Berk, meet Hiccup
If Astrid thought explaining to Valka why Hiccup had to go to Berk was hard, explaining to Stoick why the Dragon Rider is here to help was a close equivalent. She had imagined that she would have Hiccup sitting beside her as she explained the epic tale of his circumstances as he nodded sheepishly.
Nope.
Hiccup had disappeared as quickly as he had appeared on Berk, wisely making himself scarce until he knew it was safe for him and the dragons. She sat alone in a dark Great Hall with the Council of Elders around her, her parents, and Stoick. They murmured amongst themselves, pausing every so often to glance at her as if they could not believe she was here, alive and breathing. And that she acted like she knew more about the Dragon Rider than they did. Stoick finally cleared his throat, silencing all. "Astrid, first...let me tell ye how glad we all are that you are alright. Before we speak about the Dragon Rider, I'd like to know what happened to the ship." Astrid nodded, clearing her own throat.
"We were sailing through Loki's Lair one night, on our way to the Meatheads Tribe when we were ambushed by Berserkers." A few hushed whispers echoed into the air once she said that. Stoick stiffened. The Berserkers attacked his ship? He glared at the air, somehow he did not put it past Dagur to do something so...deranged.
But why, Stoick wondered. Dagur was well aware of the treaty that all the tribes agreed to. Often, many thought it was by that treaty alone that kept Dagur from waging war against the entire archipelago.
"I was knocked unconscious and left alone, I guess they thought I was dead, and they slaughtered everyone before leaving the ship to rot. I don't remember how long I was out, but during that time, someone saved me." They all leaned in.
"Who, Dear?" Ingrid sat closest to her daughter, who looked her straight in the eye.
"The Dragon Rider." Those three words sent everyone into a frenzy, claiming that he was a demon who would never save her and that the lass must of hit her head. Stoick pounded his fist on the table and demanded silence.
"Go on, Astrid."
"He found the ship when he was out hunting and searched it. He found me immediately and took me to his home...a nest." Stoick stood.
"So you have been to the nest."
"Not the nest, a nest. There are hundreds of them out there, all of different sizes. The one that's been attacking us is near Helheim's Gate, as you already know. Anyway, he took me back to his nest and nursed me back to health." Ingrid stared.
"And yer still alive? The dragons didn't touch ye?"
"No, actually...the dragons that have been attacking Berk and all the other tribes are being controlled. Like I said, it's basically a beehive. The Queen sends out dragons to raid villages and bring back food, if not then...she eats them. The dragons at the Dragon Rider's nest are different. They're healthier...happier...friendlier, even." Ingrid stared. "Anyway, he took me back and nursed me back to health...and well, he taught me more about dragons, more things that were in the Book of Dragons or Bork's journals. He knows about what's happening on Berk and he's offered to help us."
"And help us how?"
"He'll lead Berk to the nest at Helheim's Gate." A collective gasp sounded as Stoick tensed.
"He knows the way." Astrid nodded.
"He's been there before and knows what to expect, he's willing to show us how to get there, but..."
"And there it is," Spitelout snarled, "what does he want? Berk to pledge allegiance to him? All our women? Gold?"
"No, none of that...vikings can't take the Queen on alone, it'll crush us before we take two steps into the nest. But not only is he willing to lead us to the nest, he's also willing to teach a group of vikings to ride dragons." And now, shouting. Astrid sighed, it was expected that people would object. Dragons had been their enemies for centuries, it was not like that went away over night. If it didn't for her, then it definitely did not for them.
"Quiet, I said! Astrid, that idea is ludicrous. You're asking us to side with beasts that have killed hundreds of us."
"We've killed thousands of them, Chief! They do what we do, they protect themselves and those they love. Listen, at the rate this war is going, we won't last another hundred years or maybe even another ten. But we do have a common enemy. If we take out the Queen, the dragons at that nest will stop raiding us." She sighed. "If we keep trying to kill them, we'll only make it worse and, I don't know about you, but I'd like to live in a world that doesn't demand that I kill every moving thing." Stoick shook his head.
"It's just...so surprising to hear this from you."
"But it's not the first time you've heard it, is it?" He leveled her with a stare, but she stood her ground. His glare was similar to Toothless' glare whenever someone tries to take his fish. "That's another thing, Chief, he's not just the Dragon Rider...he's your son."
