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I do not own the story of How to train your dragons or any of the original characters. Any names matching public or historical figures are strictly coincidental. The story is rated M because of language and adult situations. Anyone below the age of 17 should probably not read this story.

Chapter 3

A useless life?

In the days following the wedding, every day for Gobber with Helga was great. Gobber discovered that having a partner in his life made him complete. Helga made him want to be a better man if for no other reason

than to please her. He even went so far as to make peace with the girls he had wronged and their families. Very, very unViking like. To his amazement, his efforts improved his image not only with the families but the village itself. He was even more shocked that these women would become friends with Helga. They would enmass come over to visit and they would look at him and giggle every time he entered the room. He didn't even want to guess what information they were sharing with his wife.

To top things off in his newfound happiness in his married life, one night he and Stoic were in the great hall for dinner and while Valka and Helga were getting their dinners, Stoic smiled at his friend over his tankard of mead and told him, "You know Gobber, my old chum, before Valka I was

quite taken with young Helga. I was about thirteen I guess, anyway, even with flowers and my best smile she wouldn't give me the time of day. Even back then she only had eyes for you and told me and any other boy who

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tried to woo her to our faces even way back then in dragon training. You were so oblivious. You were so into learning how to kill fire breathing creatures you never noticed the loving eyes that were focused on only you. Did you know she even fought a couple of girls who showed interest? You're a lucky man my friend. Odin himself has blessed us with wonderful women."

"Aye that he has, my friend that he has," Gobber replied.

Helga was very happy and was very keen to have children. She became pregnant eight months after their nuptials. They were both so very happy. Valka and Stoic too. Tragically it was not to be. The Outcasts, led by Alvin, attacked one dawn with thirty longboats and nearly 600 men. Though surprised, the Hooligans were able to form a defense quickly under Fightlout

Jorgen's leadership. Harold the Bold led the first counter-attack. The battle seesawed back and forth all day and most of the night until finally with only ten ships left afloat withdrew leaving nearly four hundred men captured,

wounded and killed. The Hooligans paid a dreadful price for their victory as well with nearly 100 wounded and eighty dead including ten children. In addition, several women had been captured momentarily and gang-raped before their rapists were captured or killed. Among the dead was the chief, Harold the Bold who was killed early in the first counter-attack, and later Fightlout Jorgens was killed while defending the cave where the old and the

very young had been gathered for protection.

Stoic had been by his father's side when the great chief fell. He took up

the charge and beat back the Outcasts time after time. Under Stoic's command, Spitleout Jorgenson took a group of men and attacked the Outcasts ships, killing several crews and setting ships afire.

Gobber had defended the forge while his father Duter led a group of warriors, male and female, to flank the right side of the Outcasts line which coordinated with Stoics' main body and Spitelout's attack on the left flank which finally broke the backs of the final Outcast assault.

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Valka had been assigned with several other of the married women to Gothi. They tended the wounded. Valka had killed several Outcasts who had

infiltrated the Hooligan defenses in defense of the helpless wounded.

Helga had fought beside her father in law as bravely as any Valkyrie of legend. It was said she had struck down five Outcasts in open combat before being cowardly struck down by an arrow shot by a man fleeing for his life. Duter himself carried his pregnant wounded daughter-in-law to the healers.

The withdrawal of the enemy forces did not end the work. Fires had to be put out. A count had to be taken to see who had survived. Patrols had to be sent out to search for any enemies and any wounded. With the dawn, the fires had been put out. Patrols had rounded up twenty-three Outcasts still alive. Five had been identified as rapists. Outcasts themselves were criminals and cowards sent to out to the outcast island for acts that were against Viking law but not bad enough to be executed for. Of the Outcast prisoners, eight were women. With the exception of the rapists, the prisoners would be sold as thralls (slaves). Under Berks's law, any prisoner could petition the chief and his council for indentured service on Berk which could lead to being accepted into the tribe at a later date. This was a rare occurrence but seven of the prisoners (all women) were allowed to stay. The rest were piled into a

longboat where they were taken to other tribes and sold into slavery. Berk's law did not accept slavery on the island. Indentured service was seen as a civilized way to pay a debt to Berkian society.

