Chapter 2
Berk, three years ago, Stoick…
The day was sunny, but bitter cold, signalling winter would soon be approaching Berk. Stoick overlooked his village, took a deep breath of the crisp morning air and allowed himself a moment of peace. It looked over his home, Berk, with immense pride. But he was tired, so very tired. As chief it was his duty to defend and provide for his people, but with a son like Hiccup, it made his duties that much more difficult. He loved his son dearly, he did, but he along with everyone else knew he was… different, so unlike all the other Viking children. He wanted to protect him, he'd made an oath after the untimely death of his mother that he would look after his son, raise him as a true Viking, never let any harm come to the child as long as he lived. Hiccup did make the oath easy to keep. He worried for him every moment of every day, his son was his heir, the future chief of Berk. It was a lot of heavy burden to put on the shoulders of a young child.
Stoick sighed, "Valka, what am I going to do with our boy?" He whispered to the clouds and skies above. He often thought of her, his late wife, during these quiet mornings.
"Stoick!" A loud voice called, pulling the chief from his thoughts. Stoick looked at his old, dear friend, Gobber hobble over towards him. His eyes found his friends, quickly registering the concern they tried to hide.
"What is it, Gobber?" Stoick noticed the small scroll he clutched in his hand.
"A letter," Gobber began as Stoick waited for him to continue. "From the kingdom of Arendelle." Gobber clarified, Stoick looked startled, but quickly took on a neutral expression, but the same concern now shadowed his eyes too.
"Give it here," Stoick took the scroll, opened it and quickly scanned over its contents. Months ago, on a raid to search for the dragon's nest, the Vikings had nearly collided with a vessel from Arendelle, whose ship was broken. Stoick had met one of the royal advisors, Lord Asger. The Arendelle had gone to discuss trade with another kingdom when a terrible storm had thrown this ship horribly off course. They had all remained diplomatic and Gobber had helped fix their ship, going their separate ways shortly afterwards. He could only imagine Lord Asger had told his king everything. Stoick had heard of the kingdom of Arendelle, small, but quickly growing in trade with other nations and in power.
"What's it say?" Gobber asked booming with curiosity.
Stoick looked shocked as he turned to his friends, "They want to create an alliance, through marriage. King Agnarr is offering the hand of his oldest daughter, Elsa, to wed Hiccup!" Gobber's jaw went slack. He took the scroll and read it, sharing his friend's shock.
"What are you going to decide, Stoick?" Gobber handed the scroll back to his chief.
Stoick rubbed his beard thoughtfully, "An alliance would be beneficial for Berk, Gobber. Arendelle is known for its trade with other nations and kingdoms, Berk could do the same, especially with this dragon problem. Each winter gets harder and harder to make it through. If we were to be attacked during winter, gods help us, we'd be destroyed. We cannot fight men and dragons alike."
"What about, Hiccup?" Gobber reminded him carefully. "This will affect his life."
Stoick sighed, "I know, I know. But you know him, he's always been different. He's not like us." There was pain in the chief's voice. "He will need to marry and have children to continue the line of succession for chief, otherwise it will go to Snotlout." Gobber cringed at the thought of the highly arrogant boy. "Do you think any Viking here would marry Hiccup?" Stoick sighed, Gobber remained silent. "The answer is no, you know how the other Vikings think of him. This offers Hiccup a chance to have his own family one day, Gobber, to have children, to be chief. He would have someone at his side to help him rule Berk when I'm gone. I would be a fool to say no."
"Are you going to speak with the boy?" Gobber asked with a raised brow. "Get his input on the idea of an arranged marriage to some princess he's never met?"
Stoick mulled over his thoughts, shook his head furiously. "There's no need, I've decided, this is what is best for him. He's a fifteen-year-old boy, he won't understand right now, but one day he will. I will write back to them tonight. Hiccup will marry Princess Elsa of Arendelle."
The next day a messenger was sent to hand deliver the Viking's chief acceptance of the marriage proposal to King Agnarr.
Present, Hiccup, age eighteen…
The morning had dawned clear, warm, and crisp. Hiccup and Toothless had took off from Berk before his parents had a chance to awaken. It had been a few months since Drago Bludvist's defeat. Many dragons had gone free back to the wild, while others returned with the Vikings to Berk and settled into their new home. Hiccup and Toothless, now king of the dragons, were closer then ever. Hiccup especially held his father in a higher regard after almost losing him when Drago had had taken control of the night fury. The plasma blast meant for Hiccup had nearly hit Stoick when he attempted to save his son, thankfully both had narrowly missed the blast.
