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Disclaimer: Any characters mentioned are all under copyright. This work is purely fan-made.
Title: From Asgard to Midgard
Author: Scarabeye3000
Chapter 21: 'Thy soul is complete... hopefully.'
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Western Outposts
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Hiccup stared at the wounded woman on his knees, never have he seen someone as beautiful as her. Tears dribbled on his cheeks as his eyes poured his emotions out in the open. Valka gently smiled as she beckoned her son to come closer, he was just out of arm's reach and he was not closing the last distance. He was hesitant to approach her and quite frankly, why the hell wouldn't he be?
Her current damages are a clean slice on her upper forearm and a deep gash on her right hip rendering her unable to stand up straight, cleaned and dressed of course by Fishlegs under her own guidance. A large bruise on her lips now turned a nasty shade of purple as more tears dribbled on her son's face. Utter remorse, disbelief and sadness gripped Hiccup's emotions right now. It was like everything went spiraling out of control in just a few minutes his father came to their assistance. Stoick was also kneeling in front of Valka, but his face was buried on her hips and he was holding her hands tightly in his large calloused hands.
Vikings are a hardened race, they make the most out of whatever they have, even the bleak northern lands turned out a great host of people in the name of Berk.
However, the women and children in Viking society tend to tug a great string in all the hearts of the hardened warriors whose lives these women might have centered around. Viking women weren't soft, they labored through the day with all kinds of chores for the household, they carried the pain of childbirth, they carried the shields for their house and sometimes swords for their husbands. They are soldiers, leaders, mothers and sisters, and the men know that without a strong woman in their midst, none will hold them together.
So with great regret and remorse, after knowing who Valka truly is, and what she is in his life, Hiccup just went down on his knees and wept bitterly.
How in the Nine Realms did he even get close to killing his own mother in cold blood just because he didn't freaking know!?
She beckoned closer as he remained rooted to his spot, "Come my son, let your mother hold you now."
Obligingly he scooted closer and bowed his head in shame, what kind of son would smite his/her own mother, "I- I'm sorry ma- I didn't-"
"I know, and I am proud to know you grew up well and strong," she sighed and her voice took a stern tone into it, "But I really don't think you should be doing more of those flying on your own stuff. It's fun though I'm pretty sure- but Odin UP above! To leap off of the back of a dragon... in mid-flight!"
Hiccup sniffled as he soaked in the feeling of being reprimanded by a mother, a feeling so foreign to him, yet very pleasant in his heart. He basked at this feeling, this feeling of being absolute, like your fragmented self suddenly found the other half. His mother was found, a little hurt, but still alive after all those years. He also couldn't feel more happy and sad at the situation, happy because he found out that his mother was alive, and sad because they met in such an uncommon way. You don't get to try and kill your long lost mother most of the time... but Odin up above, he was actually on a warpath back then. She might have just dismissed it as his way of protecting Berk, of protecting their homes from an unknown enemy or threat, but her mother didn't know the whole extent of it.
He was slashing to maim, he plunged the hidden blade on her chest to kill, and he was not trying to hold back. He incapacitated his mother in a few movements of his blades, in fact, a few seconds is all it took for him to bring her to her knees. That was the reason why he was so affected, he couldn't get in terms why fate decided to play with them like this. If he had only lowered the aim of the hidden blade, or followed through with the slice he made at her arm, then everything would have been entirely different, he would have been crying in front of a corpse.
Valka wiped his tears with her thumb as she took her son's face in her two hands, never had he felt such obvious love, and in his defense he never thought having a mother felt this way. A sudden rush of affection for one woman filled him with a sense of completeness and fulfillment engulfed his senses. He finally smiled as the Haddocks looked at each other and then Stoick took both of them into his large embrace.
"Oh, my family-" the Chief sighed in happiness, "My family."
Astrid covered her mouth as her eyes moistened, she remembered her mother as she waited at Berk and she felt happiness gushing from the scene in front of her. Even Snotlout cried as his aunt was revealed to be alive, his own mother brought fresh tears on his eyes too, but he wiped it quickly so as not to affect his image. You never know who might tease him later for being sappy and all.
Hiccup finally stood up and Valka finally took one good look at her young man of a son, she smiled as Toothless, sensing that everything was cool now bounded over for a sniff.
"I see you have a Night Fury," his mother said as the black dragon nudged her with his muzzle.
