Valka stopped walking as she entered a cave. She stepped aside to give room for her followers and her smile even widened at the gasps behind her.
Hiccup was stunned. The cave was lit up with a small opening on his right where he could see the sky clear from clouds. The center of the cave was occupied by a large blue icicle that led fresh and clean water to a pool surrounding its lower part. Everything was like a dream for him. One of the many dreams he hadn't had since he was smaller. A dream where he lived in the wild alone on safe grounds in a cave hid safely above normal grounds.
He looked to his left and found different shaped and different sized stones with wooden plates and sticks on. Baskets of fish were stocked beside the rocks. Alongside his friends, they made themselves at home by the welcoming gesture of his mother's hands. He sat down beside Astrid on a block of cobblestone. Toothless followed and laid down on his right side with Hiccup's hand scratching his head mindlessly. His eyes were set on his parents while his lips carried a smile that reflected from his parents. He watched them laugh and talk as if the twenty years apart was nothing more than a few minutes. Unexpectedly, Astrid laid her head on his shoulder; also looking at his parents with a smaller smile than him. Hiccup moved to wrap his left arm around her waist and rest his head on top of hers. The two sighed happily together.
"How are you feeling?" Hiccup asked, looking down at her.
"I should be the one asking you that," She replied. "How do you feel about all this?"
"I don't know…," Hiccup sighed. "It's still a lot to take in. I mean, it's not every day you find out your mother is alive and living with dragons." Astrid chuckled.
"True," She said, closing her eyed.
"You didn't answer my question," Astrid looked at him confused, giving him a small hum to show her confusion. Hiccup moved his hand up to his forehead. "Are you feeling better? Have your nausea calmed down?" Astrid's lips formed an 'o' as a sign of remembering.
"A little," She replied.
"I still think I should take you to Gothi or Kenna," Hiccup said. His hand dropped back down to her hip and rested there.
"Actually," Astrid said, sitting up to fully look at him. "I went there this morning," She said.
"Without me? I'm a little disappointed milady," Hiccup pouted, but chuckled. "What did they say?"
"I'll tell you later," Astrid said, snuggling into his chest. She felt Hiccup's arm wrapped around her again and rubbing her shoulder. She smiled into his chest and looked at Hiccup's parents. "Let's just enjoy this moment while it lasts," Hiccup nodded. His hand reached down to the little metal object in his pocket. He smiled and kissed her forehead, his hand sliding out of his pocket and rested down on the ground beside him.
Everything around Hiccup made him feel a part of a family. The twins and Snotlout who fought over the last salmon once dinner was served by the grown-ups. Fishlegs who took out his own notebook and started noting every new fact he had learned about the new dragons. Hiccup and Astrid cuddling next to the bonfire in the center of their ring, Gobber sleeping against Grump, and then there were his parents. His parents were mirroring him and Astrid in their own way, talking and laughing, catching up with the lost time. Everything created a warm and loving feeling Hiccup was sure he had never felt before. And if anything, he wanted to protect it with his life.
Hiccup and Astrid's time of watching the two older couple ended shortly after the food was eaten up by a certain someone. Valka took Stoick's hands in hers and whispered something Stoick nodded to. She stood up and walked towards Hiccup. Hiccup and Astrid straightened up.
Without even having a word say anything, Astrid kissed Hiccup's cheek and stood up to sit down with Fishlegs to let them talk together.
Valka sat down beside Hiccup. "Hey," Hiccup greeted her with a smile. Valka smiled, greeting him back. "You and dad get along pretty well," Hiccup chuckled. "I've never seen him smile like this…its new," he said looking over at his father who conversed on with Gobber who finally decided to wake up.
"Wasn't it like this around you and him?" Valka asked concerned, taking a quick glance at Stoick before returning her full gaze on her son.
"Not really," he said with a heavy sight. His gaze fell on his hands.
"Why not?"
"Let's just say our family bond was broken when you were taken away. He didn't take it very well and got regularly angry at the one to blame."
"The one to blame? You mean the dragons?" She asked puzzled. Hiccup shook his head and looked up at her.
"That and…me," Once again his eyes left his mother and went down to his scarred hands. He rubbed his wrists, remembering the familiar feeling of tight shackles keeping him attached to the prison wall back on Berk.
"You?" Valka asked even more worried. She could see where this was going, but before she dared to speak up about it she needed to hear it. She couldn't just jump to conclusions. Her eyes noticed Hiccup's hand movements.
"Yeah," Hiccup sighed. "I didn't know why he was angry at me for so long, or why anyone was, but Gobber told me what happened," he paused. "You were taken away from Berk because of me-
"Don't," Valka said sharply. She took his hands in hers, feeling his scars by the contact. "Don't blame yourself for my decision. I made the choice of saving you and never returning to Berk even if I could have-
"But that's just it," Hiccup said, cutting her off. "Maybe...," his voice went low as a whisper barely audible with the other voices filling the cave. "Maybe if I wasn't born," his voice cracked. "You and dad would have been happy like you are now."
Hiccup looked away from his mother ashamed, but he felt two fingers turn his head back to her. "Don't ever think that way," his mother said. "If anyone is to blame, it's us, not you. We did this to you; we did this to your life. Not you."
