Before you guys begin reading, I'd like to tell to you that this chapter may bring you a mix of feelings.
I felt quite a bit emotional when I wrote this, especially when I reached the end of this chapter, which was something I never thought I would write.
Regardless, please enjoy.
Hiccup and Magnus, along with Toothless and Thorwind, walked through the streets of Kattegat, glancing around at what remained of the ruined city. The roads were littered with rubble and wood, and the demolished huts and buildings had been burnt out to the point where only smoke rose from what remained of them.
Either way, the two did not expect much...
That was, until they began passing by their allied Vikings who saluted them with respect, and with them were the freed citizens of Kattegat that Ivar had locked up in his prisons - all of whom were being escorted to safety.
Hiccup lightly smiled as they walked by him; each of them giving surprised looks at the sight of him.
"Looks like we made it just in time to save them." Hiccup said, looking back at Magnus. "All we need to do now is give them a place to stay, as well as clothing, food, and supplies."
"I can provide them with what they need." replied Magnus, while running his hand along Thorwind. "The Warsung have enough resources to tend to them."
Hiccup arched a brow. "You?" he asked. "Sorry, it's just that- why not let my dad and I help out? I mean, we can help them in finding a home as well."
"No need." said Magnus. "The thing is; I'm taking them into the Warsung. They need a leader, and I am willing to take that burden. Even if they weren't the friendliest people in the past to you and I, they will see now that we were the ones who saved them. You especially, Hiccup."
The younger Viking went silent for a moment, staring at Magnus with a slightly surprised look. He could see that the selflessness that the Warsung Chieftain had was beyond anything he saw in him before. Months ago, Magnus was just an ordinary blacksmith, working to make a living. Now as a Chieftain, here he was taking a big responsible step into staying as one.
A small smirk stretched out on his face as he nodded in approval. "I can see why Sigurd and the Warsung decided to follow you, ever since you found them and freed them on Black Rock Isle. You gave them what Ivar could not; a will of their own."
"Aye. But with Ivar dead, there's no doubt that the Tribes will be cheering you on. You put the nail in the coffin that ended this war, and it's because of you that you will be able to go home."
Hiccup chuckled, placing a hand on Magnus's shoulder. "Well, in the meantime, let's go and see how the others are doing."
The two continued making their way down the road heading towards the town center of Kattegat, where everyone was gathered. As they got closer and closer, the presence of their allies nearby began to increase. More warriors came into their view, giving them a cheer or salute. But it was until they reached the town plaza that they saw the Tribes celebrating.
Near off towards center of the plaza, Stoick, Astrid, Eira, Gobber, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the Twins sat around a brazier, along with their Dragons and a few Berkian and Warsung warriors, who held musical instruments in their hands. They spoke with delight, all whilst playing music for the fun of it, to which the group laughed and clapped for them.
However, as the sight of Hiccup and Magnus caught the attention of Astrid from the corner of her eyes, she stood and waved to them.
"There they are!" she called out.
Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned to the two Vikings and their Dragons, and the town center quickly erupted with a thousand cheers as warriors and shield maidens made way for Hiccup and Magnus, patting them on their shoulders and giving them a 'well done' look as they walked towards Astrid and the group.
Upon reaching the gang, Astrid rushed towards Hiccup, wrapping her arms around him with a tight hug. Before he could respond however, she immediately moved her lips towards his with a lovely kiss, all whilst she kept a smile.
As the two separated, Hiccup stared back at her with an almost drunken-like look in his eyes.
"I could get use to that." he said.
She then gave a motion with her hand, giving a welcoming gesture for the two Vikings and their Dragons to sit down, to which they gladly accepted.
As Magnus was about to sit, his eyes fell upon Eira, who gave him a look that made him lightly giggle. The two lovers then leaned in towards each other, meeting with a gentle kiss before Magnus proceeded to sit down, wrapping an arm around her.
As Hiccup and Magnus finally settled in, the warriors and maidens around them quickly got back to celebrating, and once more, the plaza became filled with the sounds of hearty chattering and festivities.