"Yes, and not only that-"
"-did you finally made the leap from fighting dragons to raising dragons?" she turned to Stoick who was smiling proudly beside her, "I was surprised you were able to change."
"Not without obvious help from our son," the Chief beamed as the garrison that went with him began reinforcing the Western Outposts again, "Would you like to know what happened?"
She nodded as Hiccup and Astrid sat beside her together with the senior riders and began their tale.
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A few hours later
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"I see now, 20 years ago I began investigating the relentless dragon raids all over the archipelago," Valka shook her head and sighed, "I already knew that they were coming from Dragon Island and so I went to the island and found out about the Red Death."
She sighed as she continued, "The Red Death was a vicious dragon with 6 eyes and a large snout, it didn't welcome me and quite frankly almost killed me too, its quite intimidating and has the ability to command any dragons to a lesser degree."
"We can pretty much tell, I mean when we cracked that mountain open- every dragon we can think of just ran, they ran for their lives."
"Not a single dragon wanted to fight in the first place," Stoick sighed and shook his head at the memory, "My heart was hammering back then- I thought of avenging you- I thought that one of these dragons murdered you, and I- I just want revenge."
Valka smiled at her husband and squeezed his large hand, "Now, at least I see, you have changed."
"Who knew huh?"
"Yeah, who knew," she then turned and directed her attention to Hiccup, "You are so grown-up now, I'm very proud of you for changing Berk."
He blushed a bit as Astrid elbowed him knowingly, his mother reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. She looked at them and was quite saddened at what she saw, at such a young age Hiccup's hands had numerous scars, a whole lifetime of hardship and training showed as she sighed at the sight. "You have managed to do something, that not even me, your mother was able to do."
Rubbing her sore legs, her eyes saddened but she tried to hide it with her smile, "I was- I was afraid my son, I knew that our kin would not accept the dragons the way I saw them. I knew that it would take a miracle for their lives to change."
"Who knew that my miracle would change everything."
Puzzled, the young man's brow furrowed, "What are you talking about?"
"You were our miracle son," Stoick said as he puts an arm around Valka's shoulders, "I- I never thought that we could be your parents- I was wild, hard, strong and powerful, while your mother was steady, nimble, yet strong-willed. We complimented each other and it was because you were born that we consider it a miracle."
"Every child is a miracle!" Gobber agreed from afar as he carried a piece of lumber to reinforce the smashed wall on the third level, "-or so Gothi said, I can't really remember."
Hiccup smiled in front of his mother enthralled at her sight, an overpowering emotion threatened to burst out of his chest as he took Astrid's hand and blurted out, "Mother, I would like you to meet Astrid, a woman very beloved to me." The blonde valkyrie's blushing face intensified his emotion of elation and it clearly showed in his face, pure happiness with utter joy are reflected in his eyes as the shadow of death and rage vanished entirely from him.
Stoick couldn't believe his eyes, it was like the things that bothered his son suddenly went away at the sight of Valka, at the knowledge that, yes his mother was alive, albeit missing for a few years, but still alive and now he's showing her the most beloved person he has in his life today.
Valka on the other hand was flabbergasted, 20 years is a long time and the last thing she remembered of his son was the dragon figure that she made for him, then suddenly he's introducing the girl he's considering to- Astrid Hofferson?
"Does- does Gunnhild know?"
It was Astrid's turn to be surprised, "You know my mother?"
"Of course my dear, we did sewing and apothecary classes together at Gothi's. Almost every woman went to the elders to learn the women trade, intricate sewing, cooking, preparing the leather, the spoils, home making, all of it are taught by the Elders," she looked appreciatively at Astrid and gently smiled, "Assuming your penchant for fighting, you trained under your Uncle Finn right?"
She looked more shocked than she was before, Valka knew Finn? "Ho- you- you also know my Uncle?"
"Yes! He was one of my suitors when we were still your age," Valka smiled behind at Stoick and gestured for him, "Remember Finn? Fearless Finn Hofferson?"
"Aye! He wasn't called Fearless back then until he met me in battle," the Chief smiled at the long forgotten memory, "You see, I was the Berkian Champion-"
"Figures."
"Hiccup!" Astrid hissed as he clammed up.
