Enpowera: Lots of dialogue in this chapter. Sorry for the delay. FF wasn't letting me upload the chapter. Eventually it occurred to me to just copy/paste it.
Hiccup was sitting by the campfire looking at all the other tribe leaders gathered. There was much excitement when the group arrived, everyone assuming Hiccup had married Dagur when she'd arrived with the bunch, though much disappointment was had when they'd learned that Hiccup had not married Dagur. I still can't believe they had a bet going. Hiccup's thoughts were distracted by horns sounding to announce another ship arriving. The young woman stood up, smoothed out her dress, and rushed towards the docks to greet her father (everyone else had arrived).
Hiccup smiled as she caught sight of her father's towering form and Toothless standing beside him in human form, looking every bit like the son she wasn't. It made her glad that her dragon had kept her father's company while she was away. She barely contained herself as she ran to hug them both.
"Hiccup!" Stoick morue or less picked her up while hugging.
"Hi dad, I missed you," Hiccup enjoyed the hug immensely.
Once Stoick put her down, now it was Toothless's turn to hug her, though he sniffed her a bit like a curious dog.
Hiccup shot him a look that said 'Don't you dare' whilst hugging him back.
Toothless just gave a nod in response and set her down.
They chitchatted a bit as they walked back to the main camp. The Berserker tents were easy to spot with the Skrill insignia on them. What was lacking was Hiccup's tent. Dagur gave a qick wave of greeting to them.
"Hiccup, where's your tent?" Stoick asked, really hoping the answer wasn't going to lead being a grandfather.
"I..err broke it down so that I could move it next to yours?" Smooth
"Hang on, you forgot something!" Dagur went to his tent.
"..." To Hiccup's dismay it was her clothes bag.
"Hiccuuuup…" Stoick eyed her.
"I admit to nothing," Hiccup stated.
"Nothing wasn't what you were doing," Brenna commented slyly as she sneaked in to watch the amusement. "Unless nothing makes that much noise."
Stoick continued to stare at her, Toothless behind him giving his bud a 'Oh just tell him' face.
"So...has Oswald had a chance to talk about marriage negotiations…" topic change Hiccup prayed for a distraction.
Thunder grumbles were heard along with the sound of a strange dragon. Lightning was seen as a black figure flew overhead, shocking a random viking.
"Is that a-?!" Brenna couldn't finish the sentence.
"Toothless, let's go see," Hiccup called to her companion.
Toothless morphed into his dragon form and awaited his rider.
"Can you handle this without the other riders?" Stoick asked. Only Snotlout had come with.
"We'll be fine without them if they aren't here," Hiccup stated as she climbed on Toothless to give chase to the Skrill. The duo were off before they could be stopped by anyone.
"...I hope she doesn't get shocked...it'd be bad for the baby…" Brenna commented.
"Baby!?" Stoick turned to Brenna as quickly as the lightning in the distance.
"I'm pretty sure…" Brenna shrugged, "she's missed her monthly bleed, so…"
"How long?" Stoick asked with worry.
"Just a few weeks, maybe," Brenna stated, "but she may have just missed it with all the exercise."
"I'd certainly hope so…" Stoick muttered.
A shriek was heard as Hiccup and Toothless nearly crashed landed a ways away, Hiccup looking frazzled and about ready to pass out. Ex that, she was out after the shock. The Skrill trilled over head, sounding frightened.
Toothless assumed his humanoid form again and looked at the Skrill above, "What do you want!?" he snarled.
The Skrill gave no response, panicked and confused. She just wanted to know where her family went and why these vikings were on her family's nesting ground. From hundred of years ago.
"Come on, Hiccup, wake up…" Toothless shook the passed out ginger, "this won't be any good for your egg!" He still needed to learn a few things.
Hiccup groaned weakly and opened her eyes, "everything hurts…"
The Skrill landed nearby, making Hiccup jump to attention the best she could. The Skrill meekly approached as she sniffed the area. She looked very guilty as realization sunk in.
"I...am sorry...I just woke up and everything is…" the dragon's growl was despondent, "different...my family gone…"
A group of vikings approached, calling for Hiccup in panic. The Skrill looked frightened again.
"She's scared...Everyone stay back!" Hiccup commanded the best she could, trying to stand up only to fall back down. "Gah…" Electrocution was not suggested.
"She said stay back!" Toothless roared at them, rather literally too.
It was a tense situation as Hiccup limped towards the Skrill, "It's okay. You don't have to be afraid…" She gently petted the Skrills nose area.
The Skrill felt a strange, relaxing warmth. Her pupils dilated and she nuzzled Hiccup's hand. I must control myself..and perhaps this girl will help. Panic filled her as Hiccup wavered a bit, passing back out. Oh no!" "Nightfury, please help."
