13 ships were ready to go into battle. Equipped with swords, arrows, bows, axes, food, water and supply kits for the wounded. The battle started tomorrow and Vylma had decided to fly to Berk at her father's request today.

He didn't really request her to fly to Berk preticarlly, he had sent her a terrible terror mail and asked her if she knew if Grimmel knew about the hidden world. That question had her think about Grimmels offer for letting Toothless go and the war wouldn't need to happen. Vylma started to think that her father would let Toothless go and save everyone from the war, and that was not what Vylma wanted.

If he lets Toothless go, Grimmel will figure out who Vylma really was sooner or later and would start a war with Barvik. She didn't want that. Going against Grimmel alone was not a good idea. Vylma was still not sure if they would win the war tomorrow and that was with Berk and the alpha of all dragons on their side.

So now she watched the men and women walk among the piers and ships to make sure everything was done and she waited for Alvar to come and tell her that everything was ready for tomorrow. Brie stood beside her and waited for take off. It was a sunny day and the sky was clear. The air was chilly, but the sun gave a little warmth to the world.

Vylma and Alvar had become closer ever since that day she changed her last name from Haddock to Hadderson. She liked him and even if he was uncomfortably at her presence at first, he became more and more comfortable with her and was by her side each day and it felt right to be by his side. They could talk about anything for hours and got a good laugh from each other. He wasn't formal to her in private anymore and said her name instead of "my queen" or "your majesty" and she loved the way her name rolled off his tongue every time he said it. That may be because nearly nobody on Barvik addressed her by her name, it was always "my queen" or "your highness" or "your majesty" and for once, there was one here who called her by her name.

"My queen," Vylma turned to Alvar when he spoke and came towards her, "The boats are ready to leave tomorrow morning and if the weather is good as it is right now, we'll have no problem getting there in time."

Vylma nodded with a warm smile. "Thank you, Alvar and let me remind you again that you are not coming with us to this battle."

"I know and I still think it's a bad decision. You need every warrior you can get and I can fight." This was something they had talked about, which led to them arguing about for an hour. But even after he tried to tell her to take him with them, she had put her foot down and her mind was set.

Vylma put her hand up for him to stop. "I know, but I already put you in charge as one of the people who will stay behind and take care of Barvik when I'm gone. I will not back down from that and you will obey your queen."

Alvar sighed and ran a hand through his brown locks, "Fine, Vylma." he whispered. "I'll stay here and help keep the island in check while you're gone. If I can't keep you safe on the battlefield, I'll make sure you have a whole island to come home too, if you promise to come back alive." he breathed and took a step forward.

The flirt that started seven months ago and was another thing why she loved about being around Alvar. The way he gave her a crooked smile and his blue eyes started to become playful that told her that he only had eyes for her and showed... love for her. Or that Vylma thought it was.

They hadn't been that imitated with each other, just looks and flirty things said to each other had happened between them. Sure, hugs had also happened. Often when Vylma was tired or if she was feeling down, she hugged Alvar when they were alone. He had never complained about it and always let her come to him. He never touched her, a comfort hand on the shoulder and twice he had held her in his arms.

A few days after the first Grimmel visit, she had broken down in one of the castle hallways and Alvar had found her. He had taken her back to her bed and she told him to stay in bed with her. He was not there with her the next morning, but she had never slept so good for a long time.

The second time when she had almost fallen asleep in her study and he found her. Alvar had tried to wake her up, but she told him that she would not stand up and walk to her room just so that she would sleep in her bed for the hours that were left for the night. He had given up eventually to get her to stand up, so he had carried her bridal style to her bed. The last thing she remembered before waking up in the morning, was him tucking her in under the covers.

Vylma sighed and still held her smile. "I won't promise you that, because I don't know how this war will turn out, but I'll do my best to make sure to come back alive. Barvik needs me-"

"I need you." he murmured and looked at her with pleading eyes.

"I need you, too." she whispered back and wanted to hug him to tell her that she hopefully wasn't going anywhere. But they were in public and they shouldn't be this close to each other for everyone to see.

