RAGNAROK IS COMING

— Come With Me —

"Stoick?" Gobber hated this, this deadness in the chief's gaze. "Stoick, can you hear me?"

Stoick blinked but it didn't take away the image of it. Not the sight of his people stood impossibly still. It had to be a curse, from- from Loki. The God of madness and chaos because apparently he had come down from Asgard and into Midgard. Because apparently Stoick's own son knew that God. He had expected something strange, expected something of Hiccup's past to be unexplainable and prepared himself for the worst- or at least thought he had.

Gods and Goddesses.

Hiccup married to Hela of Helheim.

And Hiccup, the man who chained Loki to the cave in punishment of Baldur's death. It had been a story Stoick's own father had told him, a prophecy set to come and Hiccup- Avrid, to set it true. Stoick never did get around to telling his boy that same story and he couldn't help but wonder if that small fact was what created that prophecy; if he had a part in its coming.

And then Drago, a man who had always seemed too mad to be sane, turning the creatures of the Archipelago into Mindless, whatever they were. The entire Archipelago and beyond because there were the faces of chiefs that Stoick didn't recognise. Chiefs that did not look Viking at all but seemed to embody that strangeness of further West, of the tales of England.

Avrid was rounding up the Mindless. Guards that were loyal to the Captain- more than their now dead King- brought up waves of the people from beneath a cave somewhere. Through each wave Stoick should have been searching for his own people. He should have been counting their return, perhaps having Gobber or Spi- Snotlout write their names so there would be no false hope to those left still on Berk, no one to think their child coming home that wasn't. The chief couldn't stomach it though, he could barely move.

He couldn't connect the dots. Avrid and Hiccup, Gods and Goddesses, Spitelout's death. He couldn't think straight but he was alive. Injured and limping, but alive and still chief. It was his duty to stay strong when his people were in shambles.

So Stoick took a breath and stood up from the rock and looked out at the sea, the boats making their way into it. He looked at his friend, more grateful than Gobber could imagine that he was still alive, and patted his shoulder.

"Yes, Gobber. I hear you." The old men nodded at each other and Stoick ran a hand through his beard. "Let's get our people home."

It turned out to be easier than the chief expected. Those Mindless were docile, some book Fishlegs ran up with kept them quiet as they filtered into the armada Drago had had at his disposal. They were chained though, in case someone muttered something to set them off; Fishlegs had said something about avoiding colours and Stoick did as he clasped each chain on each set of hands.

There were more than Berkians here but Berk would house every one of them. Changes would be made, homes generated and expanded to the small islands surrounding Berk if it was needed, but the Mindless would become one people. It had been Fishlegs' idea, of all people. He'd already planned it out, down to how they would feed and house such a fast amount of beings. Stoick only nodded when the boy rattled off numbers and probability percentages, trusting the brain of the boy more than his own. Whatever troubles occurred they would deal with it and as for that dragon army, well Stoick left Avrid to it.

He did find himself glancing over though, watching the strange creature that no longer sounded or looked or acted like his son and it finally sunk into his heart then. Finally, Stoick saw a stranger he was afraid and cared little for when he looked at Avrid. There were the eyes of his boy, but like seeing a mother in a child, it was only a resemblance. Perhaps it was tragic, perhaps it was wrong of him, but Stoick couldn't find it in himself to care.

Avrid was conversing with the dragons in their own language and as if they could speak and understand, Zipplebacks, Nightmares, Skrills, Thunderjacks and an uncountable amount of species Stoick had never even seen before, flew to the keel of each long boat. Avrid had instructed the Captain's guards to attach the dragons to the boats, that they would pull them through the seas ten times faster than before, getting to Berk in less than a day. Stoick couldn't find it in himself to be shocked when they did just that.

A few hours, the same time it took to walk from one end of Berk to the other, they had crossed an entire ocean. Avrid's- spells, or whatever that was, kept the seas calm and the wind away. His Night Fury led the armada away from the wreck of that island and then they were sailing through the familiar stacks of Berk. It was only then Stoick could take a proper breath because he had been waiting. For some truth or revelation to shake his understanding of reality again, for another surprise or death or creature to come from the depths of the sea and tear the armada to shreds.

