Meant To Be
Rating; M
Author; Nightstar Fury
Pairing; Hiccup & Signy[OC]
Disclaimer; I do not own the HTTYD movies or series. I also don't own any of the songs that I might use.
Thirty-eight: The War Begins
Four months passed since that day in the cove where Hiccup explained to his father that the plan was to wait for Drago to come into the Archipelago to seek Hiccup out and kill him so he could have nothing in his way of taking over. His specific words were that Paitence Is Key. And truthfully, no one could argue with that because Hiccup proved all his waiting made him victorious in previous battles with Drago from being captured and waiting for the right moments to escape or strike. True to his word, Hiccup did start making the day long trip Drago's base to do a few risk assessments and try and get an estimated number on how many dragons were under the Bewilderbeast's control. By Hiccup's guess from his last visit, the number was at least three hundred and that was better than the original thousand or so Drago had.
Hiccup managed to take more dragons from Drago and safely trasport them to his mother's former nest. Before his decision to leave Signy on Berk for her safety, Hiccup had freed two hundred dragons and now, Hiccup went twice a month to release as many as he could before the alpha would wake up or someone spotted him and woke the alpha up. In the last six months since returning to Berk to handle dragon attacks for the Archipelago islands, Hiccup saved another six hundred dragons, he saved them in small packs of fifty or sixty and Hiccup felt good knowing he took so much from Drago and now the raids were manageable for Hiccup it was really a matter of just getting their attention.
Hiccup made adjustments to the cove since that is where Signy, Toothless, and himself were living. The cave was used for wood, leather, and some dried foods storage. Hiccup expanded the awning to a full shack for Signy and himself, Toothless too. The door way was big enough for the Night Fury, it wasn't what like what they on on Dragon's Edge but Hiccup made it a comfortable living space for them. The shack was wooden, enough to block winds, snow, and rain. It held a bedroom for Signy and Hiccup, while Toothless stayed in the main room. There was a sitting area, and small kitchen. Hiccup even managed to build a small forge with Gobber's help.
Anything else they needed, they would go into the village and offer trades, happened frequently with trader Johann making his way around and stopped at Berk three times a month. It had been discussed a few times of what the two of them would do when Drago would was gone, if they would return to Dragon's Edge or possible rebuild on Dragon Island to be closer to everyone since Hiccup and Signy were engaged to be married very soon. Hiccup promised he would marry her when the war was over and they could leave in happiness with peace around them. Signy had no objections to the decision and another factor in deciding their wedding was Hiccup's traitor status among the Vikings.
As long as Madgut's refused to agree to lift the mark, Hiccup remained a traitor and anyone who stood with him was a traitor as well in the Murderous Island chief's eyes. It was an old law but one that still existed nevertheless. Hiccup was allowed on the islands to handle raids as the dragon rider who could control the strikes until Drago could be brought down. When Drago was dealt with, Hiccup's mark as an outcast traitor would remain and that meant he couldn't stay in the Archipelago anymore. This was one more thing that needed to be decided on of where they would go or what they would do. Hiccup knew his father would let him stay on Berk, but that was beside the point.
The chieftains aside from Madguts agreed to let the dragon rider around to handle raids but that did not mean they all agreed to lift the traitor mark on Hiccup. The law stated that for a traitor mark to be removed and the casting out reversed, then the traitor had to prove their worth to return. Granted Hiccup was risking his life for this cause, he had been after Drago long before being marked a traitor which he was only labeled as because he rode a Night Fury, he worked with dragons. Another big problem was the fact Hiccup had chosen to leave, he wasn't an outcast until everyone discovered that it was him under Drake's mask. For the casting out to be turned over, Hiccup had to prove he wanted to return. To lift the mark of a traitor, they chieftains had to find him worthy of returning.
It wasn't difficult to do but all chieftains still had to be in agreement, more on that, Hiccup would never abandon Toothless so if he couldn't live on Berk or even in the Archipelago with his best friend, he wouldn't bother staying. There was still time to discuss that, Hiccup's priority was dealing with Drago. Anything else could be talked about or decided on later. After the day the small group who had spied on Signy and Hiccup during their love-making, Hiccup told them they couldn't come to the cove without sending a letter first and waiting for a response from him so there wouldn't be anymore incidents like last time.
Today would be another venture to Drago's base to check on things, Hiccup was saddling Toothless in the village with Signy watching. The Chieftains had retuned wanting an update as well, this time it was just Heir's who came with them. "You all didn't have to come to see me off. It takes a day to get there and another to get back," Hiccup rolled his eyes slightly.
"Just be safe, son," Stoick patted his shoulder as Hiccup climbed on Toothless's back and opened the tail.
"No promises," Hiccup shrugged as Signy stepped forward and put her hand on his knee with a worried look in her eyes, "Hey, I'll be okay. Just a routine check, Love," he added.
"You better be okay. I want that future you promised me," Signy tried to smile. Hiccup leaned down and kissed her deeply and she returned it.