Eret and his mother, Valka, had returned to Berk as well. His family was complete. Life was good. Every morning for the last few months, Hiccup would venture out, sometimes with Eret and Astrid, or just himself and Toothless to find and destroy Drago's remaining dragon traps. They had rescued dozens of dragons that had remained trapped after Drago's death. Eret had created a map of the locations he and other trappers had gone to capture dragons.
Toothless warbled as they neared a hidden cove, it was far, further then Hiccup and Toothless had gone recently. Suddenly Toothless's interest was peaked, alerting his rider.
"What's wrong, bud?" Hiccup asked his dragon companion, he watched Toothless's ears swivel around on his head. Toothless looked over his shoulder at the future chief and released a rumble. Hiccup looked around, dressed in his armoured flight suit, and his matching spiked, masked helmet. He saw a dragon trap that had been clearly sprung, but there was no dragon in sight. Toothless's behaviour, however, seemed to disagree. "There's nothing there."
Toothless warbled in disagreement, eyes scanning the shoreline and dragon trap. His senses on high alert, something, or someone was here. He could smell them. He had yet to decide if they were foe or ally. Toothless growled, growing irritated unable to find the source of the smell. He felt Hiccup stroke his head, whispering to him calmly, "Easy bud, its okay." Toothless was soothed by him and continued to scan around the area.
He would not allow anyone to harm his friend. They landed on the sandy beach at the end of the cove where the dragon trap lay, water lapped at the shoreline. The tide would be high in the afternoon, most likely engulfing the small beach.
Hiccup removed his helmet, the cove was a pretty area, dense with thick bush and foliage, tall trees and rocks jutting out over the cliff edges. It was undisturbed and untouched by man. It was a good place to lay a trap for wild dragons. Toothless warbled to his rider as he sniffed around the sandy shore, Hiccup sighed and followed after his dragon after adjusting his leg prosthetic.
"Are you sure you found something, bud?" Hiccup slowly trailed after his dragon. "I mean that nose of yours could be wrong."
Toothless glared at him over his shoulder.
Hiccup laughed, "I was just joking, I trust your nose." Satisfied Toothless went back to sniffing the sand as they got closer and closer to the dragon trap. They were within several feet of the trap when Toothless heard a low hiss carried by the wind. His head shot up, ears swiveled, he warbled. Hiccup was quick to his side, "Toothless, what is it?" He looked around for an enemy, or any signs of danger approaching. Toothless warbled, looked at him than back at the empty cage. He heard the hiss again, this time more threatening.
Toothless wrapped his tail protectively around Hiccup, drawing him close to his body. His back arched and Toothless released a thunderous roar, an alpha roar. It was then Hiccup saw it, the trap shuddered, something was in it, and it was agitated.
"Toothless," Hiccup whispered to his old friend. "Is it a dragon?" Toothless rumbled a response to him. Hiccup nodded, he'd never dealt with an invisible dragon before, what a find! Or maybe it was a new species of Hobblegrunt. "Okay, you keep it distracted and I'll break the cage door." Toothless warbled, Hiccup withdrew his fire blade, Inferno. He took a deep breath, not knowing how to deal with this unknown species. "Here we go!"
Toothless roared again, the cage shuddered, Hiccup snuck around behind his night fury and towards the cage while Toothless continued his aggressive display, the invisible dragon hissed loudly, threateningly in return. Hiccup lit his blade on fire and lashed the steel bars of the cage in half, he saw it then, the invisible dragon took shape and color. Hiccup and Toothless looked bewildered, speechless, at the sight of the white dragon with shimmering scales and highlights of pink and piercing pale blue eyes. It eerily similar to a night fury.
"It can't be," Hiccup whispered in shock at the dragon before him. He lost his senses momentarily when the dragon reared up, now free of the cage, it released a plasma blast at him, Hiccup shouted, "No, no, wait! We won't hurt you!" But it was too late as the white dragon released the blast, Toothless released a furious roar as he dove to save his best friend, grabbing the unsuspecting human and coiling into a ball around him. They dodged the blast and rolled a good distance away before Toothless unfolded himself, standing protectively over Hiccup. He was furious.
