Author's Note:

Hello all and welcome. This chapter moves onto the next 'arc' as it were, as well as showing a bit more of the roots of future chapters. Thank you all for your continued support and I hope you all enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Chapter 13

Striding jauntily through the village, Snotlout headed for his father's house.

It had been a couple of days since his victory in the archery at the Summer Games and things had improved for him. Many people were still discussing his skill with a bow and had been most impressed, already they were saying he could be the best bowman on Berk and he was finding it very difficult to not let it go to his head. The fact that he was still outclassed in other skills helped with this and acted as a good reminder of how he could still improve, however, it was no longer a case of him being worse than everybody else, he just didn't have their skills.

His revealed skill also caused a bit of a surge in people practicing archery. With Vikings being Vikings, some of the younger teens had set a goal of being as good as or better than him and were practicing the skill beyond their basic lessons. Older warriors had also begun brushing up on their bowmanship (especially those he'd beaten) and it now wasn't unusual to see one or two people practicing on targets when they got a chance. Of course, he'd continued his own training and had no intention of relinquishing his spot as top archer without a fight but the fact people were taking him seriously was great. Unfortunately, his small rant at Spinelout during the feast had caused many Jorgensons to become even colder towards him but he knew that was going to happen, he just let them be and ignored them.

With the events of the Summer Games, he hadn't visited his father for a while so he was on his way to do just that.

He reached the house and entered happily (Mrs Thorston had said he could just come in without knocking), eager to tell his father all about his achievements in the games. He was well aware that his dad might not even hear or register what he said but he thought that maybe hearing about the competition might cause his father to finally recognise him.

His happy mood rapidly evaporated when he saw Mrs Thorston and Gothi just outside his dad's closed door, in the middle of a serious discussion (well…Gothi was writing on the floor).

They both looked his way as he entered and expressions of both fear and pity crossed their faces. He glanced between them, worry rapidly building in his gut, "Has something happened?"

The two women looked at each other briefly and Gothi nodded, Mrs Thorston turned her eyes back to him and sighed, "I'm sorry Snotlout, but afraid it isn't good news."

Hiccup was having one of his rare moments where he was almost considering letting Toothless roast someone alive.

It was a council meeting and while they weren't usually the most enthralling or laid-back things, this one was particularly infuriating or rather, one member was being particularly infuriating.

Spinelout.

He was disagreeing and arguing against everything they were discussing or putting forward and really making things difficult. Now, fifteen years ago, Snotlout had been prone to arguing but he usually agreed if it was actually something he was happy with, Hiccup usually picked the choice the boy didn't like, hence the arguing. Spitelout, when he'd been on the council, had also often argued against his ideas but Hiccup had got the feeling it was actually the man's way of trying to help him be a better chief, by giving challenges and forcing him to be firm and assertive. Spinelout however, seemed to be arguing just for the sake of arguing or to try and undermine his authority.

Hiccup had long since realised that the man wanted more power in the tribe for both himself and his clan and had done what he could to block the Jorgenson's attempts. However, it seemed that Spinelout has started to push harder and Hiccup was certain it was because of the way Snotlout stood up to him at the feast.

While Hiccup was fully behind the boy it did cause a slight shift in things.

With Snotlout's return, he was now heir to the Jorgenson clan, making Spinelout something of a steward until the teen hit twenty-one. This had altered everything since Spinelout went from full clan head to temporary clan head, placing his position in jeopardy. He now had a limited timeframe in which to push for power for his clan and when Snotlout took over, he'd lose his seat on the council and the position it brought. This was the reason for the Jorgensons' treatment of Snotlout, they liked Spinelout and his attempts to increase their influence over Berk and they were certain that Snotlout wouldn't continue them. Perhaps they thought that continually putting him down would cause him to give up his birth right. Then Snotlout basically stated that he had no connection to most of his clan except for his name, effectively confirming that his intentions were not the same as Spinelout's at all.

And it was the topic of Snotlout's birth right that the man was arguing so intently against.

"It's not going to change Spinelout. Snotlout is Spitelout's heir and blood descendent of Jorgen, he is the Jorgenson's future clan head by your clan's own traditions!"

Spinelout scowled at Hiccup's words, "But he has all but stated that he wants no connection with my clan whatsoever!"

"And perhaps that is exactly what he needs to do!" Agar Hofferson folded his arms, "It remains a fact that he is one of very few that actually has Jorgen's blood, the rest of your clan are, truthfully, very distant from your clan founder. Possibly in more ways than one."

"And what do you mean by that!" Spinelout slammed his hand down aggressively.

