Raiding

Somewhere along a coast east of the middle of nowhere, stood an old monastery inhabited by monks who spend most of their days in quiet meditation. Over the years a village grew around the holy place, populated mostly by farmers and fishermen. It was a simple existence where things hardly ever changed and one day is just like the last.

On a day that started just like any other, a fisherman and his son set off to get an early start on their work but on the way to the coast they spotted strange ships on the horizon. Thinking they were foreign traders the man decided to welcome them and sent his son back to inform the village. However, when he reached the shore the large and fierce looking men on the ships made him rethink his initial assumption.

Some of the man's fears eased when two people who weren't quite as large or fierce made their way through the crowd and stepped off the lead ship. The young woman with a large ax on her back was quite easy on the eyes while the young man with the odd metal contraption for a leg had an honest face. Despite being half the size of the others, it seemed that the two were in charge.

He welcomed them both with a friendly greeting but only got confused looks in return. The woman turned to her companion and said something in a language the fisherman didn't know then the man turned towards the ships and started barking out orders.

Not knowing what else he could do the fisherman waited awkwardly for what the strangers would do next, then suddenly he heard a frightening roar that could have come from the depths of hell itself. He looked around and scanned the beach for anything that could explain what he heard, then out of the corner of his eye he saw something moving on the foreigner's ships. As impossible as it seemed, what he found were dragons. The largest of the winged beasts raised its head and roared once more, this time the men joined in and cheered loudly.

He looked towards the leaders of what must be raiders and found a strange apologetic smile on the young man's lips, the young woman on the other hand, had a grim expression on her normally beautiful face, more importantly though, her ax was out of its holster. He turned to run but it was far too late, before he could get anywhere an ax was buried in his back and he was dead before he hit the ground.

Back in the village, the fisherman's son told his tale to any who would listen causing considerable excitement. While uncommon foreign traders were always welcome, however, before any plans could be made regarding their guests, someone noticed something in the sky and then the screaming started.

Hiccup and Astrid stood at the center of the village and surveyed the damage they brought down upon the unsuspecting villagers. The fighting ended awhile ago and now they watched over the other vikings as they ransacked the village.

"I thought this would be harder," Hiccup said as he turned to his wife. "I knew we'd win but I expected them to put up some kind of fight."

Astrid nodded in agreement. "It's only fun if there's some challenge. Most didn't even try to fight and the ones that did fight were worse than you when you first started."

"Hey! I got better didn't I?"

Astrid didn't answer the question and just smiled at him. "You really shouldn't pout like that. It's not befitting the future chief."

"Please don't go there, I get enough of that from my dad. It's always Hiccup don't do this, Hiccup don't do that..."

"Hiccup don't whine," Astrid interrupted in a poor imitation of Stoic's voice.

For a second Hiccup just stared at Astrid. "Never do an impression of my dad again," he said seriously, "cause I just saw you twice as large with a huge beard."

Astrid paused at the odd mental image Hiccup painted for her, then she punched him in the shoulder. Before he could complain she closed the distance between them, grabbed him by his vest and pulled him closer. "Maybe I should do something about that then," she whispered, "give you something else to think about."

"That's just great," Ruffnut complained loudly as she pointed at the couple. "We turn around to do a little looting and we come back to this."

"Yeah," Tuffnut agreed. "Can't those two go a few minutes without getting all mushy?"

With the mood ruined Hiccup and Astrid stepped away from each other. As much as the couple resented their timing the twins did have a valid point, there was work to be done.

"You two find anything interesting?" Hiccup asked.

"Nah, this place is a dump." Ruffnut answered. "We searched the houses and it's all crap. I was really hoping for some silk too."

"What would you need silk for?" Tuffnut asked.

"What makes you think I need to explain anything to you?"

"Are you making a fancy dress or something? Did you trick some poor idiot into marrying you?"

Ruffnut slapped the back of her brother's head for the last remark. "I don't need to trick anyone into anything," she said. "You're the one with a face only a dragon could love."

"Are you kidding? The ladies can't resist me."

As the twin's argument escalated Snotlout walked up to the group. He ignored the twins usual antics and turned to Hiccup. "We have a problem," he said. "We might be able to fit everybody we captured on the ships but only if we leave the livestock behind."

"I figured as much, we didn't count on them just giving up like they did."

"Don't forget about Fishlegs," Astrid interjected. "The twins said the homes are worthless but he might find something in the monastery worth bringing back."

