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The Berserker tribe was thriving with the inclusion of dragons in their midst. Mainly Hiccup was training them, but very few Vikings actually rode them like Hiccup did. Most Vikings had them as companions, beasts of burden and most of all pets. The word of the Berserker tribe on dragons spread quickly to the other tribes. The Meat-Heads, the Oiks, the Bog-Burglar and every tribe out there had caught word of the dragon riding chief-ess. Hiccup had become a commodity; Hysteria luckily took little interest in dragon riding preferring their own killing methods. Norbert and Brenna didn't push the matter. The Bog-Burglars were fascinated with the concept, more so that the one who performed this feat was a woman. Most of the other tribes had sent messages declaring their desire to learn.
But then there were the Outcasts.
They were forward, forward enough to declare a visit to the tribe to discuss things. Hiccup stood beside her husband, in her finest clothes, Dagur in full armor. The ship pulled up to harbor and most had their weapons drawn to face their "visitors". First from the ship came Alvin himself, the subject of every scary story Hiccup had grown up on. For just a moment, she gently squeezed Dagur's hand before letting go and drawing herself up to her full height. Toothless stood beside her, muscles tensed to kill at the first suspicious move. Alvin walked straight up to the couple. Alvin was bigger that Hiccup ever thought, as big if not bigger than her father and definitely bigger than Dagur.
"So, yer Stoick's runt daughter huh, the dragon rider. Ah bet dragons aren't the only things you've ridden since you've gotten here." Alvin glanced to see a sword to his neck.
"Keep in mind that's my wife you're speaking to wretch."
"Apologies, now, we've come to speak business and the like."
"We agreed to meet with you because and only because it's courtesy from one chief to another. We're allied with the Hooligans, don't think this meeting is any sign of friendship." Hiccup spouted formally and scathingly.
"Quite a mouth on you girl, but let the men folk talk now, hmm." Hiccup pursed her lips and a growl came from her side. Alvin looked down to see the night fury growl at him.
"Better watch it Alvin, Toothless doesn't take kindly to people badmouthing his rider." Hiccup told him loftily. Alvin wasn't fazed; in fact he moved closer to get a better look at the beast. Toothless bore his teeth at the man sensing his rider's tenseness.
"So this is the night fury?" Hiccup was watching him.
"Let's get back to topic Alvin, what is it you want?"
"What I want is for your little girl there to do, is train me some dragons."
"That's out of the question." Dagur replied without missing a beat.
"Oh, you're gonna listen to yer Hooligan whore, Ah haven' even told ye what ah would give you in return." Hiccup bristled at the insult, Dagur simply tensed up. If Alvin kept this up there was a disemboweling in the future.
"Watch it Alvin." Dagur said simply. Alvin smirked a bit, Hiccup had trained the by well, months ago that boy would have already attacked him for such insults, but she had him in control.
"Think of it Dagur, our tribes would be an unstoppable force, especially if you brought in your sister's tribe. I think that Berk would be a fine addition to the Berserker territories, especially since your woman there is already up the duff with Hooligan blood." Dagur drew his head back, tilting it, subtlety pushing Hiccup behind him.
"Why would I need to do that, like you said, Hiccup is already carrying Stoick's grandchild, won't be long until we have multiple boys."
"He plans to give it all to that to the idiotic nephew." It was a well-known fact that Snotlout was up to inherit Berk, but Hiccup having a son would complicate the issue, and with how Hiccup had been growing, some doubted Snotlout would inherit anything.
"He won't for long."
"I doubt that e'll pass the title down to 'is daughter."
"I'll put it very simply Alvin. You have nothing I want. So why in the name of Hel herself should I have my wife train dragons for you. As Hiccup mentioned before, you're an enemy of her birth tribe and our ally. I mean, my relationship with my father-in-law is bad enough, what with killing my dad and everything, I don't think attacking him would simplify things, besides, Hiccup would never let me back in our bed again." Hiccup smacked him to shut him up.
"Come now Dagur. One chief to another, leave the little lass out of this decision. You could use us an ally."
"I repeat Alvin you have nothing I want, now get the Hel off my island. Oh and from chief to chief, never badmouth my wife again, or I will kill you." Dagur told him, turning away, his arm hooking over her shoulders.
"You're making a big mistake Dagur."
