Eastern Bank of the Rhine
The Polish army had over 160,000 troops stationed on the Rhine. King Jan was getting impatient though, Hiccup had not sent him any information about his movements. All he knew was that Hiccup had marched south and into Savoy. Hiccup was supposed to be invading France not neutral countries.
Albercik was also getting impatient. The army has held this position for over two weeks now and the Berkians were nowhere to be found. After Teabold was killed back at Danzig he was promoted to general for his heroic actions. Soon he was second in command to the king.
"Have you received anything at all about his whereabouts."
"No sir."
"I can't wait any longer. Get a regiment of hussars, tell them to find him. "
"Yes my lord."
Belfort, France
Hiccup and his troops were now massed in the captured french city, the largest army any viking kingdom had massed. He had taken the town of Belfort over 3 days ago and the French refused to chase after him. Hiccup was now growing impatient that the enemy had not moved against him. Astrid ,however, wasn't surprised at the enemy's lack of movement. The war had been going on for a year now and for the amount of battles they had been in, Hiccup remained undefeated.
The British army and a portion of the French army will held up on the Rhine river, guarding the passage into france. Another French army under the command of the king of France was well on its way towards Belfort. The dragon scouts watched their movements closely and when they could harassed them with a quick attack. Even though the riders knew of the army's location they hadn't reported back to the king yet.
Hiccup, Astrid, and Gustav were gathered around a table at field headquarters for the army. On said table was a map of France and the surrounding area..
"If we are gonna lure the French and British army off the Rhine, we'll need to attack their southern lines" Hiccup said.
"My lord, with all do respect, wouldn't it be smarter to just send in the cavalry to lure them out of their lines, leaving the bridges undefended."
"That could work gustav, but I don't want the cavalry walking into a possible trap undefended. I think we move the entire army right here, towards their center. We use the cannons and dragons and force them out of their defensive positions. We engage them in the fight long enough for the Polish to cross the river and surround the southern flank."
"That is a good idea Astrid."
"Agreed, lady Astrid."
"I want to split the army up though, Astrid since this is your plan you'll be using the most troops. You'll be attacking the center with fifty percent of the army. Gustav and I will focus on the south with the remaining troops. Get me a list of regiments, brigades, or divisions that you want with you on my desk by tomorrow. I'll try to give you the best I can but me and Gustav are gonna need elite troops as well."
"I'll have you that list by tonight."
"Good. That should wrap up this meeting, you two grab something to eat, we will meet again at sundown."
"Yes my lord" the two of them said in unison.
Astrid and Gustav walked out of the town hall, they looked around the wall watching the king's guard on patrol.
"The king, he feels off to you as well?"
"Yeah a bit, I think he is coming down with something. Hiccup overworks himself all the time and this is the result."
"You're close to him aren't you?"
"Yeah, he is my best friend."
"I think you are more the just friends my lady. I've seen the way you two look at each other. There is love between the two of you I can tell."
Astrid blushed at the marshall's words.
"Relax my lady, there is no need to be embarrassed. Now I am curious about life on Berk before this war began. Care to tell me over lunch?"
"Ok."
Fifty miles north of Belfort
Louis and 200,000 of the kingdom's finest were on their way towards the captured city. He now had a major opportunity to end the war with the capturing of the Berkian king. Louis knew of the secret deals between the boy king of Berk and Savoy, Savoy would be dealt with later. His spies in the small country also reported that they were allowing supplies to the Berkian army to pass through. This enraged the Sun king even more but Savoy could wait.
His army consisted of the most elite troops of France but because of his constant wars, he couldn't pay the debts he owed his men. Louis promised his men that anything that they ransack is theirs to keep. The core of the army was the troops that the nobility sent from their estates. Louis's cannons were also a major threat. Like Hiccup, Louis spent time perfecting the cannon and now he was ready to put his latest gun to the test. The French cavalry were also present outnumbering the Berkian horses 2 to 1.
"My lord, are you sure attacking Belfort is a good idea."
