AN: I present Chapter 16. The next chapter will come in a couple of weeks since I'm starting from scratch on it.

In the meantime, enjoy the show.

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And here we go.

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OF BOWS AND DRAGONS

Chapter 16: A Parting of Ways Part II

Hiccup smiled softly at the ancient meeting table that stood at the center of the room. The beaten and gouged surface gave off a warm glow from the fireplace. It reminded him a better days. Days where he didn't carry the burden of being chief. Day long since passed. "Call a meeting. We're leaving at dawn."

It took just over an hour to gather the village of anxious Vikings into the mead hall. They murmured loudly as they waited for the announcement that would change their lives forever. Hiccup's generation of dragon riders gather around the head of the table as they waited for their chief to arrive. Besides Hiccup, the only humans missing from the meeting were Astrid and Merida. The former had taken the latter get her more suitable clothes for the meeting before the whole village.

Hiccup had left to dress back into his armor. After that he went to visit the memorial of Stoick the Vast for strength and guidance. The familiar cold of his home penetrated his armor as though it were a loving embrace. He would miss that miserable biting sensation. He briefly thought of how his father would handle the situation but, the pangs of loss and guilt forced him to change his line of thought. Toothless could usually pull him out of these moods easier but, he was still off with the herd preparing them the best he could. Hiccup gave his head his head a shake before reading the words etched into the stone. 'Have Honor. Fear Nothing.'

Taking one last breath Hiccup marched to where Merida and Astrid were both waiting outside of the mead hall. "Well you two. Are you ready for the axes to get thrown our way?" asked Hiccup with a crooked smile.

Astrid grinned and set a hand on one of her axes. "At least we'll have return fire."

Merida grimaced. 'These people are insane,' she thought as she nervously adjusted the clothes she borrowed from Astrid. They were a little small and wearing trousers was just bizarre in here mind. She took in the sight of Hiccup in his armor once again. The armor hid so much of him from head to toe. His had become quick appreciated while he was in DunBroch and when he disarmed at night along their journey to Berk. She had come to enjoy the sight and she was sad to see it hidden. Hiccup forced both doors open and led the way into the vast hall.

Within moments of opening the doors, the whole hall fell silent. A path cleared before Hiccup as he marched past the sea of solemn faces. The Chief of the Vikings at Berk stood at the head of the ancient and worn table as he had so many weeks before to tell a very different tale. His eyes scanned the crowd before him and frowned. It seemed that every time he took this place at the table there were fewer of his kin than before. Tribal war, invasions, famine, and cold had cost his people so much. Now was his time to try and save them.

"Gothi approved the treaty with DunBroch." The mass before him began to murmur loudly until all that could be heard was a dull roar. It took several minutes for the sound to quiet down enough for him to continue. "I know most of you don't want to leave and are against seeking asylum from DunBroch but, hear me out. Fergus, their king, is offering us free reign in return for trade and kinship."

"We'd be betraying our own kin if we go!" shouted an angry voice from somewhere in the crowd. Murmurs of agreement veined through the crowd.

"Our kin declared war on us firs!" cried another voice. The arguments spread like wild fire amongst dry bush. The minority tried to reason that the other tribes were still kin and thus were honor bound to help. The majority countered that when those tribes went to war with Berk they abandoned that kinship. Soon, arguing became shouting. Shouting became shoving. It wasn't long before they began to head down a bloodier path and reach for axes and swords.

Seeing the escalation reaching a tipping point, Hiccup acted. He reached behind him on his right side and ripped one of Astrid's axes from her belt. With the resounding sound of splitting wood he drove the steel blade into the meeting table. "ENOUGH!" All of the arguing and movement in the hall came to a sudden standstill. "I pled our case to every tribe between here and DunBroch. Every damn one of them turned their backs on us. They hate and fear us for making peace with the dragon. They wanted to wipe us out and we defended ourselves. Despite that I went to every one of them for help. They would rather us die.

"DunBroch offered a deal that would save this tribe so, I took it. Our ancestors, my father, didn't fight and die for this frozen clump of rocks. They fought to keep the tribe alive. The tribe is never the place we hang our weapons. WE are the tribe. If we stay here, we'll spit on everything they have fought and died for." The whole tribe lowered their heads at the thought of not honoring those sacrifices made before them.

"I will not bow before some lout who was handed a crown because he was born to the right family," said Spitelout in a calm voice. He stood at the opposite side of the table with his arms crossed across his chest. "No Viking with any honor would kneel before such a man."

Merida took this moment to step forward to Hiccup's left side. "My father wasn't born the Bear King of DunBroch. He was the proud leader of his clan before the other Vikings invaded. The clans agreed to make him their king in the aftermath of the war. He knows he risks open rebellion by simply making this offer to you. My father is risking everything because he feels that this tribe could help to keep his people out of harm's way. To my people, your prowess in battle is legendary and to have you stand with would be… We would be honored."

Spitelout and many of the other Vikings gave Merida an appraising look. "Well than lass, that changes things. Alright. I'm in," said Spitelout. He uncrossed his arms and pointed at the princess. "But I still won't bow to him."

"Deal."