For the rapists, there was only the fate of slow death that awaited them. First, they were castrated. Next, after their wounds were treated so they wouldn't bleed to death, they were taken to criminals cove where they were tied to poles just offshore in water that got no higher than neck-deep. They had pieces of meat attached to their legs, arms and torsos then they were left for the birds, crabs, and fish. It could take several days to die.

The wounded gradually healed. A man and a woman had lost limbs. Helga's injuries healed but in the process, she lost her baby and Gothi gave her still more tragic news in that because of the damage the arrow had done when it hit her abdomen she would never be able to have future children

either. Needless to say, she was devastated. She cried every night for a

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year. Suicide was never even thought about because of the support her husband and her friends gave her. Many of the married women with children often left their children with her always telling her that she could be their aunt and help rear them. Surprisingly, Helga took special joy and pride in

this. She became a second mother to the village children.

One day in the great hall Stoic gave an announcement, "People of Berk, I

am happy to announce that my wife is expecting our first child"! There was clapping but it was subdued. It was the month of Heyannir (August). This meant that Valka would give birth in Einmanuour (April) and winter wasn't

officially over until May. Life for Vikings was hard, the dragon war and the resulting food shortages made it harder, bad winters made it nearly impossible. During the depths of winter, many adults nearly starved to death saving food so the children of Berk could eat more. The cold took the lives of some of the old and children as well. The odds of an infant born in the depths of winter surviving to Name Day was almost nil. The worry on Valka Haddock's face was palpable. Helga and walked up to the Chief and asked to speak, Stoic brought the crowd to attention,"People of Berk, Helga Duterson, bravery warrior and wife of Gobber the Belch has requested your attention and by my command, you will give it!"

Helga took a deep breath and began, "Women of Berk we have a challenge. Our Chieftess Valka the Courageous needs our help. Many of us have felt the heartbreak of losing a child. Many of you have experienced first hand the pain of watching a child pass away due to lack of food or cold. I say enough! I pledge to my friend and Chieftess Valka that I will be by her side during this pregnancy and delivery. I will hunt and fish every day no matter how cold or heavily it snows to provide extra food for her and the baby inside her womb. I pledge that on days I am unsuccessful to provide meat or fish that I will give up my own rations so she may have additional nourishment for the child. In addition I pledge that every time I enter the forest for wood to heat my home I will always give a portion to Valka so her hearth will provide more than enough heat. I say no mother and no child

should die because of dragons, lack of food, or cold. I challenge all of the

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women of Berk to rise up and protect our own. If you notice a mother who looks hungry, provide extra food, if a child is hungry or cold bring them into your own home and treat them as your own.

I say to our women on servitude, help us to help Valka and our mothers provide enough food and warmth so they survive, I and the other women of Berk will petition the Chief to shorten the term of your enslavement.

To the young unmarried men and boys of Berk, I ask that you help me in my quest. In doing so you will not only prove yourselves as warriors and men but you will also show the lassies of Berk that you are quality husband

material as well. WHAT SAY YOU ALL?"

There was a rousing cheer, all the women standing with fists raised in support of this cause and their Chieftess. Valka with tears streaming down her face embraced her friend and whispered in Helgas ear, "No finer friend has anyone ever had and I swear to you that if this child is born alive and survives I swear we will raise him together. You will be there with me in all

things."

Stoic fighting back un-Vikinglie tears himself, "I am deeply moved by all of your support. I thank all the women of Berk. To Helga, I say thank you for your dedication and loyalty to my wife, our unborn child and to all the mothers and children of Berk. If the council will approve I would give you the title of "The first woman of Berk" and give you the honor of leading these efforts you have suggested for saving the children and mothers of Berk".

There was another rousing cheer.

True to her word, Helga did as she said she would. Valka never was without enough food or their hearth failed to provide enough warmth. All the women pitched in. That winter there may have been many tightened belts by the men, no woman or child died for lack of food or warmth. Surprisingly,

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the young unmarried men formed rival groups to compete at who could bring in the most meat or haul in the most wood. Sure winter was still hard, food was still very scarce and it was hard to keep warm but a newfound togetherness in the village created a bond between the people of Berk that couldn't be broken. They even survived better even though several dragon

raids. Two young men, Sven Barkinson and Troy Elsgard asked the Chief to lift the sentences of two of the indentured women, Freyda Onslagen and Aslog Gruntsdoter so they could propose marriage. It was simply an amazing Snogeltog that year. Happy faces all around.

