A boat containing Stoick's body was now drifting out to sea and hundreds of people watching it from the docks. Hiccup was given a bow and arrow, he let the arrowheads, locked it in the bow and then launched it. It landed perfectly on the boat, and soon it was beginning to burn.

Hiccup looked on until the flames had completely died out and then turned to Tyrell. "Tyrell, I want you to look after the city while I take the army to Berk."

Tyrell looked at him perplexed. "You wish for me to run the city?"

"I don't have time to establish a new arl and don't it is the wrong way, but I think you're better suited to managing a city than being a soldier."

Tyrell shrugged. "True enough, though I would like Viggo to remain as well. As brilliant as a tactician as he is his network of spies would be most helpful."

Hiccup nodded. "Agreed, just make sure the city is still standing."

Tyrell bowed graciously. "Of course, your Majesty."

Hiccup sighed. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

Before leaving thanks to Riordan they were able to commence with the Joining. Apparently, the secret ingredient was a drop of Archdemon's blood which had mysteriously disappeared under Drago's rule. Fortunately, it was found, and they commence with the Joining and Speedfist was able to survive it now they have for Wardens against an entire horde of darkspawn.


Without hesitation, Hiccup began leading the army down south towards Berk, though Riordan made had already gone ahead to scout out the darkspawn. Sadly with the number of men they had with them it took a full day, they were able to reach the city.

Sadly when they were just outside the village, they saw fire.

"That's not a good sign," said Astrid.

"Move!" Hiccup ordered.

Once they reached the bridge, they found a villager running away from the darkspawn. It only took a couple of swings to kill the vermin and then they approached the villager, who looked mightily relieved.

"It's… it's you! The Grey Wardens! Andraste's mercy that you got here when you did! I thought for sure those monsters were going to get me!"

"What happened? Where is everyone?" Hiccup asked.

"They all fled to the castle this morning before the darkspawn arrived. I thought I could make it back to my home and get back before they got here, but it took me too long to get down here. What a relief you arrived!"

"Are there more darkspawn at the castle?"

"Not yet, but the making there way to take the castle." The villager then walked past them. "I'm going to get out of here before any more those things arrive! Thank you again!"

Hiccup then turned and looked at her comrades. "We'll split into two groups. Ragnar took half of the army into the city and flushed out any darkspawn, I'll take the rest of us and headed straight towards the castle!"

At once they split up they took well over an hour to slay the beasts. Fortunately, they would seem to arrive just in time, so their army was pretty much intact. Though there was no sign of the Archdemon which concerned Hiccup.

Ragnar's group was able to kill all the city and quickly joined up with Hiccup in the castle in order to lift the siege. The horde was smaller than Hiccup predicted, granted it was large but compared to what they witnessed in Ostagar, it was relatively small.

Then a guard approached him. "My lord! You're here! Thank goodness!"

"Did the darkspawn get into the castle?" Hiccup asked.

"Some did, yes, but we were able to close the gate and kill the ones in the courtyard. I was told to watch for your arrival, your Majesty. Your comrade, Riordan, arrived just ahead of the darkspawn attack. He has urgent news for you!"

"Take us inside. There must be no delays!" said Hiccup.

"I should take you to the hall right away, my lady. They'll be waiting for you there."


Once they entered the hall, they found Riordan talking with both Spitelout and Ake. He stopped when he saw them enter and approach them. "It is a relief to see you unharmed."

"It's good to see you have returned," said Hiccup.

Ake looked at Hiccup. "I am sorry for your loss, your Majesty. Lord Stoick was a great man."

"And you can be sure that we will track those traitors down," said Spitelout.

"I appreciate your sentiment, but am afraid I will have to wait until after the Blight," said Hiccup and looked at Riodrdan. "What news?"

"The darkspawn that attacked Berk were relatively few in number, I'm afraid. It was assumed the horde was marching in this direction… but that is not true."

Ake joined in. "Riordan tells us that the bulk of the horde is, in fact, heading towards Aresgan. They will be at the capital within the week."

Astrid looked horrified. "What? Are you sure about that? I mean… if that's true…"

Riordan nodded. "I ventured close enough to 'listen in,' as it were. I am quite certain."

Hiccup frowned. "Why did we think they were headed here?"

Riordan shook his head. "The darkspawn line is wide, and many of them roam away from the main horde. Until now, most of them have been spotted here in the west."

"Not to mention that we've been too busy killing each other to pay much attention to the darkspawn horde," Ragnar added.