Stoick, who sat near Hiccup, gave his son a tight hug as he let out a chuckle. "I knew I could count on you, Hiccup! My son, the pride of Berk, has finally ended the war! Oh... how your mother would be so proud of you..."
Hiccup nodded, lightly wheezing from his father's hug as it nearly knocked all the air out of him. "Thanks, Dad…" he replied. "Still, it was nothing that I couldn't accomplish. With Ivar's death, I doubt that another war like this will ever happen again... hopefully."
"Well, at least ya managed ta kill 'em." replied Gobber. "How did ya do it anyways?"
"Hiccup used Nördar to finish off Ivar, empowered by a lightning bolt from Thorwind." answered Magnus, turning his eyes to his sheathed weapon. "That blast he gave was lethal, but enhancing Nördar with it made it all the more dangerous. There was no way Ivar could have survived that, and it's all thanks to the structure of the sword that Hiccup was not electrocuted to death."
"Wooow." Tuffnut responded. "Now that it what a call giving someone a good ol' Loki!"
"Ya mean Thor?" asked Ruffnut. "Dude, it's lightning. Hel, wouldn't you agree, Fishlegs?"
"I guess so." the Ingerman shrugged. "Off topic however, I should mention that there is still much that we have to do before we can leave, and that involves recovering a few things from Ivar. He stole quite alot from us ever since Olaf looted the Archipelago."
"Aye." said Hiccup. "Though speaking of which, I am pleased to tell you guys that after Magnus and I left the roof of the Great Hall, we actually managed to find the thousands of pounds of gold that Ivar had stolen. Turns out, he hid it in his chambers near the back of the Hall, and that includes all the wealth Olaf stole from us. It seems he never intended to share it with the other Chieftains."
Stoick's eyes widened. He then looked back at Gobber who gave him a nod, and then he looked towards the other Chieftains who stood in the distance with their men.
"Gobber, gather the other Chieftains and have them come with me. It's about time that we all get our gold back."
The blonde Viking gave a nod as he stood up, following Stoick towards the other Chieftains who was going to tell them about the wealth they found. If anything, it was more than enough for each Tribe.
Hiccup sighed as his father walked off, gazing back to the others with an awkward look on his face, to which they also shared the same look. For a moment they all sat in silence, holding their tankards of ale in their hands all whilst their Dragons nearby rested and played around, running in circles. To everyone, it was an embarrassing situation…
But it wasn't until Eira had an idea pop up in her head that she made the silence break. She looked towards the warriors who held their musical instruments in their hands, and began tapping her right foot in a rhythm.
Hiccup, Astrid, Magnus and the others glanced at her curiously as she started to tap her foot. It was in a slow but catchy rhythm, and before they knew it, Eira began to sing in Old Norse which caught the attention of the minstrels.
"Villemann gjekk seg te storan å…"
"Hei fagraste lindelauvi alle,"
"Der han ville gullharpa slå,"
"For de runerne de lyster han å vinne…"
The Vikings holding their instruments looked back at each other with grins, nodding as they slowly began to play along with Eira's song. The drum banged to the rhythm, the lute strummed note after note, the bukkehorn blew with joy, and the fiddle played heartily.
Eira continued singing, and soon the minstrels sung too as they played.
"Villemann gjenge for straumen å stå…"
"Hei fagraste lindelauvi alle!"
"Mesterleg kunne han gullharpa slå,"
"For de runerne de lyster han å vinne…"
"Han leika med lente, han leika med gny…"
"Hei fagraste lindelauvi alle!"
"Og fugelen tagna på grønande kvist,"
"For de runerne de lyster han å vinne…"
Eira and the minstrels sang and sang to the rhythm of their hearty tune, and as soon as they came to stop, Hiccup, Magnus, and the group along with a few others nearby applauded for their excellent playing and singing, leaving Eira to blush.
The Dragons on the other hand stood there in curiosity and interest. What were those amazing sounds that they had just listened to?
Magnus stood to his feet, offering Eira a hand. "That was amazing!" he said before kissing her on the forehead. "Why didn't you ever consider singing for us during our journey?"
