His Value
Hiccup had a bad feeling about this...A very...very bad feeling...
Astrid being all alone with her mother, of whom he knew, would love to see him dead and had more preferred to celebrate his funeral, than to celebrate his wedding with her very own daughter. Somewhere deep down inside of him, he felt, that Ljóda was plotting yet another plan, to get rid of him and to get Astrid back to Hranafall. And it would probably involve her beloved daughter...
Well, if it had been that easy, then she could just take her and this whole marriage-problem would have been solved, while everything could go back to normal. For him. For Astrid. And for their both tribes.
But that was not how politics and agreements worked. He was married now and he would carry this 'problem' with pride. And after all, Astrid was easy to get along with, once nobody was watching them.
"Is everything alright, Chief Hiccup?" Hakon suddenly asked, startling the young man a little, while the big chief laid a friendly arm around his shoulder.
Hiccup looked up to his now father-in-law, trying to smile a little, while his dark thoughts tried to suppress it.
"Yeah...everything is alright! Ehrm...thanks...for asking."
What else should he have told the older man? That his wife and daughter had planned to kill him the previous night, but Astrid hadn't done it, since she...had something like pity for him? Or felt some compassion? Or just started to like him a little? Yes – the young woman was right, neither would help this her parents relationship and marriage, nor would it be beneficial for the previously signed contract between their two tribes.
Therefore he stayed quiet...
Hakon laughed a little at Hiccup's answer, patting fatherly his shoulder, while the two of them still walked towards the docks, where their friends were already waiting.
"What? Are you afraid of me, now that you have married my daughter?" The Hunter Tribe's chief asked. "Don't worry, son, I know how a heir is made and you don't need to worry, that I rip of your head, for...consuming your wedding night! I just hope to be a grandfather, soon!"
Hiccup gulped a little at that, his already crooked smile turning into a more agonizing one.
There was now way, that Hakon needed to expect an heir now! But he couldn't tell him that – knowing it would hard to explain, why they hadn't shared a bed and went on with their wedding night, after they had departed from the celebration.
"Yeah..." He mumbled "No need to be afraid..."
Thankfully they had finally arrived the docks, while a few of Hakon's men had already prepared the ship for it's departure. A few of them were still walking hurriedly around on deck, screaming and shouting, to make sure, that everything was ready, when their chief was about to leave.
"Nice Ship..." Dagur commented, looking a little impressed "But soon you will travel with dragons. Then you won't need it anymore!"
"Ha!" Hakon said happily, finally letting go of Hiccup "I am looking forward to that! Can't wait to have my own dragon and fly on it, where ever I want."
"A delegation will be send to you soon enough, for them to show you how to train dragons" came it now from Eret, who took his place next to Hiccup and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"I will look forward to that." Hakon said, his eyes shining like those of a child. "And I hope, that you guys soon come to visit Hranafall, to see our dragon population. I am sure, that there are a few species, you do not know, yet!"
"That would be nice!" Fishlegs agreed, looking over to Hiccup, to make sure, that his friend was just as excited about that, as he was. But for now Hiccup had other things in mind, especially when he saw his new mother-in-law approaching, with Astrid following her close behind.
To his surprise the young woman had a strange, distanced look in her eyes and he wondered, what exactly had happened between mother and daughter, when they had stayed behind in his house. Guessing by the bis smile on Ljóda's features it surely wasn't something good. Especially not for him...
"Are we ready?" The older woman said, glancing at her husband, waiting for their departure.
Hakon smiled.
"We can leave as soon, as possible. We were only waiting for you, my dear."
With a strange look, Ljóda mustered Hiccup, who gulped silently, since he knew, that the older woman probably had plotted her next plan to get rid of him and to get her daughter back. Yet – in all courtesy – he stuck out his hand to shake the one of his mother-in-law.
But she refused to take his and merely bowed, just like she had done, when she had first arrived on Berk.
"It was an honor to meet you, Chief Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III" She said with a hard voice, before she turned around, to hug her daughter one last time. And strangely enough it took Astrid a few minutes, until she returned it.
Then Ljóda let go of her – nearly abruptly – to turn around and to walk up towards the deck of her husband's ship, without even bothering to look at all the other people, that had gathered for their departure.
"Don't mind her, Hiccup..." Hakon said, now a sadder smile spreading over his features. "She will eventually get used to you as her son-in-law. Just give her some time."
