(A/N A reminder that I have not looked up any Norse traditions outside of the handfasting. I have no idea what an accurate representation would be or how Dreamworks would choose to depict these events en mass.
Also, a warning. There is death in this chapter, nothing graphic and no main characters, but regardless it's there.
I suck at action scenes and that's not really my focus anyway, rather the story around it, so you may find the battles a little lacking. Sorry.
And to my guest who keeps adding reviews: Thank you so much! I've been clinging to your reviews with a happy giddy feeling because it's wonderful you're enjoying the story!)
The first camp fell easily. Scouts who had been sent ahead made sure there were no escape routes for information of their attack to leak to the other two camps or outpost. Several times they offered for their foe to surrender, but they chose to fight to the last man. They prepared the bodies to be sent to Valhalla, but left them to be lit by their own tribe.
A nearby island housed the Hooligans as they tended their wounds and prepared to repeat the process the next day. No casualties were reported that night.
The second camp had better eyes on lookout and attempted to prepare for the attack. They too fought to the last man, while the Hooligans lost three dragons and two warriors.
Preparations were made for all the dead, and Stoick administered rites for the two warriors while Toothless had the three dragons taken away. Hiccup didn't know if they were going to Vanaheim or somewhere else, but he didn't question it.
Again they found the island to camp at. Hiccup didn't feel right. He'd never been a killer. He'd given the opportunity to surrender. His parents attempted to ease his mind, but he kept seeing the faces of those he'd killed. He knew he was justified, but their deaths still weighed on him.
On the third day, at the third camp, his people were tired. They still fought expertly. They still offered a chance of surrender. And they still killed every last raider in the encampment. The Hooligan's death toll reached ten warriors and four dragons for the day. Hiccup saw to their rites that evening before finding the island once again.
He sighed heavily, watching Toothless debate internally if he should see the white dragon again that night. He hadn't the past two, staying with Hiccup during his distress.
"Go. I've got to talk to the others about timing our next attack."
Toothless gave a concerned warbling tone.
"It's okay. Just make sure yours are resting up."
He snorted.
As Hiccup made his way to his parents and Gobber a Terrible Terror landed on his shoulder.
"Hey fella. What are you doing here?"
As quickly as it had come the Terror flew back off into the night.
The four leaders discussed the benefits of attacking tomorrow and reasons they should wait. The sooner they mounted an attack, the more sure they were surprise was on their side. But their people and dragons both needed to rest. They'd traveled for a week and then battled three days in a row. They were exhausted. Some were wounded. All needed time to mourn the fallen twelve warriors and seven dragons. Berk was growing, but not so large that they didn't all know one another. Hiccup knew the name and family of each fallen Hooligan. They joined those he'd felled in haunting his mind.
Eventually, they decided to wait a single day before mounting their final assault on the Wailer's southern presence. They spread the word as they each returned to their bedrolls. Hiccup fell into a restless sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
.
It seemed to take forever for the Terror to return. The fleet had sent it out as they reached the southern waters so that they could follow it to Hiccup's location. Well, the Hooligan's location.
Merida couldn't stop thinking about Hiccup though. He'd be furious when he discovered she had stolen her armor. He'd likely be even angrier that she had come at all.
The further south they sailed the more she forced herself into a new standard. She would be brave; afraid, but facing those fears. She was not a military leader, but anyone who happened to look to her would see a warrior. She may not be as fierce as Astrid, but she could handle a sword and her aim was impeccable.
When the small dragon came back aboard, they watched it for directional cues. It took them over a day and they had to rest the scaldrans twice, but shortly after dawn on the second day they came upon an outpost under siege.
.
The outpost was trickier than the encampments. The main obstacle would be minimizing captive casualties. Past that, they were more dug into the area, with greater defenses. The Hooligans didn't know the area as well and were wary of mine vents and entrances, arrows and spears often flew from the depths of the darkness.
One thing the Wailers had not prepared for was aerial assault.
The dragons made quick work of any catapults meant to guard the shore from naval attack. They also rid the area of scouts and lookouts.
