Hiccup sighed. He knew the question was coming. It always came. It did not make it easier to answer. Toothless gave a soft chuff.
[I will tell her, brother,] he said softly.
Hiccup smiled. "Thank you," he whispered.
[You call him brother?] the male Night Fury asked.
[Yes,] Toothless answered, [and the why is within the tale I will give you three.] He nudged Hiccup with his nose. [Brother, I will tell them in the Old Tongue. It'll be faster.]
"Do what you think is best," Hiccup said.
Toothless warbled then turned to the other Night Furies. He began a series of croons, bays, barks, and warbles. The three dragons listened, looking away from Toothless only stare at Hiccup first, then Astrid, and finally Hiccup's metal leg.
[I see,] the male Night Fury said. He closed his eyes and sighed. [I should be angry over your tail, little brother, but watching the human wince and look away when you flicked your real tailfin, I know he deeply regrets what happened.] The Night Fury tilted his head. [Our sister will not be as understanding.]
Hiccup felt and heard Toothless chortle.
[I warned him of that.]
The male's nose scrunched up. [Brother, there is something I don't understand. When you found those younglings, why didn't you bring them home? You know they would have been given a place to stay.]
[I found them far to the south and was heading this way. I stopped at various nest along the way because none of them had flown for long. I could stay in the various nests but none wished to take all four in whenever I asked. None until her.]
[Did.. did the other three survive?] Toothless' sister-in-law asked, slowly.
[I am unsure. They were not among the dragons that nested here. I have asked, but there were so many in that nest that those who live here are not sure either.]
Before anyone else could speak, Hiccup noted a familiar stick move close to Shadowfire's tail. Shadowfire lifted it enough that Gothi could slip under it. She walked close to the rock of the cove wall so as not to crowd the Night Furies. Said dragons did nothing more than watch her. She stopped near to Gyda's bent knee and etched out some runes in the dirt. Hiccup looked down then up to the elder and smiled.
"Thank you," he said, feeling a weight fall of his shoulders.
Knowing his father was fine if unable to move gave him relief. Gothi etched more runes and Hiccup nodded his head, the anger rising once more. Gothi etched more runes.
"No," he stated, his eyes narrowed.
Gothi stared at him then nodded her head. She looked towards the new Night Furies then back to Hiccup before etching something else in the dirt. Hiccup read it then turned to the Night Furies.
"If they want to help," he said. "I'm not going to force them."
Gothi nodded again before turning and ambling back towards Shadowfire's tail. Shadowfire lifted it again and Gothi walked under it. Shadowfire dropped his tail, the barrier once more in place.
[Who was she?] the non-mated female asked.
"Our version of a dragon elder," Hiccup said. "She speaks for our gods, heals our tribe, and gives advice among other things. She has been mute long before I was born so uses her staff to write her words"
[An elder that does not speak in one breath,] the same female said. [Never thought I would live to see that day. What was the last thing she wrote?]
"She wondered if I would let you three help us run the Speedstingers off the island."
[You said you would not force us,] the same female stated, head tilted. [You have that authority. You are the alpha of your nest. You have the right to demand all in its boundaries to repeal an invasion.]
Hiccup stared at her. "The Red Death forced the dragons to act when they did not want to. I will never force a dragon or a human to act. I will never place any dragon or human into slavery."
The female blinked, looking to her companions. [I find myself wanting to help him but I know I can refuse and there would be no ill will towards me. I don't know how or why.]
[The Alpha protects them all,] Sneaky said.
[That old poem?] the male whispered. [What does that have to do with him?]
Gyda stirred and hummed. "He speaks with the voice of an alpha."
Hiccup frowned when Toothless chuffed, Stormfly and Windwalker chirped, Frost, Pale, and Sneaky chittered, and Shadowfire's entire body jerked.
[Mother?] he asked, lifting his head where he had laid it down between Toothless' head and the rock wall.
Gyda smiled at him then looked towards Hiccup. "Your almost roar," she said. "It had the authority of an alpha dragon."
"He is the alpha of the nest," Astrid said. "Why should his shout in the Hall make any difference?"
Gyda sighed. "Ombra explained a lot before Frost hatched. He wanted me prepared. One thing he warned me of repeatedly was to take care of the alpha my children bowed to. While most male leaders of a nest are referred to as alpha of the nest, or king of the nest depending on the dragon species, there are species of dragons who can speak and cause all dragons around them to respond. In some cases the dragons are not able to refuse or resist. I suspect the Red Death was a minor version of those alpha species. That would explain how she could command even when the dragons left the nest on those raids. Otherwise, the dragons would have just flown away, hunting for a new nest or making one of their own. For some reason I still don't know or understand, Hiccup's almost roar held that power as well. That's why the dragons in the Hall did not move until he gave the all clear."
Hiccup's eyes narrowed. "They are not my slaves," he said.
The thing within him rose. He tried to stop it. He did not need his voice to carry like it had in the Hall. The thing coated his words despite his best effort. He saw the Berkian dragons not a part of the group but in his line of sight freeze and turn towards him.
"Shake your head," Gyda said.
He looked at her, eyebrow raised.
"Shake your head," she repeated. "Let them know everything is fine."
Hiccup frowned but did as she suggested. His eyes widened as every dragon looked away and resumed whatever they had been doing before. He glanced over, finding those aiding Shadowfire relaxing somewhat. He felt his heart break. He did not know what was going on, but it seemed to be the same as the Red Death's hold over the dragons. He placed his head in his hands. Whatever rested in his soul could force the dragons to do something they did not want to do. He was no better than that monster.
Prince: Yeah. Given Toothless' protective nature, it seemed a fitting reason for him being in that nest. Yes. Just not right now. They will probably come when we get to the Edge.
Kirika: Hehe, we'll get to the Edge but this northbound trip is important.