Riordan inhaled. "There is, I'm afraid one other piece of news that is of even greater concern. The Archdemon has shown itself. The dragon is at the head of the horde."

"Maker preserve us," Spitelout swore softly.

"But we can't reach Aresgan within a week, can we? It's too far," Fishlegs frowned.

"We must begin a forced march to the capital immediately, with what we have. Aresgan must be defended at all costs."

"The archdemon is what's important," said Speedfist.

Riordan nodded at him. "And only the Grey Wardens can defeat the Archdemon. That is why we must go."

"Has Tyrell been warned, he must repair the city?" Hiccup asked.

"We sent a raven, and they will be prepared, but they won't last long," said Riordan. "It only took about a week for the darkspawn to breach Rocron City and they had a massive wall to protect them."

"What about reinforcements from Asgard?" Ragnar asked.

"We have sent messengers, and within luck, they might come within a week," said Ake. "However, it's entirely possible that the Empress has written off Midgard as a lost cause already and will seek to protect her Empire first. The Grey Wardens of Asgard may be able to march and reach us in time."

"Even still we should not expect their arrival," said Spitelout. "We're on our own."

"Then we march," said Hiccup. "And hope the army we've collected here give us a chance we need." He squared his shoulders. "Arl Spitelout, how long before the army can set out?"

"By daybreak…"

Hiccup nodded and gave the order. "Then let's get them ready. I won't let all those people die without giving them a chance."

"I would like to speak with just the wardens, if I may," said Riordan. "There are a few things we need to discuss."

"We will be along shortly," Hiccup told him.


Before meeting up with Riordan, Hiccup wanted to speak the leaders of each of the armies they gathered.

First Enchant Irving and Commander Greagoir were talking, and Hiccup really hoped that he didn't need to play referee.

"Is there something wrong?" Hiccup asked.

Greagoir looked at him. "Nothing of any concern Majesty were just discussing how to arrange our forces."

"Don't tell me you're still concerned about abominations," Hiccup sighed. "It was that sort of concern that prevented us from having the number of mages we wanted during the Battle of Ostagar."

"And seeing as it turned out to be a wise decision," said Greagoir. "However, the situation is much different now as rumours of what happened at the Tower have spread. Believe me, we're doing this to protect the mages as matters were protecting the people in your army."

"We do have more mages than during the Battle of Ostagar," Irving assured him. "Though not as many as we hoped, I'm afraid we are lacking in enchanters after the treachery at the Tower. We have come to an agreement that five Templar for every mage that takes part."

"And I've made sure that the Templars are chosen carefully," Greagoir assured him. "I have ordered Cullen to stay behind, he is still suffering from his imprisonment and is more of a liability than a help. Try to magic considering transferring him to Kirkwall after all this is over."

Hiccup looked at him. "Kirkwall? I heard that place has very little tolerance to magic than any other Circle."

"I admit the Knight Commander there is rather strict, but she is devoted to her duty and swore to keep the city safe from magic."

"Well, it's not my place to criticise just be ready in the morning we'll be marching at daybreak."

"Everything will be prepared, your Majesty," Irving assured him.


Hiccup then made his way over towards the dwarfs and found Duran and Natia talking to one another one of them seemed pleased. Duran put in charge of commending the main contingent of the dwarven army and Natia was in command of the Casteless division which is itself was a small army.

"The two of you don't look happy," said Hiccup.

"We're not," said Natia folding her arms. "And there's nothing we can do about it."

"What happened?" Hiccup asked.

"House Klarest complained the assembly about their feud with House Rumold," Duran explained. "Their son died in the expedition Deep Roads just recently, so they're pleading for self-defence. I swear when this Blight is over, there will be reckoning in the Assembly."

Natia laughed. "More than likely that half hoping that we end up dead so that they still have one of the strongest forces in Orzammar. A silly notion if they believe their forces can defeat the darkspawn all on their own."

"Nothing we can do about it now, unfortunately," said Duran. "However the rest of the dwarven forces are ready for the march tomorrow. Some of them are little nervous, many of them don't wish to die under your sky."

"You think it's bad with the Noble and Warrior Caste you should see the Castless," said Natia. "Most of them have never held a weapon in their life, they're under the impression they will be put on the front lines to be slaughtered."

"We're all going to charge in together," Hiccup sighed.

"That's what I keep telling them, you have to understand until recently they were unable to join the army. I imagine there have been many complaints from the other castes."

"To put it mildly," Duran sighed. "But we'll keep them in line and who knows maybe some of them will earn the right to become Warrior Caste."

