Chapter Eleven.

The man hopped on to the deck of the ship, and that was when he saw Adelaide on Juniper. He looked between her and Snotlout, then said with another big smile, "I'm going to guess that you're the healer, miss?"

Snotlout and Adelaide just gaped at this person in disbelief, and he gave the Viking a nudge with his elbow and wiggled his eyebrows. "No offense to you, big guy."

Snotlout felt as if he could drop to his knees - whether from relief or exhaustion, it was hard to tell. They were right all along. They had found the way.

"Come on down you two," the man continued and gestured animatedly, "I'm just getting some stuff stored away, it's gonna be a long sail to Berk!"

Adelaide looped Juniper's reins around a wooden pole of the dock and went to stand on the boat. When the man ducked below deck, she and Snotlout exchanged a look before following. He was organizing crates below the hull and hummed as he worked, occasionally stopping to ask questions. "So! How did you hear of Berk?"

So Adelaide gave him the story of how she came upon the map. This person nodded and made interested sounds the entire time, and then when she was finished looked to Snotlout. "And you are her husband, I reckon?"

He stuttered. "Ah, no…"

"He's my travel companion," Adelaide said.

"Oh, is that what they're calling it these days?" the man said and burst into laughter at his own bad joke. "But, I do have to ask. Why in the world do you want to go to a land that is crawling with several-ton-weighing fire-breathing lizards and the fiercest warriors known to mankind? Does that not, you know, make you just a tad bit nervous?"

"I know it's what I have to do," Adelaide said evenly, and her strong words betrayed the weakness of her body. "I'm willing to risk it."

Then he looked to Snotlout for an answer. "I'm not afraid."

The person before them smiled and held his hands up in a shrug. "Well, I suppose that settles it. Oh, just one thing before we get on the way."

He moved to a corner of the ship and reached down for something. What he drew from the shadows made Adelaide gasp.

The man walked back towards them carrying a Terrible Terror by the scruff of its neck. The little dragon chirped as if did not fear a thing, using a claw to scratch its head. "Is that…"

"A dragon? Sure is!"

"It's so-"

"-little? Yeah he's just a tiny one. You should see some of the others though! Anyway, you've come so far out of your way to get here, I gotta reimburse you for all that travel and time spent."

Snotlout blinked when he held the yellow Terror out towards them, and the small dragon licked it's eyeball with a darting tongue, completely indifferent. "I don't understand," was all he said as the man waited expectedly for a reaction.

"Don't you have any idea how much a live dragon is worth around here? Take this lil fella into the town and trade it, and I'll let you keep the gold! It'll be thousands, should be more than enough to cover the trip and a piece of land on Berk."

Snotlout could not believe what he was hearing. That could not be right. "Wait, you want us to sell this dragon?"

The man seemed to think on this and shrugged. "Well, that's what I was thinking. Or you can kill it first, and then make the materials last. You know, sell a tail here, maybe a wing somewhere else… I hear eyeballs are going for a pretty high rate right now."

Adelaide did not say anything, but she put her hands up and started backing away. She wanted no part in it. Anger flared within Snotlout. "You are from Berk, and want to sell a dragon? They wouldn't let that happen!"

The man continued smiling as if nothing was horribly wrong. "What? You're willing to forego stacks of coins over one little dragon's life?"

"YES. Give it here, now."

"Mmm, that's going to be a big NO from me then," the man said haughtily and held the dragon close. Snotlout put his hand on the hilt of his greatsword, ready to take the Terror by force.

Adelaide was suddenly turning on her heel walking out, wanting no part in it, and her voice was shaking. "I can't do that."

Snotlout cast the man one hard look, hatred boiling behind his eyes. He was determined to leave with the Terrible Terror, but at that moment Adelaide was rushing to get out of the boat and muttering to herself, and he went to follow and calm her. It was then the man called out behind him.

"Wait! Wait, I wasn't being serious! You pass! You pass the test, friends!"

This person was clearly insane. Snotlout whirled around, ready to get that poor dragon away from this deranged human being, and he paused at the sight before him. The dragon was now cradled in the nook of the man's arm, belly up and cooing at the tickles it was receiving. "Yeah, poor wittle Lambchops did so good, didn't he? You know I wouldn't sell your wittle eyeballs, yeah, you're just the world to daddy…"

He was baby talking it, and the Terror was loving every minute, kicking its little legs and wagging its tail. The man even gave the tiny dragon kisses on the nose, and it climbed up to sit on his shoulders. Snotlout was just staring at this point, mouth agape and the man grinned. "See? Me and Lambchops are best friends! I wasn't really going to let you take him. And Lambchops wouldn't let you either, he's tiny, but those teeth hurt."