"That is a promise I will see through, Mi'lady. We'll build a log cabin in the woods, live off off nature, have a family. Whatever you want babe, I promise. I'll be back soon," Hiccup winked at her as Signy nodded and backed up and Hiccup slid his mask over his head before leaning forward and holding the handle bars of Toothless's saddle. "All right buddy, hit the sky with top speed!" Toothless gave a growled response and raised his wings, then they were headed straight up and whipped around heading North with speed that created a loud whistle as they were out of sight seconds later.
"I guess we just wait now. Hiccup assured there wouldn't be any raids until after he returned," Valka stated. A long drawn out sigh was heard as they split off to go about their business until Hiccup came back to update them on things with Drago.
(A Week Later)
Something was wrong and Signy knew it. Hiccup didn't return in two days as promised. A week had passed, today made seven days that Hiccup had not been seen. The raids had begun once more and proving very difficult without Hiccup around and no one understood what was going on. Hiccup said he was just doing a check and he wasn't back, Valka and Signy's suspicion was that Hiccup had been captured and enduring Thor only knew what kind of torture by Drago Bludvist.
"I can't take this, I'm going to look for him," Signy got up from her seat in the Great Hall.
"Signy, no. Hiccup will kill one of us if anything happens to you!" Gobber reminded.
"You speak of standing with him to defeat this enemy, that you want to help and you won't even lift a finger to help Hiccup when he's in danger!" Signy scolded.
"What can we do? We have no idea where he is right now. Hiccup could be at the base or on a ship and Odin can guess we don't know how to track this guy," Valka sighed. "Drago travels in three ship groups and he has people sailing around in different directions. Hiccup could be anywhere between Berk and another island inside the Archipelago or beyond it. Sadly, I do not know all those locations without Hiccup's map which he carries with him in Toothless's saddle bag," she added looking down.
"So what? We're just going to sit around and not even try? Hiccup could be captured, being tortured or raped. Hiccup could be DEAD and we wouldn't know. I will not sit and do nothing!" Signy yelled. Hiccup taught me how to ride a dragon, I'll find and train one if necessary but I'm searching for my fiance!" she growled some as she left the Great Hall.
"Where are you going to do to find a dragon that isn't under the alpha's control, Signy? Only Hiccup knows how to sever that connection and it's only temporary, he has told us that!" Stoick hurried after her.
"Dragon Island. That was the old Dragon's Nest, Hiccup has dragons on it. Younger ones that have never been under the alpha's hold. I'll sail there and then I'll go find Hiccup," Signy retorted as she stared at the man. "You get no right to tell me not to look for him, Stoick. I love Hiccup, he's my fiance and I'm not going to abandon him. If Hiccup is dead, we're all to follow him in death or condemned to a life of servitude under Drago. I know Hiccup, he won't give up or give in easily. You heard what he said; he won't die until he takes Drago with him so I know he's still alive and needs help,"
"Signy is right. Hiccup has risked his ass for us and now he needs our help," Dagur stood up, "I will join the search too," he added then Camicazi and Eret nodded in agreement.
"Me too," Thuggory smiled.
"So will we," Snotlout and the Thorston twins stood up with a nod.
"I know Drago's base is North of Berk because that's the direction Hiccup flew off in, I just don't know how far North it is," Signy sighed, "But I'm still gonna look for him," she said firmly.
"Hiccup stated that the base was a day flight and he would likely arrive at night, that has to put it on a twelve or so hour flight. Sailing would be four to six days and that is if the winds and seas are good for travel," Gobber mentioned. "I'm going with them," he got to his feet.
"Fine, prepare the ships!" Stoick ordered.
"Chief, we got hunter and trapper ships heading right for us. At least five of of them along with a mass group of dragons flying overhead!" a guard rushed to Stoick. "And that's not the worst part,"
"Then what is!" Stoick yelled.
"Toothless is leading but Hiccup isn't on his back, someone else is," another guard stated softly as eyes widened and filled with fear. "These ships have at least fifty or more people on each. There has to be at least two hundred and fifty at best estimate,"
"Are you sure it's Toothless?" Signy asked quickly.
"Toothless is the only Night Fury with a prosthetic tail and riding rig," the guard frowned.
"See! I told you something happened to him!" Signy glared at Stoick.
"How close are the ships?" Valka inquired.
"My best guess is in the next five minutes," responded the guard calmly.
"Drago's waging war, sending his men and dragons to attack us because he has Hiccup captured or dead. Drago's alpha must have taken control of Toothless and Drago is riding him, there is no need to learn the tail's positioning if Drago can open it and fly a semi-straight direction," Signy said quickly.
"Let's get ready then, prepare for battle!" Stoick called out and everyone jumped into action with grabbing weapons, shields, and anything else they could fight with. Fighting soldiers and dragons was not going to be easy but without Hiccup, they didn't have a choice if they wanted to live. This was it, the chance to defeat Drago and assumingly avenge Hiccup who might have died trying to protect them. There was no way to confirm that yet, but they had a chance to fight and they were taking it. Drago wanted war and they would give him one. War has been declared and had begun.