"Anyway," the Chief continued, "I was the Champion for Berk, and everybody knew I was courting Valka. But then your uncle started to court her too- boy, did we try upstaging one after the other. It got so bad we even did a holmgang-"
"Heavenly Frigga," Valka shook her head at the memory, "That holmgang shook Berk apart, it shook me apart-"
The Heir of Berk interjected, "But why ma?"
"Imagine, the Champion of Berk and the Heir of the Hooligans against the Hofferson Champion- apart from the Jorgensons, the Hoffersons are one of the strongest clans to ever join the Hooligan tribe," Valka patiently explained, "So, whoever loses would definitely carry bad blood with them- but Finn saw the truth before the holmgang was concluded."
"Aye! He withdrew, but not before throwing me a punch and saying take good care of your mother," Stoick chuckled a bit at the memory, "He had a very serious look on his face and- and he never married- never got the chance, a Flightmare took him out a few years later. A great fighter that Finn."
"Paralyzed? A Flightmare you said?" Valka interjected, "That's to be expected, that dragon exudes a smoke that paralyzes everything that inhales it. I guess that's what happened to Finn. Have you hunted it down?"
"Nay! Everyone was afraid of what happened to Finn, they said that he froze of fear from the dragon, but I knew better-" the Chief looked at Astrid and smiled, "Your uncle was a great fighter, very fearless and intimidating. He was worried about you then I know, so when he stood outside to face that dragon, I immediately knew something was not right... and then he was killed with a stone-faced expression on his face. He was truly fearless to the end that man."
Astrid's heart swelled at the praise his Uncle Finn received from the Chief, so he knew that Finn was truly fearless and he regretted that he died from the Flightmare that night. The whole village saw him as a coward instead for freezing and not moving against the Flightmare, of course he would be armed and dragons didn't like us to be armed. If he was paralyzed still holding his axe, then there was no way he could let go of it is there? Affirmed that her Uncle's honor is upheld she smiled at Hiccup knowingly.
"So uh- where have you been all this time?"
Valka faced her son and sighed, "I've been living under the care of the great Bewilderbeast."
"A what?"
Surprisingly she stood up and smiled, using her repaired staff as a crutch she walked over to Cloudjumper with a limp and stroked his broken wing. The large dragon purred, but made no effort to move, she nodded in understanding and turning to her audience she said, "I'll show all of you my sanctuary- it's not far from here."
"But your dragon?"
"Will stay here to rest-" she reassured them as she limped over to Hiccup and said, "Can your dragon carry more than one person?"
"Of course ma," Hiccup immediately stood up and helped Astrid to her feet, Stoick also stood while Gobber walked over to them.
"I'll go with you," Stoick said as he looked at Gobber,"Go back to Berk as soon as you finish reestablishing this garrison. Oh, and that weapon test we'll suppose to be having, I want you to cancel it for now- or if we can go back quickly then we'll be watching it with you."
The blacksmith smiled knowingly and elbowed his old friend, "So uh- quite eager to uh- getting back into Val's good side huh? Should I make the maidens back home for your happy sack?" he ran off quickly before Stoick could even recover as the Chief of Berk blushed to the roots of his hair. He turned his back on him surprised to find his wife standing right in front of him, "Ready to go?"
"Uh- yeah, umm... in a minute Val," he took one last look at Gobber giggling like a girl, far from his reach as he huffed indignantly as he called out, "Remind me to cripple your other leg when I get back!"
"Make sure you get the 'fertility tea' going eh? Wouldn't want to stop in the middle of your 'tumble and tussle' for a little bit of rest for your old tighty-mighty totem- Whoopsy-daisies!" he ducked as a flying warhammer almost smacked him on the face, the errant weapon smashed on a rock as the blacksmith saw Stoick already mounted on Skullcrusher, with his arm still stretched in a throwing motion and looking more livid.
"Don't make me come down here Gobber!"
"Heheh... just go mate!"
Toothless stood up and began heading for the cliff, carrying both Hiccup and Valka he needed the additional boost of the headwinds on his wings to conserve his energy. Nodding his head, the black dragon jumped off as Hiccup's mother whooped in elation, spreading his wings Toothless flapped furiously and made quick his ascent towards the high winds. Stormfly and Skullcrusher followed as the rest of the riders reinforced the outpost and waited for the longboat that Stoick sent after them.
