The room had gone quiet now seeing the figure be revealed as Dagur, chief of the Berserker tribe made himself known in the hall. Toothless continued to snarl angrily at the man, Dagur had never been a problem to them before not since Hiccup became chief of Dragons Edge at least. But Hiccup knew he was trouble from his times on Berk when Dagur would use him as a dagger target and if he was suddenly here on his island, it meant big trouble for them. Hiccup stayed calm, maybe it was nothing but starting his entrance off with throwing daggers and almost hitting Astrid wasn't sounding so promising. "Astrid, go stand with my parents." Hiccup whispered to her.
"But you–..." Astrid began but Hiccup glanced back at her and she saw the seriousness in his eyes and nodded. "Okay..." Astrid said as she backed up and stood with Valka, Stoick, and Alvin worried about what was going on.
"We've been over this, Dagur...I'm not your brother. What are you doing here?" Hiccup asked as calmly as he could manage.
"You know, its hard to track you down, Hiccup. I've been to Berk so many times in the last 7 years and yet you've been here all this time. When I saw Stoick leaving Berk, I decided to follow him and here you are. Its so good to see you again! So you're an outcast now? Huh, guess it was only a matter of time until your daddy threw you out for being such a disaster." Dagur chuckled a bit, Hiccup didn't move.
"I was cast out for befriending dragons, and yes, I wouldn't have it any other way." Hiccup stated coldly.
"Oh yes, I can see this. A Night Fury too, thought they were gone for good." Dagur replied.
"Clearly if you were tracking me down, you were looking for me. So what do you want?" Hiccup asked again firmer this time.
"Nah, I wasn't looking for you. I was following Stoick because I have business with him. He came here, so I did too." Dagur stated facing Stoick now who walked forward.
"We have no business, Dagur. I do business with your father, not you. Did he send you to handle something?" Stoick asked in a stern tone to Dagur.
"Well unfortunately for you, my father shall not be joining us this evening...oh the hell with it. He won't be joining us ever. He's dead." Dagur laughed out. Stoick gasped a bit stumbling back, Hiccup caught this but continued to watch.
"Was he ill or hurt?" Stoick questioned.
"No you idiot. I killed him to become chief and claim what is mine." Dagur rolled his eyes.
"Yo–you killed your own father?! What is wrong with you!" Valka shouted from the back now.
"Hello...I'm deranged." Dagur chuckled. Hiccup didn't like this, not at all. This guy was crazier than he first thought, he could tell his people were uncomfortable being around Dagur. Yet Hiccup wanted to know what Dagur was talking about, what was he trying to claim as his?
"A long time ago during a meeting between you and my old man, there was a contract signed giving me the hand of the a female in from the Hooligan tribe, the one who had the second highest power besides the chief. Unfortunately, I couldn't have her hand until I became chief. So here we are, I'm chief of the Berserkers and I want what I was promised." Dagur stated.
"I never agreed to such a thing. We don't deal in marriage contract alliances." Stoick stated firmly with his hands on his hips. Dagur pulled the sheet of paper from his pouch and handed it to Stoick with a smirk. Stoick's eyes widened as he read over it, when had he done this? Or was it that he never did it again after this one? Hiccup glanced over at the paper to read it for himself. 'Marital Union Alliance Agreement between Osvald Landvik, Stoick Haddock, and Asta Hofferson. On this day it is entered that if the maiden Astrid Hofferson of Berk has no other contracts for marriage by her 21st birthday, she is in agreement to marry the son of Osvald, Dagur when he becomes chief. If requirements are met, Dagur Landvik of the Berserker tribe to Berserk Island and Astrid Hofferson of the Hooligan tribe to Berk will marry on the next Frigga's day following the meeting of requirements. If this agreement isn't met, Bersek and Berk will enter war as per the treaty will be broken. So signed Asta Hofferson of Berk, Osvald Landvik of Berserk and Stoick Haddock, chief of Berk.'
Hiccup's eyes widened, Dagur was here for Astrid. Why had his father never mentioned this! He had to stop it, Astrid would never marry Dagur. And Hiccup knew Dagur, if he didn't get what he wanted or if she refused him, Dagur would force her, hurt her and the thought of Dagur hurting Astrid made his blood boil. What did he do...how did he stop this. It wasn't his place either because he was chief of the Dreki tribe, he had no standing in this. He couldn't do anything.
