So I decided for this chapter to time jump ahead two days from the previous chapter, and along with that, we will be introduced to a new protagonist who will be of importance from here on out. Later on, when it's revealed as to why he is so important, you guys may or may not be mind-blown!
And of course, before starting, a thanks to KorrieChan for the review last chapter!
Right then. Let's read onwards!
Two days later...
The cold morning wind blew against Hiccup's face whilst he eyed towards the many trees that were passing by beneath him. As he flew, his feet were pressed down against two pedals which controlled the mechanism and helped in Toothless; specifically, with his new and complete tailfin.
The Night Fury was airborne once more with Hiccup riding on his back. However, they were not alone.
"...I can't believe you actually did it." whistled Magnus who held onto Hiccup's shoulders from behind. "I never thought you would actually go this far in building his new tailfin, but now here we are in the air once more."
Hiccup chuckled. "Well, I did what I could along with a couple of tests before we went flying, but it seems my work has paid off. Wouldn't you guys agree?"
From around him; Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the Twins flew atop their Dragons with Hiccup. Along with that, Eira rode with Astrid, Sigurd rode with Snotlout, and Heather rode with Fishlegs.
However, the only response most of them gave were lazy nods. Even after the couple of hours they had so far flown, they were quickly beginning to get exhausted.
Snotlout yawned. "It's cool, Hiccup. But I'm more concerned about landing back down on the ground to get some rest… And Sigurd, how far are we from this village you mentioned? We've been flying for hours, and so far there's not a sign."
"Be patient." the blonde Viking replied. "I never said that this journey would be a short one. And besides, it's still early in the morning, and our Dragons aren't at their fullest."
"You could say that again." said Fishlegs whose eyes squinted from exhaustion. "Meatlug kept me up all night because she wanted to play around. Another hour of flight, and I'll likely pass out."
"Wait, then why didn't you put her in the Stables?" asked Heather.
"She refused to sleep in the Stables, and wanted to be with me. And besides, you know how I love my 'pwecious Meatwug' too much."
Astrid shook her head as she let out an "ugh", clearly not interested. "Look, maybe it's best we focus more on flight, and talk later. The sooner we get there, the sooner our Dragons can rest."
"Agreed." nodded Hiccup. "Keep your eyes sharp, guys! For all we know, we could be-"
"Wait!" spoke Sigurd, pointing a finger in the distance. "Look over there! I think I see smoke rising in the distance... Must be chimney smoke."
The Dragons immediately came to a halt as the group eyed their gaze in the distance.
"Chimney smoke?" asked Hiccup. "Sigurd, how would you know if we're even near civilization? That could be- ...wait, are you maybe implying that we're here?"
"I'm certain of it." the older Viking replied. "If anything, this area is slowly beginning to come back to me. It seems… familiar. I believe we're here!"
"Then I guess we can finally land." responded Magnus, tilting his eyes towards Hiccup. "It's your call."
Everyone laid their eyes on him, wanting to land their Dragons just as the young Viking nodded his head, allowing them to fly down to the ground.
"Let's land, then."
The Riders immediately rode their Dragons down, landing swiftly on the ground beneath the pine trees as they quickly dismounted.
Looking all around, the group found themselves in the middle of a dirt road with only pine trees all around them. If anything, it lacked any kind of bushes or shrubs. Only the trees, and scattered fallen pine needles were all there really was.
As Hiccup and Magnus dismounted from Toothless, the two of them squinted their eyes, looking down the dirt path that likely led to where Sigurd was trying to take them, especially since they now saw the rising smoke more clearly.
Hiccup smiled with a confident look. "Well then, seems like civilization is more closer than I thought it was."
"Then I guess it was a good thing that Sigurd was right." replied Magnus whilst wrapping his sheathed blade around his waist. "All we have to do now is follow the road and see what awaits us."
"Eh, probably some warm yak milk." shrugged Tuffnut. "Maybe I can finally get myself a decent breakfast as well."