"Move your wrist to the side." Avrid said and Stoick complied and looked down to watch Avrid wrap his broken bones.

Avrid could heal as well apparently. Could stitch together bones and joints better than Gothi and for whatever reason, he hadn't let any of Drago's healers treat Stoick. The chief didn't let himself think on it very much and instead watched the careful and practised precision in Avrid's every move. They sat at the head of the Armada, a boat to direct the rest of them, with father and son on overturned wooden boxes. Avrid had landed out of nowhere, dropping to the boat without a sound and demanded Stoick sit while he wrapped and bandaged his wounds. Stoick hadn't felt like arguing.

"You should have had this seen to earlier." Avrid scolded and finished the bandage. "It might have already begun healing in the wrong position and I might have to break it again."

Stoick leaned his arm on his knee. "I had responsibilities."

A shy dig but Avrid didn't seem fazed.

He rolled up the spare wrappings. "Yes, speaking of such, I have someone coming in with a cure for the Mindless. A simple thing really and he should be here by the morning."

Stoick nodded.

Taking the silence, Avrid sighed. "I warned you. I warned you that I-"

"Am different. Yes." Stoick remarked. "I have only one question."

Avrid expected as such and dipped his head.

"Why did you leave- your wife." It was hard to wrap his head around it, that Avrid was, connected to Hela, a Goddess. Despite the tales of her crude nature, Stoick thought even Avrid would have enough decency. He thought it might explain why Avrid left Berk.

Avrid breathed deep. "There are things Loki missed in his story. Things that you do not need to know. My Queen rules Helheim well without me and that is all you need to know."

Stoick wanted to assure Avrid that is not what he was worried about. He was not afraid of the state of Helheim- though he did wonder if he should be now- but Avrid stood and walked off the lip of the boat. Off and onto his Night Fury's wings to be carried into the air as the boat slowed into Berk's dock.

…o0o…

Avrid soared above Berk, watching as hundreds of people began filling into the island. Stoick would have to change his way of ruling drastically, his village would have to be built form the ground up and expanded to fill the entire island. It was impossible to house so many creatures in one island but there was a high chance many of the Mindless were leaders. Many of them would want to return to their own lands but there would be many who had nothing. Many of Drago's own people who had nowhere to go in their King's demise.

Berk had been a fortress before but it would become an empire.

Utterly untouchable. The dragons would stay, Toothless had instructed them after freeing them from their old alpha because that just so happened to be where his brother had been gallivanting to. Taking down a creature hundreds of years and times bigger than him and the concentration had been on not dying. Avrid only felt the tiniest bit guilty because there had been no reason for Toothless to do this without him. Apparently with his lack of magic Avrid would be more nuisance than help. Avrid had pouted some at the insinuation but Toothless had been right.

But the restoration was back now. Balance was back.

"Urfan, I didn't expect you until the morning." Avrid said, dropping onto the cliff overlooking Berk.

Urfan's Changewing rumbled in greeting at Toothless and they went to the side as their counterparts talked. Urfan dressed in the elegance of Yggdrasil stroked a sort of homesickness in Avrid but the Ordera crossed his arms, more than unhappy.

"You-"

"Finished the mission in less than a month, yes I did." Avrid finished for him.

"Let your Cache perish."

Avrid shoved down the bile in his throat. "It happens, she knew the risk."

Urfan shook his head and looked at the village beneath.

In their departion to Drago's island, the Berkian's had already started to rebuild their homes and so it was no more than a hobble of half straw houses and logs in stacks nearly every couple feet. With the rejoining of their people they had abandoned their posts and carted in the crowds spilling from the Armada faster than they could see to them. The Mindless were at the bottom of the vessels still, awaiting the ingredients Avrid had called Urfan to come with.

"This is the home you ran from then?" He asked, eyes darting over the hustle of it all. Avrid stayed silent and watched his father organising them all with brutal efficiency.

Urfan nodded to Stoick. "You are like your father."

"Strong then."