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After thirty minutes of flying Valka pointed them to an island, dominated by a large mountain. Rough stony beaches lined its shores as it looked eerily familiar to the fog-filled Dragon Island. Rock formations dotted the whole island while a few cedar and pine here and there shoot up into the sky. Large patches of snow and ice also frilled the landscape as a similar icicle dome structure covered one side of the mountain. Excitedly, his mother led them to a large pointy rock protruding from the ground, as they landed he could see that it was cleverly hiding a large entrance towards a darkened cavern leading into the mountain. With expert ease, his mother dismounted as all of them followed suit.
"This is the main entrance I always use when I return here- the dragons that come with me, especially if they're quite large already would need to use the upper entrance," she then whistled shrilly and hundreds of squawks and screeches answered.
A great flurry of wings suddenly exploded around them as the hidden dragons, of numerous species, from multi-colored Zipplebacks, to Hobblegrunts, to Snafflefangs, even Scuttleclaws and Nightmares descended upon them from their hidden perches as Valka called out to them. At first they were all snarling and grunting, huffing and puffing their smoke filled jaws, but when they saw that they were unarmed they grew somewhat relaxed and landed near the newly arrivals.
The feeling was like guard dogs reacting to visitors that suddenly invaded your home... only the dogs have jaws that could break a man in half, and breathes fire.
Astrid relaxed a bit as Stoick noticeably sighed, well, they already knew that dragons would never attack humans in normal circumstances, but it was still a nerve-wracking experience. Valka then led them inside the caverns as Hiccup stopped on the edge of the cave, summing up his courage and his innate desire to follow he ploughed forward, followed closely by Astrid and his father with Toothless bringing up the rear.
"I usually use this entrance to quickly get inside the Sanctuary," Valka quickly made her way down into the ground, as she almost glided through the uneven surface of the cooled magma cave, "The larger dragons use a different entrance altogether. Come on! Hurry!"
She beckoned for them to hurry as Hiccup and Astrid hastened to follow. It was surprising, she was supposed to be Stoick's age, but she was as nimble as a fox as she negotiated the left and rights of the caverns, of course she can't compare to his son's agility. However, seeing the Chief struggling with the odd handholds and foot holds scattered around, naturally made by cooled magma, it was astonishing to see her move through the darkness with ease.
Not that it was total darkness, an odd ray of sunshine managed to illuminate a corridor or two of uneven terrain made by almost cylindrical volcanic rocks. Stoick huffed and grunted behind them as Toothless gamely slithered and rolled around the obstacles. Hiccup was the one who was racing to catch up to her, the young girl could feel it, he really didn't like being under the soil. Something she managed to pick up on when he was surveying the underground water tunnels. It was unnoticeable by anyone, but she felt it there. However, the obvious want of having his mother in his sight probably kept him going, so what the Hel huh? He just plunged head long into the darkness of the Earth with the memory of a grim past still haunting him.
Finally, a strong light blinded them as they made their way behind a crevice.
Hiccup, Astrid and Stoick went eyes wide as the whole Sanctuary spilled into their senses. A high-domed ceiling made of icicle greeted them, supported by great beams of icicle, the sun filters through the ice as they all needed no light source inside the Sanctuary. It was so high that dragons, a whole shitload literally, can fly weaving round and round against the great pillars. Moss and lush growth can be seen as numerous streams filter through the volcanic rocks as more dragons converged around them, curious at the odd humans that are visiting their homes. Even Toothless seemed to enjoy himself as he bounded and leaped through the clearing that they have found themselves upon, his eyes wandering he found his mother looking at his expression of wonder and amazement.
"This is where you've been all these years?" he nervously asked her.
She nodded as she agilely leaped down from her perch and smiled serenely at her son, he shook his shoulders, a nervous tic he really needed to address as he said, "Well, its- it's not everyday you get to find out your mother is a- a dragon vigilante lady or something."
He scratched the nape of his neck, another nervous tic she found endearing because she do it herself sometimes, "Oh... well, at least I'm not boring right?" she said happily while laughing lightly.
"How did you survive?"
"Oh Cloudjumper never meant to harm me," she walked over to an overhang as she beckoned for all of them to come closer, "I mean, he must have thought I belong here... the home of the Great Bewilderbeast. The Alpha species- one of the very few that still exist in this world."
Valka smiled as she proudly gestured at the slumbering white dragon, "Every nest, every sanctuary has a Queen like the Red Death, but this is the King of All Dragons. With its icy breath this graceful giant built this nest, a safe havens for the dragons I managed to free everywhere where they live under his care and his command."