The white dragon roared at him, clearly more agitated by the human beside him. Toothless roared, his nose, mouth, and back began to glow blue as he took on his titan wing stage, or his alpha form as described by some. He tried his alpha ability of manipulation to will the white dragon to calm down, the white dragon shook its head, thrashing back and forth to fight it. Hiccup watched in amazement, he'd never seen Toothless use this ability since he became the alpha, he knew his dragon was opposed to it, but if Toothless was doing it now, this new dragon must be dangerous he concluded.
"Hiccup!" He heard a voice call out to him, he looked up to see Astrid on Stormfly, her deadly nadder. Eret was close behind on his own deadly nadder, Fyrestorm, a prominently red and pale blue male. They landed on the beach and hurried towards the duo. "Are you alright?" Astrid demanded worriedly, until her eyes settled onto the white dragon who grew more furious as more humans arrived.
The white dragon roared and shot a plasma blast at Astrid. "Watch out!" Eret shouted as he grabbed the blonde Viking by the waist, and they fell unceremoniously onto the ground. Astrid gasped as she looked to her side where there was a deep crater in the sand now burnt black and sizzling with smoke and ember. The blast would have killed her.
Astrid looked at Eret, breathless, she managed out, "Thanks for saving me."
Eret smiled, "Anytime."
Stormfly and Fyrestorm took on a defensive form, roaring at the white foe. Toothless released his alpha manipulation on the white dragon to warble at the deadly nadders, effectively freeing the white dragon from his hold. The white dragon shot up towards the sky, hovered there a moment eyeing the night fury, she turned and released a plasma blast and shot through it, disappearing from sight.
"Where did it go?" Hiccup looked around frantically for any sign of it.
"Hiccup," Astrid approached him. "Thank Odin you're safe."
"I'm fine, I had Toothless with me." Hiccup reassured her with a smile. "Did you see it?" He looked on in amazement. "It looked like Toothless, but not… more like a bright…fury?"
"A light fury," Astrid spoke as she looked at Toothless.
"Light fury," Hiccup mulled the name around, deciding he liked the sound of it. "Yeah, yours is better."
"We should go back," Astrid said as she turned to get on her dragon. "That dragon is probably far gone by now. It obviously doesn't like humans."
"Can you blame it?" Hiccup sighed as he got onto Toothless's back. "Who knows how long it was stuck in that cage."
"We can talk about it more once we're back at Berk," Eret told them, silently Hiccup agreed. The three dragon riders took off into the skies and towards Berk, Hiccup noticed Toothless look over his shoulder at the cove, he warbled sadly.
"I know, bud." Hiccup shared his friend's disappointment. "Maybe we'll find it again one day." He tried to encourage his best friend, Toothless crooned in return. Unknown to them, the white dragon had been watching them all along, it slowly began to follow, curious of the black dragon, but it remained a good distance behind to avoid detection.
Back at Berk, Astrid and Eret told the other dragon riders about the light fury. Ruffnut looked shocked, "Wow, did you like manage to catch it?" She looked around eagerly.
Astrid sighed, "No, it got away."
Tuffnut shook his head, "Man, if I were there, that light fury would never have gotten away!"
Ruffnut rolled her eyes, "Yeah right."
Fishlegs was eagerly making a new dragon card, "What did it look like?"
Hiccup looked at his friend, smiled slightly at his enthusiasm. "Like Toothless, but white." Fishlegs looked in awe before hurrying away to continue his work on his card.
Astrid approached her boyfriend, "What's wrong, you seem distracted ever since we got back." On their journey home, that had found three other dragon traps and destroyed them, releasing four dragons, who now resided on Berk.
"Nothing, I was just thinking of the light fury," Hiccup told her, a small smile of reassurance on his face. "Toothless seems upset it disappeared on us."
Astrid glanced over to see the pouting night fury, she smiled. "He'll be okay, I'm sure he'll have a chance to meet it again one day."
Hiccup nodded, "I hope so."
"Hiccup, you've returned!" Valka approached her son and hugged him fiercely. She did that a lot, in her own words, she was making up for lost time.
"Hi mom," Hiccup smiled at her. "I have so much to tell you!"
"It can wait son; your father has been looking for you everywhere!" Valka said as Hiccup sighed.
