"Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to the animals, for they are without sin, while you, with all your greatness, you defile the earth wherever you appear and leave an ignoble trail behind you - and that is true, alas, for almost every one of us!" ― Fyodor Dostoyevsk - The Brothers Karamazov
Integration
Stoick stood dumbly for a moment as if not sure that he had heard right.
"What? Dagur did what?"
"Dagur killed his father and is now the Chief of the Berserkers. It's a long story, but I saw it happen."
With a heavy sigh, Stoick fell into his chair.
"Why? Osvald was a good man. Why would Dagur kill his own father?"
"I think it was because Osvald wanted to listen to me. And he also said things that Dagur didn't want to hear."
"I can't believe it."
Astrid yawned widely.
"Sir, Stormfly and I just barely escaped the Berserkers, and I can barely stay on my feet right now. Can I tell you everything in the morning?"
"Yes, yes, please do Astrid. Go get some rest."
"Thank you, sir."
Astrid left for the evening, leaving Stoick alone. Hiccup did not show himself to her and crept into the room to meet his father. Stoick was sitting in his chair, and he looked understandably shocked. Hiccup remembered Dagur from many unfortunate childhood encounters, but he had never imagined that Dagur could kill his own father. How could anyone ever do such a thing?
Stoick finally looked up a minute later and noticed Hiccup patiently waiting for him.
"Well, I never imagined that would happen. Yes, the Berserkers have some customs that we on Berk have never practiced. But to kill his own father to become the new Chief?"
Sigh.
"This is bad. I had hoped that Osvald would be our ally. I don't think that Dagur will be so agreeable."
I never liked him
He was not nice to me
"He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Hiccup slowly shook his head.
He only made me feel bad
He teased me for being small and weak
Stoick breathed a sigh of relief, though he inwardly cursed himself for not knowing about that. He knew that other children on Berk had teased Hiccup, but he had thought that it would be good for him. That it would force him to build up a thicker skin.
"You never met Osvald, but he was a good man. He led his people well and was never especially harsh to us or the other tribes. He was always willing to listen and be agreeable. I don't know what will happen now."
Then he chuckled humorlessly.
"We'll find out more tomorrow. How about you go back to sleep."
Will you?
"Yes, but I need a bit of time to think first. I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a while."
Hiccup nodded slowly and ambled back to bed where he sat in relative silence. It was a few more minutes before his father too walked back down the hall and shut his bedroom door. The only sounds were now Toothless's snoring and occasional calls of night creatures outside.
Something felt off now, something felt wrong. The thought of Dagur now leading a tribe as fearsome as the Berserkers was disturbing in far too many ways. But at least Astrid was back home and safe again.
Hiccup and Toothless followed Stoick to the Hall in the morning for breakfast as was usual. But Hiccup was very nervous.
Not only was he going to hear more about Dagur's crime, but he was going to finally see Astrid again after over a month! She was surely going to have many other stories to tell besides. She had been on an adventure and had been to different islands. Who knew what kind of things she had seen and stories she had to tell?
He did not have to wait long before she arrived. Everyone started whispering and gesturing in her direction when they saw her.
Stoick stood and gestured her towards a chair next to him.
"Astrid, good to see you. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did sir. It is very good to be back home."
"I'm sure it is. Go get yourself some food, and then come tell me everything. I'm going to find Gobber, he should hear all this too."
He left, leaving her alone with Hiccup by the table. She turned to face him for the first time since getting back. They both regarded each other, very conscious that there were still other people watching her.
Then she gave him a kind smile.
"It's good to see you again. You've grown, Hiccup."
She gave him a soft pat on the head.
"Cove later," she whispered.
He gave her a subtle nod. Then she left to get herself a bowl of soup.
"She is back now," Toothless observed in between mouthfuls of fish.
"Yes, I want hear her."
Toothless just rolled his eyes and returned to his fish.
Astrid and Stoick returned a few moments later, Gobber in tow.
"So good ta see ya Astrid! It's been a long time."
"Thanks Gobber. I guess you both want to hear what happened."
She started talking, describing her experiences with the Volsung and the Vaina. Her immediate audience listened with rapt attention as she recounted the encounters between the other Nords and the dragons.
"So, then we flew to the Berserkers. Osvald greeted me as soon as I arrived. He couldn't stop telling me how beautiful Stormfly was, and he tossed her lots of fish. He even invited me to a feast in honor of the treaty and his tribe's future."
"I remember their feasts; the wild boar was ta die for!" Gobber interjected.
Everyone else at the table glanced at him.
"Eh, sorry," he mumbled.
"So it was at the feast that Dagur showed back up. He had been out hunting or something. He got into a fight with his father when he found out that I was here to show them how to ride dragons."
"What about?" Stoick asked.
"He was saying something about hunting and the thrill of killing. Osvald explained that he wanted his tribe to become like us, to have dragons. Then Dagur went… crazy, deranged. He started throwing things and yelling. Osvald started yelling too, and then Dagur threw a knife."
She paused before continuing.
"I'm not sure exactly what happened after that, but there was a lot more yelling. Then Dagur was there being recognized as the new Chief by everyone. He commanded his men to capture me and to bring him Stormfly's head on a pole. I ran to Stormfly, and we barely escaped."
"And he didn't say anything else?"
"No. I didn't speak with any of the other people in that tribe, and they did not look like the kind of people who care much for words."
"Do you think he might want war?" Gobber interjected.
"I don't know if he knows what he wants. I hope he doesn't want to fight anyone though. His people are not like any others that I saw out there."
"Thank you Astrid, you've done a very good job. I'm very proud of all the work that you've done for me and the tribe," Stoick declared.
She blushed at the praise.
"Take a day off and do whatever you need to do. I have to think about everything you've told me."
"Thank you, I will sir."
She considered herself dismissed and left the Hall with her breakfast.
"Stoick, did I hear that right? Is Osvald dead?" Gobber seemed oddly serious with no trace of his usual wit.
"Aye, it seems so. And Dagur is the new Chief of the Berserkers."
"Stoick, ya know how bad this is. The Berserkers are too unstable anyway. They don't even worship the gods properly."
"I know. They've always been more… bloodthirsty than the rest of us."
"Do you think we should send someone to acknowledge him as the new Chief?"
"Gobber, anyone that we send now is not likely to come back."