Toothless picked Hiccup in his arms, "We gotta get back to Berk!" He was glad for his auto tailfin, but at the same time he wasn't sure if his current form could get there in time. If I just had another...rider… Toothless looked at the Skrill and frantically pondered.
"Do we have a healer here?" Stoick's panic'd voice called out.
"Yes. She's at the temple," One viking answered. It was followed by a mad dash by those close to Hiccup to get her there.
Toothless was pacing around anxiously in his dragon form while he waited with everyone else. A few hours had passed since Hiccup had passed out. The wise woman was tending Hiccup carefully before she eventually made an appearance.
"She'll be fine and just needs to rest for a few days. The shock just cause her heart to beat erratically,"
"And the egg?" Toothless asked once he was back to his pretty dragon boy self.
"The babe is no one's concerns but the girl," the Healer snapped. Talking about babies was bad luck.
"Just making sure, geeze…" Toothless muttered.
"But what if it's important!? The fate of two tribes might hang in the balance!" Dagur asked in a not so subtle manner.
"I will not be giving ye any information. Now one at a time can visit the girl, but keep the excitement down."
And Dagur was off like a shot, which made Toothless and Stoick unhappy.
Hiccup was laying in bed, still looking pale, but was more awake. "Hi…"
Dagur sat beside her, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Just sore," Hiccup gave him a smile.
"Oh thank Odin," Dagur breathed and gave her head a few pets.
"So Toothless officially ratted me out, didn't he?" Hiccup tried to joke.
"Pretty much," Dagur chuckled weakly.
"So...you aren't mad, right?"
"Not at you, of course not… your dragon, however, yes."
"What did he do?"
"Other than nearly trip me getting into the building? More or less spilled the secret to your dad."
"He was worried. Dad was suspicious anyway after you bought me my things from your tent."
"Oh… oops… heh, sorry?"
"So, since Toothless revealed it anyway...how do you feel about...you know," Hiccup was blushing at the thought of a child. She was so giddy but realized that Dagur might not be happy.
"Excited and terrified all at once! It's like battle, but without the fighting!" A true Berserker answer.
"You aren't upset?" Hiccup breathed a sigh of relief.
Dagur shook his head, "We kinda...on the day to celebrate Frigga, so we kinda...should've expected it?"
"True," Hiccup agreed, "at least we know Frigga is happy with us."
Dagur nodded in agreement with a small smile, "Hopefully your dad won't kill me before we see our child."
"Hopefully. He can be scary…" Hiccup agreed, "I think you'll be safe. Unless you try to deny responsibility."
"You think Toothless will try to do anything to me?" Dagur questioned, pretty sure he just saw green eyes staring at him in a crack in the door for a second.
"Meh, probably not. He'll be more excited at the thought of a child," Hiccup assured, "he'll be much more protective though."
"Right then… any ideas how I can get close to you without his teeth in my arm, then?"
"...fish as a peace offering?"
Banging on the door signified someone else wanted a turn.
"Fight, right. I better go then…" Dagur kissed her forehead, "I'll be back later though. You rest up."
"Bye for now," Hiccup prayed the next person wasn't her father.
Luckily for her, Toothless managed to beat Stoick into the room. He was quick to curl up beside her with a little noise of worry, "You sure you'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine after a few days," Hiccup assured, cuddling him, "I really should had been more careful though…." she admitted. "I was so eager to see the skrill….how is she by the way?"
The skrill in question was sulking in the corner of the family members awaiting to see Hiccup. She felt horrible for endangering the nice viking and her egg.
"Sulking, but she's not setting off electricity so that's good." Toothless explained, "She also wants to see you soon… though chances are it'll have to be after Stoick, unless she's faster than we think on two legs."
"At least she wasn't attacked. It wasn't her fault she was so scared...I'd be scared too seeing all these vikings,"
"Dragonkind was for a long time," Toothless reminded with a smirk.
"You'll have to let her know the baby is fine. Or at least I think he is…."
"He?" Toothless sniffed her over again, "It's hard to tell…"
"Well, a girl can hope. A boy would be perfect~"
Toothless just shrugged, "As long as the egg will come out okay, I don't really care if it's a boy or a girl."
"Baby, not egg," Hiccup giggled, "and I'm sure he will…" Hiccup hoped her health issues didn't pass on to the child.
"What's the difference, again?" Toothless questioned.
"Egg some in well...eggs. Human babies are just born. No egg shells on them,"
"Ooh...then how're they protected until they're ready to come out?" Hiccup has a lot of work ahead of her.