"I hope it's not about what I think its about." Hiccup murmured, Valka looked sympathetically at her only son. She understood, for weeks, Stoick had been dropping hints for Hiccup to learn the ways of the chief, to begin training for his successor one day.
"Be easy on him, Hiccup. Your father means well." Valka smoothed his scraggly brown locks.
Hiccup chuckled, "I know he does, but how do I live up to his expectations, he's an amazing chief, and I can't even hold a candle to that. It's what he does best."
Valka touched her son's cheek, "He only wants to prepare you son, you know your father can't be chief forever."
Hiccup sighed heavily, "I know." It was his destiny, his fate, his decided future, he would become chief one day. He would take over for his father and rule Berk. He looked at his dragon thoughtfully, Toothless had become alpha without meaning to, his only desire had been to defend his best friend from Drago's alpha bewilderbeast. If his best friend could uphold his new responsibility as king of all dragons, the least Hiccup could do was do his duty as future chief. He turned to his mother, nodded. "I'll go talk to him now."
Valka smiled and pressed a hand to his cheek affectionately, "You're a good son, Hiccup."
"Thanks mom," Hiccup smiled as he began to make his way back home, Toothless was quick on his heels. Valka watched him so sadly, a frown marring her lips. Now it was time to do her duty, as Stoick had regretfully asked of her. Valka turned to see Eret and Astrid talking about their deadly nadders, who appeared to in the middle of courtship of becoming mates.
"Astrid," Valka called out to the pretty Viking woman. "Can I have word my dear?" Valka smiled gently.
"Of course," Astrid replied quickly as she excused herself and gave Stormfly one last hug. The two women began to walk towards the forest near the village, far out of earshot and prying eyes.
At home, Hiccup found his father sitting by the firepit stoking a small flame. He often did that when he needed to think, or he had to have a serious conversation with his son. Watching the flickering flames calmed the older Viking and allowed him to collect his thoughts. Toothless followed his rider into the house, settling himself beside the fire for a nap. Truthfully, the night fury was tired from the morning's events. His thoughts still on the white dragon, the light fury. Toothless sighed deeply as he tucked himself into a ball to sleep.
"Hi dad," Hiccup said as he took a seat next to his father, he offered the older Haddock a slight smile. "Mom said you wanted to talk to me?"
Stoick sighed, there was no going back, no other way around it. "Yes, son. We need to talk, I need you to have an open mind, and try to understand."
Hiccup looked taken aback, this was not how he had been expecting their talk to start, his father so serious and solemn in expression. "Uh, yeah sure, whatever you say dad." He looked at his father expectantly.
"You are the pride of Berk son, and I couldn't be prouder. You're all grown up and no chief could ask for a better successor, or a better son. There are many duties and obligations that come with being chief, Hiccup. Some we do willingly, and others we must choose to do for the good of our people." Stoick turned to look at his son, eyes beaming with pride, love, and a few other emotions Hiccup could not figure out. "Berk is growing and becoming known to the world. We can no longer hide away from the other nations and kingdoms, son. The world is beginning to know of our dragons, they call you the dragon master, the tamer of dragons, with it comes understanding and fear, Hiccup. Other kingdoms fear the power Berk holds with our dragons, they feel threatened, and one day it may lead to another war, or it may not. But, if war is to come, we cannot unleash dragons upon humans, which is why we need allies. Do you understand, son?"
Hiccup nodded slowly, "I think so. You're worried Berk will be seen as a threat to other kingdoms and nations and they may retaliate by declaring war upon us and our dragons." Stoick nodded with a serious expression. "I agree we need allies. Allies who are willing to understand our way of life and that dragons aren't bloodthirsty monsters."
"Correct," Stoick agreed.
"So, how do you suggest we go about making allies in the known world?" Hiccup leaned out to touch is slumbering dragon's head, Toothless crooned in his sleep. "Dragons aside, people think of Vikings as barbarians, savages who just raid and destroy other villages and kingdoms. Dragons aren't the only ones misunderstood, dad. We are as well."
"You speak the truth, son." Stoick sighed heavily. "I need to be honest with you, Hiccup. And I hope you'll understand why I did what I did, it was for you, our people, for Berk, and now for our dragons."
Hiccup laughed nervously, "Just tell me, dad. You're starting to worry me."