.
Merida watched as Astrid began barking orders to the fleet and Dagur, Heather, and Atali relayed them to the people, sometimes adjusted slightly to better suit the individual's talents.
The stowaway hatchling refused to let go of Merida's armor. Even Atali could not break the baby's hold.
Astrid and a handful of other riders took to the sky, Merida on the back of Stormfly as they climbed higher. Spotting a good vantage point, Merida indicated to Astrid to let her off there.
She was on a bit of a bluff, as the outpost was inside a man made alcove. It didn't take long for her to find targets. She was shooting from a fair distance, but after watching the first five arrows hit their marks she became confident in her abilities. She'd loose an arrow and immediately begin looking for a new target, not bothering to check the felled body she'd left.
That was quite the trick, not looking at the dead. She knew they were dead. She knew she had killed them. But these were not things she could dwell on now. Every time her heart was pained by their loss of life she reminded herself of the reports she'd received with her parents and then shot her next arrow.
The wind continuously buffeted her as she fired. It did little to her aim, as she was used to shooting from horseback, but she was precariously close to the bluff's edge. The razorwhip stretched out her wings to keep Merida balanced more than once. She was grateful for the dragon's presence, despite her earlier attitude towards it.
She was startled when she reached for an arrow and found none. Looking down she saw she was through her first quiver set. 30 shots. 30 deaths. With a deep breath she turned to the next quiver and aimed for the 31st time.
.
Hiccup was in the middle of the fray. One moment he'd be on Toothless, then they'd split and tear through a line of enemies, only for him to mount again as the night fury took him to the next spot thick with enemies.
Every now and then a stray plasma bolt was spewed into the battle. It was always aimed to a building, which he was thankful for. The white dragon didn't know friend from foe, but she wanted to assist Toothless. He couldn't help his smile every time he heard the scream of her wings.
He noticed when the reinforcements arrived. In the back of his mind he cursed Astrid for her insubordination and failure to listen to direction, but truly he was grateful for the reprieve in the fighting. They were dwindling the Wailer's numbers, no doubt, but the reinforcements' presence would lessen the Hooligan's casualties.
As he dispatched another group, he turned a circle, watching for where they should go next. Three figures on the ridge holding glinting steel weapons caught his eye. He traced his eyes to where they were headed and felt his heart stop. An archer stood on the bluff firing into the battle. She stood in dragon scale armor with a black helm that shone in the sun, a skirt reaching her knees hid the sword sheath that blended in with it, a mass of red curls trailed out the back of her helmet with amber eyes, while silver wings sprouted from her back.
The three warriors drew closer.
"Toothless!" They were halfway there before he could finish his panicked cry.
The lead Wailer raised his sword, while her back was still turned.
"Now!" he screamed. He trusted Toothless's aim and could not accept the reality of being late. He leapt from the saddle the same moment Toothless fired. The blast struck the ground directly behind Merida, knocking the three men back and her forward.
He left her to fall onto Toothless while he killed the first assailant with a single stroke. Two more strokes and the second fell.
.
She was going to fall. She knew it.
She felt the dragon on her back beat her little wings against gravity as she teetered over the edge.
When a black mass swooped up from the cliff, the baby used the draft to pull Merida back from the edge onto steady feet. She turned to see a man dead at her feet and Hiccup killing a second. A third was about to swing a mace at Hiccup's head from behind when she pulled her nearly forgotten sword from its sheath and stepped between them, raising her sword to block the blow.
She grunted with effort as their weapons collided. The hatchling buffeted her wings giving Merida a bit more push. Shifting her stance, she hoped she was as in sync with her as she'd seen the other Wingmaidens.
.
He turned to face the third, expecting to retaliate against an attack of convenience. Instead he saw the back of Merida's helmet as she blocked the very attack he'd been anticipating a moment too late.
He saw her shift and fall to the ground, sweeping the man's legs out from underneath of him. She smacked his hand with the flat of her sword and he dropped the mace.
