Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Sunlight crept into Astrid's room. "It's time to wake up, dear." Astrid heaved her covers over her head and purred grumpily. "No, I already let you sleep in enough. Get Up." Astrid's mother, Camicazi, pushed at the heap on the bed and pulled off the covers. Astrid hummed as sunlight lit up her bed. "Do I have to wake up?" Astrid opened her eyes blearily and stared up at her mother. Cami leaned close to Astrid's face.
"Yes." Camicazi grabbed Astrid by her arms and heaved her onto her feet. "Now stand up while I go get your dress. The coronation might be later, but this whole business takes long enough." Camicazi hurried out of the room whispering a list of things to do that day.
Astrid just stayed put and yawned largely. The idea of day had yet to come into her mind. On normal days, she usually didn't need a wakeup call, or anyone to dress her, but today was sadly not normal. As her mom entered the room again, Astrid's mind woke up and informed her all about what day it was. "It's Coronation Day," Astrid said blankly to the space around her.
"I'm glad you finally decided to wake up. Yes, it is coronation day. Why else would I have this dress in my hands." Camicazi gestured to the fabric in her arms.
"It's Grandma's dress," Astrid whispered with awe. In her life, she had only seen the dress twice, and only from a distance. Her grandmother had been the first woman to become the ruler of not only Berk, but to most of the Vikings in the archipelago. She was also well known through her great skills in battle, which brought yet more Vikings into the trust of the Barbaric Archipelago kingdom. The dress that was now in front of Astrid was the dress that her grandmother had worn to her own coronation.
"I know that you were planning to wear something a little less girly, but I think this will do." Camicazi looked up at her daughter seeing her eagerly shaking her head up and down. "Well, it's been decided then." Cami lay down the dress on the dresser as Astrid finally started moving to gather up a few undergarments. They both went downstairs with their heap of clothes to the outside vanity where Cami drew a bath for Astrid. After a quick, but deep wash, Astrid started layering her undergarments. "Hold your arms up," Camicazi instructed as she pulled the old dress over her daughter's head. Astrid turned around and let her mother tie up the lacings in the back. Camicazi patted Astrid's shoulder and they both entered the house again.
Part of Astrid's hair was soon tied up in a tight and elegant braid while the rest was left loose. "We're done. Now stand up so I can see how you look." Astrid stood up from a stool near the kitchen counter and stood facing her mother. Cami took a breath and smiled at her daughter. "If only your father could see you! You look just like your grandmother, but… I guess younger." The two laughed.
"Do I really look that good?" Astrid looked doubtful as she looked down at the light blue dress, then up at her mother again. Camicazi nodded.
"But something's missing…" Cami walked over to a chest near them and pulled out a warm, brown, fur cloak. She fastened the cloak with a clip that resembled a sword. "Now you're ready."
Astrid looked down at her hands that had begun to spark again. "Not really," Astrid whispered. Camicazi squeezed Astrid's hand.
"It won't be too bad. You'll keep it hidden just like any other day. You can do it."
000
"Now before we see Stoick, I need you to do a few things for me, alright?" Gobber handed Hiccup a list and started reading them aloud. "…..Oh and I need you to grab a few parsnips from Silent Sven, I forgot to put that on the list," Gobber added absentmindedly.
"Alright, alright. I'll do those things for you, but I have some things I need to do as well, so it might take me a while," Hiccup replied.
"Of course ye' do. Just do what you gotta do, but come back before midday; we still need to see your father. Now get goin'!" Gobber wacked the back of Hiccup's head playfully. Hiccup stumbled out of the forge and started into the town.
Hiccup skirted around the town and picked up a few tools and food along the way then headed into the forest. He still wanted to check up on his best friend, but didn't want to be caught. Hiccup could definitely tell that Berk was still not a dragon friendly place, not that he expected it.
Hiccup skidded across a few rocks and followed the familiar path to the cove. Jumping over the very old shield that blocked the main path into the cove, Hiccup called to Toothless. "Hey Toothless! I'm back bud with breakfast!" Out of the shadows near a corner of the cove Toothless came out and bounded over to Hiccup and licked his face a few times before focusing on the bag of fish that Hiccup had brought with him. As Toothless settled down with his fish, Hiccup sat down next to him and started telling his best friend what had happened since he last saw him.
"It's just like it used to be, isn't it Toothless: me having to sneak away to come and see you. Luckily we only have to deal with this for very long. Hopefully after the coronation, we'll be able to get away. Gobber told me last night that tons of people will want to know that I'm still alive, but I don't believe him." Hiccup sighed and rested his head against Toothless' warm scales. Toothless twisted his head a little to lay his head on Hiccup's lap giving him a simpering look. Hiccup closed his eyes, and they both stayed like this for a while.
Hiccup jolted up startling Toothless. Toothless warbled angrily as Hiccup got up and started gathering his own things again, then without only a slight hesitation, he packed up the tent that he had set up the night before. When Toothless continued to react, Hiccup started reasoning with him. "Don't give me that, Toothless. It's no use to keep this tent up. I'm living with Gobber right now. It would be too weird to say that 'I'm going to sleep in the woods tonight'. I would make no sense." Hiccup stopped and petted Toothless' head softly. "I don't want to leave you alone either, but I can't really go walking around with a full grown dragon at my heels; they would kill you." Shouldering his pack, Hiccup added, "See ya' soon, bud."
When Hiccup got back to the village he finished the jobs on the list that Gobber had given him. He carried water pales, parsnips, iron, hammers, and other assorted materials to and fro from Gobber's Forge. All of the jobs were ridiculous to Hiccup. One of the jobs was even getting Uncle Lars' severed head off a pike that supposedly for some kind of luck. On his second trip back from the well to get water for the forge, Hiccup accidentally crashed into a person ahead of him.
"What is up with this island?!" The man in front of Hiccup swirled around with an angry frown on his lips. A bell rang in Hiccup's head as he recognized the face. He didn't know where, but he seemed to just know the face. Hiccup did not have long to contemplate his thoughts when a sword suddenly appeared at his throat. "Why do you people keep on popping up everywhere?"
"Uh….we live here." Hiccup managed to stammer.
"Right answer, villager." The man withdrew the sword pressed against Hiccup's throat and sheathed it. The man in front of Hiccup was a slender, but tall and strongly buit. His face was clean shaven and his red hair was slicked back on top of his head and neatly braided. Everything about him was elaborate, even his clothing. Hiccup slowly got up, rubbing his Adam's apple. Instead of just leaving, Hiccup just stood where he was staring at the man. "Is there something wrong?" Dagur asked irritably.
"Uh….who are you?"
"Why the hell would you ask that?" Dagur got close to Hiccup. "Haven't you heard of me? I'm Dagur the Deranged!" Hiccup's brain finally clicked. He remembered Dagur. As a child Hiccup remembered having to deal with Dagur's attempts in drowning him, kicking him, hitting him, and all of the sort of trouble Dagur got them both in. It was such a long time ago when he last saw him because they had both been children He looked so different. His eyes were etched in a crazed happiness that always was around him. While thoughts were rushing around Hiccup's mind, Dagur continued. "I am known for killing dragons to men! I am renown for my triumphs everywhere. Are you sure you have no clue who I am? 'Cause if you don't', I can arrange for a nice funeral for you." Hiccup suddenly was pulled from his thoughts and a great deafening silence between the two of them spread. Dagur suddenly cracked up laughing. "Mwaaaahahahahhaha!" Hiccup's slightly scared face broke a little as he laughed tentatively along. "Oh my, villager, you crack me up. Just that look of pure terror on your face," Dagur imitated Hiccup's face then went back to laughing, "Priceless."
Hiccup awkwardly picked up his water bucket that was still lying on the ground and tried to turn away from Dagur. He saw that it was not the greatest idea to be around Dagur. It wasn't a good idea when he was younger, and it definitely was not a good idea now. Hiccup had successfully gotten a few feet away when Dagur pulled him back.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Dagur grabbed Hiccup's arm in a vice-like grip and pulled him. "I thought we were having a moment."
"Really? I would have not called it that," Hiccup said with a dry sort of air in his nasally voice.
"Oh come on, brother, we were having a moment. But now thanks to you, it's gone." Dagur's smile turned to a grimace as he led Hiccup around the middle of the village.
"Brother? I don't believe we're related…" Hiccup wondered as he tested the boundaries of the sort of hug Dagur had him kept in.
"Maybe we are, but maybe we aren't. Mwaaah ha ha. I called someone that when I was younger as well, but he's dead now." Another silence occurred, and Hiccup could just feel the need to run get stronger in his chest. "But I just feel a sort of bond between us… in here." Dagur pointed to where Hiccup's heart was and put his hand over it. "Can't you just feel it brother?"
"No, not really," Hiccup said as he pried off Dagur's hand from his chest.
"Well, that's too bad, but don't worry. You'll feel that raging fire within you very soon." Dagur kept walking around in circles around the well and talked about very random reasons why they belonged together. Finally, he abruptly veered off course and walked back to the well. Dagur let go of Hiccup and waved a hand in farewell. "It was good to meet you, brother, but alas I must leave you. Farewell, my brother. I'll see you when I see you." With a deranged laugh, he ran off.
Hiccup let out a pent up breath. "That was weird." Hiccup shivered. "Creepy, that one is." Hiccup filled up his bucket again then set off to the forge.
"Well, that's it. All done." Hiccup said as he set down his bucket. Gobber emerged from one of the rooms and smiled at Hiccup.
"That's great. You are much faster than you were five years ago. You used to spend hours on end dreaming instead of working. Anyways, now we can go see Stoick." Gobber rubbed his hands together.
"On second thought, you know I left some parsnips over near the…" Hiccup gestured outside and started to leave when Gobber stopped him.
"Oh no you don't. You have to go see your father, so you will see your father. Nothing you say is going to change that." Gobber picked Hiccup up by the scruff of his neck and headed towards Stoick's house.
"What if I said I had to go to the bathroom."
"Then you'll just have to hold it." The duo walked in silence through the village. It was now about mid-morning, and by now most Vikings had woken up. In the streets many were being nosy with their neighbors or checking out the nice decorations that had been finished the night before. There were even some early party goers with their liquor bottles in hand wobbling around the village. Too soon Hiccup and Gobber arrived at the Captain of the Guard's house.
"Well, here we are. Would you like to do the honors?" Gobber gestured to the front door. Hiccup shook his head.
"Nah, I'm fine. You go ahead and knock." With a noncommittal shrug Gobber stepped up to the door and knocked. From inside a deep voice yelled, "Be there in a second." Hiccup felt his blood run cold at the sound of the voice. It had been years since he had seen his dad, or even heard him. It almost seemed like a ghost to Hiccup.
"Now what is it you want?" Stoick the Vast opened the door to his house with ease and looked down at his visitors. "Ah, Gobber, nice of you to stop by. I was just going to start in on a keg, you want to join?" Stoick looked happy today…..yet old. Hiccup saw that his pure, red hair was now streaked with gray and white. His face that used to be smooth now had many wrinkles etched into it. It was scary how much could change in the five years he had been gone.
"That sounds great, but first, I'd like to introduce,… well more like re-introduce, you to someone. Come 'ere boy." Gobber whispered the last part to Hiccup. Hiccup stepped up beside Gobber and met Stoick's eyes. "Stoick…this is your son."
There was no joyous laughter, no hugs, no tears (not that Hiccup expected this) at all; there seemed to be no reaction at all from Stoick. Hiccup searched the old man's eyes and saw no recognition in them. His father didn't even know him.
Stoick let his head fall into his hand. "Gobber, how many times do I have to tell you? My son is dead. Stop bringing poor blokes to me who claim to be someone they're not. Just give him his money and let it go." Hiccup was dumbfounded.
"Stoick, I may have done that a few times, but this time it's different! Can't you recognize your own eyes? Valhallarama's face in this boy? He's your son, Stoick." Stoick turned away. Gobber pleaded with Stoick as he followed him into his house, closely followed by Hiccup.
"Enough, Gobber. I don't have time for this today." He turned to Hiccup. "What is your name boy?" Hiccup didn't know what to say. If he said Hiccup, his father probably wouldn't believe him. But if he lied, it would just be wrong.
"I am Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, sir," Hiccup said as confidently as possible. Stoick sighed.
"What is your real name? Where are you from?"
Hiccup repeated, "I am Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and I am from Berk." Stoick just shook his head.
"Go….just go boy."
Hiccup could feel rage and hurt boiling in his stomach. His father didn't care about him when he was on Berk so many years ago, but to completely forget him was just wrong. "No. I won't. I am your son, so I will stay here until you acknowledge that."
"Then it's going to be a very long day."
"I can prove that I am your son, you know." Stoick didn't look up at Hiccup's statement, but Gobber looked at Hiccup quizzically. "When mom, Valhallarama, was taken away by dragons, that very same night, I got a deep cut on my chin from that incident. As I grew, that cut became a scar. And I still have it." Hiccup walked close to Stoick and pointed at his chin. "Right here." Stoick stayed still for quite a while before he looked at Hiccup's chin, and indeed, he saw the scar on Hiccup's chin. A light came back into Stoick's eyes where Hiccup didn't notice until now, was missing. But as soon as it sparked, it was snuffed out.
"That doesn't prove anything."
Hiccup huffed a little as he sat down next to Stoick trying to come up with a new plan. Stoick was about to force Hiccup out of the house so he could get on with his morning when Hiccup spoke again, but really quietly. "I remember a song you used to sing to me when I was sick."
Stoick sat straight up as if he was hit by lightning. He had never told anyone about that song, only his son. Not even Gobber knew what he was talking about. In the corner where Gobber had taken vacancy with his glass of mead, Gobber looked as confused as ever.
"How does it go…boy," Stoick whispered back.
Hiccup parted his lips and sang only a little part of the song.
I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With ne'er fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you will stay beside me
Stoick looked at Hiccup with overly bright eyes as he finished. "Only one person in the whole world knew I sang that song after Val left…." Stoick let a small smile creep over his whiskers. Hiccup looked at Stoick, hopeful, oh so hopeful. There was a long pause before Stoick could continue. "My son…. Hiccup." Stoick got off his chair and awkwardly circled his arms around Hiccup as if he didn't know what to do. Hiccup patted his dad gently on the back. Stoick quickly released Hiccup, and he smiled down at him. "I, uh, missed you son." Hiccup smiled too at the words. "But where did you go?"
Hiccup was ready for this. Right after he had woken up in the morning he had created a story that was half-truth, and half-lie that would keep dragons out of the equation, but would still sound believable. "Well the day that I was chosen to kill the Monstrous Nightmare, a dragon stole, a, uh, axe of mine and I went off on a boat to go after it. Of course I took some supplies, because I figured that this was not going to be a short trip, and it could not wait." To Hiccup's own ears this story sounded ridiculous, but his father just ate it up. Even Gobber seemed to enjoy the full, 'true', tale.
Hiccup went on to say that he followed this dragon, which happened to be a Night Fury, to an ancient village where he was soon captured and put with other Vikings from other isles. Within a few days Hiccup was able to come up with a plan to save all the Vikings with him and kill all of the people above while grabbing some treasure. And it all hinged on the Night Fury.
"I never knew you were so famous, Hiccup. If only I had known who you would have become," Stoick bellowed and clapped a hand on Hiccup's back, sending him flying out of his seat.
"Yeah, I wish I had known too," Hiccup whispered as he climbed back into his chair.
"So why did you come back now?" Stoick took a long swig from his mug then kept going. "I mean, I know there's a coronation, but couldn't you have come home sooner?"
Hiccup sighed. He hadn't exactly planned an answer to this question, and non-planned plans didn't always go too well for him. "Well, after I saved the village…they wanted me to stay for a while, and I thought…why not? They seemed to have some trouble with the dragons, so I kept on helping them." Hiccup looked at his father quickly to gauge how well the lie went. Stoick seemed to believe it as he started to boast.
"So you became Hiccup the Brave! Ah, you're just like me! Out saving villages worldwide. I'm so proud!" Stoick clapped Hiccup on the back. "Wait until everyone hears about it!"
"Astrid 'ell be pleased, won't she Stoick?" Gobber nudged Stoick a little on the arm.
"She'll probably whack him with that axe of hers, and then congratulate him." Stoick and Gobber shared a laugh.
Hiccup looked quizzically at the pair of them. "Why would Astrid be happy?" Hiccup whispered to himself.
"Well, we'd better start going to the coronation, or we'll never make it." Gobber stretched and yawned. "Oh, and here's the sword for the young lass." Gobber pulled out the sword that he and Hiccup finished last night and handed it over to Stoick.
"Thank you." Stoick looked carefully at the workmanship. "Perfect as always." Gobber smiled at the complement.
"Don't mention it."
Gobber, Hiccup, and Stoick walked together to the door when Stoick suddenly pulled Hiccup aside.
"Aren't you going to change, son? We are going to a coronation." Stoick gestured to Hiccup's messy flight suit.
"Um, these are the only clothes I brought." Hiccup brushed off some dirt off his suit to try and make it look nicer as he stood under his father's critical eye.
"Why did you only bring the clothes you have on your back, boy?" Gobber stepped into the conversation.
"I didn't really plan on staying too long." Hiccup said.
"You didn't plan on staying long with your family? Thor's name!" Stoick bellowed. "Well, we'll sort that out later, but right now we need to get to the coronation with you looking a bit nicer." Stoick went up to the upper floor and brought down a large armful of clothing. "Here are a few things that you can wear."
Hiccup looked skeptically at the pile of clothes. "Are you sure those are in my size?" Gobber picked up a shirt and belt and gave them to Hiccup.
"Here. Put those on." With much grumbling, Hiccup took off his complicated armor and his green tunic and traded them for the humongous red shirt and gold belt. The clothes completely engulfed him. The shirt went down farther than his knees, and the belt had way too much slack for it to be fashionable. But as Hiccup looked up at his dad and Gobber, he kept his mouth shut. Both Stoick and Gobber looked like mother yaks cooing over their baby.
"Can we go now?" Hiccup asked.
"Not quite yet." Stoick lifted up a heavy, brown fur cloak and heaved it onto Hiccup's shoulders. Stoick then placed a large horned helmet on top of Hiccup's head. "You left this in your room when you went after that Night Fury. I figured you'd want it back." If Hiccup hadn't looked ridiculous yet, he sure did now. The cloak trailed on the ground behind Hiccup and the helmet covered his eyes just like it did all those years ago.
"Uh…thanks dad."
"Anytime, son." Stoick beamed at Hiccup before leading everyone out of the house. Stoick and Hiccup were halfway down the hill from the house when Gobber called to Stoick.
"Stoick?" Gobber stayed back on the front steps of the house and called to Stoick.
"Hmm?" Stoick halted as well and joined Gobber on his front steps. "What is it?"
Gobber fumbled with his hook on his right arm. "I know this was a shock for you to find Hiccup alive again. I knew that as I brought 'em up 'ere to see you. I just thought that you would, um…take it…better."
"What do you mean? He's my son. I accepted that." Stoick looked at Gobber sternly. Gobber fidgeted under Stoick's gaze. "Gobber. I am the King's right hand, but I am also your friend. You can tell me anything."
After a few moments' hesitation Gobber finally let it rip. "Stoick, you interrogated the boy! How did you not recognize him? He's your son! Couldn't you see that?" Gobber stood straighter as he got everything needed out in the open.
Silence blanketed the two for a while after. Cries of laughter were carried on the breeze from the village below as the two stared at each other. At the bottom of the hill, where Stoick's home was placed, sat Hiccup. When Hiccup had got far enough away from Stoick and Gobber, Hiccup had quickly discarded the hat and cloak and stashed them inside a bush. It was a little too cold to go without a cloak, but Hiccup thought being cold was better than looking ridiculous.
"I guess I did see it, but I didn't want to believe it." Stoick sighed. "It took me so long to get over Hiccup the first time; I didn't want to do it again. I wanted to make sure it was him for real before I trusted the boy." There was a long pause before Stoick continued. "But I finally trusted him, and that's all that counts. Now let's get to the Coronation, or we'll be late!"
000
They were one of the last people to arrive at the hill next to the Kill Ring. Stoick left them as they neared the stage and went on his own to behind the stage. Since he was the Captain of the Guard, he would be part of the ceremony. Gobber led Hiccup to the front row where there were two seats reserved for them. They had just sat down when music started playing from somewhere in the cavernous hole they sat in.
Hiccup saw Astrid's mother, Gothi, and her uncle enter onto the stage as well as his own father. He also realized that it just didn't feel the same without Astrid's father there with the rest of his family.
The tune of the music changed and everyone stood up. Hiccup swiveled his head to watch a young woman walk down the aisle towards the stage. Hiccup's jaw dropped as the woman walked closer to where he sat.
"She's quite the young lass now, isn't she," Gobber whispered to Hiccup.
Astrid looked majestic as she glided down the aisle. Her traditional dress and cloak brought out the blue in her eyes and made her look like a Valkyrie from Asgard. Her face was stern but pleasant as she ascended the stairs to the stage and took her place in front of Gothi. Gothi made a gesture and everyone sat down again. The coronation ceremony had begun.
Hiccup had only heard Gothi speak once in his lifetime, and that was when his grandmother had died. When he was little he remembered being scared to death of Gothi, but now those fears seemed gone. Gothi spoke with a heavy accent that was rough at times due to her old age. Gothi spoke of the history of Berk from Astrid's great, great, great, great, great, great ( you get the idea) grandfather, to Astrid's father. Gothi spoke of their bravery in battle and of their courage to unite the villages of the Barbaric Archipelago. She ended her speech and asked Astrid to answer her questions.
"Will you protect the Barbaric Archipelago with all of your might?"
"I will." Astrid's voice sounded so strong as she uttered her words, but Hiccup felt that something was off.
"Will you help the sick and injured no matter what the cost?"
"I will."
"Can the people the Archipelago trust you, no matter what?"
There was a pause. Hiccup saw the slightest shiver run through Astrid's body. Her hands were balled fists by her side as she answered as powerfully as she could, "I will."
"Then kneel before me and before all of the gods," Gothi replied. Astrid got down on her knees and waited. Astrid's uncle stepped in front of Gothi and quickly removed Astrid's leather circlet and replaced it with a more ornate one that signified her status. Gothi then placed an inky black mark on Astrid's forehead that sealed everything together. Astrid stood up once again and turned to Hiccup's father. Stoick handed her the beautiful sword that Gobber had made and Astrid nodded her thanks to Stoick, Gothi and her uncle, Bile.
"The people of the Barbaric Archipelago…. Your queen has come home."
Everyone rose in their seats as Astrid turned around with her new gifts in her hands and accepted the cheers with a small smile. The cheers roared on for several minutes. Astrid turned to her left and raised her sword. With a battle cry, Astrid flung her sword toward one of the wooden poles that supported the stage. The sword sunk deep into the wood and stayed there quivering.
"The sword has sunk very deep into the wood," Astrid's mother called, hushing the crowd. "Our new queen will have a very successful reign indeed." The roars rose up again, and were deafening. Hiccup joined in a little, but stopped when he saw Astrid shaking violently on the stage. But as soon as he saw it, it stopped and Astrid beamed out at the audience.
"My people," Astrid called. The yells from the crowd abruptly stopped. "I want to inform all of you that in honor of my crowning, there will be a feast in one hours' time at the Great Hall. You are all invited to come, eat, and have a good time." Astrid waited a moment for it all to sink in, and then she finished with, "Thank you." Astrid smiled once more then hurried off the stage.
"You still like her, don't you," Gobber whispered in Hiccup's ear. Hiccup jumped and immediately responded.
"What? No! Who put that crazy idea in your head?" Hiccup nervously changed the subject. Gobber giggled to himself.
Hi everybody! Hope you liked this chapter. I realize that's it's been a very, very, very long while since I last updated, and I'm sorry. Once I started school, I literally had no time to do anything until now. For the future, I won't have too much time either, so these updates will be random. Sorry I'll try to get better. Also there are some chapters coming up where I can have more songs from Frozen entered in here. Please comment and tell me if that's a good idea or not! I love getting feedback! Speaking of comments, I'll answer some now.
Guest July 20th: Thank you! And you won't have to wait for their reunion too long. It's coming!
Noctus Fury: Thank you, I liked tying in some historical aspects sometimes too. Hope I explained a little why I made Gobber recognize Hiccup quicker in this chapter. I thought that Stoick wouldn't recognize Hiccup as quickly because he seemed the type in the beginning of the first movie to care about his son, but want to forget him. I wanted Gobber to be complete opposite, but if you see them differently, that's fine.
So, that's it for now. I hope to be publishing really soon, but with school, you can never tell. TTFN!