Chapter 26: Trials & Tribulations
Alright! Who's ready for the for new chapter? *tumbleweed blows by* Damn, I guess it's been a while since I posted anything and even longer since I posted for this fic.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Balto or How to Train your Dragon. They both belong to their respective owners, and this is just for fun, NOT for profit.
(Hiccup POV)
After talking for a little while longer, we ironed out the details of the "plea deal" for my trial with the Council. I promised that Toothless and I would stay in the Qugax Tanaa until then and Stoick, Gobber, Spitlout, and other volunteers returned to town but leave a few to stay behind to "guard" us.
Luckily, we didn't have to wait for long because in the morning we were summoned to the Great Hall by the guards. We cooperated as they put me in hand cuffs and Toothless, begrudgingly, into a muzzle and walked from the Qugax Tanaa to the Great Hall. When we arrived at the Great Hall, the Council was gathered at tables arranged into the usual U-shape as I've seen a couple of times when I joined my father for meetings. But this was the first time that I was on the inner section of the U-shape.
I scanned the room and spotted familiar faces, what surprised me was on the outskirts of the U-shape stood Astrid, and Stoick. But then I recalled that Dad said Astrid, and he couldn't participate in the vote because of they volunteered to be part of his defense. When I glanced their way, I noticed that each of them had a determined look on their face.
"Hiccup Haddock" One of the Councilmen addressed. "You have been summoned here today to explain yourself for not following the town regulations regarding Artic Wolves. The regulations that you violated states:
Charge #1: 'If a single or pack of Artic Wolves are an endangerment to one's person or property, they are obligated to attempt to detain and/or dispose of them'. Based on observations, you were seen riding the Artic Wolf seated behind you and showing no attempt to detain or dispose of it and therefore violating regulations.
Charge #2: 'The act of using intentionally aiding in a threat, any crime because of said threat will fall to the person or people intentionally aiding it'. Since you did not disclose your association to the Artic Wolf that has been a known threat in the previous raids to authorities prior to your detainment, this is currently listed as treason.
Are these observations correct and how do you respond to these violations?"
"For starters, the Night Fury's name is Toothless for the record. And it is true that I was riding him into town, however I followed the regulations of detainment-"
"That's bullshit!" Mildew stood and yelled "How can you ride that devil while also saying that you have it detained. That's a complete contradiction."
"Not so." Stoick stepped up. "Do you remember a while ago when he said that he hit a Night Fury?" His point made some of the Council murmur in recollection.
"Yes" I stepped up while the momentum was still going. "The result of him getting hit resulted in him getting injured, detained to a disclosed location, and the only way he could leave and run around was with the assistance of myself and the prosthetic tail and foot that I created. With this in mind, would all this be considered as violating the regulations?"
There were murmurs of contemplation that didn't feel like the Council was swayed strongly to be for or again me.
"Well…" Astrid spoke up, "By definition of keeping him detained, Hiccup have kept him restricted and no one else knows the tail position to control besides him."
"They're not wrong." Spoke up an older member of the Ingerman clan, the town/council's bookkeeper. "He did restrain the wolf and by extension detained it. The bylaw doesn't specify how long then need to be a held, but just so long as they're a threat."
"Exactly!" I spoke, "And since that point Toothless has not been a threat to the town at all. Am I right?"
There were murmurs of agreement.
"Not to mention the whole reason it was revealed to begin with, his help in bringing the antitoxins to Berk."
There were murmurs of agreement, even from those that were silent before.
"With all this evidence, I argue that my charges are null & void. And-"
"Unacceptable!" Mildew yelled. "So, you say you've 'detained' that thing, huh?! But what's stopping someone insane enough to try whatever you did but can't control one of those beasts and attack the rest of us?!"
"He's right." a member next to Mildew joined in. "And what's to say the lad is just lucky? If this is let go, what's stopping a younger kid from attempting the same thing and getting mauled from one of those beasts?" The two men looked at me.
"Well, if you'd let me finish" I said pointedly. "I wanted to being to the Council what I saw at the Cave and a solution of sorts. We can put all this business with the Wolves to rest with one last raid."
"How so?" Spitlout asked before Mildew or anyone else opposing could speak.
"The only reason we were able to find the Louts was because of Toothless. While we were in the thick of it, we saw glimpses of the wolves' Queen which seemed as big as a mountain making up the Wolves' Main Cave. Even if Toothless can guide us there, we wouldn't have enough power to even touch it unless we get the federal government involved. And if they've been ignoring our reports of wolves this long, I doubt we listen now." Members of the Council murmured in agreement. "So, imagine what we could do if we had the direction and speed of the wolves to locate and fight the real threat, their Queen?"
"Excuse me? A WHAT?" Mildew nearly fell forward as he lurched in distress. "It's one thing to go for the Nest, but you want people to ride beasts like that one?!" he pointed at Toothless, who was barely holding back from growling at him. "It may be easy for you to throw away your life, but you can't drag down the rest of us!"
"Mildew, would it kill you to show… at least a little… decorum?" Spitlout said in a pitying tone. It was like he was trying to recall Mildew ever, having decency and found nothing. Nothing that resembled the grand stories of defending their families from beasts and only see a sour man. "You're practically foaming at the mouth and growling more than the wolf in front of you." He shook his head before turning to me. "Do you have an ACTUAL plan boy?" He said while his eye said, 'don't mess this up.'
"With all the times we looked with no help from the government, the best we can do is find the general location of the Wolves' Main Cave. But no one has ever gotten close to the mountain, let alone go inside it before the Louts. And even then, they couldn't leave without the speed of Toothless pulling us out of there. We've already had so many injured close to death from trying to stop the raid, so why not take down at its source with the best resources that we've had yet?"
Murmurs sounded through the various Council member, many of whom were subconsciously rubbing their various scars and stumps. The murmurs slowly turned as each turned to look at Toothless and me venturously compared to the distain when they first walked in.
"All I ask is that you give me the time, liberties, and minimum resources to utilize this opportunity. Let me train the wolves so that we can utilize them to attack the Wolves Main Cave. And to ease the concerns of some…" I looked pointedly at Mildew. "I can show any volunteers how to act or even collaborate with them for the raid."
While most of the Council were not hostile like before, the opposition from a loud minority remained as they considered my suggestion. The rest of the time was spent negotiating my "sentencing," if you could still call it that, and by the end of the day the following verdict was both announced at and posted onto the entrance of the Great Hall by Spitlout:
~ transcript start ~
In the Case of Hiccup Haddock vs. the people of Berk, the following charges and verdict is listed:
Charge #1: Lack of Intent to Detain an Arctic Wolf
Verdict #1: Not Guilty, no sentencing.
Charge #2: Conspiring with Arctic Wolves
Verdict #2: Guilty.
Sentencing: Community Service within Custody. Hiccup Haddock can freely move within the city limits of Berk so long as he is guarded at all times. Service will be to divulge any information about the Nest and how to tame Arctic Wolves in preparation of terminate the Main Cave.
~ transcript end ~
Thanks for all those that reviewed, every little bit helps. If you are new to the story, please let me know what you think with a review. Constructive criticism is accepted, but no flames please. And don't be too shy to check out some of my other stories.