"An mon amie, we aren't attacking the Berkians, we are just drawing them out. There is no doubt in my mind that the young and ambitious King Hiccup will chase us. We will let them chase us, thin out his supply lines, and burn the land that way he can't live off our land."
"His army is a lot smaller, he will catch us eventually."
"I know, and that's what I plan on Jacques. He will regret invading."
Savoy
The threat of the French invading was mounting and many of the Savonese armed forces were pressuring the King to join the war now on the side of Berk. Count Victor was one of these men. He had gathered as many troops as he could and set out for Belfort with the polish cavalry.
Belfort
"So the mighty Carolus Rex was a runt?"
"Yeah, that's what they called him. I didn't bully him like the others but at the same time I didn't help him. To me that's as bad as bullying him."
"So what happened, did he all of a sudden become the man I know now."
"No, he met Toothless, his dragon. He had friend in the form of a dragon, the thing us vikings killed. His only friend was an animal."
Gustav looked at the young girl, she held her head in shame.
"If I didn't follow him to Toothless he would of ran away."
"What did you do to stop him."
"I was gonna rat him out to his father and he chased me down to stop me. Then he took me on a flight and changed my view on the world."
"And that's the moment your true feelings for him came ahead."
"Yeah, they did. For two years I suppress my feelings for him. I built walls and he was the cannon ball to break those walls."
"You two are meant for eachother. You've told me your parents were killed when the war began so when the day comes, I will walk you down the aisle since your father is no longer among us."
Before Astrid could say anything a dragon rider ran up them out of breath.
"A French... army is... is on their way... fifty miles north."
Astrid's and Gustav eyes grew wide at the soldier's report.
"How far are they from here?"
"Fifty miles from here... closing in fast."
"How large was the army?"
"Large, enough to outnumber us 2 to 1."
The two of them didn't waste any time running to where Hiccup was. Hiccup was laying down next to Toothless. His eyes were closed, dreaming about a world the war was over. He was woken up from said dream with a door slamming open.
"Hiccup, we have a army inbound. We need to get the troops moving."
"I agree my lord. If we stay here we will be cut off from supplies and reinforcements."
Hiccup looked at his two generals in shock.
"Okay, get my horse saddled. We will ride to meet them."
"Yes my lord."
Gustav took a quick glance at Astrid and nodded as he made his way out of the town hall.
"Astrid, I want you take the lead. Your men will be in front the army. I want you to find good ground that we can hold. We can't engage them offensively, only defensively."
"Don't worry H, I will find us great ground."
Hiccup smiled at her but his smile fell when he remembered the last time he sent one of his friends to fight a battle by themselves.
"Hiccup, I'll be fine. Heather's death was unfortunate, yes, but she was outnumbered 6 to 1."
"I know. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you."
"Hiccup, I've lost a leg, only thing worst then that is losing my life."
"Which is what I'm afraid of."
Astrid walked over and kissed the top of his head.
"What was that for?"
"That's is for just in case I do get killed and this-" she leaned down and kissed him on his lips. "is for everything else."
Astrid saluted and walked out of the town hall to get her troops ready.
"She really is something else bud" Hiccup said to his dragon.
Hiccup made sure Toothless' tail was set in solo flight mode.
"Be safe up there, please."
Toothless gave a comforting warble and walked out of the building. Hiccup made his way over to the chair that had his uniform on it. He put on the red coat and put his hat on top of his head. Hiccup had told is terror Sharpshot to take his crown back to Berk, not wanting it to get destroyed in the field battle.
Outskirts of Epinal, France two days later...
Astrid and 30,000 soldiers were setting up their defenses around the city. Astrid had chosen the town because of the hill overlooking the city. Not only that, the road the led to Belfort was bottlenecked through the city. Two different series of hills surrounded the road. Astrid's plan was to hold these hills and draw them into an uphill battle. She knew that she couldn't hold these hills by herself so reluctantly she had sent some troops ahead through the town and had them hold the road into town. Gustav was still a good four hours from the town so she had to hold for a while.
It was 6:30 in the morning and a thick fog lay on the field in front of the troops guarding the road. Astrid was with those troops, 4,000 of them as well as six cannon.
