IMPORTANT NOTE: I remember once a teacher said that back around this time, if you wanted to have x amount of kids, you'd have to have twice the amount you wanted because half of your kids would die. So if you wanted four kids, then you had to have had eight because half would die. And you married young because lifespans were only 30-40 years back then. Also, I think back then, it was thought that women learning a lot would cause damage to their delicate little brains. And royalty often had as many as sixteen children to presumably marry them off to their cousins for political reasons and to produce heirs. (Most European royalty married first or second cousins-this was something I learned while tracking down family trees as a hobby.)

Take this stuff into context when reading this.

Hiccup

"You learned at least four different languages?! And you're learning a sixth!?" The idea of his own little girl accomplishing that was astounding. Not only did she not have a damaged brain, she seemed to be even smarter.

"Yeah. I actually like learning languages," Siren said. Her hair was open and tumbled in yellow curls to below her shoulders. Her hair had been so much longer when she ran away from Berk. Hiccup remembered it was way more messy than that. Now it looked well groomed.

Siren certainly did change a lot.

"So you've taken all of Drago's men and put them on to Meathead and Berk islands, and you meet with the chiefs to arrange new laws," Hiccup said, after a long a silence. It felt like many long silences had occurred between him and Siren, especially during these seven years.

"Yes," Siren said. "I want to get all of them integrated into Viking society, but I also don't want to make them angry over rules, so I talk with the chiefs to see what we can do."

Another long silence occurred.

"Siren," Hiccup said, his voice low, "was I bad father to you? Is that why you left?"

Siren looked down for a few moments. Then she looked up, water welling up in her eyes.

"In many ways, yes. But at the same time, I feel so bad for leaving you. I know would never have become so experienced had I stayed, but I wouldn't have put you through so much guilt either.

"I'm so sorry," Siren cried as she looked down. Hiccup reached out and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Both of us did bad things, and now we both need to amend for it," he said, wiping away her tears. Truth was, he himself was trying to keep himself from crying, but the tears filled his eyes anyway.

And they didn't stop for a long time.

Siren

"Dad told me you had married at age twenty, which is only three years older than I am now," I said, taking some rice up in my chopsticks while Mom struggled to keep a small amount between them.

"I know," I said. "I found chopsticks hard at first." I don't know how I can describe talking to a mother I hadn't seen in nearly twelve years.

"It takes practice, I suppose," Mom said with a rueful smile.

My mother didn't look so different from when she left me, except she now had streaks of gray through her hair and dark circles. I could see my disappearance took an effect on her as well.

"Mom," I said, feeling rather awkward asking her this, "should I get married at age twenty? Would that be a good idea?"

"It depends, Siren," Mom said, answering much more quickly than I thought. "Some women can't handle being bound, some are in love with the idea of marrying, not the actual person, while others actually love their partners. If you're going to do that, think very carefully about it. Okay?"

I nodded. "Sure. Another thing: How many children should I have? I was wondering once if it was possible to get the entire archipelago under the rule of one leader as a whole, and would it be possible by having many children and marrying them off to the chiefs-"

"I don't know, Siren. It could happen, but then you'd have to marry them to their cousins at one point to get to one sole descendant. How realistic do you think that is?"

Mom had a good point. It would be difficult at best, if not impossible.

"Who would you marry?" Mom asked.

"Probably Al, though I'm still getting to know him better," I said, taking up more chopsticks full of rice.

"When?"

"Maybe at twenty. I don't know."

Mom didn't say anything.

"I felt this huge disconnect with my Mom," I said to Al, as we both sat on the beach in our Viking garb.

"I can imagine. My entire life, I felt this disconnect with my dad," Al said. "He always thought I was worthless, and found no point in even trying to help me become a good chief. Now I've kind of gained experience ever since the war started, and now it's ended and Dad hasn't come back, so I'm basically chief now. I sometimes feel like I don't know what I'm doing, and other times I wish someone could take care of the kids' bullshit for me."

"I know that feeling so well," I said softly. "I've lost track over how many times I've had to deal with bullshit, both from the kids and from the people. In a way, being a princess is no different than being a teacher."

"I see. But you have your parents to deal with this stuff, so you don't have to deal with it for a while. You're kind of lucky in that sense," Al said.

He was right. My dad was a king, so he could deal with all that crap the people were throwing at him while I could do other stuff. But eventually, it'd be my turn.

"Your dad told me he's gonna take you home and let you visit on Saturdays," Al spoke, after a very long silence.

"I'm not surprised," I said. "I knew he was going to do that, and I'm not going to question it. I've hurt him way too long, so I'm going home. I'll visit on Saturdays, though." I looked up at Al. His face was expressionless.

"Do me a favour," he said, taking my hand in his hands, "and marry me in four years' time."

I nodded. "I'll do it."

I have absolutely no regrets. Neither does Al.