"So how do you want to do this?" Snotlout asked.

"We're not short on food back home so the livestock isn't a priority." Hiccup answered. "The southern tribes just finished a bloody war and they'll pay well for some manpower to help rebuild. Prioritize the men who look strong enough to be useful but not enough to cause trouble."

"So, stronger than you but not by much."

"Yes Snotlout, that's exactly what I mean."

"Add a few women," Astrid suddenly said. "We need a cook."

"We need a cook?" Hiccup repeated. "Does that mean you finally gave up trying to learn?"

"No I didn't give up, you know better than anyone I don't give up."

"So why do we need a cook?"

"Cause my mother gave up on me after I almost burned down her house."

"Wow, I can't believe..."

Astrid narrowed her eyes at her husband, grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "Hiccup, if you're smart you're going to quit while you're ahead."

Hiccup nervously pulled himself away from his wife and turned to Snotlout. "You heard the lady, add few women, they always sell well anyway."

"Hey guys, you won't believe what I found," Fishlegs shouted as he ran up to the group. "I found a room filled wall to wall with books and scrolls and..."

"Wait a minute, books? Snotlout interrupted. "That's it? That's what got you excited?"

"I saw some gold and silver. I think there was also a few rare gems."

"You should have started with those, at least they're worth something."

"But books are great, think of the things we could learn, its like a plus ten to intelligence each."

"Sorry Fishlegs, I'm with Snotlout on this one," Hiccup said. "You're the only one that can read the language and we don't have the room to spare on the ships, but go ahead and take a few for yourself."

"I guess that will have to do. I'll head back now."

"Take the twins with you," Hiccup instructed while pointing at the still arguing twins. "Make sure you got everything you need then burn the place down."

"I should go and get started on boarding the prisoners," Snotlout said.

"Yeah," Hiccup agreed, "It's about time we head off."

When they were alone again Astrid turned to her husband looking pensive. "Hiccup, there something I need to tell you."

Hiccup couldn't help notice the unusual tone of uncertainly in Astrid's voice. "Is something wrong?"

"No, its actually something right. This is just a really bad place to tell you, but I don't think I can keep it to myself for the whole trip home."

"Astrid, your starting to scare me."

"Hiccup, I think I'm pregnant."

An old man sat outside the ruins of what used to be his home. He was too old to fight and too old for slavery so he was ignored by the raiders that invaded his village, the monsters couldn't even be bothered to put him out of his misery. Unable to do anything he sat and watched. He watched as the homes of neighbors burn. He watched as the corpses of friends and family gathered flies. He watched as the survivors were lead away in chains. Most of all, he watched the young couple dancing in the center of all this madness without a care in the world.

The old man wondered just what kind of vile creatures these two must be that they could dance like giddy young lovers while surround by burning building and rotting corpses. What could they be celebrating? Was it riches they've gained? Was it the death they've caused? Was it the people they've taken? They must surely be spawns of the devil himself, who else but the fallen one would hide such evil behind angelic faces.

The End.

"AD. 793. This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and whirlwinds, and fiery dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January in the same year, the harrowing inroads of heathen men made lamentable havoc in the church of God in Holy-island, by rapine and slaughter." -Anglo Saxon Chronicle.

Author's Notes:

You're probably wonder what you just read. Did I really turn the HTTYD cast into murders and slave traders. Well that's what happens in raiding, there's nothing heroic about it. The idea came to me when I read some fanfictions mentioning raiding in passing without elaborating. I started thinking what would it really mean if raiding was part of Berk lifestyle. So I went and did some quick google research then wrote this up. I'm not sure what I was aiming for but I'm pretty sure I missed the mark, half way through I started thinking I should have just written something funny. I spent too much time on it already so I just pushed through and posted it anyway. So next time you think of including raiding in your fic think of this and what your going have to do to such nice characters.

Anyway at least I learned a few interesting things. The quote at the end refers to what is commonly accepted as the first viking attack, I just included it cause I was amused it mentioned dragons. Also rapine has nothing to do with rape, apparently the rape part of "rape, pillage and burn" viking mantra has been severely exaggerated.

Next Up:

The closest thing to a viking princess has come to Berk intent on marrying Hiccup to forge an alliance. She beautiful, her cloths and jewelry are exquisite, and she's a bunch of other nice things. Now if only she can outrun Astrid's Nadder.