It took until after mid-day to fully ready the holmgangustadr. Hiccup remained within Gothi's hut the entire time as she offered sacrifices and prayers for his protection. Hilda volunteered to do the same for the Hopeless warrior. Astrid knew it was petty of her, but she did not feel the fool deserved such kindness, yet Hiccup insisted. He wanted a fair duel, a far cry from the moment Astrid thought he would draw his blade and run the fool through.
Astrid would not have minded if Hiccup had. That the fool bribed her father into dissolving the betrothal angered her. That he challenged Hiccup for her, and call Hiccup a coward, infuriated her. As her fury grew so did the sound of a deep growl within her. It had shocked her at first until Hiccup turned and smiled. He never spoke, just smiled and then Astrid heard a faint but growing purr. She had frowned until she realized the purr came from her.
She would have to puzzle it later as Gothi scribbled something in the dirt on her floor. Astrid looked down then looked back to Hiccup, who had been told not to move again after he turned to her and smiled. Gothi had written runes of protection and strength upon him in ash and she warned him not to disturb them with a swift shake of her finger and a narrow-eyed glare.
"She wants to know who your second is," Astrid said.
"Toothless."
Astrid blinked. "Hiccup?"
"There is no law prohibiting a dragon from being a shield-bearer," Hiccup said. "The law only says the second has to be a tribesman of good standing and honor. Toothless is my brother. Dad placed his name in the Haddock Clan's scrolls and he is in good standing and has honor." Hiccup's eyes glittered in the firelight of Gothi's hearth. "And I do not want you in the ring with that coward."
A part of Astrid rose in protest. She was a warrior. She could handle such a fool. She wanted to be as Hiccup's side in this. She wanted to protect him. A good shield-bearer could legally trap and bend the other duelist blade. Astrid would snap the fool's sword if given half a chance.
"You are my queen," Hiccup continued, the draconic growl undercoating his words again and causing tingles to slide down Astrid's spine. "Above anyone else, I would want you at my side in a fight, but if that coward touched you at all, he dies. Honor duel or no honor duel. I would gladly sever his head from his shoulders. But I have to let the law play out, Astrid. I have to let Hopeless keep some honor if for no other reason than they did come when Father called to help keep Alvin off our island."
Astrid fought the urge to kiss him. The runes remained upon his skin and Gothi still held her staff, ready and waiting to use it if need be. Astrid settled for gripping Hiccup's hand and squeezing it.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too," Hiccup replied.
Gothi tapped her staff against the floor, gaining both teens' attention. She pointed the staff at Astrid then towards the door. Astrid sighed, but tipped her head in understanding. She squeezed Hiccup's hand once more before releasing it, standing, and going to fetch Toothless. Gothi would want to preform the same sacrifices and prayers for him as well.
She returned with not only Toothless, but also Gyda. Gothi did not bat an eye at the mage's appearance. She merely gestured for Toothless to move closer to her. Astrid regained her place beside Hiccup, claiming his hand once again. Gothi began her rituals with Toothless watching in silence, though Astrid knew the dragon would question everyone later. Gyda knelt in front of Hiccup, staring up at her him with a thoughtful expression upon her face.
"Let neither fear nor anger cloud your mind," Gyda said softly. "Rely not upon your hands, your feet, your sword, your shield, or even your brother. Rely upon your mind and keep it clear. For in doing so you will be one step ahead of your opponent."
Hiccup stared at her in silence for several heartbeats. "Aye, sensei."
Gyda tipped her head then stood. She placed her right first into the palm of her open left hand and bowed to Hiccup. Hiccup released Astrid hand. Both teens repeated the gesture though only Astrid gave a half bow. Hiccup kept still least he invite Gothi's wrath.
[Brother,] Sharpshot said, appearing at the door. [Dad said the place is ready whenever you are.]
Stoick smiled as his son flew to the holmgangustadr upon Toothless' back. His smile grew as both his boys chose to fly straight up once they reached the area.
Everyone watched as Hiccup and Toothless seemed to drop from the skies. Stoick felt his stomach twinge but he knew both his sons were fine. They did this often and always came out unscathed. Stoick heard the Berkians watching begin whooping and hollering as Toothless spread his wings and stopped the maddening drop right above the crowds' heads. The dragons, also watching, roared. Toothless roared back. Hiccup lifted his chin and gave a resounding call similar to Toothless' signature cry.
The dragons sent whatever breath attack they used to a single point in the sky. Toothless landed in front of the crowd, lifted his head, and fired one bolt. It detonated the other attacks causing a ring of vapor and a cluster of smoke and embers to expand out with a deafening sound of thunder that split the air.
Stoick glanced at Gobber who jerked his chin towards the Hopeless warrior and his second, one of the other warrior men that came with Bjarte. Stoick looked over and smirked. Both men stared at the dragons with a mix of fear and awe. Knowing his boy, Stoick could well believe that had been Hiccup's reasoning for the entire show.
Stoick tilted his head when Hiccup dismounted and then removed Toothless' saddle and tailfin. Both items were handed to Astrid who stepped back to stand between Stormfly and Moondust. The rest of the bonded dragons and their riders curled around her. The mates of those dragons also stood with her.
Stoick's smirk grew as Hiccup, carrying both shields he would use in the duel, and Toothless entered the roped off area. Toothless lifted onto his hindlegs once both reached the cloaks staked to the ground. Hiccup handed his brother the second shield. Toothless accepted it. That caused a reaction from the fool.
"I win! No dragon can be second."