"I guess so. What about them wanting war? Do you think they would ever try to attack us? It's been generations since our tribes crossed axes."
"I hope not. I don't think they would be dumb enough to attack us since we have our dragons."
Gobber thought for a moment.
"Or maybe they would see that as the best sport."
They both glanced at the two resident Furies at the table. Hiccup was intently listening to everything that had been said. Stoick clenched his fists and answered very gruffly.
"They will regret it if they ever try."
Astrid sat in the cove later that morning after walking the distance through the forest. She had secretly made off with several reams of paper and a pencil for Hiccup after telling him her plan.
She looked around the valley while waiting for him to show up. She had chosen to walk here because the woods around Berk were peaceful, and she wanted to enjoy the feel of solid ground under her feet after flying back home. The scant trees that were present in the valley were still fully clothed, but it was clear that the season was nearing its end. One more of the fabled Berk autumns to look forward to.
"Great Odin, I'm glad to be back."
She did not have to wait long before she heard the beat of wings. She looked up and saw one of the little Furies gliding in.
Seeing him in the air again after her being gone for over a month was strange to say the least. He was much larger than she remembered, and he seemed a much better flier as well, faster and more assured than before. He landed smoothly and hopped over to her. Even on a dragon's face, his expression was one of unmistakable excitement to see her.
She unfurled one of the scrolls and rolled it out for him to use. He was also much faster at writing than she remembered him being before, as though he had much opportunity to practice.
I am glad you are back
"I am too. You have no idea how frustrating the world out there is."
Tell me about it
He curled up on the ground next to her and gave her his full attention.
"Well, where to start? It was a long flight with Stormfly, almost an entire day of flying. The mainland though is huge. The people are very stubborn. It was very hard to get them to listen to anything I told them about dragons."
"Some of the younger people in the tribes were the easiest to convince. They didn't seem to have as many bad memories of dragon attacks. You heard everything I told your father about Dagur, right?"
Hiccup solemnly nodded.
"I almost couldn't believe it myself until I was already up in the sky again. It was so horrible. I never thought that a son could do that to his own father."
She paused and looked up at the sky.
"Maybe he didn't mean it. Maybe he just lost control. I never really knew him those few times he came here."
I never liked him
"Well, we don't have to worry about him now. He is certainly never going to come here now. Not after he learned what we are really doing here. Anything happen here while I was gone?"
Uh…
I found a treasure
Dad had us explore a cave
He paused and considered telling her about the Zippleback incident, then decided against it. No reason to worry her unnecessarily.
We found bones underground from an old battle
"Bones? Under Mount Thor?"
Dragon bones, spears, shields, everything
"But why would Nords attack under…"
She paused while staring off in the direction of Thor's Hammer as comprehension dawned on her.
"It was a nest, wasn't it?"
Yes, he nodded.
"I'm not surprised. We've always been on Berk, and dragons have never lived here."
Toothless did though
"He did? Where?"
Up Mount Thor
"Where we couldn't easily get on our own. Of course. It still makes sense why we never saw any dragons that lived here. They did once, and then we… got rid of them."
There was a big dragon down there
"A big one? Like the queen on Dragon Island?"
No, he shook his head.
Like a big snake
Almost as big as the Queen
She couldn't help but wonder how mere Nord warriors could possibly kill such an enormous creature. But they had evidently managed it somehow.
She heard a soft bugle from above and looked up at the same moment as Hiccup perked up as well. Even after being gone for over a month, she recognized the sound and knew who it had to be.
Toothless swooped in and flew around the cove for a moment before landing next to them.
"Hi Toothless."
He looked over at her and acknowledged her with a grunt. Then it struck Astrid that she had never actually tried to talk to Toothless with Hiccup's help. She had no doubt that he actually could do so, she just hadn't thought of doing it until now.
What did dragons even talk about?
"Hiccup, could you talk to him for me?"
Hiccup blinked in surprise but nodded the affirmative.
"Toothless, Astrid want me talk for her."
"With me?"
"Yes."
Toothless turned around and looked levelly at her. She was looking at him differently from how he recalled other two-legs do. She did not look amused or superior. Rather, she seemed to be attentive and eager.
It was perhaps the strongest sign yet that she was a different two-leg, somewhat like Hiccup had himself been before.
I wonder what two-legs talk about.
"Toothless, I did not think I would ever talk to a dragon."
Or I a two-leg
Hiccup paused in writing and pointed at himself.
Toothless calls us two-legs
Two-legs, I guess it makes sense for them to call us that.
"What do you think of two-legs?"
Flightless, no wings, no tails, no scales
Dangerous, clever paws, dragon-killers
"Not now, we do not hurt dragons now."
Toothless huffed and rolled his eyes. Astrid had no doubt where he had learned that expression from.
"Still makes kin smaller now," Toothless mumbled.
"I not understand," Hiccup answered.
"Two-legs use kin in not only good ways. We not same nest. She want talk more?"
He does not like most humans
"That is fair, I guess. He wasn't treated well by most of us. What about me?" she asked.
You are good to dragons
When you are not swinging axes at them
She actually blushed at the reminder of their first encounter.
"Well, I thought Hiccup was in danger."
"What!" Toothless exclaimed after Hiccup translated.
I would not hurt him
You did
"But… not really."
Hiccup groaned and rolled his eyes at her with an accusatory look.
"Ok… not my best moment, I know. But tell him that I was trying to protect you."
Toothless thought briefly about that.
And I was doing the same
Toothless then chuckled to himself.
"Is he laughing?" she asked.
Yes, Hiccup nodded.
"What is funny, Toothless?" Hiccup asked.
It was fun carrying you
"Oh gods, that was terrible."
She couldn't deny that the flight with Hiccup had been wondrous. The being carried part, not so much. Then inspiration lit in her eyes.
"You are right; finding the nest on Dragon Island was very fun."
She and Hiccup looked at each other and laughed heartily.
"Why are you laughing?" Toothless asked.
"She say laughing-thing."
"Say what?"
"When you fly in Monster-nest."
Toothless did not look amused, nor did he seem to consider it appropriate to laugh about.
"Hiccup, Toothless doesn't look happy. Is it something I said?"
He does not like what happened that night
"When we were in the nest?"
Yes
He told me once that he wanted to drop us
"What!" she exclaimed.
She took several very deep breaths and hastily glanced at Toothless as he sat innocently looking back and forth between them.
