The Dramatis Personae will be updated with a new named dragon. Thank you, Massive HTTYDFan for your suggestion on the dragon's name.
Four days passed since Hopeless' warriors came to Berk. Hiccup was just happy that the tale giving was over. He still disliked retelling everyone what happened, even if it was edited because the warriors did not know the full truth about the dragons and Hiccup. The fact that Berk was now a nest of humans and dragons was great. Hiccup just did not like being the focus and his father always insisted he give the tale instead of the other teens or even Gyda, which Hiccup did suggest.
It seemed four days was not enough time for most of the warriors to understand fully though. The one who had spoken up about Toothless being the unholy offspring of lighting and death still avoided the three Night Furies like they all had some illness he might catch. Hiccup worried it would bother them, but they would just laugh. It seemed the human entertained them in his efforts to get away from them.
The upside of the group coming was that Steinar had to leave the completed longhouse as there was no room for him. As befitted his status as heir to Shivering Shores, Stoick offered the man a place in his house. Hiccup found in the man an older human brother he did not realize he ever wanted. Neither Steinar, nor his father, Henrik, ever looked down upon or belittled Hiccup when his father did take him to Things or chief gatherings. Now that the man could speak to and understand dragons, he proved a curious and questioning person which led to both he and Hiccup talking with Toothless and Sharpshot long into the night after Stoick and the younglings went to sleep. The first of those talks leading to Steinar learning about Hiccup's ability to draw and asking to see the drawings. When the man openly praised them, Hiccup knew he had found a new human friend.
"Hiccup."
Hiccup looked up from his journal where he had been sketching ideas to hold Zippleback gas and Nightmare gel so the village could use them to defend the island from attacks. Astrid stood upon the platform outside the hole in the roof. Hiccup stood, moving over. Sketching ideas and writing out his thoughts was wonderful, especially since he did not have to hide either activity anymore, but he would put everything down when Astrid needed him. All those close to him, human and dragon-like, snickering at him did not deter him. He loved spending time in her presence.
"Toothless' sister was looking for you."
"Spitfire," Hiccup said with a chuckle.
"Huh?"
"Gobber's taken to calling her Spitfire. She seems to like it. At least she did not snarl at him when he hollered it, not like when he tried to call her Toothette."
"Toothette?" Astrid asked with a raised eyebrow and Hiccup heard the amusement in her voice and Stormfly chuckling behind her.
Hiccup shrugged. "Gobber said it was a more female version of Toothless. I think he got into the mead again."
"That is wrong on so many levels, I think Ragnarök will have come and gone twice over before we even begin to unravel it."
Hiccup chuckled. "Where is she?"
"The cove. She went out there after giving Toothless and Moondust some time for.. well, Shadowfire yelled the word 'date' and Gyda told him to hush. Uh, Hiccup, some of Hopeless' warriors heard her respond to him. They all looked at her like she was out of her mind."
Hiccup sighed. "Dad and I talked about that this morning. There is no way we can really expect the tribe that can to stop talking to the dragons just because those warriors and Baneson still does not know." Hiccup shrugged. "I think Dad's gonna speak to Bjarte first since he's the chief's son. Give him the right to decide if his warriors should know. "
"Are you okay with that?"
Hiccup frowned, tilting his head. "Why do you ask?"
Astrid favored him with an unimpressed look. "Hiccup, you are the dragons' alpha and I know you. You are worried."
Hiccup sighed again. "I don't want the dragons to be taken advantage of," he said knowing he would not get out of answering. "I know the rest of the chiefs' and their families will know when Dad and I tell them at the Thing, but.. the dragons have a chance to live their lives in peace now. I don't want someone using the Common Tongue to gain their trust and hurt them. That's why I still don't want Baneson to know even if Hilda does now."
[And you still wonder why we named you our alpha?] Stormfly said, dropping her head so that she could peer past Astrid into the opening. [Alpha, just as you are teaching the humans to live alongside the dragons, you are teaching the dragons to live alongside humans. We all know this peace you have won for both our kinds will have rogue winds that threaten to crash us, but we also know it will be worth it in the end. I say let the humans know. We that live in this nest know what an honorable human is now that we know you and those close to you. We can teach those who are not a part of this nest so they can judge for themselves.]
Hiccup chuckled. "You really are like your rider, you know that? Only she's been able to truly get me out of a mood like this before."
Stormfly shook herself and chortled. [Well, I did teach her well, did I not?]
"Hey!"
Hiccup smiled but refrained from laughing. Astrid would take well to that.
"Let's go speak to Spitfire," he said, climbing out of the opening.
Stormfly lowered herself. [I am not your brother or your bonded dragon, alpha,] she said, [but I will get you there quick so that you do not feel much unease.]
"Thank you," Hiccup said as he waited until Astrid climbed into the saddle before climbing on behind her.
He knew it was pointless to tell Stormfly otherwise. All the bonded dragons heard about Gyda's explaination from that day, thanks to Firestorm. None seemed bothered by it, even if did make Hiccup feel bad and that he was somehow failing them because this bond he made with Toothless caused resistance at the thought of riding another dragon.
He closed his eyes as he settled, willing the unease to go away. Wrapping his arms around Astrid did help as he felt his soul begin to purr in a soothing rhythm.
"Goin' fer a flight?"
Hiccup and Astrid looked down, finding Steinar looking up from the ground below. Steinar smiled.
"I be knowin' Stormfly a right proper chaperone fer ye both, but I be suggestin' ye take a human wiv ye. Bjarte be admrin' yer betrothed."
Hiccup's back straightened and he felt the growl begin in his soul and threaten to explode. Steinar held up both hands and backed up a step.
"Easy," he said softly. "I jest be warnin' ye. He may try fer somethin' iffen ye give'm reason ta. Don't be flamin' da help."
Hiccup just held Astrid closer against him, the unease about being on Stormfly gone in light of Steinar's news.
"I'll be with them, Steinar."
Everyone looked up. Gyda and Shadowfire hovered just above the house.
"Her mother has me as an official chaperone for them anyways."
Steinar nodded his head. "I be leavin'm ta yer care then."
He left and Stormly rose into the air, leveling out beside Shadowfire. Gyda tipped her head and gestured for them to proceed her. Stormfly squawked in the Old Tongue and Shadowfire snorted.
[You'll always win, Stormfly. I'm not built for that kind of speed. You should challenge Moondust. She needs a proper initiation after all.]
[Ooh, I like the way you think.]
"Oh, gods," Hiccup muttered. "Let's just get to the cove before Stormfly has Moondust racing all over the island I'm left with a moping Toothless."
[One race, Alpha. Just one race.]
[Seriously too much like her rider,] Shadowifire muttered.
Hiccup swallowed his chuckle as both Astrid and Stormfly protested in one voice.
"Go, please," Hiccup said instead, and the dragons began flying over the village.
As the skirted the coast, Hiccup felt Astrid grab his hand. She looked over her shoulder. Hiccup leaned close, knowing she wanted to say something.
"Bjarte can admire me all he wants, Hiccup," she stated. "I am yours, always."
Hiccup felt his soul calm and he pulled her tighter against him. "And I am yours, Astrid. Forever."
Kirika: I love that you included Astrid in that.