Adelaide witnessed this turn of events as well and the person held out his arm to them, which Lambchops immediately clambered down with curious chirps. "Go on, give him a pet! He won't bite. Well, unless you try to take some fish away from him during a feeding frenzy…"

Snotlout raised his own hand, which the Terror gave a sniff and rubbed it's cheek against just as a house cat would. The small dragon turned to Adelaide expectantly, and she slowly approached. She was hesitant to reach out, but when she did, Lambchops sniffed her fingertips and seemed to approve, because he licked her palm before rushing back to lay on the shoulders of the man. "Sorry about that," he said sheepishly. "I just have to weed out the people who are trying to get to Berk for all of the wrong reasons. And you did great! No one has before! But there haven't been many to attempt it, to be fair…"

Adelaide breathed a sigh of relief, and Snotlout saw her stagger. Both he and the person before them started, and he reached out and grabbed her by the arm before she fell, and she turned her face away to hide her embarrassment. "I'm sorry. It's just… we haven't eaten in days…"

"Why didn't you say so! I have more than enough for everyone!"

Sitting on the deck of the ship, the man gave them breakfast.

Lambchops did not join them, hiding below deck so no one could see him. Loaves of bread were laid out along with fresh fruit and salted meat, and he even poured mead for them. Snotlout could not each much, his stomach unable to hold much after starving for so long, but even the few bites he was able to take helped immensely.

"The name is Rodric," the man said as he officially introduced himself. "Didn't mean to scare you back there. But you gave me a bit of a fright too… you're not exactly someone I would want to tangle with, big guy!"

"Sorry about that," Snotlout murmured in between experimental bites of bread.

"No worries, it's a good thing!" Rodric laughed and waved his hand dismissively, "Berk really loves their dragons and I just have to make sure you'll fit in. So, what are your names?"

"Adelaide."

"Ralof," Snotlout said as he usually did and felt Adelaide's quick glance at his name choice. It was not so much he was hiding his identity from this person - the word just came out from habit.

"Well, Ralof and Adelaide," Rodric said as he shook their hands enthusiastically. "You're very fortunate! We were going to stop making the trips to the mainland after no luck for so long. This would probably have been one of my last voyages this way for some time."

"How long does it take to get there?" Adelaide asked.

"Depends on the weather, but about a month," Rodric answered. "And we will be leaving around evening. I try not to stay too long around the Mainland, it's not the most friendly place, especially with Lambchops being with me."

"But you're not a Viking," Snotlout said. "You don't live here?"

"Nope, I was born a Mainlander but you won't find me over here much anymore. They took me in over at Berk. And I gotta say, life has been pretty great since. You both will love it!"

They prepared to leave. Rodric made a few trades with townspeople and other boats that pulled into the harbor and that was when Snotlout understood - he was using the guise of a traveling merchant to not raise any questions amongst the villagers. Snotlout had an endless amount of questions but found himself keeping quiet, simply listening to Rodric ask Adelaide of their journey and her replies. It was as if he was in a daze, watching everything as an outsider - he was really going home.

Finally, as the sun began to descend in the sky, Rodric told them it was time. Snotlout went to Juniper who had been waiting patiently and attempted to lead her on to the boat. The chestnut mare snorted and resisted, but finally gave in after several difficult minutes, appearing quite discontent as she stood on a water vessel for the first time.

The ship left under a setting sun, Rodric operating as an entire crew - jumping this way and that, cheerfully refusing any help. Snotlout and Adelaide watched as the docks disappeared from sight, and the inlet began to open. The initial brackish-smelling water turned deep and blue, and by the time the moon came up they were hitting waves. He breathed in deep, and the smell of ocean air brought memories of Berk and the cold sea of the Archipelago to him. The sails opened up, and upon catching the strong ocean wind, the boat lurched forward as they picked up speed.

He heard a whistle and turned to see Lambchops the Terrible Terror dart from below deck to perch on Rodric's shoulder. "I'll sail through the night to get us out of these waters," the mariner called out to them over the crash of waves, "And then we'll get on a normal schedule. The slave traders in these parts keep their ships anchored at night, so I just want to get a distance away first."

Snotlout certainly appreciated his logic, and he turned to see that Adelaide was at the bow of the ship. By this time Juniper had surprisingly calmed down as she slowly became accustomed to the rocking boat, and he let go of the reins to join Adelaide. She was looking into the horizon where all one could see was unending ocean reflecting the light of the waxing moon. "Hey, do you want to try and eat something again?"

Though he did not show it, it had made him very nervous when she swooned from hunger earlier, and the two of them weren't able to eat much after - starving had their stomachs all sorts of messed up. She did not look away from the water. "I think I'm fine for right now."

