PLEASE READ ALL AUTHOR'S NOTES WHEN READING THIS CHAPTER. THANKS! (Which I apologise for the length of by the way!)
Well, this is a first for a while isn't it? I'm updating on time when I said I would! And once again I've had to split it into two very long parts. Apologies for that!
Ok, so this chapter has two storylines going on at once and it takes place a year after the last one. One with Siri as she takes over as acting Chief when Hiccup and Astrid are away and another with Hiccup and Astrid at their meeting at the Shivering Shores. It also brings up some strong hints as to a future plotline too, so keep your eye out for that. Also, in this chapter you're going to see a character that I've never written into the story before and who I came to really like in RTTE who shows up at the meeting at the Shivering Shores.
Just a note before we begin as well, please be aware that anything that happens in this chapter is NOT as it seems. You'll understand that while you're reading it. Everything will be clear to some people, and will be explained next chapter for others.
Also, to be clear, as of THIS chapter, Siri and Lennart are not together yet. Yeah, I know, they're slow as glaciers. But I promise, something is coming up between them!
Ok, on with the chapter!
Chapter 52 – Taking the Reigns: Part One
"How long has it been since your mum went to this meeting?"
Frowning thoughtfully, Siri glanced up from the little Terrible Terror she was shining a light towards in order to glance at her friend. "About...seventeen years, I think?" she said slowly, answering the boy's question. "The last time she was there was when she was pregnant with me."
"That was a long time ago," Lennart chuckled, sitting down beside her to join in with the fun. "Why didn't she go the other years?"
Siri shrugged. "Not enough time, I guess," she said, moving the ball of light around for the Terror to chase. "What with me, and then Leif and Ingrid to take care of, I think mum thought it easier just to stay at home. But she's always wanted to go again."
"I don't know why," Lennart said, chuckling as he watched the little dragon chase the ball of light around in circles. "From what your dad says, those meetings are a total snooze fest."
"When you've been going to them for twenty years, anything would be a snooze fest," Siri pointed out in amusement. "I mean, he gets bored just going to our council meetings, let alone the Shivering Shores. I don't know why, though," Siri added with a shrug. "I think they're really interesting."
"Yeah, and how long have you been going to them?" Lennart asked her humorously. "I bet you won't be saying that once you've been doing it as long as your dad has."
"Yeah, I guess," Siri chuckled, as she suddenly flicked the ball of light out of the Terror's sight, causing it to glance wildly around to find where the mysterious object went. Siri laughed.
"Don't you think that's a little unfair?" Lennart asked her uncertainly, watching as the little creature grew more confused. "I mean, you're technically tricking the poor thing."
Siri's eyes widened. "You know, I never actually thought about that," she admitted sheepishly as she quickly flicked the light back out, causing the dragon to pounce on it once again. "Sorry little buddy." She slowly brought the light back to her, before discretely placing them back in to her pocket, causing the Terror to quickly lose interest. It gave her a quick nudge, before flying off in the opposite direction.
"You know, I've done that to Midnight so often, I never once thought anything of it," Siri said awkwardly, as she hoisted herself off the ground.
"Well, it's not really doing any harm," Lennart admitted. "It just looked a little unfair watching it from this angle, that's all."
"Probably doesn't help that I didn't let it catch it, either," Siri chuckled. "Dad always says you have to give them have a chance at least."
"Speaking of your dad," Lennart said suddenly. "Who's he leaving in charge while he's gone? Is he giving you a go?" he asked hopefully.
Siri shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. "But considering I haven't been told anything, I highly doubt it-"
"ARGHHHH!"
"What the heck?" Wheeling around, Siri tried to find the source of the commotion, her eyes landing on Gerold in moments. He was standing by the stables, drenched from head to toe in what Siri hoped was water, and his clothes were dripping on everything in his near vicinity. The culprits weren't very hard to spot either. Siri barely had to move an inch to see Leif, Kelda and Eric sniggering nearby, loitering in the shadows of the stables behind him.
"Oh for crying out loud!" Siri exclaimed irritably, as she watched the scene play out in front of her. "What the heck are those three doing?!"
"The usual, I'd say," Lennart said with a sigh, as Siri stormed over to her ten year old brother, who didn't even notice his sister coming, until she yelled out his name at the top of her lungs.
"LEIF HICCUP HADDOCK!"
"Crap," she heard him utter, before he quickly emerged from his hiding place, greeting his sister with an innocent grin as she quickly approached him.
"Oh, hey Seer," he said cheerfully, waving awkwardly in her direction. "I didn't know you were around."
"Well, I was," Siri confirmed. "And what I'd like to know is what Gerold did to deserve that." She nodded to the boy, who was still dripping from head to toe nearby. "From what I saw, he wasn't doing anything to you." She looked at her brother pointedly, who just glanced back at his sister incredulously as she ranted at him.
"Since when do you care what happens to Gerold?" Leif asked her bewildered. "He's a mean jerk who deserves whatever he gets. I mean, you didn't care what we did during Thawfest last year," he added.
"Yeah, but Gerold was cheating in that," Siri pointed out. "He wasn't doing anything right now, though, was he?"
"Well... no..." Leif admitted sheepishly, as he reached up to scratch the back of his head. "But I didn't think you would mind. You can't stand Gerold."
Siri sighed. "I may not like, Gerold, Leif, but I also wouldn't prank him for no reason either." She glanced over at Gerold, who was peeling off his saturated vest and throwing it to the ground. "Guys, please tell me that's water," Siri said nervously, as she turned her attention back to the trio.
"It's just stable water," Kelda confirmed quietly, throwing Siri an apologetic grin. "We would never use anything else."
"Yeah, well, water or not, you need to go over there and apologise," Siri said sternly, pointing her finger over towards Gerold. "He's completely drenched!"
Leif's eyes widened in horror. "You're kidding me, right?!" the ten year old exclaimed incredulously.
"I know you don't want to, but it's the right thing to do," Siri said responsibly, as she glanced over at her ex-boyfriend in slight annoyance. "And you can help him clean up while you're at it."
"Why can't you do that?" Eric drawled.
"Because I'm not the one who did it. Besides," she continued, with a narrowed look in the older teen's direction, "I'm not doing it."
Leif sighed. "Fine," he said. He gestured to Kelda and Eric. "Come on, guys."
"Oh man," was all Siri heard as the three kids trudged their way over to the soaked teen.
"That was really mature, Seer," Lennart said proudly, causing Siri to jump as the boy came up unsuspectingly behind her. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks," Siri said, throwing him a small smile. "I just wish I knew where that came from."
"Probably all the training your dad's been giving you," Lennart said, throwing her a soft smile. "You don't realise it, Seer, but you've changed a lot in the past year."
"Is that a good thing?" Siri asked uncertainly, as a faint blush rose in her pale cheeks.
"Well, I say it is," Lennart said kindly, causing Siri to smile widely in return.
Unbeknownst to Siri, Lennart wasn't the only one impressed by Siri's level of maturity. Hiccup, having been standing nearby throughout this whole scene, was watching after his eldest daughter with a proud smile on his face as Siri and Lennart followed after Leif to ensure he did as he was told.
"What was all the commotion?" Astrid asked, as she came up the hill behind Hiccup. "I heard someone yelling."
"Gerold," Hiccup said, nodding his head to the boy in question. "Leif thought it would be funny to dump a whole bucket of water over his head."
Astrid sighed. "Oh, you've got to the kidding me!" she exclaimed in exasperation. "Can't those three get it a rest for one day?" She shook her head. "I'll deal with them."
Hiccup smiled. "No need," he assured her gently, giving another nod to the scene nearby. "Siri already has the situation well in hand."
Eyes widening in surprise, Astrid's attention quickly turned to the scene where Leif, Kelda and Eric seemed to be apologising to the older boy, albeit half-heartedly, with Siri and Lennart watching sternly on from a distance. "This is Siri's doing?" she asked amazed, pointing to the situation nearby. "But she can't even stand Gerold!"
"And yet she still got Leif to apologise to him, despite her own feelings," Hiccup said proudly, as he wrapped a tender arm around his wife's shoulders. "She's come a long way, Astrid."
"I'll say," Astrid said quietly, just as Leif, Kelda and Eric walked away with a still sopping Gerold; Leif squeezing out Gerold's wet vest in the process with a look of thunder etched upon his face. "Obviously we've made the right choice in letting her take over for the next few days."
"Speaking of that," Hiccup said, grinning down at his wife. "Don't you think we should tell her she's about to be in charge? You know, before we leave?" he chuckled.
"I'll go and get her," Astrid chuckled, half-heartedly disentangling herself from Hiccup's one armed embrace. "We can tell her while we pack."
H iccup chuckled. "Yeah, sure, and that's not last minute at all," he quipped, as Astrid quickly rushed after her daughter to tell her the news.
"Me? You're putting me in charge?!"
"Why not?" Hiccup asked, throwing his daughter an encouraging smile. "It's about time I gave you the chance."
"But I've only been doing this for over a year," Siri said weakly, glancing up at her parents nervously. "What if I do something wrong?"
"That's how you gain experience," Hiccup pointed out kindly, as he placed a comforting arm around the sixteen year olds shoulders. "Look, Seer, do you think we'd be doing this if we even had one ounce of doubt?" He smiled. "You don't have to be perfect the first time around. That's why we're giving you the chance for a short period of time."
"Do you think I'm ready, though?" Siri asked, as she nervously twisted her hands around in front of her.
"Well, you'll never know until you try, will you?" Astrid smiled, as she quickly folded some clothes into a satchel as she spoke.
"And besides-" Hiccup continued, before Siri could interject, "-if you have as much maturity in dealing with the rest of the village as you did with Leif earlier, you'll do just fine." He smiled knowingly towards her.
Siri's eyes widened. "You saw that?"
"Yep," Hiccup confirmed, giving her a small smile. "And I have to say, it took a lot of maturity for you to put aside your own feelings to help Gerold. That's not an easy thing to do, I know," he added with a quick sheepish smile in his wife's direction, who quickly returned it.
"I still wouldn't talk to him, though," Siri pointed out. "So that's not entirely mature, is it?"
"Well... no," Hiccup admitted. "But you don't have to like everyone to be mature, Seer," he added, throwing her a small smile. "You still knew what Leif was doing was wrong, and you tried to correct it. You didn't have to talk to Gerold to do that. Besides," he continued. "It's not against the law to not like someone. Your Grandpa Stoick never got along with Snotlout's dad, and he was no worse for it. Well, not usually anyway," he chuckled.
Siri chuckled. "Yeah, I guess," she said, before she threw her dad a hopeful smile. "So, you think I'm ready for this?"
"I know you are," Hiccup assured her. "Anyone who can sit through a council meeting without even thinking of going to sleep is ready for anything in my book."
Siri laughed. "Yeah, I guess so," she grinned. "So..." she added slowly, "... what will I have to do?"