Taking a step back, she bumped into Hiccup's chest. She moved to bring up her sword again, but he caught her elbow and spoke gruffly into her ear.
"It's me. You're okay."
She turned and threw her arms around him. He wanted to enjoy the fact she melted into him, that she was glad to see him, that she trusted him. But he couldn't get past the anger at seeing her there and didn't return her embrace.
Instead he watched the man rise and pull a dagger from his belt. He ran toward the pair with a cry, lifting the blade to stab Merida in the back. Hiccup turned her to the side, placed his weight on his peg leg, and kicked the man off the bluff.
He could both hear and feel her sharp intake of breath as she realized what happened. He raised his visor and looked down at her.
He meant to tell her she'd be okay. He meant to advise her to hide in the woods for the time being, maybe climb a tree. He meant to reassure her.
.
She looked up and saw his eyes. They were tinted through her amber lenses, but she knew them. She'd missed him. She was willing to admit that, but she hadn't realized how much she missed him. She'd worried for him too. She was about to embrace him again when the moment broke.
"What are you doing here! By Odin's right eye, woman!" he fumed. His anger was palpable and expected, but she still shied away slightly.
"I, um…"
"You are supposed to be in Berk!"
"But I…"
"Just- just- Ugh!" He spun in a circle with his hands gripping his helmet. "Toothless!"
The dragon warbled from a few paces away. He'd been firing into the battle as the two took care of the assailants.
"On him. Now. You will not leave this dragon until the battle is over. If you can fire without hitting him or our people, fine. But you do not-UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES-leave his back until I get you down. Do you understand?"
She nodded, looking at the ground. Her mum had told her to listen. She'd only seen him kind so far and had grown to care for him. Now she would see his ire. She wouldn't apologize though. She'd done the right thing, regardless of his opinion.
.
He and Toothless remained close, continuing their previous strategy.
Hiccup was surprised how many arrows he watched whizz through the air. Merida wasn't even phased when he was on the dragon as well and they were bounding across the field.
After what felt like an eternity, the battle was over. Again, they'd offered to accept surrender when the outcome of the fight was inevitable. Again, they'd refused and died needlessly.
Toothless rubbed his head against Hiccup and he scratched the dragon's jaw. He refused to let the princess down yet. Angry did not begin to describe his current emotions, so she'd be safer up there until he calmed down.
He had the prisoners rounded up in one of the less damaged barracks so their wounds could be tended. He then went to find the other leaders - Stoick, Valka, Dagur, Atali, and Heather - to begin discussing how to proceed, but Astrid found him first.
"Did you see the plasma blast hitting the buildings?! They weren't Toothless!" Hiccup smiled as Astrid enthused about the white dragon. He was glad to finally have someone to talk to about it. He wanted to name it, but any time he'd bring her up to Toothless his response conveyed 'mine' instead of any dragon name. "There was a-a- It was a dragon-I mean, obviously!-but it was like Toothless! Only it shimmered white instead of black! Like a- like a-" she bounced on the balls of her feet as she flailed her hand in front of her. "A-"
"A Bright Fury..."
"Light Fury!"
"Oh, yours is better."
"Oh my gods, it was gorgeous!"
"I know. She seems to be able to camouflage well, too. She was invisible when she tailed the flock."
"You knew about her?!"
Hiccup chuckled and shrugged, before explaining his encounters with her and how Toothless seemed to be trying to claim her as a mate. She was suspicious of humans, which made her wary of Toothless. But she hadn't run away and disappeared yet…
"Don't think you're off the hook, Astrid," he said as they approached the other leaders together.
"I don't know what you mean," she replied with a too big smile.
"Then you will," he promised with an angry tone. Astrid blushed, but continued to feign indifference.
They found the others already discussing where the Chief's meet should be.
"We'll need to invite the king and his clan leaders."
"Shouldn't the princess be here for this?" Heather asked Hiccup.
He groaned and mumbled incoherently as he left to fetch her.
(A/N Allow me to apologize again for my poor action writing.)