Decisions.

Toothless lazily flew just behind Stormfly, in that half-flying, half-gliding method dragons use that eats the miles and saves strength.

They had been flying for some time, and the setting sun told Hiccup they should settle down somewhere soon. He was about to draw up to Astrid and remind her when she broke to a downward angle to a relatively small island up ahead.

Hiccup nudged Toothless to follow, and the Night Fury lowered in a wide spiral, keeping an eye on the Nadder as Astrid scouted for a likely spot.

Stormfly landed at the top of a wide beach, bordered by tall trees. Toothless glided in behind her.

Hiccup slid down and walked up to where she was looking through the edge of the woods.

Astrid waved him on. "This looks good." She went through the tree line.

They came out in a clearing. They looked around.

"Not bad." Astrid commented. "Surrounded by cliffs on two sides. Almost a cave over there. We can do this."

Hiccup thought it made a fair camp. "I'll start getting some wood."

Astrid led the dragons back to the clearing while Hiccup gathered branches. When he came back with an armload, he saw there was already a medium-sized stack of wood. Putting his on top, he looked around to see Stormfly walking up, head held high, carrying several large log pieces.

"You taught her to fetch wood." He was surprised.

Astrid looked up from the pack she had removed from the Nadder's back. "Well, you were out of it for over a week. I had to have something to do." Besides worry myself sick.

"Everybody trained their dragons to do stuff like this?"

"Right. Sure. Snotlout and Hookfang are still trying to find out who's boss, the twins practice blowing up stuff too much, and Fishlegs is pampering Meatlug to the point I'm expecting a betrothal announcement any day now."

"So you're saying everything's still pretty much normal." Fishlegs always did have an almost unnatural thing for dragons.

Astrid looked up. "As normal as we can be with dragons. How about getting a fire started." She began unstrapping the bundle from Toothless.

Hiccup carried or drug stones over to a rocky area, and put them in a circle. Then he placed the wood. He looked over to Toothless. "Hey Bud, care to help?" He pointed to the wood. Toothless sauntered over and blew a small purple wuff into the pile. Warmth and light spread out against the darkening sky.

Hiccup sat down on a nearby rock. Astrid was finishing the second tent now, and, throwing down the hammer, brought one of the satchels over by the fire. Somewhere during Hiccup building the fire pit, someone, probably a dragon, had placed a log for sitting nearby. He massaged the area just below the knee where the wood cup joined.

She sat down, opening the pack. "How's the leg?"

Hiccup shrugged. "Okay. Not that much walking today."

"Want to talk about it?"

"My leg? Why?"

Astrid put down the packet of dried yak she had pulled out of the pack. "That doesn't happen every day. And you… you're…"

"Me?"

"That's not the way I meant it."

Hiccup looked at her. She showed worry, and a bit of sadness. "Don't worry. Maybe it hasn't been long enough to sink in. I'm okay." He reached down and patted the metal. "This is just another thing to deal with."

"Don't say it like that."

"Then how am I supposed to say it?"

Astrid sighed. "Like it's not just another kick in the face like the whole village has been giving you your whole life." She sat the packet down. "I don't… know how to even… say we're sorry for everything. Words just don't… mean enough."

She smiled a bit. "Does it help to say it'll get better?"

Hiccup smiled back. "It already has. Dad tried to get me thrown into a pit of dragons."

"What?" Astrid's face was frozen in shock.

Hiccup laughed. He really laughed, for the first time since he met Toothless. Her face was priceless! "Let me explain!" He told her about his talk with Stoick and the punishments the old Chief's had given out.

"So you see, he never did that before. Nobody ever did. He had faith in me, Astrid. He trusted me enough that he felt I could fix it." Astrid noticed he sat up a bit straighter.

Could his problem this whole time just been confidence?

"Well, could you have?"

"Possibly. Depends on the dragons."

"Your dad's a lot different now. We all are." She patted the log. "Plenty of room here near the fire."

Hiccup walked over and sat down on the other side of her than the spot she picked, putting the pack between them. Astrid noticed this.

"I won't bite."

"I'm not so sure after this morning. And that axe is pretty close."

Astrid sat up straight, hands on her knees, staring at the fire. "Okay, let's talk about that. We need to."

"Astrid… I… I didn't have anything to do with that. Dad and your… mom-"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Hiccup was flustered. "Huh?"

"Are you sorry they did it? Do you want out? Is there someone else? You better tell me now." She still stared straight at the fire. She wanted the truth from his own mouth.

He sighed. "It's just that with people telling me I could pick who I wanted, you'd be mad if… if it was you."

"So now I'm supposed to be mad. Am I supposed to be disappointed, too?"

"It's just that being stuck with me-"

"Hiccup, listen to me good. I don't look at it like that. Tell me the truth."