"I will give her all the time she needs..." he mumbled, before it was him, who took Hakon's hand, shaking it, before the older chief pulled him into a tight hug.
"Take good care of my daughter..." Hakon whispered, to which Hiccup answered without hesitation:
"I will", just before they ended that hug.
"And Astrid, my beautiful warrior princess!" her father then said, now also embracing his daughter, tighter. "My pride and joy! You really made this old man proud! I hope, that you will lead Berk with honor and strength into a bright future!"
"I..." She whispered into her father's shoulder „I will..."
It was Hakon, who pulled away, reaching with his giant hands for Astrid's cheeks, looking with fatherly love at her.
"You will be a good Chieftess. I know that. With a husband like your Hiccup, you will succeed in making our tribes and this archipelago a better place. Don't forget his value. His strength and visions. The good that I see in his heart. I know Stoick and I gave your marriage a rocky path to follow, but it will be worth it in the end. Just wait and see..."
Hiccup was sure, that Astrid's answer was only meant for Hakon's ears to be heard, but he nonetheless was able to hear her words:
"I will do my best. So you can remain proud of me..."
Hakon nodded at that, adding with a sobbing voice:
"I know you will... You are my daughter, after all! And I love you as much, as a father can love his daughter!"
Astrid closed her eyes, when Hakon laid a gentle kiss on her forehead, before he finally let go of her, to bid farewell to everybody else, that waited on the docks.
All the wile Hiccup watched the young woman, who stood with a sad look on her face not far away from him, her hands hanging numbly by her side, as she watched her father walk from one person to the other, talking and joking with them, as if it would be the last time, they would ever see each other.
So he decided to come closer, which earned him an irritated look from his winged friend.
"We will visit them. Don't worry about that..." He mumbled, which startled Astrid a little, since she hadn't noticed the young man, being this close to her.
"Sure..." She whispered back, not sounding all too convinced by that.
"I promise. You will see Hranafall again. And more than once!"
Astrid only nodded a little, before she turned her eyes back towards her father, who was now waving everybody, before he walked up the ship.
"Fare thy well, my new friends!" He shouted with his loud voice, when his men lifted the anchor and set the sails, which the wind soon enough caught to let the ship slowly follow it's way. Back towards Hranafall.
Hiccup could hear the heavy gulping of the woman next to him, who only held her eyes onto the very ship in front of her. Standing silently. Not even waving them goodbye. Hiccup could only guess, how much it hurt her to see her parents leave just like this. Leaving her behind in a village, she still didn't know and was so much different to her beloved home. And the young man vowed to himself, that he would give her all the times she needed to get used to it.
"We will escort them until the prim of Berk's territory." Eret said, pointing with his head towards his, Fishleg's and Snotlout's dragons, who had already come close, probably in curiosity. "As a sign of courtesy."
"Yeah. Do that. But come back as soon as possible. A few houses in the eastern side of the village still need some mending. I want them to be finished before the first frost settles in. And Gothi said, that there might be some rain coming from south by the end of next week. I don't think, that they want wet feed..." Hiccup said, his position as the chief suddenly catching up with him again. Eret yet nodded, gesturing for the two other Vikings to follow him, mounting their dragons, to follow Chief Hakon's ship.
Because suddenly – everything went back to normal, now that their honorable guests had left. And it had to – winter was coming closer and closer with each day and there were still a few signs of Drago's rampage. And suddenly he wasn't just the groom or the newly wed husband, but the chief again.
And things just needed to be done.
"Gobber-" Hiccup said, now turning towards the smith, who immediately stepped closer "How far are the preparations for the harvest?"
"Nah, don't ya worry – the fields will be empty before the next moon."
"Enough food for the winter?"
"Looks good. As far as we are not going under attack, again..."
Hiccup understood – with the storehouse partially destroyed during Drago's attack on Berk, there was no way, that they could regain the same amount of food, like all the years before.
"Food shortage for the winter?" Dagur said, who had listened to the conversation.
"Not that bad. But the last years had been better for Berk."
His red-haired friend looked over to his wife, who nodded immediately.
"Then we will send you some food, brother..." Dagur said.
"You would do that?" Hiccup said, sounding happy about the offer and a little relieved.
"The Gods have blessed us with rich fields this year." Mala added, slightly smiling. "We will prepare everything, as soon as we have returned.