Slowly they made their way downwards directly into a path near the Great Bewilderbeast, like a great monarch that welcomes emissary, his mother led them into another small clearing beneath a large waterfall. "Oohh, except for the babies of course," loud tittering could be heard as small, baby Gronckles, Scuttleclaws and Hobblegrunts began to converge on Toothless who retreated in fear back to where Astrid and Stoick was, "-who listens to no one."
Hiccup laughed lightly as the babies then flew away, landed on the face of the great dragon, landing and jumping on the frill's and bony growth on the great King's face. The King opened his large bluish green eyes and the babies scattered playfully around him, he then slowly faced Valka and Hiccup as he looked intensely at the young man in front of him. Toothless, wide-eyed in wonder, began to kneel exactly the way he acted when Odin was in front of him. The King looked majestic and exuded such power that no gestures or grunts were heard, just the moment he laid his eyes on you, you just had to bow. Not being his first time to encounter the Bewilderbeast, Hiccup knew this was a true King of his own realm, so mimicking Valka he puts his arms in a respectful gesture and bowed.
The Great Bewilderbeast examined him, its penetrating gaze seemed to see his soul. It began to turn away, but not beore sending a plume of ice towards his face that froze up his hair and made his mother laugh.
"He likes you!"
"Wow-" he breathed, "He's so majestic."
"So, anyone here hungry?" she asked as they retreated back up into the first clearing where they saw Stoick brushing Skullcrusher's teeth one by one while Astrid smoothed the spikes on her dragon's tail. The Chief walked over to them and said, "So, what did the King tell you?"
Valka frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Mother, I may have told you the gist of what happened at Berk, but I haven't told you what happened to me after the Battle with the Red Death," Hiccup said mysteriously, "Astrid, do you have the memory stone I gave you?"
Obediently, she took out the blank crystal as all three of them were led by Valka into her own halls. A small entrance can be seen carved into a rock face as light filtered it through numerous holes on the ceiling blocked by ice. Once inside she began preparing some stew and boiled some water for the tea, Stoick approached his wife and began assisting her as he began to hum a familiar tune. Hiccup and Astrid went around the whole hall and began exploring it. There were numerous bottles of ointments and possibly potions on one side, while numerous books, some words written in old Norse, others in Latin, while others in Cyrillic. A bed the size of Valka was set on one corner of the dwelling as a large map dominated the large barren wall of one side. A great stone hearth was located in the center providing heat and exhaust can be seen by a large hole in the ceiling, presumably leading outside into the mountainside.
"So, uh... what are your plans now that you can return to Berk?"
Valka almost dropped the pot she was shoving spices into as Stoick continued snapping firewood in two, seriously, he's so strong he can split a two by four piece of wood with his bare-hands. The question came out into the open while the Chief was nonchalantly doing a chore, the old woman shook her head in disbelief and sighed, he never changed that man.
"I don't- I really don't know Stoick," she said sadly.
"Oh... ok." the Chief's voice sounded unnaturally subdued, he usually has a booming voice that commanded respect and obedience, yet now he sounded as meek as a slave. "I just thought that- well, you know... you can come- come back."
"It's not that simple Stoick," Valka reasoned, "The dragon problem at Berk is finished, but what about the whole archipelago? There are still trappers in this world and I- I just can't stop."
"But your family needs you," his voice found its strength at last, "I NEED you Valka."
"I told you it's not that simple, I can't just up and leave here."
"Why not?"
"Because-"
"Because of the dragons? Is that what it is? What about our son?" Stoick's voice began to raise as he turned to face his wife, "What about ME then?"
"Don't be so selfish Stoick-"
"Selfish?" the Chief scoffed angrily at the words, "Me? I'm selfish? Me, who have lost and mourned for his wife,yes I mourned you! Me, who tried raising a child that I have not a bloody clue of what I'm doing! I'm a warrior to my blood and bones Val, how can I honestly raise a child so easily? I endured being Chief, being a father and failed at that, and endured losing you to find out later that your hiding in this cubby hole with your dragons!"
"I am not hiding! I could not approach the problems of dragon acceptance of Berk because you were so adamant in exterminating them," Valka also stood her ground, Thor in Heaven, their similarities never ceases, "If only you would have listened sooner then things wouldn't have blown up in the first place."
"Don't blame me on this!"