"I didn't think it would sound good." Eira replied, still blushing. "Plus, I felt a little bit embarrassed back then."
"Well at least you sung better than others." complimented Astrid. "I could never sing even if my life depended on it. Others such as Tuff however just naturally suck at it."
"Hey!"
The group gave a chuckle to Astrid's joke. Tuffnut however sat there in an embarrassed but also pissed off manner. Getting insulted by his sister one thing, but by Astrid, that was a whole nother thing.
However, as soon as the others continued talking and joking, Hiccup's attention mysteriously wandered off into another direction towards a road leading somewhere that felt… familiar to him.
He clearly remembered something about Kattegat, something that brought back memories of when he was a thrall. Before he met his father. Before he met Toothless. Even before he met Astrid…
Eagered to find out, Hiccup immediately stood to his feet, wandering off towards the direction that had his attention. As he did though, Astrid's eyes caught glance of him, and she quickly became suspicious as she quietly began following him…
…
Hiccup remembered what he was thinking about when he stared off towards the road leading to Magnus' old Blacksmith. At one point he had passed by it, catching a glance of what remained of it - which was nothing but rubble as well as pieces of burnt wood and metal scattered around.
But soon, he came upon the main thing that dragged him here. Before him stood the ruined and old small cottage he used to sleep and live in when Olaf was still the Slavemaster. He remembered how it smelt like hounds and rotten food, and how he used to get beaten up by Olaf on occasion.
He shuddered at the thought of it. They were memories he wished to forget about for the rest of his life.
"You're no longer anything to me." he said to himself, staring up at the cottage. "Just a broken memory, and a thing that will be forgotten."
"Who are you talking to?"
Hiccup jumped as he heard the voice from behind him catch him by surprise. Upon turning his head around, he saw Astrid approach him with a curious but concerned face. 'Why was he all the way out here?' she thought to herself.
He sighed, gesturing towards the small cottage in front of him. "You see this?" he asked. "...This is where it all began. I lived here in this cottage when Olaf was still the Slavemaster; when he had been tormenting me for months - if not years…"
Astrid rose her brows, stepping closer to Hiccup. "What did he do to you?"
There was a pause as he looked at her, shaking his head with a frowned face. "...He abused me and tortured me, at least once or twice a month." he said. "And anything that I did wrong he did not like, he would discipline me and give me warning after warning. I've was given scars thanks to him, and this cottage is a small part of it…"
"...But now, those days are long gone."
Astrid stood there deep in her thoughts, feeling very sympathetic for Hiccup. Seeing now first hand where he lived and what he had to deal with everyday made her heart sink, and thinking about what he had gone through made her almost see more of it... She lightly sighed as she stepped closer to Hiccup from behind, and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Well, you can forget about it now, babe." she replied, now smiling. "Remember that your father is here, Toothless is here… and I'm here. Whatever happened back then is just a distant memory. You should just forget about it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." he sighed, laying his hands on her arms. "I'm just glad that you're here."
"Same here." she softly replied before sliding her arms off from around him, stepping to his side.
A moment of silence then followed as they stood there - staring down the house. "...So, what now?" asked Astrid.
Hiccup shrugged, looking back at her. "I guess we should get back to the others to see what they're doing. Who knows if-"
"So, you came back here?" a voice from nearby asked.
Hiccup and Astrid spun their heads around, revealing Magnus and Eira who were walking towarss them along with Ubba, Hvitserk, and Sigurd - the three of whom were glancing around at the ruined city they once called home.
"Magnus?" Hiccup asked. "How did you know I was here?"
"I thought about it, and I soon knew that you would go back to the place where it all started." responded Magnus, glancing up at the old cottage. "It must be hard to imagine how far you've gone ever since that day you left Kattegat. Then again, it was for the better…"
"Along with that, I also came here because I have something else to share with you."
Magnus looked back at Ubba and Hvitserk, giving them a nod as the two sons of Ragnar stepped forward, facing Hiccup.
"We're going to move on..." spoke Ubba. "With our brother Ivar dead, and the Völsung along with the Great Army destroyed, we want to look towards a more peaceful life that involves what our father Ragnar initially wanted. Thus, Hvitserk and I have made a decision, along with our men; we are going to disband our Clans, and join the Warsung Tribe. Magnus will be our Chieftain."