"Or maybe even make a decent prank." responded Ruffnut.
The two of them gave chuckles at the thought of it, giving each other a high five as they began their walk along the road.
"Barf, Belch, c'mon!" Tuffnut said, causing the Dragon to follow behind them.
Astrid stepped closer to Hiccup, placing her fists against her hips as she eyed the Twins. "Honestly, I sometimes have a feeling that they're going to do something stupid at one point."
"Maybe, but that's the least of our worries right now." he sighed. "...Well, we'd better not waste any more time. We should be ready to expect the unexpected... Come on, Toothless."
The group thus began moving, with Sigurd in the lead as Hiccup and the others along with their Dragons followed from behind, knowing that the guards, if there were any, would most likely recognize the lad if he told them who he was.
Whilst walking, Hiccup stayed closer to Astrid, not making much eye contact with one another since there was not much to talk about.
But as Hiccup took a look back at Magnus and Eira, he noticed that they there much closer to each other than usual… much closer.
The thought came upon him, and he looked back at Astrid. He then spoke in a low and hushed tone.
"Hey Astrid?" he asked, catching the shield maiden's attention.
She looked back at him. "Yeah, Hiccup?"
"Have you… noticed anything unusual about Magnus lately? Like, very recently?"
Astrid shook her head. "No? Nothing seems to be different. Why? Have you begun to notice something?"
"...Yeah, sort of." he replied. "I mean, he's been a bit more strange than usual. Most of the time he is on duty looking after his Tribe, but recently he's been doing more personal things."
"Such as…?"
"Well for starters, he reforged his old sword. You know, the one with the blue hilt which he gave to me back in Kattegat before he made me the Dragon's Blade? Hel, he's even considered carving runes on the blade so that the Gods could "bless" it, but he's never carved runes before in his life."
"Hmm…" Astrid slowly nodded her head. "And?"
"And? W- Well..."
Hiccup stuttered, taking another quick glance back at Magnus.
"And then there's this strange thing that's been going on between Magnus and Eira. The two of them have been much closer than they've ever been. Yesterday, I could've sworn that I saw them holding hands as they made their way to the Mead Hall."
Astrid's eyes immediately widened with a mix of belief and disbelief. But as she looked back towards the two Vikings, she knew what Hiccup was talking about.
"Wait... are you saying-?"
He chuckled. "That Magnus and Eira are officially a couple? Yuuuup… As if they couldn't pick a better time to date than in the middle of a war."
Astrid giggled, nodding in agreement. "Couldn't agree more myself. But still, the idea of it is… cute, I guess. Though still, I think that they should be together. After all, they deserve it."
Hiccup gave a nod back. "Aye, indeed they do."
As the two nodded, they then focused looking back towards the end of the road, keeping silence with the rest of the group whilst their long walk continued. The Dragons too didn't make much motion aside, looking from around as they followed.
Eventually, they would reach the gates of the village, but upon reaching them, they were stopped by the two guards who stood there with their spears out, and they crossed their weapons as they glared down at the group.
Immediately, Toothless began to growl.
"Hold, Toothless!" Hiccup said as he reached his hand out. "They're only on guard because they weren't expecting us."
"That we are." one of the guards responded, gazing at Hiccup. "You do realize that you have brought Dragons before our gates, and from what we've heard, Ivar the Boneless has Dragons of his own. How do we know that you are not one of his allies? Those fools who lack honor."
"Because we are in no way at all allied with Ivar." replied Sigurd, taking a step forward. "We've devoted ourselves to destroying him and his Viking onslaught. But for now, I have come to see and speak with your leader."
The second guard glanced at Sigurd, arching a brow. "Oh really? And who are you to come in uninvited to see our Jarl? For all we know, you could be-"
"My name is Sigurd." the blonde Viking interrupted, glaring back at him. "I am a friend and ally of your Jarl, and I have been a close friend of his for many years. Now either you let me through, or I ask that you go and get the Jarl so that he can scold you for denying him to see an old friend again."