Hiccup sighed, but nodded in defeat. Though, it didn't change his mind of the subject. He felt her hands back in his and he was pulled to his foot – and prosthetic. "Come on," he looked at his mother. "There's someone I want you to meet," Before Hiccup knew it the two were on their way to the gap they arrived through earlier that day.
Time seemed to pass quicker each time they walked the small distance to the center of her nest. Once again, Hiccup was speechless of the place. The dragons flying around, living in peace from the evil people of this world. He was happy that they had someone who protected them; someone who lived out his dream. His dream about stopping the war between Vikings and Dragons; not only on the islands near Berkian territory, but everywhere on dragon back he could reach.
"After hearing about this… Red Death," his mother started. Hiccup's gaze shifted to her while they walked closer to the end of a cliff. "I thought maybe you'd like to see one of the good Alphas, or as I call him, the King of all dragons." Valka looked down below her and Hiccup followed her gaze. His jaw dropped to his feet. Lying below the cliff was a gigantic dragon. If Hiccup ever encountered a dragon like it outside in the snow covered land he wouldn't be sure if he'd even been able to spot it. Stealth like it gave the dragon an advantage even as the Alpha himself.
"He's one of the few left of his specie, the bewilderbeasts."
"I'm sure Fishlegs would faint by the sight of him," Hiccup gasped, but remembered his mother didn't know who he was talking about. "He's the one who, uhm, sat with his notebook back there," Valka nodded, but the face of the young blond girl with him earlier flashed in her mind.
"That girl back there," Valka began. "Is she your girlfriend?" Hiccup laughed nervously, pulling something out of his pocket.
"Yeah, but hopefully soon my fiancé." Hiccup opened his palm. In his hand laid a golden ring that shined by the light from above them. Attached to it was a blue orb. "Do you think she'll like it? It took me ages to find the right jewel with the same color as her eyes-
His mother cut him speechless as she wrapped her arms around her and embraced him tightly. "She'll love it," She whispered into his neck. Hiccup smiled. "I'm so proud of you son," Valka's eyes widened. She pulled back and stared at Hiccup. After staying away for twenty years, she didn't feel the pride in calling someone her child because of her decisions. "M-may I…," She tried to swallow down the lump in her throat. "Call you that?" Hiccup's surprised face relaxed into a smile. He pulled her in for a hug.
"Only if I can call you mom," Hiccup whispered. He felt his mother's arms tighten around him and her nod against his neck. Hiccup smiled, taking in her calming aroma once again. "I'm glad you're alive, mom."
"It's good to be, son," Valka whispered. They pulled away and looked down at the bewilderbeast one more time before making their way to the gap in the wall. "Once you're married, make sure to give me grandchildren," Valka whispered.
"Not you too!" Hiccup groaned, rubbing his eyes as he heard the laughter of his mother. He smiled, letting his hands cover his eyes before he removed them. He followed his mother through the tunnels, since he still wasn't used to it. They rounded a corner and Valka stopped.
Someone was whistling.
"Mom?" Hiccup asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
I'll swim and sail on savage seas…
Silence.
With ne'er a fear of drowning…
"Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.
And gladly ride the waves of life…
Valka lowered her head.
If you will marry me…
She placed her hand on her chest and closed her eyes.
No scorching sun…
A tear shed from her eye and she quietly started singing it inside her head.
Nor freezing cold…
Will stop me on my journey…
If you will promise me your heart…
And love…
Valka found herself walking out of the tunnel and into the room filled with the Vikings. Everyone was settled down around the fire, listening to Stoick. She opened her mouth and continued where Stoick left off.
And love me for eternity…
Her eyes met Stoick's.
My dearest one…
Stoick stood up and looked at her with wide eyes.
My darling dear…
Hiccup sat down beside Astrid to give room for them. Astrid took his hands in his and they both smiled at each other while watching his father and mother perform.
Your mighty words astound me…
But I've no need for mighty deeds…
She reached out her arm and held in front of me.
When I feel your arms around me…
Stoick hooked his own arm around hers and escaped from his trance. A smile stretched across his lips as their feet moved to their voices. Eyes locked with one another.
Hiccup tapped his one good leg and palm on his knee to the rhythm of the song. He remembered this song from somewhere, but he couldn't set his tongue on it as the song carried on to the very end. He watched his father bend down on one knee and hold his mother's hands in his as if proposing to her anew.
"Will you come home Val?" Stoick's eyes welled with tears. "Will you be my wife once again?" Valka bites her lip, looking away. Stoick stood up and still held her soft hands. "We can be a family," She smiled sweetly, tears filling her eyes as well. Always in her life had she looked forward to the day she would grow up, get married and have a family, and her plans had all so sudden taken change. But now she had another chance on her dream.
Her eyes met Stoick's teary ones. She smiled and weakly whispered, "Yes."
Hiccup rose from his seat, shedding a tear himself. He looked at Astrid who captured his hand in hers and intertwined their fingers, standing up herself. They leaned in closer and pressed their lips together while smiling. Tears braiding together.
All of a sudden, a loud crack was heard and everything went black.