"By my body." Hiccup stated.
"Then I'll protect your body."
"That is so sweet~," Hiccup had to cuddle her dragon.
Toothless made a cooing/purring noise and cuddled her back.
"You should probably let my dad in now," Hiccup commented.
"Okay…" Toothless pouted and left her, nearly being ran over by Stoick. The viking chief dad was quick to wrap his arms around his little girl.
"Dad, you're squishing me…"
"Sorry, sorry!" Stoick loosened his grip.
"So…" Hiccup debated how to begin the conversation. Hey dad! Had lots of fun with Dagur. The kind of fun that leads to a baby! Yay an heir to the tribe!
"So…" Stoick was just as clueless about how to begin as well.
"Dagur proposed marriage to me on the day of Frigga's festival," Hiccup announced.
"That's good," Stoick nodded a bit.
"And I am expecting his child...which may or may not had been conceived earlier that evening…."
"I figured as much," Stoick sighed.
"I'm sorry if I disappointed you…" Hiccup felt her insecurities well up.
Stoick got her into another hug, "You could never be a disappointment to me, Hiccup. You've done more for our village than any of of the chiefs before me. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the First would be proud of you, I just know it."
Hiccup felt tears well up, "I…" Am so overwhelmed with emotions and feelings of happiness.
Stoick gently patted her on the back, "It's okay, lass, just let it all out."
Hiccup hugged her father and cried tears of happiness, "jeez...we're just getting close again just as I am getting ready to be an adult…"
"Doesn't mean we can't be close just because you're gonna be an adult," Stoick reminded gently while stroking her head.
"But..won't I have to move to the Berserker Isles? And who will take over our tribe?"
"That would have to go to Snotlout…" Stoick winced a bit at the thought, "unless I can figure a logical way to make Toothless the next chief."
"Maybe Oswald can be convinced to let Brenna be chief...she's more than capable…"
Stoick nodded in agreement, "Let's hope he can, then."
"You work on that," Hiccup stated.
"Aye, that I will." Stoick nodded.
"Stress the alternative of Snotlout ruling the Hooligan tribe. Gods help us…"
"I'll see to it Oswald sees Snotlout to help push the decision further."
"It shouldn't be too hard. Especially after the wonderful job he did as my chaperone last Snoggletog. Amazing I wasn't pregnant before now."
Stoick let out a long sigh, "I'll speak to Oswald after I leave, chances are he's probably seen Snotlout by now while everyone's been waiting."
Hiccup nodded, "how many people are waiting?"
Stoick thought and counted on his fingers, "Snotlout, Oswald, the Skrill, some of the villagers…"
"...I'll maybe see the Skrill, Oswald, and Snotlout since he's family,"
"I'll send in the Skrill, then." Stoick stood and gave her one more hug, "Don't go sneakin' out while you're restin', got it?"
"I won't," For once she'd listen.
"Good girl," Stoick patted her head very gently then departed, sending the Skrill in.
The Skrill realized she couldn't fit through the door and so transformed into her humanoid form. She had long black hair, tan skin, and kept her golden eyes. She appeared to be a pretty young adult and wore older styled viking clothes.
This got at least a few people's looks, but Toothless looked more or less gobsmacked.
The Skrill paid them no mind as she meekly entered the room to apologize to Hiccup. Everyone tried to listen in to the conversation.
"Greetings...Lady Hiccup...I have come with my utmost apologies," She bowed very low in greeting.
"I understand...you were obviously frightened and confused,"
"I was...I'd just woken up after crash landing in the ice…" She explained.
"I see...how long?"
"At least a few hundred years,"
"No wonder you were so confused...all is well though,"
The Skrill nodded.
"Let's get off on the right foot. I'm Hiccup, you don't need to refer to me by any titles…"
"I am Tove…" Tove introduced herself.
"Well, Tove. Let's be friends,"
"Okay...and I will serve you until I feel I have made up for my actions."
In the lobby area, there was a strangled noise of surprise that was very much made from a dragon's maw.
"Um..I already have a dragon. Though I know someone who would love a Skrill,"
"Who?"
"My...mate." Hiccup stated, it was easier to simplify.
"Then I will serve him in order to be close to you,"
"Great. It'd be nice to have another girl around,"
And so the two girls chatted and made friends. Tove eventually took her leave to let someone else in. All the teasing and cooing over the future new addition finished a few hours later and Hiccup gratefully rested.
Dagur was extremely giddy to have a skrill to be his companion, the dragon more than willing to take him for a flight. The two formed an instant friendship over their desire to keep Hiccup happy and safe. Toothless joined in on the friendship parade, curious about the beautiful female who was the last of her species like him.
