"This be no trick?" Steinar asked, slightly breathless.

Shadowfire snorted. [Nope,] he said before lifting his head.

Toothless padded over, half putting his body in between Steinar and Hiccup. Sharpshot moved from Gyda's shoulder to Hiccup's back. Steinar watched, eyes still widen. Toothless set back, lifting his forelegs off the ground and extended a wing behind Hiccup and Sharpshot. Toothless then curled the tip, effectively placing his brothers in a wing version of a side hug.

"I see wot ye mean by brothers, young Hiccup," Steinar said, smiling.

Hiccup sighed. "There is more," he said. "The dragons that live on this island follow me."

Toothless snorted. [Brother, now is not the time for modesty,] he said before staring at Steinar. [Hiccup is our alpha. Every dragon that lives within this nest bows to his leadership and his authority.]

Steinar faced the Night Furies and the Changewings. Toothless' brother and the Changewing king stepped forward.

[Neither myself, my mate, or her friend live within this nest,] Toothless' brother said. [I am blood kin to the Wind-shrieker, the one you humans call a Night Fury, thus I count myself as an ally to this nest.]

[I am the king of my own nest,] the Changewing said, [so I do not bow to the young human, but my nest is allied with his as myself and my mate both respect him greatly.]

Steinar placed a hand against his head. "I think I need ta sit down. This be 'lot ta take in."

Stoick walked around all the dragons and humans and placed a hand upon Steinar's shoulder. "Ye be staying in the Great Hall. It be gettin' late and it be a tryin' few days. Let's all sleep and questions can be answered in the mornin'."

Steinar took a deep breath. "One, if I may," he requested. Stoick nodded his head. "'Dat queen dragon act like a warchief, accordin' ta yer story, young Hiccup, yet none of dese be uncivil like. Why?"

[Honorable dragons follow laws birthed into existence further back into the past than the first humans to ever live among these islands,] the Changewing king said. [That fallen queen decided not to follow those laws and she paid the price for her arrogance.]

"'Dem Speedstingers also be disobeyin' dese laws?"

"Yes," Hiccup said.

Steinar fell quiet for a heartbeat. Then he took a deep breath. "Chief, I be thinkin' I take ye up on yer suggestion. This be much to wrap me head around." He glanced around. "When I wake, may I ask the dragons some questions?"

In answer the dragons of the nest looked towards Hiccup.

"Only if they wish to," Hiccup said, happy this one was an easy decision. "I will not force any dragon to answer questions if the do not want to."

Steinar smiled, tipping his head. "You are an honorable leader, young Hiccup. You do your father proud."

Stoick laughed before stepping over. Toothless extended his wing to include the chief. Stoick placed a hand on Hiccup's left shoulder. "Aye, that he does," he said, looking down at Hiccup. "That he does."

Hiccup smiled then frowned. "Dad, there was actually something I wanted to ask you about the Great Hall."

"Oh, what be that, son?"

Hiccup gestured to the Night Furies and the Changewings. "Can the visiting dragons sleep in there? Our ally has members of his nest helping members of ours ensure the Speedstingers are long gone. I told him he and his warriors could stay and rest. Toothless' brother and the other Night Furies are also staying and resting so Toothless and his brother can catch up."

Stoick tilted his head. "Hm, actually, the king and I must speak with ye so he's gonna be stayin' with us, son. The others are free to bunk in the Great Hall as long as they need." Stoick patted Hiccup's shoulder gently. "Why don't ye and Astrid get Steinar and the dragons settled in the Great Hall and I'll help the king get settled in our house? We can speak ta ye 'fore ye sleep."

"Uh, okay, Dad," Hiccup said worried at what the king and his father wanted to talk about.

He knew the king wished to speak with him. He had no idea why his father was brought into it. He hoped it was nothing bad.