"I think that's what most of them are hoping for to be honest."


Hiccup and then went to check on Lanaya to see how the elven forces were doing.

"I hope no one has given your people a hard time," said Hiccup.

"There have been a few incidents and the occasional slur," she said. "Though many of my hunters are rather perplexed with the size of your city I don't discount me being one of them."

"If you think this city is big waiting until you see Aresgan," said Hiccup.

"I wish it was under better circumstances though," she sighed. "But I assure you we will do our part. Humans, elves, dwarfs, mages and templars I don't think there's been a point in history where all these forces have gathered together to find a common enemy."

"Yeah, one thing is for certain who will make its way to the history books if we win."

"And we have you to thank," Lanaya smiled. "I don't think that anyone could have made this at all possible, not even your uncle. You manage to stop an entire Civil War with very few people dying on both sides."

"One death I regret far more than anything else," Hiccup sighed.

"I am sorry about your father, I didn't know him well, but he was a respectful man."

"Well, I'm not letting his to make a sacrifice be in vain I can promise you that."


Riordan gathered Hiccup, Ragnar and Speedfist in his room. His face was grave. "You are all here. You are new to the Grey Wardens, and you may not have been told how an archdemon is slain. I need to know if that is so."

Hiccup frowned. "You mean there's more to it than just, say, chopping off its head?"

Riordan sighed. "So, it is true. Duncan had not yet told you. I had simply assumed…" He shook his head. "Tell me, have you ever wondered why the Grey Wardens are needed to defeat the darkspawn?"

Speedfist frowned. "I assumed it had something to do with the taint within us."

"That is exactly what it involves. The Archdemon may be slain as any other darkspawn, but should any other than a Grey Warden to the slaying, it will not be enough. The essence of the beast will pass through the taint to the nearest darkspawn and will be reborn anew in that body. The dragon is thus all but immortal. But if the Archdemon is slain by a Grey Warden… its essence travels into the Grey Warden, instead."

The three of them looked at one another is what Riordan said was true then what happened to the Grey Wardens afterwards.

Ragnar asked the question for them. "And… what happens to the Grey Warden?"

"A darkspawn is an empty, soulless vessel, but a Grey Warden is not. The essence of the Archdemon is destroyed… and so is the Grey Warden."

"Meaning… the Grey Warden who kills the archdemon…" Hiccup looked at Riordan. "Dies?"

"Yes. Without the Archdemon, the Blight ends. It is the only way."

Hiccup hooked his thumbs behind her weapons and nodded. "So it's up to us to kill this thing."

"In Blights past, when the time came the eldest of the Grey Wardens would decide which amongst them would take that final blow. If possible, the final blow should be mine to make. I am the eldest, and the taint will not spare me much longer. But if I fail, the deed falls on you. The Blight must be stopped now, or it will destroy all of Midgard before the rest of the Grey Wardens can assemble. Remember that. But enough. There will be much to do tomorrow and little enough time to rest before it. I will let you return to your rooms."

"I will see you once the army is ready to march, then," Hiccup gave him a respectful nod. "I guess this ends soon, one way or another."

"That it does, my friend, that it does."

Speedfist looked at Hiccup and Ragnar. "Are you two going to tell Astrid and Heather about this fact of the Grey Wardens."

"I have to tell her," said Ragnar. "Can you imagine how heartbroken she would be if I charged that the archdemon without telling her that it would lead to my death."

"Same with me," said Hiccup.

"Guess I'm the fortunate one," Speedfist sighed. He then looked back at them."So, if Riordan fails to slay the beast who would kill it then?"

"If it comes to it's I will do it, I am the senior warden after Riordan," said Ragnar.

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," said Hiccup. "I suppose it just comes down to who has the best opportunity to kill it."

"If there's one thing we can agree on is that you should not deal the final blow," said Speedfist looking at Hiccup. "You're the King of this country if you die there will be a massive war for succession to the throne."

Hiccup nodded. "I suppose that whole In Death Sacrifice starts to make more sense."

"Still, it would be nice to know this before the final battle," said Ragnar.

"In fairness, I doubt Duncan could've seen this coming, besides I'm willing to bet that he intended to deal the final blow," said Hiccup. "Now I suggest we all try and get a good night sleep. We'll need it for the battle."

With that, they all left what could be the last peaceful night for a while.


When he entered into his chamber, he found his mother standing by the fire as if she was waiting for him. "Do not be alarmed, son. It's only me."