"Good morning general Hofferson."
"Good morning John how are you?"
"Good sir. You smell that sir, that's the smell of an upcoming battle."
"Yes I do. Will we survive, I do not know."
A soldier on dragon back rode up to them.
"General Hofferson, French soldiers have been sighted. It's a small column of troop, no more then 2,000 troops. They have no idea that we are here sir."
"Good, have the men lay low until they get close enough."
"Yes sir."
"Everybody get down, make no sound" John said.
The troops laid down in the grass or behind the small fence they were stationed at. The only people that still stood were the six men who were supposed to fire the cannon. Minutes felt like hours as the French troops marched in formation down the road, no idea that the Berkian troops were waiting for them. Astrid watched them as they marched towards them, nervously she looked back at her cannons who were still silent.
"They are in range now sir."
"Fire!"
"Fire!"
The cannons fired the shells landing in the French lines. The officer in front of them was nocked off his horse and a few of the men behind him were killed. Another shell hit a piece of the fence that was alongside the road causing it to break. The French used this opportunity and began to pour through the fence.
"Fire at will" Astrid yelled.
Her soldiers stood up and fired at the French soldiers who were trying to get into a line. They fell by the dozens as the lead shots hit them. The French officer told them to hold and they began to ready their muskets.
"Ready!"
"Aim!"
"Fire!"
The French soldiers fired but did little damage against the Berkian troops. One of the cannons fired back tearing a hole in the French lines. Another volley from the Berkian troops forced the French to retreat. Astrid took out her telescope and watched the road, there were more French troops marching up the road.
"Your orders sir" asked John.
"Have Charles tighten the line, right now we are too loose. There are more boys in white coming, get ready."
"Yes sir."
Astrid moved to get on her horse, her staff soon followed.
"John, I'm going to go to that tower right there and look for Gustav."
"Yes sir, I'll hold the line for you."
Astrid gave him a quick salute and rode off.
General Jacques had just arrived on the field, the sound of cannons had woken him up.
"General Jacques I'm glad you are here."
"What is going on Francois?"
"When we marched into the town, we though they just some brigands trying to make a name for themselves. Turns it out its a small element of the Berkian army. I sent in a couple of regiments but they held."
Jacques looked at the field in front of him. He saw the Berkian colors waving in the distance.
"Do not fret my friend, with the amount of the troops we have converging on this town. The Berkian army will be destroyed."
"I understand."
"Now, continue the attack, I'll lead some of the other troops that are now arriving."
"Yes sir."
The French troops continued to arrive by the thousands, a sea of white marching towards the small town.
Astrid arrived at the tower in the city. Once she was at the top she took out her telescope and looked around for any sight of Gustav.
"Do you see anything sir?"
"No. Alright boys I'm heading back down."
She climbed down the tower's steps and got on her horse. Soon enough she arrived at her lines.
"Where is John?"
"He got hit by a stray bullet. He's dead sir."
Astrid didn't react, she just looked at the incoming French troops.
"We must continue to hold until reinforcements arrive."
"Yes sir."
The officer ran over to some of the troops who were holding the wall. Astrid got off her horse and watched her men continue to fight. Behind her Charles had brought one of his regiments from the right flank.
"Alright boys fall in to them!"
The soldiers ran to where the rest of the troops were, aiding them in their fight. They fired a volley at the French soldiers who were continuing to attack them. Astrid felt the ground shake as French cannons began to fire at their position. Gun smoke had replaced the fog at this point. An hour had passed since the battle began and the Berkians had not given an inch. Astrid knew her men were gonna be running out of ammunition soon.
"Charles I'm heading back to the tower."
"Yes sir!"
Astrid got back on her horse and galloped back into the town. Once she reached the top of the tower she took out her telescope. She pressed it against her eye and looked around for any sight of Gustav.
"Perhaps we should get some of our troops guarding the hills to aid in the defense."
"No, if there is anything that we need to hold it would be those hills."
"Sir I see Marshal Gustav."
