Hiccup stopped at the talons of the black winged Typhoomerang. He looked up. The bone white skull like head tipped down so that the dragon could stare at him. The Typhoomerang towered over the other six with him. Hiccup had felt the size of Sharpshot next to the male and female they had met. He felt the size of Sunset and Sunrise next to this one.
"Greetings, alpha of this nest," Hiccup said, his tone no higher than normal. Dragons had excellent hearing so Hiccup knew he did not have to shout even with the size difference. "I would bow, and I apologize for not doing so, but many of the humans behind me do not know the Common Tongue and those of us who do are reluctant for them to find out right now."
The dragon's neck curled as the skull like head lowered. The head stopped just above Hiccup's. [Why would you not want them to find out, human who is brave enough to stand before me?]
"We are worried they would use it to take advantage of the dragons before they learn the truth of the war and the dragons' roles in it. We also worry that should they do so, the dragons would see that as just cause to retaliate. Three hundred years of death has left bitterness on both sides. We are trying to let peace reign as much as we can for a long as we can."
[You are wise, young human,] the Typhoomerang said. [My daughter says you are the alpha of your own nest.]
"Aye, sir. The dragons back home have named me their alpha."
[That is a great honor to a dragon. How is that a human has earned this honor?]
"Myself and my dragon brother killed the former queen that ruled over them. She was the cause of the war and had her nest raiding the humans because she wanted food. If a dragon did not return with enough food, they were eaten. When myself and my brother killed her, we freed them. Several came to live on the island I call home and bowed to me, naming me their alpha."
[You have a dragon brother?]
"I have two, sir. The Tiny-fang on my shoulder and the Wind-shrieker laying on the ground behind me. It was the Wind-shrieker and I who took out the former queen."
[I am curious as to why the dragons did not name the Wind-shrieker their alpha if he aided you in killing that queen.]
"Toothless bowed to me as well and says he shot on my order."
[Toothless?]
"It's his name. I named him before I learned how to speak the Common Tongue as I do now. I offered to let him change it but he said he liked it because it reminds him of the start of our friendship."
[I see. Interesting. I would so like to speak more with you, but my daughter said humans from a water den landed upon the island and you, fearing they would harm her fledglings, asked her to take them and leave. Are those humans hostile?]
"They can be, but they are not here to cause harm. They seek what you call a water worm but what we call an eel. A terrible sickness is hitting us humans and an eel is the main ingredient in a remedy for it. They can to get one for that purpose. As did we, in fact."
[And why should I allow these humans you feared would harm my flock to take something we eat in order to cure other humans of an illness? Why should I not just let those humans die and save my kind from their shiny claws?]
"Most of the ones sick are young. As young as your daughter's children. If you withhold the cure their families will hate you, sir. The war is over. Shouldn't peace be something we all work for? Shouldn't there be a moment to let both our peoples move beyond the grievances of the past and begin healing?"
[You have an intuitive mind, young human. Very well they are permitted one. You said you came for the same reason, you are permitted as many as you may need.]
"Thank you, alpha of the nest," Hiccup said tipping his head since he could not bow.
[I also extend to you an invitation, young alpha of your own nest. Visit us and share more of your tale. I know many within my nest would enjoy hearing it.]
Hiccup smiled. "Your daughter asked if she and her young could visit my nest. I already said she could. I extend that to include any in your nest who wish to visit as well, sir."
[Wise, intuitive, humble, and gracious,] the Typhoomerang said. [I never thought I'd live to see the day a human showed such potential to be a dragon.]
Gothi kept Astrid in her hut until the Meathead batch was ready. She dragged another tankard through that one and handed it to Astrid. Astrid's eyes narrowed. Gothi lifted an eyebrow and tapped the tankard. Astrid sighed but drank the brew. She grimaced again at the taste but did not stop until the tankard was empty. She handed it back to Gothi. Gothi smiled and then tapped a shelf above her head that had several capped water jars. Gyda and Astrid snorted but got them down for her. They aided her in gathering the brew into the jars and when the last one was capped, Gothi used her staff to pull a wooden crate out from under a shelf. She gestured and the two ladies placed the capped jars into the crate. Once that was completed, Gothi waved a hand towards her door. Gyda and Astrid laughed but gathered the crate and left the hut.
Shadowfire and Stormfly hovered just beyond the walkway. Shadowfire rose slightly higher and gently took the crate from the ladies. He then slowly descended enough Gyda could climb into the saddle. Astrid saw him smirk before feeling herself being lifted and placed onto Stormfly's saddle.
"Did you just pick me up like a hatchling, Shadowfire?" Astrid asked.
Shadowfire looked away. [I have no idea what you speak of, Lady Alpha. Come would should get this to that Johann man and then we should go laugh at Snotlout as he his trying to win the hearts of some Tiny-fangs with promises of better working conditions. Oh, and Gobber asked we find the twins. They are sick too and need Gothi's smelly water. So much to do, future queen of the nest, so little time.]
Prince: Hehe, Hiccup is seriously observant and his mind catches things even the dragons don't realize it has. She might. Remember there is more in Hiccup's past that he has not said a word about and we have a Thing with various chiefs and their kids coming along.