Chapter 8

After the incident, the Chief Learned what happens and was furious at Gobber for trying to kill them.

"You idiot," he said throwing a mug at Gobbers head

"Sir ey was at Stoick's statue," Gobber said in trying to get over the fact that he had a mug thrown at him.

"So you tried to kill him. What is wrong with you! Do you know what you have just done"

"He wanted me to kill him Spitelout"

"And if you had then the others would have burned us to the ground. At least now we may be able to ask for forgiveness." Spitelout said pacing around the hall

"Sir when the dragon riders came and rescued there leader the left behind the one they call Heather." Said one of his advisers.

Then we will go to her and ask her for forgiveness." Spitelout ordered marching out of the great hall.

Heather, Astrid, and Largeatha still remained in the house while all this happened. Now that they had spent more time together they had realized that they all like each other a lot, though Astrid still was a bit nervous of the Dragos champion When Largeatha asked Heather to braid her hair Astrid asked if she could trie.

"And...done. How is it?" Astrid said twisting the last braid

" wow its so good! where did you learn to do this kind of braid" Largeatha asked feeling it.

"On Berk, girls braid their hair in all sorts of very good at it.

"Mom how does it look," she said showing it to Heather

It looks really nice" Heather said writing some stuff on some papers only giving it a glance.

Largeatha saw that she didn't pay attention, she knew how to get it though.

"Thank you so much, Astrid, I'm going to get so many souters with this"

As she heard this Heather accidentally broke the point of her pencil. She turned around to see Largeatha giggling and she realized that she had been messed with.

"Come here you little," Heather said getting up and grabbing Largeatha bringing her close and sitting down with her

"How old were you when you were aloud to look for a boyfriend," Largeatha said with her mom's arms wrapped around her. as she said this it made heather think. Heather was a slave girl. She was not really sure when you would be allowed to date other men. For most of her life, she had no rights at all. Thankfully Astrid came to her aid.

"Most girls here start dating when there 13, that's when I did," Astrid said looking at the girl sitting on the ground with her mother's arms wrapped around her

"I don't think you're ready for it just yet Largeatha," Heather said resting her head on her daughter's shoulder

Suddenly a loud knocking was heard from outside and quickly Heather grabbed her ax and Largeatha grabbed her weapons.

"Largeatha stay back," Heather said as Heather moved to see who was nocking.

Largeatha put on her mask and armor and Astrid went with Heather to see who was nocking.

When they opened the door they found a group of Vikings standing in front of them. They had weapons and armor on.

"Generals our Chief needs to have a word with you two," said one of the Vikings in the front.

"Ok give us a minute to collect our things"

As Heather shut the door Heather walked to Largeatha

And spoke in a different language

"Something has happened, I don't know what but you need to get out off here"

"What do you mean," Largeatha said in a concerned voice

"Those men out there where armed and will escort us out of here. I will distract them while you go and escape."

Largetha turned before looking at her mom definitely"I'm not leaving you"

"No your not, you're completing your mission. Escape and get help. Do you think you can do this?" Heather said with Largeatha looking up at her

"I… I can do it." She said with a tear coming down her face

Get to you dragons and go I will hold them off. Go and look for the Wingmaidens. They should be near here. Go now out the back."

As Largeatha walked into the backroom, Heather came to Astrid.

"So what do you think your Chief wants?" Heather said putting on her armor

"I don't know" probably wants to talk about that army you invited here

Heather began putting on some of her gear and packed some of her weapons but new she didn't stand a chance again all those soldiers out there, all she could do was try to distract them long enough for her daughter to escape"Well let's hope that's all"

As they walked out of the house the men started to escort them to the great hall. When they were walking the men were surrounding them which Heather noticed. She also notices that one of the escorts had whispered into Astrid's ear conveniently once they were in a busier area and it was harder to hear.

"Is there a reason you guys are armed?" Heather said to one of the leaders

"There has been an incident." Chief needs to see you.

"I see" as Heather said this she took her ax and grabbed Astrid, holding the blade to her neck

"Heather what the hell are you doing!" Astrid yelled

"Nothing personal Astrid but I have a feeling you're walking me into a trap"

"What the hell are you talking about," she said as Heather pulled her back trying to act as though she knew nothing about where she was leading heather. All of the men who were escorting her had their weapons out and somewhere sounding the alarm.