"He wanted to… drop us?"
The monster tried to make him do it
"I… I don't understand. It tried to make him drop us?"
Hiccup shrugged.
I do not understand either
What matters is he did not do it
"Hiccup, that is a lot to take in. Your dragon… Toothless almost killed you… us. I don't know what to think."
He hated the monster and wanted it dead
She looked up at the sky without saying anything for a while.
"They all did. How could it make them want to do something though?"
No idea
"I guess there are things we do not know about dragons."
Toothless lost interest in their conversation and flew over to the pond to see if he could hunt any fish.
"Hiccup, I've wondered this ever since I found out that you are… you. Did Toothless ever say what happened to you two? Does he know why you are a dragon?"
Hiccup was not sure what to do. His father had asked him the same question many months ago, and he had not been entirely truthful out of fear that his dad would have done something bad to Toothless.
But Astrid was different and could be trusted.
You cannot tell anyone
"Of course not."
Toothless said that he did this to save us
She stared at the words in evident confusion.
"What? He made you both baby dragons?"
I remember falling off him and into the fire
I was hurt very badly
He said he had to do this for me to live
"Hiccup, are you saying that dragons have magic?"
He did
She was shocked to the core by this revelation. It seemed to change everything. Mildew's absurd claims suddenly did not seem so absurd. Had dragons been using magic during the centuries of battle? Could other dragons do the same?
Might she wake up one morning as a Nadder?
"What about other dragons? Do they have magic."
I think Night Furies are special like this
"Do you think he could change you back?"
Hiccup slowly and sadly shook his head.
I asked him
He said the change is only one time
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
Hiccup just stared vacantly at the cove's wall and shrugged. She was sorely tempted to hug him, but she refrained.
"Maybe we will figure something out. If magic changed you, it has to be able to change you back."
He examined the scroll for any free space to write on but didn't find any. That left only the dirt as an option. He wanted to change the conversation to something more pleasant.
Time for the old-fashioned way then.
Maybe
Did you see any new dragons
"No, just the usual Nadders, Nightmares, and Gronkles. There also were not as many of them as I thought there would be out there. There was a Timberjack. I also saw some Thunderdrums from afar. That reminds me, Fishlegs wanted me to tell him if I saw any new dragons."
Then Hiccup remembered a very welcome development that Astrid should be informed of.
Everyone knows I am smart and can write
"What, really! Stoick finally came around to that then."
Not who I am though
"Still, you can now talk freely with anyone. That must be a relief. Uh, it should be around dinner time now."
Now that she mentioned it, he was getting rather hungry. Maybe they should go back to the village. This time, he remembered someone else.
"Toothless, we eat now."
Toothless roused himself from his nap at the promise of food and stretched his wings.
Astrid watched as the two flew out of the cove and off toward home.
"He is getting good at that. Almost like a natural."
She could not help but wonder what Hiccup really thought about his situation. Or more precisely, the possibility that he would be stuck like this.
It has to be tearing him up inside; only getting fish to eat, being thought dead, not being able to do anything to help Berk…
But she knew that there was nothing they could do about it. Talking to anyone else would only be a recipe for disaster. Fishlegs was unlikely to keep a secret as massive as this. The twins… impossible. Snotlout… never.
There was no one else she really wanted to tell either.
I need to talk to Gobber, he might be able to help cheer up Hiccup.
She went straight over to Gobber when she saw him in the Hall. The four empty mugs on the table were a bit out of place for him.
"Gobber, do you have a moment?"
"Eh?" he mumbled.
"What's the matter? Why so much drinking?"
"Oh, these. I was just thinking about Osvald. That was one other Chief who I respected."
He raised his current mug high in a salute.
"He never wanted war, he controlled his… wild people firmly but fairly, and he could tell the best stories at the tribal meetings."
His empty mug crashed to the table a moment later. She glanced around to make sure that no one was near enough to listen in.
"Gobber, this is about Hiccup," she whispered.
"Oh, what is it?" he also lowered his voice.
"I think we should do something for him."
"Do something?"
"He needs to do normal things again. I don't think he is happy."
"What do you suggest?"
"I'm not sure. I just know that he is not happy doing nothing. He wants to be part of the tribe again even if no one knows who he really is."
"But he is a dragon."
"So?"
"It's not like they are treated the same as everyone else," he added.
"No, but at least he should be."
"Hi Astrid, what's going on here?" Fishlegs asked.
Fishlegs, the twins, Snotlout, and Gustav walked up and sat down at the table.
"Oh, hi there guys. I was just talking with Gobber about dragons."
Gustav rested his elbows on the table.
"What about them?" he asked.
"I was just wondering about their place in our world."
"Huh?"
"I mean, they are not really pets. But they are not the same as us either. And there are the Furies. They are different from the other dragons. They can write to us and talk to each other."
"I know, they are amazing," Fishlegs said.
"Think about them in a few years though. What do you think will happen with them? Will we make them get a human rider? Will they have a say in what happens in the tribe? Will they have a voice like one of us?"
Everyone looked at each other in apparent confusion. Fishlegs eventually spoke up.
"Why are you wondering this, Astrid?"
"I… I guess I just saw how the other tribes started treating their dragons at the start. Like they were useful to have around, which they certainly are. It may have started that way for us, but we are better than that now. Aren't we?"
"Astrid, are you sure you are ok?" Snotlout frowned at her.
She looked around at the rest of the young people. They didn't seem to understand her concerns. Then she grimaced in frustration.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about what I was saying."
"Oh, we won't", "Now you are making sense again," the twins interjected.
"What do you say we all eat now?" Snotlout asked everyone.
"I already ate, sorry," Astrid said while standing up to leave. Gobber noticed her getting up and spoke up before she left.
"Astrid, we can talk later about that idea of yours."
"Good."
Fishlegs was the only one who got up and followed her to the door.
"Astrid, I don't mean to bother you, but did you… uh… happen to see any new…"
"No Fish, I didn't see any new dragons. I wasn't really looking for any though because I was very busy. There were a few Thunderdrums, but I didn't get close."
"Oh well, how many dragons did you see."
"Not many really. There are definitely not enough for everyone in the Vaina and Volsung to all have their own dragons. Maybe twenty or so."
"Ok, thanks. What is it really like out there?"
She stared levelly at him while thinking about what description was most appropriate.
"Frustrating."