He collapsed on himself. "No. No, I'm not sorry. I couldn't imagine anything better in my entire life. Someone else? Get real. I never imagined anybody at all wanting me, much less… you."

He stared at the side of her face. "Nothing in my life ever scared me as much as you falling off Stormfly during the battle. Nothing. Not even fighting it. Not even…" His voice trailed off.

She couldn't take any more. She stared back into his eyes. "Then there's nothing more to say about it. You are stuck with me, and that's that."

He smiled, bigger this time. "Could we take some time to get to know each other before we get married?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Okay, I'll agree we need some time. But with our parent's attitude, they'll have us married next summer."

"I think we can have some time."

"How's that?"

Hiccup explained. "In the Great Hall, dad was telling me about all the women, and the families that gave him marriage offers. One of them was Phlegma."

"Phlegma the Fierce? Her oldest daughter's like, what? Ten?"

Hiccup nodded. "Yep. Scared me half to death. I didn't know if I was going to be a husband or a babysitter. But then he told me about the customs around betrothal."

"Which are?"

"Well, sometimes families make agreements while the kids are still being carried around in baskets. Alliances, political reasons… whatever. Dad says that a betrothal… an official one… can last years before anyone's expected to get married."

"But we're not ten."

"I'll bet we can find a way, though."

Astrid looked at him closely. "Is this some kind of noble way of saying you don't want to marry me?"

He shook his head. "No way. I just thought we should talk some first. I've never been close to a girl before. I just know I'm going to mess this up like everything else." He raised his arms. "Hel, I don't even know how to talk to you, much less any of that marriage stuff."

Astrid's heart melted at that. He still assumed he would screw it up. "We'll work everything out. If not… I've still got my axe."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Still doesn't help the real problem, though."

"After my last couple of weeks, could you finally tell me what the real problem is, then?"

"My father, and his being so greedy." She looked down. "Hiccup, I'm really sorry about that. It's not me."

He sighed. "I know. And I don't care about the money. I just hate to see you put up like a yak for auction."

She looked sideways at him. "Happens all the time. You've seen it."

"But it wasn't… you. You're too good for that. And you still got shackled to me."

She was surprised to hear bitterness in his voice. "But, Hiccup… that means I won."

He looked at her with lowered eyebrows. "Huh?"

She smiled. "Look at it from my side for a second. Dad was going to make sure I married someone. You're cuter than Tuff, and you're at least as smart as Fish. So I won. Ruff loses, no matter who she picks."

"You left out Snotlout."

"For Odin's sake, don't remind me. He'll make a fine husband, I'm sure. Probably to a girl from a village far away enough that they haven't heard of him. Maybe a deaf one with no sense of smell."

Hiccup thought a minute. "So you're happy that you got the least nauseating one of us, is that it?"

"Hiccup! Stop trying to twist everything I say around."

"Sorry. I'm just not used to being…" He got quiet.

"Liked? Worshiped? Chased by women?"

"More like tolerated."

She looked at him closely. She tried to imagine his last few years. The crazy inventions, odd behavior, all his reading and writing…

"You learned to like being alone, didn't you?"

He shrugged. "It made things easier." He looked back at her. "You know what really bothers me now?"

She shook her head slightly.

"Dad actually asked me to look over Fishlegs notes he made about using dragons to defend Berk. He says he wants to make sure I approve of them." He looked back to the fire. "I used to be a nobody. Now people think I'm Midgard's greatest expert on dragons."

"Well, you are."

He shook his head. "I think I'm just lucky. Most of what I did should have killed me. But now… I'm going to be responsible for everyone. I could screw this up so easy."

Astrid slid over, and reached across the pack to grab his hand. "But you won't. You'll complain, and then you'll think, and then right at the last moment… Bang! Idea."

She shook his arm to get his attention. "Remember the battle? You gave orders like a Chief. Everybody had a job, and you knew just who did what."

"That's an awful lot to stake everybody's life on."

He looked into her eyes. "The other night, when you asked me why I liked you. Now it's your turn."

She started. "Huh?" He changed course as fast as Loki.

"Why me? It can't just be all of the barely contained raw Vikingness."

She frowned. "Some of it… I don't know… I just don't have words for." She looked at the fire. "But you care about everyone. Not just people, but dragons… and, who knows what else. You have more courage than anyone I know."

Then she smiled. "And you like flying. You proved me wrong about so many things, and for a while I thought I hated you for it. But it was really just me fighting something new. I don't want to do that anymore."

She winked. "I wanted adventure and danger. Now I know that if I want them, all I have to do is stick around you. Aaaannnnnnd, you just happen to really be the cutest of the bunch. So a double win for me."

She watched him visibly relax a bit.

She reached over and put a hand on his knee. The left one. He flinched badly.