From behind their helmets, the two guards widened their eyes as they glanced at each other, almost as if they were surprised rather than angered by Sigurd's response.
"S- Sigurd?" one of them asked. "Could he be…?"
"I think he is… Now that I recall his face, he has to be." the other replied, glancing back at the blonde young man with a relieved and calming state.
The warrior cleared his throat. "Sigurd… we apologize for our hasty actions." he said. "But by the gods… you are still alive? Even after Ivar-"
"Aye." he replied. "But I still managed to find a way through because fate allowed it. And now I return to ask for your Jarl's help. My friends here, and I, need him more than ever."
"Very well." the second guard nodded. "We'll escort you through the town to the Mead Hall, but make sure you and your Dragons stay close."
With that, the horn was blown as the tall wooden gates slowly began turning opened from the inside, and as Hiccup peaked in, he saw four other guards on the other side pulling the gates inwards.
Eventually, the gates were opened entirely, and the village was fully revealed before the group's eyes.
The guards gave them a nod as they beckoned Hiccup and the others to follow them into the town, and upon walking in, everyone from around stared at them and their Dragons with intrigued looks as they passed by hut after hut.
"They don't seem to be scared of our Dragons." said Astrid as she glanced back at the townsfolk.
One of the warriors nodded. "It's because they know that you're not an enemy, thus your Dragons aren't enemies either. Regardless, we should quicken our pace. The Jarl will be eager to speak with you all."
…
The doors to the Mead Hall were met with a few heavy knocks as the bodyguards rushed from their positions with haste, quickly opening them and allowing Hiccup and the group make their way inside.
Upon entering, Hiccup felt the warmth and cozy feeling of the Hall take ahold of him as he unwrapped his cloak from around him, and placed it around his left arm.
Looking up ahead, Hiccup saw what he assumed to be the Jarl talking with two of his guards.
The Jarl wore a grey leather vest with a red tunic underneath, with his boots and pants also being leather. Along with that, he had a white furred cloak wrapped around his back, as well as braids like Sigurd's whilst his brunette hair stretched down in ponytail.
As the young Jarl looked back at the group, he noticed that there were Dragons standing behind them, doing nothing but looking around at his Hall.
He arched a brow. "This is unusual... There are Dragons in the midst of my Hall accompanying a group of strangers? What business do folk you have here in my village? ...You're not with Ivar or his Barbarian allies, are you?"
"No, they are not." another voice spoke up as Sigurd made his way into view in front of the Jarl.
"I brought them here with good reason, my old friend. They're with me, and you well know that I am certainly not with Ivar. And as for the Dragons? They are more than just allies. They are our companions, and our friends... But regardless of that, I have come here seeking you, Hvitserk."
The young twenty three year olds eyes widened. "Sigurd… it's you!"
Hvitserk gave a smile as he turned from the guards he was talking to, walking with haste towards Sigurd as both old friends met in a brotherly-like hug.
Sigurd chuckled as the two separated, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder. "Aye, it's good to see you too again, old friend."
"You have no idea how worried I was, Sigurd." replied Hvitserk. "When I heard that Ivar was taking all of Norway under his direct rule and planned to invade another distant land, I feared the worst of what he was going to do with you."
"Well, he threw me aboard a prison longship in the end." the blonde Viking stated. "But were it not for the actions of these brave warriors, I would have been dead."
Sigurd stepped to the side as his arm gestured towards the group, motioning them to come closer to him.
"My Chieftain Magnus, and Eira are Scandinavian like myself, but these young Vikings right here are from a far away land who have pledged their lives to fight Ivar and his Great "Viking" Army… Hiccup here was born in the Archipelago from which Ivar intended to invade, before somehow becoming raised here in Norway."
"Hiccup?" asked Hvitserk. "You mean that young Viking whose name is spreading all across the land?"
"The very same." nodded Sigurd.