"Well, I wish I could have been out there too. I would like to get out there and see the world."
"Easy to say when you are here Fish, but once you get out there you understand how good things are here at home."
"If you say so Astrid. I also wanted you to know that I understand what you were saying about the dragons."
"Are we better than the rest of them out there Fish? I don't think I use Stormfly. And she… she is like my friend, but she is not quite like us. We can't talk to each other, but we like being around each other."
"You are right about Hiccy and Toothless, Astrid. They are not very different from us."
"See, you understand that Fish, I understand it, Gobber and Stoick get it, but I don't know about everyone else. They seem rather… simple or shallow. They think that the Furies are just smart and cute little dragons."
"Well, they are."
"Yes, but they are more than just that. They are people."
Fishlegs thought it over for a while.
"I see your point, Astrid. What do you think can change that?"
"Time. A lot of time. It's not the kind of thing that changes quickly. It was hard enough to get people to accept that dragons are not bad. Now for them to really accept that dragons can be people just like them, that will be hard."
She met Gobber in the morning at the forge. None of the fires were lit this early, so he would probably be working the leather saddles.
Clang…
"Gobber?"
Clang…
"Astrid, come on in. I've… I've been thinking about what you said yesterday."
"I'm glad you can remember that after all the drinks you had."
"Ha! It takes a lot more than that to take me out. Let's sit."
They both sat down at the workbench.
"I think you are right about Hiccup. We should do something for him to get him more active," he began.
She was very glad that he agreed with her.
"Of course, we have to be careful about this. I haven't told anyone about him, have you?" he continued.
"No, of course not. What do you think we should do for him?"
"Well, Hiccup used to help me out here in the forge. Maybe I can find something he can still do here."
She thought for a moment.
"Hmm, I can have him help at the Academy. There are a few people who are still a bit nervous around dragons. Talking with one will definitely help them. And I could have him join me and the other riders when we do things around the island."
"Good idea. There is something I've been wondering about them. Hiccup is… well, Hiccup, and Toothless is the Night Fury that we saw years ago. And they can actually talk to each other?" Gobber asked.
"Yes, and I also know that Toothless understands. I actually talked to him with Hiccup doing the translating. Toothless looked at me when he spoke."
"But he doesn't know how to write."
"Right, only Hiccup does."
"What about all the other dragons? Are they like Hiccup and Toothless?"
She looked over at all the saddles that Gobber was working on adjusting.
"I don't know. Hiccup said he doesn't talk with them. They do seem to understand how we feel. Sometimes Stormfly comes over and nudges me or wants to go flying when I'm upset. But they are not like those two. The others don't try to talk to us."
"And any word from Stoick about this? Does he know what we'd like to do?"
"No, I haven't said anything to him. Do you think we can do this without being too suspicious?"
Gobber rubbed his chin in thought.
"Let me handle it. I think I can convince him to go along with it. Let's just not tell Hiccup about it in case Stoick doesn't allow it. Can't see why he wouldn't though."
"Alright Gobber, just let me know how it goes."
"Stoick, I've got a crazy idea for you."
"What is it today, Gobber?"
"It's about your dragons."
"What about them?"
"Well, what do you think about giving them something to do in the tribe?"
"Something to do?"
"They are different from the other dragons after all. They can talk with us in a way no other dragon seems to."
Stoick paused before answering. He always had to tread lightly about this matter just to be safe.
"Here is what I was thinking. You could have those two help Astrid out in the Academy. They could help with the remaining people who are not completely comfortable around dragons. Just have those people talk to them. We can't expect to treat them the same as the rest of the dragons when they are grown up either. I think it would be a good idea to find something that they can do in the tribe," Gobber continued.
Nothing Gobber was saying was unreasonable. It was just rather dangerous since it left open too many chances for the secret to be revealed. Just how much did he trust Hiccup to keep quiet or be able to keep the truth hidden?
He's done well so far.
"Ok, that sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to them and tell them what to do."
Gobber chuckled heartily and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Aye, imagine it Stoick, we are going to have a dragon helping to teach in the Ring now. Who would have ever imagined it just a few years ago?"
"I know, Gobber."
The matter of Hiccup's future kept bothering him long after Gobber had left. Everyone else could easily imagine the two Furies growing up, taking people for rides, or maybe even working for the tribe and being useful. But to imagine that future for Hiccup was unthinkable.
The worst part of finding a way to save Hiccup had to be the waiting. He was powerless on his own and was reliant on someone else's mysterious ways. There was no telling when Johan would return with news if he was able to find anything at all.
Might as well find something for him to do until I can fix him.
He marched into Hiccup's room.
"Son?"
The Fury still sprawled out on the nest-like bed lifted his head, but did not react like Hiccup. That had to be Toothless.
So where was Hiccup?
Blast it, he already left. Oh well, I'll run into him eventually.
Hiccup was waiting in the Great Hall for Fishlegs to finish his breakfast. Something that Astrid had said the other day had intrigued him. Fishlegs had been working on a new Book of Dragons, a better one than the old version that instructed on how to kill dragons.
He wanted to see this new Book if possible.
Fishlegs finally finished his food, so he went over to Fishlegs and stood before him. As usual, Fishlegs had a stupid little grin when looking down at him.
He didn't really consider it endearing anymore.
"Hey little Hiccy, what do you want?"
As there was no paper to write on, he just got up and walked over to the alcove where the community items were kept.
"What's over here that you want?"
He pointed at the Book of Dragons.
"Oh, I see. You saw that this book is about dragons, right?"
Yes.
"You are so smart."
Another rub under the chin followed, which made Hiccup wince in embarrassment at such treatment. But it also made him feel oddly happy and also sleepy.
Fishlegs picked up the book, and they both headed over to the Chief's table.
Hiccup's gaze never left the book in Fishleg's hands. He could barely contain his excitement. The new Book of Dragons! The Book that would truly tell people about dragons and how to live with them instead of how to kill them.
Fishlegs sat the book down on the table, and Hiccup stood up and inspected the book. It looked far fresher, which made sense because it was newly-written, and the cover had a conspicuous lack of an angry, axe-bearing Nord warrior.
Throwing aside his usual sense of decorum, he hopped up onto the table, carefully opened the Book's cover, and looked at the index. The order of the book seemed similar with different classes of dragons.
But one category and page held the most interest of all for him.
He tried to flip the pages, but his claws made it difficult as he did not want to tear the pages.
