Chapter 2 - Time of Offering
Stoick moaned as he sat slumped in his chair by the fire holding a block of ice to his forehead. Why did it feel like he would never get Hiccup to understand why his training was so important? He wasn't a child any more he needed to start acting like a man. He sighed. Fighting battles, wrestling dragons, defending the shores of Berk from invaders was easy compared to bringing up a child, especially a child as different as Hiccup. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
'Valla you were so much better at this these sorts of things then me', he thought sadly.
Hiccups mother Valhallarama had died when he was only a few years old, leaving Stoick to bring up Hiccup on his own. Stoick knew he hadn't been a very good father but he had tried his best. Trouble was Hiccup was just so different from other Viking children. He wasn't built like a Viking, he was thin and wiry. He didn't think like a Viking, he spent his time inventing and building. He didn't even act like a Viking. He was polite, well mannered and never got into flights. He was different in every way possible. Stoick rubbed the block of ice more forcefully across his brow. His quiet contemplation was interrupted by the arrival of Gobber.
"Afternoon Stoick," he called jovially as he approached, his wooden leg clunking rhythmically on the wooden floor.
"You found him then," Gobber said indicating to Toothless who raised an eyelid to observe the newcomer before closing it again with a huff. Gobber laughed.
"So the talk went well I take it," he said noting the block of ice Stoick was still holding. Stoick mumbled something unrepeatable.
"Ahah...," Gobber said knowingly and immediately changed the subject.
"Well I've come to tell you that the boats are all loaded. We'll be ready to sail in the morning as planned," he glanced at the steps to Hiccups room where he guessed the boy was now.
"Would you perhaps like to check on everything, make sure it's Ok before we leave? The rains have stopped for now," he said looking knowingly at his old friend.
Stoick dropped the ice back into the bucket beside the chair and stood.
"Great idea," he said shortly and moved towards the door.
Gobber gave the steps a final glance before following his Chief out of the house.
In the room above Hiccup let out an explosive breath. He owed Gobber for distracting his father.
He turned back to the task at hand and felt a sinking feeling. His room really was a mess. More of a mess then he had originally realised. His knapsack lay open on the bed surrounded by spare tunics, books, charcoal pens and many other things that he had thrown on the bed for good measure. Hiccup sighed and started to strip out of his wet clothes, hanging them dripping before the fireplace at the end of his room. He dried himself off and pulled on a clean tunic and trousers, green like all his others and stopped to look into the flames. He knew he had disappointed his father badly this time. He hadn't meant to but it didn't make the feeling any better. He had hoped that after defeated the 'Red Death' things would have improved for him. That he would have fulfilled the requirement to prove himself. Instead it had made it worse. The expectations of his father had grown and Hiccup just wasn't sure he was up to it. He shifted his weight a little and his metal leg screeched loudly again in protest, a trophy from the fight with the gigantic dragon. He grimaced at the condition it was in, the blacksmith in him berating him for his negligence. A light reddish bloom of rust combined with mud caked its surface and the spring squeaked in protest as he moved. He sighed. He really should take more care of it. It was ironic really Toothless's harness was well oiled and greased so it wouldn't rust but his own leg was often forgotten.
He walked over to his work bench and picked up several cloths, some rough wool and a bottle of oil before sitting down on the stool by the fire. He detached the prosthetic with practised ease and begun to wipe the mud and rust from the surface with the cloth and wool. Once it was clean of mud and the metal surface shined again he proceeded to rub oil over it making sure not to get any on the base. It wouldn't do to clean it and then slip over. Once he was satisfied he clipped the device back onto its mounting below his knee and stood. Giving it a little flex to check the squeaking had gone. He then walked over to the bed and look dejectedly down at the mass of stuff lying there. Slowly he began to sort through the items selecting a spare tunic and trousers, an oil soaked fur to keep the rain off, a comb, although he had no idea why he packed this as his hair never sat right however many times he tried, a notebook, several charcoal pens and finally the bottle of oil and a cloth. He closed the bag and began to put the other items he wasn't taking back into their proper place. He placed the bag and his travelling cloak across the back of a chair ready for the morning before taking a last look around the room. Figuring he had everything he needed he began to descend the stairs back into the main hall.
Deciding he needed to get his father back in a good mood Hiccup set about laying out supper for them both, fresh bread, cheese and mead although he himself opted for water. He had just finished pouring the mead when the door opened.
It had started raining again and Stoick shook his head to clear the water from his beard. He looked up to find Hiccup standing in front of him holding out a cloth. Stoick took the cloth gratefully.
"Thanks son," he said as he dried himself off.
"I've finished packing Dad and I thought you might want some supper before we go to bed," Hiccup said tentatively indicating the table he had laid out. Stoick looked at his son affectionately, his anger melting away completely now.
"That's a good idea Hiccup, well done."
Hiccup smiled shyly at the simple praise. It was a start.
They sat down and started to eat. Hiccup was desperate to repair the damage done by his earlier behaviour and halfway through the meal, when he thought it an appropriate time, he spoke.
"Dad, can I ask a question?"
Stoick took a swig of his tankard and looked at his son.
"Of course son, what is it?"