Hvitserk took a couple of steps forward as he glanced down at Hiccup with welcoming and friendly eyes, clearly showing that he admired the scrawny lad.
"Despite your scrawniness, I can clearly see that you have strength, skill, and discipline in you. Your victories across Norway have not gone unnoticed, and for that, I can only say that you are among the bravest and strongest I've seen… Also, well done against the Dark Eye."
Hiccup nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, but… how did you know all of this?"
"I have spies and scouts all over the land." chuckled Hvitserk. "They lay low and anonymous so that no enemy or threat can discover our location. But from how I now see it, we've been found by Karvein and his forces."
"...Karvein-? The leader of the Germanic Barbarians in Ivar's army?"
"The same." the Jarl grunted. "But I must ask out of curiosity. Why are you here?"
Hiccup responded by getting straight to the point. "...I want to seek an alliance with you, Hvitserk. From what I can see, these Barbarians pose quite a threat to you, and they'll likely continue to gnaw at you until you are broken... Let us become allies. We will take the fight to Ivar and his Great Army, and I assure you that I will first help you deal with Karvein and his Barbarians. That is my promise."
"And that is a guaranteed promise." Sigurd said, nodding his head. "Trust me when I tell you that Hiccup is our only hope in this conflict. I swear it."
It was clear to Hvitserk on what his choice was. There was no other option, and he knew that if he accepted, he would benefit not just his own Clan, but as well as those who stood alongside with him.
Hvitserk nodded, reaching his hand out for a handshake. "It's a deal." he said. "Hiccup Haddock of the Archipelago, I hereby claim you as an ally of the Grey Raven Clan, and we yours if that's what it will take to defeat these Barbarians, and then Ivar himself. Together, we shall be victorious!"
Hiccup bowed his head as he took ahold of Hvitserk's hand, grasping it. "Indeed we will."
As the two separated their handshake, the young Jarl looked back at the group with a welcoming expression as he rubbed his hands together.
"Now then." he said. "With that out the way, who wants to settle down at my table and eat with me? You all look tired and hungry."
"We haven't had any breakfast this morning." said Heather who gave a small grin. "But your offer is most appreciating. I'm in."
"Same here, Hvitserk." said Snotlout. "I could use a little bit of grub in my belly."
"Us too!" both Twins said in unison.
"Then it's settled." chuckled Hvitserk. "Everyone come sit, and let us feast together! I welcome you to Ravengard!"
...
"...And that's how I became the Chieftain of a newfound Tribe made from scratch, composed of warriors and maidens who were betrayed by Ivar and thrown out of his Völsung Clan. Now, we call ourselves Warsung. Where we go, war is sung in battle."
Hvitserk nodded as he listened to Magnus who was sitting next to him, intrigued in his story.
"So you were among the first to openly rebel against Ivar back in Kattegat? And it was all to help out Hiccup?"
"It wasn't just me alone." the Chieftain replied. "Eira here also helped Hiccup escape from Kattegat, though it was a necessary distraction. If we had not done it, then they would have caught up with him and killed him."
"I see…" said Hvitserk. "And is Eira close to you when it comes to relationship? Like… a couple?"
Magnus slightly blushed as he looked back at Eira - who was also blushing at him.
"...Yes."
The group gave light a light "ooh", slightly jaw-dropped and a little bit surprised by Magnus' response.
"Well, looks like we were right, Astrid." said Hiccup as the two of them drank from their mead, pretending that they were not paying attention.
"Yup." she replied. "But I think that's beside the point."
Hvitserk laughed, before his eyes then fell onto the Dragons who laid resting behind Hiccup. He became curious, but also interested.
"So, those Dragons that you have with you." he said whilst looking down at his meal. "How did you earn their trust- or well, I should ask; how did they earn your trust?"
"We bonded with them." said Hiccup, glancing from Toothless and Hvitserk. "I was the first to learn about their true nature after I came to Berk, and from there, I eventually trained and bonded with Toothless. He earned my trust as I have earned his, and now, he is my best friend."