"Some weapons, too?" Gobber asked, earning him a dark looks of his chief. "What – the arsenal had also taken some damage! We just need to be prepared. And I don't think, that ya want to stand in the forge the whole night to work?"
"I will make sure, that there will be a few weapons among the shipment..." Heather said warmly.
"That is very kind of you guys. And if there is something, that Berk can do for you-"
"We will come back to it. Don't worry. Especially when little Dagi is out, we might need a babysitter."
They laughed and it was Dagur, who laid a friendly hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
"It was nice, to see you again, brother..." he mumbled, to which Hiccup also laid an hand on his old friends shoulder. "And it was nice be at your wedding... But as your...father-in-law has said – a village needs his chief. And we have to return, too..."
"Our own departure had been far too abrupt, since your wedding has been moved forward for a week. Which took us a little by surprise..." Mala added, to which Heather only could nod.
"I understand. But I am still glad, that you were able to make it." Hiccup then turned towards his mother, who was standing not far away from him, looking into the distance. "And I understand, that you need to leave, too..."
Valka looked at him, surprised by his words.
"Well, you said, you would be back to my wedding, which now is over. So, technically you also have time to prepare everything for winter...And to be there for the dragon's... When Snoggletog comes, they will lay their eggs and that's when they are counting on you."
His mother smiled warmly, very well understanding, that he meant the upcoming time for dragons to lay their eggs – which would mean even more work for her, with the new hatchlings.
"Are you sure, that I can leave you...two...?" She asked, looking over towards Astrid, who was still standing at the edge of the docks, watching her parents ship become smaller and smaller in the distance. Being unaware of the normality that had back kicked in for Berk. And that would soon catch up with her, too.
"Yeah...I think, we will handle it..."
His mother instantly hugged her son tightly.
"You really have become a great man, Hiccup! And a great chief...Don't you think that!" But then she whispered: "Still have your eyes on her and turn your back at her. You might be a valuable Chief to our people – and Astrid knows that – but I am not sure, of what plans her mother still had in her mind."
„Don't worry..."
Valka sighed at that, stepping back, to look at Hiccup with a small smile on her lips. Maybe he should tell her one day about what had happened the night before and what should have happened to him. Maybe...maybe she knew, what to do about his mother-in-law's murderous wishes and how to make Astrid feel not too bad about it.
"If only Stoick could see you now – how you chief this village and its people. How you act with leaders of other tribes. He really would be proud of you..."
"Thank you...mother..."
Her words meant much for him, especially now, that he had a new burden to carry – this so called 'wife' of his.
Knowing, that he had to do something – he walked back towards where she stood, now also facing the small silhouette of the giant ship and the three dragons high above it.
"So..." He mumbled „I am not sure, what your normal daily routine would be like, but I thought you would like to have a look on everything, that Berk has to offer. Ruff and Tuff would gladly show you around a little."
Hiccup looked over his shoulder and towards the twins, who seemingly were caught in yet another one of their fights and sighed a little annoyed at that.
"I just don't want to bore you with casual chiefing stuff, you know. And we still have so much to repair and so much to prepare for the winter. I thought it would be best, if you first get to know everything, before...we would look at your upcoming duties as..."
"...as the chieftess of Berk... I know that." It was her, who sighed heavily, turning around, since she was about to leave the docks, stopping for a moment to say: "But for now I have to refuse your offer – I just have lost everything I have known and loved. I need some time alone and..." She pointed towards Toothless "..., away from these creatures to clear my mind..."
And with that she walked past the twins and back towards the Haddock house, leaving everybody in confusion about the chieftess' behavior.
A/N: First of all – thank you guys for your understanding for past weeks break! It makes me really happy to have such understanding people here :D And for those who asked – yes, my daughter and I are better now and life has returned to the old ways.