She took two steps and straightened her back. "I'll be going to Berk now and I'll be back in a few hours. Keep Barvik out of trouble for me in the meantime."

"Yes, of course, my queen." he bowed slightly and Vylma climbed on Brie's back and they flew off.

Yes, she was definitely starting to fall in love with Alvar Björnsson or maybe she fell for him months ago and she hadn't noticed.

The problem was the people of Barvik and the council. They wanted Vylma to find a humble, strong man who would rule with honesty. Alvar did fit those categories, but they never spoke about getting married. They barely spoke about being a couple. Vylma being too stuck up with what people would say and Alvar being too shy to speak about it.

Vylma didn't really know if Alvar wanted to be king and maybe that's why they never went far with their… friendship or flirty relationship.

And what would Barvik think about having a messenger boy as their king?

Hiccup and Toothless waited alone for Vylma in the Haddock house. The rest of the family were out and made sure everything was ready for tomorrow's war.

The war that maybe won't need to begin if Vylma said no to the question he had for her. The question was decisive if the war needed to be or not and Hiccup was afraid that Vylma would answer him. If it was a no, then he could take the awful and sad goodbye to Toothless but would keep both Toothless and his family safe from going to war that could, for the worst part lead to death to the entire of Berk. If Vylma answered yes, then they needed to go to war and hope they would survive, or that could also lead to the death of Berk.

Hiccup started pacing back and forward by the fire and stroke his chin. Anything could happen tomorrow and that scared him to death.

Toothless watched Hiccup go back and forward, he himself worried for what would happen.

The front door opened and Vylma walked in. Making the chief and alpha turn their heads to her.

"Vylma, glad you're here."

Vylma closed the door after her and walked to her dad. Knowing exactly what he would ask her and was the question she thought she knew the answer to. "Yes and to answer your question; no-"

"So he doesn't know about the hidden world. That's perfect." Hiccup nodded his head slowly and smiled a little. The plan was going to work.

Vylma grimaced and breathed in so it sounded like a hiss sound. "Yeah, but I'm not really sure if he knows or not," Hiccup raised his eyebrows and were pulled together in near fear and panic. "I mean he shouldn't know. I never gave him the translation of the dragon eye, because I told him that I can't translate it and he hasn't bothered me with it ever since."

Hiccup looked down at the floor in thoughts that were spinning fast in his mind. Toothless cooed and touched Hiccup's right hand. Hiccup gave him a small smile and laid a head on his head. "Then there's a chance he doesn't know about it." Hiccup whispered.

Vylma narrowed her eyes at them and knew what was happening. "You want to take Grimmels' offer." Both rider and dragon snapped their head up to her, "To let Toothless free so the war won't happen." she fumed and felt anger growing in her.

Hiccup slowly nodded and didn't see why she was angry with it. "I'm considering it, yes."

"No." she said and couldn't believe this.

He furrowed his brow. Confused why she didn't see the good in this. "You don't get to decide-"

"Yes I do!" she snapped and glared at him. "This war will affect my people as much as yours and while you let Toothless go free, my people will suffer for that decision."

Hiccup shook his head. "How will Barvik suffer for not going to war? Me and Toothless will be the ones who will suffer for going separate ways."

"So now you only think about you and Toothless? And not your daughter? Your own child?" she accused and clenched her jaw.

"I am thinking about you! I'm thinking of Berks best and a war is never good for anyone. I lost both my parents because of war and now…" his mouth opened and closed while his eyes were wide with fear. "I have you four to think about and I can't lose you. I can't lose… I can't lose any of my children. You are my number one priority in my life and if I can prevent losing you, I'll do anything." tears started to build up in Hiccup's eyes. He blinked a few times and he gave Vylma a shaky smile. "I can't lose you." he whispered and his voice cracked.

Vylma stared at him with a blank face and bit her lip. This was not what she thought he would say and she didn't know how she would explain to him how Toothless couldn't go free. She was also angry at him for not thinking about her. About her people and their situation they would be in if he decided to free the night fury.

"Grimmel sent you a dragon head," Vylmas eyes dropped away from his, "for you to… to hang it on your wall in your home." he took a deep breath, "He thinks you're a dragon killer, when you're not."