They stood like this for several moments, feeling the spray of waves sprinkle against their faces. "This is actually my first time on a boat," Adelaide said after some time with a sort of laugh of disbelief, and Snotlout wasn't sure if she was talking to him or herself. "I can't believe it's actually happening. For a moment there, back at the town, I really thought that…"

And her words trailed off, but Snotlout knew. "Thought it was all for nothing?"

"Right," she answered, and then turned to him. "I don't think I've ever actually told you. If you weren't here with me, I don't think I could have made it on my own. Thanks, Snotlout. It really means a lot to me."

He was not prepared to hear that. Just like him, Adelaide did not tend to express her emotions much, and he was not expecting to see such vulnerability in her eyes… and it was for him? He could not recall any other time a person spoke to him and looked at him in such a way, and it was oddly unsettling. He just nodded. "It's nothing…"

And with that, the softness in her eyes disappeared, but she laughed as she stepped away. "That's what you always say."

The voyage to the Archipelago was a long one.

Just as Rodric had explained, they only travelled through the night during their departure, and once they were out of the most dangerous waters returned to the normal schedule of travelling during daylight hours. Rodric was clearly a seasoned mariner, for he could operate the boat completely on his own despite its size and he was permanently at the wheel, often whimsically singing or whistling to himself. Adelaide was almost always at his side during the day, asking him all sorts of questions about Berk and petting Lambchops - she was fascinated with the little yellow dragon. This humored Snotlout, because he knew that it was just going to make her reaction even better when she saw her first Monstrous Nightmare or Hideous Zippleback. Juniper at this point was not even fazed by being on the water and would just idly chew on her oats, seemingly content in taking a break from travelling.

It was at the end of their first week at sea, when Snotlout was absent-mindedly looking out into the waves one night, he noticed a disturbance. There was a sound on the ocean, like the slap of a fish, and he saw something long and slithery dip below the waves. The Viking straightened, unsure if he saw correctly, and focused his eyes on the swelling water. Something tremendously large was just at their port, and a discoloration beneath the waves dipped beneath the boat, something similar to a serpentine tail following it. He said nothing initially, only looking to see if the others saw. Adelaide was sitting near the bow playing quietly with Lambchops, and Rodric was at the wheel. Snotlout went to where Rodric was happily whistling to himself - it was as if the man was always chipper - and said in a low voice, "We're not alone."

"We're not?" Rodric asked the question as if there was no danger.

Snotlout was well aware at this point that the Mainlander was quite the carefree person, but his lack of concern did not amuse him at the moment. "There's something big out there in the water."

"Ah! You probably saw Driftstooth. Or, maybe Tempest, but she's being pretty naughty if she's not far back watching our tail..."

The casual tone in his voice did not help alleviate his wariness. "Excuse me?"

"Oh yeah," Rodric replied in between another whistle he started, "I wasn't going to come out here by myself! It's dangerous, and Lambchops - bless his soul - is a sweetheart but can't do too much if things get especially hairy. What, is it your first time on a ship as well? There are slave traders in these parts, you gotta protect yourself."

"Well, no…" he began, "but who exactly is Tempest and Driftstooth?"

"Our Scauldron friends! Don't you see how we're moving so fast?" Rodric exclaimed with a grin, "They take turns - old Driftstooth has us on a line right now! And Tempest is behind making sure that we make it to Berk safe and sound."

"You've… you have trained Scauldrons?" Snotlout stammered. The last he recalled, there were a handful of species that simply could not be trained. Scauldrons were amongst them - territorial, moody dragons that did not take too well to human interaction.

Rodric raised his eyebrows at him, still grinning. "Well! Isn't that a surprise? You know your dragons!"

It was considerably different to Snotlout, who had been on the road and constantly moving, to suddenly have nothing to do except pass the time while on the ocean. But he had plenty on his mind to keep him occupied, both dreading and excitedly anticipating of what his arrival on Berk would mean. As the ship travelled across the ocean quicker than the wind could carry them, pulled by an unseen water dragon below, the knot in his stomach steadily grew and grew. Despite being on the verge of starvation just a few moons ago, he found himself with no appetite, and Adelaide commented one day on how he still wasn't gaining any weight back with concern.

On a different note from Snotlout, Adelaide seemed to be growing more relaxed as they made their way towards the Cold Sea. It was a bit of a surprise for Snotlout, who had always seen her as so hard and tense. She and Lambchops had become the bestest of friends, and Rodric pouted quite a bit when the little dragon took to spending his days getting belly rubs from the Healer rather than join his human at the ships wheel.

He and Adelaide, for seemingly the first time, had time to talk of things other than their survival or how to go about their journey, and Snotlout did not have any idea of what to say to her. Little remarks about the weather, or comments of arriving at Berk was all that passed between the two at first. And at night, when Rodric would go below to catch some sleep, he and Adelaide often found themselves above deck, their old habits of taking watches during the night disturbing a normal sleep schedule. They usually would spend these moments together in silence - Snotlout's mind occupied with Berk, and Adelaide looking peacefully into the water or the night sky.

