X
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"Yer pregnant?!" Hiccup closed her eyes, pursed her lips and took a very deep breath. She turned to Dagur briefly, glaring at him.
"I was hoping to keep it a surprise until later, but since Dagur feels now's the time to talk about this…"
"Hey, don't pin this on me!" She gave him a look that said, "I very much am going to pin this on you". So Dagur quieted down.
"Yes, I am about two and half months along, and very soon, Stoick the Vast will have his first grandchild." Then Dagur puffed up like a cat and put his hand on her belly with a very big, 'I did this', smile on his face. He rubbed a few times and Hiccup put her hand over his. Her smile of tender and full of love; Dagur's prideful grin vanished and for moment he looked tender too. But proceeded to ruin it with a wet kiss to her cheek, which cause Hiccup to laugh and bat him away. It reminded Stoick of him and Val when they were young, but they weren't this young.
The festivities had a different tone after that, everyone celebrating the new baby on the way. There was no guarantee the pregnancy would last or the child would live, but it was something to celebrate none the less. Stoick looked at his daughter, his only child, his baby girl. She was a grown woman. This shouldn't have happened so early; she shouldn't be having a baby already. But this was of his own making, she was of age to marry, but it all felt too soon. She was fourteen, barely. Hiccup was still small, too small for childbirth. He had hoped, in an odd way, that she would have the same struggles her parents did in conceiving, so it would buy her a few years to mature. Stoick had wanted to wait until she was at least sixteen, preferably eighteen for her to marry, but the opportunity came when she was thirteen, and he had to take what he could get.
But Hiccup looked happy. She was the pride of Dagur and his tribe; she was famous dragon slayer and tamer. Hiccup had finally become what he had always wanted from a child, someone to bring honor to his bloodline. But it an empty happiness, because his daughter wasn't with him anymore, she belonged to her husband. He took another drink watching a drunken Dagur pull Hiccup onto his lap. It angered him, but it was of his own making. She seemed happy, but he would be sure to confirm it later. After the incident with the murder on the ships he began to wonder if things were as well as Oswald said. Now Oswald wasn't here, Dagur was chief and his daughter with child and short a leg. And also, Hiccup desperately tried to keep Dagur under control, signaling her father to avoid certain topics and steering conversations like a Roman politician. She seemed to be handling things but he worried it was a temporary state.
"Well, that was a surprise." Stoick clenched his mug.
"Ya' alright?" Gobber asked.
"It's too soon."
"She is married, Stoick. It was bound ta happen."
"Dun ya remember the man Dagur murdered! How do we know 'e won't do the same ta her?"
"Hiccup's got that boy on a tight leash. 'E won't do anythin' ta her, specially not now."
"How do ya know!"
"I dun, but I trust 'er." Stoick noticed Hiccup get up with her hand maid and walk from the hall, probably to get some air.
"If yer so worried, talk ta 'er."
X
Stoick found his daughter wrapped up in her fur cloak, with that Roman handmaid of hers. She was standing, watching the moon, the maid obviously there to keep her out of trouble. Something about her expression, it reminded him of Val. When she left, she was an awkward girl, her appearance hadn't really changed but her whole demeanor had. That expression, it was like her mother, perhaps it her impending motherhood, but who knew for sure.
"Hiccup, you should be inside, not good for the baby." Hiccup looked at him, with an odd expression. She muttered something to the Roman who nodded and left.
"It's fine, so what do you really want to talk about?" She could see through him, so easily, watching him with her big green eyes.
"Hiccup, I have to know, what happened to Oswald?"
"Dad…"
"I need to know." Hiccup sighed, looking away.
"Dagur killed him." She told him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Why?"
"He threatened to send me home; Dagur killed him in a fit of rage."
"Gods, it's worse than I thought."
"It's not."
"Hiccup."
"It's not! He won't admit it, but he regrets it. Dad, he's became really attached to me and the thought of having me marry someone else scared him."
"That's not an excuse.
"You don't know him." She argued.
"Hiccup, he killed one of our own." Hiccup took a deep breath, looking at her father sternly.
"One of yours, I'm a Berserker by marriage, and he killed that man in defense of me. He's extreme but I'm trying to tone it down. He acts in protecting me." What she said evidently hit a nerve.
