I will admit, this chapter is long for two reasons. One reason being the planning of something big that will happen next chapter, and as well as the introduction of- *HIC* ...Sorry, the hiccups. But you guys will see eventually, later in this chapter!
Also, there's two minor timeskips in this. And, apologies for any grammatical errors.
ALSO, thanks to Xythisdi1987, and KorrieChan for the reviews last chapter! You guys are great. Please stay great! :)
Now, without further ado, let's get right back into the story!
Five days had passed by since Hiccup, along with his friends and the other Tribes took Black Rock Isle, as well as topple the fortress' defenses, and already the armies of the Archipelago Tribes were starting to amass...
With the remaining warriors of the Outcast, Berserker, Meathead, and Bog Burglar Tribes freed, along with the Northlanders, Thunderheads, and the Defenders of the Wings released from their chains, more than twelve hundred warriors were recruited into the fight, doubling the Tribes' numbers.
The army as a whole excluded the Tribespeople and folk of every Tribe, of whom were sent back to their home islands to start their lives once more...
The former Völsung warriors and maidens, now known as the Warsung Tribe led by the young and more experienced Chief Magnus, were as well now involved in the war against Ivar. Over five hundred of them, as well as the twenty Jomsvikings that surrendered to Hiccup, were now at the backs of the Tribes with Magnus.
Together, the combined armies of the Archipelago were nearly three times the strength, and three times the numbers than they were before, giving them a higher fighting chance against Ivar and his Great Viking Army.
But for Hiccup however, his fight was still raging on, and it was struggling inside of him.
He could still remember how he was treated back in Kattegat. He remembered how he was beaten and whipped by the Slavemaster Olaf who was now suffering in Helheim. And most of all, he remembered how grey and dull his life was there, despite having an excellent hygiene like the other folk of Kattegat had, and then eventually it all led to him sailing and running away for his life.
That all happened nearly a month ago…
Hiccup stared down at his bowl of stew as he sat with his friends at a table in the Stronghold, and with his spoon he meddled with the hot dish, spinning it in circles and mixing it around. Clearly, he was not hungry.
From his right, Astrid noticed how the scrawny Viking did not once touch his food, compared to how Toothless was gobbling down fish with the other Dragons in the dimly lit corner of the hall and how the others silently ate - thus, she became curious.
"Are you alright, Hiccup?" she asked, breaking the silence. "You haven't said a word since we started eating, and you haven't touched your stew once."
"I'm not hungry, Astrid…" he replied, turning his gaze towards the Black Dragon who was feasting on fish. He shook his head. "Look, I simply don't have the stomach to eat right now, Astrid. There's something inside of me that I just can't get out. After all we went through in this... nightmare of war, it's just that- ...I feel different."
Snotlout sighed. "Hiccup, this is the last time we will even be feasting for a while. Tomorrow will be a fight that will determine whether we will get to move forward, or whether we'll be annihilated to extinction."
"I know, I know. But I simply can't get this thought out of me… And yet, I also still wonder: what will it even be like when I approach Ivar once more? When the time comes that it will be just me and him, what will happen?"
"You, will be the one who will win." said Ruffnut, joining in. "You have more yak guts than that crippled dude will ever have. He probably can't lift a boar or sheep without meat in his legs."
"I don't see how that's relevant-"
"Hel, he probably couldn't lift a yak." commented Tuffnut, before receiving a high-five from Ruffnut, though also interrupting Hiccup in the process. "Yeah, he's not as strong as our third Uncle Thorston."
"Uncle who-?" asked Astrid, slightly irritated.
"Our third Uncle Thorston." repeated Tuffnut. "According to one of our distant cousins, he had the strength to lift one yak in each of his hands, with two yaks in total, and he was even able to throw them two dozen yards in the air; high and forward like a catapult. Yeah… he was quite a legend."
"Oh please!" scoffed Snotlout. "You two do realize that throwing two yaks with one hand each in the air is impossible! Only a giant from Jotunheim could ever have such strength; but that is not the point right now. We were talking about Ivar."
Fishlegs sighed. "Should we really continue this discussion? The slight mention of him makes my stomach ache with dread. I don't want to even know what he looks like-"
"-Blue eyes, short dark blonde hair that's nearly brunette and combed back, pale skin, muscular arms, tall in height, and barely any flesh in his legs. That's all you need to know."
