit around while a war was being fought. She'd feel useless. But the thing that struck me the most was her saying:

"I don't want my son to become fatherless."

This was something I could relate to.

So she had promised to stay near the back and attack from the air, and Mom, seeing that there was no chance of her backing down, had assured me she'd keep them safe. Reluctantly I'd given in.

As Skullcrusher headed south, I had at first thought we were going to Savage's island. But as we arrived there, the Rumblehorn flew to the left of it.

"Where are we going?" I asked out loud, even though he couldn't answer me.

As I asked this, we noticed something in the distance. The ocean – but not as we were used to seeing it as.

Frozen.

From a certain point, it looked like the ocean had completely frozen over, leaving a thick ice platform that could easily take the weight of an army. I gulped, not entirely confident that it would take the weight of two.

Skullcrusher finally landed and, to my surprise, stayed with us. He had obviously seized the chance to escape Drago's tyranny while he could.

Quite a distance away but close enough to be visible, we could see a line of people. Amongst them here and there were a few dragons. Some of them were noticeably dressed in iron armour, due to the reflections that the sun was sending back at us. But strangely, the Bewilderbeast was nowhere to be seen. This made me suspicious.

I quickly analysed the terrain around us. It was practically flat, with a few large shards here and there, which could be useful for shelter. It looked like we were a long way away from land, which meant that if the ice was to break, most of Drago's soldiers wouldn't be able to escape. On the contrary for us, everyone on our side had dragons.

Only a few more minutes until it was at its highest point.

"DO YOU WISH TO SURRENDER?" a voice yelled from their side. It wasn't as clear, because it was so far away, but I figured it must be Savage's. Drago's voice was much more distinct, and Savage was second in command, so it had to be him.

I looked over at Astrid, seeking her advice. I didn't want to put her or the baby in any danger.

But instead of what I was expecting, she gave me a confident nod and a smile, as a true Hofferson would.

"NO CHANCE!" I yelled back.

"VERY WELL."

Mere moments before the sun was in its place.

Axes were gripped, swords were held, shields were strapped to backs and saddles were secured on the dragons. I slipped Inferno out of its pocket and got it ready.

On the other side, a figure standing at the front, obviously Drago, lifted his staff.

I counted down in my head. Three, two, one...

"CHAAAAAAAAAAARGE!"

OK, so, you might be wondering "WHY IS ASTRID ON THE BATTLEFIELD?! SHE HAS A BABY, FOR THOR'S SAKE!"

And it's true that it doesn't appear logical, due to her current state.

But I had to get her on the battlefield somehow for an idea I have for later... MUAHAHAHA!

CLIFFHANGERZZZZ! xD