"Keep the village in check, mainly," Hiccup explained, as he quickly picked up his Chief notes sitting beside him. "You will have to lead a council meeting tomorrow afternoon, though," he added quickly, seeing the crestfallen look on Siri's face. "It's just our weekly one, but it will still give you a chance to show us what you can do. And if you want," Hiccup continued, throwing his daughter a mischievous smile in the process, "you can form your own council to make it feel more realistic. As long as Hager, Gobber and Grandma are still on the council of course," he added quickly, before Siri could interject. "There's no way you're leading a council without some elder help your first time."
"I wouldn't want to lead a council meeting without some help," Siri pointed out, throwing her father a horrified look at the very thought of it. "But..." she continued, with a thoughtful look crossing her face, "... who should I have on the council with me?"
"Anyone you like," Hiccup said, with a shrug. "When my dad went away, I had your mother and the other dragon riders on the council with me. Yes, even Ruff and Tuff," he added dryly, seeing Siri's questioning look. "Although they weren't much of a help, that's for sure."
Siri giggled. "So..." she said slowly, "... I can have Len, Brenna and Hakon?"
"I don't see why not," Hiccup said, exchanging a quick glance with his wife, who nodded in return. "They're good kids, and I think they'd love the chance. Try to aim for at least six of you, though," he added quickly, as Siri went to respond. "Because eventually you will be forming your own council, and you'll need a few more people than that."
"Well, I guess I could ask Eira," Siri said; eyebrows knitting together thoughtfully. "But I'm not sure who else I'd ask."
"Well, it doesn't matter right now," Hiccup assured her. "Just have a think about it, though. You don't want to put someone on the council that you don't trust."
"That rules Gerold out," Siri said bitterly, as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I may be willing to get along with him, but I'm not having him on the council with me. That's just trouble waiting to happen."
"Can't disagree with you there," Astrid said. "Having someone you don't like on the council is one thing, but having your ex-boyfriend is probably a whole different story. You'd probably more likely to fight than get anything done."
"Sounds like a regular council meeting anyway," Hiccup noted dryly.
Siri giggled. "So other than fighting with the council, what else will I have to do?" the sixteen year old asked cheerfully, as she tried to sneak a peek at the notes in her father's hand curiously.
"There's not really much you have to do to be honest," Hiccup admitted, as he consulted his notes again. "All you really have to do is make sure nobody kills each other while we're gone," he chuckled. "And make sure certain people stay out trouble," he added, throwing his daughter a pointed expression.
"And by certain, you mean Leif?" Siri said; an amused grin twitching at her lips.
"Well, not only Leif," Hiccup admitted, as he rubbed his neck sheepishly. "A lot of kids like to pull a prank every now and then. And Tuffnut's still not innocent either, no matter what he tries to make us all think."
"So..." Siri began thoughtfully, "... patrol the island, make sure people stay out of trouble and make sure to attend the council meeting? Sounds easy enough," she said.
"Around here, nothing is ever easy," Hiccup grinned. "But I'll go and show you where the main problem areas are before we leave."
"You two go ahead," Astrid told them, as Hiccup and Siri stood up from their place on the couch. "I'll catch up to you once I'm finished here."
"How long are you planning on staying for?" Hiccup asked, watching in amusement as Astrid continued to place one item after another into the two satchels by her feet. "You'll have enough packed to stay a month at the rate you're going."
Astrid snorted. "Better safe than sorry," she said, as she quickly shoved a canteen of water into her bag. "I mean, it's not like we're going in storm season or anything." She threw her husband a pointed look.
Hiccup's smile fell. "Oh, Astrid," he said gently as he reached to take her hand, causing her lips to tug up in a small smile. "You know you don't have to go?" he asked her as he lightly stroked her hand.
Astrid rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Hiccup," she assured him, throwing him a small smile. "I was just stating a point. Besides," she added cheerfully, "do you think I'm missing out on the chance to thank Godric and Iona for saving you? It is their first year at the meeting, isn't it?" she asked him.
"Second year, really," Hiccup elaborated, "but considering they left before I even arrived last year, I guess you could say that." He smiled at her. "Alright, I'll meet you over by the Great Hall in ten minutes. I'll just show Siri what she needs to do." He turned to his daughter. "Come on, Seer."
"Right behind you, dad."
"So, that's all you really have to do, Seer," Hiccup explained, as he, Siri and Lennart, who had quickly joined them once they'd reappeared outside, walked around the town. "Start from the Great Hall," he pointed the old building behind them, before moving his finger around town, "walk around the town square and the stables, before coming back here. If you hear anything going on while you're doing this, go and see to it straight away."
Taking all this in, Siri nodded. "And what happens if I can't do anything?" she asked worriedly, as she took a quick glance around the bustling town.
Hiccup smiled. "Then go find Grandma or Gobber. They'll be on hand to help you out. But if it's anything like I usually deal with, you shouldn't have too much trouble."
"What do you usually deal with, sir?" Lennart asked politely, before Siri could ask.
"Mostly squabbles," Hiccup elaborated. "Petty fights tend to break out a fair bit when you live in close quarters like we do. Watch out for Bucket and Mulch especially. I have to break those two up on a daily basis usually."
Siri and Lennart chuckled. "We'll make sure they don't kill each other," Siri promised.
"That's my girl," Hiccup said proudly, before he quickly took a glance around. He frowned. "Now, where in the name of Thor has you mother gotten too?" he asked bewildered. "She didn't have that much to pack!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Astrid suddenly exclaimed from behind them. "Don't get your saddle in a knot!"
"I thought you were packing the whole house the way you were going," Hiccup grinned, as Astrid held out a satchel for him to take. "You took long enough!"
"Ha, ha," Astrid said dryly, with a roll of her eyes. "If you must know, I had to double back to use the bathroom."
"Again?" Hiccup chuckled. "Didn't you just go an hour ago?"
"Do I really have to explain it to you?" Astrid quipped, throwing her husband a pointed look, making the man's face turn a faint tinge of pink.
"Oh."
Astrid grinned. "I didn't think so."
"Well, it's not like you can go now anyway," Siri pointed out, ignoring this conversation as she took a quick glance around the immediate area. "Leif and Ingrid aren't here yet, and we allknow what happened the last time you left without saying goodbye to Ingrid."
"Why, what happened?" Lennart asked his friend curiously, as he turned to her with an interested expression.
"She sulked for hours, that's what happened," Siri said, pinching the bridge of her nose with a sigh. "And the last thing I want is to have an upset seven year old on my hands. Leif's enough trouble as it is!"
"I am not!"
"And, speaking of Loki," Siri chuckled, as she watched her two siblings hurry towards them, where Ingrid immediately bounded into her father's arms as soon as she saw him.
"We were wondering where you two had gotten too," Astrid chuckled, as she held out her arms for her son, who wasted no time in embracing his mother. "We thought we'd have to leave before we saw you!"
"Yeah, like that'd end well," Leif muttered, with a quick glance over at his younger sister, who was still hugging her father tightly around the waist.
Astrid grinned. "Well, now that you are here, do me a favour and promise me you'll be good for Siri?" She looked over at her eldest daughter with a proud grin. "She's in charge of all matters for the next few days, both at home and in the village."
Leif groaned. "Oh man," he drawled, glancing over at his sister with an incredulous expression. "Don't tell me she's acting Chief?"
"Why? Do you have a problem with that?" Siri asked him in amusement, as she saw the horrified look on her brother's face.
"Well... no," Leif admitted, giving his sister a sheepish smile. "It's pretty cool actually."
Siri threw him a questioning look. "So... your problem is...?" she started; confusion evident on her face.
"You won't let me do anything!" Leif exclaimed, as he threw his arms up in the air dramatically, causing a roar of laughter from the gathered Vikings.
"Oh, I will too," Siri grinned, with a roll of her eyes. "I just won't let you prank everyone in sight, that's all."
"Fair enough," Leif grinned, causing Hiccup and Astrid to chuckle behind him.
"Well, now that that's settled," Hiccup laughed, "we better get going." He glanced down at his youngest daughter, still happily wrapped in his arms. "You be good, sweetie," he smiled, bending down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Mummy and I will be back in a few days."
"Okay," Ingrid said, throwing her dad a tender smile. "I'll make sure Leif is good!"
"Hey!"
"I don't think that will be necessary, sweetie," Astrid chuckled, as she quickly gave her youngest a swift kiss on the cheek as Leif muttered incoherently behind her. "But thankyou anyway."
"Come on, Astrid, we better get going before it gets too late," Hiccup said, with a quick gesture towards the sun. "I told the Chief we'd be there by night fall."
"Alright, I'm coming." Quickly picking up her bag, Astrid swung it over her shoulder, and jumped up onto Stormfly's saddle in one swift move, before quickly attaching the satchel onto the saddle in the process. Beside her, Toothless gave out a low grumble to indicate that, he too, was ready to go, before they suddenly took off, with a quick wave behind them.
"Good luck!" Siri exclaimed, as Toothless and Stormfly flew out of sight.
"So..." Lennart grinned, as Siri turned away from the rapidly vanishing dragons, "...what now, Chief Siri?"
"You have no idea how weird that sounds," Siri chuckled. "And honestly," she continued, with a quick glance around the surrounding area, "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do now. I mean, dad's usually home by this point of the-"
BOOM!
"-day," Siri finished lamely, as she turned her head to the source of the noise. "What in the name of Thor was that?!"
Lennart frowned. "It sounded like it was coming from the Great Hall," he admitted, turning his head to look up the great number of steps leading up to the building where, sure enough, smoke was billowing out of the great doors of the colossal structure, causing a great number of Vikings to race out of the building, shouting insults and annoyances to the culprit inside.
"Well, you can't blame me at least!" Leif exclaimed cheerfully, as Siri emitted an exasperation sigh. "I don't do anything like that!"
"No, but we know who does," Lennart chuckled, as Siri quickly bounded up the stairs, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"TUFFNUT!"
"Urgh, I don't know about you, but my butt is killing me!"
Hiccup chuckled. "It looks like somebody's forgotten what it's like to go long distances," he noted, watching on in amusement as Astrid moved positions on her saddle for what seemed liked the hundredth time in as many minutes.
"Obviously I have," Astrid agreed with a chuckle. "I mean, the furthest I go these days is Outcast Island, and that's not exactly a long trip, even by boat."
"If you class a day as short that is," Hiccup chuckled.
"You know what I mean, Hiccup," Astrid said, with a twitch of a smile. "I haven't been out this far in years. I mean, the last time I came out this way was when..." Astrid's voice faltered slightly. "... was when we came looking for you..."
Hiccup's smile faltered. "Astrid..." he started, urging Toothless to fly closer to her. "Are you sure you're alright? It's just I know how hard it is to-"
"I'm fine, Hiccup," Astrid said, cutting off the rest of his comment. "Really I am." She threw him a soft smile. "I meant what I said earlier. It doesn't bother me as much as it once did."
"But..." Hiccup started, "... what about the storm supplies?"
"Just stating a fact, just like I said," Astrid said, her expression unchanged. "I mean, it is the beginning of storm season." Seeing the uncertain look on Hiccup's face, though, she sighed. "Look, Hiccup," she continued, "I'll admit that there are still times when it's hard not to remember what happened. Especially when you're out in the middle of as storm and I have no idea where you are. And when you come here," Astrid added quietly, her hands tightening their grip on Stormfly's saddle.