"Stop that, Hiccup. It can't bother me. You're going to have to get over that."

She squeezed his knee, and then reached for the pack. "It's getting late, and I'm hungry from all this talk." She handed him one of the water skins. "Go easy on this until we find a spring or something." She unwrapped some dried yak.

She handed him a chunk of yak. "Well, eat up, we've got a busy day tomorrow." She chewed on a piece.

"Doing what?"

She grabbed for the water to wash down the tough-as-boot-leather dried meat. "Um. Good point. I guess I'm just used to saying that."

The tents were near the fire. Toothless and Stormfly were having fun with it. As they wrapped themselves up in the blankets and fur, Hiccup's question, in a sound of almost desperation, still echoed in her head.

Why me?

That boy is going to need some work.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Camicazi walked down the rocky beach watching the sun go down. She didn't want to go against her mother, but she didn't like this plan. Hiccup was kind, and courteous to people. These were traits she didn't see in a lot of people here. She didn't think it was right to hurt him, not after his life.

She sighed. What about her mother's question? Did she have any feelings for him? Even that went against part of the Bog-Burglars' creed. Most of the warriors were women. They were as tough, as skilled, and as rude as any men. When they wanted babies, they simply went to some port and found a good man for a few days.

Needless to say, they weren't too big on long relationships, or domestic qualities. There were very few marriages here.

Most of the boys grew up and moved to other tribes. The Chief made sure they were schooled, well trained, well outfitted, and ready for life. A few girls went to other islands, but most stayed here.

There were some men here. Skilled labor, like blacksmiths or shipwrights, were mostly men. A few women were bakers, carpenters, and such. Anyone with the skill could be a healer. But only a truly skilled man would be tolerated by the women as a warrior.

She smiled. Occasionally, some young man would get off a ship, thinking to be the rooster in the henhouse with a company of women fighters. They were soon sent packing, their self-importance deflated. Most got to keep all their… appendages.

So she didn't think of marriage much. She knew someday she would have an heir. And if it was a boy, well, she was expected to keep trying.

But Hiccup… now, that boy wasn't your everyday Viking, was he? Maybe with a little training, though…

She shook her head. What was she thinking? Hiccup couldn't live here. She couldn't live there, either.

And what about the dragons? She had no idea what a Night Fury looked like, only Johann's description and crude drawing. If Hiccup could control such an animal, that would make him worthy to have anyone.

Even the Bog-Burglars future Chief. But she would have to convince him first. What would be the best way, she wondered? Her mother's ideas seemed pretty mean, but could there be a nicer way?

And why does she care about that?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ruffnut sat on a rock in the clearing. She had been there a few hours. The pounding in her head had dulled to a light tapping. She felt she might almost be hungry. So she was only mildly worried when Sif came out from behind a tree.

"So. You're alone. The girl must be dead, then."

Ruffnut shook her head… carefully. "No, but I couldn't stop it. She and Hiccup were sent off from Berk this morning."

Sif looked confused. "Sent off? On a trip?"

Ruffnut stood up. "No. They got themselves banished."

"What!?"

Ruffnut put her hands up and stepped back. "Not forever! Just a week or so. Something about a few dragon haters making some trouble."

Sif relaxed a bit. "That's better. Where did they go, then?"

Ruffnut shrugged. "Beats me. They just took their gear and left." She looked around, checking the sun. She pointed. "That way, I think. Nobody knows."

Sif thought a moment. "This makes things a bit difficult."

Ruffnut looked at her. "What's the big deal? Just use your God powers to find them. You can do all that other stuff, right?"

Sif frowned. "It's not so easy. We aren't supposed to be hanging around Midgard too much. And Odin's scrying magic is guarded."

Ruffnut backed up a few steps. "Now wait a minute. Wait just one minute, here. Finding Astrid is one thing, but I'm not getting Gods mad at me now."

"Yet you'd risk my anger?"

"Yeah, but you're not a Goddess, remember? You're an Aasgardian that married a Demi-God. I got a memory."

"Close enough for you, young one."

Ruffnut sighed. What had she gotten mixed up in this time? "Okay. If anybody at all had a hint where they went, it would be the Chief. I can talk to him. But she'll be back in five days anyway."

Sif nodded. "It might could wait. I really just wanted to warn her."

"Warn her? About what? Trouble? She's out there alone with Hiccup!"

"Then she is not alone."

"Well, you don't know Hiccup, do you?" Then she thought about it. "Wait. I forget. They've got Toothless and Stormfly with them."

"Ah, then the four of them could handle themselves?"

"Especially since two of them are dragons!"

"Wait. They travel with these beasts? They stay with them? All the time?"

"Sure. You should see Fishlegs and his Gronckle. He made his bed bigger for her. And Toothless never gets too far away from Hiccup."