"Hiccup if he turns on you…"
"I'm not afraid of him, I know he loves me. Yes he will hurt me, yes, he will make me sad, but I understand that."
"Hiccup, I can still dissolve this marriage." Hiccup crossed her arms over her belly defensively.
"A bit late Dad, I've got his child in me. Even so, I don't want to leave him." She took a step back. Stoick took one forward with his hand stretched out for her.
"There's a place for you here..."
"Now that I kill and tame dragons, Dagur loved me before that, more than I can say of you." The venom in her voice surprised both parties. Even Hiccup seemed to be regretting what she said.
"Hiccup…" He started only to be interrupt be a drunken call.
"Silver-tongue, where are you?"
"I, I gotta go."
X
Hiccup was a plague; that had been a definite truth when Astrid had been growing up. Born a girl and a hiccup, the child had been proof of some divine curse. She was supposed to be a disappointment, never to bring honor to her line in way other than the birthing bed. Astrid was not like that, she was shield maiden through and through, a good marriage would bring honor to her and her husband, though frankly she had no interest in getting married any time soon. Hiccup served as a reminder that once you were physically a woman, you were fair game for marriage, sometimes not even then. Astrid knew she was a catch and she was sure families had come asking, but she wanted nothing to do with it. However it was that Hiccup managed to charm that lunatic, it was lucky. For now it seemed Hiccup was thriving in her husband's home. But pregnant, that was another barrel of fish altogether.
Hiccup was the daughter of a chief; she had greater expectations put upon her. Expectations that Astrid, as one of the best young warriors of the village, would soon have to match. And while motherhood didn't mean the end of shield maiden's career it certainly didn't help. Astrid saw a bit of her future in Hiccup. Married off into a strange family and carrying that man's child whether willing or not. Hiccup wasn't stupid, though an early child sealed a marriage; for someone little like her, it was dangerous game. Even Astrid, as developed as she was, was still way too small for childbirth. There was no way Hiccup had tried for the baby inside of her, and she wondering idly if it had been forced. Dagur was the kind of guy that took what he wanted, regardless of how it affected others.
As much as she had been indifferent to Hiccup until now, she worried. It was a man's world, if you were a woman, you simply had to work for something even half as good. Girls had to look out for each other, as much as she and Ruffnut disagreed on many points, it was unspoken that they watched each other's backs. Now Astrid found herself wishing she had done the same for Hiccup. Because it was very, likely this would be the last time they saw her alive.
X
It was already bad enough that Hiccup was married and far away, but the news that she was pregnant with a baby as well was a bit much for Fishlegs. Fishlegs always adored Hiccup since they were children. She was different and special and she liked to listen to his droves of knowledge. As they got older the two drifted apart, mainly to the apprenticeships and Hiccup's tendency to be ostracized by the villagers. But even with their drifting, Fishlegs always thought she was special. As he grew older and realized his fondness was actually a crush it became harder to spend time with he, because he'd be looking at his feet the whole time. The worst of it was that he knew, he KNEW, he could never have her. Hiccup was the only child of the chief and needed a man that matched her status. Hiccup had been betrothed from the cradle to her jerk cousin who treated her like trash. It always irritated him how none else except Gobber saw that she was a treasure to be loved. But he was too much of a coward to protect her from the other villagers. Maybe if he had been brave enough, he could have earned a place beside her.
But just as her betrothal with Snotlout was broken she was quickly married off to Dagur of all people. The guy was responsible for the majority of the girl's near death experiences. When they sent her off, Fishlegs expected her to never return or return a beaten down woman. But Hiccup proved again how amazing she was, not only returning healthy but happily married with a child on the way. Fishlegs truly, deeply liked Hiccup, maybe even loved her but none of that changed the fact that she was the wife of someone else. He took some comfort in seeing her smile so genuinely with Dagur and the way Dagur treated her like she deserved. Hiccup was happy and really, that was what mattered.
X
Snotlout was bitter. How had the runt turned out to be the most desirable woman without warning? He had been fairly alight with the idea of marrying Hiccup. He would get to be chief and he would have had a wife who would never be able to do better and love him only. He could picture it now if Hiccup had married him as promised; she would be bringing honor to his name, their tribe and carrying his son, because of course they'd probably be having a boy because how much more perfect could they get, not the lunatic's. It was weird to say motherhood had made Hiccup hot, or made her develop in places she hadn't been before. Or maybe this was the first time he had seen her in clothes made for her, other than her wedding day. It would be a lie to say she hadn't been lovely on that day too. Dagur spared no expense decorating his wife.