"Mum? Is everything all right?"

"No." She turned to face him. "You are about to enter headlong into danger I know what happens when the Archdemon dies. I know a Grey Warden must be sacrificed, and that sacrifice could be you. I have come to tell you there is another way to avoid such a fate."

Hiccup got the impression that she knew about this for quite some time. "And how do you know about this?"

"I know a great many things. Flemeth was the one that told me and as you might have suspected she did predict your arrival. In my wildest dreams, I did not expect you to be one of the Grey Wardens, fate seems to have a funny sense of humour. She told me there is a way for all the Grey Wardens to avoid this sacrifice. A ritual… performed on the eve of battle, in the dark of night."

"Nothing comes without a price."

"True. This price, however, may not be to your liking, and I cannot guarantee whether it will work or not. I just wanted to hear me out.

Hiccup sighed. "All right, what's the plan.

"You need to conceive a child within the womb of a woman," she explained, and Hiccup felt his jaw hit the ground, regardless she continued. "The child will bear the taint, and when the Archdemon is slain, its essence will seek the child like a beacon. At this early stage, the child can absorb that essence and not perish. The Archdemon is still destroyed, with no Grey Warden dying in the process?"

Hiccup finally managed to retrieve his jaw. "You want me to have a child, with who Astrid?"

Valka shook her head. "No, I have the confidence that Astrid would take part in this ritual. However, there would be no way to conceal the child and for its safety must it remain a secret. Believe me, son, I would not recommend this if I wasn't certain it was necessary. I paid a girl a lot of money to lay with you under the condition that if she receives a child that it will belong to me."

"What would happen to the Old God soul?" Hiccup asked.

"If all goes according to plan the soul enter the child, not the corrupted essence but in its purest form."

He wasn't sure if that were better or worse. "What do you intend to do with this child? I can't imagine that Flemeth would suggest such a thing there was nothing in it for her."

"I believe that she wants the Old God soul, at first I didn't want to give it I had no plans of revealing this planned the Grey Warden in question, but then I discovered that—"

"The Grey Warden was me," Hiccup sighed.

Valka nodded grimly. "Flemeth must have predicted this end wagered that my maternal instincts would compel me to try to save my son. I don't know what she is, but I don't believe that she's completely human. I know that she likes to nudge history to a certain direction, must have been part of the reason she allowed my brother to live."

"She knew about the Blight decades before it happened," Hiccup concluded.

"And I have a feeling that this Blight is only the beginning, I fear that events have been set in motion and a new age is going to begin sooner than expected."

"But back to the child," said Hiccup.

"I assure you that I raise the child apart from the rest of society, and keep it safe. You have my word."

"Will, I ever see you again?" He wished the answer didn't matter to him so much.

"After the Archdemon has been slain? I will leave with the girl in question, and you may not see me ever again."

He stood in silence for several minutes, staring at the wall. Finally, he turned to look at her. "All right. I agree. I'll do it."

"Very well, I've already prepared the ritual in your room. All you have to do is wait for the girl and do try to enjoy yourself."

Hiccup watched as his mother left just chambers he was just imagining how he was going to explain this to Astrid. He began to remove his clothing and laid on the bed, waiting for the girl to appear.

The door then opened, and a beautiful young woman with long black hair entered totally naked. She smiled at him and slowly, seductively, made her way towards him. She drew close until they were face-to-face and then blew the candle out, covering them in darkness.


At Aresgan, Viggo was rushing towards Tyrell with the message he had just received from Berk.

"Lord Tyrell, we have a problem," said Viggo as he entered.

"What kind of problem?" Tyrell asked, looking up from his desk.

"We've been misinformed about where the darkspawn will attack and their no nowhere near Berk."

Tyrell's face darkened as a terrible thought entered his head. "And where are they going to attack?"

"Here," said Viggo. "The horde will be here in a few days and leading it is the archdemon."

"And our entire army is down south," said Tyrell. "There's no way they can reach us on time."

"They're planning on leaving at first light and try to reach us as quickly as possible, but yes the darkspawn will be here before them."

"In that case, we need to prepare the city. Inform the city watch of the situation we need to get as many of the refugees away from the city as possible. Also, we need to try and form a militia, we need every good strong lad. Also, we need to get the elves in the alienage armed."

"The elves?" said Viggo blinked.

"They'll be the most vulnerable, and they need to protect themselves. We also need to do everything we can to protect the main gate. Get it done."

"At once," Viggo nodded. "Let's pray the Makers is with us."