"So, what has you and your son so upset?"
Gyda turned to Hiccup and smirked. "Are we trying to change the topic so the teasing stops?"
Hiccup favored her with an expression Gyda had no trouble reading. She snickered anyways. Hiccup lifted an eyebrow. Gyda sighed. She knew Hiccup would not let this go.
"It's a future thing," she said choosing her words with care.
Given all the changes from the tale she knew and what was actually happening, Gyda did not want to let anything slip that would lift Hiccup's hopes about his mother. Valka could very well be something the film directors and writers thought up. This Bewilderbeast's nest could house no human and the human Pepper and Piper spoke of could be anyone in the world. Until that Terror returned, Gyda had no real way to know.
"We meet that Tusked-king in the future?" Hiccup asked.
Gyda blinked then hummed. She should not been surprised that Hiccup would connect her upset to the massive dragon Astrid ordered to leave and not the Night Fury that just flew off. Boy was too observant for his own good sometimes. She tilted her head.
"You asked me the human name for those back when the new mates took their mated month."
"Yes. You said you had to see one to be sure. Are you sure now?"
Gyda grunted. "Sure about what humans call that dragon? Yes. It's a Bewilderbeast."
She saw Hiccup's eyes widen.
"Another dragon Bork claimed was a myth," Hiccup said then he frowned. "You said that as if there was something you were not sure of."
"I believe that is one you meet in the future," Gyda said. "I don't actually know if he is."
"If he is, what will change now that we've met him before we were supposed to?"
"I don't know. For the meeting you were supposed to have and the events that surround it… maybe nothing, maybe everything." Gyda shrugged. "That worries me but it's not why Shadowfire and I are upset. If that is the dragon you all meet, the tale we know portrayed him very different than he just acted and we are confused."
"Shadowfire said many things have changed."
Gyda closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yes," she said softly. "And I worry what that will do to the future we know."
"That just means we'll just have to face what comes together."
Gyda lowered her hand and looked at Hiccup. He smiled. Gyda hummed again. Since he had begun to flourish with a father and tribe who accepted and respected him, dragons who followed him and believed in him, and the girl he had always admired standing stalwart and strong in his corner and freely showering him with her love, Gyda had seen glimpses of the leader he would become in Race to the Edge. Yet with all of that, he still remained that fifteen-year-old boy she and many others rooted for as they watched the first movie.
She smiled. "As always, my alpha."
Hiccup stared at her, his face completely blank. "You just had to throw my title in there, didn't you?"
Gyda snickered. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
Hiccup snorted.
Stoick, Sharpshot still upon his shoulder, and Gobber entered the Great Hall. He tipped his head to Lars and the young Nadder Dervla was still housing. Both had been tasked to guard the door and refuse admittance to those not in the Council or requested to be at the meeting.
The other human Council members, the Elder dragons still remaining in the nest, and the two Changewings staying in his house were already at the chief's table. Stoick moved to join them. Gobber walked around him and sat down next to Gothi so that he could serve to translate her runes. Stoick moved to his seat at the exact middle of one side, the side that over looked the entirety of the Great Hall. He tapped the table in front of him.
"Go on, lad," Stoick said curling his nest so that he could see Sharpshot out of the corner of his eye. "Ye can sit there so that ye can be apart of this too."
Sharpshot hopped off Stoick's shoulder and sat down, curling his tail around his paws. Stoick smiled then looked at others. He sighed.
"Ye all know Alivn's gonna know about them dragons leavin'," he said. "I reckon Bearspit's done told that man everythin'. He will try fer the island either on Snoggletogg or soon thereafter."
[You sound so sure, father to the alpha,] Lorekeeper said.
"I be wishin' I wasn't, but I be knowin' Alvin. If he believes we be easy ta take he be attackin'." Stoick looked at Ringfire. "Ye get what I ask ye done?"
[Aye, father of the alpha,] Ringfire said. [It is ready for those you call stonemasons.]
"Excellent. Once that be finished, it be takin' that worry of me shoulders."
Sharpshot shifted so he could look up at Stoick. [Um, may I ask what it is you had her do?]
Stoick chuckled. "Course ye can. It be the door ta cavern Hiccup be wantin' ta use fer the hatchlings when they return."
"Will it be da place fer non-warriors ta head iffn we be attacked?" Hoark asked.
"Aye," Stoick said. "Ringfire showed Hiccup this caven 'fore we learn the truth 'bout Finn Hofferson. Hiccup and Astrid both swear it be big enough fer the hatchlings and those in the tribe who can't fight. Ringfire's been workin' on a tunnel so we humans can reach it from the village."
"Where be da door?" Phelgma asked.
In answer Stoick turned and pointed to the wall right behind his chair. He turned back.
"The stonemasons'll be the ones ta break into Ringfire's tunnel and fix the openin' fer a door Hiccup thought of. Any what come in be no knowin' it be a door."
"Hiccup thought of a door ye canna see?" Spitelout asked.
"He be sayin' it fit so well inta openin' ye wouldn't see the edge lest ye be right at it and lookin' for it."
Stoick saw the humans, except Gothi and Gobber, sigh and stare at the table.
"What be wrong?"
"Hiccup's mind be a blessin' and we all had ta almost lose'm to actually see it," Hoark said.
"I believe most in da village, meself included," Phelgma began, "be wonderin' how da lad can be so willin' ta help us 'fter wot we put'm through."
[Simple,] Lorekeeper said. [Love. The Alpha's love for his nest makes his forgiveness absolute.]
Kirika: Always worry, my friend. Always.
Prince: Hehe, Astrid might surprise you.