"You people really need to work on not giving away your ambushes"

"Heather, you can't escape thinking about what you're doing," Astrid said trying to negotiate with her

"Ya, I know." She then looked at the leader of the escort " what was the incident that happened?"

The man paused before speaking. " Ragnar was attacked"

"Is that so, well then I guess my instincts were right." heathers tone was cocky but inside she was more nervous then she had been in a while and feard for Hiccup

"More and more men and women showed up and Heather was outnumbered severely.

She kept looking up to the sky to check and see if Largeatha had made it. Eventually, she heard earthquakes call and she new Largeatha had escaped.

Heather looked at all of the Vikings who were about to attack her and she new Largeatha was safe. There was no point in fighting.

Heather dropped her ax and Astrid grabbed Heather's arm forcing Heather to the ground.

As they tied a rope around her arms she instructed the men to take her to the Chief while she went back to the house to look for the girl.

As she entered the house she found no sign of the girl. Apparently Largeatha had escaped out the back and she realized that Heather was distracting them all so she could get away.

As she ran back to the great hall she saw Heather in front of the chief. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack.

"You fools i told you to bring them her not tie her up and drag her here!" He said yelling at the guards.

Astrid approached the Chief "sir I was with her when it happened. She attacked us"

"You stupid girl!" Of course, she would attack you we attacked them!" He yelled putting his hands on his face

"Is that why you called me here. To tell me you tried to kill Ragnar?" heather said with a scornful look

"No no no I wanted you here to ask you If you would talk to them about not taking revenge"

"Really you tie me up to drag me here and expect me to ask Ragnar for forgiveness," she said still on her knees

"It was a miss understanding, any punishment you or he thinks is appropriate for the people involved will be done"

"But sir that's…" before Astrid could finish her sentence Spitelout had slapped her sideways.

"Silence you Stupid girl, can't you see I'm trying to save our village!" Everyone in the hall was stunned no one could think that Spitelout would attack the commander

"You would be lucky if all he did was leave," Heather said looking down at the floor

Spitelout turned and came to her "what is the worst thing?"

Heather raised her head before speaking "If he hasn't ordered an army of dragons, mercenary's, bounty hunters, and assassins to come and rescue me it is probably what he is doing right now." heather said trying to intimidate the Vikings

Before the chief could speak the entrance to the great hall was smashed through. Eret and Largeatha along with 50 Wingmaidens came in and surrounded Heather.

Largeatha came and untied Heather while the rest of the Wingmaidens protected them.

"Don't attack! Where not your enemy" Spitelout said running to them

Once they got Heather untied they started to retreat but before they could Hiccup landed behind them along with the rest of the Wingmaidens.

He walked in past the others strait to the Chief.

Once he reached him he pulled out a map and unrolled it. "Right here is a large fleet gathering to attack you. We have been killing their scouts but there going to come."

Hiccup began to walk away when Spitelout spoke

"Where are you going"

"I'm done, you people can fend for your selves," he said leaving the great hall

After they had retreated back to the forest the group stopped to gather themselves but Hiccup didn't stay to talk. him and toothless went off and sat under a tree while Eret told Heather what happened.

"He what!" Heather said grabbing her side

"I don't want to jump to conclusions but what I saw was him letting the man almost kill him."

Heather looked to where hiccup had walked to "Hiccup wouldn't do that He's better now"

"When I confronted him about it he said, 'what do you want me to say that I'm sorry, that I want the screams to stop or that I don't miss her."

Heather looked over to where Hiccup was sitting "he was doing a lot better, and then you showed him his dead father's statue."

"I didn't think he would want to kill himself because of it," Eret said pointing to Hiccup.

"I will go and talk to him," Heather said walking away

As Hiccup was sitting by the tree toothless head was resting on his lap. Heather came by and sat next to him and Hiccup knew that she would want to talk about what happened

"Hey Hiccup"she said sitting next to him

"A take it he told you"

"He did, why did you do it in thought we were past that"

"At that moment I was at peace, everyone...everything had happened and if I died then finally I could rest"

Is that what you think would happen? You would just die and there would be peace. No Hiccup you can't die. Eret needs you, Largeatha needs you toothless needs you the world needs you… I need you" Heather sobbed

"I sorry that you can't understand why I don't want to feel pain"

"Your not the only one to feel pain asshole"

"I guess I'm not as strong as you then, call me selfish or a coward for not wanting pain."