Sif frowned. "That could make things difficult."

"So I go talk to the Chief?"

Sif thought. "All right. But I'm coming with you."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Kara, I trust you more than anyone. Why hasn't this been done?"

Freya was angry. She didn't mean to take it out on Kara, but she happened to be the one in charge of this.

Kara raised her hands in confusion. "I don't know! The horses don't seem to be able to find him. Or get anywhere near him." She leaned on the table across from Freya. "We knew exactly where he was on that island the day he fell. But that night, something protected him. Since then, we've been searching to no avail. And I don't get why, since the horses can find any mortal on command."

Freya thought on this. Any mortal. But this boy carries the blood of Aasgard. Could that be something important here?

The flying horses of Aasgard… Created thousands of years ago by Odin's father, for the Valkyries to gather the souls of the slain for Valhalla. They never tire, are totally fearless, completely loyal to their riders… and unable to find one boy on an island? What is going on here?

Freya looked up. Badgering Kara won't help this. Kara has been her second-in-command of the Valkyries for centuries. She knows this action can break Odin's law, but yet she is still faithful to her.

"Very well, Kara, but keep trying. I need to know at least where he is. Perhaps other events can be arranged."

She waved her away. Kara left to return to the search.

It looks like I will have to do this myself.

Kara left the office biting her lip in frustration. She did not like to bring Freya bad news. Ever. And not just out of fear for her anger, which was legendary.

-Kara, the troll-faced, short, stout little girl. She had few friends growing up. She became tough on the inside… and the outside. Taking the vows of a shield-maiden, she became the best in her tribe, and proved herself in battle a hundred times over. She never had a man problem, since none would approach her. From the taunts and insults as children to being ignored as a woman, she had let that hate fester into an anger and skill that made some warriors drop their swords and run when faced by her.

But as fate will catch up with everyone, she was finally bested in battle. She had been accepted into the Great Halls of Valhalla. Freya had come to her there, praised her, and offered her the chance to be one of her Valkyries. She had leaped at that chance.

She looked in one of the large mirrors in the hallway. What reflected back at her was not the same Kara of Midgard. She was tall, beautiful, and graceful. Yet she still kept all of her fighting skills. Donning the red corset of Freya's company had bestowed upon her the gifts of eternal youth and beauty all Valkyries receive. And she liked it.

She loved Freya with all her heart. And if Freya wanted this boy dead, she would make sure it happened. But how?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Gothi was at her work table, where she made her potions, balms, and other healing mixtures. Again she sniffed the goblet, and yet again, the pungent odor caused her to draw back quickly. She had been studying this to satisfy her curiosity, and flustered at her findings. And so few things flustered her after all this time.

She picked up a small, flat piece of metal she used to cut and mix ingredients. There was a thick layer of some strange substance in this goblet, the source of the smell. Carefully, she worked the tool around the inside, breaking loose flakes of whatever it had contained.

Eventually, on a piece of parchment, she had a small pile of the noxious stuff. She walked over to the cauldron boiling on the fire, and scooped some water into the goblet. Then she dumped the powder into the goblet, and stirred it with a spoon.

She watched the water begin to give a light blue glow. Putting down the spoon, she held the goblet in both hands, soundlessly muttered a prayer to Loki, and drank.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The sun was getting rather low as Ruffnut and Sif approached the village. Sif began to feel uneasy. She began walking slower. Each step began to feel as if some weight was pushing her back. She began breathing heavier as she forced herself to go forward a few more steps. Finally she stopped. She leaned over, hands on her knees panting heavily.

Ruffnut was a few steps ahead, looking back and watching. "What's wrong?" She walked back to stand in front of the woman. "Wow. Your face is red. Are you okay?"

Sif shook her head. "Loki was right."

Ruffnut's eyebrows went up. "Loki, now? Anybody else I should know about?" She was getting more scared as more dangerous names started flying around.

Sif tried to smile. "A few. Nothing to worry about." She took several steps backwards. The pressure eased slightly. "I can't do this." She turned and walked away from the village.

Ruffnut trailed behind her. "What is it? You're allergic to Vikings? No, wait. I'm a Viking. Give me a hint. Swords? Men?"

Sif was feeling better now. She turned and faced the twin. "Dragons."

Ruffnut's eyes were as big as plates. "Dragons? You're kidding me, right? You do know that Berk is the one village that's full of them, don't you?"

Sif smiled. "It's a long story."

Ruffnut crossed her arms. "I've got time."

"About two thousand years."

"Okay. But when I get to Valhalla, I better get the whole thing."

"It's a deal. Now go talk to this Chief of yours, and meet me in the clearing tomorrow."

Ruffnut turned and walked quickly towards the Great Hall.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo