Chapter III

,, Either we finish them or they'll finish us! It's the only way we'll be rid of them! If we find the nest and destroy it, the dragons will leave. They'll find another home." said Stoick sinking his blade into a large map, spread out on the table, piercing the middle of an uncharted corner, swirling with painted sea monsters and dragons.

,,One more search. Before the ice sets in.".

,,But those ships newer come back." said someone.

,, We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard. Now who's with me?" Stoick said throws up his fist but no one followed. The crowds shifts in restless silence.

,, Alright. Those who stay will look after Hiccup." and suddenly everyone changed their mind.

,, That's more like it." he said satisfied. The Vikings rushed for the door, leaving Gobber and Stoick alone.

,, I'll pack my undies." said Gobber standing up.

,,No, Gobber. I need you to train new recruits." said Stoick.

,, Oh, perfect. And while I'm busy, Hiccup can cover the stall. Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time to himself and Rina could help him...what could possibly go wrong?" said Gobber sitting back.

,, What am I going to do with him Gobber?" asked Stoick sinking in a bench beside Gobber with his brow burdened.

,, Put him in training with the others." answer Gobber simply.

,,I'm serious.".

,,So am I. I'm thinking on putting Rina in too.".

,,He'd be killed before you let the first dragon out of its cage.".

,,Oh, you don't know that.".

,,I do know that, actually.".

,,No, you don't."

,,No, actually I do.".

,,No you don't!".

,, Listen! You know what he's like. From the time he could crawl he's been...different. Your daughter can at least listen. He has the attention span of a sparrow. I take him fishing and he goes hunting for... for trolls." said Stoick.

,, Trolls exist! They steal your socks but only the left ones. What's with that?" said Gobber returning to his beer.

Stoick let out a loud sigh.

,,When I was a boy...".

,,Oh, no. Here we go...".

,,... my father told me to bang my head against a rock and I did it. I thought it was crazy, but I didn't question him. And you know what happened?".

,,You got a headache?" asked Gobber.

,, That rock split in two. It taught me what a Viking could do, Gobber. He could crush mountains, level forests, tame seas! Even as a boy, I knew what I was, what I had to become. Hiccup is not that boy." finished Stoick like he was giving up.

,, You can't stop him, Stoick. You can only prepare him. That's what I learned watching my girl grow up. She's much like Hiccup. She isn't meant to live as a Viking. But that's the way things are. Look, I know it seems hopeless. But the truth is you won't always be around to protect him. He's going to get out there again. He's probably out there now." said Gobber showing him the space trough the door.

,,You're probably right." said Stoick.

He doesn't know the half of it.