The morning came and went with little incident. Over the hours, the incessant call of the Dragon Queen lessened from a screech to a soft grumble and their headaches became nonexistent. Hiccup had awoken for a brief time to relieve himself and snack on the remaining fish he had on his person before curling up with Toothless and falling back into a blissful slumber. Stormfly awoke with a yawn and a need for food, so she was gone when he finally woke up in the mid-afternoon to the sound of vikings arguing and walking noisily through the woods. Toothless was now wide awake as well, grumbling about noisy humans and how he wished he was back at the Nest. Since it would be getting dark soon, Hiccup felt more at ease with moving about.
Toothless, though, was bigger and slightly easier to spot when not in the skies. So, said dragon crept out of the tree and scaled the walls into a snug cave that was barely big enough to fit him, let alone him and Hiccup. He growled at Hiccup to hide, but Hiccup snapped his jaw.
Nope.
Curious Hiccup has made a triumphant return over Cautious Hiccup.
Said feral boy quickly made his way up the wall, through a tunnel, and into the brush faster than one could bat an eyelash. It took little to no time for him to find the group and, with the noise they were making, he could have walked beside them and not been noticed. There were five of them, on of which was his mate. He fought to suppress a croon of happiness.
She was safe.
He had felt so bad about leaving her, but Hiccup also knew that this was her home and they wouldn't hurt her.
But still...
The others were large and older, reminding Hiccup of rumblehorns. The males had beards while the female, looking very similar to Sky Eyes, had her blonde hair in two thick braids. They stood above Sky Eyes with axes and swords and maces strapped to their bodies like extra limbs. One had a blonde braided beard that went down to the bottom of his stomach and smelled pretty badly, if Hiccup had anything to say about him. His right leg was replaced with a wooden stick and his left hand was replaced with a hook. He spoke animatedly and jokingly. The man beside him was monstrous in size, standing proudly with his shoulders back and his beard fluffed out like blood red storm clouds. He crossed his meaty arms and stared stoically ahead, occasionally speaking. The man behind Sky Eyes reminded him of Speaks Like Fool and, as Hiccup visibly grimaced, that must mean he was his father. Hiccup sighed, sadly. They were practically spitting images of each other, aside from the fact that he had a scar over his left eye and a black scraggly beard. The two beside him looked similar to Sky Eyes. The male had a shorter beard that was braided as well, but unlike Smells of Rot (the male with a hook), his was a single braid. He had Sky Eyes nose and walked with a determined purpose, pulling Sky Eyes closer when he thought she was going to veer off too far (which prompted both Sky Eyes and Mother of Sky to snap at him for being overprotective). Mother of Sky Eyes wore armor like her daughter, but was bulkier and had two axes aside from the one that Sky Eyes carried.
"Astrid, we've been walking for hours and not a sign of this Dragon Rider. He's probably halfway off Midgard by now."
"No, he's here. I told you, he's probably asleep. Otherwise, he would've sought me out."
"And why is that? And while I'm asking this, how are ye so sure he's Stoick's boy? Everyone knows that Valka and Hiccup were carried off and never seen again. Are ye telling me that all these years, they've been alive."
"...Basically..."
"That's a load of dragon dung, if I ever heard of it." He decided to call this one...Speaks like Pest. His words grated against Hiccup and he could tell that Sky Eyes was getting agitated too. Mother of Sky snarled at him.
"I don't care if ye think this is coming straight from Loki's mouth! I'll not another word about it...now, Dear, it is getting late. We'd better call it a day and head back."
"We can't. He sleeps during the day and we definitely won't find him then. At least when it starts to get dark, he'll be awake."
"And another thing, what if he doesn't want to be found?"
"What would be the point of him coming here if he didn't want to talk to you?" Astrid sighed, this was getting nowhere. "Look, he's probably awake now and hunting. If we just keep an eye out, we'll find him." Eventually. Normally, Astrid would just call out Hiccup's dragon name, but with everyone around, she wanted to keep the freak outs to a minimum. But if Hiccup decided that this was just not worth it, would he leave her here and return home? Or maybe go to the nest on his own and take on the queen...or may-
A slight rustling in the trees above alerted Astrid to the fact that Hiccup had not left and was not sleep.
Hiccup was right above her. She stared into the dark shadows of the leaves and trees and caught a glimpse of bright green eyes boring down at her, smiling in their own way. She pouted, glad to see him, but not letting him off the hook. "So, lemme guess...you've been following us for how long now?"
He made a huffing sound.
"Uh huh...did you have fun watching me worry about you?"
"...Fun yes yes?"