"The Treaty of Laws states tribesmen in good standing and with honor can be shield-bearers," Hiccup stated. "It does not prohibit dragons. Toothless is a member of the Hooligan tribe. He is a member of Clan Haddock. He is my brother. His name sits in the record scrolls as a son of Stoick the Vast, chief of the Hairy Hooligans tribe."
"But-"
"That law be as stated," Bjarte said, glaring at his tribesman.
"And I be seein' Toothless' named as Stoick's son with me own eyes," Steinar added, also glaring at the fool.
"And as one of da judges," Padrig added, "I stand wiv da law. Toothless be Hiccup's second. Da challenged be in da ring," Padrig continued as Gothi moved to stand at his side and Bjarte moved to stand at Gothi's side. "And da judges be in place. Does de one wot issued da challenge forfeit or does he git's rear in da ring?!"
The fool and his second moved into the ring. The fool seemed to take issue with Hiccup's stance.
"He no be in proper form!"
"Boy be left handed," Stoick stated. "Ain't no law in effect ta make'm fight right handed."
"But-"
"Silence!" Bjarte hollered. "Da law is da law. Hiccup be allowed ta fight as he be trained. Shut yer mouth and duel or it be declared in Hiccup's favor and ye lose."
The fool glared at Bjarte but drew his blade. Hiccup drew his and Stoick hide his grin behind his beard. The sun reflected off the Gronckle iron sword in an almost blinding fashion. Stoick glanced at Gobber who wink and grinned before leaning closer.
"Ain't no regular iron swords anymore," Gobber whispered. "All dat iron be melted down fer trinkets 'n amulets ta sell ta Johann. 'n per ye order 'fore Alvin ever try his stupidity, all shields been reinforced wiv da Gronckle iron too."
Stoick tipped his head before focusing back upon the duel. As law dictated, Hiccup, as the one challenged, struck first. The sword bit deep into the fool's shield, but it was still usable. The fool glanced once at Toothless then swung. Stoick heard the fool's blade rattle against Hiccup's shield and heard the growl Toothless could not contain. The fool paled.
"Easy, bud," Hiccup murmured. "He has the right to swing at me in this."
Hiccup swung again. His sword split the shield. The piece fell at the fool's feet. Stoick noted Hiccup's shifted his hips with the swing but made sure his feet did not slide back along the cloak. Stoick felt pride swell. His boy knew far more than Stoick ever realized.
"Ogmundr's first shield be broke," Padrig called out. "Switch."
The fool glared at Hiccup but did nothing more than switch shields with his second. His second turned and left the ring, as his part was now done.
"Continue."
The fool swung. The tip scraped a gouge. Hiccup's shield remained usable. Hiccup swing. The sword bit, but not as far as the first swing. Stoick frowned, worried that Hiccup was tiring. The fool tried a different angle. Another, deeper gouge. No call from the judges. The fool glowered. Hiccup swung. Sword bit again but did not slice through. Stoick shared a glance with Gobber. The blacksmith did not seem worried.
The fool swung harder. Hiccup grunted at the force. A hole appeared in the wooden part of Hiccup's shield. Padrig moved. Hiccup turned the shield. Padrig titled his head.
"Shield's usable still."
The fool growled. Hiccup swung. Sword almost sliced through. Padrig stared.
"Shield's usable still."
The fool smirked. "Ye be weak," he growled. "Ye tirin'. Ye ain't man enough fer da lass. I be takin' her. I be showin' her a real man."
Stoick's eyes narrowed. He heard many dragons begin snarl. He glanced over, finding Astrid holding her axe's handle but not drawing it. Stormfly and Moondust glared at the fool. Stoick turned back and blinked. Given Hiccup's actions in the plaza, Stoick expected is son to react to the fool's words. Hiccup and Toothless both glared but said nothing.
The fool snarled and swung. A bigger hole shown through the wood.
"Hiccup's first shield broke," Padrig called. "Switch."
Hiccup wordlessly set the shield down. Toothless, his gaze never leaving the fool, released the shield he had as soon as Hiccup took. He then gripped the broken shield, transferring it to his mouth. With one final glare to the fool, he leapt out of the ring. He dropped the shield by the judges' feet but turned and faced the ring, teeth bared and a snarl echoing from his throat.
Hiccup swung. Sword finally sliced the shield.
"Ogmundr's last shield be broke. He fights wiv jest 'is sword now."
The fool threw the shield out of the ring. He swung. Stoick grinned at the loud clang. That was not a regular Gronckle iron reinforced shield. That was Hiccup's personal shield.
Hiccup swung. The fool parried. Gronckle iron snapped regular iron. Blade tip flipped end over end.
"Blood!" Padrig yelled. "Be blood on da cloaks. Hiccup wins da duel. Ogmundr be ye ready ta pay da holmlausn?"
"He cheated!"
"Ogmundr," Bjarte growled. "Duel be won by Hiccup fair 'n square. Pay da holmausn or loose ye honor."
"Weak!" the fool snarled, staring at Bjarte. "Knew ye no 'ave it in ye ta rightly deal wiv dem beast 'n dat boy."
The fool lifted his broken blade. Many yelled. Gobber ran. Stoick rushed forward. Toothless got to the fool faster. Stoick winced, remembering his own tumble with the dragon. Toothless snarled down at the pinned fool.
"Bjarte?" Hiccup asked, sounding calmer than Stoick would have expected.
"He made 'is choice," Bjarte said.
"Kill him."
Toothless did not miss.