Hiccup glanced down at Toothless for a moment, who glanced back at his friend with a saddened expression. It had been many years since Astrid had spoken about what had happened.
"Astrid..." Hiccup began gently, carefully reaching out to take of Astrid's hand in his own. "... I'm sorry."
Astrid frowned. "What are you sorry for?" she asked bewildered. "It was over seven years ago, Hiccup."
"I know," Hiccup sighed, tightening his grip on Astrid's hand. "It just felt like you were trying to avoid coming earlier, that's all, and I thought it might be because of this."
"And you know the reason I was late," Astrid quipped; an unusual expression crossing her face that Hiccup couldn't quite pick. "Besides, if you think I was going to pass up an opportunity to meet the people who saved you all these years ago, you've got another thing coming!" she added firmly.
Hiccup laughed. "I just hope you remember that you have a whole day of boredom to sit through too, milady," he grinned, all his previous uncertainties forgotten. "These meetings can put the speaker themselves to sleep."
"Know that from experience, do you, babe?" Astrid teased, causing her husband's face to flush bright red.
"Oh, very funny, Astrid," Hiccup said sarcastically, causing Toothless to rumble a laugh below him. "Oh, be quiet, you," he added, causing Toothless to just grin further.
Astrid smiled. "You know, it's been a long time since we've been able to do this," she said, as she glanced in the dragon rider's direction. "I might start coming back now that the kids are older."
"You'll regret that by the end of tomorrow," Hiccup assured her, before he heaved a sigh as the Shivering Shores finally came into sight. "And we're here," he groaned. "Lucky us."
"And it looks just as bleak as ever," Astrid said, taking note of the barren landscape, just seen through the inky blackness that was early evening.
"Believe me, Chief Horik isn't much better," Hiccup said, as he urged Toothless down to the ground. "He's still as much of an arrogant jerk as he was when I met him. And his kid isn't much better."
"That's the kid who Siri punched that time when they were on Berk, wasn't it?" Astrid asked, as she and Stormfly landed beside them.
"The very same," Hiccup confirmed, swinging himself off the saddle, onto the ground, with a slight wince as metal met hard ground. "Although he's all grown up these days."
"Ha, ha, there he is!" came a voice from the dark nearby. "Hiccup's arrived!"
"Hey, Snorri," Hiccup greeted, grinning as the Chief of the Ironbeards came into sight. "Long time, no see."
"Not for you, it isn't lad," Snorri grinned. "But it certainly is for her," he added, with a wide smile towards Astrid as she hopped off Stormfly's back. "Welcome back to the Shivering Shores, my lady!"
"Hi, Snorri," Astrid grinned, as she held out her hand for the older man to shake. "It's good to be back."
"And thankfully, on better terms this time," he answered, causing him to give out an awkward cough as the two leaders threw him identical looks of irritation. "Um... yes..." he continued awkwardly, as he turned his attention back to Hiccup. "Anyway, Hiccup, what took you so long? You're usually here long before now!"
Hiccup chuckled. "Got a little held up at home, that's all," he replied, before he took a quick glance towards the only source of light in the surrounding area. "Are you saying we're the last ones here?" he asked, gesturing to the loud noises coming from the meeting hall.
"Not quite," Snorri said, as he gestured for the two Haddocks to follow him. "Alvin only arrived just before you did, and Dagur, Heather and Mala have yet to show up."
"What else is new?" Hiccup grinned. "Those three haven't been on time in the whole time they've been coming here. What about Godric and Iona?" he asked, with a quick glance towards Astrid. "Are they here yet?"
"They're just inside," Snorri confirmed, as they reached the doors of the meeting hall, where boisterous cheers of laughter were drifting out from the inside. "We're just having a bite to eat before we turn in for the night." He quickly glanced at the dragons. "Toothless and Stormfly can head to the stables if they want?"
"Go on, bud," Hiccup smiled, as Toothless glanced at him uncertainly. "We'll catch up to you both later. We'll be fine."
Nudging his rider affectionately, Toothless threw him a quick gummy smile, before he and Stormfly way their way over to the stables, happily warbling to each other in the process.
"Well, that's a first," Hiccup grinned, as he and Astrid followed Snorri through the great doors of the meeting hall, where the noise suddenly amplified tenfold as the great booming noise from several Chiefs and their partners suddenly met the Haddocks ears, making them wince unintentionally.
"Hey, Hiccup!" came a chorus of loud voices from all around.
"Hey, guys," Hiccup greeted, with a quick wave of his hand at the fellow eight Chiefs, and two Cheiftainesses, as well as a few partners, with his eyes quickly falling on the two figures still sitting, looking like the odds one out that were Godric and Iona. Seeing Hiccup, though, they quickly stood up.
"Hiccup!" Godric boomed, as he rushed over to wring Hiccup's hand, making the man instantly cringe. "It's good to see you in one piece, lad! You were a bit of a mess when we last saw you!"
"It's good to see you too, Godric," Hiccup smiled, as he also greeted Iona in the process. "It's been awhile. What took you so long to finally agree to come for a meeting?"
"Travelling distance, mainly," Godric admitted, with a sheepish grin. "And last year was a bust when that huge storm made us turn back before things even got started."
"Well, you're here now, I guess," Hiccup said, before he quickly glanced around at Astrid, who was patiently waiting beside him to be introduced. Seeing Hiccup's gaze on her, Astrid immediately threw him a wide smile, before stepping forward with her hand outstretched.
"Godric, I'd like you to meet my beautiful wife, Astrid," Hiccup said proudly, as he swept a hand between the two of them. "Astrid, this is Godric and Iona of the Windfall Isles."
"Lady Astrid!" Godric exclaimed cheerfully, before Astrid could even get a word out. "It's wonderful to finally be able to meet you!"
"Likewise," Astrid said, shaking his hand contentedly. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to thank you for what you did for Hiccup," she added gently, with a loving gaze towards her husband. "I can't thank you enough."
"It was our pleasure, my dear, believe me," Godric said, throwing her a modest smile. "It was extremely fortunate that we were there at the right place and the right time. And Hiccup spoke of nothing else but you the whole time he was with us," he added, causing Astrid to squeeze Hiccup's hand tightly in hers as she glanced at him.
"I take it he healed well, too?" Iona asked, before Godric could speak again. "Although considering the amount of time he spent trying to leave, I'm surprised he did." She threw the man a pointed look, who reached up to rub his neck sheepishly.
"It eventually did," Astrid confirmed, as she gave Hiccup a small smile. "It just took a fair bit of prompting to get him to rest, that's all."
"I can imagine," Iona said wryly, causing Astrid to snort behind her hand.
"Thanks a lot, Astrid," Hiccup said, although he too, was chuckling. "Come on, let's go and get something to eat before this lot eat it all." He gestured to the noisy lot behind them.
"If you get something is right," Iona said, as she turned her head towards them. "There's been an oversupply of mutton on the island this year, yet you wouldn't believe it the way this lot have been gorging it down."
"That's one way to put it," Hiccup said bemused, as he took in the number of dishes that were already empty. "Horik has his work cut out for him." He glanced around. "Um..." he continued, with a frown crossing his face. "Where is Horik anyway?"
"Lucky for us, he's chosen not to join us tonight," Snorri said cynically, as he walked past the four of them with a large plate of food in his own hand. "You won't have to see him until the meeting tomorrow."
"Well, I can't say I'm disappointed," Hiccup admitted, as he and Astrid helped themselves to a small plate of food. "He's not exactly a bundle of fun, is he?"
"Believe me, that son of his isn't much better," Snorri said bitterly from his place beside them. "He's just as arrogant as him anyway."
"He always was," Hiccup pointed out, unable to hide the grin that was forming on his face. "My daughter got into a fight with him years ago when they were visiting us on Berk. She was seven, and he was ten," he added proudly. "She almost won too."
"You know, I really need to meet your daughter one day, Hiccup," Snorri grinned, as he stuffed himself with food. "How's she going anyway?" he asked curiously, with a small smile towards the two parents. "Is she past that whole business with the ex now?"
"Done and dusted," Astrid confirmed proudly, as she helped herself to a plate in front of her. "She's even temporary Chief while we're away. Honestly, I think it might be almost time for her to be presented to other Chiefs," she added, with a quick look at Hiccup.
Hiccup smiled. "I don't see why not," he said. "I mean, it's about time she got to know some other Chiefs. I mean, I did by her age," he admitted. He frowned. "You know," he continued, with a thoughtful expression, "we should have a gathering on Berk at the end of the year; to present her. I just never really thought about it until now," he added sheepishly.
"Well, I'm in," Snorri grinned. "If she's anything like Astrid here, she ought to be interesting. I mean, it's about time we added another Chieftainess to the ranks. We've only have Gyda and Magnhild for the past several years." He nodded to the two female Chiefs sitting together at the end of the room.
"You know," Hiccup said slowly, "we might just do that." He turned to Astrid. "What do you think, Astrid?" He frowned as he noticed a funny look spreading across his wife's face. "Astrid?" he asked worriedly. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Astrid said, with a quick shake of her head. "Yeah," she repeated, with a slight frown at her food. "I just felt a bit sick for a moment, that's all." She glanced at Snorri. "Is it just me or does this mutton have a strong smell?" she asked uncertainly.
Snorri frowned. "Not that I can tell, my lady," he said, with a quick sniff. "But I think Gyda felt a little off earlier too, so maybe it's stronger for certain people?" he suggested.
"Yeah, maybe," Astrid said, the frown not leaving her face.
"Maybe we should head to bed?" Hiccup suggested. "It is the longest you've flown in a while, after all."
"I'm alright now," Astrid assured him. "It was gone as soon as it came. But I think I might go anyway," she added, holding a hand to a twinge in her back. "I mean, we do have a bit of a day ahead tomorrow, don't we?" she continued, with a wide grin, causing Hiccup to let out a loud groan.
"Urgh. Don't remind me."
"How the heck does my dad do this every day?!"
"I don't know, but he must have a pretty good patient level to deal with this lot," Lennart said tiredly, as he and Siri left yet another petty squabble. "That's what? The tenth one today?" he guessed.
Siri sighed. "It feels like the hundredth in my opinion," she said, as she and Lennart plonked down on a chair in the middle of town square. "And all of them are just stupid fights!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up irritably. "I feel more like a babysitter than a Chief!"
"You know, they could just be acting like this because your dad's not here," Lennart pointed out kindly, as he placed a gentle hand on top of Siri's. "I highly doubt it's anything against you."
"I know," Siri said quietly, throwing her friend a shy smile. "It just feels that way a little, that's all."
"If it's any consolation, I feel the same way," Lennart grinned, causing Siri to choke back a laugh. "I dealt with Bucket and Mulch earlier, and they were no picnic!"
Siri laughed, before squeezing Lennart's hand gratefully. "Thanks Len, I needed that," she said appreciatively. "I just wish this lot would give me a break, that's all."
CRASH!
Siri closed her eyes with a loud groan. "Oh, for the love of Thor!" she screamed angrily. "Leif!"
