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Dagur woke in pain, his arm ached, his leg burned and his ribs felt like they were jabbed with needles. His head buzzed as he took in his surroundings. He must have passed out while being carried to this bed, how disgraceful. But Alvin did a number on him, definitely broke a few ribs, his arm and leg. The medic, a berserker medic, nearby started and dashed from the room. It was the Roman who came into the room only a few moments later. She looked haggard, not that Dagur was in any position to judge. She was dressed in men's clothing, far too big for her voluptuous frame, strangely enough to him. She sighed in relief and approached him without care and began checking his pulse and his eye dilation.

"It seems the great fool is alive."

"Hi to you too."

"be glad your head is still attached to your shoulders after that foolish stunt."

"I am not so easy to kill."

"Yet here you are, in bed with countless broken bones like the great fool you are." Dagur heard a small noise as Vessa shifted to check his casts.

"My daughter?"

"Your son." Vessa corrected. Dagur's head jerked up to look her in the eye.

"I have a son."

"Yup." Vessa shifted her sling to reveal his apparent son.

"Hiccup had gotten big; it makes sense now. A strong and valiant son, instead of a Valkyrie daughter."

"Shut your trap, you don't discriminate based on gender."

"Why would I?" It was odd to see someone as masculine as him showed no gender bias. But based on what Hiccup said, he had grown up with his sister being his main role model. Many women of his tribe were shield maidens, Vikings, while tended to be less sexist towards women and Vessa was glad do for it. She was glad for her mistress and all the daughters she would have. Stoick as caring as he was, still preferred male heirs. She had feeling Dagur had no issue with that. Hiccup was his equal in every way, not subservient, not a child bearer but his wife and fellow chief.

"It's different in other places. Other places people see women as livestock." Dagur snorted.

"Then they're fools." Vessa smiled and brought his son closer.

"Speaking of, where is Hiccup."

"Asleep and in better shape than you."

"Asleep?"

"She gave birth into chaos and then killed in cold blood. That tends to wear girls out."

"That was real then." Vessa froze, taking in his expression. There was that madness again, creeping over his face like a sick parasite. Vessa shuddered at his grin and instantly reached the baby boy, though pulled back at the last moment.

"Gods, that was amazing, I still feel tingling from it. My bride is truly a fierce creature."

"Yeah, yeah, you've been a great influence on the girl." Vessa sniped

"Of course I have." Vessa rolled her eyes and took his son back.

"Get some rest you great fool." She told him, leaving the room. Dagur leaned back with a sigh, he couldn't help but comply. A broken body was no good, so against his instinct, he rested, the faster he got better the faster he could take his proper place beside his woman. She had handled too much by herself already. Hiccup was strong but could only handle so much by herself. He would be there this time and not make a bad situation worse.

X

Astrid didn't know how long they had been kept in the building's bowels. She really didn't even know where they were. For days they had been sitting in filth, their own filth, exhaustion tugging at her eyes. But how could she sleep when in the nest of vipers. By the gods, how could she have ended up here, she was proud shield maiden left to rot when her kin could have been facing hell. for the first day or so the rioting cry of the people echoed through the chambers. The girls had been kept separate, for reason Astrid would rather not think about. She wasn't blind, she and Ruffnut both were comely and that was a dangerous thing to be in the hands of enemies. She didn't want to think of what the town runt was enduring. Hiccup was pregnant, close to giving birth and yet seemed stronger than ever. The rumors she heard of Dagur's offspring filling her with his courage and madness didn't seem as farfetched. Hiccup had grown strong among the Berserker Vikings who were known to be the fiercest and merciless of their kind, even with her soft heart.

It must have been days, a few, not many when the Roman came for them. Astrid was honestly surprised, the fact that the guards disappeared about a day ago and hadn't come back seemed to mean they would be left to starve. It seemed a kind fate in c comparison to a lifetime as a thrall. But here was the roman unattended, dressed in men's clothing. She carried a sling containing a bundle to her chest. Astrid stood up as she approached the bars and, without a word, made to unlock the door.

"What's going on?" Astrid asked hurriedly, something happened, something big, she just knew it.

"The mistress had taken control of the tribe. Alvin is dead." She said opening the door. Astrid and Ruffnut stayed where they were, rooted into place with shock.

"What?"

"The mistress killed him. The traitor is no more."

"She what?"

"She killed him, it's done. Come." She started walking down the hall to release their male comrades.

"Is she, okay?" Astrid managed to say at last, voicing all of their thoughts.

