"Thank you," Hiccup told Quickcut. He glanced at Old Wrinkly. "Is there any more information that you would rather a non-nest member not know?"
Old Wrinkly tilted his head and grinned. "I think you all have enough to process right now," he said.
"Understatement of the century," Tuff stated with a chuckle.
Hiccup heard Gyda groan.
"I don't even want to know where you heard that phrase," she muttered.
"Frostfire said it," Ruff explained anyways. "After myself and my brother stated we were jealous he got to meet Loki. We are loyal devotees to Loki after all."
Gyda rubbed the side of her head. Hiccup chuckled. The mage had taken upon the task of training Ruff and Tuff in alchemy, a skill Gyda's grandmother taught her. It had been that skill that allowed her to create the stuff she knocked Toothless out with. It was also how she and the Thorstons figured out a way to keep visiting chiefs from seeking marriage contracts and then yanking Ruff off the island. It seemed Gyda was rethinking her offer. Hiccup rather hoped not, even if seeing his friend act like she was warding off a headache due to the twins was amusing to watch.
Gothi had seen some of the alchemy back when she was tending Snotlout's hand due to his stupid move with Gyda's barrier. Upon learning that Gyda was willing teach it, Gothi actually smiled and clapped her hands enthusiastically. The scramble of runes she furiously wrote also expressing her joy. Apparently, the alchemy would aid her and Hilda with caring for injured nest members.
Even though tribe members had the right to refuse a marriage contract on Berk, Hiccup knew not every chief coming to the Thing would honor that Berkian law. He suspected that several would seek marriage contracts to do just as his father said that day in the boat. To ensure an alliance stood in case Berk turned its dragons against everyone. Hiccup also suspected there were those who saw opportunity. Marry one of theirs to the young teens who fought the Red Death and have a say in how that teen's life went from that point on. Control a Rider and control that rider's dragon and all dragons associated with it. Hiccup would not put such thoughts past a few of the chiefs Stoick said were attending.
Hiccup knew dealing with the twins could be tiring but he did want Ruff to leave the island unless it was her choice and not dictated by the man her parents married her off to. He did not want his friends bullied and browbeat into lives they did not want because the Vikings coming were fearful or greedy. He also wanted his nest to have every possible advantage when it came to tending wounds. He had seen enough of pain and misery and wounds festering due to a lack of something that would aid Gothi and Hilda. Or both women being so overwhelmed that injuries slipped through and were not treated properly. So he hoped Gyda would continue teaching Ruff and Tuff, even if she needed many ice blocks at the end of the day because of them.
"I would still like to speak with you some more," Hiccup said, turning his gaze from his mage friend to Old Wrinkly, "but I promised the Nightmare queen I would show her something."
Old Wrinkly smiled, tipping his head. "If we may, we would like to fly around the island. I can meet with you before you sleep tonight and speak with you then."
Hiccup smiled. "That's fine." He glanced over to his father. "Uh, Dad, where-"
Stoick chuckled. "Son, being they be our ancestors, the gods would mightily frown upon us ifen we not house them. Steinar be settled into the Shiverin' Shores longhouse fore ye all pulled me from the docks so we be free to discuss things fore we sleep. As fer the other two-"
"Uh, Chief," Fishlegs started, his voice barely above a whisper. Meatlug nuzzled him and he cleared his throat. When he began speaking again, his voice was stronger and more confident. "I'm sure Mom and Dad would be fine with Yngvar staying with us. He..he's an Ingerman after all."
Yngvar laughed. "So is Brynja," he stated with a grin which earned him a snort from Kaja and Brynja. "She's my wife."
"Oh," Fishlegs said. "Well, they can both stay with us. Um, though, our hut won't fit Lightbeetle and Heatwave. Boulder and Meatlug live with us. As does their three precious fledglings."
"If I may venture a suggestion," Old Wrinkly said. "Heatwave was able to fit into that cave we met you all in. Could he and Lightbeetle stay there? I believe Onyx and Sunburn will probably join them, if that is fine with you, young Hiccup and Chief Stoick."
Hiccup smiled. "That's perfect."
Stoick stood. "Then Hiccup, ye be best showin' the Nightmare queen wot ye aim to show her. Gobber and I'll be meetin' the ships and seein' who be comin'."
"Um," Fishlegs started as all the others also began to stand and the dragons shook themselves and stretched wings and limbs as they were able. "Can Meatlug and I fly with you four?" he asked, looking at Old Wrinkly. "I have so many questions about Lightbeetle and Heatwave and Sunburn, oh, and Onyx as well. Hiccup and I are writing a new Book of Dragons and there's so much to learn."
Fishlegs voice trailed off as Old Wrinkly lifted his hand, a grin playing across the man's face.
"You are more than welcome," Old Wrinkly said. "You can show us all the wonderful things in this nest and we can answer all your questions."
Fishlegs actually squealed which earned chuckles from almost everyone in the room. Snotlout snorted, though the grin on his face said the act was not done with any ill intention. Not like before the end of the war where Snotlout would have rudely said something hurtful.
"Come on, Hookie," Snotlout said instead. "As Hiccup's soon-to-be top Generals, we better escort them or they could get lost or a nest dragon could mistake them for hostiles. We have to keep them and our elder-in-training safe. He does tend to lose focus while learning after all."
"Oh, you are so kind," Fishlegs muttered, though with no anger in his tone.
The Riders all understood the delicate walk Snotlout and his parents had to take. They all took his seemingly harmful comments in stride. Doing so ensured Snotlout and his parents still had a roof over their heads. Old Man Jorgenson remained the head of the Jorgenson clan, though only barely. The clan as a whole were seeing the benefits the dragons brought to Berk and were also seeing that their clan leader would rather all went back to before the war ended. Back to when raids were a constant threat. Back to when the Jorgenson clan's skill at building was needed despite the tribe not wishing to really do business with the bitter old man. Still the man held his honor and thus still held his title.
"I know," Snotlout said. "I'm a giver. Let's get this flight underway then."
"Wow," Brynja exclaimed as Snotlout sauntered around the table and headed for the door. She looked back to her husband and grinned. "He reminds me of you when you were younger, dear." Her grin turned into a smirk. "Much younger."
"Low blow, my love. Low blow."
Literally Nobody: Hehe, well, you'll just have to wait a bit. It takes at least an hour to get from the Guardians to the docks by normal means and the dragons aren't going to help a non-nest member reach the docks faster. Probably would. Not sure how I'd go about it though. Thank you. Hiccup will always have doubts, just like Old Wrinkly, but his nest and flock are there for him. Hehe, actually it would more accurately be 'cousin' rather than uncle. It's here. You have a good day/night as well.
Kirika: Howdy. You enjoy your time with your family and that beautiful little boy. (He is still little right? Or is he an adult?) The story will be there when you get back.
NightshotShadowFury: I think they all have a lot on their minds. Astrid won't haul off and hit him for most things. She knows his past is one that constantly beating on him won't help matters but for something like that, for denying who he is and asking if someone else should have the spot she knows he deserves, that'll she'll hit him for. Hehe, yep. Hiccup's soul houses a Night Fury and a Bewilderbeast's soul. Talk about Timeshare :p