The ten year old peeked out from behind the building beside her, before throwing her a sheepish grin.
"Hi, Seer."
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Siri sighed. "Did you really have to, Leif?" she asked him desperately. "I've got enough to deal with without you causing problems too." She glanced over at the overturned cart of apples nearby. "What's the deal with that?" she asked.
Leif bit his lip. "That was an accident," he admitted, twisting his hands around in front of him. "I was playing catch dragon with Mossy, and, urgh..." He glanced over at the cart, where the Viking in charge of it was muttering irritably under his breath as he tried to clean up the mess. "...I ran straight into it," he finished lamely, as the little Terrible Terror joined his friend at that moment.
Siri groaned. "Well, just, try to be careful from now on, Leif," his sister pleaded. "I've got enough problems to deal with than you being clumsy."
"Sorry, Seer," Leif apologised, throwing her a small smile. "I didn't mean too."
"I know you didn't," Siri said, returning the smile. "I'm just asking you to be careful, that's all. I have enough problems."
"Um... speaking of problems," Lennart spoke up, throwing the girl a rueful glance. He pointed to the Great Hall. "We have a council meeting to get too."
Siri slapped a hand to her face. "Oh, crap!" she exclaimed, as she jumped to her feet. "I completely forgot about that." She sighed. "Come on," she said, waving a hand for Lennart to follow her, "we better get going. That's all I need is to be late for my first council meeting."
"Can I come?" Leif asked curiously, with a quick look at the building in front of them. "I've never been to a council meeting."
"And you won't be today either," Siri said firmly, causing Leif's face to fall. "It's not a place for you to be, Leif. Go and find Ingrid, and I'll meet you back at home."
Leif sighed. "Okay," he agreed. "Come on Mossy," he said, with a gesture towards the little dragon, who immediately started to follow his friend as he made his way over towards Tuffnut and Annika's house, where Ingrid could be seen playing outside with Idony and Bjorn.
"Let's go," Siri said, once Leif was out of earshot. "We have to meet up with the others anyway."
"I think they're already there," Lennart pointed out, as he squinted up the steep incline of stairs. "Yep," he continued, with a nod to a number of figures just outside the doors. "That's them."
"I'm surprised they wanted to do this to be honest," Siri admitted, as she and Lennart made their way up the stairs. "I mean, being on the council isn't for everyone."
"No, but it's pretty cool to be asked," Lennart said, throwing a smile her way. "I never thought you'd ask me."
"You're the only person I knew I wanted to have with me," Siri said, throwing him a tender smile. "I mean, who else is going to make sure I don't do something stupid?" she grinned, elbowing the boy's ribs playfully.
"I think you can handle that just fine on your own," Lennart replied teasingly, as he elbowed the girl back. "But thanks anyway," he added, causing Siri to smile brightly at him, as they finally reached the top of the staircase where Brenna, Hakon and Eira were waiting anxiously for them.
"There you two are!" Brenna exclaimed, throwing the two friends a wide grin. "We were wondering if you were even going to show up!"
"We're not that late," Lennart chuckled, as he took a look at the sun's position above.
"You almost were, though," Hakon said cheerfully, turning to Siri eagerly. "Thanks for asking us to be on your council, Seer. This is awesome!"
"You're welcome," Siri chuckled. "Dad says I'll have to get one more person eventually, though. I just don't know who," she admitted.
"I know Gerold's out," Eira said, causing Siri to frown in reply. "But what about his sister, Sorsi? You and her still get along don't you?"
Siri shrugged. "Yeah, I guess," she said slowly. "But she's older than all of us and it may be a little weird for her."
"We'll think of someone, don't worry," Lennart assured her. "Now," he continued, with a look at the door in front of them, "we better get in there before they send a search party out for us."
"Yeah, I guess so," Siri said nervously. She took a deep breath. "Okay, here we go," she said, before she gently pried the door's open.
"Um... this meeting will now come to order," Siri began nervously, no sooner had everyone filed in and sat down a few minutes later. "As you all know, my parents are away on business for the next few days, and with them both abroad, I am presiding over this meeting this afternoon." She glanced over at Gobber nervously, wordlessly asking if that was right, and when the blacksmith gave her a thumbs-up, she continued with a little more confidence.
"The first order of business that I wish to address with you today is on matter of the food storehouse," Siri went on, with a quick glance over at the Vikings in attendance. "I know we have only just come out of the winter months, but we have been told on good authority, by Elder Thyri herself, that we should expect our summer months this year to be relatively shorter than recent years, and because of this, we should make prepare ourselves to double the amount of food for the winter." Siri glanced over at Bucket and Mulch standing right in front of the council. "Bucket and Mulch, are you able to double the amount of fish caught before the return of the winter months?" she asked kindly.
"It shouldn't be a problem, Miss Siri," Mulch replied, throwing her a reassuring smile. "We usually try to catch more than we need anyway."
"Well, if you need any extra help, please don't hesitate to tell us," Siri said. "We can always get a couple of dragons to scare up some extra fish if the need arises. I'm sure Scorch would love that opportunity." She threw a grin in Lennart's direction.
"Believe me, he doesn't need an excuse to do that," Lennart chuckled, causing a round of laughter to wash through the assembled crowd. "Scaring fish is his hobby."
"Well, we know who to turn too if we need any help then," Mulch chuckled, before he turned his attention back to Siri. "We'll be sure to get as many as we can in the meantime, lass."
"Thank you, Mulch,' Siri said gratefully, as he and Bucket began to make their way out, with Bucket questioning Siri's orders with confusion, leading to a loud CLANG to ring out through the hall as Mulch hit the metal contraption on his companion's head in response.
Biting back a laugh, Siri consulted her notes again, before turning her attention to Sven, who was waiting patiently to be addressed.
"Sven, because of the possibility of an extended winter, will your sheep be ready to give us the necessary amount of provisions we will need?"
"I don't see why not," Sven answered, causing the kids on the council to cringe as his grating voice hit their eardrums. "Many of them are shorn before the summer months arrive anyway, and if we need extra wool, we'll just make sure extra sheep are used this year."
"Will that hurt the rest of our provisions, though?" Siri asked uncertainly.
"No, Miss," Sven said, with a shake of his head. "We always make sure to have an influx of extra sheep just for times such as these."
"Oh," Siri said, her tone surprised. "Well, that's good, then. Thank you, Sven."
"My pleasure, Miss Siri," Sven said, with a quick bow of his head, before he too, took his leave.
"You're going really well, Seer," Lennart said proudly, as Siri let out a sigh of relief. "Well done."
"It's only just started," she reminded him, before she consulted her notes once again, only to glance up to find herself almost nose to nose with Lennart's Grandfather, Spitelout. Startling slightly, Siri quickly stood herself up straight, trying to look in control, despite the uneasiness she felt.
"Urgh...Spitelout..." Siri said nervously, quickly clearing her throat in an effort to hide it. "How are things going with the food storehouses?" she asked. "Do you think we will have enough?"
"Oh, I believe so, lass," the elder Jorgenson replied. "We've been stocking up on provisions before winter even ended, so there's plenty more where that came from."
Siri nodded. "That's good to know," she said. "And what about Berks storehouse?" she asked him curiously. "Does that have enough provisions?"
"Filling up as we speak," Spitelout confirmed haughtily, drawing himself up. "Don't worry yourself, lass, Berk won't go hungry this winter."
Siri's eyes narrowed warily. Having spent most of her life hanging around Lennart and his family, the young Haddock knew what the elder Jorgenson could be like, and unfortunately for her, this seemed to be one of those times.
"And what about the other storehouses?" Siri asked him cautiously, noticing an unusual look crossing the man's face. "Are they filling up just as well?"
"Always are," he said with a nod.
"Good," Siri replied, as she consulted her notes again. "So-"
"But if you want my opinion, lass," Spitelout continued, effectively cutting off Siri's next comment, much to the displeasure of the rest of the council, who quickly exchanged identical looks of uneasiness. "If this winter is going to be as bad as you say it is, why aren't we doing more to prepare ourselves?"
Siri frowned. "And what do you mean by that, Spitelout?" she asked warily, flicking her eyes down to Lennart, who was looking back at her with an identical expression of wariness.
"I just mean, that if this winter is going to be as bad as the elder says, there might be a chance we can't get to our other storehouses," he explained. "And if we can't get to those, then we're going to have a problem then, aren't we?"
"It might be a problem if we completely relied on ships, Spitelout," Gobber spoke up, before Siri could reply. "But considering we have dragons, I highly doubt that will be an issue."
Spitelout frowned. "Well, who's to say the dragons are going to be able to make the journey either?" he asked, glancing around the hall with a questioning look. "I mean, even the sturdiest of dragons can't fly in the winter winds, and then what?" he said. "We'll be stuck won't we?"
"Just get to the point, Spitelout, we know you have one," Hager said impatiently, causing Siri to frown in confusion towards the man in front of her.
"What I'm saying is, is that we should be prepared in case we can't reach our other storehouses," he said, placing his hands on his hips in an authoritative manner. "I mean, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to have another storehouse closer to home just for times such as these-"
There was a groan of unison amongst the older council members.
"Not this again," Gobber said irritably, before Siri could ask. "Spitelout, for the last time, we don't need another storehouse. Berk has gotten along just fine with the ones we have for years, no matter how bad the weather has been. The answer is no."
"Where are our other storehouses, though?" Siri asked curiously, before Spitelout could retort. "I mean, are they going to be accessible if the ice sets in?"
"See?!" Spitelout exclaimed, as he crossed his arms in front of his chest proudly. "Even the lass understands where I'm coming from!"
"Seer, our storehouses aren't as far away as you might think," Valka explained gently to her granddaughter. "Yes, some of the dragons may have trouble getting to them-" she admitted, "-but Toothless, Cloudjumper and a few of the others will be able to get to it with no trouble at all. Plus we bring a large quantity of supplies from the storehouses each time we go there. There's no need to go back and forth all the time."
"And that's all well and good, yes," Spitelout agreed, with a nod, causing the council to narrow their eyes towards the elder Jorgenson. "But what if we're unable to get to them when we need too?"
"Don't push it, Spitelout," Hager said warningly, as Siri and the younger members of the council quickly glanced at each other nervously. "You try this every year, and every year Hiccup says the same thing. It's not necessary."
"Not necessary?" Spitelout repeated arrogantly, as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "So, you're saying we're about to have our worst winter in years, and yet another food storehouse is not necessary?" He turned to the other Vikings in the hall once again, who were beginning to whisper to each other as the bickering intensified.
"You know full well that we've experienced long winters before, Spitelout," Valka spoke up impatiently. "And we're come through them with no worse for wear."
Spitelout shrugged. "I guess you're right," he said, but the look on his face said otherwise. "But who's to say that this winter won't be worse than that we've experienced?" he continued, causing the babble of talk to increase further. "Shouldn't we be preparing for anything? I mean, sure we have emergency supplies," he continued, with a pointed glance at Siri, who's stomach was beginning to clench with unease. "But how easy will they be able to be accessed in the bad weather? We need a new storage shed closer to home. And as a member of Hiccup's council, and food monitor for Berk, I say we should be thinking about it!"