It did not take long to get everyone settled into the Great Hall. The longest part being explaining to the Night Furies they could not flame the stone floor. They solved that by hanging from the rafters by their tails. A sight that had Steinar gaping as he settled on his bedroll in between two Changewing warrior guards, one of whom was the Changewing that flamed Hiccup the day they visited the Changewng nest. Hiccup was happy the young dragon got to stay and advance in his training. He was also happy that Steinar seemed willing and unafraid to be bunking with the dragons. Hiccup knew changing people's minds about the dragons would be difficult. It was nice to see one learn the truth and accepted it.

Hiccup was also grateful that Hilda's house remained intact and she and Baneson had the space for her brother. Hiccup did not want that man near any of the dragons without someone from Berk keeping an eye on him. He had already proven he would attack first and ask questions later, just like his nephew. Hiccup did not want any dragon in danger, but it was imperative the Changewing warriors and the Night Furies remained unharmed. Neither were apart of the nest and were visitors, afforded all the rights and protections for visitors. All were representatives of their own nests and the Changewings were allies while the Night Furies were long lost family members re-found. One even bore the next generation, a niece or nephew for Toothless. Hiccup wanted them all safe, as safe as the nest dragons.

Worry returned as he, Astrid, and their dragon chaperones left the Great Hall and headed for Astrid's house. As soon as he made sure Astrid was safe in her own home, Hiccup knew he was would have no other excuse to block him from facing his father and the Changewing king. He still had no clue what they wanted to speak on but he feared they were disappointed by what had happened and the monster that rested in his soul and caused his voice to freeze other dragons.

Astrid suddenly stopped just under the pole for the feeding basin in the plaza. Hiccup, frowning, stopped as well.

"Sharpshot, please get down," she said.

Sharpshot hopped off Hiccup's back, moving to join Sneaky who was standing by Stormfly's legs. Hiccup blinked when Astrid spun him and pushed him so that his back rested upon the pole.

"Toothless, Stormfly," she said, looking at both dragons but keeping a hand upon Hiccup's shoulder so he would not move, "we are not going to break your trust in us but I need you both to keep anyone from seeing us."

The two dragons blinked. Toothless set up, holding his forelegs off the ground. Stormfly moved away from his side. Both extended their wings, effectively making it so the only clear view of Hiccup and Astrid was from the top of hill. Hiccup heard Astrid hum then his eyes widened when she spun, stepped closer, and kissed him. She pulled back before he could respond.

"Hiccup, do you think I would fall in love with a monster?"

"No," he answered closing his eyes and feeling his heart shatter.

"Good, cause I didn't. I fell in love with you."

Hiccup's eyes sprang open. Astrid smiled at him.

"I love you, Hiccup and you are no monster. You are a leader, a chief, an alpha."

"But my voice stops the dragons and makes them unable to move until I tell them they can."

"Only those who have already pledge their obedience to you. Your voice is no more dangerous or monstrous than your father's bellow when he orders the tribe to do something or when he stops them from doing something. You are no monster. Berk would not have survived if you were."

"Huh?"

"Had you been like that Red Death, Berk would not have survived you turning the dragons on us."

"I'm no murderer, Astrid."

"I know."

Astrid stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Hiccup's waist and pulling flush against her. She placed her chin upon his shoulder and curled her neck. Hiccup felt warm breath at his ear before hearing her whisper into it.

"I enjoyed sleeping in your arms while we were stuck in the Great Hall until the storms blew over. I want to do that again. I want to do more with you." She paused. "You are not a monster, Hiccup. I would not want this with a monster," she continued, her voice growing softer and slightly rougher. "I want you."

He lifted his head. She stared at him.

"I love you and if Gothi would perform the marriage rites at this moment, I would gladly spend my life with you."

Hiccup moaned at her words before claiming her lips with his own. Their chaperones would just have to deal with the kiss he gave her.

Kirika: You're welcome. Hehe, Steinar's gonna help Hiccup with things others cannot. And yep, Berk and the Shivering Shores are gonna be strong allies. But there'll be other Viking tribes thrown into the mix. Alas that is for the next book. Hehe, don't mess with Hiccup while Astrid is around. You will not survive.