Hiccup shifted so he could stare over Toothless. He pulled his spy glass out and peered through it.
"Meatheads," he said recognizing the standard on the sail. "They must be out to get the remedy ingredients too."
[Alpha,] Boulder began, [are they not the nest where your father believed you had destroyed that place of metal and fire?]
Hiccup hummed. "Aye."
[Is the son of their alpha in the den, brother?] Toothless asked.
"I'm not sure," Hiccup said. "They are too far out to really tell who is who and I haven't seen Thuggory since Dad stopped taking me to chief gatherings." Hiccup looked down at his brother. "If he is, no one is to bother him."
Toothless snorted. [He hit you. He lied about you and convinced your father you did something that he did.]
Hiccup sighed. "I know," he said, "but the rest of the tribes are worried that we will send you all to raid them. I don't want them to think I will use you all to enact revenge. I just want you all to live your lives in peace."
Toothless cooed then his eyes became slits. [If he tries to harm you, brother, we will defend you.]
"I'm not going to stop you if that happens," Hiccup said. "We just can't make the first strike."
[The water den has let out a hatchling,] the male Typhoomerang said. [It is swimming this way.]
Hiccup turned to the female Typhoomerang. "Please, get your children out of here. My nest will not harm a dragon, but I don't know what they will do."
[Go, sister,] the male said. [The young alpha is our guest and his brother is still ill. I will stay.]
The female stared at her brother then tipped her head. She shuffled back, calling for her fledglings. They abandoned Moondust's tail and hurried to their mother. She aided them onto her wing and with one last look back at her brother, she turned and took off. Hiccup waited until she could not be seen.
"Sharpshot."
Sharpshot hopped off Hiccup's lap. Hiccup stood and moved around Toothless. Fishlegs met him and Meatlug and Boulder bracketed them. Sharpshot climbed onto Hiccup's shoulder and Moondust moved around to stand sideways in front of Hiccup and Fishlegs. A shadow fell over them and Hiccup glanced up. The Typhoomerang stood behind Toothless but his size meant his head could reach to hover over Hiccup.
The skiff struck ground. Two burly men and one the same age as Hiccup stepped out. Hiccup's eyes narrowed.
"So it be true," the one the same age as Hiccup said. "Berk done turned traitor."
Hiccup just stared at Thuggory, not rising to the bait. He hated that the tribes thought that but had to remember they did not know the truth of the fallen queen. Not yet.
"Come now, no words fer ye friend, Hiccup? Ye used ta always had a quip or two back n'day." Thuggory looked to one of the men with him and gestured to Hiccup. "Dis be who e're'body be worried 'bout? He nothin' more den a weaklin'."
That earned him snarls from the nest dragons. Hiccup took satisfaction in watching Thuggory pale. It was short lived as Thuggory's eyes narrowed.
"Ye gonna sic yer beasts on me?"
"I am not you," Hiccup said, letting the thing within his soul coat his words.
The three Meatheads blinked. Thuggory snarled and moved to step forward. Hiccup heard his brother fight to stand. One of the men with Thuggory clamped a hand upon his shoulder, stopping him.
"Yer father said git da stuff fer yer aunt. He said leave Berk be iffen they be here."
Thuggory glared at the man. "Me father no be here."
"But we be," new voice said.
Hiccup glanced left and blinked. Steinar and Padrig stood six paces away. Both men glared at Thouggory.
"Ye knew of wot was agreed upon," Steinar said walking forward and placing himself in between Moondust and the people from the Meathead.
"Me father agree," Thuggory said. "I no agree to it."
"That matters not," Steinar said. "Yer father did and if ye strike now, ye be the one ta start da war. Not Hiccup."
Gyda handed Gothi the eel. She stared at it then tapped the bitten end.
"Toothless," Gyda said. "In order to save Hiccup's life."
Gothi frowned and placed the eel on a shelf in her hut. She then etched some runes in the dirt. Astrid, who was settled but not calm, not with just Gyda's spoken reassurance of Hiccup's health, looked down. She sneezed before she could translate for Gyda. Gothi and Gyda frowned at her. She glared back. She was not going to the Great Hall with the others. Hiccup placed the nest in her hands once more. She would not fail him. She would not dishonor him.
"She wants to know how Toothless is. So do I."
Gyda titled her head. "Not up to flying right now, but he threw up the eel."
Gothi tipped her head then stared at Astrid and etched some more runes in the dirt. Astrid's eyes narrowed.
"I will not."
Gothi frowned and lightly smacked Astrid's arm. Astrid's eyes narrowed more.
"Hiccup trusted me to care for the dragons."
"Astrid," Gyda said before Gothi could write a response. "Hiccup would not want you to run yourself into the ground."
Astrid stared at Gyda and lifted an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Gyda sighed. "It means tire yourself out doing things that can be held off, especially when you don't feel well and you should rest and recover. Hiccup loves you. He would not want to return and know you felt you had to neglect your own health because of him."
"I will not fail him. Not again."
Gothi beat Gyda in replying that time. Astrid looked down and her shoulder slumped.
"I failed him so much before… I can't. I love him."
Gyda placed a hand upon Astrid's shoulder. "Do you believe Hiccup?"
"What kind of question is that?! You know I do!"
"He said you have never failed him. If you believe him, why do you doubt that?"
Kirika: Well, hmm, about that. Hehe….
Prince: We shall see.