Originally the idea of having to marry her had irked him from time to time, because having Hiccup meant he couldn't have Astrid, one of the best young maids there were in the village. In his worse moments, he had hoped Hiccup would die in birth of a son and then he could remarry Astrid. But the truth was out; Hiccup had been the best marriage prospect in the village. She was fairly of good breeding, relative good looks and skills that brought whoever to whoever possessed her. Snotlout had enough mead in his system to make this work, enough to give him courage but not too much to impede his actions. He looked at his cousin, his mother's brother's daughter. Her skin was glowing, the firelight making the red in her hair shine, and her body filling in preparation of motherhood. Dagur was drunk off his ass, half passed out, and he had to act before Hiccup played the good wife and took him to their accommodations. He waited until she strayed from the crowd to a corner, a habit he could time, and made the move to strike.
"Hiccup." He called, low enough to not draw attention. She saw him and watched in delight as she cured in on herself instinctively. She could handle herself politically but socially, it was nice to see that hadn't changed.
"Snotlout, what is it?" This was good, she was willing to talk, and it wouldn't take long to escalate that. They were cousins, distant enough to marry, close enough to be alone together.
"So, what's it like married to Dagur the Deranged." He noticed her draw her body up a little.
"He's a good husband, and a good leader."
"Is he, does he completely satisfy you?" Hiccup was beginning to catch on.
"Can't complain."
"Well, I guess it's to be expected, you were a virgin after all, never got to taste finer fruits." Hiccup eyed him warily, her posture getting more defensive.
"Snotlout, where are you going with this?" Then he placed his hands on either side of her, making it near impossible to escape. Hiccup may have tamed Dagur and dragons but in a physical fight, she would lose to him without a doubt.
"I'm just saying what we both want, Hic, and you don't even have to worry about any dark haired bastards coming out with that ginger in your belly." His hand went to her hair, pushing some stray bangs away, Hiccup slapped at his hand. Then she tried to push him off.
"Cut it out!"
"Why? We both want this; your husband is passed out, what's the problem?"
"I don't want you, get off of me." Hiccup glared intently, looking as ferocious as she could.
"Don't be silly Hiccup. Of course you want me, every girl does."
"Look, if Dagur catches you, death will be the least your worries."
"Not hearing no, baby." There was a flash of light and a blade was pressed to his throat.
"Well perhaps you're stupider than you look. Back off." Hiccup's hand was shaking, not yet accustomed to killing but willing to. Snotlout did as he was told and the moment she got her freedom she bolted from the wall, still holding the knife.
"Never do that again."
"Hiccup…" Too late she dashed off to the protection of the group. The Roman handmaid spotted him and practically pinned him down with a glare. He was disappointed when Hiccup and her maid lifted Dagur onto their shoulders
When Snotlout, being himself, refused to give up and followed tem to the cottage where they were staying. He waited until the lights were out. He made his way to the window and peeked inside, seeing if Hiccup was still awake. She was, and so was her husband, very awake it seemed. Snotlout aborted the mission right there. As alluring as the image of the naked girl was to him, he knew better than to go anywhere near her with Dagur around.
"You gonna stop spying now?" He spun around to see the Roman leaning on the corner of the house with a bored expression.
"I, I, I, uh…"
"Do you get the message yet, she isn't interested. She's Dagur's and you have to back off. I've seen that man try to gut someone for insulting her, think what he'd do if he caught you sniffing around her. Like it or not, you are family and it would upset Hiccup to see you castrated and killed brutally. I care about my Mistress, and only her. But this is for your own good, back off." Snotlout didn't react as first. Then Vessa stormed over, kicked him between the legs and loomed over his crumpled body.
"And don't you dare ever touch her again."