"When you were fifteen, before we began to coexist with dragons, before it all changed. I received a letter from the kingdom of Arendelle, it was a small kingdom, but growing steadily in trade and power. Their ruler, King Agnarr was offering to create an alliance with Berk."
"That's great, dad!" Hiccup smiled, Stoick shared a faint one.
"Aye, it was. It meant protection for Berk, more trade, assistance throughout our difficult winters." Stoick explained, Hiccup nodded with understanding. "But there was a catch, the alliance they wanted created was to be through marriage. A political match, between my heir and King Agnarr's eldest daughter."
"No… dad…" Hiccup was at a loss. "Don't tell me…"
"I agreed to the union." Stoick said quietly. "It was before it all happened, before you changed everything, son."
"It's been three years, surely you can change your mind now." Hiccup looked hopeful.
"I'm sorry son," Stoick looked apologetic, ashamed. "Agreeing to an alliance through marriage is not something you can easily take back. I tried. The king did not take kindly to my retraction, he took it as a blatant insult, and he refused to ally his kingdom with us."
"Then we will find other allies," Hiccup stood, paced around the firepit.
"Son, it's not that easy. You know how the world thinks of Vikings, and of the power we now hold. Hiccup, a chief belongs not only to himself, but to his people. They look to us to lead them, to protect them, we must put aside our pride and wants for their and our dragons' survival."
"Dad, do you understand what you are asking of me?" Hiccup tried to protest. "What about Astrid?"
"Astrid a true Viking, she'll understand sacrifices need to be made for the good of her people." Stoick told his son, he tried to be understanding as well, tried to be both a father and chief in that moment. "Arendelle holds a lot of power with kingdoms and nations near us, Hiccup, they have many allies. It would take only a single word of threat from us for them to rally against us. Human hearts are easily swayed."
"We don't know that for sure, dad." Hiccup shook his head, trying to grasp some form of understanding of the entire situation.
"Look what nearly happened with Drago, he had a dragon army." Stoick argued. "What would you do against a human army, use the dragons to set them all ablaze?"
"Of course not," Hiccup looked disgusted at the notion.
"We don't have enough Vikings to fight Arendelle and all their allies, Hiccup." Stoick tried to reason with his son. "We need them and their allies, to show them Berk is not a kingdom of savages, that all dragons are monsters. We start to change the world's views of Vikings and dragon by starting with our allies. We have none."
'Marriage or carnage, a wedding or war. Those are my options.' Hiccup ran a hand through his brown hair. Green eyes banked with fire. "I need to think, Toothless!" The night fury was quick to his feet, he warbled, Hiccup made for a hasty retreat, he froze at the door, when his father shouted his name. Hiccup grimaced, "You owe me this, dad. You can't just drop something like this on me and not give me time to think."
Stoick sighed, "Alright, go. But I need your answer by sunrise tomorrow."
"Alright," Hiccup murmured as he left the house, Toothless in tow. Stoick sighed, settled back into his seat and angrily stoked the fire. A few moments later he heard the door open, Stoick looked up quickly to see the love of his life, Valka. He offered her a tired, defeated smile.
"Oh Stoick," Valka came over to touch his cheek, a sad smile on her lips. "This is my fault as well, if only I had returned sooner…"
"No, Val." Stoick took her hands in his, kissed them tenderly. "I failed him, I sold my son for an alliance, if I say no now, we risk our entire village and our dragons."
"I know," Valka kissed his cheek. "You did what you thought was best. You cannot control the outcome of good intentions, my love. Hiccup is learning this. He is still young, but he will need these lessons for when he becomes chief."
Stoick knew his wife spoke the truth, their son had learned greatly from the choices he had made during their war with Drago. He had been naïve, to idealistic, to set in his abilities to change people's hearts and minds. It had nearly cost him his home, his best friend, his father. Yes, Hiccup had learned much from their war.
