a/n: sorry for the long wait! since this story is originally an xreader-insert, I've been working on it and posting it on AO3 (up to 7 chapters!). But now I'm reworking it into an oc-story to fit FF.N guidelines. Therefore, the next updates will be on a schedule of every week or two from this point!

Thank you to anyone who has commented, favorited and followed. It means so, so much to me!

Please enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE: POEMS

"I'm still not warmed up to a boy no thicker than sea kelp to keep Berk prosperous. He has a talent for dragons, but compared to his father, little else."

Another man grunted in agreement, lending the gag of village men and sea merchants to round for a good laugh at the docks.

Minnow scrunched her nose, pinching her lips into a thin line. The sound was no better than squealing pigs. She flicked out knitting shears from her apron pocket, snipping the rope which tethered a herd of bleating sheep to be traded. Passing along, scampering hooves and disgruntled shouts to capture the livestock rang from behind. Rounding to the next boat, she smiled up at trader Johann strutting down the ship ramp.

"My, my, little lady. Starting the day off well, I see," he bemused at the entertaining sight.

"I take pride in my Lord and home," she said. "I'd see to free every sheep if it meant protecting his honor."

"Might be bad for business, I'm afraid." Johann said, laughing. "So, what do you offer this fine morning?"

Minnow extended her tapestry, which had taken many moons to complete. Upon receiving it, Johann inspected it with incredulous eyes.

"Ah, yes. Fine embroidery work as usual. Dare I say, you've mustered up quite the talent for the art of needling."

Fishing from his pocket, he placed four coin pieces in her open palm.

"This is less than last month," she stared in disbelief. "How come?"

"My dear, the fickleness of trade is as fickle as a woman's heart when her husband takes a voyage across the seas. Why, it reminds me of a poem I once read, when I had visited the uncharted islands off the Baltic Sea—" Johann cut short, as you burned a nonsensical hole into his forehead. "Let us say neighboring lands have been in a bit of civil unrest. If you want to discuss what's bad for business, I can state confidently, it is war."

The word had raised a cold sweat at her collar bone. Smoke and embers clouded her vision, and a horrid stench smelling of rotten fruit burned each nostril.

"I understand," she broke with a stalled breath. "Hopefully, the next months before Winter will be kinder to us."

"Oh, don't be so down. I have just the thing to make it worth your while." Disappearing into the ship deck, Johann returned with a book. "As I've mentioned before, I have collected many-a tales and poems in my travels. This one is on the house, or rather, I should say—boat."

"Thank you ever so much, Johann." She gleamed in delight, pressing it against her chest. "I can't wait to read it tonight."

"Of course, and tell me what you think next we meet. And be sure to send Master Hiccup my best regards."

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As evening loomed over the coastal cliffs, the bitter mountain air crept into the earth, persuading villagers to light their homes by an embers glow. Minnow fed the firepit crackling with demand for more firewood. Warming the space, she felt your cheeks turn rosy. By hearth and golden twilight, she worked to prepare dinner.

Returning home later that evening, Hiccup sat at the serving table, engrossed with ledgers and coin bags from the day's earnings. Toothless, however; shared little interest in anything but a bent prosthetic to occupy his gums.

"It's time to eat, my Lord."

"Uh-huh, just one minute. I need to tally this last column." His eyes blinked as you pushed the notes gently aside, replacing a bowl and spoon in his hand. "Alright, I'll say it. You're being a little unfair."

"What's unfair is how you neglect yourself," she affirmed. "Tell me, how will you carry Berk on a back made of brittle bones?"

"I think I'm doing a pretty good job with just one leg. Why not add a broken back to the pile?"

"You jest a little too much," Minnow said with a soured purse of her lips.

"Alright, you win. I'll work on balancing the ledger after I eat. But, there's a catch." He spun a finger in the air, gesturing to the other side of the table. "You have to eat dinner with me."

"Lord Haddock, you're the one being unfair now."

"Fair, not fair. It doesn't really matter." He laughed, deepening his grin. "Your acting chief has spoken."

"Oh! You can be so…" Minnow saved her unsavory whispers as his brow lifted. "As you wish, then."

When enjoyment of the meal began, both exchanged mundane stories of the day. Hiccup described dealing with a civil case, a dispute between two men; both found an unclaimed chicken on the road. The chicken's life was precariously held, strangled by meaty hands fighting for custody. It settled once they had identified the poultry as Tuffnut's. Evidently, the chicken had stealthily escaped by simply walking out the front door. When supper and stories came to an end, Minnow allowed Hiccup to resume his responsibilities while she attended the dishes. Afterwards, she settled on the idea of reading her gifted book at the table. And in a comfortable silence, they both attended to their own.

Minnow drew from her readings as she felt Hiccup shift, muttering under breath, and drumming his fingers against the table.

"We're definitely behind on our monthly profits," he bit down on the edge of his thumb. "At this rate, we won't have enough coin to trade for meat and vegetables for the Winter months."

She raised her eyes as he stood, pacing with his arms crossed at his chest.

"We will manage, my Lord," Minnow spoke, drawing his attention. "I will spend more time at the loom, that and…" she continued, touching the delicate skin of her neck. "There's more than one thing we can always trade."

He started a pace, thumping his hands against the table. It rattled the floorboards, causing Toothless to perk his head.

"We're not like other tribes, especially the one you came from. We don't trade dragons, and we don't, under any circumstances, trade people."

"Forgive me," she said gravely, lowering her features. "I spoke out of turn."

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll think of something in the morning."

After staring at the rafters for several moments, he heaved a sigh, lumbering his weight around the table to take a seat nearest to her. Folding his arms at the table, he rested his head against them.

"I feel tired, but I don't want to sleep," he whispered into the crook of his elbow. "Do you think you could distract me? You know… like how you used to."

With a smile and nod, her eyes fluttered back to the open book.

'Beyond the cottage laid for two,

do my eyes settle on flowers with sunlit dew,

where a rain had visited the hills then gone,

with my love, beside me, and tresses long….'

Minnow read short poems of fantastical glades; where romanticism and magic roamed the common realm. Whenever she turned a page, she peeked to catch his lashes falling over his eyes, blinking to remain awake. As the floral language twined with the sound of crackling wood, it wasn't long till it lulled him to sleep. Taking a glance over her book, Toothless had flopped over, grumbling in his dreams.

Maternal fingers stretched and laced between his locks of autumn hair. His face, dewy and incandescent from the fire's tail, brushing against his nose. Minnow observed the landscape of his features, which changed in a mere moment when her back was turned. For a time, she remained at his side, daydreaming of their former selves many Springs ago, until the dulling hearth waned into a single flickering light.

There was a smile, then a whisper.

"Goodnight, Hiccup."