"Need help?"
Yes.
He pointed to the mystery section. Fishlegs grinned slyly.
"Oh, I know where you want to go. I wonder how you knew…"
Fishlegs turned straight to the Night Fury page. There were two drawn pictures, one of an adult and the other of a hatchling, and a paragraph of writing.
Hiccup recognized the adult drawing as one of his own of Toothless. There was no chance he could mistake those expressive eyes and the shape of his wing.
Night Furies are the rarest and most intelligent of all dragons. They are as smart as a person and can learn how to read and write even as hatchlings. They hatch very small but grow quickly. Even as adults they tend to be smaller than other dragons. They are the fastest and have the most destructive fire of all known dragons. They are fiercely protective and loyal. They eat mainly fish but never eel.
"Can you read all of it?"
Yes.
"What do you think? Is it good?"
Hiccup nodded once. That description seemed to address the most important points.
"Good, I wrote it myself. I wonder, when are you going to get your brother to learn to read and write?"
He just shrugged and huffed once. It was rather frustrating that Toothless never bothered to learn how to read or write. But there was no way he could convince him to learn if he didn't really want to. Toothless truly didn't care about talking to anyone other than him or maybe Astrid. None of the humans were interesting enough to him.
"Fishlegs!"
Snotlout walked over to them and looked down at the strange sight.
"What's he doing?"
"He wanted to see his own page in the new Book of Dragons."
"How does he know about that? I don't get it."
"He is very smart, that's how."
"Sure, sure."
Snotlout sat down at the table and stared at his hands for a while before saying anything else.
"Do you think I should talk to her now?"
"Man, you should probably wait. She just got back from traveling to the other tribes. I don't think she wants to hear anything about… relationships now."
Snotlout groaned and leaned on a chair.
"It's been two years now."
"What?"
"Two years since he died. How long do I need to wait?"
"Why are you asking me? I certainly don't know."
Stoick entered the Hall and walked straight to them.
"Nephew, Fishlegs, have you seen… oh, there he is. What is going on here?"
"He wanted to see the new Book of Dragons, sir."
"Oh yes, you finished that, right?"
"Yes sir, feel free to read it sometime."
"I will Fishlegs. Come Hiccup."
Hiccup hopped down from the table and followed his father outside. Neither of them said anything as they walked through the village and back to home. Stoick turned to him after he closed the front door.
"I need to talk to you."
Yes?
"I've been doing some thinking, and I want you to start doing something for the tribe."
What! Really?
Stoick even seemed to grin at seeing his youthful enthusiasm.
"Yes, I don't want you to sit around doing nothing all the time. It's good to do work for your people. I want you to help Astrid at the Academy. You can do things that no one else can."
Like what?
"You can talk for the dragons. You can talk to people who may still be hesitant or have doubts about dragons. It isn't hard, you would just have to be yourself. Just without anyone knowing of course. What do you think? Do you think you could do this?"
Could he indeed! This is just what he was hoping he could do! He would have more time around Astrid, and he could have something meaningful to do with his life, specifically helping resolve remaining tensions between humans and dragons. It was something that he was in the unique position to be able to do.
Yes
"Good. Who knows, I may be able to find more work for you later. I'll go tell Astrid that she can expect you to show up."
He watched as his father left to go about some other chores and presumably to tell Astrid. It was very hard to contain his elation. He leapt in joy and bounced around the house for a couple moments.
Yes!
He was finally going to have some semblance of a normal life. Working for the tribe in some way, specifically in a way relating to dragons, was something he had hoped to do for a long time.
Toothless was nowhere to be found.
Maybe he can join me too.
He wanted to tell someone about his newfound responsibilities. The only person he could go to appeared to be Gobber. So he slipped outside and made his way over to the forge.
But Gobber was not there. Oddly enough, Tuffnut was inside, and he was fiddling with the forge.
What is he doing here?
Tuffnut must have heard him push open the door because he turned around.
"Oh, hey Hiccy. I don't suppose you know how to work the forge, do you?"
Funny you should ask Tuff, I do indeed.
But he could not say that. How could a young dragon possibly know anything about forgecraft? So instead he just shook his head.
"Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually. Gobber wanted me to try to work the forge since he needs a new apprentice."
Tuffnut looked very oddly pensive. Then he gestured toward the table. Hiccup hopped up onto the table and waited as Tuffnut sat down and looked at him.
"Do you know where your name came from?"
No, he shook his head.
"It's a bit of a sad story. Stoick had a son named Hiccup. That's where your name came from."
He made a point of looking interested and of wanting to hear more.
"Hiccup was an odd kid, very small and smart. We were all jealous of how clever he was. That's why we teased him a lot. And he did something no one else imagined. He made a friend of a dragon. A Night Fury just like you. He named the dragon Toothless."
Hiccup looked at the nearest piece of paper and nodded at it. Tuffnut understood his point and grabbed the paper for him as well as a pencil.
I and my brother are named for them?
"Yes, you are. I guess you don't know what happened to them. They both died to save the rest of us. It's because of them that there are dragons here in the village now. Did Stoick ever tell you what it was like before then?"
No.
"It was bad."
Tuffnut glanced over at a pile of old spears and axes that lay in disuse inside the forge.
"Humans and dragons used to fight each other. It's good that you don't know what that was like."
Hiccup was quite surprised at seeing Tuffnut so… reflective, so thoughtful. Not that he seemed at all close to getting emotional, but it was still very different from how he remembered Tuffnut.
Amazing how people change.
"Ah! This is silly of me. Why are you going so soft Tuffy-Wuffy, why? I'll tell you why, it's because I'm here and learning to do what he did."
That's more like him. A bit crazy, but he is still different now.
Where is Gobber?
"His home. He told me to figure out how to use the forge and to wake him up when I did. That's his idea of training. Learning on the job..."
Tuffnut turned back to glare at the forge.
"It might be after the feast of Jól before I figure this out!"
Hiccup chuckled at Tuffnut's difficulties. Though he could easily point out what he was doing wrong, it would be best for Tuffnut to figure it out on his own. That was very much the great educational method that Gobber had used in his own case.
He hastily scribbled down a farewell note and hopped down from the table to head outside. A quick flight across the village brought him to Gobber's house, where he landed in front and hopped up to the door. As usual, the door was left just slightly ajar, allowing him to let himself inside. Once inside, he rang the bell that they had agreed upon his using to let Gobber know he was there.