"I doubt it~" Dagur sang, striding off. Hiccup looked back once, eyeing her enemy.
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"I don't know why you even bothered talking to them. What you even want with them? We should have just taken the girl." Savage complained as they prepared the boat to leave.
"And how would we have done that Savage, stormed the Skrill's talon and thousands of Berserker troops to steal the chief's pregnant wife. 'ow do ye think that would 'ave gone?"
"Still, Berk is ours for the taking, why did yo even offer."
"Oh Savage, it's the girl we need. We might as well have help taking those bastards down. Besides, though I'd get a look at the prize for meself, skinny little thing, but not ugly."
"Dagur is volatile, we can't keep him around."
"Ah didn' plan to, we only need one thing from Dagur."
"And what's that?"
"A male child of 'is blood. Once the babe is born, if it's male, we'll have no use fer Dagur. Then I'll claim the Dragon Rider as me own. Can you imagine the look of Stoick's face when I present 'is precious runt as my woman?" That Dagur boy, he was up and coming and would become a huge threat in the future if allowed to live. His weakness has been his loose grip on reality but the runt was steering him like a damn dragon. That boy was at her beck and call. And the runt was smart, it was her redeeming quality, gods knew she was no looker or fighter. It was that damned mind that trained dragons, her husband and the whole damn Berserker tribe. In reality her only value was being Stoick's daughter and gods would he put that value to use. Nothing would please him more than to destroy Stoick. Stoick's wife had done most of it for him by running off the way she did and bearing him a sickly babe. No Hiccup would be the final nail in the man's coffin. With a madman for husband, she wouldn't be cowed by violence, but luckily, unlike dragons, there was more than one way to train a girl.
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"Fool badmouthing you like that, who does he think he is?" Hiccup was still cradled by his arm. Usually this pose made her feel safe, as if nothing in the world could harm her so long as Dagur held her close. But she felt an unease filling her whole body. The way Alvin looked at her; it was like how Dagur looked at her, but without fondness or love. It was more like Snotlout, looking at her as a prize to be claimed. And that if he wanted, there was nothing to be done to stop him.
But things were different now; she was no longer a sickly child hiding behind her father's leg. She was a woman grown, wedded and bedded. She was to be a mother and she was the wife of a ferocious warrior. There was no room for weakness in her anymore. Because it had been proved that people would still try to harm her in spite of her marriage, and perhaps because of it. People still thought her a blood wife, only valuable because of her bloodline but that time was gone. She was a dragon tamer and rider, he defeated the Red Death on her own. She was birth a child in a few short months. She was not weak like she was once. Her husband could not protect her from everything and she didn't want him to, she wanted protect him too, because she loved him, as insane as the idea was.
Alvin was deranged like her husband, but more lucid, a firmer foot in reality. For all of her love and gentle touches, Dagur would lose himself sometimes, particularly in a fight and it was up to Hiccup to bring him back. It frightened her, that someday she might not be able to bring him back. She feared the madness in his blood eve more, flowing in their child. Madness ran in his blood, and sickliness in hers. All she could do was hope that their babe would be as strong as Dagur and clever as herself. But even if they were not, Hiccup would protect them too. From Alvin especially, whose gaze made her feel dirty.
"I don't like this Dagur, he's not going to give up because you said no." She attempted, using words to wiggle her way under his seemingly unending confidence. Berserkers were strong but Outcast were Hooligans by blood, while not as fierce as their Berserker counterparts, but just as strong.
"I realize, but I won't let anything happen to you." Hiccup wanted to scream and rage at him, her moods had been volatile as of late, but being coddled was a trigger for it.
"Dagur, I grew up on stories of this man. He wrote the book of dirty tricks. He will take any opportunity." She could feel her frustration growing; Dagur has been taking her less seriously treating her like a child. And she hated it. He pregnancy did not make her weak, in fact it empowered her, made her feel like fierce dragon herself, watching out for her kin. And dragons did not like being treated like babes.
"Then we'll play it safe, don't' worry, not good for the babe." Hiccup rolled her eyes and walked off. Dagur was left standing with an empty arm.
"Where are you going?"
"Dragon training!" She shouted back.
X
"H-H-Hiccup, is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine, Fishlegs. Now, how have you been bonding with Meatlug?"
"Great, Meatlug is just the sweetest."