"She will be. Childbirth hard on young girls." Everyone froze mid-step. As if to answer their incredulous expressions, she moved the sling to reveal a baby huddled to her chest. Her dark fingers caressed the infant's fine hair with a maternal expression. After a moment of letting them see, she adjusted the sling to keep the baby against her heartbeat, a trick she had learned long ago from fellow whores. Once the babe was back in place she gently rested her arm over the bundle.

"Less than a week old but so well behaved." She glanced at their gob smacked expressions and turned to leave. Taking a few steps before sighing.

"Come on out when you're all done standing there like fools. Accommodations have been readied for you." After a continued silence she turned to them, eyeing Snotlout with a little smirk.

"By the way, it's a boy."

x

Hiccup's head was foggy, everything was spinning around as she struggled to open her eyes. Everything hurt, everything let like it was made of iron. Hiccup groaned when she as much as tilted her head. She couldn't remember where she was, how she got here. Something about the smell made her think of her room in Berk. But that couldn't be right. She had been married for a while now. She wouldn't be at Berk, and even if she was, Dagur would still be next to her. Where was he? Thinking of Dagur made her think of the babe.

The thought of the boy caused her to jolt up straight, a decision she immediately regretted as pain shot through her midsection. Hiccup grabbed her belly, hissing in pain. Right, childbirth, that hurt. She breathed heavily, dry heaving, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She desperately tried to think of what had happened prior her little pass out. It was fuzzy but she managed to recall her murder of Alvin. Vaguely glancing at her hands, she saw they had been cleaned. Hiccup wondered how long she had been asleep. Hiccup tried, foolishly, to rise from her bed, forgetting apparently she had no left leg and had just given birth an indeterminate amount of time ago. She immediately fell and shouted in pain.

Footsteps filled the room as a figure came in and helped her back on the bed, muttering rapidly in Latin. Hiccup looked up to see Vessa looking her with an exasperated expression. Hiccup wanted to sleep again, but she couldn't not until she knew about the boy. Her eyes drifted to see the sling on Vessa's front and moving within it. Hiccup reached out, too tried to form words, and Vessa, bless her heart seemed to understand immediately.

Vessa removed the sling and held the squirming bundle close to Hiccup. Hiccup twined her delicate fingers into the swaddling clothes. The boy was so tiny and delicate. He should have been ugly to her, but he seemed more precious than anything. His hair was still fair as infants tended towards, and little blue-grey eyes that would turn green in time. There was a hint of freckles already and it made her smile. Vessa helped her sit up and cradle the child properly. It was surreal, this was her son, she had a son, she had done something her own father had failed at. She had produced a male heir, a healthy male heir, large and robust not a sickly runt. She idly thought of how badly Dagur had wanted a girl, but she didn't think he'd hate having a boy. Then again, it might have been his way of saying he didn't care about the gender and knowing Dagur, it was probably true.

"I'm glad you're awake, but you should sleep some more. You still have to recover."

"I know, but, I can't sleep yet. I want to hold him for a while."

"As you wish." Vessa bobbed her head and left. Hiccup just stared at her son, humming a little song to the baby's gurgles. He would not smile or laugh for months, he would do little than sleep and eat. Yet, she had never felt more fulfilled, breathing in his scent. This contentment was almost scary, she was afraid to be happy, after she found happiness with Dagur and found out she was having his baby, the world turned on her with assassination attempts. Her boy was separate from her now, but he was in more danger than ever. But she was the dragon-whisperer for a reason, she survived being Dagur's bride for a reason. She was fierce, her Viking blood was strong in her veins. Nobody would ever harm her son, ever.

X

Harold was far too old for this. For the fool heartiness of youth, their foolishness and pride. For Dagur and his rowdiness, believing himself invincible as youth always did, for his wife, too quick to run her mouth and antagonize those around her. She was bright as the stars but people like her tended to burn out and with the value she held on his idiotic nephew, nobody would around her burning put. He had promised his sister he'd watch over her children, the offspring of a strong but weak hearted man. The man even had the audacity to sire a basted, not unheard of, but unwanted among her family. He promised to never left the title fall into the hands of the little bastard her husband had produced. Damn the fool and his infatuation with that Hooligan Chief's wife. So in love that he would bed down with any women in her likeness. The woman was dead, and her child sent away. For now, things seemed secure. But with time, Dagur and his madness, Brenna in the clutches of her equally mad husband, Harold often feared he would have to break his sister's wish and put the girl where she needed to be. He was fond of Hiccup, admired her actually. But the foolishness could get her, her newborn son and husband killed.

He approached his foolhardy nephew sitting laying his sickbed. His broken bones keeping him from seeking out his equally foolish wife. He approached his bed bound nephew.

"You're lucky to be live ya stupid boy."

"Not luck, it's because my Silver-tongue is much stronger than anyone knew. Oh what I would have given to see her-" He boxed Dagur about the ears.