Urfan didn't comment on the pride in Avrid's voice and instead focused on the matter at hand. "So, you did indeed complete this mission with no wars waged. No angry chiefs, kings, queens or Gods knocking at my door."

Avrid raised his hands. "I can play with the rules when I want you know."

"I'm aware." Urfan snorted and put his hand on Avrid's shoulder. "I spoke with Aurora and the heads of the other Courts."

Avrid didn't breathe.

"The Court of Crowns may all be at the Gathering next week."

Avrid couldn't breathe now. He couldn't get past the thrumming in his heart, the damn excitement.

"But based on your behaviour there are rules." Urfan continued. "And it is on a trial basis-" But then Avrid had clasped Urfan's arm and pulled him chest to chest.

"Thank you." Avrid choked and Urfan nodded, taken by surprise.

"I never did agree with the banishing, you know that Avrid?"

Avrid nodded and stood back. They were silent for a moment, Avrid sorting through the images of reuniting with Eritrea and Rinka, the Doc, Harbotta and Silver and then he thought of Astrid. Of her tucked into a sheepskin and shivering in her family home. Of her brothers who ran to greet her and their own reunion- though Astrid had been unconscious through it. Seeming to finally drift off as Avrid held her the way back to Berk.

"I have one more thing." he said, turning to Urfan.

…o0o…

Astrid felt like death.

Like she'd been thoroughly chewed and spat back out, cold and sweaty and shivering. Her bones were crying in protest- Gods, her very eyelids were like tar as she opened them to her room. To the small chair in the corner, the chest at the side and circle window at the front. And when she made to move, to see just how lifeless her body had become, Astrid bumped her knee into a small body.

She barely hoped. Barely dared to lift the thin blanket and look under.

Sunnil was buried into her front, his little head of blonde hair resting on her arm and soft face flushed red from sleep. And then she looked at who held her hand with two smaller ones, grasping them in a death grip despite being lost to sleep as well.

Astrid couldn't help the tears from falling, from her chest as it heaved and woke up Sunnil. The boy stared with red, tear washed eyes before they focused on Astrid. With a wail, he flew his tiny arms around her neck as sobs wrecked him. Astrid used her free hand to rub his back, to soothe him but she was crying too and then Rhyther was awake and he'd gripped her by the arm and hugged Sunnil and Astrid together. She sobbed, holding onto the boys and thanking every god for this. For their lives and health she squeezed them tighter, refusing this to be a dream or hallucination.

Rhyther, tears running down his face, jumped away. "Oh, I need to get Gothi! Stay there."

And then he ran off before Astrid could stop him but she knew this was real. Knew because she'd seen Hiccup running the blade through Drago's neck herself. Hiccup- she didn't want to think of him yet. Not with Sunnil in her arms and the light of morning coming into the small room. Not with the lack of that fog in her head and the memories coming full force. Astrid pulled Sunnil off her and laid his head down just so she could stare at his perfect little nose and rosy cheeks.

Sunnil grinned with stars in his eyes.

"Astrid."

But it wasn't Gothi that came through her door.

Astrid tapped Sunnil's nose. "Will you run to the well with Rhyther and get water?" Sunnil nodded and jumped from the bed, running off at the speed of light.

Astrid watched the spot his little body disappeared to because she couldn't- no. Astrid looked up at Hiccup.

"Fancy seeing you here."

Hiccup- Gods, he was different. So different but unmistakable.

He came over to Astrid with something akin to agony on his face but it was there and gone, a flash in the shadow of her window's jamb. A few steps and he'd come to the foot of her bed. Those blazing eyes looked up and down, as if he could see her beneath the sheets and didn't like what he saw.

More than offended, Astrid snapped. "What do you want?"

Avrid said nothing before he walked to the side of her bed and then dropped to his knees so that they were eye-level. Astrid shuffled further across the bed.

"I want to know how you feel." he said and that voice- it was like liquid gold and not at all how she imagined. He'd grown out of the nasally voice of his preteens and into something accented and harsh.

Swallowing the lump in her throat Astrid gestured to all of her. "Like shit."

Avrid nodded. "The tonics I gave you will work slower here but you should feel better by tomorrow."