X
The next morning, Hiccup was positively giddy over doing the demonstration for the village. She was all but skipping around with a grin on her face, especially seeing as she was the only one who didn't get drunk the night before. Toothless was at her heels as she dashed down to the arena here she would, hopefully, change the view of the Vikings. Most of the populace was groggy as they made their way to the arena. Hiccup entered the arena eagerly, Vessa waiting outside the grates, Dagur sitting next to her father in the stands. It was time to really prove herself to all of them. Toothless followed her into the arena, the whole experience was a bit surreal, once she had dreamed of killing her first dragon here, proving to the village she was not a failure. Now here she was, doing the opposite.
"I wouldn't believe it if ya wern gonna show us in a few. Hiccup the useless, now a dragon trainer." Hiccup smiled, running to hug her mentor.
"I missed you Gobber."
"Din seem like it, no letters fer old Gobber."
"Sorry about that…"
"Just dun do it again girl, you father kept thinkin' you died. He's insufferable when 'e worries."
"Dad didn't worry about me."
"Oh yes 'e did. Every time Johan came 'round he was there asking after ya. Especially after the 'ole mess with the nest search." Hiccups face sobered, at least it didn't come as a surprise to her.
"Yeah, Dagur told me about that." She mumbled, suddenly avoiding eye contact, as if she was the one who committed the crime.
"What did he say?" Gibber asked, genuinely curious if he tried to lie.
"That the man insulted me and need to be punished." Of course he wouldn't lie about something he proud of.
"You don't approve, do you?" Hiccup shook her head.
"No, but Dagur's going do whatever he wants, I just try push him in the right direction."
"You've been doing a great job, lass."
"Yeah, I'm trying." Hiccup subconsciously wrapped her arms over her abdomen. Gobber eyed the action with a raised eyebrow.
"How'd 'e take the news?" Hiccup seemed to brighten at the thought.
"He was happy, he says it's great they'll be another little me in the world. "
"Good to hear."
"He wants a girl." Hiccup said with a small smile.
"Well, that must take the pressure off. Unusual to want a girl, but I sappose when he's as young as you 'ave plenty of time for boys."
"Yeah, he wants a little girl like me and him. I keep trying to tell him we aren't exactly like our parents, but he's in love with the idea of having another girl like me running around." Her hand was rubbing over the flat plane of her belly where a potential daughter grew. A girl would suit Hiccup, he could understand why Dagur wanted one, as unusual the thought was.
"That boy really adores you."
"He loves me, and I love him. Nobody believes me but…"
"I believe ya." Hiccup smiled at him, indeed, Hiccup was right. Children were not strictly the product of their parents. Val was clever but not nearly as much as Hiccup, Stoick was brave and stubborn but Hiccup was weak and socially awkward. There were bits of both of her parents, more Val than Stoick but Hiccup had a face all her own. Hiccup was unique, coming from a long line of strong sons that were all the same, she was different. Her demeanor, everything was different. It was no surprise some wondered if she had Roman blood in her. Gobber might have wondered if Val got up hijinks on her trips if Hiccup didn't have the distinct Haddock jaw and nose. Hiccup was very different, and it seemed to work for her just fine.
"I should go, they're waiting for me." She mumbled stepping away. He she turned to leave, Gobber called for her again.
"Hiccup."
"Hmm?"
"I do believe 'e loves, I do. But I want you to promise me somethin'."
"What?"
"If somethin' 'appens, he loses his grip completely, promise me you'll tell us if yer in trouble. I 'ave no brats of me own, yer a daughter to me. I dun want you to get hurt. Promise you'll tell if ye feel scared of him, not just fer yer sake, but fer yer babe." She had an unreadable look, as she wasn't sure what to make of that statement. But she nodded.
"I promise."
X
"Are ye sure she should be in there, she is with child." Stoick asked slowly, eyeing Dagur in the seat next to him. Dagur seemed entirely unconcerned.
"Toothless is with her, that dragon will give his life for her." He said dismissively.
"Are ye sure…"
"I promise, your daughter gets into plenty of mischief to know how to handle herself by now. Pregnant or not."
"Just let the terror out first."