"Gronkles usually are." Hiccup told him, scratching the gronkle's muzzle. Vessa looked down at her from Cassia's saddle.
"Okay, Hiccup, what really happened?"
"I don't think Dagur is taking the Outcasts seriously enough. These may not be one of Hysteria's, but they're far from harmless. They've had a vendetta against my tribe since they were left on that rock before I was even born."
"That long, impressive. Why did they abandon them there anyway?"
"They tried to sell out our tribe to the Lava Louts in exchange for Alvin becoming the chief. After that, Dad took everyone involved and dumped them on what became their island. Last I heard food is so scarce there they commit cannibalism on their fallen warriors, they're said to eat their enemies too. But those are mostly rumors." She said it casually, reacting it like a lesson.
"Uhm, can we stop talking about this?"
"Yeah Hiccup, you're scaring Fishboy."
"But this is serious. I mean, the Outcasts had never found friends really but when they focus on something, they do everything in their power to destroy them."
"And how has the effected Berk."
"That's why they wait for ships to have and attack them."
"Hiccup, you're being paranoid."
"Whatever, daughter of their enemy tribe, I mean, what do I know? Fishlegs, back me up."
"Well, you know I'm always behind you Hiccup, but well, the Outcasts aren't dumb enough to attack either of the tribes. It's a little early to worry." Hiccup sighed.
"It's just your maternal instinct; you're just paranoid for the baby." Hiccup shrugged, sensing the argument to be over. Vessa had a point, though Dagur's protectiveness manifested outright; Hiccups' had been more subconscious. She had been avoiding flying and even the forge a bit, since she found out. She eventually got back into working with their dragons and hand signals.
Toothless and Sharpshot took quickly to hand signals, Meatlug was a bit slower an required more patience. Cassia was a faster but not by much. Meatlug was only just allowing Fishlegs on her back and she was still skittish around Vessa. Cassia had bloomed into a vain little butterfly, looking for approval from her rider and Hiccup at every turn.
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Hiccup was lying on her side in bed. She had been lucky in most aspects of her pregnancy, other than the fatigue. Once the day was over nothing could rouse her from the bed, and it was difficult to pull her out in the morning too. She was also more easily worried than before. One hand moved down to rest n her belly. The skin there had also been soft and squishy to the touch. Now it was taut, and it was hard, like muscle, but there was no muscle, only new life. She ran her fingers over the bump idly. It felt nice. Toothless was especially taken with the new baby. She wasn't sure how much he understood her words, but he could definitely smell the baby, frequently nuzzling and licking at her bump. He had been her faithful dragon, keeping guard of her. Now he as curled up next to the bed, his body rising and fall with his breaths. Every so often, Hiccup would reach a hand down to scratch and pet his scales. Toothless was always so warm, it felt nice in such a cold place. She heard the heavy footsteps of her husband coming up the stairs. She managed to pick up her head to see the familiar silhouette in the doorway. Dagur smiled at seeing his wife sit up, hand firmly on her developing baby bump. Hiccup slid but of bed, her foot and prosthetic making a soft thump as she walked to greet him.
"Hey Silver-tongued."
"Dagur." She replied, pressing her head against his chest. Then stepping back to help him remove his armor. Dagur removed his helm and started pulling put his hidden knives. Once he was suitably undressed he cradled Hiccup's face.
"How's the kiddo doing?"
"Fine, haven't felt anything yet."
"You know what I'd really like if for you to put on that little shift that ties in the front."
"Dagur, I don't think it'll fit me now."
"Give it a shot." He insisted, plucking at her brown hair.
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Vessa tried to respect Hiccup as her mistress, she really did but when your mistress was Hiccup, you found yourself sassing as much as she did. There were times when Hiccup was just asking for a tease. Today was one of those instances, when she returned to Hiccup, struggling with the loom. Vessa couldn't help but laugh. Hiccup immediately turned around, flushing at her inability to perform one of the more basic jobs of wife and mother. Once Vessa calmed herself down she took stock of the situation. There were several failed attempts at clothing littering the floor and it seemed that s she had run out of fabric she had tried to make more. A few more snickers escaped and Hiccup gave her a very unamused look.
"Having some trouble there, Miss Blacksmith?"
"Shut up." Hiccup growled, trying to weave more yarn but only making bigger knot.
"Hiccup, hun, do you not know how to weave or sew."