"Spitelout, you're-" Gobber began heatedly, only for Siri to hold her hand up to the old blacksmith.
"Spitelout," Siri began patiently, despite the annoyance that was gnawing in the sixteen year olds stomach. "I understand where you are coming from with wanting a storehouse closer to home-"
Spitelout's eyes widened in surprise. "So, you agree with me, lass?"
"I'm saying I see where you're coming from," Siri repeated, causing Spitelout's eyes to narrow. "But the thing is Spitelout, my father is right," she continued, her heart rate speeding up at the look of thunder on the elder Jorgenson's face. "We don't know whether this winter is going to be worse than others or not, so we can't just go and build another storehouse for no reason when we already have several already-"
"I see," Spitelout said quietly, causing a round of whispers to sound around the hall. "So, you're just going to risk everything just like your father and Grandfather, are you lass?"
"Grandpa," Lennart hissed, looking quickly between him and Siri nervously, where Siri's face was beginning to lose all colour. "Stop it. This isn't going to achieve anything-"
Spitelout held a hand up to his grandson. "Stay out of this, lad," the man said impatiently, as an angry babble of talk began to break out throughout the council.
"That's unfair, sir," Hakon spoke up boldly, causing Siri to glance at him in surprise. "Siri is only acting Chief, she has no say as to permanent matters around here and you know it."
"Hakon," Siri said anxiously, as she held out a hand to stop him from continuing. "It's alright." She turned her attention back to Spitelout. "I understand you're angry, Spitelout," she continued calmly, or at least what she hoped was calm. "But taking this out on me isn't going to get you anywhere. My decision is final," she added. "There will be no new storehouse."
Spitelout scoffed. "Just like a Haddock to say that," he said arrogantly. "You think you know everything. Fine," he shrugged, "we'll just see what happens with this winter, shall we? But don't come crying to the Jorgenson's when we can't get to the other storehouses."
"That's enough, Spitelout!" Gobber exclaimed angrily, pointing to the doors. "Now leave before we throw you out! This is totally uncalled for, hounding on Siri just because Hiccup isn't here!"
Spitelout threw his hands in the air. "I'm going, I'm going," he said, before he turned on his heel and trudged towards the great oak doors. "But don't say I didn't warn them, am I right?" he said to the small group of assembled Vikings, where some of them muttered in agreement, while others glanced sympathetically in Siri's direction, before trailing out behind Spitelout, where the great doors shut behind him, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
"... Okay... so," Gobber said awkwardly, with a quick glance in Siri's direction. "I think that's enough for today. That was a decent effort for your first meeting, Seer."
Siri sighed. "I'm glad you think so, Uncle Gobber," she said dejectedly, as she began collecting the papers in front of her. "It felt like a total disaster to me."
"Don't talk like that, lass," Gobber said gently. "You did just fine. It's not easy dealing with Spitelout, no matter how experienced you are. Isn't that right, lad?" he asked Lennart, who nodded in response.
"You know as well as I do what my Grandpa can be like, Seer," Lennart said gently, as he placed a kind hand on top of Siri's. "It's not easy to deal with him."
Siri sighed. "Yeah, but I still should have seen it coming," Siri said quietly. "I mean, I knew he was up to something and I let him get that far anyway."
"Seer, don't be so hard on yourself," Brenna said kindly, throwing a reassuring smile in her friend's direction. "You were doing great up until then. Bucket and Sven listened to you, didn't they?"
"Yeah, I guess," Siri admitted, although her slumped shoulders said otherwise.
"Why don't you go home, lass?" Gobber suggested gently, with a quick look around the council. "Maybe you'll feel better by the morning. But, lass," he quickly added, as Siri went to stand up, leading her to glance at the old blacksmith curiously. "Don't be so hard on yourself. No more expects you to get it right the first time. Even your father had problems the first time as acting Chief. It's just the way of it."
Siri smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks Uncle Gobber."
"Do you want me to walk you home?" Lennart asked her kindly, as Siri gathered up her paperwork, causing Siri to look over at him with a smile.
"You know you don't have to ask, Len," Siri told him gently, making Lennart smile warmly at her, before he stood up and joined his friend as she began to make her way towards the great door and into the dim afternoon light, where the sun was barely noticeable hidden behind darkening clouds coming in from the north.
"Looks like a storm," Lennart noted, as he and Siri made their way down the stone steps.
"Yay," Siri replied sarcastically as she glanced at the clouds. "That's just what I need when my parents aren't here. It's not like Ingrid will be any less scared."
Lennart glanced at his friend apprehensively. "Seer, are you okay?" he asked worriedly, as he and Siri walked along. "I mean, I know that could have gone better, but you can't be so hard on yourself. You were doing so well," he admitted, throwing her an encouraging smile. "You were in control, they were listening to you-"
"Until I let your Grandpa walk all over me, that is," Siri replied irritably. Glancing at Lennart's concerned face, though, she sighed. "Look Len, I know your Grandpa isn't the easiest person to deal with," she admitted. "But I still should have been able to do something at least," she continued, throwing a frustrated arm in the air. "I mean, I knew where it was leading, so why didn't I just tell him to leave?" she asked, throwing a questioning glance towards the boy. "I shouldn't have had to let Gobber deal with it. Dad put me in charge; he was counting on me!"
"Siri, stop it," Lennart said firmly, stopping them mid step so he could turn her towards him. "This isn't the end of the world. So, you didn't get it right the first time, who cares?" he said, placing a tender hand on her shoulder. "Yes, I know your dad put you in charge," he continued, seeing where Siri's mind was at. "But I highly doubt even he expected you to get it right the first time."
Siri sighed. "I didn't expect to be perfect," the sixteen year admitted. "But I hoped to at least have some sort of control." She shrugged. "I don't know, maybe dad should have just let me sit on the council while he was away, not lead it. Maybe I wasn't ready-"
"Seer, you've been sitting on that council for a year," Lennart pointed out. "I think your dad knew what he was doing when he left you in charge. I mean, you started off great, don't deny it," he chuckled, causing a smile to twitch at the corners of Siri's lips despite herself.
"I was enjoying myself, wasn't I?" she admitted, letting out an amused chuckle. "I felt like I knew what I was doing. For a while at least," she added, her smile fading slightly.
"Believe me, Seer, nobody knows what they're dealing with when my Grandpa is involved," Lennart said dryly, as he placed an arm around Siri's shoulders, causing Siro to snort quietly. "Even my Grandma has trouble with him at times."
Siri chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so," she said, with a sigh. "But I bet people are you already talking about what happened. I mean, I couldn't even finish a council meeting," she said, gesturing her hand to the Great Hall pointedly. "Like, I know I'll be ready eventually, don't get me wrong," she added, seeing Lennart's anxious expression, "I just think I need a lot more experience. Honestly," she continued, as she and Lennart reached her front door, "I think I'll be glad when dad gets home."
"But in the meantime, you'll do just fine for now," Lennart smiled. "I'll help you again tomorrow if you want?" he offered.
Siri smiled. "I'd like that," she said. "Thanks, Len." She glanced up at the darkening sky above her. "You better get home," she said, as she gestured to the sky above them. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Do you want me to send Leif and Ingrid your way?" he asked her, as he went to leave.
Siri frowned, listening to the noise inside, before shaking her head. "They're already home," she said. "But thanks anyway. See you in the morning," she said, giving him a soft smile, before opening the door and disappearing inside, just as a faint rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance, causing the boy to quickly glance up, before taking off back down the hill towards his own house.
Well, that could have gone a whole lot better, he thought.
"This meeting will now come to order…"
"Hold up!" a deep voice exclaimed from outside. "I'm here, I'm here!"
"Well, look what the dragon brought in," Hiccup chuckled, as he watched Dagur rush in, before dropping his satchel and skidding into a seat beside him. "Cutting it a little close there, aren't you, brother?"
"Hey, in my defence, it was not my fault," Dagur protested, holding his hands up towards Hiccup. "Heather and I were all set to leave yesterday morning and then what happens?" he asked dramatically. "Mala goes into labour! Well, naturally," Dagur continued wildly, "I couldn't leave then, could I?!"
"You have a point," Hiccup agreed, throwing the Beserker Chief a grin, before pouring him a cup of ale. "But since when was Mala pregnant again?" Hiccup asked the man in surprise. "You didn't tell us that! I mean, how long has it been since the last baby? Seven years?" he estimated.
"Eight actually," Dagur said. "And I thought I did send you all a letter?" he asked, eyes in confusion. "Or did I forget?" he mumbled, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, we didn't get one," Hiccup chuckled. "Obviously it really did slip your mind. But congratulations," Hiccup beamed, patting his friend on the back. "This makes how many kids for you now? Five?" He threw the man a pointed look.
"Four actually," Dagur mumbled, before saying louder, "but how is that my fault?! It's not like you can stop it!" he exclaimed wildly. "Plus after eight years, it's not like it was planned."
"Aren't that the truth," Hiccup heard Snorri mumble from nearby, causing everyone to bite back a laugh. Astrid snorted.
"We were just kidding, Dagur, don't go Berserker on us," Hiccup chuckled, causing Dagur to narrow his eyes at his once adversary.
"Well, you know it is very hard for me to tell when people are joking!" Dagur said irritably, but his irritation quickly vanished when he glanced at Astrid.
"Sister!" he exclaimed cheerfully, much to Astrid's amusement. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Dagur," Astrid chuckled, with a roll of her eyes. "But why isn't Heather here?" she asked curiously, before squinting her eyes towards the door in case she was still coming.
"Heather decided to stay behind with Mala," Dagur explained. "Sorry, Astrid. It probably doesn't help that Heather is also pregnant again and can't really go far without being sick," he added casually.
Hiccup and Astrid's eyebrows rose incredulously. "What in the name of Thor do you Berserkers do?" Astrid exclaimed with a grin. "If it's not Mala having a baby, it's Heather!"
"I'm going to take that as a joke," Dagur said, as took a deep breath, "and just say, it's purely a coincidence. And in fairness," Dagur added slowly, "this is only Heather's third. And considering she's almost forty, it's probably her and Tore's last."
"Um, excuse me?" came a heated voice from across the room, making everyone wince slightly at the harshness of the tone. "Are we going to just sit around talking all day or we are actually going to do what we came here for?"
"That's my fault, Chief Horik," Dagur said quickly, before Hiccup could apologise, "I came in too late. I apologise."
Chief Horik narrowed his eyes at the Berserker leader with a 'humph!', before bringing his eyes down to the piece of paper in front of him.
"We'll talk later, Dagur," Hiccup whispered, keeping his eyes on Horik in the process. "I wouldn't be getting on Horik's bad side at the moment."
"I noticed," Dagur said dryly, just as Horik cleared his throat, before sweeping his cold grey eyes across the room at his fellow leaders.
