The Great Hall doors opened once more. The twins and Barf and Belch exited. While they had been with Hiccup and the others in the nursery, they had stayed when Irondust brought news of the human smelling like dragon blood. The knowledge did not surprise Hiccup or the other humans and adult dragons, but it scared many of the younger ones. Hiccup, after picking Icewing up to scratch her chin, asked the twins and the Zippleback to remain. As the resident experts on making people and dragons laugh, Hiccup hoped the three would easy the young dragons' fears. He only exited the nursery though after he knelt and promised to make sure everyone was safe. He received many nuzzles from the cooing youngsters before he and the others left.

"Brother, I do believe we have missed something," Ruff said from the third step down from the top.

Tuff, standing a step lower than her in an effort to give Barf and Belch room at the landing right at the doors, grunted. "Rude," he said looking down at the plaza. "Could have at least sent a Terror to let us know you were having a party."

"Yeah," Ruff added. "We make the party after all."

Hiccup, still in the air with Toothless and many of the other dragons, pinched the bridge of his nose. Toothless gave a warble that sounded both resigned and flabbergasted at the same time.

[Alpha of the nest, you have interesting nest-mates.]

Hiccup lifted his head, finding the four visiting nest leaders hovering just above Gyda's house. That prompted him to look around and run a tally in his mind. He blinked. The amount of dragons in the air were in fact greater than the number living in the nest. He turned back to the nest leaders.

[You have given us aid,] Hookfang's uncle said. [We offer our aid in defending the nest from an unprovoked attack. We shall return to our wounded and young. Many of our elite warriors will remain out in case the Ice-tunneler forgets the correct way of doing things. They will obey you as they obey us. Correct?]

A mix of the four species trilled responses to his question. Hiccup looked around, realizing just how many of those warriors were in the air with his dragons. He looked back to the nest leaders and tipped his head, his hand brushing against the back of Toothless' neck.

[My alpha thanks you,] Toothless said. [Two of the humans below cannot understand us and do not know the nest humans can speak to us so my alpha requested I deliver his message to you.]

[We understand,] the Gronckle stated. [This peace your alpha has won us is but a hatchling right now, still learning its wings and tail. And as with hatchlings, it will grow and become powerful. We await that day, but we understand things will still be painful and awkward during the flight there.]

With that the four banked, heading inland and disappearing behind a rise in the land covered with tall trees. Hiccup grinned. He was pleased they also took care to hide the true location of the guest cave. Hiccup looked around again and pointed down. Every dragon in the air landed, nest dragons making room for the visiting warriors. Toothless waited until Moondust was the last to touch down before he also landed. Hiccup dismounted and moved back to the Ice-tunneler male. He glanced at his father and then towards Johann and Eret. Stoick tipped his head, barely, before making his way to the men. He gestured towards the Great Hall.

"Come, there be still food fer ye 'n after that, I suspect ye wish a place ta sit 'n wind down."

"A most pleasing offer, good chief. We accept."

Hiccup noted the glare Johann gave Eret when the man opened his mouth. The dragon trapper sighed then nodded his head. Both men followed Stoick up to the Great Hall.

"Aye, better go 'elp'm," Gobber grunted. "Be too many dragons in 'tween me and da stall and nare any room fer them to shuffle outta me way."

With that Gobber headed up as well. Hiccup noted Gyda watching as Stoick, Johann, and Eret reached the Great Hall first. Barf and Belch had to glide off the landing so they had room to enter. Ruff and Tuff merely waited until the chief bypassed them before walking down to join their dragon. When Gobber reached the top of the Great Hall steps, Stoick and the other two men were already inside. Hiccup blinked as Shadowfire made a sound that gave Hiccup the impression he was complaining about something.

[I feel cheated.]

"Five years, son," Gyda replied, seeming to understand what ailed Shadowfire.

Hiccup stared at her, eyebrow lifted but his eyes narrowed as he spied Baneson sneaking around behind a Nadder, and not a nest one. The young man had what looked like a small, stout club in his hand.

"Don't!"

Link and Nightjaw flared. Hiccup's soul surged. Hiccup saw all the dragons jerk. Many Vikings had been in the plaza while everything happened. Two saw Baneson lift the club. Bucket grabbed Baneson's wrist, halting his swing. Baneson struggled to get free. Bucket, using a trick the twins did often, slammed his bucket into Baneson's forehead. The club fell from limp fingers. Bucket threw an unresponsive Baneson onto his shoulder. He looked towards Hiccup.

"Stuff him in a cell," Hiccup ordered. "Inform Hilda of what happened. Baneson remains in jail until I say otherwise."

Stoick still ran the village but had stated that for issues involving any dragon, Hiccup had the final say because he trusted his son to make the right choice. That had been a day Hiccup would never forget no matter how old he became since Stoick declared that in front of a full Great Hall during one of the snowstorms that ravaged the land over winter.

Bucket nodded his head before he and Mulch ambled off to the jails. Hiccup saw the female Ice-tunneler watching the entire thing. His focus turned to the Nadder Baneson was sneaking up on as said dragon moved closer. The dragon bowed his head but did not spread his wings.

[You saved my daughter and now you save me,] the Nadder began. [Before, I would have thought this a ploy, a conniving trick of your kind to cause me and mine harm. And I meant no disrespect when I say that,] the Nadder added quickly as the nest dragons, except for the bonded dragons, began to snarl.

Hiccup held up his hand. Silence, but for the sound of breathing, fell. Hiccup looked around.

"Thank you," he said, staring at his dragons. He looked back to the Nadder. "Please continue, range-warrior of your nest."

The Nadder trilled, a sound that Hiccup did not need translated or for his abilities to tell him the meaning of. The Nadder was proud of the address. Hiccup made a mental note to thank Winddancer and all the Nadders for the knowledge of what to call a Nadder nest warrior.

[I see now that you do as you have done because you are as you are.]

Hiccup blinked. The comment, though spoken in the Common Tongue still needed a moment to be untangled so he could fully understand it.

[I cannot leave my queen. I made a vow before the ancestors to follow her to the Way-guards and beyond. However, I stand in debt to you. I know my nest stands as an ally to yours but even had that not been the case, I would have still given you this oath. Should you ever need my aid, young alpha, I will be there to help you. No matter what.]

Hiccup grew still for several heartbeats before responding.

"You honor me," Hiccup whispered. "I give you an oath in return. I shall do all I can to be worthy what you have given me."

The Nadder lifted his head and curled his neck so he could stare Hiccup in the eyes.

[Just remain you, young alpha, and you will forever be worthy.]


NightshotShadowFury: Well, Eret did bring it on himself so it's his own fault. And yes, the dragon is the Snow Wraith. Hehe, wouldn't you get a bit lightheaded watching dragons that you thought were worth nothing more than gold defend humans in such a manner?

Kirika: He seems to be learning so we'll see. And well, she is a Viking and stubborn and Hiccup's ancestor so…