"I no ye lost yer mind years ago boy, but I hadn't thought you'd lost yer wits as well."

"What are you on about."

"You had a damn dragon without and you took a seasoned warrior on with only a sword alone, when yer wife was given' birth?!"

"Ha, I didn't need Maelstrom."

"Says the fool lying in bed with more broken bones than he has scars."

"Hmph, they're marks of a man."

"A short lived one."

"Always so critical uncle, how am I supposed to go to Valhalla if I don't die a glorious death or win every battle possible."

"By being a halfway decent man, husband and father. What fool would leave them unprotected like you almost did!"

"Have you seen her?"

"No, ah 'aven't."

"Check on her for me."

"Is that an order sir?"

"Of course it is." Harrold nodded his head, and departed leaving Dagur to his thoughts, always a dangerous thing. Now all he had to distract himself were increasing thoughts of revenge against this tribe. Hiccup may have cut off the serpent's head but the rest was still there and wriggling. He failed his Silver-tongue this time but he wouldn't allow it to happen a second time.

X

Harrold was not an overly involved in Hiccup's life. Since the death of his sister, he hadn't been more than a vague support in Dagur's rule and Oswald before him. He had been present for her wedding, but played little role than the vague congratulations. She had been surprised when Harrold came to visit her personally. He lived on the more distant islands of the Talon and worked as a guard within the distant waters, protecting them from the foreign threats. He had been in charge of protecting from the Lava Lout threat during Hiccup's pregnancy but she hadn't seen him once since her wedding.

"Harrold." She greeted, lightly uneased by the large man's presence. She cuddled her boy to her chest gently.

"You had a son I heard."

"Yeah, a healthy boy."

"My congratulations, little Mistress."

"Thank you." The awkwardness settled like a heavy fog. Harold was a man of few words is Oswald and Dagur were to be believed, and he wasn't one for lying.

"It is a relief to see you well. It seems my fool nephew is more like to get himself killed than do something sensible."

"Sounds like him." Hiccup scoffed, and she swore she saw the hint of smile on his face. The man was huge, like Oswald, like she expected Dagur to be with time, but quiet and assuming, his sister was Dagur's late mother. Harold himself was married with two young children, having lost the older ones to the disease. Humorless but honorable and loyalty to his nephew, Hiccup knew he would never pose a threat to her or her newborn.

"I came to see how you doing, and how soon you think you can make the trip home."

"I don't really know much about that. I think I need to see an actual midwife."

"No one knows your body like you would."

"But I'm not trained to know when something's wrong."

"You're the chief's wife. I don't know about where you come from, but ye should know the basics." Hiccup nodded mutely.

"Truly girl, how d'ya feel."

"A week, I think, maybe earlier if I feel up to it, but I still have things to do here."

"Like?"

"I am the chief of the Outcasts now, I can't just walk away, the results would be even worse."

"Mayhap, never had a head for politics, that was always women."

"Not all women are so bright."

"The, but more often than men. You have a sure head on yer shoulders girl."

"Thank you, Harold."

"Uncle, girl, I am your uncle by marriage." Hiccup nodded mutely once more. But she smiled, this was uncle she was far fonder of than her uncle by blood. Spitelout was an uncle by marriage, married for her father's bastard half-sister. But he felt the blood his son had was enough to usurp her birthright, but held such a distance that he tried to eliminate her first chance.

"Could I ask something of you then?"

"What is it?"

"I, I can't walk yet. But I haven't seen Dagur yet, Vessa said he has seen the boy, but I want to see him. Would you carry me?" Harrold nodded and reached down to lift her, with her son still in her arms, held securely. The giant walked her to the adjacent room where Dagur laid resting. The sight of her caused him to jolt up, then flinch as his ribs pained him. Harrold deposited her on the bed and walked out without a word.

"Silver-tongue." His hand was up, grabbing the side of her face with a roughness she both loved and hated.

"Dagur." She replied, leaning into the touch, not flinching as his fingers pulled on a few strands of hair. He pressed is forehead to hers closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Hiccup was just enjoying this moment between them. Dagur then cupped the face of their son, this pudgy little creature born from their bodies, natural as could be.

"I never considered it'd be a boy."

"Yeah, you're kind weird like that. Everyone else was practically crowing that he was a boy."

"Well, we'll have a girl next."

"yeah we're not having another anytime soon, you're lucky I'm letting you touch me after that ordeal."

"I'm patient." He replied without missing a beat. Hiccup settled into the cot besides him. Dagur held her.

"We never even thought of a name.

"Damn, you're right. What're we even gonna call him."

"I thought, maybe, we could call him Orvar."

"Orvar?"