X
As ordered, the first dragon to greet her was a terrible terror. Hiccup almost laughed. The terrors were vicious, more so than their brethren due to their complex over being small. But Hiccup knew just how to appeal to the little ones. She held one hand behind her, a sign for Toothless to stay put while she worked. Then she got to her knees, imitating the crooning sound Toothless made when being friendly. She held out one hand, the fingers limp to show she meant no harm. The terror approached her warily, skittering it way to her in small bursts. Then it sniffed her hand for a bit, even licking it, and then touching it with its muzzle. Hiccup smiled and made the crooning sound again then tossed it a bit of dried fish. The terror squealed in delight, nuzzling up against her and even crawling onto her shoulder. Hiccup stood up and smiled at the crowd, stretching out her arm, causing the terror to perch on her wrist.
Next was a Nadder. Hiccup moved to its blind spot, reaching her hand to scratch it under its jaw. The dragon responded positively, pushing its head against her hand. She kept making the odd crooning noise as she scratched. The entire crowd gasped as the dragon collapsed under her touch. She kept crooning and ran her hand along the nadder's jaw. It started purring at her and Hiccup smiled. The dragon eventually got up and Hiccup guided it back to its cage. The dragon even seemed reluctant to go back so Hiccup scratched it a bit more to temper it.
Then came the gronkle, these were fairly easy to train. These dragons were cuddly and loved affection. She paused and the dragon watched her, not making any sudden moves. Eventually curiosity won out the gronkle approached her, taking in her scent then gong as far as to sit on its haunches, staring at her. Hiccup gently held out her hand, and after a few cursory sniffs it licked her hand. Hiccup simply rubbed the head of the dragon cheerfully, making humming noises in her throat. The dragon lay down and gurgled at her.
When the zippleback came out, Hiccup pulled another trick. Zipplebacks were trickier because you had to appeal to two dragons at once. So she held out some dragon nip and out for inspection. The dragons sniffed it and the fell all over themselves in contentment. Hiccup rubbed the grass into each of their muzzles then she had both heads nuzzling the sides of her face.
Finally the monstrous nightmare, it was a powerful and strong hearted dragon, but could be gentle when prompted. It took in her scent, sniffing her in long deep breaths. Hiccup held out her hand, lowering her head to show respect, the dragon bowed his own head and slowly, very slowly, pressed his muzzle to Hiccup's hand. Hiccup smiled and scratched gently at its scales. Hiccup gently placed her other hand on the dragon's muzzle. The dragon nudged her and Hiccup smiled. Raising one hand to her audience the dragon bobbed its head and let out a spit o flame.
X
Hiccup was fond standing outside the arena with Vessa, Toothless and the terrible terror on her shoulder. She was smiling and laughing with her maidservant. Dagur immediately congratulated her, kissing her head.
"How in the blazes did you pull that off girl?"
"Well, I had to patient with Toothless, but I gradually learned a lot of little tricks about dragons. Mostly, you just have to show them respect and kindness, that and that you're not going to hurt them. It also helped that I'm pregnant, the nightmares usually take longer to tame."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, both dragons take part in rearing the hatchlings. So dragons male and female can smell if you're gravid. Dragons are all programmed to be gentle to young creatures, smelling it on me makes them gentler."
"So they never attack a pregnant woman?"
"Well I wouldn't say that really. They tend to be gentler if that's the case, but if things were desperate, they wouldn't really hesitate attacking." Hiccup stated. The terror on her shoulder nipped at her bangs.
"Made a friend there?"
"Yeah, Sharpshot."
"Hiccup, another one, really?"
"Well, he's not for flying. I was thinking of training him to perform other duties."
"Like what?"
"Mail obviously."
"Sure, obvious." Dagur snickered.
X
"So yer the handmaid." Vessa had taken a moment to stray from Hiccup to take in the sights herself and see if anyone was gossiping. She was surprised to see Hiccup's mentor approaching her casually. Unlike many of the men on Berk, he didn't have hesitance, lust or an uppity attitude. He was simply coming to greet her as though she weren't a thrall. Hiccup had spoken of Gobber fondly. Not a very sensitive man, not particularly bright in matters other than smithing but he had cared for Hiccup
"I am."
"Now 'ow did da Roman slave get such a position I wonder, 'ave you been a maid before." Vessa shook her head with a wry grin.
"Hardly, I was a slave in a particular form of employment. I had a trade that my mistress needed to learn." He had probably heard rumors and knew exactly what she was. Vessa waited for the moment when Gobber turned on her, calling her unsuitable. While the concept was hardly foreign in this culture, it was considered unacceptable for such a woman to serve a mistress. Vessa had left that life behind, but history had a way of staining you. But Gobber's expression remained friendly; perhaps a good natured curiosity was fostered there as well.