He lifted his hand and looked at Astrid for permission. She nodded after a second and his fingers took one of her wrists, so gentle as he ran the tip of his index finger along her wrist. It was only then she realised he wasn't doing it to show something, to show how the tonic may be working or anything but simply because he wanted to.

She thought about snatching her hand away but when Astrid looked up and into those green eyes she went breathless.

Avrid's finger ran smooth, calm circles. "I have thought of too many ways to apologise to you Astrid. I have thought of every possible thing I might say, of how I might beg for your forgiveness, how I might tell you what I have done. How I might get you to understand."

And then his thumb traced the lines in her palm without looking- as if he had her memorised. "But I expect nothing from you. I'll embrace your hate and misunderstanding and I will cherish your curses at me when they come."

Astrid found it very hard to stay angry at him with every inch of his touch.

"And I know your answer already but I'm afraid I will give you no choice this time." Avrid moved a millimetre closer but it could have been metres. "I am leaving for the nine realms. For a place very, very far away from here and I need you to come with me."

Astrid's heart had stopped the minute Hiccup had come through her door but now it had vanished. Now her blood had turned to ice and the air was too thick to breathe. How many nights had she imagined Hiccup would come back and ask this of her? That he would appear and take her away on that dragon, that they would see the wonders of the world and never worry about feeding two little boys or how they may stay warm in the winter.

But that had been before. Before Drago had ripped something integral from her soul.

Astrid slid her hand out of his hold and ignored the genuine pain on his face, as if that simple touch was keeping him alive.

"No."

Avrid sighed, one long pull of breath before he stood and something solidified in him. "There is much to discuss, Astrid. But you will be coming with me, you have no choice."

"No." Astrid repeated with ice in her voice.

Avrid seemed to think for a moment before he sat on the bed, folding his legs and leaning his elbows on his knees. Astrid noticed the real difference then, the bulk of that body. The muscles moving beneath that tunic and her eyes caught on a leather necklace, on the ring nestled against his chest.

"I need you to listen very carefully to me, Astrid and then make a decision."

She only lay there, still and glaring at him.

"There are many things beyond Midgard. The Elves and Dwarves, Vanir, AEsir, Giants and more creatures than can be listed, they exist before death. Valhalla is not Asgard and there is no feast waiting for the fallen soldiers."

Astrid didn't comprehend that and was still sorting through that revelation as Avrid continued.

"They can be seen, by you, by me and there is a place, in the Home tree. In Yggdrasil there is an organisation called Radox."

Avrid told Astrid of it all. Of Radox and their role in the nine realms, of his role in Radox. He told her of Drago and how he'd been manipulated by Loki. He told her about his mission and about Freabole and what it had done to her. About why she had reacted the way she did.

"It comes rarely in humans, the gift of essence magic but displays in different ways. Mine was- catastrophic, left me realm jumping and ending up in a Jotunheim's prison barricade- but that's a story for another time." Avrid waved a hand. "And Freabole is normally harmless to immortals but those with the gift of nature. Freabole was man made you see, a slap in the face to nature and her balance and so Jötunn cursed it and as such you seemed to have taken the curse."

Astrid stopped him for the first time. "Immortal?"

Avrid frowned.

"Yes, I suppose I should have waited to say that," he said. "But with that gift comes a certain change. With so much power it is in that power's nature to try to keep you alive as long and well as possible. You cannot thrive in Midgard though and that is why Freabole damaged you so well which is why you must come with me."

Astrid bit her lip and she noticed how Avrid seemed to zero in on that but ignored it. "I can't just leave. What of Sunnil and Rhyther?"

Avrid nodded as if he'd already thought this through. "They will come with. The gene is likely to be in them as well and it would be good to know sooner than later."

"With you where though, to Yggdrasil?"

"To my home in Yggdrasil, yes. But they cannot go through Radox."

Astrid put a hand up because he was moving too fast. "You mean to take me and my brothers away from everything we have ever known to a realm of beasts and monsters? Two little boys to live in your home? As nice as that is Hiccup-"

"It's Avrid." he cut in. "And they would be safe. I have- a people, of sorts. A Court it's called, and there are many in there with children of their own. Sunnil and Rhyther would thrive."