Valka's pregnancy was a difficult one even with Helga and the women providing extra food and firewood. Valka was frail and her body was just not built for childbearing. She gave birth to a boy two months early on the 29th day of Porri (February), (it was a leap year) 1020 ads. Berk was still in the depths of a bad winter. The baby was two months early. The boy weighed less than four pounds and was tiny. Within a few days, he also became sick. Valka fared not much better. It took all of Gothi's and Helga's efforts to keep the two of them alive. It was an old Viking tradition that any child born small weak or sickly during winter could be taken out of the village and into the forest to be left to the cold and animals. Stoic had been urged to do so but one look at his beloved Valka's face and he chose not to. The tiny boy would probably die on his own anyway.

Valka demanded of Stoic that they name the child even though most in Berk considered it bad luck to do so before name day in the spring. Valkas logic was that she didn't want her son to die without a name. Helga and Gothi both seemed to know differently about the boys fate. Gothi even managed through Gobber to tell Stoic that his son was very strong and would live to do great things in his life. They decided upon naming him after Stoic's great grandfather so the boy became Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.

Valka remained weak for a long time. She didn't produce much milk so Stoic was forced to bring in a wet nurse. Though he remained tiny, Hiccup proved Gothi's words to be true. He improved daily. Helga held him much of

the time, giving Valka much needed rest so her health could improve.

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Hiccup was a good baby and seemed to adore Helga and his mother. For some reason, every time Stoic would hold him, the baby would begin to scream. As soon as he handed him off to Valka, Helga or the wet nurse, Hiccup would calm right down. About the only man that could hold the baby boy was Gobber. Stoic didn't seem to mind because he had a village to run

and couldn't spend a lot of time with the infant anyway.

Spring came and so did official Naming Day. Stoic and Valka were so proud. The women of the village were proud they had helped him survive considering he was tiny and born early. All of them loved his bright green eyes and his quirky little smile.

The men in the village congratulated the chief but secretly wondered if the Chief had named him Hiccup because he was such a little runt. One time a man getting his ax sharpened at the forge made the mistake of making the runt comment to his friend buying nails and Gobber heard it. Gobber jumped over the counter and gave the man a thrashing. When the mans friend tried to step in and stop Gobber he ended up with a thrashing as well.

Hiccup began trying to talk at three months. By four months he started making real words and by six months he was talking completely. He began to crawl early and by nine months was taking early first steps. He was curious, and Valka had to keep a close watch on him because he could crawl a good distance very quickly. One time he somehow had managed to crawl away and out of the house (Stoic had accidentally left the front door open). Helga came to the chief's house about twenty minutes later holding a very dirty but giggling Hiccup. When an obviously shocked Valka, (she hadn't noticed he was gone), asked what happened Helga laughed and explained she found him near the center of the village path playing in a mud puddle. Valka informed Stoic and he laughed proudly as he held his son in front of the fire.

Valka asked Stoic to build the boy a playpen which the next day became a job for Gobber since as usual the Chief had village duties and couldn't be

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bothered with such a menial task. Gobber thought it was bad not to take

more of an interest in the boy but Stoic ignored him. Life was good in Berk during the spring and summer.