Dagur walked past them both as he approached Astrid with his hand out, "Ah, there's my beautiful bride to be. Come we must not waste time. Frigga's day is merely 3 days away." Dagur smirked. Astrid backed up from him in fear.
"Like hell I'd ever marry you...My mother wouldn't agree to something like this!" Astrid said quickly but she saw Stoick turn and face her with sad, apologetic eyes. "No...Stoick don't say its true!" Astrid begged pushing past Dagur and running up to Stoick.
"I–I'm sorry, Astrid...I–I had forgotten about it because I had planned to start a contract between you and Hiccup when you were both 18..." Stoick sighed as Astrid took the paper from him and read over it, she began to hyperventilate as tears formed in her eyes.
"Wait...why between me and her?" Hiccup asked now curiously, he'd been completely unaware of this.
"Because when marriage contracts are put in place, it is between proud houses son. Your house, Haddock is considered the most powerful because I'm the chief. Second house would be Jorgenson, third would be Astrid's house, Hofferson. Normally, the first daughter of the house is married to the first house. If the Hofferson house didn't have a girl, it's be the Thorsten girl, Ruffnut. That's how it is set up in most tribes." Stoick explained, Dagur scoffed walking towards them now.
"And then little Hiccup got cast out therefore there is no contract for your hand and I'm finally chief of my tribe...you are mine, Astrid." Dagur laughed manically as he walked up behind Astrid and took her hand in his, Astrid's eyes looked pleadingly to Stoick who only kept his head down, she looked at Hiccup for help and he didn't know what to do. What could he do, there had to be a way to stop this.
"No! No I refuse to marry you!" Astrid tried to get out of his grip, he became angry and backhanded her to the ground. She held her cheek as Dagur smirked standing over her.
"That's too bad, Astrid. I believe this contract was put in place when we were...what 8? I've been waiting a long time for this...So you can thank your mommy and chief for agreeing to this for you. If you don't do it, I'll kill you here because you are of no use to me. Then I wage war on Berk. I already have an armada waiting there..." Dagur grinned. Astrid's eyes widened. Hiccup hated this what could he do! It was a binding contract. Then his eyes widened at something Dagur said as he saw Dagur raise his sword to kill Astrid, Hiccup moved in and pulled his sword out blocking Dagur from striking Astrid. She looked up seeing Hiccup holding off Dagur's sword. Hiccup shoved Dagur off to the side and then offered his hand to help Astrid up.
"Unfortunately Dagur, you can't kill her or wage war on Berk since the terms of the agreement in this contract are void." Hiccup stated earning a few gasps.
"No they aren't, Hiccup. I'm chief of the Berserkers and she has no contract for marriage. Read it yourself!" Dagur growled out at him.
"I did. And believe me, I wouldn't of stopped you if it weren't for one key point that you graciously pointed out for me just moments ago..." Hiccup smirked now.
"And what's that!" Dagur yelled.
"Stoick isn't Astrid's chief anymore. Because she isn't a member of the Hooligan tribe to Berk." Hiccup grinned out. Dagur froze, so did a few others.
"What do you mean she isn't a member of the Hooligan tribe!" Dagur snapped.
"According to that agreement it states that Astrid Hofferson of the Hooligan tribe to Berk is to marry Dagur Landvik of the Berserker tribe to Berserk if she has no contracts for her hand and you are chief of your tribe. And as of 4 hours ago, Astrid Hofferson is a member of the Dreki tribe to Dragons Edge. The island you're currently trespassing on. The contract is void because Stoick is chief of the Hooligan tribe, and Astrid is no longer a Hooligan tribe member." Hiccup stated firmly. Astrid's eyes widened.
"Dreki tribe? Dragons Edge! This is outcast island! Alvin is the chief of the outcasts! You have no say here, Hiccup!" Dagur grumbled angrily.
"Actually as of 6 years ago, I'm chief of this tribe. Ask Alvin yourself." Hiccup grinned. Dagur turned and faced Alvin now who nodded.