It was one night he found Adelaide lying upon the deck with her satchel behind her head to serve as a pillow, looking up at the stars, when Snotlout finally asked what he had been wondering for months. "What are you doing when you do that?"

She did not avert her eyes from the sky but idly gestured to the space beside her. "Care to join me and I can tell you?"

He faltered as if to consider, and then found himself settling in beside her. It was a bit awkward in his suit of armor, and he had to wiggle his shoulders until his frame settled comfortably - Adelaide would no longer tease him about wearing it all of the time after their City encounter with the guardsmen - and he made sure to leave enough room for any accidental touches. He looked up into the deep black night above them as well, splashed with the stars and clouds of the cosmos.

"Do you know any of your constellations?" she asked.

"They'll be different from yours," Snotlout said softly, eyes catching the familiar characters and shapes of the sky, the ones his mother would point out to him when he was just a boy. The sensation of being very small came to him.

"That doesn't matter," Adelaide said.

"So… what are you doing?"

"Reading. Watching how the stars move and when they move, where they are in the sky, and when things below happen… they all tell a story. Stories of the past, and what the future may hold."

Snotlout did not answer for a moment, waiting for her to elaborate, but she did not continue. "You are… telling the future? From the stars?"

"Sometimes," she answered. "If they wish for you to know. I suppose it can be little glimpses of that… but they help me understand the world about me as well. In example, I suppose you were born in the Spring?"

He raised his head to look at her, surprised. "How'd you know?"

"It's all very relative," she said as if completely unfazed by his reaction, "How our world reflects the one up there. It's all connected, one just needs to know how to look."

"But," Snotlout started, "You said that all the talk of Healers being witches was just superstition..."

"Really, Snotlout," Adelaide said with a sound of slight exasperation, "I thought you would know better than that."

The Viking immediately mentally checked himself, realizing that she was right. He thought to Gothi and her chicken bones and little stones with runes carved into them - was it any different from his own Shaman's method of divination? "Sorry. I wasn't thinking, just curious."

"It's not your fault. It isn't exactly something you go sharing. Unless you want to be hanged for witchcraft."

Something about that statement flattered Snotlout… that she trusted him enough to share this information with him without being afraid. It was then the Viking realized that despite all of their time spent together over several months in constant company, he barely knew a thing of this woman and where she came from. "Who taught you?"

"There was an old woman healer close to the village I grew up. I took a liking to her when I was just a girl and her to me," she said, "I was always bothering her growing up - asking questions about why everyone was so afraid of her and all, always sneaking away to talk to her. And she said she saw something special in me, and she would pass the knowledge of the Healer to me - just as someone did for her. She would show me how to read the stars and heal broken bodies when no one was looking or whenever I could slip away."

"So your family didn't know?"

Her tone suddenly darkened, but she did not sound confrontational at her next words. "I don't want to talk about them."

"That's alright," he said, still looking up at the sky. With the things that Adelaide shared, it seemed even more deep and mystifying. "You've never really explained why you want to go to Berk so badly."

She thought on it for a moment. "Because I am tired of being afraid."

"You don't seem that afraid," he said.

And he was met with laughter - the sort that was bitter, as if there was some joke he did not understand. "Well, I suppose that might be a part of why I survived so long on my own."

It was just another cryptic remark which he seemed to not understand. "I want to go to Berk so I don't have to fear every waking moment in my life, always looking out just so I can survive," she said. "I've been looking hard and reading the signs about me, and I think that Berk may finally be the place that I can call home. Where I will be more than some… some witch that can't be trusted. I've been treated the best on this ship with you, Rodric, and Lambchops than I have in my entire life. I would much rather take my chances with killer dragons than the folk I should call my own people."

"They're not killers," Snotlout said quietly.

She turned her head to look at him. "The dragons?"

"They're not killers," he repeated, "They're just… misunderstood. Well. Many of them. You don't have any reason to be afraid."

She sat up before him, drawing her knees to her chest and looking at him hard. Snotlout realized what he had said and waited with a grimace. "And you," she said. "What of you? Someone who spent the first two months of our time together pretending to be something or someone else. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with me?"

He also sat up and avoided her gaze. Though her words sounded quite calm, it was as if he prepared himself to be yelled it. "What do you want to know."

"You try to hide what you really are," she said, "You're a Viking, you've said that much. You were taken away from your people and became a slave. As horrible as that is, there is more that you are not saying. And don't take me for a fool. I know there is something you are not saying, something important to me. And if you ever choose to share it, now would be your chance."