"Aaaaand I think I just lost my appetite." Fishlegs replied, giving off a slight shiver from Hiccup's description, though the auburn-haired Viking shrugged as it wasn't even meant to be that frightening.
Snotlout however followed with a small grumble. "Mine too." he said. "There's nothing to do here but sit and talk about our own things. What we need to do is discuss further on the more important matters that are at hand."
Hiccup sighed as he slurped on a quick spoonful of stew, despite not being hungry, before standing from his seat and proceeding to walk out. "You guys can do that, but I'm not interested right now."
Astrid looked at Hiccup, still concerned. "Wait, where are you going?"
"For a flight, to get some fresh air." he replied back, now gazing at his Dragon. "I need it to help me think about all of this. Come on, Toothless."
...
"You all know why we're gathered here today." began Stoick. "And there is no doubt that you all have further questions to ask and have answered."
Dagur nodded. "Well it's been a while since we've had our last battle discussion. And what I'm eager to see is more blood on the battlefield! Hahahaha!"
"Blood? That's not the point right now..." sighed Mala. "All ten of us were gathered here to plan out our next battle, so it is best we get to the point, and then we'll ask our questions."
"Aye. I agree wif 'er." replied Alvin.
"Same." said Bertha. "Now, what's the plan?"
Stoick exhaled, nodding his head. "Right. So as you all know, Ivar is still not backing down after all the resistance we've shown so far. Despite us making the preparations we need for our invasion, and amassing our forces, the heathen still outnumbers us at about eight to one, with an arsenal of war machines at his back, as well as an armada of hundreds of ships."
"So…?" asked Snorre. "What do we do, then? Where do we need to strike first?"
"There is an important point of attack along the central shores of Norway. According to our friend Magnus here, the Vikings of Norway months back had set up a war-port in a region with cliffs, forests, and hilly plains. The port of Skyrsdok, which is our target, holds a fleet of twenty longships and an iron cog ship along it's piers, so destroying them will be vital to our attack."
"So how do we get into port's hold?" asked Mogadon.
"We can only try to break through." answered Stoick. "The cliff which is located east of the port holds a watchtower atop of it, and it will watch every single move we do. Our Dragons and their Riders cannot destroy it from the air however. If they're spotted, they'll be easily shot down. We need to take it out by foot if we're to allow our Dragons to destroy the docked fleet, and have a fighting chance."
"So what would ya 'ave us do?" asked Alvin.
"Further east of Skyrsdok, there is a long and wide beach that spreads for hundreds of yards, which is surrounded by a large hill and the same cliff on both sides, and further beyond that is a small pinewood forest, and the opened plains. It is said to be defenseless, thus we will use that to our advantage."
Stoick pointed towards the hand-made map. "We'll land here, and from there Hiccup will circle around through the forest with a small but elite group while we divert the enemy. We can easily follow the shore down towards the main beach and docks and fight in the wide opened area there. As for Hiccup, him starting out will be the easy part."
Arngrim sighed. "What's the hard part for the lad, then? Going through a bloody death-path?"
"...Sort of." replied Magnus. "Once Hiccup begins to circle around, it is possible that the enemy could ambush him from all sides. As far as I am aware, the pinewood forest is extremely dense, and although it is enough for a small group of men to rush through quickly, he'll still be vulnerable."
Stoick nodded his head in agreement. "Aye, indeed he'll be opened for attack. But once he reaches the end of the forest, there should be a way up the cliff towards the watchtower where he can destroy it - and then he can proceed to bombard the fleet with the Dragons before flanking around."
Mala spoke up once more. "What do we do after that? Storm the hold?"
"Aye. We'll take it and use it as our base of operations… if, all goes according to plan. We can only hope that Ivar doesn't know that we're going to attack Skyrsdok. For all we know, he could flank from the east and run down the hill with his forces like an avalanche..."
…
"Skyrsdok." said Ivar as he leaned over his table. "There's no doubt that the fool Hiccup and his allies will plan to attack there."
The four High Chieftains sat around the battle table in a circle, with Ivar in the center overlooking the warmap. So far, the young King had been planning out his moves with a quick but careful and intelligent mind, and much had been planned down already.