"I can, I sewed Toothless's saddles."
"Hun, this short is made for a baby with meter long arms, and ones that aren't even matched."
"I can sew."
"No, sweetheart, you can't."
"Well, I have to try."
"Why, the chief's wife doesn't have the adoring villagers showering her in gifts and good wishes for the potential their to the tribe?"
"But, I'm the mother, I should do it."
"Hiccup, hun, it's alright. You don't have to try so hard. You're a smith not a seamstress. Don't worry so much."
"But I have to try."
"I don't know much weaving hun, not my trade."
"Silver-tongue?"
"In here." He walked into the room, taking stock of the scene in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
"Sewing, well, weaving now."
"Why?"
"To make clothes for the baby, obviously."
"These look like they would only fit a very deformed baby, you have something to tell me."
"I'm still learning I can get it." Dagur sighed heavily, he moved to step forward but noticed Vessa was still there.
"Vessa, leave." Vessa opened her mouth to argue but shut it quickly after a stern glare from her mistress.
Once she was gone, Dagur sat wither on the floor, picking up the garments and examining the work on them. He gave an amused snort before ripping out the stitches, to Hiccup's horror. She moved to stop him when he picked up the needle she left in one of the shirts and stated correcting her crooked stitches. Hiccup's jaw was hanging open by the time he had fixed the stitched in the miniature tunic and handed it to her. Dagur shifted under her gaze, flushing, obviously embarrassed.
"Um, Dagur."
"What?"
"Why do you know how to sew?"
"Why don't you?"
"No really, I just want to know, no judgment, promise."
"Dad was traditional, felt girls should handle stuff like weaving and sewing, even in the chief's family."
"You weave too?"
"Not the point!"
"Okay, um, but you're not girl."
"But my sister is, and have you met my sister."
"She forced you to do her chores."
"Yup, I, as the little brother, who was much littler than her at the time; ended up doing her weaving."
"You're good at it, why didn't you say something?"
"Didn't think you'd be so bad at it." Hiccup snorted, leave Dagur to turn an insult into something cute.
"Well may be you can teach me or something."
"What's with you anyway, there are countless people providing stuff like that for the baby. You're the chief's wife, and the dragon whisperer, it's not something you should worry about."
"But I'm the mother, I should do something to prepare." She insisted.
"You shouldn't worry about anything but staying healthy and safe until the delivery, you hear me."
"Yeah… But I really want to learn this stuff, since I've been barred from the forge and have to let up on dragon training. You can teach me." She finished with a cheerful note in her voice; it would be nice to have an activity to do with her husband that didn't involve wearing out the bed.
"Silver-tongue…" He wasn't whining, but he was pretty damn close.
"I won't tell anyone, promise." She swore excitedly.
"Ugh, fine. I'll teach you the basics, but that's it." Hiccup smiled and crawled into his lap.
"I don't know why you're so ashamed of it. I think its something to take pride in."
"Oh?" He asked noncommittally, clearly not believing a word she said.
"They say to work with thread requires very skilled fingers, and that's something about you that I very much enjoy."
"Really now…"
"I promise to repay you for each and every lesson, teacher." She chuckled into his neck, further nuzzling herself in.
"Well, maybe I should teach more than the basics then." His hand snuck its way under her tunic, Hiccup shuddered form his cold fingers but didn't back down.
"I sure hope so. I'll be needing all the help I can get."
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Princess: I am all of the sorry. I have finals this week and I shouldn't even be posting right now. But I hope you enjoy it.
Review:
REBD: Yeah right, Dad and Gobber feel a little guilty now. Hiccup handles herself.
Weirdsquirrlegirl: Yeah her relationship with Hiccup is a mix Doreah and Dany, and Shae and Sansa. Hiccup is Vessa's baby, which is funny, cause Vessa only around sixteen, only like two years older than Hiccup.
Anlovi: Yeah I think she will in coming chapters.
Viking Lady: Dagur would be the ultimate dad with a shotgun.
Anie6142: Nobody messes with Dagur's lady. But Dagur is slowly becoming a teddy bear.
Happyfish: Dagur only fears one, his wife.
TGirl15; Well Stoick agreed to the apprenticeship so that's a heck of a step in the right direction. People should have more hope but when the number 1 cause of death for women is childbirth in that period, childbirth is a risky business.