"Its true. When Hiccup became an outcast 7 years ago, I adopted him as my son making him Hiccup Holgerson and a year later he became chief of the outcasts and outcast island then being chief it was renamed to Dragons Edge, home of Dreki tribe. Hiccup has been chief since." Alvin explained.
"Which makes me Astrid's chief because she's a member of my tribe, Dagur. This contract...is void because the terms were Astrid Hofferson of Berk to the Hooligans and Astrid Hofferson is a legal member of the Dreki tribe to Dragons Edge. That being said...get off my island." Hiccup ordered with dark eyes.
"Then I still wage war because the treaty was broken!" Dagur replied.
"No it wasn't. The contract was based off a treaty already in existence. This was merely a perk of it that I'm sure you forced your father to make happen. Just like you taking his life in order to become the chief. The alliance treaty was never broken, because the Hooligan tribe of Berk did nothing wrong. Astrid became a member of another tribe, that doesn't affect your treaty with Berk. And if you insist on war, Dagur. Berk won't be fighting alone because they have Dragons Edge behind them and all our dragons." Hiccup smirked.
"She still has no contract for marriage on her, sign one with me and I won't wage war on your island." Dagur stated.
"You really are deranged. You think I'm going to let her marry a psycho like you?" Hiccup laughed out.
"You're chief here, its Astrid's hand or your island." Dagur stated.
"No deal, Dagur. Astrid is off limits to you. She's under my protection and I promise you, that you can't defeat my island." Hiccup warned.
"Why is she off limits! You can't stake claims on people just by saying they are under your protection!" Dagur yelled.
"She's off limits because she is my future wife." Hiccup glared, everyone gasped now with wide eyes. Even Dagur backed up a little, shocked by what he said. Astrid's eyes widened looking up at Hiccup while standing behind him. "That's right, Dagur. We're engaged and set to be married in 3 months. Why do you think I made her part of my tribe, my island? We do things differently here, we aren't like the rest of you arranged marriage believers. We marry who we want too. Even before I was cast out off Berk, I wanted her. And no deranged fool like yourself is going to stop me." Hiccup stated firmly.
Astrid couldn't believe what she was hearing, Hiccup was saying he was going to marry her so Dagur couldn't take her. Was he being serious about liking her on Berk? Astrid blushed a bit, why was he doing this for her? "I don't believe it. If it were true you would of said something long before now!" Dagur snapped.
"What I do on my island is no business of yours, Dagur. You can leave...There's nothing here for you." Hiccup growled.
"I think you're bluffing, Hiccup. I think you're just saying all this to keep me from taking her. If you really love her, prove it." Dagur crossed his arms over his chest smirking. Hiccup hadn't been expecting that, how was he supposed to prove it. He didn't love her. He was only saying this to get Dagur to give up and leave. The only thing he could think of to prove it was kiss her.
'Cami...I'm so sorry for this...Please forgive me...' Hiccup prayed as he wrapped his arm around Astrid's waist taking her by surprised and as she lifted her head to looked up at him he lowered his lips over hers and kissed her deeply. Astrid's eyes widened but then she melted in to it, wrapping her arms around his neck. Hiccup was...kissing her. Not a fake kiss, not a small kiss. A real, passionate kiss! Hiccup held it for a moment before breaking it and staring in to her eyes giving a soft smile, Astrid smiled back before Hiccup faced Dagur angrily again. "Now get off my island." He warned in a dark tone.
"No no no! This is all wrong! She's supposed to be mine!" Dagur yelled as he pulled his sword and let out his battle cry charging at Hiccup who reacted by letting go of Astrid and pushing her towards Stoick who understood and backed up with Astrid to a safe distance. Hiccup took his position as he brought his sword around and blocked Dagur. "I'll fight you for her. Winner gets Astrid as his bride!" Dagur challenged.
"This isn't something you want, Dagur. That I can promise you." Hiccup stated with a sigh. "Just give it up already. Astrid will never marry you, she's marrying me. If you honestly insist on a battle, I won't deny you one but I really don't want to have to put you on your ass in front of everyone." Hiccup remarked.
