The ship rocked gently as the waves of the vast and untamed sea beat rhythmically against its hull. The sun shone as brightly as a single lantern in a pitch-black room against the pale blue sky, its harsh rays beating down on them mercilessly.
They'd set out a few hours ago and had been sailing in a straight line, headed East from New Berk for the heart of the Archipelago. They'd been lucky to have been blessed with a clear and windy day. The wind blew passionately, curving their sail satisfyingly.
Travelling by ship had become a routine for Hiccup. After spending years apart from the dragons – apart from Toothless – the ways of life had shifted back to the traditional Viking-style. It had been quite a change for his generation. The older people of Berk had an easier time going back to the old ways; that's how it'd been their whole lives. But for Hiccup and the other Dragon Riders, they'd matured and grown treating the dragons as equals – training them; riding them. Viggo was right about one thing: Dragons have always been the center of their lives.
Hiccup looked up at the sky streaked with white like someone had applied the clouds with a paintbrush. He felt the breeze brush his locks. The salty air filled his lungs. He closed his eyes, wishing he could be up there and feel that sense of freedom again someday. He opened his eyes on the horizon line, a grim curtain washing over the green of his irises.
They were actually going back to the Archipelago… Hiccup hadn't gone back ever since they fled from Grimmel, abandoning their home of seven generations. He didn't know what he was feeling exactly… he'd spent the first 21 years of life on Berk, living life in the Archipelago, and beyond, for some time… He'd left it all behind to save his tribe and the dragons, and he hadn't thought twice about his decision. Hiccup had never looked back after that day. Was that guilt he was feeling? He couldn't be sure.
"Something's on your mind," said Viggo, silencing the loud hum of his thoughts.
Hiccup peeked over his shoulder but didn't turn around. "I'm not falling for that," he stated, gazing out to the widespread ocean stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Hiccup," said Viggo, hinting at his exasperation as he sighed. He got up from the crate of boxes he'd been resting on, catching up on the sleep he hadn't gotten the night before. He approached Hiccup but kept his distance. "If we're going to be working together, I believe trust and communication are in order."
Hiccup inhaled, tightening his lips. He rolled his eyes and turned around to face him. There was tension as Hiccup stared at him, studying him. The scar on his face… the ageing; the lightning strikes drawn on the skin of his neck like a tattoo. He knew where and how he'd gotten those scars. Hiccup had been hit by lightning once too. He knew the agonizing feeling all too well and had the scars to remind him of it.
"Don't look at me like you've just seen a ghost," said Viggo, annoyance in his tone as Hiccup disfigured him. "That's insulting..."
"You were dead," said Hiccup.
Viggo's gaze fled his as the story played in his mind like a rewind.
"I was left for dead in that cavern…" corrected Viggo, turning away from him.
Hiccup looked down, somewhat feeling guilty. He thought Viggo had died in that explosion. He'd been facing rogue Dragon Hunters with a Skrill in a cavern… the thought of searching for Viggo had never even occurred to him. But Viggo Grimborn was very much alive, and Hiccup couldn't help the wave of culpability from washing over him like the tide crashes on the shore.
He should've gone looking for him.
He should've tried.
But he didn't.
"How… did you survive?" asked Hiccup. His voice softened for the first time since Viggo's reveal.
Viggo raised his gaze up at him and sighed. He walked closer to the gunwale, looking out to the horizon.
"In those final moments…" started Viggo, dragged back into the cursed sea of remembrance. "I thought this was it for me. Not even my own Hunters spared a moment's hesitation. And then that Skrill fired…" Lightning flashed before Viggo's vision and the distant high-pitch roar of a dragon echoed in the back of his mind. He remembered the agonizing pain; the pure energy travelling his core. He blinked. "I should've died in those caves just like any other man." He turned to face Hiccup who stared at him through compassionate eyes. He smiled. "But fate sometimes steps in to rescue the wretched. I managed to escape that cursed island and flee. I swore never to give my allegiance to another; not for the gold or the honour."
Hiccup frowned, thinking about his words. "Then how come are we even having this discussion?" he asked, perplexed.
"Because old sins cast long shadows," replied Viggo grimly.
Hiccup understood what he meant. Well, in a way. Maybe… Viggo had truly changed. For a moment, Hiccup wondered how it'd been for the ex-Hunter all these years living in hiding while Hiccup kept on fighting the battles and becoming world-known.
Maybe he'd been living a peaceful life as an ordinary Viking.
Or maybe he'd been miserable; haunted by the things he'd done throughout his life… Maybe sacrificing himself to save Hiccup all those years ago had been his first solution for redemption. But it hadn't worked. He'd lived on. And maybe, just maybe, he was actually trying to right his wrongs… properly this time. Hiccup truly hoped for Viggo.
"Hiccup," said Viggo, dragging the ex-Rider's attention back onto his present form. "I'm sorry… about everything. I put you and your friends through so much misery... and you didn't deserve that."
Hiccup stared frozen. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He didn't know what to say. He never expected those words to come out of Viggo's mouth. He almost wanted to say sorry back… but Hiccup couldn't apologize for fighting for what he'd believed in. Though he'd be lying if he said he didn't have regrets concerning it all.
Hiccup accepted his apology, bowing his head and smiling kindly. Viggo smiled back warmly, more than glad his old enemy – and now ally – believed in him.
There was a short moment of silence before a commotion in the back of the ship had them both spin around on their heels. Both men narrowed their eyes on the crates of food, barrels of water, and baggage as they spotted movement. The tension built as they exchanged a glance.
Viggo took the first steps, drawing out his dagger.
"Wait, don't," whispered Hiccup, reaching out to him. He stopped him and gingerly advanced toward the supplies. He grabbed the waterproof drapes covering the bags and threw them off with one swift motion, revealing a surprised face that was hidden under.
"Zephyr?!" exclaimed Hiccup, his bewilderment unmasked. "What the Thor are you doing here?!" He spun around, looking for clues to explain this. "How did you even manage—" He turned to Viggo, frowning disappointedly. "Please don't tell me you had something to do with this?"
"I might've made some questionable choices in the past," stated Viggo, sheathing his dagger and dusting off before joining his hands to his back. "But bringing a child on a perilous quest is below me."
"Zephyr, I sure hope you have an explanation," said Hiccup, turning back around to face his daughter as she crawled out of the pile of supplies. He was not pleased.
"I couldn't just stay behind!" said Zephyr, widening her arms. "Mr. Viggo said it himself, this is a perilous quest, and you need all the help you can get."
"An 8-year-old is not what's going to make a difference," snapped Hiccup before turning to Viggo once more. "Reverse the sails. We're taking her back to New Berk."
The wind whistled sharply and the temperature dropped suddenly. The sky started to darken and all three pairs of eyes followed the sound of distant growling.
"I wouldn't advise it…" said Viggo, lifting his chin up at the dark clouds rolling in from the West. "There's a storm coming our way. It's gonna hit within the next hour; we won't have time."
Hiccup groaned frustratingly, moving around to secure the equipment as the chilly breeze picked up.
"I can help!" protested Zephyr, watching her father through pleading eyes.
"Nevermind," denied Hiccup, waving her off. "Viggo, you think we can make a stop on the way?"
"Of course," assured Viggo, nodding firmly. "Where do you desire to go?"
"Set course for Berserker Island," ordered Hiccup authoritatively, leaving no room for Zephyr to argue as she watched Viggo grab the stirring handle.
It begins...
I sure hope you're enjoying so far :D