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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 10 Back home again
Stoic was in a very good mood. His battle had been a success. The Outcasts had been all but eliminated. They had a fortune in spoils for the treasury and one of his enemies, Finn Hofferson had been killed in the attack. True, Finn had died a glorious death and his family would receive compensation but he was dead and one less source of income for an already poor family.
Stoic would later try to find an excuse to somehow challenge Gunnar in a fight to the death but with the victory, all his enemies including those on the council could have to lay low. Stoics' reputation was secure. He had brought glory and wealth to Berk.
No one would dare bring a challenge to his right to be Chief of Berk like his father before him. Valka would be shamed into coming home and being a dutiful wife. As far as his weakling of a son was concerned he would insist Valka give him more children and eventually there would have to be one that took after him and would be strong. He would then make that child, male or female heir.
Hiccup could go on to be Gobbers apprentice but nothing else than a blacksmith. Stoic regretted not taking the advice of putting the runt adrift or left him in the snow as had been suggested by many. Odin help him for thinking such things.
Hiccup would never be fit to be Chief and he would be damned to have to make Spitelouts spawn his heir. Spitelout had survived the battle and had even garnered much glory in his actions to help secure the Needle.
The Needle had been the hinge pin that had made the battle a sure thing in his favor. Leia had heaped praises on Spitelout and even rewarded him from the Bog Burglar portion of the spoils for his selfless act of placing
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himself and his warriors and shieldmaidens under her command. Stoic would have to watch his brother-in-law closely so he did not become a threat.
He had made up his mind that he would make an effort to treat Valka better if for nothing else than appearance's sake. He would also put up a public show concerning Hiccup to keep the council off his back.
The winters were long and cold on Berk and all his male peers would be bigger and more aggressive than his useless excuse of a son. Yep, Stoic needed Valka to give him more children because Hiccups' chances of long term survival were not good. That brought a wicked smile to the Chief's face.
Back in Berk
Valka was feeling better and more confident that things would be better now that she had the protection of the council for her and Hiccup. Hiccups bruises were almost all gone and with her, Helgas and Ylvas love and attention her little man was having fewer nightmares.
The Hofferson family had been more than kind but Valka had moved back into her home two days after the fleet had sailed. They loved little Hiccup. Ylva, of course, doted on him the most but now she had a new baby sister now who needed her attention.
Valka and Helga were trying to wean Hiccup off of needing so much of Ylvas love and attention. The problem was Berghld and Ylva were not having it. Berghild brought baby Astrid and Ylva over almost every day making sure that Hiccup and Valka were eating well.
One funny incident occurred when Hiccup was watching Ylva change Astrid's dirty bottom. Hiccup panicked when he saw Astrid with no clothes on, "Mommy, mommy Astrids hurt!"
Ylva; "No she's not Hickey. Where do you see her hurt?" the eleven-year-old asked.
Hiccup pointed and said, "Her dingle is missing!".
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After five minutes of all four females (Valka, Helga, Berghils and Ylva) hysterically laughing Valka picked up Astrid and explained to a very confused toddler, "Hiccup, Astrid is a baby girl and girls don't have penises" said his mother.
Hiccup thought for a second then asked, "Mommy, what's a penis?"
Another round of laughter with Ylva literally rolling on the floor of the hut. Helga was the first to compose herself, "Hiccup my sweet darling, 'penis is the proper name for dingle'". For the rest of the day, Hiccup practiced using the word penis soliciting laughter from all those around him.
That spring of 1021 lots of babies had been in Goi (March). Berghild had given birth to Astrid and Faith Ingerman gave birth to a thirteen-pound son she named Fishlegs. In Einmanuour (April), Erika Swenson gave birth to Heather and lastly, Inga Jorgenson, (Valkas' sister-in-law) gave birth to a son they called Snotlout in the month of Harpa (May).
There had been one small dragon raid but no on had been killed or permanently maimed. Two houses would need roofs replaced and three yaks and six sheep had been taken. Gunnar Hofferson and Gobber had led the defense and had done a good job.
Gobber understood that though things had run pretty smoothly that there was tension over the village due to most of the men and shieldmaidens having been sent to war. The worry and stress of loved ones were palpable.
Gobber had no doubt of an ultimate victory but in any major attack of this magnitude against a heavily defended target like Outcast Island, casualties were inevitable. Each family was proud of their men or women that was but there was the dread of not ever seeing that loved one again that drug at each home. It couldn't be helped.