"You could never beat me, Hiccup. 7 years hasn't changed that!" Dagur growled. Hiccup rolled his eyes shrugging as he pushed Dagur back with his sword making him stumble then Hiccup rushed him, turning last second and hitting him in the face with his shield. Hiccup moved away from him slowly now. "Okay...wasn't expecting that. So you have some fight in you...it's not going to change a thing." Dagur stated.
"Oh its going to change a lot. But we're on my island and we follow my rules of battle. No weapons, just you and me." Hiccup ordered.
"Fine by me. I doubt you're stronger, just taller and still skimpy." Dagur said as he dropped his shield and weapons. Hiccup did the same as he and Dagur faced one another. "You don't want this, Hiccup..." Dagur grinned.
"You're right on that one. I don't want to fight you because I know how this ends. Satisfying for me, you...not so much." Hiccup stated.
"You're cocky for a fishbone." Dagur growled.
"My daddy isn't a fishbone you jerk!" Runa yelled at Dagur angrily now.
"Oh hohoho! So Hiccup has kids does he! I guess a lot has changed, never thought you'd have sex and knock someone up. Where's the mom, or did she bail out after realizing she slept with a loser?" Dagur teased. The room gasped, no one talked about Cami that way. Clearly Dagur had a death wish. Hiccup didn't say anything, while Dagur was laughing Hiccup took his chance. He brought his fist back and punched Dagur right in the mouth, again making him stumble. Dagur spit out two teeth and glared at Hiccup.
"If you know what's good for you, Dagur...I wouldn't mention my children's mother again. It will be very bad for your health if you do." Hiccup said in a cold tone.
"Awe so she's not around anymore. Well can't blame her, I'd probably kill myself too if–..." Dagur didn't even finish before Hiccup crouched down and elbowed Dagur in the stomach, stood up and elbowed him in the face. Then proceeded to leg sweep Dagur on to his back, and step on his chest hard making a few ribs crack.
"You were warned to stop." Hiccup spat out angrily bending down and flipping Dagur on his stomach, twisting his arm until it broke then swinging him around and throwing him in to the wall hard. Hiccup rushed him again using his arm to hold Dagur up by his throat, effectively choking him. "Take my kids out of the room." Hiccup ordered. "They don't need to see their father show a much darker side of himself because someone didn't shut up when he was warned too..." Hiccup scoffed. A few people backed up, no one had ever seen Hiccup get so cold before it was down right terrifying to see first hand too but then again, someone bringing up Cami and disrespecting her would set Hiccup off. Dagur had been warned and he didn't listen.
Astrid nervously bit her lower lip while Valka nodded as she led Runa, Viggo, and Thora outside, "N–now Hiccup...lets talk about this..." Dagur tried to reason with him. In all the years he knew Hiccup, he'd never seen him like this with so much anger, and ferocity in his eyes, or strength.
"I am way beyond the point of talking, Dagur. You come to my island, demanding Astrid and after I made it clear you can't have her because she is mine, you challenge me and further bring my children's mother in to it. Big mistake. I guarantee you that it won't take me long to end your life for bringing her up. But by all means...keep testing me." Hiccup growled out.
Dagur coughed a few times as the air was escaping his body with each moment passing that Hiccup's forearm was against his throat, choking him out. "Give up because with all I've been through the last 6 years...I am in no mood to deal with your shit, Dagur. You give up, and leave this island and Berk alone forever then I'll let you live. Choose to disobey the order and there will be no hesitation. Am I understood?" Hiccup said harshly to Dagur.
"Okay...okay...You win. I yield..." Dagur wheezed out. Hiccup stepped back removing his arm from Dagur's throat and watching him drop to the ground panting heavily as he tried to catch his breath.
"Now leave..." Hiccup ordered. Dagur nodded weakly as Savage tied Dagur's arms behind his back.
"Shall I...take him to his ship, chief?" Savage asked.
"I'll take care of it myself..." Hiccup said in a low tone as he grabbed Dagur's collar and practically dragged him out and down to the docks where the Berserker ship was docked. Hiccup tossed Dagur on to the ship deck and folded his arms over his chest angrily. "Don't ever come back, Dagur or its your head I'll take." Hiccup warned coldly. "Get the fuck off my island and get out of my waters." Hiccup ordered. Dagur's men nodded shaking as they sailed away as quickly as they could. Hiccup walked back to the hall picking up his shield and sword putting them back where they belong.