Snotlout found himself caught off guard. Unless performing the role of a Healer and working, the woman before him had always been so quiet and introspective. It was refreshing somehow, listening to her demand the truth, and he grew a newfound respect for her. "You won't like it," Snotlout said.

"Try me."

"I've been to Berk before."

She did not break her gaze, and once again, he was slightly unsettled by the intensity of her pale green eyes. "I am from Berk. I- I was afraid to tell you."

"Why."

"You saw in the City - people were after me. I'm a wanted man, but on top of that, if anyone knew where I came from... it turns out that I'm expensive."

"We've spent weeks alone since I knew you were a Viking, Snotlout," she said. "You could have said something in that time. If I had known you were from the place that we were looking for this entire time… that changes everything."

"I'm sorry."

He said it defeatedly. The night was dark about them and sound of the lapping waves on the boat was rhythmic and soothing, and it was as if he and Adelaide were the only two people left in Midgard in that moment. "I appreciate that," she said, "but sorry doesn't change it. Just tell me now, tell me everything."

So he did.

He told her that he was born a Berkian, and shared the story of the Red Death and Hiccup's training of Toothless and the dragons. She learned that Hookfang the Monstrous Nightmare was his proud dragon and best friend, and how they flew through the trials of the Outcasts and Viggo Grimborn and Drago Bludvist. Then it all came to a crashing halt the day he was taken, and how he came to the Mainland as a slave. Though he spared the worst details of what happened to him, she learned of the trials of slavery and the monster that was Master Carlisle, and Vilega helping him in the mines, all leading to his escape. And though his stomach fluttered as the words left his mouth, it was as if a fraction of some unseen weight left his shoulders. Adelaide sat still as she listened to his words, her gaze seemingly transfixed on the boards of the deck. She did not seem angry, just thoughtful.

"And then," Snotlout finished softly, "You came into the tavern that one night. And everything changed."

Adelaide did not speak for several moments. He did not dare to meet her eye, and he realized his face was flushed from embarrassment. She stood and motioned for him to do the same. "Let me see it."

"What?"

"The emblem," Adelaide said firmly. "The brand they gave you."

He cautiously stood. He might have protested if it weren't for her dead-serious expression, and she had a hand to her mouth in thought and her eyes were dark and angry - but not towards him.

Snotlout numbly found his hands working. He had spent a decade hiding the very thing beneath, yet he found himself shedding his armor. All that was left was the mail. His hand was wavering just above the scar, as if he could not lift the material. And yet his fumbling fingers worked, though his head was protesting to hide the mark as he had for a decade: No one can see it, you'll be caught - you're a piece of property. He had spent the past ten years managing to look at the very thing as little as possible, for every time he did, he was reminded of the events of that cruel night. And yet here he was, pulling his mail up. He had lied to Adelaide for so long, it was the least that could do.

He exposed the white brand, skin crawling - the misshapen hand and dagger emblazoned into his skin. Adelaide looked hard on the mark, her brows furrowed, and her hand still covered her mouth and chin as if she thought hard. Fortunately, she did not try to touch it as she did with his leg wound weeks ago and she turned her gaze away, seemingly coming to some sort of decision.

"I can take it off."

Something - like a flutter of wings - danced in his stomach. "What?"

"I can take the mark off," Adelade said, "It will be painful. You'll be scarred. But you won't have the brand."

"You - you can do that?"

"Yes," she said, and her voice was low and contemplative. "But we need to wait until landfall, when I have the resources I need."

His hand dropped and the mail fell clinked down to cover his skin once more. Snotlout did not know what to say. So she spoke for him, "Thank God that place is behind us."

The day arrived.

"Land ahoy!" Rodric shouted, but Snotlout was already at the bow of the ship, his heart leaping into his throat at the sight before him.

Massive rock pillars towered in the water surrounding the Isle of Berk, carved into snarling stone Vikings with massive, burning pyres in the mouths. Waves crashed violently into their base to indicate the treacherous waters leading to the island. They were a sight impressive enough, totems that had intimidated enemies away in long time past… but the dragons. Adelaide joined him at his side, and he heard her whisper in awe, "Are those…"

There could have been more than a hundred of them. Their beating wings filled the sky, and they soared overhead and in the distance, perching on rooftops and lounging on sea stacks. Snotlout felt himself gripping the side of the boat intensely and the Healer beside him had paled - though her stomach rose into her throat from fear of the dragons, his did so in a blend of elation and dread. There was a screech overhead, and he lifted his eyes to see a flock of Nadders approaching. Adelaide yelped and immediately ducked, and Snotlout laughed. "They're not going to hurt you!"

