If there was one thing the People of Berk loved more than their dragons it was their food and mead. The rumors of a feast swirled around the town as Alvin's crew filtered into the main roads of the town and dominated much of the talk of the town. We may live on two different islands, but since Alvin's redemption, we'd become close allies. I still remember when he sailed to Berk to protect it while my father lay on his death bed and I had to deal with Johann. He solidified my trust in him on that day, cause he was never asked to do that. He mobilized his fleet for our defense of his own accord, and its not something I'll forget anytime soon.
It was something else to see, honestly. This Viking, the size of my father, on his knees before one of the legs of my father's large statue. Unclipping his axe, he sets it down. It was the same axe my father had tossed to him when we were fighting off Dagur's forces, gods, what's it been, five or more years, now. Rising from his place, Alvin turns to Astrid and I and walks closer, placing his large hand on my shoulder.
"You'd made yer father proud, chief. Ye'll always have a friend on my island." He says, in arguably the most somber tone I've ever heard from the Viking before releasing his grip and walking away.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think he wants to cry" Astrid said quietly to me and I nod.
"You know, it's weird. My father and him went from best friends, to bitter enemies, to stalwart allies. Alvin wasn't here when my father died, though if I had to guess, he wishes he were. Like me, he's working through it in his head, examining if he could've done things differently. Paid closer attention to the trappers around the archipelago." I answer, my voice soft enough that only Astrid can hear me as I watch the Viking make his way back to his ship. Undoubtedly to offload food and other supplies, but a part of me knew he just wanted to be alone. Regret isn't something everyone is accustomed to dealing with.
"Some people just handle it differently" Astrid answers and I shrug.
"Or not at all." I add and she nods, resting her head on my shoulder.
"So, a feast tonight?" She asks and I nod with a smile.
"Guess so. It's already the talk of Berk, would be promoting anarchy if we didn't at this point." I joke, turning to look at her. She smiles and nods her head in agreement. "Any plans today for you?" I ask as I slowly start walking towards the Great Hall's doors with her. She shakes her head.
"Staying with you. I had thought about making the Auxiliary riders do some drills, but that can wait until tomorrow with Alvin's fleet in port." She answers as we enter the Hall. I see Eret, my mother, and the other Riders looking over a parchment on the table. "Wonder what's going on." She says aloud as we approach.
"Let's find out." I answer and flag down Eret. "Hey, guys! What's all this?"
"Hey, Hiccup! I got word from some of my contacts, seems like there's a trapping ring operating in the Archipelago for some western warlords. Trying to nail down where they may be." Eret answers, dropping a knife on the map.
"And the peace never lasts, does it." I sigh and he nods with a shrug.
"Not with the right amount of coin. Most of my former trappers have just changed to new employers instead of refining their ways." Eret answers and I nod, glancing at Astrid who's expression has grown serious.
"Well, where there are trappers, there are dragons that need our help. Squeeze what you can out of your contacts, and starting tomorrow, we go and release these dragons." I say, looking at the crew. I feel Astrid place a hand on my chest and glance to her and see her smile. Guess more training for the Auxiliary Riders would have to wait.
"Yeah, about time I get to knock some skulls." Tuffnut says with a grin.
"You said it, brother. We'll show those trappers who's got the gassiest record of all the dragons" Ruffnut answers with a laugh.
"Well said, sister! It's me, right?" Tuff adds
"It's us, doofus." Ruff answers, hitting his helmet
"Oh, right!"
"With all we know about dragons now, they won't stand a chance! I can't wait to help them" Fishlegs says, clasping his hands together as Snotlout slams one of his fists to his palms.
"Good, Hookfang and I were getting bored. Glad the great Chief Hiccup could fit it in his schedule" He exclaims.
"Speaking of" I add after a light laugh. "Starting today, I want everyone to collect the dragon scales as your dragons shed. I have a few ideas. Just collect the scales for the next couple weeks and bring them to me."
"Whatever you say" Snotlout waves his hand.
"When is the feast tonight, son?" My mother asks, breaking the discussion up.
"Haven't decided yet, to be honest. Alvin and his crew are unloading at the docks now. Fishlegs, could you see we have the mead brought to the Great Hall?" I ask, turning to Fishlegs who nods.
"You got it, Hiccup" He says before scurrying off.
"What about us?" Tuffnut asks, pointing to himself as Ruff and Snotlout stand nearby.
"Snotlout and the twins, help Alvin and his crew get the food here. Eret, can you make sure they don't eat any of the food before the feast?" I say, adding the last bit and earning a groan from the twins.
"You always know how to take away the fun." Tuffnut sighs as Eret nods.
"You bet. I'll keep you updated on the trapper movements too, hopefully have a target tomorrow." Eret answers.
"Thanks. Alright, gang. Let's get it ready, we have guests tonight so let's make this a real Berkian feast."
"Yeah!" The twins and Snotlout say as they start walking out. I can hear them chattering to themselves. "I wonder what they brought." Tuff says.
"Maybe some chicken corn feed, we can pop it with the heat. Slather with yak butter…" Ruff adds
"Hey, that was totally my idea!" Snotlout yells after them as they laugh and leave the Hall. Eret shrugging and closely in tow.