"And what trade was that?" He asked gently, as if he didn't know.
"The trade of wife. Your apprentice is a smart girl and she picked it up quickly." Vessa told him with a shrug. Hiccup didn't mind her former employment men and Dagur didn't either. So no one had a right to judge her for it.
"So this mysterious previous employment…" Gobber continued. Vessa was wondering why he was insisting on making her say it. Was he really so dim to elusive language?
"I was a whore, but now I'm not." Vessa said bluntly, tossing her head a bit and tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. That was one aspect of being a handmaid she was not accustomed to. As a whore she wore her hair loose or practically loose, but as a maid she had to keep an image of dignity which meant braiding her hair like a married woman. Gobber stared at her, but not a condescending way, it made Vessa more curious to his reaction.
"I see." It was all he said, nothing negative in his tone. Well Vessa could see the man had probably influenced her mistress quite a bit. But she wasn't going to necessarily buy it. Gobber could easily be waiting for right moment to tell her off.
"Is this the part where you tell me to stop corrupting your precious apprentice's virtue with my presence?" Vessa asked in her best bored tone, leaning against a nearby wall. She rolled her eyes too for effect.
"Of course not, if anything ye saved 'er life. And she seems to 'ave made a friend outta ye." Genuinely surprised with is reaction Vessa rewarded his tolerance with a cautious but honest answer.
"My mistress has a way of doing that." Vessa told him slowly. Gobber smiled it was a nice smile in the way it made her feel warm. She could see why he got along with Hiccup.
"I'm glad she 'as a friend." He reiterated, a friend, not a servant, a friend. It put Vessa at ease. Now she almost felt inclined to reassure him of her intentions.
"She's a sweet girl, rare thing in these parts. I may only be a year or two older but she's like a child to me. She's grown a lot but she's still a child in many ways." It was true. Though their relationship was meant to be professional Vessa saw Hiccup as her sister and at times a daughter. Vessa may have only had two-three years on her, but experiences age more than years. It showed with them. Vessa hadn't allowed herself to care for someone like this for a long time. Hiccup was like a daughter, and anyone who tried to hurt her would feel Vessa's wrath.
"A child having a child." Gobber started. He was worried, Vessa was too, everyone was.
"Oh, she'll be alright. I've seen far younger girls deliver well." Vessa wasn't sure if she was trying to reassure herself or Gobber.
"You sure 'bout that?" Vessa's eyes averted his, glancing at the ground. She was still smiling but it was a false smile.
"No, but telling her otherwise isn't going to help." He mumbled with a slight shake of the head.
X
"I had a request."
"Request."
"I was hoping to take someone as my apprentice back at Skrill's Talon. You know, teach them to train dragons so they can teach the people here."
"Hold on, I still haven't agreed to dragon training."
"Well it is your decision, but it would be in your best interest, even to help you." Stoick stared at his daughter. She wasn't going to let this go, ever. He would meet her part way.
"I'll allow you an apprentice, but I will have to think more on this. Who were you thinking?"
"Fishlegs."
"Fishlegs?"
"I'd prefer someone young, not full trained in killing, someone with knowledge about dragons. Fishlegs would do."
"Why not your cousin, or Astrid?"
"Too prideful, too engrained into killing. They wouldn't work well with them."
"Fine, just prove he can handle it. The boy lies up to his name."
"I promise he can, and I even have a dragon in mind for him."
X
"Uh, Hiccup, are you sure I can do this?" Fishlegs kept glancing between her and the gronkle that Hiccup had taken out of its cage.
"Yes, I'm sure, she's a sweetheart, I promise. Come on, I'll walk you through it." She walked next to Fishlegs, making a low humming sound in her throat.
"What are you doing?"
"Keeping her calm, Toothless uses it to calm down people and dragons. I can' exactly imitate it exactly but I think she understands is my intentions. Now keep calm, that's the first rule." Fishlegs nodded and stared at the dragon that seemed lazy in comparison.
"Start by giving her a name." Hiccup prompted.
"Uh, well, I guess, uhm, Meatlug."
"Good, now try talking to her."