"I don't blame you per se, I blame our society, a collective hate for something we have no idea or understand," she shook her head as Stoick breathed down on her, "Don't you see? After 20 years, we're still having the same arguments..."
The Chief breathed heavily and tried to relax, he was livid at her audacity to blame him, but it was true, he was hurt a lot when he found out that she was still alive and never tried to return to Berk at least once. He was also very relieved and grateful to Frigga for giving the chance for him to see her again, but this blame game they're playing won't have a good ending at least. He is a changed man, ever since Hiccup was lost and returned he knew he changed, so calmly he breathed slowly and faced his wife. He looked at her scowling face and approached her slowly, she was defensive he could sense it, but he moved forward and cupped her cheek with his large calloused hands.
"I'm sorry Valka, I was very hurt when you died," Stoick began as Val blushed lightly, whoo! It's like they were teens again. "I cursed the Gods for taking you away from me."
Her silence made him tight-lipped, but he forced the words out of his heart, "You are as beautiful on the day that I lost you."
Stoick's head came down and kissed his wife gently on the lips, Val yielded to her husband as they shared their first kiss after 20 years. A single tear fell out of her eyes as relief flooded her heart, was this the same hard-headed man he married?
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"I'll swim and sail on savage seas," Stoick began softly as he continued to hold Valka's gaze, "With ne'er a fear of drowning."
"And gladly ride the waves of life
if you will marry me.
No scorching sun, nor freezing cold,
will stop me on my journey,
"if you will promise me your heart," his eyes looked pleading as he broke his gaze and sighed defeated, "and love-"
Valka's high pitched voice reached his ears as she looked at him hopefully, "...And love me for eternity."
"My dearest one, my darling dear,
Your mighty words astound me,"
"But I've no need for mighty deeds,
when I feel your arms around me."
Stoick's took a loud and proud tone on his voice as he continued an old ode of love.
"But I would bring you rings of gold,
I'd even sing you poetry!"
Valka said, "Oh, would you now huh?"
"And I would keep you from all harm
if you would stay beside me!"
Hiccup's parents began to dance merrily, their feet stamping on the stone floor as they got in the mood of the song.
"I have no use for rings of gold,
I care not for your poetry.
I only want your hand to hold..."
Stoick and Valka's eyes met and happiness gushed forth from them, "I only want you near me!" they spun and they danced together as the song came into a mixed tone of high and lows, of a speed that induced happiness and elation that everything in the world freezes for the two people who have pledged their lives together.
"To love and kiss, to sweetly hold!
For the dancing and the dreaming!
Through all life's sorrows and delights,
I'll keep your love inside me!"
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas
with ne'er a fear of drowning!
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you will marry me!"
Both of Hiccup's parents were laughing and joy was reflected into their eyes, they share a moment of silence before Stoick, much to Valka's suprise and delight, "I love you Valka, and I will accept any decision you will come across. For I love you beyond my reckoning and I am willing to go the distance, if I must, so as not to drive you away from my love again."
"I love you and respect you my wife, you are my equal in this world, and none shall take your place."
Valka giggled like a blushing bride as she embraced her husband and looked up at him, "Was that your wedding vow to me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?"
"Did you practice that?"
Stoick blushed, busted, "Did it sound rushed?"
"No, it was very sweet- come here and kiss me you big oaf!" she grabbed his beard, not that many people can do that, and dragged him down to her level to give him another kiss. The kiss lingered for more than a minute as sloppy noises can be heard from the two-
"Ehem!" Hiccup cleared his throat as Stoick and Valka separated quickly, looking positively alarmed at their son's voice, "In case you've forgotten we-" he gestured to Astrid and him, "-are still here and watching."
"Oh! Right then," Stoick released Valka and turned back to the hearth as he quickly started a fire, his wife laughed softly behind him as she brought the pot of stew to the flame the Chief made. With the pot of stew beginning to simmer on top of the fire, Hiccup and Astrid gathered his parents to a makeshift table and placed the now glowing crystal in front of them.
"Now mother, whatever you will see- everything is real and by the Gods it helped me become the young man that I am now, please, please don't over react," he pleaded as Valka raised her eyebrow. "Ok, what am I supposed to see?"
The Heir of Berk touched the memory stone in a circular motion and lights began to play on the surface of the once clear crystal, as the light show began, Hiccup's mother sat entranced at the images beginning to play before her eyes.
