He watched them take the human water den down. He watched as the big dragon that knew where his mate was and several Flame-skins carried it using the brown vines humans were fond of. He kept his growl in this throat. He did not want them to know he was still there. They thought he had left, returned to his nest. Fools. That Water-twister had no authority over him. He just knew when it was feasible to stay and fight and when retreating granted a dragon another chance. Now he had that other chance.

He heard the dragons talking. He knew they were gathering their hatchlings and returning to their nest. Let them. That flameless, scaleless lizard who played at being an alpha and used tricks to speak with the voices of ancients would pay for his insolence. It thought it could act a barrier, keeping his mate from him. Fool. An alpha could bar the mate-hood but that one was not an alpha. He would follow these dragons to their nest. He would find his mate. He would bring her home. If that fool human died in the process, well, the other dragons would probably thank him from freeing them from its tricks and lies.

He paused, a new thought rushing through his mind. They may be so grateful as to name him their alpha. No more having to obey the order of another. He would give the orders. He would rule. His mate would ensure his hatchlings carried on his legacy.

With new dreams and a new purpose, he followed, ensuring he said far enough back that the Spike-throwers did not smell him. No need to alarm them when he was working to free them and his mate from a fool.

Having a dragon that loved to sing came in handy though in a way Hiccup was not fully expecting. As the sun began to sink beyond the horizon, Hiccup called for a stop at the island they had rested upon on the trip to the hatching nest. There may be a fear of an attack upon the nest, but Hiccup would not push his dragons by making them fly while tired. Especially since they carried the ship full of hatchlings, rotating who held the ropes and who just flew often during the day.

The ship touched down first. Hiccup was grateful that Gyda's barrier still held and that it did not seem to tire the mage out. The barrier kept the hatchlings in the ship until the parents ensured the island remained safe. The hatchlings were let out, both to stretch their legs and so their parents could feed them.

By unanimous decision, Shadowfire provided a wall of scales once more for the humans. This time, though, the hatchlings and Toothless' younglings joined them in the circle Shadowfire provided. The hatchlings, too keyed up by the entire ordeal, rushed around the soft grasses until Shadowfire began to sing. Every hatchling froze, some in mid-run, and turned to face his head tucked against his mother's side. Every hatchling settled where they were and were soon softly snoring. Hiccup saw Gyda scratch her son's head and heard his soft purr, but his attention was pulled as Toothless' younglings shuffled close to him and Astrid.

[Alpha,] the Sand Wraith, oddly enough the youngest of the three but the apparent spoke-dragon for all of them when they were together, began.

Hiccup was grateful the dragon kept his voice to a whisper.

[Where will my brothers and I stay when we get home?]

"In my house," Hiccup whispered. "Your father lives there with myself, our Tiny-fang brother, and my father. I am not going to ever separate you from Toohtless again. I vow that."

The three relaxed and all of them nuzzled against Hiccup and Astrid before laying down in a half circle around them. Hiccup smiled. Since no hatchling had been running over them before Shadowfire began singing, that meant no hatchling fell asleep in their laps. The younglings seemed to take advantage of that and laid with some form of their body touching Hiccup and Astrid.

Hiccup was also grateful the hatchlings did not sleep on him this time. Since this would be the last time she would be allowed to do this unless a blizzard forced them to shelter in the Great Hall again, Astrid curled under Hiccup's arm. She encircled his waist with her arms and laid her head upon his chest, her braid tickling his chin. Not that he minded.

He saw Gyda, who sat across from them, smile softly. He frowned, remembering how she repeatedly said that her tale he and Astrid were not betrothed right now.

"Gyda," he whispered. "When did the tale you know have Astrid and I begin our courtship?"

It was something he had always wanted to know but never worked up the nerve, or the time, to ask.

Gyda titled her head then looked skyward in silence for several heartbeats before looking back down as Hiccup.

"Little hints happened throughout the tale after the Red Death died," she began in a whisper, "but official confirmation that you both were together, that happened when you were eighteen, Hiccup."

Hiccup felt Astrid stir and felt her cheek brush across his tunic as she shifted so she could see Gyda.

"I kissed him in front of the entire village," she stated in a harsh but quiet whisper. "I know these people that gave you this tale got one thing right, me stepping up to rescue Heather's parents, but did they get anything else right?"

"It's looking like the answer for that is no. At least for a great deal of things."

Astrid grunted softly before burying deeper into Hiccup's arms. Hiccup hummed and placed a cheek upon her head. Due to their closeness he was able to hear her faint, grumbling whisper.

"He is mine and I am his. Stupid future people."

Hiccup smiled and lifted his head far enough he could place a soft kiss to her forehead, right under her kansen.

"We should get some sleep," he whispered.

[Finally.]

Hiccup chuckled softy as Toothless' sharp whisper came from the other side of Shadowfire's neck. Since the hatchlings and younglings were in the circle Shadowfire provided, the other adult dragons gathered around him, with the bonded dragons and their mates close to Shadowfire.

Hiccup settled back against Shadowfire's belly as the dragon lowered his wing to provide a covering for them. Hiccup grinned and shifted enough that he could gather Astrid into his lap. She curled against his chest and he wrapped both arms around her. She buried her face into his neck and he placed his chin upon her spaulder-less shoulder. He fell asleep dreaming of when he could do this without chaperones.

Prince: Yes, yes it was. ;) Can you blame her?