"Hiccup! What brings you over to my humble abode?"
Dad is going to let me help Astrid
I'm so happy
"Well, cool your tail kiddo, I see that you're happy."
He stilled his tail since he had gotten a little carried away. Gobber still grinned regardless.
"That's good news. I was wondering when he would come around. I talked with him a while back about getting something for you and Toothless to do. Everyone knows that you are not normal dragons, and it wouldn't be right to treat you like them. Did he say what you will be doing?"
Helping her in the Academy
Talking to people who might not like dragons much
"Good. I think you will like doing that. There aren't many, but there are a few you might be able to work your charms on. Who knows, you might eventually get to go on some adventures. Would you like to help at all in the forge? I don't know what you can do now, but maybe in a few years when you are bigger you might be able to do more."
While it didn't completely kill the mood, being reminded of that did bring back some melancholy thoughts.
Do you think I will ever be fixed?
Gobber stared evenly at him for a long while before answering.
"Who said anything about you being broken?"
I mean will I be a human again?
"I don't know, Hiccup. I really don't know. We've all had things happen to us that we wish would never have happened. Things that we cannot undo on our own. But as I always used to say, 'Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.'"
You never used to say that
"Eh, recent saying of mine then. Actually, I guess I just thought of it. The point is that you are still you Hiccup. So what if you have wings, a tail, and you like fish a lot more now? You are still you where it really matters, in here."
Gobber then pointed at his head and chest.
"If you are going to be like this for a long time, you might as well learn to accept it."
Dad might not agree with that
"Hiccup, did you ever learn about the night your mother died?"
It was a dragon
But he never told me anything else
"He wouldn't have. It was the worst day of his life. A raid like any other, only he saw that his own home was burning. He told Valka to stay indoors with you, so of course he ran straight home. All that I know happened is that he saw a four-winged dragon carry your mother off into the night. The dragon must have attacked you too because that is how you got that scar that you used to have."
So that is where it came from. Odd, wouldn't a dragon do more to a baby than just a little scar?
"He came out of that burning building with you crying piteously. He blamed himself for what happened; that he was not there to protect both you and your mother. But he still did the best he could for his people and for you. I remember that you were also a very sick baby. He never gave up on you or thought that you would not survive. If there is a way to change you back, I am sure that he will do everything he can to find it. Until then just remember that we thought you were dead and gone to Valhalla. That you are alive at all is good enough for me."
It was not surprising that talking to Gobber always left him with a warm feeling inside.
"And I guess if you had to choose which dragon to be, you definitely got the best one. Try to imagine being a Gronkle instead, such lovable oafs that they are."
They both started laughing at the thought. That was one way of thinking about this that he had not really considered before. For one, Night Furies actually had paws that could grab things, unlike most other dragons he knew of.
"Oh well, I should probably go see if Tuffnut has managed to melt the forge or something. I'm not sure if you know, but I have him training to be a blacksmith. Village needs one for after I'm gone you know."
Hiccup gave him a very knowing look.
Is that a good idea to have him in the forge?
"Both of them have been rather good recently. Maybe giving them actual responsibility is just what they need. Something that they can take pride in and give them a way to work off their energy in a good way."
Hiccup stepped forward and touched Gobber on the shoulder.
"Yes?"
He spread his arms and looked plaintively.
Gobber did not waste a moment before he hugged him back.
"You sure are growing by the way. I remember when Stoick first showed you to me. You were so small back then."
Hiccup hopped down to the floor and stretched himself out. He realized that he was as long as Gobber's table. It wasn't something he had really paid much attention to in a long time.
And to think that I fit in a basket last winter. I guess Night Furies grow very fast after all.
Stoick led the four other tribe members down to the Academy. He had shared his plan for Hiccup with Astrid, and she had naturally agreed.
Einarth, Hroggar, Roggvir, and Nien.
Each of them had rallied around their Chief in the clash with Mildew. Still, everyone noticed that they never interacted with any of the dragons. Einarth and Hroggar were both older fishermen and had certainly seen bad things in the past. Roggvir and Nien though were both younger and didn't have a clear reason to still be suspicious of dragons.
"Everyone, thank you for coming here this morning," Astrid greeted them.
"Astrid," "Ms. Hofferdottir," the four guests curtly greeted her and made their introductions.
"You know why the Chief wanted you to come down here, right?"
They each looked around at each other, clearly having an idea as to why.
"I'm not going to tell you to get dragons of your own. It doesn't work that way. But I do want you to meet one," Stoick began.
"We've seen plenty of them the last couple years," Einarth answered.
"But have you spoken with one?"
Hiccup then stepped forward with a scroll and pencil clutched in his hand.
"I know you've seen him in the Hall before. You know that he can talk. I want you to talk to him now."
No one moved for a while. The four of them looked away and at the ground. Hiccup made the first move.
Hello
"Go on, talk to him," Stoick encouraged them.
"I don't think we have anything to say to it," Einarth finally whispered.
"It? He has a name," Astrid objected.
Hiccup nodded in encouragement while calmly looking at them.
Stoick took a deep breath to avoid getting angry. Yelling was not likely to help with them.
Why do you not like me?
They all looked at the writing and considered what they saw. Among the guests only Nein looked at him and seemed like she wanted to say something.
"It… he is not a human. He is not like us," Einarth finally said.
"Why does that matter?" Astrid exclaimed.
"Because we are more than the dragons."
"What?"
"We know the stories about history, we understand the wishes of the gods and know what will happen at the end times. They are just beasts, not the terrible beasts that we thought they were once, but beasts all the same," Einarth explained.
"He is smart enough to talk to us and learn from us. He can do anything that we can do. Why do you think he is a beast?" Astrid rebutted.
Stoick stepped forward and addressed the other four.
"I know that you are all loyal to this tribe. As I said before, I'm not asking for you to get dragons. But I do want you to learn and accept them as a part of your tribe too. You can start with him. Good day."
Stoick left them alone in the Academy.
"So, what are we supposed to do now?" asked Roggvir.
Astrid answered him.
"Do what your Chief told you to do. Talk to Hiccup. He is part of your tribe."
Then she stepped back and started waiting.
Nein finally approached Hiccup and spoke to him.
"Are all dragons as smart as you?"
I do not know
"And how did you learn to write like this?"
