Sorry about the wait guys! I've been sick for the whole week, and I've been taking some time to recover, however, I did my best in working on the next chapter, but my apologies if you see any grammatical errors.
Also, a big thanks to everyone who reviewed on the previous chapter!
Right, now with that shoved aside, let's continue, shall we?
Three days had passed since Mildew's execution took place, and the division between Berk and the former loyalists has been broken and fixed back into unity. And even though one threat had been put down, another was still active and coming, for it wouldn't be long now.
Magnus since the day of the execution had sat alone in his hut with Eira by his side, and for those three days Hiccup had been trying to get him to come out. But alas, the older lad was ashamed for what he had done - the Blood Eagle was after all what the Scandinavian Vikings did, but he was not like them.
He couldn't be.
He was in no way like them.
Though at times during those days he would go out with Eira, usually to catch some fresh air or to take a walk in the forests and overall environment of Berk. However, the winter had something to say to that.
Eventually, the time came when the environment all around Hiccup had become colder. Chilly winds from the North had come down upon the village, Berk had received more amounts of snow, and keeping warm had become essential for many of the villagers…
As he looked out to sea, his mind was focused on the one main threat he had nearly forgotten. Were it not for Mildew's horrific schemes, Berk could've been more prepared for the coming Great Tide.
"Ivar." he said to Astrid and the others who stood next to him. "He's still out there, that I know. But who knows when he's gonna make a move. I predicted that he'd perhaps come to Berk with an army but… there's been nothing."
Fishlegs nodded. "Not to mention that we don't even know how much his Great Army numbers in total."
"...Though we may have an idea." Astrid added on.
Hiccup arched a brow. "Oh?"
"Well… for starters, we know that Ivar's Clan numbers are numbered to a thousand to two thousand like you said. Plus, the Clans and Tribes we're going against could possibly number up a hundred more than most of the Tribes in the Archipelago. So I'd say we're looking at around…" Fishlegs paused for a moment.
"Five thousand or so?"
"I highly doubt Ivar would send all he has to spare into the Archipelago." Hiccup replied on Fishlegs' statement. "Sure his Clan's army alone may be the size of the Great Heathen Army when he invaded England and came back defeated, but he is a bold and extremely intelligent strategist."
"Uh… in this case, how extreme are we talking?" asked Tuffnut, for once understanding the conversation topic.
"Well, he studies the land and his surroundings very carefully." he stated. "He finds flaws in the enemy from the environment, and he uses it to his advantage. Trust me, it's not like the simple old charge and fight against the enemy kind of thing you guys have had with the Dragons. Ivar will go above that, and a lot of it involves using a primary defense."
"A shield."
Tuffnut splurted. "Pfft. What's he gonna do? Smash my head in with wood-"
Astrid would give him a punch to the shoulder, interrupting him mid-sentence as he let out an "OW!" and he looked at her as she gave a faceless expression. Hiccup shook his head, and he gave a facepalm.
"What do you think, Tuff?" he asked. "Of course he's going to bash you in with a shield. Hel, he can order his men to quickly rush to making a wall of shields, and you'll barely be able to even pierce his warriors once that wall is up. He could-"
"Hiccup." Astrid interrupted. "Take it slow. If you overthink of what Ivar is going to do, then you may throw yourself off track. We have to think deeper on what this guy plans to do… and I don't think Ivar will be involved until we meet him."
"Of course we'll meet him! He'll come to us and-" Immediately the young Viking stopped in his track of words. He rethought on what Astrid had just said, and a thought of his own popped in his head. "Wait. What are you saying?" he asked.
"What I'm trying to say is; what if it's not Ivar that is coming to meet us in battle in person? What if he's just behind the curtain whilst he has someone on the front lines doing his dirty work?"
Hiccup's eyes stretched out. "Are you saying that…"
"Yes, Hiccup." she answered. "It could be that he has sent someone else to command his invading fleet. Someone perhaps close to him and close to his Völsung Clan."
"But who could it be?"
"Perhaps someone who has an equal hated grudge on you…"
...
General Olaf, the former Slavemaster, looked over the horizon as he and his fleet sailed through the fog. His map laid before him with the Archipelago marked, and his iron cog flagship moved without problem even though it was the largest ship among the fleet.