Hiccup flew in the sky, high above the clouds, mind a mess of thoughts. His eyes narrowed, he leaned back and let out a piercing yell. Toothless winced, glancing up at his friend. He crooned. Hiccup leaned back to rest his back against the night fury's spine. He stroked his warm scaled body. "What am I going to do, bud?" His voice was mournful. Toothless warbled sympathetically. Hiccup slowly sat up. "He's done so much for me my whole life, Toothless. And now, he needs me to do this, for him, for Berk. How do I say no to that? He almost died because of me, Berk was nearly destroyed because of me." He touched his dragon's head. "I almost lost you as well, my best friend. It was my fault." Toothless crooned. Berk was in the midst of repair since the bewilderbeast attacked. "Dad was right we can't reason with them, but we can't afford to fight them either." Hiccup sighed. "The more dragons we get, the stronger Berk becomes in the eyes of the world, we can't hide anymore especially after the dragon war. We can't run away, they'll just find us. If we don't create alliances, one day the kingdoms may demand our submission, and we can't allow that either." They flew in silence for a few moments. Hiccup's fisted hands rested against his dragon's body. "There's only one choice, honour the agreement dad made with Arendelle." Toothless roared softy to comfort him. Hiccup tried to smile as he rubbed his head. "Thanks, bud." Hiccup lamented, "What do I say to Astrid?" Hiccup shook his head, grabbed the reins of harness. "Let's go back, Toothless." The night fury warbled, easily turning tightly in the air to head back to Berk.
It was nearly sunset when Hiccup returned to Berk, the large pillars were set a flame to light the approaching night for humans and dragons who may be flying in the area. He knew where he'd find Astrid, in their special spot, upon the mountain peak overlooking Berk. Moments later, Hiccup arrived, he spotted Stormfly easily, and Astrid a moment later. She was petting her dragon, seemed deep in thought.
"Astrid!" Hiccup called out to draw her out of her dazed state.
The blonde Viking looked up to see the approaching night fury, she gave a small wave and smile in greeting as they landed. Hiccup slowly dismounted, shared a deep look with his dragon. He was not being Hiccup right now, he was being the future chief of Berk, or so Hiccup tried to convince himself. He turned to see Astrid walking over to them, there was a shadowed look in her eyes. She knew. But how?
"We need to talk," Astrid began softly. Hiccup looked confused, worried. Astrid offered him a kind smile. "Your mom talked to me after you left to see your dad."
Hiccup sighed deeply, he settled to sit on the ground, watch the sun begin to disappear in the horizon of the sea. "So, you know everything then?"
"More or less, yes." Astrid sat down beside him, Stormfly and Toothless played in the background. "I know about the arranged marriage with the princess of Arendelle, that it was made before this all happened." She gestured to the dragons behind them, then looked longingly at Hiccup. "Before we happened."
Hiccup rubbed a hand over his face, "I'm sorry, so sorry Astrid." His voice was torn, melancholy. "I don't even know what to say to you right now. Are there even right words?" He looked at her, eyes filled with emotions, so many she could not count. Pain, sadness, heartache, they were all there, shining and honest in his bright green eyes.
She smiled sadly, eyes watering. "No, I don't think there is, Hiccup." She took his hand, gave it a small squeeze. "But I do understand, as much as I don't. I understand as one of your people what is expected of you as our future chief, but as someone who loves you, I can't understand, and I don't want to."
Hiccup gathered her into his arms, "I love you too, Astrid." He buried his face into her hair, she held onto him, it would be the last time as a loving couple.
Astrid leaned away a few moments later, touched Hiccup's cheek. "You will be an amazing chief one day, Hiccup. I know it, I'll always support you, I promise."
Hiccup smiled sadly, "Thank you, Astrid." They shared one last embrace. Hiccup held onto her tightly. 'I love you.' He hoped it was enough to convey to her his feelings. Astrid withdrew, unable to meet his gaze.
"I should go," Astrid stood up, whistled for Stormfly. She looked at him a moment later. "I think we should stay away from each other for a little while, I hope you understand?"
"I do," Hiccup reassured her reluctantly. "I'm sorry, Astrid."
The blonde Viking mounted her deadly nadder, eyes gleamed with unshed tears. "Me too, goodbye, Hiccup." Stormfly took flight, Hiccup let his tears fall. Toothless warbled and came to coil his body around his best friend. Hiccup hugged his dragon, buried his face into his neck, basking in the heat his body radiated.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, bud." Hiccup whispered sadly into his partner's body. Toothless licked his cheek affectionately. Toothless set fire to a small stack of branches he had collected with Stormfly to play. Together, dragon and rider sat in the night by the fire. Sometime before dawn, the fire had burnt out a long time ago, Hiccup had fallen asleep, resting against the night fury's flank, blanketed by his large wing. Toothless rested his head in Hiccup's lap, warbled softly as if vowing to remain by his best friend's side forever.
