A/N: Hey, everyone. Let me start off by saying I am really, really sorry this chapter was so late. The last few months have been insane, not just because of covid, and I've been so busy even now that I've finally gotten almost everything settled, my head is still spinning. But now I'm back onto the story, and I thank everyone who has enjoyed and followed up to this point. Thank you to FictionL0ver11, Kacper983, LeggedWatermelon, Tria haddock, NadderoftheStar, and thomaspheasant for all the reviews on the last chapter. Now, I've kept you lot waiting long enough, onto the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any of the characters, Cressida Cowell and DreamWorks do.
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As Hiccup exited the chief's hall, followed by Toothless, he saw right away that the storm from the previous night had left the village buried beneath a blanket of snow.
Of course, he was no stranger to snow. After all, back on Berk it was often joked that it snowed nine months out of the year and hailed the other three. But it still took him a bit aback.
"Guess we did get lucky, huh, Bud?" he asked Toothless, who rumbled in reply.
…
It wasn't long before he found the forge.
There was already a decent enough fire burning and once again Hiccup's nostrils were greeted by the scents of leather, molten metal, and wood burning.
A sigh of contentment escaped him as the Viking teen began his work. While it had been done mostly to keep him out of the action, and an attempt to keep him out of trouble, he had enjoyed working in the forge with Gobber back home. And over time, he had actually become good at the trade; he couldn't lift a hammer, but he could forge one. He couldn't swing an axe, but he could sharpen it to such a point that it could cut from just being looked at.
Even with the crackling of the fire, and the sound of metal striking metal, it felt strangely quiet in this new forge. Hiccup actually found himself missing Gobber's attempts to sing, which he only did when in an exceptionally good mood, followed by the sound of clanking metal and the hissing of steel as it was cooled.
"So, you're the new blacksmith the chief mentioned."
Hiccup glanced up from his work to see an immense man with blond hair pulled back from his face and ended at his thick middle and startling green eyes filled with skepticism as they looked Hiccup up and down.
"Yes, I am," Hiccup replied, forcing his voice to remain steady as he stared defiantly at the man.
"The chief says he saw something special in you," the man said, before extending a hand.
"The work's going great," Hiccup pretended not to notice the look in the man's face when he didn't say his name as he shook the offered hand. But how could he? He was an outcast now. He was certain by this point all of Berk knew what he had done. Stoick had to have disowned him by now.
Well, the distance between them had only been growing the past few years, at least his dad could finally make it official.
"I hear you can control dragons," Lars pulled Hiccup from his thoughts. "That true? Or is the dragon just for decoration?"
Hiccup frowned.
"Toothless is my friend," he stated, tone harder than the steel that he just finished shaping. "And I don't control dragons. I train them."
"Great thunder of Thor!" Lars gasped. "Training a dragon...as if anyone could do such a thing with the beasts."
"Dragons are not just mindless beasts that attack and kill," Hiccup explained. "But I've seen that you kill dragons here. Is it any wonder that they see you as enemies?"
"They've killed hundreds of us!" Lars glared at the boy.
"And I'm sure you've killed thousands of them!" Hiccup fired back.
"Including the chief's own wife," Lars continued as though Hiccup hadn't spoken. "There's a nest nearby, we're sure of it. But none of the ships we send out ever come back."
"As I said before," Hiccup sighed. "If you treat dragons like enemies, then they'll treat you like enemies as well. They defend themselves. If an enemy ship were to sail here and attack the Iceshelf Isles, I would think your warriors would fight to the last man to keep your home safe. How is it any different when the dragons do it?"
"You're just lucky the chief's made it clear to everyone you and that beast aren't to be harmed in any way," Lars growled. "But mark my words, boy...if that dragon makes one move that gives us reason to think he's a threat, that pretty hide of his'll be mounted up in the Great Hall."
Toothless's eyes narrowed as the man stalked away. The Night Fury's muzzle pressed against Hiccup as he let out a soft rumble of indignation.
"I know, Bud," Hiccup sighed as he reached out to pet his companion. "But if I learned anything back on Berk, it's that this won't change overnight. It'll take time...and someone else's help. Someone the people here can trust..."
...
Even through her gloves, Idunnr could feel the heat emitting from the basket.
She had just come back from Brenna's and the woman had insisted she take some freshly baked bread with her.
Father wouldn't mind. Brenna's bread was a great favorite of his.
Idunnr did regret her choice to reject the woman's latest offer to show her how to cook. It wasn't that she didn't want to learn, it was just she didn't like spending longer than she had to in that house.
Each time she spent too long in that house, she was reminded of all that she had lost.
Her mother had been a healer too. But she was also a great warrior. At least, she had been until the dragon raid.
Every time she saw Brenna and Horik, Idunnr was reminded of what might have been. She knew her father loved her, but it was normal for a man in their world to wish for at least one son. And while Thorvald would never admit it, she knew he was disappointed that she was the only child he would ever have.
Maybe that was why he was taking such an interest in the newcomer...
...
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Alright, everyone, that was chapter 5. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed it. The new chapter will be out on Monday, June.
Until then, everyone.