"I don't see why they would attack there. It doesn't have that many men, therefore it's not important." said Karvein of the Bloody Berserkers.
Ivar grunted. "And that's exactly the reason why they'll attack there, Karvein." he replied. "They know that they can breach the hold despite it being well fortified, and after they've chipped away at our forces stationed there, they'll try and take it."
"So I assume we'll have to take them by surprise?" asked Vlar of the Iron Wolf, earning a nod from the King.
"Correct." he said. "There is a reason why I had improvements made to the hold two weeks ago. Camps representing each of your Clans are based outside it from one location; from within the forest. That also includes another quarry for you Vlar, and as well as that arena Hjalmar was bragging about. That, is exactly what that infidel Hiccup will go through in an attempt to circle around us, all whilst our forces there will be "occupied" with his main force."
"So what do you have in mind, son of Lothbrök?" asked Frode, Chieftain of the Dark Eye Clan.
"What we will do is intercept them and take them by surprise." replied Ivar. "Two and a half thousand warriors will be waiting on the beach that lays further east from Skyrsdok; no doubt Hiccup and his army will land there. Our forces will begin to fight them from there so that they don't advance along the shore to the docks. For every man and woman that falls, two more will take their place."
Hjalmar rose to speak up. "And you are sure that this will work, my King? The last plan failed and our enemies took Black Rock Isle… with a cost."
"Don't question my methods, Hjalmar." Ivar replied back, giving a light growl. "I've planned this out perfectly. When we arrive to surprise our enemy, they'll be running for their lives like little children when our full might is unleashed upon them. They'll likely run for the highlands."
"Do we chase them down once they run?" questioned Frode, only to receive a 'no' from Ivar as he shook his head.
"Let them run, so that they understand that where I tread, life dies. When we come in with our main force from the east, they will shiver in fear and beg for mercy…"
"But I, will deny them that mercy. Until then however, here are your orders. Rally your warriors, and prepare to march tomorrow morning. I want our forces prepared, and I want a longship ready for my departure from Skyrsdok with Bludvist, for… reasons."
The Chieftains saluted in response to Ivar's orders. And it was until Vlar rose to speak up that they knew what the fight was going to be like.
"How many warriors do you want us to bring, King Ivar?" the Chieftain of the Iron Wolf asked.
"...All of them. Every Clan. Every Tribe. Every Chieftain! Let them all charge upon our enemies like a wave!"
...
Hiccup sat atop a lonesome sea stack, just off the coast of Black Rock Isle, and alone with his Dragon - Toothless, who laid there with him, gazing out to sea as he did. The young lad all the meanwhile was thinking on whatever was popping up in his mind. There was much for him to express.
"Toothless." he said softly, catching the Night Fury's attention. "Have you… ever had that feeling where you feel empty and dead inside from so much going on? The loneliness from all the conflict? The insanity that could take you over at any point..."
The Black Dragon looked up at Hiccup, and crooned with concern and worry towards the down and stressed scrawny Viking. He slowly stood up and approached the lad, rubbing his head against him and giving him a light bump.
Hiccup smiled slightly, but his feeling still didn't change. "Well, seems like I feel that way. Ever since I left Berk, the only place in this world where I first saw and felt the warm sunlight hit my face, and the only place that I could ever call home, I've felt... cold - like I was back in the grey and old streets of Kattegat, where only the brutality from other Vikings and folk was all I knew. No remorse. No shame… and no pity."
He sighed, looking down towards the white and gray ocean. "I'm just so… distant from those I care for. From those I love. Hel, what would I tell Astrid when I told her that I-"
"Tell me what?" a distant voice asked from behind. Hiccup turned around, and instantly he saw the familiar scrawny, blonde-haired, blue-eyed figure flying in on her Nadder. It was Astrid, atop her Dragon.
As she dismounted, Toothless quickly rose to all fours and ran over to Astrid's Nadder, giving her a warm hello. Immediately, the two Dragons began to play around.
Astrid then proceeded to walk over and sit next to Hiccup, who at first hid his expression - though it would not take long for her to actually notice. As she sat down left from him, she asked; "So… how's everything holding up for you?"
"Ah- well, a-all is fine." he replied, slightly stuttering. "H- how about you?"
"All is well." she said to him. "Stormfly and I have been flying around all day, and it seems like she's still well up and on her feet- or well, claws. You know."