As I turn to Astrid, I notice my mother still hovering and she nods to me and Astrid now that we're alone.
"So, did you babes have a good day yesterday?" She asks with an annoyingly knowing gaze, prompting both Astrid and I to blush profusely.
"Uh, yeah. Thanks, mom. We can uh, not talk about that. It was good though." I stammer as Astrid coughs and turns away, embarrassed. My mom shrugs and nods.
"That's all that matters, Hiccup. I'll see to the Hall preparations and see you two love birds tonight." She adds.
"Mom!" I exclaim and she just laughs, walking away. Turning to Astrid, her face is beat red. "Moms being moms" I laugh nervously.
"Do you think she knows?" Astrid asks quietly, watching Valka walk off.
"Eh, probably. I bet she suspects something." I shrug. "But she won't say a thing about it so we're fine. Come on, let's head to the forge. I've got something I want to show you." I add and her nervous expression is replaced with a smile as she nods and we make our way out of the Hall together, arm in arm.
I've grown to love it when he takes me to the forge where he spent most of his youth as an apprentice to Gobber. Gobber still spent most of his time there working on saddles or Dragon Tooth repair, but there was an add-on, smaller work area that Hiccup had all to himself that he'd steal me into on occasion. Never for anything questionable, just a place to escape prying eyes as he showed me new designs for Toothless's tail or his own peg foot.
This time was not different, well, mostly no different. As he leads me into the smaller work room, I feel his arms wrap around me and his lips press to mine passionately. I melt in the kiss and just wrap my arms over his shoulders, closing my eyes and savoring the moment of peace. As our lips part, I look into his eyes, slightly out of breath and smile.
"Where did that come from?" I ask under my breath and I see his lips curl as he shrugs.
"I've been waiting to do that all morning." He admits as he released his embrace and leads me over to the table. I feel a heat in my cheeks as I know they turn rosary red after his comment in a blush and bite my lower lip, nodding in acceptance. His answer was enough for me.
Leading me over to a table, he opens a small notebook and unfolds the paper inside it revealing a suit design.
"I'd been toying with this idea for a little while. Dragon Scale suit. Tougher than leather, won't ignite under fire, adds a real dragon-vibe to the riders." Hiccup begins explaining and I nod. The idea was awesome. "Here, instead of cloth stored in my pants, I was thinking of collapsible wings on my back." He says, pointing out the design. Usually this sort of thing was just a little beyond me, Hiccup had a mind out of time, like he was from some crazy future world where the people flew across the roads and soared in the skies without dragons carrying them. My wandering mind was betrayed by my smile as he flips a page and shows me a more feminine design that resembled a Deadly Nadder.
"This was what I had thought of for you." He says softly, brushing my hair.
"I like it. Keep the wings, not sure I want to try that just yet." I add with a light laugh before flipping the page. I see one for the twins, for Snotlout and Fishlegs. "Wow, babe. When did you have time to work on all of this?" I ask, genuinely amazed.
"I try to give it an hour every other day. I've started some ideas for the Auxiliary Riders too. That's why I want everyone to collect scales. I'll help everyone make their suits so they can learn how to repair them. But if we're getting closer to tracking down trappers, we will need every edge we can get." He says, speaking as though he was preparing me like when we faced the Hunters or the Flyers.
As he looks on the designs, I move closer to him and slink my arm around the small of his back. He instinctively does the same with his.
"It's good work, babe. We'll get it done. I've been collecting Stormfly's scales for awhile but they're just in a chest at my parents house." I admit and I feel him tense up.
"Speaking of, what've your parents had to say about your overnight absences these last few days?" Hiccup asks nervously and I laugh.
"The usual; be careful, don't do anything you'll regret, you'll always be welcome back. Things like that." I say cheerfully. I hadn't talked to them since then, but that was the general response I got.
"Do they know it has been spent with me?" Hiccup questions
"They know we spend a lot of time together, about our betrothal, obviously. I believe, my mother said you had better marry me before we get pregnant" I add, chuckling nervously at the last comment. This wasn't a topic we usually brought up.
"Yeah, I don't think we're ready for either of those yet, not with dangerous people still out there. I want our future children to have a safe world to live in." Hiccup says softly and I freeze. Our future children. He had been thinking about it too. It made my heart flutter as I gripped him tighter. While times were mostly peaceful, the presence of any warlords while he was chief meant any children we had could be in danger. Yet another example of him thinking ahead, he honestly made my legs weak when he did that.
Confidently speaking about our future together with no doubts, solidified in the idea that we were one, that our children would be his foremost concern and he didn't want to rush but he certainly did want. It's not something that was new to me, but every day it seemed to affect me in the same way it had when it first happened. He wasn't the typical Viking, he wasn't loud or coarse, belligerent or disrespectful like many can be. He was kind and thoughtful, strategic, and precise. Yet he always was willing to defer to me in terms of tactics when time and time again, it's been his ideas and plans that have won the day. I pull his hip closer to mine as we stand, side by side, looking at the designs. Resting my head on his shoulder, even in this little war room of his, I felt at peace.