Spring was a time for new babies and planting. Valka loved taking Hiccup to see the Yak calves and the new lambs. Hiccup adored the animals and

seemed to have a connection with them and other animals. Yaks were just one step from being wild animals and Yak cows had a tendency to get mean when they had young so at nearly 850 pounds could easily kick a grown man

to death while goring him. There stood Hiccup in the middle of the pen walking over to pet the calves. A crowd had gathered all trying to hand signal the boy to come back so he wouldn't get trampled. Valka was beside herself and fainted. Someone had gotten the Chief and Stoic had a large spear preparing to throw it and then charge in and save his son knowing he probably wouldn't make it in time. Hiccup happily walked over to the first Yak calf he saw and began to talk and pet it. The calf's mother walked over and Hiccup with a big smile said, " Hello mommy Yak, is it ok if I make friends with your baby?" The Yak cow merely sniffed at Hiccup's little body and then licked his face. By this time he was surrounded by Yak cows and calves hugging the Yak cows neck and playing tag with the calves. Stoic growled, "No one makes a sound or those Yaks will trample Hiccup to death" Valka came to and was standing beside Stoic crying when Helga walked up,

"What's wrong Valka, where's Hiccup?" she asked. Valka could only point continuing to cry. Helga huffed, "Why didn't anyone go get him?". She then stepped into the pen and said, "Hiccup, it's time to go, say goodbye to your friends and come over here".

Hiccup looked up and said, "Ok aunt Helga." He turned, hugged a big Yak cow around the neck and said, " Bye momma Yak, thank you for letting me play with your baby" which earned him another lick on the face. The little boy scampered over to Helga who took him out of the ring.

Stoic grabbed the little boy turned him upside down and gave him a very hard smack on the butt. He then shook him once and yelled at the now screaming little boy, "Do you realize what you did? Those Yaks are dangerous and you could have been killed! Don't you ever and I mean ever

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scare me like that again or I swear by Odin ghost I'll beat you so hard you

won't sit down for a week!" Stoic then roughly shoved the child into his mother's arms yelling, "What kind of a mother are you? You can't even keep track of a little runt of a child-like him! If you can't handle a child as small as

him, I swear I will give him to someone who can!"

Helga jumped in between Valka and Hiccup with a long dagger drawn, "I swear by Thor if I ever hear of you touching Hiccup or his mother again I'll see you dead Chief." Gobber had shown up and as Stoic began to move towards Helga, Gobber drew out his double sided ax and said, " I wouldn't do that Stoic if I were you".

Stoic yelled, "That's Chief Stoic to you blacksmith".

"Then try acting like a Chief and a man" Gobber yelled back.

It was then that Stoic noticed that the other men around him had drawn weapons as well. In addition, the crowd had gotten larger to include Duter the Fierce, Gobbers father and leader of the council. You see, on Berk, it was a bad thing for a man or woman to strike a child in public. It was worse for a man to strike his wife in public no matter what the cause. For one man to act aggressively towards or strike another man's wife in public was to invite death by that woman's husband and his family not to mention the woman's family. To top it all off, Stoic was Chief and though his family had reigned for over 300 years since Berks founding, he was not above the law or tradition.

"Keep your wife away from my home and my family," said Stoic.

Gobber didn't miss a beat, " No Chief I don't think so. I will suggest she stay out of your house but she is a free woman and she can associate with whom she pleases and if you try to stop her you and I will meet in the ring". With that Helga turned and escorted Valka back to her home.

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Stoic seething spun and pushed his way through the crowd. Gobber watched him go and turned to speak to his father,

"You know dad, Stoic is never like this. He wasn't angry he was terrified. The bad thing is how he reacted. Hiccup is a tiny baby and he struck him. Yes, the Yaks could have hurt the boy but hitting him with such force could have done the same or worse. He's a good Chief but so far as a father, he's lacking. I've been his best friend since we were four years old and still am but if he makes another move against my wife I will be forced to take action. Stoic needs to go away for awhile and calm down".

Duter replied, "Aye I think your right. It's too soon after his father's death and I think he hasn't gotten over it. We have healed since the Outcasts attack. I think it's time for a reprisal raid on Outcast Island. It will give him something to plan and think about. Also, a reprisal raid if successful will renew the men's faith in him. I will bring this to the council meeting tomorrow."

Things were difficult in the Haddock house for a while. Valka took up staying in the loft with Hiccup. She would make Stoic's meals but it was a month before they were lovers again.

Stoic tried and tried to get close to his son again but the boy clung to his mother and when he tried to embrace the boy, Hiccup would run away and hide. Hiccup talked and talked to his mother telling her about the many wonderful things he saw or the dreams he had. But when Stoic tried to talk to the little boy or tell him a story, Hiccup would turn away or just stare at his father blankly.