"Stormfly? So you finally thought up of a name for your Dragon?" Hiccup asked, earning a nod from Astrid. "That… that's great! It actually fits your Dragon I will admit, and well- ...Yeah."
It was then that Astrid began to notice the negative and downed expression in Hiccup's eyes. She leaned forward a bit, and stared directly to her right to get a look at his face. She frowned not in disappointment or irritation, but in the same worry and concern that Toothless had earlier.
"Alright, what's wrong, Hiccup?"
"Hm- huh? Oh, uh- nothing's wrong Astrid. It's just that…" He immediately lost his words, realizing that he could not hide his feelings. And so, he looked directly back at her and shook his head slowly.
"I have felt… distant and lonely, Astrid." he replied to her. "Every since we left Berk, I've felt like I've left home because… well, Berk is my home. It was the only place in this world where I felt safe from my former tormenter. And now that we're going to Norway to fight Ivar, I just fear on what will happen if we lose - whether I'll die… or worse, become his puppet once again."
"We won't lose." she said to him, assuringly.
"Yeah, but… what if we do?" he asked, sounding doubtful.
A small moment of silence passed, and he was now looking directly into Astrid's light blue eyes. "The only thing that's been keeping my sanity together on this journey however, was the thought of my Dad, my best friend Toothless, my friends, and… well, you. I've thought of you because you were the one most of all who helped me stay together during all of this, down to the bottom of my heart, Astrid. You helped me stay and become who I am."
...Those words nearly melted Astrid's heart. It had been a long while - nearly a month - ever since she started thinking about Hiccup; and it was only mere days after he had just arrived on Berk from the great beyond, from a land that the Vikings of the Archipelago had long thought to have just been a myth. And yet throughout all of this struggle, she still thought about him, everyday.
His words, to her, was the best blessing she could have ever had. His admittance for her was obvious. But the feeling he was still expressing, it made her slightly shake and shiver.
"But, yeah. Hopefully you can get what I am trying to say, Astrid." he continued. "But right now I just… don't know what to do. I don't want to feel lonely for the rest of my life, during this conflict, or even after it. I don't know how to-"
A sudden finger touched his lips lightly, hushing him and ceasing him to talk. "Don't say anything." she replied, as she helped him to his feet, just as how he helped her to her feet.
At that moment, the two young Vikings could not lay their eyes off one another. It was as if a spell had fixtated them on each other, and it was too strong to even change or break.
...She then spoke lightly to him.
"You have helped make me into who I am, Hiccup." she said to him. "Ever since my parents my died years ago, and the rest of my family became lost in legends, you, were the one who kept me together. I could not stop thinking about you, ever since you and I started hanging out together, and I can never repay you with anything but my heart."
Hiccup slightly gasped at her last words, anxious to know what she meant. "W-What are you saying, Astrid? Are you…"
"...I love you, Hiccup Haddock."
Both their hearts melted completely, and their minds softened. Hiccup felt his hands fall into Astrid's hands, and Astrid's fell into his. The two raised their hands up to their chests, and Hiccup in response grasped her hands tightly - but with much ease. He looked back into her eyes and said slowly:
"I… love you too, Astrid Hofferson."
Astrid smiled as a feeling she thought that she would never feel again coursed through her stomach and nerves, and slowly but surely, the two moved their heads closer together… until their lips met.
They kissed as dusk fell upon them, and the sinking sun behind the grey but colorful clouds reflected their passion for each other. Their love.
Their kiss was long, but eventually their lips separated from one another. However, their heads did not separate. They kept looking at one another as the sun fell, and the moonlight rose along with light, falling snow.
The two got closer together as they sat down in each other's arms, looking out to sea…
…
Five days later…
Hiccup and Astrid held their hands tight together as they sailed through the opened ocean, with their friends and Dragons at their sides. The banners and flags of all the Tribes of the Archipelago were raised, and the colors seemed to be flying higher than ever.
Ever the Warsung Tribe, led by Magnus and Eira, with their fifty Scandinavian-like longships flew their banners high in the air. Their symbol was that of a sun surrounded by a white vortex with swirling rays, and the background was blue just like how the sun in the center of it was.