Gobber and Gunnar had figured a two to three-week operation if the weather held. Stoic might be a terrible husband and father but as a military tactician and leader none he could think of was better. That in itself was problematic because a victory meant Stoic would be untouchable as Chief. His word would be law and all the other tribe leaders would back him so long as he didn't go to Helheim with his power.
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Gobber knew that he and Gunnar, as well as the council, were now on the Chief's shite list. Stoic was not one to be crossed and forget it any time soon. Gobber and Gunnar would have to watch their backs from now on.
Hiccup liked to go one walks with Valka in the woods. Valka loved nature and her son was inheriting that love from her. As they walked in the forest anyone else would be afraid of running into a wolf, boars or even dragons. Not Valka. She understood animals were not vicious by nature and if she made enough noise and stayed away from any potential nesting sights that she and her wee son would be fine.
On this particular day about a half-mile from the village, Valka kept hearing a rustling as they moved. When she stopped the rustling stopped. She knew something was following them and that it was probably small so she stopped sat down with a tree to her back and waited with Hiccup in her lap.
"Why did we stop mommy?" asked Hiccup.
"Well, sweet one, did you hear the rustling in the bushes as we walked?" asked Vaka.
Hiccup nodded yes.
"Mummy thinks a wee creature is curious about us so I thought we might just let it catch up and see what it is," said Valka.
"Do you think it will hurt us?" asked little Hiccup.
Valka; "Ach no. the noise is small so the creature is as well".
After about five minutes the rustling got very close and soon a very small green head with bright yellow eyes and a beak-like snout peaked out of the bushes about three feet away from them.
"OOOOh what is it mummy?" asked Hiccup without an ounce of fear.
"That, my little man is a wee dragon called a Terrible Terror," said Valka.
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"A DRAGON!" exclaimed Hiccup. "Yes, my son a dragon.
"It's a young one just like you," said Valka.
The baby Terrible Terror made a chortle turned its head to the right slightly then crept a little closer to the two humans.
"Can I pet it mummy?" asked the little boy.
Valka; "No my son. It is a wild creature who has a mummy and daddy who are probably watching us right now".
Sure enough, within a few seconds, there was a screech and the sounds of wings batting from the sky through the trees and a fully grown Terrible Terror about three and a half feet tall landed just in front of Valka and Hiccup.
Hiccup hid his face in his mother's stomach and said, "I'm scared mummy!"
"It's alright. She's just his mummy making sure we aren't going to hurt her baby. Just relax and let them get used to us," said the Chieftess.
The adult Terror was mostly lime green with bright yellow markings.
Valka; "The baby must have fallen out of its nest and now has to hide while its mother gets food for it."
The mother Terror slowly came forward bobbing its head and sniffing Hiccup then Valka.
Valka; "It's alright Mrs. Dragon we aren't going to hurt you or your baby".
The little dragon must have understood because it visibly relaxed more sitting right next to Valka actually touching Hiccup as she took in the human's scent. Seeing its mother next to the humans emboldened the youngster who actually jumped onto Valkas' left leg just in front of Hiccup.
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"Wow," Hiccup said, clearly in the wonder of the event.
Valka slowly lifted her right-hand ad allowed the mother Terror to nuzzle it. She then brought her hand up and petted the mother's head.
Valka; "I always knew your kind were curious and friendly. We Vikings are stupid brutes who don't try to understand but only seek to kill what we don't know."
The baby terror actually bumped Hiccup trying to get petted itself.
"Go on son, the baby has given you permission to pet it," coaxed Valka.
Hiccup copied his mother and slowly and gently raised his hand and began to pet the ten-inch tall baby. The Terrors rubbed prodded the two humans and the baby even licked Hiccups' hands and his cheek. All was bliss for about twenty minutes when a long blast of a warning horn could be heard. Instantly the mother Terror squawked loudly and both scurried into the denser part of the forest.
Valka said, "It's no dragon raid so I'll bet the fleet has been sighted. We must go greet your father Hiccup"
Hiccup looked at his mother with wide-open eyes filled with dread and fear. Hiccup, "NO MUMMY! He will hurt us again. Please don't make me!"
"Hiccup dear, I am the wife of a Chief and you are the Chief's son. We have no choice. It is our duty to welcome our soldiers and your father home" said Valka in a sad voice.