More than a hundred ships followed behind him, each of them holding warriors of twenty five men and women, all of them eager for blood and conquest. The sails as well were changed since the Great Army had now deemed itself as one fighting force, thus the symbol was now that of a red raven with two axes crossing.
Changing his glances between the map and the extremely foggy horizon, Olaf took in a deep inhale before he slowly let out an exhale, sniffing the air to tell his location… in a way.
"In about two days, we could possibly be close to the Archipelago that King Ivar speaks of." he said calmly. "Though if we hasten up our speed, we could get there in a day at the very least."
"That may be a wise decision." one of his commanders said, who was a representative of the Bloody Berserkers Tribe. "All of our warriors are thirsty for the spilling of blood, and even the Dark Eye Clan wants enemies for their sacrifice to Odin."
"There will be blood spilt soon enough." the General replied. "What I am eager to see is the amount of fire power these Devastators have to offer. Civilizations of these Archipelago Vikings will be reduced to fire and ash, with brimstone falling from the sky. Hopefully the scouts we sent ahead two days earlier have found a valuable target."
"More of our weapons will be made overtime, General." the Iron Wolf commander assured. "We may even go beyond to making our structures and defenses out of the dark iron we possess. After all, King Ivar was the one who found the inspiration and devotion for Chieftain Vlar."
"Then perhaps our King's intelligence may apply to the Iron Wolf Clan, for they've put in the heaviest devotion by far."
"That they have." the Dark Eye commander admitted. "But don't get too use to one Clan. All of the others matter."
"Gah! Can we just think about anything else aside talk!?" the Broken Axe commander let out. "I just want to fight already… we've been traveling in this fog for days and I need blood… otherwise I will go on a rampage among our-!"
"Learn to hold it in…" the Bloody Berserker commander said, interrupting the hot-headed Viking. "There is always a time for planning, and a time for fighting. These iron ships can't go any faster despite them being made of lighter and stronger iron."
Olaf gave a soft chuckle. "Who knew that a Bloody Berserker would make someone look like an amateur through words?" His gaze turned towards the Broken Axe commander whose face was looking red. "Consider yourself lucky though, that you were even brought along to begin with."
Silence enveloped the flagship's deck as the General turned his gaze back towards the direction they were sailing in, still staring at the foggy horizon. He gave a grin as he began thinking on what exactly there would be when he and the fleet had reached the Archipelago that they had been sailing to for nearly a week.
With that in his mind, the Broken Axe commander's arrogance got the best of him, looking at Olaf with a glare as he spat saliva onto the deck. He then unsheathed his axe from his back and gripped it tightly. A small smile extended on his face.
He silently approached the General from behind until he was but a mere couple of feet away from him, and he gave a quiet chuckle.
"You know what. Perhaps you're right, General Olaf." he said. "Let me help you with 'holding in' my anger."
Those words foolishly gave him away. Olaf with haste unsheathed his warblade from his belt and spun around as he grabbed the slightly smaller Viking by the neck and throat. He rose him up in the air whilst holding him tight, and looked at him with a returned glare.
"You're a fool, you weak amateur." the General grunted as the commander choked. "Your arrogance has brought your undoing, and I think your broken axe needs to be shattered to pieces."
The Viking's eyes widened. "Wait, what-!? ARGH!"
It was then that he felt something sharp stab through his chest, and he screamed for a moment in pain. He looked down at his chest and saw that Olaf's blade was impaled right through him.
"You are not worthy of the glory which WE will earn when battle is met! Instead, all that will await you is Helheim for someone useless like you!"
The General gave another grunt, pulling his blade out of the commander's chest as he walked towards the edge of the flagship. "By my right as General of the Great Viking Army, I hereby relieve you of your duty!"
He then held the Viking up over the edge of the ship, and shouted loudly in front of him to his face; "YOU. ARE. DISMISSED, COMMANDER!" and with a violent throw he launched him into the ocean, leaving him to bleed out and die in its waters which was a certainty.
Olaf looked back at the commanders. "Anyone else!?" he asked, and the commanders didn't respond aside from shaking their heads and slightly backing up a step.
His glance then fell on the Bloody Berserker's face. "You." he said. "Find the most intelligent and highest ranking Broken Axe warrior aboard this ship, and make him the new commander in my name…"
The Barbarian gave no question and rushed out of there, quickly walking towards the deck of the ship before making his way down below.
"That was quite an example to those who oppose us." nodded the Dark Eye commander. "Though I'd suggest that we should get ready for what there is to come."