It was the middle of the day, and rain fell upon the army with ease, but it also felt like a storm. The warriors and maidens from every Tribe were all prepared for the battle that was ahead, and yet they all knew that the fight would be a heavy and bloody one.
Stoick was the one who was leading the charge. His large longship stood at the very front of the entire fleet, which was the same ship that Hiccup and Astrid were aboard.
Stoick sniffed the air deeply, inhaling the atmosphere they were. "The real storm is just up ahead." he said. "As far as I can see, the beach is no more than two miles away or so. We're almost there."
Hiccup and Astrid looked at each other, squeezing their hands tightly. "Are you ready for this?" Hiccup asked her.
"I'm with you." she replied, before turning their heads forward.
After a long moment passed by, Stoick sighed and ran up to the very front of the ship, rushing up to it's high ground so he could speak out loud to the whole fleet. At first he hesitated, as he figured that perhaps his inspiration of words alone might not be enough…
...But to Hel with it, he spoke regardless.
"DEFENDERS OF BERK!" he bellowed. "WARRIORS OF THE WARSUNG, BERSERKERS OF THE BERSERKER TRIBE, BRAVE MEN OF THE OUTCAST TRIBE, AND VIKINGS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO!"
He waited another moment, catching his breath.
"It has been too long since we ran like cowards!" he announced, roaring. "We hid on lonesome rocks we called islands, while the enemy rushed in to destroy our real homes! The islands of which WE were born on! ...But today, that ends! Today, we make our mark in Viking history as we invade the heathens that dare to take all that we hold dear! We shall protect all that is precious to us, and all that which identifies us as who we are!"
With a great huff of air, he would then unsheath his axe and raise it high into the air, further bellowing inspiration to his allies. "TODAY, WE WILL SHOW THE WORLD, THE MIGHT, OF A TRUE VIKING! FOR THE ARCHIPELAGO!"
Thousands of Vikings cheered to Stoick's speech, gaining the influence and encouragement they needed, the inspiration that they were hoping to find along the distant yet desperate journey to Norway for their first real attack. Today, they would make history for the Archipelago. They would-
Suddenly, from afar in the distance behind the mists that laid in front of the fleet, large multiple lights sparked up for a quick moment, and large booms were heard like thunder as the clouds and mists all around them soon lit up with flames. Toothless and the other Dragons growled, and from up ahead, a dozen large projectiles of fire and iron came flying at the fleet, hitting and sinking only five ships, but still setting a few of them aflame.
"WE'RE UNDER FIRE!" a warrior called out.
"We need water! NOW!" another called out.
Everyone, especially Hiccup, Astrid, Magnus, Eira, the Riders, and the Chieftains, looked at each other with slight fear and anxiety as the mists in front of them soon cleared and unveiled the beach that they were supposed to land at. A horror now laid there.
Before them, thousands of warriors stood, roaring and cheering their battlecries whilst Devastators fired upon the allied fleet. Their numbers were nearly equal to that of the army of the Archipelago, which the Tribes had so desperately mustered up, but it was not enough to stop their advance, or to even halt them.
The warriors and maidens of the Tribes roared back in response, showing the enemy that they were ready to take them on, and give them everything that they had.
Magnus, the Chieftain of the Warsung, quickly turned around to face his left hand commander. "Sigurd, tell the men to get ready!" he ordered, unsheathing his sword.
Sigurd wasted no time and bellowed; "WARSUNG, TO ARMS!" before rushing to Magnus' side. His axes which laid in both of his hands were tightly gripped, and his fury was ready to be unleashed, all which indicated that he was ready for battle.
"Let's do this!" chuckled Eira, unsheathing her bow from her back. "I've been waiting too long to spill Völsung blood again!"
Astrid and Hiccup looked at each other. The warriors and maidens around them still roared with eagerness. All of them were ready to do battle… and so too were they.
"Together?" he asked.
"Together." she replied.
Toothless from behind gave a loud growl, almost sounding like a roar - indicating; 'Together.'
Hiccup smirked. "Thanks, Bud."
Stoick, who stood at the forefront, raised his axe up into the air. And with a howl of rage and anger, he bellowed to his fellow Vikings;
"CHAAAARGE!"
Yup! Hiccstrid is finally here! And next chapter will be another major battle, as well as a change of setting!
But until then:
To be continued...