Hiccup arched both his brows in a surprised look, glancing between Magnus, Ubba, and Hvitserk. "You guys don't want to be Jarls anymore?"
"We will still be Jarls." said Hvitserk. "It's just that we think it'd be better if we had a leader. We will follow under Magnus, who has proven time and time again to have been a better Chieftain than Ivar. Besides, I think it's about time we had a family reunion with Sigurd, wouldn't you say, brother?"
"Indeed." he nodded. "Either way, it's settled."
With their decision made final, Magnus grasped both his hands, nodding as he looked back towards the road leading to the plaza. "If I were you two, I would make way towards the plaza, and then to the marketplace near the docks."
Hiccup arched a brow. "Hm?"
"Your friends and the others are readying the ships for your voyage back to Berk. It's time for you to go home…"
…
The docks were packed with many warriors. Hiccup and the others supplied their ships with chests of gold and resources which were equally divided amongst the other Tribes, all while readying themselves and their vessels for the voyage home. After all, they still had a lot to catch up with.
However, as Hiccup and Toothless stood there overseeing the Hooligan Tribe prepare their boats, they noticed that the Warsung Tribe was not making an effort at all to prepare their own vessels - and rather just help out the other Tribes.
Along with that, a large amount of them along with the former civilians of Kattegat were grouped up in the marketplace, standing before Magnus and Eira.
Toothless crooned as he tilted his head to look up at Hiccup, curious. To this, the lad shrugged. "I don't know, Bud..."
Hiccup gazed back at Astrid as she, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the Twins were packing supplies on the longships with the help of their Dragons, but seeing as how he was focused on what Magnus was doing he turned around and made his way to the Warsung Chieftain who was addressing something to the Warsung Tribe, along with the civilians.
"...With the war over, our primary objective is to look towards peace!" he announced. "Though many of you may find it a bit struggling to adjust to your new lives, I assure you, it will be a better one! Especially for you, former people of Kattegat! I will give you what Ivar himself never gave you; freedom and peace!"
"And so I ask you! Will you follow me?"
The marketplace quickly filled with cheers as the warriors and former people of the Völsung, now Warsung, looked to each other with gladful faces and looks. Though their new life may be a small struggle at first, they were still willing to take it.
Slowly but surely, the warriors and people began to spread out, going back to minding their own business and duties. After all, it was going to be a long day ahead of them - and they had to get ready.
"...Magnus? Eira?"
Hiccup spoke as he neared them, making them turn around to face him. However, judging by their looks - it seemed as if they had something important to tell him. At least Magnus did.
"Hiccup." sighed Magnus as the young lad came closer. "I am going to assume that you've come here to ask why we're not preparing our ships. Am I right?"
"Y- Yes." he stuttered with confusion in his voice. "...Magnus, is there something I'm missing here? What's going on?"
Magnus knew he had to tell him. Knowing as well that there was no other way to express this to him, he took a few steps forward to Hiccup, calmly laying both of his hands on his shoulders. He then let in and let out a light breath...
"...I'm not coming back with you."
His face suddenly went blue. Those words made Hiccup feel empty. It was as if his heart had sunken into his stomach and began beating rapidly. His voice nearly turned weak as he looked at Magnus with shock and bewilderment. He didn't understand. Why was this happening?
"But- why?" he asked. "You said that you would be coming back with us, didn't you...?"
"I know - at one point I said I would." he sighed, slightly crouching to meet with Hiccup's level. "...But if I leave with you, then who is going to stay behind and watch over? There are still many smaller Tribes out there in Norway; those who never joined Ivar. Imagine if someone else tried to rise as another Ivar. Everything would spiral into chaos once again, and another war would break out. I don't want that. None of us do. And besides, we don't have enough ships to carry both Ubba's and Hvitserk's warriors oversea, and nor the civilians. Dragon's Wake will also need someone to look after it..."
