I hope my characterization of Dagur is okay.

Chapter 8—The Key to One's Heart

The rays of morning poured into the Haddock household and into Hiccup's room where Luna slept on Toothless' rock slab and Alva slept in Hiccup's bed. Alva woke to the sun and when she opened her eyes, she couldn't stop the huge smile spreading across her face.

"I thought I was dreaming", Alva said as she sat up. "But I'm not. I'm here. In a real home. In a real room."

A wonderful smell was coming from downstairs and Alva hummed in bliss. "Mm… do you smell that, Luna?"

"Smells like…"

" "Fresh bread and eggs." "

Together, they walked downstairs finding Stoick making breakfast. No one had ever made her breakfast before, and she never got to eat so soon after waking up. Usually, when she woke, it was dark and she had to go to the barn herself a mile away from where Lady Brenna let her stay. By the time she'd finally eaten she had to go to work immediately making hundreds of dresses per day. Getting to wake up with the sun, come down to a cooked meal, and getting to share that wonderful meal with someone was more than just a treat; it was paradise.

"Morning, dear. Good that you're up; Dagur will be here soon", Stoick said as Alva sat across the table from him. Stoick then looked to Luna and seemed perplexed. "Where's Toothless?"

"Toothless?" Alva asked trying to think of something quick. "Uh, he…is…waiting for Luna to join him outside. He was going to show her a game. Why don't you go on, girl?" Alva finished turning to Luna who sat beside her chair.

"What am I supposed to do out there?"

"Just wait outside until I come out. Okay?"

"Fine", Luna grumbled going upstairs and flying out one of the windows.

"Hiccup, what have I told you about speaking Dragonese around others like that? It's not polite, and people will think you've got something to hide."

'You have no idea', Alva thought.

A Razorwhip and Triplestrike could be seen flying into Berk, two Berserkers riding them. Dagur was excited to see Hiccup again. He hoped she wasn't too mad at him. Sure, he could have declined the offer, but it seemed like the best solution. With Berserk and Berk united, Berk's financial problem would be solved indefinitely. After what seemed to be forever of Berk only getting closer, he and his sister landed on the docks to be greeted by Stoick.

"Dagur, Heather, it's good to see you two", Stoick greeted them kindly.

"It's good to see you too, sir", Heather responded getting off Windshear.

"Now, where's my little sis—uh—I mean fiancé at?" Dagur asked getting off Sluether, and Heather's glare making him catch himself from saying 'sister'. He'd been working on that.

"I believe I saw her go into the forest not too long ago", Stoick answered, and Dagur ran off to go see her; not the most chiefly thing to do before another on their island, but Dagur didn't really care.

Alva sighed in bliss as she and Luna walked through the forest peacefully, the leaves of fall prominent in their full colors.

"I may never leave", Alva said in peace. She didn't remember a single day when she could do this with Luna; just simply walk on a nice day. She then heard her dragon whimper and noticed Luna lagging behind looking sad and distraught. "Luna? Girl, what's wrong?" she asked walking back to her Light Fury.

The dragon whimpered again before answering. "You should just leave me here. That Alvin… he said I'm impaired. Deficient. A runt. I'm not like other Furies. I'm too weak. Too small. I'm only a burden to you." Luna whined and moaned closed in on herself looking as if she wanted to hide away.

"Oh, Luna…" Alva never felt burdened by Luna. Her dragon had always had a self-esteem issue with her size, and now Alvin's words had stuck in her mind refusing to let go. Alva wasn't sure how to cheer her best friend up, when suddenly a lantern lit up in her head and she smirked with the idea before getting her friend's attention. "Luna, did you know that there was once a cat who could bark?"

"A barking cat?" Luna asked curiously lifting her head up a little.

"Mhm. One day, the cat realized he was different; he wasn't like the other cats around him, and that made him sad. But, you know what his friend did?"

"What?"

"She sang him a song to tell him how amazing he was just the way he was. Let's see… I believe it went something like this. I can see it when you're feeling low you can't hide that from me. You're no status quo calico, so why keep trying to be? 'Cause you're more than that. You're a doggish cat. I wish you could see the you I see." Alva finished looking straight in Luna's eyes that were now focused on her.

"What'd she see?"

"Hmm… She said, if you bark celebrate it. Make your mark. Serenade it. Noah's Ark shoulda had a cat like you. And if what you are is a strange you, doesn't mean you should change you, only means you should change your point of view! Hey feline, you fetch just fine to thine own self be true. Your bowwow's the cat's meow. It's how I know you're you!" she sang bopping Luna's nose with the last line.