My dad taught me
"Your dad?"
Hiccup almost felt his heart stop. He had written that without thinking. The pencil trembled in his paw. Had he just ruined everything?
"I think he means that Stoick has been like a father. Stoick found the egg on Dragon Island and raised them both in his house last year. He must have taught Hiccup how to read then. That is why you think of him as your dad, right?"
Astrid had wasted no time in explaining what he should have said.
Yes, he nodded before looking up at the four guests. None of them looked suspicious. Disaster had been averted.
"I didn't know that dragons have families," Nein continued.
Do they have families? Toothless had seemed to have spoken of his previous family before, though that was clearly a painful memory.
We do
Night Furies at least
I do not know about others
"Why not ask them?"
I cannot talk to them
"Show us your talking. Talking in dragon, I mean," Hroggar said.
Hiccup recounted one of his recent discussions with Toothless. Then he looked up to gauge their reactions.
"It only sounds like rumbling and hissing to me. But… I'm not sure," Nein pondered.
Your ears cannot hear it all
"I don't think he is lying," she eventually said.
"I know that he is not. He talks to his brother the same way, and they are clearly listening to each other," Astrid added.
"This is not what I thought it would be. He is actually… different from the other beasts," Einarth begrudgingly admitted.
"Can we talk to your brother?" Nein asked him.
He does not know how to write
"No? But I thought Chief Stoick taught you both."
He shook his head.
Only I learned well
He was not interested
"Sounds like my brother. No matter what my parents tried to do he never wanted to pick up a scroll and learn his Norse," she laughed.
You can talk to him with me though
"Don't worry about it. I was just curious."
Astrid happily watched as all four of them gathered around Hiccup and sat down on the ground to start asking him all manner of questions. Hiccup seemed to greatly enjoy telling them all about dragons, what they eat, what it feels like to fly, and some of the adventures he has already been on.
Einarth and Hroggar stood up and approached her after a while.
"Astrid, I guess I see what you meant. Dragons can be more than what I thought, what we thought," Einarth admitted.
"It takes a while to get used to. It did for me at least."
"We still have a question though. He is definitely more than an animal or a pet. But I'm still not sure about the other dragons. Even he says that he cannot talk to them. They are definitely not the monsters we thought they were but they are not like him."
"I understand what you mean, Einarth. I wonder that about my Stormfly. I know she likes being around me and she can understand some of what I say or want her to do. But she doesn't try to talk to me. Maybe with time that will change."
"But you don't think that your dragon is your pet, right?"
What did she really think? There was no question in her mind with respect to Hiccup and Toothless. But it would be a lie if she didn't admit that she had some doubts about the other dragons, Stormfly included. Stormfly would do things that reminded her of pets like wolves. But she also seemed more aware and conscientious than any wolf or dog she had ever seen. She herself certainly felt a duty toward her dragon to keep her clean, well-fed, and happy. But that old question of what makes one a person kept gnawing at her as she had not yet found a compelling answer.
"Even if she is not as smart as we are, it won't change how I treat her or any other dragon."
Einarth seemed impressed and nodded at her.
"You are wise beyond your years, Astrid."
"Thank you, sir."
Roggvir, Nien, and Hiccup walked over to them, their discussion apparently finished as well.
"Well, I think that is everything the Chief wanted us to do. Good day."
The four guests dutifully left the Academy, though not without waving to Hiccup. Then Astrid turned to him once the others had departed.
"Not bad. I think they were quite impressed by you."
Hiccup tried to hide his smug, dragonish grin. Watching them gradually warm up to him and start asking questions had been very satisfying.
I could get used to this
"It is not normally this serious. Usually I just help children learn how to behave or teach them about the different types of dragons. Umm, do you want to come over to my parents' house for dinner? I promise no eel this time."
He grimaced at the miserable memory but nodded yes regardless.
"Toothless can come too. Just be sure he behaves himself."
Oh, I will, time for Toothless to learn some table manners.
Toothless stood tall on highest point of the rock-spire with his wings fully outstretched. They rippled and blew with every gust of sea-wind. The glorious warmth of the sun's fire left him feeling very sleepy, but they helped make the soreness in his wings feel better
He had spent all the time from the sun's highest flight until the present flying. Alternating between flying on his own power and gliding on the winds with only very short breaks. It was the longest he had been able to stay aloft in a long time.
Still, it was good that he was able to fly as well as he could since he was not yet one full season-cycle out of the egg. Knowing the technique definitely helped, but his success was due to more than just that. He was much bigger and stronger than he had been the first time.
It must be that I've been eating a lot. Sire and dam did not always have fish or four-leg meat for me.
In fact, he could not remember a single sun-cycle when he had gone without any food.
That is a good thing about two-leg nests. Maybe the best thing. They have a lot of food.
On the ever-present matter of food…
He leapt from the ledge and glided back to the nest. Hiccup found him before he got to the large wood-cave-den.
"Toothless, we eat?"
"Yes, I am hungry."
"We eat at Astrid's cave."
"Her cave? Why?"
"She make food for us."
He didn't really care where the food came from. He did wonder slightly what a different two-leg nest-cave was like on the inside.
"Good."
They took off together and flew to Astrid's nest-cave. He already knew which one it was because it had a smaller cave-den built next to it just for the spine-tail that she had named Storm-Flier.
Hiccup landed first and hopped up to the mouth of the cave. Then he turned on him.
"We need talk now. You be good. Not make mess when eating."
He stuck his tongue out at Hiccup, to which Hiccup growled back.
"Be good."
Hiccup turned around to knock on the door. Toothless was very tempted to pounce on Hiccup's tail, but then he thought the better of it. This was an occasion to be serious.
The door opened shortly after he knocked on it. Toothless noted that it was Astrid's dam.
"Oh, there you two are, Astrid told me that you would be coming over. Come on in," she beckoned them inside.
Toothless took his time as he looked around the inside of the den. It was laid out similarly to Hiccup's sire's den. But this one had different animal skins and images on its inside. There were different sharp metal teeth and two-leg things.
The room was much as Hiccup remembered it. The only difference was that there was a large cooking pot over the fireplace. No doubt it held tonight's supper.
"Astrid! They are here!"
"Coming mom."
Astrid hurried out of the kitchen to greet her guests.
"Hey little guys, I almost have dinner ready. Mom, how about you talk with them?"