"...I am willing to take this burden if that's what it takes to keep order among not just my people and my Tribe, but as well as the many others that may seek to become what Ivar was. You on the other hand have a fresh new life ahead of you. Berk and the Archipelago has a new future because of you. Use it while you can. Be the future Chief of Berk you were meant to be."
Though Magnus' words hurt Hiccup deeply, he knew that he was right. Unless no one stayed to look after these lands, what would happen if another war broke out? It could get the Archipelago involved again.
They would return to a state of barbarism. It could not happen again, and it was clear that Magnus was the only one who could keep this from happening, seeing that he now had the strength to do so. He had his influence and people to help him. He would bring order to the land that Hiccup once saw as Helheim on earth.
Tears lightly ran down Hiccup's cheeks as he looked back at Magnus. He wanted to break down there and then, but there was no point. "I'm going to miss you, Magnus." he said. "You were like a brother to me the whole way through."
Magnus nodded. "As will I, brother." he replied. "But I promise that I'll send you a letter once a month. I'll stay in touch with you from afar."
And to that, Hiccup reached his arms out to his brother-in-arms, hugging Magnus tightly as he laid his chin on his shoulder. The older Viking sighed, wrapping his arms lightly around Hiccup like the brother he was to him. Though they did not come from the same family, they both felt like family nonetheless.
After a long moment passed, the two separated, and without another word, Hiccup turned around and began making his way back to the docks, all while wiping his tears away. As he walked, he took a quick moment to glance once more back at Magnus before turning back to face forward, no longer looking back at him.
As Magnus watched him walk off in silence, he felt Eira's hand wrap around his as they both smiled while watching Hiccup wander towards the docks.
"He has a bright future ahead of him." she said.
Magnus nodded. "Aye…"
As soon as Hiccup made it to the docks, he gestured to Toothless to follow as they both soon boarded their longship, settling in with Astrid, Stoick, Gobber, and the others who were all ready to sail back home.
"All o' our ships are ready, and our men an' Dragons are on board! We leave on yer command, Chief." said Gobber, looking back at Stoick.
Stoick gave a nod. "Aye. Order the ships to set sail with the other Tribes. It's time. We're going home."
And with that, the horn was blown as the Tribes and their ships soon set off in unison, sailing down Kattegat's river and towards the sunset which led out into the ocean.
As Hiccup sat there on the bench of his ship, looking back at Kattegat, he felt Astrid scoot closer to him, gently laying her head on his shoulder. Then from the corner of his eye, he saw Toothless approach him, lightly nudging him with his head jokingly to lighten him up.
Astrid looked up at Hiccup, noticing he was looking back at the ruined city with a peculiar look. "Did Magnus stay behind?"
"Yeah." he said. "...It's for good reason that we move on, but we'll still be together from afar."
As the ships sailed off into the sunset, Magnus and Eira stood there together - holding their hands as they watched them soon disappear in the distance. Though it would be a different kind of world without Hiccup being around them, they could still make it as better as he would have wanted it.
The two lovers looked back at each other.
"So that's it then." sighed Eira. "He's gone."
"Yes… and no." replied Magnus. "We'll still be together from afar… but Eira, if you don't mind, I- I have something else to tell you- or well, show you, if that's alright? This is something I've been keeping secret for a while now, and I have been contemplating whether or not I should show you. But now, I want to take our relationship to the next level, thus, I want to show it to you."
Eira arched her brows as Magnus let go of her hands. "What is it...?"
...It was then that Magnus responded not with words, but with something amazing.
He slowly backed up from Eira before reaching into a pocket behind his cloak, and he took out one of the most beautiful things that she had ever seen. It was a silver ring with small runes carved on it, and upon looking at it, the realization had hit her. She glanced between Magnus and the ring, grinning wider than ever as she blushed and gasped in delight. Was he really going to ask her what she thought he was going to ask her?
...He was.
Magnus stepped closer to her, raising Eira's hands before moving them closer to him as he set the ring in her palms, placing his hands over them.
"Will you marry me, Eira?"
An emotional ending to such a long journey for our characters... but the story is not done yet.
Next chapter will be the epilogue, and Hiccstrid!