And do you think Nadia would want you to kill your self!" Heather had gotten up and was facing Hiccup " she was my friend too, do you think that she wanted you to die?"

"Nadia is dead! They're all dead! My mother! My father! I can't find happiness. Everyone I love is dead!" Hiccup had gotten up and met Heather face to face.

Heather saw the pain in his eyes. All Hiccup wanted to do was be free but he didn't know-how.

Later that day

Berk was busy with the news that raiders where gathering and Astrid being Berks commander wasted no time setting up defenses around Berk.

She ordered catapults to be built and more guards where to be posted.

Days later

A few days had passed and the dragon riders had not left. The chief would not dare try to kick them off but he did have his Vikings keep an eye on them.

"Hiccup what are we still doing here I thought you said you done with Berk," Eret said walking into Hiccups tent with him.

"You all can go I'm just enjoying the scenery," he said sitting on his mat

Hiccup whether you like it or not me and Heather are not leaving you"

"Well you should I'm probably going to get you all killed anyways"

Eret moved at this callous answer "Hiccup I know you're having a ruff time but I promise things will get better"

Hiccup looked up and then ent back to staring at the top of his tent "That's what Valhalla is for"

Eret walked out of his tent and was met by Heather and cami

"So how did it go?" Cami asked

"Not great, I have not seen him like this in years"

"Heather, do you want to go in and try? Eret asked

"If he won't leave that's fine me and Largeatha will make camp," Heather said stubbornly.

"I will go and tell the Wingmaidens to start and forage nearby," said camicazi

"Cami I don't think you or the Wingmaidens need to stay any longer"

"Please the Wingmaidens would die for Hiccup and so would i. We are not going to leave a friend in need." camicazi said firmly

"Speaking of friends can you look after Largeatha while I set up some stuff," Heather asked cami

"Of course but you know that she is not a child right she can take care of her self"cami replyed

"I know but I worry"

"It's ok to worry but you won't be there to protect her all the time."

She's just so daring it's like she has no fear." Heather looked at where Largeatha was sitting, she and a couple of Wingmaidens were sparing and Heather eased knowing strong women were protecting her baby girl

Neither did we when we were her age. While you work I will send her off with some of the girls to hunt. That should keep her distracted

Astrid and the other council members met to discuss the attack that would come. The room was full of people trying to get there points across

"Ragnar said that they were gathering near the sullen sea. If we are to survive then we must attack now!" Yelled a council member

"We can't leave Berk undefended, and what if we're wrong then we would have sailed all the way there for nothing!" Astrid commanded

"What about the mercenaries on the island? As soon as we leave they could attack!" Yelled another member

"ya, why have they not left?" Yelled someone from the crowd

Spitelout raised his hand "our scouts have reported that they are setting up camp, they appear to be forging for food"

"We have an enemy army coming at us and potentially one at our doorstep. I think its time that we consider finding a new home" said a council member

"What! Abandon Berk, you'd have use run like cowards then stay and fight for our homes!" Astrid was angry she was taught to never retreat from battle even if it meant death.

"No one wants to run but if we are to survive then we must consider moving on." Said a member

The debate went on for hours with no conclusion only angry yells and talks of leaving.

"Cowards all of them!" Astrid yells walking into her house

"Astrid, we can't win that's all we're saying," Fishlegs said nervously

Astrid looked at Fishlegs and realized that he was terrified. "Sorry Fishlegs I don't mean to call you coward"

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses yours is being a warrior and a great general mine is teaching the children of Berk"

"But in times of war, we all must pick up a sword"

"We got lucky. We never get warning of an attack until its too late." Fishlegs said sitting down

"Ya, then they went and abandoned us."

"I mean Gobber did attack there leader, he had every right to"

"You half to admit Gobber had every right to be angry. To dee Dragos champion at Stoick's statue must have been infuriating"

"Weirdest thing is I talked to some of the villagers who saw what happened and there seems to be a general consensus that Ragnar let Gobber try to kill him"

"Oh please, Gobber could take any one of them down, he is the best Viking in the village. I'm sure he one out of skill" Astrid said

"No actually the people who I talked to said that Ragnar went down without a fight."

