"They seriously left?" Hiccup asked Heather yet again. "Two whole families just packed up and left?"
"Pretty much," Heather said. Windshear gurgled. "I know girl. We're almost there."
"No wonder Viggo hasn't been doing much," Astrid said. Hiccup groaned.
When Heather came back to the Edge with a message from Dagur and Iris, Hiccup had thought it was a wedding invite. Afterall, they had completed their self given task of gaining two allies. Fishlegs and Snotlout had headed to Waterlands Island to help teach the Murking Tribe how to tame and ride dragons after hearing the news and getting the request.
However it wasn't the news he wanted. Ever. At all. Two families had abandoned Berserk and went to ally with Viggo and his Dragon Hunters. He gained new warriors plus their wives and children. Even Berserker women were fierce warriors and that alone would push up the number of actual new fighters. They even had gear and supplies Dagur had been desperately keeping out of their grasp now in their clutches.
Heather had told Hiccup a Terror Mail had been sent to Berk with the details as well. They had also informed the Icer and Murking tribes of what was happening. The timing couldn't be worse. He had just finished his plans to get back the Dragon Eye from Viggo only for him to have more allies and Dagur preparing for a war.
"Maybe my plan and his can work together," he mumbled to himself. Toothless growled in concern. "Don't worry buddy. Just thinking."
The Windstrikers were rather anxious thanks to the collective mood among the Riders. The lead female, a grey and black with purple eyes, did her best to keep the other five in order. However even Hiccup could see she was uneasy. Hopefully they would accept Berserk as their new territory and settle down.
Berserk was coming into view however Hiccup did not expect the sight that he saw. Gone was the dreary, disarrayed and chaotic village. Everything was bright, cheerful, and as orderly as Berserkers could get. New buildings were up including a large building with multiple large doors. A green Gronkle was laying on the roof, napping, while Terrible Terrors were bouncing about. Speaking of the Terrors, Hiccup spotted the rookery that Iris had been talking about building. It was covered with Terrible Terrors.
A roar caught the Windstikers' interest. Enigma flew up to them, her scales grey and tan for her summer coloring. She ruffled her mane but chirped eagerly. The female lead Windstriker chirped back and flew over to Enigma. The two sniffed each while hovering until Enigma roared and dove towards the ground. The Windstriker lead roared and followed after her, the other Windstrikers eagerly taking off after the two females.
"Well that went better than expect," Astrid commented.
"Enigma is pretty much the lead dragon here," Heather said. "So all the dragons here listen to her and follow her."
"Smart," Hiccup said. "Let's land and find Dagur."
They soared over the island. Another surprise waited for them at the docks. A trio of Scauldrons lounged in the shallow waters of the port. They were all covered in strange brightly colored designs he had never seen on a Scauldron before. Hiccup watched them warily but they just looked up at them before going back to their lounging.
Suddenly he spotted Hookfang. The Murderous Nightmare was in the middle of the festival ground, watching people move back and forth. He spotted Hiccup and gave a roar. One person looked up. The red hair was a dead give away.
"Welcome brother," Dagur said after they landed. "Glad to see you made it."
"Viggo is a big problem," Hiccup replied, grunting at the impact of Dagur giving him a hug. "And um, did you know there are strange looking Scauldrons in your port?"
"Aye those would be mine," a tall and lanky blonde man said brightly. Hiccup stared at him in shock. He had never seen someone like him before with his multiple braided hair and crazy clothing. "It's pretty convenient to have a dragon that can move faster than a ship any day! Minnow got me here the next day after Dagur's message. I'm Fiske, chief of the Murking tribe. You must be Hiccup! Snotlout complained about you a lot."
"You aren't supposed to tell him," Snotlout whined. "Uh hey Hiccup. Astrid. Heather."
"Looks like you and Fishlegs were busy," Astrid commented.
"Fishlegs was," Fiske said. He slung his shoulder over Snotlout, giving him a dangerous smile. "This one was too busy bragging and being all cocky. For some awful reason my little sister was smitten with him."
"I already told you," Snotlout started to say but at Fiske's menacing grin he shut up.