Vylma almost snorted, but bit her cheek to prevent the snort from coming out of her. She let her dad continue.

"This whole plan of you going undercover has taken a turn I didn't think could happen. I don't want this war to happen, because I don't want to put you in more danger or being more scarred for life."

Now she snorted out loud. "Too bad I already am." she mumbled, but Hiccup caught it.

"What? What did he do to you?" he asked seriously.

She turned her eyes to him and felt a lump in her stomach for telling him what she had done to earn Grimmels trust. "He didn't do anything. I just wanted to keep my people safe and yours and by doing that, to earn Grimmels trust to go with the plan that you were okay with, I did something you couldn't do."

Now Hiccup felt fear rise up in him. Not knowing where Vylma was going with this, but he knew it was horrible.

"So that dragon I received from him, was the dragon I killed." Hiccup's mouth hangs open in shock and Toothless eyes widened. "I did something you did 26 years ago. Killing a dragon for the people, for your own people, to keep them safe. But I didn't kill the big bad dragon, no I killed the innocent dragon. While you killed a red death, I killed the dragon you wanted to kill in the first place, a night fury."

Hiccup was speechless. His eyes frozen and stared at her, not believing what she just told him.

"Yes, the dragon head I got from Grimmel, was the head of the night fury I killed." her face started to become red with anger and she pointed at her chest with her finger. "I've been covered in night fury blood. I know how a night fury's heart looks like and I know the feeling of cutting up a dragon. I'm already scarred for life, because I still feel the night furys body go stiff under my hands and I can still hear her last sounds she made before she died. And as long Grimmel is alive, I will be in danger." her eyes started to water and she looked away from her dad for a moment. A weight from her shoulder was gone, but now guilt and disappointment came back to her. Her chest felt heavy and her grandmother's necklace pressed hard against her skin.

Hiccup shook his head and saw Vylma slunched down with her shoulders and he saw the shame she felt. He wanted to comfort her, but his body didn't want to move.

"But go ahead and let Toothless free and let my actions I made for you be for nothing," she moved her head towards him, "But Barvik will fight until it falls and I will never forgive you for bringing death upon us. Because that's what Grimmel will do when he realizes who I am. He will slaughter us, because I tricked him for being on his side when in reality I was on yours!" she screamed. "Without Toothless we don't have a chance against Grimmel, but I see you didn't think that far."

She started to chuckle. A low chuckle and blinked away the tears in her eyes. "Now I'm glad I don't have the Haddock name anymore. Maybe that's why you didn't think about who I really am." she stood up straight and felt a tear roll down her cheek. "I am the queen of Barvik and the one thing you really taught me to be a leader of a village is that the first duty is to its people and a chief protects it own. And that is what I will do until my last breath."

"What are you saying?" was the only thing Hiccup could get out of him. A mere whisper that felt empty in the silence house.

Vylma's eyes burned and she felt her veins in her neck tense. "You don't have two daughters anymore, you only have Magnhild. It's not like I've really felt like part of this family for the past two years, but now that feeling is fully real." she clenched her jaw line and took a slow step back.

"Congratulations, chief Hiccup, you have just lost a child." she didn't waste a second to get out of the house any longer or to be in his presence. Vylma turned her heel and slammed the door after her.

Vylma almost ran into her mother, who had just stepped aside for Vylma to get out of the house, but Astrid grabbed her daughter's arm when she door slammed shut.

Vylma saw tears in her mother's eyes, but didn't feel anything to it. She was so angry at this point that she was numb.

"Magnhild-"

Vylma jerked her arm free from her mother's hold and marched straight to Brie and flew off towards Barvik. Vylma didn't want to hear what her mother was going to say and Vylma did not want to stay any longer on Berks land.

She was done. Done with Berk and done with its chief.

I remember writing this chapter and hating it so I rewrote it, and hating it. I've been waiting to write this chapter for so long that when I started writing it, I was never happy because I couldn't get what I saw in my head to build words that actually made it sound good. Urgh, moving on, I'm not sure what I'm writing here. I just hate it but I don't feel like trying writing it again.