Stoic had made him a little wooden sword and shield out of wood to play with but Hiccup ignored them and played with the blocks Gobber made him

or the stuffed animals his mother and Helga made for him. Sometimes the

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little girls from around the village that didn't have brothers or sisters would come over to see Valka with their mothers.

Hiccup's favorite was a little girl named Ylva Hofferson the daughter o Gunnar and Bergheld Hofferson. Ylva was thirteen years old with long curly golden blonde hair which she kept loose rather than braided! She had a very pleasant face, full lips, and strikingly blue eyes. Even at eleven she had

curves and was developing a bosom that would rival any Viking woman. Ylva adored Hiccup and Hiccup adored Ylva. When Borghild would come over to visit Valka, Ylva would always hurry and finish her chores so she came as well. Once there Hiccup would run over and Ylva would pick him up. Most of the visit Hiccup was being held by the girl. Hiccup called Ylva "Ylvy" and she called Hiccup "Hickey her little man". Ylva would hold Hiccup close and rain kisses on the toddler many on the lips. Hiccup kissed her back as fervently as a three year old could.

Hiccup not knowing any different would sometimes lay his head on Ylva's rapidly developing chest. "Borghild would notice, point it out to Valka then tease her daughter, "Careful Ylva or your father is going to make Stoic sign a marriage contract". Both mothers would laugh hard especially when a beet red Ylva would stick her tongue out at her mother and pull Hiccups

head more into her chest. Ylva was at the age where she was becoming sexually aware. She had told her mother that she didn't like boys but she did like girls.

Borghild explained that that was not the Viking way, " Child a proper Viking woman is expected to marry a strong Viking man, keep his home and bear his children."

"What if I don't want to marry a man and have children?" Ylva asked.

Brunhild smiled and said, "Then you must become fierce and an expert at fighting and all weaponry and become a Shieldmaiden. "Then that's what I'm going to do!" said Ylva.

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One visit Hiccup who at fourteen months didn't know about why girls were different but that he felt awfully good in the tummy when they held him close especially Ylva, decided while sitting on his "Ylvys" lap, reached up, grabbed her face and as amorously as a little boy could kiss Ylva square

on the lips. At first, the girl was surprised, then she kissed him back.

"I love you Ylvy," Hiccup told her with a soft sincere voice.

Valka raised her eyebrows and smiled at Borghild, "You know Borg, Hiccup has only told me or Helga he loved us, I think he just discovered girls,'' she whispered.

Ylva hugged the little boy closely allowing Hiccup to snuggle into her.

Hiccup looked at her and asked, "Ylva, when I'm big will you marry me?"

Ylva kissed Hiccup softly and slowly on the lips and said, "Hickey, I am going to be a Shieldmaiden when I grow up and they do not marry anyone. I make you two promises. I promise you that you are the only boy who will ever kiss me on the lips that won't get hurt and I promise that you are the only boy or man I will ever marry if I decide not to be a Shieldmaiden".

Now it was Borghilds turn to be surprised.

Hiccup's favorite toy was a purple dragon his mother made him. One day while cleaning his room in the loft Valka noticed the purple dragon named Stoney for some reason. She looked all over the house and couldn't find it. Finally at dinner she asked Hiccup where it was as he didn't seem surprised or upset,

"Hiccup my son, I cleaned your room today and didn't see Stoney. Did you

lose him?"

"No mommy" Hiccup replied, "I told Ylva the last time her and her mommy was over that Stoney was my favorite and I gave it to her so she would always know I love her and I never want her to forget that or me."

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Valka wiped the tears from her eyes, "Hiccup your a sweet little boy and one day you're going to be a sweet man. I don't think Ylva or any other woman you give your heart to will ever forget you". Stoic only shook his head.

Ylva would one day be the leader of Berks Shieldmaiden society. Thirty-three years later when she died in battle defending Berk the last thing that was placed into her funeral boat was a small faded stuffed animal. As the first fire arrow hit her boat, anyone would keen eyes could see a little purple dragon, held by Ylva's hands on her bosom as she made her last sail to Valhalla.