"It means arrow and an arrow saved him life more than once. I thought it might be fitting. And we can't call him Dagur Jr."

"Wellllllll."

"No."

"Fine, Orvar it is. Ya hear that Orvar?"

"Hey his naming ceremony isn't for month; you'll bring bad luck. And gods know we don't need more of that."

"Fine, fine, ya old fish wife." They cuddled together, looking at their son. Hiccup worried for his health and sanity, for his future. Dagur worried about nothing. Their son was alive and healthy, his Silver-tongue laid beside him in the same state, her eyes tenderly gazing at their offspring, a strong son to rule his tribe and protect its people. Truthfully he had wanted a daughter to have her rule and change the rules of things, otherwise it didn't really matter. He had his family, the little family he'd been though hel and high-water for. It was fine, they were fine. Even as the baby started to fuss Hiccup panicked initially then seemed to remember something.

She opened her mouth.

And she sang.

Her voiced cracked on several notes and she stumbled over syllables, but to Dagur it sounded wonderful.

When the bat was in the skies

I heard a tearful young maiden

Singing beneath the shadow of the green branches

The sun was setting in the sea

And no stars yet graced the sky

When the young girl sang sorrowfully

"My love is on the high seas"

The night's dew began to fall

Each bloom yielding softly to the droplets

The wind blew in a fragrant breeze

Bringing life and renewal to each field

The girl tunefully sang her song

Quiet and peaceful like the June dew

And this chorus constantly repeated

"My love is on the high seas"

Day darkened and the stars shone

Setting their course amongst the clouds

The maiden sat, burdened by her sadness

Her singing could not have been more soothing

I moved closer to the young woman

Singing of her love sailing on the sea

Oh sweet was her sad lament

"My love is on the high seas"

The music enticed me

Nearer to the brown-haired maiden of the warm eyes

And she prayed to the King of Heaven

"Protect my love on the high seas"

Her heart was breaking with love

When I took her by the hand

"Wipe your eyes, your love is safe

I have returned to you from the high seas

By the time she finished the Orvar was asleep. And Dagur and she were not far behind. The peace she felt was the first in very long time, it was really all over. Orvar was alive and healthy, Alvin was dead. It was over, this ordeal at least. She wasn't so naive to think this would be the last of the conflicts in her life, their life. Her marriage made more enemies than allies, if she had married Snotlout as planned, some things would have been easier, the boy she bore would have had black hair, and she would be infinitely unhappy. Things with Dagur had worked out well and for all the conflict, she wouldn't give up a moment with it. Perhaps it was selfish but if given the chance she would choose Dagur all over again. With a little more time, she followed the infant into slumber with Dagur close behind.

There was still much to do.

But it could wait a while longer.

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Princess: Ugh, done at last. Just some cute fluffies of a new family, but enjoy it while it lasts because it's 'bout to get real. Hiccup 'bout to bring down the law on her new tribe and become the Valkyrie dragon queen she is. Aha. It's funny, I originally planned to have Dagur die during childbirth because Alvin turns on him in their tenuous alliance which Hiccup kills him for and become Chief of the two tribes. There was another idea I had where Hiccup gives birth to a girl but dies in complications after the events of last chapter. Dagur in a rage destroys all the Outcasts and declares he will make the child Queen of the Archipelagos. The child is named Hiccup, Hicca to prevent confusion and is thus raised by her father and Roman nursemaid while Daddy conquers the tribes to build her a kingdom.

Yup.

Reviews:

LaylanatorXVII: Dagur is a brilliant fighter but logic really can be lost on him. And yes, Hiccup is always there to clean up his messes.

: Well sometimes it comes down to the people, and not their dragons.

: Well she didn't really hit him. Hiccup started keeping hidden knives on her person at all times a while ago, they didn't really think to thoroughly search a pregnant woman and thus Hiccup could slash open Alvin's throat the minute he got close.

I.C.2014: At the end of the day, Alvin was convinced that hiccup didn't have the proverbial balls to actually kill someone and in a way he was right in a sense, Hiccup only kills in dire situations. He didn't account the ferocity of wife and new mother who was protecting her own. That was his mistake, he always thought she too weak for it.

Travelofadifferentpath: You know it, but I imagine they might split up the territories between the kids, in that time period even with dragons, managing multiple islands would be a challenge. And well, Snotlout is Hiccup's cousin at the end of the day and the current heir of Berk, Hiccup doesn't want a war just because he's an idiot. And he learned his lesson. I'm justifying his actions, just saying it's a complicated situation.

Kei Ein: here's your fix, haha

LilithDarkness: I would to read that actually, go ahead!

Wolfenergy15: (cracks knuckles) it's what I do.