"And why would he do that"

"I don't know."

Fishlegs stayed for dinner and then went to his house.

The next day

Flashback

"And there it is," Hiccup said landing toothless with Nadia behind him.

"Hiccup it's gigantic, do we need this much space?" Nadia said looking around

"No but I think it's better to have space and not need it than to need the space and not have it," he said putting his arm around her waist

"I love your simple logic Hiccup," she said grabbing his neck

"Look overhear we can put a house and over there toothless and the other dragons can live here, oh and over here is where we can farm!" He said pointing all over

Nadia looked into his eyes "Hiccup and Nadia the farmers"

"Nadia all I want to do is to settle down here with you and raise a family. My time with the syndicate is coming to an end"

"Well then where should we start first. I think, hmm the house and once that's built maybe a place for a baby" she said playfully

Present

"Where the fuck is he" Heather yelled spitting out water

"I searched his tent and the boar pit. No sign of him." She said standing at attention

"Dammit, go and get your women and find him now!" Heather commanded

"Maam toothless is freaking out that he can't find Hiccup and his armor still here," said one of the Wingmaidens

Back on Berk Hiccup sat slouched over a table. He wore a hood over his head and no one there recognized him

"Can I get another" Hiccup said holding up a large mug

"You going to pay for the other four you drank?" She said filling up his mug

Hiccup pulled out a bag of coin and handed them to the girl "just keep-em coming"

"You got it pall"

Suddenly a larger man came in "hey Reia, get me a drink"

"Sure thing Snotlout," said Reia

As snot lout looked around he noticed a new person sitting alone. Snotlout was curious and after a hard days work decided to blow off steam at the tavern.

Hiccup looked and saw Snotlout "oh great this guy" he murmured to himself turning back around. Hiccup remembered that he was the Chief's son and was a skilled warrior but was not exactly the sharpest ax in the cache and Hiccup and little to no contact with him regarding training or other important stuff. He did notice that Snotlout was third in command but Spitelout never gave his son any real assignments

As Snotlout walked over and grabbed the mead that Reia made for him he notices the man in the hood. "Who's the new guy?"

Reia just shook her head walking away and Snotlout slowly sat next to the mystery man. "So what's your deal because I have never seen you here before"

Hiccup turned to look at Snotlout and in an instant, his face turned to fear "you ...your not supposed to"

Hiccup held up his hand "oh easy there I'm not here to hurt you I'm just here for a drink"

Snotlout looked at Hiccup wary but soon relaxed. "Can't blame you for coming back. This place has the best mead in the archipelagos"

Hiccup chuckled at this "it's not bad"

"Reia two more over here please," Snotlout said raising his hand.

"You don't need to get me one"

"Those are for me, it takes a few to get this boat going"

Hiccup was amused by this and decided to engage with the man "Two for me," he said raising his hand

Hering this it got snotlout intrigued enough to ask Ragnar questions and prob the man about why he left and why other things that needed answers"What's your deal man how come you left?"

Didn't they tell him hiccup thought to himself, after all, he was the chief's son."They didn't tell you?"

"Na they got me on a need to know bases on most stuff and right now they said all I need to know is that you left and that you ain't coming back and that something happened"

"The reason I left is that I went to Stoick's statue to pay my respects and a large one leg one-handed Viking attacked me," Hiccup said receiving his drinks

"Hmm why would you visit his statue, isn't he one of your former enemies.?"

Hiccup remembered that he had to be careful. No one could no Hiccups relationship to the dead chief. "Warriors can respect one and other even if there enemies"

This made sense to snotlout being a warrior and one who idealized stoick for the warrior he was "I can understand that but still doesn't explain why you visited his statue."

How did hiccup explain that he knows stoick, or that he was his son? Mabey it was better just be "Let's just say me and Stoick are old friends."

"Uh, Friends don't attack each other."

"Friends one day enemy's the next, I just wanted to say goodby to him properly"

"Its no surprise Gobber was the one who took offense to you being there, after what drago did Berk was never the same"

"I wouldn't know I wasn't there," Hiccup said drinking the last of his mead

"Drago not only murdered our chief but took his son. We never heard what happened to him after that. Gobber blames himself, he was there trying to stop drago.