"Can you tell me again what this trip is all about...so I don't, you know, make any mistakes when we get to the island?"
Stoick smiled, it was good to see Hiccup finally taking an interest. He wasn't a fool he knew this was Hiccups way of making amends but he was pleased none the less.
Stoick took a long drink from his tankard before pushing his chair back and stretching his legs out in front of him.
"Do you remember anything from what I told you before?" He asked.
Hiccups shook he head and look down at his plate ashamed.
"Oh well," Stoick sighed.
"Guess I better start at the beginning again but mind you we won't have time to finish the story tonight."
"I know Dad but we can continue during the journey can't we? I really want to learn this time."
Stoick smiled. Pleased by his sons change of attitude.
"That we can. OK let's start with what this time of year is called."
"The 'Time of Offering'," Hiccup piped up pleased to get the first question right.
"Exactly and can you remember what we do this time of year?" Stoick asked as he took another swig of his mead.
Hiccup tried to think, to remember something from his lessons.
"We celebrate," he said tentatively recalling a large feast each year about this time.
Stoick nodded.
"Aye we celebrate. The 'Time of Offering' constitutes the first seven days of the harvest season. Each year during this time the tribes in the Barbaric Archipelago meet on the Island of Thor for the annual gathering. During this gathering we each make an offering to the gods at the temple of Thor. It's an ancient ritual and it's compulsory for each tribe to take part. Failure to do so comes with severe penalties."
Hiccup looked at his father confused.
"Penalties?" He asked.
His father looked at him seriously.
"If a tribe does not participate in the ritual offering at the temple they are outcast. This not only means that they are shunned by gods but by their fellow tribes as well. Treaties become forfeit and war can be declared."
Hiccup looked shocked at this.
"I didn't realise it was that serious. I always thought it was just a chance to eat more food then is sensible and drink till your stupid."
Stoick smiled.
"Aye it is, but the Hooligan tribe has always paid its dues. As chief you must make sure that your responsibilities are met and your tribe protected before indulging. It has always been this way."
Hiccup looked down at the cup in his hands deep in thought more than a little ashamed that he hadn't taken the whole thing seriously, what sort of Chiefs son was he. Stoick saw the change in Hiccups body language and decided he needed to help put him at his ease. He leaned forwards and took his sons hands in his own.
"I have a confession for you Hiccup. We're very much alike you and me. When I was your age I didn't really think much about my responsibilities or my future either. It all seemed a long way off back then. What I did do was spend my time chasing after girls, well your mother actually, and dreaming of my first battle and the glory it would bring me."
Hiccup looked up and raised an eyebrow at hearing his father's confession feeling slightly put out after all the lectures he had received about being a man and taking his role as heir seriously.
"Really Dad...girls," he said indignantly.
His father had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.
"Ah, well maybe not so much alike, you're a little ahead of me aren't you lad. You've already gained the glory in the battle with that huge dragon and you have the girl already in your sights," he said looking knowingly at Hiccup.
Hiccup turned a shade of red and Stoick laughed.
"I have eyes. Look son I'm sorry I've been so harsh on you lately. I've just been trying to make you understand how important a Chief is to a tribe. It's our duty to keep them safe but being of a Chiefs blood line doesn't make you a good leader, look at your cousin Snotlout for example. I wouldn't trust him to put his boots on the right feet let along lead a tribe."
Hiccup snorted in laughter.
"What I'm trying to say is that you don't just become a Chief overnight, its something you have work at...learn to be."
Hiccup looked at his father seriously.
"Sorry Dad, I understand what your trying to teach me now."
Stoick returned his sons look and let the pride show in his face.
"I have great faith and pride in you Hiccup. I know that you will be a great Chief when your time comes."
"Thanks Dad," Hiccup said happily, pleased that his father didn't think him to be a failure like he had feared.
Stoick smiled at his son before draining the last of his tankard and standing.
"We will continue this in the morning, but for now bed, we have an early start."
Hiccup stood to and once he had cleared the table he started to climb the steps to his room.
"Night Hiccup," his father yawning as he started to remove his armour.
"Night Dad," Hiccup replied and with that climbed the rest of the steps followed by Toothless.
Once in his room he watched Toothless as he made himself comfortable on his slab before removing his own belt and tunic. He sat down and removed his prosthetic laying it carefully on the floor beside the bed. He then sat there for a little while deep in thought. He was glad his father had been honest with him. He knew it wasn't going to be easy but at least he now understood what his father expected of him. His father would be hard on him when he needed to be but it was only so that Hiccup could learn and become a good leader. For the first time Hiccup felt comfortable with the prospect of become Chief.
He swung into bed and pulled the furs up around himself. He lay there a little longer in the dark thinking. He wanted to know more about this 'Time of Offering' they had only just brushed the surface that evening. He hadn't realised that an event he had always known as a celebration had such a dark side to it but then he supposed that his father had always shielded the tribe from that fact. If he was to do his duty and make his father proud of him he would need to know everything possible about this trip, what were a few days away from Astrid if it meant he could help protect his tribe. He resigned himself to ask more questions in the morning and with this last determined thought he closed his eyes and drifted off into sleep.