He was glad that she was distracted, for if she were to look at him, she would find that despite the smile on his face at seeing the dragons, there were tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He had missed Berk so much. The Nadders soared towards their ship to investigate with their keen and intelligent eyes, and he was reminded of the flock appearing above the shipyard he toiled in years ago, and he found himself lifting a hand. A giant beaked muzzle grazed his fingertips in passing, the Nadder soaring away on the ocean wind. Juniper shrieked and whinnied at the sight of the dragons, and Snotlout took the opportunity to wipe the tears in his eyes as he calmed and pat the horse, thinking to himself, get it together, you've really got to get it together.

But as they approached, the shapes of buildings became distinguishable, and his chest just became tighter as he saw the old village. The Great Hall still sat at the highest point of the village, and he could see the chained dome of the training grounds on it's ledge overlooking the sea. He recognized the distinct shape of the Haddock house set on the hillside and the familiar plume of smoke coming from the town's forge. There were more buildings and homes added in the last decade from what he could see in the plaza, and tall curious structures for dragons to perch on, but he saw that things were not that different at all from when he left it. His eyes searched for the familiar rooftop of the Jorgenson home where Hookfang would sit and sun himself, and at that thought, he swallowed and tightened his grip on the reins.

There was a sound, something similar to a bird call, and they both turned their heads to Rodric cupping his mouth with his hands and whistling into them. Initially, the reason for this call was unclear, but then the water beside the ship churned as two draconic heads emerged. It was the two Scauldrons that Rodric had mentioned to Snotlout so casually, the larger male named Driftstooth a deep purple and the smaller female, Tempest, sapphire blue. They kept pace with the ship as they drew closer to the island. Adelaide appeared to be on the verge of fainting. "Tempest, Driftstooth!" Rodric called and Lambchops the Terrible Terror chirped a greeting at the two sea dragons as well, "Thanks for the ride! You guys be safe out there!"

And they chuffed what sounded like their own goodbye before slipping beneath the waves.

They approached the docks, the same ones Snotlout and Hiccup would play on as children, long before his bullying began. That was in a different lifetime, and he was a different person now, and he tried hard to tell himself just as he had prepared himself months ago: this isn't your home anymore. You're just going to see your parents, and then you'll get out before anyone notices you.

Their boat drew closer and closer and he could make out the people working, and Snotlout had a sudden realization. As usual, he was wearing his full suit of armor… and that alone was going to draw everyone's attention. While most of Berk adorned themselves in leather or studded hide, they wore only the smallest amount of iron. And here he was, clad head to toe in steel with a massive weapon upon his back. There was no way he would go unnoticed. He looked over to Adelaide, who was still trembling from witnessing the dragons. She, in her long dress and non-plaited hair that flowed behind her back, was going to look like an exotic witch to the Vikings, quite unlike the battle-ready women of Berk… all eyes would be on them when they arrived. Snotlout cursed to himself and heard Rodric shouting to men on the docks who began to tie in their ship. It was too late.

Juniper was sweating beside him, rolling eyes taking in all of the dragons in the sky about them, and the Viking realized that it might have been a poor choice to bring her along. "Sorry, girl," he said as he ran a hand over her mane, "We won't be staying long."

Adelaide was gathering her small amount of things, and Rodric stepped off the boat. "Well, good luck you two, I have to meet my friend now! Looks like Gobber has spied us coming in. He'll get you up to speed on everything around here. Say bye-bye, Lambchops!"

Snotlout grimaced. Gobber.

His eyes flicked to the dock, and even after ten years could immediately pick him out from the crowd with his unique gait. The older man's back was just a little more bent and he could see the man's braided moustache had more gray than blonde hairs, but there was not much else to indicate how the passing decade had treated him.

"Ay, Cheers!" Gobber hollered to the two approaching guests of Berk, raising his left arm. Currently attached to it was a hook. "Welcome to Berk!"

Snotlout and Adelaide began to step off of the boat. Juniper was clearly spooked, she would rear onto her back legs and desperately resist the pull of the reins, drawing attention with all of her whinnying and kicking. The steel-clad sellsword was just as nervous but kept his gaze straight as he calmed the animal.

Gobber... Snotlout had known Gobber since birth. He was Stoick the Vast's best friend and advisor, and Snotlout's mentor in the dragon slaying arena. Though he would never admit to it at the time, the older man seemed so big and intimidating in his youth, but now the younger Viking was just as tall - another reminder of how things have changed. Snotlout outwardly hid the fact that it was as if his heart was being hammered on, avoiding eye contact and coaxing Juniper on to the dock. With a defiant snort, she finally made the small jump and paced uneasily. Dragons continually flitted by overhead.

"Good of you to come, lass," Gobber cheerfully said to Adelaide. He was so close now. "The name is Gobber! Pleased to meet you, of course."