As the sun began to rise, shining over Berk, Hiccup was stirred away by the blinding sunlight. He groaned, he rubbed at his eyes, tear stained. He sat up, stirring the dragon beside him immediately. The prospect of a loveless marriage left a bitter taste in his mouth. There was no emotion in his voice, no emotion on his features, he spoke mindfully, "Let's go home, Toothless." The night fury shook himself out, sat beside his rider as they looked out at the rising sun. Hiccup's decision was made.
Stoick had been pacing around their home since before dawn, Valka had tried to reason with him their son would return. Husband and wife sat together by the fire, silently awaiting the arrival of their son. Stoick was worried, but Valka knew her son. They heard the door open, Hiccup and Toothless entered. Hiccup was startled to see his parents awake.
"Son," Stoick spoke softly, carefully, with uncertainty of how his son would react.
"Hi dad," Hiccup said gently. "Can we talk?"
"Of course, son." Stoick gestured to an open seat by the fire across from himself and Valka.
"I've been thinking, a lot, and I spoke with Astrid." He looked at his parents knowingly, Valka and Stoick both looked apologetic. "We broke up."
Stoick's hands tightened into fists in his lap, "I'm sorry, Hiccup. This is my fault."
"It's okay, dad. We both understand, we're just going to take some time apart for now." Hiccup explained, his ached deeply in his chest, his parents saw through his façade easily. "Will the other Vikings be offended if I take a foreign bride?"
"Berk has suffered greatly from the dragon war, son. Wagons of wheat, barely, and other essentials will lessen the sting I'm sure." Valka spoke kindly. "As bullheaded as Vikings are, they will understand the need for unions outside of Berk and with other kingdoms."
Hiccup slowly nodded, he took a deep, silent breath. "I'll do as was promised, I'll do my duty as future chief of Berk. I'll marry her."
Stoick looked startled, "Son… you don't know what this means to me." Stoick stood and hugged Hiccup tightly. "Thank you."
Hiccup could not respond, he only returned his father's hug and swallowed thickly the lump that rose in his throat. "When do they want the wedding?" He dared to ask.
"On the princess's eighteenth birthday," Stoick told him, he sighed softly. "A few months from now."
Hiccup tried to hide his disbelief but nodded. He was unable to find words, he had already agreed, may as well get it over with. "Oh, I see." Hiccup nodded. "Send an emissary to Arendelle."
Stoick nodded with a heavy heart, he patted his son on the shoulders. He left to his room to begin the letter to King Agnarr. Valka approached her son, hugged him. "I know it's a great sacrifice you're making son. I am the last person to tell you to do your duty from the choices I have made leaving you and your father, they were selfish choices, I thought at the time were for the greater good."
"What do I do mom," Hiccup said quietly. "I love Astrid so much."
"Astrid, she is a great woman, far greater than I was at her age. She may be the first woman you love, but she won't be the last, Hiccup." Valka hugged her son again. Hiccup returned her hug and leaned into her. "Does it help?"
Hiccup sighed with self-loathing humor, "No, but thanks for trying."
Valka shed a tear, "I love you, son."
"I love you too," Hiccup held onto her a little longer.
End of Chapter!
I hope you all enjoyed, please leave a review and some feedback, would love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions. I tried my best to stay in character.
Author's Note Please Read: I hope it made sense, was plausible, and conveyed the emotions well enough. I know Hiccup and Astrid seemed a bit rushed, but I think they did what they needed formally to break up but need time apart before they can have a proper talk later on.
So basically, this is present/ kind of past, as in the first chapter Arendelle had already received Stoick's agreement to the marriage. This took a few months before essentially. Yes, that was poor Wintergale trapped, I wanted to convey Toothless was interested in her, but his first instinct was to protect his friend from what he deemed a potential threat. I googled information 'alpha' dragon, regarding the manipulation ability in HTTYD 2, so hopefully it worked out realistically. Wintergale has basically been hunted by trappers for who knows how long since she left Elsa, so she does not trust humans anymore, maybe only Elsa, we shall see when they reunite!
Yes, Stoick is still alive! Since Skullcrusher is his, I created Fyrestorm for Eret, I chose a deadly nadder since I really liked his relationship with Stormfly in HTTYD 2.