Now for the chapter and the title – of what I have learned during my English classes I have learned, that 'worth' and 'value' have different meanings, though they often can be used the same. Worth is here more the price an object hold (something, which Ljóda sees in her daughter), while value has a more emotional part to it. That's way I here choose to change the titles for Hiccup and Astrid a little, though it had a more similar note to it, than one might think at first. Just for you to know ;D And also – some Ljóda free chapters are to come (before she returns for the ending ;D)
I still hope that you enjoyed this chapter! :D And for the comments:
Grima: Yeah, she somehow turned psychopath, hasn't she? ;D Also – currently I have three thoughts of how it might end. We will see, which one I choose ;D
Silvolde: Oh well, she really has a dagurish site to her now...Well, we will see about her later ;D
Crimson Dragon VIRUS: Yeah, I really have to agree with my fellow authors there – keep up the good commenting style! It really makes me re-think everything once again, though somebody elses perspective :D And yeah – Ljóda's facade is breaking (though we are still not quite there yet) And yes – Hakon will eventually learn about everything... And then...well... And once again for commenting :D
supersandman86: Nice idea you have there with Drago. And we will see, how he fits in later ;D Also with Valka and her role in it ;D
Mariah: We will see ;D
Aiacco: Thank you very much for your very nice words :D I really fell happy about it 3 And I can already tell you – this Hiccupness will eventually get to Astrid, sooner or later ;D (also funny enough I have seen, that you made your account on my birthday, last year ;D)
CajunBear73: Yeah, it really was yet another brainwashing try, but it failed a little...(or more than Ljóda had expected :O). And yeah – she really sees Astrid pureness as a treasure that is to keep until the very end... and the woman eventually will see, what she gets by her evil deeds...
cosmicblader12: Haha – casual insanity here ;D
Iae Carvalho: I think that I am glad, that Ljóda makes you feel this way ;D And yeah – Hiccup really is a prince Charming and somebody, that should not be underestimated ;D Thank you really for reading and commenting ;D
MysteryGirl111: Thank you very much, we really feel better :D Also – I take breaks, if needed :D I really appreciate that still :D And I hope that the following plans from that crazy woman are much to your liking ;D
: Thank you very much 3 And yep – some bonding will soon happen. And some Stormfly to come ;D (Not right in the next chapter, but very soon ;D)
jimmix: Thank you very much! :D I am glad, that you liked it. And you are very right about Ljóda there and your assumptions about here. And on your two wishes I can say – there are some plans for that ;D
elnine27: Thank you very much for your understanding 3
Dragon4ever: Thank you very much and I am glad, that you stumbled upon this fiction 3 Also I am glad, that you can read it with ease! And I can agree – eventually she will be happy :D
Guest: Yeah, Astrid was pretty confused there. I mean – She had always trusted every word her mother said, because in her eyes Ljóda had been right. And suddenly – she wasn't. Because Hiccup didn't just sleep with her, because he could, but he stepped away from it and even gave her his bed. (Because that what one should normally do, instead of hurting somebody.) And Ljóda isn't just in for the money. Worse...for the power behind it ;D And yeah – some daily life incoming. And thank you very much and I hope you further read and like this story ;D
hiccstrid105: No, she won't give up ;D
Rex: Thank you and finally, her view about the world and her mother are starting to change ;D
Fredrik the astral dragon: Oh yeah...insanity started to kick in ;D And yes, there started some bonding between them ;D
aaquater: Yeah, we are better now :D Thank you. Ah, I understand ;D Though I have read a few articles, that intercourse should help with the monthly pain a woman has (though only the thought of that is a little...scary and revolting to me ;P). The one thing is (though I need to calm a little before I tell you to much) that Ljóda sure would love to see her daughter happy – but then on the other hand – wouldn't it be nicer to get back the control over her own life, which she had lost due to her father forcing her in marriage and for Hakon being the chief who (still for the love for her) had this certain bit of control over her, that men sometimes have. I hope still for now will clear your thoughts about her. Also, she thought that she had indoctrinated her daughter enough, for her to see it the same way – a man who would pay enough for her, would also dearly care for her (as some kind of a possession). And that it would have made her happier, if her daughter hadn't the same fate as her, though time showed her different... Really need to bite my tongue, though... But I also agree on the talking part there. Like – really – talking might have solved a lot here ;D And don't worry, I really enjoyed reading it ;D
Lizby: Killing her daughter...mhm...well maybe not. That would be too drastic ;D
Superfanfirl16: Thank you and yeah, we do ;D
fs440: They have servants, so yes – that poor girl has no experience in housework... Also thank you for your kind words :D
S. H: You don't have to be sorry about it. Maybe if you write the people of the site, they tell you of a possible way to upload without your own account. But is there a specific reason, why your mom isn't allowing you one? And Stormfly is soon incoming ;D Also – ahhh...on the name ;D And I might think about it :D
martabm90: Thank you 3