Snotlout still cast his eyes away and tended to calming the horse as Adelaide stepped forward and the two spoke. "Thank you. Rodric has been telling me all about Berk, but… the dragons, I never could have imagined... "

"Oh, it's all perspective!" Gobber laughed. He normally would've clapped a shoulder in jest, but Adelaide probably would have broken if he tried with her petite frame - she was quite small compared to the Vikings around her. "Now, I'll give you two a bit of the old tour and then I'll get you squared away with Gothi-"

Snotlout had looked up and the two locked eyes.

Gobber's words trailed off and his jaw dropped. "Spitelout?"

He stepped forward, completely forgetting the Healer. Snotlout stood as still as a Sentinel of Vanaheim as the steward gaped. "Spite… no… Snotlout?"

Snotlout dropped the reins and turned towards his old mentor. "Gobber."

Gobber looked as if he had seen a ghost - his face whitened and his eyes were wide. His mouth searched for words unsuccessfully, and then he formed, "Snotlout? Snotlout Jorgenson?"

Snotlout simply stood in place as Gobber blanched with realization. "Odin's beard!"

Gobber suddenly crossed the gap between them with a loud, elated laugh. He immediately bear hugged Snotlout, crushing him, who awkwardly stiffened and his arms hung uselessly at his side. It took all of his willpower not to shove Gobber away. "Snotlout, you're alive! Oh my Thor, my lad! But I can't call you lad, look at you! Spitting image of your father! You really grew up, boy!"

Snotlout had no words, but he did not even get the chance to speak. Gobber now stood with his hand and hook clutching his shoulders hard. "We looked so long for you! We all thought you were dead! By Thor, I- I- Hiccup needs to know this!"

"Gobber, no," Snotlout tried to say. People on the dock were beginning to look over in interest, and Adelaide stood to the side silently and forgotten, taking over tending to Juniper - he suddenly realized he felt bad for her. This was supposed to be her moment.

"By the Gods, Snotlout! Where have you been? We thought you were dead!" And then he gestured towards his armor, "And by Thor, you look like… the sword, and - what is this? You need to come see Hiccup, right now!"

Snotlout raised his hands as if to slow Gobber down, and he was surprised by the evenness of his own voice despite the fluttering in his chest. "I'm just here to see my family. Then I will be out of Berk's way."

As he went to move away, a firm hand grasped his wrist and he instinctively jerked from Gobber's touch. "Lad, things have changed. You've been gone for so long, you need to know-"

Snotlout cast a glance towards the man, and held the look. Gobber looked… pained. He became aware of the wrinkles that had gathered at the steward's brow and eye creases with time. "We really thought that you had died, lad. We ignited a pyre. What happened to you?"

What happened to you? Snotlout's thoughts raced. What happened was that no one came for me. He jerked his arm, pulling away from Gobber and a pang of guilt hit him at the shock on the older man's face. He went to open his mouth and the only word he was able to form was a stony and emotionless "No". Then he simply turned away and ran.

Snotlout jogged through the plaza of the Berk, determined to not meet the inquisitive eyes that followed him. There was the forge to his left, so there should have been the well to right - but no, it was destroyed long ago when Drago attacked, he had forgotten that - and there were people everywhere… and he knew many of them, he recognized their faces, but they were older and more weathered, and it all made him dizzier and dizzier.

But some things just couldn't be changed, and through the onslaught of intrusive new buildings that pierced his childhood memories, his feet found their way. Almost as if a decade had not passed, Snotlout trotted to the door of the Jorgenson house and clutched the familiar wooden handle. His Mother and Father would be on the other side, and he didn't even steel himself, just ready to swing the door open and call out… but the door was locked. He jostled the handle roughly, rattling the hinges and even heard a few cries of grievance behind him, as if he was some sort of intruder, but the door would not budge.

He did not falter at this obstacle, immediately moving to the back of the house, his hands running over the planks of wood over the wall. Five, six, seven, and it was the eighth plank where he stopped and bent down. Lifting near the ground, the plank gave away just enough for him to reach under and pull a spare key from the space beneath - its location only known to his family. Snotlout was well aware of the eyes on him as he went to the door and just like he did hundreds upon hundreds of times in his youth, unlocked it and on the first step inside of the house called out, "Mom! Dad!"

It was dark, and it took time for his eyes to adjust.

Where a warm fire usually burned in the hearth, there was only soft ash, and he looked on the center table to see there were two mugs sitting as if a pair had just finished a drink. Though the sun was shining outside, it seemed incredibly filtered and dismal through the unusually grimy windows. He tried again, stepping forward into the chilly house, his voice soft. "Ma?"

It was when he lifted his hand from the table and saw the handprint left behind he noticed the dust. It was everywhere, and he looked at his palm to see it coated from where he had touched the table's dirty surface. Unsettled, he wandered throughout the house and up the stairs slowly, searching. He went to their darkened room and saw an unmade bed, and stood in the doorway of his old room. His throat tightened - it was exactly as it was the day he left it. Snotlout's eyes caught sight of a tankard settled on the floor near his window, and had a flitting memory of his last day spent on Berk and in his own home.