"Well, now that we're all here," Horik said, as he glanced coldly in Dagur's direction, who's eyes actually widened nervously in the process. "Let's get started. Before we begin, I'd like to acknowledge my fellow Chiefs who are in attendance today," he continued, his tone matching his expression, "who include Chief Snorri of the Ironbeards tribe," he glanced up with a slight nod to the man on Hiccup's left, who gave a respective nod back despite everyone's feeling towards the Shivering Shores Chief. "Chief Vidar of the Skodey tribe, Alvin of the Outcasts," who just grumbled in acknowledgement, "Chief Halvar of the Stoneburners, Chief Elof and Chieftainess Torvi of the Hale Hearts, Chief Svein of the Roughnecks, Chief Hiccup and Chieftainess Astrid of the Hooligans-" Running slightly out of breath, Horik paused for a moment before continuing on with his acknowledgement list in the same bored tone as before. "-Chieftainess Gyda of the Stormbloods, Chieftainess Magnhild and Chief Arne of the Wildling Screamers, Chief Dagur of the Berserkers, and a new leader to our annual meeting this year, Chief Godric and Chieftainess Iona of the Windfall Isles." He nodded to them. "Welcome to the Shivering Shores," he said, before he turned to the young man sitting on his right side. "I'd also like to acknowledge my son, Nagur, who will be sitting on this meeting for the first time in order to understand its workings."
"Well, he looks just as arrogant as he did as a kid," Astrid whispered dryly to Hiccup, as Nagur waved his hand at the fellow leaders, as a smug smile crossed his rat like face.
"Like father, like son, I'd say," Hiccup noted; his lips tightening at the thought of it. "Lucky us," he added, before quickly going quiet as the Chief's narrowed eyes glanced in his and Astrid's direction, before beginning his long winded order of proceedings that lasted the best part of an hour, shaking everybody's best abilities in an effort not to fall asleep as the man droned on and on with a monotone voice that even the most alert of Vikings could struggle to listen too. Even Hiccup found himself struggling to keep his eyes open, with only small jabs to the ribs from Astrid startling him back to attentiveness, who was also feeling the effects of the mind-numbing dialogue, as her own eyes began to droop despite her best efforts.
"How long can this guy go on for?" Godric asked Hiccup incredulously as the Viking hit the hour mark. "I swear I've never heard someone talk so much in my life."
"Why do you think I hate coming here?" Hiccup responded irritably, as he stifled a yawn. Gods, what he would do to go flying right now, he thought, just as Horik's voice finally faded, announcing the end of his own speech.
"The other Chiefs can now address the room," Horik said, as he glanced around, before landing on Chieftainess Magnhild. "Chieftainess Magnhild of the Wildling Screamers, you had something you wanted to address?"
"That I do," she replied in a deep booming voice, before she stood up with a paper clutched in her right hand. "Fellow Chiefs," she said, nodding respectfully at them, "I believe it necessary to inform you that as of just six months ago, my people were invaded by strangers by an unknown Viking tribe, which we managed to dispel within a few days of hard fighting. Now, their numbers were badly depleted by the time we defeated them," she continued, as an anxious round of chatter began to erupt around her, "but I think it might be better if the rest of you remain on high alert just in case they return."
"What about your people, Magnhild?" Vidar asked her, his tone concerned. "Did you lose many of your side?"
Magnhild shook her head. "Fortunately, no," she replied proudly, standing up to her full height, which was actually half a foot taller than the tallest Viking Chief there, that was Alvin. "They were a very unskilled tribe, which leads me to believe they were a sort of outcast group of some sort."
"We haven't seen them since then," her husband, Arne, interjected, as he saw the questioning looks on the older Vikings faces. "We believe they suffered a huge blow and probably won't attack again, but we thought it best to warn you about it anyway. I mean, we live a lot further north than all the rest of you," he added, with a quick glance towards his General wife. "So I doubt they'll try to come this far."
"We'll all keep an eye out anyway," Astrid said, speaking for most of the leaders present. "The last thing we need is a random attack from unknown tribes."
The room erupted with agreement.
"Thank you, Chieftainess Magnhild," Horik said, his tone actually slightly more interested now, before he turned to Svein, Chief of the Roughnecks, who gave a grunt of discomfort as he got up and presented his news to his fellow leaders, swiftly followed by a few others, which soon took up the best part of another hour of news and trade deals by a number of tribe leaders. When it was Hiccup's turn, he swiftly stood up, to a slight twinge of pain to his metal leg, and talked about the renewal of the trade deals with the other tribes, before sitting down just as quickly. He had nothing else to report that year, thankfully. Until he remembered his talk with Snorri and the others the day before and he quickly stood back up again before the meeting moved on.
"I would like to extend an invitation to my fellow Chiefs and Chieftainess' to come to Berk later on this year to present my daughter, and heir, to her fellow leaders," Hiccup said proudly, causing a rush of whispered interest around the room. "Astrid and I," he continued, with a quick smile towards his wife, "believe Siri is ready to take her place as heir apparent and begin to learn the outer extent of what it is to lead."
"Is she over all this business with that boyfriend of hers, though?" Gyda asked him hesitantly. "Because you know as well as I do that she can't be presented if she's not mature enough."
"She's been learning the ropes of leading for the past year, and she's getting more mature by the day," Astrid confirmed sternly, standing up beside Hiccup. "Granted, she's not ready for full leadership and won't be for some time," Astrid admitted, "but she is ready to be taking on heir-apparent duties."
Gyda nodded to her with a smile. "That's all we needed to know," she said, with a glance around the room. "We'd be honoured to meet her officially, Hiccup."
"Just as long as she doesn't punch me again," Nagur mumbled bitterly from his place across the hall, earning him a narrowed glance by his father sitting beside him.
"You know as well as I do that you started that fight, son," Horik said heatedly, causing Nagur to glower in his father's direction. "And if you have any sense, you won't bring up the fact that you were beaten by a little girl again, do you hear me?"
"Yes, dad," he mumbled, as he slid further down his chair in a pout.
"Please tell me that story is true," Dagur whispered to Hiccup, his eyes alight with ecstasy, only to be brightened further when Hiccup and Astrid threw him identical mischievous grins in his direction, just as Horik cleared his throat to bring the fellow Viking leaders back to attention.
"Is there anybody else who would like to address the room before we begin to wrap up this meeting?" he asked.
"We do, Chief Horik," Godric said, with a quick raise of his hand, and once knowing he had the permission to speak, he stood up and glanced around hesitantly.
"I know that not all of you share your lives with dragons like Hiccup, Astrid and Dagur here," he said, with a quick nod in their direction, "but I thought it best to address the fact that within the past year, Iona and I have spotted dragon hunters at different points in time-"
"Dragon hunters?!" Hiccup exclaimed, glancing around towards Astrid, whose eyes were widened with shock. "Are you sure?" he asked Godric, a little quieter. "It's just we haven't seen any dragon hunters in a long time. Not since…" His voice hitched slightly. "… Not since the whole business with Drago."
"We haven't seen hide-nor-hair of any dragon hunters since the whole business with Drago," Astrid explained, as she reached out to take a hold of her husband's hand. "We thought they'd all disappeared with him. I mean, we've seen the odd ship here and there," Astrid admitted, "but never more than one at a time, and they've all been a fair distance from here."
"And that's all these are, too," Godric told her, as a few of the other leaders looked anxious behind him. "They're just a couple of small ships, with no more than a few dozen men at least-"
"-And we've never seen any actual dragons on their ships, either," Iona interjected, seeing the questioning look in Hiccup's wide emerald eyes. "But we knew who they were. They had the dragon hunter's crest, and they were fairly well equipped."
"How many times have you seen them?" Hiccup asked them, as he squeezed Astrid's hand nervously.
"About three times?" Godric guessed, turning to his wife for confirmation. "They never really hang around long, and once they realise they've been caught, they vanish as quickly as they arrive. We actually sent a few people out to try and question them when they showed up a few months ago," he added, "but they took off, and they haven't come back since."
"And how many ships did you say they had?" Dagur asked, causing Hiccup to glance at his friend curiously. "It's just I think Heather saw them a few months ago." He turned to Hiccup with a serious expression. "Heather came to me and said she thought she'd seen a couple of ships flagged just off our coast," he explained, bringing a hand to his mouth thoughtfully. "But as soon as she and Tore went out to investigate, they left just like that. And she said they looked like they had the dragon hunter's insignia, but she couldn't be sure."
"Come to think of it," Snorri piped up, his face thoughtful. "I think I saw that lot myself just last month. They looked like they had something on board, but they were gone before I could get a good look at them."
Hiccup nodded thoughtfully. "By the looks of it, they're a small band of hunters working alone," he said, his eyes narrowed. "I mean, if they take off when they realise there are people nearby, they must not be very well equipped for a fight."
"I don't believe they are," Godric confirmed, with a nod. "I mean, they had some dragon hunting equipment, but they weren't well armed beside that. And they never once tried to come ashore when they were there. Either that was because they knew we didn't have any dragons, besides your little Terrible Terror's you sent us, Hiccup," he added with a chuckle in Hiccup's direction, "or they weren't equipped for a fight."
"I say it was the latter-" Hiccup agreed, as he glanced at Astrid. "-Because they didn't seem to come near Berserker Island or Ironbeard Isle, either." He glanced at Godric. "Thank you for telling us this, Godric. We'll make sure to keep an eye out from now on patrol."
"That's mainly the reason I agreed to come this year, Hiccup," Godric admitted. "I knew this wasn't something that could be addressed just by Terror Mail."
"I'm glad you did," Hiccup said, throwing the man a grateful smile. "Thanks, Godric."
"We'll just have to send out some extra patrols every now and then," Astrid said, as Hiccup sat back down. "I mean, even if they are only a small group, we can't let them take anymore dragons if we can help it. I mean, who knows how many they've actually taken?" she said nervously.
Hiccup squeezed her hand. "We won't let them get near us, Astrid, you can be sure of that," he assured her gently. "We'll just be vigilant from now on, that's all."
"Has anybody else got something they wish to contribute to the meeting or are we ready to wrap this up for yet, another year?" Horik interjected as the chatter in the room began to increase. Hearing this question, though, the chatter in the room decreased as the Vikings glanced at each other curiously, seeing whether or not anyone else had something to say. When nobody spoke, Horik gave a nod, before glancing back down at his paper once again.
"With all statements spoken and finalised, then I declare the annual meeting of Chief's to be concluded, with our next meeting to be possibly held on Berk before the end of the year so Chief Hiccup's daughter, Siri, can be presented to her fellow leaders as heir apparent." He glanced at Hiccup. "Is that right, Hiccup?"
Hiccup frowned thoughtfully. "Siri's birthday isn't for another five months, though," he pointed out, with a quick glance towards his fellow leaders. "Will there be any other meetings before then?"
"Only one I can think is the one on Outcast Island next month," Alvin spoke up from the corner, causing Hiccup to start slightly having not heard the man's voice all day. "Other than that, I think most of us are planning on staying at home for the summer considering we're supposed to have an early winter. If you believe that, that's another thing," he mumbled.
"Most of our elders do know what they're talking about," Hiccup pointed out. "Gothi used to be able to predict savage winters a year in advance."