"Hi–Hiccup...Are you...okay?" Astrid asked carefully.
"Party is over. Back to your homes. Toothless...come on bud." Hiccup said, Toothless crooned sadly as he approached Hiccup's side and let him climb on his back. Hiccup opened the tail and flew off once outside, Astrid looked over at Stoick and Alvin.
"I've...never seen him like this before..." Stoick sighed.
"This is why Valka and I warned all of you when you came here not to make remarks about his wife...Doesn't matter how much time passes, he will never allow anyone to disrespect her name. It's a sensitive subject, and always will be. Dagur pushed him to far and learned his lesson. Hiccup is a very easy going chief, firm and fair. But bringing his wife in to it, you will see a very dark side of him. Best to just leave him be for tonight, let him cool off." Alvin stated as everyone began to clean up their areas and then leave returning to their homes.
One of the last to leave was Astrid with Fishlegs, as they walked towards the inn Astrid noticed a small fire on the beach and looking closer she noticed it was Hiccup and Toothless sitting by Cami's grave. Astrid was worried about Hiccup, not just because she loved him but because of all that happened tonight. Was Hiccup upset that he'd kissed Astrid to give Dagur his proof? Or maybe Hiccup was upset because the kiss made him feel like he was betraying his wife. Astrid sighed heavily as Fishlegs put his hand on her back. "It'll be okay. Just give him his time, Astrid." Fishlegs smiled.
"I hope your right, Fishlegs...I don't ever want to see that side of Hiccup again...That fight started because he was protecting me, making sure I wasn't forced in to a marriage with Dagur...I feel like its my fault." Astrid's tone cracked slightly.
"Its not. You know how protective Hiccup is over our tribe, Astrid. Nothing was stopping him...Come on, lets go to bed. Tomorrow is a new day." Fishlegs yawned walking towards the inn again, Astrid nodded as she followed him. When they got there, Astrid made it to her room and laid down staring up at the ceiling sadly. She had almost told Hiccup how she felt tonight before the issue with Dagur, could she still do it? Or was it pointless now? Yes Astrid knew Hiccup would always love Cami, that was something that would never change but would the events of tonight keep him from ever moving on again? Hiccup could tell by his eyes before they kissed he was hating himself, almost regretfully because his only thought was Cami and he felt like he was betraying her by kissing Astrid.
'I'm sorry, Camicazi...I never meant to fall in love with your husband...I wish I could stop it, but I can't...I do love him but I know knew he still loves you. I don't want him to stop loving you...you gave him...3 amazing children. I just...want to see him be happy...and he was only happy with you...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...please forgive me for wanting him to love me back...' Astrid thought as she buried her face in the pillow on the bed and began to cry, she felt terrible for wanting Hiccup to love her back. She felt selfish for it but she couldn't help it, she never thought that after finding out Hiccup was Strike all along she'd fall so in love with him and now that she no longer denied her feelings...she wanted Hiccup to love her back and be with her but it would involve making him move on from Cami and Astrid knew Hiccup wasn't ready to do that. Astrid cried for an hour before sleep took over.
Hiccup sat on the beach in silence staring at the stone, there were tears in his eyes and falling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry...Cami...I'm so sorry. I never...thought it would happen...and I can't control it either. I'm sorry...I–I don't know what to do...Tell me what I should do!" Hiccup cried staring up at the sky now. His hand was wrapped around Cami's rings, what did he do? He never thought he would feel this way, have feelings for someone else. That kiss was all it took to bring back everything he'd ever felt for Astrid before being cast out. And now here he was crying on the beach, still loving Cami and loving Astrid. But what did he do about it, in order to be with Astrid, he'd have to move on and let go of Cami and that was something he'd promised he'd never do.
Hiccup was lost for words or ideas for once in his life, he didn't know what to do right now and he wanted a sign or anything to come and tell him what to do. Hiccup threw himself back in the sand angrily and frustrated with this, he closed his eyes tightly. "Be happy..." Hiccup heard a voice whisper to him. Hiccup's eyes shot open as he sat up looking around, he knew that voice. It was Camicazi's.