"Mother, let's start where the Red Death almost killed me..."
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An hour later
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The stew offered a pleasant distraction from the images the memory stone showed them, Valka was shown Agni and Rudra, then his armor, then his peculiar ability to see what other dragons could see. His battle prowess, the wars and battles he fought in the name of Asgard, his mentor Loki, and some of the tricks he could do except his mirror imagery to his mother.
Stoick was shocked, it was the first time he knew about the horror of underground fighting in the Realm of Alfheim. It was also the first time he knew of his son's inherent fear of going beneath the earth, also it explains his battle prowess as he worked with the soldiers of the great God Loki himself. It was also the first time he saw Loki in his own image, in their eyes he was portrayed as a horned God, with black eyes and dark overflowing hair. Large bulky body that could easily pass for a Jotun, but the real image couldn't have been more false.
Instead, what they saw was a tall, slender man, with almost glowing alabaster skin, impossibly green eyes, black shiny hair combed back and oiled, and impeccably dressed like royalty. His green, armor with silver trimmings fitted him like a glove as he dons a mask that hids half his face and covers his mouth for the protection of lesser men. In his own son's words, he wears the mask to hide his face, and make sure that not everyone falls under his allure and spell. A mere whisper, a few honeyed words and the Trickster could make any person fall under his powerful innate spell.
Valka on the other hand looked absolutely troubled.
His son suffered too much in her eyes, when he was taken into Asgard, it was like he was dragged into a war that he had absolutely no reason to join to. All this fighting and warmongering didn't sit well with his mother and he could feel it with her tight-lipped expression and ever present scowl as the memory stone showed the events of his arrival at the Battle of Berk. The memory stone's light finally waned as it showed him removing his mask in front of Stoick, triumphant in his return in the midst of his people with Drago's blood smeared oddly on parts of his armor.
"I don't know what to say," his mother finally spoke as the light's died on the memory stone, "I'm grateful you're alive and all, but they turned you into a- a warlord? A warrior unmatched as far as I can tell- and yet you barely left your twenties."
She sighed and shook her head, "At least you're alive my son," she took his hand and squeezed, Hiccup held his breath, that went better than he expected. When she saw him jump off of Toothless back she was quite shocked as well too, but this new revelation didn't seemed to faze her that much.
It was as if she knew that his abilities had something to do with forces unnatural to their world.
"We have to get going then," Stoick said as he stood up and picked up his dishes, another trait Valka noted that he didn't do before, "The sun is almost out and we still need to test the weapon you and Gobber copied from an Eastern design."
"Oh my goodness, was that today?" Hiccup panicked as he took out his notes while Astrid took the dishes and began clearing the table, "Why didn't you remind me dad?"
"It's your mother's fault-" he insisted then pointed accusingly at him, "-and yours."
"Huh?"
"Why me? Us, I mean?"
"Well, she attacked the Western Outpost, while you came after her- so both of you side-tracked that weapons test for today."
"Thor almighty, if the twins ever-"
"Holy Odin's beard! I forgot the twins!" Stoick looked back at him alarmed, "I asked Gobber to prepare the bombard- they could blow up the whole island!"
With a frantic rush they prepared their mounts as the Chief turned back to Valka, "We're leaving- would you be joining us?"
Valka bit her lower lip and looked at her husband, she gave a small nod as Stoick replied with a smile of his own.
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Berk
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Gobber sighed as he extracted the bombard from its stone base, the bombard, a design copied by Hiccup from a book he purchased that was being peddled by a wandering Eastern trader. Using bronze as a base metal, they melted the numerous weapons acquired from the Roman and Greek city states that they were able to make one almost twelve feet long. According to his calculations it could boost the defenses of their island in case, the dragon force from which they derived their main battle plan should fail.
It was a just in case protocol.
So with a heave and final sigh from exhaustion, Gobber the Belch walked out of the forges with his dragon Grump in tow. He was carrying an odd cylindrical object as the large acid green dragon lazily floated in the air. He slowly followed his rider to the arena as a few Vikings greeted him and called out to his rider in return. Unbeknownst to him, two blonde haired Viking, with the most naughty-filled eyes, could be seen trailing behind him.
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To be continued...
Author's note:
Alright, some really overdue updates for you people.
Hawmygawd! Family issues solved!
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Cheers,
Scarabeye3000