"And do what?"

Avrid smirked then. "Oh there is much to do in Yggdrasil."

He dipped his head to Astrid. "And though you would be in Radox, you can visit them when you please, I'd happily have someone take you."

"In Radox?" Astrid breathed.

"Yes, otherwise, without that training, the Essence will consume you."

Astrid put her head in her hands. It was too much, too much to process.

"I understand that it's a lot Astrid, but there is little time to waste. We leave tomorrow morning, before the sun has fully risen."

She looked outside to find the sun already beginning to dip below the horizon and panicked. "H- Avrid that is not nearly enough time and- what am I saying, we cannot go with you! Everything they have ever known has been here, this is their home."

Avrid stood off the bed. "Astrid, you are going to perish in this realm. The Essence will kill you in less than a decade. There is no decision, you and your brothers will come with me. Your things are packed, your siblings are more than happy to go, just be ready to leave tomorrow."

And then he walked out without another word, leaving Astrid's head in shambles.

…o0o…

Tannis watched the dock full of longships finally clear. The cure to the Mindless had been as simple as a burning sage- though the contents of that sage came from deep in the Alfheim forest. With the collapse of the sun, exhausted soldiers and humans had gathered into the great hall or simply laying beneath the trees. Avrid seemed to have cast the island into a bubble of heat, melting the frost and keeping those without a bed warm. It would last all winter and come back every year, keeping away the chill of the Archipelago.

It left a certain silence in the evening air.

"Will you go back to the Watery Kingdom?" Avrid asked beside him.

Tannis shrugged. He didn't have a purpose anymore. Liogoo had been his every waking moment. Chasing after her, learning about Radox to get her back, becoming part of Queen Huil's guard- it had all been to get her back. There was nothing to fight for now.

"I have two spots in Initiation. I believe you could fill one of them."

Tannis looked over to Avrid and couldn't help the shock in his eyes. Radox was exclusive to say the least and to offer him a spot…

"You think I am enough for Radox?"

Avrid huffed half a laugh. "You are a force in your own right, Tannis. You fight well and know much of Radox. You might fall behind but I believe you have the heart for it."

He had thought Radox nothing but a hive of killers but Avrid was not just that. He was dark and Tannis didn't even want to know the rest of his story after the day before's revelations, but he cared. He fought for the right side but there was that moment, that blink of betrayal.

Tannis crossed his arms. "You sold us out."

"Do you think Drago could have taken me down?" Avrid smirked. "I had him under my thumb."

Tannis shook his head. "And yet Liogoo died because of your hesitation."

Avrid stilled before he turned to the Siren. "Perhaps but Liogoo..."

He put a hand on Tannis' shoulder. "Liogoo murdered Loki. She would have been killed for it anyway."

Tannis frowned.

"She had no right. Not as an Initiate in Radox and a Princess of Huil. Odin would have seen it as a call of war."

"But you could have?"

Avrid sighed. "There are a lot of rules, Tannis, that your books don't record. But yes. I had a claim of vengeance on him."

"For the trickery of Baldur?" Tannis asked and watched the fleeting anger in Avrid's eyes. Even after it all, Avrid was still livid at Loki.

"Yes, because he made me fashion that arrow and then put my Essence in it without my permission. He killed my mentor and friend but it was me that delivered the shot. My magic that killed him."

Tannis could only nod in understanding but he didn't because Liogoo was dead because Avrid cared more for that vengeance than his own friend.

"I will not join Radox." Tannis convicted. "And I don't know what I am going to do, but I cannot join those rules if I don't believe in them."

Avrid only patted that shoulder and stood, holding his hand out. "Then it was a honour to fight with you and I am in your debt."

Tannis shook Avrid's hand and filed that debt.

As Avrid walked away, Tannis flipped a coin between his fingers. One with a trident on it and the head of a Queen that may call for her Captain's head when she heard of his decision. Tannis whispered his resignation to the coin's vibrations and then flicked it to Midgard's sea.

He could have sworn the tides thrashed against the rocks beneath him in the Queen's rage.

…o0o…