"Enough of the gossip," Dagur snapped. "We have a war to plan! Hiccup, where are the dragons Heather said you were bringing?"
"Your wife's dragon snatched them away," Heather drawled. Hiccup stared in shock as Dagur blushed at her words. "When is Berk getting here?"
"What do you mean getting here?" Hiccup asked. Heather looked at him sheepishly.
"I've asked all the chiefs to come here," Dagur said. "Not just for a war meeting. Iris and I decided to get married once everyone arrives before I go to battle."
"Iris isn't coming?" Astrid asked.
"She can't handle killing other humans," Dagur said. "She had a hard time when she and Enigma collapsed a sea stack on a group of lurking Hunter ships. On her lands, they don't fight as often as here. Currently."
"A Berserker chieftess who can't fight," Snotlout grumbled. He gulped when Dagur stared at him dangerously. "It's a good thing! She can, uh, do other things?"
"I'd shut up before he makes you," Astrid said to Snotlout. He merely whimpered as Dagur continued to stare at him.
"Iris is a great chieftess," Fiske said brightly. "She is the most rational and level headed Berserker I've ever met. That's saying something given how often we run into them being neighbors and all! Ah my favorite Viking! Besides you Dagur. Fishlegs!"
The large Viking blushed as Fiske walked over and clapped him on the back eagerly. Somehow Fishlegs hair ended up braided, almost like Fiske's small braids, and his face was covered with similar markings that were on the Scauldrons. He blushed even harder when he saw Heather and Hiccup staring at him.
"Its paint," he said quickly. "They wanted to tattoo my face but I wouldn't let them. So they just painted my face when they painted their dragons."
"So that's why they looked odd," Astrid commented. Fishlegs nodded.
"The Murking tribe has a tradition of tattooing themselves so sharks and water dragons don't accidentally eat them thinking they are a fish," he explained excitedly. "So they make themselves bright and wildly patterned so the water creatures know to stay away. They decorate their ships the same way."
"We are just a colorful people," Fiske laughed.
"You should see their village Hiccup," Fishlegs said eagerly. "Their construction looks so haphazard but it's all so stable not even an earthquake could move the buildings. There's nothing dragon related either! All fish with a Scauldron or Subripper here and there. And the colors!"
"I'll take your word on it," Hiccup chuckled.
A familiar roar caused him to look up. Stoick flew in on Skullcrusher with Gobber and Spitelout following on their dragons. The Rumblehorn landed heavily on the ground. Stoick hopped down, patting the dragon before approaching them.
"Good to see you Dagur," Stoick rumbled. "I wish it was better circumstances."
"Me too," Dagur replied. He griped forearms with Stoick before releasing him and doing the same with Gobber and Spitelout.
"It's good to see you son," Stoick said warmly.
"It's good to see you too Dad," Hiccup said with a smile. "I guess you knew the second reason before I did."
"Aye. It was surprising but urgency makes a man do crazy things. Well, more normal crazy things if that makes sense."
"Nothing makes sense when it comes to Dagur."
"I heard that," Dagur drawled.
"Well it's true."
Everyone turned around to see Iris, wearing a dress surprisingly, standing behind them with a short dark skinned woman and a taller short haired woman. Seeing the dark skinned woman Fiske brightened and pulled her into his arms. She scolded him, swatting at his hands, and stood next to him with a small smile. The other woman just stood back silently.
"It is good to see you again lass," Stoick said gently.
"It is good to see you again as well Chief Stoick," Iris said. There were bags under her eyes but she didn't seem bothered by them. "Thank you for coming at such short notice. I know the current situation isn't ideal but we must take opportunities where we can."
"It is my honor to attend your wedding," Stoick said. "Dagur is a lucky man to have someone as level headed as you at his side."
"I am lucky," the red headed Viking said proudly. He had moved to her side and already had his hand laced with hers. For some reason the sight made Hiccup feel saddened.
He hadn't attended many weddings but even Hiccup knew it was supposed to be an important day for both bride and groom. A day just about them and celebrating their union. Yet here was Iris and Dagur, sharing their most precious memory with the memory of war planning. Both deserved better than this. Viggo would pay.
