Chapter 31: Tears For Her, Tears For Stoick

So I got this plot bunny from rewatching the Stoick's Ship scene. What was going through the ex-trapper's mind during this scene? Keep reading to find out!

(Eret's POV)

Ruffnut stays with Becky, both of them in tears, as Astrid helps Hiccup's mother pry Hiccup off of Stoick's body, then Snotlout, Tuffnut, Fishlegs and I help lift Stoick onto a board and onto a ship that is still intact.

We all get one last look at Stoick as he is covered with a sail, his helmet on top of him. Tuffnut, Fishlegs and I push the ship off into the horizon as Snotlout and Gobber gather arrows and bows left behind by Drago's archers, all the while Gobber saying a eulogy. I take my place back beside my wife, who is beside Snotlout.

"May the Valkyries welcome you, and lead you through Odin's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla…and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings…For a great man has fallen. A warrior. A chieftain. A father…A friend."

Each of us lights our arrow, standing in a line facing the boat, and wait for the cue. Hiccup shoots his flaming arrow, hitting Stoick's ship. We follow suit in unison, our arrows crisscrossing each other, but all of us hitting Stoick's ship.

Why was I accepted into taking part in this? Was it because I'm here? Was it because that was what was expected of me? Did I do it because my wife did, too?

No. I did it to respect this man, this chief that was never mine. Sure, he never showed respect to me, but he died saving his son. I'm sure the others would've showed my father the same respect had he been in Stoick's place. But I didn't do it because of that.

I did it to respect a chief that was never mine, but was once my wife's. I did it to respect a man who was protective of my Becky, who wanted her to go back to Berk for her protection, either from me or from Drago, I'll never know.

I did it for my wife, hoping she never has to do for me what she's doing for Stoick. Gods…what Drago has put her through? I hope he never gets near her again. The thought of losing her in any way…it breaks my heart.

She begins to sob into my shoulder and I rub her back, a few tears of my own slipping down my cheeks. Tears for her, and tears for Stoick.