Hiccup gave Merida a thankful smile before turning back to the group. "Spitelout's coming. What do the rest of you say?"

The rest of the tribe muttered amongst themselves. While the chief's word was law, every Viking was free to make up their own mind. Spitelout had been on Stoick's council not too long ago. Hiccup may be the reigning chief but he was untested in his new position. He had yet to even gather his council. "When do we leave?" came the question from the middle of the crowd.

Hiccup smiled. "We need to be on the move as soon as we can. We leave at dawn."

_-_-The Next Morning-_-_

The Haddock house had been in the family for generations. It had been lit ablaze countless times but, had stayed more or less intact. Currently it was one of the few buildings that hadn't been razed or scavenged in recent days. Part of the reason was for the memory of Stoick. Also, it had been used as a hospital and by the time that they were out of patients the fleet was finished.

Merida woke up early that morning in that same house. She bolted upright as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings. I wasn't long before she remembered last night. This was Hiccup's old room. The straw filled mattress was lumpy and it felt like a couple of rocks had worked their way into the stuffing. No wonder Hiccup was so comfortable sleeping on the ground. Then, in a flash, the previous days and night's events came back to her. The meeting with Gothi. The meeting with the rest of the tribe. The meager dinner. Walking to the Haddock House with Hiccup and Toothless. The closeness with… She was thankful that she was alone so the blush went unnoticed.

Merida hurriedly packed her bag with what little of her belongings that had survived the trip. She needed to talk to Hiccup while the two of them could be alone. After finishing getting dressed into the borrowed trousers, Merida grabbed her bag and quickly headed down the worn wooden steps. The sight at the bottom of the stairs was both disappointing yet oddly relieving. In the spot that Hiccup's bedroll and Toothless had occupied when she had made her exit the night before was Valka and Cloudjumper. The hearth next to them was alive with a warm fire.

The wide horned beast looked up at the stairs quickly and made both Merida and Valka jump at the sudden movement and eye contact. "Ah! Merida, you startled me," she said. Valka grabbed a simple bowl and ladled some of the thin soup that was warming in a pot over the hearth. "I was about to come and wake you. Come and eat up. We're leaving soon."

Merida set the bag down and took the bowl from Valka's hands. The younger woman scanned the room looking for any sign of Hiccup or Toothless. "So, where did Toothless and Hiccup wander off to?" She tried hard not to sound too eager. The small smirk on Valka's face hinted that she had been less than successful.

"The two of them got up early. They've already left Berk."

Merida's eyes went wide. "What? Why the hell…"

Valka gave a small laugh that cut off Merida's intelligent line of questions. "They left to go track down the trade tribe. He said he needed to tell them where we were heading."

"Why'd they go?"

"Hiccup and Toothless are the fastest pair anyone has ever seen. They can reach the tradesmen quickly. They also stand a better chance catching back up to us."

Merida nodded slowly. 'I guess Hiccup didn't want to talk about last night, either.' She sat quietly and ate the watery soup while Valka dosed the fire and began to pack the cooking equipment that surrounded the hearth.

Valka took the empty from Merida and looked down into the bowl. "I'm sorry about the food we've given you during your visit here. It isn't usually this… unpleasant. We've had to ration our food supply and…"

"I understand. You have to make sure you have food for when you get where you're going." Merida stood and picked up her bag. "Well, time to be off then?"

Valka smiled and gave the princess a grateful nod. She hefted the clanking bag and exited the house with Cloudjumper and Merida right behind her. The trio walked through the ruins of Berk. The ash and rubble took on an eerie glow in the early dawn light. At the docks, people and dragons bustled about making sure that everything was in place. If they set this up perfectly, then they wouldn't have to stop very often and they would remain of sight from other tribes.

Valka led Merida onto the lead ship. The older woman mounted Cloudjumper and together they rose a few feet into the air to address the tribe. "Everyone, we are setting sail! Keep the ships together. If we get separated, remember: south by southwest out of the Viking territories. From there DunBroch lies directly south." Having given the orders, the pair descended to the deck of the ship. The ships began departing in near unison and began the journey to their new home.

Merida watched as the Berk began to move away from the ship. She felt glad to be on her way back to familiar lands once again. It was evident, however, that Valka didn't feel the same. A single tear rolled down her face. "Valka?"

Valka didn't wipe the tear away. She didn't even look in Merida's direction. She simply stared at her retreating homeland. "This is the second time I've had to watch as I left that island with no expectation of ever returning. Last time I was taken from my husband and infant son. Now Stoick is dead, my son has grown, and I leave of my own free will. My people are saved from the cold and starvation. But luck has never been ours."

Merida nodded slowly and without full understanding. She looked back that the island with a sense of nervousness and excitement growing in her body. Merida hadn't felt this since the first time she saw a Wil-O-Wisp all those years ago when Mor'du had attacked. The coming months were going to be interesting indeed.

AN: Ta-da! I hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter.

Next Chapter will be up in a few weeks or so.

Next time on Of Bows and Dragons, Chapter 17: A Time for Change

Review and let me know what you think of the story so far.

War and Peace,

-RedHoodandtheOutlaws