"He means that you're distant from Jorgen in your attitudes as well." The man snapped his gaze upon Fishlegs but the Ingerman kept his cool and continued in a level voice, "From what we've discovered in researching Jorgen over the years, the morals and goals of the Jorgenson clan are very different from Jorgen's morals and goals, and not in a good way. At the moment, Snotlout is rapidly becoming more like his ancestor in terms of how he acts and responds, I think that'll make him a positive influence upon your clan."

"Well I certainly agree with that one." Gobber added, "Ever since he returned, the lad's become much more aware of how his actions affect things and how to take responsibility, I'd say that's a pretty good sign of how he's going to be."

"But he's…"

"That's enough Spinelout!" Hiccup's stern voice cut across the man's words and the chief fixed the Jorgenson with a steady gaze, "Many people have said how much better Snotlout has been ever since he returned, in fact, he's already a far cry from the irresponsible, arrogant person he was fifteen years ago. There is nothing against him that will prevent him from claiming his birth right so he will become head of the Jorgenson clan when he turns twenty-one."

In the silence that followed his words, he glanced around the table, "Now, this meeting has already lasted far longer than it should've done so if there is no other business to discuss we can finish."

Nothing else was said so he spoke with a voice of finality, "Good, meeting adjourned."

Spinelout shot to his feet and stomped out of the hall while the rest rolled their eyes and followed at a more reasonable pace, muttering about him as they did so. Soon, it was just Hiccup, Fishlegs and Gobber left and the chief slumped in his seat with a sigh, "Well, that was a battle and a half."

Gobber patted his shoulder consolingly, "Don't let Spinelout get to you, he's just a thick-headed Jorgenson."

"But he does seem to be getting worse." Fishlegs said worriedly, "If it keeps up like this, he might try something a bit more extreme to get his way."

Hiccup pinched the bridge of his nose, "That's what I'm concerned about. Snotlout won't be twenty-one anytime soon, leaving Spinelout as clan head, and the Jorgensons are getting more pushy and difficult as time goes by. Ever since Spitelout became sick, they've slowly gotten worse and worse."

Fishlegs frowned, "I guess we never really appreciated how well he kept them in check."

Gobber nodded sagely, "Aye, he kept them well reigned in. For all his faults, Spitelout would never deliberately do something he knew would harm Berk as a whole, I'm not so sure about Spinelout though."

Hiccup sighed, "I fear what will happen when we finally lose Spitelout."

Mrs Thorston and told Snotlout everything Gothi had told her, that what the ancient healer had feared had finally happened.

Spitelout had deteriorated dramatically.

Gothi had always said that it would happen at some point, Spitelout wasn't going to get better and eventually the illness was going to win, she just didn't know when it would happen. The man had gone from being reasonably stable to almost comatose, only waking very occasionally and not for very long. It was the beginning of the end and it was now only a matter of time before he left for Valhalla.

Snotlout sat at his father's bedside, not sure what to do.

Just when everything seemed to be looking up again, this happened and despite the illogic of it, he couldn't help but feel guilty about not being there when it did. While he'd hated seeing his father so blank and unlike himself, at least he'd been awake and likely to still be living the next day. Now though, there was a chance he could slip away at any time.

Tentatively, Snotlout rested his head on his father's bed, speaking quietly, "I don't want you to go dad."

Much, much later that night, Eret gently knocked on the door to the house.

Mrs Thorston softly opened it and gave him a sad smile, "I was just about to send for you."

He padded past her into the house as she kept speaking quietly, "He's just in with his father. The poor boy didn't want to leave and fell asleep right where he was. I didn't want to wake him but I think its best if he goes home and sleeps in a proper bed."

Eret nodded at the bedroom door sadly, "I'm not surprised, it's got to be difficult for him now."

She glanced at the closed door, "It's just the way it happened right at the worst possible time, Snotlout has only really just readjusted and started doing well."

The man smiled, "He'll pull through." He frowned sadly, "Though he'll probably be here right till the end."

The woman closed her eyes, "I know."

She slowly pushed the bedroom door open and Eret tiptoed through to find Snotlout sound asleep at his father's bedside. Carefully, he lifted the boy into his arms, trying his best not to wake him and shuffled back out the room. The teen stirred and shifted about but didn't wake and Eret was glad he had enough strength to manage the boy's weight.

Mrs Thorston looked into the room thoughtfully, "Its big enough for us to put another bed in tomorrow, that way Snotlout won't have to leave his father's side if he doesn't want to."

"I'll speak to Hiccup about it first thing." Eret glanced down at the teen in his arms, "But for now, I should take him back home."

With a nod of silent thanks, he carefully left the house and headed back towards home. He looked down at the boy in his arms, whose face was filled with sorrow, even in sleep, and sighed.

It was going to be a long, hard few days for Snotlout.

PS-So things in the village aren't exactly rosy. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.