"Fun no no." The adults in their group stared up trying to pinpoint where he was. Hiccup, of course, was having none of that and slipped farther back, into the shadows. "Hiccup, I brought them here to speak with you. They're...willing to try our idea..." He purred.
"...no danger no yes maybe...?" She nodded and he purred against. "Sky Eyes safe yes no maybe?"
"I'm fine, Hiccup...come on, they won't hurt you." He huffed and disappeared, making sure they heard where he was going. "Ugh, I guess we're following him then." The group of vikings hiked their way after Astrid, who kept her eyes on the branches above them as they shook in the slightest, giving signs to where Hiccup was headed. She went this way and that, with Spitelout demanding where they were going and Gobber asking how she knew what he was saying. Finally, he appeared briefly.
To the vikings, he was scrawny, standing at only five foot nine, perhaps even just six feet. His hair was unruly and reddish brown and had a few single braids (courtesy of Astrid). He still wore the same black armor, aiding in his ability to hide in plain sight. He glanced back at Astrid, crooned, and disappeared into a tunnel above them. Astrid looked ahead and saw the cave allowing her to enter as well. The group followed hesitantly, expecting to come upon some sort of horror when they got to the other side. All they found was an empty cove with the sun beginning to cross to its final position before it set. Many in the village had stumbled upon this cove before, but it was so far from the village and such a trial to get to that many also rarely visited. That must have proved a great asset to anyone or anything seeking to hide on Berk, if the grooming Deadly Nadder was any indication. "Stormfly!" Said dragon was immediately up and running to Astrid, scooping her up and carrying her away from the other vikings before they could even reach for their weapons.
Which were missing.
HOW?!
"What in the-where the Hel is my mace!?" Even Gobber's hook was missing, much to his chagrin. Astrid freed herself from her nadder's incessant grooming and made her way back. "What is going on?!"
"I guess Hiccup wanted you to know where to find him." At that, Hiccup appeared, carrying all their weapons and throwing them on the ground before sitting and examining each one with a curious eye. Stoick stared at him as he did his inspection, his heart slowing down. He stared at this boy, his mind racing. Could he actually be...his son?
When he thought of how Hiccup would have looked before, he imagined a boy much like himself. Big and bulky, able to rip his enemies in half and subdue storms. He imagined him wrestling with Snotlout and sweeping Ruffnut and Astrid off their feet at the same time. This boy did not look like that at all. He looked like he would rather sit beside Fishlegs and read than set sail out to sea and conquer. He looked like...he was a runt.
But then again, so had Valka. Valka had been the runt of their generation and when Hiccup was born, he obviously followed that trait. His hands moved slowly, tracing the outlines and intricacies of their weapons, like they fascinated him. He shook his head, much like Valka had when she was focused on something and wanted her hair out of her way. He gingerly put down on mace and began looking at Ingrid's axes. He scrunched up his nose, like Valka did when she concentrated, and snorted.
Oh Thor Almighty...
"Ye like that one, eh?" Gobber got his attention and the boy looked their way, focusing on his best friend. "Made those the day Astrid was born as a gift. Had to get Johann to travel all the way to the other side of Midgard just to get the right wood and everything." Hiccup blinked and then, in an event that hit Stoick harder in the stomach than the tail end of a Gronkle, he smiled.
He smiled Valka's smile.
Okay, I know that I had brought out that just hearing from Astrid that Hiccup is Stoick's son is not a good enough testimony to prove that Hiccup really is...well, Hiccup. But here's the thing...
I COULD NOT THINK OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROVE THAT IN THE VIKING TIME PERIOD.
AT ALL.
I mean, nowadays you just go get a paternity test and BOOM! You ARE the father.
Not so much in the viking days. I considered using the stuffed dragon Valka made Hiccup and the blanket as proof, but that is basically the same thing as just saying "yeah, Stoick, guess who did not die? Your son. (and wife but right now we won't mention that)."
Then it hit me while I was in a pretzel induced hallucination (long story), VALKA. It always come back to her. Stoick loved Valka so much, that he would remember every little thing he found adorable (and adorably annoying). And in this story, Valka raised Hiccup on her own. So that would mean that a lot of what Valka does (scrunching up her nose, shaking her hair, etc) would be picked up by Hiccup, who watched her constantly and learned to do the same.
He does these things enough in Stoick's presence, with the added impact of having Valka's smile and looking like a scrawny mix of Valka and Stoick and I got my proof...
...
...
LOOK, IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE OKAY!?