He returned downstairs and found himself standing in the center of the room, trying to make sense of what was happening. Where were his parents? They must have moved huts - it was the only explanation. Snotlout opened the door and squinted against the bright sun, raising his hand above his face to shield it's rays. Where was he supposed to start lookin, then?

Suddenly, something grabbed at his raised arm and he found himself lifted into the sky. He shouted in alarm and looked up to see a meaty talon gripping him. "Gobber! Let me go!"

Grump the dragon, despite having the demeanor of a lazy and well-fed cat, had a vice-like grip on his arm, and Gobber sat atop the Hotburple's back. "Sorry, Snotlout, I can't do that."

Snotlout's stomach lurched as he became airborne, the ground below growing farther and farther away. "Put me down now!"

Gobber steered his dragon towards the Great Hall. "I'm sorry, lad. But you've got to calm down, Hiccup needs to know about this!"

No.

Grump, his wings beating like the flaps of a big beetle, nudged the large doors of the hall open with his snout until the three of them hovered inside. The dragon, though looking down at him affectionately with a big tongue hanging from it's jaws, responded to Gobbers's instructions a bit too enthusiastically: "Grump, down! Let go, ya big oaf!"

Snotlout found himself tossed to the floor of the Great Hall, Grump flapping just behind him. He could hear Gobber shouting for everyone to clear out, and when he scrambled to his feet, he found the door banging shut with the last of villagers leaving. Gooseflesh travelled over his arms as he took a look about him at the Great Hall: burning torches lined the walls of the open room and cast light on its rows of tables, and the tapestries hanging from the wall depicted scenes of battle and past chiefs. For a small sliver of a moment, it could have been as though he was back in time as a Dragon Rider once more, when it was just any other day on Berk with Hookfang and his friends….

But the moment was fleeting and Snotlout found himself snapping back to reality, where he whirled around towards the exit. Grump's mass conveniently blocked his path, the hefty dragon seeming quite content with sprawling out on the floor just before him - it would only take a command from Gobber to make Snotlout airborne once more. He was trapped. Snotlout found his hand instinctively reaching back to Wolfsbane as he had so many times before when he was in an uncertain situation. His fingers grazed the hilt of the sword before he realized what he was doing and dropped the arm, yet his body was on edge, ready to bolt or fight. "I sent for Hiccup, lad," Gobber said and his tone was unusually cautious. "I don't understand why you don't want to stay, but the Chief needs to know about this. No exceptions."

There was no response.

Gobber looked upon him in concern."I can't let you go anywhere. Why don't you take a seat, Snotlout?"

The steward was apprehensive of the person before him possibly striking out, the way his body was taut, just how a Slitherwing coils before attacking. There was a pause as if Snotlout considered the words, before stalking to one of the long tables, shifting his eyes across his surroundings, his movements stiff and unnatural.

Gobber looked upon the sight before him. Snotlout Jorgenson, or what appeared to be him, sat not far away on the edge of a bench. But what he saw was unnerving: though he shared the same face as the young Viking from ten years ago, this man only seemed to be a physical imitation of that person. The cocky blue eyes he had looked into countless times before were now hollow and cold, fixated upon one spot on the table before him. He sat far too still and rigid, as if waiting for some impending blow, jaw set and hands clenched. And even though the young Snotlout that Gobber knew had always been bulky and deft with a sword, this imposter was a bit bigger with age and looked as if he could (and possibly want to) rip a person's arm off. The hilt of the greatsword on his back was worn from much apparent use. Gobber had a curious thought of whether it would be safe for Hiccup to come.

"What's happened to you?"

It was then the doors of the Great Hall creaked opened. Gobber turned to face the sound and bright sun rays filtered into the hall. Snotlout's shoulders jerked just an imperceptible amount and he steeled himself. Without turning, he lifted his eyes to see a familiar slim figure step inside, followed by his shadow of a Night Fury.

A/N. Hello, friends! For a minute there I thought that I wouldn't have an update for the month of January. But here she is, and definitely one of the more pivotal chapter of the series. Thanks again for people who are sticking with my story so far. So, just to give you guys the heads up, this is one of a few chapters that conclude Part I. So, just to give you an idea of what I have in mind for the fic, that means one out of the three parts is now (almost) complete, running at 106 pages according to my Google docs. It's gonna be a big one, for sure, by the end of it so I hope you all can stick with me through this! You also may see the format of the story significantly changes as Part II comes around... more character POVs and whatnot. As always, I love some feedback and constructive criticism so throw me a review if you have the time. Cheers! - Rummybones