000

"Hiccup?!" Dagur called in the forest, when he then heard singing. Following the voice, he found it to belong to Hiccup. Watching from behind a tree, he saw her standing with a small white Night Fury like dragon singing it a song, and all Dagur could think was how he never realized how beautiful her voice was as she sang of how much she loved the tiny dragon. Then again, he'd never heard Hiccup sing.

"You don't need the bows, or tiara. Bid your woes, sayonara. Trust your nose, 'cause it knows the way to go. When you chase your tail, your enchanting spirits sail. When you're panting, when you wail, you're a wonderful Freja!"

000

"There is not one scale on you that I would rearrange. I love you the way you are, and that will never change. That will never change", Alva finished the song bending to Luna's level. The dragon leaned her head forward and Alva wrapped her arms around the dragon's head.

"You made that whole thing up. Didn't you?" Luna then accused looking up at her from Alva's embrace.

"I may have embellished", Alva answered before giggling to herself in her head. 'Heheh. Works every time.'

000

Seeing enough, Dagur decided to let Hiccup have her moment with her new dragon. He absently wondered where Toothless was, but it was quickly overridden by the plan he had forming in his head to bond with Hiccup. He knew Hiccup probably wasn't thrilled to being forced to marry him, so the least he could do for her was try to show her that he could make her happy. They had four days to spend together before the wedding, and he was going to make the most of them.

Finishing her first dress, Hiccup felt indifferent about how the design turned out. Sowing up fabric and leather into flight suits and tail fins, as well as her own simple garments, she could do. But, when working with stitching in complicated designs such as the ones of this shop, as well as working with silk, she was a bit inexperienced. She kind of wished Snotlout was there.

"There. This one's finished!" she said, standing and presenting the dress. Somehow, the design came out lopsided and looking unfinished with pieces appearing to be missing.

Toothless cocked his head to the side and crooned with distaste at it.

"Well, sort of."

"Please, Hiccup, you don't have to do this", Kari said, but Hiccup would have none of it.

"I can't let you do it all by yourself? Is it always just you and Alva?" she asked sitting down.

"Yes", Kari answered returning to her work. "Every dress you see here has either been made by me or her. We work terribly long hours, sometimes all through the day and night with very little breaks at all. And when we do get to rest, the rooms she offers are more like closets than rooms."

Hiccup frowned at that. The way Brenna treated her girls was just awful. "Don't worry. I promise, when this is all sorted out and I'm back home, I'll make sure you and Alva don't have to worry about her mistreatment ever again. Now, if only I could fix this", Hiccup then said turning back to her poorly embroidered dress and tried to start fixing it. Kari only smiled at the kind heiress, grateful that people like her existed.

Alva paced back and forth on the bottom floor of Hiccup's home, a plethora of what ifs rushing through her thoughts. Luna told her that if she didn't stop she'd start digging a trench into the floor boards, but Alva paid no mind unable to calm down.

"Ah, what am I thinking? I can't do this. As soon as I walk in that Chief Dagur's gonna realize I'm a fake. They're all gonna see right through me. Ohhh…where are you Aric?" The front door then suddenly opened and in the frame was Alvin. "Oh, uh, Alvin. What a… pleasant surprise", Alva said trying to keep her nerves in check and hidden.

Never show a thing you feel inside

Alvin then looked down to see Luna sitting beside her and a scowl appeared on his already hideous face. "Why do you insist on keeping dysfunctional dragons? And speaking of which, where's your Night Fury? Toothless?"

"Uh…he's around…somewhere."

"Mhm… It's just so rare that you two are ever apart." All Alva could do was give a small shrug and smile. She wished Aric would get here with Hiccup already. Any moment they were gonna realize she was a fake and throw her in the dungeon. "I came because Dagur's arrived. He's waiting in the hall."

"Oh. Great", she replied with a smile and allowed Alvin to lead her there to meet Dagur.

000

"I'm sorry for the delay in plans, Dagur, but I assure you it's all sorted out", Stoick apologized on behalf of Hiccup's latest stunt as they all waited for her to arrive.

"It's alright. I know Hiccup can be a bit dramatic at times", Dagur replied.

"It is shocking though that she just gave up, even if it was only for a little bit", Heather wondered.

"Well she's always been full of surprises", Dagur just simply brushed off.

Heather leaned over to Dagur in a whisper. "Are you sure this 'plan' of yours is a good idea?" she asked.

"Yeah. You should have seen her. This will be perfect. I just know it", Dagur responded in the same low tone.

The doors then opened and Dagur turned to see Hiccup walk in with a small smile, a smile of his own appearing. Looking at her, there was something different about Hiccup as she came towards him. He couldn't figure it out, though. He certainly hoped it was good different.