"Uh, hi Meatlug, I'm Fishlegs. Uh, please don't kill and eat me, I'm sure you're a very nice girl, a really pretty girl right?" Meatlug cocked her head, her fat tongue lolling out.
"Uh, I like reading about dragons, they're cool and…" Meatlug came closer.
"I think she likes you. Now to cement the bond. Close your eyes turn your head away and stretch out your hand."
"Are you sure she won't eat it."
"I'm sure, now try it." Fishlegs closed his eyes and held out his hand, waiting for inevitable pain. But then he felt a warm muzzle press into his palm. Fishlegs opened his eyes in wonder at the sight of the gronkle staring at him with big warm eyes. Then he looked at Hiccup, who was smiling at him. There was so much excitement in his heart he thought he might die.
"I think you've just trained a dragon."
X
Leaving was harder than she imagined. Though she desperately wanted to return to her home with Dagur, a part of her heart ached to leave Berk. She had managed to patch things up with Gobber but not her father. The man couldn't make up his mind with her and Hiccup didn't know what to think. Stoick was her father at the end of the day. She had managed to regain a friend in Fishlegs and a new apprentice. Vessa and Cassia were doing well, but Hiccup did want more than one well trained dragon rider on the Skrill's Talon. She was grateful or all she had but a part of her pulled her heart to Berk, the place where she was born and for better or worse had been her home for thirteen years. She had found a home in Dagur, in the Berserker tribe, but it didn't have the same feeling as her childhood home. Hiccup had never felt welcomed among her people and even less so now that she was married far away. There were many things she wished could change in her relations to Berk. She would always be loyal to the Hooligans, even if they weren't to her. Dagur swung his arm over her shoulders and she pushed her body against his, both of her their hands resting on Hiccup's belly, smiling faintly as they watched Berk disappear over the horizon.
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Princess: This chapter just effused to be finished, I could not for the life of me write the ending paragraph it took so many days and all in all, the ending still feels lame. Hiccup seems to keep surprising the Hooligans time and again. She proved herself as not one to take lightly. And everyone's surprised. Stock seems to be having complicated feelings. He was sure he was doing the right thing by marrying his daughter off, when Dagur killed in cold blood, Stoick began to wonder if it was for the best. He kind of flip flops on the concept of the marriage. Stoick loves his daughter, he really does and he tried to do what was best for her, and now is questioning is decision. Hiccup resents him for forcing her into a damaged and resents him even more for refusing to trust the relationship she has with said husband. It's really a fractured relationship which keeps getting worse. Over all its really just miscommunication. We also get to see the beginning of Hiccup learning dragonese, I haven't decided if she'll full on learn the language but making vocal cues is a start.
BTW the drew a comic for this chapter so that will be posted on deviantart soon my name there is CosmicStarEmpress
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Reviews:
Wolf girl811: I think so too.
Wikisorcerer: Astrid in this chapter and that's exactly what I imagined.
Pony1997: Glad I bring you joy
Viking Lady: After living with Dagur, confident is what you need and it's really hard to write a crazy but tender character but it's fun.
Guest: Sorry I kept you waiting
Weirdsquirrelgirl: She does, with a look.
Kitty.0: Well it's sort of head/fan canon that Stoick and Val had trouble having kids and you imagine that would extend to their, way too young, daughter in conceiving. These things tend to be genetic, but who knows, maybe only Stoick had an issue (troll face)
HTTYD-PJATO-ROTG-41185: I hope that'd a good thing …..
REBD: Indeed
Anie6142: Pregnancies are very sensitive in the first few months, women shouldn't even ride on on horseback. And by the time the danger passes she'll be too big. Plus in this day and age, pregnancies were far more dangerous and tenuous and especially women of higher class were cautious. And Stoick can't stop Hiccup from doing anything. She's a married lady now, LOL
MySweetYaoi49: Please don't die, ha, ha
Storm Oton: We'll see
Ignacia Kitty Dolohov-Potter: Well we saw many reactions in this chapter
Tgirl15: Yeah I imagine that Hiccup makes up for her lack of brawn entirely with her wits. With a husband like Dagur you really have to be to avoid falling into was every five minutes. Stoick should be proud but it's hard to see some man hanging all over you baby girl. As for the song, aww you caught me