"Oili is like that, too," Godric chuckled, causing Iona to roll her eyes in amusement beside him.
"Alright, alright," Horik said impatiently, immediately silencing the throng of Vikings. "Since we're getting off the track, I declare this meeting to be officially at its end, and I thank each and every one of my fellow Chiefs who presented news and trade agreements here today. Our next meeting is to be held by Alvin the Treacherous on Outcast Island next month, followed by Hiccup on Berk in five months' time. This meeting has concluded." Standing up, he nodded to a couple of Vikings standing at the side of the room. "Feel free to eat and drink as much as you like to celebrate the conclusion of the annual meeting. But if you would excuse me," he added dryly, as and Nagur began to make their way out, "Nagur and I will not be joining you." And before he can say another word, the bulking Chief had made his way out of the meeting hall without as much as a word.
"Well, I can't say I'm disappointed about that," Dagur shrugged, as he immediately took a chicken leg off a passing plate and tearing a portion off in one go. "He really isn't a lot of fun to be around."
"Neither were you, Dagur, you can't talk," Hiccup pointed out with a grin, as the talk around them began to ramp up as more food got brought in.
"True," Dagur acknowledged, with a bob of his head. "But at you always knew what I was up too. This guy," he nodded to the spot where the Chief and his son vanished just moments before, "really gives the creeps. I mean, you never know what he's thinking." He turned to Hiccup with an awkward grin "Is that weird coming from me?" he asked.
Hiccup chuckled. "A little bit," he admitted. "But you're not the only one who thinks that," he said, as he grabbed a few bits of food himself. "My dad wasn't a big fan of him either, and he made it well clear every time he came here that he wasn't looking forward to it."
"Huh," Dagur said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Glad I'm not the only one, then. Anyway," he continued, with a wide grin in Hiccup's direction, "how are your kids?" he asked them. "I haven't seen them in a couple of years."
"Hold up, Dagur," Astrid chuckled, bringing a hand up to stop Hiccup as he went to reply. "You haven't even got to tell us what Mala had yet. Boy or girl?"
"Oh!" Dagur exclaimed, smacking a hand to his head as he remembered his wife. "Another little girl," he smiled. "Sadly I can't give you a name, though," he continued, with a sigh. "I left not long after she was born. I'll find out when I get home, though."
"That makes two boys and two girls, doesn't it?" Hiccup guessed, furrowing his brows in recollection.
Dagur nodded. "Yep," he said, throwing Hiccup a proud grin. "Osmond, Jarl, Dagma, and the new little one, who is hopefully the last," he added wildly. "I mean, with a sixteen-year difference between her and Osmond, it's going to look a little odd. We still can't figure out why after eight years, it suddenly happened again."
"Mala's 45, right?" Astrid asked curiously. "Because we've had quite a few women back home suddenly have a child long after their last too. Petrine thinks it's because of the change because it certainly fits."
"Yeah, that's what our midwife said too," Dagur said. "She thinks because Mala is getting close to it, that something just happened to change everything. Not that I'm complaining," Dagur insisted with a wide smile. "I mean, I always wanted another little girl. It's just the age differences."
"I know Osmond's 16," Hiccup said, frowning thoughtfully. "But how old are the others again?"
"Jarl is 13 and Dagma's 8," Dagur clarified. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Hiccup," he added, seeing the uncertain look cross Hiccup's face, "I like being a dad but they are a lot of work. And I mean a lot of work," he repeated dramatically.
"You don't need to tell us twice," Astrid laughed, as she put down the food she was currently eating. "Leif gives us enough trouble for two kids, let alone Siri and Ingrid."
"Ingrid doesn't give us much trouble," Hiccup admitted with a smile, "but Leif has more mischief in him than the twins put together; especially when he's with Kelda and Eric. Granted it doesn't help that they are Ruff and Tuff's kids," he added dryly.
Dagur laughed wildly. "I knew there was something I liked about that kid," he chuckled. "I mean, the trouble he gets into is almost Beserker like!"
"Yeah, gotta admit, I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that," Hiccup deadpanned, causing Astrid to snort in amusement beside him, before she suddenly stopped mid laugh, causing Hiccup and Dagur to glance at her in concern, especially upon noticing how pale she had gotten all of a sudden.
"Are you alright, Astrid?" Hiccup asked anxiously, as Astrid took a deep breath to fight a wave of nausea that was consuming her. "That's the second time that's happened since we got here."
"Yeah, I'm alright," Astrid said slowly, as she breathed out heavily. "I…I just felt sick all of a sudden, that's all."
"Which is exactly what happened yesterday," Hiccup pointed out as he looked into his wife's face, where the colour was slowly returning. "Astrid, are you sure there's nothing wrong?" he asked, as he reached out to take her hand. "I mean, this doesn't usually happen." He frowned thoughtfully. "Could it be…you know what…do you think?" he asked awkwardly, as he quickly glanced down in question.
"Not so loud!" Astrid hissed, as she quickly glanced around the room. "Do you want to tell the whole world?" Heaving a sigh, though, she shrugged. "But yes, it could be," she replied quietly, not quite meeting Hiccup's eyes; a fact that didn't go unnoticed. "But it doesn't usually happen."
Hiccup bit his lip. "Maybe you should go and lie down?" he suggested, as he saw Dagur glancing at them curiously. "I mean, if you don't feel well…"
Astrid snorted. "I'm fine, Hiccup," she said stubbornly, as she sat back up in her chair. "It was just a bit of nausea, that's all. See?" she said, as she picked up another piece of mutton from the plate in front of her. "I'm fine now."
"I would be too if I was eating this stuff," Dagur said absentmindedly, as he took a plateful himself. "The Chief may be an odd one, but he sure knows how to put on a feast!"
"Well…if you're sure," Hiccup said slowly, as he watched his wife begin to eat once again. Upon hearing her husband's comment, she glanced back at him with raised eyebrows, causing him to chuckle sheepishly and put up his hands in defeat. Turning away from her, he grabbed a plateful of chicken and started up another conversation with Dagur and Godric, who had just sat in a vacant seat beside them to talk; on the other side of them, Iona struck up a conversation with Astrid, who seemed to be doing just fine now.
It wasn't until several hours later, and fairly late in the night, when the various leaders finally decided it was time to trudge to bed, having eaten and drunk well beyond their fill, to the point where all the platters of food were emptied of their contents. Many of the Vikings stumbled around in the dark of the island trying to find their way to their guest houses, while the others, which included Hiccup, Astrid, Godric, Iona and Dagur just trudged wearily back to their beds with little talk between them at all. Upon reaching his own little accommodation hut, Dagur just waved them feebly off, before practically stumbling in, while Hiccup and Astrid gave a wave to their dragons in the stables, before tiredly entering their own room with great yawns of their own.
"You know, I think I forgot just how much Vikings like to talk," Astrid said drowsily, falling stomach first onto their bed as soon as they walked in. "I thought we'd never get out of there."
"Why do you think I'm always so tired when I get home from these things?" Hiccup chuckled, as he collapsed onto the bed beside her. "Nobody knows how to shut up."
"Snorri especially," Astrid groaned, as she lay her arm over her face. "Gods, that man can talk underwater, I swear."
"Why do you think his wife stopped coming with him?" Hiccup grinned, as he glanced in her direction. "She can get a few days of peace without him!"
"Until tomorrow anyway," Astrid chuckled, as she lowered her arm from her face in order to glance towards Hiccup. "I mean, I highly doubt many of them are going to stay on after tomorrow. Dagur especially," she added.
"Godric and Iona will stay on for a few more days," Hiccup yawned, as he closed his eyes sleepily. "I mean, it takes them long enough to get here, I highly doubt they'll leave in a hurry." Opening his eyes, he suddenly glanced at Astrid with a smile. "I'm glad that you finally got to meet them, though. They'd been looking forward to it for a while."
Astrid smiled in return. "I'm just glad I finally got to thank them for saving your life," she said softly, as she reached out to take his hand in hers. "But, Hiccup?" she continued uncertainly, causing Hiccup to frown in response. "Did you really mean what you said to Godric when you introduced me?"
Hiccup frowned in confusion. "What was it I said?"
Astrid smiled bashfully. "You introduced me as your 'beautiful wife, Astrid,'" she said gently; a blush rising in her cheeks as she said it. "Did you really mean that?" she asked, as reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear as she sat up.
Sitting up as well, Hiccup threw her a soft smile, as he reached out to cup her cheek. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it, Astrid," he said tenderly, causing her blush to deepen further as Hiccup leant in towards her, causing her to close her eyes automatically in response, only for her eyes to suddenly shoot open as a wave of nausea suddenly struck her stomach, causing her to pull away and empty the content of her stomach into a bucket beside the bed.
"Oh, crap," Hiccup said in disbelief, as he watched Astrid heave into the bucket uncomfortably. "Astrid, are you alright?"
"I... I don't know," she said weakly, as she emerged from the top of the bucket, her face having gone quite pale. "I just needed to be sick all of a sudden."
"Here, let me take that," Hiccup said worriedly, as he gently pried the wooden pail off Astrid's shaking hands. "I'll clean it out for you. Do you think you'll need it again?" he asked her anxiously, as he took in his wife's pale cheeks, but before he could question her further, Astrid suddenly took the bucket back off him and repeated her actions, much to Hiccup's discomfort.
"Oh boy, I don't like the look of this," Hiccup said nervously, as he sat beside his sick wife, who was beginning to shake from exertion. "Oh, sweetie, why didn't you tell me you felt like this?"
"Because I didn't feel like this," Astrid replied weakly, as she took a deep breath. "Not earlier anyway," she admitted, as she wiped her mouth with a shaking hand. "I mean, I've felt a few waves of nausea since last night, but nothing like this." Paling again, she suddenly vanished again as another wave of nausea consumed her.
"Yeah, well, I don't know about you, Astrid, but I don't like the looks of this," Hiccup said nervously, as he wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You've been ill pretty much since we got here, and it's obviously getting worse." He glanced towards the door with a bite of his lip. "Maybe I should go and find a healer."
Astrid shook her head with a moan. "No healer," she protested weakly, as she shakily placed the pail back down on the floor. "For all we know, it's probably nothing; and I don't want to get a healer for no reason."
"And it might not be nothing either, Astrid," Hiccup reminded her, as he rubbed her back gently. "I mean, you never get sick. Not like this anyway," he added as he took note of her grey colouration. "And this is definitely not your courses, either," he added, throwing her a pointed glance. "I mean, even your cramps don't get this bad."
"That's because it's not my courses," Astrid said quietly, not looking up to meet Hiccup's eyes.
"Yeah, well, I didn't think it was," Hiccup replied obliviously. "I mean, sure, you get cramps, but nothing like-"
"No, Hiccup, you don't understand," Astrid said nervously, as she finally flicked her eyes up to Hiccup's face. "I mean, yes, I don't usually get like this with them, but even so, I know it's not them."
Hiccup frowned in confusion. "Astrid, I have no idea what you're even talking about. I thought we'd just established it can't be that."
Astrid sighed. "It can't be that because I haven't got them yet," she said, as she threw her husband a tentative glance. "I'm late, Hiccup."