The officer pointed to where he saw him and Astrid looked to where he was pointing with her telescope. It was if god came down and saved her, there riding his horse was Gustav.
"Finally" Astrid said.
Gustav rode up next to the tower calling Astrid.
"It took you long enough Gustav."
"I wanted to keep you waiting though lady Astrid."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming down."
The two of them and their staff rode to Berkian lines. Their condition was worsening as the battle raged on.
"Good thing I got here when I did. I don't think your men can hold much longer."
"Yeah, I don't think so either."
"Good thing I have the good line infantry."
"I'm not gonna say anything about that. Anyway I'll say here and watch the fighting, try and push them back and delay them so my men can finish building defenses."
"Understood. I'll leave a few regiments here and a few guns to help you. Have your men get resupplied."
Astrid nodded and looked towards the tired Berkian soldiers. She looked back towards Gustav but he was already gone. His presence was replaced with that of fresh Berkian line infantry and supply wagons.
Gustav rode for a bit until he saw some French troops marching.
"Have the men get into battle formation. We have some company."
"Yes sir."
The regiments started forming lines and readied their guns.
"Men of Berk, forward!"
"Orders!"
"March!"
The drums of war began to beat again as the troops marched in unison. The French soldiers soon saw them and rushed to get into their lines.
"Fire!"
Berkian troops fired a resounding volley, killing or wounding scores of men.
"Fire!"
The French fired back but didn't do as much damage. Gustav rode behind his lines and watched his men firing at the enemy. They held their ground as more and more French troops arrived to take them out. Gustav needed better ground to continue the fight. His eyes landed on some fences behind the French troops.
"Charge!"
The Berkian troops screamed as they charged the French troops. Bayonets sparked as they clashed with each other, men screaming in pain as they were stabbed or shot at from point blank. Overwhelmed and lack of training, the French troops began to run from the Berkian troops.
"Hold the line here, I must go inform General Astrid of our situation."
"Yes sir."
Gustav galloped back to where Astrid was, hoping her line hadn't collapsed.
Astrid knew even with the fresh troops arriving by the hundreds she couldn't hold forever. The Berkian cannons were doing good work by ripping holes in the French lines. Astrid was on horseback, not the best idea, but she needed to see the battlefield.
"Astrid!"
She turned her head to see Gustav riding up to her. She was about to call out his name but was stopped when a cannon ball landed next to her. Spooked, her horse bucked her off causing her to hit the ground hard. A soldier ran up to the horse to calm it down while Gustav jumped off his horse to see if she was alright.
"That hurt" she said.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"You have bad luck when it comes to cannons."
"Yeah I've noticed."
Gustav extended his arm out and Astrid gladly took it. He helped her off the ground and the two of them looked at the incoming French troops.
"We must hold as long as possible if we want to make sure our defenses will be strong when Hiccup arrives."
"I know. Where is general Reynolds?"
"He just arrived. I told him that he'll be reinforcing your position. I want your men to fallback into town and create a second line of defense."
"Okay, just promise me you won't die."
"Lady Astrid, this is war. Dying is unfortunately part of war."
Astrid nodded and look back towards her men.
"Alright boys we are falling back. Let's move!"
What remained of her troops from when the battle began, ran for the protection of the town. Astrid got back on her horse and looked at Gustav. They saluted each other and ran off to where they were headed. Gustav watched as new troops filled the gaps that Astrid had left. Then his focus was on the incoming French troops.
"General, we must hold the line for as long as we can."
"Yes sir."
Gustav watched as his men continued to fire at the French troops attempting to get them off the fence.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. sorry I didn't get this out sooner, the holidays were the holidays so you know. Can't wait for httyd 3 to come out, I'm excited. This part of the battle was inspired by the real life battle of Gettysburg which was the deadliest battle ever fought on American soil. I also though it was a good idea to bring Astrid and Gustav together. Gustav is much older then the riders so he see Astrid as a daughter. I'm sure I'll explain his backstory in a later date. Another reason why I haven't been posting as much recently is because I'm working on a project and that's taking a lot of my time up nowadays. - Dilloncoll