Her mother nervously came over and stood next to him. He knew that she had never before spoken to him.
"So, which one of you should I be talking to?"
Hiccup raised a paw and looked right back at her.
"This is strange to be talking to a dragon, but I know you understand us. Astrid said that you are helping her with her work."
Yes, he nodded.
He saw that she was slightly giddy to be talking to him.
"Amazing…"
"He did a good job too," Astrid shouted over to them.
"Of course he would. Who could be difficult with him?"
"You'd be surprised mom. People are still idiots."
"Idiots? Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Mom, we are still Nords, what do you expect? We have stubbornness issues."
Hiccup laughed at that.
"Are you ok?" Vidarr looked concerned.
"He is laughing!" Astrid replied.
"Oh, it sounded like he was choking or something."
"Nope, that is how they laugh. And the soup is ready!"
Astrid brought several bowls of soup and set them out on the table. Hiccup turned to Toothless with a stern warning.
"Sit and be good."
Toothless considered pouncing on Hiccup then and there to teach him a lesson. But this was Astrid's cave-nest, and they were the ones providing the food. So he followed Hiccup's example by hopping up and standing on the chair. It was not as easy as it had been last time because he was much bigger this time.
"Well, look at that. So well behaved."
Hiccup investigated the stew. Plenty of vegetables and salmon. And no eel.
Toothless wrinkled his nose at all the plant parts in the food. But there was still enough fish that he would be satisfied.
Hiccup was about ready to eat when Astrid came back out with a plate that had a couple de-scaled and smoked fish.
Toothless started drooling when he saw the fish.
"Toothless, no! Bad!" Hiccup barked.
Toothless closed his mouth and started carefully picking at the bits of fish in the bowl.
Seeing that Toothless was eating properly, Hiccup started on the soup as well. Unlike Toothless though, he used the spoon that Astrid provided him. That was sure to impress her parents. Just as last time, he did not think that the vegetables tasted good. The bits of hard bread soaked in the soup tasted bland.
Definitely not something dragons normally eat.
"Amazing, he uses a spoon. Stoick trained him well. What did he help you with today dear?" Vidarr asked.
"There were four of us who still didn't like dragons very much. Hiccup helped by talking to them by writing. He told them all about flying, about what dragons eat, about some of his adventures..."
A quiet period ensued in which there were no sounds except for the slurp of soup and chewing of food.
"So dear, what did you learn about the world out there? You were going to tell us all about it," her father Sigurd asked.
She stirred the soup for a few seconds before answering.
"That people will do anything for power. That most people will try to use dragons for their own purposes. And that we have it very good here on Berk."
"No one tried to do anything to you, did they?"
"No dad, I never gave them a chance. Stormfly stayed very close the whole time."
Sigurd hummed gruffly.
"I knew she would, love that Nadder."
"When do you think you might need to go back out there?" Vidarr asked.
"I hope no time soon. Maybe not even until spring."
Toothless chirped at her and showed her the bowl filled with vegetables but no fish.
"Alright Mr. Picky, here you go," she handed him one of the fish.
"Do you not eat any vegetables?"
Hiccup tried to convey his willingness to eat but lack of desire because they just didn't taste good.
"Uh, you don't look excited. I guess dragons don't like them?"
He slowly shook his head.
"Makes sense. I'll keep that in mind."
He wiped his muzzle on his napkin and turned his attention to the smoked fish. While it was possible for him to eat soup using a spoon, the only option for cutting up the fish was with his claws. So he did.
The fleshy taste of the smoked fish was absolutely delicious.
"Astrid, have you given any more thought to… the future?" Vidarr asked.
Astrid seemed to stiffen at the question.
"Not really, I am happy with what I am doing now."
"Ok, good…"
The silence that followed was definitely an awkward one.
Hiccup swallowed the last bit of fish. Toothless had done likewise and was sitting calmly on his chair. Toothless had managed to not spill anything on the table during the entire meal.
Good job bud.
"Are you two done?" Astrid asked him.
Yes.
"Ok, I am going to go see to Stormfly."
There was no paper on the table for him to write on to show Astrid's parents his thanks. He hopped to the floor and gave Vidarr a quick bow.
"Thank you Hiccup, you are both always welcome here."
Sigurd came forward as well and kindly patted him on the head before Astrid walked them both to the door.
"Good night you two, I hope you liked the food… the fish at least. Tell Toothless he did well tonight."
Yes.
I will.
Astrid smiled at them and closed the door. It was past sundown and everything was slowing down for the night.
"She say you were good, Toothless. No food mess."
"Did you eat plant stuff?" Toothless wondered.
"Some. Not taste good."
"Some plants good for kin but not those. Astrid's nest-cave is different, is happier than your cave-nest. She has her sire and dam. Why she not have nest-mates?"
"Some two-legs pairs cannot make more than one hatchling or do not want more than one. Maybe that is why."
A question that had been on Toothless's mind for a while now seemed appropriate to finally ask.
"Where your dam, Hiccup?"
Hiccup stopped walking and looked toward his home.
"Dead."
"How?"
He had been too young back when it happened. It was only a story to him. A story that explained why he had no mother and other youths did. Naturally, his dad had never spoken of the matter to him. What Gobber had only recently shared with him was the most he had learned about that fateful day long ago.
"A kin killed her."
Toothless's head slumped at that, and he gave a sad rumble.
"Bad. Two-legs killed mine," he eventually mumbled.
They were both very aware of the parallels between them.
"I was her only hatchling then and do not remember her," Hiccup added.
"That is sad. You not have nestmates."
"Yes, I do Toothless."
Toothless rumbled his confusion.
"Two-legs have different word. I make word now… brother."
"What does… braughthr… mean?"
"Means male young from same sire and dam. Means a word for like-kin who learn with, play with, fight with, and trust each other. Who... fly the same air in the skies of life."
"Almost sounds like us," Toothless teased.
"Yes, us."
Then he realized what Hiccup was saying.
"But we not have same sire and dam."
"Not important. Could have been since we egg-mates. You said you stay my nestmate, my egg-mate, my brother, even if I become two-leg."
Toothless considered these words. For Hiccup to say that he was his closest kin and wanted to stay so even if he became a two-leg again gave a warmth to his liver. They resumed walking without any further words and looked up at the stars together. The lingering warmth of the meal and their shared words helped to protect against the chill that was starting to fill the nightly air.