Hvitserk smiled in amusement. "Wow." he responded. "It's amazing what you Berkians can accomplish with your Dragons. Such extraordinary creatures if I do say so myself. Your Dragon Toothless must be happy to stand by your side every step of the way, and I think he is-"
Before being able to finish, the doors to the Great Hall suddenly bursted opened as a messenger came running in with a rolled up letter of parchment in hand, wrapped around by a woolen band.
"My Jarl." the messenger said as he approached Hvitserk. "I've received a letter from one of our out-lying outposts. It's for you."
"Who is it from?" asked Hvitserk.
"I don't know." the man replied, shaking his head. "But I think you should read it to find out."
Hvitserk gave no other word as he took the offered letter from the messenger, untying it from the woolen string that held it together before quickly unrolling it. But upon making his first glance at the letter, he noticed a familiar yet bothersome crest drawn near the top-right corner.
It was the crest of the Bloody Berserkers.
The letter read:
…
To the Jarl of the Grey Raven Clan.
"You have have openly admitted to being against my Clan after slaughtering a group of my warriors, and sending their heads back to me."
"Not only that, but you have also cowardly slain two of my five Germanic Chieftains that followed under me, and left their Tribes leaderless."
"Your treason has been noted to the other Chieftains left standing, as well as to the rest of the Great Viking Army."
"Thus as a result of your actions; I leave you with two choices."
"Send a letter back to me, and pledge your allegiance to the Great Viking Army, and to Ivar. Forget any of this happened, and I will renounce your act of revolt against us."
"Or you can refuse, and I will march to your village, kill your warriors, kill your people, and enslave anyone left standing. You know you cannot win this one."
"You have three days to give me an answer. If you don't respond until then, then I shall burn Ravengard to ashes whilst it's streets will run with rivers of blood."
"Now make your decision. Remember; three days."
-Signed, Chieftain Karvein of the Bloody Berserkers.
…
Hvitserk crumpled the letter as he banged his hand against the table in anger, glaring down at it.
"That damned Barbarian has tested my patience for far too long." he growled. "First he threatens to kill me, and now he threatens MY PEOPLE!? I've had it with him! I will kill off his whole Clan and his allies if that's what it will take to beat him. I will-"
"Hvitserk!" Magnus interrupted, laying a hand on his shoulder as the young Jarl sighed, stuttering in his exhale.
"Gah... I'm sorry." he replied, shaking his head. "It's just that Karvein has threatened to kill me one too many times, and now he is threatening to go after my people… I can't defeat him alone. My army is not enough."
"...You won't be alone in this fight." Hiccup said, leaning his head closer to the Viking. "My army is right now making its way here to meet with us. We flew ahead of our allies this morning before they began their march, though it will take some time until they are able to reach us."
"And how many do you have?" Hvitserk asked.
"Over two thousand." the young lad nodded. "What about you?"
"A thousand five hundred. That's all I have."
"Then combined together, we will outnumber Karvein." Hiccup stated, leaning back into his chair. "The Tribes will arrive here tomorrow at most, but for now we will have to wait. If anything, Karvein will have his eyes peeled on Ravengard, and we'll have to be ready for him."
"We will be ready." replied Astrid. "As my blood continues boiling, so does my fighting spirit. And if battle full-on is what it will take to defeat him, then I will be ready to fight."
"I'll fight too." said Snotlout who was spinning a dagger against the table from it's tip. "It's better than having to scoop up Dragon poop all day."
"Then I guess it's settled." said Magnus as he grasped his hands together. "For now, we'll have to stay on guard. We know when Karvein will make his next move, and once we're ready, we'll take the fight to him before he can."
"Aye." replied Hiccup. "But let's just hope we know what we're dealing with…"
What did you guys think? Have any thoughts on this chapter? Feel free to leave a review, and I hoped you enjoyed!