Hiccup began to cry and said, "I don't know what duty means but my father is mean and I hate him. I wish I could go live with Ylvy or Helga."
As she picked up her now sobbing son she said, "You mustn't hate your father. Odin would look down upon you. Ylva will always love you but her duty now is to baby Astrid. For you to live with Helga and Gobber mummy would have to give you up and I will never, ever do that while I have breath in my body. Do you understand Hiccup?" asked Valka.
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"NO," said Hiccup.
Valka just said, "You will someday" and kept walking.
It was early evening when the Chief's longboat was finally moored in its place of honor at the docks. The men aboard all had triumphant looks and were cheering Stoic as he leaped off his ship.
At the docks to meet them was the Council, a Guard of Honor, Gunnar, Valka, and Hiccup. Behind them were anxious relatives of the warriors and shieldmaidens who had departed only two and a half weeks before.
With a nod from Stoic, a horn was sounded, a last for each and every one of the warriors and shieldmaidens who had been taken to Valhalla. As the last blast sounded Stoic drew himself up to his seven-foot five height and said, "Odin has blessed us with a great victory but as is the nature of combat, even with a victory there is also loss.
Twenty four of our brothers and sisters from this island of Berk have been taken by the Valkyries to take their places with the honored dead in Valhalla. I shall read each name from this now sacred scroll so that we might honor their families, their sacrifice and their memory."
As each name was read, the wails of the anguished families could be heard. Finn Hofferson's name was read and of course, Berghild and Ylva let out distraught cries of grief. Hiccup cried as well and there were tears in Valkas eyes as well. The Chief turned to speak to the elders.
Spitelout grabbed his brother-in-law by the am, "Are you not going to give tribute to Finn Hofferson's bravery?"
Stoic jerked his arm away, and coldly looked at Spitelout, "Finn Hofferson did his duty and nothing more!" and turned away.
Spitelout drew his sword and yelling so everyone could hear, "You are a liar and without honor. Finn Hofferon secured your left flank".
There was a collective gasp then silence as Stoic whipped around, his own ax drawn. The warriors and shieldmaidens began to pick sides. Those that
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had seen Spitelouts courage defending a fellow leader who could no longer defend himself and those who backed a man who had just brought them a great victory and wealth. The situation was getting rapidly out of hand to the point of civil war.
Duter Toverson yelled at the crowd, "Stop", will you insult the gods and the Valkyries by coming to blows at this most sacred moment? Would you bring insult to our honored dead and incur the wrath of Odin himself? Have you no shame" No one moved.
Suddenly Stoic put his sword away, "I will not tarnish the memory of our fallen or my family's name by spilling your blood this day Spitelout Jorgenson. Let us gather in the great hall to celebrate our victory!" Usually, there would be a cheer from those who had survived. A chance to
remember comrades and acts of bravery in the field. Now only sullen angry faces looked at each other.
Spitelout spoke one last time still holding his sword, "Odin himself knows the act of bravery performed by my friend and ally Finn Hofferson who charged at the enemy with no thought of his own safety in order to reinforce our Shieldmaidens on the needle. I witnessed these acts myself and I vow before Odin himself that I will never share a drink with any leader who intentionally besmirches the honor and memory of a brave man. I say anyone who does is less than a dog". Spitelout spat at the ground in Stoics direction then turned to go to his own home.
Stoic did not address the council. He walked up to his wife and bent down to kiss her. Valka turned her head away. He looked down at his son peeking around his mother's leg. When he bent down to greet the tiny little boy Hiccup looked him in the eye and yelled "NO" and ran over to Helga and Gobber. Gobber picked the boy up looked at the Chief and shook his head before
turning away. Valka turned back to her husband, there was no joy at the triumphant return only sadness.
"I am your wife, I will do my duty as your wife. I will wait for you at home". The small, slender woman with deep green eyes turned and walked away. Stoic, still filled with rage stalked his way up the hill towards the mead hall.
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There was a celebration but in name only. The Council minus Spitelout and Gothi had one tankard of ale then left. There were about a hundred warriors in the mead hall with the Chief. There was no celebration, it was more like a wake. The Chief sat by himself on the raised dais getting drunk.
Stoic made it home and true to her word Valka had waited up for him and gave him her body. There was no passion or effort, only duty. As Stoic finally drifted to sleep in his drunken stupor he was convinced the god's really do hate him.