Hiccup spent a lot of time at Gobber and Helga's hut. Stoic and Gobber had made up but Helga seemed guarded around him. He knew Valka loved him but he also knew she loved the little lad even more. Hiccup it turned out was extremely observant and curious for a toddler. Valka told him he loved to be in the forge with Gobber and he was always asking Gobber questions.

All Stoic got was "Yes father, no father good night father". It was like the boy had no interest in him or what he did. Stoic had even tried to explain to him

that Hiccup was the heir and would be Chief someday. Hiccup would only talk with his father when he was sitting in his mother's lap.

Stoic said, "Ya know son, someday you're going to have to follow me and learn how to be a Chief. Wouldn't you like to follow your old dad around and learn Chiefy things?"

"No father, I'd rather learn stuff in the forge and work with Uncle Gobber or maybe go to sea with uncle Spitelout after I learn to swim" answered

Hiccup.

Stoic was irritated and continued, "Hiccup, soon, as your father, I'm going to start training you to be a warrior and a chief. Someday you will be called on to help defend the village. Someday you will start dragon training and also

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when you're grown you will be by my side when we go on raids against our enemies. What do you think of that?"

Hiccup thought for a moment before answering, "I know that I would do my best to protect Mommy and Auntie Helga but I really don't want to ever

hurt anyone and I am definitely not hurting animals, not even dragons."

Stoic began to get angry and Valka knew it. "I think it's time for a little boy

to go to bed and dream sweet dreams," Valka said to Hiccup.

"NO I'M NOT FINISHED SPEAKING WITH MY SON!" Stoic said a little to loudly. "Son, sometimes a man must do things for his village and his family that he doesn't necessarily like. Dragons raid us and take our food, people go hungry and sometimes get killed. Someday, like me, you will have to be Chief and do your duty to the village. Someday, you will have to take a wife and have an heir of your own and you will be having this conversation with them. Someday you will have to go into battle with me to strike down Berks enemies."

Now Hiccup was angry in his little boy way. He decided his father was mean and that at this moment didn't like him very much. Before Valka could whisk him off to bed little Hiccup looked his father in the eyes and with an angry voice, "I will do my best to never hurt anyone or any animal or any dragon. I am not like you and I don't want to be Chief, someone else like uncle Spitelout can do it. If I have to become Chief, Berk won't have enemies so I won't have to attack them. When I am grown I will do what I want and since Ylva doesn't want to get married, I guess I won't either and I don't know what an heir even is."

Stoic stood up and told Valka, "Get that useless little brat out of my sight".

Valka picked up little Hiccup and walked to the stairs to the loft. At the bottom of the stairs, she stopped. She turned, "You know Stoic, I love you

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deeply but at times like these I'm not sure why I stay with you". She then

walked up the stairs, entered the loft.

Stoic was hurt by what she said. He heard the door shut and then the lock bar drop signaling he would be sleeping alone again. He poured himself a man tankard of mead and sat in his chair in front of the fire. He was depressed for thinking the terrible thoughts that came to mind. He loved Valka more than anything in the world and always would. Things had been so much easier before Hiccup was born. He knew he was a terrible person and father for even thinking that.

He was Chief of Berk, which was one of the most successful Viking tribes in the archipelago. Berk was so successful they didn't even have to raid Scotland or England for goods and slaves anymore. If it weren't for the dragon raids, things in Berk would be perfect. Other Vikings in Berk had strong healthy children who scrapped and fought like all true Viking children were supposed to. What did Stoick the Vast have, a weak tiny runt of a child who enjoyed snuggling with women and girls, who played with blocks and stuffed animals rather than toy shields or weapons. Why was Odin punishing him?

When he and Valka made up he was going to broach the issue of having

more children. Maybe the next one male or female, would be like him. Another thought occurred to him. Most of Val's friends were heavy with child and soon to give birth. Maybe Hiccup would make friends and decide to be more Viking like. Who knows. With that last thought, Stoic finished his ale and went to his room.

It would be another month before Valka spoke more than a few words to him. Another two weeks before they shared the same bed again. Twas the night before they sailed for the raid against Outcast Island.