000

As Alva walked towards the Berserker Chief, she felt her heart race. Great. Now, not only was she nervous, but she had to spend her time with this hot guy and not fall in love with him. Sure, he had quite the wild look to him, but to tell the truth, she kind of liked that. Hopefully, once he opened his mouth the sudden attraction would fade. After all, that's all it was; an attraction, a crush. Nothing more; it couldn't become anything more. She hadn't even talked to him yet. She knew nothing other than what Aric had told her about him. And given what she was told, she was pretty sure he wouldn't be her type. Nothing to worry about.

"Hiccup!" Dagur said joyfully in greeting coming towards her now for a hug. It was strong, but surprisingly gentle like he was trying his best to hold back from squeezing her. Aric had told her to prepare for his rib crushing bear hugs, but it seemed Dagur had learned to restrain himself. She was thankful for that, and was pretty sure Hiccup would have been appreciative of it as well. He pulled away and had an excited look on his face. His eyes then traveled down to Luna. "And who's this little cutey?" he asked, petting Luna's head.

"Oh, uh, Luna", Alva answered before Luna started purring. "She…uh, likes you."

Dagur then turned back to her, the same expression and excitement in his bright green eyes. Oh, wow, she felt like she could drown in— 'Wha—no. No, focus Alva. Focus.'

"Hic, I know I'm not the one you would have liked to settle down with, but I promise we can make this work. Look!" he said holding up a lyre. "I even have a surprise."

Dagur was a musician? She felt her heart skip a beat. 'What just happened?' She assured herself that this was only fading. Just a simple little crush. It wasn't like love at first sight was an actual thing. Right?

"I didn't realize you played, Dagur?" Stoick asked.

"Oh, yeah. Heather and I like to do little duets in our spare time for fun. But, this time I was hoping you would like to sing with me", Dagur offered her.

"Sing… with you…?" she said almost dreamily, but then caught herself quickly remembering to keep her resolve. "Oh, I-I don't know. I'm not really that good… Maybe you should just demonstrate with Heather."

"Something tells me you have a wonderful voice", he said as he took her hand and led her to the center of the room where Heather had brought a chair for Dagur to sit in. "You know the song 'If You Love Me for Me, right?" he asked as he sat getting ready to play.

"Mhm", Alva replied with a nervous nod.

"Great! We'll do that one then."

Dagur began to play the first few notes, but on her cue she missed it freezing up. She wasn't sure why. It was just a song after all. She'd sung tons of love songs before. Why was this so different? It shouldn't have been different. It wasn't different. Dagur tried again, but again she froze up. "Come on", Dagur whispered in encouragement. "Don't tell me you have stage fright?"

Alva took a breath forcing herself to calm down and loosen up. She nodded to say she was ready, and one more time, he begun again. This time, Alva sung.

"Once a lass met a lad. You're a gentle one, said she. In my heart I'd be glad if you loved me for me."

"Wow, Hiccup's been practicing", Heather whispered over to Stoick.

"You say your love is true, and I hope that it will be."

"I'd be sure if I knew that you loved me for me", Dagur jumped in and Alva looked at him continuing to with her next lines.

"Could I be the one you're seeking? Will I be the one you choose? Can you tell my heart is speaking? My eyes will give you clues." As Alva continued to sing she began to wonder if she was beginning to sing to him, or if it was still just a song…

000

A few days later, deciding on just going on a walk through the village, the two walked side by side through town. The days prior had been filled with more exciting activities; for example, after a very sweet picnic lunch in a cove in the forest, Dagur had suggested a race and after some convincing, Alva agreed. Racing against his dragon, Sleauther, they planned on going through an insane obstacle course. It was a close race between her and the Triplestrike, Dagur and eventually her laughing joyfully. At first his laugh was a little jarring, having an insane vibe to it, but Alva found herself getting used to it; even liking it, and unable to keep herself from laughing along whenever she heard it. Bursting forward with newfound confidence, Alva had soon gotten ahead of the pair winning the race…only for her to not be able to stop and crash into a tree. Dagur quickly hopped off of his dragon to help her up, and Alva couldn't help blushing as he did. Of all the things to crash into, it was a tree. Today, she just wanted to do something simple and calming.

Pretty soon, Alva found her hand drifting towards Dagur's eventually grasping it. As time had went on, it was getting harder for Alva to remember that she was only here temporarily. The man didn't become jarred by the movement at all. He accepted it holding onto her hand in return. She couldn't help but smile.

000

Dagur knew he had always felt… something for Hiccup. He knew he loved her; she was his sister. She always had been, and had thought she always would be. He never thought he would actually be falling for her though. The first moment he saw her walking towards him in the hall that week, he knew he noticed something was different about her. He had hoped it was a good different, and he was happy to say it was.