Hiccup fell silent. "What… what do you mean late?" he asked uncertainly, as his stomach began to bubble uncomfortably. "Do you like a few days, or-"
"I mean I was due last week, Hiccup, and they haven't arrived," Astrid confirmed, as she heaved a deep sigh. "And you know as well as I do that I am hardly ever this late."
"But-" Hiccup began as he tried to wrap his head around it, "-but they were the reason you were late yesterday. You said you were at the bathroom because of them."
"I just said that to stop you asking questions," Astrid admitted, with an apologetic glance towards him. "I actually went to check to see if they'd arrived yet before we left; with no luck," she added, seeing Hiccup's questioning glance. "I thought I'd felt a cramp, but obviously I was imagining it."
"Astrid, are you sure you're not just… well… late?" Hiccup asked her, as he wrapped an arm around her shaking shoulders. "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time it's happened in recent years. I mean, your courses haven't been overly normal since Ingrid was born, have they?"
Astrid lifted a finger to begin answering, but before she was able too, her stomach suddenly did a somersault, causing her face to immediately turn a nasty shade of green, leading Hiccup to swiftly place the pail back in place just as she became sick once again. Hiccup's own stomach churned dangerously as he watched his wife be sick in front of him, but he held back his own nausea as he rubbed his wife's back comfortingly, until she re-emerged with sweat covering every inch of her pale, glistening face.
"Are you alright?" Hiccup asked her worriedly, as she placed the pail down again with a trembling hand, but she immediately waved off his concerns, before taking a deep breath and answering his earlier question.
"No, they haven't been normal since Ingrid was born," Astrid replied weakly, as she leant tiredly against Hiccup. "But even then, I was never this late."
"Astrid," Hiccup said quietly, "are you saying you might be like Mala and be pregnant again?"
Astrid sighed against Hiccup's shoulder. "I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe?" She groaned. "Honestly, Hiccup, I don't know. It's just…" She trailed off momentarily. "…I don't know about you, but tonight feels oddly familiar, that's all." She glanced up at him pointedly.
"Yeah, and it feels oddly similar to the night after our wedding celebrations, too," Hiccup pointed out reasonably. "Astrid, I know what you're thinking, but it could just be food poisoning as well. I mean, you ate a lot back at the hall just like any other Viking-"
"I felt sick before I even ate yesterday, too, remember?" Astrid reminded him. "So how could it be that?"
Hiccup sighed. "I don't know," he admitted, with a shake of his head. "But, Astrid," he continued softly, as he gently tilted her head up towards him, "don't you remember what Petrine said after Ingrid was born? She said-"
"I'm fully aware of what she said, Hiccup," Astrid sighed. "But that's the thing. Petrine never said I couldn't have any more children, she just said I may not be able too. It wasn't definite."
"Astrid-"
"Look, I know I'm probably overthinking this, alright?" Astrid said impatiently, causing Hiccup to wince slightly at her tone. "But to me, it feels just like it did back when I was pregnant with Leif, right down to the being sick every few minutes-" and almost to prove her point, Astrid suddenly heaved again, causing Hiccup to just get to her in time, before she suddenly came up, with tears swimming in her bright azure eyes.
"I have to admit, I feel like I'm dying right now," Astrid said weakly, as she pressed her sweaty face into Hiccup's chest with a moan.
"Astrid, you can't keep going like this," Hiccup said, his eyes wide with panic at the greyish tinge in Astrid's cheeks. "I can't just sit here while you're being sick almost every few minutes." Reaching up to stroke her cheek gently, he gave her a tender smile. "I'm going to get a healer, Astrid, no arguments."
"Fine," Astrid mumbled, as Hiccup gently lay her down on the bed, before giving her a swift kiss and standing up to head over to the door, only to get a shock when he opened it to be met with a bright lightning bolt streaking across the sky, with an answering roar of thunder above them.
"Ok, that answers that," Hiccup said nervously, as another lightning bolt streaked the sky right opposite them. "I'm not going anywhere." He turned around, but upon seeing Astrid bury her head in her arms with a moan, he bit his lip. "And I'm going anyway."
"Hiccup, don't!"
Startled, Hiccup whirled around to see Astrid sitting up on the bed, her eyes as wide as saucers as she watched him take a step outside in the now pouring rain, her illness temporarily forgotten as the storm raged outside.
"Hiccup, unless I'm dying, you are not to step one foot outside until this passes over," she said shakily, as her eyes locked onto a flash in the sky.
"But, Astrid-"
"You can wait until it passes," Astrid said again, her voice slightly constricted. "I don't care how sick I feel, you are not going out in this."
Seeing the fear in Astrid's eyes, Hiccup took a quick glance towards the direction of the healer's hut, situated on the far side of the immediate area, before heaving a great sigh, and closing the door on the storm raging outside, before joining Astrid back on the bed.
"Alright, no healer just yet," Hiccup said softly, as he wrapped his arms around Astrid's trembling form. "But if you start to get dehydrated or even look as though you're going to pass out or anything, I'm going, storm or not, alright?"
"Alright, alright," Astrid said weakly, as she managed a small smile in his direction. "Were you even aware that storm was happening?" she asked him in confusion as she heard another clap of thunder overhead.
"Now that you mention it, there was some lightning as we walked here," Hiccup pointed out with a frown. "But it hadn't really started yet." He sighed. "Seriously, though, why is it always storms?"
Astrid snorted. "It's the archipelago, babe. Are you seriously just asking that now?"
"Good point," Hiccup admitted with a chuckle, as be bent his head in order to kiss Astrid's blonde locks, which were sticking to her sweaty forehead. "How are you feeling?" he asked her gently.
Astrid groaned. "Like I've been trampled by a herd of Gronkles," she replied wearily, as he eyes began to droop. "Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if what happened after our wedding night really is the worst I've ever felt now."
"That is bad," Hiccup admitted, as he stroked her hair gently. He fell silent for a moment, watching Astrid fight a wave of sleep trying to overcome her, only for her to suddenly shoot up and grab for the pail once again.
"That's disgusting," Astrid whined, as she lay her head onto Hiccup's lap after she was finished. "Honestly, I'm starting wonder if I'm ever going to eat again after tonight." With a twinge of pain in her head from the exertion, she closed her eyes against the pain, only to feel slightly soothed by the feeling of Hiccup's gentle fingers brushing through her hair.
"Astrid," he said softly, causing her to open her eyes and glance back up at him questionably. "What if this does end up being a baby? I mean, we were told it would never happen again."
"I… I don't know," Astrid admitted. "I mean, I never expected it to happen again. I thought for sure that Ingrid was out last baby, but now…" She trailed off.
"You're thinking that maybe Petrine got it wrong?" Hiccup suggested.
"I don't know," Astrid said quietly. "I honestly don't know what to think. I mean, we haven't exactly got the room for another baby. We gave Ingrid your study room as it is!" she chuckled, glancing up at Hiccup with an amused smile, which he quickly returned.
"Yeah, and for the last past seven years I've had to do all my paperwork around three crazy kids," Hiccup grinned, as he continued to stroke Astrid's hair. "Honestly, though, Astrid," he continued, his tone serious, "if this does end up being a baby, we'll handle it. I'm sure of it."
"You don't think it is, though, do you?" Astrid asked him forlornly.
Hiccup gave her a sad smile. "It's just… I don't know," he said uncertainly. "It's just Ingrid's birth was so hard, and Petrine isn't usually wrong with these things, that's all. I mean, if it is, it's great!" Hiccup admitted. "I just…don't want you to get your hopes up, that's all."
Astrid smiled. "I know," she said sleepily. "But if I'm being honest, it does feel like it. I mean, my course is late, I'm sick, and I have been tired the past few days," Astrid admitted. "It all fits."
Hiccup smiled. "Well, we'll find out in the morning," Hiccup said, as gently urged Astrid up off his lap. "As soon as it's light out, I'll go and grab a healer and we'll find out for sure, alright?"
Astrid nodded. "That's alright with me," she replied sleepily, as she gingerly changed into her nightgown, her arm muscles aching as she did so. "All I want to do is go to sleep."
"Then get some sleep," Hiccup said gently, as he helped her back onto the bed. "Maybe you'll feel better in the morning."
Astrid glanced at him to reply, but before she could, she suddenly retched again, causing Hiccup to wince in sympathy.
"Oh, something tells me we're in for a long night," he said nervously, just as another clap of thunder sounded from overhead.
See, I said everything would become clear as to what I went about everything not being as it seems. Now, I know what's going on with Astrid does sound a little like what she thinks and I've thrown enough hints to showcase what's going on which has probably got you all thinking anyway. As to why I even brought up been the possibility of Astrid being pregnant again, that will explained next chapter, but until then, just wait until you read both parts in order to understand it :)
I have to admit that I quite enjoyed writing this chapter, one for Hiccup and Astrid, who have a lot more part than they have lately, and it was badly needed, and two, to show just how far Siri has come since breaking up with Gerold. I mean, she even admits now that the whole thing with Gerold was as much fault as hers and is willing to help him, despite her own feelings, which let face it, is a hard thing to do with people you don't like, but the thing is, she's really starting to show a mature side. And as you can tell, the poor girl really wanted her first time leading to go well, but of course something had to happen! And an even bigger something happens in the second part which really tests her leadership skills! I also used Spitelout as her problem mainly because after watching the ep with him and the food storehouse in RTTE season 3, I really thought it would work well, especially with his personality and the fact that Berk is in for a longer than usual winter. Speaking of that, too, for anyone wondering why there is a different elder, it's just because I really don't think poor old Gothi would still be alive 20 years later. No matter how awesome she is!
So, yes, I added Dagur into this story, and I have to say, I'm glad I did because after his change to Hiccup's side, I really started to like him. He was also a lot of fun to write considering his weird mannerisms. Like, I know that doesn't change everything he's done, but hopefully by this point in time, he's had plenty of time to try and make up for it. Now, when I wrote this chapter, season 4 of RTTE had only just aired so I had given Dagur an OC wife who was never going to show up, but after season 6, and his interesting marriage to Mala, I decided to go back and fix it up, mainly because it was easy to do. Hias children, who used to be a lot younger than Hiccup and Astrid's kids, are now around the same age, with the eldest only a year younger than Siri as he and Mala waited awhile for kids. Heather's children, though, as well her marriage, happened a lot later though. It's a shame I couldn't change her and Fishlegs to be together, though, as they I found them to be quite cute together, but that's well beyond changing now. Heather will be in a chapter soon, but Mala will have to wait awhile as I can't fit her in after the changes just yet. In my canon, Dagur, Mala, Heather and Tore are all co leaders, although Mala goes back and forth between islands to rule. As for explaining why Dagur has never been in the story so far (even though I never knew he could be of course), he always showed up outside the story background, and he couldn't make it to Hiccup and Astrid's wedding due to problems at home at the time. Although I really wish I could have added him since the beginning in a way.
Ok, so you know the drill, DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW, but once again NO FLAMES, only KIND constructive criticism is accepted.
Thanks for reading! Next part to follow soon.