This filled in a lot of the peises for hiccup but did not make him feel better "So that's why he hates me"

"He hates anyone associated with drago… we all do. After the attack, we learned Berk lost 80% of its army and half its population. It's taken us twenty years to get back to a fraction of what we once were."

Though he felt bad for what happened to his home the past was the past and he could not change Dragos rath on his village"You all seem to be doing better now"

"Thanks to the commander,"snotlout said knowing that they could thank only one person for there survival

"Astrid right"

"We would have been wiped out long ago if it weren't for her"

"Where is she now?" He asked getting another drink

"Ever since you left she has been working none stop to get this place ready for the attack that you warned us of. Our Chief had to order her to get some sleep so I'm on watch"

"Shouldn't you be out there?"

"If they see ships they will sound the horn and I will get there as soon as possible?"

Snotlout was lucky that Hiccup had quit or else he would have made an example of him. "You should probably get there now," he said calmly.

"Sure it just gets so boring, perhaps if Reia got us some of these to go then will you join me?

Hiccup was surprised by but for once had nothing better to do and didn't care what happened "Reia four for me and my friend here"

"Sure thing," she said smiling happily

At the docks, Hiccup, and Snotlout drank and discussed stupid things

"No, you didn't" Hiccup said laughing

"Yep, the first week of dragon training good old commander hit me over the head with a hammer, all because I asked her out," snotlout said trying to contain his laughter.

Snotlout lucked up at the sky " I'm sorry that Gobber attacked you but we can't do this by ourselves selves" he said in a pleading deminer "what will it take for you to come back?"

"Listen, my friend, I like you but I don't think I can come back"

"Please my father is tired and is getting weaker each year and I worry I must take up the mantle in his stead," he said pleading

This surprised hiccup, this man seemed confident in the way he acted but now he seemed like he was unsure "Worried? You don't think you do good?"

"No, I don't. I'm not a leader I'm a warrior, fighting on the frontlines and going on quests is what I'm good at but redistribution of food or maintaining houses, I can't do that it's not who I am, it never was."

. " knowing your limitations is the sign of great leader"

"But you don't lose those limitations," he said sadly as he drank more mead

"If you don't take up the mantle then who will?" hiccup asked interestedly

"There is talk about making the commander the next Chief"

That was not uncommon if there was not someone of the bloodline fit to take up the mantle as a leader then "What do you think about that?"

Snotlout had only good things to say about the Astrid, she was fearless and had the courage that most men did not poses, but what most people found when around her was not her scary nature or her hard-headedness, no what most people notice how much of a born leader she was, how kind she was, how good she was "I think that she is the best person to lead us, she has put many hours in to rebuilding berk and bringing it back to the days it once was. I can think of no one better to be chief of berk"

"I have only known her for a short while, she seems like a capable commander"

"She hates your guts you know?"

"I get that vibe" Hiccup said smiling

"Can I ask you something?" Snotlout said nervously

"I can't promise that I will answer"

"Drago took Hiccup from his home. Most of Berk thinks drago sacrificed him to the gods or killed him but I don't, I think that my cousin is alive. My father tells me to stop wishing for things that will only bring me disappointments but as Dragos champion, you must know something"

Hiccups back were turned so Snotlout couldnt see his face. The face of fear. His family, his blood, his people weren't dead. But Snotlout could never know the truth. "I'm sorry but...he's dead"

Snotlouts heart sank, in that moment every his cousin was dead officially"Oh...apart of my new the truth but...well I guess I shouldn't have held out hope"

"I put a sword next to Stoicks statue...it belonged to him"

The sadness n snot lout quickly diminished as he heard that his cousin was not sacrificed or killed immediately. Rather he had a life!"You mean he lived, tell me what he was like!"

"I..he.." hiccup he said moving away

"Please, You knew him, I need to know what he was like "

Hiccup turned and ran away. He ran past Snotlout who begged him to stay but Hiccup couldn't. He ran and jumped over a wall and past the forest trees, back to the camp and to the tent that seemed so small and so big at the same time.

With his head between his legs, he covered his ears trying not to let the thoughts in his head.

"Hiccup where the hell have you been?" Heather said walking in

Hiccup said nothing only shaking and breathing heavily.

"Get out, get out, get out!"Hiccup yelled. His hands to his head and his knees to his chest

"Heather backed up as Hiccup looked up with tears coming out of his eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?"Heather said moving to his side

"I said get out!"