"I already know what there is to come…" Olaf responded, gripping his fists tightly. "I don't need to be taught a lesson in-"
"Look up ahead, General." he interrupted, yet pointed out.
Olaf arched a brow with his glare at first, but then his attention was caught towards a beam of light that shined through the fog. It seemed his estimation of when they'd reach the Archipelago was not what he thought - it was a shorter voyage than he expected.
"Hah!" he laughed. "Finally… we have arrived!"
The crews of each ship were caught by the beam of light up ahead which grew larger and larger as the fleet sailed closer and closer, and soon enough they were in the opening.
Olaf covered his eyes as blinding light shined upon him, and as his vision came back to him and the colors became apparent, he looked around and saw mountains and tall pieces of land sticking up from the ocean, along with a Fjord up ahead.
However, as he gazed to his right, he immediately caught sight of rising smoke, and in the distance stood a large fortress of wood and stone, with dozens of iron spikes sticking out of it. To Olaf, it was a fort worth sacking.
"Haha! We have our first target!" he laughed, causing the ranks behind him and below deck to cheer as word began to spread.
"Ready ALL ranks!" he ordered in a bellowing voice. "Prepare the Devastators, and turn all ships onto that fortress! WE WILL BURN IT TO THE GROUND, AND KILL ALL WHO STAND IN OUR WAY! LEAVE NOTHING STANDING!"
…
Hiccup looked down at the sword Magnus gave him, holding it against the anvil as he hammer down upon it's blade. He had been working for an hour in the forge on something new which he had planned, believing that there was more which he could do with the sword which Magnus gave him. After all, it was like none he had ever seen when he was first given it.
He then turned his gaze towards a wooden box piled with metal and a few gears which were used for gates and doors, and suddenly an idea occurred to him.
"Hmm… if two gears strike against each other, they may cause a small spark and…"
He continued mumbling to himself, occupied with working as he didn't notice anything or anyone around him. And he didn't since Astrid and Fishlegs stood right behind him, with Astrid crossing her arms and Fishlegs staring at Hiccup, waiting for him to notice them.
After a moment of waiting however, Astrid then cleared her throat and tried to get Hiccup's attention. "Eh-um."
Hiccup turned around, nearly surprised as he slightly jumped back upon seeing Astrid and Fishlegs standing there.
"Geez, guys! You nearly scared the Hel out of me."
Fishlegs stepped forward. "Sorry, Hiccup." he said. "But we're here to bring some news to you. It's pretty important."
The young Viking gave a sigh, putting his sword as well as the gears to the side as he sat atop a nearby barrel, giving his friends his undivided attention. "Very well, guys. What is it?"
"Some of our scouts returned from sailing today," began Astrid. "But they seemed to have been injured as if they were in some sort of fight. The captain stated that he left with a dozen men, only to come back with half the amount he had before."
Hiccup leaned closer in interest. "Did he state what kind of attack it was?" he asked. "Was it a Dragon that attacked them…?"
"It was not a Dragon." answered Fishlegs, walking closer to Hiccup with an arrow in his hand. "This here was pulled from one of the injured crewmen. The captain had told us that he and his crew were attacked by Vikings from a scouting longship, but their numbers seemed heavy."
"How many?"
"Twenty five men." stated Astrid. "But the captain also said that the Vikings who attacked them, they were different. They didn't wear horned helmets, and their crest was unfamiliar. It was a red helmet with axes crossing it from behind like bones."
Hiccup's eyes widened as he looked up at Astrid before glancing back at Fishlegs, snatching the arrow to inspect it. Immediately the making of the arrow became familiar to him - the red feathers, the gray-like wood, and the dark iron tip.
Only one Clan made arrows like this.
"Attacked by Vikings you guys say?"
Astrid and Fishlegs nodded.
"Then it makes sense to me…" the young Viking sighed. "It seems Ivar's men have found their way into the Archipelago, and already they've made a move against us."
"Oh Thor…" responded Fishlegs. "This is bad, VERY bad."
"That's war for you, Fishlegs. Expect the worst from it… Either way, we cannot sit here forever and wait out the storm. We have to make our move and prepare with whatever we have. My father needs to know about this."
Astrid pressed her fists to her waist. "And what are you going to do?"
"Help in the defense." Hiccup replied. "The time for waiting is over. The Great Army is coming…"