He had heard that eyes were the window to the soul, but he never believed it. Now, however, he was beginning to think otherwise. As they had spent their days together this past week, he had begun to figure out what was so different about her. Hiccup's eyes were different. They were grounded; she was grounded. It was something he hadn't expected. Hiccup had truthfully always been a free bird, a dragon who couldn't be caged. Sometimes it was honestly a little annoying.

But now, there was no wild dragon. When he looked in Hiccup's forest eyes, he no longer saw someone who would take each and every current just for the fun of it, but someone who had chosen one wind current and wanted to ride it to the end no matter what. Someone who was sure of themselves; a girl who knew exactly who she was and who she wanted to become.

It was something he never thought he would see in Hiccup. And what was stranger was that he liked it. It was a trait he supposed he didn't see too often. Maybe some of Hiccup's riders held it, but he never really payed much attention to them.

Now, they were at a cliff's edge overlooking the sunset. It was something Hiccup had decided after her requested walk through the village. She had explained it as her stump beginning to ache and that she needed to sit for a little. As they sat he felt something wrap around him, and looking down on his left side sat a black tail by his hip. Hiccup must have unconsciously put it there. As the days had passed on he noticed Hiccup was becoming more nervous around him, blushing, and not wanting to look him in the eye, but also more comfortable and looking at him like he'd never seen Hiccup look at him before. Maybe this arranged marriage wouldn't be a total fiasco after all.

They just sat in silence for a while until Dagur broke it. "Breathtaking", he said with awe, the word just slipping out as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky changing colors from blue, to reds, and purples. He always did envy Berk for its sunsets; well, that, and for their dragons. Dagur quickly shook that thought out of his head. That past was behind him. Thanks to Heather, and some heavy meditation on his part, he was better. Much better.

000

Alva sighed contently in response to Dagur. "The prettiest sunset I've ever seen", she said before looking at him, meeting his eyes, and then quickly turning away again. All of this was wrong. She knew that, and yet Alva couldn't stop the emotions running through her. As she had gotten to know Dagur she had discovered he wasn't quite what Aric had described. Sure, he had a strange laugh, and at times did or said something that was rather odd, but he seemed over all pretty sane. He was kind, and funny, making Alva laugh more than she ever thought was possible. He was a little crazy at times, but in a good way, getting her to try things she likely wouldn't have done herself. That dangerous race was certainly a first for her. And she loved seeing how he was so protective of Luna challenging Alvin when the man insulted her size for the third time, as well as how he would also dote on the Light Fury like she was the most precious thing. It was strange coming from such a strong physic, but nice and Alva always found herself smiling softly at it.

"You know, Hic, if there was one thing I had to pick that I've always liked about you it would be that you've always been so… honest", Dagur then suddenly spoke.

"Honest. Yeah…" she repeated.

"Maybe that's why I had gotten so mad on Dragon Island…" Dagur paused for good long moment staring off. "Thank you for forgiving me", he then said now looking at her with the most sincere expression she'd ever seen on anyone. It gave her pause. That was right; the two had a history together, and a complicated one at that. He must have been brought back to it somehow, and now...he was thanking her. But that thanks didn't belong to her, and it only made her all the more guilty for what she was doing.

"Well, this was fun", he then said suddenly, getting up as if that whole moment hadn't even happened. Maybe there were still a few stitches too loose in that wonder of a brain of his? He was about to walk off when he stopped and looked down at her. "You coming?"

"I…think I'll just sit here for a little bit", she said looking up at him with a strained smile.

"Okay." Dagur didn't say anything other than that, but he also didn't move to walk away. They just kind of looked at one another for a moment, Alva's smile becoming more real and soft. Then, he knelt back down, cupped her cheek, and kissed her. At first, Alva was a little surprised and shocked still, but it was quickly forgotten when she melted into the kiss and found herself kissing back. When they broke apart they just smiled. "Goodnight Hiccup", he said before rising again to leave.

"Goodnight", she said softly in return, and he walked off. After he left, she turned herself back to the sunset, and then looked down, a frown crossing her once smiling face.

"Honest", Alva muttered to herself repeating what Dagur had said before. She wasn't honest, not one bit. Dagur had just kissed her, but at the same time not her. She wasn't even sure if it was her he was falling for or the person she was pretending to be. She then realized that she had also kissed back. What was wrong with her?! This shouldn't be happening. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was all wrong!

She noticed her tail lying curled around the spot Dagur had been. When did she do that? Luna, who'd been lying in the background came up to her companion and Alva groaned aloud placing her head into her hands. This was really messed up. "Luna, what am I going to do? Hiccup and Aric are still missing! And I think I've fallen in love with the Berserker Chief."